V/A - Labels Unlimited (The Second Record Collection) 1979

"Here we go then, just nipping round the corner into another decade and, in marked contrast to the more ludicrously large corporations, the small independant labels are healthier than ever." I'll quote David from the backcover and he was right, because underground music, i.e. Punkrock/New Wave, was emerging more and more and the majors sensed easy money (best example NDW). Formed in Great Malvern, Worcestershire in 1978, Cheery Red Records is one of the labels that at the time gave a number of very good young talented bands the opportunity to get their music noticed and spread beyond the local scene. This compilation is second one after the Business Unusual record with sixteen combos from Great Britain. Musically not fixed to a genre, but rather variably designed, partly equipped with a few songs that are rather uninteresting for me, but overall a decent mix which shows once again how creative and emotional the start of a new movement far away from the mainstream can be. If I compare that with today, where only junk is called music, this album is a masterpiece. Well, society just keeps getting stupider and they prove it to me every day. Enjoy the record and I'm looking forward to the Bundesliga ⚽ afterwards, Ja Ja Ja, here we go then!

1.Big Time - RUDI

2.Take It All Away - GIRLSCHOOL

3.Iggy Pop's Jacket - THOSE NAUGHTY LUMPS

4.Cold City - SPIZZOIL

5.N.C.B - LLYGOD FFYRNING

6.Hypocrite - NEWTOWN NEUROTICS

7.Holocaust - CRISIS

8.I Don't Want To Work For British Airways - SCISSOR FITS

9.Wot's For Lunch Mum? (Not B***s Again!) - THE SHAPES

10.Jilly - THE PIRANHAS

11.Pleasant Valley Sunday - STAA MARX

12.Who Killed Bruce Lee? - GLAXO BABIES

13.Closed Shop - POISEN GIRLS

14.Red Box - I JOG & THE TRACKSUITS

15.After All Love - AK PROCESS

16.Metal Sheet - SECOND LAYER

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NEWTOWN NEUROTICS - Elephant Demos 1980

Available for the first time No Plan Records conjures first-class nuggets by one of my favorite bands out of the hat. Recorded 1980 with their original drummer Tig, these demos have never been previously released and resurfaced now when the band is about to celebrate its 40th bithday. Why they never put these recordings on vinyl remains a mystery. Perhaps because shortly afterwards they changed the drummer and wanted to record these songs with him? On this deluxe gatefold longplayer you'll find ten originals from back in the day and one exclusive cover (Peggy Sue) recorded live in 1980 as well. As for Newtown Neurotics, you know what you can expect: heartfelt tuneful punk rock that makes you stop and reflect upon things, just like punk is supposed to. Edition of 350 copies, 300 black vinyl, 50 blue. If you don't know the band, I definitely recommend you, to look for more, no matter if compilations or albums. They're still active and in 2018, funds for a full-length documentary on the band's history were successfully raised through Kickstarter: Kick Out!: The Newtown Neurotics Story. Enjoy!

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V/A - See You In Valhalla 1997

Older compilation with international renowned bands that came out on Mad Butcher Records in the mid-nineties. Fifteen bands, including some good old acquaintances, who offer a refreshing streetpunk sound, partly unreleased and only on this slab. I think, here is something for every taste, young and old buddies, and with over forty-five minutes it's an attractive mix and worth listening and I can't make out any unnecessary filler. Lyrically, the mood is consistently positive and should you be moping, this is the right record to blow the gray veil off your mind. You can argue about the cover and the album title, I think it's not that successful, but fuck it, a passionate emotion is part of it and doesn't hurt anyone. Good Record & fertig!

1.Dead But Not Forgiven - STAGE BOTTLES

2.Our Own Way - SKIN DEEP

3.Down Under - THE BRADLEYS

4.They Tell Us - TIME BOMB 77

5.Com'on Palestinans - COMRADE

6.Fighting Times - NEWTOWN NEUROTICS

7.Skins & Punks Unite - REAR GUNNERS

8.Never Too Late - RED LONDON

9.L' Appel De La Cité - BANLIEU ROUGE

10.Hailbut Wars - BARNSTORMER

11.Aut Aut - AUT AUT

12.Businessman - JACK THE LAD

13.Catastrophe - SCHWEDE

14.Going Underground - VULTURE CULTURE

15.Andrò Dove Mi Porteranno I Miei Scarponi - BANDA BASSOTTI

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V/A - Back To Front Vol.2 1993

Back To Front series of rare punk compilations, released by Incognito Records in Germany in the mid-90s. The records are full with early rare punk stuff from around the world, released in editions of 1.000 hand-numbered copies. Perfect layout with all infos inside, love this. The serie ends with Volume 6 but this continued for three more releases as Break The Rules, which were released on Insekten Records. Start with #2 because I have no real reason but I drink my second beer so what the fuck... I know that doesn't interest anyone, if so, write me.

1.They're Back Again, Here They Come - THE CIGARETTES
2.Floozie Of The Neighbourhood - THE FEATURES
3.The Source - FRESH COLOR
4.Radio Tay - THE SCROTUM POLES
5.Everybody Knows - INCREDIBLE KIDDA BAND
6.Radio Nation - SUBVERTS
7.Kill The Blanks - CHAINSAW
8.Ja Vill Inte Ha - PROBLEM
9.Sudden Fun - SUDDEN FUN
10.Hello From Berlin - THE DEFNICS
11.Hate Me Hate Me - SPELLING MISTAKES
12.Fuck The Army - BRIARD
13.Hypocrite - NEWTOWN NEUROTICS
14.F.U.2 - F.U.2
15.Pappas Pojkar - GÖTEBORG SOUND
16.Ultimate Orgasm - NON COMPOS MENTIS
17.Only Fools Pretend To Be Happy - CHECKMATE
18.Hilton Bomber - THE THOUGHT CRIMINALS
19.Talk's Cheap - DEMICS
20.Heart Complaint - THE GROOVE

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NEWTOWN NEUROTICS - His Masters Voice 1992

The next band is even one of those that I like a lot and can listening at any time: The Newtown Neurotics (later just The Neurotics) were an English punk rock/post-punk group formed in 1979. They were noted for their openly political music. I am usually sceptic with albums they titled "The Very Best Of ...." because they were largely released without the consent of the band and the artists' stand still empty and see nothin' of the revenue. And what is then packed on it are the songs that everyone knows and provides no little room for surprises in store. So here too, look at the tracklist and you know what I'm talkin about. This is really not a worse release and the songs here great but a few tracks I think are not included like 'Hypocrite', 'Suzy' or 'Local News'. But if you love the Neurotics then you don't give a shit. So like me, I love this fantastic three and every release is worth buyin' and listen to. - Strong melodies, brilliant lyrics and a dirty rough sound: that's the Neurotics.

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