Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Skewbald/Grand Union - Self Titled 7"




Artist: Skewbald/Grand Union
Album: Self Titled 7"
Release: 1991 (Recorded 1981)
Label: Dischord

Tracklist:

1. Sorry
2. Change For The Same
3. You're Not Fooling Me


What's the best Ian MacKaye project after Minor Threat? Well, that would be Embrace. After Embrace, however, we have Skewbald/Grand Union! No, their name is not Skewbald nor is the 7" called Grand Union, but just Skewbald/Grand Union. For the somewhat convoluted and uninteresting history of the band, look no further than their section on the Dischord website. I wasn't introduced to this band until relatively recently by my friend Tommy. So, uh, thanks Tommy! How this flew under my radar, I have no idea. For the longest time, I was forced to consider Egg Hunt the third best post-Minor Threat band! Gah!

Anyway, if you haven't heard of this one-sided 7", let me attempt to describe it: it sounds like Minor Threat. So much so that it floated around pre-proper release often labeled as Minor Threat unreleased songs. This is no surprise considering how many Minor Threat dudes were in the band. It's certainly not identical to Minor Threat, as it's a bit sloppier, but that works in its favor. What you have here are three fast and occasionally out-of-control hardcore songs with Ian MacKaye spouting off his usual MacKayisms. I make it sound all so standard with my tone, but it's absolutely incredible and I just don't know how to talk about something in the ballpark of Minor Threat.

Uh...so that's my take on Skewbald/Grand Union! I didn't really say much about this release, but I did say "Minor Threat" seven times. Eight, now.

Download Here

-Adam

14 comments:

Shanetera said...

Holy shit, I love Minor Threat.
There's nine. But really, I prefer the DC side of hardcore so I'm sure this will rule.

fredwasright said...

Fuuuuuuuuuuuck yesssssssss ive wanted this for years and years!

Anonymous said...

no love for fugazi?!

icoulddietomorrow said...

none.

-Adam

kris138 said...

this is great!

cult maternal ind. said...

this 7" and the united mutation 7" are too overshadowed.

agentkryptonite said...

this blog fucking kills

Colman said...

Adam, really, this might be your best written piece to date. Really good. Thanks for this upload! Rules.

icoulddietomorrow said...

Psh, I know. I have such a way with words!

:( i suck. wah.

-Adam

Trey said...

embrace is better than minor threat. on the real

Josh said...

No love for Fugazi? What?

Michael said...

Fugazi is bar none my favorite McKaye project... and if that's not incendiary enough for you Adam, I will suggest that the Egg Hunt tune "We're All Falling Down" tops any Embrace song. I've hardly listened to Embrace since I was in high school though....

icoulddietomorrow said...

haha, i won't judge. also, maybe i wasn't clear, but Egg Hunt is awesome too! no egg h8.

-Adam

lordedge said...

I like this better than any MINOR THREAT that I have ever heard! AWESOME material.