MX-80 Sound - 'Big Hits and Hard Attack'

Ok, really, this is the real reason I started doing this blog again. I wanted to post this record, realizing I never did a few years back when I was heavy into these fellas.

Coming out of the oasis of Bloomington, IN (basically the ONLY good thing in Indiana, and a pretty strange place), this band is a combination of influences that I really don't like. I hear a lot of Captain Beefheart, whom I despise, and also maybe some Frank Zappa, who is ok but not my favorite, Velvet Underground, who I also hate, and an assortment of 70's radio rock. Somehow, all this ends up being awesome, and completely unlike anything else, no matter how many people say they 'sound just like Sonic Youth.'

This kind of music just doesn't happen anymore. Here you have some college dudes in the middle of nowhere, just making music and playing for their friends, without ANY real musical worldview. So out of touch with everything going on in '76 that they sound current in 2016. It's fitting that they were discovered by The Residents, who also put out the bulk of their material on their Ralph Records, after Island dropped the band.

Since I can't really relate their sound to anything else other than their influences (which really doesn't cut it), this might get a little detailed.

So, you've got scratchy, 'angular' guitar work that sounds half-improvised, but always inspired. It's also really unpretentious...it never feels like the band is 'trying' to be weird, or experimental, they're just weirdos. You can tell there's a lot of early heavy metal influence in the guitar work as well. And yes, some parts sound strikingly similar to Sonic Youth drones, but more interesting, I would argue.

The bass player is ALWAYS busy, and actually has some of the 'lead' riffs while the guitar fucks around. Best, however, are the drums, which are SO FUCKING HEAVY. It sounds like an old jazz kit being played as hard and fast as possible. Like, I don't even really know, I was just smiling at this guy's playing the whole album, it's way funkier than you'd think for this type of music, and also REALLY idiosyncratic, maybe a little like Primus.

Primus is actually a good comparison, come to think of it. Except the vocals aren't super fucking annoying, and the songs don't feel as laborious.

Speaking of the vocalist, who sounds a little like Jesse Michaels from Operation Ivy, except crazy, he is VERY good at his limited style. He's not the best singer, but he doesn't just get the fuck out of the way like most noise-rock vocalists. If he's not conversationally joking about PCB's and kidnapping girls, he's honking on his out-of-tune saxophone.

I could just go on. I don't even know how many times I laughed at the bizarre jokes in the lyrics. Rich Stim has perfect comedic timing in the way that only the Dead Milkmen or The Frogs perfected.  When he does get serious, it's more creepy than anything, and makes the band seem sort of menacing, like their live shows must have been totally out of control.

Aaaaanyways, their second album, 'Out of the Tunnel,' and the third, 'Crowd Control,' are also very good. Their later stuff is spotty, but I'm glad they're still slightly active. Definitely my favorite band on Ralph Records, which is pretty insane considering their roster includes Tuxedomoon, Snakefinger, and of course The Residents.

NOTE: My version also includes their first EP, as 2 long tracks at the beginning of the album. It's good, but 'Hard Attack' is where it's at.

MX-80 Sound - 'Big Hits and Hard Attack'

Tracklist:

1. Train to Loveland / You Turn Me On / SCP / Til Death Do Us Part
2. Myonga Von Bontee / Boy Trouble - Girl Trouble / Tidal Wave
3. Man on the Move
4. Kid Stuff
5. Fascination
6. Summer '77
7. PCB's
8. Crushed Ice
9. Tidal Wave
10. Theme from 'Checkmate'
11. Facts-Facts
12. You're Not Alone
13. Civilized / Demeyes
14. Afterbirth / Aftermath
15. Sad Girls (Bonus Track)

DOWNLOAD

Rare proto-punk megapost

While doing my proto-punk, punk and post-punk radio show, I often came across some fairly rare releases (not PHYSICAL, but y'know). Some of these took weeks of searching to dig up. Now, I'm dropping a bunch of 'em on you. This post is for the proto-punk stuff, obviously, which would be from the early 60's to the mid-70's.

Heavy Goods Vehicle - 'Keeper of the Sands'

Loud, super-stoned and super-slowed blues rock, in the tradition of Black Sabbath and Pentagram. Maybe a little bluesier than either of those bands, but just as noisy. This album totally sounds like garbage, probably demo recordings of some kind, but it's pretty great because it sounds like they're breaking the tape deck with their volume. Includes a completely incomprehensible cover of 'Wild Thing' that somehow manages to be sloppier than the original. Maybe more proto-doom-metal than proto-punk, but it's got the spirit.

NOTE: The only proper tracklist for this I could find was COMPLETELY different from what I have, so I'm just listing the tracks alphabetically.

Tracklist:

1. 1976
2. Capitalist Blues
3. Feed Back (1976)
4. Heavy Goods Vehicle
5. Heavy Music
6. I'm a Man
7. July Morning
8. Keeper of the Sands (Intro)
9. Lucifer
10. Race with the Devil
11. Time to Cry
12. Wild Thing

DL

Pi Corp - 'Lost in the Cosmic Void'

Early artifact from the same Ohio scene that produced Rocket From The Tombs, Vertical Slit, Pere Ubu and the electric eels. It's fairly dissimilar from those releases, being more like early Pink Floyd I guess. But, the experimentation and gleefully noisy interludes definitely get it an inclusion in the proto-punk 'genre.' Plus, I think a few members went on to be in 'real' punk bands, so yeah. It sounds like a live recording, and honestly it isn't too great, but it's historical. My favorite tracks are 'Together,' which kinda sounds like a simplified Black Sabbath jam with weird echoed-out yelling over it, and 'Shiiit,' which is a psych-rock jam filtered through basement recording.

Tracklist:

1. Introid
2. The Dirge
3. Drumola
4. Together
5. Devil Weed
6. Just Another Song
7. LSD 1
8. Space War
9. Shiiit
10. Telarama Boogie
11. Organ Over Easy

DL

Doug Snyder and Bob Thompson - 'Daily Dance'

This one's pretty amazing. Supposedly, these guys went home after an early Iggy and the Stooges show and started writing these noisy, semi-structured jams. They were also from Ohio, although a more rural part. The 'songs' contain no vocals, just super blown-out heavy guitar and equally distorted, frenzied drumming. It actually has a feel not unlike the band Sleep, but obviously less structured. The two guys also regrouped in the late 90's to cut another LP, but I've never heard it. This one was independently released in '73, in a 500-copy run.

Tracklist:

1. Daily Dance
2. Living with the Crocodiles
3. Time Overlaps Itself
4. Soul and Universe
5. Hit and Run
6. Truth is a Pathless Land
7. Teenage Emergency

DL

Gudibrallan - 'II'

Swedish bang that DEFINITELY sounds a little closer to the punk era, and this goes way back to '71. Although usually listed as prog-rock, don't think it's gonna be a bunch of flutes and weird time signatures. It's actually more like the early Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart style of prog-rock, where it's just fucked up sounding. I guess there are elements of Swedish folk music here, but I don't know that stuff well enough to pick it out. There is definitely some wild saxophone and lots of yelling though. Somehow, this is the band's second album, too.

Tracklist:

1. T-Doja
2. Sosse
3. Terjes Klagan
4. Sprutan
5. Sommar Uti Hagen
6. John Boy
7. Berusa Er
8. Hispan
9. Visa Om Jungfrun

DL

Rockin' Rollin' Blues Band - 'Wild and Untamed'

Here's another one of those random private press LP's that seems to have disappeared from the web. From what I can tell, I got it off the Cosmic Hearse blog a while back, which unfortunately looks like it's dead. Shame, cuz that guy posted some insane stuff.

This record isn't 'insane' per se, but it's pretty strange. Probably, it's a snapshot of a local band recorded in some friend's studio, but it still puts the listener into an interesting moment in time. For one thing, this band seems very 'out of touch' with what was going on (it was apparently released in '73.) In an era dominated by hard rock, these guys/gals were cranking out 50's rockabilly-influenced bar jams. But, a few of the members (specifically the guitarist) are clearly influenced by the hard rock/heavy metal of, say, Deep Purple. So, it's an unusual mix. I might go so far as to call a couple of these cuts 'proto-punk.'

Then there are the vocals. To say that they 'aren't very good' doesn't really do them justice. Sure, they aren't 'technically' good, but they are interesting at the very least. There is a guy and girl, who sometimes sing together, but often take different sections of songs. The girl's voice almost has an operatic quality sometimes, and the guy is a little gruff but mostly smooth. Neither sounds like they give too much of a shit. Judging by the cut-up pictures that serve as the album cover, I'd say these are probably some drugged-out bikers.

I'm also factoring the lyrics into this judgement, because they have this kinda backwoods vibe to them...not like they intentionally wanted to conjure this up but that they couldn't help but pull it into their music.

So, maybe that makes this album a little more 'authentic' blues than a lot of other 70's stuff? I dunno. But, if you like sloppy, trashy blues rock like Janis when she was with Big Brother, then you will probably dig this. The guitarist is really good at least, and a couple of their songs are pretty catchy.

No track names, sorry, apparently they were lost in time.

Rockin' Rollin' Blues Band - 'Wild and Untamed'

DL

Society's Fault 3-28-14

Another one of these thangs...enjoy.

Society's Fault 3-28-14 by Bizarrojerry on Mixcloud

Society's Fault 3-21-14 WIDR WEEK

We aren't very enthusiastic about asking for donations these days, but oh well. Sometimes we're funny. Regardless, there is quite a bit more talking than usual in this podcast, but we still crammed in a bunch of good music.

Society's Fault 3-21-14 WIDR WEEK by Bizarrojerry on Mixcloud

Society's Fault 3-14-14

Last week's program. Heavy on the surf-punk, particularly the group Falling Idols, which Sublime famously covered. Turns out, they featured a young guy who would go on to sing for The Vandals on their most beloved releases....

Society's Fault 3-14-14 by Bizarrojerry on Mixcloud

Jim Shepard/Vertical Slit/V-3 Megapost

This seems to be the most popular stuff I put up here, so once again, EVERYTHING Jim Shepard related that I have.

...This is aside from the Ego Summit album, which you can find pretty much anywhere online, and the 'Jim Shepard and Friends' sampler which didn't really catch my interest and the collab with Charles Ciccerella (I think that's how you spell it) because, I dunno, it didn't catch my interest either I guess. Also, I've only got the first 3 discs of the 'Matter Dominates Spirit' tribute release, but the last disc is (I believe) the same as 'V-3 Next Album'. I couldn't find 4 or 5. BUT, there's a whole bunch of stuff you probably can't find anywhere else. So check it out. And, if you have anything I don't have here, feel free to send it my way.

For those who don't know...Jim Shepard was a Columbus, OH musician active in the pre-punk scene all the way through the mid-90's when he tragically hung himself. The closest he got to 'success' was an album released by American Records with his group V-3 called 'Photograph Burns.' This is probably a good place to start with his music, as most of the songs are very catchy and easy to digest. His other work can be...to say the least...NOT so easy to listen to.

He also had a habit of releasing things in tiny runs (or not at all) and dropping them off at pawn shops and flea markets for future generations of indie rockers to find. That being said, a lot of his work is still out of print and hasn't even found its way to the internet. This is probably only a small fraction of what he REALLY recorded, but, it's the best there is for now. For the record, my favorites are 'Photograph Burns,' 'Picking Through the Wreckage,' 'Motorcycle Movie,' 'V-3 Next Album' 'Negotiate Nothing' and 'Under the Blood Red Lava Lamp' probably almost in that order, if I had to pick, y'know, six.

By the way, if you want artwork, go to rateyourmusic.com because they have most of the covers. I can't be bothered to upload them all as, clearly, this is a HUGE amount of music.

If you represent a label who will be re-releasing some of this stuff, please contact me and I will remove links. Til then, however, most of this stuff is impossible to hear, which is sad.

Jim Shepard solo:

'Amsterdam'

'Evil Love Deeper'

Evil Twin'

'The Hollywood Hills Are Alive and Well' 7" (Jim covers Kim Fowley)

'Motorcycle Movie'

'Picking Through the Wreckage with a Stick'

'Folk City Aztec Drama' Vols. 1 and 2

'V-3: Next Album'

'Earth Muffin' 7"

V-3:

'Launchpad Explosion' 7"

'Negotiate Nothing'

'Psychic Dance Hall'

'Pimping in the 90's'

'Live '97'

'Photograph Burns'

'Live at WNUR Chicago'

Vertical Slit:

'Basement 2215'

'Your Wife is Licking My Strobe Light and Grinning'

'..And Beyond'

'Slit and Pre-Slit'

'Twisted Steel and the Tits of Angels'

'Under the Blood Red Lava Lamp'

'Matter Dominates Spirit' tribute:

Disc 1

Disc 2

Disc 3

I HOPE YOU ARE HAPPY, GUYS.

'Society's Faults' and 'Society's Funks'

Yeahhhhh it's been a while...kind of killed this blog off for a bit, but I dunno, maybe I've got enough weird shit saved up to do a few more posts now.

Anyhow, here are our radio broadcasts for the past...3 months? Or something.

Society's Funk 1-17-14

Society's Funk 1-17-14 by Bizarrojerry on Mixcloud

Society's Fault 2-7-14

Society's Fault 2-7-14 by Bizarrojerry on Mixcloud

Society's Fault 2-14-14 VALENTINE'S DAY SHOW

Society's Fault 2-14-14 VALENTINE'S DAY SHOW by Bizarrojerry on Mixcloud

Society's Fault 2-21-14

Society's Fault 2-21-14 by Bizarrojerry on Mixcloud

Society's Fault 2-28-14

Society's Fault 2-28-14 by Bizarrojerry on Mixcloud

Society's Funk and Society's Fault

Woops...been a bit since I posted on here. I've got a backlog of radio programs for ya. Freshly updated on the Mixcloud. Two of them are the mini-show Society's Funk that seems to happen when Jake's absent, and one is the regular shit. Enjoy.

Society's Funk 12-13-13 by Bizarrojerry on Mixcloud

Society's Funk 12-20-13 by Bizarrojerry on Mixcloud

Society's Fault 1-3-14 by Bizarrojerry on Mixcloud

Society's Fault 11-22-13

Had a hard drive crash, so instead of digging up a bunch of new shit you probably don't care about, we did a 'classics' kinda show...lots of our favorite tracks from the past couple of years, and a few tunes we hate also.

Society's Fault 11-22-13 by Bizarrojerry on Mixcloud

Society's Fault 11-1-13 SPOOKY SHOW #2

Even FURTHER past the holiday, here's the second Halloween show we did. This one, in my opinion, might be even better. So, if you're still in the mood for some scary shit, check it out...otherwise, the next podcast will be back to the regs.

Society's Fault 11-1-13 SPOOKY SHOW #2 by Bizarrojerry on Mixcloud

Society's Fault 10-25-13 SPOOKY SHOW #1

Welllll, it's a little late, but DEAL WITH IT. Here's the Halloween edition of Society's Fault. We actually had so much spooky material that it turned into two shows, the second of which you will hear next week. This one's got classics like the obvious 'Halloween' by Dead Kennedys, and some deep cuts like 'Ow, My Finger!' by the Screamin' Mee-Mees...also, PLENTY of horror movie clips and trailers, and satanic nonsense! Enjoy...if you DARE!

Society's Fault 10-25-13 SPOOKY SHOW #1 by Bizarrojerry on Mixcloud

Society's Fault 10-18-13

Here's some new stuff for ya...loads of things we've never played before, including Drug Squad, which is a group of the Pink Fairies' roadies who make even crazier proto punk than they did! A few 'horror' tracks in preparation for the obligatory Halloween show, which you will hear next week.

Society's Fault 10-18-13 by Bizarrojerry on Mixcloud

Society's Fault 10-11-13

More of that Societal goodness for ya. If you're a Velvet Underground fan, I'm sorry to say we take them down a few pegs in this episode....we trash-talk Lou Reed for a bit, then play some of his pre-Velvet tracks. If you've never heard his awful surf-rock band The Beachnuts, you're in for a 'treat.' Also, who knew he used to be able to sing?!

Also in this episode, some cuts from Charles Pinion's deranged low-budget punk film 'Twisted Issues.' More on that later.

Society's Fault 10-11-13 by Bizarrojerry on Mixcloud

Society's Fault 10-4-13

Jake, myself and guest host Golden Joe of Arctic Paradise give you another blast of punk rock and the music that inspired it, including prog-rockers Felt, out of whom the Dickies formed. Also present is some German hardcore, and a Butthole Surfers deep cut. Dig dat shit dawg.

Society's Fault 10-4-13 by Bizarrojerry on Mixcloud

Society's Fault 9-27-13

Guest host Golden Joe of the Arctic Paradise steps in to take Jake's place, and we crank out some lost classics including Jack Ruby and the first Misfits single. Also, some Indiana punk courtesy of Rattail Grenadier and Squirtgun.

Society's Fault 9-27-13 by Bizarrojerry on Mixcloud

Society's Fault 9-20-13

Jake and myself are back for another edition of Society's Fault, the smart-assed proto-punk, punk and post-punk program. Lots of music from Detroit this time around, including the obscure Mutzie and Cold Cock.

Society's Fault 9-20-13 by Bizarrojerry on Mixcloud

Society's Fault 9-13-13

FRIDAY THE 13TH!!! OMG!!!

...but it's just another episode of our proto-punk, punk and post-punk radio program. The unearthed classics are just POURING in this time, with stuff like Fred 'Sonic' Smith's post-MC5 group the Sonic Rendezvous band, minimal synth weirdos Iron Curtain, and some KBD-style hardcore. Enjoy.

Society's Fault 9-13-13 by Bizarrojerry on Mixcloud

Society's Fault 8-30-13

Another Society's Fault for ya...apologies for the delay, I had to take last week off. Lots of 'classic' stuff this time around, but the one we did this past Friday was pretty much ALL weird shit. Enjoy.

Society's Fault 8-30-13 by Bizarrojerry on Mixcloud

Society's Fault 8-23-13

More new stuff, more trash-talking from your favorite punk radio losers Rotweiler and Jake. Oh yeah, the best track might be 'Mr. Cool' by Killer Kane Band. It's a total ripoff of Alice Cooper's 'Eighteen' and features future W.A.S.P. members. Good stuff.

Society's Fault 8-23-13 by Bizarrojerry on Mixcloud