Top Tens from MRR #335 • April 2011

31 03 2011

Hi kids! Every month, a couple weeks after the magazine comes out, we post our reviewers’ monthly top tens from the latest issue of Maximum Rocknroll. This one’s from MRR #335, the April 2011 issue. Dig in!

Mariam Bastani

Mariam Bastani
MAUSER-End of the Line-EP
ICEAGE-New Brigade-LP
NO STATIK-We All Die in the End-LP
FIRMEZA 10-El Grito de la Tierra-LP
LIVID / WEIRD TV-live / RALPH-I Can’t Breathe-EP
SECRET PEOPLE-EP / DESCARADOS-EP
SILLA ELÉCTRICA-No Controlo-EP
PINK NIGHTMARE-Ad Nauseum-EP
VEGETABLE-c.f./Sol-45
AMSTERDAMNED-EP / DISCHARGE-both LPs

Brace Belden

Brace Belden
TROYAL HEADACHE-Eloise-EP
BLOODCLOT FAGGOTS-Big in Adelaide-EP
SHOCK VALUE-Yellow Peril-EP
TIMMY’S ORGANISM-Rise of the Green Gorilla-LP
DISCHARGE-Why-LP
UV RACE-Acid Trip/Speed Freak-45
ED NASTY AND THE DOPEDS-I’m Gonna Be-45
CIRCLE PIT-Sewercide/Roll With the Punches-45
JUST URBAIN-Burning-EP
PINK REASON-Desperate Living-EP

Tim Brooks
MERDOSO-In Silence-EP
BARE WIRES-Seeking Love-LP
OCCULT DETECTIVE CLUB-Torture-LP
MIND SPIDERS-LP
NO STATIK-We All Die in the End-LP
STRAIGHT ARROWS-It’s Happening-LP
ICEAGE-New Brigade-LP
MAUSER-End of the Line-EP
SILLA ELÉCTRICA-No Controlo-EP
OBN IIIS-Runnin On Fumes-EP

Robert Collins

Robert Collins
RIDE AT DAWN-Chrome Pillars-EP
ICEAGE-New Brigade-LP
BANRAN-Stop Kor-EP
OCCULT DETECTIVE CLUB-Torture-LP
RALPH-I Can’t Breath-EP
MAUSER-End of the Line-EP
VEGETABLE-c.f./Sol-45
MERDOSO-In Silence-EP
ACID REFLUX-Moves-EP
WARNING/WARNING-EP / TANTRUM-2xEP

Dougie!

Sean “Dougie” Dougan
OCCULT DETECTIVE CLUB-Torture-LP
SHARP OBJECTS-Another Victim-45
NO STATIK-We All Die in the End-LP
MIND SPIDERS-LP
BARE WIRES-Seeking Love-LP
STRAIGHT ARROWS-It’s Happening-LP
ICEAGE-New Brigade-LP
ROYAL HEADACHE-Eloise-EP
SILLA ELÉCTRICA-No Controlo-EP
UV RACE-Acid Trip/Speed Freak-45

Layla G

Layla Gibbon
ICEAGE-New Brigade-LP
NEON BLUD-B-Girls-LP
FIRMEZA 10-El Grito de la Tierra-LP
SILLA ELÉCTRICA-EP / BRAINF#-So Dim-45
KLEENEX/LILIPUT-box set / Vegetable -45
VACCINE-Rat Race-EP / PINK NIGHTMARE-EP
DESCARADOS-Deslumbra-EP
STRAIGHT ARROWS-It’s Happening-LP
TIMMY’S ORGANISM-Rise of the Green Gorilla-LP
WEIRD TV-live / LIVID-live

Dan Goetz

Dan Goetz
DISCHARGE-both LPs / VARUKERS-LP
EXTREME NOISE TERROR-both LPs
ACID REFLUX-EP / MAUSER-EP
NEON BLUD-B-Girls-LP
AMSTERDAMNED-Ballroom Dancing-EP
WEIRD TV-live / RALPH-I Can’t Breathe-EP
BAD INFLUENCE-War’s No Fun-EP
NO STATIK-We All Die in the End-LP
BARE WIRES-LP / LOGJAMMERS-EP
BIG EYES-Prefer to be Alone-EP

Bob Goldie (circa 1986)

Bob Goldie
SHARP OBJECTS-Another Victim-45
THE BLITZZ-both 45s
ACID REFLUX-Moves-EP
DADDY NO!-Pavement Beach-EP
WEAK TEETH-Welcome to Mensa-EP
HARBOUR-Gwalia Deserta-EP
MODERN PETS-Killing Sounds for Rotten People-EP
MIND SPIDERS-LP
BAD INFLUENCE-War’s No Fun Demo 1983-EP
SHOCK VALUE-Yellow Peril-EP

Kenny Kaos
RAMMA LAMMA-Tiger Don’t Change Its Stripes-EP
THE SAILORS-Guilty Pleasures/Let’s Go Chromin-45
FLESH LIGHTS-Jaye/Maybe Baby-45
IMPO & THE TENTS-Ugly Girl-LP
MODERN PETS-Killing Sounds for Rotten People-EP
FIRST BASE-I Saw Her First-EP
MIND SPIDERS-LP
NOBUNNY-Raw Romance-LP
DUCHESS OF SAIGON-LP
STRAIGHT ARROWS-It’s Happening-LP

Carolyn Keddy
LOS CULITOS-Déjame En Paz-EP
I.V. EYES/SCHILLER KILLERS-split EP
TIMMY’S ORGANISM-Rise of the Green Gorilla-LP
TYLER JON TYLER-LP
CIRCLE PIT-Sewercide/Roll With The Punches-45
JUST URBAIN-Burning-EP
POP. 1280-The Grid-12” / DUCHESS OF SAIGON-LP
PRIMITIVE CALCULATORS / SLUG GUTS-split EP
ED NASTY AND THE DOPEDS-I’m Gonna Be-45
THE BLITZZ-both 45s / PREFAB MESSIAHS-45

Ray Lujan
20 BELOWS-For Better Days-CD
BIG EYES-Why Can’t I/Your Eyes-45
BYRDS OF PARADISE-Rowena/Kids In The Hall-45
DEE CRACKS-Attention Deficit-CD
NO GIMMICK-Loss For Words-CD
POP. 1280-The Grid-12” / RAMMA LAMMA-both 45s
REAGONOMICS-Lower the Bar-CD
SHARP OBJECTS-45 / TERMINAL GIRLS-LP
TORINO 74-CD / TYLER JON TYLER-LP
UNFUN-LP / GOLLIWOG-CD

NEW TOP TENNER! Marissa Magic
KLEENEX/LILIPUT-box set
PRIMITIVE CALCULATORS/SLUG GUTSLOS
LLAMARADA-The Restless Light/A Current-45
VEGETABLE-c.f./Sol-45
CIRCLE PIT-Sewercide/Roll With the Punches-45
NEON BLUD-B-Girls-LP
LIVID-live
NO STATIK-We All Die in the End-LP
SILLA ELÉCTRICA-No Controlo-EP
WEIRD TV-live

Ken Sanderson
HEARTLESS-Absent-EP
BANRAN-EP / PINK NIGHTMARE-EP
CELLGRAFT-Deceptic Schematic-EP
VACCINE-Rat Race-EP
MAUSER-End of the Line-EP
FIRMEZA 10-El Grito de la Tierra-LP
SILLA ELÉCTRICA-No Controlo-EP
V/A-Short, Fast and Loud #24-10”+fest
DESERAT-Hardcore Deluxe-LP
AMSTERDAMNED-Ballroom Dancing-EP

Fred Schrunk

Fred Schrunk
FIRMEZA 10-El Grito de la Tierra-LP
SILLA ELÉCTRICA-No Controlo-EP
DIRTY MARQUEE-Hey Larry-EP
MIND SPIDERS-LP
PINK NIGHTMARE-Ad Nauseum-EP
BIG EYES-Why Can’t I/Your Lies-45
BRAIN F≠-So Dim/Symptom Set-45
ROYAL HEADACHE-Eloise-EP
NEON BLUD-B-Girls-LP
WEIRD TV-live / ARCTIC FLOWERS-live

Martin Sorrondeguy(!)

Martin Sorrondeguy
PINK NIGHTMARE-Ad Nauseum-EP
AMSTERDAMNED-Ballroom Dancing-EP
MAUSER-End of the Line-EP
ACID REFLUX-Moves-EP
BANRAN-Stop Kor-EP
VACCINE-Rat Race-EP
SILLA ELÉCTRICA-No Controlo-EP
NO STATIK-We All Die in the End-LP
FIRMEZA 10-El Grito de la Tierra-LP
BLITZZ-Go Now/You Got What You Want-45

Top Ten Zines
Langdon Olgar
Nuts #6
Nancy #1
Absolutely Zippo #47
Roctober #48
Music That Doesn’t Suck #5
No Thanks Fuck Everything #6
Evil Minded #7
Razorcake #60
Short Fast and Loud #24


March 31st, 2011 by MRR Web Coordinator


MRR Radio #1237 • 3/26/11

28 03 2011

MRR Radio is a weekly radio show featuring the best DIY punk, garage rock and hardcore from the astounding, ever-growing Maximum Rocknroll record collection. You can find the MRR Radio podcast, as well as specials, archives, and more info at radio.maximumrocknroll.com. Thanks for listening, and stay tuned!

THIS WEEK: Mariam asks, “What’s wrong with being Sexy?”…and gets some help from Langford.

Listen here:  

Download here

Dirty Marquee (photo by Paul Curran)

Intro song:
SNUKY TATE – Stage Speech

Langford gets a few in
NEON BLUD – Untitled I
TOUCH ME, SATAN – Stumptown
DIRTY MARQUEE – Dinosaur II
MEAT PUPPETS – Big House
QUEST FOR FIRE – Unwilling Oneironaut

I must be on the rag
COKSKAR – Brownie Points
PLASMATICS – Butcher Baby
SCABBURGER – ?
GLUEAMS – Mental
CHALK CIRCLE – Scrambled

I just need a proper dicking
TELEFON – Malej Blbej
RAS – Vill Ha Mer
DAWN OF HUMAN – Destroy
CÜLO – Wasted on Wine
WARNING//WARNING – Noise in Mind

I am just upset because I am a hairy and ugly Feminazi
HERDS – Bay City
AGE – Freedom’s Grave
STATE POISON – State Poison
TANTRUM – No Card (Raw Power)
LOUD PIPES – Stupid Stupid

Outro song and new Scum Manifesto:
BRUISE VIOLET – Man’s World


March 28th, 2011 by Mariam


R.I.P. Jose Eduardo “Matute”

26 03 2011

On Friday March 18th, Jose Eduardo Matute, guitarist of Guerrilla Urbana, the band later known as Ataque Frontal passed away. Along with bands like Leusemia, Autopsia, Zcuela Crrada, Narcosis, Eructo Maldonado, Psocosis, Panico, Flema, Luxuria, Juventud La Kaigua, Sociedad De Mierda, Eutanasia, Radicales and others, Guerrilla Urbana/Ataque Frontal were the pioneers of La Movida Subterrenea, the underground music movement that emerged in Lima, Peru, as a result of the mass bloodshed and extreme political and social turbulence in the early ’80s. Ataque Frontal recorded a demo in 1986, which was re-pressed in 1987 by the French label New Wave. This record captures the sound of fury of the band. It’s raw, it’s angry, it’s punk as fuck. You can hear how bands of this time and punks like Matute laid the foundation for much of the Latin American punk we know today. Matute also wrote a Peru scene report that appeared in MRR #26 in July 1985. His contributions will not be forgotten.

El viernes 18 de marzo, Jose Eduardo Matute, guitarrista de Guerrilla Urbana, la banda conocida despues como Ataque Frontal, murió. Junto con bandas punk como Leusemia, Autopsia, Zcuela Crrada, Narcosis, Eructo Maldonado, Psocosis, Panico, Flema, Luxuria, La Kaigua, Sociedad De Mierda, Eutanasia, Radicales de Juventud y otros, Guerrilla Urbana/Ataque Frontal eran los pioneros del La Movida Subterrenea, el movimiento subterráneo durante y resultado de las matanzas y de la turbulencia política y social extrema en los años 80 en Lima, Perú. Ataque Frontal grabo un demo en 1986, que salio en vinilo en 1987 por New Wave Records de Francia. Estas canciones capturaron el sonido de la furia del tiempo — es rabioso, crudo y es Punk. Usted puede oír cómo las bandas punk de ese tiempo y los punks como Matute pusieron la fundación para mucho del punk latinoamericano que conocemos hoy. Matute también contribuyó un reporte que apareció en MRR en Julio de 1985, la edición #26 de la escena Perúana. Las contribuciones de Matute no serán olvidadas.

“Tengo ahora pocas penas…estoy seguro de lo que hago…y hago lo que tengo que hacer…”
—“Memorias”


March 26th, 2011 by Mariam


New MRR web feature: We Got Ways!

24 03 2011

Hi, everyone. Welcome to the first installment of “We Got Ways,” a new web-column that I hope to trot out with some regularity here at MRR’s digital incarnation. What is it exactly that I hope to do with this occasional online missive? Talk about my favorite thing and yours, of course — punk records! In particular, after much prodding from industrious web coordinator Paul to write something, anything, I settled on a theme: great records of the decade between 2000 and 2009. Why these years? Well, I have a theory that most punk zine (and blog) writing succumbs to the tyranny of the very old/tyranny of the very new. Meaning, most historically minded writers tirelessly excavate great and/or forgotten records from the classic early eras (’76-’84) without paying much mind to anything that has come after that supposed golden age—in many cases, anytime during the years in which these amateur historians have actually graced the planet earth with their presences! As for their part, the exuberant zinesters who focus on the current DIY punk scene have plenty to cover without spilling too much ink on shit that came out years ago. That is why I’m here—to remind readers of the now-classic records from the relatively recent past, and to hopefully point out some would-be classics that may have slipped through the cracks. What’s more, it seems that now is a good time to start deciding what has (so far) stood the test of time from the most recent decade in punk’s rear view mirror, before nostalgia and/or senility set in. Having spent a large chunk of the ‘00s as the coordinator of the greatest punk zine ever to inkstain your hands, while also scouring the earth (to say nothing of the internet) for punk records, I’ll hopefully have enough to write about to keep Paul off of my back for a while.

If all goes according to plan, each of these columns will focus on one great record. Some will be relatively well known, while others will be hella obscure. This first post is likely of the former variety for those of you who’ve been at it for a while— though it might be new to a few young ‘uns—and as such it’s the perfect record with which to begin. Let me get to it—this installment is about this column’s namesake, the near-perfect 2002 12” by Denmark’s YOUNG WASTENERS, We Got Ways (Kick N’ Punch Records). Why? Because even nine (!!) years later, WGW is a stone classic of pure punk music. And what better way to get this column started than to revisit the favorite scene—Copenhagen, Denmark—of much of the 2000s? About that…well, I’ll let you in on a little-known secret: not all of the Copenhagen bands are as good as we said they were at the time. Two of them are – GORILLA ANGREB and the YOUNG WASTENERS. OK, OK, and HUL too, for the most part. But this column is not about those other bands. As for the relative overrated-ness of AMDI PETERSON’S ARME and NO HOPE FOR THE KIDS (there, I said it)… well, that is a conversation best left for another day (or alternately, for the comments section – have at it, kids!).

What is it about the Wasteners? For one thing, despite the many reasonable comparisons to the DEAD KENNEDYS they garnered at the time, their sound doesn’t evoke any one old band too closely. And despite being on the cusp between punk and hardcore, and sounding fairly U.S.-influenced, the Wasteners are not at all snotty in a DESCENDENTS/ANGRY SAMOANS way. Much more than any of those bands’ classic records, the Wasteners 12” rocks – just listen again to the title track and you’ll see what I mean. Also, unlike the DKs—who obviously wrote some classically great songs in their heyday—We Got Ways is never, ever annoying or too-much-of-a-good-thing. What I mean by that is, despite the obvious influence of the DKs, the Wasteners’ singer is (thankfully) never going for a straight-up rip off of Jello’s warble.

Young Wasteners (2002 — photo by Flexmyhead)

Despite all of the above disclaimers, We Got Ways is undeniably retro, in a way that became quite popular in the early/middle part of the aughts. Unlike some bands—i.e. REGULATIONS, TRISTESS, THE VICIOUS—who mined the same era of history but whose expiration dates were approximately one day after their records were released, the Wasteners have actually come to sound more timeless rather than more dated with the passage of the years. This is because they wrote significantly more interesting songs than many of their peers. To my mind, their greatness lies in their little guitar hooks (and on one song, a classic saxophone part!) and countermelodies, which wrap their way around virtually every song on this 12”. I think these guitar lines are probably part of the reason that the Wasteners get compared to the DKs in virtually every review, but this is misleading because these little guitar lines are rarely surfy or even noodly. In any case, they give the listener more than one melody on which to focus during every song, while the singer (melodically) screams his head off about such classic punk topics as cops, the boredom of the suburbs, and uh, Ecuador.

This record went in and out of print quite quickly in its day, but it received reissue treatment a couple of years back. Unfortunately, I didn’t see the reissue around for too long either. Search around the internet a bit, and I’m sure you’ll find it in digital form at the very least, if not on wax. Best tracks: “We Got Ways,” “Suburban Noize,” “Stained Circle.”


March 24th, 2011 by Golnar


Pirates Press releases benefit record for Bruce Roehrs Memorial Fund

23 03 2011

Pirates Press Records, Longshot Music, and Maximum Rocknroll are very proud to offer this special chance to help our beloved friend Bruce Roehrs to be immortalized in San Francisco’s Columbarium, and be part of something that can hopefully continue to help effect music in the way Bruce did for decades.

The Columbarium is the one place in San Francisco proper allowed to be someone’s final resting place. There are no cemeteries in SF. This is a very special place, and a very special honor — truly one that a lot of us believe he deserves.

Bruce had taken people there and shown it off as a place of solace and peace for him — a place he unquestioningly appreciated. It is a very expensive proposition though, but one many of us, his closest friends, are very passionate about. If we succeed, he will be with many other people who have also shaped San Francisco.

Those of us who attended Bruce’s memorial saw that it is filled with the high and mighty of San Francisco’s past, and a load of characters who illustrate the vibrant scenes and cultures San Francisco always prides itself on… What the Columbarium still needs is an intelligent and thoughtful, tough as nails Rock N Roller — and Bruce is the perfect person for the job. Regardless of your religious affiliation, one can imagine and appreciate how Bruce would shake things up at that party… and how much he would enjoy it.

Furthermore, it gives Bruce’s family, friends, loved ones and fans a place to pay their respects to a man who was constantly showing his respect and love to everyone around him.

This project was started on a whim, because of the music. It in many ways exemplifies Bruce, and the effect he had on a music scene and the people involved. The Harrington Saints were all very close with Bruce, (as everyone who saw him front and center shaking a fist at one of their shows can attest to) and share deeply in our passion for making this record successful. Booze and Glory, who knew of Bruce and had read his columns in MRR, (without intention) wrote the song “Swingin’ Fuckin’ Hammers”, which essentially sparked all of this. Hearing it, we felt it was Bruce — as it is many of our hardworking brothers and sisters — but him especially!! We hope you agree.

UP THE HAMMERS!! AND UP BRUCE!! Oi! Oi!

ALL proceeds from this record will be donated to the Bruce Roehrs Memorial Fund to secure his place in the SF Columbarium. Any additional funds will be used to help organize Roehrs Records, a record label in Bruce’s honor, run by a coalition of his friends, to promote unsigned bands he would have been a fan of and whom would have most likely never been given a chance by anyone else. Through his column in MRR, Bruce was the unheard voice of the little guys and the underdogs and he made it his mission to make that voice heard. Through an annual release on Roehrs Records we can all help him to continue to promote and discover new music to be excited about!!


March 23rd, 2011 by MRR Web Coordinator


Wow, what a show! Cycles/Positive Noise/Ancient Filth/Damages/Phil Mee at The Pothole, Muskegon, MI 3/16/11

22 03 2011

This week’s show review is by Ryan Cappelletti of Punks Before Profits. If you take photos and like to write about punk shows (or if you and a friend wanna team up to do this) drop us a line at webzine {at} maximumrocknroll(.)com with a sample review and pics, and maybe you too can be a MRR shitblogger!

I think it is really important to play and make it out to shows in small areas that may surround your city. A lot of the time, if we get out of our box, we can find something truly fucking awesome. My band, POSITIVE NOISE, got asked to play a house show in Muskegon, Michigan, where our bass player and drummer live. Not sure if anybody has ever heard of this place, but it’s a pretty bleak area. One of the highest unemployment rates in the country, and with this new emergency manager law being put into play, Muskegon could be the first for a fascist takeover! I never understand why my bandmates decide to stay, but either way they give people hope through shows like this. So thanks for making me venture into Muskegon for another show.

OK, the show started with local band CYCLES. This band fucking rips total fast as fuck, HC crusty punk. They just did a demo and trust me, it rules, so get in touch with pullupmysocks {at} riseup(.)net to get a copy. They ended the set with a BREAD AND WATER cover that ruled. Up next was local hip hop superstar PHIL MEE. It was truly awesome to see somebody take a total punk crowd and rip through a few hip hop jams done very well. Sometimes I feel people with other musical backgrounds have a hard time playing in a basement situation, but this was not the case with this guy.

Damages (photo by Ryan Cappelletti)

POSITIVE NOISE was next. It’s always hard to talk about your own band, so all I will say is that it was cool to talk between songs and have part of the crowd take part, and bring it to a full-blown discussion in the middle of a fast hardcore punk set. Local Grand Rapids hardcore took the floor next: DAMAGES! This band just gets better and better every time. They play fast, catchy HC punk, and got the crowd moving into a total frenzy — it was awesome.

The last band of the night was ANCIENT FILTH from Boston, Mass, who drove many, many, many hours out of the way to play this one Michigan show. I was already stoked on this band before hand, but after seeing them they are one of my new favorite bands. The tour they just did I think only had two or three shows in all. They basically just wanted to get out of town and play a couple shows. They played an energy ridden set of HC punk with the emphasis on punk! They also ended with a ZERO BOYS cover. If you are fan of modern HC like LIMP WRIST and older Italian HC punk, then please get the ANCIENT FILTH demo now! If you don’t believe me check out www.ancientfilth.com for the proof.

Ancient Filth (photo by Ryan Cappelletti)

You never know where you will find great hardcore so never underestimate any town or scene this show is solid proof killer HC can be found all over the fucking place!


March 22nd, 2011 by MRR Web Coordinator


Monday Photo Blog: Karpov the Wrecked Train

21 03 2011

Straight from the Metal Frat in Ann Arbor, Karpov the Wrecked Train sent in a batch of photos from DIRE WOLF’s last show. Be sure to check out his Tumblr for more awesome band photos from Michigan.

Face Reality @ the Metal Frat, Ann Arbor, MI, 29 January 2011
(photo by Karpov the Wrecked Train)

Damages @ the Metal Frat, Ann Arbor, MI, 29 January 2011
(photo by Karpov the Wrecked Train)

Face Reality @ the Metal Frat, Ann Arbor, MI, 29 January 2011
(photo by Karpov the Wrecked Train)

Dire Wolf @ the Metal Frat, Ann Arbor, MI, 29 January 2011
(photo by Karpov the Wrecked Train)

If you shoot shows and have photos you want to submit for the MRR Blog, send them to: photoblog {at} maximumrocknroll(.)com. Be sure to put “MRR Photo Blog” in the subject. Include your name, the band, where and when it was shot. Just send your best photos – edit tightly. Three to five photos is plenty. We like to exercise a little quality control here…not everything sent in will be posted. Please size your photos so they are 600 pixels (72 dpi) at the longest side.

The Powers That Be at MRR and I have started talking about doing a new photo issue. This one will most likely focus more on people who were shooting in the early days of punk. If you know of any unsung photographers, undiscovered photo collections of punk bands from the late ’70s – early ’80s, or are just interested maybe in interviewing someone, drop us a line!


March 21st, 2011 by icki


MRR Radio #1236 • 3/20/11

20 03 2011

MRR Radio is a weekly radio show featuring the best DIY punk, garage rock and hardcore from the astounding, ever-growing Maximum Rocknroll record collection. You can find the MRR Radio podcast, as well as specials, archives, and more info at radio.maximumrocknroll.com. Thanks for listening, and stay tuned!

THIS WEEK: Xs, broken Xs, time travel, and a geography lesson…

Listen here:  

Download here

Intro song:
THE PROLETARIAT – Options

Deranged Diction

Dan takes a trip around Maryland:
LOTUS FUCKER – Wino/The Snake That Eats Its Own Tail/Deep Inside, I Hear a Voice Call Out to Me
DEEP SLEEP – Live Forever
GAMEWINNER – Philadelphia Lights
THE LEFT – Youngster on the Force
ONE LAST WISH – Break to Broken

Dan – Before They Were Grunge
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE – Dead You Fool
MR. EPP AND THE CALCULATIONS – Mohawk Man
TAR BABIES – The Word
600 SCHOOL – Social Decay
FECAL MATTER – Laminated Effect
DERANGED DICTION – Aspirin

Layla – X-Rated Jamz
XS ENERGY – Imaginary
X_X – 1980
XTRAVERTS – Speed
X (Australia) – Halfway Around the World

Dan – Comp-Hell-Ation Part 2
YDI – Enemy for Life
AGGRESSION – Calling for You
NO THANKS – Fuck Everything
ABSENTEES – Tryin’ to Mess With Me

Dan – The List Is Thousands Long…
OUR WAR – 50 Years
BOLD – Wise Up
COUNT ME OUT – South Street
CARRY ON – X’s Always Win
OUR TURN – Search It Out

Outro song:
DRESS UP AS NATIVES – Grover


March 20th, 2011 by Dan


Zine/Comp Review: Lost Tapes from the Federal Sessions

17 03 2011

Lost Tapes from the Federal Sessions

Lost Tapes from the Federal Sessions, a new zine-slash-cassette-comp out of London, UK, has been put together as a tribute to the more organic and personalised ways of finding out about new music. Firstly, forget about whether the zine comes with a tape, or the tape comes with a zine, because that may well send you into a frenzy of confusion, and enjoy 21 tracks of exciting current bands that sonically cover pretty much the entire spectrum of DIY punk rock and hardcore.

Each band gets a comprehensive interview that covers their formation, band achievements, related projects of members and personal/political standpoints (with questions written especially for them, not some kind of standard questionnaire, which is cool) as well as a piece of artwork, seemingly inspired by their name. While James has concentrated on his home scene of the UK, there are some North American bands included (notably the excellent Street Eaters, who I hadn’t heard before opening up this lovely punk parcel).

Art by Ellie May Roberts

This beautifully-packaged, large size, 54-page zine (sealed in a hand-stamped, stencilled envelope with a waxy kiss) is an awesome reminder of why, parallel to the endless treasure hunt for rare gems from days gone by, it’s as important as ever to document what’s happening in your back yard/basement — especially when what’s happening sounds this good!

Bands include: Saturday’s Kids, Woolf, Jesus of Spazzareth, Damages, Bird Calls, The Sceptres, Small Bones, Battle of Wolf 359, Human Hands, Guilty Parents, Dead in the Woods, Facel Vega.

£5 ppd in the UK . Email cyslabe {at} gmail(.)com for US/distro.

losttapesfromthefederalsessions.blogspot.com


March 17th, 2011 by Bryony


Blog of the Week: Art 4 Punks

16 03 2011

You can’t always judge a book by its cover, but Art 4 Punks is a record review site with a difference: ignoring the music, blogger Paul D’Elia reviews the artwork and packaging instead. He casts a critical and thoughtful eye on something that is often considered throwaway or even an afterthought by many bands and labels, and highlights those who make an effort to deliver an effective visual counterpart to the music on the record. Paul’s something of a punk rock renaissance man, having played in several bands (including Tear It Up, Dead Nation, and The Rites) and turning out a fair amount of art himself (evidence at screenin4achange.com). I took the opportunity to get some background on the Art 4 Punks blog and get his thoughts on punk cover art. —Allan

How long have you been into design and how did you get into it? Was it from a particular punk record?

I guess I got into design while I was at college. I had started out as a photo student, but I went to a very liberal art college that encouraged you to try any and every medium in order to carve out your own creative path. While I was there the whole world of photography was shifting to digital and I began to lose interest in shooting, so I started working more with screen-printing instead. The only problem was that I needed to have images to print, so I guess that was when I really started to think about building art more in the form of design. Truthfully, I was looking more to vintage poster and skateboard art for inspiration than I was punk records at the time.

Which designers or artists do you look up to (Both ‘punk’ and non-punk)?

Raymond Pettibon is a huge one for me. I love his illustration style, and the art created for Sonic Youth’s “Goo” might be my favorite album he’s done. The skateboard art that Jim Phillips was doing in the 80′s was very important to me while I was learning about screen-printing. Beyond that, anything collage/abstract in content tends to interest me. I’ll spare you the laundry list.

Which current labels and bands do you think are putting out the best-designed product?

Youth Attack and Feral Ward are the two labels that continue to kill it for me: every release is expertly thought out and executed beyond the normal expectations of what a punk record would look like, and I can’t get enough of that. As far as bands, I’d have to say Daylight Robbery and Masshysteri both pulled together some of the most mature/best looking records of the last few years, with an honorable mention to Cola Freaks for their general flawless sense of style. It’s really hard for me to pin a few down because I really do love so much of what I see coming from bands right now… everyone is really upping their game for 2011!

A lot of bands and labels don’t spend a lot of time on graphics/artwork, like there’s something extra-punk about a throwaway aesthetic. Why do you think it’s important?

I have always been a very visual person, so for me when I am listening to a record the visual presentation is nearly as important as the audio… and that is not to say everything needs to look really slick and polished, cause it definitely doesn’t; I think it’s more about effectively creating a vehicle to help deliver the audio message regardless of the budget or available resources.

What are your five all-time favorite punk record covers, and why? And can you name a couple of great records with terrible covers?

Man, that is a really hard question! Let’s start with the good… not necessarily a “top 5″ but more like a “5 really really great” covers.

X – Adult Books 45



It’s a great layout all around really, but I really love the front and back cover. It’s smart without coming off too conceptual…. all the Dangerhouse releases were exceptional enough to mention visually. They really had their finger on the pulse of what was happening on an artistic level in punk at the time…

Buzzcocks – Orgasm Addict 45


I’ve loved this record for so many years and I still don’t know which side of the art is up! The beauty of this graphic mystery is that it really doesn’t matter because it looks amazing no matter how you are holding it. AND the back cover is just as beautiful and confusing… it’s the ultimate “punk meets hi-art” example, and it will always be a top cover for me.

Discharge – Realities of War EP

A simple photo turned punk phenomenon… when I think of “punk” looking records, this is what comes to mind (well, this and Hear Nothing…) the simplicity is so striking, sometimes less is more ya know?

Void – Faith/Void split 12″


The color breakup between the black and white on this cover continues to be one of the most creative and sophisticated uses of negative space ever to grace a punk record. The black bar on the bottom creates a really nice balance for the illustration in the center and then the bold type on the top. Without it, it would have just been an illustration, not a composition.

The Misfits – Bullet EP


This cover is pop-culture misappropriation at it’s finest. You take an image everybody knows and arguably feels something about when they see it, photocopy it to oblivion, and then add a touch of red for effect. We all know Kennedy was shot in the head, yet this cover is still shocking the first time you see it. It’s gritty and raw, yet oozing with style. Black. White. Red. This record is king.

As for the bad, there are a lot that come to mind… pretty much any ALL or Descendents record would fall in that category. Both those bands have catalogs full of music I adore and cover art I can’t relate to. I love the Big Boys, but there is a bit of a cringe factor to the Lullabies Help the Brain Grow cover art. Richard Hell and the Voidoids, or any other early 80′s band that just phoned it in with a mediocre photo of themselves and then slapped some Helvetica over top… Really though, there is way more that I am just indifferent to, and I don’t know if that’s better or worse.

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March 16th, 2011 by Allan