Shake Appeal is a column that highlights new garage and garage-adjacent releases. To celebrate the end of the year, Evan Minsker has once again asked some of his favorite artists to share their "Best of 2014" lists, including Nots, Meatbodies, Ausmuteants, Obnox, the Coathangers, Golden Pelicans, Useless Eaters, the Hussy, OBN IIIs, and so many more. Enjoy.
Photo by Geoffrey Brent Shrewsbury
- Seeing Kill The Hippies at Now That's Class in Cleveland, OH
- Breaking down on the Jersey Turnpike and then killing time in a mall in New Brunswick while our van gets fixed
- Playing New York for the first time at Death By Audio's second to last show ever. Arriving 15 minutes late for our set and walking onto the stage in front of a room full of people and having to play immediately.
- Clearing the room at Baby's All Right in Brooklyn DJing all of our punk 45s
- Seeing the band Solid Attitude in a basement in Minneapolis called Shit Biscuit
- Eating soups with Timmy Vulgar at Polish Village in Hamtramack
- Breaking down on the highway in Indiana and still getting breathalyzed (WTF)
- Listening to Can and driving through winter wonderland USA
Big Zit: 7”
The best hardcore I’ve seen live. The 7” is great. IT’S BIG ZIT PLAYA, BIG ZIIIT.
Unpeople: tape
A happy hardcore that I can get into.
Giorgio Murderer: *Primitive World
*Rob, Sarah, Pit Pat, Bean and Mitsy are a great family. Giorgio cooks a great Mac & Cheese. RECCOMMENDED.
Power: tape
Excellent drumming. Mean riffs. For fans of Coloured Balls and Motorhead.
Total Control: *Typical System
*The bass line in "The Ferrymen" is out of control.
__Lumpy & The Dumpers: *Collection
*__My favourite band with my favourite people. My buddy Dan Woodboot thought the lyrics to Future were DEMON SEMEN.
__Cool Bands #2: cassette
__I want this goddamn tape more than anything. I will happily pay $2000 out of my own pocket to press it on LP. It is the best collection of hardcore/punk/weird stuff I have heard.
__Waterfall Person
__Waterfall Person has three keyboards. Waterfall Person uses one keyboard at a time. Waterfall Person appreciates dogs. Waterfall Person has dance competitions. Waterfall Person wins dance competitions.
__Botox: tape
__Adelaide synth punk banger. These guys were great live too. I heard the synth player makes a living from Magic Cards. Not sure if my mate was taking the piss?
__Orb: cassette
__The finest Geeong has to offer. For fans of Pentegram / Sleep / Tempo changes / Astonishing Complex songs that manage to still sound semi-simple.
Rob is the only one of us who really listens to a lot of new music. Except Life Stinks, whom we all love live and on record.
Rob
Hank Wood & The Hammerheads (live): The most insane energy I've witnessed between a band and their crowd in ages. Imagine dirt-dwelling, sub-basement punks tackling Eric Burdon-era WAR or something. A nearly naked loon battering about a cocktail drum kit, armed with an overabundance of cowbells. Keyboards played by a long hair - draped in the oldest "living" Screamers shirt - throttling like a bobble-head, not giving two fucks for his personal safety. Add to this the set-on-bludgeon perfection of the rhythm section playing opposite the cleanest cut guitarist of all of the NYC sewer rats, showing off his Ward Dotson hard-on. INTENSE.
Freak Vibe (live): No one on this coast impressed me more this year. Another set of basement punks branching out into uncharted territory. Hardcore kids getting itchy in their tight, torn denim and throwing up a Cramps/U-Men/Aussie thug hybrid. Fronted by the grossest weird-oh imaginable and a guitarist with only two modes; hunched, lumbering and tripping over his pedals or swinging the shit over his head like a toddler in a pudding tantrum. Again, the rhythm section tethers everything in place so the scree can set about, free range. The bass can be incredibly elaborate for what seems so neanderthal and the drummer is honestly trying to jackhammer his kit through a solid concrete floor. Worthy of all praise.
Chris
Carlos Guitarlos (live)
OBNOX (live)
Hornss: No Blood, No Sympathy
John
Freeman LP
Brendan
Civil Union (live/tape)
Flesh Eaters: A Minute to Pray a Second to Die reissue
Sleater-Kinney reissues
Photo by Josh Miller
Best Record: I GET MYNZE S/T 7". COLDER THAN A FREEZER, COOLER THAN A FAN. All the best stuff comes from Kalamazoo.
Best Track: A tie. Mac Blackout Band's "Black Knight", which was technically released in 2012 but is included on this year's self-titled full length. Ausmuteants' "Freedom of Information" off their new LP Order of Operation. Ausmuteants should also be mentioned in the Best New Australian Friends category.
Best Live Show: Dummy Dumpster. Anytime. Anywhere.
Best Invention: Quintron's Weather Warlock
Best Triple 6 Mafia Show: Mobile, AL with Gary Wrong Group for the 15 minutes before the cops shut it down.
Best Gonerfest Set: King Brothers
Best Print Zine: Rubberneck (RIP)
Best Live Cover: Die Rotzz (with guest vocalist Buck Biloxi) - "Bite It, You Scum"
Best Tshirt: Eat To Survive (Jeff Mahannah) 2 Live Crew Bootleg Bort Shirt
Best Dollar Bin Record Find of the Year: Teenage Rejects - Don't Care About Anything 7"
Photo by Denee Petracek
____So when you're on the road a lot with nothing to do but cascade through the caverns inside the vortex of your own brain, or otherwise known as being a big, hairy, dorky man. You'll try to fill up your cavernous hole with useless knowledge that only can be awkwardly talked about at some crazy rager when you've stopped thinking of witty things to say. Yeah, I like to read Wikipedias. A lot. Here's my favorite wikis I've read this year on the road.
5. FRED DURST
It was kind of a tie between mentioning the Fred Durst Wikipedia, or the Anthony Kiedis Wikipedia, but since Fred and his gang of bizkits helped shape my individuality as a young boy. I gotta give it up to my boy FRED. One of my favorite parts is where they talk about Fred getting caught posing as the bands manager, pre email days. Haha cool.
__4. SHAGGY (MUSICIAN)
__Who is Shaggy? Where is Shaggy from? How much money did Shaggy make from his first album? How about 6x PLATINUM! So probably some, possibly a lot. Also, did you know, the shagmon was in the military? Probably not. Yeah, it's tight. Check it out, dogg.
3. THE OFFSPRING
Remember when the Offspring ruled the world for a year? Or like was on KROQ a lot until 2005? Yeah, that was cool, but so is this epic tale on Wikipedia!
2. BATMAN FOREVER
So, when your in a van and your whole band decides to take a bunch of edibles, you know everyday stuff, be sure to read--out loud--every entry about the Batman movie franchise. Especially the Batman Forever Wikipedia, it's great! Juicy stories of how Joel Schumacher had to pick up the pieces from the previous director (stink boy Tim Burton) and a young hunky Val Kilmer was cast after a viewing of Tombstone, but ultimately hated by the crew, or favorite part Michael Jackson "lobbying hard" for the role of the Riddler. And cherry on top: "Kiss From A Rose." SEAL, BRO!
__1. KEANU REEVES
__AND MY ALL TIME FAVORITE WIKIPEDIA--OF THIS THIS YEAR--GOES TO BUFF MOVIE STAR GOD KEANU REEVES! His Wikipedia entry is great and also, just as a statement: Keanu, I think you're a rad guy you should come by Mt. Washington some time I got a cool house, pretty good view, let's hang. Consider this a formal offer. Why am I saying such strange things? Because Keanu rules, that's why! Go read his fantastic Wikipedia, and see for yourself. It's got ups and downs, family drama, Keanu's breakthrough, his alt grunge band Dogstar (if truly adventurous click the Dogstar link). The stone cold highlight is his refusal to participate in Speed 2, even though offered $11 million US dollars so he could star in an onstage performance of Hamlet and tour with his band.
Some of my favorite shows I saw this year in alphabetical order:
The Abigails
Dagha Bloom
The Groms
Hott MT
Jeffertiti’s Nile
Joel Jerome
Meatbodies
Mr. Elevator & The Brain Hotel
Doug Tuttle
Vinyl Williams
Here are ten of my favorite records of 2014 in no particular order except the best one is last.
Golden Pelicans LP
Solid band. Bass player kind of looks like John Cena. I would describe this record as good.
__Achtungs – Full Of Hate 7”
__Why is the titular song on the 7” but not on the LP that it also epononymously titillates Rules.
__Coneheads – Total Conetrol Cassette
__Just got turned on to this. Wow. If you played this in your car I bet you could run over several kids before you started to feel bad about it because it would just be such a rush.
__Nots – Fix 7”
__The last thing they released as a 3-piece I think. Recorded by the dude from the Sheiks that wears all the Hawaiian shirts. Sounds raw like a real human being recorded it, not some robot. I personally wish their upcoming LP had a rawer sound like this, but I’m afraid to get a professional haircut so what do I know.
__The Man – Carousel of Sound 7”
__I think these guys are Marxists who dress up in business suits sometimes and make some kind of critique about how work sucks. Good tone on this record.
__Generacion Suicida – Todo Termina LP
__Kind of sounds like Masshysteri. Somebody from Rayos X is in this band I think. This record seems generally faster than their previous stuff. Sounds like somebody got paid to record this. Still good anyway.
__No Bails LP
__Rules.
__Ausmuteants – Split Personalities LP
__Reissue of the 2012 cassette. Good record.
__Mac Blackout Band LP
__I was listening to this on a CDR a lot in 2013 and was glad that it was released on a record.
__Giorgio Murderer – Primitive World 7”
__Just try to make a better record than this one, I fucking dare you.
The Hussy's Bobby Hussy
__Damaged Bug: Hubba Bubba (Castle Face)
__John Dwyer is at it again…and this time he’s morphed himself into an analog synth manipulating monster. Far out keyboard tones with John’s patented vocal delivery hooking you in after each listen. Highly recommended weirdness from the garage rock titan.
Nots: We Are Nots (Goner)
Nots are Memphis’ hottest band! I didn’t think this band could get better after the incredible “Dust Red” 7” but adding a synth player really filled out their sound. The LP is a dissonant reminder that synth punk is not dead. Live they’re a ball of hiss and noise with Natalie writhing around like the wild woman she is. Luckily, I’ve caught em live four times this year, and been able to share the stage with them three of those times.
__The Clean: Anthology Box Set (Merge)
__Probably the greatest indie band ever. No further description is needed.
Obnox: Louder Space (12XU)
Bim is on a roll! This is unique fuzzed-out hip hop influenced garage. As weird as that genre mix sounds on print it somehow works on record. Obnox is even more spectacular live where Bim is joined by The Hussy’s old friend, Roseanna Safos, who happens to be Cleveland’s best and hardest hitting drummer in my opinion. Live this band is absolutely my favorite two-piece in the world.
__Trin Tran: Far Reaches EP (Castle Face)
__Madison’s premier weirdo (and our best kept secret for a slew of years,) Steve Coombs is finally getting his due via John Dwyer’s Castle Face Records and Ty Segall’s God? Records. He started as one-man synth garage that semi-recently moved into full band sonic synth territory for half of the year (with Steve’s son joining him on guitar, Ricky Riemer who recorded the first Hussy 7” on drums, and Golden Donna’s Joel Shanahan on synth). Even more recently he’s shifted the band back into more minimal territory. Essential far out Midwest listening.
The Hussy's Heather Hussy:
__Austmuteants: Order Of Operation (Goner/Aarght)
__The Hussy had the chance to play Australia this last September, and Austmuteants were the #1 band I was most excited to play with. This is their newest full length, out now on Goner. This whole record kicks major ass. Favorite tracks for me are “Freedom of Information” and “Felix Tried To Kill Himself”. A+ record.
__School Damage: “Break Up” 7” (Detonic)
__Melbourne band with ties to Austmuteants. Great 7”, pounding drums and skuzzy guitars with synth. A-Side’s “Sick Of You” and “Butt Hurt” are my jams.
__Pronto: “When You’re Gone” (Off The Hip)
__These guys and gal are fantastic! I love their music. TRotal energy. Buy this record. Loved the tracks “Kiss Riff” and “Call You Up”. CD and Cassette.
__Wet Blankets: “Dieter Caught My Bus” 7” (Goodbye Boozy)
__Zane Gardner is going to take over the world! Great 7”, really glad we got to play with them. Nothing but hits, from Geelong.
__Black Planet: “Female Hysteria” (Let’s Pretend)
__This is the only US band entry to make my list. This cassette slays and I can’t wait to hear more. Features Jerri from Tweens. I wish I could write a song as good as “Creep”. Get this now, you will not regret it!
10 Getting a new lineup for Sick Thoughts
The lineup was falling apart this summer of sick thoughts. I enlisted an entirely new band and we're playing the best we've ever. i also get to play with my best friends that are in the best baltimore bands
09 Gonerfest 11
Playing and attending gonerfest 11 was my highlight of playing shows. Got to play a set with two of my good friends from down south. Saw great bands play too, of course. Weather Warlock stole the show
8 NWI
Ooze, Glov, Hot Beef, The Coneheads, Big Zit, Public Assault, my order of favorites. such good records and bands. Tryin to get them to play in Baltimore!
7 St. Louis / Spotted Race
Black Panties, Cal and the calories, Lumpy And the Dumpers, Q all that shit. another group of people writing absolutely great music
6 Foster Care
best band in NYC hands down. didn't release a record in 2014 but their LP overshadows all of the stuff thats getting hyped now
5 Blazing Eye 7 inch
LA punk lives. the only west coast band that matters
4 Raspberry Bulbs Privacy
I appreciate Bone Awl and all the stuff in the 'blackened' punk style but it was just never interesting enough for me. this LP and last years are played almost everyday.
3 The Leatherlickers demo tape
the Best demo of 2014! please record a full length!!!!!
2 Gas Rag Beats Off
RIP GAS RAG. COME BACK
1 Inmates LP
Cleveland pumps out the best music and everyone knows it. THE best LP of 2014 said and done.
1. Gag Live at Gag House >
2. Thou-Heathen (See "VI") ^
3. Annie Eversz 2014 +
4. Gold Lake - Psylocibin - Deschutes National Forest =
5. Hollow Sunshine - Cold Truth 7 Inch ^
6. Ty Segall Band Live across USA = + >
7. Vexx Live @ La Cita >
8. Lobster @ Newport Seafood, San Gabriel, CA. #
9. Burden of Dreams (See "k") ~
10. Thing Music-Anthony Mccann *
a. Diamond Dogs-David Bowie ^
b. Moil Live @ Super Chief >
c. Shade-Pipedream ^
d. Live at Complex >
e. Aaron Dilloway @ Globos >
f. True Detective (see "v") !
g. Hair on a bike =
h. Fixer of all wires, lover of Jeopardy. +
i. Charles (see "vii") -
j. World Rage Center July 5th 2014 [w/ Wild Moth, Birthday Girl] (see "ix") //
k. Les Blank :( +
i. Spokenest 2014 //
ii. Gun Outfit - Hard Coming Down ^
iii. Timeghost - Cellular (see "d") ^
iv. Bob Marshall (see "h") +
v. Episode 4 !
vi. Live in a living room. >
vii. "Couch Eater" -
viii. Chris Woodhouse (see "g") + (or) -
ix. that was a fun show =
x. Dustin Wong & Takako Minekawa live @ Pehr Space. >
key:
- book
~ film
+ person
- dog
^ record
! TV
// Band
____Photo by Renate Winter
1. Opening for the Dictators at the Hozac Blackout in Chicago with A Giant Dog (and seeing them 'taters play twice)
2. The Empty Bottle
3. Burning one with Bim (Lamont Thomas) from OBNOX and Eric Big Arm on the stage behind the drummer while the Gizmos played at Goner Fest 11.... then when Bim played drums on a song with them, incredible!
4. Recording the Blaxxx LP (For No Apparent Reason) with Bim and Tom Triplett (lead guitar OBN III's) on the last night of SXSW in a total haze...
5. Recording Tom's band, Snooty Garbagemen, having not heard them at all beforehand, having no idea how it will sound except loud and being quite pleased with the results.
6. Golden Pelicans first album on Total Punk
7. Golden Pelicans performing all of AC/DC's Powerage album in Jacksonville
8. Bad Sports tour with Radioactivity in June/July
9. Getting my own place
10. Ex-Cult at Murphy's in Memphis
- Chris Woodhouse. He's an amazing engineer who has made most of our favorite records. This year alone he did Wand, Thee Oh Sees and Ty Segall.
- Playing with Rocket from the Crypt at the sled island music festival in Calgary. They killed it at olympic plaza on no sleep at one of the best festivals in North America.
- Coachwhips. We never thought we would get to see one of our favorite bands live but it happened. Dwyer is an animal.
- Australian takeover. Seems like every time you turn around there is a new Australian band giving you the what for. These guys know how to turn an amp up to the ten.
- WFMU. They educate, inspire and promote all of the current d.i.y artists. Many of their on air recordings are the best way to discover your new favorite band.
- Gonerfest. Just go.
The Memories - Hot Afternoon. Solid gold hits from the best dudes in LA.
The Admiral. Tough as fuck two piece from Auckland, New Zealand.
Andy Stott - "Violence"
No Parents. Played with them at the Studio G grand opening. Favorite band right now.
KCB (Kerosene Comic Book). Thank you for the 420 mixtapes.
Scott and Charlene's Wedding and Ausmuteants at Gonerfest.
Brandon Westgate for SOTY.
R.I.P. Robin Williams.
__
__
Warm Soda's Matthew Melton
Top five 45s of all time:
Captain Groovy and His Bubblegum Army: Self Titled (1969)
This band was a studio project constructed by bubblegum music kings Jerry Kasenetz and Jeff Katz, who were also the masterminds behind the Ohio Express, the 1910 Fruitgum Company and the Music Explosion. They released one 45 (‘Captain Groovy And His Bubble Gum Army’ b/w ‘Dark Part Of My Mind, Part 1′) on the Super K label in 1969. Joey Levine, lead singer of the Ohio Express, provides vocals on the record, which was originally intended to be the soundtrack to a cartoon series titled ‘Captain Groovy And His Bubble Gum Army’, but it never got off the ground.
__Boston Boppers: Did You Get (1974)
__The only release (as far as I can tell) from UK Boson Boppers. Kitchy and cool glam stomper gem essential for any rock n roll DJ. The single pictures the band in fur coats and ski goggles.
__The Incredible Kidda Band: I Want You (1978)
__The Incredible Kidda Band was an incredible band from the UK that had a unique sincerity to their songs. "I Want You" has got to be one of the best heartfelt slow jams ever recorded. Spin this record towards the end of the night and sparks will be flying.
__Iron Virgin: Rebels Rule (1974)
__Iron Virgin was a Scottish glam rock band formed in 1972. Their early stage garb looking like A Clockwork Orange outfits and later their stage costumes looked like American football uniforms with added iron chastity belts. Their first single was "Jet", a Paul McCartney cover. Their second single was "Rebels Rule", from their 1974 album of the same name. The song has been described as "A brilliantly bombastic ode to teenage anarchy; the single's commercial failure is one of the great mysteries of its era".
__Plod: Neo City (1975)
__Plod were formed in May 1972 by Colchester Musician Steve Greenfield. There's no song quite like this one. It falls into the junk shop glam category but has almost a prog rock vibe to it or something. The single pictures the wind blown band standing victorious in the wake of their neo-utopian anthem.
Photo of Mickey, 11/22/2014 at Flowershop, Chicago by Kevin Elens
__Nones: Midwestern Family Values (HoZac)
__It took years for these guys to put out an LP... One of my favorite new records. A Chicago classic!
__UFUX
__Ilth from Daily Void put together this new band with members of Pelts, Red Denizen, and Hellkite. One of the best bands in Chicago. They have a record 7" coming out soon on Jeth-Row Records
__MAMA
__A true diamond from the Chicago streets! Heavy driving raw power pop with rippin' leads. The current soundtrack to every windy city rocker's wild night! Look for records soon. For now tapes from the band and online EPs.
__Nots
__Saw these Memphis girls for the first time at Goner Fest 2013 and was super impressed! They added synth this year which really set it off. Don't Sleep! Get the new LP—We Are Nots was just released on Goner.
__Manateees
__Another Memphis terror! One of my favorites! Great to play shows with them on this summer's MBB LP release tour. Check out their new LP Sit N Spin on Pelican Pow Wow Records
__Mickey reunion
__After three years Mickey is back! Chicago has changed a lot in 3 years, most of the kids in the scene hadn't even seen Mickey during the 2009-2011 reign of terror. Crazy but true...which makes it so much more of a blast to do it again. Be looking for five new songs in early 2015!
Pelican Pow Wow's Pow Wow
Thanks to Pelican Pow Wow and all the New Orleans bands for putting on a sick 4th of Julyfestival/MBB LP release. Pelican Pow Wow is truly putting out the best records and the best current bands. Our rock n roll family!
__The Chicago scene
__The scene in Chicago is strong and forever changing. 2014 was a blast! Killer DIY spots like Animal Kingdom (RIP), Wally World, Flower Shop, Bric A Brac Records. Tons of great bands! Negative Scanner, Coldies, Le Tour, Hollow Mountain, Flesh Panthers, and Sueves play killer shows regularly. With new bands like UFUX and MAMA in town 2015 is sure to rip!
Photo by Dillon Donovan
Komplikations: I played with these guys in Tournai, Belgium while on tour with POW!. One of the best bands I saw all year.
Nun - S/T
Ex-Cult: These are my boys! Chris and I got our start together scumming around Memphis.
Nots: More MEMPHIS PUNK!
VIAL: Best band in L.A.?
P.U.F.F.: Deutsh band from Berlin.
Total Control - *Typical System
*Freddie Gibbs and Madlib - Piñata
Wiley - *Snakes and Ladders
*Damaged Bug - Hubba Bubba
Die Rotzz: You're Black and Blue
Best punk band in New Orleans that all the "punks" never go see.
Devo: Hardcore Volumes reissue
Never leaves my turntable.
Sluts: 12"s of Sluts
A piece of New Orleans rock-n-roll history.
Mac Blackout Band's MBB
Sounds like a post apocalyptic '80s movie soundtrack which was pretty much my childhood.
Quintron's Spellcaster 2: Death in Space
Q rules for those who don't get it, you dumb.
Buck Biloxi and the Fucks: Culture Demanufacturer
Act like you know.
Golden Pelicans' Golden Pelicans
Their show at Saturn Bar during Pelican Pow Wow Pow Wow Weekend blew me away.
Manatees' Sit-n-Spin
Viking vomit from my favorite band in Memphis.
Gary Wrong Group - Floods of Fire 12" bootleg
Gary can do no wrong.
Nick Turner's Hawkwind live @ Siberia NOLA
Don't care what version of Hawkwind this was, great show.
____Photo by Sarah Lim
Baus - *Idol Minds
*We played with these guys & gal in Sacramento and I was instantly hooked.
Display - Display EP
Saw these guys in Seattle and was floored. Even though this EP came out in 2003, they just started playing again after 10+ years and started writing new stuff. Excited to see what their future holds.
The Rebel - *K R O T
*I'm a huge Country Teasers fan and when I heard we were going to be playing some shows with Ben's solo thing The Rebel I just about pissed myself. Our drum player, Ian, also recorded this one. It's definitely one of his more accessible things if you're into that.
Spray Paint - *Clean Blood, Regular Acid
*Another one Ian recorded. These guys are fucking great and if you don't think so then you're wrong.
Sex Jams @ some warehouse in Birmingham
REALLY strange show. SJ got there late because they went on a gator tour in New Orleans earlier that day, so they borrowed some gear from the first band. During their first song, someone's mom stopped the show and threatened to take her kids drums they were using unless they traded merch. After that, Sex Jams completely killed it. I guess Mom really wanted that t-shirt of the executioner getting a BJ from a decapitated head.
Burnt Skull @ Beerland.
Doesn't matter which time because they always blow the PA.
Xetas @ Beerland.
This was the one where Kana relearned her bass parts on synth because she nearly cut off her finger the week before.
The Gooch Palms' Leroy Macqueen
Straight Arrows - *Rising
*These guys are awesome and this record is really killer. And I'm not just saying that cause they're our good buddies! Best band in Australia!
Protomartyr - *Under Color of Official Right
*At my work I'm allowed to play what ever music I like and I realised this record was really good when I'd played it on repeat for 8 hours straight!!! Found out about these guys back when they had some releases out on Urinal Cake Records, who will be putting out our next 7". Good label, good band!
__Taco Cat - *NVM
*__This was the soundtrack to our recent, cherry-popping US tour. The CD stayed in the CD player of the car for 6 weeks and got us through some good times, some hard times and long hours of driving. Such good songs and now I wish I could surf the crimson wave!
__The Bugs - *The Right Time
*__Love this record. It's simple and the lyrics are so good. Best porch drinken' beer record of the year!
__Real Numbers - *What Was & What Is
*__So catchy, so good, so cute, so badass. Love these guys. Wanna smoosh them up into a little ball and eat them! One of my fav bands of all time!!!
__King Tuff - *Black Moon Spell
*__This record reminds me of the happy days of my childhood spent standing in front of the mirror shredding on air guitar.
__The Lemons and Teen Spirits Split EP
__We got given this 7" from Chris from The Lemons in Chicago. I have one major problem with it, IT SHOULD GO FOREVER!!! I'll just have to deal with listening to it on repeat!
__Meatbodies - *Meatbodies
*__Just recently started listening to this one and I'm already hooked! Will most likely be the soundtrack to the summer!!! Oh, it's summer here in Australia suckers!!!
1. Freddie Gibbs and Madlib ft. Danny Brown - "High"
2. SZA ft. Chance the Rapper - "Child´s Play"
3. Angel Olsen - "White Fire"
4. Scott Walker & Sunn O))) - "Bull"
5. Earth - "From The Zodiacal Light"
6. Las Robertas - "Seconds Away"
7. Together Pangea- "Badillac"
8. Mozes and The First Born - "I Got Skills"
9. T.I. ft. Young Thug- "About the Money"
10. Neneh Cherry - "Out of the Black"
Photo by Jeff Forney
1. Our record came out in March!
2. One of our favorite tours happened in April with the Black Lips. Best west coast tour!
3. Mastodon dressed as us in our video for "Follow Me," which still feels like a dream...
4. We also got to sing on "Aunt Lisa".
5. A few of our favorite albums of 2014 are:
Mastodon: Once More 'Round The Sun
The Black Lips: Underneath The Rainbow
The Growlers: Chinese Fountain
6. Burger-a-go-go was one of our favorite shows we played this year!
7. We took a day off of tour in September to go to Disneyland with 2 of our best friends (Yasi and John) and it was magical!
8. Our favorite new band from Atlanta formed this year...Black Linen!
9. This year we had our first headlining European tour!
10. The best news of 2014: We are starting 2015 off with an Australian tour...we cannot wait!
Gino 'The' Bambino:
AC/DC: Rock Or Bust
Coloured Balls: Ball Power
Gino and the Goons: Shake It!
Golden Pelicans: 12"
The Yolks: Kings Of Awesome!
Hugh T. Williams:
Beasts of Bourbon: 30 Years on Borrowed Time
James Williamson: Re-Licked
Golden Pelicans: 12 inch
Chris Barrows: Human Being
Los Diablos Blancos
And watching dvds of curb your enthusiam
Allen Mandlebass:
1. Dreams
2. Free e-cigarette coupons via mail.
3. Songs
4. Kozy Shack chocolate pudding
5. No sleep
Photo by Marty Perez
Roger Corman, Bloomington, Indiana, April 18th
Got blazed and went to see Wild Angels. If seeing this 35 mm on the big screen wasn't enough, the B-Movie king was in the audience! He even stuck around and told some hair-raising tales of dealing with the Hell's Angels in the sixties.
__Thee Tsunamis on Chic A Go Go. Chicago, IL May 24
__Even though Thee Tsunamis had the guitars ripped off in the Windy City the night previous. Certainly one of the most Gonzo Sid & Marty Kroft inspired performances on tee-vee in years.
__Gizmos (1976 line-up) Bloomington, Indiana, June 12
__This was the band’s first reunion and the third show ever for these proto –punk pranksters. The energy in the air was insane. The room was loaded to the gills. A religious experience for the true believers of Bored Midwestern Scuzz Punk.
__Danny & the Darleans, Bloomington, Indiana. August 7
__After close to two years of pleading, Danny and the Darleans agreed to pile into the station wagon and play their second ever out of state show in Bloomington, Indiana. For one night we all felt like kids given the key to the candy store.
Super Monster Movie Fest, Skyline Drive-In, Shelbyville, IN August 22
Dared ourselves to spend the entire night at the drive-in watching monster movies. Can you believe we made it out alive? And we only spent $30 on candy from the snack bar.
__Kid Congo Powers & the Pink Monkey Birds / Cheater Slicks, Indianapolis Sept 12
__Learned a whole mess from these trash gurus of garage that night.
__Philadelphia, PA, Sept. 20 at Everybody Hits.
__The Night of the Shredders. Philly is guitar town. We jammed with Birds of Maya and Axis: Sova at a batting cage. Got there in time to see the runts pop a few off before the freak scene took over and moved some serious air. Jaws dropped. Bonus: a serious weirdo record collector scene down the street, and hang time with Tracey Trance.
__Louisville, KY Cropped Out, Sept. 27.
__The vibe was tangible - a real hillbilly scuzz rock riviera. Ecstatic vibes and no hovering paranoia. Finally experienced the magic that I've fantasized about over countless stoned viewings of Monterey Pop. Counter Intuits, Obnox, Spray Paint, The Rebel, and Belgian Waffles were standouts from a stacked day. Only bummer: we had to move on before Marshall Allen and the Sun Ra camp arrived.
Sir Deja Doog releasing his debut LP Love Coffin October 31
A bona fide artifact of the Indiana freak scene. Sonny Blood’s blood brother created an outrageous record in the style of Vincent Price / Bobby "Boris" Pickett / Screaming Lord Sutch. It’s got plenty of camp and is rocking enough to make for a pretty wild ride. Aces wild.
The release of The Nevermores Lock Your Doors November 11
The Holy Grail of Indiana rock and roll finally made available to the world 23 years after it was recorded. The missing link between the Gizmos and Apache Dropout. This album was and continues to be a big influence on the Apache Dropout model of record making.
Juan Wauters @ SXSW - I caught his set on accident at SXSW and was blown away. Great songs, great album, great live show...my favorite dude right now.
Today's Hits - Sex Boys EP - Today's Hits is like a really clever boy's diary put to music. The songs are all simple, but smart. Can't wait to hear a full length in 2015.
Buck Biloxi and The Fucks - "I Ain't Going to Church" - Writing a punk song about not wanting to go to church is a good move and Buck Biloxi pulls it off nicely.
Parquet Courts - "Instant Disassembly" - This song is a one lick jam with off the cuff sounding lyrics and some sweet gang vocals. I put it on a mix and people ask me what it is every time it comes on. It's just one of those songs that works.
Pookie and the Poodlez @ The Brew House - Very tight. Amazing hair.
Thee Tsunamis 7" - Really dig Thee Tsunami's. They kinda remind me of The Husbands. I don't think they were trying to reinvent the wheel; they just all nailed their parts.
Negative Scanner 7" - Sort of edgier than Tyler Jon Tyler. The frantic, almost off rhythm, drumming works perfectly with Rebecca's guitar and vocals. Also, sweet bass lines.
Reigning Sound @ SXSW - They brought out a Hammond B3 and a Leslie and they blew my mind. They are such a good band.
The Memories live and on record - The Memories have perfected the 1 minute pop song, and they continue to put out great records and tapes and put on great shows.
Chicago - I'm not sure if many people outside of the city realize it, but we are really killing it in Chicago right now. It seems like there's a good show every night, two on the weekends, great DIY spaces, and a ton of great bands and new labels that are putting them all out (notably Tall Pat Records and the rest of the Benevolent Order of Chicago Record Labels (BOCRL).
__1. Sleep: "The Clarity". Williams Street Records
__I wasn't immediately sold on this track but after a couple listens the riff started to resonate as well as any classic Sleep song.
2. Bruce Haack: Electric Lucifer Book II. Telephone Explosion Records
I've been listening to Bruce Haack's troubled mind for years. Hearing it on vinyl really brought out a necessary level of sonic corruption. Telephone Explosion Records made a good move!
3. S.H.I.T.: "Feeding Time". Static Shock Records
S.H.I.T. are a classically good smart hardcore band. No need for any explanation.
__4. Soupcans: "Young and EZ". Bruised Tongue
__This sludge metal jam provokes many ideas but I can't help but think about sitting on the bow of a small speeding motorboat while anxiously trying to sip a frosty Budweiser. Best sounding Soupcans recording to date.
5. Hag Face live in Toronto at the Smiling Buddha.
We played with this band at a small DIY venue a couple weeks prior and thought that they were great. Seeing them again on a stage with proper system really brought justice to their sound. One of Calgary's finest!
6. High on Fire, free show in Toronto.
Watching a sober Matt Pike puff an E cig, drink bottled water, and stand comfortably in a fancy pair of cross trainers, really shed some light on the modern day mythology of the "Rock Star". One of the best Rock n’ Roll guts in the biz. The show was also really good!
7. Black Sabbath live in Hamilton, Ontario.
Ozzy was wearing an incredible purple blouse and shouted the most positive stage banter of all time. These are not men, they are gods. You don't need to hear me say anything more about this, just see them if and whenever you can.
__8. NXNE Summer Melt. Telephone Explosion/Pleasance Records Showcase.
__This unofficial NXNE showcase went exceptionally well. Low pressure, good crowd, broken bones, every show should be like this one.
__9. Death to T.O. Cellphone, Metallica Cover set.
__Every Halloween Toronto has a massive cover show. We covered Metallica and the power kept cutting out but we still managed to play "Whiplash" twice!
__10. Eating grilled cheese sandwiches and watching Altered States
__I suggest this to anyone. Get up nice and early, grill up some cheese babies, and cue up that movie. You will be a better person afterwards!
1. Sturgill Simpson - Metamodern Sounds in Country Music
We always listen to a lot of country music in the van but usually its old shit like Waylon or Billy Joe Shaver. Its always rad to hear good new stuff.
2. Long Knife - Meditations on Self Destruction
Sick as fuck.
3. Ukiah Drag - In the Reapers Quarters
Sick as Fuck in a different way.
4. Golden Pelicans - S/T
These dudes just play raw straight ahead punk. It's harder to pull off than it sounds
5. Pampers, OBNIII's
Just played with both and both were rad.
6. Ex-Cult
Great band and dudes and they put on a rad show every night
7. O'Death - Out of Hands We Go
Dark and Dirty Americana at its best. Like Waffle House.
8. Seeing Slayer three times
Was cool. The second time was on Halloween and after the show I went to another spot and Manatees were playing and I had no idea it was them and they were ruling.
9. Sleep at the Troubadour in LA.
Dane says "I found a hundred dollar bill on the ground and ate a weed goldfish and it was good, I don't know"
10. All the LA Bands and friends that put out rad shit or we played with.
Endless Bummer, Ty Segall, Shark Toys, The Shrine, Obliterations, The Oh Sees, Meatbodies. We're on tour watching "Cops" right now in Seattle so my fucking brain is fried, so I apologize if I can't think of any others.
__
__
__Dasher (__David Michaud and Robert Sarabia)
Best music '14:
Predator - "The Complete Earth" LP
Cottaging - "The Amyl Banshee" EP
Good Throb - "Fuck Off" LP
DIE - "Vexed" 7"
Lowlife - "Dogging" LP
Coneheads - "Out of Conetrol" demo!!
'14 zines:
Droppings (Killer local zine by Scavenger of Death. Not strictly local, check it out!)
'14 shows:
House show in Atlanta with Hank Wood & the Hammerheads (ny), Crazy Spirit (ny), Manic (atl), Uniform (atl), Slugga (atl).
Blonde Redhead at Terminal West in West Atl. First time seeing them live. Pretty blown away by how loud and dynamic they were. Huge kick drum sound!!
Photo by Cáit Fahey
____Live set: S.H.I.T. at Static Shock Festival
One of the best live hardcore sets I've ever seen, got my head kicked in throughout, my friend Colin nearly had his ear torn off by a stagedivers boot, had to go to A&E and almost needed surgery. Most sets I saw that weekend were great, honorable mentions to Arms Race, Disguise, Good Throb and DiE.
Song: __Primetime - "Tied Down"
__Fairly obvious choice but it's a pisstake how catchy this song is. It buried itself into some corner of my brain the first time I heard it and I don't think I'll ever be rid of it, nor would I want to be. London's best drinkers.
Band: The Love Triangle
I can't remember if their LP is 2013 or 2014 but it's insane and they never disappoint live. Great people and possibly easily my favourite live band. We did some dates with them on our UK tour this Summer and they were amazing every night, I think they were halfway through their 6 month Euro tour at that point. I could watch Tim drum for hours on end, and maybe, some day, I will.
Seán
Live set: __Fat White Family at Baby's All Right
__I enjoyed the record but live it all comes together and makes sense. I went along not knowing what to expect and was blown away. The bassist lost his guitar strap and plec within the first five minutes and so for the next thirty minutes waved the bass around occasionally strumming the strings with his festival pass without missing a note.
LP: Reigning Sound - *Shattered
*Another brilliant record from Greg Cartwright - great songs well recorded. This is the first LP with The Jay Vons as Greg's backing band and there's definitely shades of their Cryptovision 7" from a few years ago audible here.
Tapes: __Sissy tape/Faux Kings tape
__Amazing debut tapes from two of Dublin's best new bands. Other great new music from Dublin this year: Exploding Eyes, September Girls, GMG.
I like reading books more than listening to music, so here is a list of my favourite books I read this year. If I picked records it would be the four B.A.L.L. Albums, in chronological order. (Ball, Period, Trouble Doll & Hardball.)
Ralph Leighton: *Tuva or Bust
*This (true) story relates the nobel-prize winning physicist Richard Feynman and two best friends attempts to reach to Tuva, a Russian subject in the geographic centre of Asia. Tuva's capital is spelt K-y-z-y-l, which is the main reason these guys want to go there, as they first learned during childhood as avid stamp collectors. So many good one liners, including “If Kyzyl is the USSR's Los Alamos, then the KGB will never believe that Richard Feynman wants to visit the place because of how its spelt!”
Chris Mikul: *The Eccentropedia
*A list and description of famous and not-so famous eccentrics throughout time. Favourites include Liberace, Gregory Perelman (A mathematician who repeatedly turned down fame, appointments and offers of $1 million for solving mathematical problems, with such responses as 'I've gone mushroom picking'!) and Sydney locals such as Alan Philip ('The UFO Man') and Ernest Ridding ('The Fridge Man')! Mikul is the editor of Bizzarism, one of Australia's longest running zines and its always exciting to read a new issue, with articles on mysteries, famous dictators, eccentrics and strange oddities.
__Scott Herring: *The Hoarders
*__This book was great as I got to read about all kinds of junk including Andy Warhol's. His apartment after his death resembles something similar to a luxury bomb site, with Picasso drawings alongside everyday trash and millions of cookie jars filled with garish diamonds, actual cookies and other ephemera! Other highlights include Edith Beale, and the Collyer brothers who also went down in history as interesting and unusual hoarders.
__Roslyn D. Hayes: Desert
__I loved reading about female travellers in the Middle East including Freya Stark and Gertrude Bell who were fluent in Arabic, Turkish and Persian and travelled all throughout Iraq, Yemen, Turkey and Syria in the Early 20th Centuries, often exploring areas not known to any Westeners. Australia's massive feral Camel population also got a mention, all 300,000 of them!
__G.M. Feltus: *The Unknown Man – A Suspicious Death at Somerton Beach
*__I love the true crime genre, but its hardly written about well. But the Taman Shud mystery or the Somerton man is one of my favourites, as one of Australia's longest running unsolved mysteries. Its so fascinating as it involves an unknown corpse, manner of death, literary references, possible cold war links, code cracking and more. Almost too weird to be true, but somehow it is.
Andy Merrifield: *Guy Debord
*Inspiring reading about my favourite revolutionary / recluse. Best quote: “I have tasted pleasures little known to people who have obeyed the unfortunate laws of this era”!
Radioactivity's Jeff Burke
The Clean - Anthology vinyl reissue (Merge)
4-LP Boxset of pop magic
Ausmuteants - Split Personalities LP (Saturno)
Early recordings of the Australian synth-punk outfit
S. E. Rogie - The Sounds of S. E. Rogie Vol. 1 (Mississippi/Domino Sound)
Great collection of tunes by a Sierra Leonean guitar legend
Kollaa Kestää - Jäähyväiset Aseille reissue (Svart)
One of the killer early punk reissues from Finland's Svart Records
Peter Gutteridge - Pure vinyl reissue (540)
Double LP collection of 4-track recordings from one of New Zealand's greats
The Achtungs' Joni Ekman
__1. Jukka Nousiainen - Huonoa seuraa cass/LP:
__This was so good that I got bit depressed when I first listened to it. Now I'm okay. Sounds like something I've already heard but I still can't tell what it is. Genius stuff all the way through.
__2. Ty Segall - Manipulator 2LP
__I was really looking forward to this record after the bit disappointing Sleeper and Fuzz LPs so I was happy to find out that this was actually a really good record. I'm not even bothered that it's a double LP.
3. Jukka & Jytämimmit - Jytäkesä 014 tape
Great lo-fi heavy rock. They played one of their first(??) gigs in this ice hockey bar in Tampere. Really horrible place for a guy like me to hang out. There was 4 people watching and it was an awesome gig. I'm gonna cherish the memory for a long time.
__4. Atom Mouth Gimlies/Lörsson split 7"
__Really diggin' the Atom Mouth Gimlies side of this. Best tunes and best sounds so far. New A.M.G. 7-inch is out but I haven't received it while writing this. Lörsson side was something else.
__5. Sick Thoughts - "I Got Hands" (from the 7" single)
__I talked to Drew Owen and said that "I Got Hands" would be a great title for a song. Then he made a great rock'n'roll song that was called "I Got Hands". I'm so proud.
__6. King Tuff - Black Moon Spell LP (tracks 2 to 5)
__All the best songs coming in a row!! Kinda inspiring stuff.
__7. The Coneheads - Canadian Cone cassette
__My friend DJ Pete TNT recommended this band to me so I listened to it. Great mongoloid punk!!
__8. Räjäyttäjät - Rock'n'roll painajainen LP
__Räjäyttäjät have made a few LP's and tapes but this new one is the best one. There's actually good songs here! Some heavy stuff too which is great. A true Rock'n'Roll Nightmare! Thanks guys for letting me play a guitar solo on the record.
9. LiveFastDie - Hit Stains LP
I collected all the LFD 7-inches but I never listened to them so it's nice that they are now on one LP. I prefer LP's over singles.
10. Giorgio Murderer - Primitive World 7"
Pretty much like listening to Buck Biloxi with a crappy synth. I love it.
Photo by Jackie Roman
Top five Australian cheeses
FIVE - Holy Goat 'Pandora' - Those willing to eat cheese a little outside of their comfort zone will find this delectable farmhouse cheese to be as unique as it is rewarding. A yummy reward for the mavericks out there...
FOUR - Bruny Island 'One' - You have never tasted cheese quite like this. A triumph of artisanal cheesemaking. The raw milk foundation really sets this apart from the competition. A calcium hit you won't soon forget.
THREE - Red Hill 'Mountain Goat Blue' - Sure, the bold and confronting nature of blue cheese has earned itself as many haters as fans over the years, but Cuntz have always enjoyed cheese with a bit of grunt. The Mountain Goat Blue is a total slam dunk for anyone who isn't afraid of real (cheese) flavour.
TWO - Lion Dairy ' Mil Lel Superior Parmesan' - No top 5 cheese list would be complete without this alarmingly flavoursome parmesan. A working class hero that isn't afraid to stand up and deliver the goods. Heroic, inspirational, and above all completely delicious.
ONE - Tongola 'Billy' - Some people might be surprised to find goat's cheese at the top of this list, but Cuntz are a modern and progressive band with a modern and progressive approach to cheese eating. With it's trademark creaminess, and a rind formation to die for, this truly is the swinging dick of Australian cheese.
Cretin Stompers' Billy Hayes
By far the best thing that happened to me in 2014 was moving from Memphis, Tennessee to the middle of the desert in Landers, California with my wife Margaret. She and I have been together since I was 19. I'm 29 now, we got married a year ago and have dreamed the entire relationship of making it to California. We were living next door to a terrifying meth lab in Memphis when Cretin Stompers recorded Looking Forward To Being Attacked. We felt constantly threatened, every day and night by some absurd. long goatee'd, satanic tweaker gang. Extreme child and spousal abuse took place 24 hours a day at that house, which took a huge mental toll on us (boohoo, right?). The cops did nothing to stop any of it (as usual). The huge meth lab was busted eventually by a task force, then condemned, then rented out without ever having been properly cleaned up, to an insane middle aged, disgruntled cowboy freak and his grandmother, whom he publicly abused.
A few months later, when we were moving out, we discovered a large pile of used condoms in our yard, and blood spattered all over our house. All of this amounts to making Landers and California in general seem like a paradise, right in the middle of the High Desert. We are surrounded by mountains, on acres of land with no neighbors, and it's still the cheapest place we've ever had. I can record music 24 hours a day with very little bald, goatee'd cowboy meth fuckhead interference. Margaret and I were both at the end of our ropes and just thank God that we are so far away from those haunted properties. Will always love and miss Memphis. Alex, Big Muff and I hope to have a new Cretin Stompers album out ASAP and I'm releasing some solo stuff in 2015 as well. Here are some of the albums that I thought were the best of 2014!
Melt Banana - Fetch
Sonny Sharrock and Peter Brotzmann - Whatthefuckdoyouwant
Kikagaku Moyo - Forest Of Lost Children
Amps For Christ - Canyons, Cars and Crows
Matt Shipp - I've Been To Many Places
Khun Narin - Khun Narin's Electric Phin Band
Flying Lotus - You're Dead!
Lorelle Meets The Obsolete - Chambers
King Gizzard and the Wizard Lizard - I'm In Your Mind Fuzz
Fushitsusha and Peter Brotzmann - Nothing Changes No One Can Change Anything, I Am Ever-Changing Only You Can Change Yourself
Charles Gayle - Unto I Am (I know this album didn't even come out in this decade, but I just got it it and found out about Gayle this summer, so I just wanted to spread the word about a true genius and underrated artist. He got a lifetime achievement award this year!)
__1. Personal Computer - Doris Norton
__Philosophical microscopic nerve system. High alert. Space probe. The Orion has returned. Consider the airlock.
__2. Specialize in Love - Sharon Brown
__Soulcrush visions, a Caribbean twilight. Slow twist and no shout. Big round moon and a beach. A nurse on the radio: "Let me work on you". Plum cocktail x 2.
__3. Corridor of Dreams - Cleaners from Venus
__Lizardman wanders down from an SF hill party. The road is wet, the chase for freedom brings a whole new prison. Bore on, wild Jesus, bore on.
4. When the Going is Smooth & Good - William Onyeabor
Who doth poo-poo thy wish? Live through the pain and emerge life victor. You don't need teeth when you drink from the cup. Sweeping the roadside, laughing.
__5. Mari - Martin Rev
__Angelic robot weaving signals from the future. New York City overpass. Flickering view, floating bridge.
6. Neon Lights - Kraftwerk
'Tronic sincerity. Watch the roof lower on the convertible. Watch me drive and suck on a sausage like a cigar. Sweet success.
__7. Be Mine Tonight - Th' Dudes
__It helps to forget we are here. Nudes and motor oil, a can full of accidents. Notebook sore- it can wait.
__8. Problem Child - AC/DC
__Re-boot on tequila. Open drag, lotus one. When Bon Scott died he took something with him. Confer with Richard Stanley. Nods in agreeance and silent prayer.
9. Sing a Song - Earth, Wind & Fire
Lafayette hospitality. Cracking abandon. Tighten up. Dance on sewer cap. Electric breeze, tight black dejours. Polar sunset.
__10. I Hate Hate - Razzy Bailey
__All the heartache and all of the sacrifice. The pain drips away and the good times remain. To Harvest Moon, with meaning. Thank you and thank you.
1) Ty Segall – Manipulator (and live show)
Waited for this record to come out for what felt like years in Ty Segall time. Finally saw him with White Fence and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard at a bar where my parents met 25+ years ago!
2) Angel Olsen - *Burn Your Fire for No Witness
*“Stars” summons the angst and then “Unfucktheworld” lets the bad out. How I get out of bed every day knowing I’ll never wake up with a voice like Angel’s is still a mystery to me.
3) Thee Oh Sees – *Drop
*“King’s Nose” is ridiculous! So good. But then again everything Dwyer touches turns to gold.
__4) Mac Demarco – *Salad Days
*__Somehow I had never listened to Mac Demarco before Salad Days. This record is smooooth as butter. The chorus on “Treat Her Better” is hypnotic.
__5) Ought – *More Than Any Other Day
*__It’s like my top ten favorite bands of all time came back from the dead and started a band called Ought.
__6) Nancy – (Get The) REVVUP 7”
__Extreme love for these goonies. Dual mayors of Rock ‘n Roll, USA. Their S/T record from last year still blows my socks off.
__7) Radiator Hospital – Torch Song (and live show)
__I got to see Sam Cook-Parrott play a solo set in a historic armory building and it was crazy!
__8) Trace Mountains – *Buttery Sprouts
*__Sad and cutesy tunes. Shout out to the Silver Jews shout out on “I am extra natural."
__9) Parquet Courts – *Sunbathing Animal
*__Simple and straightforward punk goodness. And that’s what it’s all about.
__10) Karen O - *Crush Songs
*__Third Person Dating Profile: “When Karen’s not busy writing songs for Target commercials, she can be found crying over old crushes while lightly strumming her guitar.” It's all kinds of sad.
Photo by Josh Miller
Top 10 shows of our year
1. Hi-Tone Memphis, Tn. September 25 Goner.
Passed out Japanese ukulele guys, old chums, and bouncing champagne bottles.
__2. Hexagon Bar, Minneapolis April 7th
__Dhalsim is back but Ken won the day at Street Fighter Turbo Championship Edition.
__3. WFMU Cherry Blossom Clinic, Jersey City April 12th
__Delicious rye bread, you can't get stuff like this in Orlando. Terre T is the best.
__4. The Earl East Atlanta Ga. April 26th Mess Around.
__The bill was so stacked. Booger Sugar from Miami was stoner as all get out.
__5. Saturn Bar New Orleans La. July 4 Pelican Pow Wow
__Coconut Buzz Balls taste like suntan lotion. Some where there is an old picture of John Goodman and Nicolas Cage having cocktails in the 80's.
__6. Will's Pub March 8 Total Punk Total Fuck Off Weekend
__What better than having your home town over ran with Yanks? Beer bongs, bahn mi, and blue rubber gloves.
__7. Meltasia LaFayette Ga. September 8th
__Slept in other people's urine for three days
__8. The Cave Chapel Hill Nc. September 23
__Wild eyed Monty and the gang of pukes that frequent said bar are a great bunch. every band should go there
__9. Shanghai Nobby's St.Augustine Fl. November 14th
__We learned that Bible handball will sometimes wake up the sleeping prostitutes in the hotel room next door
__10. The Nelson Mandela Room Boston Ma. April 11
__Don't wear your Tampa Bay Rays shirts around xkimberlyx.
No Bails' Useless Eater
Top 10 bands of 2014 in alphabetical order that I have seen:
Ausmuteants
Bloody Show
Buck Biloxi and the Fucks
Giorgio Murderer
I Get Mynze
Legendary Wings
Lumpy & the Dumpers
Manateees
Obnox
Skype Pussy
Photo by Marty O'Connor
In no order:
Cuntz 12" - Chunklet Industries
Spray Paint - Live at Cropped Out Fest in Louisville
Counter Intuits - Live at Horrible Fest in Cleveland
X-X lp - Ekto Records
Lumpy and the Dumpers 7" - Total Punk
Nots - Live at Goner Fest in Memphis
Real Regular S/T 12" - Sauce Pan Records
Bad Noids "Ebola Now For The Future" E.P. - Sauce Pan Records
All Blood "The Kids Have No Taste" cassette - Self Released
The Wayout Label (Eccentric Soul) - Numero Group
Gizmos - Live at the WCSB Masquerade Ball in Cleveland (sat in with em on Pumping to Playboy)
1. Ben Wallers at Beerland Austin March 12
2. Toured with Protomartyr and got to ride their coattails for 10 days. April 8-18
3. Golden Pelicans in Cambridge and New Orleans. April 11, 21
4. Dreamsalon and So Pitted Seattle Aug 8
5. Recorded with Chris Woodhouse Sacramento Aug 11-14
6. Male Gaze and Life Stinks San Francisco Aug 15
7. Container Los Angeles August 16
8. TOURED WITH BEN FUCKING WALLERS Sept 19-28 (including shows with Ghetto Ghouls, Institute, Running, Obnox, Urinals, Cropped Out, and Gonerfest). Insane!
9. First European tour. 33 shows. 9000+ miles. Impossible to summarize. Oct 2-Nov 7
10. Marshstepper Lisbon Nov 14
2014 Totals = Live: 87 shows in 66 cities/12 different countries.
Recorded: 2 LPs (Monofonus Press, one of which is unreleased), 7" (Upset The Rhythm).
1. Favorite Rediscovered Singalong: "St. Alphonso's Pancake Breakfast" - Frank Zappa
We used to listen to this in Walker's basement when we were in middle school, and we discovered recently that we could all remember every word in Apostrophe. Inspired me to get pancakes every morning on tour.
2. Worst Instrument of 2014: Cajon__
__This is a dad-drum box that you sit on
3. Worst Regret of 2014: An Olive Garden trip that turned out very wrong...
4. Best Regret of 2014: Cook-out (the fast food chain) opened two locations in Nashville. It's actually not a regret at all, it's great.
5. Best Unreleased Album of 2014: Savoy Motel's Savoy Motel. Great new band that will come out soon.
6. Second Favorite Ken Price Painting: "Narrow Passage"
We found this amazing artist's work earlier this year and were immediately attracted to his style. This is the painting that originally drew us to him. We ended up graciously being allowed to use one for our album cover.
7. Best Museum Visit 2014: Mass MoCA - Sol LeWitt Exhibit. We had a full week retreat in Bennington, Vermont, with our friends D Watusi and stopped by this mind blowing setup in a nearby corner of Massachusetts.
8. Favorite Record of 2014: Total Control - Typical System.
Eddy Current Suppression Ring's album Primary Colors has been a big favorite of ours for a while, but we had never really checked out their more recent offshoot, Total Control, until this really cool album came out.
9. Favorite discovered movie: *The Phantom of the Paradise
*We had a slumber party for Walker's birthday, and our friend Jeffrey brought this movie. It's an awesome rock n roll parody of the opera, and Death Records, the big name elite record company in it, is one of the coolest things we've seen in a movie in a long time.
10. Favorite Recording Session Snacks: Popcorn/Meatball Subs
Though many snacks were had, this is a tie between a large movie popcorn with Reece's pieces dumped in, and some great meatball subs we had in Chicago.
TEN GREAT SHOWS:
Dott (Nun's Island Arts Centre, Galway)
Oh Boland/Rural Savage (Roisin Dubh, Galway)
The Number Ones/Sissy (Bello Bar, Dublin)
Cian Nugent & The Cosmos (The Joinery, Dublin)
No Monster Club (The Bello Bar, Dublin)
The Chills (Button Factory, Dublin)
Shark? (Silk City, Philadelphia)
Les Bonhommes (Death By Audio, Brooklyn)
Chomp/The Young (Now That's Class, Cleveland)
and everything I saw at Gonerfest XI
FIVE GREAT ALBUMS:
Ginnels - A Country Life
Oh Boland/Me & My Dog - Delphi
Pigitbit5 - Mr.MUNBA
Radioactivity - S/T
Legendary Wings - Do You See?
Photo by Constance Mensh
Richie Charles
NYC Mayhem LP on Radio Raheem
Steve Gunn Way Out Weather
Heaven Hill Old Style Bourbon
Birds of Maya & Axis:Sova live at Everybody Hits Batting Cages
Al Pastor Tacos
Johnny Noise LP on Siltbreeze
Recent batch of Bill Orcutt singles
Ruined Fortune LP on Hozac
The Ted Williams bar, bench, & weights by the Sears Roebuck Co.
Tony Rettman's NYHC Book
Kenzinger Beer
The TRBO MUFF distortion pedal
Mary Lattimore & Bill Nace live at Static Age Records
Max Milgram
This was a year of constant disgust and I didn't consume as much music as I usually do. Nevertheless, these made the cut (as did some other ones that received plenty of well-deserved accolades elsewhere like Chris Forsyth and Steve Gunn, for two). Not in any order, although I can say if the Birds of Maya record came out that would have been number one.
Sadahiro Yamada "Ok to Exist Doing Nothing" (Selection)
Recorded in 2004, released in 2014. Very likeable PSF-esque scorch. More rockist Overhang Party than blackhole Denudes. Available at a refreshing non-collector scum price too.
Johnny Noise "The Day is Coming" (Siltbreeze)
The heir to the unclaimed throne vacated by The Fuckin' Flyin' A-heads.
Joshua Burkett "Life Less Lost" (Golden Lab)
I don't even own a copy myself yet (there's allegedly one saved for me but we'll see) but I've heard enough on the original CD format to have an unreservedly high opinion. Cream of the crop "folk" "music" that gets me right "there".
__D Charles Speer and the Helix "Doubled Exposure" (Thrill Jockey)
__The long jammer that closes out the A side features interplay so stunning it may as well be on "Beware the Shadow".
Endless Boogie "Long Island" (No Quarter)
Yeah, it came out in 2013 but I haven't heard enough people talk about it. It's their best one since the black album! Saw them a bunch as usual and they were always good- no surprise- but I particularly liked the song Jesper sang in Swedish when we played with them and Mordecai in New York. Speaking of which, I would have put Mordecai's "Neil's Generator" on this list if I was a little more impartial. [Ed. note: Milgram is the warehouse manager of Richie/TestosterTunes, which released Mordecai's great new album.]
__Heron Oblivion
__They didn't record anything yet (as far as I know) but I heard some live stuff. Probably too biased to comment on this one too, but I thought it sounded like Celia Humphris from Trees singing for the more folky end of the Xpressway catalog but with plenty of swagger and guitar solos.
Photo by Rob Karlic
1. ____Total Control, Typical System.
____2. Mystic Inane. Played with them twice on tour. This video, tho. Weird guitar parts, awesome bass line, tight drumming, gross vocals that look/sound like an evil adult tantrum. Matt got head butted in the chest and thrown on the floor at Now That's Class in Cleveland.
3. Our NYC shows. We played Cakeshop, Rough Trade, and also a Halloween costume party. That was fun.
4. Soupcans and Hag Face show in a basement. These Canadian bands are 100%.
5. __Klaus Johann Grobe, Im Sinne der Zeit.
__6. Rat Columns, Leaf and Lace Curtain, The 3rd EP. We played with Rat Columns, it was sweet. David West and the rest are excellent.
7. Television at Bottom Lounge. Matt got in for free.
8. Spaghetti. Tall Pat Records' Dana challenged us to a spaghetti sauce cook-off.
9. __Clean socks.
__10. Flesh Lights show at Wally World. We played a DIY show with this awesome Austin, TX band and it was rowdy.
__1. Miami, FL // Churchill's Pub
__Last Wild ass show at Churchill's in Miami with none other than the Jacuzzi Boys. I stayed pretty sober but the guys (William lol) managed to climb a 30 or 40ft sign, scare all sorts of chicks away and getting completely shit faced.
__2. Athens, GA // Georgia Theatre
__The last show of our support tour with UK punk rockers Loop! There was about 4 people watching us because they made us play at like 8pm so we proceeded to get pretty tanked. It all went bad when I decided to hop of stage and then realized that I wasn't gonna be able to jump back on stage and then William decides to follow me down and jumps off stage too lol. So I toss my guitar back on stage and pull myself up we finish our last song and by the way Loop's set was amazing.
__3. Chicago // Bottom Lounge
__Another show with Loop and it was prolly the best show we've ever played in Chicago, besides the first show we played in Chicago where someone in the band pee peed on stage and got in a fight with some hometown hero after the show lol.
4. Chicago // Subterranean
The second show of our support tour with Bass Drum of Death. We killed it for all the underages and proceeded to chill in the green room above the stage with Bo Hansen from Heavy Times. It was all going good until I reached for another beer out of the standing cooler and knocked it over water and all. Well we dipped out and as we make our way DOWNSTAIRS I see all this water dripping all over bass drum of death and by the end of their set the drummer was completely soaked. Man I felt like a idiot.
__5. Lansing, MI // MidTown Brewing Company
__So we are playing with Heavy Times and we killed it! smashed maracas, drank cheap beer and partied till the sun came up. Also heavy times killed it!
Photo by Tsouni Moss
__The Blue Note 75th Anniversary reissues
__Really beautiful reissue series that coincided with me getting heavily into jazz and also having limited cash. Particularly obsessed with Grant Green and then Art Blakey's Free For All.
__The Grateful Dead - Hampton Coliseum 1979 LP
__Possibly past their best live but a really great recording and worth it for a version of "Eyes Of The World". Not a great starting place. I'm no apologist, but this is the sort of record that non-Dead Heads assume they sound like.
__Sonic Highways - TV
__Walks the tightrope between being sort of fascinating and then Spinal Tap-esque awkwardness. My favourite moment was Taylor Hawkins hyperventilating whilst Joe Walsh recorded a totally terrible guitar solo.
__Total Control - Typical System LP
__I'm surprised at how few of these 'best of' things the Total Control LP has showed up in. Far and away my favourite record this year and I think a true classic. I'm constantly amazed at the great music that satellites around Mikey Young.
__Garth Brooks' "I've Joined Facebook" Video
__What the hell's going on here? I've watched it about 30 times. I'm interested to know whether Garth is wearing any pants when he made this clip and also how long it'll be before he accidentally posts something he shouldn't on his new Facebook.
__Greg Ashley - Another Generation Of Slaves LP
__I've ducked in and out of Greg Ashley's music since the Gris Gris...I think he releases a lot of things without much fanfare, but this one on Trouble In Mind really blew me away. It's a tough listen lyrically and generally pretty heavy, but if you're so inclined, it's like a warm blanket.
__Shows
__Too many great shows to mention but I'll try... Parquet Courts, Parkay Quartz and PCPC... The best White Fence lineup so far... great new London bands Primitive Parts, Grimm Grimm and Royal Limp. Royal Limp really blew me away recently. Give them a shot.
__Lonelady - "Groove It Out" single
__Oh man this is so good. Currently resisting the urge to download and play the hell out of it, as it's so cool to hear it on the radio.
James:
__White Fence - For the Recently Found Innocent (LP)
__great songs/great production. i haven't enjoyed the sound of a new record as much as this one for awhile. recorded by Ty Segall and Eric Bauer who evidently did a very good job.
__Grimm Grimm - "Hazy Eyes Maybe" (7")
__Koichi Yamanoha's new project. a beautiful mix of baroque pop/folk/psych. expect to hear more from him in the future. one of the best new acts in the UK.
__Lower Plenty - "Life/thrills" (song)
__Melbourne based Lower plenty's title track off their latest LP. it sounds like they could have smoked a lot of pot before recording this. super relaxed, intimate and effortless.
__Twerps - Back to you (7")
__Latest single from the Twerps. these guys make cool music.
__Yo La Tengo - Painful (Album reissue Deluxe edition)
__One of the best YLT albums reissued with demos, live studio outtakes etc. warm/atmospheric/comforting. it set the standard and sound for the band. a modern classic
Back From The Grave compilations always get a lot of action on drives. The Shirelles, "Please Go Away", little known and one of Kev's recent favorites. Eddie Evans & the Kingsmen on Intern, Warden & the Fugitives on Bing, and Jackie Owens on Groovy were some of Kev's other top picks of 2014. Johnny likes on the Lupine/Relic label, the Soul of the Falcons comp, found it at an antique Mall in Rhode Island last Spring. Altamont: Black Stringband Music from the Library of Congress is another comp Johnny enjoyed. Willie Maybon "Got to Let You Go" is one of Johnny's 2014 faves, though it was released in 1956, approximately. It's a B-side, too. Also "Big" Al Downing, "Georgia Slop." We all liked the book Do Not Sell At Any Price by Amanda Petrusich about 78 collecting, and Johnny especially got turned on by Geeshie Wiley. Patty got a good deal on Shep & the Downbeats "You're Never There" on Satin, which is so goddamn sad! Yvonne Carroll's "Mr. Loveman" on Challenge, and almost everything by Little Ann, who Kev turned her onto this year. And she also bought a copy of the Young Men "Young Man's Problem," a nice Vietnam war protest number from '65, cuz she's political, and it was sold to her for a fair price. Patty also liked th__e new Ausmuteants record on Goner__. We all were pretty obsessed with the Arabians "My Heart Beats Over and Over Again" for awhile, basically a perfect doo wop tune. Chap's Pit Beef on route 40 in Baltimore is worth a mention. Word to the wise: great place to stop and eat off 95 if you're traveling from New York to DC. They've got sandwiches there that'll stop your heart. In a good way. Up to four meats on one sandwich. Maybe more, we didn't dare. Okay, back to music: Timmy has enjoyed South Philadelphia's The Tough Shits solo endeavors he's calling Nick Shit and Mark "Banf" Shit, respectively. Portland's The Rat (not to be confused with Fred and Toody Cole's classic Rats band in the plural) a cassette he's been waiting to hear all year...he's still waiting.
Secret prostitutes LP, 7", and live performance at Creepy Fest
Midnight No Mercy for Mayhem LP
Sacraficio MLP
Abysmal Lord Storms of Unholy Black Mass mlp
Sabbat Sabbatical Earlyslaught 1984-1990 diehard boxset
Buck Biloxi and the Fucks LP
All Pelican Pow Wow Records of 2014
Medically Separated LP
Predator Complete Earth LP
Eyehategod LP
Fabio Frizzio City of the Living Dead Soundtrack
Gorgio Murderer Primitve World EP
Hawkwind live at Siberia
Revenge live at Walters in Houston
Morbosidad live at Siberia
Timmy Vulgar's Organism live at Siberia
Gizmos live at Gonerfest 11
Gonerfest 11
Sadistic Intent live at Siberia
Deathammer live at Siberia
Dream Death at Skullfest
Forward live at Siberia
Long Knife live at Siberia
Offenders live at Siberia
MAMA live at Saturn Bar
Manateees live at the Buccaneer and Siberia
Slaughter and the Dogs live at Siberia
Noda's 5 Greek Releases for 2014:
Anastenaria - Music Of The Firewalkers
Jar Moff - Financial Glam
George Theodorakis - The Rules Of The Game
Dead Gum - Gainer
Iannis Xenakis - GRM Works 1957-1962
Marko's Best Things for 2014:
__Book: Fyodor Dostoyevsky - *The Brothers Karamazov
*__I'd heard about this book for a while but didn't have the patience to read it. Amazing story of a disfunctional family. It's a long book with a big cast but really worth it... Dostoyevsky's insight on the human psyche is unsurpassed.
__Track: Halim El-Dabh – "Wire Recorder Piece"
__Been listening to this all year round. Amazing concrete manipulation of a recording of street musicians in Egypt, makes your hair stand up. Even more incredible that this was done in the '40s.
__Album: Sun Ra – *Atlantis
*__One of my favorite of his. Listen to the percussion!
__Tape: Multitrack cassette recordings - Christos Chondropoulos
__Multitrack percussion recordings from our buddy/collaborator Christos. They sound ancient and strangely contemporary at the same time. It's not out yet but I hope it will be soon.
__Personal belonging: Synth with an onboard sequencer
__I like to record a random sequence on the Microbrute and leave it running while I do stuff in the house. Instant meditation.
__Event: Acid Baby Jesus 2014 fall tour
__Nothing beats playing live music to people that have the patience to listen to it.
__Animal: Cats
__They're grumpy and they stink the whole house up when they poop but they're irreplaceable.
New Fries:* Fresh Face Forward
*Great new band that has been getting crowds in Toronto fired up at every show. Bringing angular skronk back into the zeitgeist.
Lee Paradise: *Walter Palace Kingdom
*An offshoot of the also-impressive Hooded Fang, this is hypnotic, minimalist, tuneful and awesome.
Night Musik*: Self Titled
*Shub from Dirty Beaches' solo project. Dark, moody, atmospheric EBM.
Moss Lime:* July First
*A new band from Montreal that has been on constant repeat. ESG's groove with some Serge Gainsbourg thrown in for class.
Dog Day: *Fade Out
*Technically, this came out at the tail end of 2013, but it needs to be on the list. Underrated band, and one of Canada's best. This is them at their peak.
Slim Twig:* A Hound at the Helm
*Once again, this record was originally released pre-2014, but DFA dug it up this year and gave it the treatment it deserves. A great Toronto album featuring an assortment of A-list musicians.
Richard R Kirk: *"*Never Loose Your Shadow"
A friend played this song last year and we recently found out that Minimal Wave put it out on 12." It's pretty much the song of the year, even though it was recorded sometime in the late-1980's.
Ty Segall: "The Connection Man"
Out of all the tracks on Manipulator, this is the one that really hit home for us.
Nancy at Cake Shop, NYC, October 17
Nancy have quickly become one of our favourite live bands. The positive energy they produce is something special.
S.H.I.T live at Double Double Land, Toronto, November 27
The best new punk band, period.
HIEROPHANTS - PARALLAX ERROR: Hierophants are my favourite band in the world and their new album is the best prog-wave ever. [Leland]
MINNEAPOLIS URANIUM CLUB BAND - S/T TAPE: Billy showed me this when he came back from America and it made me feel like a sad shark. [Leland]
BIG ZIT 7": This 7" is so sick. It reminds me of a more hardcore bad brains. Seein em live was definitely somethin i wont forgot anytime soon. [Billy]
UV RACE - GREATEST HITS VOL. 1 & 2: Singles cassette by a euro label i think. Too good to be only on cassette. Someone release the LP! [Billy]
FROWNING CLOUDS- LEGALIZE EVERYTHING: Frowning clouds never cease to amaze me with their catchy riffs and smooth vocals. Their third album Legalize everything' has just came out and it's hit after hit. [Mitch]
STRAIGHT ARROWS - RISING: Straight arrows finally did their second album and it made me cream everywhere. [Mitch]
WOODBOOT- KRANG GANG WOODBOOT: rule. what else can i say, new albums probably going to rule even harder. [Zane]
LUMPY AND THE DUMPERS - COLLECTION: All the 7s on one LP, what more could you ask for? [Zane]
NUN- NUN: i never thought they'd be able to top that 7 back in 2012. i was wrong. [Zane]
TOTAL CONTROL - TYPICAL SYSTEM: Theirs no way you could do an end-year list without have total control in it. New albums amazing. [Zane]
1. Frozen Letter by the Spider Bags on Merge Records. Dan McGee penned the perfect rock anthem of the century in my opinion with his tune on the LP titled "Summer Of 79". Cant believe his hooky little claws digging deep in his jean pockets. Forget about it.
2. James Arthur's Manhunt reunion show at the Mohawk with ST37 & Deaf Wish "Sub Pop". Holy Bananas! boingggg
3. ST37 new album I'm Not Good on Cleopatra Records. They got a million dollars to produce that masterpiece mind trip. I love that band!
4. BURGER RECORDS. Everything is super rad. I've been very lucky to meet such nice charming gentlemen. Dig that Curtis Harding soul LP.
5. TIMMY'S ORGANISM Singles Collection & Unreleased Tracks on HOZAC. My brother from another planet strikes again. Rad boner! Shout out to Jimbo & Eric Love ..
6. JAILL's new unreleased record recorded here in Austin last year by Louie Lino. Ive heard the tracks. It's gonna be killer!
7. Greg Ashley's Another Generation Of Slaves on Trouble In Mind. Super bad ass writing an deploying from the Oakland crew. A must own.
8. The Klitz - Sounds Of Memphis 7" on SPACE CASE RECORDS . CEO couple billionaires flying over the radar kill it again. Rumor has it ...there is a David Geffen connection in the company. Old Memphis girl punk rock trashathon! rad!!
9. Goner Records - everything. I love these guys so much. NOTS, SO COW, AUSMUTEANTS, BLIND SHAKE, LIMES, NOBUNNY, HARLAN T BOBO, beer.
10. SOUTH PARK - All episodes on loop playing from my HULU. Still holds up. Making my stomach jiggle up an down..up and down. Sideways.
Top 5 Mamas
Dylan: __Carol Brady
__"She's the coolest mama cos she let her son Greg turn their cool attic room into the ultimate hippie pad. "
Chris: __Peg Bundy
__"She was a crazy horn dog of a mama and I love when she talks about how they have nothing to eat and fight over food. "
Ross: Florida Evans
"She kept the family's head above water while having major Good Times and kept everyone in line. A real Chicago mama."
Paul: __Sarah Palmer
__"She's like really scary and she knew what was going on. Psychic capabilities are good for being a mama. "
And the ultimate mama is: Wilma Flintstone
"She put up with Fred's bullshit and she really knew how to make the Bedrock!"
Photo by Jesse Thompson
Dribble "Lovers" 7". For dead shit romantics. [Isaac]
Orion demo tape. NSFW (New South fuckin Wales). [Isaac]
Velvet Whip Bronze Medallion cs. Wake up paper head. [Isaac]
Havittijat 7" - This bad boy came out in February but easy picking. Best oz punk record in yonks. It's so good I stopped calling them havinabat and practiced pronouncing their name every day in front of the mirror. [Penke]
Miss Destiny 7" - Waited for this record for ages, knew every song by the time i got it. well sorta, I like to sing t-rex and the sweet lyrics along to it. Reckon I see em more than any other band and that's fine by me. [Penke]
Soma Coma - "Dust": Is it important that I'm talking about a song and not a release? Nah 'cause I think it's funny to go on about a song I like rather than the countless albums, EPs and demos from this year that have had hours of time, effort and money poured into 'em. The Soma rhythm section are uncompromising. Guitar is degenerate, catchy psychic abuse that makes me anxious and the vocalist sounds like he's ritualised smoking bumpers and drinking gut rot wine so he can sound like a wildcat dying of throat cancer. [Nathan]
And for the faithful, Outcast and Zodiac released stellar demos of heavy metal this year. Leather Lickers demo, decent. Might put on that Total Control lp after a drink and do the robot. Snake tape is a lil journey. R.I.P. Fucker tapes cool. Miss Destiny EP is looking like a million. Orion's demo I'll put on to feign intimacy. Ah, Kromosom's trax from the Nomad split are savage. [Nathan]
