The Rockabilly Bastards
Promo cassette
Faleo Barbara-via G. Fortunato, 123
71100 Foggia Tel.0881/614712
Well, light my hair on fire and call me Michael Jackson… this is some great stuff! Six songs of pure, unadulterated, stripped-down, fevered psychobilly that warrants comparisons to the Cramps and the Meteors as far as style and approach. Actually, they cover “Long Blonde Hair,” which I know the Meteors perform, although I don’t know if they do it originally. Anyway, these guys do it right. Rockabilly ain’t always meant to be slow or smooth, but wild and rough. Hopefully a record label will pick these guys up, because this is good shit. - BL
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The Electric Hellclub / The Negatives
Split 7” on pic disc or CD
Trash 2001 Records
Electric Hellclub have been compared to the Turbo AC’s, and I think are also comparable to Electric Frankenstein. Here you get two of their songs, “Sonic Superstar” and “It Burns Like Fire,” both of which have a loud sound with cool guitars. Sometimes I don’t get into the vocals a whole lot, though. The second two tracks on this split are by The Negatives, a newer band from Sweden who play a rough rock-n-roll/street punk that I dig even better than the previous band. They just have that urgency and energy that really grabs you. Both bands deliver the goods, though, so check this out. - BL
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The 4-Skins
“The Secret Life of the 4 Skins”
Captain Oi! Records
Here you have the rarest recordings available from this crucial British Oi! band that started around 1981. Here you get several of their notable tracks such as “Wonderful World,” “One Law For Them,” and “Evil” which they recorded for a radio session that never aired due to mysterious “unforeseen circumstances.” These recordings are in-your-face like a pair of brass knuckles: just excellent stuff. Then you have three live tracks recorded at the Dueragon Pub in East London during 1981: “Greatest 4-Skins Rip-Off,” “Things Ain’t Gonna Change,” and “Whatcha Gonna Do About It.” These are very poor sound quality wise, but are pieces of punk rock/skinhead history. The next grouping of live tracks were recorded for Link Records’ “Live and Loud” series at The Bridgehouse in London’s Canning Town in 1981. These were digitally re-mastered, and sound a lot better. You their probably most recognizable songs here: “Chaos,” “Clockwork Skinhead,” “A.C.A.B.,” and “Summer Holiday.” To end the CD there are re-makes of “Evil” and “Wonderful World” by Roi Pearce’s new band, ROI!. He was the band’s third and final vocalist before the 4-Skins called it quits so many years ago, and does a fine job on these songs. In summary, the radio sessions are probably the best on here, and this CD will certainly be one for collectors more than people just getting introduced to the band. – BL
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Judge Dread
“Working Class ‘Ero”
Captain Oi! Records
Here is a skinhead ska legend that sang with a distinctive voice and style, and issued forth lyrics with a wry sexual humor that go him banned by the BBC in the 70’s. Even when he tried to release songs under a different name, he could get no radio play, although his songs are hardly shocking by today’s warped standards. That didn’t stop him from entering the British pop charts, though, notably with his version of “Je T’Aime (Moi Non Plus)” (from this album) that went into the top ten in 1975. This record was originally released in 1974, twenty four years before “the world’s number one rude boy” sadly died onstage of a heart attack on March 13th, 1998 at the age of 53. The sounds on this album are easy and smooth dancehall ska that’ll bring a smile to your face and help you to simmer down and take the edge of a hard day’s work. This is the good shit by a true legend in the genre. - BL
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The Exploited
“Punks Not Dead”
Captain Oi! Records
It was pretty cool to get a package on my doorstep filled with re-releases of the stuff that originally got me into punk rock. Of course, I wasn’t there in the heyday of the music, but I came around more than a decade later (hey, I grew up in a small Ohio town). When this album came out I was a measly 6 years old, licking the snot off my upper lip. Regardless, this is the first album by one of the great 80’s bands, chucked full of chaotic energy and raw power-chord fury that, at its best, smacks you harder than your drunken dad on a 2 week bender. Not all the songs here are created equal, but after the great title track, you get classics like “Blown To Bits,” “Mucky Pup,” “ Army Life,” and “I Believe in Anarchy.” Then there is the primal reductionist anthem, “Sex and Violence” and one of the very fucking best punk songs, period: “SPG.” That’s just what came on the original version. Then there is 12 more bonus songs in addition to those 15. That’s where you get the unstoppable meteorite of a song slamming you in the head, “Dead Cities,” along with “Fuck the Mods,” “What You Gonna Do,” and “Class War.” There are also the versions of “Daily News” and “I Still Believe In Anarchy” that appeared on the legendary Oi! The Album. This is a great re-release by a band known for its worldwide trail of destruction. - BL
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The Anti-Nowhere League
“We Are… The League”
Captain Oi! Records
Ah, here we have one of the sleaziest and irreverent bands of the 80’s. You can’t go wrong with songs like “I Hate… People,” “Snowman,” and “World War II.” Then there is the song of theirs that Metallica covered, The Leagues Magnum Opus, “So What,” a diatribe against decency in all of its manifestations. Then there is “Animal,” a charming song about being a sexual pervert. There are six bonus tracks on this sucker too, including alternate versions of songs, as well as “Rocker,” “For You,” and “Ballad of J.J. Decay.” Their sound, for those not acquainted with The League, isn’t the fast as hell hardcore punk of the period, but probably has more in common with the Oi! bands of that era, despite them not being skins. Good stuff, whatever you wanna call it. - BL
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Slaughter and the Dogs
“Beware of…”
Captain Oi! Records
This is Slaughter & The Dogs first album in years; they first got noticed in 1976 when playing a show with The Sex Pistols. The band reformed 5 years ago to take part in the first Holidays In The Sun festival. This release features 10 brand new tracks written by vocalist Wayne Barrett and guitarist Mick Rossi as well as a cover of the Beatles Hard Days Night. They even do a song they originally wrote in 1979 called Hell In New York as a tribute to the thousands who lost their lives September 11th. Slaughter & The Dogs is a rock-n-roll crew that can appeal to the older crowd as well as the younger audience with their talented musicianship and their penchant for partying, stealing cars and mental illness. Some of the faster, harder songs are quite catchy, while the ballads towards the end of the CD seem to drag on a bit. –Lisa Marie
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The Exploited
“Troops of Tomorrow”
Captain Oi! Records
This re-release of the classic Exploited album from 1983, (incidentally, the year their drummer Dru Stix went to the pen for 7 years for armed robbery), commences with one of their must rib-crackingly intense songs that will make you want to explode through your skin: “Jimmy Boyle.” Seriously, though, nothing gets me fuckin’ pumped up and maniacally decadent like The Exploited do, and this is them at their best. Here you have classic punk rock by a band that helped shape the movement in the early and mid eighties, and who are still out there somewhere raising hell and pint glasses. Other great songs on here are “Alternative,” “Rapist,” “UK 82,” “Sid Vicious Was Innocent,” “Disorder,” “Daily News,” and well, you get the idea. God I love this shit. This is a great disc despite the strongly anti-American song “U.S.A.”- a tune which should be taken in the context of the 80’s and as being in reference to foreign policy and corporate culture, not as a slap in the face of the working-class Americans. You also get some cranium-crushing extra songs not available on the original release, such as “Computers Don’t Blunder,” “Y.O.P.” and the magnificent “Attack.” What the hell else you want? - BL
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F.B.I.
“Auf Leben Und Tod”
Knock Out Records
This full length, on both CD and record, by this German band has a truly different sound that borrows from Oi!, ska, and who knows what else. There is also a hilarious keyboard providing a strange atmosphere for a lot of their tunes. It contrasts interestingly with the harsh song delivery on most of them, giving the band a unique if not downright odd quality. Apparently they have a sense of humor with their lyrics according to their press sheet, although I don’t understand a word. However, I definitely see it with their cover of Johnny Cash’s hit “Ring of Fire,” one that you won’t soon forget, being sung in German and done with a slow street punk style and synthesized horns. I think I would like this a lot better if I learned German, though, but nevertheless it is pretty entertaining. Some of the tracks are a little stark musically, but several stand out. Especially tracks like “Fruende,” “Damenbart,” “Arbeit Nicht!,” and “Kaufraush.” Their eccentricity comes clear when you hear “Sag Mir Wo Du Stehst,” which almost reminds me of Ultima Thule sound-wise, followed by the carnivalesque ska-punk tune “Das Ende” wherein the keyboards sound like cheesy 80’s pop. Funny and crazy stuff. At the very least, these guys will not be a redundant addition to your collection, that is for sure. - BL
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Resistance 77
“Retaliate First” LP
Knock Out Records
This English punk band first reared its head way back in 1980, and this is their first studio album since 1983 or ‘84. On this vinyl version you get two bonus tracks not on the CD, including the song “Hooligan,” which is really good. Other good tracks include the half acoustic “Pass Me the Bottle,” “Bored Forever,” “Street Credibility,” “Kezze In De Kastelein,” and the excellent title track. While the band has a nice upbeat second wave sound, nothing could really save the cover of Jimmy Buffet’s “Margaritaville.” Seriously… ugh! The vocals could also be a little rougher, and a few of these tracks don’t do a lot for me. I wish I could compare it to their earlier works to see how much they changed, if at all, but I never heard them before. Still, there is enough solid work on here to make this a really decent release by a band that has left its mark on punk rock. - BL
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Menace
“Crisis”
Knock Out Records
Here you have the brand new and very first full-length English punk/Oi! band originally formed back in 1976. You probably know these guys from their amazing classic song, “GLC,” released back in 1978 in reaction to the Tory-run Greater London Council who attempted to ban punk gigs in London. They re-formed the band in 1998, minus their original guitar player, who now runs a record label, and their original singer who has apparently died, perhaps shot a few years back (though I am not certain). Anyway, this album shows a band in good form, with songs like “C&A” and possibly the first punk song I’ve heard about having a mid-life crisis. Their lyrics are often clever and dealt out with equal parts sarcasm and dark humor that really gives them personality and charm while they sing about day to day life as not one of the beautiful elite. I think people into mid-tempo Oi! or punk will like this album that has street-wise sagacity and some catchy tunes. - BL
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4Promille
"Und ab..."
Knock Out Records
This band is really fucking good! Thomas and Melanie share the vocal duties singing in German and some in English. They have a real fun, Oi! feel that makes you want to wrestle around, smash beer cans on your head as you belch sweet nothings into your lovers ear. Melanie sings a song called “Time for Suicide” about posers and shallow people who and piss her off, and who should just take their own lives… I share her sentiment. There is a song called “Fur ne Hand voll Schnaps,” which has a country, rolling bass feel to it and has a hint of rockabilly sound to it… Damn I wish I knew what they were saying cause it sounds awesome. This band also covers the 4-Skins tune “Chaos”; they sing it in German and do a superb job. Another great song on here is…well, hell… all the songs on here are really sweet. I’d have to go through the entire CD and describe each song to you, explaining how remarkable it is. I’ll put it to you this way; this is one of the better Oi! bands I have heard in a long time. They don’t sing the usual, same old Oi!, but instead add something to the genre. The music is really well done, with energy that is neither too poppy nor negative and bland. You won’t be disappointed with this CD. –Lisa Marie
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The Exploited
“Let’s Start A War…”
Captain Oi! Records
I have a story about when I worked at Camelot Music, a corporate music chain. Just humor me and read this. We had a “punk/hard-core/ska” section and anytime a customer would wander over there I always assisted and let them know I was familiar with the genre if they needed any help. One day these kids came in and were browsing the section. I asked them if they needed any help and they looked at me like I was the straightest, lamest girl ever and scoffed “uh, no we are punks, we have been listening to punk forever, we don’t need any help.” I am not making that up, this really happened! So, I asked if I could look at their prospective purchases. They had in their hands Green Day, Millencollin and Blink 182. I suggested they pick up a copy of an Exploited album, and I showed them a copy of “Punks Not Dead”. The look on these kids’s faces will haunt me for the rest of my life. With a scrunched up repugnant face the one boy said “Dude, what’s up with their hair,” then they both chortled, rolled their eyes and walked away in their A&F shirts and Tommy pants. What a horrid tale. For fans of punk, this is a must in any collection. This is a re-issue of the 1983 Combat Records release, but Captain Oi! added some special bonus tracks. There are still the original 12 tracks like Let’s Start a War, Safe Below, God Saved the Queen and Wankers, but there is also the single version of Rival Leaders (as well as the original remix version), Army Style and Singalongbushell. The new CD also comes complete with the fold out, double-sided poster of the CD cover and on the other side the cover of the Rival Leaders EP. I don’t know why anyone would not have this in their possession. To think it’s possible baffles me. –Lisa Marie
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Judge Dread
“Dreadmania”
Captain Oi! Records
So you like SKA, eh? Then you should know of Judge Dread, and if you don’t you need to familiarize yourself with him. And what better way to do that than with this perverted treasure of a CD complete with naughty nursery rhymes, songs about big, luscious fat girls and one about a man with a very large “bean”. The lewd songs that got banned from the radio are Big Six and Big Seven: “Little Jack Horner sat in a corner with a dirty look in his eye, he never looked at the pretty girls but he smiled when the boys went by.” I guess at the time homosexual references were outright scandalous, but don’t fret there are plenty of other rhymes for you to giggle at. As a matter of fact, memories of the school yard came flooding back to me as I listened to this. I actually remember kids in my class reciting as does Judge Dread: “Old Mother Hubbard went to her cupboard to get her poor doggie a bone, but when she bent down the doggie came around and gave her a bone of his own”. Ahhh, the memories… Another funny song is Oh! She is a Big Girl Now, which not only has amusing lyrics, but also has a great ska/reggae beat. Among my favorites on this disc are Donkey Dick, The Biggest Bean You’ve Ever Seen and a remake of Chuck Berry’s Ding A Ling. Good stuff! – Lisa Marie
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Emscherkurve 77
“Die Macht Vom Niederrhein”
Knock Out Records
This is 4 song EP by a promising German band. The title track is probably the best on here, as well as track two that sounds like a very cool cover of “Dirt Old Town.” The third track actually reminds me a bit of the Vanilla Muffins. They play a nice singalong punk/Oi! that makes you feel as though you are getting drunk at the soccer field. Check it out. - BL
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The Aqua Velvets
“Radio Waves: Live Broadcast Performances 1992-1998”
Milan records
San Francisco’s The Aqua Velvets have been issuing forth their brand of instrumental surf since 1991. These aren’t your average, run-of-the-mill surf sounds, though. They toss in touches of spaghetti western, Latin grooves, smooth tropical lounge, and even have a spaced-out movie soundtrack quality that verges on psychedelic from time to time. The first part of this program is songs from their performances on the Phil Dirt show, the premiere surf rock show for the last 20 years, aired out of Los Altos Hills. The second half is from another radio appearance in California. Between these two great sets you get classics like “Walk Don’t Run,” “Pipeline,” and “Apache,” along with a great many of their superb originals. The first disc alone clocks out at almost 80 minutes! Then there is a second bonus disc to ride ashore. The four songs here are from a club show in May 2001, and include a version of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and The Astronauts’ surf classic from 1962, “Baja.” The band plays with an ultra-clean sound that showcases their precise talents and smooth, easy style. Surf music lovers will want to dive in and grab this sunken treasure. - BL
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Callaghan
“Fired A Blank”
Bittersweet Records P.O. Box 147213, Chicago, IL 60614-7213
While some people are content to live, wallow, and breed amongst the blandness and hypocrisy of popular culture - buying the latest Sting album, eating foods with classy French names, driving SUVs to environmental summits – these guys would rather embrace the filth of the streets and play their brand of sneering punk rock that jams itself straight up your backside with a piss and vinegar approach. This newest 6-song offering from these Chicago brigands shows their best effort to date, with even a Dead Boys cover thrown in to seal the deal. The guitars hit you like a cross-checking Canadian, and the vocals retain that taunting, don’t-give-a-fuck, middle finger quality that makes them sound so unique. This is a recommended acquisition for punks looking for something fresh floating in a sea of sewage. - BL
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Student Rick
"Soundtrack for a Generation"
Victory Records
Here we have Victory Records “most commercially viable band” and (according to their bio): “their fluid dual vocals and hook-laden songs will leave a lasting impression on their listeners.” Yeah… just like cheap liquor leaves a lasting impression on your bowels. This is like college coffee house rock. Think Evan and Jaron, think Vertical Horizon (yeah, my Camelot days are paying off here). If you like that stuff, this may be your next favorite CD...as for me this is my next Frisbee. –Lisa Marie
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Small Town Pimps
“B-I-N-G-O”
Knock Out Records
“Zombies, Hookers, & Rock’N’Roll” sums up this wild Swedish rockabilly band pretty well. Songs like “Sick & Twisted,” “U Want Me Now,” Zombie Boy,” and “Pimp Cadillac” will not let down the average nymphomaniac or purveyors of B-movies and sleaze. The tunes are upbeat, but not necessarily heavy like a lot of psychobilly, nor are they trying to re-create an “authentic” rockabilly sound. They just play rock’n’roll the way Elvis might have if had he gotten into S&M instead of drugs. This is an album that can be enjoyed by the entire family, because the Small Town Pimps make hookers and digging up graves seem as natural and wholesome as whiskey drinkin’ and bar fights. Their charm will mesmerize you in a sex-crazed trance as porn stars frolic from cloud to cloud in your imagination. Redemption is certainly sweet once you hear their version of the Holy Trinity on the gospel tune “Mr. John, Mrs. Hooker, & The Holy Pimp.” Pick this up and slip it on in. You won’t be sorry. – BL
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V/A - Punch Drunk III:
“Better Than a Kick In the Head”
TKO Records 4104 24th St. #103 San Francisco, CA 94114
Here you have 26 tracks of some of the best bands in street punk and 70’s influenced punk rock’n’roll. The CD bursts out of the starting gate with the title track performed by the Beltones, then moves into another great tune called “Summer of Unrest” by the Generators, in which the vocals pan back and forth on each alternating line. After them comes a mid tempo pub song by Reducers S.F. and a great DKM-sounding U.S. Bombs track called “Yer Country.” This disc also includes a new and noteworthy track by punk rock veterans, The Partisans, as well as a live track by punk rock pioneers, the Angelic Upstarts, doing “Two Million Voices.” You also get great tracks by New Jersey’s long-running ambassadors of Oi!, Niblick Henbane, the intense all-girl Chinese street punk of Thug Murder, and other excellent cuts by The Bodies, Bonecrusher, Those Unknown, and the Forgotten. Probably the best track on here is by a band I never heard before, The Riffs. They just have a kind of 70’s sounding, absolutely rockin’ approach to the punk rock genre with their song, “Outta My Mind.” There is also yet another cover of “Folsom Prison Blues,” this time done in the stylings of Terminus City. In addition, as if you need more, there are songs by Electric Frankenstein, Hard Skin, Workin’ Stiffs, Antiseen, Sixer, The Stitches, Class Assassins, Bloody Mutants, American Pig, and more - including a non-PC hardcore anthem by Limecell called “Get The Bitch To Do It,” a song sure to offend the more humorless among you. All in all, for a cheap sampler of TKO bands, this is a good grab. - BL
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Cripple Kid / The Little Dipper
split CD
Microcosm Publishing PO Box 14332 / Portland, OR 97293
Man, the first song almost made me gag. The second song did. Cripple Kid is an emo, indie pop rock band that I am sure has talent, I just can not for the life of me hear it. The vocals are what really bother me, they are constantly, fucking CONSTANTLY whining. The second band on this split is The Little Dipper and is pretty terrible also. Their artistic vision is not realized in me. I really hate being negative, I mean, I would hate to be in a band and read a review like this. But, I just gotta be honest and I don’t think this is the kind of music that the readers of this publication would be into. –Lisa Marie
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Flotation Walls / Bedford / Sometimes Seven / Supereighteen
4 way Split CD
Microcosm Publishing PO Box 14332 / Portland, OR 97293
The first band of this CD is Bedford who hail from NE Pennsylvania and have been together for over 5 years. They have decent, edgy punk rock sound with a kick ass drummer…who I hear is a chronic masterbater. They are considered pop punk because of the vocals (I would think), but could very easily fall into a harder category if the vocals were more raw. They contribute 5 tracks on this disc and are pretty good. The next band is Supereighteen, a soft, kind of fluffy band that girls in their early teens would think are keen. This band will follow in the footsteps of Bare Naked Ladies, The Verve Pipe and other bands that make me wretch. Sorry dudes, but this is just not my thing. Umm, ok… Sometimes Seven is up next and are about as good, maybe a little better than Supereighteen. I mean, there are a lot of people that like this kind of music, I know this but I just can not give them a good review. I just can’t. Next up is The Flotation Walls who are pretty unique and interesting. They have 5 tracks on here also and remind me of Devo but also a bit of Man or Astroman as well. It’s crunchy electronic rock with an outer space feel. All their songs are quirky, well done and hilarious. I think these guys have a definite shot, they blend all kinds of styles and just have fun. Overall, on this disc you get two really bad bands, one decent band, and one good band. If I were you, I’d pick up something from The Flotation Walls for sure. –Lisa Marie
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