torsdag 31 december 2009
The Oi!strs - Choke on it CD (2000)
01. Battle cry
02. 8th grade graduate
03. American pride
04. Here's to me
05. Pussyfart
06. Ode to bitches
07. Good times
08. Anti-racist
09. I dont care
10. Lil' buddy
11. Working class
12. My generation (The who cover)
This album was selfreleased by the band in 2005 but since the songs where recorded in 2000 i will label them from their original year.
(A rare album many doesnt even know exists and i now present it for the first time on the internet in digital format. The things people do to get friends ;)
New drummer for these recordings, since Bob-O focused on his other band Blunt force trauma around this time Nate Lynas replaced him (he also played drums in their re-union line-up since Bob-O took over vocal-duties).
The album cover looks like a joke but its not. The whole album is homemade and burned on a computer (sour feeling since it costed fullprice when i bought it) and their is no colour at all or even a cd-booklet. Not the same quality on the songs as on their previous release but there are some rare and good songs on this album. The ones that stand out are American pride, Lil' buddy and the rock 'n' roll song I dont care.
This was their last recordings as far as i know and since they started doing shows again in 2009 we might just see a proper release from them instead of these homemade cd's.
6/10
onsdag 30 december 2009
The Oi!strs - Too Oi! (1998)
01. The Oi!sters
02. I'm a skinhead
03. Fresh cut blues
04. Scooter boys
05. King of rudeness
06. I'm proud
07. My byrd
08. A song about Texas
09. Time to pay
10. It's your turn (to learn about hate)
11. Spirit of 69
12. Freedom
13. Oi! to the drinking boys
14. Spit in your face
15. Bad moon rising (Creedence clearwater revival cover)
As far as i know it was self-released in 1998.
This band got started down in texas around 1995 by members from Contradicks and other smaller groups from the local scene. The original line-up was Bobby Fuentes aka Bob-O on drums (in the bands re-union 2009 he switched to singing duties instead), William Thomas aka Puddin' on vocals , Ethan Argenbright aka Ham Hoc on guitar and Brian Eckstein aka Tuna on bass.
The band has changed members back and forth and the only one that has been in the band from beginning to the end is Ethan (Brian doesnt count cause he didnt get into the group untill 1998).
They play pure Oi! (with some blues and Southern rock influences) but with typical Oi! themes in their lyrics. Even if it gets a bit to much Oi!Oi!Oi! in the choruses from time to time they still import some blues and ska vibes into the songs to make something generic sound intresting.
The album is something you dont see often from the us. They actually make songs about Spirit of 69 (Spirit of 69) and another one about scooters (Scooter boys) and all im missing is a football song to make the "originality" complete.
One of the best anti-racist skinhead songs is featured under the titel It's you turn (to learn about hate) and also a surprisingly good cover of the old song Bad moon rising.
All in all its a good album with many tracks that sound simple at the first listen but they actually grow on you and i can easily say this album is in my top 100 American Oi! albums (considering i own over 500).
8/10
tisdag 29 december 2009
Lyrics for In no time nor place by Those unknown
I was told that i had to work/I was told that i had to pay my bills/That i accumulate each day/I was forced, they run my life/I was forced, they had no right/I was taught to think and act that way/I was told to learn all i can/And grow up to be the type of man/That everyone respects to his face
I was told what i couldn't do and what i needn't to/That i needn't improve to progress their way/But now its plain to see i want more from me/And their teachings wont lead me astray
I was told to learn all i can/To grow up and be the type of man/That i dont want to be in no time nor place/Now i see the teardrops pour/From all the thousands who fall/Victims to this vicious type of play
I was told what i couldn't do and what i needn't to/That i needn't improve to progress their way/But now its plain to see i want more from me/And their teachings wont lead me astray
They've got money on their side/We've got nothing left but pride/There's a proper place for peace/And if its a change you do seek/The gather up everyone/AND REVOLT NOW!
I was told what i couldn't do and what i needn't to/That i needn't improve to progress their way/But now its plain to see i want more from me/And their teachings wont lead me astray
The booked - Feel the pride (2000)
01. Intro
02. Northwest united
03. The union
04. Knock out yer teeth
05. Red and yellows
06. Feel the pride
07. Crucified
08. Hero
09. Way of life
10. Boys night out
11. Refinery
12. The boys
13. Strike against corporate America
14. Riot at 811
Released by Radical records in 2000.
The group formed 1998 down in Texas by some good old boys and football-fanatics from the country side.
They took the name from the old football-term (no its not called soccer) of "being put into the book" that happends when a player commits a major foul against another player.
The band consisted of Trey Garcia (vocals), and his brother Bryan Garcia (guitar/vocals), Ray Solis (lead guitar/vocals), Danny Chapa (drums) and "The deuce" on bass.
Imidiatly after grouping together they sent out their first demo and got spotted by Radical records to join their 1999 tour in the south and later got booked (hehe) for the Road rage tour from Texas to NY (though their van never made it to New York but actually died on the way).
In 2000 they went into the studio to record their first and only release (except their split with Squiggy a year after) though their has been some rumours of a second re-union lately so hopefully their band aint dead yet.
This is a wierd album to say the least. I absolutely love the first half of the album but after track 8 it all goes sour, real sour.
Musically its a more streetpunk sound with some Oi! influences. They are bluecollar from top to bottom and most of their lyrics are about the life of the workingman and being proud of your way of life, country and class background. The cover is one of the best i have ever seen and sums up their attitude about pride quite well.
Best tracks are Feel the pride, Crucified, The union and Hero. I would have loved to give this album a higher grade but thanks to the last songs it gets a weak 7.
7/10
söndag 27 december 2009
Squiggy & The booked - A case of pride (2001)
01. Squiggy - Bring 'em back
02. Squiggy - Extinct
03. Squiggy - Anti-social (Skrewdriver cover)
04. Squiggy - Main st. USA
05. Squiggy - Wartime victims
06. The booked - Pride & honor
07. The booked - Stand our ground
08. The booked - The underground struggle
09. The booked - We are rebellion
10. The booked - Pancho & Lefty (Townes Van Zandt cover)
Released by Squigtone records in 2001.
The last album by Squiggy (before re-uniting in the late 2009).
This time Squiggy teamed up with The booked from down south Texas. Not really the same bands musically but their minds are set on the same thing. To bring back patriotism and workingclass values into punkrock. From the cover to the sleeve its all constitutional and star-spangled but thats no reason to actually like the stuff right. So what about the music?
Bloody great! Squiggy never seems to let me down on any of their records and not on this one either. Starting of the record with Bring 'em back a militant anthem for the workingclass about the movement of production and factories to other countries with the lyrics "You told us stories that we wouldnt believe, while you sold our fucking jobs to the japanese".
Another track by Squiggy that is above the rest is Main st. USA that really shows how much better pure musically they have become over the years. And a cover track from Skrewdriver's punkyears cant really go wrong.
The booked playes more of a streetpunk Oi! focusing more on choruses and catchy guitartunes and as much as i liked their album from 2000 and their bluecollar mentality its only about 2 tracks on this split that are good in my ears. Pride and honor and We are rebellion, both dealing with the life of a workingman are well worth listening to.
Be sure to check out Squiggys new recordlabel and their upcomming albums that are to be released in 2010.
8/10
lördag 26 december 2009
Squiggy - From riot to insurrection 7'' (2000)
01. Journalist
02. Jack
03. Pulling on the boots (Romper stomper song)
04. Your attitude
Released by Dim records in 2000.
Basically these are the tracks that they didnt ahve room for on the CD released the year before. Features 2 new songs and 2 old re-recorded songs. The political stance is a bit harder this time if you compare to their older lyrics.
Journalist goes on an all out attack on the media and the "commies" that inhabit it.
2 never versions of old songs Jack and Pulling on the boots a song that will piss of a lot of people (not re-written but features the old Romper stomper yellow faces lyrics).
Last and best track is Your attitude that is more like a hard placed bitchslap then a song.
9/10
Squiggy - Songs about hate, anger & the American way (1999)
01. Pull the trigger
02. Rock star
03. Somebody
04. Here lies liberty
05. Hang the lawyers
06. Boots & braces, studs & leather
07. The hands of time
08. What are you fighting for
09. Go home
10. Johnny
11. Welfare case
12. Anti-establishment
13. Squatter punk
14. Propaganda
15. Score one
16. Stand up
17. Middle calss rebellion
18. Dead end kids
Released by Headache records in 1999.
Their first propper cd is smacked full of (18 tracks) old songs and some new ones to. If you own the old ep's this might not be a record of priority but some of the new tracks are really great. Hands of time talking about the moving of workingclass jobs to asian counties and the problems it brings for the nation and Welfare case pulling the trigger on those that abuse the system those workers rely on. A solid release and probably the first record you should download if you never heard of the band before.
(Damn great coverart for the album)
8/10
fredag 25 december 2009
Give me, give me, give me.
And please dont lie about that you have certain records for sale and then later dodge my emails when im intrested cause i wont be impressed by it (hrmm hrmmm Anthony Burnham).
Browse to tghe bottom of the blogg for my new wantedlist.
//Bernando
torsdag 24 december 2009
Happy holidays.
onsdag 23 december 2009
Squiggy & Infiltrators - Split 7'' (1999)
01. Squiggy - My way
02. Squiggy - Double standard
03. Squiggy - This land is your land
04. Infiltrators - Rumble still skins
05. Infiltrators - Before dawn
06. Infiltrators - Don pedro
07. Infiltrators - IDND
Released by Squigtone records in 1999.
Daaaamn this is good!!!!!!
Squiggy's side is called Kill the hippies and features 3 flawless tracks of the highest quality.
Starting of is My way about independence and the right to NOT fit in. Double standard is a uberfast song about a damn touchy subject and finishing of the A-side is a cover of an old classic, This land is your land that actually fits perfect as a punktrack.
The infiltrators side is called Vows of secrecy and features 4 quick psychopunk tracks. Rumble still skins is the best (and the only one over a minute long) and even if the spanish track Don pedro and Before dawn are short and noizy its no crust-crap so dont worry. An intresting thing is the last song titled IDND that is actually an old poem by Mary Elisabeth Frye named Dont stand at my grave and weep.
10/10
Squiggy - Live on WFMU (1999)
01. Intro/Double Standard
02. Middle Class Rebellion
03. Jack
04. Pull The Trigger
05. Squatter Punk
06. Get Out
07. Stand Up
08. Pulling On The Boots (Romper stomper song)
09. Score One
10. Born Again
11. Anti-Establishment
12. Hang The Lawyers
13. What’s Goin’ On
14. Your Attitude
Released by Squigtone records in 1998 on cassette tape and later re-released by Squigtone on cd in 1999 (this being the later cd version).
I hate live records and have never understood the thrill of hearing some band live on the stereo instead of actually seing them live. The sound and instruments are always better in the studio versions and you dont ever have to hear the annoying pillow-talk inbetween the songs. Considering this isnt even a real live show but a gig they did at a New Jersey radio show in may 1998 its even more annoying. When it was released it was a great album since most songs had never been released before (all would later be released on EP's and cd) but since i am going to upload the real studio versions after this upload dont stress to download. Only good thing with hearing this album in 2009 is an exclusive cover of a song from The lion king that is about 15 seconds long right before Pulling on the boots.
4/10 (Bands really need to stop releasing live albums and start recording new material)
Squiggy & The outsiders - Split 7'' (1998)
Tracklist:
01. Squiggy - Pull the trigger
02. Squiggy - Score one
03. Squiggy - Whats going on
04. Outsiders - The outsiders
05. Outsiders - Somewhere
06. Outsiders - Frankie
Released by Squigtone Records in 1988.
Another couple of friends from New Jersey, this time The Outsiders (more from them later).
The most complete album by Squiggy and features one of my favourite bands on the b-side. 2 great tracks by Squiggy in their old fastpaced style (one old and one new) and a more laid back streetpunk song (Whats going on) featuring the whole band on vocals (football-style). They actually pull it of and i wish we will get more songs like that now when the band is back together.
The outsiders side is as good and if not better. The first song is a bit weak (and i know they have stolen the bassplay from some other song..... if you know please help me im going mad here) but the rest are all 10 pointers.
Best song on record is Frankie by The outsiders that has a bit of r'n'r feelíng to it and is about a man returning from war and the way that the gouvernment tricks kids into wars they never should have fought.
10/10
tisdag 22 december 2009
Squiggy - Middle class rebellion 7'' (1998)
01. Stand up
02. Middle class rebellion
03. Johnny
04. Block by block
05. Born again
Released by Headache records in 1998.
Yet again released through Armens record company. Bit of a new sound on this release, little bit slower tempo and less backup-vocals. Block by block is a damn tight track and probably the most "Oi! sounding" from all their early EP's.
As always when it comes to Squiggy its awesome coverart (well worth buying it on vinyl just for the cover).
9/10
Squiggy & The Oi! scouts - Split 7'' (1997)
A1. Squiggy - Hang the lawyers
A2. Squiggy - Corporate
A3. Squiggy - Jack
B1. The Oi! scouts - Another battle
B2. The Oi! scouts - Police harassment
Released by Squigtone records in 1997.
In 1997 they teamed up with fellow New Jersey boys in The Oi! scouts (more about them in the future) and even if their attitude and sound are different they blend in together perfectly on this album. Even if Squiggy's side is stronger i was pleasently surprised with the scouts side since its not a group i often rank high on my playlist. Their song Another battle is awesome and their artcover with the simpsons family is just awesomely tacky.
8/10
måndag 21 december 2009
Squiggy - Anti establishment 7'' (1997)
01. Dead end kids
02. Anti-establishment
03. Boots braces, studs & leather
04. Go home
Released by Headache records in 1997.
Their second ep released through their friend Armens own recordlabel. Same sound and tempo on this one and even if all 4 tracks are great number 3 is by far my favourite and yet again its a unity song for skins & punks against society and other mere mortals.
Great artwork on the cover.
9/10
Squiggy - What are you fighting for? 7'' (1996)
01. Score one
02. What are you fighting for?
03. Jack
04. Squatter punk
Released by Squigtone records in 1996.
First release by the band is a classic in my eyes and features one of the best tracks they ever made, namely Score one. Its about all punks & skins that never fitted in at school and now get their revenge in the real world. Great anthem with a very "us vs them" mentality. The whole album is fastpaced and hard with a great musical quality for being a first release.
Download and enjoy.
(Take note that this is not the vinylrip but actually ripped from their later CD-releases)
9/10
söndag 20 december 2009
Squiggy (introduction)
Quickly getting fans within the New Jersey scene and performing with their hometown compatriots Niblick henbane and The wretched ones they decided to start the Squigtone Records. At first to put out their own records but in the end releasing bands from even outside America. Like most other minor punkbands they mainly focused on releasing solid 7''s and doing some splits and didnt release their first full-leangth album 'til 1999.
Their sound is a sort of post 77 era britpunk (Varukers etc.) and Americas own off-spring Oi!core. Fastpaced and agressive with a wide set of lyrics all from social issues to more daytoday ones like the scene (most bandmembers contributed to the lyrics instead of just one member like in most other bands).
They put the band on ice in 2001 but have recently started a new recordlabel and are set to release 2 albums next year so be sure to check them out if you happened to miss them.
A new recordlabel.
They celebrate the launch of the label with 2 new releases by Squiggy.
The first one is a whole new album called Hated, Jaded and just plain pissed that is set to be released sometime around 2010. The other one is a compilation of their older 7''s and splits (dont worry Squiggy is next on my list so you will be seing those old EP's for download next week) and even some rare songs that never found their way to any propper release. The album will be called The early years collection and is out sometime in 2010 to.
With the label they also run the clothinglabel Just over broke that mostly sell some nice Squiggy t-shirts (damn nice once if you ask me) but also some items with the workingclass rec logo. Everything from babyclothing to housewares. Its a moneymaking world bitch so go get some HERE.
fredag 18 december 2009
Best defense - Six gun justice (1999)
01. Boot boy
02. Its time
03. Armed with the truth
04. Come to an end
05. American & proud
06. Lost now found
07. We'll smash you
08. Six gun justice
09. American skins
10. Your defence
11. Us against them
12. Reaction rock
CD released by Pure Impact in 1999.
Basically this is Best defense's complete discography from 1987 to 1990. And if it wasnt for Pete at Pure Impact these tapes would probably never have seen the light of day.
The band formed in Pennsylvania around 1987 with Greg Olsen on vocals, Tom Walkinshaw on lead guitar, Dave Baiter on rythm guitar, Shawn Moyer on bass and Jim Rogers on drums.
Like most young skinheadbands they started making music that they would want to listen to themselfs but couldnt because of the very few bands around at the time.
All songs on the album are songs recorded around the 3 years the band was active a few was released on compilation albums but never on any proper release by the band.
Actually Roddy Moreno from The Oppressed was supposed to sign the band to his Oi! Records in 1989 but the label shut down before it could be done. Thanks to Roddy for releasing the master tapes to Pure Impact though.
Good old brutal Oi! with lyrics to kill. They make it clear where they stand from the first song, patriotic, anti-liberal, anti-commie, and anti-most-things but unlike what most people think they where always non-racist.
Most tracks have a good R'n'R feeling to them and on the track Lost now found i can hear clear influences from The Misfits (like i always do).
The quality of the recordings are surprisingly good considering the tapes has been laying around in a drawer in Wales 10 years before this cd was made.
Best tracks are Armed with the truth, Your defence and Its time (shouting out their coldwar hate with the lyrics Can you see the red flags rising, its time to put them in their place).
9/10
Lyrics for We'll smash you by Best defense
Where have all the jobs gone/Look at what the big bussiness has done/They've taken all the jobs across the sea/Away from the workingclasses like you and me/Oi! Oi! Big business/Oi! Oi! do you even care/Oi! Oi! can you hear us/Oi! Oi! do you even care
Well i dont think you do/A day will come when well smash you/Well take away your money and power/It will be our finest hour/
Where have all the freedoms gone/Look at what the politicians have done/They take away more freedoms every day/They make more laws and make us pay/Oi! Oi! politicians/Oi! Oi! Do you even care/Oi! Oi! can you hear us/Oi! Oi! do you even care
Well i dont think you do/A day will come when well smash you/Well take away your money and power/It will be our finest hour
The wretched ones - Make it happen (2007)
01. Make it happen
02. Your doing it wrong
03. Done with you
04. Less is more
05. Rut
06. The rockers
07. Pay the piper
08. Cannot tell a lie
09. Skin neighbour
10. I'm on my own agenda
11. Lady boss
12. Destination
Released by Headache records in 2007.
The last record released by Armen and the boys and also the last record to be released on Headache records.
Not really the record i was waiting for. Here is a band that has defined the New Jersey sound and stayed true to the original sound since the early 80's. 24 years since the first The burnt record and they still sound basically the same. Only this time they lack the "hit" songs that made you forget that.
Dont get me wrong its nothing bad about this album. The drummer does its job and so does the rest of the band. It just that it sounds tired and forced the whole album through.
Im on my own agenda and Lady boss are great tracks and they also included the old song Destination but other then that its a bad last album since i would rather be reminded of Less is more when i think about them.
6/10
The wretched ones performing Working man
Bad soundquality but a great crowd. From a performance in Googlesville (yes actuall name) in 1996.
måndag 14 december 2009
The wretched ones - Less is more (2003)
01. Nice guys finish last
02. Killing for fame
03. America's most wanted
04. 69er
05. Primmadonna
06. Cell block 66
07. The end
08. Life for a life
09. Hey old man
10. Wretched girl
11. Choke
12. Legal violations
13. Schaffer theme
14. Brag brag
15. Destination
16. Dont need no love
17. Why do you lie
18. Christmas song
19. Just to get away (Poison idea cover)
20. Good guys dont wear white
21. Pirate love (Johnny thunder cover)
22. No more heroes (The strangers cover)
23. Lipstick on your collar
24. Live wire
25. America the beautiful
Released by Headache records in 2003.
This album was released in association with TKO-records and its more of a respectful gift for the fans then a new album. Instead of re-releasing their old 7'' and charging full price for them they compiled most of their old out off print records on this cd and sold it for a good price.
Many great tracks from their earlier carrer and also some new ones.
Greatest tracks are Killing for fame, The end, Life for a life, Dont need no love and Destination.
Christmas song is a good track for the upcomming holiday and is basicly their old track The first song remade with new lyrics fitting for thanksgiving dinner at gramps.
A respectful album for collectors and a tribute to their longrunning career.
8/10
söndag 13 december 2009
The wretched ones - We don't belong to nobody (2000)
01. Overtime
02. Bicycle Jack
03. Welcome to the eastcoast
04. Know it all
05. This place is huge
06. Big block ford
07. Rules
08. Drinking beer and rock and roll
09. Oi! mode
10. Leave the old man alone
11. We dont belong to nobody
12. Where i wont be
13. Dead man working
Released by Headache records in 2000.
The third full-length and they are now in my opinion pure Oi!. The album is named after an old The burnt track and it is also featured on the album. Dont really know if you can call it a cover since 1/2 of the bandmembers are playing in this band to.
My all time favourite track by The wretched Welcome to the eastcoast is on this album and a whole lot of other great tracks to. The veteran tribute Leave the old man alone and Dead man working are both classic songs and to me they are the purest example of the New Jersey punksound.
Since its sunday today and i am about an hour from starting my next 6-day work week i can really relate to the first track on the album. Fucking Overtime!
8/10
fredag 11 december 2009
The wretched ones - Live 7'' (1999)
01. Going down the bar
02. Pissed it all away
03. Bottles and cans
04. Oi! mode
Released by Headache records in 1999.
4 livetracks taken from their European tour in 1998. This recording is from a gig they played in Hamburg with Angelic upstarts, Red london and Dropkick murphys.
All in all its a bad record since all tracks make it better in original recording versions. Dont know why they put the time and effort into making this record cause the liverecordings are of bad quality and i can think of atleast 10 tracks by the band that would make it better in live-versions.
6/10
The wretched ones - Tributes suck 7'' (1998)
01. Pirate love (Johnny thunder cover)
02. Just to get away (Poison idea cover)
03. No more heroes (The stranglers cover)
04. America the beautiful (Katharine Lee Bates "cover")
Released by Headache records in 1998.
4-track Ep with classic covers (both good and bad). Pirate love by Johnny thunder is a song i have never really liked and Wretched cant really change that. America the beautiful means nothing to me as a swede and musically it aint all that good.
Tracks number 2 and 3 on the other hand are superb songs and i must say i that Wretched really brings Just to get away back on my I-pod after all these years. Its as good as the original if not even better.
8/10
The wretched ones - Live on a five 5'' (1996)
01. We're not stopping now
02. I hated school
Released by Headache records in 1996.
The first one in Headache records "Live on a five inch" series.
Two great tracks with of high quality. Its not pretty, its raw and brutal like any live song should be. The first track is better live and i feel sorry about never being able to see them live.
Both tracks was on their selftitled full-length from 1993 so this is simply uploaded for those who want to hear how the tracks sound live.
7/10
torsdag 10 december 2009
The wretched ones - Go to work (1996)
01. These four walls
02. Bottles and cans
03. Mind your own business
04. Up in smoke
05. Take us to your leader
06. Life hits hard
07. Dear Wolfgang
08. I'm just doing my job
09. Move on
10. The king
11. That's why i drink beer
12. The last song
Released by Headache records in 1996.
A bit more serious then the first album. Up in smoke handling the problems with drug-abuse and Life hits hard about spoiled kids that dont want to work.
Best track is Dear Wolfgang the same that was featured on the today classic first volume of Backstreets of American oi!.
Other great tracks are Mind your own business, Im just doing my job and the tragical Thats why i drink beer .
9/10
onsdag 9 december 2009
The wretched ones - Selftitled (1993)
01. The first song
02. Going down the bar
03. We're not stopping now
04. Nothing wrong
05. Waiting
06. Old songs
07. I'm troubled withing
08. The next round
09. Johnny burnout
10. Working man
11. Waste my time
12. Time marches on
13. Pissed it all away
14. Oi! rodgers
15. Save my place
16. I hated school
Released by Headache records in 1993.
The first full-length from New Jerseys finest that contains most of the songs released on Ep's between 88-93 (the rest was released on later full-lengths).
Unlike most bands that make their bass/guitarist take over the vocals this is really good. Armen fitts perfectly to the rest of the band and even if the sound is almost simulair to The burnt it has a more skinhead friendly touch to it.
Most songs are about drinking and working but they also touch subjects about todays (1993's) populair music and not fitting in to the everyday life and society (mainly cause they drink to much).
Save my place the best track on the album is a fast one that ends at 0:59 but damn what a good track it is. Other great tracks are I hated school, Working man, Pissed it all away and The next round that shows their engagement to political topics with the lyrics "System is crumbling there is drugs everywhere it gets worse everyday, but we dont care about anything we just wanna have fun and sing". You might read between the line and find some PC message hidden in there but please dont. Trust me these guys just wanna have fun and sing.
Classic album!
9/10
måndag 7 december 2009
Introduction to The wretched ones
Rising from the ashes of the band The burnt Armen (aka Arm Pit) (aka Pit) (aka Pit headache) decided to put down the bass and start singing instead. Following him from his old band was B.T on guitar and they soon added Mike on drums and Bob picked up the bass instead of Armen.
With Armens own record label Headache records backing them up it didnt take long until they released their first records. They released numerous 5'' and 7'' before releasing their first full-length record in 1993. The great thing with this band is that they re-released all of their early and rare songs on their full-lengths so if you aint all that much off a collector you can simply buy all their cd's and still get the majority of their discography. (I know i wont upload every ep just for the fun of it, so you'll have to do with their full-lengths).
One thing i liked about this band is that they always played for fun and never really tried to fit in to any genre like Oi!, HC, punkrock or whatever. They made simple songs about everyday life as a workingman in America, no politics, no political correctnes, no toughguy attitudes and no bullshit.
Today Armen is running his own electonics company and Headache records is no more (maybe deciding not to register the record company to the IRS wasnt such a good idea after all).
söndag 6 december 2009
Interview with Brassic.
Bernando: Whats the current line-up of the band?
Mongo: Well the band consists of myself (Mongo) on vocals and bass. Clyde on guitar and Skinner on drums. We went through a few guitarists at first, but have been set with Clyde since summer of 08. We originally had a British singer who was living in the US, but due to immigration issues he had to move back.
Bernando: Discography?
Mongo: Right now we have our unofficial release of our demo from 07 floating around. Oi! aint red was supposed to "officially" release it, but that never happened haha. Our upcoming debut full length is 2/3s finished. It will be called "Voice of freedom", and will be released on American defence records. Oi! aint red is supposed to be the European distribution though.
Bernando: Could you tell us a bit of the bands history?
Mongo: Well none of us played in any other serious bands. I've played with some friends here and there, but nothing serious haha. We formed in 07, but we really didn't get serious untill 08 around the time when Clyde joined. We've shared the stage with a lot of other great acts including Bonecrusher, Oxblood, Red alert, Tri city trashed, Social task and Riot gun. The skinhead scene in California isn't so friendly, so we grew quite the reputation for being politically incorrect, to say the least haha.
Bernando: Describe the groups sound and the groups that has had an influence.
Mongo: Well i like to say we have a more classic and aggressive Oi! sound. I don't feel like America has had that many great skinhead bands, so we're ready to make our mark! I'd say our biggest influences come from early Skrewdriver, Condemned 84, Combat 84, Brutal attack, Arresting officers, Perkele and Violent storm.
Bernando: You have an upcomming album on Oi! aint red records. Can you tell us about it?
Mongo: The album should be released American defence records as well as on Oi! aint red. You should be very surprised with the sound of it. We're still writing the last few tracks for it. But the sound ranges from the most catchy oi! riffs to the most aggressive side of the genre. Some of the lyrics are in your face, with riffs to match. Others are left for your own interpetation. I'd like to say we're definetely puching the envelope with this one though.
Bernando: I understand Chris from Lonesoldier is featured on a track on the upcomming album. Will we see more guests?
Mongo: That's right. Cris from Lonesoldier and i are good friends. He comes to all our gigs and even comes on stage and songs our cover of Fuck LA from time to time. It is possible we may have a few more guests help out with backing vocals, such as Scott drummer of Youngland, Youngblood, Aggressive force and other such bands.
Bernando: I heard a rumour of a split ep with Code 1. Is this official?
Mongo: At this time nothing is stone about the split. We're both very exited to put it out, but Code 1 is inbetween drummers at the moment. It'd be nice to get some American British friendly competition going.
Bernando: Whats it like to lace up the boots and stepping out in your neighbourhood today?
Mongo: Haha, not too many skinheads dress traditionaly in our area, no matter what side of the fence they're on. It seems like nowadays all these younger "skinheads" just dress up at their houses to take pictures for myspace hahaha!
Bernando: Whats the scene like in California? Any other bands we should keep our eyes on?
Mongo: The Oi! Scene in california is almost non existent. VERY few oi! bands come from here. But there are a few good ones such as Bonecrusher, Riot Gun, and always good old punk bands like Social Task.
Bernando: With a new president and all what should be the top priority on his list?
Mongo: Well i think domestic issues should be top priority. Issues such as our failing economy and the contributers to this like illegal immigration and exporting working class jobs. America should stop acting as world police, and we should take our nose out of foreign affairs a lot more.
Bernando: What do you know about Sweden?
Mongo: I have a few Swedish friends, like Rob and Cheddar from Contemptuous/Anti Pati. I like a good few Swedish bands, like Contemptuous, Perkele, The Cliches, Steelcapped Strength, The Righteous, even some Agent Bulldog haha. As for the history of the scene, i remember Rob telling me before that Mongo was an infamous skinhead from Sweden way back when haha. I'd like to find more out about him!
And Sweden has always been a neutral country in almost every matter! hahaha
Bernando: Any final words?
Cheers for the interview and for having our demo up for download! Check our website www.myspace.com/brassicoi for other updates. Our full length "Voice of Freedom" should be out in early spring of 2010. We have plenty of merch for sale haha. We're heading south of the equator to play a gig somewhere in south america next year! And hopefully soon after we'll finally make our way to Europe.
torsdag 3 december 2009
The burnt - Compilation songs
Its a total of 5 songs from 3 different albums.
From Bark!Bark!Bark! compilation:
01. Bad moon rising (cover)
02. Gigglepuss
Both tracks are mediocre but Gigglepuss is a good song even though its a bit enoying.
From We did it ourself compilation:
03. Chicken barbecue
04. Hey you
Chicken barbecue is a great track and well worth downloading.
From NJ and you compilation:
05. Chemical hangover
Really great compilation album and a really good song. The drums are fantastic on this song and the song feels a bit more Oi! then what The burnt used to sound.
onsdag 2 december 2009
The burnt & Deathrage - Split 6'' (1993)
01. Deathrage - Murdering the brady bunch (Recorded in 1984)
02. The burnt - Flintstones (Recorded in 1985)
Released by Headache records in 1993.
Released 5 years after The burnt broke up and features a better version of their old song Flintstones.
Deathrage was a spinoff of the NJ hardcore band Adrenalin O.D. and represents everything i hate about "intellectuals" and trendy college punk. Its slow, "chocking", noizy and bad.
I can promise that this blogg will never ever make a discography or section about this band.
6/10
tisdag 1 december 2009
The burnt - Charlie Brown 7'' (1988)
01. Charlie brown
02. I wanna pet my cat (with a bat)
Released by Headache records in 1988.
This record was recorded live by Pat Duncan when The Burnt hosted his program at WFMU in 1987. Basically their last record before they disbanded and reunited under the name The wretched ones (but i have some extras up my sleeve so dont worry).
Great soundquality for a liverecording (well live in a studio atleast) and good choice of songs.
Both tracks are great but I wanna pet my cat is by far the better one.
9/10
söndag 29 november 2009
The burnt - Social disease 7'' (1987)
01. Social disease
02. Plastic girls
Released by Headache records in 1987.
This was the album that started one of the early 90's biggest and most respected American punklabels Headache records. The label was started by The burnt's bass-player Pit (that is probably more known as Armen) he would later be the vocalist in The wretched ones.
The label released a lot of great bands and always keept high quality on the groups they worked with. They released Niblick henbane ,Limecell, Squiggy (before they started their own Squiggytone records), Urban riot and Toughskins to name a few.
Great record with slapping drums and Dog the vocalist sounds a bit "Misfit" in his delivery.
Greatest track is Social disease and probably my favourite track by the band.
10/10
The burnt - Wheres my head? LP (1985)
01. D.W.I.
02. Living in MP
03. Patterson
04. Life stinks
05. Hey old man
06. I hate you
07. Rail road track
08. Wartime
09. Brass monkey
10. Holiday in Guyana
11. Lets fight
12. Where oh where did my baby go?
13. Action action
14. Garbage can
15. Work
16. The game
17. Who says
18. We dont belong to nobody
19. Forget about it
Released by Mutha records in 1985.
The last release through Mutha records and the cover is like a wet dream for music nerds like myself. The face of the guy on the cover is an almoust identical image that they used for their own label Headache records that they started just 2 years after this release.
This album features some tracks that The wretched ones would later remake in the 90´s (Hey old man and We belong to nobody).
Many tracks both short and long from the 12 second track Garbage can (that has a 6 second intro before the song starts haha) to the more laidback track Holiday in Guyana that reaches over 4 minutes (damn great track to).
Many good songs and among the favourites are Life stinks, We dont belong to nobody, I hate you and Holiday in Guyana.
8/10
lördag 28 november 2009
The burnt - MP EP (1983)
01. Let me out
02. The luftwaffe
03. Up the river
04. Industrial accident
05. The flintstones
06. Teachers pet
07. Horse meat
Their first release ever. Released by Mutha records in 1983.
This was the band that would later become The wretched ones and a lot of that bands most famous song are actually The burnt songs. They formed in 1979 and was heavily influenced by The ramones, Dead boys and other punkrock bands of that era. Started by the punkveterans Pit and B.T (still members of The wretched ones) they had a hard time to get gigs around Bergen N.J where they originate from so they often had to lie and promote themselfs as a metal-band to get any gigs. It didnt take long until Mark Chesley of Mutha records heard of them and signed them to his label. In late 80's they droped the band and the band moved on to create Wretched.
The quality of the songs on this release is in no way great and i have a hard time listening to artsyfartsy fast punk of this era but these guys have some great (though short) songs on this release.
You can clearly hear their influences from The ramones and that is in my oppinion something positive.
Best songs in the bunch are The luftwaffe (damn catchy chorus), The flintstones (they released a better version later on) and Teachers pet (34 seconds of pure hate and jealousy).
8/10
fredag 27 november 2009
Look out for.
Murderers row - Beer fueled mayhem (2007)
01. Barbrawl
02. Irish car bomb
03. Street punk
04. Dear mr. music critic
05. Foe
06. Crazy, sick, psychotic
07. Manitoba (feat. Jimmy Gestapo of Murphys law)
08. My heart is a clenched fist
09. For the road
10. Gimme the money
11. Ragnarök (feat. Harley Flanagan)
Released by Rebellion Records (Europe) in 2007.
Great influences from AC/DC and Motörhead and with the same childish lyrics as on the earlier releases. Even if most songs are utter garbage there are some gems on this record. The starting track called Barbrawl, the outlaw anthem Crazy sick and psychotic and Ragnarök that finishes the album of and features Harley Flanagan from the infamous Cro-mags (and the awful Harleys war).
Save your money on this one. There is better stuff out there.
5/10
tisdag 24 november 2009
Murderers row - A 12 pack of brewtality (2005)
01. Intimidation (The bruisers)
02. Guiness boys (The business)
03. Skins for skins (Youth defence league)
04. Violence (Combat 84)
05. Riot (The oppressed)
06. Chaos (4-skins)
07. Fight 'em all (Iron cross)
08. 15 pints (Forced reality)
09. Bustin out (Wolfpack NY)
10. He's a skin (Anti-heros)
11. Nothing (Negative approach)
12. Sick and tired
Released by Black rose promotions in late 2005.
First of all what fucking retard at Black rose made this album cover?
Second why did the band let the retards release this joke?
Why even make a cover of a song if it isnt better or atleast a new take on the old song?
This is a cd with 10 awfull covers slaughtering the original songs, 1 ok cover and one uninspired and tired track written by the group.
Only reason for you to download this is to hear an ok version of Forced realitys classic drinkingsong 15 pints. There is no other reason. I so wish Black rose is a guy bootlegin shit he stole from the group and leaked against their will cause i cant see nobody liking this stuff.
What pisses me of is the pure talent out there that never gets a chance to record their stuff cause some fuckers think they can sell crap like this and make a buck.
The worst album in my entire collection.
1/10
Murderers row - Urban shocker (2004)
01. This town we own
02. Drinking in Deutschland
03. More rock and roll
04. Drunk and tattooed
05. Youre all fucked up
06. With my back to the wall
07. Die with my boots on
08. Let freedom ring
09. We drink all night
10. Fuck you (i hope you die)
11. Nice boys (Rose tattoo cover)
12. Johnny vandal
13. Working man
Released by German United against society in 2004.
Their second album named after an infamous baseball player from NY.
Big line-up changes on this album. Leo Curly from Biohazard helps Nick on the guitars and Bob Agars was replaced by Walter Ryan on drums (used to play in Madball, Subzero and Machine head).
The lyrics on the album aint no better then on the first. Drinking, fighting and fighting when drinking are the subjects on this one as well.
Album features a Rose Tattoo cover and its clear that this band had a lot of influences on their musical direction after the hardcore years.
Best songs are Drinking in Deutschland, Die with my boots on, Let freedom ring and With my back to the wall (those who have followed the blogg knows i am a sucker for organs and synthesizers).
Even if there is a lot of great songs there are some really bad songs on their to (thinking of More rock and roll and the awfull attempt to make an Irish ballad on Johnny vandal that turnes out more hillbilly then celtic).
7/10
Murderers row - Menace to sobriety (2002)
Group members:
Bob Riley on vocals (formerly of Stigmata)
Sick Nick on guitar
Mike Gragnano on bass (formerly of Dying breed) later replaced
Bob Agars on drums (formerly of Wartime Manner) later replaced
A band hailing from the New York backalleys of Troy. They formed sometime around 2000 and released a EP called Fightin and boozin (all tracks later re-released on full-lengths). The band consists of old members from the legendary NYHC bands Dying breed and Stigmata but this is far from metal or hardcore. Think old British punk mixed with early hardrock and a whole lot of drunken bandsessions and you have Murderers Row.
Tracklist:
01. Fightin and boozin
02. Broken bones
03. Dont want you here
04. I'll always be here
05. Watch me fall
06. Aggrovation
07. Glory days
08. All we are
09. My little Molly
10. Live by the drink, die by the drink
11. On the road
12. We want more beer
13. Some fun
14. We trudge alone
Released by Gangstyle Records in 2002.
After being involved in a crash with the bandvan they found themselfs locked in the studio to record their first full-length album. If you want an album with diverse and serious lyrics look elsewere cause these guys are about drinking, puking and beating up people while they are drinking. If you like rock influenced punk with a touch of irish aggression this will fitt you nicely.
Bob Riley has a great voice and the once who are used to hearing him in Stigmata will notice the difference in musical influences since he last was active.
Greatest tracks are Dont want you here, Fightin and boozin and We trudge alone (where Bob actually sounds a bit like Ian Stuart).
Even if it aint my favourite song i like the fact that Bob dedicated a song to his daugher on My little Molly to balance out the whole macho-attitude that dominates the rest of the album.
Not one of the best bands out there but not in any way a bad band.
7/10
Ok so now im back.
//Cherrios Bernandos
onsdag 18 november 2009
Ax-wielding mayhem In Troy.
Why am i writing about this you might ask yourself? Well the 46 year old was "Sick Nick" one of the founders and lead guitarist of Murderers Row.
Since their rythm guitarist was arrested just about 2 weeks before this incident we can all hope that this aint the end of this great band.
I wish Nick good luck in the trial and the rest of the band good luck on the new record soon to hit shady distro's around the world.
tisdag 17 november 2009
Red, white & blue - Skinhead crew demo (1995)
01. Streets
02. Way of life
03. Boots of pride
04. Red, white & blue skinhead crew
Self-released in 1995.
First songs ever recorded by this great band. It has low quality and is on cassette but its still better then most masterd punkcrap released today.
All these songs was later featured on real releases and in better quality but the song Boots of pride is actually better in this older version.
Thanks to Punks, skins and herberts for this tape.
For info on the band check out my other posts on them.
8/10
söndag 15 november 2009
Nuts & bolts - We dont wanna wake up (2007)
01. I believe
02. This is hell
03. Beauty sleep
04. Young reckless, responsibly insane
05. Better days
06. This game called life
07. Cocodrine catastrophe
08. 78-94
09. The whites of your lies
10. Nuts & bolts
11. Never forget
12. The reducer
13. Another day in paradise
Released by Funeral records in 2007.
Latest release by this Oakland based group.
The sound is a bit more singalong this time. Good choruses and Jagger gets some help on most songs by backup vocals from the other members. Even if a lot of the tracks are pure garbage (Another day in paradise and This game called life) i think it has more all-around value then their self-titled album.
Cant help but singalong to the songs This is hell and Better days.
Group is still active so you will see me writing more about them in the future cause they are surely going in the right direction.
7/10
Lyrics for Bandera by First strike
Nazi steamroller charging on and breaking through
Reds caught by surprise and their falling back
Ukraine in the middle. Swastika, hammer, sickle you will attack
You fought the reds, you fought the nazi scum
For nazis and communists mercy you had none
Nazi philofosy or red slavery
Both equals death so you fought to keep your nation free
The 2 beasts from the east and the west destroyed your nation
Spilling blood of reds and nazis was your retaliation
You fought the reds, you fought the nazi scum
For nazis and communists mercy you had none
Caught in the crunch the flame of life burns slow
You fought for the nation, you fought from the soul
Freedom from oppression this was your goal
Death to tyrannts both right and left, let all people know
You fought the reds, you fought the nazi scum
For nazis and communists mercy you had none
You fought the reds, you fought the nazi scum
For nazis and communists mercy you had none
Nuts & bolts - Demo (2005)
01. Friday night
02. Big boy barbecue
03. Peace pipe
04. Nothings impossible
05. The young ones
Self-released in 2005.
A demo i found floating around in a wierd russian forumboard. It is supposedly from 2005 but since it features a track that was released a year before i have my doubts about that information being right.
Anyway this is a great demo and has way better tracks then the official release a year before.
Best track is the third one called Peace pipe that uses an organ (haha) and i must say it again Give us more pianoplay in Oi!.
Great quality on the tracks and nice r'n'r feeling the whole demo through.
Other great tracks are Friday night and The young ones.
8/10
lördag 14 november 2009
Nuts & bolts - Nuts and bolts (2004)
01. Solitude
02. Corruption
03. Honor bound
04. Destiny
05. Big boy barbeque
06. Dawn of the snake
07. Down and out
08. Government gangster
09. What i am
10. Happy without pills (+ hidden track)
Released by Funeral records in 2004.
A band from Oakland in California. They claim to be the only skinhead Oi! band in the entire Oakland area and i guess we just have to believe them by their words.
The band consists off Jagger on vocals, Diogo on guitar, Justin on bass and Nick on drums.
They draw influences from english Oi! but also from early hardcore and thats where my problem with these guys come in. Here is another singer heavily influenced by hardcore and on most tracks its hard to hear what he is singing and if you would like to sing along it would mostly sound like " wuuuowiiiwuuuwööö" in the verses.
They where formed in 1999 and didnt release anything untill this record so the material is a bit off a dissapointment. I would have thought that 5 years off writing lyrics and practicing would have resulted in atleast a couple of punkhits but they are all abscent here.
2 good tracks in the bunch. Dawn of the snake and the skinhead anthem What i am (not in any way as good as the song off the same name by Skinflicks.
6/10