POINTED STICKS - The Real Thing 7'' 1979

The Pointed Sticks are a Canadian punk rock band from the north of Vancouver and they were active from 1978 to 1981, reunited in 2006 to perform a few gigs and have remained together since then. They were the first Canadian band signed to Stiff Records, although the label was going through financial problems and never released an album by the band. The band are known for their fast melodic pop music and liberal use of harmony singing by all five members, also for unusual graphic images that acted as counterpoint to the music. So this is their 3rd on Quintessence Records and the flip is the better one. Anyway, I enjoy them.

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V/A - Killed By Death #26 1996

You know with a KBD Sampler you can't do nothing wrong, right? # 26 is a collectionn of early canadian punk from 1977 - 80. Unfortunately, this is one of the harder KBD's to find. It's also one of the best! Much of what is on here is already well known. D.O.A. (two live cuts), The Action & Viletones along with one Forgotten Rebels (Angry) are pretty. Even with the three Smash The State volumes covering a lot of the lesser known bands, a better effort than this could have been put forth. Once more a fine limited (1000 copies) Compilation from the series which I highly appreciate. Brand new and also great Bloodstains Across Canada with more rare Canada stuff.

1.Nazi Training Camp - D.O.A.

2.TV's On The Blink - THE ACTION

3.Danger Boy - THE VILETONES

4.Backdoor To Hell - THE VILETONES

5.To Have Some Fun - THE UGLY

6.Shoeshine Boy - THE CURSE

7.Killer Bees - THE CURSE

8.Angry - FORGOTTEN REBELS

9.National Unity - FORGOTTEN REBELS

10.What Do You Want Me To Do? - POINTED STICKS

11.Love Is Shit (It's Goodbye) - DISHRAGS

12.Steppin' Stone - CARDBOARD BRAINS

13.Want Some Bondage - D.O.A.

14.Step Out Tonight - MODS

15.Past Is Past - DISHRAGS

16.Do The Strangle - THE ACTION

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ACTIVE DOG - s/t 7'' 1979

Formed 1978 in Vancouver this short-lived five piece called Active Dog and only one record is out with two brilliant goodies. Members were Bill (vocals), Chris & Terry (guitars), Ross (bass), Robert (drums) and they released this beauty by their own label. Besides this single they had two more songs on the Vancouver Complication slab, but by the time it was released the band had split up. Two members went to the Pointed Sticks and the band never recovered. In an era characterized by musical experimentation and the search for new sounds and stands out like a sparkling diamond in the musical ocean of the late 70s. This energetic anthem is not only a catchy tune, but also a powerful manifesto against the monotony of everyday life and the treadmill. From the very first notes, the listener is transported into a dynamic soundscape featuring pulsating rhythms and catchy melodies. The singer's distinctive voice immediately captivates, conveying a blend of determination and optimism. The powerful guitar riffs and driving bass give the track a distinctive energy that invites you to dance and sing along. What makes "Rat Race" special is the deeper message behind the catchy melody. The lyrics reflect the frustrations and challenges of modern life while offering an encouraging perspective. Active Dog succeeds in inspiring the listener to defy societal expectations and find their own path. It's a call to cast off the shackles of everyday life and live life to the fullest. The single's production is remarkable, it captures the spirit of the times without succumbing to nostalgia. Instead it sounds fresh and timeless, as if it could still serve as a soundtrack for a generation striving for authenticity and freedom. A fantastic record that encourages you to pursue your dreams and not be constrained by life's routine and a hidden gem that instills a sense of hope and courage. Magic!

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V/A - Killed By Death #1010011010 2002

I think, it's time for another rare compilation from the grandiose Killed By Death series, today we dedicate ourselves to the 300 copies slab by Teenage Lust Records and meet twenty howlin' punk anthems of 1977-1982. The detectives convince with healthy taste and I think, the mix with well-known classics and pieces that are found somewhere on hard-to-get singles is fucking felicitous. Exact my bottle of Hefe and the right sound for breakfast! Admit, you've been waiting for this a long time... 

1.Kimberly You're Boring - THE MOTIVE

2.T.V. World - SUPERMATIX

3.Vaarallinen Rakkaus - SENSUURI

4.Somebody's Mom - POINTED STICKS

5.Straight Jacket - THE ADICTS

6.Not Satisfied - ANARCHY

7.Spankathon - MAN-KA-ZAM

8.Disco Zombies - DISCO ZOMBIES

9.Hippie - SUZANNES

10.Totus Tous - CODIGO NEUROTICO

11.Crayon World - FLYBOYS

12.Love Substitute - PINPOINT

13.Azuboy - KUSCHELWEICH

14.Sulla Strada - ROCK TRAIN BAND

15.T.V. Deceives - THE SINGLES

16.Delivered - MODERN WARFARE

17.What I Want - THE DONKEYS

18.Young & Crazy - NIKKI CORVETTE & THE CONVERTIBLES

19.I Love You, Japan - STAR CLUB

20.Stiff Lips - SHEENA & THE ROKKETS

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THE DISHRAGS - Love/Hate 1997

A quick re-post now: When the Dishrags formed 1977 in Victoria, British Columbia, they were like the Runaways without Kim Fowley's behind the scenes machinations: three teenage girls, singer & guitarist Jade Blade, bassist Dale Powers and drummer Scout, devoted to the Ramones and the Clash and creating their own short, sharp shocks. Moving to the more punk-friendly Vancouver scene (where bands like D.O.A. and the Pointed Sticks were already defining the sound of western Canada's new wave) in 1978, the Dishrags made their debut on the now-legendary Vancouver Complication anthology. If they had never made another recording, the Dishrags would remain beloved in punk-fanboy circles for the track "I Don't Love You." 103 seconds long and built on an insistent, scratchy guitar riff and a positively crazed drum part played primarily on the ride cymbal, "I Don't Love You" is as clangorous and primitive as U.K. second-wavers like the Slits or the Desperate Bicycles, but it also features an instant-classic pure pop chorus that would do the Buzzcocks or the Undertones proud.

The Dishrags followed that up with a slightly more polished three-track EP, "Past Is Past," and following a lineup change (Powers being replaced by second guitarist Sue MacGillivray and bassist Kim Henriksen) the band traveled to London to record the EP Death In The Family. Produced by Chris Spedding and featuring a more traditional punk-pop sound akin to the Adverts' first album, Death in the Family was insistently tuneful and clever. The wistful title track seemed to have actual hit single potential, while "Love/Hate" explored a darker post-punk sound along the lines of Siouxsie & The Banshees. Though RCA's U.K. imprint released the EP, it disappeared almost immediately, and the Dishrags broke up. Over a decade and a half later, the Canadian reissue label Other People's Music gathered the complete recordings by the Dishrags -- the two tracks recorded for the Vancouver Complication sessions, including the previously unreleased "Bullshit," the single, the EP, and ten demos and live tracks including covers of Lou Reed's "Vicious," the Ramones' "I Don't Wanna Walk Around with You," and the Clash's "Janie Jones," alongside previously unheard Dishrags originals. This is a textbook example of how to do a punk-era reissue properly. Review by Stewart Mason (source: AllMusic)

- Great Thx to Dante D -

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