Let me tear that heart apart

Hello children of the web, and welcome to another toasty warm playlist from Wednesdays With Andrew. This week promises some fun little ditties and rehashed gifs; nothing less, nothing more than what you’ve come to expect from WWA. Music this week includes songs from Slothrust, Nation of Ulysses, The Lawrence Arms, None More Black, Patti Smith and more…go listen, and godspeed.

Annnnnd the web player link – https://play.spotify.com/user/agood1no/playlist/3uo4HsdFsm6cDfZPIBuBl1

Patti Smith – My Generation

We kick off the week with Patti Smith’s slightly more NSFW version of The Who’s classic tune, My Generation. Also known as the Punk Poet Laureate, Patti Smith is an eclectic artist who dabbles in a number of formats (songwriting, poetry and visual arts, to name a few) and her work would go on to inspire a future generation of songwriters. This song is off Smith’s 1975 debut album, Horses, which would establish her as a prominent figure in New York’s burgeoning punk scene. Horses quickly gained critical notoriety for creating a revolutionary sound, composed primarily of freeform, beat poetry and edgy garage rock song structures.

Nation of Ulysses - Ulythium

Ulythium is a fast descent into madness, and is courtesy of legendary DC post-punk noise rats Nation of Ulysses. This song is off the band’s debut album, 13-Point Program to Destroy America, released in 1991 through (you fucking guessed it) Ian Mackaye’s Dischord Records. Ulythium highlights frontman Ian Svenonius’ mad trumpet skills to complement the Nation’s trademark chaotic and frenzied art rock sound. Current Affairs Alert – Slate recently published an interesting read on #pizzagate. IF YOU CLICK THIS LINK YOU’LL SEE WHY IT MADE SENSE TO PUT IT HERE, GAWD

None More Black – The Ratio of People to Cake

“Hmmm I wonder if Andrew is into New Jersey melodic hardcore” yea I fucking eat this shit up. None More Black is the project that vocalist/guitarist Jason Shevchuk started after leaving the (incredible) Kid Dynamite after their short-lived run. The Ratio of People to Cake is the third track off None More Black’s first Fat Wreck Chords full-length, File Under Black.  Fun useless fact time! - while the band’s name was inspired from the movie This is Spinal Tap, and this song is an homage to Office Space, many of the band’s song titles are in fact references to Seinfeld episodes.

No Use for a Name – Until it’s Gone

Up next we’ve got Until It’s Gone, a sweetly apprehensive tune from San Jose sk8r bois No Use For a Name. This was the opening track for the band’s 1993 Daily Grind EP, which was the first project they did with Fat Wreck Chords. Following on the first two releases that came before, Daily Grind continued to solidify No Use’s distinct sound, blending speedy and pop-laden melodic punk with some heavier, metal/thrash guitar influences. No Use For a Name has not played since 2012, after the sad and sudden passing of lead vocalist and guitarist Tony Sly. 

Ty Segall Band – Tell Me What’s Inside Your Heart

Tell Me What’s Inside Your Heart is a sledgehammer tune from noisy garage folk hero, Ty Segall, and his friends. The track is off Slaughterhouse, which is the first and only album that fully credited Ty Segall’s touring band. Like much of the rest of the album, Tell Me What’s Inside Your Heart is unapologetically lo-fi and weird as shit, favoring fuzzed-up guitar licks and a cacophonous wall of sound. As of earlier this year Ty Segall has been backed up by The Muggers, consisting of old bandmates (like multi-instrumentalist Mikal Cronin) as well as some fresh new talent. 

Pour Habit - Tomahawk

Can you tell that WWA is a big fan of Fat Wreck Chords bands? Tomahawk is a razor-sharp missile from Long Beach melodic hardcore outfit Pour Habit. Off their 2011 full-length, Got Your Back, this track highlights Pour Habit’s signature sound; blisteringly fast, hard hitting, and with biting melody lines and metal-inspired guitar solos as featured centerpieces. Although these guys haven’t put out any new material since Got Your Back, they still play regular shows and there’s talk of them working on a 3^rd album.

Dot Dash – Holly Garland

Holly Garland is a slippery little super tune from super group Dot Dash’s latest album, Searchlights. While the band features members from pretty much every cool DC post-punk and hardcore band you can think of (including, but not limited to: Minor Threat, Youth Brigade, Government Issue and Julie Ocean), Dot Dash also represents a new chapter for the scene, a much-needed breath of fresh air. The album is at times harmonious and soothing, jarring and angst-y, and isn’t afraid to explore everything in between. Searchlights is Dot Dash’s 5^th album in 5 years, all released through Canadian indie label The Beautiful Music…go check it out in its entirety here: dotdashdc.bandcamp.com

Slothrust – Rotten Pumpkin

Rotten Pumpkin is a track from one of my favorite new artists, Slothrust.  This song comes from their latest record, Everyone Else, which dropped just a few weeks back. This was a much-anticipated release after the critical success of their second album, Of Course You Do, and the gal and guys in Slothrust nailed it. From blues-inspired fuzzy garage to bubble-pop grunge and sludge-y doom rock, this album runs the gamut, and promises to have a little something for the whole family.  It is my humble opinion that Slothrust makes music with more balls than most other bands out there today, which is kinda funny given leading lady Leah Wellbaum’s anatomical disposition. Oh shit, try saying “leading lady Leah” 3 times as fast as you can.

Tears For Fears – Head Over Heels

Aaaaawwwwwwww shit I love this song. Whether it’s an awkward, hands-on-shoulders middle school slow dance or a shuddersomely dark and intense movie, Head Over Heels provides the perfect soundtrack. Editor’s note – shuddersomely is not a word, fine whatever. English gentlemen Roland Orzabel and Curt Smith comprise the duo known as Tears For Fears, and they have been making fans swoon with their unique brand of synth pop since their genesis in 1981. Head Over Heels is off their sophomore full length, Songs from the Big Chair, which went 5x platinum and remains their best-selling album to date.

 The Lawrence Arms – Navigating the Windward Passage

Our penultimate selection this week comes from scruffy Chicago threesome, The Lawrence Arms. Navigating the Windward Passage is a sweeping melodic anthem, driving the user ever forward towards the culmination of a call-to-arms chorus. The track is off their 3^rd album, Apathy and Exhaustion, which signaled the beginning of a long-lasting relationship with Fat Mike and his Fat Wreck Chords label.  The trio actually all met when they were in different Asian Man label bands, ultimately leading to the formation of Lawrence Arms in 1999.

Ruder Than You – Not Deaf Yet

We end the playlist with Not Deaf Yet, a silky smooth, sexy ska song from Philly outfit Ruder Than You. Off their sophomore record Horny for Ska, released in 1996 through Moon Ska Records, this tune features all the things you’d expect from Ruder Than You, including a robust horn section, some toastin’ and light falsetto, and even a reference to getting a parking ticket. These guys actually met at Penn State in the late 80s, where they founded the band, before relocating to Philadelphia, Home of the Smeagles, in 1991.

Alright internet ninjas, that’s it for this week’s playlist. I guess you can go back into hibernation until next Wednesday when a new batch of jams becomes available. Keep tuning in, and spread the WWA gospel. If you're a band with good music, send me your shit. Until next week...

Squeezin' my spider-man pillow to death

Good morning web slobs, and happy International Civil Aviation Day! I hope you're geared up for another slippery episode of Wednesdays With Andrew. I was tempted to do a holiday special, Michael Bublé-only playlist, but decided instead to stick to the regular format #imlovinit  This week we have a diverse bunch of tunes, geographically speaking of course, stretching from the beaches of Orange County to the natural pools of Austin, TX all the way up to the frozen tundras of Finland. Strap in and enjoy, kiddos.



Annnd the web player link - https://play.spotify.com/user/agood1no/playlist/3CkQrqoVnmw8PFmRMtcr3t

The Smiths – How Soon is Now?

We kick off this week’s shitstorm with The Smiths’ curiously airy hit How Soon is Now?. This track was originally a B-side for their 1984 single ‘William, It Was Really Nothing’ before earning it’s A-side spot on their second album Meat is Murder. Written by lead weirdo/vocalist Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr, How Soon is Now? stood apart from the other material on their first 2 records, showcasing a slower and more velvety sound than their usual up-tempo, synth-driven dance pop.

The Impossibles – Always Have, Always Will

The Impossibles always have and always will be one of my favorite (ska-heavy) rock bands. Hailing from Austin, TX these exceptionally talented nerds formed the band in 1994 when they were still 13, 14 years old. Always Have, Always Will is a heavy-hitting and pop-infused rock anthem superimposed over a calming ska backdrop.  The Impossibles were one of the very first bands to work with Fueled by Ramen, when the label was still based in Florida and looong before they were signing more household name artists like 21 Pilots, Paramore, Panic! At the Disco, etc.

The Unband – Pink Slip

License and registration…chicken fucker! I’m sure many of you recognize Pink Slip, a track oozing with insolence and angst best expressed through rock n roll, from Broken Lizard’s cult classic Super Troopers. Pink Slip was from hard rock heroes The Unband, and is off their first major label release, Retarder, which dropped in 2000. I think the Las Vegas Weekly described that album best: “Every number is a testament to the might and stamina of the power chord”.

Here’s to hoping Broken Lizard actually gets their shit together and releases Super Troopers 2 next year!

Flogging Molly – Drunken Lullabies

Up next we have a mandatory, token Celtic bar-brawl tune, courtesy of our friends Flogging Molly. But don’t be deceived by the light-hearted and boisterous sounds of Drunken Lullabies; this song by the 7-piece Irish-American group is a poignant and daring challenge to the problems we see in modern society. Drunken Lullabies is the title track of Flogging Molly’s sophomore album, released in 2002 off SideOneDummy Records. Sláinte mhaith!

Assorted Jelly Beans – 8^th Grade Nerd

8^th Grade Nerd is a frenetic tune from ska punk band Assorted Jelly Beans. Born in the arid expanses of Riverside, CA in the mid 90s, the group first caught the attention of Joe Escalante and Warren Fitzgerald of the Vandals, who were so impressed that they decided to start a label just to help the band record and release their first, self-titled album. And so it goes that Assorted Jelly Beans were so damn good that they are credited for the creation of Kung Fu Records. Although the Beans haven’t been too active recently, they did play this year’s Amnesia Rockfest in Canada.

Social Distortion – Don’t Drag Me Down

Don’t Drag Me Down is a melodic powerhouse of a song from long-standing staple of the punk rock scene, Social Distortion. Formed in 1978 in Orange County by childhood buddies Mike Ness and Dennis Danell, Social Distortion has become synonymous with chugging power chords, rambling guitar solos and that distinctive low-whine vocal snarl. Don’t Drag Me Down is off their 1996 album White Light, White Heat, White Trash, the last album they released before the tragic and untimely death of Danell from a brain aneurysm. Despite some hiatuses and lineup changes, Social Distortion is still playing shows and writing new material after an impressive 38 years…here’s to 38 more!

PÄÄ Kii – Nyt skipataan kahvit

Next up we got some rowdy punk rock from Finnish stompers PÄÄ Kii. I know very little about this band, but here are a few knowledge knuggets I was able to dig up:

1.     PÄÄ Kii is Finnish for ‘Shut up’

2.     This song is 1minute55seconds of pure awesome rock n roll

3.     The song may or may not have something to do with coffee

Iron Chic – Time Keeps on Slipping into the (Cosmic) Future

Time Keeps on Slipping into the (Cosmic) Future…is a really long name for a song. It is also the second track from Long Island punk outfit Iron Chic’s first full length, Not Like This, released in 2010. Like guitarist Phil Douglas’ previous band, Latterman, Iron Chic favors a melodic brand of fast-paced punk, punctuated by shout-along anthem choruses. Iron Chic recently organized and played a Brooklyn festival in honor of their fallen friend and guitarist, ‘Wild Dad’ Rob McAllister, who passed away almost a year ago. You can donate to the fund that was set up to help support the family he left behind here.

Dicks – The Dicks Hate the Police

This is a rowdy number from a rowdy band. The Dicks Hate the Police was the debut single from the guys, self-released in 1980. Our second Austin, TX band of this week’s playlist, the Dicks were an early pioneer in the hardcore scene and are noted for their aggressive sounds and unrelenting socialist and equalitarian message, which often attracted controversy in 80s Reagan America. Vocalist Gary Floyd was one of the first openly gay musicians in the hardcore scene, and later Dicks songs would focus heavily on issues like sexual identity and gay rights. Seattle grunge band Mudhoney would later go on to cover this track, and soon added it to their standard live show repertoire.

Alkaline Trio – For Your Lungs Only

For Your Lungs Only is a catchy track from Chicago 3-piece Alkaline Trio, off their 1998 EP of the same name. This song would also later be included in their compilation album released in 2000 through Asian Man Records. Alkaline Trio came to prominence in the early part of the new millennium, building their sound around hook-driven guitars, driving rhythms, soulfully gruff singing and dark thematic content. For the last year, vocalist/guitarist Matt Skiba has also been lending his talents to Blink-182 after the departure of founding member Tom DeLonge.

No Doubt – Oi to the World

Since December is upon us, we’ll end the playlist with a festive tune that will help us get into the holiday spirit. Oi to the World is No Doubt’s skankin’ cover of the Vandals’ original tune, part of their 1996 Christmas jubilee album. This cover was part of Everything in Time, a smorgasborg of No Doubt B-sides and otherwise previously un-releasable songs. Oi to the world, ya heard?

OK, that's it internet ninjas. Hope you enjoyed the music, and keep coming back every Wednesday for more. Keep in touch through facebook, email, whatever. As always, I am down for requests and tips on up and coming artists. PEACE 

They own us. Produce us. Consume us.

'Allo! Hope you guys all had a relaxing and decadent Thanksgiving break. For my non-US readers, umm, I guess whatever. Good times innit? I was too busy all week eating, drinking, playing with legos (no joke..thanks Evanio!), and generally being as unproductive as possible...so I didn't have time to do the normal write up for this week's episode. Which means you get all the good music stuff with none of the rhetorical fluff. So crack open your favorite beverage, kick off your shoes and get lost in the silky sounds of this week's punk rock playlist.



Annnd the web player link: https://play.spotify.com/user/agood1no/playlist/0Z4dDTNAFeUOGwt2k6v5Db

Acting unaffected by this hand of fate

Why hello there internet people, and welcome to another episode of Wednesdays With Andrew. In store this week is an absolutely tantalizing playlist to enjoy, featuring tunes from the likes of Transplants, Arrogant Sons of Bitches, Lifetime, 88 Fingers Louie and so much more.  Ok less talk, more punk - let’s kick it.

Annnd the web player link – https://play.spotify.com/user/agood1no/playlist/3a4ZdogOYh1sMTx2ME6pXs

The Network – Teenagers from Mars

We kick off the week with The Network’s new wave-ish cover of the Misfits classic Teenagers from Mars.  Although they don’t stray too far stylistically from Danzig’s original vision, they do slow it down, add a clanky, somewhat metallic feel to it and also eschew the Misfits’ typical lo-fi sounds for a more refined production. This track is off The Network’s debut (and only) album, Money Money 2020, released in 2003. Although the band tried to hide their identity through weird monikers (Fink, Captain Underpants…the Snoo??), it came apparent pretty quickly that this was just a side project for the dudes from Green Day. Come on Billie Joe – we could recognize that voice from miles away!

Transplants – Tall Cans in the Air

Up next we have the punk-hop sounds of SoCal supergroup Transplants. The band got its informal start in 1999 when Rancid/Operation Ivy frontman Tim Armstrong and his longtime friend and Rancid roadie “Skinhead Rob” Aston started playing around with Pro Tools and writing beats for fun. Pretty soon they decided to formalize some of the material and put out an album, which is about the time they enlisted the help of Blink-182 drummer Travis Baker. Tall Cans in the Air is off the Transplants’ debut eponymous album, released in 2002 through HellCat Records. The song, like much of the rest of the album, has a fun and loose vibe to it, highlighting the dueling vocals of Tim and Rob, heavy bass lines and silky guitar runs.

The Big Sleep - Pinkies

Pinkies is a soulful tune from Brooklyn’s The Big Sleep, off their 2008 record Sleep Forever. I believe the song’s biggest strengths lie in the arrangement and production, as opposed to the notes and chords that make up the song - Pinkies is noisy and transcendental, skillfully leveraging guitar pedals, atmospheric melodies and pervasive drums to create an alternate reality for the listener to get lost in. The rest of the album is equally creative, not relying on conventional song structure or musical arrangements; definitely worth checking out when you have a spare 42 minutes.

Lifetime – Turnpike Gates

If you’ve been even marginally paying attention to Wednesdays With Andrew for a while, you’ve most likely realized that I am a huge fan of Dan Yemin, who has earned celebrity status in the melodic hardcore punk scene. Before founding the almighty Kid Dynamite, Yemin was the lead guitarist for New Jersey punk outfit Lifetime. Formed in 1990 in New Brunswick, Lifetime built their signature sound around 2-minute or less songs, blazing rhythms and pop-laced melodies. Going against the grain of the general thematic content of their contemporaries in the NY/NJ hardcore scene, singer Ali Katz emphasized more positive and personal themes through his lyrics. Turnpike Gates is off Jersey’s Best Dancers, their 3^rd full length and last release before disbanding in 1997.

The Saints – I’m Stranded

(I’m) Stranded is the title track off Australian punk rockers The Saints’ 1^st LP, released in 1977 on EMI. Channeling the popular UK and US punk movements of the time, The Saints created a savage, unrelenting and scathing sound for its fellow citizens in the far east.  Although the band has slowed down somewhat of late, founding member and lead vocalist Chris Bailey is very active and The Saints are still playing bills. Happy fun fact for the band – in 2001, the Australassian Performing Rights Association (or ARPA…kinda like the RIAA for our friends down under) included “I’m Stranded” in its Top 30 Australian Songs of all time.

88 Fingers Louie – Summer Photos

Now we move on to Chicago greats 88 Fingers Louie, and their catchy little tune Summer Photos. Off the 1998 album Back on the Streets, Summer Photos showcases the band’s talent in blending raw emotion with thoughtful songwriting and sing-along choruses. Although the dudes in 88 Fingers Louie are busy with other projects (like Rise Against and Our Darkest Days), word is they are writing and recording new material, which would potentially mean their first release since 2009!  Did You Know? The name 88 Fingers Louie is inspired by a character from The Flinstones: he’s a shady piano salesman/gangster.

Japandroids – The House That Heaven Built

The House That Heaven Built is an instantly memorable youth anthem from Canadian rock duo Japandroids. This track drives forward with a focused energy and purpose, while retaining a somberly reflective quality. The House That Heaven Built is off Japandroids’ 2^nd LP, Celebration Rock, which received critical acclaim from the likes of Pitchfork and The AV Club. Originally from Vancouver, these two canucks have been rocking and rolling since 2006. Be on the lookout for Japandroids’ new album, Near to the Wild Heart of Life, which is slated to drop January 27 2017.

Ex Hex – Don’t Wanna Lose

Don’t Wanna Lose is a garage-y, bubblegum tune from DC punk chicks Ex Hex. Walking a fine line between fuzzy and coherent, distorted and poppy, loud and soothing, this rollickin’ anthem has something to please the whole family. Don’t Wanna Lose is off Ex Hex’s debut full-length Rips, released through Merge Records in 2014. These gals have been gaining a lot of attention, playing large shows like SXSW, earning glowing reviews from Pitchfork, and supporting national acts like Speedy Ortiz.

The Arrogant Sons of Bitches – Kill the President

I guess it’s time to dust off my ‘Where’s John Wilkes Booth when you need him’ shirt I made in November 2004. The Arrogant Sons of Bitches capture some of my current feelings with their belligerent ballad, Kill the President, off their final studio album Three Cheers for Disappointment. Shortly after the release of this 2006 record, frontman/songwriter Jeff Rosenstock started focusing on the also-now-defunct Bomb the Music Industry! Rosenstock is famously devoted to DIY punk ethic, releasing free music online and offering free stencils for fans to make their own home made shirts. Rosenstock is currently pursuing a solo songwriting career (check out his latest release, Worry) and still active with his crowd-sourced indie label, Quote Unquote Records.

MxPx – Letting Go

We end this week’s playlist with MxPx’s Letting Go, which was one of nine short tracks (clocking in at just over 18 minutes) from their 2001 Renaissance EP. This EP was the only one MxPx ever did through Fat Wreck Chords, and they had to promise to not include any songs about God in order to meet Fat Mike’s anti-religion policy (he also has a ban on anything emo, haha!). Letting Go is what you’d expect from MxPx – fast and energetic, oozing with pop, with driving vocals provided by singer/bassist Mike Herrera. I always get a ‘teen angst’ vibe when I listen to MxPx, which runs counter to their lyrical content – I realized recently that Herrera’s high vocal range just makes me think of high schoolers. Huh.

Alright, that’s it for this week guys. Hope you enjoyed the music, and keep tuning in every Wednesday for more hot n ready punk rock. Next week we have some great tracks on deck, like the Smiths, Assorted Jelly Beans, Dicks and Social Distortion - it's gonna be fun. Hit me up if you have song suggestions or if you’re a band and want me to play your shit. Keep gettin’ schwifty; later gators.

Killing time all the time isn't what brings you here

Howdy folks. Trump is a piece of shit, Steve Bannon is worse than Joseph Goebbels, Mike Pence is an anti-human rights vampire etc. etc. etc. Let's focus on the positive vibes of this week's #WWA playlist. I hope you can find some solace in the sweet and sour sounds of this week's diverse range of songs. Please keep the feedback coming, share with friends, and above all, enjoy.

Aaaand the web player link – https://play.spotify.com/user/agood1no/playlist/7HVlfMm1YGAwNmIhB2hJeM

Wipers – Over the Edge

We kick off the week with a loud, fuzzy rock n roll anthem from Portland punk trailblazers (ahhhhh see what I did there?!) Wipers. Formed in 1977, Wipers are often considered the first Pacific Northwest punk band, and would go own to influence not just local punk movements like riot grrrl, but also nationally acclaimed grunge bands like Nirvana, Melvins and Mudhoney. Kurt Cobain often cited Wipers as a major influence, and Nirvana covered a couple of their songs throughout the early 90s. Over the Edge is the first track off their 1983 album of the same name.

Strike Anywhere - Chalkline

Chalkline is an emotionally charged and blisteringly fast track from Richmond hardcore band Strike Anywhere. The song is off their debut album Change is a Sound, released in 2001 through Jade Tree records, and is a poignant statement about gender inequality (this, coupled with the album’s first track “You’re Fired,” makes this quite appropriate given who we elected commander-of-pussy last week). Strike Anywhere has made a name for themselves through their musical style of catchy melodies and hardhitting, aggressive songwriting, as well as their strictly self-imposed devotion to sociopolitical causes, ranging from police brutality and women’s rights to anti-capitalism and political corruption. Although they haven’t released much new material, they still actively tour…go see them when you get a chance!

Guantanamo Baywatch - Barbacoa

Up next we have another band from Portland, OR, Guantanamo Baywatch. Barbacoa is a raucous surf instrumental off their 2012 full length Chest Crawl, released through indie label Dirtnap Records. Shimmering, atmospheric and hazy, this mirage of a song hooks you in from the first reverb-soaked distorted guitar chord. The rest of the album, including both instrumentals and vocal-driven tunes, is heavy on the dank surf runs heard here, while also incorporating more indie blues themes, reminiscent of contemporaries like Mac Demarco or Wavves.  By the way, Guantanamo Baywatch wins this week’s “best band name” award.

Violent Femmes – Issues

Issues is the first single off of Violent Femmes’ latest release, 2016’s We Can Do Anything, their first studio album in 16 years. In addition to the band’s core trio, this record features the self-described “Horns of Dilemma,” instrumentation ranging from bass cajon to accordion to banjo and electric 12-string. Issues is a rambling, goofy and hook-driven track that embodies all the weirdness and stylistic diversity that has distinguished the Violent Femmes over their storied career. We were all happy to see the band make amends and get back together after some bitter infighting over the use of their hit ‘Blister in the Sun’ in a Wendy’s commercial…Wendy’s, for when you want something slightly better than McDonald’s.

The Bouncing Souls – The BMX Song

The BMX Song is a crunchy and singsongy tune from NJ pogo punks The Bouncing Souls.  This track is off their 2^nd LP, Maniacal Laughter, and showcases the Souls’ light-hearted thematic content, bouncy feel and driving rhythms. Maniacal Laughter was produced by the legendary Thom Wilson, who has engineered and produced numerous acts including The Offspring, Face to Face, Dead Kennedys, Bad Religion and The Vandals. The Bouncing Souls have been consistently active since their inception in the late 80s, and released their 10^th studio album, Simplicity, earlier this year.

IAM – Petit Frère

IAM is a hip hop group formed in 1989 in the coastal city of Marseilles, France. Short for ‘Invasion Arrivée de Mars’ (Invasion from Mars), they often employ the local vernacular ‘Mars’ in their songs to describe their homebase of Marseilles. Petit Frère is one of IAM’s most successful singles, released in 1997 as part of their album L’École du Micro d’Argent. This was a starting point for future collaborations with some members of Wu-Tang Clan, and you can hear them sample C.R.E.A.M. at the beginning of the track. Petit frère deals with the dark realism that faces many non-White French people, topics that are characteristic to IAM’s thematic style, such as street violence, racism, Islamophobia and censorship.

GWAR – Fishfuck

Fuckin’ GWAR time. Punk meets heavy metal meets broadway musical meets latex. These are the things that GWAR is made of. If you haven’t seen their live stage show, which involves (but is not limited to) being sprayed with various bodily fluids, the decapitation of existential threats to humanity (ranging from the Pope to Justin Bieber) and interplanetary battles, then you are not living. Fishfuck is a catchy little ditty the whole family can enjoy on the way to church on Sunday morning. This track is off their 1999 album We Kill Everything. Fun personal fact – (the first time) I lost my wedding ring was during a raucous GWAR show at the 930 Club; the fake semen, urine and blood just lubed it right off. 

 

Link 80 – Verbal Kint

Verbal Kint is the 1^st track from skacore band Link 80’s debut full-length, 17 Reasons, released in 1997 through Asian Man Records. Link 80 wrote songs chaotic in nature, relying heavily on a chugging rhythm section as a backdrop to earsplitting horns and shatteringly loud lead vocals.  Link 80 was well known for incorporating TV and film references within their music and, true to form, Verbal Kint is based on Kevin Spacey’s character in the The Usual Suspects. Fun time video alert! They made a pretty shitty music video for this song, which you can view here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYaC10ZQEfk

SCREW32 – Painless

Alongside so many other greats, including Rancid, Green Day and AFI, melodic hardcore outfit SCREW32 is part of the East Bay punk movement during the early 90s. Like their contemporaries, they got their start playing gigs at the music collective at 924 Gilman Street in Berkeley. SCREW32 created a sound influenced by both west coast punk and DC-style hardcore, centered around catchy melodies and refined lead guitar riffs, while maintaining a strict DIY ethic. Painless is a groove-driven track from the band’s last album, Under the Influence of Bad People. Although the band broke up soon after the release of this LP in 1997, founding members Andrew Champion and Grant McIntire (vox and guitars, respectively) reformed the band with new members this year. Catch them today if you live in California, or in early 2017 when they go on tour!

The Datsuns – Harmonic Generator

Harmonic Generator is the single off New Zealand hard rockers The Datsuns’ eponymous debut album. These Middle Earthers blend psychedelic rock-inspired sounds, evocative of acts like Wolfmother or Black Mountain, with a heavier four on the floor rhythm, complete with rambling guitar solos and call and response choruses.  We’re thinking about you guys in the wake of those terrible earthquakes: hope that you and all your friends and family are safe and sound.

The Sidekicks – DMT

Like the powerful hallucinogenic drug its named after, DMT is a mend-bending and intense song. The raw emotion in lead singer Steve Ciolek’s vocals reminds me of Rivers Cuomo, whereas the songwriting and instrumentation offer more depth and soul than you’d find in your average Weezer song.  Based in the inexhaustible college town of Columbus, OH, The Sidekicks have been consistently touring and putting out new material since banding together in the late 90s. DMT is off their 2012 release Awkward Breeds. Fun technology note – these dudes still use Yahoo, which I guess is the vinyl of email providers?

Dead Boys – What Love Is

We end the week with the original sonic reducers, Dead Boys, and their not-so-romantic love anthem What Love Is (guys – do NOT include this track on your girl’s Valentine Day mixtape). A bedrock of the early punk movement and frequent headliners at the famous CBGB club, Dead Boys went down as one of the rowdiest bands of the 70s, leaving a trail of chaos and violence wherever they went. After drummer Johnny Blitz was stabbed several times in the chest during a street fight, larger-than-life personality John Belushi filled in for him on drums. What Love Is comes off their 1^st studio album, Yound Loud and Snotty, recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York in 1977.

Thanks for listening guys. As always, keep tuning in every week for more great music and to show these often-neglected bands the love they deserve! Let me know if you have tracks you want played, or if you’re a band who wants me to make them famous. KEEP FUCKING SHIT UP AND SHOW THE WORLD WE DON’T WANT AUTHORITARIAN WHITE SUPREMACIST BIGOTS IN OUR ELECTED OFFICES

FUCK YOU DONNY!!

We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming for this breaking news item…the nation had a brain fart and decided to elect Donny Trump to become leader of the free world. Trump, a sociopathic narcissist with the decorum and poise of a drunk chimpanzee with Down's Syndrome, will go down in history as one of the most dangerous demagogues of our time. We’ll all be sad to see our dude-in-chief Barry Obama go, and now must come to terms with the fact that a spoiled rich brat with donkey brains will be rubbing his jollyrancher-sized fingers all over the nuclear codes. May the gods have mercy on our souls.

OK now on to important business…this week we have some great classics, like the Guttersnipes and Bad Brains, to relative newcomers such as RVIVR and the Heartburns. Enjoy the playlist!

And here's the web link: https://play.spotify.com/user/agood1no/playlist/1p6qf7PvqAEWeULCeStlZy

The Heartburns – Help Me Make it Through the Night

We start this playlist with the blaring rock n roll sounds from Finnish punkers The Heartburns. Based in the frigid tundra known as Helsinki (I just looked up their weather…it’s like 20 degrees and snowing there, what the fuck?!),The Heartburns write driven and energetic songs over top of simple 4-chord arrangements, punctuated by piercing guitar leads and sing-along choruses. These Vikings have been putting out music since the release of their 2006 EP, Fucked Up in a Bad Way.  Help Me Make it Through the Night is off their 2008 full-length, Fixin’ to Die, released through the Combat Rock Industry label.

 RVIVR – Big Lie

RVIVR have been electrifying crowds since 2008 with their speedy, pop-fueled melodic punk and energetic live performances. Based in Olympia, WA, the band stays true to their city’s storied riot grrrl past, committed to spreading feminist ideals while blasting macho culture. Big Lie is off their 2013 full-length The Beauty Between, and displays RVIVR’s ability to balance meaningful and complex songwriting with driving speed, aggressive hooks and singalong melodies.

Bad Brains – Sailin’ On

Sailin’ On is typical of the chaotic yet rooted sounds engendered by hardcore pioneers Bad Brains. Originally conceived as a jazz fusion band, the DC natives quickly favored the blistering and frenetic guitars and breakneck paces heard here over the more RnB and groove-based songwriting they originally contemplated. Sailin’ On is off the band’s critically acclaimed self-titled debut album, released as a cassette-only offering in 1982. You can hear the lasting impact this album has had on popular music today, impacting a range of artists from Red Hot Chili Peppers and Sublime to Beastie Boys, Soulfly and 311, and even acts like Moby and No Doubt (both of whom covered this track).

Black Eyes – Deformative

Speaking of noisy DC bands…Deformative is off the debut album of DC post-punk band Black Eyes, who were active in the early 2000s. Willing to explore new spaces and eschew conventional arrangements, Black Eyes distinguished themselves through their use of discordant dueling vocals and incorporation of jarring synth sounds. Reminiscent of a disco night in Hell, Deformative is driven by drum and bass and marked by piercing melody lines that cut straight to the core. Although Black Eyes has been defunct for over a decade now, all the dudes from the band are active with other projects, including but not limited to Mi Ami, Earthen Sea and 

The Guttersnipes – Highest High, Lowest Low

Highest High, Lowest Low was off UK punk band The Guttersnipes’ 1994 album, Asylum. Haunting and jangly, this track features dark surf tones, throaty vocals and even a Van Halen Eruption-inspired guitar solo. Formed in London by ex-Cock Sparrer vocalist Shug O’Neill and bassist Andy Kline, The Guttersnipes built off the success of the UK street and Oi punk movements.  This past August their old record label came out with a previously unreleased live recording of a 1980 Guttersnipes concert in Copenhagen; it’s called 1234 See You at the End and is on Spotify…go check it out!

Authority Zero – One More Minute

One More Minute is an island-soaked anthem from Mesa, AZ natives Authority Zero, a band formed in 1994 by a group of high school buddies who had nothing better to do in the desert. Early on, Authority Zero went through numerous lineup changes, focused mostly on local shows and continued to refine and re-refine their sound. The guys didn’t release their first full-length, Passage of Time, until 2002, to critical acclaim. The album, which includes One More Minute, blends up-tempo skate punk and aggressive vocals with heavy reggae and Spanish guitar influences. Fact time - of the 5 original members, only vocalist Jason DeVore is still actively involved with the band.

New Bomb Turks – Jukebox Lean

Jukebox Lean is a rollickin’ tune from long-time Epitaph band New Bomb Turks. The founding members all met on campus at Ohio State University in 1990 and quickly honed their unique garage punk sound, inspired by forbearers like Naked Raygun and Didjits as well as feeding off contemporary acts like The Devil Dogs and Dwarves. Jukebox Lean is chaotic and heavy-hitting, and showcases New Bomb Turks’ staple scratchy vocals and unforgiving fuzzy guitar hooks. It was originally featured on their 1996 release Scared Straight.

Butthole Surfers – Who Was In My Room Last Night

Next up is a track from Butthole Surfers’ 1993 album, Independent Worm Saloon (which sounds like an album title Dave Barry made up). Butthole Surfers creators, Gibby Haynes and Paul Leary, formed the band in the late 70s when they met at college in San Antonio. Early on in their career, Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra discovered the surfers of butt and paid for studio time to release their first self-titled EP through Biafra’s Alternative Tentacles label. Fueled by psychoactive drugs and a dark sense of humor, and rooted in 80s hardcore punk, Butthole Surfers would make a name for themselves through their unique blend of psychedelic rock, punk and electronica. They got their big commercial break in 1996 with the hit track Pepper, which was the first single off their album Electricclarryland.

Lagwagon – Tragic Vision

Tragic Vision is the opening track off Lagwagon’s debut full-length, Duh, which was recorded and produced by Fat Mike in 1992.  It acts as a sort of cautionary tale for, and laments the cyclical nature of, the effects that lazy greed and apathy have on shaping our society.  Blazin’ speeds, intricate lead guitar parts and hook-minded choruses define the album’s sound, and Duh went on to be a very influential punk record through the 90s and beyond.

Bad Astronaut – Needle in the Hay

Trying to stake out new territory, Lagwagon’s singer Joey Cape formed Bad Astronaut in 2000 to explore a different sort of sound. Where Lagwagon focused on fast and sometimes thrashy melodic skate punk, Bad Astronaut was an outlet for more emotional alt-rock and indie-centric songs. The goal of this project was always to release records (and not worry about touring), and Bad Astronaut only ever played 4 live shows. Needle in the Hay comes off the band’s debut album Acrophobe, released through Honest Don’s Records, which was a subsidiary of Fat Wreck Chords designed to publish material that didn’t fit the Fat Wreck bill.

The Living End – Bloody Mary

We close out our weekly playlist with this soulful and creeping song by Australian band The Living End. Bloody Mary is off their breakout eponymous debut album, which was released in 1998 through EMI’s subsidiary in Australia, Modular Recordings. Bloody Mary, lyrically themed around the old-timey children’s game, encapsulates the band’s wide-ranging influences, from 50s rock n roll like Elvis Presley to rockabilly à la Stray Cats all the way to punk trailblazers like The Clash and Rancid. The Living End was very favorably critiqued for bringing fresh ideas to rock and roll, and bassist Scott Owen has famously made playing upright acoustic bass cool again.

OK that’s it for this week guys. Let me know if you have tracks you want played, if you’re a band who wants me to make them famous, or just send over a list of your darkest fears and/or deepest desires. Follow me on facebook and all that jazz. 'Til next week folks!