Daily Life, Blah.

Spectres Cold War 7"

I've been hearing a thing or two about this band for a while, and being that I'll pick up anything on Whispers in Darkness, I added this 7" to a recent mail order. Being the impatient product of instant gratification that I am, I peeked ahead on a certain "place for friends" and was not impressed. It just sounded dull, redundant and overly referential of something that hasn't aged well. I was preparing a whole argument about how it's fine to emulate certain aspects of "classics", but how lyrics about the Cold War is just a grasp at the legitimacy achieved by those bands. If it's been close to 30 years since it's been "20 odd years now waiting for a flash", we can stop writing songs about it. Or maybe write a song about how you can draw a clear line from the start of the Cold War to the 9-11 attacks. So yesterday the package arrives and after spinning D-Clone(kills) I put this thing on and get ready to tear it apart. Whoops, as I read along with the lyrics to "Cold War" I find that it's not about the Cold War, but (unless I'm dead wrong) rather a pretty intelligent dissertation about how leftist types deify the members of a repressive, violent regime(Bolsheviks). Some of the lyrics are needlessly silly ("a single black bird flies though the sky"), but not enough that it ruins it. The music sounds much better on vinyl. A few people have criticized the vocals, since most bands of this style have British accents. While I agree that it would probably would sound better with the accent, I'm glad they don't fake one. This is a much better record than I anticipated after my preview. It's not super exciting or anything , but it's far from the turd I was expecting.

What?

This stuff was all going to be in a zine I was going to do. It's dead in the water, so I'm stripping it apart to use for a compilation zine. Here's the reviews that aren't gonna make it. Big Fuckin' Deal.

La Piovra "Risacca" 7"
Anti-You "Pig City" 7"

While these 2 records don't really have a lot in common sonically, I did pick them both up as a result of some reviews I had read and kicked myself after seeing they were both on "Punx Before Profits", so lets lump em together. "Punx Before Profits" is responsible for releasing (and it's proprietors responsible for making) some of the most forgettable and unnecessary hardcore records of the last 5 years. Needless to say I was less than enthused to find myself the owner of 2 of their releases. However once I gave these an honest chance I'm quite surprised that I think both are actually worthwhile.

La Piovra (The Octopus) is an Italian band with a unique damaged guitar and great mid-paced punk songs. Not quite hardcore but somewhere close. I don't know if it's the Ugly American (uh...Canadian) in me, but I'm reminded of a slower, more eccentric Crudos, even though they sound nothing like them and the vocals are in Italian. They also released a 7" that's just Peggio Punx covers, so you'd probably wanna stay away from that. Get the yellow one with zippers on it because it fucking kills.

Anti-You are also Italian and have a more straight-forward US hardcore sound, with English vocals. While there is nothing really special about this, but it's solid. Of course, the Discharge cover is wasted wax but luckily it's the last song, so you can lift the needle as soon as it starts.



Total Abuse "Sex Pig" Ep
Deranged records is a shitty label that puts out a lot of good records. From the minimal packaging (which doesn't seem stylistic, it just seems cheap), high wholesale prices, trend jumping and talent pilfering, it appears to be more of a business than a labour of love. Excuse the paraphrasing, but I recall the Smalltown interview from Razorcake a couple years ago, "Gord said he had read some reviews of ours and was interesting in putting out an LP". Not to completely tear someone I've never met face to face apart, and I haven't heard anything negative about the way they treat the bands, but it all just seems a little questionable and suspect. That said, I still seem to end up buying a lot of the records on the label. I'm treading the line between hypocrite and fan. So sue me.

Total Abuse is a sloppy hardcore band from Austin. At first I was wondering why Deranged would put this out, because I hadn't heard of them and they didn't seem to be an "ex-members" group. The internet is quick to point out that Total Abuse is "ex-Snobs", although comparing inserts with the Snobs "Control" EP, none of the names match up. So I guess I understand the inherit hype, but really, your guess is as good as mine. All the better, easier to be objective. The record sounds really great, nice rough recording, the songs don't drag and the lyrics are nice and dumb ("Get a clue, I'm better than you, I drink champagne, you eat dog food"). This is one of the best US hardcore records of the year, but if you're like me you'll feel guilty plugging it.

Homostupids "The Edge" EP
I think that the Homostupids attempts to remain anonymous and mysterious would have succeeded better, say 10 years ago. With the Information Superhighway, everyone is in on every secret, and short of not playing shows there isn't much of a way around it. That said, you have to respect the fact that they aren't throwing around the "ex-member" status like so many others. Luckily, they kill, so having their cover blown is inconsequential. "The Edge", thankfully, is more in line with "The Glow" and "The Intern" than "Brutal Birthday", and is a fucking great hardcore record. "Brutal Birthday" was okay, and did get more enjoyable with time, but I'd rather listen to raging hardcore than nob-twiddling any day. Apparently this is already sold out, so buy it if you see it. Great white hope.

Warning Vinyl Fanzine 7"
Thanks to a friend finding these at Extreme Noise, I was able to get my mitts on this elusive piece of wax. Normally I'd be able to pass on an $8 new 7", but being the rabid Lebenden Toten fanboy I am, I sucked it up and shelled it out. The LT song is great, the rest of it pretty take it or leave it. I don't know about you, but Dog Soldier covering "Fuck the USA" isn't really a "must have". This is nowhere near the quality of the print zine, but still worth it for the LT song if you care. I do. Why so expensive though?


Criminal Damage "No Solution" lp
Like everyone else I was in love with the last LP and really looking forward to this. After having it for about a month, I'm really starting to appreciate it more, but it will always be measured up to the impossible to repeat 1st LP. It's really a shame it's fucking great, but it's just lacking something that made the last one untouchable. Either way, there is no excuse not to get this, it's bound to be one of the best records of the year. File next to "Tania"?

Sinks 7"
More sloppy as fuck garage punk from at least one member of the Retainers. Crazy garage punk, recorded on a two-track(rockstars) and pressed on a piece of mud. If you dug any of the 15 Retainers records that came out in the past year, you'll want this. Great, great.

Holy Shit! 12"
I was really into their previous efforts, but the more I listen to this, the more it's leaving me cold. Whereas their last EP, "Jazz Phase", just oozed character, this is way closer to the thrash revival revival stuff that is currently being beaten to death coast to coast. This easily holds it's own against any of that stuff and rips pretty hard, but I was expecting something special. I'll be keeping this, but I'm not sure I can recommend it. Make up your own mind for once.

Socialcide "Burn in Hell Bundy" 7"
They must be really nice guys or something

haven't posted in forever. too bad for you. been working on my print zine and schooling in Scrabble.
fuck you.

More Photo Filler

Cut me some slack, I've been busy. Fuck a life.

Tree Vagina.


Looks like Sam got himself a marker.
Sold.
They talk about next level... they don't know what they are talking about.





Redundanit? My thoughts exactly.

weekend.

Seems like a good idea at the time...

120 later I'm sure it is, even if my pee smelled like butter.

Last day of Summer

no end in sight

Interesting? Probably not for more than 3 people. I lied.

Again, there is not too much here because moving is expensive. I'm being a little more selective and only really getting stuff I know I want. For the next few weeks at least. It's probably for the best.


Canadian Rifle-2nd 7"(criminal IQ)
I'm calling this the 2nd 7", even though I'm not sure which one came out first. Slightly different line-up and a bit of a different sound. More Jawbreaker than Leatherface this time. Either way it's still great melodic punk. I'd probably recommend the other 7" 1st, but both are worth picking up.

Framtid/Seein Red 7"
I few months ago I was running my mouth about how I didn't wanna buy splits anymore, "unless like fuckin' Framtid does one". So here we are. 3 new tracks from the best band in Japan and they all kill. None are as memorable as "Punishment" but still better than almost anything else new. You should be hip to them by now. Usually Seein Red has been a band that I like, but never listen to. Their 4 cuts here are totally great, better than I expected. This is obviously a no-brainer.

Diatribe-Aftermath 7"
A lot of wannabe experts seem to having trouble differentiating between a "classic" and a "historical curiosity". Their seems to be a misconception that anything released before 1984 is "classic", regardless of it's merit. This leads to any band that played 3 shows and wrote a song about "society" being revered by the mp3 crowd as another notch on the bedpost.

Diatribe was a band from San Diego, released these tunes as a tape in 1985, never put out a record and have been referred to as the 1st US d-beat band. One might point to AF's "Power" and the like, but I understand the difference, that's just for the sake of being argumentative. While this has all the makings of "historical curiosity",it's so fucking good that it doesn't need any gimmicks to sell it. Reissue of the year. Diatribe mixed Discharge, Anti-Cimex and Crucifix in a unique way that was totally ahead of it's time. The songs are fucking killer, raging and the mix job sounds way better than the mp3's I have(guilty). I was kicking myself after passing on an old boot of this earlier this year, but a legit reissue with lyrics, and MRR interview make this essential. This is limited or something, so don't sleep.

7 Seconds-Dedicated to Hardcore boot 7"
This definitely falls under "historical curiosity". It's mostly from their 1st demo, much more of a street punk/oi vibe than the melodic speedy hardcore they are known for. It's totally enjoyable and great, but doesn't hold a candle their early vinyl releases. Sound is okay, although I wouldn't be surprised if it was downloaded and not from an old tape. Still being a huge 7 seconds fan I'm not too disappointed. Whoever booted this should boot the "Socially Fucked Up" demo (their 2nd) cuz that stuff kills this dead.




We may see a print issue of Huge Knives That Kill before the end of the year, but if anyone asks this is what I've been up to...

What We Hate

After complaining about the banality of "weekend party" blogs, I'm about to take a piss in that trough. Oh well. Another weekend, another house-sitting party for a bunch of losers who don't have houses of their own. Beats growing up.

Eat it till it's gone.



Of course the Tracist made tons of great food, as always.

Things got silly.

There was some great TV

Mexican Bloke pulled a chocolate bar out of nowhere.

and shared.


Food pwned.


Nate got a new hat and ate cake.

Sarde fucking with Pandora's Box

Cam made a pretty serious return to form.


Natalie loves having her photo taken, also she never shuts up.

Beeps cake.

Ty-Guy getting kinda serious.


and because you really can't have too much of a good thing...


Funhouse


next post will be interesting, I promise.

get'r done

It never ends.

Usually I try to stay away from reviewing old records. It usually seems arrogant and tedious. But, after looking through my weekly record purchases I realized that I hadn't got anything that was brand new, so I guess that rule is out the door. I'll try to keep it brief. It's my blog and I'll cry if I want to.

V/A-Back from the Grave Vol. 3 LP
Had been waiting for a local store to stock these. I already had Vol. 1 and 2, so this seemed like the next logical step. More raw 60s garage-punk, still it all sounds fucking great. Nothing that leaps out at you like the best tracks on Vol. 1 and 2, but I'm sure repeated listens will help. Start with 1 and 2, listen to "Victim of Circumstances" and "Rat's Revenge" a hundred times, then get this. Worth your milk money.

Black Lips-We did not know... LP
More stuff I didn't have from the best garage-punk band of today. They are all the rage these days, which in my younger, more reactionary days would have seriously bummed me out. Luckily I'm through caring. Not the best place to start (the Let It Bloom Lp) but this compilation is a welcome addition. One of the best bands going today for sure.

Confuse-Spending Loud Night EP
Reason for existence. Absolute godhead hardcore noise.

Thee Headcoatees- I'm Happy/ Park It Up Your Arse 7"
2 throwaway tracks. I wouldn't bother, but if you insist, I'll sell you mine.

Sacrilege-Behind the Realms of Madness LP
This is basically the perfect metal album as far as my tastes go. It's got all that heavy drive without any of wank-pose that usually turns me off of all metal. This fucking kills.

I'm needing to find a place to live in the next few weeks, so don't be surprised if I tone down the records for a few weeks.

Woooo!

The show tonight was much more enjoyable than I expected. Maybe there is hope for me after all. Here's a few pictures, still trying to figure the camera out.

Modern Problems




Search And Destroy







Margaret Thrasher