Scowl – “How Flowers Grow” – [Flatspot Records]

beastofbourbon   3/14/2022   A Library, CD

Scowl emerged in 2019 from the Santa Cruz/San Jose punk scene, aka “40831”. Scowl, along with Drain, Gulch, Sunami and other bands are putting the South Bay/Santa Cruz back on the musical map. 

    “How the Flowers Grow” LP is the third release (October 2021) (1 EP, 1 demo cassette both in 2019), from this female-fronted hardcore band. Don’t let the pretty flower fool you, the music on this album is aggressive and the lyrics and vocals are brutal. It is reminiscent of 80’s and 90’s NYHC, but with a modern Bay Area spin. Amongst the 15 minutes of intense music is a song that shows that vocalist Kat Moss can sing in a more traditional manner, backed by a sweet mid tempo song featuring a saxophone (track 5 “Seeds to Sow’). The “40831” scene is promising.

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Preachers That Lie – “Discography” – [Legion Productions]

beastofbourbon   2/21/2022   A Library, Cassette

Preachers That Lie (PTL) formed in 1986 in San Jose, Ca at the end of the Bay Area “Skate Rock” era and beginning of “Crossover”. By the late 80s PTL was playing all over the Bay Area, including Gilman Street Project in Berkeley, CA, alongside Neurosis, Jawbreaker, NOFX, No Use For a Name, and Green Day. They recorded a demo tape, 7” EP and were featured on several compilations.

Their brand of hardcore punk dealt with abortion, right wing Christians, conformity, Gilman Street elitism, beer and sex with a satrical sick sense of humor. This may have led to their getting banned from Gilman. PTL broke up in 1995 in the middle of a West Coast tour. The members went on to form other bands including Apeface, The Flames, Angry For Life, Whiskey Sunday, and Boar Hunter.

This cassette is a re-release of the “Last Call” CD from 2010 (Vinehall Records) that coincided with a reunion tour of Northern California and several shows in Hawaii opening for Dead Kennedys, Misfits, and TSOL. It includes songs from compilations and  1993 7” EP. Hopefully a copy of the demo tape can be found someday. 

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Chaotic Dischord – Don’t Throw It All Away [Puke N Vomit Records]

beastofbourbon   1/17/2022   12-inch, A Library

“Of course it was a joke, and we were actually quite disturbed when so many people took it seriously”

Evo Stix – Drummer -Vice Squad/Chaotic Dischord

Chaotic Dischord are a side project of the legendary Bristol, England punk rock band Vice Squad. Made up from a couple members and roadies as a joke in response to the anarcho-crust punk that started dominating the UK punk scene in the early 80s. The joke went over well enough to get them signed to Bristol’s Riot City along with label mates Abrasive Wheels, Chaos UK, Disorder, and The Varukers. They even gained the positive attention of the influential SF Bay Area punk ‘zine and radio show Maximum Rocknroll even though  founder Tim Yohannon was not fond of Vice Squad. They pulled it off with aggressive, crusty songs about the Government, “Sausage, Beans, and Chips’, Doc Martens, and even a couple of songs featuring Captain Sensible; one being an updated version of the Sex Pistols “Rock and Roll Swindle”. In spite of it being a joke they kept it up well into the late 80s and even re-forming for the Rebellion Festival 2022 in Blackpool, England

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CR Dicks – Dick Moves [Slovenly]

beastofbourbon   1/17/2022   12-inch, A Library

“There is nothing wrong with your speaker. It’s supposed to sound that way”

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Dick Moves, the sophomore release from CR Dicks is an eclectic collection of songs that grows on you. CR Dicks is a project from veterans of the Cedar Rapids, IA skate punk scene, including. Andy Caffery of ‘90s garage punk band The Horrors and Pete Balestrieri saxophonist of  Violent Femmes. All eight tracks bring different forms of music: stoney blues rock, psych, noise, hip hop, trip hop, acid jazz, and hardcore skate punk. I hope to get more of CR Dicks in the future

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Fashion Pimps & The Glamazons – “Jazz 4 Johnny”- [Feel It Records]

beastofbourbon   11/30/2021   12-inch, A Library

“…if all the members of Devo were going through a divorce at the same time and decided to make a record with Rozz Williams (Christian Death) where they really cut loose and did a lot of amphetamines you’d expect it to come out sounding like ‘Jazz 4 Johnny’ ” – New Noise Magazine 

Fashion Pimps and The Glamazons is a side project of various members of the Cleveland, Ohio indie, noise, and hardcore punk scene. The psychotic noise synth-punk they produce is as disturbing as the album cover. It’s loud and chaotic, and from either a long time ago or the future. I can’t stop listening to it. It’s ideal for a fast paced work environment or an all night bender.

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Vaxxines, The – “Never Mind The Pathogens, Here’s The Vaxxines”- [Self-released]

beastofbourbon   11/30/2021   A Library, CD

Vaxxines, The – “Never Mind The Pathogens, Here’s The Vaxxines”- [Self-released]

The Vaxxines formed out of the ashes of Oakland, Ca punk supergroup “The Pathogens” (members of Blatz, Econochrist, Tilt, The Twots, and Strychnine). At the start of the 2020 Covid 19 pandemic half the Pathogens moved away so the remaining members brought in vocalist Lizzie Louis and Japanese/Oakland Chef Adachi Hiroyuki on bass/second vocals. The UK style punk rock anthems take on gentrification, class war, police brutality, world tours, and boozing. Two covers from their previous bands are presented as well as a solid cover of Buzzcocks’ “Orgasam Addict”.

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Supersuckers – Must’ve Been High [Sub Pop Records]

beastofbourbon   10/18/2021   A Library, CD

“And it has been our search for the best rock-n-roll has to offer which has inevitably led us down that old dirt road to country. Simple, three chord songs, sung from experience, played on an old, beat up acoustic guitar-that’s what we’re talkin’ about here” – The Supersuckers

The fourth album from Seattle based punk band Supersuckers takes a turn down the country road with songs about life on the road, rowdy fans, addiction, UK punk legends, and a romantic duet (Kelley Deal) about being hungover. The lyrics stick to a punk attitude/sense of humor while the music has a bonafide Bakersfield/Texas Outlaw Country sound thanks to guest musicians Willie Nelson (uncredited vocals), Jesse Dayton (guitar), Brian Thomas (pedal steel/banjo), Brantley Kearns (fiddle/mandolin), Mickey Raphael (harmonica), and producer Randall Jamail. This is Cowpunk to the core

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Lipstick Killers – Strange Flash – Studio and Live ’78-81 [Grown Up Wrong]

beastofbourbon   10/16/2021   A Library, CD

“You guys are the only fuckin’ reason I’d ever come down to this shithole. I wouldn’t do this for anyone else.”

That’s what Keith Morris (front man of Black Flag/Circle Jerks) said about Lipstick Killers in a 1982 article in New York Rocker magazine. Lipstick Killers was a Sydney, Australia based band that was active from the late 70’s to the early 80’s. This double CD set features 45s, demos, and live recordings. The first CD is early recordings of catchy hard rocking garage/punk.  Their energetic hard driving songs really come through in the live recordings (including a 13th Floor Elevators cover) in spite of some of the vocals being lost due to microphone issues. During the 80’s, the band transitioned to new wave/rock, bringing their new sound to Los Angeles, California. CD #2 features these lighter, poppier tunes. The live set from Los Angeles 1981 shows that the band didn’t lose their edge when it came to live gigs. That energy is likely what Morris was talking about.

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