Showing posts with label Canada. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Canada. Show all posts

Sunday, September 24, 2023

NOMEANSNO - Wrong 1989

It's time for a classic by a band that started in 1979 and thrilled me live several times with their sometimes jazzy and highly explosive sound. Wrong is the fourth album by NoMeansNo and was released through Alternative Tentacles. A bit info: Critic Martin Popoff described their music as "the mightiest merger between the hateful aggression of Punk and the discipline of Heavy Metal. Nomeansno's distinct hardcore punk sound, complex instrumentation, and dark, "savagely intelligent" lyrics inspired subsequent musicians. They are often considered foundational in the Punk Jazz and Post-Hardcore movements, and have been cited as a formative influence on the math rock and emo genres. This album is a blast from the first to the last note, powerful, dynamic, refreshing and hearty and shows the band in top formDrummer John described it as the band's "most popular album by a country mile". When asked to speculate as to the reasons why Wrong enjoyed such relative success, John attributed it to the mainstream success of Nirvana and the rising popularity of alternative music:

"The kind of music we were playing, and then Nirvana before they got popular, and that kind of alternative...Punkrock was getting to that point where a lot of bands were just starting to get into that commercial breakthrough, and when Nirvana did, well of course that spelled the end of it all. But it sort of simmered to that point, and then people wanted to hear bands like Nirvana, which weren't Hardcore, not pop or rock, it was sort of more heartfelt music, and we were sort of caught up in that... In Europe especially, the music scene was just exploding. We completely attribute all of our success to going and playing in Europe. That's where all the buzz about us came from. We were touring throughout the States in the mid-80s, and we'd get a little bit of audience here and there, but after a couple of years in Europe, we started doing some big shows there, and all of a sudden, people in the States were coming out to our shows. And we went from getting paid $200 to getting paid $1000. It was just like that. You had to have the buzz, and then it all just kind of blew up. Every major label tried to sign every band, and then it became no longer an alternative, it sort of became co-opted by the mainstream and people moved on to hip hop and dub step and then everyone got sick of rock and roll and went to raves."

They released ten albums by 2016, I only know their first five, but NoMenasNo were one of the most extraordinary combos I was able to experience and are still worth listening to and always a good reason to buy a record. 👍


Wednesday, September 06, 2023

BEYOND POSSESSION - Is Beyond Possession 1986

Calgary's Beyond Possession with their debut album on Death Records/Metal Blade Records which is a bit louder and heavier than their Tell Tale Heart EP in my opinion and I regret having sold this slab many years ago. Fifteen amazing Thrash/HardcorePunk goodies have come together here with a slightly metallic touch like I liked to hear back then and rediscover today. Unfortunately they stuck to only one album, because after various line-up changes (particularly on guitar) they recorded demos for a second album in 1989 which indicated a more whimsical metal direction, but broke up without completing it. But 1996 a CD with all their recordings (Repossessed 1985-1989) were released on Melodiya Records. Solid stuff for breakfast I think, and maybe a little lunch later... Bon Appétit!


Friday, June 16, 2023

GENETIC CONTROL - First Impressions EP 1984

Genetic Control were formed New Year's Night 1984 in Montreal, the result of a drunken jam featuring Mike (vocals), Rob and Rob (guitars), Dougo (bass) and Mike (drums). After a three month break, they changed the line-up a litte and Polio Elvis (vocals), Duke & Teen Hunk Rob (guitars), Dick (bass), Lewis (drums) recorded then their great and only vinyl EP First Impressions (500 copies) which also was released by themselves (they recorded songs for an album, but there were no master tapes made, as the band opted instead for just a cassette recording, as they could not afford to pay for the multi-track tape, a decision the band and many fans have regretted over the years, so unfortunately only this 7Inch were made. The band was supposed to go on tour with the album in 1985 but shortly after, failing to release their LP, they disbanded. The EP shot up high among collectors and that eventually led to Bootlegs and an official re-release on Return To Analog in 2021 with bonus cuts (limited edition of 500 numbered copies as well). Also interesting is a CD compilation, Brave New World, on Sonik's Chicken Shrimp from 2005 which also comes with interesting pieces. You see, Genetic Control made not much records, but remain with an excellent impression, and aren't definitely soap bubbles and you can book them for a few Compilations invites as well.


Saturday, May 27, 2023

V/A - Bloodstains Across The World #7 2022

Well it's time for one more Bloodstains Compilation and this one is cheap like the other "from all over the world" (from #3) and kept in a simple CD-R format, but I'm pleased that there are always maniacs who share their things, in contrast to other arrogant Assholes who defame such small people even though they don't know them at all and believe that they contribute a part of underground culture with their so-called professional Compilations (hahaha...), they just have to get their ass kicked and I give them a big Fuck You! I prefer to take these because the originals aren't tangible and I am grateful for this and everyone who thinks the same way will be enthusiastic with this cheap but cool one.

1.Tomorrow - QUIZZ KIDS
2.Kill Me Now - LA PESTE
3.T.V. Eyes - THE TOOLS
4.I Died Four Times - THE MANSONS
5.True Love - MARCHING GIRLS
6.Living In The 80's - TRUE PETER
7.I Don't Like Girls - MINOR CLASSICS
8.Teenager In Love (Live) - RADIATORS FROM SPACE
9.Berlin - IDEAL
10.Trop Tard - ROTTERS
11.No Rule - THIRD WORLD CHAOS
12.Get The Glory - LAUGHIN' NOSE
13.An Ather Day - THE VOPO'S
14.Ogro De Ciudad - ALMEN T.N.T.
15.London - TAPPI TÍKRRASS
16.She's So Fine - STRAIGHTSHOOTER
17.Baarissa - SOS
18.What's Going On Inside Ronald Reagan's Brain? - DEFORMED!
19.Anarchy & Peace - ABGAS
20.Du Er Eit Svin - NOREGS PUNKLAG


Saturday, May 06, 2023

PRIVATE SCHOOL - Lost In Action EP 1979

Lost Canadian Punkrock classic which was re-released by Supreme Echo in 2018 and Private School was a Vancouver-based combo, formed 1977 originally as an Art School band and consisted of Maddy (vocals/violin), Dave & Ron (guitars), Tony (bass), Walter (drums), Jaime (sax) and released their only EP on Full Friction Records in 1979 with four fantastic songs and the use of two atypical instruments deserves special mention, which are excellently incorporated. They played live with well-known bands in their short life span and creative differences lead to a break-up in the early Eighties. The second edition was pressed 500 times with three bonus cuts and includes a 12-page booklet with flyers, photos and their story. A real collector's item and certainly hard to find nowadays.

- Great Thx to Fredrik -


Wednesday, March 01, 2023

JELLO BIAFRA with NOMEANSNO - The Sky Is Falling And I Want My Mommy 1991

Kick off March and to a record which is still fresh after more than thirty years and revitalizes the Punk in you when it's a little rusty. Well, when I bought the album in Hamburg back then, I was of course very excited and wanted to know if Jello Biafra, who had two years before jammed with D.O.A. and conjured up a superb album, would top this with his second trip to Canada, this time to Victoria where NoMeansNo was at home back then. And the result is one more musical and optical highlight in all respects. Eight energetic songs plus Jello's cynically apocalyptic words, that sums up this brilliant record. I would particularly like to mention the artwork, which was again designed by Winston Smith and connects the history with reality and let us see that not much has changed and mankind is stagnating in its actions and thinking, profit-oriented and without regard for losses, especially nature and minorities suffer vehemently and all the generations that will follow can be happy. When man entered this planet, the earth was doomed. Nevertheless, I want to close with an apt review from my favorite site for this, because they can do that:

"After working with Canada's D.O.A. on his previous collaboration album, Jello hooked up with fellow Canucks and Alternative Tentacles signees NoMeansNo for an abrasive, brilliantly skewed thrash of a record, The Sky Is Falling & I Want My Mommy. NoMeansNo, with their angular art aggression, makes for a more distinct vehicle for Jello than D.O.A., bursting with power and screwy inventiveness both. The title track alone is worth the price of admission; Jello's rant about nuclear satellites and paranoia perfectly is matched by the music, and in ways the track serves as the missing link between an older style of Punk and the work of underground '90s acts like Unwound. White-hot guitar lines scrape and snarl over the stuttering rhythm while Jello rages through as only he can. "Chew" starts with minimal guitar snarls and whines floating around a low-key rhythm before fully springing to life, alternating between epic explosions and low-key tension over the song's length. Other tracks have a more straightforward, thrash feeling but still kick along very nicely, often throwing in odd solos or other touches to prevent sound-alike disease. Jello's pithy way around any number of subjects doesn't fail him here, with everything from recontextualized religion ("Jesus Was A Terrorist") to the joys of white-knuckle trips down mountain rivers ("Ride The Flume" with its lyrics "forget log rides in amusement parks, this one's 50 miles long!"). NoMeansNo's Ramones-worshipping alter egos, the Hanson Brothers, sneak in for the song "Bad," which is delivered in appropriately quick time, though Jello avoids sounding like Joey Ramone. The album wraps up with two great stormers, "Sharks In The Gene Pool", which constantly shifts tempos and feels over its length, and "The Myth Is Real-Let's Eat", with a wickedly snarling bassline that helps carry it along. Jello lets go in full effect over both, with all of the energy that fans would come to expect." (Ned Raggett)

One note before you ask, my copy doesn't have a lyric sheet for some fucking reason... well, I think more words aren't needed. In the same year, one more short group therapy convened, Tumor Circus, and is one more pleasure at own risk.


Wednesday, February 15, 2023

D.O.A. - Talk Minus Action Equals Zero 1991

Time for some live stuff and this little recording from Canada's D.O.A. was captured at Club Soda on December 21st 1989 in D.O.A.'s native Vancouver and released via Restless Records. I certainly don't need to tell you much about these veterans, powerful and dynamic songs with corresponding angry words characterize the music of the quartet, at this gig with Joey (vocals/guitars), Chris (guitars), Brian (bass) and Jon (drums) they deliver a perfect performance. Talk Minus Action Equals Zero is among the albums that demonstrate how exciting and vital the Canadians can be on-stage and together they prove quite riveting on such left-leaning, angrily socio-political rants. This performance was recorded eleven years after D.O.A.'s formation, and it's clear that the band softened their blow very little during those years. (Alex Henderson) - If you like tough, straightforward music in a fast, loud, and hard-hitting style with a pronounced sense of humor plus a strong progressive political stripe, then this the right sound for you.

America The Beautiful/13/Burn It Down/Murder In Hollywood/Lumberjack City/Waiting For You (Part 2)/Fuck You/Woke Up Screaming/Liar For Hire/2 + 2/Let's Wreck The Party/The Prisoner/Do Or Die/Fuck That Shit/General Strike/Race Riot


Saturday, December 31, 2022

V/A - Canada's Pissed Vol.2 2011

🍸 So folks, now the last post in 2022 and I have to say, for me it was an eventful year with many changes, new experiences, solid friendships and global catastrophes (which only shook me in passing because I know exactly how stupid people are, and believe me; I'm tired of taking this damn shit or keep worry about it), but all in all I am very satisfied with the year that is ending. A delicious menu will follow shortly and in all my bliss there is an unofficial treat that will take us across the atlantic to Canada and it's the second volume with angry Canadians and this bloody sucker is full of thirty splendid KBD rarities from 1977-1983, and this fucking Compilation pees an excellent yellow color in almost seventy-eight minutes (are there any champagne friends here?). - Dear followers, I hope you will be satisfied with what you have found here, a warm welcome to all newcomers and to all my friends/visitors:  a happy new year & see you in 2023! 🍸

1.Giddy - BATTERED WIVES
2.Over My Dead Body - THE CADS
3.Night In The City - THE ALLIES
4.Coho, Coho - ARSON
5.Telex Love - EXISTERS
6.Sailing To Hell - THE FITS
7.That's Right, Nothing's Left - REGULATORS
8.Teenage Rampage (Live) - THE SECRETS
9.Wild At The Beach - WAYOUTS
10.Help, Help, I'm Drowning - BOTE PEEPLE
11.Special School - CRASH KILLS FIVE
12.Wanna Get Around - THE INNOCENT
13.Mad At The World - OHM & THE SECRET SOURCES
14.Suicide - THE PEDESTRIANS
15.Don't Bother Me - YOUNG CANADIANS
16.Rebel Like Me - THE STATICS
17.I've Got Your Number - THE RAGE
18.I Broke Her Heart, She Broke My Arm - STARK NAKED & THE FLESHTONES
19.No Regrets - PLATINUM BLONDE
20.Who Wants Guns? - SWINDLED
21.Mr. Suburbanite - THE TERMINALS
22.She's A Dog - SIMPLY SAUCER
23.Suburban Addicts - RESULT
24.Upside Down - SLANDER
25.Cowboys Are Fags - DEMICS
26.Escape - THE PERKS
27.Thrills - CRASH 80'S
28.No Brains (Required) - SINNERS
29.Cyanide - 63 MONROE
30.Someday - GENERICS


Sunday, December 25, 2022

V/A - Oi! Rare & Exotica 1997

Twenty-two Oi! presents from 1981-1996, wrapped and shipped from all over the world and in time for fucking Christmas we're travel to every corner of this beautiful planet to show our gratitude. Brought to us by Teenage Rebel Records, this unofficial release certainly doesn't make the bells ring sweet. On this decent compilation you will find some gems, that you may have passed in all those wasted years but now, within reach of you again and this selection describes a fantastic period in the musical Oi! history. With that, the curtain closes for today, the lights go out and now I'm going to cuddle with the Christ Child.

1.Futur Pour Tous - REICH ORGASM
2.Working Class - HOPE & GLORY
3.Eternos Amigos - CENTRAL DO BRASIL
4.Standerds Rule - COCKNEY COCKS
5.Dead Hero - 12 POINTBUCK
6.Rezystencja - REZYSTENCJA
7.Muz S Kozusinoym Rimcom - ZÓNA A
8.Let's Oi! - PSYCHOTERROR
9.Eu Tenho Um Pobre - MATA-RATOS
10.Los Planetas - LA LECHE
11.Ultimos Rockers - ANTISOCIALES
12.Hoffnung - STROMBERG POLKA
13.Modern Trouble - BIRTHWARD '82
14.Lautaro Rocanrol - OCHO BOLAS
15.Grito Proletario - COMANDO SUICIDA
16.Unite - MANIACS
17.Pyramid Party - QUICK & THE DEAD
18.Justitienmord - AGENT BULLDOGG
19.Kulttuuriarmeija - KOHU 63
20.Guido Und Anne - MICKY & DIE MÄUSE
21.No Tag - NO TAG
22.Concrete Jungle Jive - DIMINISHED RETURN


Friday, November 25, 2022

SAGA - Silent Knight 1980

It's always a pleasure to put on a Saga record, on the one hand I like their music and a lot of good vibes start to flow, on the other hand it takes my mind off things. Silent Knight is their third album and after Chadd was out, Jim became the band's new keyboarder and with him they found the right musician and in this formation their level of awareness also swept over to Europe, not with this album, which was excellently received in Canada (is certified Gold there and reached #42 in the charts)but finally with the following one. The fuller production, which in my opinion is too flat in the predecessor, can be clearly heard in the eight goodies, and the songs themselves are catchier and more dynamic, rock more succinctly, and show the evidence of the group's virtuosity. Three more albums followed for me, before they aroused my disinterest with Behaviour (1985). Have a relaxed weekend!


Sunday, November 20, 2022

V/A - Electrocute Your Cock! Vol.1 2021

It's finally starting today, the 2022 World Cup, and I'm a little happy because I'm a big fan of this ball sport, even if it's going to be the most controversial. On the other hand, the following compilation, which you can now enjoy, is not controversial and there is a suitable description for it that sums it all up. "Taking its title from the legendary brainless anthem by Vom, it's not hard to imagine the contents of this compilation. On offer are eighteen tracks of pure, untamed, moronic, KBD-style-Punk in all its glorious rawness. Focusing mainly on the US - but also presenting bands from the UK, Denmark and the Philippines - and spanning the period between 1977 and 1984, this is an absolute must for all Killed By Death enthusiasts. Punkrock done the way it was meant to, shameless, raw and annoying. You know you need it!" That's the way it is folks, maybe there will be a second Volume coming and until then enjoy the frosty sunday with hot lost nuggets.

1.The Things That You Do - BOB
2.Electrocute Your Cock - VOM
3.Life Is Cheap - TEENAGE POPEYE
4.Do You Have A Job For A Girl Like Me? - THE DELINQUENTS
5.No End - ELECTRIC VOMIT
6.Testing - A.D.S.
7.Think Naturally - LOWLIFE
8.Seize The Middle East - HATED
9.City Streets - LAST FOUR DIGITS
10.USANRK - ART OBJECT
11.Unwritten Laws - MEDIA DISEASE
12.Insult Useless People - THIRD WORLD CHAOS
13.Primitive - THE TESTORS
14.Magnetic Heart - VS.
15.Too Late - 5.0.5.1
16.Dangerboy - ROUGH CUT
17.Don't Get Angry - THE ODDS
18.Spectator - GATECRASHERS


Monday, November 14, 2022

VOÏVOD - Killing Technology 1987

The time for cuddling is over and I'm stepping up four gears and treating you to some loud & brutal noises on this fucking Monday!! And it's not just Speed/Thrash Metal maniacs who get their money's worth. Killing Technology is the third album by Canada's four piece Voïvod, released again via Karl Walterbach's label Noise Records and it is clearly more "melody" in the seven songs. Info: After the release of the previous album Rrröööaaarrr, the tour to the album followed, which should end in Berlin to record the next studio album. Because of this, guitarist Piggy wrote the album's songs before the start of this tour. Harris Johns' work with Einstürzende Neubauten had sparked an interest in industrial music among Voïvod's musicians. During recording and mixing, bassist Blacky brought his ideas to Piggy's composed tracks. For the first time, the texts formed an overall concept for the further development of the band's character, which is about a journey through the Voïvod with a spaceship. The Voïvod stands for the inability of mankind to control the increasing mechanization of the world. Killing Technology represents an advancement of the bands skills on their instruments as well as in stylistic direction. I say this record is one of the band's best albums and when I ripped the slab, I started Pogo around my apartment like I'm at a concert, ecstatic and carefree, and this music push me away from all the daily shit that's always present.

Believe me, if you want to clear your head or have emotional differences, put this music on and you're alive for a brief moment and you know what really matters!


Thursday, October 20, 2022

STRETCH MARKS - What D'Ya See 1984

Well, let's move back to Canada and visit Winnipeg. There we meet the Stretch Marks and after the great Who's In Charge EP 1983 they delivered a year later their only album via their own label Headbutt Records. First, a suitable review: "While some of the ferocity and offbeat humor of their debut EP is absent here, Winnipeg’s STRETCH MARKS still manage to come out with a creditable album. Breakneck thrashers like 'Turnbuckle Stomp' and the title track are the standouts among these thirteen mid- to fast-speed punkers, though the cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Bad Moon [Rising]” also lives up to all expectations." (Steve Spinali, MRR #17 • September 1984)

Stretch Marks were an unyielding quartet of road warriors who waved the flag for western Canadian hardcore like few others. Because singer Dave McCombe (a.k.a. Dik Savage), Bill Jackson (guitars), Kelly Jackson (drums) and bassist Mark Langtry (a.k.a. Sikby, a.k.a. Mark Stretchmark) were more organized than most other bands, they formed their own record label Headbutt Records and released a six-song EP called Who's In Charge in 1983, followed by the thirteen song album What D’Ya See in 1984. They even had a booted, circle-dancing cartoon alligator as a mascot! The Who and What records gave the band a reason to tour to all points west and south and so they did, relentlessly and purposefully, playing any venue that would have them, from garages for less than a dozen people to Southern California auditoriums for thousands. These two recordings are thus snapshots of a specific time and place, and this Sounds Escaping collection, which features all nineteen tracks from those releases, plus two songs released on compilation albums and one previously unreleased cut, is an essential document of an age.

It’s also a very real encapsulation of the Stretchies’ evolution as both writers and players. The songs from Who’s In Charge are short, sharp bursts of rage, with nihilistic lyrics that howl at the insanity of Cold War politics (this was the Reagan era, remember), the possibility of nuclear holocaust (Barren Cities) and the posing of inauthentic scenesters (Professional Punks). The band also had a sense of humour that was an important part of their live act and which surfaced on Dogs World.

What D’Ya See captures Stretch Marks at their best. They were a taut, well-oiled unit by 1984 and left audiences breathless with the sheer pace and brutal force of their sonic attack. Songs such as 'Time In Black' and 'Deaducated' were guaranteed to fill any pit, while other cuts, such as 'Another Tragedy', 'Lookin’ For Danger' and the fabulous 'Preacher', featured arrangements and tempos that hinted at new directions. The rousing 'Turnbuckle Stomp', a hilarious tune about AWA wrestling, quickly became a fan favourite wherever it was played.

The Who & What collection comes with an exhaustive, full-colour booklet (this one’s twenty-four pages) featuring a band history by Chris Walter and a funny piece by Matt Vinet, who managed the Stretchies from 1981 to 1985. It’s been worth waiting thirty-three years to finally hear it all in one place. (source: winnipegfreepress)

Perfect album that really kicks, my favorite song is 'Another Tragedy', fits perfectly at the moment.

here

Friday, October 07, 2022

SECTION 8 - Hollywood Halloween 7'' 1979

Section 8 was a combo from Ottawa and active from 1980-1989 and have reformed subsequently in 2000 and 2006. This is unfortunately their only record with two cool goodies on Zero/Zero Records. In the same year they made more recordings that were planned as the Unstable World album, but never released because the studio lost the master tapes, stupid thing that. Well, and so only these two crackers remain but they're an excellent start into the weekend. Enjoy!


Sunday, October 02, 2022

V/A - Punk Territory Vol.6 North America Hardcore 1982-85 [1996]

I'm back and I have to say the little absence felt good and it is not easy to get back into everyday life, but after holidays is before holidays, right. And a long weekend is just fine with me and yesterday three points against the leader of the Bundesliga makes my spirits skyrocket as well. Accordingly, today's post fits perfectly and you certainly know this small series and know what to expect. Volume 6 of the unofficial Punk Territory releases on Anthology and this completes the little digression with early Punk/Hardcore rarities from around the world in this theater.

1.Death Of A Nation - TENSION
2.My America - TENSION
3.Recruits - TENSION
4.Preserved - TENSION
5.Put It Out -TENSION
6.D.W.I. - JERRY'S KIDZ
7.Insanity - JERRY'S KIDZ
8.Kill Yourself - SAVAGE CIRCLE
9.We Don't Have To - SAVAGE CIRCLE
10.Don't Do It - SAVAGE CIRCLE
11.Hardcore Rules - SAVAGE CIRCLE
12.Kill Corps - SAVAGE CIRCLE
13.White Boy - FUCK UPS
14.Once I Had A Brother - FUCK UPS
15.Get Out - FUCK UPS
16.I Think You're Shit - FUCK UPS
17.Negative Reaction - FUCK UPS
18.I Hate You - FUCK UPS
19.Bang Bang Bang - PATRIOTS
20.Destruct - NEOS
21.They'll Destroy Themselves - NEOS
22.(Almost) Typical, Obligatory Anti-Government Song - NEOS
23.Ambitious - NEOS
24.Where Did You Go Wrong??? - NEOS
25.Just Like All The Rest - NEOS
26.Look Around In Despair - NEOS
27.Conscripts - NEOS
28.Jungle Beat - NEOS
29.Other World - NEOS
30.Opposition To All Violence, Even If Commited In Self Defense - NEOS
31.Die For The Cause (Bobby Sands) - NEOS
32.Ripped Off Again - NEOS
33.Sexual Revolution - NEOS
34.Heavy Phuckin Metal - PILLSBURY HARDCORE
35.Wanna Check Out My Record Collection? - PILLSBURY HARDCORE
36.Pot Is Lame - PILLSBURY HARDCORE
37.Pillsbury Hardcore - PILLSBURY HARDCORE
38.7-11 Is God - PILLSBURY HARDCORE
39.I Love Ponoma - PILLSBURY HARDCORE
40.Hey Bob What's Up? - PILLSBURY HARDCORE
41.Ode To Mr. End - THE PREVARICATORS
42.Livin' In Khaki - THE PREVARICATORS
43.I'm So Cool - THE PREVARICATORS
44.Zero Mentality - ANTIDOTE
45.Got Me On A Line - ANTIDOTE
46.Die At War - ANTIDOTE
47.Something Must Be Done - ANTIDOTE

- Great Thx to Reinhard -


Friday, September 09, 2022

B'GIRLS - Fun At The Beach 7'' 1979

Now a female PowerPop goodie by the B'Girls, formed in Toronto 1977 by Lucasta (vocals/guitars), Cynthia (bass), Marcy (drums), along with Xenia (guitars), they played their first gigs at such venerable venues as the Crash'N'Burn, Club David's & the Horseshoe. The band chose the name after it was suggested by John Catto, guitarist for Diodes. 'B-Girls' were women who, in the post-World War Two era, got a take from bartenders after getting men to buy them drinks. Catto designed the band's logo and made the stencil for them; Cynthia painted all the t-shirts, the band made its own buttons and fliers, and only recorded the 'B' sides of covers because they were less expensive. They also set rules: no politics, no short skirts or shorts on stage, and no cleavage. Cynthia believes that their refusal to be sex objects was the reason they never secured a record deal. But in 1979 Greg Shaw, owner of Bomp! Records, signed them and release their only 7Inch and this shines with two amazing PowerPop goodies. They played a few gigs, booked once a month at New York's CBGB, recorded more demos and a few labels showed interest in signing them for a record deal, but that did not materialize, so in 1982 the band returned to Toronto and broke upIn 2017, all of the B-Girls demos from 1977 to 1982 were released on the compilation Bad Not Evil on Bomp! and Cynthia & Lucasta re-formed the band, with guitarist Elisa (Trash Bags) and drummer Lyla (Roya) and played several gigs in the New York area but didn't continue.


Saturday, August 06, 2022

V/A - Rat Music For Rat People Vol.2 1984

Well, the Bundesliga opener yesterday was a total flop, 0:5 after forty-five minutes, a brilliant performance in all areas, impressive. Bayern showed Frankfurt where the hammer is, and made it clear who wants to become Deutscher Meister. It will be difficult for any Bundesliga club to beat this team. Nevertheless, I'm sure that the SGE will play a good season. To the post: a decent compilation by CD Presents Ltd. is the second part of the mini Rat People serie. Eleven renowned bands of the Eighties with fourteen classics come to your house to tell you to keep an eye out for their records and to get your lame butt moving because those little flabs are telling you: no more convenience! Partly different versions than on their records make this delicacy an absolute listening and Pogo pleasure. And now breakfast.

1.Butthole Surf Theme Song - BUTTHOLE SURFERS
2.History - BIG BOYS
3.The Seed - BIG BOYS
4.Case History - PERSONALITY CRISIS
5.Fake Contest - MINUTEMEN
6..Middle America - J.F.A.
7.Skate Or Bate - TALES OF TERROR
8.They Sent Me To Hell C.O.D. - FANG
9.Pay To Come Along - MDC
10.(R)evolution In Rock - MDC
11.Legacy Of Man - DICKS
12.Madman - D.R.I.
13.Sad To Be - D.R.I.
14.Postcard From Dachau - THE WHITE LIE


Thursday, July 28, 2022

V/A - Step By Step EP 1989

Superb compilation on No Time To Be Wasted Records with six bands from all over the world. The first step took Soothsayer, a Canadian thrash metal band from Beauport/Quebec, founded 1985 and released four albums to date, last from 2019. Swedish Hardcore's Rövsvett were formed in Tranås 1983 and are already well-known guests in this theatre, numerous albums and 7Inches are available, the last came out this year. Leeds based speedie foursome Pleasant Valley Children formed in the late 80's and have released two tapes and one album, as well as a 7inch and compilations, the album's from 1991 and their last sign of life, I guess they broke up in the early Nineties. Patareni is a Hard/Grindcore combo from Zagreb and founded sometime in the early Eighties. Also very active on vinyl; five albums as well as numerous 7Inches and two tapes were recorded by 2021 and thrown among the people. Cat-O-Nine Tails was a HC/Punk act from Schrobenhausen and were active late Eighties to early Nineties. In their short lifespan they released two albums, one single and one tape. An established combo may spice up the grand finale: the Hard-Ones from Sydney, who delight us with their melodic Punkrock since 1982 and I think you know how many albums and singles and t-shirts and towels have been scattered over the world and an authentic live recording completes the march through this stage. - What is there to hear? A varied slab with six different hiking trails that leave little time to rest. Presented in a lovingly elaborate gatefold-cover, lots of infos/lyrics and on red/yellow vinyl, partly in a limited edition. Superb!

1.Deadly Fear - SOOTHSAYER
2.Kontaktproblem - RÖVSVETT
3.Big Sinker/No Second Chance - PLEASENT VALLY CHILDREN
4.Kraj - PATARENI
5.Under Surveillance - CAT-O-NINE TAILS
6.Don't Wanna See You Cry (Live) - HARD-ONES


Friday, July 08, 2022

THE CURSE - Shoeshine Boys 7'' 1978

Female band from Toronto the Curse were formed by Mickey Skin (vocals), Trixie Danger (guitars), Dr. Bourque (bass), Patzy Poizon (drums) in 1977 and this is their only 7Inch on Hi-Fi Records. The girls present us two rocking numbers, played solidly and somehow charming. Brilliant info from their fb page: "Ostensibly Canada's first female punk band (with challenges to that throne by the B-Girls and the Dishrags), Toronto's Curse were there right from the get-go, slotted to open for the Tools on a cancelled May 27, 1977 gig at the SEED Auditorium on McCaul, later backing up the Viletones at the infamous Crash'N'Burn club in June, and then taking the stage at CBGB a month later on an all-Canadian bill ("Outrageous Punk bands from Toronto!") that included the Viletones, the Diodes and Teenage Head. And singer Mickey Skin's spoken-word rant occupied the b-side of the frighteningly rare Punk artifact, the Centre for Experimental Art and Communication's 'Raw'/War' split seven-inch with the Diodes.

The Curse took the punk credo to its extreme, with Skin sporting a fake lobotomy scar on her forehead, pulling hot dogs out of her pants and then squashing them on stage. At Shoeshine Boy's record release party, they served a Purple Jesus punch that could only be drunk by sucking it out of tampons floating in the punchbowl. This was the Curse's only release as a band and it caused considerable outrage in a Toronto still cringing from the horrific rape and murder of 12-year-old shoeshine boy Emanuel Jaques along that city's seedy Yonge Street strip. 'Shoeshine Boy', despite its ripping guitar chords and perfunctory snarls, trod on touchy territory with its topical lyrics ("Emanuel with the curly hair/Why don't you climb on up these old stairs?.. They'll beat you/Mistreat you"), and especially with the singularly chilling chorus of "wrapped in a plastic baaaag". What's more, copies of Shoeshine Boy were then mailed to the jailed killers, further stoking the public's anger. Though the b-side is a bit of a toss-off, with its faux metal riffs and cutesy vocals, the record did manage a second pressing the following year with a new cover and the offending 'Shoeshine Boy' obligingly slotted to the b-side." (Bio by Michael Panontin) - Enough for now, weekend's near, Skloomo! 🍺🍻🍺

- Great Thx to Fredrik -