Reviews

Michiro Endo ベトナム伝説 [Vietnam-Legend] cassette

The lead singer of Japan’s the STALIN has put out a very well-produced nine-song tape that comes with a high-quality book that includes multi-colored photos. He does many ’60s songs here (like “Born To Be Wild,” “I Wanna Be Your Dog,” etc.), along with original compositions in styles ranging from intense thrash to straight metal to almost BEATLE-esque material, and the band (who sounds like the STALIN) really crank it out. Excellent.

• Reviewer Tim Yohannan
• Label Takarajima
• Issue MRR #14 • June 1984

V/A The Punx: Street Movement cassette

Very strange. This package is incredibly elaborate: sturdy box enclosure, 84-page book detailing the history and discography of Japanese punk/hardcore in color, and typically wonderful Japanese punk graphics—all leading up to…a six-band cassette? Yep. Two songs each by LAUGHIN’ NOSE, GAS, GISM, WILLARD, LIP CREAM, and COBRA. Not that the music is bad (it’s not), but somehow I’d have expected the tape itself to be as comprehensive as the literature. Still, a collector’s item.

• Reviewer Tim Yohannan
• Label Takarajima
• Issue MRR #25 • May/June 1985