Complete Control - Blame

 
  Earlier this year I posted a song by an English band called Complete Control, today it's the turn of a different band with the same name.

  Complete Control were a hard hitting punk band featuring ex members of the Strap-Onz who were described as being a cross between Youth Brigade and Cock Sparrer. Hailing from Austin, Texas they released an ep in 2002 called Vicious and followed it up with their 2004 debut album Reaction. As far as I'm aware, their only other releases were a split ep with Krum Bums and an ep called The Mourning After.

  Featuring on the album were Sam Ghanbar (vocals), Brad Teeter (guitar), Ry Meyer (bass) and Chris Polansky (drums). It was released on TKO Records and features 11 tracks of high adrenalin politicised punk rock. From it, this is Blame.....

I heard there's a place
Where men traded worlds
And the debts were paid off
With our lives
And the eyes of the innocent went blind
When the concrete mountains fell from the sky

If you let freedom ring, will they hear it
If you let freedom ring, will they care
If you let freedom ring, will they accept it
If you let freedom ring, will they dare
We're to blame
We're to... blame
When freedom rings are we deaf and dumb

With arrogance we act surprised
We police the world
And we cheat out the deprived
A deserved tragedy
That we had coming
And the price you'll pay
For your leaders lies

The Fallout - Talkin' Punk Rock Civil War

  The Fallout are a politically charged punk rock band from Toronto, Canada. They claim a kinship with bands like Stiff Little Fingers, The Jam, D.O.A., Moral Crux etc, all bands that play with a similar upbeat tempo and who've penned many a socially concious song between them.

  If they sound like your cup of tea (and to be honest, if they don't why are you reading this blog?), there's a great back catalogue of their music awaiting your attention here : http://thefalloutcanada.bandcamp.com/ 

  The song I'm posting today can be found on 2004's Turning Revolution Into Money album and it's a rallying call for you all to get out into your local community and make a change by getting involved. If all you do is sing along at the shows of your favourite bands, nothing is ever going to change for the better, it's actions not words that'll bring about a revolution. Starting off with a Woody Guthrie soundbite, this is Talkin' Punk Rock Civil War.......


"Now, boys, you've come to the hardest time.
The boss will try to bust your picket line.
He'll call out the police, the National Guard,
They'll tell you it's a crime to have a union card.
They'll raid your meetin', they'll hit you on the head,
They'll call every one of you a goddam red,
Unpatriotic, Japanese spies, sabotaging national defense!

That if you don't let red-baiting break you up,
And if you don't let stoolpigeons break you up,
And if you don't let vigilantes break you up,
And if you don't let race hatred break you up,
You'll win. What I mean, take it easy, but take it!"

Please don’t get excited cause I’m not keeping score
of the chances you’ve blown and opportunities ignored
to help the ones you love and say you care for
while you talk righteously all about it

And it ain’t getting better in fact it’s getting worse
poor are getting poorer the meek inheriting the earth
while here in the America’s we’re still giving birth
to the notion we’re all created equal

Now I don’t think you understand what you’re fighting for
Our music, poetry and politics don’t lead to a cure
We need more than talkin” punk rock civil war

Please don’t take me wrong, don’t get pissed off
but the injustice and violence that you think you can stop
continues everyday as we sing our protest songs

Talk without action produces no results
self-gratifying lifestyles removing any doubt
the chimes of freedom have long wrung out
in a world where direct action counts
 

Four Letter Word - Scared Of The Dark

  Recently I seem to have been posting lots of new releases, many of them from British bands, which is hopefully an indication that maybe the underground punk scene on these shores is picking up a bit. Certainly I don't remember there being as many good bands around over here back in the 90's/early 2000's (although it's quite possible I wasn't paying quite as much attention back then). One band I do remember though, who released one of my favourite albums from that period, were Four Letter Word.

  Formed in Cardiff in 1991, they stuck at it for 20 years during which time there were numerous line up changes though vocalist Welly and guitarist Jon were mainstays who both returned after short periods away. Welly has been one of the UK punk scene's most influential figures as he's been editor of Artcore Fanzine since 1986 (http://www.artcorefanzine.co.uk/   https://www.facebook.com/ArtcoreZine) and he now fronts Bristol's hardcore punk band Violent Arrest (check out their latest release here : http://punkdistro.bandcamp.com/album/violent-arrest-life-inside-the-western-bloc-lp  and back catalogue here : http://violentarrest.bandcamp.com/). Keep your eyes peeled as hopefully he'll be submitting a list of his favourite 10 songs soon.

  Back to Four Letter Word, they released music on B.Y.O. Records, toured the US, and gigged with top bands such as Youth Brigade, 7 Seconds, Swingin' Utters etc... My favourite album of theirs was 2004's Like Moths To A Flame from which today's song is taken. If you are unfamiliar with them, I suggest you check out their bandcamp where you'll find free downloads of all their music : http://fourletterwordpunk.bandcamp.com/

  A highlight of that back catalogue, this is Scared Of The Dark.....

 

The Lids - R.H.T.S

"No More School, No More Work".......  

Today's song is an upbeat, energetic number that's straight out of the garage. It came out in 2004 on Rip Off Records and is by Atlanta, Georgia's The Lids. The band were a short lived affair which featured Alix Brown (who's already appeared in this blog alongside Jay Reatard as part of Angry Angles : http://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/angry-angles-you-fell-in.html ), Bobby Ubangi (aka Benjamin Jay Womack, who was a founder member of Carbonas as well as a member of Gaye Blades and Black Lips and who tragically died in 2009 of cancer aged just 35), Dave Rahn (Carbonas, Gentleman Jesse & His Men), Mark Naumann and Valery Lovely.

  They released the 3 track Too Late 7" in 2003 (released on bassist Mark Naumann's Die Slaughterhaus label) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD9C7Kc3M7Y) before returning a year later with their self titled album (Rip Off Records #067). Featuring high tempo, enthusiastic punk n roll songs which mix male and female vocals it's definitely recommended checking out. Most of the tracks are on this youtube channel : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmkxVPGUT3b7hK8KCr_kkiQ/videos

  A rather enthusiastic live review on Terminal Boredom by Rich Kroneiss ran something like this :

"Hitting in the third spot were The Lids from Atlanta, one of the bands I was most excited see all weekend. I fell in love with their single the minute it landed on my doorstep. I was a bit worried, as I had heard previous reports of incompetent live shows, but that was obviously bad information, because The Lids fucking killed it. Drummer, guitarist/singer, bass player, and a three girl harmony section front and center decked out in great duds and tambourines. And when I say girls, I mean the really good-looking variety. To steal a great description from my colleague Sir Mitch Cardwell, it was like "Supercharger meets the Shangri-La's in a dumpster" or something like that. They played the hits from the single and a bunch of other great songs. The girls had moves, and kept every guy's attention I'm sure. The one on the left was my personal favorite, but they were all lookers. Their bass player looked mean, and I quite enjoyed it when he kicked some dude with two-tone hair square in the face. Fucking cool. I later found out he was the guy who ran Die Slaughterhaus, and was a real nice guy. A frenzied dance party erupted in front of the stage. Girls were everywhere. The set was done, and I immediately gushed to anyone who would listen about how great the Lids just were. Most agreed."

  Currently stuck in my head, this is R.H.T.S..........

No Hope For The Kids - Rainy Day

"I STUFFED MYSELF WITH PILLS TODAY
 DOESN'T SEEM TO BE WORKING
 I'M SUICIDAL IN EVERY WAY
 AND IT FEELS LIKE I'M BURNING

 IT'S A RAINY DAY
 IT'S A RAINY DAY
 MY LIFE JUST SLIPS THROUGH MY HANDS
 JUST TO FADE AWAY"


  Today's song is by a band that I know pretty much nothing about so this could be a very short introduction, fortunately the song's a killer.

  No Hope For The Kids were from Copenhagen and featured Jens Johannsen (bass), Kasper Maarbjerg (guitar, vocals), Peter Bonneman (drums) and Ronni Dybdahl (vocals, guitar). Their debut single, Das Reich, was released in 2003 and quickly sold out, it was followed a year later by a self titled album (from which today's song comes). They were popular enough outside their native Denmark that they managed several tours of Europe and the U.S. but as far as I'm aware they split not too long after releasing 2006's Angel's Of Destruction 7".

  You can check out the album here : http://hjernespind.bandcamp.com/album/no-hope-for-the-kids

  This is Rainy Day......

Spazzys - Paco Doesn't Love Me

"Second verse.....different from the first"

  I enjoyed yesterday's update so much that today I'm posting another of my  favourite pop punk songs. This time it's by Melbourne's top all girl trio Spazzys; imagine if your favourite 60's girl group had somehow been brought up on a diet of sun, sea and The Ramones, they might have ended up sounding something like this.

  Formed in 2000 and comprising of twins Kat (vocals, guitar) and Lucy (bass) as well as Ally (drums), they've shared a stage with the likes of Blondie, Marky Ramone, The Hives, The Dwarves, Buzzcocks and most memorably, Marilyn Manson, whose fans didn't appreciate their catchy pop punk.

  Their debut album was 2004's Aloha! Go Bananas, a treasure trove of infectious, bubblegum tunes but their follow up, Dumb Is Forever, was delayed by legal issues and didn't see the light of day till 2011. Fortunately it proved that time hadn't affected their ability to produce great music.

  The song I've chosen is one of their early singles, released in 2004 on FUR Records, this is the Ramones influenced Paco Doesn't Love Me......


Paco doesn't love me! 

Hey there Paco you Italian fiend
Why aren't you in love with me?
I've got a killer crush on you and it's something that I just can't endure
I know that Paco's kinda retarded 
He's left me here all broken hearted
I want him to be my main man
He wants another girl to hold his hand.

So hey Paco baby don't you know you break my heart
So sugar do the right thing just come on be my retard
Your looking kinds cool I write your name on all my desks at school.
I wanna see your band I wanna make you understand
That I wanna hold your hand
But there's nothing I can do to convince you
‘Cause Paco doesn't love me.

Second verse,different from the first

And you know I'm not the only one who's heart pounds when Paco plays his drums
Cause he hits the skins as fast as Marky
I wish he'd hit my skin that quickly.

Hey there Paco you Italian fiend
Why aren't you in love with me?
I've got a killer crush on you and it's something that I just can't endure 

The Shocks - Banned From The USA

 
   The Shocks were a German band who played a '77 era flavour of punk rock. They got together in winter of '95 in Hallejan, initially playing covers of songs by the likes of The Damned, Ramones and Slaughter & The Dogs but soon progressed to writing their own material, debuting with the Too Many Kicks 7" in 1996. Non English speakers, their vocals were in their native tongue. Following their Holiday On Zyklon Bay and Anti-Scene - Fehlpressung 2000 7"'s they released a debut album, More Cuts For You in Zero 2. This was followed a year later with album number two, Bored To Be In Zero 3.
   Around this time they were due to tour America's west coast with The  Briefs (with whom they released a split single) and The Epoxies but they were sent back to Germany by Seattle immigration officers. One good thing to come out of this episode was the single Banned From The USA which you can find below......

The Dimestore Haloes - Saturday's Heroes

 
Today sees a classic song from "Notorious punk rock n roll weirdos from Boston, Mass that are equal parts The Replacements, Slade and The Clash."

  The Dimestore Haloes were in existence between 1995 and 2003 during which time they released several killer records (click the link for more details :     http://thedimestorehaloes.bandcamp.com/), played plenty of great live shows and garnered some very positive press. Unfortunately mega stardom never came a knocking but the people who did get to discover them still no doubt have their name high up on their lists of greatest ever bands. Despite splitting up over 10 years ago, Singer/guitarist Chaz Matthews has still been pretty active. 2005 saw his American Graceless solo album whilst more recently he's been part of The Cheap Cassettes alongside Kevin Parkhurst (http://cheapcassettes.bandcamp.com/releases) and he's put out a surf rock record as part of Thee Imperial Royales (https://theeimperialroyales.bandcamp.com/).

  Originally on the Pelado Records compilation 3 Minute Heroes, this is a track that could easily have been recorded in late 70's England and it would have stood up well to the very best of that eras songs. This is Saturday's Heroes.....

The A-Lines - Four

 If you were to ask me what my favourite song in the world is right this minute, this is possibly the one I'd opt for..........

  The A-Lines, according to their Facebook page, "are Kyra (sings), Julie (guitar),  Debbie (drums) Delia (bass). They play lady-punk. One album out on SFTRI/Purr and some singles."
  Not much info there so let's flesh things out a little. Lead singer Kyra De Coninck (aka Kyra Rubella/Kyra La Rubia) is Belgian but moved to England when she was dating Wild Billy Childish. She was a member of The Headcoatees, as was A-Lines drummer, "Bongo" Debbie Green. Julie Hamper wasn't in The Headcoatees, she was in The Stuck Ups but did marry Wild Billy Childish and plays guitar with The A-Lines. Mambo Taxi bassist Delia Sparrow (aka Delia Dansette) came on board as Kyra struggled with combining bass duties with singing.
  Each member of the band is influenced by a wide range of artists including Johnny Cash, The Ramones, The Who and Kleenex (check out their cover of Heidi's Head on youtube).
  2003 saw them release a split single with Miss Mary, they followed this up in 2004 with the One Day 7". The same year saw the release of an album called You Can Touch, it's not surprising that Wild Billy Childish was the producer, neither is it a surprise that it's full of quality, rocking garage punk tunes. My favourite, as mentioned earlier, is called Four and can be found below.
  Despite that being their only album and a near 10 year lay off, 2013 saw them return to performing live so who knows, maybe one day there'll be new material. My fingers are crossed.

 

The Bobbyteens - Hate Me Just A Little Bit

"I don't expect you to love me now
 that would be too much
 I wouldn't want that anyhow
 hate me just a little bit....."


There's times when my other half is watching The X Factor on tv and Simon, Louis, Scary Spice and the one with the flowery arse are judging the latest rider on the pop pap conveyor belt when I think "I understand that they're looking for unchallenging, family friendly turds that they can polish up for mass consumption, and I understand that people brought up on a diet of sterile commercialism might not like anything that's a little different to what they're used to but........there's some really great pop tunes out there that I love, but for some reason (maybe it's not autotuned enough, maybe all the rough edges haven't been knocked off, maybe my ears are just set to a slightly different frequency???) the songs I love, despite being catchy and performed with feeling don't seem to feature on there.  A case in point being today's update which was released in 2004 by The Bobbyteens on their Cruisin' For A Bruisin' album. Formed in 1996 and featuring members of a multitude of earlier bands (such as The Trashwomen, The Mummies, Supercharger, Spastics....) the band originated from South City, California and mixed garage, rock n roll and pop to great effect. Next time your other half makes you watch The X Factor and you're thinking pop music is awful, you're wrong. When done well, it's glorious, witness Hate Me Just A Little Bit, in a better world it'd get 4 yes'es and our Saturday nights would be just that little bit better......

The Filaments - B.P.C

  I think it's about time there was a great upbeat skacore track added so here we go. The Filaments were formed in Chelmsford, Essex, in 1999. Influenced by the likes of The Clash, Rancid and The Specials it's not surprising that they aren't afraid to mix up punk, ska, dub and even psychobilly. Renowned for their killer live shows, they released a couple of albums, Skull And Trombones and ..What's Next? before calling it a day in 2005 when lead vocalist Jon Fawkes emigrated to America. He didn't stay there too long though and the band were soon back together and in 2013 they released their 3rd album, Land Of Lions. From ..What's Next? this is B.P.C.

Benfleet punx crew is the name of the firm so dear to me.
You'll see them on the cider 
and keeping it real out on the street.
We like to drink with them and sing with them 
thats how its always been.
We spent our teenage years like a punk rock family.

Through all the party nights and pissed up fights, 
a lot of shit went down
But we always stand together, we're unified and proud.
Back to those early gigs we were kids, 
but we knew how it had to be
The benfleet punx and chelmsford crew in solidarity

Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
The B.P.C.!(x3)

Hey!
Hey!
Hey!

Done down on southend seafront, a DIY gig.
The BPC gathers and they're busting out the drink
there gonna have a beer and have a laugh 
thats what its all about.
And then it's back to Benfleet 
the hometown have no doubt.

Hanging out on street corners 
where its punx against the pricks.
nothing can confront us when musics in the mix
Nothing could be better than when I'm drinking with my friends.
BPC this one's for you united to the end.

Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
The B.P.C.!(x3)

Ausmuteants - Felix Tried To Kill Himself

It was a tough decision which song by Ausmuteants to post today. I added their single to youtube a few days ago (hopefully they don't mind) but their Amusements album is a totally different beast full of catchy backing synths and tales of peeing, pooping, alien abductions and getting kicked in the head by a horse. In the end i decided to post a link to the album ( http://ausmuteants.bandcamp.com/album/amusements ) which i highly recommend you all check out, hell check out all their stuff. Hailing from Geelong, Australia, they began as a duo but are now a 4 piece, they're influenced by electro post punk bands (an excuse to mention Devo as all their reviews seem to do) and by far too many obscure early punk 7"'s and they're catchy as hell. This is the aforementioned single, it's called Felix Tried To Kill Himself.....

Hard Skin - Make my Tea

There's been quite a few bands featured so far from sunnier climes than where I'm writing from, bands from coastal locations in places like California who have a distinctive style, several of whom sing about girls. Today's band have also penned a great track which could be described as being about a girl but the sentiments are slightly different to the ones expressed by their overseas brethren. slightly tongue in cheek as well!
 Hard Skin from South London formed in the mid 90's. Featuring Sean Forbes from Wat Tyler, they're inspired by classic English Oi bands such as Sham 69 and the 4 Skins as well as a love of beer and women. Their debut album, Hard Nuts And Hard Cunts was followed 8 years later by Same Meat Different Gravy from which this track, Make My Tea, comes.
Their latest album, 2013's On The Balls, was also released in an alternative version featuring different female singers and called Why Do Birds Suddenly Appear. Very good it is too.

The Briefs - Destroy the USA

Some days all you need is a snappy 2 minute blast of catchy punk tunage. Seattle's The Briefs formed around the turn of the millennium and have released numerous albums and singles of colourfully energetic 1977 era pop punk music. Featuring members with names like Steve E Nix and Daniel J Travanti they're equally at home whether playing fun love songs or more serious political tracks. Not sure if they'll be releasing any new material but they're still occasionally gigging. Members are still active in bands such as The Cute Lepers, Sharp Objects and Modern Action. This song, Destroy The USA, was released  on their 2004 album Sex Objects.....



I hate strip malls, bathroom stalls,
Mini marts, rules, and laws
I hate pain in my head,
Getting out of bed,
Talk on TV, democracy,
I hate terror alerts,
All the stupid jerks, land of the free,
Idiocy. i hate bills that are new,
Drinks that are blue,
I hate myself, and i hate you

Destroy the USA hey hey
George started anyway OK!
Destroy the USA hey hey
It's alright America, come on America

I hate cops walking the beat
I hate the president, and i hate meat
I hate neutron bombs, senior proms,
Uncle Sam, corporate scams
I hate straight edge
I hate stupid drunk boneheads
I hate driving cars, hanging out at bars,
Skateboarding scars, and useless wars

Destroy the USA hey hey
George started anyway OK!
Destroy the USA alright
Come on America sign up America

Destroy the USA
Destroy the USA
Destroy the USA
Don't waste time, start today
Let's go!

I hate sports i hate games
Rock stars and stupid fame
I hate people in the scene
Keeping clean, fixing their hair
Cause i don't care
I hate fast food chains, monkey brains
Its all a frame and you're to blame,
I hate jello molds, and eating corn
Lines that are too long, this stupid song

Destroy the USA hey hey
George started anyway OK!
Destroy the USA alright
Sign up America come on America

Destroy the USA
It's gonna happen anyway
Destroy the USA
George said that it's ok
Destroy the USA
It's gonna happen anyway
Destroy the USA
Destroy the USA today