Congress Of The Cow - S/T (2002 M-Theory Records)

Indie-Alterna-whatever featuring, among others, San Diego legend Stimy (Sub Society, Inch) and former Fluf drummer Francis Whitfield. Sounds very San Diego, a little RTFC, a little Tanner., and a lot of No Knife. Good stuff.

1. Consume
2. Ice Age
3. Shame
4. Sidewalk
5. Fin Del Dia
6. All Live Heart Attack
7. Motor Mouth
8. The Lie
9. Frustrated
10. New Juan
11. Power of Persuasion
12. Counting Sheep

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Userfriendly - Movin' Out! (1997 Common Cause Records)

I don't know what's up with this band, but I've owned this CD three separate times, and each time it's sold on Discogs in a matter of days, at higher and higher prices (I think $50 was the latest). I remember them from the Punk Nation Unification comp, one of those "great comp / horrible artwork" 90's releases, but don't remember them standing out in particular. This is pretty standard 90's SoCal punk. I mean it's good and all, don't get me wrong, I just don't get why it's so in demand. I mean, my Shoegazer CD never sells, and it's jaw-droppingly good. What am I missing?

1 Moving Out!
2 Faith
3 Nine Months
4 All About You
5 Cause For Alarm
6 If You Only Knew
7 Time To Try
8 Con-Man
9 Girlfriends
10 Ditsophrenia
11 New Home
12 Homecoming Queen Is High
13 18 Now
14 Turn Out The Light
15 Generations
16 Selfish Ways
17 100%

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Bandcamp

Broken Pretzel - Top Of The World (1998 Fiction Productions)

Part of the 90's San Diego ska boom that spawned Buck-O-Nine, Unsteady, G-Spot, and many more. 

1. Self-Titled Untitled
2. Sun Dried Tomatoes
3. Pick It Up
4. Walk Into My Life
5. Three Necessities
6. Great American Smokeout
7. Will
8. They're Coming For You
9. Skasian Invasion
10. Four Weeks

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Grappling Buskers - Grappling Buskers Tape (1994 Interidol Sound)

Really weird one here. Can't find much about these guys. The release date is a total guess, based on another release they have on the same label. I know they were a NYC band, consisted of Steve Kresic, Tosh Murase, Eric Carlsen, and Ralph Ortiz, and......that's it. But it's got me very curious, so I just ordered the CD. I'll post that at some point.

Not sure how to describe this. It's punk, but with some definite 90's alternative vocals.

Some rough patches on this as well. As long as I live, I'll never understand why there is a cassette revival. Worst possible format.

1. Coward Man
2. Undercover
3. Walking Thru The Park

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30 Lincoln - Hates Girls (1995 Self-released0

Very rare one here, courtesy of a dedicated reader who will be getting his stuff back soon I promise.

30 Lincoln was a punk band from Cleveland who would later release an album on Johann's Face in 1999. But this tape is from 1995, when I assume they were either in or just out of high school.

Soundwise, imagine high schoolers in Cleveland playing punk rock in 1995.

Be warned: production + cheap tape = a pretty ugly listen at times.

1. Non Fiction
2. Bikini Atoll
3. Leslie
4. Suckmore High
5. Kevin Arnold's Zit
6. Alo
7. Out Of Kindness
8. Lost In A Closet

DL



 

Vanbuilderass / When Puberty Strikes Split EP (1994 Toybox Records)

Couple of Gainesville bands who are probably known more for their comp tracks (especially Vanbuilderass) than their meager-yet-excellent catalogs. Released in 1994 on a tiny label, but go to any punk "fest" in 2019 and you'll hear a bunch of bands emulating Vanbuilderass, even if they've never heard of them. Great stuff. When Puberty Strikes is also really good, perhaps even excellent, but doing a split with Vanbuilderass would make almost any band sound inferior by comparison.

Side rant for Discogs nerds: This cover is obviusly tow people shouting the band names, hence the explanation points. Just a gimmick specific to this release. Yet Discogs purists feel this justifies adding "Vanbuilderass!" and "When Puberty Strikes!" as ANV's. Stupid. 

1. Vanbuilderass - Unity
2. Vanbuilderass - Pat
3. When Puberty Strikes - My Rules
4. When Puberty Strikes - Bandit
5. When Puberty Strikes - Ishmael 

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