Punk Mix- Side A

Another Installment of punk rock mixology.....from Professor Joe!

Well, this turned out ot be a more homogeneous mix tape that reflected the more punk side of things. Granted, punk is a wide and varied field and ultimately up for interpretation.....So whatever. Good music for bad times


Side A

C.I.A.-Destiny, Connecticut Fun Lp (Incas records, 1985)
Wow, an incredible local CT punk and hardcore compilation from 1984-5. Great cross section of killer hits that showed a diversity not seen today. C.I.A. was a local HC outfit that put out a monster single in 83' called God, Guns, Guts. Anyway, this track is as good a HC tune as you could hope to find anywhere. This band would also form the core of the even more excellent 76% Uncertain in 83' . Find their Estimated Monkey Time LP now! Funny nerd fact, this compilation was the first recorded appearence of Youth of Today!!!




Richard Hell and the Voidoids- Blank Generation, Blank Generation Lp (Sire, 1977)
One of those classic first generation punk Lps that is a most own. A lot of these early bands were definitely more from an art/poetry background and it shows. Scappy music combined with a sense of theatricality that is not present in many contemporary bands (Dresden Dolls maybe...) Whatever, this is better than your average 77' junkie punk (although Hell was a notorius abuser of said drug). Love this fucking song to death...






Dicks- Hate the Police, Hate the Police ep (RRadical records, 1980)
Gay Commie Faggot Band!!!! Wooo.In the late 70's-early eighties Texas is not the place where you'd expect a band with these credentials to hail from, but here they are in their nihilistic glory! This song is a top track that should be heard by all, an all time best song for sure. The rest of this hyper rare 7" is also great, but this track is untouchable. Originally released on Dave MDC's label in a paltry pressing of 500. Happy hunting!







Black Time- Shadows, Blackout LP (Concrete Life, 2004)
Um England, when did you get cool again? Super dirty garage punk that will fuck your ass and leave you begging for a reacharound! Mud production and cachy melodies make this a modern classic, England hasn't made a good punk or HC disc in a while so its' about damn time. Find their New Vague Themes Lp if you dig this....do it!



Direct Control- Religious Rampage, Second ep (Kangaroo records, 2006)
Ok, so I find it annoying when people try to tell me what hardcore should sound like. I mean, I think I have a pretty good grasp on this type of thing and hate it when metal core or someother sub-sub-sub-genre is foisted upon me in the place of the real mcCoy...know what I mean? Every now and again I hear the the real deal and it instantly hits the right spot, such is the case here. This Richmond band of youngsters do more than ape the old style, they actually rev it up a notch or three....If your looking for today's good HC find this and be happy.

Gris Gris- Raygun, s/t Lp (Birdman records, 2005)
I've already talked about the brilliant psych trash that this band shits out....They are moody and fucked up. Need I say more?



Time Flys-1900's, Fly Lp (Birdman records, 2005)
Wow, I honestly cannot believe how awesome this song and whole album are. Super trashy riffs played in a way that fools you and makes you believe that you are at a Pagans show in 1978...How do they capture that vibe of danger in a studio? Fucked if I know....This is a top album for me in terms of recent platters that touch my special spot....



The Observers- walk alone, Walk Alone ep (Johnny Cat records, 2005)
Let the modern classics continue to roll my way...these Portland punks create one hell of a sound that channels all the best ingredients from early Southern Cali punk scene. Fuck me, Nan and I saw these guys in a garage a couple of years ago and they played with a desperation that hit me hard. They broke up like a week later so I consider myselk lucky as shit...3/4 of these cats are in a new outfit called the Red Dons who are worth checking out.


Nuns- Lazy, s/t Lp (Bomp/Poshboy records, 1980)
San Francisco was a hotbead for new and creative ideas in the seventies and it is evident in the quality of punk that emerged from this city. You can't argue with The Avengers, Dead Kennedys, Crime and the fucking NUNS. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love this band, Jennifer Miro's vocals slay me and the music is so fresh and original you wonder why can't all music be this good. Sharp melodies with roughly hewn edges makes this a all time classic...I gave Nan my extra copy and wish I had one to give to all of you, it is that good.
Outo- No way out, No way out ep (Selfish records, 1988)
Japanese punk legends who put out a string of great releases from the early eighties onward. These manaics started out with the typical UK 82-sound-by-way-of Japan thing and evolved into a more distictive thrashin' outfit. I don't know if this is my favorite OUTO track, but I do like the galloping bass with the Motorheadesque vibe. Look for there Many question Poison answer ep....it is also an Engrish headcracker.

Queens of the Stone Age- Go with the flow, Songs for the Deaf Lp (Interscope records, 2002 )

This might surprise some of you folks, but I really dig what these guys do. Josh Homme, Mark Lannegan, Nick Olivari and Dave Grohl make a near perfect record here. Fuck, this is so good. Nan turned me on to this band and I thank her for it, I was missing out. They were hot live, Nan and I went with some really good friends: Ryan and Erica and a good time was had by all. This song is so fucking weird and melancholic. I guess living in the desert for a prolonged period of time sun bakes people and fucks them up inside and out....versus the cold winters turning us Bostonians into eternal hatemongers!!!

Negative Fx- Feel like a man, Together, s/t Lp (TAANG records, 1984)

Boston's reputation for intense hardcore is predicated upon a host of founding fathers such as SS Decontrol, F.U.'s, D.Y.S., Jerrys Kids, Gang Green and Negative FX....This was recorded at the legendary Radiobeat records in 1982, but wasn't put out until a few years later by Curtis at TAANG. This is one of the best US Hardcore Lps to ever come out. The raw hatred and intensity that is committed to vinyl is totally mind blowing. The songs are short, fast and set to kill. Choke went on to form both the Last Rights and Slapshot later, but this is the best of all three projects in my opinion. No fan of hardcore should be without this slab of hate!
Angry Angles- You call it love, s/t ep (Shattered records, 2005)

Jay Reatard and Alix from the Lids team up and come up with a winner here. Garage punk with some fuzz cranked into it for good measure. The pop element to this song is what keeps it interesting to me, it sounds sweet but is actually anything but. Saw them live last year and loved the whole set they played. They are now defunct, but left behind this single and a few others that are hopelessly out of print and scattered to the wind which is a shame. Baby when you hit me....it felt so good.....(un) love songs for the fucked up! I'm in.
Murder City Devils-Rum to Whiskey, In Name and Blood Lp (SubPOp, 2000)
At this point is difficult to not recoil in horror at the amount of hipsters that have claimed this band as their own...however, never one to be shallow I am looking past the bulk of their fanbase and hearing a brilliant tune inspired by alcohol and depression. This song is like the ultimate my-girl-broke-up-with-me-so I-am-now-going-to-drink-myself-stupid-song. We can all relate to this song.....

Ataque Frontal-No Habra Paz, s/t ep (New Wave records, 1987)
Rare as fuck Peruvian hardcore single that is so shit raw it hurts! Killer fuzzed out hardcore attack with gruff vocals that torture the Spanish language. I think a lot about why international hardcore is so fucking good to my ears and normally it revolves around the fact that these bands were living outside of the pipeline of what was "popular" or trendy in hardcore at the time. Consequently the bleak desperation and raw sounds ring slightly more true than the faceless affectations of middle class suburban posers from the U.S. You can almost viscerally relate to the fact that this record was recorded with a very hostile political climate in the region and relfects grim reality in a way that is very convincing....

Regulations-No rights, Acceptance, Electric Guitar Lp (Havoc, 2005)

Great Swedish band that has been playing around for a few years now. They have the whole Dangerhouse/early Flag vibe in their sound. Raw and fast, but not metally at all. No solos or overproduction here. Just charging tempos, snotty vocals and catchy choruses that add up to one fuck of a record. Pick up their previous Lp and singles while you are at. Check them out live if you can, they have toured the states twice and have put on great shows each time...First press of this record on blue vinyl!
LA Drugs- High School LA Drugs Lp (Twisted Village, 2003)

Local purveyors of weird, noisy music Twisted Village have put out this art damaged slab. Ugly noise layered over feedback and fuzz. Cool female vocals that are slightly off time make this memorable. The Lyrics make me laugh in a good way: songs about highschool alienation and drugs! Cool shit made by degenerates that I'd hang out with...... High school Ughh.....just out of lunch and I did too much coke...High School Ughh.