Top ten records from Boston bands
This week’s top ten goes out to Bean Town and everyone in Massachusetts. Boston is a resilient city, a city that has endured all kinds of tragedy, most of it historically. But Boston is still a tough town filled with tough people who know more about endurance than most Americans. Boston has great food, that’s probably one of my favorite aspects of the city. In terms of greasy street food they absolutely rival (if not beat) New York and New Jersey, which is strange because Bostonites seem to love talking about their apples. I lived there for about two years in the late 90’s, in the Mission Hill section of Boston and it was pretty awesome. In all honesty that hill is steeper than any hill in Boulder. The other day, in the wake of the tragedy at the Boston Marathon I had a serious WTF moment when I heard the name Mayor Menino. The name immediately invoked my time in the city in the late 90’s. I couldn’t believe it was the same person until I heard him talking at a press conference and heard that same unique accent and voice. So I had to do a quick Wikipedia search to make sure I wasn’t going crazy, turns out he’s been mayor since like 1993. He must be locked in a heated battle with Bloomberg for longest gubernatorial reign. So anyway, here are my top ten records from Boston, mostly made up of classics from punk/HC/post-punk bands. If I had to make this same list for the 90’s bands and on until now I’d have to do it in twenty parts. Really like the Moving Targets, Daltonic, RnR, Salem 66, Get High, FU’s, In My Eyes, The Outpatients, Close Call, Mental, Gang Green, Youth Attack, Righteous Jams. Obsessed with the Deep Wound 7”. Really in love with that first Aerosmith record. A lot. Like a lot more than maybe anyone should. So anyway this one goes out to the Sullies and the McFinnegans and the lobstermen from Dorchester and Worchester and Southie. As usual, if I’m forgetting some old record that you love to death and it’s eating away at you that I didn’t mention it, let me know in the comments.
Mission Of Burma – Signals, Calls and Marches 12” (Ace of Hearts, 1981)
DYS – Brotherhood 12” (X-Claim Records, 1983)
This Is Boston, Not LA Compilation (Modern Method, 1982)
Volcano Suns – All Night Lotus Party (Homestead Records, 1986)
Siege – Drop Dead demo tape (self released, 1984)
The Proletariat – Soma Holiday LP (Radiobeat, 1983)
Last Rights – Chunks / So Ends Our Night 7” (Taang, 1984)
DIY: Mass. Ave. – The Boston Scene 1975-83 (Rhino Records, 1993)
Dangerous Birds – Alpha Romeo 7” (Propeller Records, 1982)
SSD – Get It Away 12” (X-Claim Records, 1983)
