WIPERS - Youth Of America 1981

Hello everyone and welcome September and I want to start with a record that comes first in my personal TopTen, next to other brilliant ones, and this slab is an absolutely must have! Anyone who visits my blog knows that I'm a big Wipers fan, it's not for nothing that I tattooed the logo on my forearm. Youth Of America is in my opinion their best record, every song is a blast and 'When It's Over' is a striking example of the band's sound, a splendid intro, a bit psychedelic but driving and rhythmic like the sea, my favourite tune, but the remaining five songs also keep the level high and I can only turn it up at full volume. I don't know how often I've already penetrated my neighbors in my ecstasy (they never complained because they know I'm a nice bastard) but listen carefully and you can feel how the music takes possession of you. Search the net for reviews and you will see me confirmed. Greg (vocals/guitars), Dave (bass), Brad (drums) recorded this milestone at Wave Sound Studios and was released via Park Avenue Records, I have the German licensed copy from Weird System, the great Hamburg label that published essential slabs themselves. Here you have some short infos: Wipers was a recording project formed in 1977 by Greg Sage in Portland. First conceived as a studio project, they originally planned to release fifteen LPs over ten years and completely avoid doing tours or interviews. They disbanded in 1989 after releasing six studio albums, but reformed in 1993 to release three more albums. They disbanded for good in 1999. I'm putting the record a dozen times a year because I need this music to deal with all the shit out there and believe me.... that's soooooo good! I have re-upped all previous Wipers posts, if something down, use the comment section.

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BAD RELIGION - @ Volksbildungsheim, Frankfurt 21.06.1991

Let's end August with a fantastic bootleg from Bad Religion, which I myself was present (see ticket). Who was guest at the time, I don't know anymore, but what I know is the Volksbildungsheim was one of the best locations in Frankurt, I saw many bands there, punk/hardcore and metal bands, the sound was just great and today it's a mainstream cinema. This gig was released under Loosing My Love (a piss name in my opinion) and there are thirty songs to be heard instead of twenty-eight and the sound quality is consistently okay. I find it astonishing what career Bad Religion has completed, today their concerts are mostly sold out in a short time and small halls can't meet this demand, but they are still punkers without taking off. So a gig is always a great experience. I've seen them three times and I've always been satisfied with their performance; authentic and alive. I hope you feel the power and energy of the four and the song selection is also very successful, Bad Religion at its best. I re-upped all previous posts in the blog, Enjoy the Gig!

Modern Man/Change Of Ideas/Big Bang/Suffer/Doin' Time/Damned To Be Free/Operation Rescue/Along The Way/Do What You Want/Faith Alone/You Are (The Government)/1000 More Fools/Yesterday/You/Get Off/Sometimes It Feels Like/Automatic Man/What Can You Do?/Tomorrow/Sanity/Henchman/Flat Earth Society/I Want Something More/We're Only Gonna Die/Pessimistic Lines/21st Century (Digital Boy)/Anesthesia/Turn On The Light/I Want To Conquer The World/Best For You

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SLAUGHTER - Bite Back 1980

Before I have to go to the dentist and after two cups of coffee, a short visit to England. Slaughter, better known as Slaughter & The Dogs, were formed in 1975 in Wythenshawe, Manchester and this is their second album on DJM Records. Their original line-up consisted of singer Wayne Barrett, guitarist Mick Rossi, drummer Brian "Mad Muffet" Grantham and bassist Howard "Zip" Bates. I think they left their punk roots a bit on this album and switched to a more rockin' sound, which is clearly noticeable in the length of the songs, many faded out (which I don't really like). Overall, not a bad album and the eleven songs are not boring, but somehow I miss the dirty, the rough sharpness that made them stand out on Do It Dog Style, probably they wanted to get away from the wild sound and therefore made the slab a little too smooth in my opinion. Well, whatever... quite decent and audible. Find them on some compilations in the blog, and now on my bike and go!

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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KINA - Irreale Realtà 1985

Today I'm fit again, yesterday's rest was good and before I rip a slab that wasn't cheap, first a bit of loud & fast music from the far northwestern corner of Italy, Aosta, by Kina, formed in December 1982 by Alberto (guitar/vocals), Giampiero (bass/vocals), Sergio (drums/vocals) and were active till 1997. Irreale Realtà is Kina's first album on Blu Bus Records and affirmed them as one of the most original bands of the European hardcore punk scene. The tracks were recorded in October 1984 in Synergy Studio in Chivasso, and four songs live which were recorded during a concert @ the K.O.B. in Berlin on 27. July 1984. A short review by Ken Sanderson MMR: "This three-piece’s fifteen-song debut LP, was originally self-released in 1985, and hung around a melodic core, but was and is very much a savage hardcore record with pummeling, speedy thrash that sparks and rages like the best moments of early Italian hardcore. Caustic vocals shouted in Italian hurl angry missives towards authority and power, but the lyrics are also inwardly reflective, personal, and thoughtful. It’s a good choice to start if you’ve either never heard the band, four tracks are live and shed some of the sheen that the flange guitar gives the studio recording for wild effluence of melody, shouted vocals, and high energy blasting." The band is on numerous compilations and I posted their '86 Troppo Lontano EP years ago. Includes three photocopied & stapled sheets with infos, lyrics and band pictures. Solid Stuff!

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V/A - 018/Tio Grupper 1980

I guess, I exaggerated it yesterday with drinking, I'm totally exhausted and wishy-washy and I think today will be a horizontal one. Well, there's still a bit energy left and it will be enough for a few words about the next record. 018/Tio Grupper is a compilation with important bands from the punk/new wave scene in Uppsala and was released via Svenska Love Records. Musically attractive, healthy mix, a bit of Ska sound and a twelve-page brochure in Swedish. A few bands have released some 7Inches and if you want to know more click on The Swedish Progg Blog and find the details. I'm out... 

1.Vill Inte - THE STAIN

2.Den Tysta Verkligheten - THE STAIN

3.Återfall I Farten - N-LINERS

4.Miljonär - N-LINERS

5.En Bracka Från Gottsunda - RUNE STRUTZ

6.Mobbad Runt - RUNE STRUTZ

7.Dyka - AUTOMANIA

8.Beständigt Cool - AUTOMANIA

9.Slå Tillbaka - RÄVJUNK

10.Ångestskri -  CAIZA

11.Se Mig - OLLE

12.Två Dagar Från November - LEPRA

13.Gräv Upp Jorden - LEPRA

14.Drömmar Om Frihet - ALLAN BALL

15.Ingenting - ALLAN BALL

16.The Perfect Man - THE ORIGINAL RUMMIES

17.Invisible Heartbreaker - THE ORIGINAL RUMMIES

18.Robot City - LARS GARAGE

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V/A - Bloodstains Across Germany #2 1998

Last working day before my vacation, this year not in Crete or any Mediterranean region, thanks to fucking Corona, it's getting annoying and the new regulations even more. But what should we do? As long as research doesn't keep creating a vaccine, this shit keeps us back from free life and so is 2020 an extraordinary shit year. Well, let us better enjoy the loud dirty sound of the early wild punk days, so let's pull another fantastic Bloodstains compilation off the shelf and find Volume 2 with twenty-two German delicacies. Some songs overlap Volume 1 and why here again is a bit unfortunate, there are so many more rarities of German bands that they obviously haven't researched exactly. But I'm grateful that the detectives made the effort anyway... and you certainly as well. Now let the bands kicking, get this Friday quick behind us and looking forward to the weekend.

1.Rock'n'Roll Is Dead - BLITZKRIEG

2.Disco Sound Is Dead - ROTZKOTZ

3.Manchmal Habe Ich's Satt - HARNRØHRER

4.Donnerwetter - ARTLESS

5.Out Of Order - OUT OF ORDER

6.Nazi - NIVEAU NULL

7.Bonanza - THE BUTTOCKS

8.Samen Im Darm - CRETINS

9.Fuck - LENNONS

10.Party In Der Gaskammer - MIDDLE CLASS FANTASIES

11.No School - PUNKENSTEIN

12.Kick Her In The Dirt - BIG BALLS & THE GREAT WHITE IDIOT

13.Rank Xerox - HANS-A-PLAST

14.Schweinelied - RIGOLETTO

15.Sexmörder - KFC

16.Seuchen - TOLLWUT

17.Das Lied Für Fritz - HONKAS

18.Christ Child - RAZORS

19.Barras - THE SCHROTT

20.Schlager - NORMAHL

21.Es Tut Weh - HASS

22.Iran - SLIME

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SPECIAL FORCES - s/t LP 1987

One post today, although I had a shitty day and I'm just tired, but for once, a solid quickie at the end. In the early eighties were founded in Berkeley, California Special Forces, and on their great debut on the French label New Wave Records were involved The Ox (vocals), Bill "The Cat" Collins (guitars), Sir Thomas Of Flynn (bass), Anna Chapman (drums) and the four present us a decent harsh Hardcore sound. Besides their only album, three more EP's (World Domination '84) were made and that's it. Eleven brilliant songs that thrash forward, peppered with an excellent blues piece, short fast blasts and a classic at the end, is called Blitzkrieg Bop, no idea who wrote the original. You can say what you want: twenty minutes of thrashy noises!

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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THE BLOOD - False Gestures For A Devious Public 1983

Next UK classic from London with the debut by the Blood on the short lived Noise Records. The Blood were formed 1982 and led by Cardinal Jesus Hate and JJ Bedsore (AKA Colin Smith and Jamie Cantwell), the band formed in the early 1980s under the name "Coming Blood". Their music is a blend of hardcore punk, Oi!, heavy metal, football chants and shock rock. A bit info from punkygibbon: "On False Gestures For A Devious Public the band replicated The Damned’s early rave-up assault, but were sloppier and with a heavy metal lead guitarist. They also chucked in some of the Anti-Nowhere League’s unmitigated misanthropy and Splodgenessabounds’ foolishness. The six-minute ‘Sewer Brain’, with its tricky chord changes, horn section and comedy synthesiser borders on prog rock, while ‘Done Some Brain Cells Last Night’ and ‘Joys Of Noise’ celebrate wanton behaviour. The only problem, other than a singer who sounds even rougher than Animal, is that the songs are played too quickly for their own good, robbing them of much of their innate tunefulness." Many of their songs criticize religion or discuss political or philosophical topics. This is the CD version with ten bonus cuts! Many albums and singles were made, and present on numerous compilations as well. And now: chillen!

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999 - The Punk Singles 1977-1980

Fine compilation from a band which have been active since 1976 and never get tired. Much infos can be found in the net, here are some key data: In London, on Sunday 5th December 1976, Nick Cash (guitar&vocals), Guy Days (guitar&vocals), Jon Watson (bass) and Pablo LaBritain (drums&percussions) started to play together. The first gig was 22.1.1977 and their band was called The Dials at that time. Soon the changed their name to 48 Hours (Nick Cash was called Gene Carsons at that time), and after that the name was The Fanatics, and finally 999. A 21-track collection highlighting what surely ranks among the most refreshingly pure-sounding catalogs in British punk history, Punk Singles Collection: 1977-1980 rounds up the first four years of 999 history with a survey of every A- and B-side they released during that spell as spread across four different labels: their own Labritian, the majors UA and Polydor, and the post-Stiff maverick Radar. It's an eye-opening gathering. Although 999's reputation (at least at the time) was of a decidedly non-punky R&B band togging up in the latest fashion then cranking up their pub rock to mach ten standards, early 45s "I'm Alive," "Nasty Nasty," "Homicide," and most of all "Emergency" have taken on a classic aura that simply oozes period spit and vinegar. Equally rewarding, the B-sides are all cut from precisely the same cloth, meaning the first two-thirds of Punk Singles Collection: 1977-1980 races by in a blur of bondage pants, safety pins, and whatever other accoutrements you may require. Later 999 efforts lost something of that early adrenalin, but still it's hard not to execute at least a partial pogo as "Found Out Too Late" and "Trouble" get underway. Add Captain Oi!'s traditionally excellent packaging and a booklet stuffed with envy-making picture sleeves and even if you already own the band's regular albums, this set is well worth investigating. Essential!

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THE SPY'S - Original Punk Rock From Canada 1979-1980

Damn cool release by Incognito Records and we meet the Spy's from Windsor/Ontario which only made an EP in 1980 and this is one of those records with lost recordings that a stubborn lover discovered. Info found: The whole of the American Midwest, including Detroit, was a bit slow to latch onto punk. By 1979, though, a handful of bars there, like Lili's 21 in Hamtramck, the New Miami in the seedy Cass Corridor neighbourhood and the legendary Bookies up in the equally menacing north side, were showing local and visiting acts at least a few nights each week. And for a couple of teenagers from Windsor just across the river, that was all that was needed to start up a band like The Spy's. As singer Frank Carlone remembers it, "Elad (D'Amore) and I were at the New Miami to see Fred 'Sonic' Smith, and somehow Elad had managed to chat with him between sets. So later in the next set, he calls Elad up to the stage to jam with him, and for two guys who grew up listening to the Stooges and the MC5 this was amazing. Anyway, I think it was during 'Sweet Little Sixteen', Sonic gives him the nod, and Elad does this amazing solo, and I knew we had to start a band or something!" 

Carlone and D'Amore's musical partnership goes back even farther. "Way back in '73 up to around '75, a bunch of us east-siders would hold these sort of informal battle of the bands in various basements - we called it 'Cockstock' - constantly trying to outdo each other. One time Elad and his brother, Domenic, filled these containers with gasoline," he laughs, "hoping to have these Kiss-style firebombs and, poooof!, we just about burned the house down!" After witnessing the Dry Heaves score a surprise second-place finish at a real Battle of the Bands, this time in 1979 at Ojibway Park, the pair got serious, coaxing bassist 'Coma' Joe Desrameaux into the fold. Filling things out on drums was Dave O'Gorman ("He had a small business, Paramount Fruit on Ouellette, and he was really good at getting us gigs'), and by the late summer of 1979 The Spy's were about ready to rock. What followed over the next twelve months became the stuff of local legend. The band got their first gig at Windsor's Drop-In Tavern, a place known more for heavy dinosaur rock than for punk. ("I think a tomato or egg got thrown at us, so I thought, 'Hey, we're doing something right'.") More shows followed, including a spot in support of Toronto's Battered Wives at the Masonic Temple the following year.

By the time the band went down to Salem Studios in Leamington to record a couple of tracks for a single, they had gelled into a taut act with their own loyal army of fans. Alas, with such crowd pleasers as 'Welcome to the Cruel World' and 'I Wanna Be Like You' packing the dance floors, the lads demurred somewhat on their choice of songs, going with two newer ones instead, 'Underground' and the snappy 'Machine Shop'. And despite the muffled sound ("It wasn't mastered right. It should've been more, like, raucous"), 'Underground' / 'Machine Shop' has managed a following all its own in the punk world, appearing on Smash The State Vol.2 in 1994. (Info: Michael Panontin @CanuckistanMusic) - Awesome Record with fifteen bombs!

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