Archives 2004

Oh well, it was far fetched dream while it lasted. The Cardinals could have been the first team to make the playoffs with a losing record. Unfortunately, they came up 3 points short in a must win situation yesterday.

The year end top tens are coming your way in the next few weeks. It looks like 1/9/05 for the 7" records and 1/16/05 for the full length records/CD's. Some have said it is a down year but I'm sure we'll convince you otherwise with our fine selection of 2004 hits.

These Ramones loving Brazilians crank out another round of Ramones worship. If you love Screeching Weasel, The Queers and the Apers you will also love Carbona. Get their "Go, Carbona, Go!" album while you're at it. You won't be disappointed.

Life is wonderful. Enjoy it. Merry Christmas or whatever holiday event you happen to celebrate. Listen to punk rock music until your ear drums burst.

I've read several reviews of this single describing it as the Killawatts' best record to date. I won't disagree with those sentiments, because the two songs here are great, but truthfully, this now defunct band never made a bad record. I anxiously await their second (and last) LP, due on Rip Off sometime in 2005.

What do you get if you take Guitar Wolf, Johnny Thunders and the Ramones and mix them all together? One hell of a fucking great band and their name is the Jetboys and they are from Japan. Demolition Derby has served up a whole slew of winners this year. Expect to see Demolition Derby well represented in the year end top ten only a few weeks from now.

New additions this week:
Lots and lots of discography updates.
Clothing: Punky Goth Clothing, cosmetics and other accessories especially for all punks and goths, most straight from the streets of London, specializing in Stargazer cosmetics.
Too Fast Underground Clothing and Accessories for Rock-n-Roll Junkies

We're getting towards the end of another memorable year of punk rock. Based on the number of quality releases, punk rock has never been bigger even if it is still mostly underground. Thank you to the hundreds and hundreds of people who play the music, have the music pressed and distribute it to us lucky fans! Keep it going! Don't give up!

Ex-Superhelicopter. Mmmmmm. Superhelicopter (or Superhelicopter Ltd.) was an amazing garage punk band. For those of us who still cling to the idea that there may be more of Superhelicopter's primo scuzz tucked away in the vaults, we've got the Spamchords in which to sink our teeth. The tunes on this debut more closely resemble the crunch of Damnation Kids (another Superhelicopter offshoot) than the no-holds-barred trash of Superhelicopter, but they're all winners and there's still plenty of grit to go around. Typically awesome Yakisakana silk-screened sleeve too.

If you've missed on Kevin K, here's your chance to catch up. Kevin K is squarely in the middle of the Johnny Thunders appreciation society. Glam punk at it's finest done by one of it's best. This is a greatest hits collection culled from 8 previous full length releases and includes a previously unreleased track. This is great stuff. Don't miss out!

New additions this week:
Lots and lots of discography updates.
Mail Order: Concrete Dystopia Crust, anarcho, thrash pv and grind buttons and vinyl.
Welfare Records Nice array of KBD era releases as well as some more recent stuff.
Labels: Welfare Records Boston label with an impressive line up of artists.

Dennis "Buddy" Green may think he's a football genius but he's an idiot in my book.

One of the perks of volunteering at KDVS, in Davis, California, is that I get to hear even more new music than I normally do. This week's pick, So So Many White White Tigers, is a band I discovered at the radio station. This new-ish Bay Area trio--guitar, drums, and vocals--has no "proper" releases to their name and seldom plays outside of the Bay, but the racket on this CD-R suggests that those issues will resolve themselves soon enough. Fans of bands like Pink and Brown, the Hospitals, or Coachwhips will eat up the ear-piercing guitar, caveman drums, and screechy vocals of So Many Many White White Tigers. I know I am. Two final thoughts: (1) this band is great live; and (2) I find the frontwoman rather attractive.

Barse are one of the most authentic sounding 1977 bands to come out of the 00's. Not only do they sound like a $500 7" from 1977, they back it up with extraordinary songs that get stuck in your brain and have you humming all day long. Make sure you seek out their 2 full length albums too.

Mario's top ten/playlist for November 2004
Adult/Dirtbombs split 7" (Cass/Ersatz Audio)
Bakelite "S/T" CD (Sound Document)
Glass Candy "Iko! Iko!" tour CD-R (self-released)
Guitar Wolf "Rock 'n' Roll Etiquette" CD (Narnack)
The Kodiaks "Cherry Blossom, Evil, and Alcohol" 7" (Super Secret)
No Doctors "S/T" LP (Cock of the Rock)
Primes "Life In The Pit" tour CD-R (self-released)
The Beakers "Four Steps Towards a Cultural Revolution" CD (K)
The Reatards "Bedroom Disasters" CD (Empty)
Shesus "Ruined It For You" CD-EP (Narnack)

Willy's top ten/playlist for November 2004
Anteenagers "(The) Future('s Coming Tomorrow)" 7" (SDZ)
Carbonas "Frothing at the Mouth" 7" (Master)
Copyrights "We Didn't Come Here To Die" CD (Insubordination)
Hi-Tops "...Left Me Wondering" LP (Three Kings)
Jetboys "Jet Patrol" LP (Demolition Derby)
Lids "S/T" LP (Rip Off)
River City Tan Lines "Black Night" 7" (Misprint)
The Reatards "Bed Room Disasters" LP (Empty)
Ritalins "Kelly" 7" (All-Nite)
World War IX "Panic Attack" CD (Elis Eil)

I have 4 reviews this week: "We Are Masterpieces Created By God" by the Saltwater Vampires, "Soundtrack of the Struggle" by American Static, "Rock'n'Roll Etiquette" by Guitar Wolf and "Ruined It For You" by Shesus. You can read them by clicking here.

Nice article by Karl Wentzel regarding the Silencers and Legal Weapon. Click on the following link to read it: www.pacificwebjournal.net

With Ramones influenced pop punk having gone out of favor over the last few years, I had forgotten just how much a great pop punk tune could get the juices flowing. Here are four gems sounding like "Backchannel Broadcast" era Lillingtons that fit the bill perfectly. Great, great stuff!!

I have 4 reviews in the hopper. They will done during the long holiday weekend next week.

"This band is so good it's stupid," raved Maximum Rock 'n' Roll's Mitch Cardwell, in the October 2004 issue. The band and record in question? Lost Sounds' "Future Touch" 12" EP. He was right, of course. And now they've given us a new full-length LP that somehow manages to up the ante yet again. Mind-boggling.

Dirtnap almost never disappoints and the Ends have never disappointed. These Stitches worshippers from Texas have released another hard hitting album of punk rock'n'roll tunes that'll have your toes tapping and penciling their name in for one of 2004's top ten albums. Essential stuff.

My satellite provider, Dish network, added Sirius Radio to the list of channels we get. Most of it is crap (country, hip hop, hair bands of the 80's, etc.) but there are a few that play punk and alternative. Although my definition of Garage Rock is a bit more refined than Sirius', the Underground Garage plays a great mix of 50's, 60's, punk, and contemporary music that is almost always really good. I've Social D, Ramones, Manic Hispanic as well as some obscure 60's punk stuff and some newer stuff that I really like that I didn't know existed. Howard Stern moves over to Sirius next year too and every NFL game is being broadcast now. Satellite radio looks like a great new way to get your tunes assuming you can shell out the $12.95/mo. subscription fee. I'll probably have to get myself a car system sometime soon. It works anywhere in the U.S.

Local heroes Hell on Heels have released their first LP on Bomp! records. They have arisen from the ashes (appropriate for Phoenix, don't you think?) of the Peeps and Tempe Tramps. 11 songs of snotty, slutty trash rock to give every teenage boy a ragin' hard-on. These girls know how to strut it and they know how to lay on the licks. Great debut and we can look forward to more because they signed a 3 LP deal with Bomp!

New additions this week:
Clothing: Crust Punks Clothing Studs, spikes and bullet belts for cheap prices.
Discography updates.

The Divided Lines' second 7" EP lives up to its spazzy billing, with seven songs that bounce, screech, and, most importantly, rock. These southern California types fancy themselves "nu-mod punk"--an awful descriptor, if only because it brings to mind the "nu-metal" tag--which, I presume, puts the Divided Lines in a class next to bands like the Distraction and the Fuse! By that definition, the shoe fits. That said, there is at least one person reading this, who shall remain nameless, that will cringe at my reference to the Fuse! If you find yourself in a similar situation, please replace "the Fuse!" with "the Stitches" and I think you'll be okay.

A supply of these were found and it's fairly easy to get a copy of this now. Don't wait until it becomes impossible to find again because this is some great stuff. The Escovedos have provided us with some punk's greatest hits from the Zeros to the Nuns and the Dragons. The Dragons feature a powerful punk rock'n'roll with tunes that have hooks in all the right places. Don't miss this chance to complete your Dragons collection.

Mario's top ten/playlist for October 2004

A-Frames "Complications" 7" (S-S)
The Flatmates "Love and Death" CD (Clairecords)
Dan Friel "Sunburn" CD (Velocirecords)
Le Flange Du Mal "What Does Not Kill Me, I Hate" CD (Kimosciotic)
The Lost Sounds "Future Touch" 12" (In The Red)
The Lost Sounds "S/T" CD (In The Red)
Popular Shapes/Kurt split 7" (On/On Switch/X-Mist)
Rock 'n' Roll Adventure Kids/Intellectuals split 7" (Vida Loca)
Skitkids "Onna For Pleasure" 12" (Kick 'n' Punch)
The Yes Sirs "2-Man Rhythm Disaster" CD (CNP)

Willy's top ten/playlist for October 2004

Barse "Better Be Ready" 7" (Hell's Tone)
Briefs "Sex Objects" LP (Lollipop)
Dragons "Pain Killer" CD (Scam-O-Rama)
Ends "Concrete Disappointment" LP (Dirtnap)
Kevin K "Better Class of Slut" 7" (Incognito)
Knockers "Rejected #8" 7" (High School Reject)
Lids "S/T" LP (Rip Off)
Lipstick Pickups "S/T" LP (Radio Beat)
Mensen "Ready To Go" 7" (Bootleg Booze)
Superfly T.N.T's "Make Me Sick" 10" (Rockin' Bones)

It's hard to wipe the smile off my face after seeing the Rock 'n' Roll Adventure Kids live. Fortunately, their records have the same effect on me. This record features two top-shelf tracks of spazzy, country-tinged garage punk from these Bay Area yahoos. On the flipside, Italy's the Intellectuals are rather subdued energy-wise compared to the Rock 'n' Roll Adventure Kids, but their trashy, mid-tempo sound carries with it a similar spirit. Listening to their half of the record makes me wish I owned a copy of their limited-to-250-copies "Music for Haters" 7" on Hate Records.

Wow! Rip Off Records version of the October surprise. This would have to be classified as garage pop. All the energy and intensity of garage and all the pop melodies of a great pop song. The female singer, sometimes lead and sometimes backing vocals, sounds very much like Tina Luchessi. I thought I had determined my album of the year already but this is a contender for sure.

Punk rock has lost another of it's pioneers. Greg Shaw of Bomp! Records fame passed away last week at the age of 55. It seems that the punk pioneers are dying at a much too early age. More of my comments after the press release reprinted below.

I guess I'd most like Bomp to be remembered as a label utterly
dedicated to the people who care most about music: the fans and
collectors."

--Greg Shaw
1949-2004

"We have some very sad news to report-- Bomp's founder, Greg Shaw,
died on Tuesday, October 19, from heart failure at the age of 55.
Greg's lifelong devotion to discovering, raving about and releasing
authentic -albeit obscure- rock & roll, and promoting rock fandom
over four decades was extraordinary. Among his many accomplishments
were fanzine publisher, magazine editor, band manager, author, indie
label owner, and rock historian. Though his roles often varied, two
things were absolutely consistent: his impeccable taste in music and
the ability to be there first.

Though we grieve for him now, please know that Greg's legacy is the
Bomp/Voxx records he was so proud to release, as ever they will be in
print and available to inspire music lovers everywhere through the
efforts of his business partner, Suzy Shaw, and Alive/Total Energy's
Patrick Boissel.

However you choose to honor Greg's memory-- do it with anything but a
moment of silence".

I',m not sure who wrote this so I don't know who to credit but it sums up Greg's existence very well. I'm sure I'll be forgiven for reprinting.

Back in 1977, Steve Stiph and I discovered this great record store in North Hollywood called Bomp! Records. They were the first local (to Los Angeles) record store to stock punk records from around the world. I remember getting my copy of "Anarchy in the U.K." there for the whopping price of $6 (I thought that was an outrageous sum) and also "Cough/Cool" by the Misfits for $1.50. They were only around for about a year but that little store will always have a soft spot in my heart. I later learned that it was owned a guy named Greg Shaw who had a love for the music and backed it up with putting out some memorable records, amongst them "Destroy All Music" by the Weirdos and "Don't Push Me Around" by the Zeros. The astounding thing is that the label is still going to this day and as recent releases like the latest Hard-Ons LP will attest, they still got it. Thankfully the label will continue. Knock back a cold one for Greg and be thankful he was in the right place at the right time.

Rock'n'Roll

New release of old A-Frames recordings taken from the "Plastica" session. Are you paying attention?

This may well be the swan song for Norway's great Mensen. They are now comprised of 2 guys and 2 girls. Sometimes called "Norway's answer to the Donnas", that label does them little justice since the two rocking tunes on this 7" blow away anything the Donnas ever could have written. Melodic straight ahead punk rock that will have you dancing in the hallways while uncontrollably head bangin' away. If this is the end of Mensen, punk rock will have lost one of it's best.

This week I'll stay away from the political side of things. I'll let my review of the week do it for me! Click here to read about "Texas Idiot" by the Arthritic Foot Soldiers.

The Ergs! "dorkrockcorkrod" CD (Whoa Oh)

I've been a fan of these Descendents-worshipping New Jersey poppy punkers since I first heard their "3 Guys, 12 Eyes" 7", on Whoa Oh Records, a couple years back. Their recently released debut full-length, also on Whoa Oh, hasn't left my stereo in weeks and doesn't look like it's going anywhere anytime soon. A friend described the Ergs! as sounding like "Green Day interpreting the Descendents," and I can't really argue with her assessment. That said, I encourage you to pick up this disc if you're a fan of superbly executed poppy punk, because it really doesn't get much better than this.

Willy's Pick of the Week

A more appropriate title for a CD you'll probably never find. Song one sounds like Kiss meets Turbonegro. Song two is a buzzsaw poppy number. Song three is an anthem reminiscent of Sham 69's "If the Kids are United". Song six is a garage stomper. You get the message and the message is: "a more appropriate title for a CD you'll probably never find". All great stuuf, by the way.

Three more weeks and this election will mercifully be over. I can't stand being lied to incessantly by the Bush/Cheney team. If you think you'll be safer with Bush in office, you need to get off the crack. The Democrats don't have to lie to make the current administration look bad. Their record does that for themselves. It looks like a neck and neck race to the wire and I can't wait for it to be over. If you select Bush to "lead" you for another 4 years, don't complain when the freedoms that you take for granted are taken from you. First amendment rights are already being shredded. It's your choice. Make the correct one.

Rock'n'Roll

Battleship "Presents Princess" 12" EP (Raw Deluxe)

Battleship's "Presents Princess" 12" EP, the second release on Mitch Cardwell's Raw Deluxe Records, sounds virtually nothing the label's first release, a Henry Fiat's Open Sore LP. That said, I think HFOS fans will dig this record, which is incredibly cool. This beautifully assembled one-sided 12" EP (featuring silk screened jackets, 100 [?] copies on white vinyl, some with screened b-sides) is bursting with noisy, spastic outbursts and herky-jerky rhythms. Several tracks on this LP, such as "You Could Feel" and "Lucy Stone," boast an A-Frames-like bump-and-grind quality, while others, such as "Parasite," flirt with the noise-core championed by the likes of Pink & Brown. Yummy. A plug: To learn more about Battleship and hear tracks from "Presents Princess," please tune in to KDVS, 90.3 FM (www.kdvs.org), in Davis, California, this Tuesday, October 12, from 6-8:30 a.m. Mitch will be a guest on my radio show, "Keeping Track," and we'll be spinning the likes of Battleship and talking shop.

Willy's Pick of the Week

Well you can't go wrong with Social D, huh? The first album in 8 years and the first without Dennis Danell. The rockers have the power and the ballads have the heartfelt angst that Mike Ness always puts into his vocals. This is definite top ten of the year although the ballads aren't as immediately accessible as songs such "When the Angels Sing" off the last album. Social Distortion have made their indelible mark on punk rock and we are all the luckier for having met them.

Kerry smoked Bush's ass in the first debate. Hopefully the polls will start to reflect a change towards Kerry.

The Observers "So What's Left Now?" LP (Vinyl Warning)

These Pacific Northwest residents recently paid a visit to northern California and gave us several outstanding live shows while they were here. Their debut LP is chock full of melodic, fist-pumping anthems in the spirit of recent Youth Brigade material, with an underlying moodiness and lyrical depth that keeps things interesting. If you're keeping track, these guys are ex-Speds and feature a member of the Minds (Mike, also of Spazboy "fame"--gotcha, Mikey) in their ranks.

Shakin' In My Boots: A Texas Rock 'N Roll Compilation "Various Artists" CD (Licorice Tree)

What can you say about Texas? Lousy politicians but one of the most vibrant punk scenes in the U.S. of A. A little country flavor, a little psych, a lot of punk r'n'r. No wimpy power pop here. The comp ends with a rousing version of "Let's Dance" by the Ka-Nives and I almost did just listening to it.

Mario's top ten/playlist for September 2004

Crime LIVE @ THEE PARKSIDE, IN SAN FRANCISCO, ON 10/1/04
Battleship "Presents Princess" 12" EP (Raw Deluxe)
The Briefs "Singles Only" CD (22nd Century)
Crime "San Francisco's Still Doomed" LP (Swami)
The Diskords "Blame It On The Kids" LP (Vinyl Warning)
The Militant Children's Hour "Temporary Solutions to Permanent Problems" CD-R (self-released)
Monoshock "Runnin' Ape-like from the Backwards Superman: 1989-1995" CD (S-S)
The Observers "So What's Left Now?" LP (Vinyl Warning)
Pets "S/T" 7" (Sacramento)
Straitjacket "Complete Recordings: 2000-2004" CD-R (self-released)

Willy's top ten/playlist for September 2004

I Walk the Line "Badlands" LP (Combat Rock/Boss Tuneage)
Illegal Movers "Buzzpunkpowerpoprockactiondeluxe" CD (Middle Class Pig)
M80's/Floyds of Flatbush "Split" 7" (Black Lung)
M.O.T.O. "Single File" CD (Criminal IQ)
Meows "More and Better" 10" EP (No Tomorrow)
Mystery Girls "S/T" CD (Trick Knee)
Nazis From Mars "S/T" LP (Astral Anarachy)
Painkillers "Ladies and Gentlemen..." CD (No Tomorrow)
Spider Babies "What's Wrong With Me?" 7" (Get Hip)
Suzy & Los Quattro "Freak Show" CD-EP (No Tomorrow)

The American public is very uneducated when it comes to politics. How else can you justify the fact that Bush has a slight lead in the polls to date? There's still an insane percentage of people that think that Saddam Hussein had something to do with 9/11. They believe the lies that are being spewed forth by the current administration's advertising campaign. "Vote for us or die" is their mantra. "Vote for us and die" is more like it. Get educated and then vote based off of your beliefs. Don't just take these insane TV ads as fact. If you do the research and find out for yourself what is true and what isn't, you can make an educated vote. They think you're stupid. Prove them wrong.

Another week, another reissue that's worth tracking down. Unlike last week's pick, however, I've got in my collection nearly all of the original Monoshock releases. This CD reissue compiles Monoshock's three 7"s, several comp tracks, and a nice chunk of unreleased material, all of which are superb. I recently commented to the loser that put out this CD reissue how remarkably well Monoshock's raw, messy rock 'n' roll has aged, and it's true. For the S-S-phobic out there, this release is much more straightforward than your "typical" S-S fare, so don't miss out (again).

I've picked up a few titles from Finland's Combat Rock Industry label and they have put out an impressive collection of street punk. This LP is on diarrhea brown vinyl as thick as they come (probably 180 gram vinyl at least). Street punk with very effective use of organ. Gruff vocals that are reminiscent of Riot Squad/Sweet Posion that have been reviewed on this site over the last year. Great street punk in great packaging - who could ask for more?

It shouldn't come as any big surprise what my topic of the week is. Punk rock has lost another one of it's legendary pioneers, Johnny Ramone, at the age of 55. The wished for reunion after their split in 1996 is happening all too fast in the 2000's in a way that is just too tragic to comprehend. 3 of the 4 founding Ramones members are now gone within a 3 year span. The world is sadder place for their loss. But the spirit of the Ramones lives on in all the young kids that take up an instrument and continue the profound legacy that is the Ramones. Those of us who were there in the beginning will never forget the first time we saw the band (for me that was in August of '76). 20 minutes of overwhelming buzzsaw guitar from Johnny and a set that was only broken between songs with Dee Dee shouting out 1-2-3-4!! I remember it like it was yesterday and for Johhny, Joey and Dee Dee, I remember you. May you all rest in peace.

Crime is one of a handful of bands for which I always look when thumbing through record collections. In fact, last year, when I first perused your host Willy's vinyl vault, I wasted little time and headed straight for "Hot Wire My Heart." If you're like me and prefer not to pay ridiculous sums of money for rare punk records and/or don't own a copy of the "San Francisco's Doomed" CD, this reissue really hits the spot. But even if you're not like me--your money grows on trees and you've got the originals--there's no such thing as too much Crime.

Another band joining the "wave" movement. These Frenchies provide synthesizer driven pop tunes with crunching guitars and great female vocals. Super songwriting and great musicianship. File alongside the Epoxies and the Briefs.

2 New reviews of the split between Higgins++ and Sick56 and the latest from Noma Beach, "City of Rats" by the Crooks. Read the review by clicking here.

As I write this it is still 9/11. 3 years since the attacks on the Twin Towers. Many people died but I wanted to single out one person. His name was Johnny Heffernan. He was a NYC fireman that lost his life entering the Twin Towers to try to save others. He was also a punk rocker that went under the name Johnny Heff. He founded and played guitar for the band the Bullys. So as I sit here today, I play the Bullys on my CD player and raise a toast to an American hero. www.thebullys.com

Menace was one of the top 5 greatest bands of the 70's. They put out 5 singles, all included in this "best of" package. Very few matched the fury and intensity of Menace while maintaining a sing along song structure. Look up "anthem" in the dictionary and it will reference Menace. 11 songs that match up against anything put out in the 70's (and beyond).

New additions this week:
Discography updates.
Mail Order: Find Used CDs Music search and price comparison site.

You wouldn't vote for a fascist, right? Right? Of course not. Read the definition below and see if it reminds you of anyone.

The 14 Defining Characteristics Of Fascism by Dr. Lawrence Britt

Dr. Lawrence Britt has examined the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia) and several Latin American regimes. Britt found 14-defining characteristics common to each:

1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism - Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.

2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights - Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.

3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause - The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.

4. Supremacy of the Military - Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.

5. Rampant Sexism - The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Divorce, abortion and homosexuality are suppressed and the state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the family institution.

6. Controlled Mass Media - Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.

7. Obsession with National Security - Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

8. Religion and Government are Intertwined - Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.

9. Corporate Power is Protected - The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.

10. Labor Power is Suppressed - Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.

11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts - Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts and letters is openly attacked.

12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment - Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.

13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption - Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.

14. Fraudulent Elections - Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections

When it comes to records, Tucson, Arizona's resident party animals the Okmoniks are a perfect three-for-three. Their latest endeavor, the "Compact 33" 7", includes re-recorded versions of six tracks from a CD-R that I picked up from the band in mid-2003, plus one newbie, and is essentially their debut "full-length." Get the party started right with this record and enjoy more first-rate organ-driven garage punk with charismatic female vocals.

This is from the mid 90's but I just got a copy. Maybe one of the best compilations ever, it features Boston and San Francisco street punk bands. Great tunes by the Swingin' Utters, Dropkick Murphys, Demonics, Ducky Boys and 13 other bands. Absolutely essential piece of plastic.

New additions this week:
Discography updates.

Mario's top ten/playlist for August 2004
The Feelers "Fuhrer's New Miniskirt" 7" (Death By Noise)
Thee Fine Lines "S/T" LP (Licorice Tree)
Thee Flying Dutchmen "S/T" 7" (Boom Boom)
Giant Haystacks "S/T" 7" (self-released)
Guitar Wolf "Loverock" CD (Narnack)
Hearts of Darknesses "Music For Drunk Driving" CD (Schematic)
The Intelligence "Boredom and Terror" LP w/bonus CD (Narnack)
Knock Knock "Warm Fronts, Cold Shoulders" CD (25% More Sacramento)
The Observers "Lead Pill" 7" (Super Secret)
The Okmoniks "Compact 33" 7" (In-Fi)

Willy's top ten/playlist for August 2004
Crime "San Francisco's Still Doomed" LP (Swami)
Dead City Rebels "Trashed: Rare and Unreleased (1997-2001)" LP (High Society International)
Guitar Wolf "Loverock" CD (Narnack)
Jakkpot "3-2-1 Go!" 7" (Junk)
Neurotic Swingers "French Fries, Guillotine and Love" CD (Dead Beat)
Pearl Schwartz "Sweet Seventeen" 7" (Black Lung)
Prototipes "Angel's Face" 7" (H-Records)
Soviettes "LP II" CD (Adeline)
Thee Girlfriends "An Invitation to Hate Music and Love the Make-Up" 7" (H-Records)
V/A "Weird, Waxed and Wired" LP (Radio Blast)

Mario and I had a great time (except he whipped my ass in pool), listening to tunes, outrunning dust storms and helping the Tucson economy with a healthy dose of vinyl purchases at PDQ and Toxic Ranch. Don't miss Mario's radio show on KDVS, Davis, CA on Tuesday mornings every other week at 3:00 AM (for you insomniacs). His shows can also be downloaded from the KDVS site.

Like its predecessor "UFO Romantics," "Loverock" is noticeably cleaner production-wise than previous Guitar Wolf offerings. Nevertheless, Guitar Wolf's amplifiers continue to flirt with "11" and there's still plenty of noise to go around. In other words, "Loverock" sounds exactly like it should sound: GREAT. Solid batch o' tunes too. Rock 'n' roll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I saw these youngsters (12-15 years old) opening for the Skulls and Weirdos back in Decmember in L.A. This slab of wax is very much like that show, about half the songs were super and the other half were not quite so good. Two of the songs sound like '77 style punk rock'n'roll and have a certain raw sound to them that really sets them apart from most stuff in the genre. The other two songs would be right at home in the Black Flag catalog of the early 80's. If you're a fan of both styles, you'll love this.

Mario pays his annual visit to Phoenix to "get out of the Sacramento heat". A trip to Tucson to check out Toxic Ranch Records and PDQ Records is in the plans for Monday. Should be a great time.

Another solid single from the Swedes at Savage. Two songs, one-sided vinyl, nice-looking sleeve. Imagine a garagier Cramps and you're in the ballpark. I dig it.

I picked up a good chunk of the Black Lung catalog last week and this one stuck out in a big way. Total punk rock energy, tunes with power and melody, tunes that punch you in the jaw and don't take prisoners. File under punk rock'n'roll at it's finest.

Alright, reviews are caught up. Here is what we have for you this week (all on CD):

1. Yesterday's Sweethearts by Sweet Poison
2. More Songs Abouit Love and War by Red Letter Day
3. Loverock by Guitar Wolf
4. Andiamo by Authority Zero
5. The Real New Fall LP by The Fall
6. Confuse Yr Idols: A Tribute to Sonic Youth by Various Artists
7. Bring the Neon War Home by The Yellow Swans

You can read the review by clicking here or by clicking the Music Reviews button below.

The debut release from Sacramento's best garage band, Th' Losin' Streaks, is finally on the streets! I've had this excellent LP on CD-R for several months and have done my best to wear it out. I assure you, the vinyl is going to get the same treatment. Get this and find out why Th' Losin' Streaks are so popular 'round these parts and in the Bay Area--two locales that have spawned their fair share of great garage bands over the years. For those of you keeping track, Th' Losin' Streaks include a couple Trouble Makers and a former member of the Zodiac Killers.

A collection of female vocaled bands from around the world, this is great collection of tunes from the fabulous Dionysus Records. Standouts are by Mensen (Norwegian band incorrectly labeled as being from the Netherlands), the Gee Strings from France, Fifi and the Mach III from Japan and the Dirty Burds from the UK. Not a totally solid collection but those 4 songs above are worth the price of admission all by themselves.

New additions this week:
Discography updates.
Scene Resources: Gruft Studios Munich, Germany scene in 1980/81.
Tattoos and Piercing: Bodywings Body piercing jewelry, Banana charms, tongue piercing, belly button ring, navel rings and more.
Labels: Art Monkey Records California label that have released albums by Dee Dee Ramone, Shattered Faith and Rik L. Rik.
Power It Up Records Grind label from Germany.
Web zines: Fomp German ezine with tons of reviews, band info and other columns.

Well, I lied. Things got busy and I didn't get to reviews this week. They will be added next week for sure. Same goes for outstanding updates.

So I joined the masses and purchased an Ipod this week. I must say it is pretty impressive. 40 gig of space in a tiny container and I've added well over 700 songs and only used approximately 1.5 gig of that space. The transfer speed is blazing and it compresses your CD's down to a tiny size so that you can fit all that music on the Ipod's hard drive. Apple dropped the price a hundred bucks recently and added new features. Cool stuff!

Two exciting items on the Shock/Silencers front. There is an interview with Steve Reina in the new issue of 3rd Generation Nation magazine #28 (Thanks, Ralf!) available now whereever fine fanzines are sold. Also, Shocks + Silencers is the number 4 album at KDVS radio station in Davis, CA. I guess I don't need to remind you that you need a copy if you don't already have one.

An impressive debut from this relatively new Sacramento band, featuring members whose resumes include the likes of the Losin' Streaks, Zodiac Killers, Mallrats, and Milhouse SMF/USA, among others. Equal parts '77 and garage punk commingle on this full-length recording, with spectacular results. Female/male vocal interplay and Greg Ginn-type guitar riffage drive the songwriting, which is reinforced by tasteful musicianship and the attentive ear of Chris Woodhouse. Though the Black Dahlias bear little resemblance to the FM Knives, or any of the bands that may have influenced their sound, I can't help comparing the feeling I got after hearing this disc to the first time I heard the FM Knives. That said, I think this release is going to turn a lot of heads when it drops, so stay tuned.

This was released last year on CD by Bulge Records but only recently released on vinyl by the fabulous Alien Snatch Records. Daniel has put out some of the thickest, high quality vinyl ever since he started the label several years ago. The Leg Hounds are Wisconsin's answer to the Devil Dolls but you already knew that. I wanted to give a shout out to two of the best in the business, Alien Snatch and the Leg Hounds.

Well, I missed a week due to being on vacation visiting my daughter and husband in Delaware (We had a great time! Thanks Andrea and Chris). I got the opportunity to visit New York City and thanks to the generosity of Jonnie Whoa Oh of Whoa Oh Records, we had a tour of the city like no other. Highlights included seeing Joey Ramone Place next to CBGB's.

Then I came home and my disk head crashed. It's a miracle I'm getting this update in this week because I had to get a new computer and sync everything up again by downloading from hosting site. Backups are NOT for wimps, save your stuff if you have the chance.

The Fe Fi Fo Fums “Electrofize Me” 7” (Boom Boom)

Renton, Washington’s Boom Boom Records is recklessly fanning the flames of “budget rock,” an approach that harkens back to the early-to-mid-‘90s, when labels like Radio X, Super Teem, and Planet Pimp ruled the Bay Area garage scene. This single from the Fe Fi Fo Fums, an offshoot of Mummies soundalikes and label mates Thee Flying Dutchmen, is another fine example of the Boom Boom aesthetic. Think trashy, no-frills rock ‘n’ roll that begs to be the soundtrack for your next party. Let’s dance.

I picked this up from Jonnie Whoa Oh in NYC last weekend. 13 songs of female fronted poppy punk. I'm always a sucker for female vocals, not to mention the poppy punk. Fans of the Go-Go's should love this, just as I do.

New additions this week:
Discography updates.
Internet Radio: Rock Hell Radio I need to add a new category. This is a great place to start. Now playing Shock and Silencers.

Mario's top ten/playlist for July 2004

!!! "Louden Up Now" CD (Touch & Go)
Coachwhips/Trin Tran split 7" (Show & Tell)
Kevin Corcoran/Chad Stockdale "S/T" 7" (Weird Forest)
The Descendents "Cool To Be You" CD (Fat)
The Dipers "How To Plan Successful Parties" CD (Omnibus)
The Fe Fi Fo Fums "Electrofize Me" 7" (Boom Boom)
The Frenchmen "Sorry We Ruined Your Party" CD (Clairecords)
Th' Losin' Streaks "Sounds of Violence" CD (Slovenly)
The Nazis From Mars "American Express Dream" 7" (Subway Star/Cage Match Federation)
Onion Flavored Rings "Used To It" CD (Onion Flavored)

Willy's top ten/playlist for July 2004

Blacklist Brigade/Smut Peddlers "Split" CD (No Front Teeth)
Clears "S/T" LP (Resort Theory Entertainment)
Diskords "Blame It On the Kids" CD (Vinyl Warning)
Fur "S/T" CD (Blackout!)
Lucky Punch "Kick Up A Hullabaloo" LP (Dead Beat)
Riverdales "27" CD (145)
Sloppy Seconds "The First Seven Inches ...and Then Some" CD (Taang!)
Stupor Stars "Everybody Live It Up!" CD (Safety Pin)
Vee Dee "Bloodzombie" 7" (Goodbye Boozy)
Weaklings "Just the Way We Like It" 7" (Junk)

Arthur "Killer" Kane (55), bassist for the New York Dolls, passed away this week from complications of leukemia. The Dolls were punk long before there was such a term and Arthur supported the punk scene up until his untimely death.

More death to report. This one from Wankin' Stiph's own recording artists, Shock. Gaylord Feketia (49), who the rest of the band was trying to track down for a possible reunion, was reported to have been killed in a head-on car accident last November. Shock was one of the very earliest bands on the L.A. scene and one of the best.

The Frenchmen “Sorry We Ruined Your Party” CD (Clairecords)

“Sorry We Ruined Your Party” is an excellent full-length of bittersweet pop from these local yokels. I absolutely LOVED last year’s debut 7” EP on Shelf Life and, although this didn’t win my heart on first listen, it has grown on me in no time. Excuse me while I hit “repeat.”

The Briefs started the whole "wave" thing a few years back and they have definitely mastered the art. These Seattle punkers are tight as can be, the song writing has never been better and the hooks hit you like a sledgehammer.

New additions this week:
Discography updates.
Internet Radio: Rock Hell Radio I need to add a new category. This is a great place to start. Now playing Shock and Silencers.

I learned a new word today. It's called spoofing. It's what spammers use to take your email address and attach it to their spam. So all of a sudden I'm getting 500 emails a day from all these sites that reject spam and send a return email telling you so. A spammer recently got 5 years in jail for sending spam. That sounds about right. What if I counted on email for my business. I'd be screwed. Die, spammers, die!

The Locomotions “A Little Bit of Lovin’” 7” (Perpetrator)

I’ve sampled enough of this Swedish garage punk combo’s output to comfortably make the following statement: The Locomotions don’t make bad records. They don’t always hit the ball out of the park, either. “A Little Bit of Lovin’” is a solid effort that flirts with greatness but ultimately falls short. I don’t blame the songs, which are first-rate. Instead, I blame the mix, in which the guitar takes a back seat. Crank the guitar, and this record elevates from “good” to “great.”

A little Mick Jagger, a little David Johansen; a lot of searing guitar, outstanding songwriting, hooks galore and this all adds up to one of 2004's top 5 albums of the first half of the year. An almost sure year end top ten entry. Criminal IQ is putting out some outstanding stuff, check them out.

New additions this week:
Discography updates.
Labels: Punk Rocket Science Records New label. I don't think they've put anything out yet but they're working on a compilation.
Web Zines: Inferior Press New web zine featuring reviews, interviews, etc.

To get you ready for Independence Day, a couple of suggestions for entertainment: 1) Movie: Fahrenheit 9/11 and 2) Music: Rock Against Bush Vol. 1. Enjoy!

Those of you who are awake at 3:00 in the morning PST will want to hear our very own Mario spin the tunes at KDVS which can be heard online at www.kdvs.org . He will be on every other Tuesday at that ungodly hour starting this week, July 6th. Congratulations, Mario!!

I first learned about this band several months ago in the pages of the local alternative weekly paper. I was intrigued by the writer's description of a band that shunned stages in favor of sidewalks, a band for whom "real" venues were simply props. Sacramento's (the band, that is) late night, impromptu gigs outside restaurants, nightclubs, and other happenings around town have made for an interesting conversation piece among night owls. The burning question "Where do you want to go tonight?" has seemingly been replaced by "Do you think we'll see Sacramento play while we're there?" I've yet to stumble upon these local "street musicians" live, but I've got their debut wax and it's damn good. If the AC/DC gone garage punk of "Sacto Rock City" doesn't get stuck in your head on first listen, then you're just a party pooper. I need to get out more.

The Apers are hands down the best active pop punk (in the Ramones tradition of the word) band in the world. This is a collection of their songs that were previously only available on vinyl or on a compilation.

Willy's Top Ten/Playlist for June 2004
Bamboo Kids "S/T" CD (Big Dipper)
Broken Bottles "In the Bottles" CD (TKO)
Chelsea "S/T" CD (Captain Oi!)
Complete Control "Vicious Ones" 7" (Slab-O-Wax)
Exploding Fuck Dolls "Crack the Safe" CD (Disaster)
Lazy Cowgirls "You" 7" (Gearhead)
Nine Pound Hammer "Kentucky Breakdown" CD (Acetate)
Phonocaptors "Call It What You Want" CD (Pro-Vel)
Radio One "S/T" CD (Disaster)
Sex Sex Sex "Satan's Hot Rod" 7" (Devil's Shitburner)

Mario's Top Ten/Playlist for June 2004
Blank Its "Johnny's Tongue" 7" (Band Its)
The Fall "The Real New Fall LP" CD (Narnack)
The Homosexuals "The Homosexuals' CD" (Morphius Archives)
The Intelligence "Test" 7" (S-S)
Lili Z. "Leatherlution" 7" (S-S)
The Marked Men "On The Outside" LP (Dirtnap)
The Real Losers "Go Nutzoid!" 7" (Wrench)
Sacramento "Sacto Rock City" 7" (Cock Energy)
Sonic Love Affair "Something To Believe In" 2x7" (Dollar Record)
XBXRX "Fuck It or Fight It" 7" (Narnack)

One of my friends said that she no longer visits the site because it has become "too political". Rock and roll has always been political from Neil Young's "Ohio" to the Ramones' "Bonzo Goes to Bitburg". The Clash, Stiff Little Fingers and U2 have always worn politics on their sleeve. I have a forum from which I can also share some of my political views. This country is severely divided by a person who claimed during the election that he was a "uniter, not a divider". The upcoming election has the ominous possibility of dividing our country even further. It won't get better if you don't vote, so register now.

Savage Lucy "Dead Boys Stay Dead" 7" EP (Squirrel)

Like their fellow Pacific Northwest residents the Diskords, Savage Lucy are making the most of their high school years by making quality punk rock records. Unfortunately, the debut wax from these young women (14 years old, according to their bio) also appears to be their last--they wrapped up a string of final shows this past week. It's a shame, because the simple, snotty tuneage on this record holds up quite well to repeated listening.

The Cowgirls gave their farewell performance a week or so ago. Their reign spanned the 80's, 90's and 00's. Never again are we to hear the super live show of country tinged punk. This final 7" showcases the raucous sound of the Cowgirls at their best. It's not too late to jump on the Cowgirls bandwagon even if it's only on your stereo. An essential band for the ages.

New additions this week:
Discography updates.
Internet Radio: Rock Hell Radio I need to add a new category. This is a great place to start.
Labels: Violent Reaction Records Hardcore label with a few releases available.

Sunday night has come and gone and the best fucking show on TV ain't fucking on anymore! Those cocksuckers in Deadwood are gone until HBO revives them in '05. How am I going to last without the tit licker and the rest of the cunts and fucking cocksuckers that made this show so great. Those who have seen it will quickly understand the use of my profanity. It is so pervasive in the show that those words lose their impact and seem like a normal part of the vocabulary. If Ian McShane doesn't win multiple awards for his portrayal of Al Swearingen, the owner of the Gem Saloon, there's something wrong. Sundays will seem empty until the streets of Deadwood are full again.

Denmark's Kick 'n' Punch Records has become one of a handful of labels whose output I snap up without fail. Though they've got a decidedly hardcore slant, Kick 'n' Punch has released several titles that ease up on the gas pedal and tone down the screams. Gorilla Angreb's "Astma" 7" EP is one of those titles, and it's really good. File this piece of yellow wax under tuneful, '77-influenced punk. Hunt this one down!

Why they insist on putting quotes around their band name I'll never know but with a band that can kick this much ass, they can do pretty much anything they damn well please. These guys are from Sweden and lay down the riffs in a flurry of guitars and great songwriting that is best classified as punk rock'n'roll. Fans of the Dragons will love these guys.

New additions this week:
Discography updates.
Labels: Show and Tell Records Home of the Coachwhips, Trin Tran and X27.

I missed a week. Had some visitors over the last week including my mother and Steve Stiph. I have lots of concert review material this week. Some excellent shows to start off the summer season.

I have one book review of Todd Taylor's "Born To Rock" which can be read by clicking here.

I also have one CD review of My So-Called Band's "Weapons of Mass Distortion" which can be read by clicking here.

Rising from the ashes of the Peeps and Tempe Tramps, we have a new all female foursome that belts out some sleazy, trashy, slutty tunes that make you feel dirty...and feel good about it. Glam punk at it's finest. These gals have signed a 3 album deal with Bomp! and we should see the first later this year. Paula Monarch takes most of the lead vocal duties but gives her fair share to the rest of the group. They've been around for awhile but this was my first opportunity to see them in action. I look forward to more.

The Glass Heroes were playing for the first time in quite some time but sounded like they haven't missed a beat. Led by lead singer/guitarist Keith Jackson, the Heroes played an abbreviated set to allow to the Rebels a chance to play longer. Their have a finely honed '77 punk rock style that included covers of songs by Chelsea and the Professionals. Their originals are fantastic examples of the style made the 70's special.

After 25 years, I made another visit to the Rubber City day care center and came away in one piece once again. Frontman Rod Firestone bounced around the stage like a teenager. Not bad for a 50 year old (give or take a few years). What's up with the hat though, Rod? Lose a little hair in the intervening years? The band ripped through almost their entire catalog that spans the "From Akron" LP released in 1977 up to their fantastic new release of last year, "Pierce My Brain". Rod was in fine vocal form, Buzz Clic played the guitar like a man possessed and Mike Hammer and Bob Clic provided a searing rhythm section to complement each other. Bars close at 1:00 AM in Arizona (at least until September), but 1:00 AM came and went and the Rebels weren't done. They kept going, adding probably another 7-8 songs after the witching hour including a cover my my favorite non-punk band, the Status Quo. They do an excellent job on "Paper Plane". Usually when the hour is getting late, because of my advanced years, I start looking at the clock and wonder when I might be able to sink into my soft bed. This time, however, I was horrified at the prospect at cutting off at 1:00 when I knew several of my favorites hadn't been played yet. Kudos to the band nad the management of the Rogue for allowing them to finish their set. This was the best show I have seen in several years. Come back soon!

I saw this opening band on July 4th last year and wasn't all that impressed then. I'm still not. The guitarist looks like he should be in ZZ Top and the singer looks like he should be living in some cabin in the Montana back country. The songs are overfast and unimaginative. The two folks immediaetly to my left thought they were great. They must have been their relatives.

The Exploding Fuck Dolls saved the night. Adding to the fun was having long time friend from California, Steve Stiph, attend the show with me. I had the pleasure of meeting Art Godoy who I have been communicating with via email since he sent me a review copy of last year's top 10 album, "Here's To Your Fuck". They also have a recent release on Disaster Records that has alternate mixes of some songs from the other album and a few songs that aren't included there in case you want to complete your EFD collection (and you do). Kris Swanson on vocals looks a bit like Mick Jones of the Clash and sounds a lot like Joe Strummer. The EFD catalog spans a range of about 7 years during the 90's and Kris did a great job of attacking the vocals for each era of the band (which included a short stint with Duane Peters on vocals). They ripped through almost their entire catalog of songs and did all of the ones that they knew. Their brand of punk rock'n'roll is timeless and the set knocked me on my ass. They are currently on a nationwide tour (see the tour schedule below). Go see 'em buy their stuff. You won't be disappointed.

Mario's Top Ten/Playlist for May 2004

Anna Oxygen "All Your Faded Things" CD (Cold Crush)
The A-Sides "Seeing Suzy" 7" (Prison Jazz)
The Black Jetts "Bleed Me" LP (Dead Beat)
Career Suicide "S/T" LP (Ugly Pop)
Kaos "Complete Kaos" CD (Artifix)
The Marked Men "On The Outside" LP (Dirtnap)
Moving Units "S/T" CD-EP (Palm Pictures)
No Hope For The Kids "S/T" LP (Kick 'n' Punch)
The Piranhas "Piscis Clangor" 12" EP (In The Red)
The Smugglers "Mutiny In Stereo" LP (Screaming Apple)

Willy's Top Ten/Playlist for May 2004

Apers "The Wild and Savage Apers" CD (Stardumb)
The Black Jetts "Bleed Me" LP (Dead Beat)
Demons "Demonology" CD (Gearhead)
Kevin K and the Real Kool Kats "Kiss of Death" CD (Lollipop)
Morticia's Lovers "Smash the Radio" LP (Demolition Derby)
Oil! "The Glory of Honour" LP (Noma Beach)
Riverboat Gamblers "Something To Crow About" LP (Gearhead)
Teenage Confidential "Rock'n'Roll Kiss" LP (Screaming Apple)
Teenheat "Demos Archive, Part 2" LP (Rockin' Bones)
Weaklings "Rock-N-Roll Owes Me" LP (Dead Beat)

“Disco Eraser” is a tremendous follow-up to the Final Solutions’ debut 7” on Therapeutic Records. That record disappeared not long after it was released and this LP is sure to achieve a similar fate, because it’s exceptionally good. All you really need to know about this band is that they feature in their ranks the prolific Jay Reatard, an individual for whom quality and quantity are not mutually exclusive when it comes to music. One of my favorite Maximum Rock ‘n’ Roll reviewers called this “the best garage punk record of the last six months.” I’m not sure if I’m there yet, but I’m on my way.

This is my favorite album of the year so far. It has blazing punk'n'roll anthems, it has melody and it has attitude. This Italian band has added a bit of a wavey feel to the mix to create something a little different but always with the power you've come to expect from these guys. If you only buy an album a month, make this June's entry.

New additions this week:
Discography updates.
Tattoos and Piercings: Nipple Charms For those squeamish ones who don't actually want to pierce themselves.

Three new reviews today - "Last Train To Nowhere" by Psychotic Reaction, "Stukas Over Disneyland" by the Dickies and "Orange County" by Faithful Church which can be read by clicking here.

OK, imagine you're a moderate Republican and you see the extreme right wing leanings of this administration and you wonder where it's all headed. Wouldn't it be better to cut your losses after 4 years and attempt to regain control of your party and try again in 2008? Let more level headed Republicans such as John McCain rule your party and return it to fiscal responsibility and multi-lateral international affairs. You may not like the Democratic nominee but your party is about to be taken so far right that you will no longer recognize it and it will have an impact on your lives for decades to come. This election is a once in a lifetime choice towards moderation or extremism.

“On The Outside” will not disappoint fans of the Marked Men’s debut LP on Rip Off and subsequent 7” on Mortville. In fact, this LP might be their finest work yet. It’s easy to make sonic comparisons to the defunct Reds, three-fourths of whom are in the Marked Men, but I’m likening much of the bounce-a-riffic tuneage on this LP to a band like Scared of Chaka, whose pop/garage hybrid resulted in some of my favorite records of the past decade.

This contains many of the songs off of their self released album from 2003 which scored a solid top ten year end ranking. This is a great companion piece to that release with several new songs and what sounds like alternate mixes. Duane Peters, the Godoys and crew crank out some of the hottest punk rock'n'roll of the last 10 years. Great, great stuff (and I get to see them live this Saturday!).

I had mail problems a few weeks back and I know I lost an update that somebody sent. If your update hasn't appeared on the site by now, can you please resubmit it? Thanks!

The Distraction “More Trouble At The V” 12” EP (TKO)

“Calling All Radios” was one of my favorite releases of 2002; it’s still in the regular rotation ‘round these parts. The 1.5 7”s that followed were solid efforts but lacked the staying power of their full-length—perhaps the result of several lineup shuffles in rapid succession. Now, the Distraction are back with yet another new lineup, including Hot Rod Todd and Darryl Licht, who antagonized listeners in the late, great Le Shok, and a new 12” EP, a teaser for an upcoming full-length on TKO Records. Consider me teased. More, please.

Punk Rock'n'Roll with an emphasis on rock. These Portland, OR punk rock verterans have been lighting up stages and records for many years now and haven't lost any of their thunder. Total smash mouth guitar driven punk for your aural pleasure. Dead Beat Records hasn't had a bad release in longer than I can remember. Tom knows his shit and puts out some of the greatest punk rock'n'roll records of our time.

One new review this week of a compilation album put out by 3 street punk labels and it is called "Streetpunk Worldwide". You can read the review by clicking here.

This year’s Horizontal Action Blackout in Chicago looked mighty inviting, especially in light of a performance by the dearly departed Reatards. Part of me wishes that I had been there this weekend to witness this spectacle. But I’m not totally bummed, because I’ve got this snazzy-looking three-song picture disc by the Lost Sounds to keep me company. It’s doing the trick. More great wavey punk from Jay (Reatards, Final Solutions), Alicja (Fitts), and company.

The Pits are the best I know at playing '77 style Sex Pistols inspired punk rock anthems. These are two more gems from the boys from the UK. If you haven't gotten on the Pit's train, jump on now.

New additions this week:
Discography updates.
Internet Radio:   Rock Hell Radio I need to add a new category. This is a great place to start.
Clothing: House of Rat Clothing   Tees and other clothes for your punk rock needs.

Could this administration be any more pathetic? What scandal will hit the airwaves this week? Unbelievable that anybody stills supports this so-called "leader of the free world". http://americanassembler.com/features/iq_state_averages.htm

The Exploding Fuck Dolls will be coming to a venue near you. Don't miss them. Here is the schedule:

Perhaps there really is life after death. This 2x7” was billed as Smogtown’s swan song, but it appears as though the band has reformed. For how long this will last is anybody’s guess, but a number of live dates have been scheduled, including a show next month in San Francisco. Will I make an effort to be there? You’re damn right I will. As for the music on this package, it’s nowhere near the band’s finest work, but there are several songs here, like “Squares,” that now rank among my favorite Smogtown tunes.

Absolutely incredible series of compilations released a few years ago on Outsider records. If you want to know what authentic street punk sounds like you can get a lesson from these comps. Great "known" bands like the Hudson Falcons, Discontent and Bonecrusher and bands that ripped me a new one like the Pug Uglies and Callaghan.

New additions this week:
Discography updates.
Internet Radio: Rock Hell Radio I need to add a new category. This is a great place to start.

Torbjorn is my long time friend that I visit Las Vegas with every year. Unlike most years however, we both walked out with more money than we came with (after expenses even!). Gambling, booze and sexy women everywhere you look. What more could you ask for? Winning, of course. With that accomplished, it was a fantastic 2 days.

A quick glance at the Smart Guy Records back catalog might lead you to believe that they're a one-trick pony--their obsession with garage punk sounds of the Toe Rag variety is painfully obvious--but every once in a while they pull a feather out of their cap (i.e., the Cripples, FM Knives, and Giant Haystacks) and mix things up a bit. The debut full-length by the Clorox Girls is a perfect example of said feather. It also happens to be one of the best records I've heard thus far in 2004. In fact, after listening to this disc at least 10 times over the past 2 days, I'm convinced that I will eventually find the Posh Boy logo that must surely be hidden somewhere in the artwork. Get this immediately and have your people hold all calls; these 17 minutes of punky pop bliss should be enjoyed without interruptions. Highly recommended.

Tina Luchessi and the boys/girl are back with a full length after a couple of 7" releases last year. Tina is most well known for her lead singing duties with the Bobbyteens. 13 songs in 18+ minutes. The longest song is 2:13. They don't waste any time blasting you with their brand of punk rock'n'roll. Powerful, solid stuff that you're going to love.

New additions this week:
Discography updates.
Internet Radio:   Rock Hell Radio I need to add a new category. This is a great place to start.
Tattoos and Piercings:   Body Punks Body jewelry and clothing for all your needs.
Web zine: Hey Punk Reviews, photos, etc. all in German.
Scene Resources:   Brighton, England The Brighton, England punk scene.

Chased and Smashed "30 Seconds Over Hillsboro" LP (Onion Flavored)
Firestarter "Livin' On The Heat" CD (Mangrove)
Functional Blackouts "S/T" LP (Criminal IQ)
Giant Haystacks "We Are Being Observed" CD (Smart Guy)
Harold Ray Live in Concert "S/T" CD (Alternative Tentacles)
Hartfield "True Color, True Lie" CD (Clairecords)
Oil "The Glory of Honour" LP (Noma Beach)
The Sick Fits "I'm a T.V" 7" (Pelado)
The Tweezers "Already!" CD (Time Bomb)
Revenge/DJ Shitbird and the Ultimate Party Machine split CD (Narnack)

Willy's top ten/playlist for April 2004

Boys "Svengerland" CD EP (Captain Oi!)
Henry Fiats Open Sore "The Parallel Universe Of..." LP (Raw Deluxe)
Lipstick Pickups "Better Than You" 7" (Kapow)
Love and a 45 "Teenage Queen" 7" (Devils Shitburner)
Put-Ons "Desolation Girl" CD EP (Puke N Vomit/Manic)
Sex Sex Sex "Satan's Hot Rod" 7" (Devils Shitburner)
Smash Up Derby "Sounds of Self-Defense" LP (Screaming Apple)
Stupor Stars "Everybody Live It Up" CD (Safety Pin)
Suckerstarz "[(27+42)x36+540]:7+234" CD EP (Myrmecoleo)
V/A "Scene Killer Vol. 3" CD (Outsider)

Music business first before we get serious here. Five new reviews 1) Working Class Zero by Wolfgang Bang, 2) Strange Kicks by Alternative TV, 3) Three Sisters by Alice Donut, 4) Welcome to the Party split CD by Revenge and DJ Shitbird and the Ultimate Party Machine and 5) The Electric Love Letter by Langhorne Slim. That will catch me up on my backlog of music reviews (one book to review still) and these can be read by clicking here.

Anybody who has followed this site for any length of time knows that I am a football fan. My team is the lowly Arizona Cardinals. Every year at this time, the NFL draft takes place and you hope that you can add that one player that will put you over the top and get you to the playoffs. More often than not, the Cardinals have failed in that endeavor.

In 1997 the Cardinals mad their selection in the 7th round of the draft. A what you would call "tweener", somebody not quite big enough to handle the position he aspired to. But sometimes you pick someone with so much heart, someone who won't accept failure and succeeds despite the obstacles in their way. Not only did that seventh rounder, Pat Tillman, make the team, he became a starter that first year. When it was his time to cash in on the success he had, he stayed loyal to the team that drafted him and turned down a $9 million, 5 year contract from another team. The next year, 2002, he turned down a 3 year contract worth $3.6 million to become an army ranger and make $18,000 a year because he felt that he owed something to the country that allowed him to live such a good life. I had the privilege of seeing Pat play both in college at Arizona State and in the pros with the Cardinals. This past Thursday, he was killed in action in Afghanistan as he pursued the noble cause of ridding the world of Osama Bin Laden.

Pat Tillman is but one of over 700 Americans that have lost their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq since the wars began. He puts a famous face to the hundreds of Americans that have sacrificed for their country. He never wanted to be singled out above all of the other men and women serving in the military so the least I can do is provide a list of the those equally brave soldiers that have died. http://www.pigstye.net/iraq/wd.php Please take a few moments to remember them all. Don't forget that innocent Iraqis and Afghanis also are dying in large numbers. I unfortunately was unable to find a list of Afghanistan war dead. Please forward if you have a link. Thank you.

You say "Coachwhips," and I say, "What time is the party?" On this record, Coachwhips contribute two songs--an original and a Trin Tran cover done 'Whips style. Both are impressively executed. Perhaps even more impressive, is the ear of the individual behind the knobs, Weasel Walter, who is known for taking the loud and raw and making them louder and rawer. Coachwhips' side of this record is no exception. This 7" was my first exposure to Trin Tran, but I'm already on board. Trin Tran is in the same ballpark as another current favorite, Numbers, with sparse guitar, incredible synth sounds, and a beat that'll get your booty shakin' in no time. Great record!

Duane Peters has dropped his name from the band and they are now simply "Die Hunns". Corey Parks takes over some lead vocal duties. This is SoCal punk rock'n'roll done as only Duane Peters and crew can. Buy the vinyl. You'll get green wax and 3 bonus tracks.

New additions this week:
Discography updates.
Internet Radio:   Rock Hell Radio I need to add a new category. This is a great place to start.
Labels:   Kamikaze Records Punk rock, surf, rockabilly, rock 'n' roll and garage from Germany.

We do have a new review this week of Oil's "The Glory of Honour" which can be read by clicking here.

This is kind of a good news, bad news kind of week. The good (let's call it great) news is that Mario was a guest on "Live in the War Zone" with Heather Klinger last Thursday. He had many complimentary things to say about the web site and label. A copy of the show can be listened to or downloaded by going to www.kdvs.org and clicking on Archive Status. Click on either MP3 or Real Player and locate the file called THU_02.30PM and download. That's the the great news. Mario will also have a second release on his Plastic Idols record, a CD by Sacramento based The Four Eyes that will be well worth getting. That is also great news!

The bad news and it's really scary that it has come to this. When Mario mentioned my label, Wankin' Stiphs on the radio show, the hostess of the show later was concerned that maybe the word "wankin'" shouldn't have been said because of the FCC crackdown on indecency. The FCC is on a crusade to infringe on your First Amendment rights by making fines so stiff for so-called indecency that soon you will not be able to see or hear those things that the Christian right don't want you to. The Europeans are probably laughing at us for the furor caused by exposing a pasty covered boob on TV, a not very nice looking boob at that. Well fuck that (oops, will they be knocking on my door now?). George Orwell was just 20 too late. Obviously, this type of crackdown starts at the top and is just another example of this failed administration. Just say no to censorship with your vote in November (more to come on that in the months ahead). This will be the most important vote you ever cast in your lifetime so register to vote and make your voice heard.

Crash Normal's "Heavy Listening" LP has taken over my turntable for the better part of the past two weeks. Does this mean anything to you? Probably not. You may remember Crash Normal from their split 7"s with the Splash Four and T.V. Killers, respectively (or several other elusive releases). Sound familiar? Probably not. Well, get with the program fellow record nerds; this LP is ace. The record label says "Dirtbombs collided with Metal Urbain," and who am I to argue? If that's too much of a stretch, think Rancid Hell Spawn after a fuzz-cleansing soak and an Oblivians marathon. Are you with me? Probably not. Heavy listening, indeed.

For those of you wondering if I wrote this drunk, yes, that is the name of the CD EP and that is the label name. These guys are from Japan and belt out 6 ass kicking punk songs with a ton of energy but manage to put the hooks in all the right places to keep it interesting. This was released in 2001 and may be hard to find but good music is good music no matter when it was released.

Of all the obsessions that one can have in their life, I'm glad mine turned out to be punk rock. People in the mainstream of life I think see it as a dangerous lifestyle but in my experience I have met some of the nicest people you're ever gonna want to meet in your life. And there's an instant connection with that other person when you find out they're into punk too.

Our very own Mario is going to be on the air this week. Tune in to the following:

Thursday, April 15
KDVS, 90.3 FM (Davis, CA)
Live in the War Zone w/Heather Klinger
2:30-4:30 p.m.
http://www.kdvs.org

Rock'n'Roll

Another brilliant record from this prolific one-man band. While it can be difficult to keep up with Mr. California’s musings, it’s certainly worth the effort. Please direct your attention to this record: exhibit 1,243. I encourage you to search out one of the 300 copies if you’re jonesing for music that’ll make you move, smile, and scratch your head in 30 second intervals.

This is one of a trio of 7" releases over the past year by this band that also released a full length during the same period. I don't know what it is about this band that really grabs me. The lead singer sounds like he should be singing for the Talking Heads and the music is not all that aggressive and is actually slow to mid-tempo. But just listen to "I Wanna Fuck You" off of this single and tell me you're not hooked.

Just a little rant this week about review submissions. Is it really necessary to punch a hole in the artwork or run your permanent marker through the bar code or write "promo" across the face of the picture sleeve? What do you think I'm going to do with your label's release, go out and sell it as if it's new? Everything I get as a review copy goes into my personal collection. Every last piece of vinyl or plastic in my collection is something to be cherished and when you deface the artwork, it's like drawing a moustache on the Mona Lisa. There are exceptions. I receive review material from a well established label that has been in business for over 10 years and released over 100 different titles. These always arrive in flawless shape. These are just my thoughts but you'll get a whole lot more respect from me if you don't deface the titles you send out for review.

Terrific early 80s-influenced hardcore/punk from this Canadian band. The A-side of this EP is a dead ringer for “Jealous Again” era Black Flag, while the three cuts on the B-side pick up the pace a la the Circle Jerks. Track down this record along with a copy Career Suicide's LP on Ugly Things for examples of the way hardcore should be played.

Do you long for the days when Oi! was king? Well, that was over 20 years ago and many of you were probably just born then. Every once in awhile a band comes along that has the authenticity to pull off the early 80's Oi! sound. On File is one of the best.

M.O.T.O. “Spiral Slouch” 7” (Shit Sandwich)
Neurotic Swingers “Artrats” LP (Demolition Derby)

Willy's top ten/playlist for March 2004

7-10 Splits "Yard Sale" CD (Big Neck)
Bobbyteens "Cruisin' For A Bruisin'" CD (Estrus)
Hard-Ons "Very Exciting!" LP (Bomp!)
Hot Pockets "Mess of Fire" CD (Stolen)
Metal Urbain "Anarchy In Paris" CD (Acute)
On File "The Real McOi!" CD (Screwed Up)
Ponys "So Sentimental" 7" (Contaminated)
Smut Peddlers "Exit Plan" 7" (Ransom)
Thee Indigents "Brain Dead World" 7" (Hostage)
Upskirts "Radiation Romeos" 7" (Rocknroll Blitzkrieg)

New additions this week:
Discography updates.
Web Zines: PunkROCKS Web Zine Great web zine featuring reviews, interviews, articles and much more....

The amount of review material has really slacked off until this week. I received a book and 2 CD's to review. I'm rather surprised Narnack sent me the CD's since I haven't been kind (downright brutal, actually) to the other offerings they have sent. I appreciate their persistence though. You'll have to wait until next week however to get the reviews because I haven't had a chance to listen yet.

One of the bands I reviewed asked me to remove the review because they didn't like it. I didn't.

Speaking of reviews, Todd at Razorcake did a superb review of the Shock/Silencers CD in this months issue (#19). Go get it and if you don't have the CD, get it too. I will publish the review next week.

Vinyl rules. Henry Fiat's Open Sore rules too. This here, is Henry Fiat's Open Sore's second full-length on vinyl. I adore this band's early work and, although they have noticeably shifted gears on recent releases, I'm just as fond of their newer material. These guys haven't changed their sound as much as they've fine-tuned it, and the results are superb. "The Parallel Universe Of..." is simply a great punk record and, if you aren't already a fan, it's time for you to get on board and/or re-visit the brilliance that is Henry Fiat's Open Sore. You should also know that this LP was released by Mitch Cardwell, whose name you should recognize from his contributions to various punk zines, on his new record label, Raw Deluxe. Buy 20 copies of this LP. You'll wear out the other 19 from playing them so much.

Very exciting indeed to have Australia's Hard-Ons back in the punk rock mix. For those of us who enjoyed Ramones style pop punk in the 80's, the only two bands who could be counted on to provide this style were the Ramones and the Hard-Ons. This album is about half pop punk in the style they used in the 80's and a harder edged style that still has all the hooks but isn't so sweet. They have also dispatched the metal influence that permeated their later albums. This is a must have for Hard-Ons fans and punk fans in general.

New additions this week:
Discography updates.
Clothing: Fashion Punk Punk rock clothing - T's, sweatshirts, hoodies and more.

If you're looking for some good storage units for your LP's and CD', try Boltz. Solid steel and it looks great. I just bought a four shelf LP rack that holds 720 LP's and it is fantastic. I need another couple of units. Maybe they'll send it to me for this free advertising!

I listened to an older Bonecrusher 7" the other day and thought to myself, "Damn, these guys were really good and it's a shame they're no longer around." Then, I remembered that they were rumored to be back together and working on a new LP. This CD-EP released in late 2003 showcases a Raybo-less 'Crusher and, although few pipes match the ferocity of Raybo's snarl, drummer Noah Lysek steps up to the plate and delivers the lines without missing a beat.

This Danish combo belts out some of the most devastating garage tunes you're ever going to hear. Blazing guitars, raw vocals and great songwriting make this a band to be reckoned with. Seek out their LP's and other singles too. They're worth it.

New additions this week:
Discography updates.
Web Zines: Rock Pulse A UK based music zine with news, reviews, letters, columns and interviews with rock, punk, ska, metal, alternative and unsigned bands.
Scene Resources: Ugly Fuzz Covers the Cape Cod, MA scene.

It's March 14th and the fucking summer heat is already here. 80's and 90's in March!

Recent TKO signees Smut Peddlers continue to impress with their latest release, "Exit Plan." The three songs here were taken from a session with Billy Zoom at the helm, and his ear resulted in a stellar recording. I'm getting less of a beach punk vibe on this record and more of an early 80s southern California hardcore feel in the spirit of TSOL, Shattered Faith, or Channel 3, especially on the title track, where John Ransom's vocals could easily pass for Jack Grisham. Nice sleeve, clear vinyl, and three great songs from a band that more and more people are starting to notice (and rightfully so). My copy is actually one of only three autographed by the band and Billy Zoom!

The Bobbyteens are back with 13 raw edged pop tunes loaded with the familiar themes of boys and sex. Tina is fine form and the rest of gals and guy keep things moving with a really stark and raw sound. I've seen the Bobbyteens live several times and they are a must see if they are in your area.

Last weekend I headed to L.A. for three reasons: 1) To see the Black Jax, 2) hang out with good friends and family, 3) meet Larry Lugz - not necessarily in that order.

Hanging out with Steve Stiph, Susan, Joe, James and seeing some old acquaintances again for the first time in quite some time was a highlight of the evening.

Larry Lugz turned out to be one of the world's nicest guys and his band, Riotgun, kicked some major ass (more later).

Subjects/Black Jax/Riotgun/Generators/Complainers/Andrew's Bad Stuff
Old Towne Pub - Pasadena, CA
February 29, 2004

Andrew's Bad Stuff came on first were up first and were basically a hard rock cover band even though they did throw in a couple of Ramones covers. They played for over an hour and I wondered if they would ever stop. However, the whole gig was the culmination of the annual Sid Vicious motorcycle ride of which James Lerie of the Black Jax participated. So many in the crowd didn't mind hearing some moldy oldies. The bassist also flashed her pasty covered tits a couple of time, so it wasn't all bad.

The Complainers sported an electric guitar, acoustic guitar and acoustic bass. I thought, "Oh, no" when I saw the acoustic set up but they turned out to be quite good reminding a lot of Green On Red. The lead singer/acoustic guitarist had a ton of stage presence and added a large dose of humor to the proceedings.

Riotgun were up fourth and played a blistering set of punk rock mayhem. Larry Lugz is a great frontman and their brand of hard rocking punk was well received by the crowd.

The Subjects were awesome. I had heard their 5 song demo previously and it was a great intro to this band's Oi!/Street Punk brand of music. They played a super set reminiscent of Those Unknown.

The Black Jax were up fifth and I didn't quite know what to expect after hearing that lead singer, Gary Pogo, had been thrown in jail a couple of days before the show. The band was made up of original member, James Lerie, and various Black Jax alumni over the years, Richard Jennings and Mike Ventura. A last minute replacement on drums was added. The first clue that things weren't quite right was when they were trying to round up guest singers prior to the set. I was asked, but as anyone who knows me knows, I don't pay much attention to lyrics. I'm much more in tune to the interaction of the vocals and how they enhance the music. James Lerie's lovely wife, Joanne, provided some of the vocals, as did Steve Stiph and James himself. The second clue that things weren't quite right was the first hesitant chords coming out of Mike Ventura's guitar. This continued from song to song with wrong chords, stops due to not knowing what comes next, etc. etc. The frustration on Jame's face was obvious and it was pretty painful to watch and listen to. Kudos to James and Richard who did a great job and also to the unnamed drummer. Mike is probably glad I misnamed him on the CD.

Am I glad I went? Yes. I met some great people and most of the bands were really good.

Since its inception in the mid-90s, Pelado has pretty much had the market cornered on '77-influenced punk. The Kickz continue the trend on this CD-EP with nods to the likes of the Clash and Generation X, among others. It's solid stuff, but I'm most impressed by the Stitches-esque title track that kicks off this disc, and wish the ensuing songs followed suit. Give this a whirl and also investigate the Kickz' 7" EP, also on Pelado.

I love the title of this CD! I hope others get the joke. The music, however, is no joke. 13 bands playing 21 punk'n'roll and garage songs. Most of it would sound at home on Rip Off Records. That should tell you enough.

Mario's top ten/playlist for February 2004

Against Me! "As the Eternal Cowboy" CD (Fat)
Barse '77 "Negative Reaction" CD (self-released)
The Briefs "The Joy of Killing" 7" (Lollipop)
Country Teasers "Science Hat Artistic Cube Moral Nosebleed Empire" CD (In The Red)
The Finger "Punk's Dead Let's Fuck" CD (One Little Indian)
Helen Love "Radio Hits 3" CD (Damaged Goods)
Radio Reelers "Rockin' Sound" LP (Radio Blast)
Treeberrys "Talkin' About Treeberrys" LP (Sounds of Subterrania)
Distraction/Hatepinks split 7" (Lollipop)
V/A "Babyhead" LP (S-S)

Willy's top ten/playlist for February 2004

Clorox Girls "Baby" 7" (Jonny Cat)
Demolition Girl and the Strawberry Boys "Sexclusive Mastery" LP (Rockin' Bones)
Manges "Barrage of Hate" 7" (Outsider)
Metal Urbain "Anarchy In Paris!" CD (Acute)
Now "Here Comes the Now" LP (Last Year's Youth)
Plastiques "Shoplifting" 7" (Radio Blast)
Ponys "Wicked City" 7" (Big Neck)
Put-Ons/Deadbeat Sinatras "Seven and Seven" LP (Basement)
Spits "The Spits" LP (Dirtnap)
Winks "Spoil Me" 7" (Super Secret)

New additions this week:
Discography updates.
Labels: Smart Guy Records 60's style punk stuff and some more recent stuff like the FM Knives and Clorox Girls.

This weekend I'm headed to L.A. to see six bands. The first two I know nothing about. Riotgun I am familiar with due to to communication with Larry Lugz in the band sho also does the great Americore web zine. Also on the bill is the Subjects, a great street punk band from L.A. Everybody should be familiar with the Generators and if you're not, why not? But the reason I would drive 400 miles to see a show is the triumphant(?) return of the Black Jax, Wankin's Stiph's very first recording artist. This will be their first show since the early 90's. So the reason I put that question mark next to triumphant is because lead singer, Gary Pogo, gets his ass busted prior to the show and won't be able to participate. An array of guest singers will be there to take up the slack including a super surprise guest (maybe). It's at the Old Town Pub in Pasadena (66 Fair Oaks) starting at 5:00 PM.

Mario's Pick of the Week

The Horrible Odds "Underground" LP (Onion Flavored Records)

Did you buy that wonderful Onion Flavored Rings LP yet? Get with the program! You need this LP too, which was released on the Onion Flavored Rings' label. Why do you need it? Well, this LP features ten tunes of Crimpshrine meets Leatherface goodness at 45 rpm, that's why. Great record, great band, great label.

Willy's Pick of the Week

Cockney Rejects “Greatest Hits, Volume 1 and Volume 2” CDs (Rhythm Vicar)

These are not new, the original LPs were issued nearly 25 years ago and these 2 CDs were released a couple of years ago but I just got them through an ebay auction. Call me stupid for not having listened to my original albums in well over 10 years. This is classic 1977 style punk with all the attitude and all the hooks in the right places. This was one of the top ten bands of the early British punk era before they went metal. They've apparently seen the error of their metal ways because they recently released a newly recorded punk album.

New additions this week:
Discography updates.
Labels: Dionysus Records Great Southern California label that has put out recent releases by the Dogs and Rotters.
Bacchus Archives The reissue wing of the Dionysus empire that has given us the likes of the Dogs, Quick, Dils and more from the "good 'ol days".

Smogtown was clearly one of the best punk bands of the last decade. Their records were brilliant expressions of anger and disillusionment delivered through a poppy, beach punk filter. Live, they were intense and rather volatile. I tried to see these guys a couple of times, but it only worked out once. Though it wasn't a flawless set, the magic of their records was in full effect, and I'm grateful for the experience. Smogtown's swan song, a double 7" EP on TKO Records, is on its way to me in the mail and, until it gets here, these "early recordings" really hit the spot.

I'm a sucker for female fronted bands. This has everything from near-ballads to guitar driven ass kickers all in a poppy punk vein. Highlights of this 19 track compilation include the Checkers, Rocket, The Holograms, Katie the Pest and the Pinkz. This also includes the Morrissey tribute band Morrisshi singing Everyday Is Like Sunday and the Cheap Trick tribute band Cheap Chick singing Auf Wiedersehen.

New additions this week:
Discography updates.
Labels:    Plastic Idol Records Our very own Mario's new label.
Raw Deluxe Records New label by Mitch Cardwell, writer for MRR, AMP and others
Bronco Bullfrog Records   Skinhead, punk and hardcore label out of Spain.
Teenacide Records    L.A. label bringing you the best in teen pop (see Willy's Pick of the Week).
Web Zines: Punk Forum Zine with lots of music news and some a bunch of political editorials.

Two new reviews by Mario of the Coachwhips "Bangers vs. Fuckers" LP and the Destroyed "Outta Control" CD which can be read by clicking here.

Above you see the first release on Plastic Idol records containing 4 songs of art damaged mayhem. What is unique about this release and worthy of front page coverage is the fact that our very own P.I.D. alumnus, Mario, has put this out as his very first release. Four songs on swirly gray vinyl for your listening pleasure. For the small sum of $4 ppd in the U.S. and $6 ppd worldwide, you can paypal Mario at plasticidolrecords@yahoo.com or send him a money order or your hard earned cash to: Mario Solis 410 Bell Ave., Apt. 25 Sacramento, CA 95838

Don’t confuse this Bay Area band with the Orange County band, The Numbers; they’re two different bands with two different sounds. The Bay Area’s Numbers are a drums/synths/guitar trio whose brand of angular synth-pop is arguably more popular with arty types than beach punks. Their music is characterized by danceable tempos; drill sergeant-like female vocals; incredible synth sounds that emanate from a “buzzerk,” a unique Numbers creation; and sparse, jagged guitar work. “In My Mind All The Time” is Numbers’ latest release and it’s great. Wanna dance?

The Hot Pockets are one of the best bands on the planet pure and simple. 13 tunes of glam tinged, garage tinged, punk rock'n'roll with a definite nod of the cap to Jeff Dahl. Great songwriting with a sloppy style of play that defines what punk rock is all about. No slick production, just balls out punk rock.

The Black Jax return to action after a 15 year hiatus on February 29th in Pasadena, CA. The Subjects and the Generators will be on the bill with Wankin' Stiphs first artist. Now if James would just resend me the flyer, I could get it posted on the site!

Two new reviews from Street Anthem Records of the CD EP by Joe Coffee and a split 7" by Maddog Surrender and Urban Riot can be read by clicking here.

Armitage Shanks "25 Golden Showers" CD (Damaged Goods)

A strong case could be made to include the Armitage Shanks among the 90's best garage punk bands. They'd make my list for sure. Other than a demo from an upcoming full-length, this disc isn't new material, but rather a collection of the glorious singles released by these snotty Brits during the 90s. I'll still play the vinyl, but having this stuff on CD sure makes for great driving music. Essential listening from the punkier end of the Toe Rag school of garage.

Willy's Pick of the Week

Put-Ons/Deadbeat Sinatra “Seven and Seven” CD (Basement)

You guessed it, seven tunes by each band. SoCal's Put-Ons take you back to the glory days of Generation X (they even play a Generation X cover tune) and other great power pop bands of the 70's. Deadbeat Sinatra have been described as Social Distortion playing the Ramones. I couldn't agree more.

These crazy Canucks deliver the goods once again on their third full-length release. If you've heard them before, you know their shtick: they love hockey, beer, and the Ramones. They also write excellent songs that'll have you singing along every time you hear them. A great live band too.

I saw these guys play last night and they put on a well received set of street punk anthems. This is their latest CD full of anger just like any good street punk album should be. Super "hidden" track which is a cover that I should I know the name of and the original band that played it, but my memory is getting the best of me.... again.

New additions this week:
Discography updates.
Web Zines: www.loryanne.homestead.com Personal page with pictures of mohawks, tattoos and a bunch of punk sound clips.

Mario's top ten/playlist for January 2004
A-Frames "Crutches" 7" (Royal)
Coachwhips "Bangers vs. Fuckers" LP (Narnack)
The Consumers "All My Friends Are Dead" CD (In The Red)
The Hospitals "S/T" CD (In The Red)
Metal Urbain "Anarchy In Paris" CD (Acute)
Michael Yonkers Band "Microminiature Love" CD (Sub Pop)
Parts and Labor/Tyondai Braxton "Rise, Rise, Rise" split CD (Narnack)
Pink and Brown "Shame Fantasy II" CD (Load)
Sweet J.A.P. "Virgin Vibe" LP (Big Neck)
Tyrades "S/T" LP (Broken)

Willy's top ten/playlist for January 2004
Avengers "Zero Hour June 13 1979" 12" EP (Get Back)
BBQ "BBQ" CD (Alien Snatch)
Chords "At the BBC" CD EP (Detour)
Ends "New Rome" 7" (Dirtnap)
Fifth Story Tenants "No Definition" 7" (Unity Squad)
Helgas "Till the Wheels Fall Off" CD (Pelado)
M.O.T.O. "Kill Moto" CD (Criminal IQ)
Quick "In Tune With Our Times" 7" (Bacchus Archives)
Sleazies "Trite Ditties and Meaningless Crap" CD (Pelado)
Street Brats "Short Fused Street Punk" 7" (Charged)

The Punk Information Directory was four years old last week. It's been an incredible ride and one that I hope to continue as long as I have fingers to type. Steve, Mario, James, Tom, Pat, Jim, Debbie, Tim, John, Andy all keep the punk flame alive and I thank you for your support and for some of you, your supply of records that I seem to never tire of spending my money on.

It's only January, but this 7" is a lock for my 2004 year-end top ten list (never mind that it was released towards the tail end of 2003). I'm told that the three songs on this record were recorded between the A-Frames' debut LP and the "Plastica" 7". That said, these songs sound exactly like they should sound, only better. Is that possible? The A-Frames continue to amaze with "Crutches," which features their trashiest, most punk-infused recordings since their equally stunning "Neutron Bomb" 7". Get this record and get it fast, or risk getting caught empty-handed.

Damn, I love this LP! It reminds me of the Richmond Sluts with more power, perhaps commingled with the Slash City Daggers. Glam punk at it's Thunders best. Dead Beat has been putting out some extraordinary stuff over the last few years. Buy some!

New additions this week:
Discography updates.
Labels: www.fanatticrecords.com Great Cambridge, MA label that has put out the "Runt of the Litter" series.

Here we are a week late with the top ten 7" and EP titles for 2003. I hope we didn't leave you too much suspense.

Also this week, four new reviews of X27, Shesus, Guitar Wolf and a split between Parts and Labor & Tyondai Braxton provided by Mario which can be read by clicking here.

Any band that name-checks Nar and the Ramones in the same song title has my full attention. The song in question, “Nar vs. the Ramones,” is a wimpy pop song on a 7” chock full of wimpy pop songs. And I love it. Four great songs, one captivating sound.

Irresistibly catchy Nikki and the Corvettes-like punky pop from southern California. Yummy! Also track down the Pickups’ split 7” with the Bikini Bumps on Geykido Comet/Erectords and self-titled LP on Radio Beat Records.

A tough record to come by ‘round these parts, but worth the search! The Hospitals’ primitive guitar and drums workouts benefit immensely from the recording prowess of Chris Woodhouse, whose stock rises with every recording that bears him name. Coachwhips fans take note.

One of 2003’s most adventurous 7”s was recorded in 1982. Imagine that! Art-punk weirdness from the Bay Area that deserved to be heard then and deserves to be heard now.

Unfortunately, aside from a compilation appearance or two, the two A Tension songs on this 7” are their only recordings to see the light of day. This now-defunct trio produced raw, primitive noise to which you could dance. Coachwhips are a fitting match for this split 7”.

Henry Fiat’s Open Sore records are always welcomed with open arms in my home. Melody is no longer buried beneath the trash for these Swedes, but their wall-of-sound remains intact. Go buy their new LP on Raw Deluxe Records (http://www.theerawdeluxe.com).

Loud, fast rules! The Sprouts are an amazing Japanese trio whose “Pins and Glasses” 7” features 20 songs at 45 rpm! Wow! Think Jellyroll Rockheads meets Smash Your Face meets Registrators.

The Ends are near the top of the heap among the current crop of ’77 punk revivalists. You like the Stitches? Try the Ends. You won’t be disappointed.

Skinheads: Dust off your Docs, there’s a boot party tonight! Stand in solidarity with your shorthaired, working class brethren! Drink beer! Kick some ass! Stomp around to the sounds of Oi! supergroup, Oil!

Energetic garage punk with hooks in all the right places. No picture sleeve? No problem. The only thing missing from this release is the Rip Off Records logo.

3 Tracks of tongue-in-cheek Oi! With a lead singer named "Major Stewpidity", you know this isn't to be taken too seriously, however the music kicks some serious Oi! ass.

3 new wave inspired tunes but with a power that transcends the new wave label. It doesn't hurt that all the hooks are in the right place too.

Fast driving punk rock'n'roll on these 4 hard hitting tunes from the fine Noma Beach label (the only label with multiple entries in the top ten).

Another in a long line of great bands from the Northwest. Staright ahead punk rock'n'roll. "The Loudest Voice" is an instant punk rock classic.

Tina Luchessi's latest effort on her own Lipstick Records. This release finds her singing lead on these 4 powerful punk rock tunes. More punk, less pop than the Bobbyteens.

A very nicely done remake of a Devil Dogs classic backed with a the title track that would have been rght at home on last year's number one album. Pop punk with major hooks.

The Northwest stikes again with one of America's greatest bands singing 3 '77 inspired punk rock tunes. All members are in their mid-teens which makes you have hope for punk rock's future.

Two of the best songs from "Death Or Glory", their third full length on TKO records. These Portland, OR punkers have a perfect blend of Thunders and Pistols.

Super catchy driving guitar sound on one side and a Screamers style new wavish song except for the fact it has a heavy dose of guitar on the other. Super!

Absolutely fabulous 6 song CD EP reminiscent of the best of Social Distortion. Includes the song "Gothic Chicks" from last year's "Cuts" compilation on Hostage Records. This wasn't even close; this blew away the field this year. New album just about to be released on TKO Records. Don't be left behind.

Two more terrific power pop tunes from this southern California band. My copy included a limited four-song CD-EP entitled "Desolation Girl," which is only available directly from the band. Visit http://www.theputons.com for more information.

Hard to believe this is a one man band. All instruments are played by Mark Sultan. This is garage rock with a heavy dose of 50's influence.

It is that time of year again when we reflect back on the year in music and pick our top tens. This week we will list our full length picks and next week our 7" picks. The year was truly awesome as you will see reflected in the quality of the lists presented. As always, I have no knowledge of Mario's picks and he has no knowledge of mine so we don't influence each other (although our tastes only intersect on a limited basis so I would be surprised to see more than 3 picks in common).

10. The Horehounds "No Time For You" Rockin' Bones
Super punk rock'n'roll album with the same 11 songs on both sides of the disc (presumably if you wear out one side playing this superh LP). Led by the wonderfully named SamboneRocknRollMotherfucker on vocals and guitar, this is a true punk rock'n'roll classic.

9. The Riverdales "27" 145 Records
The third installment from this Ramones influenced pop punk band from Chicago featuring former lead singer of Screeching Weasel, Ben Foster. American pop punk in this vein is a dying breed and the Riverdales do it with the best of them.

8. The Exploding Fuck Dolls "Here' to Your Fuck" DHD Records
A career retrospective on this fabulous band which featured Duane Peters in the 1992-1993 segment. Would have been higher except the the 1997-1998 segment brought it down a bit because it was a lot weaker than the rest of the album.

7. The Riffs "Death or Glory" TKO Records
Great Portland, OR band with a punk rock'n'roll/Johnny Thunders bent. This is
their third album and their best.

6. Shock + The Silencers "Split CD" Wankin' Stiphs Records
My label, it had always been my dream to release the Silencers. Shock was a bonus as we came up with a solution to release a full length using the studio songs from both bands. This is Shock's entire studio works including their 2 KBD collectible 7"ers. The Silencers stuff includes the classic Boyfriends and Girlfriends but a lot of their better stuff will never see the light of day because of the quality of recordings. Still good enough for a year end 6th spot.

5. Zodiac Killers "Society's Offenders" Rip Off
Greg Lowery and crew outdid themselves on this release as the hoks roll off the LP along with a power almost unparalled in punk circles. They even made a "full length" that was longer 10-12 minutes. Great stuff!

4. Radio Reelers "Shakin' At the Party" Dead Beat Records
Hailing from San Francisco, they know how to pile on the punk rock'n'roll with a heavy dose of garage. Super songs layered on top of guitar driven anthems make this an easy choice for the top 5.

3. Various Artists "Tower 13" Hostage Records
It is unbelievable that so many great bands hail from the same general location in the L.A./Orange County area of Southern California. Broken Bottles, Ciril and Discontent stand out with incredibly great songs although there is not a dud on this LP only release.

2. The Apers "The Buzz Electric" Stardumb Records
Europe is the only place doing pop punk up right and Stardumb Records and the Apers are at the forefront of effort. I had the pleasure of meeting the band and seeing them live early this year as well as meeting Stardumb record mogul, Stefan Stardumb. Think Ramones pop punk, not that Sum 41 type shit.

1. The Diskords "Blame It On the Kids" Vinyl Warning
Hard to believe that this was put out by 4 mid-teenage guys. Combine the Ramones, Sex Pistols and Stooges and throw in some great '77 style songs with great guitar sound and vocal sneer and you have this year's best album.

I can’t get enough of the poppy punk sound that is often associated with the Bay Area, more specifically, the East Bay. Onion Flavored Rings do a spectacular job of channeling the sound of which I speak. Of course, I say “East Bay poppy punk,” and you say “Green Day.” Fair enough. I like Green Day, too. But Onion Flavored Rings are closer to the likes of Crimpshrine (former Crimpshrine bass player Paul Curran handles bass duties for OFR) or, for that matter, any Aaron Cometbus-related project, in that they’re full of pop hooks, melody, and energy, but with an underlying rough-around-the-edges quality.

9. Mr. California and the State Police “I’m Gonna Kick You In The Head” (Proud To Be Idiot)

One-man bands are a dime-a-dozen these days, but I’m not complaining. I own many records by one-man bands that are better than a lot of “full” bands! Sometimes, less really is more. Mr. California is among the best (and most prolific) in his field, opting for a punkier sound than many of his peers. “I’m Gonna Kick You In The Head” is a 52-song effort that is unbelievably catchy, humorous, and weird. The formula: silly, and often times witty, lyrics over 30-second drum machine-fueled blasts of guitar and synths. Insane? Moronic? Fine. Mr. California’s approach suits my attention span perfectly.

Gloriously fucked-up rock ‘n’ roll. Imagine a mid-70s party with the crème de la crème of the Detroit, New York, and Cleveland scenes in attendance. Somebody decides it would be fun to break out the instruments. The ensuing jam resembles a hybrid of bands like the Stooges, New York Dolls, and Electric Eels. The Clone Defects will take you there. Rejoice.

“Tower 13” is the latest chapter in Hostage Records’ ongoing quest to document some of southern California’s most exciting punk sounds. Building upon the momentum established by the fabulous “Hostage Situation” and “Cuts, Volume 1” compilations, “Tower 13” is Hostage Records’ best effort yet. Quality recordings and packaging are Hostage trademarks; “Tower 13” delivers the goods on both fronts. And it’s vinyl-only, so buy a fucking turntable! Now!

In November 2002, the Popular Shapes paid a visit to Sacramento along with the Intelligence. It was my first exposure to the band and I walked away very impressed. Fast-forward exactly one year: In November 2003, the Popular Shapes returned to the Sacramento area for two shows in support of their new LP, “Bikini Style.” Both shows were amazing, as each night I watched the band play their hearts out and win people over one by one. Thankfully, the energy level on their debut full-length is on par with their intense live show. As I listen to this record, I’m struck by how well the band plays as a unit. For example, instead of simply mirroring the guitar and bass lines, the two guitars and bass of the Popular Shapes are independent of one another, venturing out on their own and retaining a unique yet complimentary presence in the mix. Throw in some great drumming, a singer that shrieks and yelps, and a solid batch of tunes, and you’ve got a record that is both fun and interesting to listen to.

“Society’s Offenders” is unequivocally the strongest Zodiac Killers release to date. Though I eagerly purchased the first two Zodiac Killers records (like all Rip Off Records titles), I wasn’t compelled to play them more than a few times before filing them away. I can’t say the same for “Society’s Offenders,” however; this record has been glued to my turntable from the very first listen! A combination of first-rate songwriting, performances, and production make this record essential listening. And you can sing along and dance to it! That says an awful lot right there. Sure to be regarded as a garage punk classic.

My brother and a couple of friends, who shall remain nameless (Willy and Steve Stiph), don’t get this band. They’re missing out. Don’t make the same mistake! The Fuse! are a phenomenal band and “The Fisherman’s Wife” is one of the most important records of 2003. I foamed at the mouth over the promise of a full-length on the strength of one comp song, one live show, and word-of-mouth. I wasn’t disappointed. The sound of the Fuse! is as integral to the band as the style and passion with which it is delivered. It’s a sound that’s angular, explosive, soulful, and emotional—in the band’s own words it’s “the sound of youth frustration.” Description aside, I advise against wasting time trying to describe what the Fuse! sounds like. Instead, savor every note like it’s the last note you’ll ever hear. You never know when a flying drumstick will kill you.

Are you bored? How about afraid? It’s okay. This CD will cure whatever ails you. There’s a genius in Seattle by the name of Lars who, besides playing in great bands like the A-Frames and the Dipers, wrote, played, and recorded everything on this CD by himself. It’s nothing short of brilliant. Intelligent even. The world is a drag, and the night belongs to Michelob. Lars feels your pain. Have your questions answered. Seek out the Intelligence.

The A-Frames successfully avoided the “sophomore slump” in 2003 with the release of their second full-length, “2.” On this record, the A-Frames expounded upon the ideas put forth in their debut, emphasizing a more pronounced sense of texture and depth. The A-Frames’ second full-length is chock full of rhythmically-oriented song structures that entice you to move your ass, while behind the scenes the band is manipulating angularity into a palatable pop package. No small feat, indeed. The A-Frames are one of the best bands out there today, as well as a personal favorite.

When I play Coachwhips records, I want to move. I’m not talking about snapping my fingers or swaying back and forth, I’m talking about moving my entire body. I want to get down and dirty and wild and crazy. It’s hard to put a finger on why some bands are “special,” but I believe that Coachwhips are one of those bands. Chock it up to the songs, which are brilliantly crafted and executed, or attribute it to Coachwhips centerpiece John Dwyer, a charismatic and talented guy who is responsible for converting spectators into participants during their live shows. “Bangers vs. Fuckers” is a terrific record of fuzzed-out garage punk, a worthy follow-up to the excellent “Get Your Body Next Ta Mine.” See Coachwhips live!

So I guessed we'd have 3 in common and it turned out to be two. 7" records top ten coming next week!

I bought this Japanese band's first CD, "Hey Bob! My Friend!" because the label compared them to Devo. That the reviews I found of the CD were ambiguous intrigued me even more. Well, I liked the CD so much that I later bought the picture disc LP version! "Neu" picks up where "Hey Bob! My Friend!" left off: quirky, noisy, and really good.

Chicago based band that has put out a ton of stuff. Unfortunately for me, this is my first purchase of this band. They have a variety of styles but are always appealing and fun. Straight ahead pop, punk and some novelty tunes make for a great album.