The Pre-Moon Syndrome Post-Summer (Of Noise) Celebration Week

Artist: Various
Album: The Pre-Moon Syndrome Post-Summer (Of Noise) Celebration Week
Release: 1990
Label: Sun Dog Propaganda

Tracklist:

1. Chrisbald 96 - Double 9
2. Lungfish - Nothing Is Easy
3. Velocity Girl - Blackzilla
4. Whorl - White Trash
5. The Go Team - Slumberland Gods
6. Juliana Luecking Experience - Follow Misty Follow
7. Unrest - Castro 59
8. Holly Rollers - Everlast
9. Butterglove - Nordic Lumberjack
10. Date Bate - Animal Man
11. The Pagans - When I Die
12. Reverb Motherfuckers - Thrillseeker
13. The Honeymoon Killers - Jump

While randomly scrounging through some used bins at a record store, I found this LP in fairly good condition. Because I had never heard of it and could barely find any information on it, I thought I would take it upon myself to rip this and provide it to everyone, as it is quite a gem.

According to both the insert and Discogs, all of the material on this comp LP was recorded live at D.C. Space In Washington, D.C. during September 11-16, 1989 and profits from the sale of this record were donated to The Washington Free Clinic, making this an almost-historical document of the D.C. underground in the late 80s and early 90s.

What we have here are mostly exclusive tracks from all of these artists, at least half of which I had never heard of, but featured prominent figures in their legendary scene. For example, while you probably have never heard of them, Chrisbald 96 featured members of the Faith, Embrace, Rain, Slant 6, and Autoclave. As a result, the highlights are numerous: Velocity Girl with Bridget Cross on vocals contributes the song "Blackzilla," (which appears to be an early version of "Not At All"), Holy Rollers chime in with the post-hardcore gem of "Everlast," "Nothing Is Easy" is standard Lungfish goodness, Whorl's "White Trash" is an excellent minute of noise-rock, Calvin Johnson's the Go Team is classic twee, and the grungy punk of the Pagans (this can't be the same Pagans from Cleveland, can it?) rocks harder than anything else here.

That's not to say that this is a perfect comp by any means. Not every song hits as hard as it should and some are just boring. Then, there's just the super fucking awkward spoken word piece on domination entitled "Follow Misty Follow" by Juliana Luecking. Oof, Juliana. Oof.

In the end, this forgotten benefit compilation serves as an excellent reference point for a past time in D.C. and should appeal to not only natives, but anyone interested in the rich musical history of our nation's (hardcore, post-hardcore/emo, GO-GO) capital.

Download Here

-Adam

Aerosols - Self Titled LP + 7"

Artist: Aerosols
Album: Self Titled LP + 7"
Release: 2009
Label: Youth Attack!

Tracklist:

LP

1. Blowback
2. Niche Market
3. I'm Not Sick
4. God Is USA's Terrorist
5. The Weird Turn Pro
6. Presidential Pardon
7. Separate But Equal, Still Fucking
8. Settle For Hell
9. Fuck The Singularity
10. Not A Fucking Killer
11. Proud Americans
12. Afterthought
13. Obsessive Thought Patterns
14. You're Wrong

4th EP 7"

1. Mahmoudiya - You
2. Credible Threat
3. Clean
4. Trampled
5. 01-01-2009 Oakland

No words could possibly prepare you for the audio onslaught that will ensue upon unleashing these nineteen songs from this fancy digital package. The long awaited debut LP and fourth EP from Western Masshole legends, Aerosols. Clocking in at just under thirteen minutes this release (both the LP and the 4th EP were released in conjunction with one another) rips and rages from start to finish. Hands down one of the top releases of the year, if not the top when it comes to just hardcore. I’m sure you are familiar with the past three EPs so I’ll just shut up and let you get to blowing your speakers out.

Released and sold out in one day by Youth Attack!

SOLD OUT

-Evander Holywar

Neon Blud - Whipps CS

Artist: Neon Blud
Album: Whipps CS
Release: 2009
Label: Cult Maternal

1. Andrea's Blud/Neon Plunge
2. Sophomore Blud
3. Neon Anxiety
4. BFF Blud
5. Neon Wounds/Puncture 4 Pleasure
6. Neon Agenda

Neon Blud is yet another new project from the incestuous Tampa scene [read: seven, very bored people]. While their love of Sonic Youth was somewhat apparent in the past (Cult Ritual covering "Death Valley '69," bootleg t-shirts, etc.), this influence comes to full fruition with the Neon Blud project. The band utilizes feedback to create ultra-catchy melodies and marries them to great, female vocals spouting off lyrics that, while I haven't looked at any of them, most certainly revolve around drugs and prurience. I don't know why, but when I listen to this demo it becomes apparent why the project is named Neon Blud, as the name just sounds like and reeks of the same quality of the music and vice versa. This isn't my favorite project to emerge from the Tampa camp, but it's still a solid tape.

Look for this to come out as a 7" next year on Fan Death.

Download Here

-Adam

Asa's Mouth On Invisible Oranges Podcast

It’s a busy news week here at ICDT HQ. Namely because Adam and I are grateful to have been asked to help out with our buddies’ projects. Adam got the opportunity to put together a rawkin' mixtape for Primitive Future, and I was contacted by music journalist/Decibel contributing writer/Blog Body Jess Blumensheid to contribute and discuss my favorite album of the year for her podcast on the fantastic blog Invisible Oranges. I chose Amesoeurs’ self-titled finale. Even if you think I’m a toolbox, you should still listen—famed artist Justin Bartlett (Aura Noir, Sunn O)))), Tombs frontdude Mike Hill, and Jess herself all weigh in on records like Isis’ Wavering Radiant and Church of Misery’s Houses of the Unholy. Scope it out here.

-Asa

Primitive Future Guest Mix

So, Todd at the awesome Primitive Future blog asked me (Adam) if I would make a guest mix for his website, so I thought why not! Nothing too exciting here, just another small glimpse into the boring mind of a blogger. Am I a blogger? Fuck. Anyway, check it out if you want. You really should if only to check out the blog itself. It's a banger. They have Barbecue Bob on it.

Altars/Whip & The Body Split 7"

Album: Altars/Whip & The Body Split 7"
Release: 2009
Label: Satan's Din

Tracklist:

1. Altars - Wood And Rope
2. Whip & The Body - Black Dahlia Pig

It's not surprising that Altars, with its brand of blackened noise, finally did a split with a noise act and, fortunately for us, it's Brooklyn's Whip & The Body, which features members of Drunkdriver. Uncertain over whether this would be released as a tape or a 7" or not at all, the oft-excellent Satan's Din comes through and has put this out on vinyl.

It becomes clear that the uncertainty surrounding its release is just odd because both bands contribute pure gold. I would definitely call "Wood And Rope" the best Altars song released as of yet, hands down. It's louder, filthier, and just better conceived than most of Altars' previous material. Whip & The Body throw down some bludgeoning. start-stop power electronics that, while nothing groundbreaking, is still an excellent listen. Their 7" on Dais was also tight, so I'm stoked for what they've got planned for the future.

If you're into Altars, you've probably already heard it. If not, you should hurry because you will not be disappointed. Except maybe for the packaging. That part's not so hot. Oh well!

Download Here

To Buy, PayPal/contact satansdin@gmail.com

-Adam

Buried Alive - Last Rites

Artist: Buried Alive
Album: Last Rites
Year: 2001
Label: Victory

Tracklist:

1. Engraved
2. My Sacrifice
3. A Coward's Eyes
4. Do You Remember?
5. Can't Take This From Me
6. Numb
7. Hang Yourself In Shame
8. Burning Holes Through Myself
9. Cleanse Yourself

I don't know why I decided to write this review right now. Probably because I am within five pages of concluding a semester paper on Hannah Arendt and after a few hours of Brahms and Ryuichi Sakamoto I need something to push me to the finish. My posting may not indicate it, but I have a lot of solidarity with poster Trey in terms of hardcore.

I first heard Buried Alive as a freshman in high school, so circa 2001. I was not so into it then, as today, I prefer speed, and punkittiude over heaviness. Despite this I adore Scott Vogel. Excellent vocalist, motivational speaker, etc. "Last Rites" is Buried Alive's sophomore release following "The Death of Your Perfect World". It is superior to the first album because it has a less overtly metallic sound, in my opinion, and a much higher level of bounce (think "Satisfaction is the Death of Desire" not contemporary metal-core nonsense). Also, the album cover is way more hardcore than "DYPW" which has some weird, bleeding-woman nu-metal cover (*sigh* Victory). This is strange because the second record definitely sounds "nu-er". My favorite moment on "Last Rites" are the back-to-back tracks "Do You Remember" and "Can't Take This From Me". Both have uncharacteristic minor, melodic guitar intros I find moving.

Check out Slugfest, reviewed by poster Flynn. Another 90s band from Buffalo of the Snapcase, Terror, Buried Alive, etc. camp.

Download Here
Buy Here

-Colman

G-Zet - Self Titled 12"

Artist: G-Zet
Album: Self Titled 12"
Release: 1984
Label: ADK

Tracklist:

1. ザ・クロウズ
2. ボンテージ
3. Dog Eat Dog
4. 99 Sheeps (Part 1・2・3)
5. G-Moter-Zet

Japan's G-Zet is one of the many renowned bands on the legendary ADK label. Led by Tam, the label's big boss man and ex-The Stalin guitarist, the band also featured Pill of Lip Cream on drums and Keigo of Star Club on bass. Their S/T 12" from 1984 is one of my favorite releases on the label. As is the case with much of the material produced by Tam, G-Zet's sound is very bass-heavy and dark. The band alternates between faster, Discharge-inspired parts and more mid-paced, metallic dirges. Additionally, half of the album is instrumental. All in all, it equates to an energetic and driving sound that propels this into the annals of celebrated Japanese punk.

Download Here

-Adam

Salem - Kaddish

Artist: Salem
Album: Kaddish
Release: 1994
Label: Morbid

Tracklist:
1. The Fading
2. Above The Ground
3. Eyes To Match A Soul
4. Kaddish
5. Fear Of The Future
6. Dying Embers
7. Desert Prayer
8. The Edge Of The Void
9. Ha'ayara Bo'eret
10. The One That No One Knows

In the mid-80s, Salem were the first remotely extreme musical group to ever come out of Israel. As time and trends progressed, so did they, evolving from the crude stylings of early demos like Destruction Til Death to the fiery black/death metal sounds of Creating Our Sins. Despite being Jews, dudes were broing down with none other than Euronymous, who was pretty set on releasing an album before his future murderer and then-Nazi Varg Vikernes heard Salem weren't so hep on Hitler and sent singer Ze'ev Tananboim a nailbomb.

Kaddish is named after a Jewish prayer for the dead. But don't mistake this for a religious album. This record is a slow, dark trudge. Guitars articulate just enough melody and then ring out under the inimitably pained vocals of Tananboim. Then the band shifts into mid-tempo to whip the trudge into a march, but the destination remains the same: a wallowing in the overwhelming feeling that must occur when everything and everyone around you is torn away. "Cry out for one soul," shrieks Tananboim in "Eyes To Match A Soul," "The only one that could ever hear/Only one whose ears are brave/Enough to listen to the beat of a heart."

Perhaps most powerful is "Ha'ayara Bo'eret," a Jewish folk song reflecting on the Holocaust. Drummer Amir Neubach beautifully intones the initial verses, but then leaves the rest to Tananboim, who shrieks as if a part of him died with those he sings for.

Regardless of your religious/political outlook, this record is essential listening if you dig music of heavy and doomish persuasions. And no, haha, I swear this isn't a response to Adam's Muslimgauze post.

Download Here

-Asa

The Timebombs - I Belong In Hell

Artist: The Timebombs
Album: I Belong In Hell
Release: 2009
Label: Cowabunga!

Tracklist:

1. Safe For The Whole Family
2. Ugly On The Insde
3. 3
4. I Can't Feel
5. Strange Behavior
6. Hive Mind
7. Invade Me
8. True Death
9. Cracking
10. I Belong In Hell
11. Not Safe


For better or worse, the noisy hardcore thing doesn't seem to be going anywhere. At its worse, I've heard some terrible shit that bites the trend so hard I get chills from secondhand embarrassment (on the west coast, "we" call this being "chilly"). Still, some bands, while far from being mind-blowingly original, can still make a solid record. The Timebombs accomplish just that.

I remember hearing this California band awhile back and taking note of their fast and chaotic sound. After hearing I Belong In Hell, I noticed something had changed. I didn't remember their old recordings sounding this noisy and feedback-laden, so I'm assuming the influence by bands like Sex/Vid and Cult Ritual (a.k.a. Adult Contemporary Hardcore) has spread far and wide. Still, the band remains as crazy and frenetic as ever and this set of songs is a blast. The band wields white noise quite effectively. The one thing I feel it's missing (other than mosh parts. COME ON, YOU HERBS [note: directed at every noisy band]) is enough catchy parts. The record sometimes relies too much on the walls of noise and not enough on the song itself, but it's still an excellent record.

I would never want this review to turn into a "treatise" of the current state of hardcore and its trends and don't want it to take attention away from the band, because the Timebombs are indeed a good band. I would definitely recommend that everyone check out I Belong In Hell. There's a link right down there!

Less mysteries, more mosh, people! I can say that, I was just at a Life of Agony show.

Download Here
Buy Limited Version Here
Buy Black Version Here

-Adam

P.S. I'm also not really from the West Coast.

SQRM - Fuck To Survive CS

Artist: SQRM
Album: Fuck To Survive CS
Release: 2009
Label: Youth Attack!

Tracklist:

1. Succubus
2. You're Addicted
3. Fuck To Survive

I'm going to take this opportunity to say a few words about the predicament of modern sexuality. We moderns have an uncomfortable relationship with sex. Knowing as we do that "all is permitted" sexuality in the modern period has seen a prosperous life in terms of its quantity, and diversity. This is obvious. We have numerous models for relationships, all possessing equal validity. What we lose, however, is purpose. We swim on and on in a sea of seminal vesicles, clitoral hoods, and foreskins, and accidentally swallow labium, and prostate glands. We would like very much for sex to cure our malaise. Sadly, in our quest for a panacea to all the modern dilemma associated with sex--impotence, loneliness, serial monogamy, or misguided polyamory--we enter a sexual "state of nature" where self-preservation rules. Is is sex worth it? Beware the "Succubus." "Fuck to survive."

Two new songs, both of which excel. Let "Fuck to Survive" be the anthem of the second decade of the 21st century.

To Porgus.

Download Here

-Colman

Oval - 94 Diskont

Artist: Oval
Album: 94 Diskont
Release: 1994
Label: Mille Plateaux

Tracklist:

1. Do While
2. Store Check
3. Line Extension
4. Cross Selling
5. Commerce Server
6. Shop In Store
7. Do While ⌘X

Holy fuck, I just wrote a nine page paper in two hours and my mind is on fire, so please excuse me if none of this makes sense, as the only things running through my head right now are related to the essay: Bruce Lee, national identity, masculinity, and French postcards of topless Algerian women. I spent the duration of this seemingly-random essay listening to Montell Jordan and this album, Oval's 94 Diskont. What we have here is some of the best experimental glitch, particularly the 24-minute "Do While," which is a groundbreaking achievement of the genre. The rest is tight too. Electronic music. I'm going to bed now.

Download Here

-Adam

Portal - Outré

Artist: Portal
Album: Outré
Release: 2007
Label: Profound Lore/Obsidian

Tracklist:

1. Moil
2. Abysmill
3. Heirships
4. Omnipotent Crawling Chaos
5. Black Houses
6. Outré
7. 13 Globes
8. Sourlows

Asa recently asked me if I had heard the new Portal album, Swarth. New Portal album??? I said. Not only had I not heard it, but I didn't even know it had been out for months already! Clearly, my excitement lasted only a few moments, as I still haven't actually listened to it, but Asa's query did compel me to start jamming more, older Portal, like their 2007 masterpiece Outré.

I discovered album when an old roommate had picked it up as it came out. I came into his room as he was hitting his newly-purchased vaporizer, in order to ask what he was listening to, and all I remember was him giggling, quasi-coughing/choking, and then saying was "THE GUITARS SOUND LIKE WORMS" and indeed they do.

The band isn't the classic death metal I'm used to listening to, but instead of a more blackened ilk. I don't know if that's the best way to describe it, but it sounds disgusting and genuinely makes me uncomfortable and nauseous at times. Well, maybe not the nausea part, but I love it anyway. And really, the only way to describe the guitars is that they possess the same quality as a guitar of wormstrings playing otherworldly riffs. My favorite part of the album begins in the middle with "Black Houses" which is my favorite guitar-driven song, into the harsh noise piece of "Outré," to the drum-driven "13 Globes." Really, though, there's no weak moment on the album and the band keeps things relatively brief at 36 minutes. Great job!

I won't lie. My appreciation and understanding of death metal only lasts through the mid-90s, so I'm not expert on anything new after that. Not that I'm really an expert in the first place, but whatever. But insecure disclaimers aside, I do understand that Outré is a truly excellent release. 2003's Seepia rules too. Just sayin'.

Download Here
Buy Outre Here
Buy Swarth Here

-Adam

Wale - Hate Is The New Love

Artist: Wale

Album: Hate Is The New Love

Year: 2006

Label: Studio 43

Tracklist:

1. Intro

2. Uptown Roamers

3. Pimp Hard

4. The Hater

5. You

6. Grammy Family

7. A.D.D. Pt. 2

8. Lucky Me

9. One Thing About A Playa

10. I Think Crazy

11. Cougar Beak Speaks Out

12. Studio 43

13. Breakdown

14. Politix

15. She's Not Mine (Throwback)

16. The Light

17. Kicks

18. Daytona 500 (Sneakaman Dan Anthem)

19. 'Cause I'm African

20. Freaks

21. Outro

Before getting the attention of Mark Ronson and Jay-Z. Before the U.S. tours. Before the bunk mixtape (Back To The Feature) and the slight above average debut album (Attention: Deficit). Way back in 2006, Wale was just an upcoming rapper from the D.C. metro area. He was just dealing with the local haters and reppin' North Face Jackets and Nike Boots (better get me).

This is one of the best mixtapes I've ever heard. Mr. Folarin's flow is in rare form. Full of D.C. references that you wouldn't get unless you've lived here and his quirky humor ("Wale don't deal with beef, young/I roll with some [neighbors] that will make em vegan"). This mixtape has the best collection of borrowed beats that I've ever seen. He borrows Lloyd's "You" , 8 Ball & MJG's "Pimp Hard" (a southern classic, get into it), Ghostface's "Daytona 500", DJ Khaled's "Grammy People", among other greats. On top of those single songs he gives you the "rhyme of the century" on "A.D.D., Pt. 2" where he flows for 10 mins on 9 different beats. Two of those beats are from DJ Don Cannon (to see me rant about how much I love this man go here).

This bangah has what his Attention: Deficit is missing, raw rhymes over gritty (more hood even) beats (see "Uptown Roamers") and straight up go-go. With that said, it's still good and I totally suggest you all go pick up his album and help him put D.C. on the map.

Download Here

-Trey

The Walker Brothers - Nite Flights

Artist: The Walker Brothers
Album: Nite Flights
Release: 1978
Label: Mercury

Tracklist:

1. Shutout
2. Fat Mama Kick
3. Nite Flights
4. The Electrician
5. Death Of Romance
6. Den Haague
7. Rhythms Of Vision
8. Child Of Flames
9. Disciples Of Death
10. Fury And The Fire

Known to many mothers, fathers, and lonely record store clerks as blue-eyed soul brothers from the U.K. playing baroque pop, the Walker Brothers (not brothers, not Walkers, not British) faded from popular memory rather quickly after a few hits so old and so forgotten that the language cannot be spoken by mere humans. Then, in 1978, eons after anyone still cared about them, the band reunited (not for the first time, apparently) for this fucked-up creation, Nite Flights.

Why is it a fucked-up creation? The answer is not so much the actual, individual songs themselves, so much as the juxtaposition of the songwriting quality of the brilliant Scott Walker's side and the marginally talented other brothers (what are their names???). The A-side, which is comprised of the first four tracks, is the real reason to listen to this. Each one is amazing and actually improves upon its predecessor.

No one should be surprised that Scott Walker's side is incredible. Despite the disposable pop he made with his "brothers," he already had four incredible albums under his belt with many more to come. For the uninitiated, Scott's esoteric words punctuate the weird and foreboding nature of his voice, which matches his experimental compositions perfectly. Scott's efforts culminate in the last two and best tracks: the title track and "The Electrician." Despite hiding behind an optimistic façade of its propulsive bassline, "Nite Flights" possesses an apocalyptic groove, which is intensified by its shimmering, yet cold synths and Scott's ever-effecting vocals. How can one follow up a song of this quality? Easy: write one of the best songs ever.

Straight-up, "The Electrician" is one of the most haunting and beautiful songs ever recorded. Walker's cryptic lyrics cut the deepest on this track. The song possesses an incredible droning electronic intro, followed by the emotional outburst to end all emotional outbursts. As soon as one thinks it's over, a string-laden coda follows for a few minutes, ending back on the droning synths and refrain of "Baby it's slow/When lights turn low." It's heartbreaking not only because of its content, but also because of what's to come: mediocre photocopies of Scott's songwriting style.

To be honest, I wanted to reevaluate the popular opinion of this release and claim that it's not just an incredible EP with lame bonus tracks, but it's really hard. Still, I wouldn't say the other brothers' songs are bad. That's not really the case, they're just kind of forgettable. Also, it's interesting to note how the song titles become more grim, yet the music lacks the horror of Scott's songs; Death, fire, and fury are constant themes in the titles, yet the songs are fairly standard. The perfect example is "Death of Romance," which despite its title, is essentially just Dad-Rock. Still, even though the sax doesn't work like it does on "Fat Mama Kick," I still enjoy it.

In the end, the whole album should be listened to all the way through at least once, but I'm not about to be offended if none of you get past Scott's side. Shit ain't mine.

Download Here

-Adam

Empire State Games - Discography

Artist: Empire State Games
Album: Discography
Release: 2002
Label: Elkion

Tracklist:

1. The Wrong Way To Hold A Microphone
2. Trivial Pursuit
3. Rod Pop
4. Falling Forward
5. The Evil Song
6. You Said So Yourself
7. Circus Strongman
8. Armchair General
9. 100 Years Of Baseball
10. Dialogue (From A Movie)
11. Just What I Need
12. Judgment Of Paris [Live]

There was a time when Adam and I lived together and all he would ever talk about was emo bands. I gave most it a chance and I'd say about 90% was garbage. I took a liking to Texas Is The Reason, Leaves Of Lothlorien, Reversal Of Man, I Hate Myself, Salvo Rain and the band this review is for, duh.

I didn't know anything about the bands background before starting this review (I just read their wiki page on last.fm,) so I'm going to keep it about the music (first time ever.) If Adam had given me this is told me it was lost Texas Is The Reason tracks I wouldn't question it at all. The difference is that ESG (abbreviation. not the proto-hip-hop group from south bronx) is slightly riffier and faster. Just like I said about them, this sounds like 90s emo made by kids that enjoy their hardcore. Their cover of The Cars' "Just What I Needed" is laughable and I'd say shows the bands sense of humor.

Adam's happy. I'm happy. We're all happy.

Download Here
Buy Here

-Trey

Aburadako - Ki-ban

Artist: Aburadako
Album: Ki-ban
Release: 1985
Label: Tokuma

Tracklist:

1. Farce
2. S60
3. Row Hide
4. Zo No Se
5. Ikita Gogo
6. Darwin No Tamago
7. Tyranno No Hikuchi
8. Buy
9. Paranoia
10. Yokujitsu

I don't know much about Japan's Aburadako. Apparently, not many do either. All I know is that they started as a slightly off-kilter, punky hardcore band releasing a 7" Flexi and a 12" on the legendary ADK label. After this, I guess the band decided they were tired of the standard hardcore sound (though, I wouldn't call their early recordings standard by any means) and decided to start experimenting. The result sounds like Japanese punky hardcore meets post-punk or, as they call it, Japanese psychedelic punk.

The band has become weirder and weirder as they've gone on, but this release retains much of the energy of their "hardcore" efforts. It's a bizarre hybrid, but it works wonderfully. The band effortlessly blends the experimentation and odd beauty of post-punk with the intensity and fun of hardcore. An absolutely incredible guitar sound is paired with odd, warbled vocals, bouncy bass, and manic drumming to create a truly unique and rewarding sound. The entire release is incredible, but my favorites are "Row Hide," "S60," "Darwin No Tamago," and the seven-minute "Yokujitsu." Prepare yourself, for this is quite the gem.

Download Here

-Adam

Blitz - New Age 7"

Artist: Blitz
Album: New Age 7"
Release: 1983
Label: Future

Tracklist:

1. New Age
2. Fatigue

"New Age" was newly popularized a few years back when two bands began covering this post-punk masterpiece with fare regularity. Fucked Up probably had the greatest hand in doing this. Over the course of 2007-8 I think I saw them cover "New Age" twice; this nod to the past was meaningful to me as that band drifted further and further into that no-man's land between sub- and popular culture. (And I say this without judgment, in any case.) That Fucked Up would cover "New Age", and then, at least once, "Someone's Gonna' Die" at their twelve hour debacle at the Rogan denim store on the Lower East Side (featuring, I think, a member of Vampyre Weekend on vocals) gave great joy to a section of those in attendance who may have felt somewhat slighted by the band's current course. This group was privileged to once again feel elite in their knowing a classic of 80s punk. The more than decent Brooklyn/Syracuse based band (featuring members of Black S.S.) We the People also covered this song in New Brunswick in 2007.

The songs on this single sit on the crux of Blitz's total adoption of new wave style. There are some synthesized sounds in "Fatigue" and "New Age," but they are still predominantly three-chord, guitar songs. Both songs are "punk," but have pop-sensibilities which make them remarkably memorable. The words of "New Age" are also distinctly punk sounding; they are about youth disenchantment, and are anthemic in this regard.

For those of you already familiar with these two songs, let this be a reminder of their greatness, and for those for whom they are new, enjoy with all the new hope, and vigor of adolescence. Thank you Sara's internet personality for reminding me of this much loved record.

Download Here

-Colman

The Ropers - Self Titled EP

Artist: The Ropers
Album: Self Titled EP
Release: 1994
Label: Slumberland

Tracklist:

1. I Don't Mind
2. September's Rain
3. Lost
4. Waiting
5. It's So Strange
6. Cool Self

So, Slumberland's Twentieth Anniversary shows just happened a few weeks ago. How about that? Due to unfortunate circumstances (i.e. life sucking), I missed the show in NYC, meaning I missed seeing, among so many bands I'm too depressed to actually type out, the Ropers.

The Ropers are one of the more minor bands on the label, but they still released some good shit. Actually, the two 7"s collected on this CD-EP, 1993's Sunbathe and 1994's I Don't Mind, are the best things they ever did. "I Don't Mind" is the best example of this band's dreamy pop sound and is one of my favorite Slumberland songs. The rest isn't quite as good, but it's all still pretty sick. "Waiting" rules. "It's So Strange" rules even harder.

Also included is an exclusive track called "September's Rain," which actually fits quite well with the other songs in terms of quality and flow, mostly due to the jumbled tracklisting. Actually, that's my only gripe with this comp: as they did with the Velocity Girl early 7" collection, 6 Song Compilation, Slumberland has a tendency to not present the material in chronological order. Still, it's a minor quip and these six songs rule.

I know this isn't as ecstatic as the rest of my Slumberland reviews, but the label and I have a strained relationship at the moment, but let me just stress that this is not the label's fault, but actually due to extraneous forces. Still, don't let my lack of enthusiasm stop you from checking this out. It's fucking awesome. Yay?

Download Here

-Adam