Built on a Weak Spot

Probably should have had this mentioned among my favorite singles this year, however kind forgot that it got the vinyl treatment thanks to Desensitized Records. I keep thinking of it as a cassette, which is what it was originally released on/as. But yeah, let me clear it up now and say that this SHOULD have been listed as well, because this thing rocks. Pollution does some good old fashioned nasty hardcore/noise-rock through five songs on this 45, although for those lucky enough to have the cassette version…it contains a pretty great cover of the Lush song “Downer”. They get points for that choice alone. Things on the A-side get loud and have a bit of an AmRep-ish ugly quality to them and there is not a bad thing to say about a song as head stompingly heavy as “Fuck Hope”. The B-side mixes in a more standard hardcore number with “Reds” followed by an interlude/noise piece of sorts with “Ashes III”. Pollution doesn’t stop there and figures to cover more ground by turning up the metal a bit for the final song “D-IX”, just listen to the riffing. No matter what they choose to do, they seem to be doing it rather well. This shouldn’t be missed.

Pollution – Fuck Hope [MP3]

The band also has a 12” floating about through Feast of Tentacles that if you can get a copy of that, would be much recommended. For the n.s. Drugs 7”, it would appear that both Deranged and Sorry State have copies of these still available in their distros. Get on it while they are still out there.

I’ve mentioned Sideshow at length on the blog awhile back. For a bit more information on the bands background you can view that post here. To quickly recap however, Sideshow was the band fronted by Caulfield Records founder Bernie McGinn and the band was actually pretty much the catalyst for starting the label altogether really. With fellow members Paul Tisdale and Rich Higgins the band released a couple albums, EP’s, and singles during their run through the 90’s. However before they were known as Sideshow the band was called Peer Puppet and their first single and the first for Caulfield was actually pressed as such with that name. However, a name change occurred and thus all the labels needed to be altered, which resulted in black permanent marker crossing out the Peer Puppet name and a freshly stamped Sideshow took its place above it. This single is also quite interesting as it shows the band as a quite different one from what people would come to hear on later singles/albums/etc. These four songs are pretty much straight up hardcore/punk with very little resemblance of what they would go on to do, however the single remains to be a neat glimpse into where everything began. So, for your listening pleasure I bring you Sideshows debut single. Enjoy!

Sideshow – Out of Mind [MP3]
Sideshow – If the Shoe Fits [MP3]
Sideshow – If No One [MP3]
Sideshow – Blame Me [MP3]

Both of Sideshow’s albums are still available through Amazon used here and here, definitely pick them up…although I would listen to the tunes in my previous Sideshow post for a better representation of what they were like. However if you enjoy it, definitely give them a go!

This album from Pygmy Shrews came in the mail a couple or so days ago, just in time for it to get tossed on the player for the weekend. I’ve come to determine that it basically rips after many listens at high volume, eardrums be damned. I wouldn’t expect anything less from a band that also happens to feature members from fellow Brooklyn acts Zs (guitarist Ben Greenberg) and Drunkdriver (drummer Jeremy Villalobos). Not to be forgotten among the mix is bassist Tia Vincent who also lends her excellent vocals to a number of the albums tracks. In fact her vocals during the bands more spontaneous noise outbursts throughout the album often make me think of Picasso Trigger, which certainly isn’t a bad thing.

On first listen The Egyptian comes off as an impressive blast of noise for twenty five minutes for sure, but to leave it at that is undermining some of the fine work taking place behind that rough exterior. Greenberg makes this record that much more interesting by interjecting flurries of guitar riffs and noodling that if you blink you may just miss due to many of the songs brief run times. No matter, fans of noisy blown out rock will likely find something to enjoy on The Egyptian. Excellent stuff from this relatively new group that bring a bit something different to the table. Check out the tune below.

Pygmy Shrews – Deep Xuxa [MP3]

Wantage just put these up for sale the other day for anyone that is looking to pick up a copy. Definitely recommend it. Also, be on the lookout for a new 7-inch from the band on Fandeath here shortly. Enjoy!

This will be up there as far as reissues of the year go. Big props to Ride the Snake for considering this little Pittsburgh artifact worth the time to resurrect from cassette tape purgatory from roughly a decade ago, the second of two cassettes the band released while together. Dead at 24 were very much the anti-Pittsburgh though, for every band that’s ever been discussed on this blog that came out of the city you almost have to completely disregard any preconceived thoughts about Dead at 24 that may have been caused by those write ups. Instead, slow things down to the murk of rigid guitar work and lumbering monotonous drumming with sparsely placed synths throughout that amalgamated into a formal challenge to concert goers that dared to show up. To me, Blast Off Motherfucker! is almost the perfect translation into music for exhaustion and all the surrounding negativity of day to day life. What was surely a confusing and intriguing piece of work for its time is still very much that today. Especially when held up against the sort of underground no-wave/noise/punk that has been swelling for awhile now.

Doug Mosurock has a wonderful write up over at Still Single about the band for anyone that wishes to know more about them. Some may recognize Steve Boyle and his brief time with Swob, whose LP Persis Hussey that was originally slated for release on Project A Bomb from what I understand, was never released. I really really wish someone would do that because I am getting tired of having to listen to mediocre bootlegs that I’m assuming were dubbed from an old cassette. Anyone?

Dead at 24 – When Delirium Comes [MP3]

Anyone wishing to pick up Blast Off Motherfucker! can do so through Ride the Snake. Only 300 500 of these things were pressed and many have already been sold so definitely get on it if you’re looking to get a copy of this with any sort of ease and lack of searching.

This is a new split single between Richmond, VA’s Mouthbreather and Florida’s Environmental Youth Crunch (now known as Vicious Fishes) out on Rorschach Records. My interest initially lied in Mouthbreather, as I was a fan of their debut album that came out last year. However, I am also always looking to hear something new and this single is my first exposure to EYC, whom have three very quick cuts featured on this particular release. They seem to be doing the upbeat pop/punk type of thing; however they seem to hit the mark as their side of the split is undeniably catchy and comes complete with sing-along verses and such. All around pretty solid stuff. The two songs from Mouthbreather on their side of the split are the first new songs from the band since their debut and in no way disappoint. It’s more of the same throwback Dischord era punk/post-hardcore to be found here and that’s a-ok, they seem to have it down as it would appear. It already has me excited to hear more from them, as the new material smokes.

Mouthbreather – Call Me Legion [stream]
Environmental Youth Crunch – Seriously Side Effects [stream]

For those interested in picking this up, it’s available though Rorschach Records. Looks like there is only 500 copies of this available spread across three different shades of wax. So get on it and enjoy!

Yeah, that’s a hell of a name…both for band and track title. Nevertheless, what we have here is a one sided single from a bunch of dirty Texas noise makers. You can throw whatever past drugged out scuzz punk band from the state you want in order to have some sort of reference and it will likely stick. Albeit only one track from The Homopolice, it’s a scorching blast distortion that will disgust and drive just about anyone out of the room…that of course unless they eat this sort of shit up, in which case this is fantastic. I am pretty sure that one of the main guys involved in this project was previously in grind outfit Insect Warfare and also runs the label in which this came out on. I chose not to take a picture of the actual cover, keeping mind that some people might read this while at work and I doubt the boss would be cool with seeing a picture of three dudes blowing each other.

The Homopolice – Assfucker [stream]

Only 300 of these were made, so if you dig what you hear then I suggest grabbing one quick. Thankfully it appears you can still get a hold of a copy here. Enjoy!

It doesn’t seem, at least to me, that too many bands start out as a country/folk outfit and eventually grow into a predominately punk/indie sound. It seems you see more of the reverse actually. However, they could just be me. Anyhow, that’s what Unwelcome Guests were initially before ripping off a strong run of 7 inches that showcased the band and their more punk inspired leanings. Of course the band still bares a fair portion of its past within its current sound giving them that late 80’s/90’s gritty alt-country/indie-rock sound of sorts. The Painter 7’’, which I have here, is probably some of their best and most rockin’ material that was released late last year through a collaboration of multiple labels (Art of the Underground, Dirt Cult, and Feral Kid). Two tracks to each side, all of which keep it snappy and feature a loud wallop of bass and drums combined with some rough around the edges guitar haze that make it seem as if these songs were destined to be listened to on a 45. I think they have another single on the way, which is definitely good news. Anyway, check out a tune from The Painter below…

Unwelcome Guests – Painter [MP3]

If you’re enjoying what you hear then be sure to pick up a copy of the single, which can be had over at their MySpace along with most of their past material. For anyone that is curious of their beginnings, then they have a compilation for sale on CD Baby. Check it out.

I can’t say that I am familiar with either Tenement or Friendly Fire, but this showed up in the mailbox awhile back and after giving it a few spins I can say that I will be keeping an eye out for whatever these two bands do in the future. Good stuff all around. I was bit thrown off by the cover at first because honestly it looks like I should be hearing some flowery/sugary pop punk of some sort with the type of vocals that we all know and hear too much of if we just simply flip to just about any “alternative” station on the radio these days. Neither of these bands are beat your brains to shit noisy or anything, however what you do get is an aggressive take on times come and gone from the indie-rock and punk world, which is definitely fine by me.

Tenement’s track on the A-side “The Best and Worst of Times” is nice solid cut that sort of carries a bit of a Dinosaur Jr. or Replacements vibe to it at times, but maybe a bit more sing along-ish than either of those bands were. Definitely would like to hear them do more though. As for Friendly Fire, they are sort of along the same lines, however treading the melodic punk thing a bit more I’d say. Both of their tracks featured on the split are relatively short; however pack a nice a punch with rougher vocals that kind of round out their slightly rawer/aggressive sound. Got to hand it to Forcefield, they had to know I’d probably eat this up. But seriously, this is pretty solid stuff and I look forward to hearing more from both of these groups. Give it a listen; I’ve posted the tracks as listen only, because I don’t want to post up practically the entire single ya know?

Tenement – The Best and Worst of Times [MP3] (listen only)
Friendly Fire – Homesick [MP3] (listen only)

For those interested in picking up a copy of this record, then head on over to Forcefield Records to do so.

Next to receiving an unexpected check or well concealed cash, this is pretty much the most exciting thing I could have received in my mailbox this past week. The Knife Day 7” is two brand spanking new songs from the loud as all fuck Drunkdriver. Some might remember me posting about this band late last year and their deliciously noisy LP Born Pregnant out on Parts Unknown landing as my number 2 record of 2008. If so, then thanks for reading and if not well then listen to the posted track below because there isn’t much else I can think of to write about this band that could persuade anyone else left out there that are into completely blown out noise-rock to listen to them. Top notch is about all I can really say and the two new songs on this single are no exception, again delivering completely demented and mangled bits of aggression. I urge those that dig the song posted below to pick this 7-inch up now from Fan Death Records.

Drunkdriver – January 2nd [MP3]

This 7-inch is currently available through Fan Death Records in a limited 500 copy run. It’s also pretty much a bargain at 5 bucks postage paid, so get on it and enjoy!

Plutonium is an early single for the underrated North Caroline act Picasso Trigger. I think it was released in 1992 on the Jettison label if I remember correctly. The song “Colossal Man” that appears on the A-side of this single would later be re-recorded from what I can tell and released on their debut album ¡Fire in the Hole!. While this recording wouldn’t really hold up against their later work, I definitely enjoy the merged track or tracks of Brown & Love Pot 69 that kind of presents itself as two headed monster on the B-side that sort of gives a glimpse of the oddball nature that the band would later adopt more heavily in their sound.

Picasso Trigger – Colossal Man [MP3]
Picasso Trigger – Terminator Hank [MP3]
Picasso Trigger – Brown & Love Pot 69 [MP3]

Albums from Picasso Trigger are still readily available on Amazon on the cheap, so definitely pick up one or both of them if you’re digging the tunes above.