Bang

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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

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Requiem

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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

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DL

Fact

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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

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HAMMERSMITH

VINYL RIP - LP

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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

LP Scans Included

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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

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Superconductor

CD EP

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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

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Smitten Comp

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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

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New Uploads: VIDEOS!

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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...

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R.I.P. Scott Columbus

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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

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Thunderstick

Vinyl Rip 12" ep

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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

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Silverwing

Vinyl Rip 7"

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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

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Shiva

VINYL RIP 7"

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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

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R.I.P. Zoogz Rift

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.

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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

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Noir City

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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)

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TAD

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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

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Abner Jay

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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

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John's Children

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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

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Gravediggaz

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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.

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The Free Spirits

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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)

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C86 / CD86

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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)

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ESHAM

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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!!!

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The Nils

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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

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The Obsessed

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"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

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The Rockin' Vickers

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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

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Mahavishnu Orchestra

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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

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