Mclusky - Mclusky Do Dallas (2002)

Beneath the thrill of their fuck u noise punk lies better music than you make. Over that is a vibe which convinces that they're good dudes and assholes at the same time, which counts for a lot in noise rock. All over the place there's musical, vocal, and lyrical variety. All over the place there's inconsistencies. And over that is the thrill of fuck u noise punk

B+

here

The Jesus Lizard - Down (1994)

Mostly overlooked/hated by fans, I felt the same way about Down until I started asking it what are you all about?! The follow-ups are bland/sell-outs, and that's obvious, but throughout Down you get that they're trying, just trying at something different to their celebrated first three records. That is, a sell-out's obvious, and Down doesn't once seem that way. It's a mysterious, subtle, feel-bad record where the others were worked-up screechy screech-a-thons, and I think that's what it's all about. Ostensibly accessible, but really just refined with a genuinely disturbing core. For one thing, Yow sings. Unconventionally, sure, but his voice is no longer used as an instrument, more an eerie wailing accompaniment to the music. The music, like the voice, is drier than ever and relies on repetition and even (OH MAN) simplicity although the guitars cut creatively and the rhythms are still bawse. I almost wanna avoid saying it 'cause they were beefing at the time, but it's got more in common with Shellac's Terraform than their other records (in my opinion!). Refined arguably to its aesthetic detriment, but to hanger onerers the minimalist approach and downer-ness seem bold and necessary. I dig the refinement and when Yow moans Just when you're about to learn to smile again I'm going to be the one to teach you how to cry on Elegy there's chills rather than noise rock shock reactions, and I feel that

A+

here

I Hate Myself - 10 Songs (1997)

Fits into the unusual tradition of the band or album as subversive love-letter to a style: Monster Magnet to metal, Ween to country, Royal Trux to rock n roll, I Hate Myself to emo. There’s the eye-roll of the band name and song-titles, but also the genuine embrace of the components of emo: the screams, the emotional builds, the unusual guitar-lines. 10 Songs is tongue-in-cheek but they’re not gonna mock you for enjoying it, they believe what they’re doing themselves

A

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Yaphet Kotto - The Killer Was In The Government Blankets (1999)

Raw! Energetic! Um... guitars! Double screams for double the core in emocore! Time-signatures! Influence! Relevance!

B

buy

CHOKE ON THE SWEET TASTE OF HONEY (2005)

BARGAIN BIN CD BUY #3

I REMEMBER WHEN THIS MEANT SO MUCH TO ME. I MISSED SEEING THEM LIVE AND APPARENTLY THE SINGER WENT AROUND TONGUE KISSING BROS

In the way of designer sloppy but secretly completely able noise rawk slash hardcore with homoerotic tendencies and responses to masculinity (of the state and/or individual), Love in the Fascist Brothel still does its job crazy well

A

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Alice Donut - Bucketfulls of Sickness and Horror in an Otherwise Meaningless Life (1989)

1. Lydia's Black Lung 2:48
2. Testosterone Gone Wild 2:24
3. Sinéad O'Connor on T.V. 1:34
4. Dorothy 4:29
5. Sky of Bones 4:50
6. Egg 3:37
7. Consumer Decency 2:34
8. My Life Is a Mediocre Piece of Shit 4:13
9. Incinerator Heart 1:30
10. Bucket, Forks, Pock 3:38
11. Demonologist 3:14

Punks with the good sense to look at everything The Butthole Surfers did and then conclude that a punk could and should listen to Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart not only for their strange instrumental turns, but also for their shitty jokes- Alice Donut have a good sense of humour and critical eye (Sinead O'Connor on TV is not what you'd expect)- but they aren't just punx gone avant-tard (there's enough of that!)- there's also the bizarro Morrissey jokes/observations (at least it's not all husky piss, right?) and fun hooks of whatever punk band they also listen to from the era where punks simplified pop, so that with the avant-ness is bratty power pop punk rock gone weird- making one wonder why they weren't more popular when maybe it's just my imagination, but didn't a whole heap of 1990s alternative rock bands try to do just that?

A

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Alice Donut - Mule (1990)

1. Mother of Christ 4:01

2. Mrs. Hayes 2:38

3. Roaches in the Sink 4:11

4. Crawlpappy 2:12

5. My Severed Head 4:21

6. Bottom of the Chain 6:07

7. Burlesque 2:40

8. Big Ass 4:06

9. Roadkill 3:27

10. Tiny Ugly World 4:23

11. J Train Downtown: A Nest of Murder 4:30

12. Cow's Placenta to Armageddon 3:19

13. My Boyfriend's Back 2:22

14. Demonologist [unlisted] 3:42

Alice Donut's third album (Like the last two, but perfect. Every song a tiny gem of absolute genius- Mark Prindle)

Creative, catchy weirdo punk with whiny vocals and genius lyrics

A fed up Serbian,
kills Arch Duke Ferdinand,
unhinging the wrath of millions,
Time to Drink myself into oblivion

Like Redd Kross' Neurotica, Mule exists completely out of the 80s-90s reinvention of punk rock for the sake of- grunge-ing- but in a way epitomizes and betters all of that shit- as much as I'm willing to claim Nirvana as my second favourite band, Mule and Alice Donut are just some of the best shit ever

PS Mrs. Hayes skips half way through, I'll sort that out and re-up the track when I get home

A

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Sunny Day Real Estate - Diary (1994)

1. Seven 4:45

2. In Circles 4:58

3. Song About an Angel 6:13

4. Round 4:09

5. 47 4:34

6. The Blankets Were the Stairs 5:27

7. Pheurton Skeurto 2:33

8. Shadows 4:46

9. 48 4:46

10. Grendel 4:53

11. Sometimes 5:42

Whenever I start my day with Diary I wonder why I don't do it every day. Theatrical and passionate- some of the best post-grunge alt songs (along with ones by Weezer and Foo Fighters) ever written and performed- big choruses, melodies, and loud-quiet shifts- so even when fans tell you sentimental stories about how much the album means to them or how this shit is just so emotionally raw you can think they're lame and still enjoy the album. Straight up more radio rock like Nirvana, Weezer or Foo Fighters than any hip post-hardcore like Unwound or At the Drive-In

A+

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Title Fight - Shed (2011)

1. Coxton Yard

2. Shed

3. Flood of ‘72

4. Society

5. You Can’t Say Kingston Doesn’t Love You

6. Crescent-Shaped Depressio

7. Safe in Your Skin

8. Where Am I?

9. Your Screen Door

10. 27

11. Stab

12. GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)

Bizarre compliment- 2011's best pop punk album. Good shit though, you'll love it

B

Buy
Try

No Trend - Teen Love (1983)

1. Mass Sterilization Caused by Venereal Disease

2. Cancer

3. Teen Love

Teen Love is in my top 5 noise rock songs of all time. It's so bitter it makes Flipper seem like dudes you'd want to hang out with

A+

192

Cap'n Jazz - Burritos, Inspiration Point, Fork Balloon Sports, Cards In The Spokes, Automatic Biographies, Kites, Kung Fu, Trophies, Banana Peels We've Slipped On and Egg Shells We've Tippy Toed Over (1994)

1. Little League 3:56

2. Oh Messy Life 2:02

3. Puddle Splashers 2:03

4. Flashpoint: Catheter 3:24

5. In The Clear 1:57

6. Yes, I Am Talking to You 2:36

7. Basil's Kite 2:36

8. Bluegrassish 1:08

9. Planet Shhh 2:59

10. The Sands Have Turned Purple 2:45

11. Precious 2:43

12. Que Suerte! 3:04

I'd be one of those assholes claiming that old school emo was actually awesome but I like My Chemical Romance too much to imply that they aren't awesome, but here's Cap'n Jazz's Schmap’n Schmazz any way.

Members from Cap'n Jazz went on to form American Football and numerous other important bands, and were very influential themselves. I'd call their sound 'jerky' but that'd make Bluegrassish's boys kissing boooooyyysss chorus sound even more funny 'cause handjobs are fucking hi-larious

They're insanely likeable, you'll certainly like Cap'n Jazz if you haven't heard them

A

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Rites of Spring - End on End (1991)

1. Spring 2:09

2. Deeper Than Inside 2:17

3. For Want Of 3:09

4. Hain's Point 2:08

5. All There Is 2:54

6. Drink Deep 4:55

7. Other Way Around 3:59

8. Theme 2:19

9. By Design 2:38

10. Remainder 2:30

11. Persistent Vision 2:21

12. Nudes 2:48

13. End on End 7:24

14. All Through a Life 2:57

15. Hidden Wheel 2:31

16. In Silence/Words Away 3:00

17. Patience 1:58

Fucking love this album

Released on CD by Dischord in 1991, this digital version of End on End covers the complete recorded output of the legendary Rites of Spring: their self-titled LP, the All Through a Life EP, and one extra song. One of the first bands to be labeled emocore, Rites of Spring would seem to transcend all labels as their music cuts right through to the heart of universal human experience. Emotional? Yes -- check out the bitter memorial relived on "For Want Of," the pulse pounding moment-grab that is "Drink Deep," or the devoted searches for honesty and meaning explored on "End on End," "Theme," and really just about every track on the disc. Hardcore? Yes -- emerging from the D.C. scene, the music is pure focused energy, not a single note wasted. The band at times is fast and furious, at other times lush and evocative though always with a sense of drive and melody. Rites of Spring hint at some of the territory vocalist/guitarist Guy Picciotto and drummer Brendan Canty would later survey with Fugazi, but this band is much more than just a stepping stone. End on End, quite simply, is a testament to the rich possibilities of sincerity in music.
-AMG

A

v0
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