You're Listening To Garbage...

What the hell? Back with bang and a lil Sing Sing...

2010-02-03T08:40:00.000-08:00

So again i've fallen victim to the torments of real life, got caught up in the holiday season and have been neglecting writing anything for several weeks, but not on purpose i assure you. Last year my hiatus lasted almost the entire year, but i'd like to correct that this year, even if it does only see me updating once or twice a month. Call it a new years resolution. Speaking of which, i half started my year of end cap off but decided against finishing it at this point since more than a month has already passed. Not much worth reading anyways, you'll be ok without it.

One of my favorite current labels on the go is New York based 45 reissue label Sing Sing Records which has so far in their short existence made available 15 or so singles and eps from the first wave of global punk and powerpop. But we're not talking about random turds here, we're talking about some fine tunes that should have been brought to light YEARS ago. The Tinopeners only amazing release, the first ep by Scotland's Zips, Jeff Hill's followup to his debut Chiswick single, the essential first 2 singles from Belfast's Rudi and of course De Cylinders, the female fronted Dutch answer to the Pointed Sticks. But of course even if you haven't heard any of these great records you shouldn't fret as the label has been dedicated to keeping them in print as long as they can afford to, so almost all are still available for your grubby lil mitts. It's kinda hard these days for a label to have such consistency but Sing Sing pull it off and have yet to hand me a let down. Not only does it seems to be a sure way to get turned on to bands i'd never heard and get records i'd been looking for for ages, but also get them at the drop of a hat! I've never encountered any label that has had the insanely fast shipping powers that these folks do. And of course, what sparked this post is the package i just got from the postman with the newest 3 jammers from the golden years...

Starting of with my favorite of the 3 is the Deaf Aids single. Wow. For a record that had such a limited press, this thing is catchy as all sin, especially the A side "Do It Again". Starting off with a bit of weird intro, i had my doubts that the song was going anywhere that would be sure to kick my head in, but thankfully that was wrong. It's a great mix of early english punk and powerpop which just makes for a really great tune to get a massive pogo attack going. The two B sides have sort a bit of a different feel as "Peepshow" is a bit more of a laid back rocker and "Aren't People Strange", while similar to the A side is great, but not as catchy . While not as infectious as the A side, still both are a nice compliment. I might mention that the original press lacked any picture sleeve so the reissue comes housed in the intended pic sleeve. Total winner in my books.

Next on the plate is the first 45 by Spider, not to be confused with the Spider on Good Vibrations "Battle Of The Worst Bands" comp. This was one that was new to me despite having seen the cover for years and years but failing to be able to check it out. But like most of these, i decided to pick it up and of course was glad to catch up on what i'd been missing out on. The 2 tracks here are extremely upbeat tunes that can't help me think of a more british influenced version of Jet Boy, Jet Girl. While "Back Against The Wall" is catchy, the B side "Down And Out" is catchy AND intense AND for a lack of a better term...more punk. Still, not to dismiss the A side, this is a great platter and the two songs could keep you flipping this back and forth for a while. Here's another one to add to my want list.

Speaking of "Jet Boy Jet Girl, the Roller Ball record reissued with this lot is a pre-Elton Motello project from Belgium that i'd never even heard of until now. Apparently this was the sole studio output of the group, only released in the Netherlands and now rather hard to track down. While "Savage Eyes" def shows off the pseudo punk sound, i can't help but feel the B side "Lay You Down" has more in common with a band like the Kids. And while i don't feel like this is the best of the bunch here, i do have the feeling that the pair of songs will be growing on me the way that Plastic Bertrand's Small Faces cover has.

Don't Blame Me, I Don't Blame You...

2009-12-20T12:38:00.000-08:00

It's funny that in a world where everything is at your disposal at your fingertips within seconds, that there's so many unknowns out there and for one reason or another, bands that came and went and were left in the dark. After spinning my copy of the Bloodstains Across California lp the other day, i came to the conclusion that the Reign Of Terror songs has to be not only one of the best on it, but personally one of my favorite tracks that's still basically unknown to folks. Maybe this has to do with the fact that they probably couldn't even give these away when they were released, hence it's scaricity or maybe it has to do with the fact that it was such a weird release for its time and location. There's no doubt about it, the A side "Don't Blame Me" is a total killer and the gem of this single, but 'having said that' (thank you Larry David) it still doesn't sound like your typical So Cal punk song from the early 80's. What makes this record really off from some others of its time though is the flipside "Big Things" which has more of a glam metal / hard rock feel to it. While it doesn't really sound the least bit punk, I have to say that it's still a total rager and a total oddity that compliments the A side. Released on R.O.T. records in 1983, i wouldn't be surprised if there's still a batch of these sitting around collecting dust in one or the members closets and speaking of which, one of the members possibly played along side Chuck Dukowski (Black Flag) in WURM. And if the songs weren't good enough for you, just check out the intense artwork, particularly the back cover. For the time being CRUD CRUD blog has the 2 tracks up for download which is suggest you look into after you sell me your copy of this...

http://crudcrud.blogspot.com/2009/09/dont-blame-me.html

Has the edge gone dull?

2009-12-17T16:08:00.000-08:00

Having made some promises that i was bringing back this nonsense, i guess it's better that i follow up to my post late than never bother again. Though i also decided that i was to talk less about new jams that i've dug out of bins or had posted to me in the mail, it never really works out that way, does it? In fact, this month has been particularly good for me and crossing some diddies off the want list, despite being on the far east of the country and away from any real choice spots to dig for some hidden gems. Scaling through the pages of the online market place every few days have turned up next to shit (as they usually do, unless you're prepared to shell out for the big "hitters"), but i still feel inclined to go scope out some things there that i might get a deal on. Who knows, sometimes people get lucky? Ok, i'll be the first to admit that most youth crew is pretty much disposable, but the fact remains that i've alway had a small spot in my collection for the first wave of these bands circa 87-89. Most i've come across casually over the years, i.e. the early presses of the Youth Of Today, first press of the Judge 7" and even some other things that would cause manic laughter amongst some more "known" collector scum. I can't help it, some of this stuff is just too great, unlike the horrible acts that followed them. But despite all this time searching, i was never able to track down a copy of the 2nd Chain Of Strength ep " What Holds Us Apart", which as it should be know, is much superior than the band's debut which i feel gets a little too much praise. Ok, so i'm lying a bit. I did find a copy for fairly cheap when i was in Japan, but being unemployed at the time and promising myself that i would buy mostly Japanese records, i decided to pass on it. But that, like many other times, was a moment i should have bit the bullet and just gone for it. No dice.

So low and behold, a few weeks ago i should find a copy newly listed on da bay from a guy who must have been selling most of his teenage phases away, judging by the other records he had listed. Not really into his insane Buy It Now prices, i decided that i would send the kid an offer which i figured he would turn down since it was more of a lowball than what i'd normally offer for a record's going rate. Well, Jr must have been hard up for bills because soon enough it was in the mailbox and on it's way to my ice cold mitts. Who says there aren't deals still to be had? Especially when you're dealing with a record that every suburban white brat is trying to get every insane variation of before he graduates high school and heads off to the frat house. Yeesh. Maybe that's why so many people were annoyed with me moshing in my friend Zoe's kitchen this summer when someone put True Til Death on the stereo? Come on douchebags, what did you really expect?

In other news, thankfully i will be leaving my small hometown dwelling soon and be unboxing my goods in my new home of Halifax. This of course would not be before i had a chance to fly back to Toronto for a week and cause some much needed trouble at my old haunts. And of course, somewhere in there i'll be quitting my shotty factory job and be looking around for something better until school starts up next fall. I think the only things i'll be missing about Truro for the time being will be (as expected) my pal Riggins, a Coffee /Hot Turkey Sandwich combo from Fletchers Diner and finally, the east coast kitchen parties with George Hardy and his terrible bottle of Wiser's whiskey in his freezer. How i hate that bottle. As for things in the city, i'll be excited to be able to get back to life in general after being in the middle of nothingness for a few months. Lotta plans, but most importantly i'm looking forward to crafting the perfect current tape that has been building in my noggin for the past few months while my records sit in the basement and my cassette deck remains unplugged. Hey, i gotta have a good soundtrack to unpack my garbage to, right? Riggins refuses to disagree...

I Keep On Runnin', But I Can't Get Away...

2009-11-05T13:51:00.000-08:00

Hey ho to all the mutant goons that missed me. I've had other things that have taken priority over me ramblin' on the internet about various scores and cool new tunes that have found their way into my hands. I never really wanted that, but that's why i think i'm opening the floodgates again for some more nonsense. I've had a rather large move back to my homeland of eastern canada recently and not only do i find myself with a bit more time on my hands, but i'm also lacking in any halfway decent record hole where i can dig for hours and hours to pull out some total gems. It's for those reasons that i've not only decided to resurrect my postings, but also agreed with myself to spread out the posts from just me talking about scoring rarities from a far corners of the earth. I don't quite think i have my shit together enough to compile an physical zine, even though the thought has popped into my head enough times that i probably should, but instead i figured it'd be easiest to bring the "Garbage" blog back to life until i become overwhelmed with responsibilities once more. Gotcha? Fuk rite on.

But i should admit, in all that has been going on and without any wonderful record stores at my disposal, i'm still buying as many legit platters as my wallet can keep up with. Somehow, i manage to still get rid of alot of my pennies. I guess it makes sense that growing up in the good ol NS taught me mailorder was a good allie for any struggling punk rock youth fighting the isolation out here. Of course, i've taken this on again and have been keeping up with a healthy amount of trades, private purchases and everyone's favorite, the online market place.

The Crux / Crash 12" on No Future was one of the last essential records on the label that i needed to track down and unfortunately for me, probably one of my favorites. Many a time i could have easily dropped the ball and just shelled out for one, but i decided to stick to my guns and hope for the cheapish copy that i knew was to be found at any given minute. The Crux tracks are total perfection for anyone who gives a damn about UK82 in any sort of light as i'd say it's a nice mix of that and early hooligan music like the Cockney Rejects. I'd even go as far as stating it'd be a good starting point for anyone looking to get into punk music in general. Sadly, the legacy of Crux was just these 4 songs and one more on the NF comp A Country Fit For Heroes, but i'd say it's a hell of a one to leave. While these tracks might as well be tattooed on my brain by now, i hadn't managed to hear the Crash tracks in all these years since i figured i'd be listening soon enough when i finally scored one of my top wants. Anyhoo, with CS on tour in the jolly UK in the summer of hate (isn't that 2008?) our driver / good friend Cootington Smythe mentioned that he might have one around in his basement somewhere, left over stock from when he used to own a record store. While i was promised that he'd hook me up, we lost contact for a while and i kept on the hunt. Flash forward to a couple weeks ago when i received an email out of the blue from Cooter and sure enough, he'd found my record. Meanwhile, while i was glad to cross that one off the list and hearing the Crash tracks finally (not bad at all, especially Fight For Your Life! The rest leave a bit to be desired though. Apparently this was an ep in itself before No Future picked it up and put out the split, but i've never seen one.), i had won an auction for another record that i'd be holding out on due to the stupid current prices it had been fetching. That would be the first RUDE KIDS single, Raggare Is A Bunch Of Motherfuckers (on Polydor of all labels? ) which is a mid tempo'd swedish assault, rough as hell and tough as nails while all the while still carrying a great tune! This diddy has been posted on countless blogs, so do yourself a favor and put a search engine to good work for you and your ears. The first 3 singles from these RUDE shits are a good point for anyone who wants to hear some classic swedish stuff that doesn't sounds like our friends Anti Cimex or thee SHITLICKERS. In fact, i'm still hankering for the two follow up singles to this (Stranglers and Absolute Ruler) so someone better step up to plate and get in touch. Can't say i was any less but tickled pink when this showed up in my mail box the other day. Apparently a leftover stock copy from Cory Rusk's distro? Sure, but it won't beat the time i sold a SEX VID record to Keith Morris.

I'll also mention that as per usual on Halloween, CS played the Halloween Fucked Up Weekend this year in my old stomping grounds of Toronto and not only did i have an amazing time, i was also welcomed back with more than a warm welcome from old friends. It was good times to enjoy real coffee again, flip through some record bins, eat some delicious food and see a few bands in the process. Two of which included the CRO MAGS (Twice) and the first reformation of YOUTH YOUTH YOUTH, both of which were probably the best bands i've seen in recent memory. Anyways, i leave you with a bit of that YYY set. Sorry to the person who was shooting it. That was without a doubt, me stagediving directly on top of the camera.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji6TtBeoCc8

MERRY FISHMAS...

2008-12-20T13:58:00.000-08:00

Due to the hectic nature of the holiday season, i really haven't had the time to sit down and post as much as i'd like. Certainly have way too much to do and too much going on, including a trip home to the east coast for a bit. Expect more posting early in the new year when i get back. Until then, maybe you should be spending your time digging around in the dollar bins. Here's a few things i recently scored for no more than 2 bucks a pop...

Professionals - Join The Professionals lp (UK)
Demics - Talk's Cheap 12" (Canada)
Teenage Head - S/t lp (Canada)
CH3 - S/t 12" (USA)
Asexuals - Be What You Want lp (Canada)

Oh and if anyone is looking for the perfect gift for me, i've realized that i've been living in sin for not owning Agent Orange's "Bloodstains" single. I'm sure this gift idea with surely transform into a new year's resolution though. See you in a couple weeks...

Bastard "Wind Of Pain" lp (Bastard, Bloodsucker 1990 / Japan)

2008-12-10T12:25:00.000-08:00

They don't make em like they used to. When was the last time that you heard a hardcore lp that was 100%, balls out, all killer and no filler? Maybe you did hear one recently, but let's get honest here, such a thing doesn't come around every day. Hell, most bands can't even put together a half decent ep it seems!

To me, there couldn't have been a better time for the Bastard full length to come out. 1990 wasn't exactly 'prime time' for punk around the world and for bands like Bastard and Death Side to carry the flag and keep the sound of traditional Japanese hardcore alive in these dark times, well, i just feel they don't get enough credit for their work in that department. Wind Of Pain is flawless. I would even argue that one can't possibly have a decent taste in punk music unless this ranks high on their list. Yes, it's that good and most folks with half a brain have not only realized this, but have also shelled out the bucks for an original copy of this already legendary platter. I've had friends who have gone to japan with one goal in mind and that was to find the Bastard lp. Expensive little trip, but if you've ever been, you know that you can find most anything you want...for a price. Some cases i would disagree, but i'd have to say that this IS one of those records that people need, regardless of cost.

Why exactly do i speak so highly of this record? To begin with, i've always had a taste for japanese bands but that was amplified ten fold after going on tour there for almost 2 weeks, where i was able to see some amazing bands, enjoy the culture and pick up the occasional record. When i arrived home, my interest grew and i found myself indulged in many of the country's older bands. One of the things that i had picked up on the trip was Bastard's "No Hope In Here" cd, an official discography put out by the band to combat the bootlegs that were floating around. The Wind Of Pain tracks on this were the standouts for me and like so many other records, it got added to my ever growing want list. All 8 songs are perfect burning spirits style. If I was trying to explain to someone traditional japanese hardcore, this would be what i would direct them to. It's heavy and it's hard. Not too clean but not too dirty. The constant raging of this record never ceases even at it's slowest and mid tempo'd parts. Just listen to the intro to To The Stumped Underdogs. That shit is hard as nails and the breakdown that falls later on in the song, just takes it to the next level. That's not even mentioning Zigyaku's INSANE guitar work on this, which blows my mind everytime. Still not convinced? Give Misery a spin and prepare to flip some furniture in your living room.

I just got this a couple days ago in the mail and it's left my turntable once, just for it's pretty picture. As it would turn out, a gent from the states wanted a my copy of the Riot 303 7" and though i didn't really want to part with it, i figured i'd have more of a chance at finding one of those again before i would a copy of this. As you can imagine, i'm pretty content with said trade which worked out good on both ends of the deal. Most copies of this that i've seen recently have gone for over 100 bucks, which seems to be a bit more than what it's been going for in the past, but i wouldn't be surprised if this just kept on increasing in price. I'd say that if you're planning on adding this to your collection, you'd be wiser to get this now or pay the price down the road. As with most records, they're not getting much cheaper.

I should also mention that any fans of Bastard would be wise to look into Zigyaku's band which followed Bastard, Judgement. All 4 singles pick up where Bastard left off and are not to be skimmed over...

Olho Seco "Botas, Fuzis, Capacetes" single (Punk Rock Discos 1983 / Brazil)

2008-12-07T15:30:00.000-08:00

I've been neglecting making a few posts a week on here, but i assure you, it's all due to time management. This week the newest 45 on Sewercide (Genetic Angry) arrived, so i've been busy packing those up to get em out to distros and mailorder folks and there hasn't been a whole lot of time to rant and rave about some killer discs that i've been getting. Boo hoo, who really gives a fuck. But honestly, anyone who knows me will tell you that i'm quite the fanatic of international punk rock, particularly Scandinavian and Japanese though it's certainly not limited to that. I'm not going to pretend i know oodles and doodles about every country's punk rock history, but i'd like to think that i know at least a thing or two about most. One place that i'm not all that in the know about would be south america, spare a few killer bands from Brazil and Peru. One of said killer bands from the area would be at my number one though, that of course being Brazil's Olho Seco (which if i recall correctly means 'Dead Eyes'). Such an ultimate and brutal hardcore force, totally under appreciated by most and rarely talked about. Though later records take a turn for the worst with these guys, their Botas, Fuzis, Capacetes single from 1983 is the real masterpiece.

This had been on my want list for a while now. I downloaded Welcome To 1984 many years back and though i had heard what i deemed 'strange and weird' hardcore from various countries (at the time of the Y2K thrash BS, i was listening to strictly american hardcore/thrash and various OI for good measure), i really liked what i was hearing. This was probably my first exposure to these guys. Later, when i became more into collecting older records and had heard the rest of the single along with their second ep, i hoped that i'd cross paths with a copy someday. Released on Brazilian label Punk Rock Discos, it didn't seem highly likely that i was going to come across a copy here in the frozen north and with few copies surfacing on ebag (and also going for steep prices) and the rest being in hands of collectors, my search seemed long and pointless. However, i wasn't expecting that a friend across the country was going to email me recently in regards to trading for one. After a few emails back and forth ( i still don't know how he managed to get this in the first place) we settled on a deal that the two of us deemed fit and though i gave up two records that i would have liked to held on to, their combined musical/financial value and rarity was less than this monster hardcore beast. Obviously, i had to bite.

And what a monster this thing is. Sounds like these guys were highly influenced by Discharge and a mix of other UK82 greats, but they put their own spin on it (as opposed to some swedish bands who just did it faster, louder and more distorted) and helped create what i've heard some refer to as the 'Brazilian sound'. Low budget recording, those gruff snarled vocals and damn, is this thing heavy for it's time! One of the best things about this recording is the constant ride cymbal, which the drummer rarely leaves. Maybe they just didn't have a pair of high hats, but this whole single is done without them, something i've heard on very few hardcore records. Also, i'll make a note that the beginning of Muito Obrigado might just contain one of the earliest attempts at a blast beat that i know. Very cool stuff.

Copies of the single that were sent outside of Brazil contained an insert which has the english translations of the songs. It lists that each song was written at a different time over the period of 1980 - 1982. I imagine that by the time that this was released in 1983, the band had been trying to release a record for many years and probably picked the best of the best to go on it. Certainly, doing a punk rock record there and then was no easy feat. With all that was going on politically at the time in most of south america, few bands were able to release records and some were even censored by the government (ie Inocentes 7", this is on my want list by the way!) to the point where they were told which songs they could and couldn't release. The fact that Olho Seco were able to get this out there is pretty amazing. Some folks would like to debate the lyrics and story behind Nada, but for this post, i'll leave them up to everyone's own interpretation.

For those still in the dark, Peter has the entire single up for download at KBD records. http://www.kbdrecords.com/2008/07/15/ohlo-seco-st-ep-7/

Nasty Facts "Drive My Car" single (Jimboco 1981/ USA)

2008-12-01T15:29:00.000-08:00

While last time around i was confessing about the lack of hardcore i'd been posting here, it hasn't taken me long to come back to the poppier side of the punk rock world. This would be because recently a turned up a copy of a record that i have been searching quite some time to find and i just can't resist saying a few words about one of my favorite non hardcore releases from the NYC area. By all rights, the Nasty Facts should have been bigger than big or at least done well enough for themselves to release another record. Perhaps then we would have gotten more than these 3 fine songs to remember them by. Nevertheless, such is not the case and this IS all we have, but what a great batch of songs to have attached to your name. Not only that, but have them all included on the same record.

Many years ago after moving to Toronto, i took a job working at a local rep cinema where myself and a friend of mine, Mr. Mark Pesci spent most of our shifts together shooting the shit about music and bands etc. Being a job with lots of downtime, there was always time for this or watching whatever was on the screen. Even with that though, being a job with low pay and few hours, i somehow managed to survive on it for a few years even if every night i was eating popcorn and drinking soda water as my dinner. But that's another story. The point was that over the years i picked up on some names of bands off Mark as i usually did and searched them out when i felt convinced that it was going to be something that i might like. This ended up being the case when i discovered the Nasty Facts 45, which after i downloaded, ended up getting quite a bit of play on the ipod shuffle that i was borrowing.

One of the things that i love the most about the record is that the vocals are so androgynous and sound amazing. At times you can think that it's a guy singing but seconds later it sounds like it could quite possibly be a girl. It borderlines gender to the point where many people have mentioned to me that they simply just don't know. Pretty rare for that to happen with a band, but the bottom line is that the singing on this record just sounds great. To my understanding, the majority of the lead vocals are done by female bassist and songwriter Cherl Boyze who from most accounts was a bit of a 'tom-boy'. Who knows. Musically, the songs are just simple catchy punk songs with a very poppy and melodic feel to them that should even induce pogoing in the most bitter and jaded folks. I wouldn't label this quite powerpop, but i could see how many probably would. One of the things i like the most about these recordings are how the snare, bass and tom drums all sound. Very thick and heavy, they seem like they'd be out of place with the songs, but it give it a very strong backbone. Giddy up.

I don't actually know many folks that have a copy of this, but here's a bit of info about the pressings. The first and original release was done with Jimboco records out of NYC. As far as i can tell, they did two different pressings, one of which has a large center hole and one that has a small. Though the label designs on these two are different, they're both printed on the same light blue colored paper. A year or so later after it's release, a UK (or french, depending on who you talk to) press was done on the 5th Column label. These are easy to differentiate from the US press as the labels are orange and the sleeves contain not only the 5th Column logo, but also a "5C2" in the upper left hand of the front cover. Apparently the UK press is much easier to find than the US one and as far as i can tell, goes for a bit less. That's not to say that you'll be able to find one for under 20 bucks in a shop, BUT stranger things have happened.

This is one of those records that i always wanted to pick up but just never saw a copy besides being listed on the online marketplace, going for much more than i was willing to shell out. Eventually, one did come my way for an offer that i deemed fair and the 'cheque was in the mail' so to speak. I wish i could have picked up a few other tempting things from the same fella, but alas it just wasn't meant to me. And really, i did get the best of the pile so what's there to complain about? Time to spin this platter another couple of times...

Oh and for those who always insisted that it was a fella behind the mic, i found this while doing a bit of looking around on popsike. It almost looks like this COULD be the cover and honestly, i kinda wish it was. Looks like my friend's crazy Uncle Jesus!

Unruled "Time Is Running Out" single (Unruled 1984 / Canada)

2008-11-26T12:11:00.000-08:00

Ok, so there's 2 things i have been severely neglecting since starting this blog and those would be A) my great white northern Canadian roots and B) total raging hardcore. I figured what better way to kill two birds with one stone than one of my all time favorite Canadian punk records, the one and only release by Montreal's Unruled. For those that are unfamiliar with said record, all you need to do is look at the cover to get a fairly good idea of what these guys were about. While most Canadian bands up to this point were still highly influenced by 77 punk and the like, Unruled were ripping it up under the influence of UK82 bands and the desire to play as fast and aggressive as possible.

As much as i've tried over the years to find out a bit more about this still fairly unrecognized band, i've come up with very little. What i do know is that in Montreal (along with Zyklon B), Unruled were one of the first hardcore bands to have a record out in that scene, self released by the band and that one of my all time favorite punk drummers Louis left Unruled to start playing drums for Genetic Control. So the story goes that one of the Unruled guys threw a liquor bottle at Louis' head for some reason, thus causing him to bail on the band and join GC. Aside from that, one of my favorite bands still has much mystery to them.

Back in my teenage years, living in Nova Scotia with fuck all to do and playing in various sloppy hardcore bands, me and my partners in crime were always making tapes for each other and turning each other onto new bands. A typical scenario for any young punk, but in the ol NS, you'd be lucky if you found someone that knew a punk band besides the Dead Kennedys and Black Flag (two bands that we all loved, but failed to quench our thirst for new punk!). A friend of mine one day happened to borrow a stack of great records from an older crust punk by the name of DROCK which included things like Napalm Death's SCUM lp with dog bite marks in the vinyl and other various ragers that came in sleeves that were near falling apart. After going through everything and making some choice tapes, he then played me a few songs in his car which blew my mind. This was the Unruled single. Not only did these guys play fast and hard like all my favorites from the US of A, but they were a bunch of Canadians too giving me the idea that "yeah, i guess good bands can come from this frozen wasteland too!".

At this point i was fairly new to collecting records and refused to pay more that 7 bucks for a single no matter what it was, but i REALLY wanted to track down a copy of this. Though i started asking around to some of the older punks in Halifax, no one dared to part with their copy of the 7". I didn't really know it then, but this would be the start of one of my longest record hunts. Many years and various dead ends later, i was still without one of my top wants and it seemed with the rate that recent copies were going on ebay, that i was doomed never to get one. Due to it's recent discovery of many US collectors and being posted on a few mp3 blogs, the single was now almost topping 100 bucks at auction. Being 5h away from montreal, i refused to cave in and continued my hunt knowing that i would find one eventually, even if it took me years. Each time i found myself playing a show in montreal i would be scouring the shops and asking any punk with two ears about tracking one down. I seemed to get the same response from everyone. "Those used to be everywhere, but i haven't seen one in a LONG time." Some people promised me to get in touch and sell me theirs, but none ever did. It all seemed very hopeless.

As luck should have it, one day i happened to get an email from a gent in montreal that i had traded with in the past asking about some records i had and wondering if i would part with them. I wasn't about to give any of them up, but after looking at his trade list i finally found what i had been looking for all these years. I gave up one of my later and easily replaceable Newtown Neurotics singles for it and within a week, i had the record that had eluded me for so many years in my grubby collector hands. To be honest, it just goes to show you that with some work and effort, you can still track down certain records for a price you feel comfortable with. Sure, it might take you 7-8 years but it's always more satisfying when you do find it and don't have to shell out and extra 80 dollars in the process.

The music is mindblowing on this, really. Time Is Running Out starts off with a killer mid tempo 77 intro until the bomb drops and these guys just start ripping through some devastating mix of Discharge and GBH. A true punk rock anthem that looks at things from the Canadian perspective of the cold war as opposed to trying to pretend like they're from the US or UK. But as much as i love the A side, the B side is where Unruled truly shine. Forced Mistake and Lost Cause are not only stupidly great hardcore songs, but they showcase some of my favorite hardcore drumming of all time. If you listen to Louis pound that kick drum, you know that you can't fuck with that and i challenge someone to find me a more raging & solid hardcore drummer. Guy has that shit worked out to a SCIENCE. Unfuckwithable i say. That's not even mentioning the constant war going on throughout between the buzzing and blitzin bass and completely off the wall guitar solos and leads. Throw in a chorus like "don't take part in the governments plans // don't give in to their system!" and you're set. Let me just that that if you're still in the dark about this one, you'd be wise to get your head out of your ass.

Even though some folks are catching on, this classic is still fairly unknown to some which makes me think that you should be able to find one still with out breaking your bank. As mentioned before, it goes for quite a bit at auction but i imagine there's still a ton out there collecting dust in used bins across north america. Though there's no blogs that i know of that currently have this up for download, there is a youtube clip of these guys blasting through Time Is Running Out that you should check out. What i wouldn't give to have been there or at least see the rest of the show. Just look at that drumkit!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9-hjG6Gmz8&feature=related

Manic Depressives "Silence On The Radio" single (Vinyl Solution 1980 / USA)

2008-11-23T17:10:00.000-08:00

What better record to cope with my manic depression than the Manic Depressives single! Yes, this really is quite the punk rock masterpiece that no one seems to make it out to be and while it doesn't get weekly spins on my turntable, i'm always reminded why i think so when it does. Some would probably chalk this record up to being way too simple or kind of disposable, something i've read in various spots here and there while mentioning it. Nothing could be further from the truth. Ok, i jest. It IS simple, but goddamn if it isn't the catchiest version of simple i've ever heard!

The MD's hail from the swampy gumbo known as New Orleans and like the other few locals from their area (ummmm, the Normals anyone?) they released a gem of a 45 and then just sort of faded away. A tragedy really, especially if they could have kept of the writing pace of these recordings. There's so much high end and treble on this record that you'd think it'd possibly ruin it, but it works and it just happens to make the drums and guitar tone sound mindblowing. The songs themselves are great, well written and all around are the kind that get stuck in your head, which for me is the true test of a great musical diddy. They keep it straight forward but add a nice batch of hooks, leads and the occasional solo over those trashy sounding drums that keep a great back beat and doesn't stray too far from the basics. If that wasn't enough for you, the vocalist, the back ups and all the harmonies in between just put it over the top. Did i mention that each song gets faster than the last? Great.

For the nerds keeping track, you might recognize the Vinyl Solution label from their later hardcore eps like Toxin III and Shell Shock, but surprisingly the MD's single is much easier to track down that either of those. I picked up mine at a local shop that happened to get a few stock copies in straight from the fella that ran the label, who i imagine is still holding a batch. For a record that had been released in 1980, the damn thing looked like it could have been put out yesterday. Certainly lived up to the term 'Mint' in a world where a term like that has lost all meaning. Not a single crease or tear and looked like the sleeve had never even held a record. Score. But to continue, even online i haven't seen this thing break 20 bucks which means if you don't have it, you should and there's really no excuse for you not to. I imagine this will increase in value more in the next couple years when they're harder to find and the cat's out of the bag on how great it is, but at least for the time being this is one of those few GREAT American punk records you can still find for cheap.

I should also mention that i have the sneaking suspicion that vocalist Mandeville Mike was also the singer in another great New Orleans group The Skinnies, who's 1978 'Kill The Beat' is more than worth looking into. Feel free to confirm or deny...

The Doubt "Contrast Disorder" ep (Solo 1980 / Northern Ireland)

2008-11-19T22:49:00.000-08:00

It's been a few days i realize since i posted anything, but i've been working non stop and around the clock between 3 jobs as of late so i've been a bit stretched for time to write anything. Though i've been getting some pretty killer records here and there recently, i decided to dig up an older one from my collection that's been getting a lot of play on my turntable on and off for the past few weeks. I can't say i know too much about The Doubt, but i certainly know that this record is probably one of my favorite to come out of the tiny Northern Ireland punk scene in the early days. Sure, if you're talking Northern Ireland most people will know Stiff Little Fingers and maybe if you're a big enough nerd you'll be able to list off all the early releases on the beloved Good Vibrations label, but it seems like somewhere along the line (like most unknown, one off releases) The Doubt slipped through the cracks for most folks.

I've always been a sucker for the more melodic side of punk. Not quite pop punk (spare a few great bands) but more punk that had a pop side to it in a way that you had melody, but it still sounded raunchy as hell. I don't think that anywhere in the world had such a concentration of this particular sound as Northern Ireland did, particularly Belfast. I didn't quite get that at first, but after hearing a few bands from there that were all AMAZING (Protex, Moondogs, Tearjerkers to name a few) i figured that there must be something in the water. An old roommate of mine had recently downloaded quite possibly EVERY bloodstains comp and after uploading them all to my ipod, i went straight for the Northern Ireland one to accompany me on a flight i was taking that day. I couldn't believe it, but track after track, it was nothing but totally great, melodic, heartbreaking, upbeat, distorted as shit punk rock! Like i would expect anything else from a bloodstains comp, but i certainly was loving it. But as much as it was all great, i kept skipping back to hear that great snare drum intro to 'contrast disorder' again and again and again. This was quite possibly the best song i had discovered in many months. That great guitar solo that sounds like it's going to fall apart at any second but just slams into some chords before it does. Most importantly the "la la la's" that just knock me out every time. The song certainly ended up getting more play than anything else during my travels for a long time i assure you. But, i still knew nothing at all about these gents other than this one great masterpiece of a song.

I found out that they had released one 45 on a label called Solo that not only had 3 other unheard songs, but also my new favorite jam. I hadn't heard the other songs, but simply put, i didn't give a shit if they were garbage. If this record had my song then it was going to be mine one way or another. Oddly enough, my search was rather short as i found a shop almost right away in Dublin that had some stock copies that they were selling (in their original white dust sleeves since the record was never actually issued with a picture sleeve) for a fair price. I quickly sent off the money and a couple weeks later, got a package in the mail postmarked from Dublin. After scanning the labels for what little info they contained i put it on my turntable and dropped the needle to hear that same familiar trashy snare drum intro that had tattoo'd itself on my brain. Out of the 3 songs that followed, i wasn't quite taken by the last two right away, but a couple spins later changed all that. Sometimes my ears have a funny way of tricking me.

It really is strange to me that a place like Belfast could produce such (for lack of a better word) "happy" sounding bands and songs than anywhere else. While on tour with CS this summer, we got to play and visit Belfast, so it was nice to see first hand where all these bands came from. While it seemed nice in parts, it certainly seemed very run down and depressing in a way that i haven't seen anywhere else that i've visited. Understandably, but for some of these bands to play the kind of music they did for that time and place, it seems odd to me. Maybe they were just trying to keep their spirits up, who knows.

Apparently there's a reissue lp available for The Doubt that features some additional unreleased tracks (possibly from the same session as the record) which i have yet to hear. Whether or not there's any additional band info to go along with it is another question, but i still can't seem to find much on these guys even poking around on the internet. This is a case where i'm glad someone decided to document these songs on a record since without it, many people probably wouldn't even have ever known that The Doubt existed.

Mayhem "Pulling Puppets Strings" single (Riot City 1983 / UK)

2008-11-15T12:41:00.000-08:00

You mean the metal band? No, i certainly don't. While i don't have anything negative or positive to say about that particular gaggle of metalheads in their scary corpse makeup, i do have lots of positive things to say about the UK punkers under the same name. Let me start off by saying that this is probably one of the most underrated UK82 records in my books, which is quite sad because not only is this on Riot City, but these 3 songs are some of the finest written from that time and place. I won't say that the band itself is one of the finest, as their first record ('Gentle Murder' also released on Riot City) and their appearance on the MRR 'Welcome To 1984' comp are pretty lackluster. Still, how this record could fall through the cracks of time is beyond me. The song writing and the anger just boils over. I've even caught myself whistling some some of these riffs for days on end at times. But as much as i adore this record, i've never heard anyone ever say a thing about it?

I picked up my particular copy of this from a local shop totally on a whim to be honest, mostly due to the Riot City label and also thinking that the gent on the back cover reminded me of Wasted Time's Mark Shubert (Yep, baby boi could drink a keg i reckon!) . The sleeve was kind of tattered, ripped and overall seen better days, but the record itself looked fine, so i took a gamble and added it to my pile. Needle drops on the record and you're smacked right into an evil as shit mid tempo jam that has the drummer taking cues from what sounds like a very Joy Division-esque beat. The guitar sounds is kind of out there and some of the leads certainly sound like something East Bay Ray would have cooked up (no shit, it sounds like the guitar in Cesspool Of Eden). Still for a bunch of weirdos, this is way more interesting and catchy than any of their previous material which makes me think that at this point, the band has finally found their sound. It's fucked up, but it's still done by a bunch of spikey haired jerks that you'd see sniffing glue in an alleyway. As the record continues on, the songs get more straight forward but still keep that certain quality that makes it stand out. The pounding bass and drum intro that starts the b-side off for example is just the perfect way to introduce you to the song before it knocks you into some riffs that just make you want to bash your head off a brick wall. No joke. The last song is more upbeat than the other two and though it's less interesting than the others, it's a classic example of a Uk82 no mercy hardcore killer that doesn't suffer from being the least bit boring.

One of the things about the Mayhem catalogue though is it tends to get a bit confusing, especially with this record. The first ep is entitled "Gentle Murder", however the song with a similar name appears only on this record, not the first. Then we get into the track listing. On both the sleeve and the record, Side A is listed as Gentle Murder while Side B is listed as (Your Face Fits) Lie And Die along with Clean Cut. Nothing wrong with that, but on the song Lie And Die, the singer seems to be screaming 'gentle murder' over and over again. Perhaps this could be my ears playing a trick on me, but could it be that Lie And Die and Gentle Murder are actually supposed to be reversed on the record? Or maybe the lads just liked the term so much that they decided to name a separate record and song after it while also including it in yet another song with a different name. Seems strange for a band that only has about 9 (that i can count, is there more?) recorded songs. Who knows. If you do, please drop me a line.

Since this is a later release in the Riot City catalogue, i imagine that it suffered the same fate of many other later releases and wasn't pressed in large numbers. However i think that anyone looking to track down a copy should be able to find one for fairly cheap, even at auction as there seems to be next to no interest for records like this at the moment. When compared to the rest of the Riot City releases, i'd certainly be ranking this in my top 3 and would recommend anyone with decent taste in old UK punk to add it to your want list or at least give a listen to.

Lama "Totuus Loytyy Kaurapuurosta" single (Johanna 1980 / Finland)

2008-11-12T11:57:00.000-08:00

This is it. For me, punk rock is made up of a variety of things. A great punk band will include all of said things and in turn, totally floor me in a way most bands cannot. Enter Finland's LAMA.

If you've ever gone to a punk show, then obviously you've seen the vast amount of patches, band shirts, painted logos on jackets of the 'punx' etc. Growing up over the years, i always took notice of these things as it seemed like a great way to find out all these unknown bands or get a clue on what i should be listening to. Most of the time, i found out about some pretty cool groups, sometimes not, but when you keep seeing the same band name over and over again on people who's musical tastes you respect, then you must think that they're hip to something that you aren't. It was a couple years ago that i started to notice a select few people branding themselves with Lama patches and pins and given the people who were doing so, i decided that this was probably a band i needed to check out.

From the moment i started listening to that first single of their's, i was speechless. This was THEE band, this was punk rock in it's truest form...even if i didn't quite know what these angry young finnish lads were yelling about. I proceeded to download everything i could by them and the 4 Lama singles and lp essentially became my new soundtrack on my ipod when i left the house and on my computer when i couldn't be bothered to flip the record on my turntable. The scream at the beginning of Totuus Loytyy Kaurapuurosta packs such a punch that you're totally out of it by the time the drummer starts beating the living shit out of hit kit and the guitars and bass carry you into some of the most tuneful / primitive straight Finnish punk that doesn't get to thrash speed. It's dirty, but between the melody and gang vocals on the chorus, you just know that these boys are doing something on the next level, especially for their time. But it doesn't stop there, because from song to song, record to record, year to year Lama continues to blow everyone else and everything out of the water. But the one thing that i really love about the band and the one thing that keeps me hooked on these songs is just how much variety and cool shit they throw into the writing pot for songs. There's so many cool stops/starts, weird little drum fills, bass lines, vocal patterns, guitar work etc. and it all just fits together to work and deliver like no other band can. I can't believe for a second that someone who knows a thing or two about punk would disagree with any of these.

If you look at most high end collectors want lists (especially in north america) you'll notice that a large number of folks are understandably looking for these records. Like most records that were released in places like Europe and Japan, the chances of finding these in a local shop are slim to nil, so if you really want to track this stuff down you either need to find yourself someone in the home country of the band OR wait for your want list items to make it onto eBag and bite the bullet on shelling out the cash. Unfortunately, while most records at least make one or two appearances on the online market a year, the Lama singles and lp are still pretty uncommon and hardly ever show up for auction, thus making these records even that much trickier to acquire. I know this because the 4 singles and lp have been at the top of my want list for quite sometime now and after seeking them out for a few years and sending out countless emails, i finally had a stroke of dumb luck with a fellow from Finland (who sold me this particular single) and a guy from Japan (who sold me the just as fine 2nd single, Nimeton, also released on Johanna). It just goes to show you that with a little persistence, your efforts do pay off in the end and i can certainly say that these are without a doubt among my favorites of my collection. The thin pocket sleeves and crewd artwork accompany the music so well. Plus, i always make sure that my stereo is cranked to 11 while listening. There's just no other way.

I'll cap things off by saying that if you haven't heard some of these tunes, my good chum Peter at http://www.kbdrecords.com/ has the songs from the first 3 singles posted for your listening pleasure. Also, i'm still in need of the 3rd and 4th singles so if you can lend a hand, get in touch. PASKAA PASKAA PASKAA!

Razar "Money" ep (EMI 1979 / Australia)

2008-11-10T17:48:00.000-08:00

It doesn't usually happen this way, but i was at work when i found out that an acquaintance of mine was going to have a table set up at a local record convention that weekend. I hadn't planned on going, but when my boss from my other job at the record store dangled a free pass in front of me that got me in early, it was kind of hard to pass up even if i would be finishing work at 4am and getting up at 8:45am. My fellow collector made mention of a few things that he'd be letting go of, mostly things that didn't phase me in the least or at least didn't distract me from my work. Well, at least not until he dropped the magic words "Australian Punk" and "Razar" at which point my ears perked up like some retarded canine. He informed me that he had a copy of the 2nd Razar single that he would be parting with, but having only heard the first one my excitement died down out of fear that Razar might have made friends with that terrible thing "progression". When i asked him if it was any good (or at least as good as the first single, Task Force / Stamp Out Disco), he assured me that if i liked Aussie punk or early Razar, then i would be all over it. Maybe so, but i needed more proof before i was going to scoop it up.

The following afternoon i decided to use my internet machine to do a bit of research. Not only was i able to brush up on a bit of history of the band, but i can also say that i at least now know a thing or two about their hometown of Brisbane. Add one to that, there was even a museum in Brisbane that had an exhibit in recent years dedicated to the band! But fun facts aside, i was really after the tunes and after downloading the mp3s from 7inchpunk.com, i must say that the ears perked once more. For their second ep, Razar continued to rage and i was happy to hear that they kicked our good friend "progression" right in the face. Catchy, raunchy and oh so snotty, i had to give the songs several listens in a row trying to pick a favorite, but alas, i just couldn't choose! I did however figure one thing out though. I needed this record.

The plan was to finish work, sleep for a couple hours, wake up nice and early, record convention first, breakfast second and then back to my castle to catch up on the lack of sleep. Seemed like a pretty good plan to me and maybe add a pogo session to 'Here Is The News' thrown in there as well. But, there was one thing i didn't count on since it's something i never do. I slept right through my alarm until 12 while i was supposed to be one murder punk record richer by 10:05. Cursing my alarm (which has never let me down and i've probably owned the damn thing since i was in grade 6) i decided that "fuck it, there's still a chance i can make it". Going at my own pace, i did my usual wake up routine, got some Elvis Costello going on my ipod and i was out the door and on my way, prepared for the disappointment that was certain to lie ahead.

Through the doors with my free pass, i justified the trip by telling myself that even if i don't find anything, at least i didn't have to pay to get in. I'm automatically greeted by a sea of middle aged men carrying their Led Zeppelin lps that always serve to remind me never to get TOO caught up in my collecting. But all that aside, i look around until i see the familiar face behind the table that i'm looking for. Before i can even say my hellos, he puts it so matter of fact by stating "Yep, it's still there". Success. Despite catching many an eye, no one decided to bite on it. Possibly for the same reasons i wasn't going to to begin with. Feeling a sense of relief, i handed over some of my tips from the previous night at work and was even given a bit of a discount. Ah yeah buddy. After that, i didn't really feel too up to digging deep due to everything being pretty picked over, so i mostly stuck to the singles bins before i decided that i wasn't going to find anything and that i'd best book it.

The record starts off with a silly little intro that might have to double thinking the platter, but it's only a matter of seconds before Razar kick in and start blitzin'. Money is a pretty straight forward rager that will have your toe tapping and singing along all the way to the boppin pogo anthem of Self Destruct, but the real pudding is on the B side! No time to waste as they slam right into Shutdown Countdown and cap things off with Here Is The News, which certainly has the catchiest riffs on the entire record as far as i'm concerned. Anyone in their right mind and has a taste pallet for fine Australian punk would be a complete dipshit to skim over this choice record.

Strangely, the "Money" ep was released on EMI, but even though it was on a major there's still less than 1000 pressed apparently. This used to fetch some bucks a while back but in recent years, a former band member uncovered a box and started selling them with a makeshift sleeve that it wasn't originally issued with, so the price dropped. Only now is it starting to go for triple digits again. There was supposedly 200 made with said sleeve, which is a xerox of a few pictures and a band history on the other side. Nowhere near as cool looking as the original 'Task Force' sleeve. Speaking of which, the search is now on for a copy of that, but judging from the price of most Aussie stuff these days, i'm not really holding my breath.

Here we go...

2008-11-10T15:33:00.000-08:00

Punk rock. Hardcore. Everything else weird and fucked up along the way. Most people who are fans of this kind of music would agree that the golden years were somewhere in between 1977 and 1985, with so many records being made by so many bands, from so many different places. It's quite a lot to wrap your head around, let alone listen to it all. But still, there are those out there who need to know everything they can about it. There are people who need to hear it all, will dedicate so much of their spare time to it and yes, in some cases, there are people who must try to own it all. It's not something that everyone can understand, in fact unless you're spending your afternoon digging through crates of old 45s in hopes of finding that hidden gem you've spent forever looking for, i can bet "dollars to doughnuts" that you won't "get it". A record is a form of art. It's a document of time, a sound, history if you will and that record, an original copy in it's original form tells a story. Seam splits, torn sleeves, surface scuffs, stains etc. tell a bit of a tale, but more importantly, it's the singing, the screaming, the angry lyrics, the hopeful lyrics, the distorted guitars, the raging basslines and the drums that sound like buckets and cans. It's the weird sounding production that was done on a shoestring budget or recorded in the middle of the night at a studio where the engineer couldn't give a shit how this terrible band sounded. It's the makeshift artwork and the xeroxed lyric sheets. It's the sound, the sound that still will bring the chill down your spine. For some people, some records mean this much to them and more so that they are willing to sit down and do whatever it takes to find one. In the realm of punk rock, with the smaller and more limited pressings of so many no name bands, it becomes that much more difficult to find said records. But still, despite all obstacles, we try, sometimes succeeding and are rewarded with our favorite tunes in their original format, being listened to and presented the way the band wanted it to be. Totally fucking raging.

Flash forward a bit. Chances are, if you're still into punk as you read this, then you're just like me. I was born in 1984, thus missing this era of great music. That's not to say that nothing great followed those years, but most of it certainly (and still does) paled in comparison. However, that's a debate for another day. Like many people i know who collect punk records, the common phrase that i seem to always hear is usually along the lines of "I was born way to late to start collecting something so ridiculous" (thanks mr. negative tom) and in most cases, they're right. With the rise of interest in punk and collecting records along with more kids willing to drop big bucks on the classics, trying to track down originals of your favorites is harder than ever. Still though, the hunt is what keeps the die hards going and the hope that in the next box they might find something as minimal as the first Jam single or something as insane as a copy of the Subhumans "death to the sickoids", it makes people want to keep looking. Rare or not, it's always a great feeling to check something off your want list. I know this because i'm one of those nerds and have spent more than my good share of time digging around and searching for these records, sometimes striking flat black gold but more often than not, going home empty handed. This blog is basically a documentation of that and as i've stated before, i don't really expect everyone to understand. However, if you do then perhaps you'll find this at least half interesting as i go through some travels and talk about some killer bands and jams. Fuck rite on.