THE CONTINENTALS - Fizz! Pop! (Modern Rock) 10'' 1980

The Continentals released three 7Inches and the first was Fizz Pop in 1979. This is a 10Inch with four songs and since I am still busy with housework some info from the net: One of the few entries in the short-lived CBS NuDisk experiment of four- to five-song 10" EPs, Fizz Pop (Modern Rock) is the Continentals' one and only major label release. Their brand of gutsy power pop is on the Plimsouls/Last side of the equation, with noisier guitars and rougher vocals than you'd find on a Rubinoos or Raspberries album, but while ex-Ramone Tommy Erdelyi's production sounds great, Thomas Doherty and William John Holliday's songwriting is frustratingly inconsistent. The two songs on side one, the anthemic title track and the similarly passionate "Walking Tall," are terrific. On the flip, the anti-radio rant "Housewives' Delight" and the puerile "Two Lips From Amsterdam" (note the seventh-grade-level pun) sound like second-rate Knack rejects, complete with obnoxious Doug Fieger-style smug vocals.(Stewart Mason) - Today comes more ..... promised!

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THE RERUNS - Since You Gotta Cheat 7'' 1979

Great stuff from Detroit with the Reruns Dave (vocals/lead guitar), Kenny (guitar), Al (bass), George (drums) and this is their debut Single on Spider Records with two kisses. A second came out 1979 on FTM Records. The b-side is certainly known to many of you because it is guest on numerous compilations. A bit info: "Taking their cue from television, and borrowing the last names of notable characters from 1950s/1960s shows, The Reruns were part of the Hamtramck scene, moving in the orbits of the Romantics and the Mutants with a power pop sensibility." Now I'm going to do a little housework, rip an essential record and then come back with another one..... let's see.

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PINK CHAMPAGNE - Vackra Pojke! 1982

There has probably not been a single article about Pink Champagne where the word "girl group" has not been mentioned. This is no exception. After all, there are not so many seriously ambitious girl bands. And Pink Champagne both looks and sounds like girls. In addition, they have interesting thoughts on the subject. The bands first album received good reviews, they're a very verbal group that knows what it wants and eagerly discusses how. There are high demands and plenty of self-criticism. It is important to say something, be entertaining and be believed. A bit useless basic info: Pink Champagne (first named Kasern 9) was a Swedish all girl combo in the 80s and consisted of Ann (vocals), Gunilla (bass), Karin (guitar) & Stina (drums). They released four 7Inches and two albums (via the MNW label) before breaking up in 1984. After that Karin and Ann went to Australia in 1987, Karin dated and became the domestic partner of Steve Kilbey of The Church and co-wrote their hit song ‘Under The Milkey Way’. Jansson and Kilbey also formed the band Curious (Yellow). Today she runs a yoga studio in Stockholm, writes poetry and music. Ann is married and has a son and a daughter. She is the manager of the Science Fiction Bookstore in Gamla Stan (old town of Stockholm). Stina started writing children's books and released a solo album in 2008. Vackra Pojke shines with eleven nuggets somewhere between PowerPop, New Wave and Punk... cool record!

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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THE SLEEPERS - Angel In A Raincoat EP 1980

Nice Powerpop EP by the Sleepers from Nottingham and the band consisted of Barry (vocals), Carl (guitars), John (bass), Graham (drums) and they released this superb record on BAT Records and the title track is their hymne for which they are known. 500 copies were pressed without sleeve and Queen Mum Records re-released this little nugget 2018 in different colors, each limited & already out of print. They recorded a demo in 1981 and sent it to labels, but they paid little attention to it and ignored it (as with so many bands, some of which are very sought-after classics today), money-hungry morons! Another better demo was recorded but this was not sent to anybody (later released as 7Inch). After many months of travelling, many poorly paid gigs around the country, the Sleepers continued in various forms for a couple of years but didn't really achieve the heights of the early days and by 1984 the band had split. That is their inheritance: four brilliant goodies that the world needs.

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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SKORBUT - Des Wahnsinns Fette Beute 1984

A small highlight of German underground culture is the following slab, which was first posted on the legendary HCBD blog in 2013 and caused a lot of joy in punker hearts worldwide. Skorbut are punx from Hagen and were founded early '82 by Raving Doctor Schorf (vocals), Stachel (guitars), T-Base Weiss (bass), Käptn Klusenbreuker (drums) and they playing classic hot mid-tempo songs with a nice rockabilly edge to it and the band not only impressed musically, but also managed to amuse the audience with humor and sweaty shows. This damn piece of vinyl is equipped with nine catchy cartridges and was released by the four itself, because nobody had the courage to test sulfuric acid with Altbier. Two years later, Gambi Bolongo Records released the record again, but as a crappy tape. However, in the same year followed a second, self-produced and final album Strange Trip with largely more psychedelic numbers, which I had but quickly sold (not my cup of tea). Enjoy this rare sucker and let the groove come in!

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CIRCLE JERKS - Wild In The Streets 1982

Second album by one of my favourite American combo Circle Jerks on Faulty Products, a sub-label of I.R.S. Records (my copy is the UK release on Step-Forward Records). The debut was in my opinion a masterpiece: short, nippy & dirty nuggets under fifteen minutes and Wild In The Streets ties in seamlessly, although there two years in between, this only underlines the energetic potential of the four at the highest level, which is implemented consistently and qualitatively. A Review: "Okay, this record doesn't have "the wild, appealingly offensive mixture of crude lyrics and frenetic riffs that made the Circle Jerks' debut, Group Sex" but there are enough tracks that nearly make the mark and not only worthwhile for Orange County punk fanatics." Well, I share 80%, but I'm a Circle Jerks maniac and this is a fantastic slab with tempo, loud noises, a bit longer and a little more in depth but they still hit hard. Essential for any real collection!

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THE A'S - The A's 10'' 1979

It's good that I find sometimes words so I don't have to find any. The following is written: The A's were an American rock band consisting of Richard (lead vocals), Rick DiFonzo (guitar), Rocco (keys), Terry (bass), and Michael (drums). Formed in Philadelphia in 1978, the band released two albums on Arista Records: After building a loyal following in the Philadelphia area as a result of their energetic live shows, the A's signed a contract with Arista Records. The band's debut album was produced by Rick Chertoff and released in 1979. Trouser Press likened the album to The Boomtown Rats' A Tonic for the Troops in terms of combining "wit, street savvy and relatively intricate hard-pop arrangements." Gary Hill of Allmusic similarly noted the band's fusion of punk "irreverence" with humor. Two singles - "After Last Night" and "Parasite" - were released, but neither they nor the album found commercial success. The A's, despite adopting a more commercial sound on their second album, were dropped by Arista. The band released an EP, Four Dances, in 1982 before breaking up. In the subsequent years, singer Richard Bush continued to perform with other bands and eventually formed The Peace Creeps. Guitarist Rick DiFonzo became a session musician for well-known artists. 1000 copies of this 10Inch were pressed with three unspectacular PowerPop songs.

- Great Thx to Fredik -

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WHIPLASH - Power And Pain 1985

At an early hour I ring the weekend in with a metal slab from Whiplash, a classic American thrash metal band, formed 1984 in Passaic/New Jersey. The original power trio line-up was comprised of the three Tonys: Tony Portaro (guitar, vocals), Tony Scaglione (drums) and Tony Bono (bass). They appeared on the "Speed Metal Hell" compilation from New Renaissance Records in 1985 with the track Thrash Till Death after which they signed with Roadrunner Records which then released their debut masterpiece Power And Pain with nine blasts.

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D.N.A. - A Trip To The Land Of The Dead...And Back 12'' 1984

Released via Hardcore Horror Records this is D.N.A.'s first and only record. Swedish exhiliration, wild and chaotic delivering speedy punches with gruff, raunched-out vocals. In the tradition of the Shitlickers and Anti-Cimex, D.N.A. pushes a rapid pace with enough energy to keep it all together, odd guitar leads and strong bass surges are the prominent highlights as this outfit terrorizes in mayhemic melodies. D.N.A. were from Skövde and founded in the 80s by Nillen (vocals), Petri (guitars), Dan (bass), Henke (drums) and they were among the pioneers of the classic Swedish sound at the time that marked the birth of raw punk and d-beat genre. The singer, Nillen, was actually an original member of Anti Cimex. After 1982’s “Anarkist Attack” EP they all moved to Gothenburg, except Nillen who formed D.N.A. - This 12Inch contains four raw and chaotic bangers, all songs sung in Swedish, a real punk blast from the past.

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LOVE A - Eigentlich 2011

Welcome March and we're listen to one of my favorite bands and since I already celebrated a lot of words in the 7Inch post, I refer to a useful bandinfo from Rookie Records, so let's wreck the neck of Fußpilz: Love A were founded in Trier early 2010 by Jörkk (vocals), Stefan (guitars), Dominik (bass), Karl (drums) and have a lot of band experience from previous years and other constellations. The four are characterized by a snotty and energetic sound, which despite all punk attitudes also characterize pop elements and texts with wit, charm and depth. Love A always keep the tension going: The five move between NDW bonds and Hamburg school as well as between urgent, German punk and rhythmic indie rock. The lyrics strike a balance between plastic and cryptic, cynical and hopeful, nodding and shaking their heads. The drums come straight and to the point, the guitar oscillates between staccato-like volleys and melodic caresses, the bass presses and supports, the synthie fills the last gaps with flat sounds. The voice screams, sings & proclaims words in German - somewhere between everyday observation, cynicism, politics & humor, between punk rock rage & mild gentleness. Deutschpunk for the year 2011. I liked the sound of the four directly by the first listening (at a gig together with Turbostaat), and so far their records as well. What me bothers a little is that their gigs are sell out quickly because these are no longer advertised on posters and are therefore the social media idiots first stand in line... Shit Politic, I would say. Anyway, I've seen them often enough, give the mutants a chance.

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