n o b u l o g

The World Cup, Japan vs Australia and songs about cops from anti-war compilations

2006-06-09T07:14:00.000-07:00

I remember reading somewhere that during the span of the Olympics or any other global sporting event, that wars and violence and all that stuff that bums us out tends to decline somewhat...hopefully the 2006 World Cup (which kicks off in a couple of hours) will keep that trend alive.

This post goes out to Japan's first match in Group F, against Australia on June 12th. 2 songs about the men in blue, both from anti-war complitaions.

Vicious Circle
~~Police Brutality~~
v/a P.E.A.C.E. (buy from insound)
R Radical 1984

Australian band outta Melbourne, from the P.E.A.C.E. comp, released by those hippies from MDC. Reissued in 97 by New Red Archives.

Outo
~~Cops~~
v/a A Farewell To Arms
Selfish 1986

Classic Japanese hardcore outta Osaka...awesome live show...they were da shit.

My prediction: Japan 3-Australia 1

Singles A to Z: Part B

2006-05-13T11:37:00.000-07:00

One thing I've been spending an insane amount of time doing is converting songs from my 7" collection into mp3s. The iPod curse for us analog junkies. Anyway, I thought I might as well upload some of the best over the next few months (or years, if I keep at this pace!)

Singles A to Z: Part B

Badge 714
~~Mama Made A Face At The Cloudy Sky~~
Tearless 7"
Wonder Release 1994

Japanese indie pop band...featuring ex Beyonds bassist dude plus drummer of all trades, Yotchan (ex Mensu/DMBQ/Sawpit/Sap/+ a shit load of bands that I have no memory of at the moment.) Still active with different members as Seameal.

Bitch Magnet
~~Sadie~~
Sadie 7"
The Caff Corporation 1991

Mr. Sooyoung Park...dude, did I have a hard on for this guy. Bitch Magnet to Seam to ee (are they still around?) Seam's The Problem With Me is a late Sunday afternoon classic (bring out the wine and cheese)...this is from a (I'm guessing) early demo, Hüskerish aggro, before their Big Black/Bastro/Touch And Go fixation.

Buzzcocks
~~Why She's A Girl From The Chainstore~~
Are Everything 7"
United Artists 1980

I actually got this single at a punXmas party, the typical B.Y.O.Gift-to-be-passed-around type deal. I forget what I chipped in, probably some cheap assed shit which totally bummed out the (un)lucky recipient...anyway, though I was psyched that I got a Buzzcocks single, I didn't listen to it for a few weeks...I was pissed 'cause I had seen them earlier in San Francisco and they didn't play Ever Fallen In Love. Duh. Once I listened to the damn record, Chainstore ruled and it is their best song.

Endnotes
1. Singles A to Z: Part A can be found here (minus the music...sorry)
2. Z and Joy fucking kill. Nihongo desu...
3. Hey! 2 posts in two days! I'm on a roll.

Super Dumb!

2006-05-12T21:44:00.000-07:00

Super Dumb...the name fit us perfectly. I was in this band for four shows and a recording session, helping out until they found a new guitarist. Founded in the late '80s as Super Mario (what's more eightees than Famicon!) these guys brought some fun to a scene that was somewhat more intimidating and admittedly, sometimes even scary to be a part of. After numerous member changes and the name switch, they somehow got to open for the Boredoms which led to their guitarist quitting...so I sorta volunteered. It was a blast, this show was one of the funnest I have ever played.

Specs: May 17, 1991 at Shimokitazawa Yaneura with Nukey Pikes. This song was either called Wretched Punks or Red Chili Punks...I don't remember, its been 15 years!

Bonus song from 1991 demo tape

Super Dumb
~~Let's Go~~
1991 Demo

Endnote
1. Check out threepenny's videos. Some vintage Japanese stuff (Swipe, Sawpit, Kulara, 100 Lots, Nukey Pikes...) plus footage from Goleta Fest '96 and even more Super Dumb.

Indie cred straight out the fuckin' door

2006-03-20T23:31:00.000-08:00

Bon Jovi
~~Runaway (Live Version)~~
Burning For Love 12" EP
Mercury 1984

Yes, I actually own this record. Yes, I like(d) this song...rockin' for a 14 yr old (though the keyboards sound like shit on this version.) For those who need to know, this is a Japan only 12", recorded live at the Super Rock Fest in '84.

This is the calendar/poster that came with the damn thing (what, only 3 months!)

Notice the pin pricks from the months that this thing spent on my wall.

Let the bashing begin.

Endnotes
1. Ichiro+Japanese team. We rock.
2. Check out the 8 Songs CD from 9 Hours. They also rock.
3. Tanqueray & Tonic definitely rocks.

Jason Sears 1/23/68-1/31/06

2006-02-06T05:09:00.000-08:00

This one goes out to Jason Sears.
R.I.P.

RKL
~~Tribute To The Jester~~
Rock'n Roll Nightmare
Alchemy 1987

I can turn to you
Come all unglued
And spill my guts when I get troubled
As I approach, you simply joke
I laugh so hard I cry for different reasons

You never knew or cared the value of the laughs we shared
They're always priceless
Rob someone of their depression simply with your conversation

Oh Sarcastic Jester tell me one more time
'Cause if I don't cheer up today I'm bound to lose my mind
So talk with me a bit, I need your driest wit
And make me laugh until it hurts
And satisfy my fix

A few deny your qualities
Themselves, uptight unconsciously
Others will hate you for truths you expose... everyone knows
Laugh with the world and the world will be laughs with you
But make them laugh at you and if you're good they'll even pay you

Oh, Sarcastic Jester, please don't get me wrong
There's nothing more less serious than the lyrics in this song
So keep your point of view
Your cynical attitude
The world's late to appreciate the kind on earth like you!

A good laugh in hard times will add years on your life

More here.

Merry Xmas!

2005-12-25T02:05:00.000-08:00

Dump
~~Christmas Card~~
Dump 7" EP
18 Wheeler 1992

Happy Holidays from n o b u l o g !

A: Album Leaf to Authorities

2005-11-29T07:53:00.000-08:00

Every couple of months I will blog. Every couple of months I will blog. Every couple of months I will blog. Every couple of months I will blog. Every couple of months I will blog. Every couple of months I will blog. Every couple of months I will blog. Every couple of months I will blog. Every couple of months I will blog. Every couple of months I will blog. Every couple of months I will blog. Every couple of months I will blog. Every couple of months I will blog. Every couple of months I will blog. Every couple of months I will blog. Every couple of months I will blog. Every couple of months I will blog. Every couple of months I will blog. Every couple of months I will blog. Every couple of months I will blog. Every couple of months I will blog. Every couple of months I will blog.

So, what's up? I've been around, doing this and that...you know how it goes. It is good to be back in bloggerland.

One thing I've been spending an insane amount of time doing is converting songs from my 7" collection into mp3s. The iPod curse for us analog junkies. Anyway, I thought I might as well upload some of the best over the next few months (or years, if I keep at this pace) and what better place to start than at the letter A.

A-Set
~~The Kiss~~
The Way It Used To Be (It's Got To Be) 7" (buy)
Dogprint 2000

Albert Menduno's lo-fi pop...used to be in Mohinder...why do ex-basement emo kids make some of the best (and at times, worst) music around today?

Attitude Adjustment
~~Destructions End~~
Thrasher flexi 7"
1987

A freebie for subscribers of Thrasher Mag back in the day...I think I actually got this from Pushead at Violent Grind...80's hardcore, complete with outdated lyrics "Kill for Reagan, Hell no!"...sorry about the sound quality, but, fuck, it is a flexi.

Endnote
1. Check out Strange Reaction. Excellent These Boners Be Poppin’ post, was always curious about the Boneless Ones.

Tour USA June 2005 (part 2)

2005-09-25T04:15:00.000-07:00

It's been, what, over 2 months since my last post...gomen ne. Changes at work, yadayadayada...here we go again, Part II of our US summer vacation trip.

The baggage claim person at Logan was a complete bitch, which did not help after the Red Eye outta LAX. No sleep+uncooperative fuckwad=Nobu in a bad mood in Boston. But once we got settled in at the Chandler Inn (totally recomended!), I forgot all my worries and enjoyed Boston. What a beautiful city.

The Outlets
~~Not Too Late~~
Let's Breed! comp LP
Throbbing Lobster 1984

Old Boston punk band, had a number of awesome tunes...the guitarist went on to be one of original members of the Dropkick Murphys!

More about the label, Throbbing Lobster.

Took the China Bus down to New York. More comfortable than economy seats on United and just 15 bucks...cab fare to our hotel from China Town was more expensive.
It's been 5 years since the last time I was in New York...post 911 changes? Couldn't really tell with only a few days in Manhattan. Met an old friend. Had bad Italian food, ok Japanese izakaya food and a great falafel. Walked thru Central Park. Caught a Yankees game and a couple of museums. Time moves fast in NYC, it all went by in a flash.

The Golden Palominos
~~The Animal Speaks~~
Visions Of Excess (buy)
Celluloid 1985

Anton Fier, Bill Laswell and Johnny Rotten.

Kicking back after a 12 hour flight back to Tokyo. It was great to be back.

Tour USA June 2005 (part 1)

2005-07-14T07:18:00.000-07:00

Vacations suck! Packing, 13 hour flights, jet lag, the insane amount of money spent and the fucking worst...going back to work!

Naah, we had a blast in the States. Refreshed! Returning to work has been a drag, but you know how that goes...

A tune from each city we had the pleasure of visiting on the West Coast.

San Francisco was San Francisco, great in the afternoon, fucking chilly at night. Wilco were amazing at the Greek Theatre. Couldn't get out to El Farolito (had to settle for sub-par burritos somewhere in Castro), but had breakfast at Art's Cafe (twice!)

HSAS
~~Missing You~~
Through The Fire LP (buy)
Geffen 1984

Yeah, Sammy Hagar and gang. I actually totally love this LP, way back from my pre-punk days. Seems that Sam was bored so he called up Neal Schon from Journey and they gathered up some studio-musician hacks (Kenny Aaronson and Michael Shrieve) from around the Bay Area, played some shows, recorded said shows...out pops Through The Fire. I guess they cut out the crowd noise and overdubbed a bunch of stuff...

We stopped in San Luis Obispo for food and a piss break on our drive down to Santa Barbara. We hit a taco joint, got some food and did the deed...15 minutes, tops. That constitutes a "visit"...right?

Wimpy Dicks
~~Mommy Can I?~~
And Broken Strings LP (buy)
Bopp N' Skin 1987

Old-school SLO Punx. Still together!

I was lucky to grow up in Santa Barbara, where we stayed 3 days. I must say it was a privilege and I thank my parents for getting transferred out there. A fucking beautiful town. Laid back, yes! Resort town for Hollywood Stars and other assholes, yeah, maybe. A place you would want to raise your kids: yeah, definitely. Somehow, the Rich Kids on LSD spawned out of this paradise.

RKL
~~Why?~~
It's A Beautiful Feeling! 7" EP
Mystic 1984

From their first 7", back when they had a dreadlocked dude named Vince on bass. I remember seeing RKL graffiti at Santa Barbara Junior High and having no idea what it stood for. My favorite RKL tune, wonder what these guys are up to now?

We spent a few hours in Los Angeles. Walked up and down Hollywood, the Chinese Theatre and all that...wish I could've spent a few more hours at Amobea.

Circle Jerks
~~American Heavy Metal Weekend~~
Wonderful LP
Combat Core 1985

Hey, it is LA. (You gotta love the "1 2 3")

East Coast coming next time. See ya!

Summertime!

2005-06-08T09:15:00.000-07:00

I'm off on vacation until like late June, enjoy these tunes for the time being...

Crimpshrine
~~Summertime~~
v/a The Thing That Ate Floyd 2xLP
Lookout 1988

I'll be back in the summertime
With a hand full of flowers and a bottle of cheap wine
The summertime!

S.O.B
~~Let's Go Beach~~
Don't Be Swindle 12" EP
Selfish 1987

Let's go summer beach!

I had a few more songs planned...Versus, etc...but we are drunk and fucking celebrating...Japan just qualified for the World Cup 2006 (the first team to do so after auto qualifiers Germany) and we need to pack for our trip.

(For you American people, we are talking soccer!)

See you guys in a few weeks.

Thanx
nobu

And I'm Not Sorry For That Anymore...

2005-06-01T08:03:00.000-07:00

Unwound
~~Totality~~
MK Ultra 7" (buy)
Kill Rock Stars 1994

I had the pleasure of seeing Unwound three times during their lifetime; once in San Francisco at Bimbo's (with the Contortions!), another time in Tokyo and one last time in New York with Tara Jane O'Neil opening. There would have been a fourth, but their 2nd Japanese tour got cancelled, cause they sorta broke up (duh).

Anyway, yeah, I really liked them.

The MK Ultra single was the first thing I picked up by them, from some distro kid at a show. I loved everything about the record: the songs, the minimalist packaging (hand-stamped sleeves), and the intriguing lyrics.

We want something besides I, Me, Him, Her, They...
To
decide or decline for new ideas or no ideas
I'm only preparing for total eclipse
And I'm not sorry for that anymore, anymore, anymore...

Live in Tokyo (photo by Nobu)

Blackflagsonicyouth outta the all-ages basement punk scene?

Endnote
1. Me and Kana will be in the States for a couple of weeks in June...any good shows? We'll be in San Francisco from the 9th 'till the 12th, driving down to and staying in Santa Barbara until the 14th. After that we fly out to the Boston area, stay a few nights and head to New York on the 19th and fly back to Narita on the 22nd from JFK.

Fucking crazy schedule...couldn't really take more days off.

We have tickets to Wilco's Berkeley show on the 11th and the BFD fest thingy the day before with Social Distortion/Hot Hot Heat/Kid 606/Sleater Kinney+a bunch of kiddy punk bands (which, hopefully, will not suck.) On the east coast, we somehow got tickets for the Pixies show in Boston on the 15th (which is, amazingly, still not sold out-were they that bad the last time around or are people just bored?)

Anyway, any info on cool shows/events in this timeline (June 9-22) would be much appreciated!

And hey, what are the best record shops (I'm talking VINYL!) in each area?

Remember when everyone had 4-tracks and recorded shitty songs in their rooms...

2005-05-16T19:57:00.000-07:00

~~Today~~ yesterday marked year one of n o b u l o g , which pretty much fucking blows my mind. Never thought that this would last this long or that you people, worldwide, would actually take the time to check it out. Thanks!

I actually remember the first mp3ish blog I came across. I totally forget what I was searching for (live Unwound or Fugazi, maybe,) but Bradley's Almanac came up and it was like, hey, music to download that:

A) didn't show up on all the usual sites (Insound/Amazon...)
B) didn't sound like shit (96 kbps)
C) and (most importantly) that didn't suck.

I went thru the various links and found Fluxblog, Largeheartedboy...all the while, thinking, "I totally want to do this. I have enough records!"
So I experimented with my Yahoo Japan account and found it to be shit. What to do? Went with .mac, found heaven, and here we are.

What to post on the anniversary? Thought about "Year One" by X, but, naah, everyone knows that tune. So, as I am somewhat intoxicated, I give you Gr@vy, which is...uhh, me.

I've always wanted to post something performed by myself...welcome to my mind (of 10+ years back).

Gravy
~~Don't Ask Why~~
Deernibus comp CD
Less Than TV 1995

I remember recording this stuff and the whole process. Waiting for everyone to leave the house, setting up the "studio" in the living room and having the cat watch (even though most of the time he was either fucking with the MTR or begging to leave the room once the recording started.)
Anyway, I recorded a bunch of songs, made a few tapes that I gave away at shows and somehow got one of them released on this comp.

Overall comment: somewhat embarrassing.

Couch Slouch

2005-05-13T06:37:00.000-07:00

Well, it is Friday The 13th...

Voorhees
~~Education~~
All For One...One For All comp CD (buy)
Grand Theft Audio 1995

UK hardcore circa 1995. Ex-straight edge kids on a thrash rampage. DRI rip off? Who cares, like, image the pit.

This was a benefit comp for Roger Miret of Agnostic Front...lots of great (mostly 80's old school) punk/hardcore, straight off long lost 7" and crappy demo tapes. AOD, BGK, Crucifix, The Proletariat, White Cross plus the lesser known (but equally awesome) Rebel Truth, Heart Attack, Zykome A, No Crisis, Plain Wrap...48 bands total.

Click! Voorhees (what's left of them) and Grand Theft Audio.

70's Japanese folk rock

2005-05-11T22:05:00.000-07:00

Kai Band
~~Bara Iro No Jinsei~~
Uragiri No Machikado 7"
Express/Toshiba EMI 1975

Kana and I went to the Yoyogi Koen Flea Market a few months ago. Picking thru all the overpriced hipster clothes and shit, we found a box of 7" vinyl singles. I didn't expect much, pretty much old enka and the like...but Kana did pick up a single by the Kai Band.
So we get back home, put the 45 on the turntable. The a side didn't do much for me, but I found the flipside to be somewhat, I dunno, soothing, I guess. The strings during the latter part of the song are nice.

A song to drink beer to

2005-04-29T08:42:00.000-07:00

Soul Asylum
~~Can't Go Back~~
Made To Be Broken LP (buy the CD from Insound)
Twin Tone 1986

Forget "Runaway Train." This is/was Soul Asylum.

Fifteen years later caught in time's incinerator
Yesterday's worries are today's
But the good times are so near just sitting back and drinking beer
You know I'm halfway down the road but I know that I still ain't there

Totallyfuckingawesome tune.

By far, the best Soul Asylum LP. Produced by Bob Mould.

Endnote
1. Mac users out there: how is Tiger? I'm still at 10.2.8. Thinking 'bout an upgrade.

Yet another quickie

2005-04-16T11:45:00.000-07:00

Lucero
~~Kiss The Bottle~~
My Best Girl 7"
Landmark 2000

After a few beers, some shochu and a million cigarettes, this is like the perfect song to post.

And, yeah, this is a Jawbreaker cover.

Endnotes
1. Lucero here.
2. R.I.P. Billy of Guitar Wolf.

A Product of Louisville, Kentucky

2005-03-22T10:05:00.000-08:00

King G And The J Krew
~~Freakazoid/No Parking On The Dance Floor/Ken~~
v/a Slamdek A To Z Book/CD (buy)
K Composite Media/Initial 1996

Who the fuck are King G And The J Krew, you may ask? From Mr. K. Scott Richter's memoirs of his label, Slamdek A To Z, which included a comp CD of some of the best stuff he has released.

One of King G and the J Krew’s most recognizable assets was their propensity to take the joke-turned-obsession to inconceivable levels. M.C. Crawdad was Jason Mueller, P. Control was Heather Cantrell, A. Frisbee was Aaron Frisbee, M.C. Diogenes was Jason Noble. This six minute epic, while seemingly ridiculous in concept, totally defines the word brilliant and exceeds the boundaries of the Louisville-on-Louisville genre this release created. This song was recorded while the band was in the process of creating their masterful Indestructible Songs of the Humpback Whale CD; a process that took about two years to complete. And that’s virtually every single day for two years. After the release of the CD, they began playing shows as a rock band under the name King Kid International. That incarnation had Jon Cook on drums, Tara O’Neil on bass, and Jeff Mueller and Jason Noble singing and playing guitar. King Kid Int’l became Rodan in December 1992.

King G to King Kid International to Rodan to June of 44 & Rachels & Shipping News to...

This song was originally released in 1991, on the Merry Christmas cassette compilation, on Slamdek. "Louisville bands pay tribute to their favorite other Louisville bands" being the concept of the tape. King G and the J Crew were "Louisville's own skinny, white, middle-class rappers," brought up in the punk scene. Thus, a Midnight Star/Slint hybrid cover.

The book itself is fascinating, not just documenting the typical record label shit: releases/bands/shows/guestlists...these fuckers actually organized+sponsored The Rockers, a high school girls' Field Hockey Team! Scott Ritcher plays on many of the bands featured on the included CD and went on to do graphic design for labels like Initial. Also ran for mayor of Louisville a few years back. Still getting himself in trouble with his hillarious Saint Clinton images.

Slamdek is dead, (both) ex-King G & Kid International personal are all over the place, Slint have reformed, Mr. Ritcher is one busy bee, while Midnight Star (well, sorta) is available for $11,999.

Endnote
1. Thanx to Strange Reaction for the link!

Sukapara!

2005-03-18T06:10:00.000-08:00

Quick post today.

Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra
~~Kanariya Naku Sora~~
Kanariya Naku Sora 7" (buy)
Justa Record/Cutting Edge 2001

Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra with Chiba Yusuke (ex Thee Michelle Gun Elephant/Rosso) on guest vocals. Play it at yr next party.

Have a good weekend!

What's with the apostrophe?

2005-03-15T18:51:00.000-08:00

Bl'ast!
~~Time To Think/Surf And Destroy~~
The Power Of Expression LP (buy)
Wishingwell/Roadrunner 1986

This has to be one of the most powerful hardcore LPs ever recorded, Bl'ast! out-Flag Greg Ginn and gang at times. Take the best of Black Flag/Corrosion Of Conformity/SSD and add the aggro of the mid 80s surf/skate scene...something like the The Power Of Expression will pop out.

This one opens side B:

~~Break It Down~~

This LP was later reissued on SST, of all labels and Bl'ast recorded a couple more for them before disbanding in the 90s. Seems that they played some reunion shows in 2001. More info here.

One huge walkman

2005-03-12T22:11:00.000-08:00

Just picked up a new (well, used) cheapo-stereo system, one of those made for teenager-all-in-one pieces of shit. No speakers, a tuner that does not pick up any FM, a CD player which I am somewhat scared to use and a double cassette deck!

Time to whip out those old lo-fi demos and live tapes.

Sonic Youth
~~Brother James~~
Live at Shinjuku Loft 2/8/1989 cassette

First song from Sonic Youth's debut show in Japan. Feel the energy. Daydream Nation tour. Do they still interact with the audience like this?

I got this from a friend of mine, along with two other cassettes from SY's other shows during that 1989 tour of Japan. One of these show was released as the boot Live In Japan. Don't know if it came from these tapes, though.

The "first stagediver/king of the pit" is rumored to be Zero, of the late-great Copass Grinderz.

Endnotes
1. Just realized Sonic Youth are playing in Tokyo in a few days...
2. Finally updated the sidebar. Thanks all, for the links.

A song about having sex with John Lennon

2005-03-06T08:06:00.000-08:00

Yoko Ono
~~Kiss Kiss Kiss~~
Double Fantasy LP (buy)
Geffen 1980

Though this is from a Lennon/Ono collaboration LP, this tune is pure art-damaged (in a good way!) Yoko. She must have been hanging 'round CBGB's and vicinity and caught the No Wave Scene...Plastics, anyone?

Endnote
1. Dinosaur w/Lou Barlow at Fuji Rock! Ah Sou?

Tina, Age 13 by Nobu, Age 34

2005-02-14T05:51:00.000-08:00

Tina, Age 13. I remember seeing these guys in San Francisco, at the Thirsty Swede on Haight Street. This was April 1994, I was in town with friends Volume Dealers and God's Guts, whom were playing a few dates in the Bay Area. Anyway, it was an off night for the two bands, so some of us decided to check out the Garlic Boys, another Japanese band on tour.
We show up at the club (which turned out to be this tiny bar/room) to a feedback/scream fest. A trio was on stage, the guitarist sporting a shaved head and playing what looked like to be the cheapest looking flying-v sold on the market. Totally out-of-tune, but somehow melodic? I was impressed, though a lot of my friends weren't.

Tina, Age 13
~~Empty Daisy Field~~
The Alcoholic Father Of My Inner Child EP (buy used Cheap!)
Broken Rekids 1995

That was from their 10" EP (packaged in a 12" sleeve), which was (somewhat) more produced and in-tune than...

Tina, Age 13
~~Sunday Morning~~
Pop Songs For Our Friends 7" EP
Broken Rekids 1994

"3 of 18 songs recorded in 6 hours...no instrumental overdubs"

Who would've noticed?

Tina, Age 13 also released 2 other art-damaged 7"s and a split single with Ovarian Trolley (remember them?) An unreleased album exists, who knows if it'll ever come out? Anyone?

Endnotes
1. Art from the bassist here and there.
2. I have no idea if we stayed for the Garlic Boys...no recollection...nothing! God's Guts and Volume Dealers played with them a few days later at Gilman, though. The tour was a blast!: hanging out at the Hickey mansion, El Farolito burritos/breakfast at Art's Cafe, Biafra coming to one of the shows, almost getting killed due to Sugai-kun's driving...plus, I got to see Jawbreaker! Thanks Devon+Jimbo for setting it up!
3. Happy Valentines!

Yeah You Know What It's All About...

2005-02-08T12:41:00.000-08:00

Anarchist noise merchants from hell with a pop fixation?

Love 666
~~XTC~~
XTC 7"
Amphetamine Reptile 1994

I love this tune. Have no fucking idea what they're ranting 'bout, though. "USD=115.74" sounds like the ¥=$ exchange rate.

For the curious, lyrics straight from the jacket:

Blue Sunlight Flashing Rain
5935 03
Kansas City 4/9/90 4 2
USD 115.74
Yeah You Know What It's All About
What It's All About
XTC
South Midnight Oklahoma Turnpike
38. 7/8
Charlie Parker 68/2
H4 02001
Yeah You Know What It's All About
XTC

Uh, like, yeah.

Bonus tune/rant.

Love 666
~~Preparation For Combat~~
American Revolution LP (buy)
Amphetamine Reptile 1995

Preparation for combat isn't just necessary,, it's everything...know your enemy...violence in the streets...self-fucking destruction...it is the story of revolution...painful...
...it can't happen here
... Selfish-Greedy -Lying-Mutherfucking-Power Elitist...in a country where it's legal to own automatic assault weapons, politicians and CEO's look like pop-up-targets down on range

Know your enemy, know your enemy...

Tokyo Incident

2005-01-24T09:47:00.000-08:00

I tend to shy away from J-Pop. You know, the top 40 single fluff, mindless teenie-bop-idol-made for karaoke product that is endlessly marketed to the youth of Japan.

But, hey, Shina Ringo ain't that bad.

Tokyo Jihen
~~Sonan~~
Sonan CDEP (buy)
Toshiba EMI 2004

Second single from Tokyo Jihen, Shina Ringo's new band.

Endnotes
1. Who is Shina Ringo? More here.
2. Tokyo Jihen info here.
3. Shina's official site (way Japanese + you can watch her dimple fall off her face!)
4. Thanx for the links...everyone will be listed next time.
5. Coming soon, a post from Kana (my soulmate)...Chinese indie rock?

Alex Soria 1966-2004

2005-01-11T21:25:00.000-08:00

Sorry to start off the new year with a sad note, but I just found out that Alex Soria of Montreal, Canada's Nils passed away last month. This goes out to him and his loved ones...what a great song.

Nils
~~Daylight~~
Sell Out Young 12" EP
Psyche Industry 1985

You can get the discography CD that Mag Wheel put out here from Interpunk.
Alex Soria remembered here and here.

Endnote
1. On a lighter note, Bruce Wingate (ex. Adrenalin O.D.) emailed with comments about recording for the Party Or Go Home compilation.

The night we recorded for it was my first night as a member of ADRENALIN OD. (Though we all had played together previously in various incarnations). We recorded the track in some hippie's basement in Lodi, New Jersey and in a harbinger of things to come I stepped in a pile of dogshit on my way in the door! I suspect all Mystic records were made this way.

Thank you Mr. Wingate! Check out Bruce's current band, Brunch Mummies! And his blog.

Friday Hardcore

2004-12-23T08:59:00.000-08:00

Hey! The B-Side of the We Got Party comp. (Finally!)

7 Seconds
~~Wasted Life Ain't No Crime~~

A skeno classic.

Jack Shit
~~Follow The Leader~~

A 7 Seconds offshoot (Steve Youth/Troy?...), with a kickass tune.

HEY, A bonus song!

Somehow forgot this clasic thrash tune from the A Side.

The Vacant
~~Caught By The Mafia~~

How could you not like a 19 second song called Caught By The Mafia?

All from
We Got Power, Party Or Go Home compilation LP
Mystic 1983

Fuck it, too much wine tonight...happy holidays!

Hey, maybe I'm just tired?

2004-12-07T09:30:00.000-08:00

After a six day work week, this tune seemed, somewhat appropriate.

Mr. Lif
~~Live From The Plantation~~
I Phantom CD (buy)
Definitive Jux 2002

"The purpose of our life is just to serve the economy
They misinform our minds to paint a picture of harmony
But if you listen then you know that shit's out of tune
Cuz the function of our life is just to work and consume"

Endnote
1. Watch the video here.

(late) Friday Hardcore

2004-12-03T08:34:00.000-08:00

Mystic Records. A label hated by countless bands. Records covetingly preserved by fans of early 80s US (mostly Southern Californian) hardcore. Nardcore! The Super 7 series! Endless samplers! Anything to fatten up owner Doug Moody's wallet?

Questionable business practices aside, Mystic did put out some rad records. RKL, Ill Repute, Battalion Of Saints, the Nardcore comp, the Doggy Style 7"...anyone remember "Donut Shop Rock"?

Mystic had this thing for compilations: it almost seems like that half of their discography was made up of records collecting no-fi, two chord hardcore from various scenes. My favorite being, the We Got Power, Party Or Go Home LP.

Compiled by Dave Markey (Sin 34/1991: The Year Punk Broke) from We Got Power! Fanzine. Some of the best tunes from the side A. The flipside will come next week.

Ill Repute
~~Count The Odds~~

Hailing from Oxnard, California: Nardcore. The What Happens Next 12" is a classic. Pick it up, if you can.

Putrid Girls
~~1 2 3 4~~

Who are these people? Do they have anything else out? Fucking ace!

Rebel Truth
~~Monkey's Paw~~

Outta Sacramento. Great melodic, political hardcore. Check the discography CD out on Grand Theft Audio.

Willful Neglect
~~E. M. S. & D.~~

Eat My Shit & Die. Great HC from Minnesota. More info here.

All from
We Got Power, Party Or Go Home compilation LP
Mystic 1983

Other great bands on side a: The Authorities, The Nip Drivers, White Flag, White Cross, Fuck Ups, The Vacant, Adrenalin O.D., Big Boys + Sin 34. More info on the comp.

Endnotes
1. "Read the mag that made the compilation famous" here.
2. One day, Mystic will get around to finishing their site.

Ship out on the sea...Happy place to be!

2004-12-02T06:25:00.000-08:00

King Kong
~~Dirty City Rainy Day~~
Funny Farm CD (buy)
Drag City 1993

Indie/B-52's/Calvin Johnson/caveman rock. And yeah, with a (funk) edge. Without doubt, the most retarded band with ex-Slint personal.

Endnotes
1. King Kong, the web site.
2. Saw a !!! offshoot band, Free Blood, the other night. They pretty much sucked. A karaoke party gone bad. Equipment failure, shit like that. Didn't help that Melt Banana was opening. It was sorta funny, though...they knew they sucked, thanked the crowd for their politeness and waited/wanted the heckling to start. "Where are the hecklers?!!!"

Sub Pop singles were pretty cool...

2004-11-27T09:24:00.000-08:00

The Fluid
~~Tomorrow~~
Tin Top Toy 7"
Sub Pop 1990

Sub Pop have always been a singles label, well, at least for me. The Nirvana "Sliver" single, Dinosaur's "The Wagon", Six Finger Satellite, Fugazi, Lou Barlow, RFTC...hell, even Velocity Girl's "Crazy Town" (I luved the flipside, "Creepy").

The Dwarves, anyone?

Anyway, I picked this single (The Fluid) up in the used 7" bin at Epicenter (RIP) in San Francisco for $2, in '95. A bargin for me, I had been searching for this 7" for a couple of years...nowadays, in Japan, I see this in the 10 singles for ¥500 corner...oh well.

A great melodic/punk rock tune. The b-side to "Tin Top Toy" 7".

What's your favorite Sub Pop single? Mine would be SP155, Codeine's "Realize/Broken Hearted Wine" 7". Answers in comments, please!

Endnote
1. The Fluid=ex punx outa Colorado, The Frantix.

A Penguin with a Backpack!

2004-11-24T13:37:00.000-08:00

Eleki Buran
~~Cauliflower~~
ZK Samplers comp CD
ZK 1992

Surfers Of Romantica
~~Bo Bo 67~~
ZK Samplers comp CD
ZK 1992

I (kinda) remember going to the release show/party for this compilation, at a club in Yoyogi. To tell you the truth, Eleki Buran was the only band I truly remember (hey, you have to like...socialize, ya know!) They were pretty awesome; a female rhythm section and some dude on vocals/guitar...I totally fell in love with this song. UK-ish shoegazer/pop? With a Japanese edge?

Don't remember if Surfers Of Romantica (or Yu, Sunshine Superscum, UFO Or Die, Gazi...any of the other great bands on the CD) played. But the Surfers tune is pretty kool...Japanoise+US hardcore+an Eye fetish.

Endnotes
1. Please don't ask why I'm posting at 6:30 AM. It's been a long day.

Sorry, no music tonight

2004-11-21T08:30:00.000-08:00

If you voted for Koizumi, Bush, Blair...go here.

Heartbreaking. This shit has to stop.

(Graphic content)

Ben Deily's Lemonheads/Pods

2004-11-16T20:47:00.000-08:00

I was a huge Lemonheads fan, well, until they started to sorta suck in the early/mid 90s. The first 3 Taang! LPs were awesome, from their "razor sharp" punk beginnings to their more held back indie rock days of 1989's Lick. Though I enjoy some of their later stuff (It's A Shame About Ray, in particular) the first 3 with the Ben Deily/Evan Dando combo are still records I listen to today.

Back in 1987, Taang! put out a cassette compilation/sampler called A Fist Full o' Hits. A great comp, with stuff by Mission of Burma, Outlets, Oysters, Jerry's Kids, DYS, Ganggreen, and, uhh, Kilslug? Plus, two new Boston area bands, Bullet LaVolta and Lemonheads. I remember making dubs of the Lemonheads' track, "Second Chance," for my friends and raging about them. So when Hate Your Friends finally came out later that year, I had a new favorite record.

Lemonheads
~~Uhhh~~
Hate Your Friends LP (buy)
Taang! 1987

Moody and dark, Creator didn't really click for me when I first got it. The Lemonheads were in their post-Hüsker Dü phase, slower songs with...acoustic guitars! (Though this song has a nice beat.) Not a LP for a DRI loving guy like me.
Nowadays, Creator is my favorite Lemonheads LP.

Lemonheads
~~Two Weeks In Another Town~~
Creator LP (buy)
Taang! 1988

All of these songs are Ben's: I've always liked his songs/voice over Evan's. So it was sort of sad when Ben left the band and Evan became an indie rock idol/crack addict. Ben Deily went on to form the Pods who put out a 7" and a CD, both of which included this bitter, rocking song about the two's breakup.

Pods
~~Name In Vain~~
Where I'm Calling From CD
self released 1994

Endnotes
1. Ben Deily has a page (literally).
2. Thanks for the links! Pop Is Pablum, the mp3 blogs aggregator (which, mysteriously, seems to be down) and the Web Nymph aggregator.

When did "emo" become emo?

2004-11-13T06:45:00.000-08:00

The Hated
~~Less Than Nothing~~
What Was Behind LP
Vermin Scum 1992

The Hated was one of Daniel Littleton's pre-Ida bands, mid to late 80s. Out of Maryland, it's sort of surprising that they weren't lumped in with the rest of the Revolution Summer crowd (Rites of Spring, Gray Matter, Embrace, Dag Nasty, yeah yeah yeah...) being located so close to DC. Why no Dischord release? Who knows? Not being from DC, no original harDCore people from the early Dischord years...maybe they sucked live?

Does anyone want to send me their 7"?

Endnotes
1. What Was Behind was originally the No More We Cry demo from 1986, released posthumously in 92. Vermin Scum apparently pressed the LP at the wrong speed, slightly slower. I've fiddled around with the pitch control on my turntable - hey, maybe this is how this track is meant to be heard. If Troubleman ever releases the Hated discography in our lifetimes, maybe we'll figure it all out.
2. The Hated tribute page.
3. The Wrangler Brutes LP is pretty rocking. Japan tour next month!

You filthy ape! You stinking ape!

2004-11-10T18:04:00.000-08:00

A gang of drunk freaks wrapped in toilet paper, heckling the kids at Gilman, who, probably have no idea what the shit is going on. No-fi garage "budget rock." Fucks you would NOT want to be friends with. I give you...

The Mummies
~~(You Must Fight To Live) On The Planet Of The Apes~~
You Must Fight To Live On The Planet Of The Apes 7"
Sympathy For The Record Industry 1993

I guess most of their stuff has been re-released in the CD format (buy from Insound), even though the band despised them. Even have a web site.

Would probably kick Jack White's ass.

Here's to another four years...

2004-11-04T06:46:00.000-08:00

Time Zone
~~World Destruction~~
World Destruction 12"
Celluloid/Virgin 1984

John Lydon and Afrika Bambaataa, with Bill Laswell on bass. Welcoming in another four years of the ~~Reagan~~ Bush era.

Fucker.

Jun Togawa

2004-10-31T23:04:00.000-08:00

Togawa Jun
~~Suki Suki Daisuki~~
Suki Suki Daisuki CD
Alpha Music 1985

Once, an offbeat, new wavy, (semi) idol pop singer. The Japanese word, ayashii, fits perfectly. Idol-voice to operatic weirdness to her shrieking "Say you love me or I will kill you!"

She still releases stuff and plays shows with her band, which includes Hoppy Kamiyama and the drummer from Ruins. I have yet to listen to her recent work, but, I would think, with that kind of lineup, that she's a bit more experimental these days.

November 8 update!
This track is now a mp3 file, so everyone should be able to listen.

Friday (acappella) Hardcore

2004-10-29T07:35:00.000-07:00

Jud Jud
~~X Dive Bomb Song X~~
XThe DemosX 7"
No Idea 1999

The greatest Straight Edge Hardcore band of all time? True 'till death? Godfathers of the X?
From the insert:

Our lyrics have always been the most important part of JUD JUD. We write them separately and feel that it is necessary to print what each of us has to say. These words represent values, ideals, friendships and motivation. They define who we are. Thanxxx to everyone who has supported us over the years. You have made our dreams a reality. Go!

Uhh, back on Earth, these two freaks (Left Jud=Steve, Right Jud=B) probably had a few beers and started messing around with the four-track. Somehow talked the good people at No Idea into releasing it.
I thought this was hilarious the first time I heard this single, BGM at a hardcore show.

Can't wait for the emo version.

Our Casey Kasem...?

2004-10-26T12:00:00.000-07:00

Sonic Youth
~~Psycho Mafia~~
Peel Session
BBC Radio 1988

A Fall cover.

R.I.P. John Peel.

So dark...

2004-10-25T07:02:00.000-07:00

Julee Cruise
~~Into The Night~~
Twin Peaks soundtrack CD (buy)
Warner Brothers 1990

We have been watching Twin Peaks on video for the last few weeks...I think I've got Kana hooked. I mean, what's not to like? Bizarre storyline, some truly memorable and fucked up characters (remember the Log Lady? Nadine?) and some great music.
This tune (written by Angelo Badalamenti/lyrics by the man himself, David Lynch) is pretty much like the series itself: dark, dreamy and mysterious.

Bonus song!

The Wedding Present
~~Falling~~
Hit Parade I CD (buy)
RCA 1992

Another Cruise/Badalamenti/Lynch collaboration for the series, covered by Gedge and co for the b-side of their Silver Shorts 7". Compiled on the Hit Parade I CD. Good stuff, enjoy!

Fucking Post-Grad Kids!

2004-10-15T10:12:00.000-07:00

Nothing Painted Blue
~~Weak~~
Placeholders CD (buy)
Scat 1994

Indie wimp rock, circa 1994. Small Factory, Versus, Tsunami...Unrest! Stuff you really liked, but couldn't really mention at a Gauze/Los Crudos/Infest! show, youknowwhatimean.

(Anyone remember Velocity Girl?)

Yeah, ØPB rocked (this is one of their more upbeat tunes,) Franklin Bruno has an ace voice. Anyone know what's going on with him?

Endnotes

1. I'm back on the net for like 2 days, and, like, what the fuck? Slint is back together! So what's the weather like in England in February?

Good Morning, Good Day

2004-10-12T12:13:00.000-07:00

Hey!
It's been a while, what's up? Finally back on-line, after a semi-nightmarish couple of weeks getting a phone line and re-routing the broadband connection.
A month and a half without internet access...Actually, it wasn't that bad. I sorta missed the inane convenience of the net, you know, shit you don't need to know, but, have to know. The thing I did miss was the daily run thru my favorite mp3 blogs, you know, didn't wanna miss anything kool.

Didn't miss the 2500+ emails (95% junk), though.

Anyway, rock out!

The Elephant Kashimashi
~~Ohayou Konnichiwa~~
II CD (buy)
CBS/Sony 1988

Kashimashi, loosely translated as loud or obnoxious. This guy has a fuckin throat. Vision the spittle hitting the kids in the first row. Uhh, yeah. Still together, though their recent stuff doesn't have the intensity of this track.

Another thing I don't miss about the internet, staying up until 4AM posting. See you and good night.

"After the fucking concert, let's go across the freeway and get a drink. What do you say?"

2004-08-24T03:13:00.000-07:00

I'm moving in a few days so this will probably be my last post for a while. I found this tape going through all the junk I have to pack.

Van Halen
~~You Really Got Me/Happy Trails~~
live at the US Festival 1983

I taped this off of KMET, one of the hard rock (now classic?) FM stations (along with KLOS) that we used to listen to, you know, like constantly. From what I can remember, this was part of a Van Halen Weekend type deal promoting the (then) just released 1984. Considering that this cassette is 20 years old and my tape deck is at least 15, this sounds pretty good. Eddie's rad guitar wizardry and David Lee Roth's off kilter/key shrieks...get back together already, dammit!

Endnotes
1. Remember the KMET bumper stickers? KLOS too. The status symbols for Southern California stoners crusing down 101. Wouldn't be surprised if they were a huge cop magnet also.

2. Anyone have any moving tips? How to make a small rooms seem larger? Cool+cheap LP racks? Mirror ball or no mirror ball? (I'm sorta kidding on that one.) A free fridge?

3. My new neighborhood.

4. Shout outs to An Idiot's Guide To Dreaming and the Largehearted Boy for the links and nice comments.

5. As the song goes, "Happy trails to you, until we meet again...." Later!

The water is black as a frying pan...

2004-08-12T11:07:00.000-07:00

Superunit
~~Kettle Lake~~
Bad Sun Rising II comp CD
Nipp Guitar 1995

Yeah...Superunit. One of the lamer monikers in indie rock history. Intentional? You never know with Albini on board.

This is basically Steve Albini on guitar/vocals with Zeni Geva. Pre-Shellac. He was in Japan to engineer/produce a handful of bands, sometime in 94 or so, and two songs were recorded with ZG. I actually met him at one of the recording sessions, interpretating/interviewing him for some zine.
Don't believe the hype, Steve Albini is a nice guy. Funny, too.
Post interview:

me: So what's up with the singer from Squirrel Bait?
SA: He's in some frat rock band. They suck.

Albini played a couple of shows with Zeni Geva and came back a few years later with Shellac. Missed both shows. Oh well.

Endnotes
1. Great comp. Volume Dealers, UFO Or Die, Boredoms, Funhouse, Ruins, Omoide Hatoba, Maria Kannon, and Zeni Geva+Steve Albini. Sadly, out of print, from what I could gather. More Nipp Guitar info here.
2. Maybe it's just me, but doesn't this sorta sound Slint influenced? Storyline lyrics, loud/soft dynamics, screaming at the end, ala "Good Morning, Captain". Steve Albini loved Spiderland.
3. The Fiery Furnaces, !!!, and The Pixies at the Fuji Rock Festival.

Pipe+Small: Two Split 7"s

2004-08-11T22:47:00.000-07:00

Pipe and Small. Two bands out of North Carolina, early ninties. They shared drummers and a guitarist...hell, they probably shared the van too. Small were more melodic and indie while Pipe were the fucking punx.

Pipe
~~Submariner~~
Pipe/Small split 7"
Matt Label 1991

Small 23
~~Chew It Down~~
Small 23/J Church split 7"
Honey Bear 1994

I always thought that Small (or Small 23, as they were sometimes known) would break, ala Superchunk. Chapel Hill was supposed to be the new Seattle, right? Plus, Small's drummer, Chuck, was Superchunk's original drummer. Anyone know what happened to them?

You gotta love the Pipe tune. Total spazz out vocals during the bridge. Went on to release stuff on Merge.

BTW, both of these songs appear on a compilation video that came out way back then, focusing on North Carolina bands. You know the lineup: Superchunk, Polvo, Archers of Loaf, etc...

So cool, so cruel

2004-08-02T09:54:00.000-07:00

Another quickie.

Korea Girl
~~Reunion~~
The Complete Discography CD
Asian Man Japan 2000

Reunions. Does anyone really like going to one of these things? Seeing long lost friends is cool, but...the assholes you really hated in high school or whatever. Would you honestly like to see them again?

Luv these lyrics:

Why would I spend more time
With people that I hate
Couldn't wait to leave behind
Would we dance? Make a toast?
As you boast about the things that you haven't done
Oh joy, what thrills, the fun, fun

Beautiful, you were popular
In school
So cool
So cruel

同窓会っていやだよね。仲がいいやつと久々会うのはいいけど、嫌いなやつは・・・そんな曲です。

Endnotes
1. Got this CD from a guy that used to run Asian Man Japan, which are no more, from what I can tell. He does design work, check out the Republic of Regina site here. Plus, photos of Japanese bands Envy, Manfriday, Kulara...
2. !!! were great in Ebisu. It would have been awesome to see them at Fuji Rock, though: imagine thousands of people screaming, "CAN YOU FEEL IT INTENSIFY!!!" More later.

Skate and Destroy

2004-07-29T23:37:00.000-07:00

Friday Hardcore

I used to hang out at a skate shop in Shimokitazawa called Violent Grind. After school, Grind was the place to hang out: we could skate, listen to punk rock records, get totally fucked up...hey, it was paradise for us high school kids. Mudafukin Pushead designed the logo for the place! How more hardcore can you get?

(Duh)

Anyway, though getting plastered every other few days was sorta fun, another reason we showed up was that we could watch the latest skate videos...for like, free. Remember The Search For Animal Chin? Ban This? H-Street, Alva videos?

Neil Blender quitting mid-way in some contest to spray paint some of his art work onto a ramp was immensely cool. (Does anyone remember which video this was from?)

We watched these things endlessly. And most of the soundtracks featured punk rock.

The Faction
~~Skate And Destroy~~
The Faction Collection 1982-1985 CD (buy)
Goldenrod 1995

To tell you the truth, I have no idea which video (if any) this was included on. But with Steve Caballero on board (no pun intended, I swear) it must be on one.

McRad
~~Weakness~~
Absence Of Sanity CD (buy)
Uprising 2001

Stupid assed name and they sound like the Offspring. But put together will Ray Barbee's awesome street skating in Ban This (I think), this song is pretty good.

The Odd Numbers
~~Little Kings And Queens~~
Jazz Cigarettes LP
Munster 1996

Again, another song from some skate video. Mods. Maybe from a Santa Cruz Video?

I used to be able to ollie.

Emerald, Sapphire and Gold

2004-07-28T22:35:00.000-07:00

ESG
~~Erase You~~
A South Bronx Story CD (buy from Forced Exposure)
Universal Sound 2001

The four Scroggins sister plus cousin Tito. Sparse, minimalist funk. This song is from 1991's self titled 2nd LP, parts of which are compiled with their more well known earlier releases on the Universal Sound CD. Are still together, they put out a CD on Soul Jazz a few years ago.

When's the last time you liked a song with a guy barking like a dog?

Bonus song!
To commemorate !!!'s first Tokyo show tomorrow, here's a song from their debut 7".

!!!
~~The Dis-Ease~~
The Dis-Ease/The Funky Branca 7"
Hopscotch 1998

You can still hear their punk/hardcore roots. Doubt they'll be playing this one tomorrow.

Endnotes
1. Check out Something I Learned Today... Great stuff focusing on punk/garage/hardcore. Christ On A Crutch! Haven't heard that name in ages.

2. Finally updated the links. Thanks again.

Material+Fuji Rock

2004-07-23T03:51:00.000-07:00

Material
~~Square Dance~~
Memory Serves LP
Celluloid/CBS Sony 1982

Bill Laswell and gang. Jazzyfunkskronk. Check it out, you'll like it.

Endnotes
1. Laswell will be playing at this year's Fuji Rock Festival with Praxis, which kicks off next week. The lineup this year is pretty good: Pixies, Fiery Furnaces, !!!, the Stills, Lou Reed, Dizzee Rascal, Franz Ferdinand, Basement Jaxx, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, White Stripes...you get the picture. Plus, Shina Ringo's new band Tokyo Jihen, Tha Blue Herb mixmaster O.N.O., Boredoms' offshoot Omoide Hatoba, old school punks Aburadako, and way old school Mentai Rock band the Roosters, playing one last show.

I'm not attending.

Spending three days stuck in the mountains of Niigata with tens of thousands of raving drunks is not my idea of fun. Yes, there are NO one day passes: all tickets cover the full three days. If I had ¥36,000/$330 US (not including parking/camp fees) to spare, I might check out a day.

BTW, Niigata is hundreds of kilos from Fujisan, the mountain the fest is named after.

TIALTNGO

2004-07-22T12:12:00.000-07:00

(Post) Hardcore Friday

(photo by nobu)

There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
~~非常事態 (Emergency Situation)~~
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out/Vanilla split CD (buy from Dim Mak)
Grok Plastique 2002

Post hardcore/emo from Tokyo. They were great and are no more.

That's all, I need some sleep. The new blogger editor seems to like to eat posts.

Hai Yah!!!

2004-07-18T05:13:00.000-07:00

(image borrowed from skatepunk.net)

Supernova
~~Calling Hong Kong~~
Pop As A Weapon CD
Sympathy For The Record Industry 2000

I saw these guys at Bimbo's in San Francisco in the mid 90's, opening for the Buzzcocks. Supernova were great, definitely one of the more fun shows I've attended. Band heckles crowd. Crowd heckles band. Supernova rag on the Buzzcocks ("The old farts are next...The Buzzcocks suck!")
A good portion of the crowd were decked out in hand-made aluminum foil space gear and helmets: dress code for Supernova fans. You see, the band were self proclaimed aliens, from uh...Cynot 3, who had crash landed on Earth (the Mojave Desert, to be exact.) They couldn't get home: fuck it, they decided to conquer the planet thru punk rock.

So, yeah, maybe they didn't succeed.

Supernova went on to release two albums and a video on Amphetamine Reptile (of all labels!) plus a single and a 5" record on Sympathy. The original guitarist moved on to Man Or Astroman? and Servotron. Alien to robot.

This song was originally from Supernova's second 7", from Goldenrod Records. The SFTRI CD nicely compiles most of the early singles, including "Chewbaca", which was featured in Kevin Smith's film, Clerks.

Endnotes
1. Thanks are due, once again, to the Tofu Hut for the post/link @ Monkey Filter.

POL POT!!!

2004-07-15T08:53:00.000-07:00

(sorta) Hardcore Friday.

DJ Lebowitz
~~Holiday In Cambodia~~
Beautiful Happiness comp LP
Shigaku/Sounds 1988

As he points out on his site, no, he is not a DJ, but the "ROCKINEST PIANO PLAYER IN THE WORLD." Still active, DJ Lebowitz plays bars in the Bay Area, belting out instrumental piano versions of, uh, classics by 7 Seconds (Racism Sucks), Ramones (Judy Is A Punk), Black Flag (Jealous Again)...according to him, he can whip out over 2000 covers.

Plus, he has originals.

This is one of his covers though, a Dead Kennedys tune. Taken off a compilation that Sounds, a long gone British rock weekly, put together. Though it seems to be marketed as a US/HC comp, post-punk prevails. Halo of Flies, Naked Raygun, Bullet LaVolta, Live Skull, Bastards...the only real HC is from Stikky (pre-Spazz) and the Disappointments.

A great, demented song from Art Phag also.

Outlet Store CRAP

2004-07-11T07:44:00.000-07:00

There is a thrift store near my house called...Crap. The owner caught me taking this photo on my phone, it was pretty hilarious. I swear, he had the beginnings of a smirk/smile on his mug.

And yes, what they had was the shit. Unfortunately, the bad kind.

Endnotes
1. Thank you Royal Music for the link.

A somewhat reddish black

2004-07-08T09:34:00.000-07:00

Raven
~~Demonstration~~
Kagirinaku Aka ni Chikai Kuro CD (buy)
Universal 2004

This CD was mentioned in one of my first posts: Chiba Yusuke/Thee Michelle Gun Elephant etc...go here. To recap; solo project/album from Terui Toshiyuki, ex-bassist of Blankey Jet City and Chiba side band Rosso.
Most of the songs feature Chiba on vocals, this one is a rare departure. Terui on vocals and guitar, Yuko on main vocals and Yamaoka Koji on Jim O'Rourke.

Endnotes
1. Nice article about mp3 blogs here.
(via The Tofu Hut)
Luv this post from Tofu-san:

I'm a bit tired with the whole "not targeted by the RIAA... YET" chickenlittle vibe that always accompanies any conversation about musicblogging. Our intentions are clear; our willingness to take down any tracks that anyone considers misappropriated are regularly stated (and, when necessary, obliged); our audience is confined to a small host of devotees and we're not making money on this enterprise, WE'RE SPENDING MONEY TO PROMOTE ARTISTS WE LOVE. So what's the problem?

I certainly hope I won't be proven wrong, but I think the music industry has come to realize that fans are not the problem, they're the solution. We aren't napster. We aren't Kazaa. We are, in fact, manna from heaven: intelligent tastemakers that encourage buying from label catalogs and hype up unknown or new artists. In a more rational world, we'd be getting payola.

Yes, TOFU power!
2. And to totally fucking negate the above: dude, are there any stereo versions of the Antics, you know, like, available? I...have...mono.
3. Got tickets for !!!'s show at the new Liquid Room in Ebisu. OOIOO is opening.
!!!+OOIOO...a rock show or computer code gone haywire?

I guess I'd like the hot bread, you can't go wrong w/ a name (?)

2004-07-04T21:15:00.000-07:00

Gastr del Sol
~~Work From Smoke~~
Crookt, Crackt, Or Fly CD (buy)
Drag City 1994

The new Wilco disc and Jim O'Rourke's contributions have got me listening to Gastr del Sol once again. I don't think I have put this thing on in quite awhile: it was nice subway-commute-headphone music, especially this song. You can sort of get lost in the intertwining guitars and forget about work or whatever.

Does anyone know what's up with David Grubb's lyrics?

Endnotes
1. Thank you The Tofu Hut and strange fruit for the links!

Dead punx & a cork placemat to put your beer on

2004-07-02T05:53:00.000-07:00

Friday hardcore.

Battalion Of Saints
~~Second Coming~~
2nd Coming 7"
Mystic 1983

From the pits of San Diego. All out, nihilistic punkers. Most of 'em are dead. Oh well.

Endnotes
1. Picked up two records today, the new Wilco and the Los Crudos/MK-Ultra split 7". I got the ultimate promotion item today with A Ghost Is Born...a coaster. A fucking Wilco coaster!

You people be jealous!!!

Working Holiday?

2004-06-30T04:29:00.000-07:00

I'm off today, but sorta working from home. This song is sooo happy, it (almost) makes it OK.

The Coctails
~~Working Holiday~~
Working Holiday compilation 2xCD (buy)
Simple Machines 1994

This is from a compilation of a series of split 7" Simple Machines put out monthly in 93. Each song was to be dedicated to a holiday that corresponded to the month it was released. Someone was bound to flake, so Simple Machines had the Coctails record a song that:

...wasn't holiday-specific, one that could be slipped into any month if need be...Need did be and the song soon became the toe tappin', whistlin' theme for March!

On Liz Phair (the flake):

Liz Phair, what can we say? Initially she promised to do the series through a mutual friend who said she wanted to do a song about some Icelandic holiday where kids demand treats and if they don't get them they hit you with colorful sticks. As the deadline approached, we tried to contact her directly but she was phoneless. We left messages at her studio, her job, her parents. When we finally found her she denied having ever heard of the project, but she liked the idea and hung up promising a track. That was the last we heard from her.

(Both quotes from the liner notes)

I didn't care, I was never into her anyway and the Coctails's song is the best on the CD. Great stuff also from Codeine, Scrawl, Lois, Small Factory, Versus, Nothing Painted Blue, Lungfish, Caterpillar... The early pressings also came with a live CD recorded of the Working Holiday show commemorating the end of the series. Worth it alone for MC Jason Nobles's hilarious band introductions. Plus an unreleased Rodan tune.

Endnotes
1. The Coctail's Trouser Press page here.
2. Though no longer an active label, go here for more Simple Machines info.
3. One more thing, I have two comments that don't show up on Haloscan's comment field. This is for June 21st's post. It should read "comments (2)" but all I have is a big, fat (0).
Help! Please! Leave a...uhh, comment...!
July 7 Update
The comments suddenly showed up a few days ago. WTF?

Hardcore Friday

2004-06-24T12:20:00.000-07:00

A two second long blast to a five minute sludge-fest. Sweat. Stage diving to an empty floor. Bruises. Cuts. Spikes. Fights. Drinking. Skinheads. 7"s. 12"s. RECORDS! Fanzines. The "scene". Maximum Rock'N'Roll. Enemies. Friends.

This is Hardcore.

Friday's tunes will be hardcore.

Why?

1. Punk and hardcore was the music I grew up on in my later teenage years. 30, 40, 50, years from now, Gauze, DRI, Rites of Spring, SIC, Husker Du, FVK, Ill Repute, RKL, Lip Cream; even Los Crudos and Constantine Sankathi, will be a part of my heart.

2. Nothing compares to getting a hand written letter from Mr. Chi Pig (SNFU) and Kurt from DRI when you are like, 16.

3. I was, like, so into the idea of punk. You know. Kids making music. Kids into change. Kids fucking shit up.

It's sort of sad how those ideals die out when you get a job.

(4). I have totally swiped this idea from The Mystical Beast's "No Wave Friday".

Sorry.

Scream
~~Solidarity~~
Still Screaming
Dischord 1982

From the outskirts of DC. One of my top five hardcore songs. Like a friend of mine told me,
"How can you go wrong with a chorus of 'It's just a love story/Solidarity!'"

Yes.

Years before Dave Grohl joined.

Endnotes
1. Check the latest Maximum Rock'N'Roll Radio Show for current hc/punk. Some of it is actually good. Go here.
2. Kill From The Heart. Best site for eighties hc/punk. Loads of info.

P-Model + El-P + another P?

2004-06-20T11:23:00.000-07:00

A couple of songs today.

P-Model
~~Art Mania~~
In A Model Room
Warner Music 1979

The first time I heard this song was at a karaoke joint, of all places. There were only three of us left, drunk and bored of my lame assed attempts at Outkast! and Slayer.

In the real world, I despise karaoke. Get a few drinks in me and you will not get the mike out of my hands.

Anyway, Kage puts in this song and it's like, "Who the fuck are these guys?" It turns out that P-Model were a late seventies/early eighties techno pop band out of Tokyo. This song is from 1992's CD re-release of their first LP, In A Model Room. Produced by someone from the Plastics.
They are apparently still around in some form or another.

El-P featuring Cage
~~Oxycontin Part 2~~
Definitive Jux Presents III CD (buy)
Definitive Jux 2004

I love the chimes on this song, sort of gives it a trippy edge? From the newest Def Jux compilation, El-P teaming up with newcomer Cage. Seems to be a story in progress...don't know if there is a Oxycontin Part 1. The rap sort of seems to end without much of a conclusion...maybe Part 3 is in the works?

じつは、三つ目のPはピクシーズの１０何年ぶりの新曲！日本ではまだダウンロードできない。今の所はアメリカとヨーロッパのiTunesのMusic Storeのみ。いつ日本にMusic Storeが登場するんですかね？とりあえず、キムが歌う新曲はここ。

Endnotes
1. P-Model
2. Def Jux

...your friends don't dance, and if they don't dance, well, they're no friends of mine...

2004-06-13T12:19:00.000-07:00

Quick post today.

Men Without Hats
~~The Safety Dance~~
Rhythm Of Youth LP
Backstreet/MCA 1983

Remember this song from way back then? The first time I heard it, "Goofy" was the word that popped up in my mind. But it was on the radio (and MTV), like, every other hour...it grew on me. Couldn't resist picking it up a few years ago.

The Lcd Soundsystem of the eighties?

Endnotes
1. A Mission Of Burma article here.

Hell Week+Seam & Mac

2004-06-12T09:55:00.000-07:00

This week has been...well, not too good. Kana, a close friend, gets mugged, sleep is rare and work is hell. One bright spot, Japan clobbered India in a World Cup Qualifier (we're talking soccer, for you Americanoes!)

Enough excuses, back to the ROCK.

Seam@Reckless Records/Chicago/10.2.98
(photo by me)

In 1993, Seam released one of my favorite LPs, The Problem With Me. This definitely influenced the whole emo genre. The whole loud/soft dynamic, softly spoken/cried out vocals bit. (Which were probably swiped from friends Codeine and Slint.)

Don't think they rolled around on the stage, though.

Anyway, Seam had put out a LP and a couple of singles before TPWM, original members being Sooyoung Park (ex-Bitch Magnet) on vocals/guitar, Lexi Mitchell (ex-The Lillies) on bass and Mac McCaughan on drums.

Yeah, that Mac from Superchunk.

Seam
~~Look Back In Anger~~
Granny9X 7"
Merge/City Slang 1992

This song is a Television Personalities cover. (Yo! Kage-chan!) Mac sings lead on it, so it's sorta like a long-lost Superchunk song...and yes, it ROCKS!

Endnotes
1. The totally official unupdated Seam fansite. Buy The Problem With Me here.
2. Bitch Magnet.
3. !!! interviewed here, in Japan.
4. More links! Thank you nevercamehome, Bloghorrea, and Fruits Of Chaos.

A Sweet Little Dis

2004-06-04T09:05:00.000-07:00

Thought about posting one of the !!! remixes that appears on the bonus disc that comes with the initial Japanese pressing of Louden Up Now. But I'm thinking that everyone already has, or probably will buy a copy or find it somewhere, you know. So for something different.

Japanese hip hop.

To tell you the truth, most of it is shit. Gangster wannabes, baggy pants, fashion replaces content...you know the routine. In the cesspool of Japanese hip hop, Tha Blue Herb fucking shine.

Tha Blue Herb
~~A Sweet Little Dis~~
Front Act CDEP
Tha Blue Herb Recordings 2002

Lyrics broken down:

1. On the commercialism of Japanese hip hop

"Hip hop degraded to commercial and cafe background music..."
"Behind each boom, the enriched brokers, promoters, ad agencies/Mr. Industry, up the dark end of every arrangement..."
"My hip hop is what you threw away that day, not 'mass', but 'core', 'tight' and 'rough'."

2. On critics

"Reviews are only first impression, a last-minute job before the deadline..."
"Sobre otaku, a garbage heap, hanging about the DJ booth waiting to be recognized/Have you ever created a single snare beat?"
"A Japanese Will Smith? Yeah right, just a cheap comedy..."

3. Boss The MC doesn't hate everyone

"There are also some cats that deserve my respect/Reckless graf writers and breakers, skaters and their resistance/Full of wit, dogmatic and deranged..."

(All quotes taken from the lyric sheet. Yes, Tha Blue Herb releases include English translations!)

Tha Blue Herb (Boss The MC+O.N.O) seem to distance themselves from fellow Japanese rappers, the one time I saw them live, they opened for a dub band (their name has like, totally warped from my mind.) Their thoughts on other Japanese hip hop artists (from the Musique Machine website):

Interviewer: What do you think of people like Shing02 or other Japanese hip hop acts?
Boss The MC: Nothing. If I would need to say something, I would just tell them: "Do your best".

Bold words. They back them up with their music.

Endnotes
1. For more on Tha Blue Herb, go here. More info, the full interview and mp3s+English translations of songs. Check out the "The Future Is In Our Hands" track, which is a super loose cover of an old Blue Hearts tune. Unrecognizable from the original song. Totally different lyrics, beats: the only thing that tied them together was the title. No wonder it got booted off of the Blue Hearts tribute CD it was intended for...
2. Another link! Domo Fat Planet!

Fuck The Rules and Make Me Yours Tonight!

2004-06-02T13:15:00.000-07:00

Sometime in 92 or so, looking through the new but discounted LP bin at Disc Union in Shinjuku, I come across the Throw compilation, out on Yoyo Recordings.

"Hey, Superchunk's on it and it's, like only 300 yen."

So I pick it up, go home and set the record on the turntable. Check the liner notes. The first band is a duo called Kicking Giant and their song is called "Fuck The Rules". I'm thinking, "Probably some lame, anti-authority/hardcore band straight out of junior high. Be over in a flash." So I drop the needle.

And I'm hooked.

Kicking Giant were great. Olympia indie pop, via New York. Lo-fi and noisy, but, you know, listenable. Not too experimental. Sloppy, in a good way.
I found their first CD, Halo, which was pretty much a compilation of their cassette only releases, at Amoeba in Berkeley a couple of years later. This song is off of that release.

Kicking Giant
~~The Way That You Are~~
Halo CD
Spartadisc 1993

This CD has amazing packaging: remember those origami fortune tellers that you used to make before you got into music? The jacket was based on one, unfortunately, no fortunes. Still cool.
I think Kicking Giant influenced many a band: Xiu Xiu, Deerhoof...probably the whole K Records/Kill Rock Stars scene that developed after them. Hey, Built To Spill covered "She's Real", probably my favorite K.G. song.
They split a few years later, singer/guitarist Tae Won Yu starting up the KG (!) and drummer/singer Rachel Carns doing the Needs.

Endnotes
1. Get the Throw comp. Kicking Giant, Unwound, Bikini Kill, Superchunk, Mecca Normal, Courtney Love (the band w/Lois, not, you know...her) plus awesome tunes from unknowns Glad and Burl. The CD version is the only one still in print, but you get some extra songs.
2. Thanks for the links: Totally Fuzzy and selector de frecuencias. Also, check out Thom: Weblog, for a list of mp3 blogs.
3. Go to Fluxblog. A new look and a United State of Electronica track. Both ace.

EYE and EYE

2004-05-30T11:24:00.000-07:00

Boredoms
~~God From Anal~~
Anal By Anal 7".
Trans Records 1986

This is off of their first 7" when the Boredoms were still a duo, Yamatsuka Eye and guitarist Tabata, later of Zeni Geva. Years before the trancy, hypnotic Boredoms of today, this EP was apparently recorded in 30 minutes in Eye's room. You can tell.
No-fi, noise/garage punk: the work of either a genius or a fucking madman.

Eye is said to have, with Hanatarashi, his pre-Boredoms band:

1> Played shows with a chain saw and animal cadavers.
2> Played shows with Molotov Cocktails, which were flung into the audience.
3> Set up a Hanatarashi show with a 100,000 yen ticket price. A thousand+ US dollars (which, based on the exchange rates of the 80s, probably doubled that.) Needless to say, no one showed.
4> Showed up at a Psychic TV gig with explosives, which pretty much cancelled the show.
5> Destroyed a club during a set with a bulldozer.

There are endless stories, true or false, I have no idea.
Eye started the Boredoms in 86, Hanatarashi not being able to get any more gigs.

Genius or madman? He seemed like a nice guy when I met him.

Problems solved

2004-05-27T09:27:00.000-07:00

Moved the music files off of Geocities, you should be able to listen to them now. Well, everything other than the Big Boys track.

See you.

on the stereo: The For Carnation

High School Bands/My First Punk Show

2004-05-23T16:01:00.000-07:00

High school...Weren't those three or four years, like, fun? Everyone has a few high school stories, here's one of mine: the events leading up to my first punk show.

I attended a private Christian high school on the outskirts of Tokyo. The commute was hell, two hours each way, every day, for three years. I don't even want to think about the total accumulative hours spent on that train over the years. Thank God for Walkman's and books!

Anyway, the faculty were somewhat stuck in the middle-ages, especially concerning school regulations. You could not:

Work: I guess working at McDonalds got in the way of one's academic life, fuck if I remember.
Get A Driver's License: No bosozoku at our school.
Grow Out Your Hair: Or dyeing your hair, get piercings, tattoos, etc... One sempai I knew who secretly played in a thrash metal cover band and had long hair, wore a wig to school every day for a few months, only to have it fly off during judo. I am not shitting you.

I could go on, but the one regulation I will never forget, it's almost embarrassing to share.

Someone got it in their head that rock music was evil. Satanic evil. So I guess they had a meeting.

sensei A: "What defines rock music?"
sensei B: "Uhh, electric guitars?
sensei A: "Yes, that's it! Regulation #666, our students will not play power chords!"

Yes, electric guitars were banned at our school. They were considered, "The Devil's Instrument." I am totally serious.

So, yeah, we started a band.

It wasn't really a reaction against the regulation, we were all into music and wanted to play. We had a name, Prelude XXX (don't ask). Eguchi and me on guitars, Motegi on drums and Ao-chan on bass. We didn't have a singer. We did Sex Pistols and Beach Boys covers and whoever felt like it, screamed along. Or attempted to. We never played live and would have probably been lynched if we had. I actually have a practice tape around somewhere, never to be heard unless I get really, really drunk.
Somehow, rumor got around school that we were in a band. A friend of the aforementioned toupeed/thrash metalist (who was now, newly, sporting a crew cut due to the judo incident,) got in touch and, hey, we had a singer. We practiced, changed names, got a new bassist and started writing songs. We were a real band!
Our new singer, Uchino-san, was and still is, a hard core punk scenester. He had been going to shows for a few years and knew a lot of people in the Japanese hard core scene. I had never been to a punk show, let alone a club show. So I jumped at a chance to go see a band that he was friends with, a band called Trash.
The show was at Yaneura in Shimokitazawa. I have no recollection of who they played with. Don't really remember Trash's set either. Probably freaked and in awe.
One memory though, a punk coming up to me, eyeing my skateboard and telling me that if I was a skater, that I should pick up the S.O.B record.
That I did, along with a Trash 7" from which this song is from.

~~"Trash "Tiger Boogie (Special)"~~

Endnotes
1. The skit in the middle of the song includes Jha Jha (Lip Cream), Hiroto (The Blue Hearts), Masami (Ghoul), Baki (Gastunk), etc...
2. Our band got some songs together and played about 25 shows or so, before I left. We actually played a show with Trash, and they played this song!
3. Uchino-san somehow became our school president. I still see him once every couple of years at an odd show. And they are still together, he being the only original member.
4. No matter how horrid it sounds, my high school wasn't that bad.

はじめて観に行ったパンクのライブって何でした？僕はトラッシュでした。ライブはあまりおぼえていないけど、７"を買いました。いいっすね。リップのJha Jha、ヒロト、バキとマサミさんも参加！
1~2年後、トラッシュと対バンをした。"タイガー..."やりました。YES!

10,000 volts in your pocket, guilty or innocent

2004-05-23T08:20:00.000-07:00

Image from new(ish) blog. Found on the streets of New York City.

Used Records+Slam Dancing=(ex) Nerd Memories

2004-05-19T02:46:00.000-07:00

June, 1984. Santa Barbara Junior High's Graduation Dance. Trying to act cool and failing miserably (hey, I was a nerd.) A few hundred kids standing around, drinking punch for all I can remember. There is a DJ. He's from a local band, The Tan. Probably trying to make some extra cash because his band aren't.

Hey, would you want to DJ a fucking junior high school party if you didn't have to?

Anyway, he starts his set. All I remember is two things.
The first is, though I had not heard anything like it at that time, I'm pretty sure that he played a ska song. The Specials, possibly? So, the song starts and some of the stranger looking kids start this insane/violent/stomp/fight/dance and the teachers are going nuts.

Chaos! Anarchy! My introduction to slam dancing!

To tell you the truth, I don't remember what I thought at the time. I knew of punk, had seen a Dead Kennedys record (WTF!) at the local record store, but, you know, I was a kid into Van Halen and the whole LA hard rock scene. (Look for my Forgotten Hits of Hair-Metal post soon!) Dreamed of going to the US Festival, the metal day. It's like, what? New wave day? The Clash, who the fuck were they!

Who knew I would be stage diving and playing hard core a few years later.

The other thing I remember from the dance is that the DJ played one of his own songs, a Tan song. I'm not sure, but he may have sung along to the record on an extra mike. A song called "Bad Party."

Fast forward about a decade.

Back in Japan, browsing through the used record bins at Reco Fan in Machida. I hit the 100 yen corner. You know what's coming. Yes, a 12" by The Tan. And, yes, "Bad Party" is the second track on the b side.

Hell, ya, I picked it up.

There are 3 songs on the 12", "Bad Party" being the best. Why? Because it was played at my junior high graduation dance.

~~The Tan "Bad Party"~~

One thing, how the shit did this record get to Japan? My copy is stamped #0782 so I'm guessing that 1000 were made. And you know what the really fucked thing is, I saw another copy a few years later at a different shop.

僕のアメリカの中学の卒業ダンスパーティーでThe Tanっていうバンドの人がDJをやってた。１０年後、町田レコファンでそいつらの12"発見。¥100。売れなかった、安っぽNew Wave?

Chiba Yusuke

2004-05-17T03:38:00.000-07:00

~~Thee Michelle Gun Elephant "Blue Nylon Shirts (Live)"~~

A live version from the "Taiyowo Tsukande Shimatta" CDEP. Since breaking up last year, vocalist Yusuke Chiba has sung on Raven LP, which is a solo project thingy from the ex-bassist of Blankey Jet City. I never really got into BJC, but the Raven album is quite nice; which I guess leads us to Rosso.
Rosso is Chiba's side band (or his main band now with TMGE gone) with the guy from BJC/Raven and drummer from the hardcore band Assfort. They put out an album a few years ago, played a few shows and were gone. Now they're back, adding a guitarist and switching drummers. Can't wait for shows!

~~Rosso "Calypso Baby"~~
From the "Bird" CD.

42 seconds of the "Sharon" video here (Real).

チバユウスケ祭り。Enjoy!

How's it going?

2004-05-16T07:32:00.000-07:00

I'm Nobu. And these are some of my favorite songs.

~~Big Boys "What's The Word?"~~

Before !!!, before The Rapture, these Texans were teaching the indie kids to dance. From 30 second hardcore hits to Kool And The Gang covers, the Big Boys were a huge part of the soundtrack of my teenage skatepunk years. Rumored to have been a great live band. Ian MacKaye says it best (recalling, a Minor Threat/Big Boys/Dicks show from the liner notes of The Skinny Elvis out on Touch And Go):

...but it was nothing compared to the way I felt when the next band went onstage-the almighty Big Boys. I felt humiliated, how could we play after this? The Big Boys pulled out all stops. More enormous men, decorated jump suits, food props, great songs, a horn section, 200 friends on stage singing and dancing...we were fucked. We made it through our set, maybe it was a good one, I can't recall. I only remember the other bands. The next year we came back to Austin and did it right-we opened for the Big Boys. The way it should be.

This track is from The Fat Elvis compilation, also out from Touch And Go. Originally on the No Matter How Long The Line Is At The Cafeteria, There's Always A Seat! LP (Enigma/1984).

ちは。ようこそ。のぶです。聴いてくれ！

!!!、Raptureとかよりやっぱこれ。Big Boys。テキサス。ハードコアからふぁんく。イアンもぬれた。ライブみたかった！