Monday, March 31, 2008

Lifter Puller

For the first few years that I lived in New York, I didn't have a bank account. I tried to open one right after I moved here, but was denied because my passport had just expired and I didn't have enough identification (a valid driver's license and social security card were not sufficient for some reason). So I was told to take my American currency elsewhere.

Thus I operated on a cash only basis. I had several friends who worked at Insound, and they would let me come in and pay cash as I had credit or debit card to use. This was nice because I got to peruse the shelves and check out odds and ends that may or may not have been properly inputted.

Brad Shanks was one friend who worked at Insound for a while. I am impressed by the fact that after giving his two weeks notice, he failed to show up for a single day. Why bother giving notice? It seemed to be a running joke at the office, as the days went by and he continued not turning up. When asked about it his response is generally laughter.

One day I found an early Lifter Puller record that I had not seen or heard of before. I also discovered their first compact disc (this was before Soft Rock came out). Both of these discoveries pleased me, despite the fact that my friend Matt initially discouraged me from checking out this band, citing the fact that they didn't really live up to the dangerous persona they created for themselves. Then my roommate Andrew played Fiestas + Fiascos for me and I decided that I didn't care if they didn't seem particularly dangerous. I got to see them twice at Brownie's -- once when they were still an active band and then again as one of two reunion shows they played. Amazing. I still wish I had purchased a "LFTR PLLR" shirt, but that was during my not buying band t-shirt period, apparently. I don't seem to have many band t-shirts from that era, so I can only regard it as a "period".

I had the pleasure of meeting and hanging out with Craig on several occasions after he moved to Brooklyn. One time he told me that he had been meaning to check out my band because he heard that I did the splits whilst playing the keyboard. I was flattered, but I wonder if I would still be able to pull of that feat today.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, the first single from Lifter Puller.

Prescription Sunglasses b/w Emperor (Crisp)
1. Prescription Sunglasses
2. Emperor

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Skyscraper

I saw Skyscraper at Gilman Street, opening for The VSS and A Minor Forest. Not a bad show. Skyscraper were great. The last song they played had each member finishing their bit and walking off stage, with only the drummer left at the end banging away. Finally she got up and left too. Awesome.

That show was approximately twelve years ago.

I have listened to this cassette from time to time over the years, and I have always enjoyed it.

My old roommate Andrew Bottomley told me that the name of his zine was partially inspired by this band. My least favorite memory of his zine was when we moved, as it had more possessions than both of us put together. We also moved in the middle of the summer.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, a cassette by Skyscraper.

Broke EP (Omnibus)
1. Carsick
2. FTG
3. Turning The Tables
4. Nut Up
5. Sugarpill
6. The Waltz

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Kid Dynamo

I recently went to Los Angeles and spent quite a bit of time digging through the bins at Amoeba. It had been a while since I had done such a thing, so I didn't feel too bad about it. I came across the first Kid Dynamo record, and was excited because I had been thinking about putting their side of the split with Trackstar up here at some point. I was surprised that I didn't own it already because I remember seeing it so many times at record stores in the past. Better late than never, I suppose.

I was excited to go to Amoeba as that was when I was in the planning stages of this blog and I wanted to get some new items to share with the world. Oddly I spent a bunch of money there but now that I look through the records there aren't too many that I feel like I need to share with the world right away.

I never saw Kid Dynamo but I think I used to hang out with people who were in the band, if that means anything to you. It was a number of years ago and my memory isn't what it used to be.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, 3 sides of Kid Dynamo.

Super Suicide. (Kirbdog)
1. Carpetmower
2. Kryptonite
3. Bubbledumb



















Kid Dynamo/Trackstar (Chococolate River (Deconstructions))
1. Six-Speed

Friday, March 28, 2008

Vineland

I used to spend a lot more time with Jon Fine, or The Poodles as he is affectionately known. I had heard about his old band Vineland, but didn't know much about them. Jon had said he would give me a record but never did.

I managed to find the Vineland record but never got around to listening to it, which happens sometimes.

Recently I was in Philadelphia and found myself (as is my custom when out of town) record shopping. Whilst digging through a bunch of poorly organized 7"s in a dank basement, I discovered one with a sticker on it that said "Ex Bitch Magnet". Since Seam is never really referred to that way, I thought I might be on to something. It was, of course, a second Vineland record!

I came home from Philadelphia and listened to both of the records, taking care to record them for posterity. The verdict? The first record I found (their second) is better than the second (their first). I present them both because that is the kind of guy I am.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, 2 singles by Vineland.

Archetype b/w Unfriendly (The Matt Label/Land Speed)
1. Archetype
2. Unfriendly




















Obsidian b/w Thicket (Zero Sum)
1. Obsidian
2. Thicket

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Pawn

I wasn't really allowed to attend rock and roll concerts when I was a teenager. My mother had read somewhere about someone being killed in a mosh pit and honestly believed that a similar fate would befall me were I to venture out into the world of live music. At the tender age of 16 I was allowed to see Jawbreaker at The Roxy, but only because I was going with my friend Dan Kaufman and (more importantly) his 27 year old brother in law. I was told that should he have so much as a sip of beer I should call my parents and they would drive down and pick me up. The first thing he did upon arrival is purchase a beer. Jawbreaker were amazing that night.

During that same time period I saw a band from Simi Valley called Pawn. I don't know that this record has held up over the years as well as others, but I used to love going to see them and I used to listen to this record a lot. As you can imagine, I always get a bit nostalgic when I put it on. Care to take a trip down memory lane with me?

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, a single from Pawn.

The End Of Something (LifeLongLife)
1. Thief
2. Indian Giver
3. Soon

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

The Cinnamon Imperials

I saw the first Cinnamon Imperials show at Epicenter. They played with Wat Tyler and J Church. It was my first time at Epicenter, although I would go on to spend many hours there over the years once I became a volunteer. Through working at Epicenter I eventually met Trixie, who played guitar.

I used to have a shirt but I gave it away many years ago. I also used to have two Jawbreaker shirts that I later gave away. I used to be a lot more generous with my clothing, apparently.

I always liked this band. San Francisco pop! What's not to love?

I also saw the last Cinnamon Imperials show. It was at a party somewhere in The Mission, I think.

Trixie and I later started a band together, but that is a story for another day.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, 3 sides of The Cinnamon Imperials.

I Hope No One Finds Out (Broken Rekids)
1. Kicked Out
2. Fine Then
3. X Marks The Spot
4. Board Games Anyone?


















The Cinnamon Imperials/Phantom Pregnancies (Honey Bear)
1. Right Now
2. Tongue Kung Fu

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Mark Arm

I was a little bit unwell the first time I listened to Superfuzz Bigmuff, and it sure didn't settle my stomach at all. It was a few months until I could listen to it again, as I felt a little queasy just thinking about it.

I am glad that I gave it another go as I absolutely love Mudhoney. Their records never fail to put a smile on my face. Touch me I'm sick indeed!

I joined the Sub Pop Singles Club the second time around, and as a result have some crap records as well as some that are worth a few hundred dollars. I was too young the first time around but I have picked up some odds and ends. This one off Mark Arm solo record would be one of those.

Totally worth it. Probably not for hundreds of dollars, but you know what I mean. That White Stripes record might put my kids through college some day. Or at least buy them a class at community college, anyway.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, a single from Mark Arm.

The Freewheelin' Mark Arm (Sub Pop)
1. Masters Of War
2. My Life With Rickets

Monday, March 24, 2008

The Yah Mos

I never got to see The Yah Mos. The Angel Assassins were supposed to play a show with them in Berkeley, but they never turned up. We were a bit disappointed, but as the saying goes the show must go on. It did.

I heard some time later that they had called it a day, so that was it.

I purchased the Undefeated LP when it came out a few years ago but never listened to it that much as it seemed obvious why it never came out at the time. Not their best work.

These two EPs however, are fantastic.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, 2 records by The Yah Mos.

Right On (Sunney Sindicut)
1. Your Best Interest
2. Refusenik
3. Letter Bomb
4. Rent Is Due
5. Be Cool

















Off Your Parents EP (Recess)
1. Fare Inspector = Pig
2. So
3. Bobby Harley
4. Fuck That
5. Tuesday At 4

Sunday, March 23, 2008

The Project

Unrest was one of my favorite bands when I was a teenager. I discovered them through 120 Minutes, of all places. I believe I saw the videos for "Make Out Club" and "Isabel" and was hooked. I quickly purchased Perfect Teeth and went from there.

While I do not still own that particular compact disc, I do have the 7" box set version of it now. I followed Mark Robinson's various exploits, even buying the Olympic Death Squad record. At some point a one off record was released by a band simply called The Project. I did not hesitate to purchase it.

I think I might have added this to the end of an Unrest or Air Miami tape that I listened to extensively in my car. The last few seconds of the b-side were cut off, due to the nature of audio tape so that is always how I heard the song in my head. It was funny recording it and realizing that it does not end quite so abruptly.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, a single from The Project.

Celluloid Dreams Of Superman b/w In The Drink (Teenbeat)
1. Celluloid Dreams Of Superman
2. In The Drink

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Club Tango

You might have already guessed, but that day in Toronto I purchased a bunch of records. The first of the Club Tango records was another diamond in the rough that I discovered, so to speak. I liked the record so much that some years later when I came across another one I also purchased it. Huzzah!

My friend Josh used to make me play the Club Tango record for him every single time he came over. He absolutely loved it. I have no idea if he ever tracked one down, but now he will be able to listen to it anytime he wants.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, 2 singles from Club Tango.

Performance b/w Fun Specialists (Dining Out)
1. Performance
2. Fun Specialists




















FTN b/w Get The Picture (Dining Out)
1. FTN
2. Get The Picture

Friday, March 21, 2008

The Fiery Furnaces

I first saw the The Fiery Furnaces at Bowery Ballroom, opening for some much larger band that I cannot seem to recall. They were great, and I purchased a compact disc from Eleanor, the first of the two posted here. I listened to it and it sounded much different than they did live as it seemed to just be her and a 4 track, or something to that effect anyway.

I saw them again at Luxx a few months later and was introduced to her by our mutual friend Ted. She handed me the second of the discs posted here, and we discussed booking a show together with my band at the time, Cowboys & Indians.

She came to one of our shows soon after but we never ended up getting around to booking that show together. I ran into her a few times on the subway after that but we didn't do much more than exchange pleasantries because we didn't really know each other very well.

A few years go by and her band starts doing very well. I stopped paying attention because that is what I tend to do when bands get more successful. I've never been particularly interested in fighting crowds to see bands that I saw previously at a smaller venue (if that makes me a snob, then so be it). The two compact discs remain in my collection, mostly unnoticed until I start my current job. I have my own office and can listen to music whilst I work, so I slowly started bringing in compact discs from home and ripping them to my computer.

I think you can see where I'm going with this. I believe I very quickly fell in love with both and was forced to rush out and purchase whatever else was available at the time, which I believe was Gallowsbird's Bark and Blueberry Boat.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, 2 compact discs recordable by The Fiery Furnaces.

FF (Self)
1. Leaky Tunnel
2. Gale Blow
3. South Is Only A Home
4. Don't Dance Her Down
5. Don't You Hurry, Worry With Me
6. Skinny We're Mean
7. Single Again















4 Song Demo (Self)
1. South Is Only A Home
2. Inca Rag/Name Game
3. Leaky Tunnel
4. Don't Dance Her Down

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Slant 6

I don't remember how I was introduced to Slant 6, but I do remember listening to Soda Pop*Rip Off at my friend Sarah's house in Victoria, BC. When I say Sarah's house I mean that literally as she had her own house separate from her parents'. I also had my own house, but it was the smallest of the three.

That was not a particularly fun trip. Sarah had just started a job, which while I couldn't really fault her for was sort of annoying. What I could fault her with was insisting on being in bed by 10pm sharp every night, whether working the
next day or not. As a 16 year old traveling by bus around the country without anywhere in particular to be until I started college a few months later, I found this frustrating. I spent most of my time there moping around my guest house, wondering why I had bothered. I read several books, and spent some time talking to her mother (who seemed quite nice, although I wasn't there to visit her mother).

Her father was wealthy and made his living managing upscale hotels. We spent Canada Day on the balcony of such a hotel overlooking a bay and watched some pretty mediocre fireworks whilst I was accosted by rich people I couldn't really relate to.

I never spoke to her again!

You want to know what we did on our big day out together? She took me took a wax museum!


These were the final 2 Slant 6 songs to be released, and I believe they are my favorite.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, 1 side of Slant 6.

Slant 6/The Make-Up (Time Bomb)
1. I Love You A Lot
2. Rebel Rebel, Bat Cat

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

James

I didn't realize until well after Laid had come and gone that James had put out records on Factory, and some pretty good ones at that. Of course, now I am a general fan of James (Wah Wah is particularly good), but at the time I was turned on to their early records by a cover of "Folklore" by Unrest. I think I picked these records up at a record swap or in London (or at a record swap in London), I can't actually remember. But regardless of the circumstances of their procurement, they are great and I hope you enjoy them.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, the first 2 singles by James.

Jimone (Factory)
1. What's The World
2. Fire So Close
3. Folklore



















James II (Factory)
1. Hymn From A Village
2. If Things Were Perfect

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Duster

I rediscovered Duster recently after not having listened to them much over the past few years. I saw them play a few times when I was a resident of Oakland, CA -- once or twice (I can't actually remember now) at Bottom Of The Hill and once in San Jose with The Apples In Stereo. When I moved out to the east coast people were slightly jealous as they had never really toured. I chalked this fact up to prodigious amounts of marijuana being smoked, but I could be wrong.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, 2 singles by Duster.

Transmission, Flux (Up)
1. Orbitron
2. Fuzz And Timbre
3. My Friends Are Cosmonauts
4. Closer To The Speed Of Sound
5. Stars Will Fall

















Apex, Trance-Like (Smoothlips)
1. Four Hours
2. Light Years

Monday, March 17, 2008

Tools You Can Trust

Several years ago I was visiting some friends in Toronto, ON. That trip was an odd one that had me going from one end of town to another, duffel bag in tow the whole time. I had hit it off with someone but we were unable to do anything about it as she had a boyfriend. That made the weekend frustrating and strange, as you can probably well imagine. I was on my way out of town and stopped at a local record store to see what sort of offerings they had. There was a 7" bin full of cool looking records that were all priced at 2 Canadian Dollars, which at the time wasn't a whole lot. I sort of knew the guy working there and the records in that bin had obviously been there for a while so he gave them to me for half off. I will be the first to admit that there were a number of duds in that bunch, but I was pleasantly surprised by Tools You Can Trust. If you are unfamiliar with their work, I hope that you are now pleasantly surprised by them as well.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, 3 records from Manchester's own Tools You Can Trust.

Show Your Teeth b/w Messy Body Thrust (Red Energy Dynamo)
1. Show Your Teeth
2. Messy Body Thrust



















Cut A New Seam b/w A Knock For The Young (Red Energy Dynamo)
1. Cut A New Seam
2. A Knock For The Young




















Say It Low b/w A Blaze Of Shame (Red Energy Dynamo)
1. Say It Low
2. A Blaze Of Shame

Sunday, March 16, 2008

godheadSilo

I have always had a soft spot in my heart for this band. I saw perform them three times -- once in Cleveland (as I mentioned earlier), once at Jabberjaw (with Karp and Nuzzle, two other bands that I have a soft spot in my heart for), and one last time at Bottom Of The Hill. I can honestly say that I ditched school to see them, as my friend Rob Pettersen and myself had a film screening that night and we decided to blow it off in favor of seeing the always mighty godheadSilo. I loved that they told bad jokes and played short sets because the drummer would literally tire himself out trying to play over the mountain of amplifiers on stage. I miss them.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, a single by godheadSilo.

Booby Trap (Sub Pop)
1. Booby Trap
2. Turn Up The Vocals
3. Gypsy
4. Sprechen Sie Nuts

Saturday, March 15, 2008

The Units

My opinion on The Units is that they had one truly amazing song, and it is on this single. It is devastating.

The other three are no slouches either, but if you listen to one song today make it "High Pressure Days".

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, the debut single from The Units.

High Pressure Days (Self)
1. High Pressure Days
2. Cannibals
3. Work
4. Cowboy

Friday, March 14, 2008

The Male Nurse

I know that this band is from Scotland and sounds like The Fall. For me, that is more than enough!

Ladies and gentleman, for your listening pleasure, 2.5 singles by The Male Nurse.

G.D.R. b/w I'm A Man (Guided Missile)
1. G.D.R.
2. I'm A Man




















Magic Circle In The Sky b/w What Does Woman Want? (Guided Missile)
1. Magic Circle In The Sky
2. What Does Woman Want?




















The Male Nurse/Gilded Lil (Stupidcat)
1. The Male Nurse Tower

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Shake Ray Turbine

In the summer of '96 I spent several weeks on a bus traversing the United States. My friend Eric Pritchard was with me as far as New York City, which we were both visiting for the first time. It is funny all these years later to be walking around and recognize something from that first trip. Our last night in town we didn't have a place to stay as we were staying with a friend of mine from college at his parents' house and they didn't want us around anymore. Not because we were bad guests, but because they were going out of town soon and wanted to straighten up the guest room before they left. This didn't sound too plausible to me either. I will say that commuting from Great Neck was a pain in the ass (and in deference to Michael Caine I vowed then and there never to live in the suburbs. If you read What's It All About? that last sentence might make more sense), but I did enjoy seeing whichever of the Eggs from The Great Gatsby it was. In any event, I digress.

Our last night in town Eric and I went to a show at CBGB's, an exciting moment for two young punk rockers from California. What we discovered when we arrived was that every band we had actually heard of had canceled. We stayed anyway, as we didn't really have anything else to do until we boarded two separate buses in the morning - his headed home to Newbury Park, CA and mine on to visit friends in Bettendorf, IA. During the course of the show I found myself talking to one of the bands, Blueprint from Houston, TX. I mentioned to them that I was headed to Houston later in my trip and it turned out they sort of knew the person I was going to stay with. At the end of the night, I was approached and asked if I like June Of 44. I admitted that I did. I was then asked if I would like to drive with the band through the night to see June of 44 and godheadSilo in Cleveland, OH the next evening. I replied that I would quite enjoy that. I felt a little guilty for leaving Eric on his own for the night, but I think he understood. We recently got drunk together in Los Angeles and he didn't mention any hard feelings, so I think it is safe to assume that it is water under the bridge.

When we arrived at the house they were staying at in Cleveland we were greeted by a Jolly Green Giant on the roof. I found the sight somewhat impressive, to say the least. We slept a bit of the day away as we had all been up all night, so I didn't really to get to see the city at all. We arrived at Speak In Tongues in time to see the first band, Shake Ray Turbine.

They were great. I purchased a shirt, one that I still wear and has actually become the shirt I travel in. I realized at some point that quite unintentionally I found myself wearing it whenever I was going somewhere far away, so I have simply carried on with that tradition.

It was my first time seeing godheadSilo and June of 44 as well, it was all in all a pretty amazing evening for a young (not yet 18 in fact) man such as myself.

A few years later Clay spent some time in San Francisco and discovered that I had seen his band when he saw me wearing said shirt.

Many years after that I found out that my friend Chris played drums in the band. I have not seen him since I made that realization, so we have not been able to discuss it yet. There is still time, there is still time!

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, 2 sides of Shake Ray Turbine.

Shake Ray Turbine/Full Service Quartet (Landmark)
1. Charter Flight 55
2. Heat Girl No. 1
3. Allumette


















Shake Ray Turbine/The Divine Hook-Up (Donut Friends)
1. One Loose Gigawatt
2. Look Who's Watching The Launch Pad

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

The Rapture

The Dialectic played a show with The Rapture, Casiotone For The Painfully Alone, and Subtonix nearly a decade ago at SF State. Where does the time go? Here is a record from that era, released by someone that I was in a different band with (he played bass in The Angel Assassins).

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, the first single by The Rapture.

The Chair That Squeaks b/w Dumb Waiters (Hymnal Sound)
1. The Chair That Squeaks
2. Dumb Waiters

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Funktionaries

This record is a real gem. I discovered it in a record store in Portland, OR whilst I was pursuing some sort of long distance love affair. I believe the record was somewhere in the $6-$8 range, but I decided that I had to have it despite the fact that I had never heard of the band. I went back to my friend Alex's house and much to our delight the record was amazing! I have been unable to track down much information about this band except the fact that the label had an address in Berkeley, CA. I pitched a story once that involved me flying out there and trying to discover Tom Ward, the author and singer of both songs and thus supposed leader of the band. As the magazine I pitched it to was run by my roommate and didn't have the funds to cover my travel, I never wrote that article. Perhaps you know something I don't? Perhaps you could help me write that story?

Ladies and gentleman, for your listening pleasure, a single by Funktionaries.

Deutschland Über Disco b/w Replaceable Parts (Commodity Fetish Enterprises)
1. Deutschland Über Disco
2. Replaceable Parts

Monday, March 10, 2008

Bedhead

From what I've heard, Bedhead were the only good band in Dallas, although I have not so much as left the airport there so I cannot really speak to that. What I can say is that I was lucky enough to see them play at Bottom Of The Hill in 1998 and they were fantastic.

The 90s were a pivotal decade for me, apparently.

I was surprised to learn that the label still had a few of these records left so I quickly sent off a check (money order? well concealed cash?) and some weeks later had the record in my (presumably) grubby hands. This wasn't recently, so I doubt you can pull the same stunt, although it never hurts to try I suppose. I always liked this record because it seemed more upbeat to me than most Bedhead stuff. I will let you be the judge.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, the second single by Bedhead.

The Rest Of The Day b/w I'm Not There (Direct Hit)
1. The Rest Of The Day
2. I'm Not There

Sunday, March 9, 2008

The Starlite Desperation

My old band played a house show (well, an apartment show) in the Mission with them sometime in the year 1997. I don't remember that night very well, I believe I woke up early and moved, then worked all day, then went straight to the show. This was during my teetotaling days as well, so I don't even have alcohol to blame. I do know that some months later a coworker at Epicenter played me the Show You What A Baby Won't LP and I quite liked what I heard. I went and saw them play at Punks With Presses sometime after that (much to the dismay of my then girlfriend as she had people over that night and I sort of walked out in the middle of it. And by sort of I mean totally) and they were fantastic.

These three songs have always been among my favorites of theirs, apart from the one about throwing up on New Year's Eve.

Some years later Lost Kids stayed at my house and Dante told me that he remembered The Angel Assassins being a bunch of dicks. Touché!

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, 1.5 singles by The Starlite Desperation.

The Starlite Desperation/Sunshine (GSL)
1. Shut My Door





















Hot For Preacher b/w (I'm Gonna Waste) Your Train (GSL)
1. Hot For Preacher
2. (I'm Gonna Waste) Your Train

Saturday, March 8, 2008

The Nectarine No. 9

I believe this is one of many records that I purchased at Amoeba Records on Telegraph whilst attending UC Berkeley. I would dig through the 7"s several times a week, and I usually made a point to drive in on Sunday evenings because that seemed to be the time that they put new records in the "recent arrivals" bin. I hadn't heard of this band but I had heard of Postcard Records, so for $1.95 I decided to take a chance. I thought the label was defunct but who was I to argue with the physical evidence I held in my hands?

I love this record. I forgot how much I love this record, it had been some years since I listened to it. Over the years I have found that I listen to 7"s less and less as it is tedious to keep getting up and flip over records. Hence, this project.

I loved this record so much that I went and out purchased other records by this band. I did not love them, and that is why they are not included in this post. Perhaps they flew too close to the sun, who knows.

Ladies and Gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, a single by The Nectarine No. 9.

This Areshole's Been Burned Too Many Times Before b/w Can't Phone Potatoes (Postcard)
1. This Areshole's Been Burned Too Many Times Before
2. Can't Phone Potatoes

Friday, March 7, 2008

Los Microwaves

I have to admit that I didn't (and don't) really know much about this band. They were not performing in an era that I was attending rock and roll shows (I was approximately 4.5 when they disbanded), although some perfunctory research reminds me that they were originally from San Francisco. Apparently they moved to New York, predating my own move from the west coast to the city that never sleeps by about 18 years or so. Touché.

I will admit ignorance here and say that my interest was initially piqued in this band because of Le Shok's cover of "TV In My Eye". What is interesting is that I purchased a record that did not actually have that song on it. Interesting to me, at any rate.

I used to DJ occasionally, due exclusively to the fact that I have a large record collection and not because I knew how to "beat match" or "make people dance". I would often play this record when I did. I cannot recall if it was well received or not.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, a single by Los Microwaves.

I Don't Want To Hold You b/w Forever (Time Release)
1. I Don't Want To Hold You
2. Forever

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Monorchid

I had the pleasure of seeing The Monorchid twice in the summer of 1997 -- first at 924 Gilman Street and then again at the Capitol Theater in Olympia during Yo-Yo A Go-Go. I used to occasionally record bands off the sound board at Gilman and was disappointed that I could not do the same for them as they were not playing through the public address system. I was told that I was free to pop in a cassette if I wanted a killer recording of the drums and the vocals. I declined.

I dutifully purchased every Monorchid record as I have problems with incomplete collections. I put them all on a single tape so I could listen to them outside of my bedroom. Since I no longer own a walkman, I committed them to mp3, marking the second time I recorded these songs for posterity.

My friend Mark recently referred to Gravity record as being "top 40 material". I am inclined to agree.

I recall that particular summer quite wistfully for some reason.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, all three 7"s by The Monorchid.

Impostor Costume With Rooted Hair Mask (Lovitt)
1. Southern Fried Wonton
2. Oral Fixation Anonymous
3. Shark Bites Back



















When The Mutes Begin To Root (Gravity)
1. S.S. Hopeless
2. Red Meat
3. Diet For An Underdog



















Distortion b/w Babies (Simple Machines)
1. Distortion
2. Babies