Devo "Hardcore" on VINYL!!!! May 14 2013

I had a wish for last record store day.

That wish actually comes true on May 14, 2013. Not on record store day.

DEVO "Hardcore" will be issued on Vinyl!

In a Bundle (Deluxe Edition) that includes both Volume 1 & 2 on red vinyl (mail order exclusive) or you could get Volume 1 and/or 2 on black.

Thank you Superior Viaduct.



The following is from Superior Viaduct's website:
  http://www.superiorviaduct.com/products/devo-hardcore-vinyl-bundle-deluxe

DEVO - Hardcore Vinyl Bundle (Deluxe Edition)

Deluxe version includes Volume 1 and Volume 2 on limited edition red vinyl and full-color poster. Mail-order exclusive, not available in stores. Available May 14th.

DEVO's Hardcore documents the group's beginning as pre-punk outcasts in the fertile Akron, Ohio underground rock scene. Spawned at the nearby college of Kent State, site of the infamous May 4 Massacre, DEVO formed as a conceptual art project armed with a radical philosophy of de-evolution. Brothers Mothersbaugh (Mark, Bob, and Jim) and Brothers Casale (Jerry and Bob) along with drummer Alan Myers soon whipped-up an otherworldly brand of "devolved blues" that could hold its own alongside the beatnik groove of 15-60-75 (aka The Numbers Band) or the primal rock poetry of the Bizarros.

Recorded on various 4-track machines and in tiny studios, basements, and garages between 1974-1977, Hardcore reveals their strikingly clear vision: rock n' roll stripped bare of its collective cool and jerked back into propaganda fit for post-modern man. It's no surprise that these transmissions would soon catch the eye and ear of Brian Eno who later produced their landmark 1978 debut album. Noisy synth, strangled guitar chops, and a primitive rhythmic thud power the early DEVO sound. Threaded beneath it all are lyrical themes of post-McCarthy paranoia, middle-class ephemera, and DEVO's long-running topic of choice: sex, or lack thereof.

Few moments in pop music history can match the grinding, pent-up energy of "Mongoloid" and the spastic bounce and sputter of "Jocko Homo" (two anthems presented in their earlier and superior versions here). Cult favorites like "Mechanical Man" and "Auto-Modown" make Volume 1 essential listening.

Volume 2 digs further into the band's cranial bunker with the caveman hit "Be Stiff," the space age surf-blues of "Clockout" and even a demented take on bubblegum pop, "Goo Goo Itch." This 2xLP set includes four previously unreleased tracks: "Man From The Past," "Doghouse Doghouse," "Hubert House," and "Shimmy Shake."

Superior Viaduct and Booji Boy Records are proud to present DEVO's Hardcore to a new generation of spuds, lovingly packaged with Moshe Brakha's stunning cover photography. As David Bowie said in 1977, DEVO is indeed "the band of the future."

Track Listing:

Volume 1
Mechanical Man
Auto Modown
Space Girl Blues
Social Fools
Soo Bawls
Satisfaction
Jocko Homo
Golden Energy
Buttered Beauties
Midget
I'm A Potato
Uglatto
Stop Look And Listen
Ono
Mongoloid

Volume 2
Booji Boy's Funeral
Can U Take It?
Bamboo Bimbo
A Plan For U
The Rope Song
Goo Goo Itch
Be Stiff
All Of Us
Baby Talkin' Bitches
I Need A Chick
U Got Me Bugged
Chango
Fraulein
Dogs Of Democracy
"37"
Bottled Up
Working In A Coalmine
I Been Refused
Fountain Of Filth
Clockout
Let's Go
Man From The Past
Doghouse Doghouse
Hubert House
Shimmy Shake


Cheers,
Frank FOE

The Corps "Bottle of Rock n Roll" 10"

The Corps

“Bottle of Rock N Roll”

Longshot / Black Hole Records

Released: April 9, 2013

.

The Corps kick things off with “All My Money”, which is spent on whiskey and women. There is a certain element that will take this as their anthem!

This 10” is for fans of punk with a US Southern rock flare, such as the masters of the genre, Nashville Pussy. This is also for fans of good old rock n roll with guts, such as bands like Rose Tattoo. I swear I did not know The Corps were from Sydney Australia before I made the Rose Tattoo reference! I swear I also did not know The Corps had a song called “Snake Eyes” before I made the Nashville Pussy reference.

Speaking of “Snake Eyes”, The Corps sound like Nashville Pussy doing a Gang Green (“Alcohol” era) cover on this track. 

Top the whole sound off with the punk snarl of Anti-Nowhere League and you are all set to fall in love with The Corps.

Originally released in 2010 on CD/LP, “Bottle of Rock N Roll” is The Corps’ sixth release and first in the US. The non-US version has The Corps covering Motorhead’s “Ace of Spades” and obviously, Rose Tattoo’s “Nice Boys”, two of the greatest songs ever written by any band. So I don’t have those songs at this moment, which is extremely disappointing and will set me searching.

Not only does The Corps have good taste in music, but they channel their influences with all the “charm” of their influences, nicely done gentlemen. 

Check out this video for "Know The Code", the title track off The Corps most recent LP.

I love this video featuring Sharpies. I had to look up the definition of "Sharpies" too. Makes sense: "Sharpies" were members of suburban youth gangs in Australia, most significantly from the 1960's and 1970's. They were particularly prominent in Melbourne, but were also found in Sydney and Perth to lesser extents. Sharpies were known for being violent, although a strict moral code was also evident. The name comes from their focus on looking and dressing "sharp".

Cheers,

Frank FOE

Prins Carl "New Order" LP

Prins Carl

“New Order”

Noise of Sweden / Black Hole

Released: March 30, 2013

“New Order” is the debut album from Swedish street punk/oi band Prins Carl, which has been released on CD in 2011 by the  band. This is the vinyl release, finally coming out on Noise of Sweden and in the US on Black Hole (250 copies on white vinyl). 

Prins Carl play straight forward, good time, hard drinking, late night / early morning rowdy punk rock. Musically, I keep hearing the Wretched Ones if they had a guy from Sweden singing. Actually, this would fit nicely in the Headache Records camp.

The thirteen songs on "New Order" are melodic, with plenty of punch and dare I say, deliver a happy (uplifting) sound. After hearing each track I was inclined to change my mind on my favorite song. That is a good sign for the strength of any album. Each song is similar in that they are in the street punk / oi vein, but hit the listener a little differently. 

Black Hole is also distributing Prins Carl's 2012 LP "No Mercy". Smart move gentlemen.

Cheers,

Frank FOE

Enabler "Shift of Redemption" download / 7"

ENABLER

“Shift  Of  Redemption”

Think Fast!  Records

Released:  April  9,  2013

Milwaukee’s Enabler wasted no time putting their revamped lineup to work. The cast for the “Shift of Redemption” 7” includes founding guitarist/vocalist Jeff Lohrber and bassist Amanda Daniels along with a new lead guitarist (Eric Dunn) and drummer (Dave Mann). Don’t worry, Enabler still hammers.

Enabler's album from last year, “All Hail The Void”, made it to number 21 on my list of the Best of 2012. I am sure this 7” will find it’s way into my list of favorites from 2013.

These four tracks will be available as a digital download and 7”; the first pressing limited to 1,000 copies, with 350 copies pressed on gold wax and 650 on clear.

“Live Low” is a unadulterated embodiment of Enabler’s attitude of  “the world is f&#ked and this is the soundtrack to its demise”.  It is the perfect release for just about any circumstance, with the chorus “F&#k you, f&#k you, f&#k you forever" leaving nothing left to chance. There is no misunderstanding.

Cheers,

Frank FOE

Batillus "Concrete Sustain" LP CD

BATILLUS

“Concrete Sustain”

Seventh Rule Recordings

Released: March 19, 2013

I have entered the darkness that is Batillus fairly late. Actively releasing material since 2009, their discography includes full lengths, eps, and 7”s. Follow the link and experience some of the gloom for yourself.

Thankfully “Concrete Sustain” provided an on ramp for my experience. I would love to see Batillus perform these tracks in some dark, cold club with a crowd of like minded enthusiasts.  

Batillus travels on the road that was paved by Black Sabbath, expanded upon by the likes of Neurosis and Godflesh and stand powerfully alongside any of Hank III’s doom projects.

“Concrete Sustain” contains brutal, morose and heavy music that entices you to come along for the horrid ride. You’ll enjoy yourself. Yes you will. 

Cheers,
Frank FOE

Toxic Holocaust "From the Ashes of Nuclear Destruction" Album

TOXIC HOLOCAUST

“From the Ashes of Nuclear Destruction”

Relapse Records

Released: April 2, 2013

This is a collection of Toxic Holocaust non-album tracks over the last decade. "From the Ashes..." gives you early demo sounding tracks that bring to mind vintage Destruction (I love vintage Destruction).

"From the Ashes..." also brings you material from extremely hard to find compilations such as “Outbreak of Evil” and “Don’t Burn the Witch”.

From the splits, you are granted access to the track from the Toxic Holocaust / Midnight split and the Municipal Waste split tracks, but you don’t get the Inepsy split or the Oprichniki split material.

So while there are twenty-two tracks on “From the Ashes of Nuclear Destruction”, it is not the complete B-sides compilation you may be salivating for… we would need a box set to put all the oddities and splits together (that would be nice). Until the box set comes out (vinyl please?) this is mandatory thrash from the Toxic Holocaust vaults.

Cheers,

Frank FOE

Thee Oh Sees "Floating Coffin" Castle Face

THEE OH SEES

“Floating Coffin”

Castle Face Records

Release Date: April 16, 2013

Thee Oh Sees manage to combine garage rock, post-punk and psychedelic influences and not come off sounding boring or jaded or forced.

Thee Oh Sees photo by Kristin Klien

Start anywhere in Thee Oh Sees rapidly growing discography (“Floating Coffin” is as good a place as any) and you will be greeted with the same, amazing results.

Brigid Dawson’s female vocals add an element to Thee Oh Sees lead vocalist John Dwyer’s style that puts the compositions over the top.

The level of creativity and simultaneous ability to make that creativity enjoyable is rarely achieved. Thee Oh Sees make it look easy. The Butthole Surfers and The Flaming Lips are two great bands that took the same type of influences (garage, post punk, psych) and created something unique. Thee Oh Sees are just as creative and genuine as the Butthole Surfers or Flaming Lips and are just as successful in their craft.

Take a listen to "Toe Cutter Thumb Buster" and enjoy the ride. Here’s to another great Thee Oh Sees record!

Cheers,
Frank FOE