Nekromantix "Return of the Loving Dead" Backyard Babies "Makin' Enemies Is Good" The Toilet Boys "S/T" The Distillers "Sing Sing Death House" Bonecrusher "Working For Nothing" The Stockmen "Mayhem Train" Machine Gun Mary "S/T CD-EP" Hyperjax "Generation X-Rated" V/A "Detroit Punk City" Ralph Rebel "Surfin' & Rockin'" Bad Religion "The Process of Belief" Wayne Hancock "A Town Blues" The Revillos "Totally Alive" The Yobs "Worst of the Yobs" The Flys "Waikiki Beach Refugees" The Cadillac Hitmen "Tri-State Killing Spree" Splodgenessabounds "S/T" V/A "From All Sides" The Riffs "Dead End Dream" Loikaemie/Menace split 7" Green Flem & the Nasty Maggots The GC5 "Singles Collection 1997-2000" V/A - "Scene Killer 3" Toy Dolls "Covered in Toy Dolls" The Piss Shivers "We're Cheap Dates" Long Island Hornets "Road Kill" The Supertones "Surf fever 2000"

V/A - "Sympathy for the Devil" The Lurkers "Punk Singles" GBH "City Baby Attacked By Rats" Johnny Death's Surf-Punk Orchestra "Solid Gold Death" V/A - "Psychobilly Hell" GBH "City Baby's Revenge" The Wifebeaters "Child Mullet Station" V/A - "Contents Under Pressure" Shakedowns/Alphabet Bombers split 7" The Pillocks "Got the Edge" Oxymoron "Feed the Breed" Snaggletooth "S/T" The Beltones "Cheap Trinkets" The Flys "Flys Own" The Vibrators "Punk Rock Rarities" The Stringbeans "21st Century Time Machine" Discipline "Love Thy Neighbor" The Mutants "Funky Fidel" The Deadites/The Hellions split 7" Kung Fu Killers "Game of Death" The Business "Hell to Pay" The Generators "State of the Nation" The Diablos S/T 7" Spazm 151 "Sworn to Fun, Loyal to None" 7" Evan Johns & the Hillbilly Soul Surfers "Moontan" V/A - "Give 'Em the Boot 3"

Nekromantix “Return of the Loving Dead” Hellcat Records 2798 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026 The long-awaited new album by the Nekromantix, Denmark’s psychobilly titans, released on their new label, Hellcat Records, is one that maintains an adventurous take on the genre that was present on Demons Are a Girl’s Best Friend, but also boasts some heavier and edgier tunes similar to their earlier work. They blend punk, rockabilly, metal, and other influences into something that isn’t just a cut & paste of clichés and recycled riffs. Songs like “Nekronauts,” “Generation 666,” and “I’m a Hellcat,” all show that this band is surely not averse to making some sinister rockin’ music, done with those unusual trademark elements that really make the Nekromantix sound distinctive. You have their eccentric and haunting harmonies that resound in your schizoid brain, as well as some uniquely horror-laden rockabilly guitar chops. Other hallowed cuts on this disc are “Who Killed the Cheerleader,” “Murder for Breakfast,” and the excellent “Rubber Monks and Leather Nuns.” While I am mainly a fan of the songs in line with their faster style, I am not claiming that several of the slower tracks on here aren’t fantastic as well. You can almost smell the burning leaves on the creepy “Trick or Treat.” Then there is “Haunted Cathouse,” which is an overt homage to the other key psychobilly acts, and waxes nostalgic for the days past filled with great music from fellow psychocats such as Demented Are Go, Klingonz, Frenzy, Batmobile, etc… The music has a spooky wild-west country feel with some cool, clean guitar work that explodes like a hydrogen-filled dirigible three-quarters of the way through, with a crazy wah-wah exit. The final track, “Nekronomicon” starts with a completely evil intro, then follows a nice bass bridge into a heavy journey through the depths of hell where, as everyone knows, the best tunes are. It is a long epic of a song that sticks in your head like a butcher’s knife. That said, a few of these songs don’t please as well as others. For instance, “Subcultural Girl” is too downbeat and lacks any punch, while the title track, despite an awesome intro piece, drones on a bit and doesn’t really grab me. Also, I think sometimes the Nekromantix occasionally give to many refrains of the choruses that, though very well-conceived and catchy, can get a bit monotonous at times. Overall, however, despite those minor gripes, I’d say this is one to wrap your fingers around like the neck of helpless victim. - BL Back to Contents Backyard Babies "Makin' Enemies Is Good" Supersonic Records "Total 13," the previous album from the Backyard Babies is arguably the best rock 'n' roll record put out in the last two years. The four-piece band coined the term "Swedish Rock," combining catchy punk elements with fast straight up rock 'n' roll. The buzz around the Backyard Babies has been overwhelming, and many fans and critics hail them as the definitive leaders in the rock 'n' roll revolution. It's no wonder "Makin Enemies Is Good," was anticipated so highly. Somewhere along the lines though in the recording of this album, the raw power of Total 13 was lost, and ultimately their new disc is a disappointment. The album gets off to a fantastic start with tracks like "I love to roll," "Payback," and "Brand New Hate." Upon first listen you'd think the Backyard Babies were picking up right where they left off. However from this point on, the record drops off fast. "Colours" is just wrong. It's like getting kicked in the groin. The keyboards on this track take a nice buzz and instantly turn it into a hangover. "The kids are right," and "Too Tough to Make Some Friends," are just weak, as it sounds like the Babies are more concerned with writing sing a long anthems then actually writing good songs. There are a few bright spots towards the middle and end of the record in tracks like, "My Demonic Side," "The Clash," and bonus track, "P.O.P." Still this album falls way short of the mark. If it had come out before "Total 13," it certainly wouldn't be this big of a disappointment. But it feels like the anticipation and excitement preceding this record is still just sitting there, as the Backyard Babies really failed to follow up. – BJ Lisko Back to Contents The Toilet Boys "S/T" Masterplan Entertainment Somewhere between Hanoi Rocks, Turbonegro and the Ramones lies a fireball shooting pile of shit called the Toilet Boys. They're self-titled album isn't really that shitty, it was just a pun I couldn’t resist. The Toilet Boys try their best to resurrect the days of pyrotechnical live shows, cross dressing, and flat out entertainment in the world of rock ‘n’ roll. They undoubtedly succeed on stage but on disc fall somewhat flat. It’s not that their new self-titled release is bad, just really boring in comparison to their live show. The songs get very redundant, and nothing explodes on disc like on stage. The Toilet Boys are definitely worth checking out live but buying the album is pretty unnecessary. After listening to one song you’ll pretty much get the idea. – BJ Lisko Back to Contents The Distillers "Sing Sing Death House" Hellcat Records The first song on this CD, Sick Of It All, is as searing, fast, and raw as the best punk rock. Brody Armstrong from Australia, the singer/song-writer, and apparently wife to Tim from Rancid, has a rough voice seemingly tempered with years of hard living – and it sounds great on most of this disc. The terminally cynical among you who suspect this is a situation of Tim giving his wife a record contract without merit, can be assured that isn’t the case. Robust with solid song-writing and well-crafted lyrics, this is very worthwhile and not decidedly not hackneyed. Their sound moves from the well-conceived mid-tempo street anthem of City of Angels about the darker underside of LA - “It’s a ghost town, rabid underworld / Dionysian night, vitriolic twilight” - to the intense hardcore punk verging on crust of Hate Me, which deals with self-doubt, depression and guilt. Not every song focuses on the negative, though, and even when they do, it is not generally with depressing effect. The Young Crazed Peeling offers a sincere auto-biographical introspection in which Brody is struck with the revelation that amidst the forlorn backdrop of everyday life, the constant struggles and looming mortality that faces everyone, that she has “got everything [she] needs.” The song just struck me, not only because it obviously comes from the heart, but because it marks one of those great moments of victory over the depression that haunts every thinking person. Other good songs include Seneca Falls, an homage to Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady, two important figures in Woman’s suffrage. Bullet and the Bullseye and title track of this CD also flex some serious power chord muscles, especially when accompanied by the poignant lyrics on the latter: I am agnostic, but I hang on a cross Faithless, saintless, my sin stabs I wear the crown of oblivion Rule an aching void, watch my sun burn out I am a death house, haunted mirror Acerbic heart, ain’t nothing pure in here While some of the tunes took me a few listens to really appreciate, several of them did hit me instantly. You could easily do much worse than The Distillers. - BL Back to Contents Bonecrusher “Working for Nothing” Knock Out Records Whew! Here we have a disc with an in your face, take control of your fucking life and don’t take no shit attitude. This is some decent, hard kicking Oi! music to get your blood boiling and your fist shaking. The lyrics are a potent blend of patriotism and activism that are delivered by an aggressive voice that at times frightens me…this is one band not to fuck with. One of my favorite lines is from the song Loose Cannon “you can rearrange us or put us in a social class, well you still don’t know who the fuck I am, I’ll put a boot right up your ass”. The last two tracks are re-recordings of old Bonecrusher tunes Poverty and Contamination which are probably my favorite tracks on here. Good, fast, hard hitting stuff. –Lisa Marie Back to Contents The Stockmen Mayhem Train their site The CD starts off with a sample from the ‘50’s preacher that was against rock n roll and went on TV to preach about the evils of music and then kicks into “Hell’s Spell,” which is just one of the fine rockabilly tunes you’ll find on here. The track “Redneck Stomp” has a bluegrass, hillbilly sound that fits perfectly with the inbred-like sounding vocals. I’m not sure where these guys hail from, but they have a song in a language that uses symbols instead of the English alphabet. The track starts off using another clip from the golden days of rock n roll where the mayor of Jersey City says he doesn’t want rock n roll in his city because it “is the seed of trouble and we want to keep trouble out of Jersey City.” As if you need more proof that these cats are cool, they do a cover of Johnny Cash’s “Hey Porter” and really rip it up on the guitar! There is another track on here called “People Must Have Corpse” that is really creepy…not just because of the music, but also because of the odd, way the vocalist sings. And he sings like this on every track, in a weird kind of Brak (yeah, Cartoon Network Brak) ,voice but not as harsh. This is a really unique, interesting disc that is a refreshing break from all the Elvis-wanna-be-vocalist oriented bands out there. Check it out! –Lisa Marie Back to Contents Machine Gun Mary “S/T” CD-EP their MP3 site The first track on this disc is a great instrumental that rolls along on a smooth bass line then hits a hard patch of road with some cool heavier guitar. The second song is less satisfying, however, with more of an alt. country feel, and the singing reminds me a little of Neil Young mixed with R.E.M. This song also features some capable and tastefully restrained guitar work, though, and has humorous lyrics about being 28 years old and working at a convenience store. Next is a song that sings the praises of his “$5000 Porno Barbie Doll,” again showing the band’s good humor. The last track takes this short disc out with a hillbilly rock/blues number that brings some nice slide guitar along to the party. While this isn’t grabbing me by the balls and throwing me through plate glass windows, this band from Northeast Ohio definitely has potential. - BL Back to Contents Hyperjax "Generation X-Rated" Raucous records Look no further for your fix of lunacy, because here we have a disc in which the cover art alone will have psychiatrists sctraching their heads. The Hyperjax, from England, fill the void in your day with 10 tracks of bass-pounding, guitar-splintering, hard-drumming insanity with songs like “Happy Pillz” and “What Did I Do Wrong.” There is a nice, clear sound with a jagged punk rock edge that carries throughout the album. The guitar has a dirty, gritty sound that complements the stainless steel vocals - an interesting mix. I especially like “Triangular Kind of Love,” it has a romantic kind of vibe to it that you don’t really hear too much in psychobilly. Ok, so maybe it’s not ‘romantic’ in the traditional sense…so he fell out of love with one woman for another: “One of these days you should find out, who’s the one I dream about.” Hell, this guy could sing about watching bass fishing and it would sound inspiring - no easy task. Anyway, to sum up: this CD is real good, get it or you’ll really be missing out. –Lisa Marie Back to Contents Various Artists “Detroit Punk City” CD Detroit Diesel Dame 23533 Majestic / Oak Park, MI 48237 Here’s one that’ll sicken the Zima drinkin’ baggy pants crowd, and thank God for that. This is a compilation of hard-hitting punk’n’roll with a touch of a greaser feel here and there. What’s nice about this comp is that there are three songs by each band, so you get more of a feel for their styles. Also, every band doesn’t sound the same, although I can picture just about any of these tracks blaring in some tattoo shop. First off, you are treated with hostility and pushed down the 12 Angry Steps, after which you are mauled by the Intoxicats, who have a singer with such a raspy voice you’ll think his mother packed moonshine in his grade school lunches. Really solid stuff. Third, you’re knocked off your high horse with the Gutterpunx, who have a sort of upbeat Rancid, DKM sound. Mazinga comes at you next with some fairly decent garage rock, and they are followed by The Dead Horses, who rock very hard with Oi-sounding vocals. The Unfriendlys take over from there, and have a lighter vocals but pretty good up-tempo music that doesn’t drop the ball for the surprisingly good cross-dressing NY Dolls/80’s hair metal-influenced Lanternjack who come after them. The Hillside Stranglers finish up the comp with some loud tunes for the rock’n’roll devil. While for the most part this isn’t leaving me in state of awe, still you aren’t gonna get anything nauseatingly pretty or polished here - just some bands doing it in the unrepentant Detroit fashion. - BL Back to Contents Ralph Rebel “Surfin' & Rockin'” Golly Gee Records Talk about a nice accompaniment to your Polynesian daydream! Twelve tunes, smooth as a Hawaiian hula dancer’s moves, sweep you away to a sunny beach where you sip your pina colada and watch the surfers hang 10 while a beach bunny rubs you down with oil. There are many well-known surf tunes covered such as “Rumble,” “Rebel Rouser,” “Pipeline,” “Sleepwalk,” and of course “Wipeout.” Other covered songs are “Rawhide,” and “Ghost Riders” which maintains the spaghetti western sound while adding the tremolo guitar. But I do have a gripe- they sound very similar to the originals, not much of Rebel’s creativity shows through which is disappointing. But you do get the treat of 3 Ralph Rebel originals to lure you into the undertow of tropical bliss. I am serious; the therapeutic benefits of this album alone are enough reason to buy it, let alone the sheer coolness of it. –Lisa Marie Back to Contents Bad Religion “The Process of Belief” Epitaph Records You know, I am just not a fan of this album and I think it sucks. It’s a shame that such good musicians play such crappy, pop punk. I heard a rumor that Bad Religion used to be tough, but they really strike out with me with this newest release. I mean the music isn’t too bad: sounds over-produced and too refined for my tastes, though. The vocals and the background singers really offend me, like what the hell is the song “Broken?” What the hell is that!? I don’t even want to write about them anymore. –Lisa Marie Back to Contents Wayne Hancock “A Town Blues” Bloodshot Records What Wayne lacks in good looks he more than makes up for in his musical honky tonk skill. This is Hancock’s 4th album and it only took him 20 hours to cut…he doesn’t play around! For those of you who aren’t familiar with Wayne he’s got the nasal, yodel-ish vocals of a Hank Sr. type and lyrics that bring back the goodness of sentimental old style country complete with a steel guitar and songs about drinking yourself into hillbilly oblivion. “Miller, Jack & Mad Dog” is a great tune about the hazards and mishaps of drinking and driving and has an, oddly enough, a hint of ethnic gypsy guitar sound to it. Some other noteworthy tracks are “California Blues,” “Route 23,” and “Life’s Lonesome Road.” One of the coolest songs is one that Hancock wrote when he was 23 years old called “Railroad Blues” and is a real bluesy, slide guitar, acoustic number complete with yodeling. There are some tracks that are a bit too slow and sappy for me, but the album is a good one nonetheless. –Lisa Marie Back to Contents The Revillos “Totally Alive” Captain Oi! Described as “hip-shaking, lip-quivering, quiff-wobbling feast of big, kitsch, garage-trash, poppy punkerama” this live CD of the 20-something year old band is pretty interesting. Filled with sounds of dual vocals delivered by Fay Fife and Eugene Reynolds this band has a kind of B-52’s sound. There are 19 tracks on this disc including covers of the Dave Clark Five’s “Glad All Over” and the classic Fleetwood Mac tune “Somebody’s Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In Tonight.” The CD sleeve is a booklet containing a comic book skit featuring the evil emperor Stan, the Revillos and a pair of nifty propeller boots. The songs are pretty decent except for a few tracks. Not a bad CD, but nothing I am really in to. –Lisa Marie Back to Contents The Yobs “Worst of the Yobs” Captain Oi! The Yobs have been playing rude and disgusting, yet witty and well done punk rock ever since 1977, so it would only seem appropriate that you would play their Christmas album during the holidays while your home is filled with small children and drunken relatives. Or you can play it in the middle of summer as a nice retreat from the sweaty, sticky sun as you close your eyes and imagine there is a foot of snow on the ground and you are all bundled up ready to fight old man winter. You get 15 tracks of holiday cheer on this disc and most are not what Grandma would approve of, such as “Oy Santa” which starts off with ‘It was Christmas…fucking hell...’and uses the work ‘fuck,’ ‘shit,’ and ‘cunt’ all through out the merry tune. You also get the massively perverted “12 Days of Christmas”(Five Fucking Whores!) and “Auld Lang Syne” complete with the jolly sounds of someone doing a rail of coke in the middle of it. But the fun doesn’t stop there! You also get the ever- popular “Worm Song” that we all remember from grade school, and a corrupted version of the “C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S” song: ‘R is for your rectum I poke with my dick, Christmas comes but once a year it makes me fucking sick.’ I think you get the point. Now get this CD! –Lisa Marie Back to Contents The Flys "Waikiki Beach Refugees" Captain Oi! The Flys formed in 1976 with their brand of strange punk that sounds like something David Bowie would have been in. They toured with bands like the Buzzcocks, but never really made it with the punk crowd. They have a poppy, different sound that can easily be overlooked by those more into harder edged music, or those who are looking for a band who take themselves totally seriously. Admittedly, there are some songs on here that are really bad (“Beverley”), but there are also some that are just fun and upbeat. “We don’t mind the Rave,” “Fun City” and “Don’t Moonlight on me,” have an energetic, fun British rock sound that makes me want to watch The Young Ones. I don’t want to say they remind me of the Clash, but they do have a similar feel. Undoubtedly, the best track on here is the last one, an instrumental called “Fly V Fly” which has a surfy, psychodelic, spy theme sound to it. Not a bad disc if you are into ‘70’s Brit pop punk: pick it up if you are. –Lisa Marie Back to Contents The Cadillac Hitmen “Tri-State Killing Spree” Broken White Records 140 Fleet St. / Portsmouth, NH 03801 This is one fine disc by New Hampshire’s finest representatives. It isn’t aggro punk rock, or wild rockabilly… or even surf really, although there is a lot of surf elements in it, as well as blues, rock, and Tex-Mex arrangements. You get some outstanding instrumentals that aren’t rushed through, but rather flow beautifully with rich guitar tones and masterful compositions. It conjures images of road-tripping through the Southwest in a convertible Cadillac, or watching the sun set on the ocean in that poor Mexican town… you know, the one where all the American criminals on the run head to after crossing the border. This is definitely something I will be listening to for years to come. Every track here is like black gold, displaying a mature depth dug out from years of hard-living, and a sort of ponderous, reflective feel that takes you away from the mundane routine of your everyday life. The guitar slinger, Jeff Morris, originally of The Bruisers, shines throughout these 50+ minutes of slow-paced evocative excellence. This is music best listened to alone, or with someone who can shut the hell up for a while and drift away with you. It’s a undoubtedly a must-have. - BL Back to Contents Splodgenessabounds “S/T” Captain Oi! Ahhhhh, I LOVE these guys! Started in 1977, the duo Max Splodge and Pat Thetic are now an 8 piece group that has been dubbed “The most juvenile band in England”. This album contains 30 of the most bizarre, odd and rocking musical and lyrical compositions I have ever heard. One song that I really like is called “Brown Paper” and there are two different versions of it on here. It’s basically just a few really badly out of tune chords and some guys yelling “brown paper” and some other indistinguishable verses in really funny voices. The 2nd version is even weirder with a lot of weird effects and delays on the vocals. There is also two versions of “Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps Please,” both versions equally as strange. You know, you just really have to listen to this CD…I can’t express how boisterously entertaining it is, you must experience it for yourself. Some other songs that I really enjoy are “I Fell In Love With A Female Plumber From Harlesden NW10,” “I’ve Got Lots Of Famous People Living Under The Floorboards Of My Humble Abode” and “Michael Booth’s Talking Bum.” There is even a pirate-type song of the high seas entitled “Desert Island Joe” and is complete with a bunch of “yo-ho hoing”. If you haven’t heard of these guys before and you aren’t an anal retentive asshole, pick this up it’s a funny disc. And if you have heard of the Splodgenessabounds you know what you need to do. –Lisa Marie Back to Contents Various Artists “From All Sides” Center Of The World Records Here we have a 20 track CD compilation that has everything from punk to jazz and a lot in between. For example, there is the tune from Ghoultown “A Killer in Texas,” which is a hauntingly beautiful spaghetti western, and then there is the composition “Worship” by the DOW Ensemble which is a trumpet led jazz piece. There is some good stuff on here if you have pretty eclectic tastes. Most of the tracks have a unique, odd sound that is pretty refreshing compared to all the clichéd music that’s out there. “Dead Life” by the Emma Peel Advocates is one of those tunes where the female singer seems to want to sound a bit out of synch to keep it interesting. The track “Waiting on the Street for my Baby To Come,” by Zang, has a very Cramps sound, but with dirty girl vocals. Overall this is a pretty cool, different CD comp for those of you out there who aren’t afraid of strange new things. – Lisa Marie Back to Contents The Riffs “Dead End Dream!” TKO Records Here is a really good offering of straight-up 70’s inspired punk rock that really keeps the spirit of the music alive. You can really hear the bands they count as influences, such as Cockney Rejects and Sex Pistols. They play mid-tempo punk rock in the truest sense of the term that stays upbeat with lots of guitars wailing at you from every direction. I think this really tops their “Underground Kicks” record, which didn’t appeal to me that much. I also appreciate their lyrical approach, dealing with things the way they see them, often coming off with a drug-kicking fatalism that never loses its street level candor. On “Nowhere to Go” you get a vivid picture of lower class alienation: “Never knew what it was I was born for / But I know now that I can’t take it no more / Be down and out on a factory floor / Or a down and out criminal struggling for more.” No frills or slogans, just truth. What I get from a lot of the early punk bands in the way of nihilism and irreverence is preserved here, and that’s something you just can’t fake. – BL Back to Contents Loikaemie/Menace split 7" Knock Out Records Here you get “Oi! That’s Yer Lot,” and “Bad Cards” from the classic Oi/punk band Menace, who have their usual upbeat, well-done sound that makes this just a teaser because you want more! As for the other side of this 7”, the music rocks! I never heard Loikaemie, but they are energetic and you get “C&A” and “Good Old Rich Kid Bashing Day.” I’m not too fond of the vocals, but they are tolerable. A pretty decent little thing to pick up if you are a Menace fan for sure. –Lisa Marie Back to Contents Green Flem & the Nasty Maggots “Transvestite Tears” their site "Speeder" starts off this CD with a really good up-tempo hard rock number that lays rubber across your forehead, and is easily the best song on here. Next up comes a number called ‘Animal,” which maybe draws on AC/DC a little, and retains a sort of garage feel with an extended guitar solo thrown in. Then you are hit with the weak yet odd “Transvestite Tears” that sounds like The Stones when they did “Angie” or something. Actually a lot of this sounds like indie college rock, maybe… man I don’t know. For the most part it isn’t gripping me, despite the songs being put together pretty well. Some this just sounds awful and doesn’t hold my attention at all. Good band name, though. This isn’t something I’d seek out to purchase. - BL Back to Contents The GC5 “Singles Collection 1997-2000” Cosa Nostra Records 291 Redwood Road, Mansfield, OH 44907 I may be biased, but I really like this collection. Not because I know these guys and have seen them play so many times that I almost feel like the songs are partly mine, but because the production is raw yet not muddy, the mood is intense without being hollow or lacking melody, and the song-writing is honest, usually well-crafted, and most often insightful. This disc salvages their early and out-of-print 7”s, as well as some other early material and unreleased tracks. Amidst the many great cuts, you get a love song to the Molly Maguires, the rabid bite of “Origin” and “Shutdown,” and the anthemic “New Generation”. Sure, a couple tracks on this release are a bit weak, especially “He Will Too,” which is too poppy for my tastes, but The GC5 are more than redeemed with crushingly heavy tracks like “Linus,” which is actually reminiscent of 80’s hardcore, and the straight-forward heavyweight rocker “Right to Live,” a song that will also leave you with a few less teeth. The lyrics on this disc often range in topic, but generally retain some sort of political awareness and emotion; whether dealing with “slave wages and 15 hr. work days,” passive faith and self-righteousness, or simply picking yourself up off the ground when others knock you down. “Beat To The Punch,” for example, while simultaneously rating a solid 7.4 on the Richter scale, also gives a good example of their lyrical approach: Brought up in an anti-social atmosphere pitting one livelihood against another in the quest for profit and survival I can’t tell my allies from my rivals And now I am lonely and confused, an automaton of consumption segregated from everything and everyone Inside the comedy of this life I am always reminded of the punches that you beat me to And I can’t help but think there’s something wrong with you. Elsewhere, another song astutely suggests that “complacency and satisfaction are the cheapest kinds of freedom,” while “empathy and interaction are the sole breeders of actualization.” But lyrics aside, the music is likewise well-concocted. Don’t go thinkin’ that these are some armchair intellectuals who don’t know how to have a good time, much less play rock-n-roll. Instead, this disc boasts some infectious guitar work riddled with catchy riffs and feral rhythms, as well as some exemplary bass lines. With the purchase of this disc you’ll also be blessed with the ska-tinged perfection of “White Collars,” a tune that’ll have you thanking a higher power. There are also a couple well-executed covers, including The Dwarves’ “Saturday Night” and Billy Bragg’s “There’s Power in a Union.” Great stuff by a band that raises the bar on what punk rock can and should be. - BL Back to Contents Various Artists "Scene Killer 3" Outsider Records This third installment of Outsider Records’ Scene Killer series perhaps tops the previous one with its mix of street punk and hardcore. It commences with a blazing cover of one of my favorite Exploited songs, “Dead Cities,” performed by New York’s maniacal hardcore punks, The Casualties. And that is not the only cover on here either. You are also treated to an eclectic mixture of re-makes such as “At The Edge” by Stiff Little Fingers covered by Hudson Falcons, “There is Power in a Union” by Billy Bragg covered by The GC5, “Authority Song” by John Cougar covered by The Drunks, “Leaving on a Jet Plane” by John Denver covered by Funeral Dress, “Babylon’s Burning” by the Ruts covered by Menace, and finally Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried” done by Forced Reality. What’s nice is that each band seasons the song they are covering to suit their own palette, rather than reproducing bland copies of the originals… and each of them come out delicious. One of my other favorite cuts on here is “Live Free or Die Fighting” by Blind Society, featuring crushing-speed hardcore and dual vocalists – it’s so fast and sweet it’s like the first time you got laid. Also Canada’s sadly defunct King Sized Braces contributes a great track of Oi! that’ll make your brain tingle. They’ve got nothing on the Bodies either, who deliver a garage-Oi! with Templars-ish guitars and great sung vocals. In addition you are treated to other notable songs by The Wretched Ones, Bonecrusher, Oxymoron, Roger Miret and the Disasters, The Krays, The Adicts, The Authority, Callaghan, Main Street Saints, The Strap-ons, Ciril, Class Assassins, Discipline, and The Discontent. While there are varying degrees of quality, most bands are really good, and even the somewhat less inspiring tracks come off pretty well. The only track that I couldn’t stand was by Battalion 86, who play downbeat and cliché Oi! with terrible Fat Albert vocals. That withstanding, I’d say there is some really great stuff on here, and it is worth seeking out. - BL Back to Contents Toy Dolls “Covered in Toy Dolls” Captain Oi! And you didn’t think spending a night alone listening to a CD could be better than going to a Swedish sex party! Ha! The Toy Dolls cover 17 songs from all over the musical canvas of past and present to bring you this complete party for one. Of course you can invite friends over if you want, but that’s the beauty of it, you don’t have to have friends over! You can listen to it utterly, completely, and pathetically alone and have the time of your freaking life! You have “Nellie the Elephant,” “Blue Suede Shoes,” and “Wipe Out.” You get the Chuck Berry anthem “No Particular Place to Go” covered in Toy Dolls silly fashion, complete with rippin’ guitar. What I like the best, however, is the cover of the classical masterpieces “Toccata in dm” which really show how similar heavy metal and classical music are to each other. There is also a cover of Mozart’s “Eine Kleine Nacht Muzik” done solely with acoustic guitars and flatulence. But the fun doesn’t stop there, oh no…there is a cover of “Livin’ La Vida Loca” complete with a kazoo orchestra and an angry screaming backup group. As if you need more music to add to your slow descent into madness, there is “The Devil Went Down To Georgia.” Originally performed by the Charlie Daniels Band in 1979, I think Olga from the Dolls beats Daniels ass as he masters the 6 string and shows the Devil how it’s done. For fans of the Toy Dolls this is a must have piece to add to your collection, and if you never heard of them this is a great CD to have for planning ritualistic masturbation. –Lisa Marie Back to Contents The Piss Shivers “We're Cheap Dates” PO Box 163 / Barto, PA 19504 Haha, before I even listened to this I was laughing at the titles of the 7 songs. The first is a punk instrumental, “Piss Shivers Theme,” and next we have “Douche Bag,” which is a hard hitting punk tune that is only one minute long. The next track is “V is for Vagina” and sounds a lot like the previous track, and is basically about how the band loves muff-diving and worshipping the female sex organs. It is like they are doing something so bad on purpose that it is hilarious. The lyrics are funny, in a 7th grade kind of way, but when you hear them vocalized, you can’t help but giggle. The music is pretty decent and fast, though there isn’t much variety. Oh, well except for the “Vagina Dance Mix” which is the vocal track of “V is for Vagina” over some really bad ‘techno’ tracks… pretty damn funny stuff. –Lisa Marie Back to Contents Long Island Hornets “Roadkill” Golly Gee Records Here we have some solid, haunting rockabilly that should please traditionalists and neo-rockabillies alike. Singer Jeff McLary fronts the band with low crooned vocals and Pete Crugnale capably beats the path with confident whacks on the upright bass. Perhaps my favorite asset, though, is the guitar chops of Gary Dawson, who provides a good chunk of the “wild” in their rockabilly mayhem. Outstanding rockers are the smooth rebel anthem, Misunderstood, and the audacious ruckus of Pink Lincoln. You will also encounter some great laid-back blues on Rain All Day. And then there’s The Long Ride Home, which has a smooth jazzy feel to it that towards the end builds momentum until a frenzied finale. While McLary scripts the bulk of the songs, and does a skilled job of it, drummer Mike Dejewski, also writes a couple songs on here, and both of those are excellent as well, including Tequila and Chainsaws. There you are treated to some real gone bass slappin’ rhythms, perfect vocals, and cool guitar in this mid-tempo strutter. However, the best track to showcase guitar talents may be the opening title cut, which makes for a great backroads driving tune. While songs like Two Tone Shoes do have pretty silly lyrics, they are no different than singing about shaving your head and lacing up the boots, or wearing spikey hair and studded leathers. The only real gripe I have with the album is that I’d like McLary to get a little more varied and unruly with the vocals from time to time. Nevertheless, this is one to pick up if you are a lover of rockabilly, because this is some really solid stuff that you will keep coming back to. To cap it all off, the CD ends with a remarkable cover of Little Pig, the only cover on here, which is nice to see because it shows the Long Island Hornets are a band talented enough to add to a genre, rather than just recycle a bunch of old songs. - BL Back to Contents The Supertones “Surf Fever 2000” Golly Gee Records The Supertones are specialists in atmospheric surf that really captures a 60’s sort of ambiance. The first song and title track has an awesome low-keyed reverb drenched guitar hook that really sets a tone for the rest of the CD. Many tracks follow that vary the sound quite nicely, moving from clean reverb tones to fuzz guitars, as well as crossing our Southern borders, or exploring elements of different music styles - be it ska, 60’s surf rock, or jazz. Some tracks even bring in organ or piano: and then there are a bunch of eccentric covers ranging from The Beatles’ “Hard Day’s Night” to “A Taste of Honey.” “Stranger In Paradise” is another that was actually originally written by Alexander Borodin for the opera Prince Igor, which was later made into a Broadway musical called Kismet, and then still later made into a hit by Frank Sinatra. That should give you an idea of how diverse this band’s influences can be. I’ll admit, on first listen they seemed a little too tranquil (hey, it’s hard to switch gears from blaring ugly punk rock to gorgeous instrumental arrangements – the human brain could combust). But now I find myself getting sucked into their world deeper and deeper – and what a nice world it can be. This is a great CD to put on when you need to have some martinis and relax, because this group of talented musicians can really set a good mood with their flowing melodies, perfect for when life has got you tense. - BL Back to Contents Various Artists “Sympathy for the Devil” Raucous Records Raunch-n-Roll from all over the globe on a two disc compilation that features songs tainted with a dark veil of evil! It would be impossible for me to go over every great track so I’ll mention the highlights and try not to leave out any gory details. The first disc starts off with the killer tune “Slow Down You Grave Robbing Bastard” courtesy of the Milwaukee Wildmen from Holland, and then goes into the eerie “When A Stranger Calls” by Howard Raucous & the Bombers from England and Russia. The Hyperjax from England serve up the cannibalistic “Eat the Baby” while The Deadcats from Canada tell you where to go in the grisley “Straight Down To Hell.” The second disc does you right from the beginning with Erika from the American psycho band Speed Crazy singing “Dance Crazy Baby” and later on you are treated to another American psycho band, The Spectres, (very dangerous men I hear) performing “Hell Ain’t Hot Enough” - and they even utilize a slide guitar for your enjoyment. I’ve never heard of the Astro Zombies from France, but they have a ruthless tune on here, “The Crazed” that is amazing! Other notable bands you will find on here are The Hangmen, Photon Torpedoes, the Evil Gnomes and more. –Lisa Marie Back to Contents The Lurkers “Punk Singles Collection” Captain Oi! This is one of the old Brit punk rock bands from the late 70’s up through the 80’s, and they remind me at times a bit of Ramones/Clash type anthems often with more dirty rock’n’roll guitars. “Mass Media Believer” and “Pills” are fantastic early cuts, and couple tracks on here actually come off with more backwoods jukebox feel, like on the exceptional “Little Ole Wine Drinker Me.” “This Dirty Town” is a really raw, upbeat rocker along with other great cuts like “Drag You Out,” “Herion (It’s All Over),” and “One Man’s Meat.” There is a bunch of solid stuff on here to check out, even if a few songs wane a bit here and there. - BL Back to Contents GBH “City Baby Attacked By Rats” Captain Oi! How many people remember hearing metalheads say that punk is just a bunch of power chords, simple music by lessor talents? Well, fuck ‘em. This is great shit! Don’t get me wrong, I do like a lot of old and some new metal, but the urgency here is unparalleled. The hardcore punk band GBH formed in 1980, reportedly playing their first gig as a benefit for prostitutes. That makes sense when you hear the “Sluts,” a song about… well, one of the finer things in life. This is their first full-length release, and they definitely weren’t holding anything back. The lyrics touch on serious topics such as the lack of God, cannibalism, and “Big Women,” the latter of which espouses timeless knowledge: “Skinny wenches will not do, I need a big one to see me through.” Classic. There are also a bunch of bonus tracks tacked on the end here, making this disc pretty much guaranteed to get you flailing about like wet fish on a meat hook. – BL Back to Contents Johnny Death's Surfpunk Orchestra “Solid Gold Death” their site What a strange CD; I would call it voodoo-surf-rock with the vocals of a goonie vampire. The band is real tight, real crunchy, unrefined in a good way and the instrumentals are the best tracks on here. There are quite a few covers such as the Statler Brothers’ “Counting Flowers on the Wall,” The Sarfari’s “Wipe-Out,” “My Generation” by The Who and even the “Timewarp” song from Rocky Horror Picture Show. They don’t have any credits in the liner notes, so I don’t know if any are even originals. Like I said, the band has a unique sound, but the vocals really hold it back for me. –Lisa Marie Back to Contents Various Artists “Psychobilly Hell” Raucous Records This is actually two albums on two discs under the guise of a single name! Order now and you will receive a handy, dandy personal ear and nose hair trimmer. But wait, there’s more! Be one of the first 10 callers and you will be treated to a lewd phone call courtesy of the whiskered lady who works third shift at Dairy Mart. That may not sound too appealing, rather appalling actually, but it’s just my failed attempt to lure you in with false promises. However, this compilation does not fail when it comes to the amount of awesome music you receive. The first album is Only Freeways To Skinner Kat and opens up with not one, but two tracks from The Hellbillys’ “Dragstrip Girl,” and “Moto-Psychos.” There are two fantastic songs on here by a band I am not familiar with called Cosmic Voodoo and they are psycho-absolute, especially the track “Old Man in the Woods.” Another band that I am virginous to is Bea Pickles, which have a female vocalist who has a ultra-femme-yet-spooky voice as she croons through two tracks. Ok, I’ll just say it: you get two tracks from each band on here, and there are some sweet bands on here like The Quakes, Barnyard Ballers, The Watchmen, Psycho Bunnies, The Blazers, The Jackals and Voodoo Swing. The second disc, Live From The Charlotte, also has multiple songs from notable psycho bands such as The Hangmen and Thee Raygunns. Some tracks that I really like are “Pink Hearse,” from the Radium Cats and a comical song called “I Wish I Could Be Like Elvis P.” by Thee Waltons and they even use a harmonica player! This is an A+ compilation that every psycho should have. –Lisa Marie Back to Contents GBH “City Baby's Revenge: 101 Ways to Kill a Rat” Captain Oi! This is CD compilation that includes a re-release of G.B.H’s second album originally released in 1983, plus the addition of the 7” records Give Me Fire/Man-Trap, Catch 23/Hellhole and Do What You Do/Four Men. G.B.H is hailed as one of the UK’s finest, real punk bands and it certainly comes through on this disc. All 22 songs are original compositions except for “I Feel Alright” which is a cover of the Stooges. Anyone who knows punk knows this band and their raw, unleashed frenzy of rock that hammers deep into your brain. Whether it be the kick your ass tune of “I feel alright” or the somewhat strange “Skanga (Herby Weed),” this disc is definitely recommended for fans of true, old school punk rock. –Lisa Marie Back to Contents The Wifebeaters "Child Mullet Station" 7 " Send $3 to: PO Box 5192 / Redwood City, CA 94063 This is a very low quality production in sound; I can barely hear the instruments. All I can hear are the lyrics “cook me some dinner you bitch.” I doubt these guys take themselves seriously with songs like “Make Me a Sandwich, ” and “Redneck Militia.” I think they suck. What I can hear of the music is bad and the vocals are terrible. But at least you get a temporary tattoo and free sticker. Oh, and on the back of the album is a picture of Ike beating Tina. –Lisa Marie Back to Contents Various Artists “Contents Under Pressure” 4-way split 7" Rotten House Records PO Box 12705 / Reading, PA 19612-2705 The first two bands are the Syphilitics with their rocking punk song “1150 W. 8th” and then the Piss Shivers with “PC Intolerance.” On side B you get Just A Product’s “You’ll have to Understand” which is an ok track that is monotonous (oh wait, is the record skipping?) and dangerously close to pop. The other song on this side is Fux and “Nothing New I can Say” which has a kind of dreary, worn down sound to it. I am not too big a fan of this little piece of vinyl. –Lisa Marie Back to Contents Shakedowns / Alphabet Bombers split 7" Each band offers two cuts. The Alphabet Bombers give you punkabilly with comical lyrics on “Vegan Demon,” and then a great instrumental called “Just a Broad,” which sounds like it could be the music to an old film noir. I imagine the part where the man’s unrequited love is found dead in her apartment, and he lights a cigarette then walks the streets a broken man as the credits start rolling. Great stuff, but very different from what I heard them play live a couple months ago. The Shakedowns also do not disappoint with there crazy garage punk on “Rock Pose” and another knockout instrumental, “Berzerker,” which interestingly was written by The Alphabet Bombers. These are some precious goods. - BL Back to Contents The Pillocks “Got the Edge” Knock Out Records This band’s mission is to make you into one of them, because for these guys, being a pillock is a way of life. That may seem a bit odd to admit, but it is in keeping with this band’s good humor. Plus, it is typically the “charming idiot” that goes against the grain of mainstream culture, and that is exactly what this hard-hitting German street punk band sings about doing. On “Family Man” they sing about people in the scene growing older and settling into a more secure lifestyle. “Insured to the max / no more risks / convenience is where you get your new kicks.” Then on “You’ve Got the Edge,” the song becomes a rallying cry against the ever-present danger of falling into the stagnancy of the dominant culture, despite the fact that “it could be so much easier / just to drop your suspicion / follow all those mainstream needs / provided by any system.” Yet, don’t get these guys wrong, they are all about having a good time too. This becomes evident on songs with such diverse topics, and sometimes downright silly lyrics, about being a locomotive enthusiast, the disappointment of shitty football games, coping with drunk and belligerent friends, and the impossibility of buggering hedgehogs. These songs are delivered with an Oi! sensibility and are often spiced up with some Ska chords. They do a great job of not getting poppy, but also not playing bland angry music. Instead, they come off as not only a contending band for this genre, but also one tempered with some modesty when a lot of contemporaries are singing about how tough they are. This may not be for everyone; they don’t reinvent the wheel or anything, but it suits me just fine when I’m in the mood. There are also two covers on here: “Rudie Can’t Fail” by The Clash and “Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be” by AC/DC. The latter has a comically bad flute solo, which may be the only point on this album to be missed. There is also a final bonus track, a great traditional-sounding Ska tune, the only one of that ilk on the album. - BL Back to Contents Oxymoron “Feed the Breed” Knock Out Records This latest outing from these German punks and skins continues in their tradition of writing catchy anthems that retain enough edge to cut them sharply apart from any pop-punk misnomers. One of the better tracks on here, “Stereotype,” deals with not giving a piss about fulfilling any punk rock cliché and their hatred at being “stigmatized unless submitting to norms,” whether they be the norms of the mainstream culture, or a any subculture. Also among the best songs on here include “Hit The Road (Again)” about the “chaos and fun and booze for free” that they enjoy as a touring band. Fuck, they should take me with them: I can be their 3rd guitarist! Anyway, “R.I.P” is another excellent track that attacks the war-as-usual policies of a government woven together with special interests and corporate concerns, while “21st Century” challenges the luxury and escapism of web-surfing and empty TV-viewing while there is a real world out there to contend with. Perhaps my favorite tune on this release is “Wild and Dangerous,” about getting some kicks while being “a threat to the upper class.” The lyrics on this disc do lapse in eloquence a bit here and there, though, with things like “we won’t sell our soul for a faggy rock’n’roll career” and “you can call me sucker but don’t call me a cunt… oh-oh, you make a mistake mister if you call me that.” Kinda funny actually. While none of the songs on here are terrible, the CD as a whole does get to be a bit much for one listen due to lack of variation. Also, I think it is slightly less edgy than their earlier stuff. Nevertheless, this will not disappoint fans of Oxymoron, or singalong punk rock in general, as they do it with style. - BL Back to Contents Snaggletooth “S/T” 2266 Westside Dr., Rochester, NY 14624 The song titles on this disc are hilarious: “Chicken Fuckin’ Carny Revolution,” “Uncle Walt’s Bones in the Crawdad Hole,” “Robot Homicide (187 on an undercover droid),” ‘Dial “I” for Incest”, and so on… However the lyrics can be really hard to make out because the singing is often a low-end murderous screaming. Not that that is necessarily bad. The music is pretty well done; often so heavy it’s like being tossed off a bridge with a cinder block chained to your feet. This is dirty noise-metal with lots of feedback and mostly a slow-paced churning of low guitars. My favorite tracks are the faster and shorter ones, not mired in the slow and drudging tedium. I really have to be in the mood to get into this. “Orca” is a good track that has a sort of Southern metal feel to it, and “Gnawgahyde” bites you like a rabid pit bull. My favorites though, are the short, hard, and altogether sweet “Robot Homicide” and “Dave Works for the Post Office…USA!”- a song that fucking rocks better than all others on here. While I don’t generally get into this type of music, I think this band from Rochester, NY has some merit. - BL Back to Contents The Beltones “Cheap Trinkets” TKO Records This is rock-n-roll that makes it easier to keep your head above water everyday. The Beltones take rough street-level garage rock and customize it with a touches of 70’s punk and 50’s rock-n-roll, and they do this without a hint of contrivance. In fact, they have managed to capture a sound that is all their own, and that will keep you on board from start to finish. “Hellfire” absolutely smokes, along with chugging pistons of “The Thief” - perhaps the two most 50’s-rooted tracks on here. Other songs like “Mix It Up” and “Shitty in Pink” take more of the seventies avenue with pure gritty punk rock. They also do an excellent “Concrete Jungle” replete with great guitars and a dark feel. What’s nice about their sound is the raw yet clear production, and the raspy yet sung vocals. Plus the lyrics take on subjects that are easy to relate to (mostly heartbreak), and are written in an earnest style that makes them come off that much more real. For Example on “Weak”: Jonny’s on the phone and he says let’s get a brew Well another old bar won’t be nothing new, but it beats beating my brain in just turning the screw Checking my pockets but my money’s spent, and if I go out tonight I won’t make the rent But I’m weak So I pray to god to take or leave my soul to keep Cos I ain’t got no soul, just broken dreams an blood-stained sheets And ain’t a god in heaven that’ll ever meant shit to me And without her kiss I fear I’ll never get a good night’s sleep “Mr. Wrecking Ball” especially strikes a melancholy chord, “Mr. Wrecking Ball set me free, if I can’t have my love I don’t want to be / and every drink’s another memory, take my life and give my baby back to me.” But don’t think that this is even remotely emo, or dreary suicide music… quite the contrary. Instead, I think they have the paradoxically uplifting quality that good country and blues can have even in the bleakest situations, as well as the rough edges of the better street punk bands. - BL Back to Contents The Flys “Flys Own” Captain Oi! The Flys right off the bat remind me of The Cars vocally on “Let’s Drive,” not normally my thing, but this is pretty good. Overall, this is fairly solid power pop from the late 70’s Britain, and I think it grows on you a bit. There is also certain Bowie vibe to this, but some tracks are extremely weak, like the radio friendly “Talking to the Wall” or the lifelessness of “Fortunes.” On the other hand, “Through the Windscreen” is a slow and positively strange cut, as well as the spoken quirkiness of “Freezing.” You get a real 80’s feel throughout actually, complete with keyboards on some tracks, as though they were on the forefront of a new era of pop. While this is interesting and some songs aren’t too bad, it isn’t something I will likely put in the player much. - BL Back to Contents The Vibrators "Punk Rock Rarities" Captain Oi! Now I don’t know much about the Vibrators aside from “Automatic Lover,” which incidentally, is the first track on this disc, albeit in demo form recorded in 1977. I have to say, I was quite impressed with a good portion of these tracks which carry on a snotty punk rock irreverence that is so distinctive of all the good stuff from the late seventies. They have the energy and rawness, and can carry a tune often on attitude alone – you gotta love that. They also aren’t bad musicians by a long shot either… some really exceptional stuff. Stand out tracks are “Wake Up,” “Bad Time,” “Splitting Up,” “Judy Says,” “Stitch You Up” and hell… the bulk of this CD kicks serious ass. The only songs that really fall short of the mark are a handful of the later tracks like the keyboard 80’s pop of “Office Girls” and “Lovin’ Machine,” or the lackluster last two cuts, but those aren’t too terribly bad. Regardless of a few bad eggs, this is highly recommended. - BL Back to Contents The Stringbeans “21st Century Time Machine” Bluelight Records: bluelightrecords@co.inet.fi If you want to hear a band that pushes the boundaries of the psychobilly/neo-rockabilly genre, look no further. Finland’s Stringbeans have a sound that is at once eccentric and direct. On “21st Century Time Machine” they sound remarkably like the Stray Cats, except with an occasional creepy, cosmic, organ and then “Safe Sex Girl” is total, film noir-type jazz. The members of the band include a note of apology to friends and enemies about their laziness, and hope this compilation of early material and rarities will satisfy until a record of new material can be put out. Let me tell you, this CD satisfies me more than a Greek god covered in A-1 sauce, serving me chunks of raw meat. There are 17 tracks that are full of sizzling guitar, that at times seems southern flavored and other times have a strange space-age sounding effect. There is a live version of “String Along,” a 37 second instrumental, followed by “Bean Bag,” which is also an instrumental that I would say is a mix of rock, surf and spaghetti western. “Metamorphosis” is one of my favorite tunes on here and leans heavily towards psychobilly, with thumpin’ upright and a real crunchy, punked-out guitar. This band blends so many styles of music into one kick ass, rockin’ CD, you’d be a liver spotted fool to pass it up. –Lisa Marie Back to Contents Discipline “Love Thy Neighbor” LP Knock Out Records You want some excellent hard-hitting skinhead rock’n’roll that’ll leave you punch drunk for days? Look no further than Discipline from Holland. The album kicks off with a fury with “Now or Never,” and although it never quite matches that level of intensity, there are plenty of truly great cuts on here. They sing about some of the usual skinhead topics, but fortunately they do it a lot better than most, making this band come off more confident, seasoned, and credible. There are songs about unions, hooligans, girls (good and bad), cast-aside veterans, jails, and life in general for the less-than-wealthy. Plus, the music is really tight, aggressive, and not over-produced, and the vocals are harsh yet clear, fitting the music perfectly. Actually, the more I listen to this, the more of a Bruisers feel I get. What more do you need to hear? They even do a cover of Social Distortion’s “Prison Bound.” Pick this up. - BL Back to Contents The Mutants "Funky Fidel PT 1 and PT 2 7" their site Helsinki, Finland is where these mutants call home, but you’d never guess it listening to their music. Side A of this record has a Cuban beat with grinding guitars, churning organs, some wailing brass, and of course some real funky bass lines. This is crazy and extraordinary! Side B continues with this trip and gives off a sort of weird 70’s spy film vibe. The Mutants also have other fantastic 7”s out. On “Le Bon, Le Brute, Le Truand… Le Mutant” they explore spaghetti western instrumentals with great success, and I mean this is really damn cool stuff that makes me want to chew tobaccy and ride a horse across the state to shoot someone who cheated me once at cards. Then on their self-titled 7” they offer surfy mambo instrumentals done with organ and even brass to add that Vegas glitz and Mexican flavor. This record also comes with “Mutant Party Instructions” that teach you how to mambo and suggest “drinking like a madman” first. I have to say; discovering bands like this is one of the best things about doing this zine. Brilliant! E-mail them at: themutants@hotmail.com - BL Back to Contents The Deadites / The Hellions Center of the World Records The Deadites are a crazy garage band that really mix up their sound… and I like it. The first cut of their three sounds like 60’s surf party music with organ and everything, but the next song goes quite a bit harder, but retains the lo-fi and energetic approach. By their third song, a cover of the Big Boys’ “Let’s Play God,” the sound is so down and dirty it’d make GG Allin proud. The Helions also deliver really solid garage punk rock ’n’roll Texas-style as well with their two songs that’ll crush your windpipe. This is another one to seek out and become the first cool person on your block. - BL Back to Contents Kung Fu Killers “Game of Death” TKO Records New Jersey spawns yet another punk band, and like most of them, this one ain’t bad. The Kung Fu Killers play hardcore punk that’ll take you back to the eighties, and apparently some of the members actually come from bands of that era (Doom Patrol, Slap of Reality, Crimson Gash). You gotta love their stage names: like “General Tzo Wat” on bass and “Chow Maniac” on lead guitar. This CD EP contains 6 songs, and two are covers, including the Misfits’ “I Turned Into a Martian.” Overall, I’d say the waters here are lukewarm, but it’s definitely not a painful listen. - BL Back to Contents The Business “Hell To Pay” CDEP TKO Records The Business are to street punk what Mr. T was to the A-team. Here you receive two songs from their last full-length on Epitaph/Burning Heart, plus a cover of Eddie and the Hotrods’ “Do Anything You Wanna Do,” which is a decent mid-tempo number with clean guitars but doesn’t really get me going. The title track on this will make you want to destroy, annihilate, and ruin everything in a cathartic rage that consumes your body and releases your pent up id. The next cut, “Gangland,” is a lot less cutthroat, but still a really good song. The limited edition 7” (2000 press) of this is a picture disc, and leaves off the Eddie and the Hotrods song. This is more of a release for completists, rather than essential Business. - BL Back to Contents The Generators “State of the Nation” TKO Records, 4104 24th St. #103 San Francisco, CA 94114 Damn, I like this much better than their last release; it just has more of an edge to it and less polish, although there were some great tracks on that CD as well. Actually, the most outstanding track on that one, “In the City,” is on here as well, in the form of a bonus video. There are 6 new songs here, plus two live tracks including Cocksparrer’s “Runnin’ Riot” taken from their performance at the Holidays In The Sun festival / USA 2000. This LA street punk band has a lot going for them, good vocals and catchy guitar melodies. I hope to hear more from them in the future. - BL Back to Contents The Diablos S/T 7" Jet Rock N Roll Records This sounds pretty damn good! Surf-rock on a 7” just like the good ole days…not that I was around. You get the instrumental “Crazy Car Hop” followed by the very vintage sounding “Stella’s Got A Fella,” which has a noteworthy guitar solo in it. On the other side you have “Hey Girl” and “Wild, Wild Lover” which are both very traditional sounding in lyrics and instruments. Very cool. –Lisa Marie Back to Contents Spazm 151 “Sworn to Fun, Loyal to None” Center of the World Records Well, the name certainly is appropriate – this shit hits you like a shot of 151 rum and will instantly send you into uncontrollable spasms. Fuck, I love this slab o’ vinyl. So much fuckin’ energy as well as song-writing talent. Anyone who likes hardcore or hardcore punk will like this a lot. The vocals come out with rabid intensity, but aren’t tuneless screaming like with a bunch of crust bands. Actually, this is hard to categorize - there is even an instrumental on here. Just trust me, it fucking rocks. This is great - get it! It’ll make you feel like tearing down your apartment building with your teeth. - BL Back to Contents Evan Johns & the Hillbilly Soul Surfers "Moontan" Big Cypress Records The most noticeable thing about this disc is the strange, John Fogerty-drowning-in-a-tar-pit-like-a-dying-wooly-mammoth type vocals that on some songs sound okay, but on others make me cringe. Needless to say, the surf-rock instrumentals are the best tunes on here like “Surf Don’t Crawl,” “Shootin’ The Merle,” “El Rey De Roto Corazon” and “Acid Wave.” Some of the bearable numbers on here are “Dear Doc” which has a real gritty, bluesy guitar sound, and “All Your Cheatin,’” which is straight up honky tonk. The songs are pretty well written; it’s just a shame that Evan John’s vocals are so unappealing. –Lisa Marie Back to Contents Various Artists "Give 'Em The Boot III" Hellcat Records This is a really sweet CD compilation that combines awesome bands from many genres such as punk, psychobilly and ska. The disc starts off with a punchy punk song from The Distillers, “Sick Of it All” and marches right into the Dropkick Murphys “The Legend of Finn MacCumhail.” You also get an energetic kick in the face from Rancid with “Golden Gate Fields” and a swift boot in the ass from Agnostic Front’s “Liberty.” What I really love on this CD is the psychobilly madness of the Nekromantix and their bloody number “Who Killed the Cheerleader” which is guaranteed to give you night sweats and wake up wondering who or what is under your bed. The frantic, coffin bass slappin’ and graveyard vocals of Kim Nekroman make this, with out a doubt, my favorite track on here. You also get a psycho track from Tiger Army, “Power of Moonlight,” that features Nick 13’s unique vocals mixed with charm of an upright bass and slide guitar. Ex-Clash front man Joe Strummer and his band the Mescaleros offer up a strange, ethnic song, “Global A Go-Go” which has a variety of unusual instruments and sounds done in classic Strummer fashion. “Information Error” by The Slackers is a superb, slow, organ filled, reggae tune with the traditional, groovin’ bass that gives it an excellent sound. As a lucky bonus, you also get 2 videos! One is of Tiger Army’s “Cupid’s Victim” and the other is Dropkick Murphys “Spicy McHaggis Jig.” I recommend this to anyone and everyone. –Lisa Marie Back to Contents

Review Index: Go Further Back In Time

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