KSMB - Rika Barn Leka Bäst 1981

On their second album "Rika Barn Leka Bäst" (transl. Rich Feather Flock Together) KSMB left the punk in part on this record, I mean, it's still there, but this album is very different from their brilliant debut album Aktion. It is widely regarded as the worst of KSMB's only three albums and was also a step away from pure punk (test for comparison this small 7'' collection). One track (Blått & Guld), for example, included a brass ensemble. That first sounds scary and sometimes I think the record is extremely poppy but if I longer to this album so I think it has been criticized unfairly pejorative. Well, today thirty years later, we look on it with different ears and I wish there were more bands playing this kind of music. So I mean this is a cool powerpop/punk album and I think it will convince you. Would be interesting to know what you think.

- Special Thx to Fredrik -

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PYLON - Cool 7'' 1979

Now a bit early stuff by Pylon, an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The band's danceable sound, a blend of new wave, post-punk, jangle pop, alternative rock and funk rock, influenced the Athens music scene and the 1980s American pop underground. This is their debut single on DB Records and the a-side is a pretty nice poppy mid-tempo tune, love this sound because it's soooo impulsive and simple, cool guitars and the female voice rounds off the song to the whole, a real cracker. The flip weakens a bit, rather such a post-punk thing, not really my cup of tea and in the long run a bit annoying. Anyway, a record which is different and not uninteresting. The band released three albums and many 7Inches. Vanessa (vox), Randall (guitars), Michael (bass) and Curtis (drums) and after turning down an offer to open for a major U2 tour, they decided to break up the band in late 1983.

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DETOX - s/t LP 1985

Well, I found this classic one on my hard drive and it was posted by a few bloggers but a lot links are down and now I listen to this great slab and I think, post it again because it's fuckin' worth. Detox was a band from Los Angeles and they released one 7'' and two cool albums, all on Flipside Records. This is their debut one with thirteen comfortable punk killlers, not fast but KBD fit. I would not write more about them because there was a great review from the unfortunately inactive kfth side and I use one to infect you with this great band: "Holy shit, Batman! An original sound and brilliant cover artwork. Lots of bands love dem skulls, but few, if any, ever thought to use their own as part of the album cover design. The flat finish (no gloss) is fantastic-looking, and quite unusual too. This record really grows on you after a few listens. Sometimes they have almost a rockabilly-type roots sound or a country twang, but this changes from song to song. Most are just plain different. In place of solos, the guitar often has a very piercing sound like a circular saw grinding on metal (I can see the sparks flying now). Detox also have deceivingly slow melodies, which are backed up by strong drumming and bass playing throughout. Really good production, plus extra added parts like airplane noises, and dual vocals singing different lines at the same time that show the special attention they paid to details. A needed break from the ordinary." - Thomas Siegel (from Ink Disease #9, Summer 1985) - Unfortunately, a sad info at the end: drummer Lance Krantz died at the age of 37 on a heroin overdose on 15.July 2001. So get this awesome album and enjoy their nice punky songs.

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ARM - The Victory Of Forgetting M-LP 1991

Hailing from Hamburg, this is the last record by this female fronted punk band called ARM. They agreed for this album the dutch label Konkurrel and they board here seven alternative/punk tunes through. I remember, I saw them in the Fabrik in Altona 1990 and their performance was pretty wild, particularly Danielle (vox) & drummer Stephan (Slime, Torpedo Moskau, Angeschissen, etc...) were extreme ecstatic as if there's no tomorrow. Maybe that this gig was their final one but I don't know for sure. Anyway, it was an enjoyable evening. From the power of their live show is unfortunately this record miles away. The songs bobbing a little bit uninspired and with no real highlight therefore the music raises me not out from my chair. The production is okay, artwork too and a lyric-sheet with it, so for this reason I give seven out of ten points.

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DETERMINATION - ...Push It As Far As You Can EP 2003

Holy Shit, this record is a fucking great hardcore satisfaction! Deternation come from Bruck/Burgenland in Austria, an area where you can make first class holidays, cycling or drink wine. Whether this is also true for HC-Punk? Yes it is! - The band smashes nine one minute songs out which need your attention. So I found here a great review from Maximim R'n'Roll and I have nothin' to add: "Energetic and fast, yet nihilistic and drunken hardcore punk from Austria that is oddly full of posicore-like chorus shouts. Listening to this band live, I bet punks are confused as to wether they should join the mosh pit and sing along with pointed fingers oe if they should go out into the alley and drink until blurry nausea overtakes them. Doing a bit of both, I suppose, is the solution. I would say the sound on this group's third EP falls somewhere between Poison Idea and Y2K-core. Sort of a strange mixture, for me anyway, but it seems to work. I dig this record, but I think this would be even better with less of the shouted choruses, but that's just subjective bias put forth for the few out there who hold a similar view. The singer's intense voice and the fantastic guitar and drum work make this worthy of your attention either, so check it out." - Released in limited edition of 666 copies. Killer Stuff!!!

- Special Thx to Reinhard -

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V/A - Raw & Rare British Punk #3 1997

A request is fulfilled with the following compilation of this mini-serie where the word 'Raw' is not really true but it doesn't matter, it's another famos meeting of rare UK singles on a record, of course again released by Raw Sounds and as well as in a simple presentation - Decent mix of sixteen powerpop/punk goodies and the original 7Inches, you know, are nowadays hard to get, that's the meaning of such slabs. I approve myself a Jever and know that you are enjoying this sound and don't miss Volume 1+2 from this theater. ★

1.Put My Finger On You - AMBER SQUAD

2.Fatal Attraction - THE DREGS

3.Noiz Boiz - NOIZ BOIZ

4.Danger Love - VICE CREEMS

5.I Wanna Be - THE STOWAWAYS

6.Footsteps - THE CLUES

7.Abusing The Rules - SCHOOLGIRL BITCH

8.You're No Better Than Me - THE GRIDS

9.Tell You A Lie - AMBER SQUAD

10.School Girls In Bondage - THE DREGS

11.Flashback - NOIZ BOIZ

12.Like A Tiger - VICE CREEMS

13.My Friends - THE STOWAWAYS

14.Masked Emotions - THE CLUES

15.Think For Yourself - SCHOOLGIRL BITCH

16.Hypocrite - THE GRIDS

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MOPOT - s/t EP 1980

Mopot (Mopeds) is a PunkPop Band founded 1978 in Suolahti. Large source of inspiration for them were The Ramones and The Boys (ramo punk later became quite popular in Finland). This is their debut 7Inch on Suklaa Levyt and a little classic and brings four Punk pearls and was released in an edition of 400 copies, re-released 1984 via Kråklund Records. Click Mopot for more info. In 1981 they released a second record 'Rakastan Sua ' on Johanna and also on some compilations. If you like some finnish 1-2-3-4 punkrock this is a good choice.

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SKABB - Skabb '78 EP 1978

Early swedish punk band from Stockholm, they recorded only this EP (Mistlur Records), and changed there name to Molotovs early 1979 after some line-up substitutions. But there were nothing recorded under the new groups name as they quit later the same year. Drummer Bosse Löthen nowadays work for the swedish radio. Skabb's music is classic D.I.Y. punk with sax and pretty low-fi. Quite different from what I am accustomed and a real gem. I really like all three songs here although I'm not a friend of saxophones but I think it comes how to use it and the bass-line is pretty cool and sounds fantastic. Lied #1 wurde later auf dem Sveriges Största Singel compilation verewigt and even honored on Killed By Death #666. Try, smile and have a great weekend!!

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WC³ - Captain' Valium 7'' 1981

Superb French record by this combo from Saint-Quentin and this their debut 7Inch on CBS. The A-side is a decent mid-tempo track while the flip is for my taste far from it. Pretty biep biep sound and you find more info via this orange letters WC³. The band trapped and it was impossible to leave CBS to be driven by another label that would invest more in promotion. The band recorded distressfully three albums and Janine, keyboardist and guitarist, committed suicide.- Present on the Frenchy But Rock compilation from 1992.

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