Well, it's been pretty hectic this month and things show no signs of slowing down, so I guess the reviews will be bi-monthly now. Once again Garth and I have assembled a collection of reviews of Oi!/Street-punk items that you all might be interested in, to help you on your next shopping spree. email me if you want me to review something, or if you want to know where to get ahold of any of this stuff.
Best Defense - Six Gun Justice lp - Pure Impact/Haunted Town
From the late '80s, a time when American Oi! bands weren't afraid to sound original, comes this bit of history. This material would have come out on Roddy Moreno's Oi! records had that label not gone out of business. Lucky that Pure Impact rescued this stuff, as it really deserves to be heard. Musically they take influences from classic British Oi!, contemporary U.S. hardcore and straight up rock n' roll, but what really makes this album in my opinion is the vocals. The singer sounds like a snottier version of Glenn Danzig, and his presence adds a lot to an already strong mix. My only beef is that the CD version apparently has pretty extensive liner notes, while my lp version has no insert whatsoever. I don't see why Haunted Town couldn't have re-pressed the booklet in 12" format, after all they did take the trouble release this on vinyl... Why not do it all the way?
Bombshell Rocks - Street Art Gallery CD - Burning Heart/Epitaph
Sweden has a pretty amazing streetpunk scene right now, and it's fitting that this band was released on an Epitaph subsidiary, as this lot is probably the most commercial sounding of the current pack, as well as the least Swedish-sounding. This is not to say that this is a bad release---on the contrary, what we have here is a near-perfect CD. Twelve stunning, anthemic songs that combine the songwriting of mid-period Rancid with the catchy choruses and U.K. '82 feel of Oxymoron, with just a tiny hint of country in some of the songs, bringing to mind Social Distortion to a certain extent. My pick from this album would have to be "Seven", one of the most powerful songs of the decade, but overall the only negative thing I can say about this CD is that it's perhaps a bit too perfect, and after awhile you start to wish that there were a few flaws here and there to remind you that the songs weren't created by a computer.
Bonecrusher- Working for Nothing CD- Hostage
These Californians seem to have come from nowhere, no hype, no known former members of
anything (at least not known to me), and blazed! I think they have out two 7inches and this 11
song album, including a Chelsea cover. From what I understand, their material is snagged from
distributors as fast as it comes in and this disc really shows why. Here one gets pure working
man's fury and frustration, hard nosed songs about love, work, life, thinking for yourself, rejecting
fashion and so on, sung in a tough, throaty style as rugged as a calloused laborer's hands. The
music is quite full and well layered like other top U.S. bands: U.S. Bombs, Swingin Utters, and
Dropkick Murphys, solid tunes. The packaging is sparse though, but it only adds to the mystique
in my eyes. The photo of the guys is hard to make out, but they appear older and sincere. A big
plus is the low cost, $6 American, a welcome price to a dirt poor man like me, and no doubt
most other Oi! and punk fans. You can spare the cash for this one, what you get in return pays
back a hundred times over!
-Garth
Brass Tacks - Just The Facts CD - Beer City
Nowadays, there are so many Oi! bands out there, and so little with a shred of originality or even heart, that you really have to work at being a little different and standing out from the pack if you want anyone to take notice of you. I must admit, I wasn't expecting much from this CD, what with its unimaginative cover-art and generic song titles, but I'm glad I took a chance on these guys. Far from the usual follow-the-numbers Oi! style, these guys play a cross between early U.S. Oi! and hard rock, along the lines of AC/DC, Motorhead, hell a couple songs even bring to mind Guns n' Roses at times! To give you an idea of their sound, their cover of Rose Tattoo's "Nice Boys" sounds like something they would have written themselves. This isn't really a must-have release, as a few songs are kind of lame, but good ones include "For All I Care", "Losing Control", "Feed The Fire", and a very tasty (and unlisted on the CD) cover of "Back With A Bang". Worth checking out.
Dropkick Murphys/Business - Mob Mentality split 7" - Taang!
A teaser for an upcoming full length release from these two bands. If all of these songs are on the album, I will be frustrated, because it will mean that I bought this 7" for no reason. For someone with limited funds, it is maddening to buy a single, only to find out that it will be repeated on a full-length that you know you're going to end up buying anyway... OK with that off my chest... The a-side is credited to "McBusiness" and is the two bands playing together. Not bad, but not as good as it could have been I guess. On the B-side they cover each other's songs. The Dropkick Murphys' version of "Informer" is far superior to the Business' version of "Streets of Boston". I'd wait for the album to come out if I were you.
Ducky Boys/Shods - Old Time Rock N' Roll split 7" - TKO/Flat
Not exactly a match made in heaven for these two bands, who do one original and one cover each. The Ducky Boys give us a strong original, "Boston USA", in their usual heavy street rock style, and a surprisingly reverent cover of "Stand By Me" that sounds really good. The Shods are also from Boston, they play kind of a cross between '60's style garage punk and late '70s new wave. Their original is pleasant enough, but their cover of "Here Comes the Night" predictably can't come close to the great Them version that it's based on. An OK little ep, not worth the eight bucks I paid for it though.
Generation 69 - Skinhead demo - self-released
Practically every country in the world has some sort of Oi! scene, and here is one of Singapore's entries into the international streetpunk marketplace. The only other Singapore Oi! band that I know of, the Maniacs, have an excellent song on the first installment of "Oi! Rare & Exotica", and they are name-checked here. This five-song demo is kind of similar to the Maniacs, but not as polished. The band could also use a bit of tightening up, but it's still heartening to hear this release. You know that, unlike most US bands, to form an Oi! band in a place like Singapore, you have to be 100% committed to Oi! and it shows that these boys are. The best song is the first, a good, bouncy and catchy streetpunk number. The final song on the tape is a stab at ska called "Join the Pit", and you haven't lived until you've heard skinhead reggae done Singapore style!
The Griffin - Hidden And Forbidden CD - Real Deal
Here's a 23-track rarities compilation from the most eclectic band in streetpunk. I'm not a huge fan of compilations that present mostly live and demo material... why bother to release shitty versions of tunes that are better heard elsewhere? But since I love this band, and it's so hard to find their releases, I jumped at the opportunity to get this disc, and I wasn't disappointed. Some great stuff here, including "Liven Up The Night", "Reincarnation" and "Powderworks"; all great punk/Oi! classics that were eventually released on "Griffin: The Album" (I think... my info might be wrong as the liner notes are written in Japanese with a few English words here and there)... Fuck what I'd give to get my hands on the finished versions of these tracks, which rival anything by Sham 69 or Menace. "Gunplay" is a fast punker with a vaguely country/western feel, while "Cheerful Johnny's", the earliest tune here (from '84 and apparently off a cassingle) is strongly reminiscent of "White Man In Hammersmith Palais", with its slow, reggae beat and use of harmonica, but with ultra-melodic vocals. Another great song is "Human Dish", a total rocker with some very nice slide guitar. On the downside, most of the live and practice session stuff sounds like crap, and the CD ends with two humourous but ultimately pointless karaoke versions of "Liven Up The Night".
Gundog - They Who Laugh Last... Laugh Longer CD - Sidekicks
The debut full-length from this much-hyped U.K. band, hailed as the new hope for British Oi! It's easy to see where all of the hype is coming from---Everything about this album screams quality, from the hard-as-nails gruff vocals, to the tight, superb musicianship, the strong lyrics, and crystal-clear production. So why didn't this album hook me? There is just something lacking in the songwriting department. There are no songs here that grab me by the throat and force me to pay attention, which results in most of the CD fading into the background. Still, with this band's considerable talent, they have the potential to come out with a classic. Let's hope they realize that potential on their next full length.
Gundog/Templars -Split 7" - New Blood
One of the best splits in recent memory. Gundog's full length didn't really grab me (see above), but their track here is a different story altogether---what a turnaround! A great, rockin' perfect track that will hav you bouncing off the walls. I can't wait to see what they come up with next. The Templars' tune is, of course, great as well. It has been mentioned before, but the guitar riff reminds of CCR's "Bad Moon Rising". Some great lyrics for both bands as well. Highly reccommended.
The Jacks - The Last Of The Real American Heroes 7" - Haunted Town
There is a pretty big buzz around these NJ streetpunkers, so I had to check things out for myself. They sound like a cross between Those Unknown and the Swingin' Utters, but a lot rougher, and not as good musically or lyrically as those bands. Still, a good, honest record that is worth having in your collection. I bet they'll improve with time.
Reducers- Backing the Longshot CD- TKO
Most people by now know these guys, if not, they play a style similar to their SF bros, Swingin
Utters (it was even produced by Darius Koski), but more street rockin. Simon likened them to
Section 5 and I would have to agree that is a good comparison. I first heard them on a comp a
few years ago and was not struck too much by them at the time, but this full length shows the
boys polishing up and coming together nicely. They show some good heart and make one think
of their own family and where they come from, not like the rebellious, pissed lyrics of punk or
political bands, just straight up Oi! tunes about getting by day to day, and having a good
time......just what Oi! should be about. There is also the usual nice TKO packaging, complete
with a few black and white photos and old fashioned drawings, that transport one back in time, a
nice complement to this music that harkens back to the days when men worked hard, people
respected each other, and life was simple.
-Garth
Templars- The Return of Jacques de Molay CD- Dim
Perhaps this is a bit too after the fact now, as this cd is fading into unavailability. I know that it
can be gotten as a repress called "Two in One" that contains "Beauseant" ep, but I don't know
who put it out in this format. Vinyl and the original Dim cd may be opt. Anyways, this was the
Lords of Acre's first LP and Carl and Phil have mentioned in interviews that it does not yet
capture the full Templars sound, which they credit as appearing on Phase II in its full glory.
Personally I like this album the best of their three long players, while the band sites their finest
ever as a split with Glorystompers, regardless, this, and all their material is great (Their GMM
album is much different than the Acre studio stuff, but still quality.) On the record in question, one
gets a few songs which can be gotten on the "Dans les Catacombs......" comp.: "The Templars",
"The Sixties are Over", and "I Believe in Myself" leaving 10 others, to the best of my knowledge,
unique to "The Return.....". Out of those ten, all are superb, particularly a tough ass, southern
rock and folk influenced piece called "New York" as well as a lovely number "Our Generation"
which ranks up there with tunes like "World War III". There is also one listed as "This is Not the
First Song" which comes with totally un-Carl like vocals (they are really soft and light here) and
musical intricacy to rank alongside anything else I know by them. If this review seems a bit sterile
compared to my others, it is not for lack of enthusiasm for the band, but I wanted to write a
portion of it for this site's host, Simon, who knows full well what they are about, but has had this
one elude him, so I wanted to lay out the "vital statistics" on it. Now, for those who don't know
the Templars' sound................What have you been doing!? You MUST obtain something by
them, preferably pre GMM so as to get their prime sound. Most all of their material was
recorded in Phil's garage on a 4 track (Acre studios). Carl sings with a gruff, throaty voice, but
plays lilting, overlapping guitar like no other Oi! band. They take influence from acts like The
Animals, The Who, etc. and it really shows. Simon described them as Rolling Stones meets the
Blitz and I find this very fitting. They also take influence from folk tunes and play heavily on their
Templars and Clockwork Orange obsessions, creating a mystique and individual persona totally
unrivaled. So, take a bit of mod rock, a spot of folk, the Blitz, "All Skrewed Up", give it kick ass
Oi! vocals and you get an idea of the sound. There is also no other band with a more fitting
name. They have a medieval\fantasy feel to them that a friend described as making him think of
"Lord of the Rings". Hunt this album down, buy all their others, the ep's, every comp they are
on. Find their website and order their shirts and buttons, and then email them that you are an
addicted fanatic!
-Garth
Templars/Wodnes Thegnas - split 7" - Haunted Town
A nice little split release for all of us Templars die-hards. The Lords of Acre give us yet another great song to add to their roster. It's hard to review a new Templars release... How many ways can you say "this song kicks ass"? Wodnes Thegnas is a side project involving Carl and (I'm guessing here) his brother. The guitar and vocals are credited to "Wolfstooth", but if it's not Carl, then it's somebody who does a pretty damn good impression. The song sounds like the Templars, but with more of a hard rock kind of feel. Good stuff on both sides of this single.
Trotskids - La Complete CD - Combat Rock
It's hard to write a review of something like this---either you're familiar with that classic French sound, and understand what us French Oi! fanatics are always gushing about, or you have yet to hear it. Anyway, this is a near-comlete roundup of all the material from this great band from the Chaos Productions era. One great song after another, though I have a slight preference for their earlier material over the songs from "A Mort! A Fond!" The Trotskids had the typical French Oi/Punk sound, with a lot of emphasis placed on the drums, and some very sick lyrics. Their earliest material was more skinhead/Oi! oriented, and as time passed, their songs developped more and more of an '82 britpunk feel, with influences from the likes of GBH and the English Dogs clearly audible, but they never really abandoned their core sound. Get this CD whatever you do, you won't regret it.
The Truents- Every Day of the Week CD- TKO
Before getting this I had heard that Phil Templar was in this band. I had also seen their 7inch with
the super sweet cover of some Catholic chic. I was a bit surprised to get this full length to find
rather odd front and back cover photos of NYC streets. The band's name was in hip hop\bubble
graffiti writing and the song list did not include the usual titles one finds with street bands ("punks
n' skins", that kind of thing). I opened up up to find the band not looking like other bands I listen
too (not that looks really matter) but most of them had a baggy clothes\east coast city way about
them, and no Phil. Only the TKO logo attested to the fact that I did indeed get the right thing. I
put it in the tray and and it kicked me in the stomach right off, with a high quality sound and fine
production sound like Rancid (Hey, I know they went to MTV, but never forget Lint and Op.
Ivy!) with plenty of whooo oooohhh's and a deep bass line (something not readily found in many
Oi! bands). I would not necessarily call them Oi!, but more something like melodic, modern day,
high quality punk rock. A few of the songs had some California and hardcore touches, neither of
which I am too keen on, but I really hold this album in a lot of esteem. Those into more street
rockin stuff and a more vintage sound might not be into this one, but it suits me just fine. I have
tripped over the headphones, cord many times while running around to this, only to give my
apartment neighbor a quick blast of ear piercing level street punk the TKO way.
-Garth
Vanilla Muffins- Sugar Oi! Will Win CD- Walzwerk
If you like the band and don't have this, seek it out. I can't say how much longer Walwerk will
have the disc in print and of course the vinyl on Helen of Oi! is gone, so get on the ball if you are
a fan. It stands as more street level than the other two, but is still essential for those who have
gotten the sweet tooth. (For those who don't know their sound, see my review on "Ultra Fine
Day") Lyrically it is their usual topics, what Matt Walz called "football girls and rebels", that show
what nice guys the Muffins are. Highlights include a hilarious tune about the Elvis in his sloppier
years, a song about how hearing Oi! music saved their lives, and a half French\half English bit
about a girl named "Capucine" that stands as their best in my opinion. Everyone I play this for
says "Who are these guys!?" even fans of stuff totally unrelated to street music. So if that says
anything.......... We will win!
-Garth
Vanilla Muffins - The Devil is Swiss CD- Walzwerk
Of their three, I think this is probably the best, definitely the "sugar Oi!" sound at its peak. It is
short, ten songs, but easy to listen to, and is good enough that I have heard it sometimes three
times in a row with no skipping of songs. This album also sees the boys getting more polished
and Mickey Fitz and Frankie Flame did some collaboration here. The album also sports one of
the finest covers in the scene, a 50's style drawing of a devil woman looming standing atop
Switzerland. It is painted so well that the sun peaking out from behind the Alps hurts your eyes,
and the flight jacket that she bears is so realistic, one can almost scratch their fingers against its'
shiny nylon.
-Garth
V/A - Bootprints Across Italy!! CD - Boot
I've always wished that someone would start putting out KBD-type compilations devoted to rare/obscure Oi!, and now somebody has with this entry, modelled after the "Bloodstains Across..." series. Here we have a good sampling of the sounds coming from Italy in the '80s, and where else could you start but with Nabat's first 7"? This ep is proof positive that you don't have to be a virtuoso to make good music---very primitive and amateurish, but it sounds so good that it just doesn't matter. The next band to be showcased is Shockin' T.V. and their side of their split (Either 7" or 12", I've seen it listed as both) with Tiratura Limitata. They blaze through eight short blasts of hardcore punk that are unfortunately not all that good. They are not really very Oi! sounding, either. Perhaps the only reason they got lumped in with the Oi! scene at the time is because they say "Oi! Oi! Oi!" in one of their songs?? The Rough are next, and they live up to their name with their four agressive tracks. Up next is one of the most underrated bands of all time, Basta, with their only 7". I'm glad this 7" got booted here, as it will give more people a chance to check out this little known, ultra-aggressive release, which is one of the true lost classics of the international Oi! scene. Following this is Nabat with their second ep, much more musically proficient than the first, and another brilliant release. The harmonies in the choruses to these songs give me a warm feeling inside. Hope & Glory's 7" is showcased next, with three very good Oi! tunes and an instrumental ska song. Finally, we end our visit to Italy with yet another classic, Plastic Surgery's outstanding "Rivolta" 7". The two songs on the a-side are good Oi! stompers, while the title track is an Oi! song of epic proportions, and a beautiful one at that. Definitely a good comp here, you get your money's worth with 33 tracks and nice packaging that includes all the cover art and interviews with some of the bands.
V/A - The East Coast Of Oi! CD - Radical
This comp has a few good songs, but it's probably one of the poorest comps released in recent times. (Though it may be marginally better than some of Helen of Oi!'s recent atrocious comps!) You pretty much know that you're in for some rough going when you look at the unappealing cover art, and in this case you can judge a book by its cover. A quick glance at the track listing also shows this release to be a scam... how dare a comp call itself "The East Coast of Oi!" and not include anything by the Templars?? That aside, on to the music... The always-solid Wretched Ones get things rolling, but this song, while good enough, doesn't really hold a candle to some of their better stuff. Steel Toe Solution have a run of the mill song with some really lousy lyrics, while the Outsiders have one of the better songs on here, a catchy, gruff Oi!/rockabilly stomper. The Broken Heroes, a veteran NJ band, have a mediocre cut, they are followed by Sniper, musically weak, but lyrically a little interesting (if not all that original). The 239 Scams have a pretty unmemorable time waster of a song next, followed by the Cuffs with an O.K. ballad type of song. Terminus City bring the rockin' "Landlord Bastard", a good song though it obviously owes a pretty big debt to the Dead Kennedys lyrically. Up next is Runnin' Amok... the less said about them the better. Same goes for Squiggy, though this song is a tiny bit better than some of the other stuff I've heard of theirs. Disorderly Conduct contribute a fast oicore number that isn't half bad, the Brassknuckles on the other hand are just bad. Next is the Ducky Boys with "We'll Find A Way" off "Dark Days"... a great song, though kind of jarring to hear in this context. The Infiltrators really steal the show on this release, they are one of the few oicore bands that actually have a distnctive sound, and I think I'm going to have to check out their full-length on Oink. They are followed by Man's Ruin, who play their usual Riot-Grrl-Meets-Oi! sound. You either like this band or can't stand them... Since I've always had a soft spot for bands like Bikini Kill I have no problem with them. Heidnik Stew follow with a prime example of how not to do oicore... their track straight up sounds like shit. The comp ends with Niblick Henbane playing their classic "Hoodlum" live... I am a fan of this band, but they seriously sound like they were on downers at this gig... no energy at all. Overall I'd say if you're a die-hard Oi! fan and are prepared to wade through a lot of shit to find a few pearls, then get this comp. If you are new to Oi! look elsewhere.
V/A - It's A... Kick To Be Alive! 10" - Real Deal
If you're like me and are hopelessly addicted to Japanese Oi! then this 10" is a must have. The Creed play a good, melodic punk hammer, followed by the Side Burns with the slower, menacing track "Warriors". LRF are next with the blindingly good "Three More Years"... If you haven't heard this band, hurry up and do so! Great mod rock meets '77 punk meets '81 Oi! On side two the Explore lead with a very strong '77 sounding song about manufactured teen idols, followed by the Hawks, with a slower, anthemic ballad called "Freedom", very good, I wonder if they've released anything besides this and their track from "Superyobs". Next on the comp is Blade, another band that can do no wrong in my opinion, with "Brazenfaced Bastard". Finally, the For Men finish with "Hurry Up", a really catchy, well played track that is a great way to round out a perfect comp.
V/A - Oi! It's A World Invasion CD - Bronco Bullfrog
Believe it or not, there was a time when most Oi! comps were worth owning, and in the mid-'90s Bronco Bullfrog released a lot of them. This one, from '94, isn't 100% great, but the good stuff far outweighs the bad here. Also, at least in those days, even the mediocre bands at least had some kind of passion for what they were doing. We start of with three early Templars tracks, the standout among them being "Raving Idiots", kind of a "Soulboys" for the '90s lyrically. These tracks have very gruff vocals and the drums figure prominently in the mix, almost drowning out the superb guitar. Up next, Bierpatrioten give us a couple of good, very gruff slower Oi! tunes, and one humourous singalong bit with lyrics (in German) about being "Unemployed with one bottle of beer". They are followed by what was the debut of the Vanilla Muffins, with three great, catchy as always cuts, somewhat rougher than what you may be used to from them, but quality stuff nonetheless. This band is always full of surprises, such as when the singer belts out a verse of "Always On the Wrong Side" in Italian for no apparent reason. Up next is the sadly underrated Zona A with three excellent songs done in their usual melodic style. I'd like to get ahold of one of this band's full-lengths. Next is Patriot with three of their best songs ever, including my favourite of theirs, "The Morning After". They are followed by my countrymen, the Sons of Pride, who give us a couple of rather uninspired tracks, "City Boy" and "Nation on Fire" (and no, they aren't 4Skins and Blitz covers...) The only other weak band here, Distortion, come in next, with four songs. This band has been around since the early '80s, but just can't seem to come up with a song that will stick in one's head. Finally the Public Toys bring things to a close with three wonderful melodic Oi!/pogo numbers.
V/A - Oi! Rare & Exotica Volume Two lp - boot
The second installment of the series that should put to rest once and for all the notion that Oi! was confined to a time and place ('80s South London...) This volume scores big for actually including an insert with a bit (though not enough) of info about each band, something that was sorely lacking with volume one. Control Zone from Ireland start the comp off with "Bloody Bouncers", I guess they will be remembered as one of the bands other than Skrewdriver from the "United Skins" comp. Klamydia from Finland do a strong rendition of Blitz's "Razors in the Night. Zona A from Slovakia play a typical example of their catchy, melodic, highly Eastern European sound. Manifestho from Brazil have a good melodic mid-tempo tune. Psychoterror from Estonia were one of the highlights of volume one, and this speedy but moody sounding number is even better. S.A. from Japan have a song from their 8" flexi from '85, this song is similar to their material on the "Oi! of Japan" comp, but also has a bit of the typical Discharge-influenced fuzzed-out Japanese punk sound to it. Next come Sex Bomba from Poland, also from '85, with a song from their one Oi! album, before they became a mainstream rock band. Generacija Bez Buducnosti from Yugoslavia give us the best song on the lp, "Ne Predaje Se", taken from their '92 full-length lp, which is now #1 on my must-track-down list. They are followed by ACAB from Malaysia, whose song is surprisingly well-produced and recorded. Ramzez and the Hooligans, another Polish band, sound pretty good, though the vocals take some getting used to. Commando Suicida from Argentina play a good, slower number from some comp, better then their song from their 7" on volume 1. It's interesting to note that CS were an R.A.C. band, given the liner notes' sermonizing about "love music, hate fascism"... The Bombecks from Germany play a fast oicore style. Cicatriz from Spain play good punk with a very hyperactive vocalist who adds to their song immensely. The Rude Boys are another Malaysian band, apparently there is a pretty big skinhead scene there. Nana Bonnard from France are probably one of the least remembered of all of the "Chaos" bands of the time, probably because they weren't as good as most of the others. Control from Bulgaria play a slower, plodding, kind of menacing track. Polikarpa Y Sus Viciosas from Columbia have a good, catchy punker with female vocals. The Squats (pre-magnificent) from Holland play "Shut Your Bleedin' Head", not really that rare of a track anymore. The Neurotics from Brazil were recorded on a cheap boombox, playing with cheap equipment, at some punk festival in Brazil way back in '82. Pretty amazing that there were skin bands in Brazil even then! Brainfailure and the A-jerks are both from China, and frankly both sound like the same band. Both play decent but basic stuff. I definitely never expected to hear Chinese Oi! though! Trash from Germany had a single called "Oi! Oi! Oi!" in '82, unfortunately it's an unlistenable live recording. Golpe Justo from Puerto Rico play more of a late '80s NYHC sound, not much Oi! here. Finally, 7teen from Russia are the most bizarre Oi! band I've ever heard, combining speedmetal, goth and Oi! into one unholy amalgam. This comp along with volume one is a must have for the more adventurous Oi! fan.
V/A- Scene Killer Volume 2 CD- Outsider
So the second installment of this comp. now seems to have filtered out pretty much everywhere,
getting a good reception from what I have seen. On the cd one gets thirty bands, most of them
U.S., like Texas toughguys The Oisters, working man's heroes Hudson Falcons and their buddies
The Jacks, the much reformed The Authority!, ultra hooligans- Disorderly Conduct, Oi!-core
savages Youthful Offenders, and many others. There are only a few non U.S. bands:
Germany's\Ireland's Boots and Braces, Sweden's Radio 69 (Who I had not heard before, but
blew me away with their singalong street rock included herein!), Belgium's Funeral Dress, and
British veterans 999, Menace, and Beerzone (a new band, comprised of older guys). I don't
have the first Scene Killer yet, but I know the band listing and thought that it was a bit odd, this
one is more homogenous, but still seems to have some unlikely bedfellows, like Anti-Flag
alongside Forced Reality (OK, so I listen to Anti-Flag, but p.c. punks alongside patriotic skins
technically should leave one perplexed.); 999, who I never really paid a lot of attention to; and a
classy, 77, glam tinged act called The Explosion, that seem like they would be most at home
alongside Dimestore Haloes, Dead End Cruisers, etc. The top few tracks would be a ska\Oi!
mix by The Oi!strs, a solid Bonecrusher track (but all their stuff is solid as concrete), a Forced
Reality tune with meaningful lyrics about a decent, working man, murdered and robbed in the
street by scum, Dropkick Murphys covering SLF, and most noteworthy would have to be
Menace's modern day classic "C&A". If there is one song that is a must hear for any Oi! fan, it is
that tune!!! Most all the songs are otherwise unreleased. The only ones I knew were "C&A"
which appears in a different version on their latest 7inch, and Boots and Braces closed out the
album with their melodic football song "Third Half", taken from their most recent album. Overall,
the sounds of most of the bands are pretty much stuff I am used to, so not many of the newer acts
kicked in my head. Still, I do say that there are not a bunch cliches or lame attitudes on this. It is
pretty easy to find, and for the few bucks, it is worthwhile to hear so many groups. The Menace
or Forced Reality songs alone are enough to make it worth the purchase.
P.S.
While I couldn't go into detail on 30 songs, several of which were by
bands I really don't know a lot about, and can't say much on at this
point, having heard only one track apiece, I will make note of two
newcomers in particular: Dead Empty and the Pug Uglies. Dead Empty blew
me away with their kick ass contribution "White Trash Ghetto". It was a
blistering bit of melodic Oi!. I don't know what their other material
is like, but I hope it is as good, and look forward to hearing from them
in the future! The Pug Uglies give us "Enough is Enough", an incredibly
strong oi!core bit that is also perhaps a good omen from these Mass.
guys in regards to their future output. So, for those new, still fairly
unknown bands on this, especially these two, best wishes!
- Garth
V/A - Vulture Rock Promotional E.P. #4 7" - Vulture Rock
A nice sampler of six bands from Vulture Rock's impressive stable. The cover art on this one will be a nice surprise for anyone who may be a fan of Santo. We start off with the Templars with "Gunrunner" off the excellent "Beaseant" cdep on Dim, followed by the Unruly with "True to the Boot", kind of a hardcore sounding track with great guitar leads that really make the song. Regardless of what you think of this band's members personally, there's no denying the power of their music. Side A closes with the Youthful Offenders with the previously unreleased "United Skins", basically a boring rip-off of Warzone. On side B you get Disorderly Conduct with the blistering "Working Class Blues" from their cdep on Vulture Rock. This band is always solid, but never seem to take things over the top for me. Next up is the Moloko Men with "Drunk and Poor", kind of a mediocre track, followed by Impact with "Nuit Des Crucifies", a previously unreleased song in their usual style, quite excellent.
My Adress:
Simon Beneteau
247 Esdras Place
Windsor, Ontario
N8S 2M4/Canada