Milkmoney - Pink

 

Label: Headhunter

Year: 1995

Sure, why not post another Milkmoney 7" while we're here? This band had a hell of a 1994-95, releasing three 7"s and a full length before calling it a day. Work ethic on point.

This record and the previous one posted are similar enough that it's safe to say, "if you liked that one...". Not a bad thing, just a band with a consistent and honed sound. Honed sound on point.

DL

Milkmoney - Leash

 

Label: Plumb

Year: 1994

Been a minute since the last post, and I'm sorry about that, but I'm sure we will all get through it together. Just trust me.

Milkmoney were from the super fertile Boston scene of the early-mid 90's, even releasing a 7" on the standard bearer of Boston based atrocities, Reproductive Records. But, where a lot of those bands were seeing who could out-heavy the others, Milkmoney were pivoting into a downtrodden, downbeat, version of rock music, based on the types of bleak sounds Codeine had made. Some of the stuff Seam had done isn't that far off either. Come too. I suppose one could assume the members of Milkmoney had probably been to a few Galaxie 500 shows around the Boston area a few years earlier, and their slowcore template worked its way into their DNA. Milkmoney though, have some fuzz and grit under all the sadness, which buoys the songs and for my money (well under $1000 if you must ask) makes them more listenable.

Two songs, give it a shot.

DL

Done - Done I, Done 'Em All

 

Label: self released

Year: 2012

Don't let the Bandcamp bio fool you, this band from "Campulung, Romania" is actually the duo of Andy Patterson (State Of The Nation, Search [the original one, not the Rev Records one], Subrosa, Insect Ark, and Sweet Jesus) and Cache Tolman (Iceburn, Rival Schools, Institute, Search [with Andy Patterson], and others), who are from Utah, United States.

If you were hip to Cache's foray into stoner-buzz riff slinging as Skullfuzz, then you'll be good. Done are an extension of that band's bad boogie molten lava rock. Goatsnake comes to mind as an apt comparison if Skullfuzz never made it onto your radar. 

The band has three albums worth of this stuff, all of them equally as good, and all of them only existing as Bandcamp treasures. Would be nice for an altruistic record label (looking at you, Southern Lord) to come along and properly release these. They deserve a wider audience.

DL

Helios Creed - The Warming

Label: Amphetamine Reptile

Year: 1991

The noise rock shamen, high priest of psychedelic guitarism, Helios Creed, man of a million releases,  gifts you with two more songs to challenge your outmoded ideals on music as a linear pursuit. The signposts are familiar, the road is rutted with generations of passage, but the destination is unknown and dependant on forces beyond your control.

It's Friday where I am. Freak out.

DL

Nonzoo - Wazoo

 

Label: Already Dead Tapes

Year: 2017

When you want something fucked up, I would submit this record for your consideration. It's a free association, free jazz, free freakout, bleep blorp wig out. Which I mean as a compliment.

This is one of those "DO judge a book by its cover" situations. Look at the cover of this record, and imagine what that should sound like. Chances are, you won't be too far off.

Mood music for the criminally agitated.

DL

Gnomes Of Zurich - Dispenser

 

Label: Amphetamine Reptile

Year: 1996

When considering things like, "who's the most underrated band on Amphetamine Reptile?", and after you've talked about Love 666 and maybe Hammerhead for awhile, you will eventually circle around to Gnomes Of Zurich (of which 2/3rds of the members went on to form the also underrated Janitor Joe). This Minneapolis (where else?) band that delivers on a warbly post hardcore noise rock combo of bass rumble and riff waves. I mean, it's pretty much perfect, really. 

This 7" is only two songs, but I think you'll quickly get the point that Gnomes Of Zurich are one of those "best kept secret" sorta deals. They don't get spoken of with the same reverence as some of their peers, but they are every bit as good. I think so, anyway.

DL

T-Tops / Cyrus Gold - split

 

Label: self released

Year: 2016

Two Pittsburgh bands for the price of one...that's a hot deal. And it's worth it. This record comes correct!

T-Tops ply in a sludgy, mid-tempo stomp at times and in a dirty rock stomp at others. Either way, it's a heavy, gritty workman-like roughing up. It's quality belligerence.

Cyrus Gold pump up the jams with a punchy noisecore pummel. The riffs are feral and difficult to wrangle, but the band has the good sense to utilize an ugly thud to do so, as opposed to a spazztic blur. Make sense? The third of their three tracks on this split is the highlight, it's an insanely great song. Well worth it.

DL 

Noose Talk - Demos To Hate Yourself By

 

Label: self released

Year: 2017

How about some blown-the-fuck-out noisy hardcore? How about if it's from Canada? How about if we don't know what ever happened to the band, or if this is the extent of their musical existence?

Wouldn't that be something?

DL

Blisters - The Sleepless Nights

Label: self released

Year: 2017

This record was released in 2017, but the band recorded it in 2010, after reuniting in 2009 from a break-up in 2000, following their formation in 1998. Got it? The band was based in the Netherlands, but the personnel was a collection of a Dutch guy, a British guy, and a Croatian guy...so...not the easiest practice schedule I'm guessing.

Musically, this album covers as much ground as the membership. It goes from Melvins-esque riffing to boogie damaged King Snake Roost type rock, to meandering post rock atmosphere, to circling Midwest noise rock sounds, to driving post hardcore bluster. Covers a lot of ground.

I liked this one, which is why you're reading this. Not to overstate the obvious. You should give it a whirl and let me know if you like it too.

DL

Giant Love - Way Too Bitter

 

Label: self released

Year: 2020

Four songs of contemporary Spanish grunge...not a sentence you were expecting to hear today?

Had this been released in 1994, your local "Whatever Whatever X" alternative music radio station would have been all over it. There are some bona fide earworms on here, legit, well crafted earworms. The production is super professional. The musicianship and vocals are all ready for the big time. Which, in this case is a compliment. 

Moments of Nirvana, Jawbox, and I'm going to say Foo Fighters(?) all come together in a well balanced, memorable blend of throwback fun. You know the deal, and it's a deal, so...deal with it, I guess.

Worth it for the opening track 'Best Regards' alone.

DL