| SNOTTYNESS... Punk Rock Classic - World Contender - Worth A Listen - Average - Plastic - No Future |
| THE SQUARE PEG 'Echoes Of War' (XLNT CD-1) CD 2003 A remastered 6 track CDEP that dates back to the mid 80's. This is the alter-ego of Edinburgh ligger and Stranded Records label boss, Lawrence Nicol. He is the Square Peg in a round hole (with stripy gloves). He's helped in his attempt at world domination by 2 old Exploited members namely Big John on guitar, Gary McCormack on bass, plus drummer Robbie Bain who was probably kidnapped at gun point. This collection was originally released on vinyl back in '84 and has now been given a 21st century makeover returning once again on Stranded Records. It features two singles and one unreleased track. The title track 'Echoes of War' recorded in the nuclear rage of 1984 is pretty good in a laid back poppy kinda way. It reminds me of the late 70's new wave in style. And comes with a clean production, but with yer typical antiwar statements that were high on the agenda in those days. The guitars on this track have a semi-Skids reflection while Lawrence's vocals remind me of Paul Weller of the Jam. I much prefer the next track, the more upbeat 'Bad Connection' which sounds like one of those old Vapors tracks. It's got a quirky delivery and hilarious lyrics. Distorted guitars give it a neat punch but I dunno if the Square Peg was really aiming to be taken seriously, I hope not for his sake. It all starts to go downhill fast from here on in. 'No Explanation' is more rhythm and blues than new wave, and seems like just a vehicle for Big John to flex his plectrum with an over the top guitar solo that failed to save this track from obscurity. The following year they released 'Cant Say No' which shows Big John heading for bad metal territory. Plodding riffs and throwaway lyrics litter this typical stale stoner rock track. 'Nuclear Attack' continues Lawrence's fixation with Trident but it shows the band have hit a wall, coz it's basically different lyrics and a different mix, laid on the same guitar riff as the previous song. Which by now should've set the alarm bells ringing in your bullshit detector manuals. By the last track I think we can safely assume Lawrence's real love of the blues has been ousted. 'Leaving Blues' is just a jazzy acoustic lament about losing his woman. It jumps back to life momentarily via a sloppy bluesy guitar solo, that sounds like Big John was having fun it but left us feeling bored. This is an hilarious release that just seemed to degenerate as time went on, so cheers to Lawrence for calling our bluff and giving us a giggle. However I don't think the younger punks out there are gonna be catapulting this up the charts this time around either. And watch out kids coz the Square Peg is threatening to rehearse and record new material sometime this Summer!!!! AVERAGE! www.strandedrecords-scotland.co.uk/ SAD SOCIETY 'Religion' Demo 2003 The latest blasphemous offerings from Edinburgh's (still criminally unsigned) punk rock outfit Sad Society. Once again it shows they are still reaching the impressive high quality of 2002's explosive demo. This band desperately need to get their break on a worldwide audience before they start pulling their pension and retiring from the punk scene, coz they're wasted on demo's heard by the privileged few. Even though this 6 track session ain't quite as powerful or as memorable as tracks like the brilliant 'Suicide Party', it still blows away a multitude of punk pretenders. From the moody 'Addiction' onwards you know damn well they're a punk force to be reckoned with. Chugging power chords are now the feature of this band, alongside Deek's gripping vocals and a powerhouse rhythm section, which makes for a very good mix indeed. It helps having a singer who knows how to deliver his vocals and a guitarist who can serve em up on a sulphur plate. If mid paced punk rock with an uncanny knack for tunes and loadsa power is yer thing, then you'll be banging the doors down for these. The second half of this demo really starts to kick in and is heading for the heights of their previous demo. Songs like 'Nococain' hits home hard and features a great decelerated finale proving this band are as in tune as Johnny Rotten's bullshit detection. I like to hear punk bands using their imagination instead of the regulation verse/chorus/verse format, and Sad Society are a band with plenty of ideas music wise. The title track 'Religion' has got everything that's good about Sad Society. It's tight on the ball sound comes with a big early 80's gang inspired chorus that attacks the money making con that has infiltrated religion since day one. They slam the door shut with 'Sole Survivor' which I spose is Deek's signature being as he is the only original member left. This track moves along with dogged determination and features the inspired works of guitar hero Gav as he brings this demo to a close. Not a bad track on here and shows there's definitely an albums worth of material just waiting to be unleashed on an unsuspecting public. Luckily they've now got a web presence so hopefully that'll give one of the few clued up labels out there a real chance to give these boys a break. WORTH A LISTEN! www.sadsociety.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ THE SKULLS 'The Golden Age Of Piracy' CD 2003 First time I heard anything by these LA '77 punk rockers who seem to have made a credible return to the scene without even a sniff of stale old men going through the motions for a quick buck. Well played smart arse punk rock is always good to hear. And The Skulls have some rather good tunes in their swag bag amongst the 14 on show. Highlight of this new album is the fucking splendid and totally bang on 'Can Punk Rock Pay The Bills', which lead singer Billy Bones sings resignedly in his best Rottenesque tone "I don't think so!" It's memorable, addictive and has also got a great guitar lick that follows it around like a colostomy bag. They remind me of the Briefs from up the coast in Seattle but with not quite as much flair for the 1.30 min. tunes as their neighbours. The Skulls songs are less hit and run and more laboured and do show signs of predictability as the set progresses. But 'Summer Of Hate' wasn't predictable at all, chronicling the Hillside Stranglers ghoulish shadow over the Hollywood hills. 'Trainwreck' is another fun filled take this time on picking the wrong bird. Apparently those birds resemble trainwrecks in LA! "whooo whoo" It's good to see veteran punks still aint lost the spark and energy of their youth and unlike so many others they seem to genuinely have fun and should be a scream live I reckon. A neat guitar riff brings in the atmospheric 'Monet' where they lose their quirky fun approach for a moment and show us they're capable of writing songs that would stand up against any of the more serious punk outfits in the genre. 'Rattle Your Bones' reminds me of the early Stooges with Iggy vocals and a subsonic guitar workout. They close the album with the yobbish 'Pirate Song' which seems to fascinate the Yanks but I'm afraid Steve Jones got the punk rock shanty down 25 years ago and everything that followed paled in comparison. WORTH A LISTEN. www.theskulls.us/index.php or www.drstrange.com/ |
| DISCONVENIENCE 'Ready Aim Fire' Demo CD December 2003 This is a brand new outfit from Umea in Sweden and features bass playing vocalist, Emma and axe merchant Rickard targeted on the cover. They are accompanied by an unnamed drum machine which they're hoping to ditch for a more human beat box as we speak. They describe themselves as "punk/power pop" which I spose is a fair description. They have touches of the Stooges and the Ramones but there's also a distinct Joy Division influence in there too. So some pretty eclectic styles make up this 4 track demo, but I like what they're striving for. They ain't going down the popularised punk tracks that are prevalent at the present time. However the first two songs are sabotaged badly by the erratic drum programme which really fucks up the rhythm. I have sympathy with Rickard who programs the beast coz I've hear drum machines are a real pains to work with. But at least the duo realise they gotta scrap the box for a real drummer who they can bark out orders to slow down or speed up as they develop the songs. Track 3 'Ones That Fail' shows Disconvenience (I'd lose the name it's very inconvenient) really getting their act together as they deliver a hybrid of stylish Joy Division lead breaks and Hooky bass lines. Emma vocals sound like she can put her primal instincts across very forcibly, but they also do get a bit melodramatic sometimes. Her bass playing on the other hand is spot on and well brutal which I like a lot. The final track 'Done Before' is the best and has a definite Ramones heads down feel about it, showing the band finally getting to grips with rhythm as the addictive riffs pummels your speakers. They certainly got the ideas to improve on and with the missing ingredient... a decent drummer you'll likely to see this band make a bigger impression. Comes in a spray painted handmade case... do I detect art students? AVERAGE! http://listen.to/disconvenience SUPERYOB 'Ghetto Blaster' CD 2003 Just had this in via Trev Hagl and it's my first run in with this South East London mob. Superyob are named after the axe that Slade's goofy Dave Hill used, and they do not disappoint. In fact they turn out to be refreshingly good with an healthy array of street punk anthems executed with commitment and beef in the guitar department. If bands like the Sparrer are your cup of Rosy Lee you'll be getting off on these. They start rucking with an intriguing spoken word intro called 'The Punk' that sets the tone of this album perfectly. I thought it was another Phil Daniels narration but it is in fact lead singer Frankie Flame's barrow boy brogue. So if Superyob don't take off, I'm sure there's gonna be a job for Mr Flame in TV voice overs. Frankie came to prominence in the late 70's fronting UK glamsters U-boat before discovering the more subtle nuances of Oi! The title track 'Ghetto Blaster' is one of the stronger tracks that greets us, with a rowdy gang chorus and aggravated chugging guitars. This is a band who sing about crooks, street life and jack the lad exploits. Familiar territory if your a Business fan, but they do it well enough to stamp their own individual sound to the proceedings. Frankie's warm vocal makes for an imposing presence on this hard hitting album. His famed piano tinkling is kept to a bare minimum adding subtle atmosphere here 'n' there. 'Vicious Circle' about crime feeding crime has some great chiming guitar that works well with the subject matter. They may glamourise their London neighbour hoods like all Oi! bands do, but it's all good escapist fun. These geezers have been round the block a few times and it shows on the gritty portrayal of junkies via 'Smack Trash'. A song that pulls no punches spelling out exactly how life really is under the needle. On a lighter note they reprise two sixties hits with 'Friday On My Mind' that some of you may remember London doing back in '77, as well as a modern take on the Who's teen anthem 'The Kids Are Alright' but with an updated lyric. They end with the biographical 'Love Us Hate Us' that's as catchy as a dose of the pox in Steelhouse Lane. It's a mid-paced signature dedicated to the scum from council estates all over London and beyond. Pretty good stuff for a newish group of Vets and a band to look out for down the boozer. WORTH A LISTEN! www.superyob.com |
| DINA 'Work The Switch' CD (jsntgm) 2003 One word describes this band and album to me... Indie! And lets face it kids there's nothing quite as offensive or as mind numbingly boring as Indie is there? What was Ged Baby thinkin of sending me this? Clever intricate song structures can't hide the fact that there's no balls, no drive and no guts attached to this band. The singer really makes any self respecting punk cringe with embarrassment. They apparently belong to Ian Roache of Drive fame? Who the fuck were Drive? I must've been banged up for threatening the editor of the boring Melody Maker when they conquered the punk scene in the early 90's? One thing about this album that did impress me was the production. It was spot on and considering they recorded the whole thing in various bedrooms in and around Birkenhead, UK you'd have put money on it being a studio recording. But good production don't mean fuck all without the songs. Ahhhh the songs! They come with a sickly clean sound, a clean ambiance done by a clean fucking band basically. This is way too clinical for my grubby mind. I bet they even say "please" and "thank you" when they order their dope! The songs are all personnel ditties that have no passion, no energy and no bearing on my life. You hope maybe one track could pull you in but it was a thankless task. And I simply can't stand the adoptive yank nasal tones that really grate on 'Strike Third', gawd someone gimme a gun! The last track 'Final Echo' did show a teeny bit of rebelliousness as they go off into a semi freak out, but it probably left em guilt ridden for days on end. By this time the switch had already been pulled on these Scousers. Comes complete with the inevitable solitary telephone pole as front cover artwork. I somehow don't think it's gonna connect em with potential buyers or new fans unless your currently studying sociology degrees at the local university or were a subscriber to Fracture mag. PLASTIC! www.jsntgm.com |
| VARIOUS 'The Northwest Kicked In The Nuts' (LC007) CD 2003 This motley North West compilation was passed onto me by Mark from Last Chance records outta Portland, Oregon. And he's doing an admirable job of promoting local talent. '˜...Nuts' showcases 25 female fronted outfits from the indigenous and not so local underground music scene. First up are Hell Candidates who sound like a female fronted Iron Maiden with their over the top 'State Of The Union'. A song that displays all the hilarious spandex histrionics of metal. BXF offer some midpaced, but unmemorable punk with a hardcore edge. We then get a quirky experimentally flanged soundscape from Seattle's Pink Chihuahua, which I'm afraid didn't quite keep our attention span. The Triggers shoot off half cocked snotty punk on 'Execution', which did show signs of more potent projectiles hiding in their armory. Anti-World who are no strangers to this site give us the screeching 'Crawling Eyes' which sees the usually monotone Granny Fiendish adopting a suprising screech. Blackjack Bettie remind me of the Bags on their track 'Demons' and comes with a stimulating vocal. Portland anti- heroes Sado-Nation give us their bloodthirsty 'Cut' number, which adds some much needed nihilistic punk rock to this collection. Some bands positively wreak of reality and attitude. Blonde riot grrls Sasshole deliver a typical trashy mid-90's pre- menstrual workout. The rockabilly sounding Die Jobs yelp out 'Bitch Whore', which again was lacking in impact but had some good vintage guitar reverb. The banal Cookie are a band with better stage names than actual songs. They veer dangerously close to more metal territory with their road song 'Texan Motor Speedway'. Macho Borracho which roughly translates in Mexican as macho drunk play pisshead rock that sounds positively staged for the record. Bet they all drink Perrier water when no- ones looking. The Nightmares from Portland were a let down. They sound like bad r'n'b. Pity really coz I like the name. The Torture Cookies feature Jerry's (Poison Idea) other half on vocals. And yeah they were way more like it on their down in flames 'Slave Master'. The bass driven Amazombies were really rather quite good on their gang anthem 'Skirts And Scars' too. Followed closely by the buzzsaw Pistuns who kept up the ante by blitzing in with a reckless no messin' 'Your So Weak'. Didn't much care for the whiny Cootie Platoon, who appear to be influenced by the way superior Veruca Salt, but without the Chicago impact. Move over and make room for Seattle's Apocalypsticks who sound interesting if your into big women! They supply big riffs and ample presence. Portland scribe Christeen Aebi swaps roles to become a performer with Cherry Bomb. They pay a neat homage to the Runaways with their adroit 'Runaways Rule' anthem. Bettie Mayhem And The Disasters donate the crooning almost avant garde 'Bud & Blood'... strange one! Zipper Trouble feature singer/ songwriter Holly Cole who pleads to be groomed for a wider audience on MTV. However her green 'Nicoteen' street ditty ain't gonna be her passport this time. Betty Already feature duel vocals on 'H-Bomb' which rolls along without leaving any lasting impression. While the Hazmats are yet another vet Portland punk outfit. They give us the unassuming but highly impressive 'PDX'. A tune that gives us an endeering snapshot of the Puddletown landmarks. The Jolenes look and sound like they just stepped out the sixties. With cheap toytown guitars and psychedelic imagery their catchy 'Kelly's Got A Stalker' really does gets under your skin. Bobbit named after the infamous penis slaying case try the zany root with the disappointing 'Ten Foot Women'. And it's left to The Del Toros to close this compilation with an ultra squeaky vocal that sings the virtues of the 'Karaoke Bar', nice ending though!...25 tracks in all and a a good account of the local feline action. WORTH A LISTEN www.lastchancerecords.net |
| BAD HABITS 'Do America' Demo CD 2003 Bad Habits were a hardcore punk band from Sweden, who existed between 2000 and 2003. Not to be mistaken with the melodic rockers Bad Habit also from Sweden. This bunch of scruffs have since split up, but left us with this ballsy 8 tracker in their wake. Some members have gone on to form other bad habits no doubt, while bass player Thompa (who sent me the CD) is busy putting together his current creation called Inglorious Bastards, which has a more traditional punk rock sound. They’re due to release a record of some sort any time now!!! So with that in mind, this ghastly remnant of his old band is probably a taster of things to come maybe? I gotta say 'Do America' is pretty impressive for demo's especially after a few plays. And if you can put up with the metallic interruptions that deface the songs now and then, I think you'll like it too. I am a big sucker for a heavy, tight punk vibe, with lashings of thick, big, juicy guitar layers and a solid wall of sound. The Bad Habits come crashing through 3 demo sessions, and reside in the angry school of rage filled punk. The water tight playing is accompanied by some hardcore rockish vocals. No lyrics or any other information is available at the time of this review, apart from a grainy Photostatted track list and picture. But you certainly get a good idea of where they were coming from or have been...soundwise! Standout tracks include their midpaced theme tune 'A Bad Habit', with pseudo heavy metal lead breaks, a chanting chorus and loads of defiance. Or the wayward attitude of 'The Hate Beat', that builds up into an anguished growler. But it was the seedy 'Musical Facial (Outro)' which I like best. This has touches of a metallic Black Flag, circa 'Obliteration' in it's grinding delivery. This predatory deed steadily builds up into a ripping crescendo of guitars, while some unfortunate wench gets immoral in the background. As the guitars escalate, so do her moans, giving it a positively lewd ambience, that only the Swedes are capable of producing. I'm surprised these never got more exposure within the punk scene. WORTH A LISTEN for the moans! For more information contact daniel_thomsson@yahoo.se |
| THE THREATS '12 Punk Moves' CD 2003 Now this is an extremely well polished, high octane comeback from The Threats. This early 80's Dalgeith outfit, who originally split up in 1983 never to be heard of again till a few years back, are hitting the studio once more and threatening on all cylinders via this slab. They rediscovered the punk rock bug in the late 90's when they played a couple of low-key gigs in Scotland. Then in 2001 the HITS conglomerate dangled a big juicy carrot in front of their tartan noses via a slot on the Annual HITS punk festival. And their career has kicked off again. Since then they've reunited the original duel front men of Gogsy (guitar/vocals) and Jim (vocals/guitar), with a new beefier rhythm section as back up. Must say this is a water tight release to resurface with. Not much room here for filler or jaded stale performances on this fucker! They look set to be going for it big time. The Threats don't quite reach the snotty heights of their highly impressive 'Politicians And Ministers' EP from their original era, but for a bunch of middle aged straights, who rediscovered their punk late in the day, it's like they never went away. '12 New Moves' is probably one of the few reformation albums that seems to have progressed from their earlier years without a hint of bloated fatigue lingering around it's carcass. Well played and professionally delivered hardcore punk rock anthems like 'Drug Culture', 'Freaks' and possibly the best track 'No Rules' standout. They all come with loads of power and lead breaks plus the rowdy gang choruses that makes for an addictive package. The Threats are a band who shows they've learned and picked up a lot of technique over the years. They deliver the songs with suss in a studio environment. However they do sound too good to be true, with glimpses of a souped up rock outfit being put through it's paces at times. And some nondescript vocals lose a few of the songs that all important edge. But we gotta remember this is a band who rely on the duel guitar attack as their main weapon of choice. If you like your punk with tunes and in a semi-americanised hardcore back beat, you'll dig these. Naturally they seem to be very popular with the yanks, whose Dr Strange label has signed em up for two albums. They preceded this with their 'Demos And Rarities' CD which apparently sealed the deal, and which id rather like to hear meself. They finish with one of those irritating jokey accoustic bonus tracks that doesn't show up for 12 minutes after the real albums finished. It's a version of their early 80's 'Underground Army' track. But forget that coz '12 Punk Moves' by The Threats is definitely worth taking seriously. WORTH A LISTEN. www.drstrange.com |
| COCK SPARRER 'Back Home' (ahoycd231) CD 2003 I think I can count on one hand the number of LIVE gigs I got on record that I actually attended. So this live blast of Cock Sparrer from Morecambe's HITS festival in the summer of 2003 was an unexpected souvenir. Ged Babey from Punks Throwback zine sent it my way when he deemed it an unwanted item on his punk Xmas list. Well as this web site is the official home to waifs 'n' strays of all punk persuasions in life, I'm glad he did. This CD gives us a well recorded version of the band considering the acoustics of Morcambe Cattle market. And it certainly gives my blitzed brain cells a handy action replay of the nights events. Love em or loathe em, you can't take away the fact that Cock Sparrer are the undisputed kings of Oi! They give us Yob rock with tunes and a blood hounds nose for anthems! Which is conveniently helped along by their massive skinhead fan base. A fanclub that has put this band into the realm of stadium rockers, all be it on their brief annual live appearances. Not many bands can entice 4,000 drunks, punks, strays and walking wounded to last the distance till 2 in the morning like this band can. It helps a great deal with the quality of songs they play in their 23 song set. You get em all, the long the short and the tall from the 30 years this band have been around!!! What I can recall they don't exactly leave a memorable impression visually. Beer bellies and friendly uncles don't exactly terrify us. But what they lack in stage presence they more than make up for in numbers! They take the stage to the sound of the Heavy Metal Kids overture, before crashing into the siren wailing of 'Riot Squad' which sets the scene. Extremely professional they proceed to trot out the Oi! anthem 'Watch Your back', the black economy tale of 'Working' and the middle aged spread of 'What's it Like To Be Old'. But it's songs like the amusingly addictive 'Argy Bargy' that stands the true test of time, before dedicating 'Take Em All' "to Travis, Coldplay, Radiohead and Tottenham"'. They also excel with numbers like the brilliant 'Because Your Young' that proves these old geezers ain't forgotten their youth. And the majority of this young audience agreed whole heartedly. They attack the class of '77 in the sour 'Where Are They Now' before running into aggro with their best known song 'Runnin Riot'. They slow things down for the r'n'b sleaze of 'Sunday Stripper' which is still a fucking great song. Before picking up the pace with the snotty anthem... 'Chip On Your Shoulder'. Maintaining the pace (amid a few boo's from the younger skinheads up front) with a pedestrian version of 'White Riot', which was dedicated to Joe Strummer who singer Colin reckons "was the real article!". They round off the album with (the controversial in some circles) 'England Belongs To Me'. Controversial or not this was sung by every nation in the auditorium, including the Jap's, Europeans and Yanks, and was captured on here for posterity brilliantly. That by rights should've been it, but they seemed determined to outstay their 73 minute welcome after what seemed like numerous encores and stage invasions (which were thankfully cut from this album ) they do finally "fack orrrf" with an anti-climatic 'Were Coming Back'. I believe there was a live Cock Sparrer album released only last year, so do we really need another one? I don't think so, but for everyone who was there this was a neat bit of memorabilia to look back on. WORTH A LISTEN Captain Oi! Records |
| VARIOUS 'A Riot Down The Lane Again' CD 2003 Another fucking admirable home-grown compilation album from the scruffiest photostatic zine that's come outta Belfast in years. The editor in chief, and compiler of this equally shabby babble of recording artistes, deserves full credit for herding em up and giving em a surprisingly natty home. And it's all on a shoestring budget too. This is a lesson to all those bigger punk labels who skimp on packaging to get their act together. Coz if Bill can do it and do it well, why not you? What we have here is the good, the bad, and exceedingly ugly, from some of today's totally unrefined street punk scenes. With notable inclusions coming from as far afield as Adelaide's (Australia) On Active Service, who remind me of an Aussie Antidote on their laid-back but attitude loaded 'Kick Against The Pricks' ). Belfast is represented adequately. The best track comes in the shape of Ex-Rudi leader Brian Young's other squeeze...the Rockabilly Sabrejets. They get in touch with their feminine side on the conscientious 'There's A Little Bit Of Whore In Every Girl'. We then get possibly the best track of the whole lot. It eminates from Coatbridge near Glasgow in the shape of the reborn 4 Past Midnight. The trio bring us their highly addictive militant stomper, 'Party Political Bullshit'. This will have ya singing along to em before you can scream "spin!" There are no classics on this collection, though there's no better way to hear some of the more obscure punk acts in one sitting. Especially the ones that get acclaim in 'Riot Of Your Own' zine. Even Billy's own combo The Violent Fuckwits who knocked their track together in less than an hour, succeed with the pisstaking 'PC Punk'. A stain that should really go down well in Yorkshire. The only real inferior track came from The Walking Abortions, who ejected a really weak irritation of a song. All told though, no mean feat for 24 tracks. Atilla The Stockbroker winds up the album in mandolin fashion, as he pays a live tribute to Joe Strummer on the sainted 'Commadante Joe'. I hear there's more new Belfast groups itching to be included on the next instalment. So look out for round #3 later this year maybe? This CD is dedicated to the now defunct Belfast punk venue Giros and Joe Strummer. To round it off Bill's young nipper stares out from the label with blue hair and looks uncannly like Billy-Joe from Greenday! WORTH A LISTEN £5.00 inc p&p from Billy McConnell, 5 Glen Rd, Belfast BT5 7JH, N. Ireland. billyriot@hotmail.com |
| VARIOUS Dirtnap Across the Northwest (Dirtnap Records) CD 2003 Hello! It's a Dirtnap comp--what else do you need to know? (Will the last Northwest band to sign to Dirtnap please turn out the lights? Is there a band anywhere around here who's NOT on Dirtnap? Did somebody say "empire"?) Needless to say, this is one filthy-ass heap of steaming-hot hits: 31 flavors, to be exact. And not a dud in the batch. In case you hadn't heard, the Pacific Northwest is leading yet another rock ' n' roll revolution. These bands--hailing from the triumvirate of Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia--form the front line. (You may refer to back issues of BACKFIRE to research many of the various personalities featured herewith.) Among this cream of the crop are bands like the Epoxies, the New Town Animals, the Stuck Ups, the Exploding Hearts, the Cripples, Midnight Thunder Express, the Diskords, the Fliptops, the Gloryholes, the Hunches, Lopez, Cookie, the Mexican Blackbirds, Electric Eye, the Pist'uns ... on and on--this is a long-player, Besides, you are a total feeb if you miss the Spits, makin' like killer MCs dissing their thoroughbred labelmates; imagine Starantula (somebody sign them up!) humping the Beastie Boys on a bad PCP trip. Really, you can't go wrong with this one. It just goes to prove that Cascadia rules! I wanna secede already--it's a Dirtnap generation nation. (Dirtnap Records, P.O. Box 21249, Seattle, WA 98111; USA www.dirtnaprecs.com (Guest reviewer Christeen Aebi) |
