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I feel like this week was a weird one for new releases, one where I could have easily written a bottom ten instead of a top ten. Sometimes that happens. So only the first three of these are new releases, the rest are a mixed bag!
Pylon – Cover + Remix 7” (DFA)
Two song EP, side A is Deerhunter covering Pylon’s 1980 Cool single. Side B is a remix of Yo-Yo by Calvinist.
Givers – In Light (Glassnote)
This record starts off with goat toes, which immediately told me it was either going to be terrible or that it was about to try to win me over with it’s charm. Sometimes it’s hard to be open minded about a record that sounds this happy. But maybe that’s just me. Unabashedly experimental and loud. This kind of grew on me.
Follow That Bird – Wooden Bones (Mt. Fuji)
Captivating indie rock from Austin with female vocals and jangled guitars. Definitely has that Austin sound, sort of half Black Angels, half Swell Maps. I would rather not find out why they chose to name themselves after an 80’s Sesame Street movie.
The Wasps – Peel Sessions 78-79 (bootleg)
High energy early UK punk similar to The Adverts or early Neon Hearts. Incredible rhythm section, it’s exhausting to even think about how they played these songs live.
Chelsea – Evacuate (Step Forward)
Their 3rd LP, released in 1982. Their last decent studio recording before changing their sound. Kind of an oddball because it’s too rock oriented to be punk, too upbeat to be hardcore, too poppy to be UK 82. Some interesting ideas, a few fall flat but overall this is an interesting glimpse of a direction they could have went.
X-O-Dus – English Black Boys (Factory)
Two song 12” of classic dub / dancehall, released on Factory in 1979. Love it. Wish there was more of it.
Clorox Girls – s/t LP (Smart Guy)
Crazed L.A. influenced punk from Portland, came out in 2007 and still holds up. For the record, anything inspired by Red Kross is A+ in my book.
Blue Cheer – Vincebus Eruptum (Island / Mercury)
Classic wall-of-guitars heavy rock from 1967 that undoubtedly influenced a generation of young guitar players. Sure it’s self-indulgent, that’s the whole point. When you think about what else came out that year (Disraeli Gears, John Wesley Harding, Again, Scott Walker I, The Who Sell Out) you can easily see why people worshipped them. Incredible overdriven guitars and no-frills bass playing.
Crumbsuckers – Live at CBGB 1986 (bootleg)
Soundboard bootleg with Chris Notaro singing. Lots of material from Life of Dreams, still one of the best crossover records ever made.
Effigies – Remains Nonviewable (Touch & Go)
Great CD collection of early Effigies material. Glad I picked this up for a few bucks in the 90’s because not unlike all of those out of print Lost & Found CD’s, this one goes for anywhere between $50 or $80 online. This band needs a complete discography released!
