Another Blog Post? So Soon? Well this is is SERIOUS BUSINESS!!

As we approach our 5 year anniversary (holy crap, doo!) a lot is being planned to give back to everyone who has supported us, helped us in anyway, shape or form, didn't screw us over and get all weird with us, and mostly...never forgot about us.  A fire couldn't stop us, more powerful retail outlets capitalizing on our true love won;'t stop us...and for that, we have you to thank.  Patience while we figured it all out, learned how the game is played while sticking to our ethos.  More on that soon. 

Ok, let's talk incoming stock, shall we?  2 posts in a week?  Someone has nothing to do with their life.  We will also begin working in our flagship radioshow-- now known as SCRATCH-N-SNIFF RADIO.  It airs every saturday (well, most saturdays) at 10 p.m. to midnight.   Click that link and you'll uncover tons of playlists from the last...well, a long time. 

Those two turntables are only used by a few dj's these days...more often,students are eating lunch off them, or wondering what the fuck they are!   Saturdays feature long-running 80's fanatic Robin "squid explosion" Connell and indie wildman Brian "ski" K.   In their wake, I, sometimes joined by Chuck "termbo" Barrels or JD or whoever doesn't have plans that saturday night.   We try to play what we love...oldies and new stuff we want you to know about.


Let's get to some new stuff, eh?

DIRTBOMBS - ooey gooey chewy ka-blooey!   Another adventourous foray into the world of rock and roll genius, Mick Collins.  In addition to the plethora of Dirtbombs albums, Collins has paid tribute to soulful...well, soul and rock and roll via ULTRAGLIDE IN BLACK and most recently, Detroit House Music wih the adventerous PARTY STORE triple.  Here, Collins does not cover songs in fuzzy Dirtombs tradition, rather Mick Collins wrote ten new tracks which pay homage to the sound and style originally popularized in the late ’60s / early ’70s by producers / exploiters like Kasenetz-Katz and Don Kirschner. While the usual Dirtbombs’ double-drums, fuzzy guitars and soulful swagger are present, Ooey Gooey is sugary, sunshiny pop rock that recalls Josie & the Pussycats, the Banana Splits and Lancelot Link & the Evolution Revolution, to name but three. It’s all sing-along choruses, childlike themes and a contrived innocence—not the kind of record one would’ve predicted from a guy who once fronted The Gories. Top notch.                                       

OLIVIA TREMOR CONTROL - BLACK FOLIAGE/MUSIC FROM THE UNREALIZED FILM...
Two limited double lp's featuring hard to find material from OTC, wonderfully packaged and apparently limited to 1000 copies each.  Though these originally came out 2 years ago, we are to assume a few more were pressed.  Whatever the case may be, we have them waiting for you.

BATHS - Obsidian  After suffering a year long illness, BATHS has produced a follow-up to critically acclaimed CERULEAN (2010), the mood here is a bit more wry, painful yet upbeat in it's overall execution.  Bearing the scars of a year bedridden e. coli illness, the scars of that affair are obviously evident here--as could be expected.  Still, a cohesive effort that is also receiving high acclaim from music hacks and fans alike.  They are due in town soon, so now is the time to do your himework and get ready for the show.  We have tickets, too.     

EX-CULT - 7"  A unique (thank god) spiunning take on punk rock from the fantastic Memphis, TN oufit, EX-CULT (forced to change their name due to some nyc electro-bozo's calling themselves "Sex Cult", too.   Anyway, as you gaze through the 7"'s, do yourself a favor and sample this unique, raging attack on punk rock.   Then snag that lp, because it's a killer.  Goner Records can be depended upon.   
Speaking of Goner, check out the line-up of GONERFEST happening this fall in, of course, Memphis.

MIKAL CRONIN - MCII  - Once the leader of LA Garage wildmen (err...kids), Charlie and the Moonhearts (later shortened to MOONHEARTS), Cronin was already showing an obvious talent for songwriting on the bands slower, less chaotic numbers.  While he plays mostly everything here on this dynamic follow-up tohis highly touted self-titled solo breakout, he is now signed to Merge Records and gets help from Ty Segall, Charlie Moonheart, Petey Dammit--though Cronin did most of it himself.  A beauty of a record, worthy of the hype and an example of musician not staying in one place too long.  Surely this will be on many "top of '13" lists.  And that is well deserved.  Get it.  

BL'AST - BLOOD   Whatever you think of Dave Grohl, i truly believe the guy has his heart in the right place.  Take, for example, his help in unearthing the SST hardcore crossover thrash BL'AST.  Blood is not a re-issue, though these recordings are from 1987...recently unearthed by former guitarist Mike Nieder in an old storage locker and cleaned up in some fancy studio by Mr. Grohl, most certainly a fan and an influence on, especially, his drumming.  The result is a powerhouse album.   Check out the trailer Southern Lord has put together. 

 URINALS - NEGATIVE CAPABILITY In The Red Records, why but of course.  Everything you could possibly want by the great URINALS.  Amphetamine Reptile put out a retrospective cd back in 1996, but this covers much more ground on one of America's greatest underground post-punk treasures--relesing their own material back during their lifespan from 1977-1980 (they later became the Happy Flowers).  31 tracks in total!

"Want to hear America’s Wire, only twice as primitive (if that’s possible), with one quarter the sound quality? Even when they are covering the Soft Machine’s “Why Are We Sleeping?” they sound like a three-step primer on minimalism, in scratchy, fast, burping, nutso punk with clipped vocals. You can see why the Minutemen covered “Ack Ack Ack Ack,” but it’s the real solid, melodic stuff—such as the Last-inspired harmonies of the great A-sides “Black Hole” (covered by Leaving Trains -ed)  and “Sex,” and “Scholastic Aptitude,” and the instrumental “Surfing With the Shah” (which foreshadows the coming of 100 Flowers and later offshoot Trotsky Icepick)—that makes so many Angelinos remember this goofy but great trio so fondly. Negative Capability has an unrelenting, authoritative intelligence and sense of humor." —Jack Rabid

 (Jack Rabid is responsible for Big Takeover magazine and has been writing about music since the early 80's covering NYHC act Stimulators with his Stimulators Report.)

Last but not least is the soundtrack for BIG STAR documentary NOTHING CAN HURT ME (recently screened at Squeaky Wheel, though you'll want that dvd). 
This is an essential for fans because it features ALL unreleased material...instead of being some greatest hits starter kit for an up and coming hep cat, this is 2 albums worth of alternate takes, unreleased tracks and "movie mixes".  what else can be said here: this is an absolute must for fans and n00bs alike.  We all know the Big Star story by now (or we should).   Great band who didn't hit it big when they should have--the sad tale of many great bands.  That is a blessing, because we probably wouldn't give to shits about them if they had been shoved down our throats for the last 30 years!  Oh...yeah, we probably would.   They influenced multiple generations and are among the holy grail of American Rock and Roll.  Not a perfect band by any means...but who is?  You need this.  

More instock, including restocks on Bill Fay, Scott Walker, Daft Punk, Destruction Unit and a new release from NEKO CASE.  

Next post will report on some upcoming shows, the 5th Anniversary and another hefty incoming with new releases from MGMT, ARCADE FIRE, DESTRUCTION UNIT, JACUZZI BOYS and more.

Stay tuned. 

anchovies
9.13.13
4:12 a.m.

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