Part II

Part Two -


The Krontjong Devils-Casbah
Nan and I just got back from vacation in Reno and San Francisco and had a great time! A lot of our time was spent hunting for vinyl treasures in various record stores (yes Nan does this too...what a woman!!) including the motherbitch of all record stores: Amoeba. You brethren and sistren of the West know all about the Amoeba and how incredible it is, however my East Coast friends by and large have never visited it. There are two locations in the bay area: San Fran and Berkeley. Picture massive buildings that used to be gigantic bowling allys converted to a record store that encompasses all styles, genres, and sub genres that can be imagined.....Skip to the end: In the new arrivals section I find a lot of weird, cheaply priced singles for two dollars that I know nothing about and often take a chance on. This single is one of them. It is intense Dutch surf music that is actually not schlocky...I only wonder where do they surf in the Netherlands?


Black Flag- Scream
Alright, if you know me even a little bit then you know I am a fanatical Flag fan. This includes all eras. period. If you are one of those types who only swear by the first singles then you can fuck right off, you are missing out on great material. No, this song off of the Rat Music live comp isn't thrashin', it is a slower, heavier sonic assault against you and your stupid life. Rollins literally does not sing , he screams...and it is convincing in its' ferocity and singular vision. Don't you wish you were there?

Black Heart Procession- The winter my heart froze, Stitched to my heart
Normally, Nan and I agree on many things pertaining to music, sometimes we disagree. She thinks this is pretentious and I think it is awesome. Many former members of....now creating some somber, depressed, and ultimately beautiful music that is akin to an iceberg. I could listen to the opening track over and over again.

The Mob- Witch Hunt

As is fairly typical people dismiss this band as merely peace punk that should be scorned for its liberal hippy idealism and shit ass music. Wrong. The Mob (not to be confused with NYHC stalwarts the Mob) played music that mattered and was listenable. Let the tribe Increase is their best effort and this track is awesome. Mid paced punk that reflected the horror of life under Margaret Thatcher's regime in the early eighties. She and her regime bore close resemblence to Reagan and his worldview....paranoia and totalitarniasm served up nicely with wholesome Christian values. People forget that Bush jr. learned his tricks from someone's conservative asshole playbook....Anyway, the music is challenging and more relevant now that when it was written.

Pink Reason- throw it all away
I just missed their show at the Midway the other night and I'm kicking myself because these MidWeasterners play awesome lurching psychedelic laced garage punk that is not by the numbers. This is a droning number that makes me think of cold winters and cheap Miller High Lifes and pabsts. Don't get all freaked out by the Swastika, it is made out of penises....irony comes in strange forms doesn't it? They have another ep worth getting too if you like this....


Agent Orange- Bloodstains
Holy shit this is the ultimate killed by death type of punk single that will destroy you upon first listen. This is their first release from 1980 and it is the perfect southern Cali punk record from that era. Sadly, it is hyper rare and many have not heard this track which is their shining moment. Cool looking picture sleeve too....Fuck me, this is so brilliant I'm glad I exhumed this gem from the depths of the collection. Wait until you here this...Fuck.


7-Seconds-No
What we have here is one of the earliest tracks by this popular RENO! band. This was recorded in 1980 with their original vocalist Dim Menace (Dim Borghino to be exact). Different than what you are probably used to. Way more rough and fuzzy and oi inspired. Kev is on guitar and steve on bass with Bix doing the drums. This seven inch has demo tracks pressed to wax and is way worth trying to find, especially for all you RENOIds who want to know about your history. Dim was a character (go to Recycled Records and heckle Mike Ward about this shit...) and there are funny stories about him and his later band Section 8 (look at the MRR comp). Also you should go find the Wrecks demos. All girl hardcore, all Reno from 1980......SKEENO HC rules!



Black Market Baby- Downward Christian Soldiers
A bone classic from their Senseless Offereings Lp from 83'. This DC band was around fom the beginning, but never fit into (or wanted to) the narrow confines of the nascent DC Hardcore scene. Very powerful punk/hardcore made with passion and all the abandon of guys who didn't give a fuck about the scene....This melodic masterpiece is so fucking good, I'm putting it on right now....

Incidentally, this is the first song on side two and proved to be very different from the rest of the side...

Haunted George- Ghosts of the Old San Juan River
My favorite one man band in the world. This is off of the Panther Howl Lp and is a cover of some old folk song from the 1800's. It is a weird old song from an era where America was still wild (think frontier times). Haunted George lays down super distorted minimalistic music that really sinks into your psyche.The rest of this Lp and his new Pile oMeat Lp are equally as savage and memorable as this song. Best record of 2006 for me, maybe.....