something I learned today...

Moving

2006-06-13T00:30:00.000-04:00

Like all of the other cool kids I've decided to move this thing to it's own home. Please, update your bookmarks, links, etc. to the new location:

www.somethingilearned.com

H-100s

2006-06-08T22:39:00.000-04:00

And now for something completely different - a short blast of manic '90's hardcore from Cleveland's H-100's. There isn't much info on them, other than this blurb from Havoc Records:

Cleveland Ohio's h-100's blast out crucial early 80's style raw thrash. The singer was a teenage kid with a really snotty voice. The rest of the band were thirty-year-old record collector dudes who were there when hardcore ruled and didn't forget. Although the h-100's claim 80's Japanese thrash as their main influence this record reminds me more of early Die Kreuzen, Poison Idea, Toxic Reasons or many other Midwestern thrash bands of the 80's...H-100's were notorious for their outrageous live shows which usually featured fireworks, wrestling moves and throwing everything that wasn't nailed down.

The H-100s released 3 singles - Texas Death Match, Dismantle, and Distort Cleveland before - splitting in early 1996. 3/4 of the band would become 9 Shocks Terror, with Tony Erba & Wedge eventually forming Gordon Solie Motherfuckers. There was reportedly a CD of all three 7"s, but I've never seen it. 1995's Distort Cleveland EP is my favorite of the three records. Take a listen:

H-100s - Brown Sugar.mp3
H-100s - Destroy Cleveland.mp3
H-100s - Shit We Live In Today.mp3
H-100s - Don't Ask Me How I Am.mp3
H-100s - Free.mp3

And for good measure here are two more - "Agitate" is from Dismantle, "Picked On" is from Texas Death Match
H-100s - Agitate.mp3
H-100s - Picked On.mp3

Pere Ubu

2006-06-06T17:02:00.000-04:00

To be honest, I don't feel like I have a keen enough intellect to adequately analyze and expound on Pere Ubu. While I like the band and their music on a high level, I feel like I'm missing something critical that everyone else is getting - kinda how I feel whenever I listen to Jazz. Kinda how I felt when I failed advanced calculus, or tried to read Dostoevsky. Just plain dumb. So I'll leave it at that, but suggest you head over to Vinyl Mine to check out Jim's take on Pere Ubu's first album The Modern Dance.

Deconstruction aside, I've grown comfortable with the majority of material Pere Ubu released in their "Historical" period (1975-1982). The band produced 3 fine albums (Modern Dance, Dub Housing, and New Picnic Time) in little over a two year span, in addition to a couple of fantastic singles. If you can put aside David Thomas' off-key yelping/mewing and the band's more artsy-fartsy avant weirdness there's much to enjoy. The tracks here come from the band's 5-song 1978 12" Datapanik in the Year Zero, originally released in the UK on Radar Records. The EP collects cuts from the band's early releases on their own Hearthan label, including the first single from 1975, the b-side to their second single ("Cloud 149"), a demo version of "The Modern Dance" (marked as "untitled"), and the b-side to The Modern Dance single ("Heaven"). A nice sample of the band's early output, though the exclusion of "Final Solution" is puzzling:

from 1978 EP Datapanik in the Year Zero
Pere Ubu - Heart of Darkness.mp3
Pere Ubu - 30 Seconds Over Tokyo.mp3
Pere Ubu - Cloud 149.mp3
Pere Ubu - Untitled.mp3
Pere Ubu - Heaven.mp3

Notes:
> Photo from official Pere Ubu website: Ubuprojex
> Rocket From The Tombs tracks are still available from an earlier post. I prefer the RFTT early version of "30 Seconds Over Tokyo"
> The entire Datapanik EP is included in the Terminal Tower singles, etc compilation and the Datapanik in the Year Zero boxset.

Ikara Colt

2006-06-01T13:00:00.000-04:00

With the recent Joy Division post and my new found enthusiasm for blogging British bands (woohoo, 2 out nearly 350 posts), it seemed like an ideal time to dish up a little Ikara Colt. Playing that noisy, seemingly familiar blend of arty postpunk, Ikara Colt graced the world with two albums and a couple of singles during their 1999 to 2004 run. Pitchfork had the following take on their 2002 debut Chat and Business

It's as if Ikara Colt ran down a checklist from the back of the NME on how
to be a British punk band: They met at art school, they dress sharp, and they
sound glum. They crib from the best post-punk and noise-rock, and every track on their debut gets a perfect score for pop songform and speedy hook delivery...
The music also falls in line, between Sonic Youth and The Fall, but at least they do it well.... Chat and Business won't bring you down, nor will it kick your ass. It's the kind of album that's never better than its last single, but my complaints will sound like stodgy nit-picking if you go nuts for the guitars
2004's Modern Apprentice is more of the same, if ultimately less engaging. No Ripcord sums it up fairly well:

It’s unfortunate that the familiar sound of some of these tracks, the nagging suspicion that you heard this once before, is always hiding in the background, because there’s worthy enough material here. The previously mentioned raw energy is evident in bucketloads, and there are tons of spiky guitar slashes and fuzz-heavy bass riffs.

Modern Apprentice was never given official release in the US, for reasons unknown to me (perhaps their split). Regardless of the slings and arrows levied at the band I enjoyed both of these albums, with Chat and Business being one of my favorites of the early 21st century. Take a listen

From Chat and Business
Ikara Colt - Sink Venice.mp3
Ikara Colt - At The Lodge.mp3

From Modern Apprentice
Ikara Colt - Wake in the City.mp3
Ikara Colt - How's The World Gonna Take You Now.mp3

Notes:
>Photo from an Ikara Colt fansite

Joy Division

2006-05-29T10:36:00.000-04:00

I've been beating myself up trying to decide whether to post the first Joy Division 7" or the band's oft-booted "lost" LP from 1978. Easy solution - why not both? The whole Joy Division story can be found here. My first exposure to the early Joy Division sound came in college. I had only been familiar with the band's "Love Will Tear Us Apart" and the follow up work by New Order. A friend in my dorm had the 12" version of Joy Division's An Ideal For Living, and I was blown away upon my first listen. Despite claiming to "hate" the record, he refused to part with it. Fucker. After graduation I never saw the record again, left with a beat up tape copy until another friend made me a CD-R of not only the single but the band's shelved 1978 album Warsaw. The story as I know it is that the band recorded the album in May of 1978, but rejected it after hearing the final mix. I love this early Joy Division sound, so raw and aggro and unrefined when compared to the band's proper albums.

recorded in December, 1977 while still known as Warsaw. Officially released in 1978
Joy Division - Warsaw.mp3
Joy Division - No Love Lost.mp3
Joy Division - Leaders of Men.mp3
Joy Division - Failures.mp3

recorded in May 1978 but rejected by band. Booted many times over (whole thing here)
Joy Division - They Walked in Line.mp3
Joy Division - Transmission.mp3
Joy Division - Living in the Ice Age.mp3
Joy Division - Shadowplay.mp3

notes:
Scans from the excellent Joy Division Central
An old post of Joy Division covers
The first 7 inch tracks have been included on the Joy Division compilation Substance

Arcwelder

2006-05-26T21:15:00.000-04:00

Minneapolis' Arcwelder made some beautiful noise in the 90's, releasing 6 albums all told. Fuzzed out guitar, alternating vocals, strong hooks, noisy pop melodies - Arcwelder always reminded of a latter day Husker Du. While still technically an active band, the trio of Scott Macdonald and brothers Bill and Rob Graber haven't released an album in 7 years. Presented for your listening pleasure are Arcwelder's two 7" released on Touch & Go. While not their best work (check the bands sonic masterpiece Pull or the nearly as great follow up Xerxes), these records hold their own. The Raleigh 7" comes from demos recorded prior to Pull in 1992. A more refined version of "Raleigh" made it onto Pull, "Walls" and "Rosa" appear only here. The Captain Allen 7" appeared in 1995 as a stop-gap until Entropy could be released. The gem here is an on the mark cover of the Volcano Suns "White Elephant". I'd love to hear something more from the band, but I'm not holding my breath.

from 1992's Raleigh 7"
Arcwelder - Raleigh.mp3
Arcwelder - Walls.mp3
Arcwelder - Rosa.mp3

from 1995's Captain Allen 7"
Arcwelder - Captain Allen.mp3
Arcwelder - White Elephant.mp3

Not as if anyone would have noticed, but those first two sentences are recycled from an earlier Arcwelder post. I'm just phonin' this shit in now.

The Skinnies

2006-05-22T13:02:00.000-04:00

Image "on loan" from the generous folks at Killed By Death Records!

Last week I posted on the Shit Dogs, and you, dear readers, underwhelmingly responded with exactly one comment. Well, fuck you I'm going back to the well with some more Louisiana punk rock. This time we have The Skinnies from New Orleans. Their Kill The Beat 7" was released on 'Lectric Eye back in 1978, and has been given the the whole Killed/Hyped/Death treatment. CollectorScum calls it "Classic loser punk". Do you need anything else? Really, both of these tracks are excellent and deserve a listen. Anyone wanting to share info on the band is welcome to comment

Skinnies - I'm a Dullard.mp3
Skinnies - Out of Control.mp3

V/A - New Jersey's Got It?

2006-05-18T21:50:00.000-04:00

Satisfying a waaay old request, here's New Jerseys' Got It? Released on Buy Our Records in 1985, the compilation is nothing but Garden State bands. I've been sitting on this one for a good, long while, because honestly it's mostly disposable. Most of the tracks here play like mediocre, second-tier material. The highlights are a deranged Cows like track from Cynamid, a fuzzed out stomper from Pleased Youth, weird, theatrical noise from Children in Adult Jails, and hyperactive thrash from Adrenalin OD. The highlights are listed below: (whole LP can be found here)

Bedlam - Mongoofy.mp3
Bodies in Panic - Wendy O.mp3
Cynamid - Support.mp3
Pleased Youth - Obedience School.mp3
Children in Adult Jails - Fishing for Compliments.mp3
Stetz - Kids Habits.mp3
My 3 Sons - People Who Bleed.mp3
Sacred Denial - What Religion.mp3
Adrenalin OD - Infiltrate The State.mp3

notes:
>Strange Reaction has the My 3 Sons 7" available. Check it out
>Many of the bands here were also featured on the Big City - One Big Crowd comp LP. Vinyl Mine gives you the nickel tour.

Shit Dogs

2006-05-15T22:07:00.000-04:00

Although the writing doesn't demonstrate it, I often spend several weeks ruminating over posts, playing tracks, and doing research before sitting down to write a post. One of the major frustrations I encounter is having to toss a post when it's discovered that another blog has beaten you to the punch. With all of the punk related blogs out there now it's happening more and more often. Even though it's not an mp3 blog, Agony Shorthand always seems to be one step ahead of me. Hinman usually hits the nail on the head with spot on reviews and great writing style, often leaving me standing with my cock in my hand. Well, fuck it. For the umpteenth time I've been trumped, this time when it comes to the Shit Dogs World War III compilation on Italian label Rave Up. Most of you are aware of the Shit Dogs as a result of their inclusion on the Killed By Death series. Rave Up has compiled the Baton Rouge, Louisiana band's 1980 History of Cheese EP, 1981's You Bet 7", and the Dog Style LP all on release. 22 tracks of lo-fi goof rock that gets compared to the Ramones or The Eat. I think you can still get this one, along with other choice reissues of Louisian greats The Skinnies and Toxin III. Some samples

originally from 1980's The History of Cheese 7"
Shit Dogs - Reborn.mp3
Shit Dogs - Killer Cain.mp3
Shit Dogs - Raw Meat.mp3

originally from 1981's You Bet 7"
Shit Dogs - Calling Dr. Modo.mp3
Shit Dogs - Can Opener.mp3

originally from 1983's Dog Style LP
Shit Dogs - Rats in the Tunnels.mp3

By Request - 2 more from the Shit Dogs (You Bet 7")
Shit Dogs - Under Slithery Moons.mp3
Shit Dogs - Flippin' Burgers.mp3

Life Sentence

2006-05-11T12:18:00.000-04:00

Life Sentence. Shit, I damn near wore out the grooves on their first LP, playing it what seemed to be every day in 1988. I didn't know much about the band at the time, other than that high profile bands such as DRI and Corrosion of Conformity sported their t-shirts in photos. That, and they were pretty smoking live when I finally got the chance to see them. Apparently there was a whole world of drama surrounding the band that I never knew until many years later. If you're interested in tales of drug addiction, legal matters, and band animosity then head over to the Punk Vault and read the comments. As for the music, Life Sentence's 1987 debut LP was pretty killer - breakneck speed, chunky guitar, and all sorts of breakdowns that my brother and I used to slam to in our basement. Ahhh, good times. the second "Life Sentence" LP No Experience Necessary was released in 1989. It was OK but seemed to lack gutfire. A disappointment for me, both then and now. The first album still remains a fun listen though (hot metal licks aside). Hopefully someone will give this a reissue, along with what I've been told is a great pre-album demo. My favorites:

from 1987 s/t LP
Life Sentence - Problems.mp3
Life Sentence - Punks for Profit.mp3
Life Sentence - In The Streets.mp3
Life Sentence - Figure It Out.mp3

from 1989's No Experience Necessary
Life Sentence - Win, Lose, Or Sue.mp3
Life Sentence - No Experience Necessary.mp3

La Peste

2006-05-08T22:21:00.000-04:00

I doubt anyone will question the inclusion of La Peste's "Better Off Dead" in the upper echelon of amazing American punk tracks of the '70's. The b-side "Black" is mostly forgetable, but the a-side, oh man, what a great fucking song. On the strength of that one track I picked up the band's 1996's collection on Matador, which contains the band's lone single, latter day recordings, and live tracks from 1979. Everything I had read about La Peste praised their fierce live shows, and most of the live tracks here are indeed pretty hot ( and I'm not one to heap praise on live recordings). Some of the studio tracks are limp ("Let Me Sleep", uggh), but all in all this a mostly solid collection for those with a taste for pop-edged 70's punk. Sure, nothing tops "Better Off Dead", but there are a couple of tracks that almost approach that zenith. I'm pretty sure this is now OOP, but shouldn't be that hard to track down. A couple of my favorites

from the 1978 single
La Peste - Better Off Dead.mp3

live in 1979
La Peste - I Don't Wanna Die In My Sleep.mp3
La Peste - Kindness Invites Abuse.mp3
La Peste - Acid Test.mp3
La Peste - Spymaster.mp3

Notes:
> Agony Shorthand's take on the disc
> La Peste pages at Boston Rock Storybook and New England Music Scrapbook

The Metros

2006-05-04T17:28:00.000-04:00

I thought it was just yesterday that I posted some tracks from bands associated with Rip Off Records, but it really has been awhile since I covered anything from them. So why not take a listen to The Metros, who are responsible for some of my favorite records on Rip Off. A 5-piece from Detroit, the Metros released two singles and an album between 1998 and 2000 before vaporizing. I've read descriptions of the band's sound as "pure Gun Club fueled punk", which suggest to me the reviwer either didn't listen to the record or doesn't have a clue about the Gun Club. Whatever. The Metros dish out two minute chunks of gritty garage punk with hooks, and dig it. I think all of their material is still available, check them out if you haven't already. Here's a taste:

from their first 7"
The Metros - Hot-Wired.mp3

from their 1999 self-titled LP
The Metros - Black Leather.mp3
The Metros - Lay It On Me.mp3

from their second 7"
The Metros - I Gotta Go.mp3

X

2006-05-01T21:46:00.000-04:00

Is a post on LA's X too pedestrian for the refined and esoteric tastes of the mp3 blogosphere? Fuck if I care. Los Angeles and Wild Gift are both staples in regular rotation at the homestead. I was hooked on the band the minute I heard their shit hot tracks from Decline of Western Civilization. Pure punk rock bliss - I was hypnotized by Billy Zoom and that odd, plastic smile. Anyhow, these early tracks are X at their best. The Adult Books/We're Desperate 7" was released on Dangerhouse in 1978. Both songs were later included on Wild Gift, but these are the definitive versions. The cover art is an absolute killer to boot. "Los Angeles" is from the one-sided Dangerhouse compilation Yes LA. All of these tracks are readily available in some form or another (Dangerhouse Volume 1, Dangerhouse Volume 2, Beyond and Back), but not all on the same release the last time I checked. For your convenience:

from their 1978 debut 7"
X - Adult Books.mp3
X - We're Desperate.mp3

from 1979's Yes LA compilation
X- Los Angeles.mp3

Notes:
> Is there a better source of amazing band and record info than Break My Face? No, their really isn't. This page has all the info on Dangerhouse Records you've ever wanted to know.
> Nothing in common besides the name, an earlier post on Australia's X

On Vacation

2006-04-22T00:01:00.000-04:00

I'm Heading down to Atlanta, GA for some rest and relaxation with the family for the remainder of the month. I'm not expecting to update, but it's not out of the realm of possibility. In the meantime, check out the archives. There's active tracks back through September 2005.

V/A - Noise From Nowhere

2006-04-21T21:44:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure how many subsequent volumes (10 maybe?) would be released in the series, but the original Noise From Nowhere compilation has the distinction of being the the first release on Arizona's Toxic Shock label. Released in 1983, Noise From Nowhere contained 4 tracks from four under-the-radar bands. Kent State deliver earnest if unremarkable hardcore. Modern Industry's "Out of Focus" is spirited, melodic hardcore - my favorite track on the comp. The flipside features a creepy dirge from Moslem Birth (who would eventually morph into Peace Corpse) and a speedy, snotty rip from Manson Youth. Noise From Nowhere was reissued a couple years back on CD with 3 other early Toxic Shock singles by Peace Corpse, Red Tide, and Massacre Guys. And yes, that's an exploding penis on the cover, courtesy Pushead

Kent State - Breakout Breakfree.mp3
Modern Industry - Out of Focus.mp3
Moslem Birth - Horror Snores.mp3
Manson Youth - Penis Brain.mp3

Notes:
- check out the Punk Vault's take on Noise From Nowhere
- Cover scan from KFTH. My copy has a light blue cover, as do most all of the others I've seen

Vertigo

2006-04-20T12:04:00.000-04:00

I've been meaning to rip all of my singles by Minneapolis noise-rockers Vertigo for some time, but shit always seemed to get delayed. Then, about a month ago, always on-the-ball Jay Hinman at Agony Shorthand wrote up the first Vertigo 7" and fucking nailed it:

The fucked-with stills from some ancient monster movie on the record's sleeve hinted at what was inside. "Two Lives" is foreboding and weird throughoutits 3+ minutes, when barely-harnassed feedback providing the bedrock for a simple, haunting guitar squall. The singer - when there are vocals at all - sounds distant and a little bit annoyed, like he's parked in a bedroom behind alocked door not entirely capable of providing his disinterested commentary. "Front End Loader" is a crazed instrumental with a hall-of-fame riff - it makes sense that these guys covered CRIME's "Murder By Guitar" later on, because I'm telling you, they are easily in the same league. Finally, "Phil 105" might be the best of them all, with thinly-disguised melodics that are the diamond in a showering frenzy of heavy guitar-shard feedback.

Awesome - This 1988 single by Vertigo just may be their best offering. Originally pressed in a batch of 300, Forced Exposure decided to help out and press another 700 to make this a nice even 1000. In 1989 the band hooked up with AmRep and released the killer Bad Syd/Going To Pieces 7". They would go on to release 3 full lengths and 3 more singles before burning out some time in the mid nineties. While the albums were spotty in places, the singles always delivered. Here are the first two:

from their debut on Skid Mark
Vertigo - Two Lives.mp3
Vertigo - Front End Loader.mp3
Vertigo - Phil 105.mp3

from their first AmRep single
Vertigo - Bad Syd.mp3
Vertigo - Going To Pieces.mp3

and while I have your ear why not enjoy this cover of the Flesh Eaters
Vertigo - Shallow Water.mp3

Vertigo founder Gene Tangren followed up Vertigo with the equally cool Silver Salute, who released 3 singles in the mid-nineties. Gene is currently in Grackle and runs Suspended Dimension Records

"Shallow Water" appeared on the 1993 compilation Self Mutilation Volume 3, lovingly compiled by Cousin Creep

Gang of Four

2006-04-17T21:28:00.000-04:00

In reviewing the last 300+ posts I don't think I have covered a single British band. Huh. I guess most of my Britpunk collection (GBH, Subhumans, Chaos UK, and way too much Oi) sounds stale to me these days. As I've grown older I've phased out much of my earlier British items for the more refined sounds of Wire, The Fall, Joy Division, Mekons, Gang of Four, and the like. I was into my last year of college when a friend introduced me to Gang of Four and their landmark Entertainment! LP. I was hooked instantly by the deft bass lines and the tense, jagged guitar. For years I had a tape of that included the band's first two albums (Entertainment! and Solid Gold) along with the tracks from 1978's Damaged Goods 7". I lost the tape awhile ago but was able to track down Entertainment! and! and Solid Gold. The 7" tracks I've been unable to smoke out until just recently. The versions on the single differ from those on later releases - I prefer the versions of "Love Like Anthrax" and "Armalite Rifle" on this record to those put out later. "Damaged Goods" doesn't quite measure up to the Entertainment! version, but it's such a remarkable song that it bears a listen in almost any form

from 1978's debut 7"
Gang of Four - Damaged Goods.mp3
Gang of Four - Love Like Anthrax.mp3
Gang of Four - Armalite Rifle.mp3

V/A - More Songs About Plants and Trees

2006-04-15T22:29:00.000-04:00

A quick one to round out the week, More Songs About Plants and Trees was a pro-conservation compilation released on graphic artist John Yates Allied Recordings in 1990. 4 bands, 4 tracks, and a crapload of environmentalist mailing addresses make for a rather uninspiring compilation, but shit, it was in my "to do" pile and the Antischism track is pretty fucking great. Side 1 includes a poppy and melodic track San Francisco's Cringer and pretty mediocre number from the Lookouts. The flipside was always more my speed - screaming anarcho hardcore from South Carolina's Antischism and solid doomcore from NYC's Nausea.

Cringer - Burn Down The Forest.mp3
The Lookouts - Once Upon a Time.mp3
Antischism - Greedy Bastards.mp3
Nausea - Here Today....mp3

Crime

2006-04-13T16:17:00.000-04:00

I've been on the road for work the past couple of days, and my iPod is a saving grace for those long car rides and boring nights in the hotel. Sometimes, I forget what I actually have on the damn thing - I put it on shuffle and am usually pleasantly surprised by the stuff that I've forgotten about. Case in point, Crime and their first two singles. You can find the full band history and discography here. I'll let others fight over whether Crime was really "San Francisco's First and Only Rock 'n Roll Band", and where their legacy stands in the annals of punk history. Listen and decide for yourself. I know I think the first two singles still sound fucking fantastic. If you haven't already checked out 2004's San Francisco is Still Doomed then hurry out and get it. It compiles two studio sessions by the band from 1978 and 1979, and alternate takes of the first single. It' worth it just for first 12 tracks alone, which are fucking hot.

from 1976's debut single
Crime - Hot Wire My Heart.mp3
Crime - Baby, You're So Repulsive.mp3

from their 1977 follow up
Crime - Frustration.mp3
Crime - Murder By Guitar.mp3

And because I've been gone for so long I'll throw out the much maligned, new wavish final single from 1980.
Crime - Gangster Funk.mp3
Crime - Maserati.mp3

Tar

2006-04-05T18:44:00.000-04:00

I've written about Tar before, way back when. I hate to think I'm repeating myself, but when it comes to Tar I think everyone should listen up. From 1988 through 1995 Tar were responsible for some of the finest noise rock to be found, releasing albums and singles on Amrep, Touch & Go, and their own No Blow imprint. With no disrespect to their impressive albums (Jackson and Over and Out top my list), some of Tar's best work appeared on their singles and compilations. Unfortunately, none of these tracks have been reissued. (to my knowledge) Strange Reaction got the ball rolling last summer, posting Tar's second and fourth singles. I figured I'd fill in the blanks by posting the band's first and third single
.
Play To Win/Mel's was released on the bands own No Blow records in 1988. "Mel's" would be re-recorded for the band's Handsome 12". Solution 8/Non-Alignment Pact was a Europe only AmRep release (I think, no scale number) released in 1991 between the Roundhouse and Jackson albums. Both records are well worth a listen.

from their debut single
Tar - Play To Win.mp3
Tar - Mel's.mp3

from their third single
Tar - Solution 8.mp3
Tar - Non-Alignment Pact.mp3 (Pere Ubu)

The Proletariat

2006-04-03T21:31:00.000-04:00

I've always wondered how Taang! records could be responsible for one of the more disappointing reissues (Power by SSD) and one of the absolute best, the 45 track double disc Voodoo Economics and Other American Tragedies by The Proletariat. Where Power disappointed because it lacked completeness, Voodoo Economics throws in everything but the kitchen sink - the Boston Not LA and Unsafe At Any Speed tracks, both albums (Soma Holiday and Indifference), demos, and unreleased tracks. With their leftist slogans and jagged guitar riffs the Proletariat always reminded me of an angrier, more aggro version of early Gang of Four (eh, maybe a stretch). 15 years after first hearing the band I've grown weary Richard Brown's sparse rants on the ills of society, but I still love that beautiful and twisted guitar sound Frank Michaels managed to pull out of his guitar. For that alone this collection is highly recommended.

originally from 1983's Soma Holiday LP
The Proletariat - Decorations.mp3
The Proletariat - Blind.mp3

the b-side to the 1985 Marketplace single
The Proletariat - Death of a Hedon.mp3

originally from 1985's Indifference LP
The Proletariat - Pride.mp3
The Proletariat - Recollections.mp3

Notes:
A great band website can be found here

The Beguiled

2006-03-30T23:22:00.000-05:00

Details are sketchy when it comes to The Beguiled. I think (but can't confirm) they were from somewhere in Orange County, CA. After releasing an LP on Dionysus in 1988 the Beguiled reappeared and found their mark in 1993 with this here single on Estrus. Fuzzy, swampy, and dark sounds spew forth on this one. Three of the four tracks would be cleaned up enough to appear on 1994's excellent Blue Dirge LP. I myself prefer the raw sounds and rougher vocals of this 7" to the LP. The Beguiled ended soon after the release of Blue Dirge when guitarist Mike Ball was killed by a drunk driver. Bassist Steve Pallow would go on to form the even creepier Necessary Evils

from 1993's Estrus 7"
The Beguiled - Black Gloves.mp3
The Beguiled - Kitten With A Whip.mp3
The Beguiled - She-Devil Rock.mp3
The Beguiled - Woman is Trouble.mp3

from 1994's Blue Dirge LP
The Beguiled - I Walk Alone.mp3
The Beguiled - The Screaming Rummy.mp3

Non Compos Mentis

2006-03-28T22:08:00.000-05:00

Another great Texas band, Non Compos Mentis (later just NCM) were a trio from Dallas that released two singles on the VVV label in the early '80's. Years later the tracks would make the obligatory appearance on the boot compilation (Back to Front, Killed By Death, and Outlaws in my Eye, Texas!, amongst others). The tracks here are catchy, almost poppy punk. I wish I had more info on the band, but that's where you guys come in. CollectorScum completist can check out Break My Face's It Never Ends entry for NCM for all the gory details on the first 7".

from their 1980 debut 7"
Non Compos Mentis - Ultimate Orgasm.mp3
Non Compos Mentis - Twist The Blade.mp3

from their second single (1981)
NCM - Quick To Compliment.mp3

from the VVV compilation Live at the Hot Klub
NCM - Mental Case.mp3

from the Sacred Cattle comp 7"
NCM - Six Feet Under.mp3

V/A - Kitten

2006-03-25T23:45:00.000-05:00

Originally released as Reflex Records "C", Kitten was the follow up to the 1982 Minneapolis compilation Barefoot and Pregnant. Recorded live at infamous Minneapolis punk club Goofy's Upper Deck over the course of two shows in October 1982, Kitten featured 11 bands and a total of 36 tracks. Lots of great noisy Midwestern punk interspersed with some furious hardcore action. Choice cuts are turned in from Husker Du, Red Meat, Exmo-6-Desmo, and Willful Neglect. This was reissued in 1999 with two bonus Husker Du tracks, which you can buy direct from Garage D'Or for just $10. All the info you could possible want on the release has been collected right here. Some samples:

Proud Crass Fools - Bad Moon.mp3
Propaganda - The War Ain't Over.mp3
Exmo-6-Desmo - The Old Bum.mp3
Todlachen - Parasites.mp3
Rifle Sport - Keep on Walkin'.mp3
Willful Neglect - Geeks.mp3
Red Meat - The Circle.mp3
Man Sized Action - Only You.mp3
Husker Du - It's Not Fair.mp3

Stripminers

2006-03-22T22:07:00.000-05:00

You would think I would have plenty of information about a band from my hometown but I ain't got shit on the Stripminers beyond the basics - They were a trio from Rochester, NY who released two LP's on the Community 3 label. As I recall the local media always tagged the Stripminers as "Avant Garde", but a more apt comparison would be to the late '80's noise sounds generated by the likes of Sonic Youth, Live Skull, and even Dinosaur, Jr. I always thought these guys would have fit well in the Homestead catalog...

from 1988's self-titled 12"
Stripminers - Please, Chief.mp3
Stripminers - Mole Man.mp3
Stripminers - Barn Burning.mp3

from 1989's Divorce Yourself LP
Stripminers - Pigs Before Wine.mp3
Stripminers - Word Food.mp3
Stripminers - Fist.mp3