Melodic Punk Rock
I put all this stuff on an MP3 disk recently and I coudn’t stop listening to it for weeks!
The Wipers – Wipers Box Set (Zeno)
In case you don’t know, The Wipers were at the forefront of Portland, OR punk, making them a HUGE influence on just about every single band that came out of the Seattle “grunge” thing. Greg Sage‘s brilliant songwriting and energetic guitar playing sound just as vital today as they probably did 30 years ago. (I turn 31 in December – ULP!) Their songs have been covered by Nirvana, Hole and The Melvins, to name a few.
Really Red – Teaching You the Fear (Empty), “Crowd Control” 7” (CIA) & Despise Moral Majority: Live in Texas 11/10/80 EP (CIA)
I first heard Really Red on the Killed By Death and Bloodstains comps and I was really taken by their well-crafted, aggressive songs. Little did I know how great they really were until I managed to get my hands on their entire discography. They now rank as my favorite TX hardcore band and one of my favorite hardcore bands of all time. Half their music is tough, but incredibly catchy, driven by true, unwavering passion, while the other half is rhythm-driven PiL-style post punk. The song “Teaching You the Fear” has one of the most incredible post-Ginn lead guitar lines I’ve ever heard and “I Refuse to Sing” still gives me chills.
The Subhumans (Canada) – Incorrect Thoughts (CD Presents) & Death Was Too Kind (Alternative Tentacles)
All I can say is that these guys wrote some finely-crafted tunes that stand the test of time. Excellent musicianship, thoughtful lyrics and memorable songs keep these albums on my playlist. Much better than DOA in my book.
Skrewdriver – All Skrewed Up (Chiswick)
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Despite what Ian Stuart became later, the first incarnation of Skrewdriver were an awesome late ’70s punk band. Sadly, they are ignored due to Stuart’s use of the name for his ideological purposes (with which I can’t disagree more). However, this is a great album about being a young, frustrated English kid in 1977.
Code of Honor – Fight or Die split LP (Subterranean) & “What Are We Gonna Do?” 7” (Subterranean)
To me, CoH were the Black Flag of San Francisco. I’m still bummed out that Jonathin Christ passed away earlier this year from heart failure.
Sick Pleasure – Doll Under Control split LP (Subterranean)
The other side of Code of Honor’s first LP is basically CoH with a different singer. Still great songs, though, if you like sleazy, trashy punk. And I do.
The Subhumans (Canada) – No Wishes, No Prayers (SST)
I don’t like this album as much as their earlier material, but “Screwed Up” is definitely a high point in their career.
Skrewdriver – “You’re So Dumb” 7” (Chiswick), “Antisocial” 7” (Chiswick) & “Built Up, Knocked Down” 7” (TJM)
Skrewdriver’s early, pre-National Socialist singles. The Chiswick 7“s are classic ’77 punk, but “Built Up” is an excellent Rolling Stones-y ballad (with shades of Blue Cheer) recorded right before the original lineup disbanded, when they were trying for a biker image.
Code of Honor – Beware the Savage Jaw LP (Subterranean)
CoH’s final album displays musical maturity and a certain depth unseen in many of their peers. It’s a shame that this was their last word.
The Wipers – Rarities (Zeno)
This CD collects the first Wipers 7”, some outtakes, live and acoustic recordings of this seminal Pacific Northwest punk band.
