Engine - Show Me

 

Label: Damn Entertainment

Year: 1998

There have been quite a few bands over the years that have operated under the moniker "Engine", so we are all excused for not really knowing much about this particular version of Engine. The thing is though, this version is very, very good (two "very"), and we should know more. I should, anyway. 

The record itself does not offer much beyond the cursory personnel listing, but, unless you have carnal (or otherwise) knowledge of the five gentleman who make up the band, you would be out of luck identifying them in a lineup. The layout of the 7" has a little comic that comes with it, but gives no real clue as to where this band hails from, or what their major malfunctions may be. The label is based in Louisville, KY, and based on the sonics of the two songs presented by them, you would be understood to think that possibly the band shares the same zipcode. 

You can hear Crain, Rodan, Squirrel Bait, and some non-Louisville, but Louisville-sympathetic, Bitch Magnet. Even though Engine is a full decade after the fact.

So, I don't really know the deal here. I just know that I have this two song 7" that I really like, from a band that I really have no clue about. Maybe you do? Maybe you can share with the rest of the class?

DL

Sandy Duncan's Eye - 525NTSC / Sub

 

Label: Flipside

Year: 1990

How's about we start the week (this week specifically) with a little high octane grungy rock-n-roll music? How's about we let Sandy Duncan's Eye provide that for us?

Great. Let's do that. Sandy Duncan's Eye are very well equipped to provide just that high octane grungy rock-n-roll musical fare that I have promised. They were a Los Angeles three piece that flew mostly under the radar, putting out two 7"s and a really good lp, that had the Stooges proto-grunge cornerstones, but added their own dark twists to it. You could maybe think of Mudhoney meets Chokebore? Possibly? I think the Los Angeles influence keeps them being less "rock" and more "fucked", which I personally appreciate. Not that don't like to rock. I notoriously love to rock. Anyone that knows me (currently about 13 people globally) will attest to this fact. But, I also like my rocking to skew a little bit weird, whilst still doing the things scientifically required to rock me (like a hurricane or otherwise). Sandy Duncan's Eye does this, so to them I snap a salute, I thank them for their service, and I go about my day of rocking. Problem solved.

DL

V/A - Compulsiv Compilation No. 1

 

Label: Compulsiv

Year: 1992

Here's another quick one on this Friday to help you ease into whatever grilling-out duties you are obligated to this afternoon. And frankly, I can't think of any better tofu dog cooking music than Circus Lupus...so, you're in luck!

This relatively short lived Philadelphia based label actually had a very high victory percentage with their releases. Lot's of quality bands for a label that doesn't ever get mentioned in the hallowed halls of noise rock (which is a actually just a port-o-john located just outside Madison, WI, truth be told). For their third release they came correct with a four band, four song compilation of bangers, and now here it is. Right in front of you!

The bands:

Circus Lupus - you get a version of "New Cop Car" which would be re-recorded for the Solid Brass album that is a bit rawer. Hot.

Jack O Nuts - you get an exclusive rager from the best band out of Athens that wasn't REM or Harvey Milk or The Glands. 

Crain - you get, similar to Circus Lupus, an early version of "Blistering" which would be re-recorded for the Heater album a couple years later.

Derelict Hotel - you get a good, loose, rocker from a band that I've only heard this one song from. So, maybe it's the best they ever did, or maybe it's a throw-away and they were a phenomenal undiscovered gem. Don't know, but this song fits right in on this comp with some pretty heavy hitters, so...kudos.

DL

Sparkmarker - Atomos

Label: No Idea

Year: 1994

Can we talk for a moment about how fucking rad Sparkmarker were? 

Yeah. They were fucking great.

Ok. Good chat.

In the post-Quicksand world of hardcore, Sparkmarker took it and gave it a polite Canadian twist, and we were all better for it. 

Please note, the first song starts with veeeeeeeery faint guitar noise before it kicks in. Don't adjust your dials. Or do. Do whatever makes you feel good.

DL 

Hedonists - Womb / Deepest Secret Fear

 

Label: Amphetamine Reptile

Year: 1993

As part of the Amphetamine Reptile Research And Development Series, this two song picture disc 7" has fittingly appropriate unsavory artwork by Coop of two devil ladies sixty-nining each other, so it is of course recommended you track down a physical copy in order to truly experience the totality of it's visual and sonic debauchery. 

Musically, the band doesn't necessarily reflect the satanic sexuality evidenced in the artwork (meaning, they aren't Lords Of Acid or anything...if you're into Coop's satanic sexuality), they lean more into the Midwestern strained noise of Mama Tick. A pounding dervish of hardcore skree mixed with the over-the-top burred noise rock thud that you want out of this kind of thing. It honestly rules...you'll like it.

Possibly as interesting as the music, or the satanic sex stuff, is the personnel on this release. Supposedly the band started when Springa of SSD fame, relocated to Chicago, and hooked up with drummer Mike Meadows, who himself had relocated there from NC. Meadows had previously been in Erectus Monotone and Shiny Beast, as well as his first Chicago band, Bull. They rounded out the band with a guitar and bass player who I'm certain were nice and accomplished fellows, but I have no information on them or what they ever did outside of Hedonists. I just think it's wild to think of a guy from Erectus Monotone hooking up with the singer of SSD to start a noise rock band in Chicago...especially after SSD had so famously flamed out into a cock rock car crash. It's a bit of a redemption for Springa...except that he most recently showed up in NYC sporting a "Black Flag Matters" hand drawn shirt...which brings him back down a few pegs (what's with these old hardcore heads turning into conservative windbags? Fucking Cro-Magas indeed). Regardless, you can listen and enjoy this 'lil platter on its own merits and then go about your business. That's what you should do.

DL

Wurm - We're Off / I'm Dead / Time Has Come Today

 

Label: SST

Year: 1982

Two posts back we posted an SST band with umlauts, which made me think about the OTHER SST band with umlauts, and how for the love of Chuck Dukowski, we needed to post them too.

Two originals and a cover of the 1960's Chambers Brothers hit "Time Has Come Today". Maybe a little more "Freedom Rock" than the full length that would come later, but a dirty, thudding piece of weirdness nonetheless. The burnouts kicking dust over the discarded Peace placards of their older siblings, while the energy crisis worsens and the state of California can't even muster up 1% of the vote to Peace And Freedom gubernatorial candidate Elizabeth Martinez. The dream is dead. I'm dead.

DL

Clobber - Get Smart

 

Label: Half Baked

Year: 1995

Here's a band from Atlanta circa the mid-90's that if you weren't hanging around the Somber Reptile at the time, you are excused for having never heard of. They put out a full length and this 7", and then went on to bigger better...something. I assume. They were on lots of bills opening for bands coming. through town, but I feel like I only saw them once...maybe twice. They didn't traffic in the same hardcore that I was unfortunately balls deep in at the particular time. 

Musically they have lots of elements of Jawbreaker, in their gruff, but bouncy punk songs, but they also have some straight up thud rock tendencies that are more apparent on the opening track of this three song 7". It's enjoyable, and maybe you are from the Atlanta area and you are saying, "oh yeah, Clobber, I think I saw them at the Point opening for J Church or something", or maybe you've never heard of Clobber and you are saying, "I can't believe I'm still reading this fucking blog...I have to get my shit together, this is embarrassing", but what I'm saying is, "give this one a whirl, it's pretty good, and you probably have the time, so...quit acting like you're too good".

DL

Husker Du - Eight Miles High

 

Label: SST

Year: 1984

It's a warm, sunny Friday afternoon where I am currently (cannot vouch for whatever bizarro time zone and/or climatic influences you may be under), and I would like to celebrate that fact with one of those "perfect songs", in this case "Eight Miles High" by Husker Du. And I apologize in advance for not being able to harness the umlauts...I just don't have a German language keyboard I guess. 

The era of Husker Du represented on this single is pretty unbeatable, as it represents the transition time from the speedy hardcore into the more melodic college rock band they would end up as, and it still has one foot in either world. Like I said, it's a perfect song. 

The flip side of this single is a live version of Zen Arcade banger "Masochism World", and it's pretty gnarly. Which is what the kids would say in the 1980s when something was cool, yet also a little dangerous or gross. I maintain a pretty strict 1980's dialect.

Go enjoy the rest of this day and your weekend!

DL

Clouds - We Are Above You

 

Label: Hydra Head

Year: 2008

Here's the second full length rock-n-roll record from the Boston based collective, Clouds. This time around they have switched bass duties from Jay Cannava over to Johnny Northrup, who has spent time in The Cancer Conspiracy, Pet Genius, and Stephen Brodsky's Octave Museum (among others), but otherwise it's Adam McGrath (Cave In, 27, Kid Kilowatt, Zozobra), Jim Carroll (American Nightmare, Hope Conspiracy, Suicide File), and Michael "Q" Quartulli (The A-Team, Doomriders). 

Altogether, they produce a riff-forward rawk (and I don't use that term lightly, because I hate intentional misspellings [mostly on account of the fact that I cannot spell, and I feel I am being mocked]) record that relishes in the joys of big, loud, fun music. There are moments that could have been pulled out of the gutter of the Sunset Strip circa 1985, moments that belong to be on tour with Rush, moments that pound with a Motorhead-esque punk ferocity, and moments that just let a meaty riff do the talking. 

Best listened to loudly and without prejudice.

DL

Melts - 667 b/w Crusser

 

Label: 227

Year: 1993

Guess we will chalk up the last month as a hiatus? Did all 12 of you who frequent this blog notice? Anyone concerned at all? There's no need to be in case you were...everything is fine, just been busy.

Not too busy though to return (triumphantly I might add) with the two song ass-kicking that is the Melts "227 b/w Crusser" 7". I can make time for that!

This Atlanta band came from the crusty, unsavory Cabbagetown neighborhood of the early 1990's (currently Cabbagetown has far less white trash, drugs, and crime, but far more homes pushing the $800,000 price point) to deliver a very Melvins-esque version of sludge damage that was not afraid to challenge audiences and push inside jokes, or otherwise make you feel uncomfortable. In a nice way. Of course.

The mysterious 'Salicountinsaw' album was one of the first things I ever posted here on this blog, and maybe one day I'll post it again, as it's a long lost classic of the genre, but I had not ever posted this two song 7". Until now. So, live in the now.

DL