Friday, September 28, 2012

Tranzmitors - Concrete Depression 7" - Blue Vinyl (/150)

La Ti Da (2012)

Sadly, I can't do Seaweed Friday this week. While I do have another Seaweed record on its way do me, it didn't show up in the mail in time for me to post about it today. I'll put it up next Friday, but it's a bummer to break the streak.

What isn't a bummer is thie new Tranzmitors single on La Ti Da. Like the Needles // Pins 7" I posted about, by ordering a party pack of the labels releases, I was able to secure a copy of this beauty on limited blue vinyl.

Tranzmitors are one of the top notch bands out there playing mod infused power pop and this single is another great example of the pure talent they bring to the party. Both songs are great and really are shining examples of the kind of treble heavy, throwback pop that some other bands try to pull off. Tranzmitors nail it every time, and this 7" is absolutely worth your time.

Transmitors - Concrete Depression 7":
thetranzmitors.bandcamp.com/album/concrete-depression

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Bob Mould - Silver Age LP

Bob Mould - Silver Age LP by Tim PopKid
Bob Mould - Silver Age LP, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.
Merge (2012)

As a long time fan of Bob Mould (full confession, I prefer Sugar to Husker Du, I know, blasphemy), it's been a little depressing watching his output over the last 10-15 years or so. A decent record with a few good songs here, a record with about 50% decent songs there, a terrible electronic album... It just seemed to me that he lost his fire and wouldn't ever be relevant to me again. Then he goes and puts out the Silver Age, just to make me look like an asshole.

This record rips from start to finish. It's almost like he got Sugar up and running again and magically woke up 20 years younger with the kind of energy he's put into this record. Song after song of aggressive, well thought out and exciting guitar pop music. Easily the best thing he's put out since File Under Easy Listening and one of the absolute best records of the year. In one record Bob Mould has gone from awesome guy of the past to a guy that I absolutely can't wait to see what he does next. Please keep it Mr. Mould, I am absolutely paying attention again.

Bob Mould - The Descent:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MdhsCeasBQ

Bob Mould - Star Machine:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RALObIcjmy0

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Collection: Radio Wendy - 10" & 7"s

Radio Wendy - Radio Wendy 10" - Sympathy For The Record Industry - Black Vinyl
Radio Wendy - Friday 7" - Standard - Black Vinyl
Radio Wendy - Live At The Casbah 7" - Goldenrod - Clear Red Vinyl
Radio Wendy - Punch The Fat Kid 7" - Flatline - Clear Red Vinyl
Radio Wendy - Kids in America 7" - Goldenrod - Black Vinyl
Radio Wendy - And Now More From... 7" - Itchy Korean - Clear Yellow Vinyl
Radio Wendy / Rocket From The Crypt - Split 7" - Pushead - Black Vinyl - #266/300, Granite sleeve, Pink & Yellow ink
Radio Wendy / Rocket From The Crypt - Split 7" - Pushead - Black Vinyl - #24/69, Light Brown sleeve, Red & Silver ink
Radio Wendy / Rocket From The Crypt - Split 7" - Pushead - Black Vinyl - #38/48, Granite sleeve, Silver, Black & Glow In the Dark ink
Radio Wendy - Lame Duck 7" - Lolita - Black Vinyl

Missing: I don't have their CD Tune in Tokyo in this picture and I would have to imagine that some of these records have different variants, given the past history of labels like Goldenrod & Standard Recordings, but I am unaware if they definitively exist.

I got into Radio Wendy in a way that I assume is how most people outside of the San Diego area got into Radio Wendy: They read that Radio Wendy sounded like Rocket From The Crypt. To me, that's about as strong as a selling point that you can make, it also probably didn't hurt that Radio Wendy had a split 7" with Rocket out at the time. Now, after picking up these records over the years, I can see some sonic similarities between the 2 bands, but I think Radio Wendy can more than hold their own.

This is a band that cranks out the tried and true West Coast formula of huge fat guitars, chunky guitar riffs and soaring choruses. While they are primarily concerned with being loud and in you face, Radio Wendy never sacrifices dynamics and melody. They are a band that I wish had achieved a higher level of notoriety. While I have no doubt that they are beloved in their home town, I feel that the rest of the world probably missed out on a pretty killer band.

Radio Wendy - Seven Rings of Saturn:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtCLUli1cMc

Radio Wendy - Kids In America:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OThoVB34MV0

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

The White Wires - Crazy 7"

The White Wires - Crazy 7" by Tim PopKid
The White Wires - Crazy 7", a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Total Punk (2012)

Following quickly on the heels of their stellar full length, WWIII, Crazy is another fun pop blast of retro tuneage from one of my favorite groups of Canadians, the White Wires. The A-Side original and the B-Side Poppees cover will fit right in nicely with their last record. Chances are, if you've heard The White Wires before there won't be any surprises on this 7", just great catchy songs. If you haven't heard The White Wires, I don't know what you are waiting for , you're missing a hell of a band.

The White Wires - Crazy:
thewhitewires.bandcamp.com/album/total-punk-45

Monday, September 24, 2012

Red Dons - Auslander 7" - Blue Vinyl (/200)

Dirtnap (2012)

The fine folks over at Dirtnap sure do have some good taste in music. It seems like whenever I find a band that I really like, they're now putting out a record on Dirtnap too. Good work. Red Dons are a band I've been listening to since their last album, Fake Meets Failure and I've been mightily impressed.

This 7" is another example of the bands downstroke heavy Wipers/Hot Snakes style of punk rock and roll. I would say that this 7" might be a bit poppier than some of the bands prior work, but in this case, that's great news. This 7" may be the best thing the band has released to date and considering the strength of their back catalog, that's no small feat. Hopefully the band will be getting a new full length together soon as this 7" has really made me excited to see where the band goes next.

Red Dons - Auslander:
reddons.bandcamp.com/album/ausla-nder

Friday, September 21, 2012

Seaweed - Free Drug Zone 7" - Green Vinyl

Hollywood (1995)

This is really just a collection filler type of record. Neat artwork, colored vinyl and it was a promo only UK only release. So the collectability aspect is high. Music wise, it's nothing special. 1 song from Spanaway and a live version of Losing Skin. Again,, for completists only.

This may possibly be the last Seaweed Friday for a bit. I have managed to pick up most of their records at this point. There are a few things left, including a compilation 7" or 2 and some 12" versions of 7"s I already have, but I don't have any of these on order at the moment. I guess we'll see what happens between now and next Friday, but it's been a good ride so far.

Seaweed - Free Drug Zone:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdQ0gcBrcxc

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Rocket From The Crypt - Paint As A Fragrance LP - Murky Brown Vinyl

Headhunter (1991)

And again, headhunter is mucking up the Rocket discography with more reissues on mixed color vinyl. I found a purple one a few months ago, now I've stumbled across this guy. I wouldn't mind it as much if they would at least tell you what's floating around out there. Oh well, I'll obviously keep buying them as I find them, so I'm probably part of the problem.

On a related note, Rocket From The Crypt had a 1 off reunion and recorded a new song for the kids TV show Yo Gabba Gabba. This song is being pressed as a 7" that is only available with the purchase of a Yo Gabba Gabba t-shirt at some clothing stores across the country. Sadly, there isn't anywhere by me that is stocking this, so I call on you, dear friends, to try to help me out if you have a participating retailer near you.

If you go to this website: www.volcom.com/ygg/music.asp and punch in your zip code, it'll tell you what store is nearby to you. If anyone can find one of these and pick it up for me, I would be deep in your debt. I'll obviously pay for the record or whatever needs to be bought to get the record, postage, etc. Help a collector nerd out!

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Idle Hands - Volatile Matters 7"

Rockstar (2009)

I actually already have several versions of this 7", but I didn't have this version with the red and orange cover.  So I figured it would be good to pick it up when I found it in a distro that I was already placing an order from. Idle Hands is a sadly broken up band that specialized in high speed treble guitar power pop. They have a handful of 7" and 1 full length album, all of which are essential. There's a new band that spawned from their demise called Blank Pages. I just got a new 7" by them as well, so stay tuned...

Idle Hands - Take Me Away (sorry about the MySpace link, it's all I could find):
www.myspace.com/idlehandspunk/music/songs/take-me-away-50...

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Needles // Pins - Getting On Home 7" - Blue Vinyl (/150)

La-Ti-Da (2012)

I recently received a five 7" pack of records from La-Ti-Da records that I ordered. In picking up the pack, I was able to secure the limited to 150 colored vinyl variants of them all. You'll be seeing more posts about the other 4 over the next few weeks, but I wanted to start out with the band I was most excited to hear, Needles // Pins.

This 7" is such a nice slice of power pop goodness. The A-Side is a minute and a half ripper that will make fans Statues or The Steve Adamyk Band start jumping around their living room. The B-side takes it down a notch and allows the band to stretch out a bit, yielding even better results than the A-side, if you ask me. It's a very successful one-two punch and I can only hope that the band's full length (which I pre-ordered from another label ages ago) shows up in my mailbox soon.

Needles // Pins - Getting On Home 7"
needlesxpins.bandcamp.com/album/getting-on-home-b-w-pictu...

Monday, September 17, 2012

The Vacant Lot - Because They Can LP - Blue Vinyl

Shake The Record Label (1992)

The Vacant Lot are a band that I didn't pick up on the first time around, but had I paid a little more attention, I think I would have already owned Because They Can. When I found this record on someone's Discogs list that I was already picking up another 7" from, it reminded me of something that happened many years ago, but I had totally forgotten about.

Back in the days of going to Flipside Records in Pompton Lakes, NJ, The Vacant Lot were recommended to me. Even as far as I think 2 of their records were put behind the counter for me to pick up next time I went back. But I never remembered to do that. I probably went to that store 100 more times, but just never gave it a 2nd thought. It wouldn't surprise me if those records were still behind the counter somewhere at that store.

I missed the boat as this is quite the record. Fast jangle heavy guitar with melodies & backing vocals in all the right places. They remind me of a less mod and more hopped up version of The Odd Numbers. I'm glad to have finally remembered this band 18 years later and now I have to pick up their other 2 records. Hopefully they're half as good as this one.

The Vacant Lot - In Her Eyes:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=075BaXKafvc

Friday, September 14, 2012

Seaweed - Despised 12"

Seaweed - Despised 12" by Tim PopKid
Seaweed - Despised 12", a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.
Sub Pop (1991)

It's Friday, so time for another Seaweed record. I am rapidly running out of these. I have 1 more on order, I hope it shows up before next Friday. Aside from Variants, the collection is almost complete. Despised, to me, is a bridge between the darker sound of Seaweed's first singles and the sound they would start perfecting on their album Weak.

While most of this EPs songs do still have moments where the band is reveling in a dark, sludgy vibe, the band is also starting to work in some more pop structures into their songs. To me, this band became incredible on their album Weak, and the songs they released prior to that are all just building to the moment where the band truly comes into their own.

Seaweed - Selfish:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuyW6ifpbFk

Seaweed - Sit In Glass:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tZUjvsPhGs&feature=relmfu

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Sugar - If I Can't Change Your Mind 7" (RSD2012)

Edsel (2012)

This was a UK only Record Store Day release this year. When it came out, I was unable to secure a copy. Recently I was browsing one of my favorite UK based online stores and I noticed that they happened to have a copy of this. Now it's mine. There's nothing very exciting here, an album track and a B-side that has already been released, but I have been good about picking up all of the Sugar 7"s over the years and didn't want to add another to the wants list. I'm still looking for the Gee Angel promo only 7", if anyone can point me in the right direction.

Sugar - If I Can't Change Your Mind:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHnFIaLp_ys

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Collection: Mega City Four 7"s

  by Tim PopKid
Collection: Mega City Four 7"s, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.
Mega City Four - Miles Apart - Mega City - Black Vinyl
Mega City Four - Miles Apart - Decoy - Black Vinyl
Mega City Four - Clear Blue Sky - Decoy - Black Vinyl
Mega City Four - Less Than Senseless - Decoy - Black Vinyl
Mega City Four - There Goes My Happy Marriage - Decoy - Black Vinyl
Mega City Four - Awkward Kid - Decoy - Black Vinyl
Mega City Four - Words That Say - Big Life - Green Vinyl
Mega City Four - Words That Say (Promo) - Big Life - Black Vinyl
Mega City Four - Stop - Big Life - Red Vinyl
Mega City Four - Stop (Live) - Big Life - Black Vinyl
Mega City Four - Shivering Sand - Big Life - Black Vinyl
Mega City Four - Shivering Sand (Live) - Big Life - Black Vinyl
Mega City Four - Iron Sky - Big Life - Pale Blue Vinyl
Mega City Four - Wallflower - Big Life - Black Vinyl
Mega City Four / Refreshments - Split 7” - Gaga Goodies - Black Vinyl
Mega City Four - Skidding - Fire - Black Vinyl
Mega City Four - Superstar - Fire - Black Vinyl
Mega City Four - Android Dreams - Fire - Black Vinyl
Mega City Four - Dustbowl - Fire - Black Vinyl - Came w/ Soulscraper LP
Mega City Four - Android Dreams - Park 'N' Ride - Black Vinyl

Missing: Just a couple compilation 7"s, I think.

Mega City Four is such an amazing band, and yet another that I don't think gets the credit they deserve. Active in the UK during the late 80's & early 90's, they were contemporaries of Snuff, Senseless Things & Ned's Atomic Dustbin, but they never enjoyed the same level of recognition in the US as any of these bands. They managed to weave together a punk DIY asthetic with simply astonishing tunes & melodies. The vocals of lead singer Wiz hit a register that reminds me a bit of Doug Martsch from Built To Spill, but with a rougher, more lived in quality. One of the best.

I was pretty lucky while accumulating this collection. I picked up the vast majority of these 7"s on a trip to England in 1997. it seemed every store i went to had a stash of old MC4 singles lying around. The only one that proved elusive for a while was the Mega City four / Refreshments split, but that appeared on eBay one day a few years ago and the collection was complete. You should go hunt these down too, they're just too great to not have in your collection.

Mega City Four - Awkward Kid:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/JTcSO8LgcoI

Mega City Four - Distant Relatives:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/24B0EClRAT0

Mega City Four - Dancing Days Are Over:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/B2tO_UfEOLM

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Love As Laughter - Timers 7"

Trademark of Quality (2012)

Love As Laughter & I go way back. We go back to before there even was a Love As Laughter. We go back to the days of Sam Jayne's prior band Lync, one of those bands that I feel I can never tell people about enough. When Lync sadly disbanded, Sam started up Love as Laughter and has been cranking out records every since.

This is a self released 7" with 2 new songs. Timers is a treble guitar with galloping drum affair. It churns along with just a slight pysch hint in the vocals. The B-side is actually my favorite of the 2. It's a bit poppier and has elements that remind me of Love As Laughter's earlier material with an extended intro and outro and a bit of a breakdown in the middle.

Always happy to add another Love As Laughter record to the collection, but I'll be honest, the Love As Laughter record that I would kill to add to the collection is their first self titled demo tape. I have been searching for a copy of that since 1995 and would do just about anything to get a copy at this point. If you can be any help in tracking one down for me, please get in touch.

Love As Laughter - Timers:
loveaslaughter.bandcamp.com/album/timers

Monday, September 10, 2012

Dan Sartain - Now Now Now 7"

One Little Indian (2012)

Honestly, nothing special here as both songs are also on the most recent Dan Sartain full length, Too Tough To Live. One Little Indian has a thing about releasing Dan Sartain 7"s that don't have exclusive B-sides, although a couple of the Dan Sartain full lengths never came out on vinyl, so the 7"s were the only way to get any of the songs. Dan Sartain is one of my current favorites though, so I'll still buy any record that you slap his name on.

Dan Sartain - Now Now Now:
soundcloud.com/onelittleindianrecords/01-now-now-now-with...

Friday, September 7, 2012

Seaweed - Just A Smirk 7" - Yellow Vinyl

Leopard Gecko (1990)

This is the 2nd Seaweed 7" and I have a similar opinion of it as I do their 1st 7". It's good, but you can tell the band was still finding their way. The hooks are still developing and the overall sound is a bit darker than it would eventually become. Pretty pleased that I managed to score a copy of yellow vinyl for cheap, from what I've seen it appears to be the rarest version of this 7". Thanks for reading another Seaweed Friday post. I'm quickly running out of Seaweed records to buy, but should be able to keep it up for a few more weeks.

Seaweed - Just A Smirk:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=muVQMq1HpgM

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Superchunk - Learned To Surf 7"

One-Four-Seven (2011)

When I posted my Superchunk 7" collection picture an astute reader pointed out that I was missing the Learned To Surf 7". To be honest, I had no idea this record had even come out. I may be slipping in my old age. Regardless, I immediately purchased the record to maintain the completeness of my collection. One of my favorite songs from the band's last album backed with a great mid tempo rocker (Sunny Brixton) and a short throwaway Neon Christ cover (Bad Influence).

Superchunk - Learned To Surf:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwdG52iQkZA

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Crusades - Parables 7" - Clear Vinyl (/100)

Destructure (2012)

I got impatient and had to buy the European version of the new Crusades 7". After putting out one of the best albums of last year I was eager to hear some more from these guys. I'm not sure I'd say I'm disappointed or anything, but I will say this 7" isn't quite as poppy as the songs on the LP were. There's definitely a darker, more metal vibe here. It totally works for the band and their lyrics, but I prefer the poppy stuff myself. This will be coming out in America on It's Alive as well, so you don't have to buy the import if you're a bit more patient than I am.

Crusades - Parables:
crusades666.bandcamp.com/album/parables-ep

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Missing Monuments - (I'm Gonna) Love You Back To Life 7" - Gold Vinyl(/200)

Hozac (2012)

After thoroughly enjoying last year's Missing Monuments full length album, I was eager to pick up this new 7" of theirs on Hozac. As always, I was very pleased that I managed to get the limited to 200 gold vinyl edition with the alternate cover. As far as the songs go, the title track is a solid mid tempo rocker. Good harmonies and a strong chorus. The 2nd song, Bleed, is a really fast, noisy stomper, a bit of a throwaway really. However the shining moment for this 7" is the B-side Another Girl. What a great song with pick slides, chunky guitar riffs and such great vocals. The star of this 7" for sure.

Missing Monuments - Another Girl:
soundcloud.com/hozac-records/missing-monuments-another-girl Missing Monuments - Another Girl by HOZAC RECORDS