April 2011
UJ3RK5 - "Anglican" (Video)
There're as many reasons why UJ3RK5 is unknown as there are why the band isn't famous. As to the latter point, it'd be difficult to succeed in a country while simultaneously mocking it's state religion. Good try, though, the song's boss.
Tyvek in Memphis...
The Boneless Ones: Skate Punk Gets All Metal and Junk
Suicidal Tendencies might be pretty funny to listen to at this late date. The Boneless Ones don’t go and get that ridiculous, but there are few moments on Skate for the Devil that listeners will find worth going back to over and over again. If this soundtracked your teenage years, though, you get a pass.
The Kids - "I Feel Alright" (Video)
The Kids were monstrously catchy. Why they didn't find a bigger fanbase in Belgium's an utter mystery. Seriously, on par with the Ramones. And not as dumb.
Shannon and the Clams: East Bay Beaches...
Double Negative: Double Rad
Whatever one’s opinion on the state of current musics, Durham’s Double Negative began issuing music back during 2007 or so, The Wonderful And Frightening World Of Double Negative being the band’s earliest long player. Given the band’s fan base, assumed to be an assortment of Southerners and hardcore hardcores, it’s not a tremendous surprise to find no one’s made mention of the fact that Double Negative’s album references the Fall pretty openly. In name only. The music here’s SSD/FUs pretty much all the way. What’s funny – and there’re a few things – is the band opening this disc with forty four seconds of feedback as if the gesture’s either artful or unique. It’s not.
Red Squares: Arizona does KBD
Eddy Current Suppression Ring: Down Under with Instrumentals
Marvelous Darlings: A Northern Pop
Bobby Soxx - "Learn to Hate in the '80s" (Video)
Bobby Sox ain't bad. But I'm gonna hafta say, it's one of those releases that's benefited from obscurity even if the song's sentiment jives with almost every waking moment of my life.
Dancing Cigarettes - "Razor Hand" (Video)
For whatever reason, Indian bands haven't been fetishized in the same way LA/NY/CLE bands have. And there's no real reason why. The Red Snerts compilation gets its respect, frequently. And these guys were on that disc. But only one song. There's a lot more.
Friction: The Straighter Side of Rock's Avant Gard
Dancing Cigarettes: Bloomington's Required Listening
There’s still no reason why chicks in bands play bass more frequently than other instruments. If someone can explain that – and surely, someone can in a weird sociological manner – go right ahead. It’d be interesting. While you’re doing that, though, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to listen to Bloomington, Indiana’s Dancing Cigarettes, which was a part of the Gulcher stable and made an appearance on the inimitable Red Snerts compilation back in 1981.
The Record Players - "Parasite City" (Video)
If you happen to be into the Desperate Bicycles, you already like the Record Players and you don't know. Can't figure if these guys were a Rough Trade group, but it would make sense. Either way, good punk cum pop. Play on repeat.