Thepunkguy

For some strange reason, The Hellacopters‘ High Visibility, no matter how upbeat, no matter how rock n roll or how energetic it is, it sort of makes me sad. Two of my friends who have passed away, one in 9/11 and one a few years later, both totally loved this record. So it’s sort of a bitter sweet cd for me..

Either way, this 2000 record is so completely rock n roll, I have no other way of describing but saying something like.. If you like KISS, MC 5 or any garage rock or anything in between, check out the tracks below. They are the best, most melodic straight forward rock possibly ever made by NON Brits or Americans ever. Did I mention they were Swedish? FUCK YES!

the Hellacopters – Baby Borderline

the Hellacopters – Toys and Flavors

the Hellacopters – Hopeless Case of a Kid in Denial

2 Bsides from this era (sort of).

the Hellacopters – American Ruse (MC5 Cover)

the Hellacopters – Cold Night for Alligators (Roky Erickson Cover)

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So I downloaded all these amazing 90′s hip hop tracks I used to love when I was younger, for this DJ gig I was supposed to do on New Year’s. Unfortunately, I ended up not DJing but I got a shitload of these songs. More to come??

So check out some 5 classic hip hop tracks:

1992 – Showbiz and A.G. – Soul Clap (Short Version) .

1992 – Diamond D and The Psychotic Neurotics – Best Kept Secret .

1992 – Das Efx – They Want EFX .

1993 – Jeru the Damaja – Come Clean .

1994 – Lords of the Underground – Cheif Rocka .

I wonder if Diamond D produced all 5 of these tracks.

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“always the last one left to find out!”

In another Essential Records post, I feature the Long Island group, Garden Variety. Their 1994 second and final release, Knocking the Skill Level, was the epitome of what was happening in the indie rock world in the early 90′s. I listen to this full length all the time and I highly recommend it for anyone who likes 90′s Dischord stuff, midwestern indie rock, etc.

Garden Variety – Soft on the Name

Garden Variety – Chatroom Walkout

Garden Variety – In All Respects

Garden Variety – Room 183

CHECK OUT THIS OLD VIDEO OF THEM PERFORMING ONE OF MY FAVORITE NON LP TRACKS HERE. and a REAL VIDEO HERE.

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So out two nights ago with a buddy of mine from the UK at Niagara on A when he drops a bomb on me.

The Misfits come on the jukebox and I start to talk my usual bullshit about the Misfits, “they underrated and overlooked” and so forth and so on. He looks at me and says.. Who’s this?

Wow.

Wow.

Did I say wow?

So the below is a quick five (+ 1) song tutorial on why they are my favorite punk band of all time:

The Misfits – Where Eagles Dare (This is the closest thing that the Misfits ever came to a hit. I think punkers liked this song cause of the lyric “I ain’t no god damn son of a bitch!)

The Misfits – She (A great ‘start to getting to know the Misfits’ song, short and sweet.)

The Misfits – Bullet (A song about JFK and how “texas is the reason!”)

The Misfits – Cough / Cool (demo) (One of the first Misfits songs ever recorded. There’s not even a guitar in it.)

The Misfits – Mommy, Can I Go out and Kill TOnight? (live) (Possibly the funniest live track ever recorded, mostly cause how shitty and ridiculous it is. Not to mention the lyric “Girls all say I’m a little fucked.” HI STERICAL!)

And + 1 for the advanced Misfits listener…

The Misfits – Some Kinda Love

CHECK OUT THIS MOSTLY AWFUL VIDEO FROM 1982 for ASTRO ZOMBIES HERE. I think that this is from the “Creepy Compilation.”

(funny story about the creepy compilation, a friend in college had a copy of it. I bothered him for months to let me borrow it. So one night at a party, he told me he brought it. I was so drunk I started telling everyone at the party that the best VHS they will ever see will be shown at midnight. All night I was telling everyone at this party about it.

At midnight we had about 80 people jammed into this kid’s bedroom to watch the “Creepy Compilation.”

Approximately 2 minutes and 12 seconds pass before the room is completely empty besides me and three other Misfits dorks.)

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The Red Light Sting, was a great spazzy / melodic band from Canada that no longer exists. I for some reason, love this strange synthy Ep more than anything else they ever did. Check out if you like San Diego spock rock or earlier Hot hot heat , etc..

Most of their songs start really all over the place and then they get to a sing along chorus. It’s pretty great.

the Red Light Sting – Crossbows for the Year 2000

the Red Light Sting – Abortions for All.

the Red Light Sting – Dirt Eating Zombie

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We all know that I love this band more than my pinkie toe but nothing is usually mentioned about the Vaya EP. At the Drive-in were just starting to experiment and bring in other instrumentation and electronics with this record . This record is one of my favorite EP’s of all time and just about every song on this thing is great. Below are three (+ 1) that I love:

At the Drive-in – Rascuache

At the Drive-in – Metronome Arthritis

At the Drive-in – 198d

and a BSide from the era:

At the Drive-in – Extracurriclar

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lowercase, a band featuring Imaad Wasif (the 4th yeah yeah yeah) and his drummer Brian Kotzur, put out The Going Away Present on Unwound’s label Punk in My Vitamins label in 1999. I believe it was their fourth and final LP. The band was one of those real ‘take your time getting there’ bands for me. Slow and creepy and meandering. I truly love this record and Imaad’s voice is just unbelievably haunting. Check out three songs from this great record below:

lowercase – the going away present HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

lowercase – floodlit

lowercase – the open sea Check out the scream he belts out at the end of this song!

and a BSIDE from this album:

lowercase – we don’t need the wolf

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Louisville, KY’s June of 44 put out Engine takes to the Water in 1995. Their debut album is still one of my very favorites. This records features great intricate musicianship with singy / screamy vocals. Just what I was loving back then. This band is still one of my favorites.

June of 44 – Pale Horse Sailor

June of 44 – Have a Safe Trip, Dear

June of 44 – June Miller

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So I went to see Trail of Dead last night at Bowery Ballroom. And not only do I STILL think they are one of the best live bands around, I can’t still help loving almost 95% of their material. I mean Will You Smile Again? might be one of my favorite songs to see live EVER. Anyway, I was going to post about that record Worlds Apart, since it’s also a great overlooked record. However, two things last night made me write about Madonna today. One, the tracks that they play off of Madonna, almost always end in pure chaotic energy, sometimes with breaking instruments or just plain onstage insanity. It’s often the tracks off of this record bring the house down. Two, when I went to check out the merchandise, there was some dude there pointing at their first two records going, ‘which records are these?’ The merch girl told him they were their first two records and he said “Oh I thought the record with Baudelaire was their first.” Ouch. So I am guessing I should post about this record cause there are a few people out there that still don’t know about this record.

And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead – Mistakes and Regrets

And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead – A Perfect Teenhood (imagine them tearing everything to shit during this song.)

And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead – Mark David Chapman

bside from this same era.

And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead – Half of What

Go and see this band live. They are truly one of the best live bands out there. *

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(when they aren’t completely hammered or fucked up. )

Another installment of Essential Records comes from the Welsh band McLusky. This 2004 record produced by mr. Steve Albini finds its place somewhere between Nirvana, Modest Mouse and something much much noisier. I personally love the humor (check out the X wing reference in “Mint”) and the sound of this record. Check out some tracks below:

McLusky – She Will Only Bring you Happiness (funniest line: “our old singer is a sex criminal”)

McLusky – Icarus Schmicarus

McLusky – Forget about Him, I’m Mint

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