V/A - Skloom Al Komul! 2021

Well, as you can see, my old schoolmate Teddy is more than happy with his new girlfriend and he asked me to put some of his favorite songs together and share them with you. Of course, I would like to comply his request, even if I hardly find time and my computer soon crackes off, I have taken the trouble to create the following compilation from the extensive repertoire of his hard drive and now finally present it as the ninth release on WDM Records. He chose a healthy mix of old and new classics and I am very satisfied with his selection. I'm responsible for the artwork, which I think is excellent, and all this together makes this little musical composition another highlight on this damn uninteresting Blog. Wherever you are now, enjoy the days off, make the most of it and always remember, You're Not Alone!

1.Dream Within A Dream - PROPAGANDA

2.Tangled Up - CRANES

3.Alle Tage Sind Kein Sonntag - LINDEMANN & GARRETT

4.Fascination Street - THE CURE

5.Everything In Its Right Place - RADIOHEAD

6.Too Drunk To Fuck - NOUVELLE VAGUE

7.River - NATALIE MERCHANT

8.Young Folks - PETER, BJÖRN & PAUL

9.When It Rains - PINK TURNS BLUE

10.Last Caress - METALLICA

11.Strenges Mädchen - JOACHIM WITT

12.Johnny & Mary - PLACEBO

13.Coming Down - EA80

14.Los Paul - TRIO

15.White Rabbit - JEFFERSON AIRPLANE

16.Die With Your Boots On - IRON MAIDEN

17.Crystal - NEW ORDER

18.In My Life - THE BEATLES

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DIRECT ACTION - Damn-Age 1988

Let's listen to a compilation from the German label Bitzcore by a four-piece from Toronto called Direct Action, presumably founded in the early Eighties and consisted of the following members: Tim (vocals), Buzz & Xig (guitars), Dave (bass), Mike (drums), some if not all of these guys were originally from St. Catherines and played in a band called the Unknowns. Fact #1: the first demo tape was released in 1984 and their only record Trapped In A World a year later. This little dittie features the album plus rare demo recordings from 1983. Fact #2: they present us angry fast hardcore noises that always stays below the two minute mark, dynamic and voluminous, Tim has the perfect voice for it and the rest of them step hard on the gaspedal, including premature ejaculations. Fact #3: the band broke up 1988. Fact #4: Classic Canadian Hardcore Stuff, great impression!

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DER BÖSE BUB EUGEN - Regen Im Park 1986

Der Böse Bub Eugen is a three piece, formed 1983 in Schaffhausen by Rämi (vocals/guitars), Lenz (bass), Fisch (drums) and Regen Im Park is their first album on Organik Records and their style is a nice mix between punk & new wave (latter is more likely to apply to this debut). Their music is soaked with memories of being young and immature and all that, the perfect soundtrack for these times: the sound is catchy guitar pop, very swiss, if you want, in it being lüpfig, meaning it swings and rolls and is definitly upbeat, not afraid to also use a polka rhythm and a ländler-bassline. Lyrically they were also a lot of fun: not exactly silly, but cultivating a cheeky country boy attitude, coming from a place where the girls wear they hair in braids, the most exciting thing that happens is the yearly fun fair and the first erotic experiences are made in the hay. Which does not mean that one can not wonder about the life of an undertaker or who shot Phil Marlowe or how it would be as a sailor sailing the big ocean. All this was served with a lot of cleverness and real talent so it never became cheesy. (review by sunbathinglizard) - Check another audio with the Zehn Jahre 7Inch from the penultimate record, which has a bit more steam. Finally, their last came out in 1990 and they broke up a short time later.

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POISEN IDEA - Kings Of Punk 1986

If you don't have a Christmas present for your loved ones yet, I suggest the following slab, and the recipients will bless you, because we're not talking about a 08/15 record, NO!, it's the furious debut album by Poisen Idea, a four piece from Portland formed 1980, and this masterpiece were recorded by Jerry A (vocals), Tom (guitars), Tense (bass), Dean (drums) and came via Pusmort among the chosen ones. You you can find a little detailed info about the band at the Offical Bootleg post a few years earlier. Kings Of Punk has eleven cool goodies which are all brilliant because the variety is outstanding, some are very rhythmic, some straight out thrashy hardcore and every now and then you get the rock-out guitar indulgence. Dynamic and with lots of power, this album wipes the fog out of your eyes and you can finally poop sensibly again, guaranteed. And now I go to buy some beer, Cheers!

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FLIEHENDE STÜRME - An Den Ufern 1988

One record, the appearance of which I was eagerly awaiting at the time, was the debut of Fliehende Stürme, a three piece which founded 1983 in Stuttgart by Andreas (vocals/guitars), Thomas (bass), Michael (drums) and I must admit, I was positive surprised. Released via Storm Records, An Den Ufern has eleven intense hymns which put an end to the legendary chapter Chaos Z, in order to rise again from the ashes with Fliehende Stürme like Phoenix. The partly direct, hard and dirty songs always come with a touch of melancholy, statements of which one can often nod in agreement in good as well as lousy times, they always hit the core and make clear what every song is about. Driving songs characterized by massive guitar riffs with a charismatic sonorous voice. You go through deep dark valleys and stay there for a while to climb back up stronger. A push to unknown worlds to places you know or will get to know, and this is the perfect sound for these experiences! To date, eleven stories have been published and more are sure to follow, so come a little bit closer and stay for a while, Honey.

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VANDAALIT - Namuja Lapsille 1980

This gluttony at this time is really enormous, Cookies, Stollen, Roasts, etc.. I'm gradually wondering where it's all going, my scales inevitably show me too many kilos. Do you feel the same way? Well, I don't even want to know. Let's concentrate on the essentials and let's see what musical treasures I dig up these days. Vandaalit from Hyvinkää has permission to open this week, they were a gang of youngsters who played hard blunt Rock & Roll in the mid-seventies, founded 1977 by Vesa (vocals), Piitsi & Klide (guitars), Sepi (bass), Ari (drums), but hearing the Ramones everything changed, and soon the band transformed their style to rough, simple punkrock. Namuja Lapsille is their debut album from 1979, released via Hilse-Levyt, with fifteen melodic straight forward sing along numbers that sound like easy Christmas carols for the whole family and the cover somehow fits as well.

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SAMIAM - s/t LP 1990

Next band is also one of my favorites and was formed 1988 in sunny Berkeley, California. Two years later followed the fantastic self-titled debut which was recorded by Jason (vocals), Sergie & James (guitars), Marty (bass), Mark (drums) and released on New Red Archives on colored vinyl and is one of the most influential, melodic hardcore records ever. Always helpful when other maniacs find words that I cannot reproduce better, so here is a short review which I like to quote: "Compared to the pop and polish of its later releases, Samiam is barely recognizable on its self-titled debut. The sound is raw and angry, highly influenced by hardcore. But Jason's lyrics, though more cryptic than his later works, distinctly place Samiam in the realm of emocore. Instead of making broad political statements, like the early-'80s hardcore bands, he turned inward, while the music stayed fast and furious. A sample line from The Bridge: ''My bridge is too unstable, the insecurity is letting go.'' (Ron DePasquale)

Well, as far as I know, they're still active, even if the last album is over ten years ago, but Samiam is always welcome und especially their first albums are great stuff. Now it's time for a hearty breakfast, Cheers!

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NEUROTIC ARSEHOLES - Angst 1985

Another highlight of German Punk are the Neurotic Arseholes [Zombie (vocals), Kurt (guitars), Zahnie (bass), Der Kurze (drums)] from Minden who already shone with their debut on Aggressive Rockproduktionen in 1983 and the change to Weird System was the right step. If the debut was quickly & unprofessional recorded in a few days, the four of them reaped more time and understanding from the Hamburgers for the second album so that the production sounds smoother and cleaner and it turned into a masterpiece. I can still sing along to all of the lyrics today. For me, in any case the best album by the Arseholes. The band, whose three albums have now become popular classics of German punk, never saw themselves as a professional or commercial band. Kurt composed and wrote most of the lyrics. The first album consisted of all sorts of song material that had accumulated since the band was founded. The second album is, in the broadest sense, an album which was made up with a few pieces that were created spontaneously in the studio. The concerts of the 1980s took place mainly in youth centers and autonomous centers for minimal fees. Even during the last tour in 1998, the musicians had no ambitions to pursue a further career with the project. Zahni in an interview from 1998: "The concerts have all been great so far, but we don't have to overstrain it either and I don't want to let it get to the point where people start saying it would be better if we didn't have another one did." Thirteen catchy & timeless nuggets features Angst, an album that my earpieces can delight at any time and is a long-running on my phone. Duty Stuff!

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V/A - Two Ninety Nine! 1984

Dear friends, I just found out that Mensi, leader of Angelic Upstarts, died on December 10th, 2021 at the age of 65 after being infected with Covid-19. Now the second from the band after bassist Tony (died on February 22nd, 2021). I'm really shocked and sad, the punk world has lost a big fighter and sympathetic person, I raise my glass to you! R.I.P. Mensi, the next posts are dedicated to you. 

I think a compilation from Rot Records is a worthy homage, on the one hand I don't know a bad record from this label, on the other hand I think the music fits right now. Two Ninety Nine is full with great bands/songs which show an excellent overview of the house bands and whose singles were mostly available in small editions. I think, this compi had only a print run of 1000 copies as well. Everything is said, let the music speak!

1.Model Soldier - ANIMAL FARM

2.Red Alert - KILLROY

3.Bone Orchard - NAKED PREY

4.We Don't Need You - MANIA

5.Use Your Brain - CLAMPDOWN

6.Zombie Nation - SICK VICARS

7.Desperation Time - RADIO NINE

8.Don't Criticise - PATROL

9.Last But Not Least (Live) - THE ENEMY

10.S.S. Officer - PATROL

11.Murder And Maim - CLAMPDOWN

12.Russia - RESISTANCE 77

13.I'm Glad I'm Sick - THOSE OBNOXIOUS TYPES

14.Where Are They Now? - RADIO NINE

15.Shoulder To Shoulder - MANIA

16.Call Of The Reaper - NAKED PREY

17.Shattered Mirror - SICK VICARS

18.Dead Mans Dreams - PARANOIA

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PLACEBO - B-Sides, Live & Rare 2011

I can say that I'm a friend of Placebo's music and their last album was released six years ago. Founded 1994 in London by Brian (vocals/guitars), Stefan (bass) & Robert (drums), became their first album from 1996 not much attract attention in Germany. That changed two years later with the second one whose single release caught my interest. Came at exactly the right time and at the end of the Nineties; I was particularly sensitive and sick of living, so I was easily receptive to their emotional sound. Since then, I followed the three and bought the records and saw them live as well. Placebo makes music that combines a bit of everything: pop, rock, punk, new wave, alternative and especially their catchy ballads have done it to me. They have released a lot of non-album songs on many obscure records, so I got the idea to look for them and create a compilation with those nuggets, and the end product has been lying around on my hard drive for a few years and today, I listened to the stuff... good for you. A total of twenty-two gems are gathered here that are a privilege to own. I also recommend the live in Paris 2003 post, which could also be interesting for you and tomorrow is weekend again, hurra!

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