The Controllers: One of the most underrated groups out of the LA scene, the band was (kinda) recently featured in Afro-Punk. The three cuts it contributes to Tooth and Nail are all available on its one long player. It’s not quite essential work, but close. What these tracks do, though, is to exhibit how deep the scene was, ‘cause really, who knows about these guys?
The Flesh Eaters: Some folks have figured A Minute to Pray, a Second to Die as one of the finest punk albums issued by an American band. And even if that’s a problematic statement, it’s not too far from the truth. Regardless of that, the trio of songs turned in here by Chris D. (who put together this album) and company aren’t from its best known slab. Recorded prior to A Minute… each of these tracks hints at what’s to come without actually cashing in on the promise. Of course, second rate tracks from the Flesh Eaters are better than most music, so there’s that.
UXA: The only femme fronted group represented here, UXA was actually a Bay Area group that made the move south. Despite its ties to both the Nor Cal and So Cal scene, the band doesn’t really come off as too unique. But that might just be as a result of the company it keeps on this disc. It’d be hard to surpass some of this stuff. “Social Circle” comes off a bit better than UXA’s other track, but either way, there’s not too much here worth revisiting.
Negative Trend: This band might be most notable by virtue of Will Shatter and Steve DePace going on to work as Flipper. More than an historical footnote, the band chugs out some mid paced punk tracks replete with shouted choruses. It’s interesting to hear this and figure that Flipper would soon take the medium and whore it our for its own noisenik needs.
The Middle Class: The band’s initial sound was only documented on singles and on this here compilation. And perhaps because of that, the band remains relatively ignored. That being said, though, “Above Suspicion” is able to get pretty close to matching the innate and awful nature of the Germs. And really, if that’s something that your band accomplishes, everything else might be secondary.
The Germs: There almost doesn’t need to be another word written about the Germs. You either get it or you don’t. Darby Crash and company were able to come off as punk, hardcore, destructive art – whatever. They did it first and they did it best.