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Record Reviews
- February, 2001 Absentees "Neighbors Against Narcs" LP >>Begin Review Prologue: It seems like it’s been ages since Dale Earnharts wreck that ended his life but it was just a week ago as I write this. I agree with Joe Domino, he did more for the sport than any previous Nascar Driver did. I agree with Joe, he really WAS a pioneer and it really is strange that his wreck didn’t really seem that serious enough to kill him. Just as Joe pointed out, just laps before some guy was flipping through the air like fucking sputnik and that bloke walked away without DEATH... and Earnhart hits a wall and dies? Joe has flooded my e-mail box with chatter about ol' #3... inviting me to memorial chat rooms and such. Sightings are already filtering in to various sources that say they spotted a very alive Dale Earnhart in very public places. Taco Bell, Wal-Mart, Auto-zone, Smittys Pussycat Shack off exit 47 on I-70 in Indiananna... Joe is eating that shit up. He won’t let go. He sez there’s a conspiracy and Dale is hiding out in the witness protection program. Just let go Joe. Just...let.... go man. Were all here for ya. #3 forever! >>End Review Prologue Wow. This record was first addressed to my zine, the Neus Subjex, for review, but fuck man, I have to spread the message, and where better? I’m adored and honored here at the Generation. I just knowing my reviews are read in their entirety EACH time there’s a review update. The Way I see it, if you sit through one of my reviews you’re really a music lover. You are searching (or maybe you’re bored). I try to be entertaining but as usual, I come off sounding like a crazy person. Last night my fiancée told me she read something in this bathroom-reader book (a book we read while we shit) about Writers and how something like 70% have mental problems like schizophrenia and obsessive compulsive disorders and crazy shit like that. "Interesting", I told her. Bukowski. Dick. Carroll. Korine. Brunner. I can agree. Artist too. The percentage was really high for artist. The percentage is up there in the high 80's. "Interesting", I told her. Dali. Warhol. Picasso. Da Vinci. I can agree. Then she told me how nearly the same percentage of Musicians, which was just a tad higher than writers but below the artists, also suffer from mental disorders. "Interesting", I told her. The Monks. Gary Numan... Need I really give examples? She laughed. Then I got it. I consider myself all three of the above. So what is she trying to say about me my fellow Blanketeers? Wait, don’t respond to that; I think I figured it out. I suppose that’s why when I get this record in the mail, that also came with a tape jam-packed full of more Absentees material (that is just as good as the LP), and several pages of writings that included two pages of license plate numbers (?!?)... And I really got into reading the writings and listening to the songs. I could see how possibly his neighbors WERE using a wide assortment of hi-tech weapons like Directed Energy Weapon Systems or High Energy Radio Frequency, or HERF guns, to disrupt his sleep, jumble his thoughts, make his ulcers bleed and diminish his ability to play piano. Fuck man, going from Bach and Chopin, to something simple like chopsticks or something; something IS wrong somewhere. Something. Somewhere. What do you do when a room covered in LA Art (aluminum foil) fails to protect you? You dump your pockets of change and refrain from wearing metal... You go on a bus-trip to Yosemite National Park and are followed the entire way (that’s where the list of License plate numbers came from)... No escape. No surrender... RV's double in traffic, double in frequency and you know what? He's right. "Friends" who leave loose change behind after visiting (especially pennies) aren’t really friends because Copper really is a great conductor of electricity. No matter how you slice it. Don’t knock it until you tried it. As "crazy" as you say he is. I can see how he may be right. He may be dead on it. It would be too easy for me to belittle beliefs such as those that exist on this LP and the accompanied writings and dismiss them as paranoia. The United States of Rock and Roll America is just the place for some strange shit like this to occur because no one excepts a minority of musicians, artist and writers would POSSIBLY see how this could be a possibility. And what about those who do zines, write for web sites, plays bass in a band, and does art think about this? Well, I have my opinions. You can probably figure them out but Monday I want to go to WORK not SHOCK THERAPY. Remember that chick that played Lois lane in the Superman Movies? She went batty and thought the CIA was out to get her. She disappeared and when she was eventually found it was discovered she knocked several of her teeth because she said that was the way they were tracking her and listening to her conversations. One time on Cops they (the cops) were getting this big ol kick about this guy they found wandering in traffic on some California Highway who, when he was caught, said he was trying to do something to get arrested by the police because the CIA was out to get him. He was missing his teeth too. One of my favorite authors, Philip K. Dick had his house broken into and his transcripts stolen. Despite his love of top-line stereo equipment on which he would blast Linda Rhondstat, it was all left behind, Only his writings were taken. He secretly accused the CIA and even wrote them several letters that basically said to them "I know it was you". You can read accounts of some of his "schizophrenia" which includes any more instances that could be "mistaken" for being crazy in his last novels Radio Free Albemuth and Valis. I’m listening to this LP and a song comes on where they say something about reading the winning license plate numbers for some contest that don’t exist. At the same time I’m looking at what I then figured out was two sheets full of license plate numbers and just as the singer, Rocco Roll names off a certain plate number my eyes zero in on exactly the same number! Shield of Honestly. Sword of truth! Nutcases? Ok,
musically because I have to talk about music now. You don’t want
to hear anymore examples of conspiracy theories or anything because Blank
Generation is about music Right? About Rock and Roll Right? Well if you
just sat through all of that then you should have developed a respect
for songs dealing with the various mind boggling ideas that was thrown
at you AND enjoy the Screamin Mee Mees minimalistic ability, Minutemen
like in delivery, Electric Eels-ish in mental capacity. This LP is full
of type KILLED BY DEATH punk fucking rock. Wait. Did I just say PUNK FUCKING
ROCK?.................. Yep, I did. That sounds so fucking lame. The Absentees
are worth your time. Open your minds, but not too far. Don’t let
yer guards down. Watch out for those parked RVs. The winner of the contest
is... (SAB) A-Frames "S/T" 7"
Alarm Clocks "Yeah!" CD/LP The
"Yeah"/"No Reason to Complain" 45 is one of the finest
moments of ’66 garage snot ever waxed. Bashing drums, sneering vocals,
the works. Teengenerate even covered ‘em. Anyway, I was pretty excited
to pick this up, hoping for unreleased studio tracks and whatnot. What
you get is a buncha’ live covers and three tracks from the pre-Clocks
band The Perceptions. Sorta’ disappointing, really. Still a nice
period-piece. (TK) Antiseen "15 Minutes of Fame, 15 Years of Infamy" CD A
sorta’ career retrospective of these bloody Southern brawlers. I
can remember first hearing "Queen City Stomp" and "Destructo
Rock" back in the dark p-rock days of 85-90. Make no mistake, these
guys were a punk rock juggernaut at the beginning of their career. As
time progressed, they seemed to draw the "big dumb guy" elements
out a bit more, but even at their most cartoon-like they’ve always
packed a major wallop. (TK) Blondie "X Offenders" 2XCD This
is pretty damn cool. One CD is 11 live tracks from the era of Blondie
either just before Plastic Letters came out or just as Plastic Letters
came out, I cant really tell and refrain from doing the necessary research
to provide you with an answer. Deal with it. Just think of all the hardships
Blondie dealt with... your such a crybaby! The other CD is a video CD
that even I was able to figure out. If I can do it then you can. The live
performance is some pretty damn good footage with various camera shots.
The band is playing in front of a backdrop titled "Music Laden"
which I would think is a German thing... I’m not sure but once again,
it really doesn’t matter. I have recently rekindled a search for
some of the more energetic Blondie performances that may be out there
and have yet to reach me or my ears. I was watching VH1 and had seen some
video footage where Blondie was really kicking some major ass. Their energy
level was high and their sound was more like the way I think Blondie should
sound. I thought this CD should have been more like that. Whereas this
CD is pleasing, it’s still not what I had in mind. I will keep looking
but after listening to this CD and watching the video I can now safely
say I’m MORE of a Blondie fan. I hope in reviewing this I may have
informed a even bigger fan of Blondie about something they may have yet
to know is out there. Or, for you also searching for that energetic "more
punk" Blondie that isn’t really exposed too much on TV that
this may satisfy you while we tread onward. (SAB) Bobbyteens "Not So Sweet" CD/LP Ehhh,
the Bobbyteens just aren’t that good. I mean, I like some, that’s
SOME, of their earlier songs. But this… This is just a second-rate
girlie Ramones group. The Bobbyteens are more irritating than entertaining.
And people have the nerve to label this record as power pop; it’s
not power pop, it’s just bad. (JD) Briefs/Spits "Split" 7"
Clone Defects "Lizard Boy" 7" It
took me a handfulla’ listens to really get into this release –
the boys are far less chaotic & noisy here than on the other two singles.
This definitely has a more Stooge-y feel. After a few listens – BOING!
It’s at least as good (probably better) than the other ‘uns.
I can’t wait until the album comes out. There really isn’t a
better band out there right now. (TK) Cock Sparrer "Runnin’ Riot Across the USA" CD/LP
Dialtones "With the Dialtones it’s Always a Double A Side" 7" This
is a slab of above average Devil Dogs-esque punk’n’roll that
was (I believe) released during the middle of last year. Although the
title suggests that both sides are the A side, I’d have to say that
the real A side here--meaning the better song, of course, of course--is
"Back in the City Tonite." The other A side offers up a mid-tempo
rocker that isn’t too bad either. If you’re a fan, odds are
high that you already have it. If you’re unfamiliar, this might be
a good way to meet the band. (EL) Dicks "1980-1986" CD Back
in print. I shouldn’t have to review this. The Dicks are one of those
classic 80’s punk bands that everybody remembers and everybody sez,
"Man, I haven’t listen to them in years!" And then you’re
off to the record store. And now you’re buying the CD. And now you’re
fuckin’ rockin’ that shit! The Dicks! Fuck! "Dicks Hate
the Police!" "No Nazi’s Friend!" "I’m at
the bookstore!" "I’m at the fuckin’ BOOKSTORE!"
(JD) Dropkick Murphys "Sing Loud, Sing Proud!" CD/LP I
liked the Dropkick Murphys first 7" (the one with the Ducky Boys)
and their debut album cause they were catchy, fun, drunken punk rock.
Their second album was pretty boring, except maybe for one or two tracks.
But this new album is neither good, nor punk! It’s Irish music mixed
with rock. I hate Irish music! You can stick your Pogues up your arse!
I mean, do the Dropkick Murphys actually need a 7-piece band to make this
shit? And! I wasn’t thanked in their insert. Why the fuck not!? They
thanked just about everyone else in the fucking thing! By state and country
even! Not worth the $18 dollars it’ll cost you at the mall. (JD) Evolutions "Nazi Rock N Roll" 7" These
ex-Last Sons of Krypton boys go a bit overboard in the lo-fi game on this
one. Not bad, but I can barely hear enough beyond the piercing fuzz to
really know one way or ‘tother. The "Not fer sale in Wisconsin"
blurb on the back’s cute – I guess that’s why I had to
get mine through Umed. (TK) Evolutions/Smuts 7" The
Evolutions side is both better and more-listenable than the other 45 I
reviewed. On the flip, you get Brad X’s new band, The Smuts. Kinda’
by-rote fer Bradly – not awful, but the Evolutions definitely show
up the Smuts on this one. Lo-fi/Last Sons of Krypton fans ought ta’
dig it plenty. (TK) Fatal Flying Guilloteens "The Now Hustle for New Diaboliks" CD/LP I
really like that title, but this record is a garagey muddle. The FFGs
are inconstant, frantic, and sloppy. If that’s what you want then
get it sucker! But be warned, these lads wear thin real fast. Jon Spencer-ish,
but way gay… (JD) Gotohells "Rock ‘N’ Roll America" CD I'd
have to admit here and now that I'm not too familiar with the Gotohells,
though whatever I have heard in the past sounded pretty decent. The title
track is okay, and the few that follow it are a little weak, but with
songs like "Drink Poison, Wrestle Snakes", "Lock Up Your
Daughters", "She's Got It", "Under My Skin",
"Hell Yeah", and "Look the Devil in the Eyes", you
can't help but enjoy most of it. They’re kind of like a clean-cut
Nashville Pussy. In the end, I guess the hidden track tipped the scales
in my favor...whoops! I didn't spoil a surprise, did I? (MB) Homewreckers "I Want More" 7" A
couple decent Heartbreakers-ish workouts here. I wouldn’t have spun
this more than a couple times but there ain’t as many bands holding
down this territory as there used to be. (TK) Immortal Lee County Killers "Let’s Get Killed" 7" I’ve
been lucky enough to catch Chet’s (ex-Quadrajets) two-man project
a couple times already, and it’s a hell of alotta’ fun. "Let’s
Get Killed" is a Southern-fried version of the Bantam Rooster/White
Stripes deal, and "Revolution Summer" is a more than able cover
of the best late-period Pussy Galore tune. (TK) Influents "Check Please" CD Hmm…
I know why Adeline picked these boys. They sound just like Green Day,
the old folk song Green Day that is. You’re pussy-whipped! (JD) Johnny Moped "Basically..." CD Gutter
punk. No, I didn’t say Gutter PUNX, that stuff is bullshit. I said
Gutter PUNK. P-U-N-K!!!! Never P-U-N-X!!!! Surfing the border of delf-destrictivness
and complete insanity, bands like Johnny Moped were indeed a RARE breed...Coming
off like a mix of Peter and The Test Tubes and The Dammed, maybe closer
to bands like Cyanide. Johnny Moped seemed to be the basic DIRTY denominator
of the three. Their songs are humorous, their songs are clever. Their
songs are fast and powerful. Peter and the Test Tube Babies were mistaken
as a Oi band ALOT, as were the Sham 69... they weren’t dirty enough
in some meanings (but in MINE they are still PUNK bands). Something like
this couldn’t happen with the Moped's. They are too dirty. They are
the stray dogs in your neighborhood that seem to survive despite the danger;
they don’t thrive on anything because the dogs look sickly and disgusting,
but non-the-less SOMEHOW "make it." SURVIVE. Johnny Moped ARE
dirty enough. Brash. Assaulting. Leather vest with a Buzzcocks pin and
no shirt! The Sex Pistols had "Roadrunner" but Johnny Moped
picked "Lil' Queenie". See what I’m sayin'? Lots of memorable
songs on this CD, "VD Boiler", "Maniac", "Darling,
Lets Have Another Baby", "Incendiary Device".... They also
do a harp version of "Somethin' Else". MEAN LIKE SHARKS! Don’t
let this one escape your sights. Zero in. Zone out. (SAB) Le Tigre "S/T" CD
Onward! I can see everyone comparing this to Bikini Kill like a motherfucker. Not me. I do hear some ‘Kill in the Le Tigre sound – minimal shrieking. Ms. Hanna really is a great singer; I’m not afraid to say that because I believe that. I’m also hearing just as much Bratmobile as The 'Kill. Even more Minimal. Raw, simplistic bleeding sound destruction. Le Tigre's drummer: WOW! Amazing. Carries songs. Keyboards. Drum beats. I wanna dance you motherfuckers! Disco be dammed. Learn the lessons and blow the bridges to cut retreats. Like the similar way ESG pounds, Le Tigre pounds. Like the way Beck just gets your body moving to the grooving, Le Tigre groove (see "My My Metrocard" or "Friendship Station"). Electronic. Le Tigre are doing what they do without fear. Passing boundaries. Passing go and not giving a fuck about the $200. Sampling. Le
Tigre may be the soundtrack to a magazine like INDEX. I like that magazine.
In the past two issues they're been the pictures of Harmony Korine, one
with a banjo, the other with Cloe Sevingny. Now any publication that would
cover two different photographers that see artistic value in someone like
Mr. Korine is all right by me. New wave of the new wave? No. Neoteric?
I can deal with that. Le Tigre sees the hypocrisy of "Punk Rock"
and are taking what they’ve learned and taking it to levels that
they want to take it to. Cool be dammed. Do it if you want to. Adaptation
is survival in some rat races but isolation lets you be you. Don’t
work on creating your own island; create your own nation. Phanta!!!! (SAB) Pinkz "USA/You’re Tearin’ Me Apart" 7" The
Pinkz outta California have been creating a lotta buzz lately. Four girls
on a mission for rock ‘n’ roll. Now, Icki has seen these girls
in action and vouches that their originals are just as good, maybe better
than these covers. I’m still confused as to why they didn’t
put any originals on their debut single? Reserved for a full-length record?
Come on. These are two halfway decent covers. The Beat’s version
of "USA" is ten times better than the Pinkz cover. And their
version of Teenage Head’s "You’re Tearin’ Up My Heart"
severely lacks in the energy department. The vocals need work, or they
just need to be recorded better. No, they need work. I guess if you’re
bored and want to look into some power pop you could get this 45. But
get the Beat’s first CD and Teenage Head’s early stuff on CD
before you do. You won’t regret it. (JD) Pits "Introducing The Pits" CD Straight
out of merry old England comes the Pits. A melodic punk band with a bit
of a Sex Pistols influence. Their songs are moderate with a snotty attitude
and a lot of sing-along choruses. The guitars are in tune with Steve Jones’
style, and why not? It’s a cool guitar sound that more bands should
pilfer. The ‘Pistols reference is unquestionably within this band,
but they breakout ever once in awhile showing their own uniqueness. They
could never take the Sex Pistols' crown away as the best punk band…
ever. But! You can rock out and have fun making trouble just like ‘em.
(JD) Priests "S/T" CD
Queens of the Stone Age "R (restricted)" CD Me and the Domino, as in Joe Domino our fearless commander, correspond via e-mail and talk about all kinds of crazy shit. One of the conversations we had that didn’t have anything to do with the recent debut of the XFL (hey, Joe is the one who steers our discussion toward the XFL, not me). We were talking about how we are becoming, I don’t know if you want to call it BORED, or even disfranchised, maybe disgusted or better yet just plain ol' let down with punk rock and found that a retreating back to our Pixies tapes can sometimes be enlightening. That’s why I bought this CD. I liked the two tracks I heard from this CD ("Feel Good Hit of The Summer" and "The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret") and whereas this is sometimes the farthest thing from the garage punk blast that many are accustomed to that read Blank Generation, I want to be the first to say that there is a lot that I hear on my local Alternative station that I like. If I like it there’s no reason why I shouldn’t buy it. And I likeed what I heard from Queens of the Stone Age so I bought it! It’s as simple as that. Come to find out, those two tracks I heard are good but others rock me even harder. I listen to Queens of the Stone Age and hear some really great fucking songs. "Monsters in the Parasol", "Leg of Lamb", "Quick and the Pointless". I like it. I like it! I’m not a punk rock purist. I’m glad to admit that. I’m glad that I’m not lock and biased in my taste. Kenny Rockaction, as he is known, almost exclusively listens to rap nowadays. He isn’t joking about that. Expansion in kinds of music can only make us appreciate music that much more. I can respect a band like Queens of the Stone Age. Maybe it’s the musician in me that really brings it out. I put on this CD and then I might spin Back to Front Volume two or MURDER PUNK!!! It’s not uncommon. Queens aren’t for everybody... They have a heavy "grooving" element to their sound and have many layers in their songs. Percussion. Horns. Layered. Jazz-like in its approach. I got this disc used. Eight dollars down the drain? Nah, just something to break up the monotony of all my Killed by Death Volumes. My
favorite pie is Coconut Cream pie. Its what I order whenever I’m
in the mood for pie. Sometimes though there is no Coconut Cream Pie around.
I get apple or Chocolate. It’s a decent change. Something new I can
appreciate and respect. If you, like Joe and me have a punk-rock history
that started out with bands from college/alternative radio then try going
back and giving some of that stuff another spin. I never wanted to grow
up to be a "debaser." But man, that was a great fucking song.
(SAB) Red Planet "Let’s Get Ripped" 7" Absolutely
killer pop/new wave/punker on the A Side, and an okie doke Dead Kennedys
cover on the B. I need more. (TK) Registrators "Singles" CD/LP I’m sitting here, amidst a massive Northeastern storm, snow falling heavily, and quite comfortable in front of my PC listening to a promo of the new Registrators CD. After months and months of waiting, Rip Off Records has FINALLY released the Registrators - Singles CD in the USA. For those of you who don’t know, this record was said to contain the Registrators’ "rare first singles." If you don’t have all their singles, which I’m certain you don’t, get this CD! It has all of the Registrators early melodic garage punk tunes, in rockin’ digital soundness. Zone out to "Let’s Go Baby", "Set Me Free", "Girl Girl Girl", "I Call Your Name", "Just Wanna Kill Everything", a sensational unreleased track called "Surfin Girl", and nine others that are fa-bul-ous! Naturally
I have to complain about a couple things like, Rip Off not putting their
Registrators singles or the later Registrators singles like the "Automatic
Exit" 45 on this compilation. Ah fuck it! Rip Off Records continues
to live up to their name and has erased that rueful "other"
Registrators CD from my mind. (JD) Registrators "Velocity" CD
Anyway. Everyway. Gary had seen me jotting down lyrical ideas all week long and one day, while he said he was bored, he made his way to snooping in my notebook where I was jotting down my ideas. Yeah, I know. What a dickhead. Nevertheless, I allowed him a look into my mind. He read the working verses I have developed for "Inflated Monster" and when he was done looked up at me and asked, "What’s this?" Instead of answering what I should have, which would have been something like "None of your fucking business asshole", I Just simply responded, "A Song".... [side note begin] "Bunnies" by The Electric Eels is pure art [side note end]. Well after Gary was done snooping around my tool box and notebook to see what I was writing down every so often; he wanted to make sure I wasn’t taking notes on him to badmouth him when our manager gets back from medical leave… Well, Gary ask me what this meeting we’re supposed to be having is all about. Apparently he hadn’t heard it was something to do with Quality so I told him it was a party for me. He didn’t believe me. He inquired why there would be a party for me. "I’m cleaver" I told him and worded following sentences in a way where he agreed. "Cleaver people have parties thrown for them all the time" I told him. He got mad. I could tell he got mad because he is from Louisiana. People down there don’t hide their emotions to well. I have never met someone who was born and raised in Louisiana worth one fuck. I lived there for almost a year and it sucked. The only people who were even halfway decent were the GM transfers from up north. Anyway, I let my co-worker Earnie in on the "party" too. Gary made his way over to Earnie and asked him where our Department head was going and what the surprise meeting was about all in one sentence. "John" (he is our department head) is going to get Shawn a cake and some ice cream for the party." The meeting turned out to be pretty lack-luster. Apparently some of the screws from the New Britain side are developing a nasty middle taper and are very hard to work into existing parts. We were told to mic (measure) and gage our parts more. No problem. I leave work and go to the post office. BAM! Registrators CD! All the way from Japan just as Joe Domino had promised! Nine songs. Apparently this CD is some sort of Major label thing over in Japan. It’s from Japan, but it is all in English. It’s amazing what a couple atom bombs will do... Japan is (still) one of the most powerful nations on Earth and they have a military that does pussie shit like make ice sculptures (I read about that in the paper). Some of the best punk rock in the last 10 years has come from Japan; and it only took two atom bombs! What would have happened if we dropped three? Fuck, if dropping nukes is the answer to musical problems then we should drop more. Two for England. Two for Germany. Two for Italy. Lets give France three just because their France... Let’s give the US two per coast. Living in the Midwest I would say we don’t need a nuke persay but we could definitely use a nasty Saran Gas attack or something to toughen up all the pop-punk bands. The Registrators! DO! NO! WRONG! I listened to the Zodiac Killers after reading that kick ass interview of them in the new MRR then listened to The Reds because they are wanting to come to Cincinnati and do a show and I’m trying to figure out who to put on the bill with them... Fuck, both of those bands are better after being exposed to the Registrators! I think when it’s all said and done, The Registrators "Terminal Boredom" LP may be one of the most inspiring LP since The Sex Pistols "Never Mind...". When the Registrators released "16 Wires" people had to take a step back. The Registrators had moved on. They made a leap from what they were into what they are becoming. It was a step so drastic that not even Guitar Wolf or Teengenerate and their self-evolutions would prove so daring. The Raydios were DARING. The Wolf's "Jet Generation" was both DARING and DANGEROUS. But "16 Wires from the New Provacate" was/is DARING, DANGEROUS, EXPLOSIVE, and HANDLED WITH CARE. "Velocity", the new sampling from The Registrators is an expansion of what they were doing with "Wires". Listening to the nine tracks, two of which were released as a single by Snuffy Smile/Broken Rekkids, "Velocity" is comparable in feeling, in theme, and in nature to what Poly Styrene and The X Ray Spex were to the 70's punk scene. Poly Styrene wrote most X Ray Spex songs in one fucking year. They serve as a look into a particular time period and its hopes, dreams, nightmares and accomplishments. On "Velocity" the Registrators do the same. The Registrators look at things differently and aren’t afraid to go thru with their feelings. The Registrators embrace their inner vision by making thoughts and ideas into realities despite what is expected or asked of them. Will Rip Off Records release this domestically like they did with the Registrators last release? If they do I will have even a greater appreciation for Greg Lowery than I do now. The Registrators - Neoteric Pioneers. The Registrators - Neoteric Martyrs. Last
Friday night I was interviewed in connection with my work on The Neus
Subjex. Someone was doing a piece for the University of Cincinnati Record,
the student newspaper. We sat in Matt the Junglecat’s blue station
wagon for the interview. My foot space was shared with a half drank 12
pack of Milwaukee’s Best. The interviewer asked me what punk rock
was. I pointed at a piece of trash lying on the ground in front of the
car and told her that punk rock was many different things to many different
people. To me punk-rock was the sound of that piece of trash on the ground.
The Soundtrack to the sidewalk cracks. The Dirt. I watched the 12 pack
and wished I had the immunity in my system to be able to deal with a good
drunk (but lord, I don’t if I was to get drunk I would probably fucking
end up dying and Joe don’t want that). My eyes were affixed on the
piece of trash that I originally pointed out to the interviewer. I hear
"Still Bored" in my skull. I hear "Kick Out Next Door"
in my skull. That piece of garbage; it was the Registrators come to pay
me a visit. Godbless. Brought to you by: The Lastrum Corporation! What
a kick ass company name! (SAB) Resinators "Way Gone" 7" Straight-forward
man-rok from the same label that brought us the Midnight Evils. This band
mines similar territory, but they’re a bit lower on the evolutionary
scale. I’ll bet they kick it out live. (TK) Secrets "Who’s Walking Who" 7"
Soledad Brothers "S/T" CD/LP The
Soledad Brothers are a mix of blues and garage rock. I would say they’re
akin to the likes of the White Stripes, but the songwriting is poor and
their rock ‘n’ roll is mild. If you are feeling despondent and
would like to feel worse, you should take a listen to these boys. You
get 15 tracks including, "Cadillac Hips, "It’s Boogie"
and "Gimmie Back My Wig". (JD) Sticklers "For Entertainment Purposes Only" CD All
the way from Hawaii comes the Sticklers! These guys are a goofy pop punk
band in the mood for fun. It's your basic 3-chord punk with the Screeching
Weasel and Queers influences, but the recordings are sloppier and less
professional. Of course, that is what punk bands should be going for.
There're 11 tunes including, "5 Minutes of Love", "Rock-N-Roll
Baby", and "Roller Coaster Girl." Nonsensical punk! (JD) Stitches/Le Shok "Split" 7" The
Stitches are usually hit or miss for me. Here they hit with a vengeance.
They can pull off non-KBD ’77 shit as good as anybody. Flip it over
and you get the keyboard-driven noise-punk of Le Shok. Original yet reminiscent
of a lost unit from ’78 or so. And as (I think) Icki said –
great packaging here. Buy. (TK) Sultans "Ghost Ship" CD/LP "Hook
Laden." Oh yeah. The Sultans, formed by John Reis of RFTC, are a
melodic punk/pop group with ample amounts of energy. Every song on here
is extremely catchy and very… California. You know - fun, sun, and
all that smog. If you dig on old Supersuckers and dig on old Rocket, dig
on this. The vinyl is limited and has 3 extra songs. (JD) X "Live/8 July 1978" CD Fug
knows when this came out. We’re talking the Australian X here, of
course. Ian Rilen left Rose Tattoo cuz they weren’t "hard enough"
and formed one of the most pounding & original bands to ever come
offa’ a continent that’s done its share of damage. The debut
album is absolutely mandatory. Anyway, this one was recorded on some cheap-ass
audience tape – it sounds like shit, but the power of the band manages
to poke through on the vast majority of this. 24 songs, numbered edition
of 1000, good luck! (TK) |
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blankgeneration.com 2003 |
The
A-Frames are a loud, lo-fi, garage punk group. They’re a riotous,
unreal mind-trip. Base, bare, turbulent rock ‘n’ roll, the stuff
King Louie, Jay Reatard, and Thurston Moore go apeshit for. This is the
A-Frames 2nd 7"; hopefully not their last. Thank you Mr.
Soriano. (JD)
Raw,
snotty, 70’s punk rock… New, old, the Briefs are both! Two fuckin’
outstanding tunes that get your body movin’ and your hips shakin’.
Get with it Paco! The Spits are a bit more arty. Their first song is a
carbon copy of Hubble Bubble’s material. This 7" is quite a
maelstrom of punk rock! Maybe if Shawn Abnoxious listened to this 45 a
little more and watched the Home & Garden channel a little less perhaps
the Socials would have a record deal now. (JD)
Here
it is. Cock Sparrer, live, recorded on their first ever USA tour one year
ago. As expected, the sound quality is smashing. And they play all their
well known tunes including, "Riot Squad", Argy Bargy",
"I Got Your Number", and "England Belongs To Me."
The band sounds phenomenal, real tight, still! If you went to these sold-out
shows you have to get this record. If only to see if you’re in the
pictures. There’s Dru, and James’ hairline, and that’s
Jim giving you the middle finger. If his head gets any bigger I’m
gonna take a knife to it. (JD)
I’m
not supposed to like this am I? Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, Sleeter Kinny,
this music isn’t for me right? Because I’m a heterosexual white
male right? I’m the devil aren’t I? They’re all men haters
right? No to all of the above. I like Bikini Kill. I like Bratmobile.
I even like some of Sleeter Kinny’s new ones, even through I don’t
own any of their stuff...YET. I also like what I hear on the radio (yes,
I said RADIO because here around Cincinnati we have a independent radio
station that plays stuff like every band I mentioned in this review. They
also play some kick ass stuff that I have yet to hunt down by bands like
The Hives, The Gossip, and Spoon). Seen the 'Kill a few years ago when
they played in Dayton. They kicked some ass... I got this CD because I
heard "Hot Topic" a few times and liked what I heard. Amongst
all the OTHER stuff, I got this CD because I wanted something DIFFERENT.
I got it and I love it. Now I don’t know the history of anyone in
Le Tigre except the Kathleen Hanna...nor do I really care. I’m not
going to get out all my Kill Rock Stars records and find out the history
of everyone. Let’s let them stand on their own; past be dammed.
Dressed
in black, ready to attack, the Priests are rock ‘n’ roll, Jack!
These cool cats have a leisurely groove similar to the Cramps and that
Makers’ tune "Sad Little Bug." The whole CD generates this
foreboding atmosphere that is inescapable. There’re 12 tracks including,
"She’ll Never Know", "The Ripper", and "Circa
’78." If you’re tired of the endless barrage of hasty garage-punk
groups then try out the Priests! They’ll convert you! (JD)
We
had a quality meeting at work. In the one and a half years of employment
we never had one so I figured some major shit was going down. I have a
co-worker, his name is Gary; a pretty nosy fellow, he even admits it.
I was feeling quite inspired last week and still reveling in the fact
that I got to witness the emergence of The Detox Police, the might of
Kill the Hippies, furthered witnessed the greatness of The Crimson Sweet,
and even got introduced to a new set of Midwest missiles, the Radar Secret
Service... 
It’s
probably a good idea to pick up any release that has both Steve Baise
and Larry May. "Who’s Walking Who" is pretty fucking dumb,
but "Outta’ My Way" is a keen rocker. Steve wrote the songs
and sings – does Larry ever get a shot at the mic? (TK)