BLOG THE JERK!

Happy MLK Day!

2012-01-15T15:55:00.000-08:00

And to celebrate I've uploaded one of the most enjoyable records I can think of. Last Poets member Jalal Mansur Nuriddin takes on the persona of "Lightnin' Rod" and is backed by a slew of talented artists (including Kool and the Gang and session bass player Chuck Rainey, who played on Aritha Franklin's amazing "Amazing Grace").
Lightnin' "raps" about hustlers, cocaine, cards and dice. It's funny, soulful and both of the time and ahead of its time. If you don't DIG IT then go home and listen to your Don "No Soul" Simmons record, you jive ass turkey!

Spoon

Bang

2011-08-23T12:04:00.000-07:00

The now legendary Bang started forty two years ago this month in Philadelphia, PA and since then not many have put out a record as good as their self-titled debut. I could go on about how they moved to Florida, opened up for (and supposedly blew away) their heroes, Black Sabbath...but instead here's a great link for those who want to dig deeper.
I will say that this "debut" is actually the second album Bang recorded and was all written within 2 weeks while their producer was away on vacation. Their first album, "Death of a Country" was a concept album shelved by Columbia out of the fear that people "wouldn't get it". For some reason Columbia assumed that everyone would "get" Mahavishnu Orchestra's debut, "Inner Mounting Flame", released that same year. Go figure.

Future Shock

Requiem

2011-08-18T12:37:00.000-07:00

OK, I said no more metal for a while, but since I went to the Diamond Head-Evil Dead-Slough Feg show last night, I am making an exception.

Diamond Head was basically Brian Tatler, a younger singer and a band who looked they actually played "back in the day". Thanks to the ever-handy droid, it turned out the drummer Karl Wilcox played in the 1979/80 NWOBHM band Requiem/Rekuiem. This single doesn't sound much like Sabbath or Budgie as the internet searches claim; the A side sounds more like a mix of Caravan, Hawkwind, Blue Cheer's "Piece of Mind" and Moby Grape - with metal leads of course. I really dig the genre-bending title track, but things pick up steam for side B. A very Budgie riff gets hammered throughout and overall is far more a "NWOBHM" song. The singer's unique '60s style vocals make it almost sound like a precursor to the Lou Barlow songs off the first Dinosaur Jr record or later Meat Puppets though. If that's the bag you're in, don't miss it! Give it a couple spins...the songs really grow on you. History of the band with interview here

Fact

2011-08-05T16:50:00.000-07:00

Yeah I've been posting a lot of metal lately, but I just bought this LP and really love it, so after this I promise it'll get punker (or something) around here.

Anyway, Germany's Fact have everything you want in a '80s metal record: crazy screeching vocals, catchy riffs and solid soloing. Check out "Heavy Metal Powerplay", my favorite tune on the record and a pretty amazing song title if you ask me. If you like Accept, Priest and the first Crue record you'll probably dig this. In fact, if you can imagine Udo Dirkschneider never dropping down below his high pitched wails, you might be close to what Fact sounds like.

Without Warning

HAMMERSMITH

2011-08-01T11:12:00.001-07:00

VINYL RIP - LP

Canada week concludes with the second LP from Calgary's Hammersmith. Hammersmith formed after the break up of Painter and kept the same kind of Guess Who sound (Listen to Painter's "West Coast Woman" — a pretty blatant copy of "American Woman") with most of it falling into the "we need a big radio hit" category. There's some great songwriting on this LP though, and then awesome 1-2 punch of "Kickin' Back" and "Hello, It's For You" followed by the slow and heavyish psyche number "Under The Sea". Unfortunately things end with Bass player Royden Morice's piano number "Mr. Las Vegas" that comes off sounding like bad/worse Barry Manilow. So, a half great record in my opinion (recorded in Edmonton by the way, where I just visited), and a must if you dig 70s rock a la Montrose, BTO, and April Wine

Be A Star

Moose Molten Metal vol. 2

2011-07-27T16:33:00.000-07:00

LP Scans Included

Canada week continues...This here LP I scored at the Antique Mall in Edmonton and does it ever SMOKE! The bands are fairly NWOBHM sounding with very little trace of lame "Sunset Strip hair metal" (though a few of the photos definitely show signs of that scene emerging). All the songs are pretty damn solid but the last two tunes on the comp by Hateful Snake and Outrage and are my personal favorites — and the most shredding. I nearly ripped the record, but I found mp3s on Mediafire at the final hour. Any problems with them, let me know and I'll fix 'em.

Beaver Fever

Superconductor

2011-07-26T10:14:00.000-07:00

CD EP

After spending the past 5 days in Edmonton, Alberta Canada it's gonna get pretty moosey around here this week at Blog the Jerk HQ. Before I post the couple used LPs I got in the land of poutine and beavers, I thought I'd rip one of my favorite Canuk releases: Superconductor's "Heavy With Puppy". I'd pretty much buy anything on Boner Records back in those days (is it time to rip some DUH and Milk Cult?) but this here is one of my favorite releases. Noisy, catchy, SEVEN guitar players and a cover of "Satori Part One" by Japan's Flower Travellin' Band. Good stuff! Laughing Hyenas, Steele Pole Bathtub and Pain Teens...but with more pop sensibility. That figures, since a quick google tells me that one of the 10 listed band members went on to form the New Pornographers...but which one is it? Delicious Warm, Dream Whip, or Flying Fist? Maybe it's Sweet Bitch...

Ride the Big Penis

Smitten Comp

2011-07-07T16:23:00.000-07:00

Love comps...the '90s...to me that brings to mind Sub Pop's Afternoon Delight, but the warped, fucked up version of that bit of fluff was Beekeeper front man Ron Dulin's "Smitten" comp. The bands Karate Records chose to represent love? Aside from their track "Myrna Loy", I can't think of any Steel Pole Bathtub song I'd "bone down" to. The Cherubs? Aside from their name, the ugliest band since Stickmen With Rayguns. Slug? They were my favorite Los Angeles band, but "love" wasn't something I thought of when I played their records ‒ unless their song "Face down in the sand" had something to do with "From Here to Eternity"...

This comp is kind of the "film noir" of love song comps. Drugs, murder, lust, and fucked up relationships. Maybe that wasn't the intent, but aside from the opening Jawbreaker track this "love comp" is downright ugly. Par for the comp-course, some prolific bands phoned in a throwaway, but there's still plenty of great tracks by great bands - some long forgotten. Don't expect the sweetness of Tiger Trap or Bratmobile here; this is the kind of relationship that makes you punch a hole in your wall. When your clothes and records get thrown to you from a second story window, this is the love comp you want to hear...unless you're in Jawbreaker and you just drunkenly crawl into your basement and drown your sorrows crashing your model train set.

Kiss Me Deadly

New Uploads: VIDEOS!

2011-07-04T13:41:00.000-07:00

So I've been really busy getting laid off, collecting unemployment and drinking myself to an early gave, but I've also managed to transfer a TON of stuff I filmed off old 8 and Hi-8 tapes!
Check out my youtube channel, but here's a few:
(new vinyl rips and MP3 posts soon!)

UNSANE in L.A.:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U81pmpfFyho

MELVINS in Indio:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkjh7qcKT7U

KYUSS in Palm Springs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5-EkuqOxm4

BAD POSTURE in S.F.:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9Da7kJYBVo

UNWOUND in Fullerton:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMBkzLJr9dE

BLACK QUEEN in S.F.:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YL4Lj3Ohm3M

other bands like godheadSilo, Mule, Rancid, Slug, Foreskin 500, Sandy Duncan's Eye, Hamerhead, ? and the Mysterians, The Dictators, The Real Kids, etc...

R.I.P. Scott Columbus

2011-04-05T09:48:00.000-07:00

Sad news that longtime drummer of Manowar, Scott Columbus passed away. Saw the dude play with Manowar twice and man, he was a great drummer. He left the band again in 2008, but was set to release a solo record and do more dates with Ross the Boss playing old Manowar tunes. He will be missed. I was going to post "Today Is A Good Day To Die", but there's just not enough drumming and Scott said he liked the more rock and less operatic side to Manowar (and wasn't a fan of edits and digital recording - Amen!)...so here he is shredding on "Outlaw".

R.I.P., Brother of Metal

Thunderstick

2011-03-25T14:59:00.000-07:00

Vinyl Rip 12" ep

I guess it's NWOBHM week here at Blog the Jerk! headquarters, and I don't mind a bit, especially when it comes to Thunderstick. Yes, you know him and love him as the adorable drumming gimp from Samson, but maybe not all of you have heard his self-titled female-fronted rock 'n' roll band. I honestly hadn't 'till I came across this EP recently. Since there's no real "NWOBHM sound" that I can tell (most bands sound either: metal, pub rock, prog, pop, punkish, or a combination of to me), I'd say Thunderstick sound like a new wave band with metal guitars and minus the synth (I could totally hear "Runaround" on the Valley Girl soundtrack) though the title song sounds a bit like early Golden Earring meets Sweet. It's a pretty interesting mix of styles and some hooky songwriting. Of course my favorite thing about Thunderstick is the band photos...

Head On

Silverwing

2011-03-25T14:35:00.000-07:00

Vinyl Rip 7"

Holy Balls! This is one of my favorite NWOBHM singles and since I just got a new needle for my record player, I thought I'd share (not that my vinyl ripping abilities have gotten any better).
When Silverwing claims a "double A-side" single, they really mean it. Containing the best bits of Raven and Sweet, both tunes kick major ass and feature some hilarious lyrics if you can make 'em out under the wall of fuzz. If you haven't guessed by now, I don't know anything about the band but if you do, please leave a comment! 'Till then enjoy this 7 inch pink monster, while I hunt down more of their shit...

(I just fixed the link 4/1/11. Before I had the link to the Shiva 7")

Flashbomb Fever

Shiva

2011-03-25T14:22:00.000-07:00

VINYL RIP 7"

Formed in Bristol, England in 1979, Shiva was a NWOBHM band that wanted to reach the top of the charts and rule the universe, even firing their original guitar player and drummer for more seasoned musicians to do it. While it may have helped the band's sound, they unfortunately never saw the success their music deserved. The band considers this single their best and it's easy to see why. It might be too proggy for some of you, but after a few spins I really started digging it.

Rock Lives On

R.I.P. Zoogz Rift

2011-03-23T13:41:00.000-07:00

Repost from July 19 2009

What can you say about a guy like Zoogz Rift? He's a self-described DADA artist that flows like water; he's an ex-professional wrestling manager; he's written some amazingly catchy and complex songs -as well as some splendidly annoying ones. What ever you say about him, the sad truth is that after 30 years, he is only a footnote in rock history. In a world filled with Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen, it's a travesty to say the least.
My friend Nick and I drove down to Los Angeles to catch what I think may have been his last show some years ago at Mr. T's Bowl (check out the video I uploaded to youtube). He wasn't well enough to play guitar and his eyesight was failing him. He still put on a great, funny show. Unfortunatly, bandmate Richie Haas lost his battle with cancer recently, so Zoogz and the Amazing Shitheads are sadly no more.
From the psycho "Ostriches have sex too you know" to the mellow, but biting "What can we feed to the lions", "Idiots on a Miniature Golf Course" has been an album on permanent rotation since my high school days.

Liquid Maomo

D.I.

2011-03-14T15:46:00.000-07:00

If you follow the goings on of the internets, you know that Japan had some bad weather recently, and Casey of D.I. ran into a spot of bad luck.
D.I. were a hugely important band for me as a kid, and my old (like 1991-92) band covered "Tragedy Again" off the 1989 album of the same name. Horse Bites Dog Cries is my favorite of their records though, even if a couple songs are recycled from Ancient Artifacts.

Someone's Got A Problem

Noir City

2011-03-02T11:07:00.000-08:00

So maybe you're wondering what the severed penis scene in Street Trash has to do with film noir. Well, some time in 10th grade my mom walked in while I was watching that scene and in a moment of punishment-genius declared that for every violent, trashy horror movie I rented, I'd also have to rent and watch a "classic" film. Well, it was her credit card on the account after all.
Having already been a fan of The Third Man (I can still fake my way through Anton Karas' theme on piano) and D.O.A., many of the "classics" I rented were noirs. they're not trashy or violent, right?

Many years later, thanks to people like Arthur Lyons (RIP), Eddie Muller, Alan K Rode and others, these great — don't call them B-movies! — pictures have been preserved and projected in the theater where they belong. I've only missed one or two of the 11 Palm Springs Noir Festivals, have been to a few in Los Angeles, and try to go to as many nights as I can here in S.F.

This comp was made for the Noir City 9 festival and was compiled and given to me by my friend Ben who volunteered. The theme this year was "who's crazy now"? and the comp more or less follows the same. A couple tracks are a little out of place being newer than what most consider the latest noir — The Killing (1956) and Blast of Silence (1960) for example — and there's a couple really great old-timey songs that are maybe a little too early...but it's still a skillfully put together comp that'll have you pouring out a glass of whiskey and lighting up an unfiltered lucky before you can say "belly full of lead".

Gun Crazy

(down load track list here)

TAD

2011-03-01T11:24:00.000-08:00

Remember when you didn't give a shit what color vinyl the record you bought was on? Hell, I'd even quit buying records and switched to those damn convenient cassette tapes (that got eaten, lost or magnetized over the years) but sometime 'round 1989 Sub Pop convinced me that I needed to be collecting records, not just listening to them. In fact I should buy more 7" records than I even have time to listen to. And on every stupid color of vinyl they felt like pressing.

Tad's "8-Way Santa" (with the original cover and on green vinyl of course) on the other hand wasn't just a "limited edition collector's item". This record WAS Sub Pop. Sure the Dwarves' "Blood Guts and Pussy", the self titled Mudhoney and Soundgarden's "Screaming Life/Fopp" comp were essential listening for me back then as well, but when I think of the classic late '80s/early '90s "Seattle Sound" — or just any heavy rock music from that time — I think of this record...and I think very fondly of it. In fact I'm playing it right now. Why don't you?

God's Balls

Abner Jay

2011-02-28T08:47:00.000-08:00

Having a one-man-blog is much easier than having a one-man-band. I should know; I hate people and have tried playing everything myself many times. Anyways, I was reminded of Abner because Nick — a band member who I can stand — was recently posting some stuff on facebook thanks to a mutual pal who got us turned on to his genius. Since this comp of hard to get self released records is out of print and a newer comp is a very limited vinyl pressing, I thought I'd share. Read more about the amazing history of Abner here and check this shit out!

Cocaine

John's Children

2011-02-17T10:03:00.001-08:00

Unfairly pigeonholed as "Marc Bolan's band" (he was only a member for four months), John's Children were a fantastic mod/psyche group that existed from '66 to 1970 and continue to play sporadically today.
Again, this one is a favorite of mine. It gets some criticism due to the primitive playing and recording...but aside from the great songs and violent energy, that's kinda why it's great. So if you're into stuff like The Pretty Things, the Who, and the Seeds or are a Bolan fan (he sings on a few songs), prepare to tune in and turn on!

Thomas à Beckett

Gravediggaz

2011-02-16T13:05:00.000-08:00

Thought I'd post one more early "horrorcore" (rap with dark, horror-like lyrics) record that I really liked once upon a time. This one has Wu-Tang's RZA hooking up with members of Stetsasonic ("Talkin' All That Jazz") and the late Poetic (AKA Grym Reaper).

Thanks to the RZA, the music comes off as very Wu-Tang Clan, with the vocals are similar to Ol' Dirty Bastard or Onyx (who would fittingly work with the Wu Tang later). Songs like "2 Cups of Blood" and "1-800-Suicide" set them apart though, and were the kind of thing that terrified white suburban mothers across America in the early '90s.

For me it kind of gets a little old after four or five tracks, but there's some solid stuff on here.

R.I.P.

The Free Spirits

2011-02-15T11:09:00.000-08:00

From what Amazon says, this CD is only available for $28 from a private seller...so, dear reader (readers?) I can FINALLY post one of my favorite records of the 1960s.
Now, this record has been advertised as the first Jazz-Rock record, whch IMHO sounds pretty dreadful but thankfully the genre-blending result that Out of Sight and Sound pulls off is fucking brilliant.
Great songs and an ear for 60s pop, but with more complex rhythms and time signatures. According to Unterburger's liner notes and interview pieces, their live shows were much freer, sometimes jamming out a tune for an hour or doing a ten minute unaccompanied sax solo. The reason this record come out so different is that their label wanted short, under 3 1/2 minute pop songs. At the time the band was frustrated but have come to like the record —hopefully as much as I do.
In their brief run as a band, they opened for Hendrix, the Doors and the Velvet Underground (where at one point Free Spirit member Chris Hill jumped on Mo Tucker's set for an improv jam).
Since I got this CD four or five years back, someone has asked "What band is this?" every single time I've played the opening track "Don't Look Now". If you get the chance, check out Larry Coryell's 1969 solo record that features not only the Free Spirits' drummer, but members of The John Coltrane Quartet.
All I can say is that if this isn't what you listen to for the rest of the day, I'm packing up this blog and going home.

Bad News Cat
(link fixed)

C86 / CD86

2011-02-15T09:57:00.000-08:00

It was 1986, and the UK's New Music Express (NME) put out one of the best "mix tapes" in rock history. In a 2006 issue of World Magazine ex NME stafer Andrew Collins described C86 as "The most indie thing to have ever existed". It's also arguably what led to a flourish of girl bands and girl musicians thanks to its exposure of groups such as The Shop Assistants, The Primitives, Miaow and others.
Although I have no shame in saying that I'm an out of the closet Twee fan, it's unfair to call this a "twee comp". Sure there's jangly guitar pop, but many tracks are drenched in noise and guitar fuzz. Listen to the Jesus and Mary Chain song or the very early Pop Will Eat Itself tune, "Black Country Chainsaw Massacre". This is indie pop music without the homogonized indie pop formula.
I wish I could say that in 1986 this tape changed my life, but by the time I heard it somewhere in the late 90s via the internet, I was already a fan of many of the featured bands. When I bought this new 48 track CD comp (that BTW is different and better than the original C86 comp -should I have mentioned that earlier??) I got a ton of great stuff I'd missed out on and the best thing in my "various artists" iTunes category.

C30 C60 C90 Go! (cd1)
C30 C60 C90 Go! (cd2)

ESHAM

2011-02-12T08:23:00.000-08:00

When Esham A. Smith was just a 13 year old kid in Detroit, he made the dark, violent rap album Boomin' Words from Hell. It's a solid record, and it's primitive low budget recording adds to it's charm. The real draw here though is Esham's dark lyrics and the flagrant use of vocal samples from popular gangsta rap songs of the era. Red Rum could be the blueprint for future horrorcore groups to follow such as ICP and Flatlinerz. He would much later briefly sign with the former's label.

Make sure you check out Esham's third record, KKKill the Fetus: "It's just another embryo, attached to an umbilical; You can let that baby grow, but I'd kill it though; kill the fetus ". Fuck yes.

Some old wicket shit!!!

The Nils

2011-02-12T07:44:00.000-08:00

I admit to being a Men Without Hats fan, but the greatest thing that band ever did was giving the Nils money to record their first EP.
The Nils started when brothers Alex and Carlo Soria were young kids in Montreal (Alex being only 12). They didn't release much during the years they were active and recording (though they started in the late '70s and reunited in the '90s, their recorded output was 1982-1987), but what they did is essential for fans of power pop, early Minnesota bands like the Replacements and Hüsker Dü, or anything played with heart really.
Unfortunately Alex committed suicide in 2004 when he was 39 years old. If you like this comp of early Nils recordings ("Call of the Wild", the "Now" demo, "Sell Out Young" and "Paisley") check out their LP, Alex's post-Nils band Chino and his solo record.

Wishes

The Obsessed

2011-02-10T10:28:00.000-08:00

"The Church Within" marked The Obsessed's major label debut, and unlike seemingly EVERY other band to get on a major label during the 90s, the lineup of Wino, Greg and Guy put out the band's best material. Sadly it was their last.
The origins of The Obsessed lie with their band Warhorse (before they changed their name) way back in 1976 (yep, only a year after Motorhead started —where's the Wino documentary?). Well, as we all know, Wino joined St. Vitus after the departure of Scott Reagers, and The Obsessed broke up. After Wino left Vitus, they reformed, released some old stuff, and recorded a new record (featuring ex Across the River and future Kyuss bass player Scott Reeder) called "Lunar Womb". Dig that one up too.
It's hazy but I kinda of remember that they were set to tour Europe —with the Melvins maybe? — and their record label pulled the plug due to poor sales. Anything THIS good that doesn't sell makes me lose faith in humanity.
In anycase, the band went on to form Goatsnake and Sunn O))) with Wino forming several new bands and rejoining Vitus.

Torn In Half Like A Dollar Bill

The Rockin' Vickers

2011-02-08T09:56:00.000-08:00

Probably most famous as being Lemmy's first band, the Rockin' Vickers were in their own right one of the best early British bands outside of the Pretty Things, the Who, and the Kinks. Alright and the early Beatles stuff too. Check out the solo on Townsand's pre "The Kids Are Alright" song, "It's Alright" with Lemmy trying to outdo Dave Davies solo on "You Really Got Me". Unfortunately the group disbanded before writing more than a couple original tunes. Instead of rambling on about the CD, I'll tell about the only time I met Lemmy.
It was at an Evil Angel porn party in Vegas during the AVN awards. Too $hort was the stage attraction and I was kinda drunk when Lemmy came walking up straight toward me. Instead of ignoring him like I should have done, I had enough liquid courage to actually bother the guy - however not being too drunk to know not to ramble and seriously interrupt his search for poon.
"You were wrong in your biography", I said. "I like "Kiss of Death" just as much as your old stuff". He smiled and said thanks. I then asked "When is the Rockin' Vickers stuff going to be reissued"? (I think it prolly was in print as an import looking through google, but I had been looking for it since my bootleg tape vanished and couldn't find it on CD). He then sort of chuckled and said something like "those guys something something something and laughed". Yeah, Lemmy is kind of hard to understand in a noisy Too $hort porn party. I said thanks and goodbye or something and left him alone.
Later he came up next to me at the bar and I offered to buy him a drink (does anyone charge Lemmy for drinks anyway?) he said thanks, but he had one. He stayed there and started talking to a stripper / porn star type. After 10 minutes she asks him: "What band are you in again?" "Motorhead, luv" he said.

Shake, Rattle & Roll

Mahavishnu Orchestra

2011-02-04T10:31:00.001-08:00

Well, with Greg Ginn coming to the bay area soon, and my buddy and bandmate Nick asking me to co-DJ some tunes at the show, I thought I'd post what supposedly influenced Greg to get more experimental with Black Flag (for better or worse): Mahavishnu Orchestra's "Birds of Fire".
The Mahavishnu Orchestra was formed by John McLaughlin, guitar player for the Miles Davis Band who had played on the classics Bitches Brew and In a Silent Way. Birds of Fire is actually MO's second LP; their first release was the equally great The Inner Mounting Flame with the face melting track "The Dance of Maya". Check it out if you like this one. After Birds of Fire, John McLaughlin continued to play for Davis and release Mahavishnu Orchestra reocrds with different line ups. Call it prog, rock, call it jazz fusion or just jazz this is a great record that should appeal to most anyone who digs Focus, Goblin, Eloy, Miles Davis, ELP, and even Black Flag.
If you're hearing it for the first time, find out why (according to Wikipedia) Jeff Beck calls McLaughlin "the best guitarist alive".

Unlike most of this blog, copies are easily found for cheap online with used copies as low as $3.60 ― so if you like it buy it!

Sapphire Bullets of Pure Love

David Bixby

2010-12-02T10:52:00.000-08:00

Ode To Quetzalcoatl (which might be the best name for a record in the history of music) was originaly pressed on vinyl with a run of only 1,000 copies. David Bixby had recently "found God", but the drug addled folk singer was shunned by the conservative christians as well as the hippies (if only he'd wandered on to the set of Godspell). Eventually finding himself accepted by a cult, Bixby was asked to record this record to help fund them. Eventually he was disillusioned with the cult and managed to get out.

This is a deepy personal recording and there's a real eerie quality about it...plus you get awesome song titles like "Drug Song" and "666".

Q

Saint Vitus

2010-12-01T09:11:00.000-08:00

Sad news yesterday that original Saint Vitus drummer Armando Acosta passed away at 58 years young. As a guitar player, I never pay a whole lot of attention to the drums of a band but I do notice when they are especially amazing (Mountain's Corky Laing and Melvin's Dale Crover come to mind). Armando Acosta was also that kind of drummer.

I didn't hear Saint Vitus 'till the end of 1986 when I got SST's great comp tape "Blasting Concept 2". For me, the stand-out track was Saint Vitus's "Look Behind You". In fact Dave Chandler's Wah pedal sound on that (especially the awesome audible clicking off of the pedal) is what made me buy a wah pedal of my own. I've never forgotten how to play that song and can't help but play it every time I hook up the crybaby.

This early 12" EP is on the CD reissue of Hallow's Victim, which is amazing and since I think all their stuff is finally in print again, you might as well skip the download and head straight to their store. Oh wait, you already own this I bet...

War is our Destiny

Neil Merryweather

2010-11-29T11:04:00.000-08:00

You can read all about Neil Merryweather here, but let's talk about this record. It's in the top ten of best rock records ever made. I'm not stating an opinion, that is a fact. More consistent than pretty much anything from that era, it's also explosive fuzz guitar at it's peak. Turn it up and you can feel the heat of vintage transistors being over driven as guitars scream to 11.

Not sure how to describe this one...partly later Electric Prunes, a bit of Highway Robbery, and 100x heavier than Edgar Winter at his rockingest. It's hooky, raw and LOUD.

This is also one of those records that is SO good, I gotta say that you'll miss out if skip around like it's so easy to do these days of mp3 blogs and torrents. Even the slower songs will get stuck in your head and have incredibly well written guitar parts.

As of now there are 2 from private sellers on Amazon for 18 bucks each, so if you don't take my word for it, check it out here first then go order this Canadian masterpiece of epic rock.

Is it just me or do the verses of "You Know Where I'd Rather Be" sound like it could be from a newer Melvins song?

Star Rider, eh?

Powder

2010-10-26T10:37:00.000-07:00

Wot's that you say? You like the 60s? You like the hip new rock beats coming from England like the Who and The Pretty Things? Well my friend, if you haven't listened to Powder's CD of mostly 1968 demos you're in for a groovy treat.
Powder were actually from San Mateo, a small town near San Francisco, and just a few train stops from Redwood City where I work. I couldn't find much info about any tours or label support, but after the short lived band broke up, Thomas and Richard Frost backed Sonny & Cher for a tour, then recorded a bunch of great (but very produced and sugary) pop tunes that you can get re-released here for a reasonable price.
In any case, ignore the reviews that say that these songs are just Who knockoffs...there are a couple semi-blatant riffs sure, but these guys definitely knew how to write great songs. I think you'll dig it.

Visualize

The Dentists

2010-10-19T11:33:00.000-07:00

The Dentists were a band from South Eastern England who formed in 1984, and released this amazing record just a year later. Pure jangle bliss, with plenty of 60s garage and psychedelia influences somewhat similar to The Soft Boys at their lighter moments or maybe '60s tunesmiths The Action. Well, whatever they really sound like, it's damned good and this could be the first, true "Brit-Pop" record. If you lik pop, prepare to listen to this for the rest of the day.

Powdered Lobster Fiasco

Embryo

2010-10-15T11:30:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've posted, so I thought I'd better come back with something really good. So, here's one of my favorite krautrock/prog albums of all time. In fact, wikipedia calles them "one of the most important German Krautrock bands of the 1970s".

What do they sound like? Some of the guitar reminds me of Hawkwind, some of the bass lines remind me of Goblin and then there's the world beat element that's a little like Mandrill, while "Marimbaroos" verges on Martin Denny space rock. OK, that's not super accurate but they're a hard band to pin down. If any of what I mention strikes a nerve though, you'll want to take a listen.

also, did you know there's also a documentary about their 1979 bus tour throughout India? It's called Vagabond's Band. Here's a preview. If you don't watch it, you're an idiot!

Oktoberfest

Stitch

2010-10-01T10:32:00.000-07:00

OK, so I grabbed this off another blog a while back but I can't think of a better "obscure" metal 7" to start October with than this...not that I really tried mind you.

Anyway, for fuck's sake check these guys out. They were a Swedish band but this single sounds really NWOBHM. The A side, "Devil's Deal" is catchy as hell and features some pretty amazing lyrics too.

NWOSHM

Highway Robbery

2010-09-30T09:54:00.000-07:00

Sneaking in one of my all-time favorite rock records before October gets here, Highway Robbery's sole LP "For Love Or Money" is cut from the same cloth as Grand Funk and Cactus (at their best). Heavy fuzzed out guitars and great lead vocals with sweet harmonies.
I don't know much about these guys, but a couple of them went on to be in ATLEE. If you like music, check these guys out - you won't be sorry!

Lazy Woman

The Stripper

2010-09-27T10:03:00.000-07:00

I gotta thank the folks over at RockyMusic for this one. I don't own this album, but I'd love to find a copy.

Richard O'Brian (Rocky Horror, Shock Treatment, The Crystal Maze, etc...) wrote this noir/pulp musical (based on a Carter Brown novel) which hit the stage in 1982. For any fan of Rocky Horror this is a must have. Even though I love that film and Shock Treatment, I'd never hunted this down...'till now! More info on it here.

Baby You Give Me a Hard On

Shit From An Old Camcorder

2010-09-26T17:47:00.000-07:00

While I'm being lazy working 6 days a week and not posting any new records to my blog (some vinyl rips soon though!) here's some recent stuff I uploaded to Youtube:

Melvins live at UCLA 1993

Bikini Kill live at the Macondo, LA.

And a cheezy little horror movie short I made in the 12th grade

Field Trip

2010-09-16T11:53:00.000-07:00

This post is for those of you who have a soft spot for late 80s/early 90s college rock. Anyone? OK, well back then my weekends consisted of taping Headbanger's Ball and 120 Minutes on MTV. Remember when you had to PAY for music? And you couldn't type things like "Poison Idea live" into youtube and spend hours watching great underground clips? Well, watching free music stuff on TV was pretty sweet back then, even if it wasn't totally your cup of tea, or even if you had to stay up till 2 a.m. to watch the one Didjits or Nuclear Assault video they were going to play.

Anyways, Field Trip's video "Slumberjack" was one such tune played once or twice and after several listens on my VHS tape, I picked up the CD. It's a bit more mellow and produced than the stuff I listened to even back then, but there are some great tunes and catchy guitar twangs. They did a reunion recently and were way more rockin and abrasive then this CD would suggest. Hopefully they'll play again. I uploaded a couple shitty clips from my cell phone as well.

If you're a fan of stuff like fIREHOSE, the Meat Puppets and Wonderful Broken Thing / Chance the Gardener give this a spin. "Blue Blanket"is my favorite tune on here, and did I mention this band features the drummer from the amazing MENSCLUB?

Music

Video Clips

The Real Greg Brady

2010-09-01T10:14:00.000-07:00

Holy Sherwood Schwartz! This is an amaaazing CD single.

Let's get one thing straight. I LOVE the Brady Bunch. That show NEVER jumped the shark (yes, I even liked the music, the Hawaii and Grand Canyon episodes, AND Robbie Rist as everyone's favorite jinx Cousin Oliver). Hell, I even enjoyed the cheezy Very Brady Christmas's and how could you not love the Variety Hour? Fake Jan and all...Even the cartoons...and yes, even Ann B. Davis's cookbook. I'm a fan.

You know, Barry Williams has a TON of talent, but I don't think he's ever gotten to show much of it off. Maybe if he'd gotten Donnie Osmond's gig in the Technicolor Dreamcoat...but I digress. Here Barry sings three (pretty similar) versions of Eminem's "The Real Slim Shady" (maybe one of the most annoying rap songs ever written) but changes the words to be about his career as Greg Brady. Some of it's in really bad taste too! The 4th song is taken from the "Return of Johnny Bravo" disc and is a cover of "We Are The Champions" by Queen. It's totally unnecessary, sure, but he does a pretty stellar job of it. Let me know what you think, and don't tattle on me for uploading it.

Time To Change

Cat Rapes Dog

2010-08-31T10:53:00.000-07:00

My bandmates and I were talking about that Swedish Death Metal book last night, which doesn't have much to do with Cat Rapes Dog, but maybe I had Swedes on the brain this morning.
Cat Rapes Dog are my all-time favorite industrial (or "electro-punk" if you like that term) band and have been since my friend Lindsay dubbed me a few songs off this record back in '90 or '91.

Cat Rapes Dog was started in 1984 by Joel Rydström and Magnus Fransson, just one year after Skinny Puppy's debut ep and Alien Sex Fiend's first cassette, but they never got the attention those bands did. "God Guns & Gasoline" didn't come out 'til 1990, but it's still my favorite. "Maximum Overdrive" is another excellent record (especially the track "Schizophrenia").

Anyways, check this out unless you want to buy the CD on amazon for $255 new. (or used from private sellers at around $9). Crank up tracks like "Homo Bulldozer", or "American Dream" and blow something up.

Ass For a Brain

Oh why the hell not- here is the OOP "Maximum Overdrive" as well:

Hell Is Real

Dull Knife

2010-08-30T09:48:00.000-07:00

A year before I was born, West Germany's Dull Knife cut this unusual Prog Rock LP. I dig it, but it took a few listens to appreciate the less rocking tunes like "Walk Along The Muddy Road" and the rock opera sounding "Song Of A Slave". There are better German prog records out there, but don't let this one slip through the cracks.
Also, come on man -look at that cover!

Wounded Knee

Hausu

2010-08-23T15:55:00.000-07:00

Possibly the craziest film ever made is Nobuhiko Obayahi's Hausu (AKA "House", 1977). I gotta thank the Manchester Morgue for posting this last year and turning me on to the film which had gone under my radar 'till then. The soundtrack is nearly as wacky, ranging from Goblin-esque prog to 70s rock that would be more at home in a Leif Garrett foosball flick.
So nope, this one I don't actually own but will be happy to buy should it become available — just as I currently own a copy of Hausu, but can't wait for the Criterion release due out soon.

Cherries Were Made For Eating

Goldy

2010-08-23T09:52:00.000-07:00

Back in 1994 when I was pimpin' (yeah right) I ordered this CD from one of those Colombia House 9 records for a penny deals. It's as funky as you'd expect from the dangerous crew, and it's a slightly more consistent record than anything Too $hort or Ant Banks released (IMHO). the rhymes keep coming and the bass sounds like a wet fart from a big black booty. Way fucking underrated. Too $hort, as usual, makes a guest appearance and like on Ant Banks's "Big Badass" busts rhymes that rival those on his own recordings.

If you don't feel like burying your face in the nappy dugout after listening to this, then you're listening wrong.

Oakland, California Where the Mac Was Made

Methuselah

2010-08-05T14:57:00.000-07:00

I have to admit, I'm a big fan of Renaissance folk band Amazing Blondel. I'm not ashamed and I'll be posting some too if it falls in the OOP/hard to find category. Methuselah is the prior HEAVY ROCK band of John Gladwin and Terry Wincott. Actually, the first track isn't very heavy. If you're one of those impatient iTunes skippers who never listens to a complete album, skip that track and start on track 2 .
Oh, the weird religious lyrics are a turn off? Too bad- this ain't "Godspell", it's "Jesus Christ Superstar" on PCP. Now go dig this slab of heavy UK psyche, heathen!

Spine of God

Black Jack

2010-08-03T09:52:00.000-07:00

VINYL RIP

Man, there were some great punk rock records in the mid to late 90s. No, really! The Candy Snatchers, Hookers, Spiderbabies, Son of Hercules, ANTiSEEN...just a few who put out some great stuff. One underrated classic is Black Jack's self-titled LP.
Estrus put this out then seemed to disown it when Black Jack pissed off everyone at a Garage Shock fest with a barrage of heel shit-talking that didn't go over so well (from what I remember reading — I couldn't find out anything online).
A mix of the Misfits, ANTiSEEN, and early '80s West Coast punk, it was an unusual release from Estrus and at the time a breath of fresh air from a label whose releases were getting a bit "same-y". It didn't get great reviews, but this is a fun fucking record — raw, sloppy, and catchy as hell.
Ripped from my LP in glorious 320kbps, the songs go into one another so I left the tracks as "Side A" and "Side B" (Jpg of track listing included). Anyone have more info on these guys or what they're up to now? Lemme know in the comments!

I'm Gonna Step On You!

The Ronsons

2010-07-20T09:16:00.000-07:00

The Ronsons featured Kurt Vanderhoof of Metal Church and the Lewd, and Dan Garrett of Murder and the Fuckin' Flyin' A-Heads.
Two of their songs ("Butcher Town" and "You'll Be Taken Care Of") were covered by Buzz and Dale of the Melvins and Pat Fear of White Flag in their one-single project, "Sawed Off" (Gastatanka Records).
This is a 37 minute live and practice tape of the Ronsons, and I think all that exists. I ripped my cassette, but did a little mastering and it sounds pretty good overall. I forgot to do hiss reduction, so there's a bit of that goin' on...but don't let it scare you off, it's a GREAT listen for those adventurous enough.

You'll Be Taken Care Of

Griffin

2010-07-14T15:26:00.000-07:00

This lost classic made the blog circuit for a while and it's CD reissue came and went pretty fast -but in case you missed it, this is some damn INCREDIBLE power metal.
A bit like Paul DiAnno-era Maiden getting jumped in a dark alley by Raven all with amazing sheiks and growls from singer William McKay. Very competent and creative guitar work throughout as well. Fucking essential man!

Heavy Metal Attack

Ten Yard Fight

2010-07-13T09:34:00.001-07:00

If you're in a manly mood, no other music hits the spot like some youth crew hardcore. Well, perhaps a Manowar record would do the trick as well but then I'm not sure European heshers embrace the male bonding as much as the hardcore scene - and besides, nothing says "touching ass" like football-themed straight-edge hardcore.
Actually, this is one of my favorite pieces of hardcore from the '90s. The Outlast 10" comes close, and I'll put that up if it's OOP as well.
TYF uses football imagery as a metaphor for the sXe lifestyle ("You fumbled the ball" = breaking edge, get it?) and while it's all a bit tounge-in-cheek, the great songwriting have made these demos a classic. Youth crew sXe was always a good soundtrack for doing hotrails of speed to as well.
Anyway, if American football isn't your thing, and you'd rather hit the gym, Aesop recently posted this great (and funny) Dead Lift cassette here, otherwise check it out!

When the Cowboys Were Strong

Mel Gibson

2010-07-12T15:07:00.000-07:00

I'm not posting any music today, because I'm too busy listening to this amazing tape:
(also, because I am lazy).

http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2010/07/exclusive-new-audio-mel-gibson-admits-hitting-oksana-threatens-kill-her-listen-it

Bad News

2010-07-11T09:27:00.001-07:00

As Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth would say: "BAD NEWS EVERYBODY!".

Even though Spinal Tap started as a Rob Reiner sketch from 1979, spoof metal band Bad News (featuring three cast members of the Young Ones) beat the Tap movie by a year.
Debuting on BBCs channel 4 in 1983, the first Bad News short film focused on the band's struggles as a pub rock metal band in England. "More Bad News" released half a decade later had the band gaining moderate success and playing at the Monsters of Rock festival at Castle Donington.
While this CD can be enjoyed without having seen the films, I advise to watch the video first. Also, unlike the Spinal Tap records, this has comedy skits as well as their incompetent Motorhead-esque songs. This is a great CD, so quit listening to Mary Hopkin numbers and download some BAD NEWS!

I could play "Stairway to Heaven" when I was twelve. Jimmy Page didn't actually write it until he was twenty-two. I think that says quite a lot. —Vim

Lager

Sylvain Sylvain

2010-07-06T10:46:00.000-07:00

VINYL RIP (320 kbps)

Overshadowed by Johnny Thunders larger than life druggie "Guitar God" persona, Sylvain wasn't exactly "chopped liver". Though never much of a song writer with the dolls, he really proves his worth on this RCA solo record. The music on this is similar to what Roy Loney of the Flamin' Groovies did solo - a 70s take on 1950s Rock 'n' Roll.
Even though clean and wimpy production plagues this from being a great album, Sylvain's catchy tunes make it a must own for any fan. If "Teenage News" doesn't make you wanna get up and twist then there's something wrong with you.

Dance Like a Monkey

The Baby Sitters

2010-06-30T15:34:00.000-07:00

If more people knew Alan Arkin was in a children's music folk band, this CD would be in print and more popular than Lady GaGa.
Not as weird as "Sharon, Lois and Bram" but still highly entertaining, the Baby Sitters incorporated pots and pans and non traditional instruments and sometimes did some mighty strange vocalizing. It makes me wish I was still sucking on my mom's ripe tit. Well, not my mom's, but someone's.

40 pee-boner inducing tracks broken into 2 parts:

Part 1
Part 2 (contains insert scans)

Serpent Crown

2010-06-29T10:45:00.000-07:00

My new favorite bay area band is Serpent Crown who feature an all star cast of miscreants: Dara Santhai (Santhai,Ravana,and local artist extraordinaire), Will Carroll (Old Grandad, Scarecrow, Death Angel, Cutthroats 9) and Dave Dinsmore (Lab, later era Bl’ast!, Unida). Strangely enough Dave — who plays barefoot — had his shoes stolen by our old drummer once when we played with one of his bands.
Serpent Crown are a tasteful blend of black metal, power metal and thrash, with Dara’s singing adding a bit of really cool 45 grave style to it all. At least that’s my take on them — I can’t really keep up with all the sub-genres these days. In any case, it all makes for a pretty rare original sound during an oversaturated time for heavy music. AND it rocks!

DaraBeast

Dr. Bob's Nightmare

2010-06-29T09:02:00.000-07:00

I don't know how popular they were in their hometown of Hostile City, Philadelphia, PA but Dr. Bob's Nightmare remain to me the best '90s band that never "made it".
Super catchy in the vein of the Hard-Ons, and grittier than stuff like the Queers or the Parasites, this CD has never collected too much dust over the past 15 years.
After their break-up, they formed the 440s down in Arizona. I know Wendy now lives out here in the Bay Area and still plays music, but if you have any more info on these guys then leave a fucking comment!

Kansas City Bomber

art

Strange Fruit

2010-06-25T10:51:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite "Dramedies" is the 1998 film, "Still Crazy". If Spinal Tap wasn't a mockumentary and had more story and heart, it wold be something similar perhaps. Also, Bill Nighy (Pirate Radio, Sean of the Dead, Pirates OTC movies, etc...) is just amazing as the aging lead singer/wanker Ray Simms.
Strange Fruit's music varies from Thin Lizzy meet Bad Company ("All Over The World") to doomy over the top acid rock ("Scream Freedom") but you won't enjoy it nearly as much (or maybe at all) unless you've first seen the film.

The Flame Still Burns

My Van Was Stolen!! -and Just found!

2010-06-14T22:55:00.001-07:00

I am angry. And sad, but pretty fucking ANGRY. I will post an ANGRY MUSIC comp here tomorrow. But in the meantime, my sweet ride is gone.
I blogged about her here and even made her a mixtape.

*Update! The police found the van. Bayshore area off 3rd st. They snagged my radiator and fucked up some shit getting to it. They also stole both batteries and tore off half my front bumper and pulled out my hood release. I'm insured for damages...but I'm sure the insurance thing will be a big pain to deal with. I may have to pay some $ out of pocket. Bah.

Yiddish Folk Music

2010-06-14T10:13:00.000-07:00

I'm getting so sick of all the requests for Yiddish folk music, that I decided to cave in and post some. I got this CD eighteen years ago when I worked at a record shoppe (a quality LaserLight product!) and I've kept it over the years because there's something eerie and depressing to me about this music. I also found it pretty fucking weird. My favorite track is "Ein Mul Ti Ich Si Banaien". I have no idea what it means, but it brings to mind a father who is brooding over what a dissapoinment his son is to him. Though perhaps I am projecting.

If I Were a Rich Man

Game Room Soundtrack

2010-06-11T14:15:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been playing a lot of X-Box Game Room. For those who don't know, it's a virtual multi-leveled arcade space where your X-box "Avatar" goes and can purchase classic arcade, Atari 2600 and Intellivision games for three bucks each. Added features are "mascots", 3D replicas of the original arcade cabinets, leaderboards, the ability to record and rewind gameplay, and creating and sending game challenges to your friends. I've been playing M.A.M.E. (a free emulator program) since it came out, but game room is much, much more fun, even with some of its bugs.
Anyways, on a forum I go to "Game Room soundtracks" were discussed, so I thought I'd upload mine. It's mostly old New Wave with some punk and classic metal thrown in. Again nothing obscure, so only download if you feel like listening to this sort of comp or have blisters on your thumbs due to infuriating hours of Gravitar and Space Duel.

Pac Man Fever

JPG of track list

Glenn Tipton's Flying Hat Band

2010-06-10T11:40:00.000-07:00

This is actually half of a post, because instead of ripping the entire split CD bootleg of The Flying Hat Band and Antrobus, I'm only doing the four Tipton tunes. Antrobus are actually Scotland's Iron Claw (for some strange reason) who are AMAZING, but whose CDs are in print and reasonably priced.
As for the flying hat band, their unreleased LP isn't out anywhere so far as I know, but these four songs are available on your finer boots and blogs. Supposedly the record label thought it sounded too much like Sabbath and didn't release it (they were also from Birmingham and had the same management company). Personally, I think they have more in common with Deep Purple and Captain Beyond** but what do I know anyway?

Hallelujah!

**BTW, if anyone knows where Rod Evans lives in San Francisco, let me know. I wanna buy him lunch.

King Tuff

2010-06-10T10:44:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I hear a record and think: "GODDAMN, there was a chance I wouldn't have stumbled across this and my life would have been BULLSHIT!" Well, that's a bit how I felt when I heard "King Tuff Was Dead".
King Tuff is Vermont native Kyle Thomas of Witch (and new band Happy Birthday) fame and I first heard his music on Caroline Keddy's KUSF show. It was one of those rare instances where I grabbed a post-it and wrote down the name of the artist and record, because I had to have it. I had heard people mention "King Tuff" once or twice, but I assumed he was some Lee Scratch Perry reggae figure I hadn't heard of.
Finding "Was Dead" in record stores or online — even the second pressing — isn't an easy task. there is a second pressing on eBay as I type but it's going for $19.99 + $5 shipping. Well, 'til something cheaper (like a 3rd pressing) comes along, take a listen here. Also, Happy Birthday just released their first record and it's available from Sub Pop.

It's a Gas-s-s-s

No Fraud

2010-06-06T09:14:00.001-07:00

No Fraud from Venice, Florida have been "keeping it real" playing skate rock/hardcore since the mid-80s. The first EP is a brilliant piece of G.B.H. influenced hardcore, while their debut LP, "Hard to the Core" adds a bit more melody a-la early Dag Nasty. This CD comp has both of those as well as their "Cheezier Than Thou" cassette.
Thanks to my buddy Pete Jay for giving me this here CD ten or so years back - he was also one of many revolving members of No Fraud.

They may be playing a skate park near you, so be on the look out, poseur!

Puszone

Guest Blogger...Iggy Pop?

2010-06-04T11:16:00.000-07:00

Iggy Pop wants you to hear this music and who the fuck are you to say no? He was cutting open his chest when you were cutting open your Stretch Armstrong, candyass.
This comp came free with an issue of "Mojo" I picked up (mostly for this comp, though that magazine does have some great features in it from time to time). It's not obscure stuff, but it is a good, solid comp that has already come with me on a road trip or two. It's the kind of CD that everyone in the van can agree on.
The liner notes list ALL 43 of Iggy's musical selections (only 15 made it), so I scanned that in too. Some really great stuff.

A Little Bit O' Soul

Pussy Galore

2010-06-03T09:36:00.000-07:00

What's that you say? The original "Exile on Mainstreet" isn't raw enough for you? Well, no matter - Pussy Galore will make it totally unlistenable!
That is, unless you're the special type who loves the lowest of the lo-fi. Bassholes, Gibson Brothers, '68 Comeback and the like. when I was 18 this stuff said to me that it was perfectly acceptable to release a boom box recording on vinyl. Not just a good sounding boom box recording either. How about a recording at the back of a shitty club you were playing (while drunk and out of tune) with batteries that were dying and annoying beer bottles clinking around? Your record need not have to sound like Boston or Queen or even as quality as the Cramps or Ramones - That's what Jon Spencer and Jeffery Evens tought me. Bless them.
In any case, if you love Exile give this a listen. If you already love Pusy Galore how about revisiting this great tribute to commemorate Exile's anniversary? Eh? Nudge Nudge.

It's Just A Click Away
It's Just A Click Away

Tar Babies

2010-06-02T15:00:00.000-07:00

In an era before The Bellrays and the Dap Kings, the Tar Babies (and the Big Boys) were bringing out the funk!

Three ex members of the Madison, Wisconsin hardcore scene calling themselves the "Tar Babies" and playing funk music must have been pretty daring back in 1982 (depending on what side of the tracks they were performing at I imagine). While their earlier band Mecht Mensch were a pretty great punk band, the Tar Babies were also more than capable at handling complex funk-based tunes. Less jazzy than their SST label mates, Universal Congress Of... and certainly less punk or "alternative" than the rest of the roster, perhaps they were just out of place in the '80s and never got as huge as they should have been (after all, the Chili Peppers didn't get big 'till they "whited" up their sound). If not for the "Savannah Slamma" skate video they were in 21 years ago, I may have never heard of them either.
"No contest" is my favorite, but "Honey Bubble" and "Fried Milk" are classics as well. I got their 4th record on cassette several years ago...but I've actually never played it yet for some reason.

fun fact: their bass player is the drummer of Old Skull's dad!

Husker Dude

Shonen Knife

2010-05-26T11:14:00.000-07:00

It's my birthday, so I'm feeling happy. Shonen Knife reminds me of happy.
For me this is their "classic" album. It features a few of my favorite songs (Baggs, Lazybones, Diet Run) as well as a great cover of "The Luck of the Irish" featuring Redd Kross's Jeff McDonald. Another great track is the tribute to one of my favorite bands called simply "Blue Oyster Cult" that borrows ever so slightly from Agents Of Fortune's "Debbie Denise".
If a few of you are new to Shonen Knife, don't let the first song (that sounds more like Cibo Matto) scare you off. You're also better off starting with 1992's "Let's Knife", which is sort of a re-recorded compilation of earlier stuff.

After this, go listen to the Sleaze Sisters, Supersnazz and the 5,6,7,8's!

Bear Up Bison

TSOL - Change Today?

2010-05-25T08:45:00.000-07:00

I first heard of T.S.O.L. in 6th grade, because for some weird reason all the 7th graders (even the preppies) somehow got into them (maybe it was the same year they played a party in the desert - a show my band mate Nick got to see - and news spread to us middle schoolers?). In any case, I'd heard them ("Code Blue" really appealed to my sense of humor at the time), and seen pictures of them when I got my "Hardcore Punk in California Book" in 8th grade, but I didn't get INTO them 'til a year later when in 9th grade (the year I really got into all the punk stuff) I bought a skate video called "Summer Sessions". the video was pretty crappy, but it was my first skate video so I watched it over and over again. Also, the entire soundtrack was nearly every song off of "Change Today?"
It was the beginning of the end for TSOL, and by the time I was a senior, my friend who was into stuff like Tesla, Skid Row and Guns 'n' Roses became a fan (always the sign of a band going "mersh"). They also, as you know had no more original members.

Anyways, at band practice the other day we all broke into an A cappella version of "How Do", and last practice I annoyed Nick trying to figure out the riff to "Red Shadows". He swears he'll never listen to this record again after that. This is for you, buddy!

p.s. For some reason I never got in to the opening track, "Black Magic" so I always start on the second song. Always. Maybe I'll give it another chance.

Heroin!

HORNSS

2010-05-20T20:05:00.000-07:00

Wow, how long has it been? So yeah, I got the old '83 diesel chevy van and haven't blogged since!
Just one more thing to suck up my time, right? Also I went back home to Palm Springs for a few days (Film Noir festival and Grandma's 89th birthday!), also been working 6 days a week as usual, and band practice...and to top it off street cleaning is 7 DAYS A WEEK in my neighborhood! And they still can't get rid of the human shit that's everywhere! I mean, if you're homeless and you gotta poo, by all means take a dump on the street, I don't own the sidewalk or tarmac...just clean up as best you can, or make some kind of effort. Sheesh!

Anyways, I'm still kinda busy, but more rips are on the way! In the meantime, our new band finally has a Myspace page with a couple rough songs recorded at band practice (with overdubs and tinkering obviously)

check it out:

http://www.facebook.com/HORNSS
http://www.myspace.com/hornssf

be back soon with something good!

-Mike

Rolling Rooms: A Blog the Jerk! Comp

2010-04-30T14:37:00.000-07:00

I basically grew up in the late '70s and early '80s. At least those were the formative years of me sneaking my first beer, managing to score a few copies of Oui magazine from a friend, trying cigarettes and weed for the first time, and watching all kinds of things on cable my mom didn't know I was watching.
Back in those days a young kid could glean from movies that a. you weren't cool without a cool car and b. you will never get laid without a cool car. and c. beer and weed were cool (this was pre Nancy Regan, remember). The "cool cars" back then (according to Hollywood) were Corvettes and Custom Vans. The film "The Van" and the van featured in "Rock n Roll High School" left a permanent mark on my brain, and though my first two cars were neither of those things, I have gone through life with van-envy. Until now.
That's right, I finally got myself an old Chevy van! A 1983 G20 with a diesel engine (vegetable oil conversion kit included). Am I excited? HELL YES. Of course parking it in San Francisco is going to be a nightmare (as of this post I'm picking her up in a day or two).
Well, 'till I pick her up, I have been obsessively "vanning" the internet. I Joined a couple of online van sites, been reading mechanic manuals on my van, and constantly visioning all the custom things I wanna do to her. I also made this Van-tastic (yeah I went there) comp for my first trip out with her!
I'm not posting a track list since some of it is major label, in print stuff...but it's a "mixtape", so no harm done. It's pretty freewheelin' and I tried to mix some old hits with some more obscure stuff (like the James Rolleston song from "Bad News Bears in Breaking Training" and "S.O.U.L.")

Vankhana

Tony Rojas

2010-04-28T12:36:00.000-07:00

Most of San Francisco knows Tony from being in Shotwell (and Flophouse and his other current bands), however, hidden deep in the recesses of Tony’s closet (according to Jimmy Shotwell) lie boxes of Tony’s solo CD. It’s too bad there aren't more out there, 'cause for a while this didn’t leave my stereo and a lot of people would really dig it.
It might not be for every fan of his other bands — some of it sounds more like Chance the Gardner or Wonderful Broken Thing rather than the sorta Mission District peace punk (if that’s what you wanna call it) he normally plays — but if you’re like me and like mellower stuff too (Bill Fox's solo stuff comes to mind on “Brother”) you might wanna give this a chance. There’s also a couple garage rock stompers, a little bit of Cheap Trick, and some good ol' political lyrics, including a better, acoustic version of Shotwell’s “R U Insane”.

Salt of the Earth

The Meat Sluts

2010-04-22T10:00:00.000-07:00

The definition of a "good time at a show" is a Meat Sluts show. I don't know if it's their cute outfits, occasional contests or guy bounding about in a giant hot dog costume, but they also have good catchy garage punk songs to back it up. I generally hate "prop rock" bands, but they ain't no "prop rock" band.
The Meat sluts feature ex-members of the Double D's, the Loudmouths, and the Womentors. Scarlet (the most exuberant drummer in the city) also plays in Lost Puppy . The Meat Sluts are a band that encourages elbow raising and I've definitely been pretty wasted every time I've seen them. Also, even tho' one of 'em is vegan and one vegetarian you may still find yourself covered in Oscar Mayer corpse by the end of their set. Last time I saw them at the El Rio, the whole place stunk like a 3rd grader's lunchbox.
Anyways, the band gave the OK to have their CD posted here, so check it out, and next time they're in your town, go check them out!

HubbaBubbaBaby

Glam!

2010-04-20T09:56:00.000-07:00

Glam, glitter, bubblegum...I was never too sure what the major differences were, but I used to eat all that shit up like a Jolly Rancher covered Pixie Stick. This fine compilation will school all but the highest authority on the genre — most bands on here barely put out a single or two, I think — and will make the less jaded step into some knee high sparkle boots and get down.

I scanned the insert at a readable size and included it, since there's a wealth of info on the bands (and some snazzy photos). Great songs, obscure bands, what's not to like??

Do Ya Wanna Touch?

MRR Radio

2010-04-18T08:47:00.000-07:00

While I'm figuring out what to rip and trying to muster up the energy to do a whole slew of new posts, my friend Ron asked me to be a guest DJ on his Maximum Rock n Roll podcast. I like what I played, and the other guys played some killer tunes -most of which I'd never heard before. So check it out! Lots of DRUNK fun!

link to podcast page. Right click "download", or just click it to play in browser.

MRR

Monster Comp Time!

2010-04-13T14:23:00.000-07:00

Howdy folks,

Been busy and not ripping anything —and prolly won't for a few days yet, but in the meantime I was a guest blogger over at Illogical Contraption, where Shelby gave me the blog theme of "Monsters". I made a 38 (?) track comp so check it out if ya wanna!

How to Make a Monster

Haunted Garage

2010-04-08T11:58:00.000-07:00

Let's go back to 1990 Hollywood. There was no band in L.A. more fun and entertaining than Haunted Garage. Not The Duchess Se Sade, not the Mentors, not even Celebrity Skin. Live, in a spectacle of fake blood, mousetraps and gore gore girls, you'd hardly notice that their songs weren't very good. Unfortunately, this being an MP3 blog and all, it's their songs — not a live video — that I'm posting.
I remember one show I went to on the morally bankrupt "Sunset Strip" had Tool and White Zombie opening for these paragons of gore. I think they opened with a woman giving birth to singer Dukey Flyswatter that night. I can't remember. But I still have a photo of it somewhere.
Last time I saw Dukey he was at Mondo Video (RIP) browsing the horror, and shorty after I moved back to S.F. they played a reunion show that I can only imagine was amazing.

Satan Of The Morning

Kryst The Conqueror

2010-04-02T12:22:00.000-07:00

1989 was not really a good year for two Misfits to release a classic 80s metal sounding record. Maybe there really never was a good time for this to be released. Back then I was burnt on stuff like Maiden and getting into the noisier punk records being released. Still, I couldn't resist picking this CD up a couple decades ago in a cut-out bin.
you know what? It's a pretty damn decent EP of 1984ish metal. It's like they didn't care (or were aware) of what was happening in music at the time. they got Jeff Scott Soto (of Yngwie's Rising Force) to come in to the studio, called him "Christ the Conqueror" and made him sing some awesomely corny fantasy lyrics. It's not often that something I thought was a total joke at the time becomes a personal favorite.
Anyways, most of you remember this one, but maybe you haven't heard it in a long time. It may have grown on you since you last gave it a spin, or maybe it's like what my mom said in the late 80s: "The music of today finally makes appreciate KISS".

Thunder Thruster

Cheap Dates / Candy Snatchers split

2010-04-02T11:15:00.001-07:00

For a while, Man’s Ruin was doing this weird thing where they’d release a 10” from two bands, then a few months or so later, issue a CD with both bands on it – but Kozik would design the cover so that you’d never know that it was a split. Such was the case with my band where we got all the “glory” and local hardcore band "the Idiots" got the short end of the stick (and UPC code). In this case, it was the Cheap Dates.
Anyways, you all know who the Candy Snatchers are, so the Cheap Dates were good friends of ours from the bay area fronted by my buddy and ex-roommate Pete Jay (Black Queen, Wormwood, etc…), and featured Shane White’s brother Jason on drums. They were a really good and creative band, but perhaps a little too weird for some of the persnickety garage rock scene. Check em out, and listen to what’s not the best Candy Snatchers songs ever, but still pretty decent stuff.

This Is Rock N Roll!

Teen Crud Combo

2010-03-25T16:00:00.001-07:00

VINYL RIP (7")

Canada's Teen Crud Combo sound like a lot of bands did during the 90s: A sort of Dwarves/Zeke/New Bomb Turks hybrid. I always remembered this 7" standing out more than most of that stuff, and listening to it again it really does. It also features Allyson Baker who moved out this way shortly after their demise.

Beaver County

The Stranglers

2010-03-25T15:22:00.000-07:00

VINYL RIP (7")

Not too long ago I was playing D&D at my friend Nick's pad and he had a tape (yes I said tape) of the Stranglers playing. It made me dig this old 7" out and listen to some of the old Stranglers stuff again. I was never much of a fan, but I liked what I was hearing that night. Maybe they were too "quirky" for me at the time, maybe I just wasn't ready for their awesomeness...most likely it was the cornball keyboards, which funnily enough is now my favorite part.
Anyways, here's the one single I own by them. Their 11th single in fact, featuring two unreleased songs! Make sure you seek out their debut LP, "Rattus Norvegicus" if you haven't heard it.

The Gospel

Romulus

2010-03-21T17:44:00.000-07:00

VINYL RIP (12 big inches)

What's that you say? Why don't I post more gay cowboy disco? Well alright then!
I bought this LP in the castro 11 or so years ago, and I still know nothing about it. Side A is more disco, and side B is more country but it's all super GAY. Enjoy!

Addicted To A Dick

Iron Sheiks

2010-03-18T10:01:00.001-07:00

VINYL RIP (6 Song EP)

I was going to post this on St. Patrick's Day, because who knows as much about drinking beer as the Irish? Australians! And this here is some fine music to bend the elbow to (and smash someone with an elbow to).
I don't know much about the Iron Sheiks, but they were still playing at least up 'till 2009 according to their myspace page. I found this record at Green Apple Books somewhere around 1997, and it's still a favorite. Musically, it's got a bit of early '80s California skate punk vibe, but it's still 100% Aussie.

Stunt Rock

R.I.P. Bruce Roehrs

2010-03-18T09:55:00.000-07:00

Our friend (and by "our", I mean everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him) Bruce passed away. I can't remember the first time I met Bruce, but it seemed like since I moved to San Francisco, he's always been there. Supportive and positive about the music scene, always willing to listen -and good at cheering you up, and one of the most legitimately nicest people I've ever met.

We're all gonna miss you Bruce, this song's for you-

Goodbye

Factrix

2010-03-16T13:15:00.000-07:00

If I put anyone in the mood for some hard to digest weird noisy experimental stuff, look no further than San Francisco’s own Factrix.
Last year or so I went to the local underground theatre here and watched an hours worth of live stuff, which was great. That wasn’t the first I’d heard of Factrix, but it was the first I’d actually heard them. I downloaded this soon after, since I haven’t seen their record around. They started in 1978, but this LP came out a year after the first Whitehouse LP. There are similarities, but Factrix reminds me more of the track Steve Fitch recorded with the Butthole Surfers a half decade later and some of the Residents less structured music. I’m no expert at this kinda stuff, but I like putting it on every now and then.

California Babylon

Whitehouse

2010-03-15T14:33:00.000-07:00

Sorry, I got some good rips coming, but I keep forgetting to take pics of the album art.

In the meantime, here is the debut Whitehouse record, recorded in 1980. If you enjoy getting your teeth drilled, want to feel like you're in a Saw movie, can listen to the Conet Project over and over again, or think Faust is too accessible, then this is right up your alley.
I guess if you like that stuff you already own this and this post is pointless. If you haven't heard it, their second record "Total Sex" is even more brutal, but I still like this one better.

The Agony!

Paul Stanley's Stage Banter

2010-03-03T12:43:00.000-08:00

My scuzzy coked-out step uncle was a big wig at Casablanca Records when I was a kid, so I got all the KISS records for free much to the envy of my neighborhood chums. I was a huge fan and like many kids, we would spend our free time putting on KISS makeup and playing air guitar to their records. What's cuter than a couple 1st graders singing "Mainline", "Love Gun" or "shock me - we can cum together"?
Though I'm still a fan and even went to see them recently, in adulthood I make fun of them waaay more often than I praise them. How can you not watch Paul Stanley shaking his 58 year old Jewish ass across the stage and not have a huge grin on your face? And by the way, does he dye his chest hair?? Be that as it may, they still put on a great show, and even with the pyro and whatnot, their show would be nothing without Paul's cheesy yet endearing stage banter to the audience (recently with hilarious Wal*Mart plugs!). Here is a great bootleg with 70 tracks of just that.
Also, did you know that he's a painter?

IKNOWWEGOTSOMEPEOPLEHEREWHOLIKETODRINKSOMEALCOHOL!!!

(bootleg, not my rip)

X

2010-03-03T09:44:00.000-08:00

VINYL RIP 7"

X formed in Sydney Australia in 1977 after Ian Rilen left Rose Tattoo before their debut single was released (though he wrote the classic "Bad Boy For Love".
I think it was about a decade ago, local man about town Mark Murrmann released this 7" of "Home is Where the Floor Is" and three other tracks. It was my first time hearing the band, and I still play this amazing single quite a bit. You can buy their 2 LPs reissued now on CD here.
They're touring the states soon, but unfortunately Ian Rilen died of bladder cancer a few years ago, so he'll be joining original member Steve Lucas in "spirit" only.

Good On Ya!

It's Raining Again...

2010-03-02T11:52:00.000-08:00

I like making myself comps when it's raining. Maybe you like downloading rain comps when it's raining.
The last one I made is a bit better maybe, but I only have 125 gigs on my iTunes to work with here...

part 1

part2

the Jewws

2010-03-01T14:07:00.000-08:00

VINYL RIP 10"

For such a great, short lived band, the Jewws put out a 10" with one of the worst covers ever. Don't let that scare you off though, because what you got here is one of the better garage punk records of the '90s (pushing 2000s). I saw 'em live once (not this show, but check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQRn-E8WTsI) and they were every bit as good as all the hype surrounding them at the time. Take a listen and search out their LP "L'Explosion Du Son De Maintenant!"

The Space City Beat!

The Whip

2010-03-01T10:06:00.000-08:00

VINYL RIP 7"

Jared from Karp teamed up with Joe Preston for a nanosecond and did a short tour and small pressing of this here fine 7".
It sounds a lot like Karp, but you can hear a little move toward the Big Business sound. They were great live when I saw them in S.F. but I liked Karp (and now Big Business) a little bit more. As for Joe Preston, check out Thrones "Sperm Whale" if you get the chance.

Ding Dong The Witch is Dead

The Mutilators

2010-03-01T09:40:00.000-08:00

VINYL RIP 7"

I don't why something that combines my two favorite things (Rock 'n' Roll and Horror Movies) could bore me so much, but Psychobilly certainly does. There are a couple exceptions, and San Francisco's Mutilators are one of them. Maybe they're not even psychobilly, maybe it's just Gene Vincent on 45 RPM, but either way they were great live and this is a great single. The Mutilators could fit equally well opening for Flipper, Wanda Jackson or playing to a bunch of skinhead-turned-rockabilly fuckwads at a San Diego car show. You just can't put a label on good song writing.

Chain Fight Tonight

Velvet Crush

2010-02-25T11:18:00.000-08:00

This one might be a little too poppy for some of you, but I love this record. Velvet Crush features members of Choo Choo Train and Honeybunch, so if those names ring a bell then you prolly know what to expect.
Paul Chastain's singing sounds a bit like Bill Fox, and musically if you like stuff like The Three O' Clock, the Pooh Sticks, The Shakes or Big Star, this is prolly right up your alley.
My favorite tracks are "Weird Summer" and "Blank Pages".

Power Pop Pop-Pop

Clap

2010-02-24T12:27:00.000-08:00

This rare 1972 record reminds me of a mix of The Rolling Stones (Exile era) with some of the hooks and melodies Husker Du and Redd Kross might write (The opening track is pretty similar to "Books About UFOs")...fucking amazing!

Snotty vocals (think Kepi Ghoulie and King Tuff meet the singer of The Koala) mix with early Boston punk on the more rockin' tunes . "My Imagination" sounds like a NY Dolls/Hollywood Brats song (with a "Rocks Off" intro!) and they turn the Kinks "Yes Sir, No Sir" melody on it's head with the closing track "Only Just An Act". This record (that I only discovered this year) I can't recommend enough and is an absolute CLASSIC! The CDs are getting hard to find, so pick one up before it's too late!

Out Of The Shadows

The Ghost

2010-02-23T12:17:00.001-08:00

There are some albums that I instantly fall in love with. This is one of them. There's some catchy mellower folk on here, but also some BLAZING atmospheric garage psyche!
"My Castle Has Fallen" rocks like Grand Funk, the spooky but upbeat "When You're Dead" could have easily been in Arthur Brown's repertoire, while "Hearts And Flowers" is a soothing tune that falls somewhere between Mary Hopkin, Fairport Convention and Pentangle.
The Ghost formed in the late 60s releasing just one record before changing their name and splitting up. If anyone knows more info, post a message!

The most curious thing is how "Night of the Warlock" is seriously close to Mungo Jerry's "In the Summertime" a year later - if it was darker...and about warlocks.

I bought my copy on eBay, for $22, which is still cheaper than the $38 Amazon charges.

Too Late To Cry

Raw Power

2010-02-22T10:13:00.000-08:00

When I told my Italian ex-roomate how much I love Raw Power he replied: "Fuck those bullshit motherfuckers! They fucking suck the shit-a!". Well maybe if you grew up in Italy and have seen Raw Power dozens of times (in the '90s), they might have worn out their welcome a bit, but that doesn't take away the fact that this is easily in the top 5 best hardcore records ever recorded. It's selling for a shittone of money on Amazon, so here it is.

Wikitrivia: their original bass player had been in the great Chelsea Hotel (the band, not the hotel). Sadly, guitar player Giuseppe died while playing soccer back in 2002, leaving his brother Mauro as the only original member.

Start A Fight
(not my rip, but I included my LP scans)

Crumsuckers

2010-02-22T09:36:00.000-08:00

1986 was a pivotal year in my life. 1986 was the year I started skateboarding (not counting my old banana board from the '70s)and a bunch of East Coast hardcore bands started releasing records - Perfect skating music!
Along with DRI, Raw Power, C.O.C. and Agnostic Front, this Crumsuckers LP was among the "harder" punk stuff I listened to in 9th or 10th grade. It still holds up after all these years, although maybe not as much as I'd like*. It's pretty amazing how young these guys were when they wrote and recorded this album, but I guess you could say that for most of those bands back then. It sure makes a guy feel old and untalented.
Two of the Crumsuckers formed "Pro-Pain" and one of them went to be in the Genitorturers. I believe the Crumsuckers played some reunion shows of late as well.

Shit's Creek
(not my rip, but I included my LP scans)

*listening again for a second time, I take that back. It's still great.

Blue Öyster Cult

2010-02-18T10:27:00.000-08:00

I've been busy lately, but haven't abandoned the blog!

Till I get some stuff ripped, enjoy this BOC bootleg!

Lucifer The Light

Mensclub

2010-02-07T11:22:00.000-08:00

When I first moved to San Francisco there was no finer rock band playing in the city than the Mensclub. This CD doesn't come close to the ROCK they were live, and Aaron Nudleman's voice is more suited to the slightly mellower 60s garage psyche he'd do later (or his previous band Wig Torture), but it still SMOKES. Ass, Gas or Grass was practically a citywide anthem. Even mid-90s hipsters began to catch on. Maybe Mensclub is responsible for the hipster-moustache?

Got This Thing On The Move

The Jack Saints - 2 Song Preview of New LP!

2010-01-28T09:56:00.000-08:00

Yes, yes, my band again...

Well, our "last show ever" was so poorly attended, instead of breaking up we decided to put out a new album!

Recorded by Jeff Leppard (ex STFU and Voetsek), it's my favorite thing we've done. We've mixed down 7 of 12 songs, and will be recording a few more. It's UNMASTERED, so crank it up!

Get Dusted!

Roy Loney

2010-01-27T09:47:00.001-08:00

VINYL RIP (7")

Ex-Flamin' Groovies front man Roy Loney put out this fun and catchy EP back in the punk hay day of 1978. It's a more acoustic take on the Phantom Movers stuff he'd do a year later, but fans of those records will recognize a couple of songs on this 7".
I've seen Roy perform (in his sunglasses, suit and scarf under blazing stage lights) and he's still wildly entertaining. I'm also a fan of Cyril Jordan, but even though Jordan co-wrote some amazing tunes with Loney, it was Roy Loney who I think really put the '50s Rock n Roll vibe into the Groovies (if the more Beatlesish route they took after he left was any inclination).
I interviewed Roy for my old one-shot zine "I Am Right", and I'll scan that and add a link in a day or two for those interested enough to hear what the guy has to say.
Not sure if Roy is still at Jak's Record Celler in the city, but stop by there and say hi if he is.

Rockin' In The Graveyard

World of Oz

2010-01-24T12:10:00.001-08:00

I've mentioned the Skip Bifferty album as being my favorite piece of 60s psychedelic pop, well a close second would be The World of Oz's sugar coated wax wafer. This now OOP "limited edition import" reissue can still be found for around $33 and includes a booklet with a ton of background info on the band — I only scanned in a few of the photos, so I'd snatch it up if I were you. If it's not in your budget however, then check it out here! "The Muffin Man", "The Hum-Gum Tree" and "With A Little Help" are personal favorites.

Ozma

Blue Sunshine (OST)

2010-01-17T13:11:00.000-08:00

Imagine you lost all your hair and became a homicidal maniac due to a delayed reaction from some acid you dropped 10 years before. A great premise and a fantastic movie. If you've seen the film you know what to expect here: eerie sci-fi tunes, and proggy disco numbers!
This is a great soundtrack, and Composer Charles Gross would continue a lucrative career scoring for television as well as the occasional movie (unfortunately tripe like "Turner & Hooch" and "Air America").

This Ain't the Summer of Love