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.

DrumDrops Volume 3

Wow. A tape full of nothing but drum patterns. I had volume 4 on vinyl and I found this gem at a garage sale. Basically it's "The ultimate rhythm machine for practicing, songwriting, or playing ANY song on ANY instrument." Well, I already have a feeling this is going to get used for drum loops to make mix tape interludes with. This joint includes beats such as Straight Disco, Jazz Fusion 2, Afro Cuban, 5/4 Rock, Salsa Disco and more. Very 70's, indeed. My drum machine is mad jealous.

Joe's Mix tape Part I

Pre-Assessment
Hey, here is my mix tape playlist. I hope you'll find some cool stuff here that interests you. Some of it is rare, some of isn't. I had no real plan in regard to what I wanted to put on here, most of it is pretty randomly selected. New stuff, old stuff, forgotten about stuff....It is funny how mix tapes take on a life all their own, patterns do emerge out of the chaos and lack of planning. I guess that is the coolest aspect of making a real mixtape.....it is an adventure.

So...I've had some issues with this site freezing up and not letting me post up images and text together and decided to break up my playlist into sections. Trust me it was just easier....

The Crucifucks- Democracy Spawns Bad Taste ( Self Titled)
My first selection for this playlist is this track by these maniacs from Lansing, Michigan. Nowadays it is easy to be punk and offensive because society has deemed this music to be fashionable and socially acceptable. When this came out, all the opposite was true.....these guys were pariahs in their community and had no intention of making friends or networking their way up to the top of the "alternative" music community. In short, the Crucifucks and their mentally unstable frontman Doc Dart set out to show the world the harsh reality lurking beneath the dark underbelly of daily life in Reagan's America. If it sounds harsh and extreme to your ears, then it has hit the mark....

Dirty Needles-Burned Out
These Wisconsin miscreants are an offshoot of the late, great band the Evolutions. If you fancy yourself a garage rock aficianado then you should track this single and the Evolutions stuff down. Alot passes for Garage rock these days that I think sucks, however this band is everything I like about music...Dangerous music played by the type of guys that drink too much, fight random assholes at the bar, and fuck your sister while your not looking! Oh yea, this single is pressed on piss splattered wax in an edition of 100 so get on it before it disappears.


Cat Power-Sea of Love
I'm not always the hugest fan of covers, but I really love what Chan Marshall (she is Cat Power) does with this song that was originally made somewhat famous by Robert Plant and the Honeydrippers in the 1980's. I think she has a real special way of engaging the listener in a private and confidential way that makes you think she is going to tell you a secret or something stupid like that...I'm a huge fan of all her recordings, but this one always makes me happy when I hear it, you?

Mudhoney- Touch me I'm Sick

This fuzzed out piece of trash is so fucking sleazy...it's perfect. Punk, Sabbath, drug abuse, Pacific Northwestern depression, and flannels....add together and mix well....and you have perfection. Fuck grunge, this is Mudhoney!



Chrome- Firebomb

This band was at its' creative best in the late seventies and early eighties and featured the paranoid rantings of Damon Edge and Helios Creed. These insane fucks created some of most disturbing alien landcape music ever recorded. This track has a weird otherworldy quality present in the vocals set over strange electronic beats that could almost be mistaken for danceable! Confused? Good. It is difficult to find their material due to it being out of print but, if you can find this single on Subterranean records or their Third From the Sun Lp you will be most happy..

Cream- I Feel Free
The sixties are an oft romanticized era where people get warm and fuzzy about free love, faux radical politics and weed....clearly annoying. I would rather extoll the virtues of the great music that was being created at the time. Cream were the quintessential power trio whose power lay not in Eric Clapton's noodling, but in Jack Bruce's distorted stun bass...He played like a monster along with Ginger Baker on drums and set the template for heavy music to come in the future. This track if melodic, but has a gritty sensibility that I really fucking dig. I've been listening to this record my whole life and still find cool things in it. Try the Disraeli Gears Lp as well, if you like this.

Jay Reatard- It's so Easy
No, not the Guns and Roses song stupid......Jay Reatard has been on the scene for some time and has made some killer hate punk with the Reatards and some cool darkwave punk with the Lost Sounds. This solo Lp obviously combines all those elements with an almost Buzzcocky type of vocal thing....I really like the aggressive poppiness of this shit. I hope he keeps making cool records like this.....Nan and I saw his last outfit the Angry Angles last year and are going to see him here in the Bean in a couple of weeks...should be fun. Enjoy, this record came a out a little while ago and should be easy to track down, it is on In the Red records.

Throbbing Gristle- United
TG came on the scene in the seventies and took the nihilistic attitude of punk and fucked it together with minimalistic electronic elements that formed what we would call industrial. This shit is simultaneously harsh,grating, creepy and always tongue in cheek. If you like stuff that is not by the numbers then hunt down more of their material. Oh yea, find the first Leather Nun ep that TG put out on their own Industrial Records label...

SLEEP-Dragonaut
This killer track is off of their Holy Mountain Lp from the early nineties. This band formed out of the ashes of Asbestos Death who were on the Bay Area thrash/punk/ movement fringes. They made some dense metal jams that are doomy and aggro at the same time! This band featured Matt Pike who many will recognize as the madman behind High On Fire (who nan and i will be banging our heads at in October!!!). Anyway, this band is awesome and I think you might like them.

Stereo Total- Partir Au Morir, Ringo, I love you
These two tracks are on here because Nan and I just got back from their awesome show at the Middle East a couple of days ago and I thought I might like to hear some tracks off of one of their earlier (and my favorite) releases called My Melody. Trashy, guitar and electronic music that features French and German vocals by Francois Cactus (who played in Garage punk band the Lolitas in the 80's). Their trashy, fun loving aesthetic is inspirational to me and all those who appreciate catchy music that is not afraid to not take itself too seriously. I challenge you to not get these tracks stuck in your head for a day or two.

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.....

Part III

Part III

Post- Assesment: This was a fun project and I am hoping you all will read the blog and more importantly make your own mixtape and share it.












Rupture- the Cunt of God
These Aussie's lay down some of the most wicked thrash trash ever conceived. It is so fast it almost falls apart! To say that this is offensive would be a vast understatement...All of their stuff is incredible; my favorite releases are the Cunt of god Lp, the Corrupture 10 inch and the Righteous Fuck ep. All are well worth finding and are sure to piss somebody off! By the way, I used to trade records with the singer Andrew (AKA Gus Chamber) and he got me into a lot of really cool Aussie punk and core. Unfortunately he killed himself a few years ago.....this one is for you Gus...Rescue the Future? Get Fucked!!!!!!

Mudhoney- No One Has
Another killer Mudhoney track off of their Superfuzzbigmuff Lp...Like I said before, don't get caught up in the whole anti grunge thing...this stands apart and has nothing to do with Pearl Jam musically or philosophically. If you dig this check out the band that preceeded it: Green River. They put three cool records that I love.

The Electric Prunes- I had too much too dream last night
Sixties psych that is so authentic it sounds like an LSD flashback!!!Yeah man....Great prototypical psych combined with garagey elements makes this so unique it is a bone classic. The rest of this Lp is a bit spotty, so this track is the clear hit and undisputed winner.

The Gris Gris- Everytime
Modern psych trash from Oakland,CA that bookends nicely with the Prunes track....clearly Greg Ashley and the band stole a page. I highly recomend their first self titled Lp and their second Lp titled For the Season both on Birdman records. These guys play out frequently and are worth seeing live. They played in Boston last year and it was a heavy show....I was impressed by their stage presence...no pretentious Morrisonesque shit here. The real deal indeed fuckers.

Nine Inch Nails- Something I can Never Have

Yes I like this. Fuck off. Nan will kick your ass if you make fun of me.....

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...