I don't remember how I ended up owning this. Based on the cover of the 7", I would never in a million years have bought this. Which would be a shame, because this is excellent, but isn't, because I do own it. Life, right?
12.26.2023
ICU - Play Dead 7" [1993 Radical Records]
I don't remember how I ended up owning this. Based on the cover of the 7", I would never in a million years have bought this. Which would be a shame, because this is excellent, but isn't, because I do own it. Life, right?
12.22.2023
Various - Lump Of Coal CD [1995 Yell-O Records]
Have I seriously never posted this? That's crazy, as this is one of my favorite Christmas comps and almost designed to be on this blog. I think I was only doing 7-inches for a while, so this never did make it.
Anyways....
A lineup of great mid-90's San Diego pop-punk, with The Neighbors rounding it out with some decidedly not-pop punk. Spazboy, Dodgeball, Third Rale, Carter Peace Mission, Jon Cougar Concentration Camp, Everready, and a combination of all the bands called Second String.
Merry Christmas!
12.20.2023
Kill Kill Kill - Pissing Prisms CDr [2009 Hello My Name Is Records]
I jokingly but actually seriously put our a call for a Bluesky invite, and it happened! Thank you to for making that happen. I'm xpadrex.bsky.social, have no followers and am 100% okay with that. Now Twitter is just for Padres new until everyone eventually migrates to an alternative. Fuck you, Elon. When Bluesky issues me some invites, I'll pay it forward. In return, I'll try to post more here often.
Okay, so this album falls under "experimental rock". I don't know what that means. My definition is: long songs, no melody. 5 songs, 44 minutes - we got the long songs covered. No melody? I wouldn't go that far. There some noodling, some droning, but overall I found it interesting, and the 44 minutes went by pretty quickly.
12.12.2023
Repercussion Unit - Christmas Party CS (1984 Robey Records)
A Christmas rarity for you.
Repercussion Unit was a percussion ensemble based out of CalArts, north of LA.
Is it kind of cool and kitschy? Or is it nightmare fuel?
I say it is very cool and kitschy AND nightmare fuel.
This is great and I don't care what you say. One of my favorite Christmas albums.
First couple of tracks seem louder than the rest, but I didn't want to fuck with them too much in Audacity so I left 'em as is.
BTW if you're like, where's the punk, dude, I'm not here for this shit? Well here it is:
And all it's going to take for me to delve into that folder (at least for a little while) is for one of you motherfuckers to send me a Bluesky invite. Capice?
Bandcamp
12.09.2023
Rando Mixtape 1
Bought a bunch of cassettes (really just for the Napa cassette holder they came in) that had some homemade mixtapes strewn throughout. Figured I'd give them a listen and share. Might be good for some background music while doing whatever it is you do that requires background music.
This one just has a side one. That's pretty weak mix tape making skills IMO. You gotta fill the thing up.
7.22.2023
Google Bard Punk Rock Fanfic #AI
I was on a Discogs bender, trying to get credits for some 90's SoCal bands.
Like, what? I looked up "Dangerfield's Secret Army" and got nothing. Kevin Seconds formed the Minutemen? Is there a single fact in this entire response?
Yes, there is a band called Nonox 9, they would change their name to 1208. And look! Another Seconds/Coats/MacDonald project!
Kevin Seconds not mentioned, so maybe this one is helpful. Except those names do not line up at all with the info I have, and I can't find any evidence that those albums exist.
Another "amicable" band break up! Again, I think the names are wrong (although there is a "Danimal" in the band). And Fishsticks influences by the Aquabats is one of the funnier things I've read.
Good luck using Google Bard on your term papers, kids!
6.25.2023
Sick - Carpe Diem CD [1998 Self-released]
Nu metal lite from Colorado. Not my cup of tea , but not any worse, and arguably better than, most of the Alice In Chains inspired nu metal on major labels from that era. Weird who gets signed and who doesn't.
6.24.2023
Mexican Cheerleader - Mexican Cheerleader CD [2001 Hewhocorrupts, Inc.] #mexicancheerleader
The word "cohort" is being used far too often. Stop it.
A Chicago supergroup with members of Oblivion, Apacolypse Hoboken, Horace Pinker / Lynard's Innards.
If that doesn't sell you, nothing will. Crazy good. Available on Bandcamp for a paltry $3.
6.23.2023
Gimcrack - Bad Day Every Day CD [1996 Stiff Pole Records]
I've heard Morphine's "Cure For Pain" in two random situations this week. Weird.
I thought I'd posted this before? Apparently not. I love this band. And now, besides comp tracks, you have their entire discography.
6.22.2023
Human Beans / The Bar Feeders Split 7" [1997 Probe Records]
San Francisco sloppy speedy punk. Human Beans side recorded by Matty Luv. Terminal Escape has some more Human Beans stuff.
4.28.2023
Good / great bands with shitty vocalists?
Was recently listening to Megadeth's Rust In Peace for the first time in forever, and my thoughts are the same now as when it came out: would be one of the greatest records of all time if Dave Mustaine was not singing. The last half of "Hangar 18" has no vocals and is thus one of the greatest half-songs in metal history.
So, off the top of my head, the top 5 bands that would be exponentially better by replacing their singer:
1. Megadeth
2. Rush
3. Accept
4. Type O Negative
5. Vio-lence (although it's so bad I kinda like it?)
Yeah, these are all metal, and there's probably some obvious ones I forgot about. There are a ton of thrash bands that went for the falsetto / sing-y shit (Forbidden, Heathen) instead of the far superior Steve Souza Exodus type vocals that would be on an extended list. Don't even start with me. Steve Souza rules.
How to ruin a great song:
How it should be done:
Anyways, who you got?
4.02.2023
Gus - Get Well Soon 7" [1995, 702 Records] [REPOST]
Re-upped by request.
This Gus is from Florida, not Canada, and rock that wonderful Spoke-ish mid 90's No Idea sound. The version of Gus that played here was Drew Demaio (Strikeforce Diablo, Assholeparade, Floor) on guitar/vocals, and Ron Sas (Floor) on bass. Liner notes also indicate a fella named Mike played drums, but the same liner notes say that Jason Lederman (Cavity, Where Fear And Weapons Meet) played drums on this record, so I don't know what's going on there. Also, Sam Fogarino of Interpol once played drums for Gus, though not on this record.
Thanks to South Florida Music Scene for info.
3.01.2023
L. Dula - Records Records Records [?? Fam Royal] #sandiego #lakanmorales
L. Dula (Lakan Morales) is a loved and respected DJ and crate digger from San Diego who was paralyzed last year in a freak boogie boarding accident. His family has set up a GoFundMe to help with expenses as they all adapt to the new reality.
This mix is chock full of obscure stuff, mostly soul and funk, that I do not recognize. Feel free to comment if you can identify samples and tie them to particular tracks. It'll be fun. I also don't know the year on this, and it's driving me crazy. So if you know, dish.
2.28.2023
Black Hole Of Calcutta - S/T CDr [2007 Self-released] #chico #crust #hardcore
Blacked, crusted, hardcore from Chico (at least when this came out, I think they later relocated to Portland, OR). The full discography is on the streamers below, this is just the original CDr from 2007.
2.27.2023
Impetus Inter - PR Of RPM 7" [1995 Cerebellum Records] #mn #screamo
This one has been sitting in draft since 2011!
2.26.2023
Voyage Of Slaves / Monolith - Beard Splitter 7" [2013 Little Heart Records] #nwobhm
Paducha, Kentucky's Voyage Of Slaves are a Viking Metal band with some black metal influence.
San Diego, California's Monolith have a more classic metal sound, and I'm betting they have a NWOBHM fetish.
2.25.2023
Sack-a-Tomatoes
Lol, going through all my unpublished drafts. This has been sitting there since 09/21/2018.
---------------------------------------------------
First stop, straight from the airport, South in downtown Sacramento for lunch. Saw it hyped as one of the best burgers in town, and it did not disappoint.
I can't say that for dinner though. I had some reports due and wanted to eat close to the hotel. Saw a Mexican place called Cafe Rio. Never heard of it. Maybe it could be a Sacramento gem? Uh, no. It was a chipotle style place. I guess their gimmick is they make their tortillas. Seeing Tabasco as the avaialble hot sauce should have been a clue to GTFO, but I didn't have a whole lot of time to waste, it was Taco Tuesday, and it was someplace new, so I proceeded.
Tacos were terrible. Flavorless shredded meat that was so drenched in juice it just made the tortilla fall apart. Speaking of which, the homemade flour tortillas were not that great. Only at this point did I do some research and find out that this was a chain based out of UTAH! Yikes.
The next night I stumbled on a place called Umai Dog. All sorts of specialty hot dogs. I guess this is sort of a mini-chain, but I had never heard of it. Got the Houston and the Sonora dog. Eh. Not terrible. Not great. Would not go back.
Next up was Nixtaco in Roseville. Two Thumbs Up. 5 stars.
Had Al Pastor and Smoked Rib tacos, and they were San Diego-worthy. The sauces were all great. Especially the peanut hot sauce and carrot habanero. Super good.
Coffee wise, I hit old favorite Tupelo, Fourscore in Roseville, and Chocolate Fish in East Sac. For breakfast on my last day, I tried to go to a place I used to love, Nopalito's, but 10 years later, they still do not accept credit cards, so I ended up at Chocolate Fish. Avocado toast was okay. I remember when I first heard of avocado toast, I was confused why avocado and toast would be a thing that would cost more than $3 anywhere. Then I tried the Avocado toast at Brew, with tomatoes and goat cheese, and it started to make sense. But this really was avocado and toast. For $6! The Flat White was good though.
Sacramento has always been hit and miss foodwise. South and Nixtaco made the misses bearable. Make sure to hit them up if in the area.
Muscle Bitches - Demon Boy Takes A Bride CD [1996 Baptist Cracker Presents] #canada #musclebitches #gerryjennwilson
Punk inspired, but more tongue-in-cheek metal / hard rock in the execution from this BC, Canada band. Band features Sammy Newton (Bluchicks) and the late Gerry-Jenn Wilson (JP5, DOA), both using monikers.
2.19.2023
Sticks And Stones / Weston Split 7" [1995 Reservoir] #punk #poppunk #weston
I assume most readers are familiar with Weston. Sticks and Stones, maybe not so much, but I may be projecting my own ignorance. New Jersey band with the requisite Gern Blandsten and Chunksaah releases.
2.18.2023
12th Tribe - Gritty Funk Rezidue CD [1996 Rescue Records]
Mid-90's underground Christian hip-hop from Chula Vista, CA. Kinda like The Crucified, I want to not like it because of the C word, but it's good enough to overcome that rather large hurdle.
Pretty bold move making "Intro" track 2.
2.17.2023
Olivelawn / Jack Of Hearts Split 7" [1990 Guff Records] #sandiego #olivelawn #ripo
The San Diego music scene lost a true legend. RIP Otis. I'll leave the tributes to those who truly knew him and just post this little nugget in his honor. (No offense to Jack Of Hearts, I know nothing about them, and they are not the reason for the post).
2.16.2023
Shift - Morse Code CDEP [2000 Self Released]
Don't have a whole lot on this band. Alt-rock with occasional punk and nu-metal influences. They were from San Diego, and, uh, yeah that's all I got. Some members were in another local band called Jett, whose lone album does not mention Jett Green, who is mentioned on this release. That's weird.
2.12.2023
Women Of Iron - I Wanna Be Your Guitar /Whisky And Wheels (?, Cool Jets)
A very rare 7", yet not in high demand. Give it a listen and that will make complete sense. But for real, there is NOTHING out there on this. I don't even know what year this was released. If anyone has any info please share.
2.11.2023
Love & Napalm Vol. 2 7" (1991 Trance Syndicate)
2.10.2023
Overlap - Miscellanea 7" (1996 Sandbox Records)
One of those mid-90's pop punk bands you'd always see opening for a slightly bigger band or holding their own on a comp but just never seemed to make too big of a dent. Overlap were from Orange County, but I felt their heart was in San Diego. Definitely some Tiltwheel ("Almost There" intro) and Everready vibes (how can you not want to sing "I hate you!" after the intro on "Busy"?). I dunno man, this band was pretty damn good. Too damn good to be unknown.
1.14.2023
Choirboys
I didn't know until last year that Rough Cutt's "Never Gonna Die" was a Choirboys cover, and I didn't know about the Choirboys at all before I found out Rough Cutt covered them. Which is sad, because 80's me would have eaten up some Choirboys.
Was it just me, or did the entire US miss out on them?
1.10.2023
Kalifornia Redemption - Not It! (1999 Self-released)
My wish was fulfilled. I now have both comps listed below thanks to the legendary skaterr24 who I think is also the legendary punkguy1600?
So in exchange, I need to start posting some shit.
So here's Kalifornia Redemption, melodic punk from Rohnert Park, CA. The band had Andy Pohl, who would go on to be in Tsunami Bomb
I really like most of this (there's one clunker that's pretty obvious). A little Kevin Secondsy in the vocals. This wasn't on bandcamp when I ripped it, but now it is, so if you like it, go throw them a few bucks.
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