Part IV

Sonic Youth- Confusion is Next
This track is off of Sonic Youth's second Lp: Confusion is Sex on Neutral Records. Long before this band loomed heavily over the American Indie landscape, they recorded this masterpiece of creepy noise driven punk trash. Much can be said about the longevity of this band and so forth, however I will just say that this song is depressed, hypnotic and beautiful. Get this album and fall in love with the band.
Mission of Burma-Sing-A-Long
It has long been a given around these parts that Burma is the most important band to have ever come out of our town...well, I agree to a certain extent. Angular and jagged, Burma's music has a propulsive quality that raises it above your standard art school schlock that has become all too common these days. This track is from a 1982 session and certainly demonstrates their ability as a band to catch the listener off guard. Husker Du also did this...so the irony is that Burma is as fresh an relevant todayas they were when they wrote this25 years ago. I could have easily chosen a Burma track from the Obliterati released in 2007 and it would have been as intense...Interesting side note: The original incarnation of Burma ended with a riot at a hardcore show when they played with Negative FX. Classic.
Nebula-So it goes

Man, I am totally into this band. Sabbathy sludginess with an upbeat aggressive attitude. This band is a very underated current band. They are like a much heavier Queens of the Stone Age and come with none of the pretension of the aforementioned band (whom I also happen to like alot). Riffs, psychadelics, and long hair....is it punk, metal or both? Whatever, I'm sold.


Dissection- Retribution-Storm of the Light's Bane

Perhaps you don't know me very well and think that I don't like metal on account of being too hardcore or something foolish like that, but alas I do. Metal can be great or ridiculous like anything else and I tend to really enjoy the agression and stark beauty/brutality that a lot of Scandinavian metal brings to the table. This Swedish band was a mid nineties stalwart before all the church burnings, murders, and eventual suicide of the band's leader put them on permanent hiatus. I love this track because it reminds me of a cold winter day.
Cider- Obey

This track is off of their "They are the Enemy" Lp and it is a motherfuck of a distorted thrash song. These sociopaths are the bad apples that have fallen from the Clevo punk/HC scene. Related to Nine Shocks, H100's, Gordon Solie Motherfuckers etc. Do not invite these guys to your house to stay (trust me!) unless you are a thick skinned person who is of the non politically correct mindset. Totally deranged and hilarios. in other words; my type of people. This song will fuck you up.
Social Unrest- Making Room for Youth

This gem of a song comes from their 1981 debut 7". Social Unrest is probably the coolest thing to ever emerge out of Hayward, CA and is without a doubt one of the freshest most original bands to exist during the halcyon days of the early hardcore scene..Melodic thrash with raw vocals and attitude to spare, this one kills me everytime. This might be on my top twenty hardcore /punk singles of all time list. Scum stats: the first pressing of this came in many different colored sleeve variations; all dayglow. 500 ever pressed. Man, I could fucking listen to this everyday without getting tired of it.

DMZ-Lift up your hood
Local Boston gods from the seventies on the venerable BOMP! label. Jeff "monoman" Connolly is on vocals here before his stint in the Lyres (still!) Anyway, here is some of the best authentic Beantown punk ever recorded! Great shit that is right up there witht he Damned, Ramones et al. Come visit me and we'll be sure to see old Monoman being crazy and obsessive in any number of our local record stores..

David Bowie- Suffragette City
Ok, so obviously you know who this is and have probably heard this song, however I dig the 7" version that is contained on this mix tape. This version features a mix that is more raw and consequently more rocking. Definitely Bowie's coolest period...no hint of the wankerdom that would eventually emerge.


Manisch Depressiv-This cool band comes from Switzerland and not much is known about them other than this enigmatic platter came out in 1983 and features cool female vocals over weird noisy, thrashy, punk. Did I mention that there are no song titles and they all run together and have no drums or bass...confused? yup, me too. However, this does manage to not come across as weird art punk, but intense and powerful hardcore. Just listen to it...