Fig Dish - Feels Like The Very First Two Times LP & Flexi 7" - Green In Clear Swirl Vinyl

Forge Again (2024)

I've had this Fig Dish LP for a while and for some reason I have struggled trying to figure out what to write about it.  First thing first, it's great.  That's not the issue.  But I feel like there's some sort of story that I should be telling about my relationship to Fig Dish over the years.  The only problem is that it's not a particularly deep or profound relationship.  They have always been a band that I really liked and never understood why their CDs were always in the used/cutout bins next to The Figgs and Flop.  Writing that sounds like I'm taking a shot at those bands, but all three put out records in the mid 90s that I think are just outstanding.  If anything, the story of Fig Dish to me is that of a band that for whatever reason never got their due at the time.

Feels Like The Very First Two Times contains songs that were recorded for a planned third Fig Dish LP that was meant to come out in 1998 or 1999 I would assume.  That never happened, though when I listen to these songs, it takes me right back to everything I loved about Fig Dish.  The big, crunchy guitars driving through monster hooks with wry lyrics.  These songs are every bit as good as anything on their second or third albums (Thanks to Alan for reminding me about their first album that I always forget about).  Part of my brain then wonders why material this strong never came out at the time, but then the other part wonders if this album would have been received any different than the others?  I don't really know the answer and that's frustrating in some ways, but the fact that it did finally come out is really the thing I should be focused on.  And the fact that it's out on vinyl is even better.

This is easily one of the best records I've heard this year.  Sure, technically these songs aren't 'new' songs in 2024, but they've never been officially released before, so I'm definitely counting it as a top record of 2024.  I just hope this is the first of at least three Fig Dish records being released on vinyl as mentioned in the excellent liner notes.  I need those first two albums!

Fig Dish - Feels Like The Very First Two Times:

https://forgeagainrecords.bandcamp.com/album/feels-like-the-very-first-two-times

The Pretty Flowers - Police Me Flexi

Self Released (2024)

You may have noticed that The Pretty Flowers put out my favorite record of last year.  If you did notice that, I'm sure you're not surprised at all that I immediately got my hands on the band's new flexi 7" the moment it was made available.  While I'm generally not a huge fan of flexis or lathe cuts due to their fragility and lower fidelity vs. a traditional 7" record, I will always still collect and support them when it's a band I dig.  I understand the costs of putting out vinyl and am totally fine with other ways to get music out there.  Especially when it's not on cassette!

There's just the one song on this flexi, "Police Me."  Unsurprisingly it's a fantastic song and could have easily been a part of either Pretty Flowers album.  It's got that vague Built To Spill sort of pop sound, but with warmer, crunchier guitars and less ostentatious guitar soloing.  It's a quick song that maybe wraps up a little faster than I would have liked, but if my major complaint is that I wish there was more of the song I'm listening to, you get the idea that this one's a keeper.

The flexi itself sounds pretty good for what it is.  Not as good as a vinyl 7", but we've come a long way with flexi technology since the McDonald's Menu Song one came out.  When's someone going to cover that song?

The Pretty Flowers - "Police Me":
https://theprettyflowers.bandcamp.com/track/police-me

Navel - Rainfall Flexi 7"

Hello From The Gutter (2022)

Navel is a band that I have been listening to for quite some time.  There were part of the initial wave of Japanese punk rock that I got into via split 7"s on the Snuffy Smile label.  I originally bought these splits for the likes of Broccoli, Chopper, Skimmer and Hooton 3 Car, but I walked away being fans of bands like International Jet Set, Blew, Lovemen and Navel.  Navel initially appeared on split 7"s with Travis Cut and Skimmer/. Eventually they started releasing some full length albums and I've been chasing their records ever since.

This 7", so the liner notes on a couple of websites say, was originally going to be part of a 7" released in 2000 on an American label.  I'm pretty sure I know what label that is, as I think they were going to try to put out a Chester Copperpot 7" as well, but I'll not name them right now.  It's coming out all of these years later as a flexi that was originally sold at a show they played, with the leftovers making their way out into the world.  I got my copy from Servo from Bloated Kat records, so many cheers to him for helping me out.

Both of the songs did end up on Navel full lengths, though these are early versions and different recordings.  "Rainfall" is the first track and also was on their album Heartache.  It's a midtempo song, perfectly capturing Navel's ability to write a catchy song, even when drifting into territory that some might say feels a little melancholy.  It's not too dissimilar from the album version, though to me the backing vocal harmonies are a little more pronounced on the 7".  

The second song is a quick, hardcore blast called "Bystander."  It ended up as the closing track on Navel's second album, Depend.  Super fast, shouty punk rock has never really been my thing, but it never bothers me when a pop punk band throws something like this on one of their albums.  Snuff does it all the time.  Mostly, for me, this album is another great Navel 7" for my collection.  I dig the artwork and am happy to add it to the pile of great records this amazing band as released.

Replica City - Last Rights Flexi 7"

Snappy Little Numbers (2023)

When I first saw the artwork for this flexi 7", coupled with the name of the song, I have to admit that I did sort of anticipate some yelling, hooting and hollering.  What I'm getting at is I expected it to lean on the hardcore side of things, but I'm happy to report, I was wrong.

I feel like I haven't heard something like this in a few decades.  From the moment the one and only song, "Last Rights" starts playing, I'm instantly transported back to the mid 90s, when I started to discover bands like Boys Life and Blueprint.  Melancholy rock.  Emo? Maybe, though I always felt that term was thrown around a little cavalierly in the 90s (and thrown around with blatant disregard after that).  But for me, Replica City have thread the needle perfectly, combining the nostalgic feeling I have for a band like Boys Life with a hint of a band like The Estranged thrown in for good measure.

"Last Rights" is the song on the flexi, but over on ye olde Bandcamp, there's two more songs that are every bit as good.  Had these two songs been added and a vinyl 7" been released with all three, that would have been a lovely moment that transported me right back to 1995.  But even as is, "Last Rights" is the best song of the three and is absolutely worth picking up in its current, flexible format.  I hope to hear more from these guys.

Replica City - Last Rights Flexi 7":
https://snappylittlenumbers.bandcamp.com/album/last-rites

The Animal Steel - Smooth Jazz Chords Flexi 7"

 Snappy Little Numbers (2020)

I haven't seen many flexis in a really long time, but it looks like Snappy Little Numbers is bringing them back.  Hey even though there are limitations to the format, I like them better than tapes.  This flexi is by a band called The Animal Steel and I am disappointed to find out that there isn't anyone in the band named George. But the disappointment ends there.

There's only room for one song on this flexi, but it's a doozy clocking in at five and half minutes long. If I'm being honest, I think they could probably trim off a chunk of the intro and tighten things up a little but, but once the main chunk of "Smooth Jazz Chords" kicks in, there's a lot to like about it.

It's kind of an odd combination, but it works.  There's chunky, Jawbox style guitar work that's slightly dissonant, but still keeps the song catchy and moving forward. Vocally, there's more of an Iron Chic/RVIVR vibe, earnest and powerful and the backing vocals in particular play well with the dynamic guitar work.  I like it.  It's only one song, but it definitely makes me want to hear more.

The Animal Steel - Smooth Jazz Chords:
https://snappylittlenumbers.bandcamp.com/track/smooth-jazz-chords

Radiation Risks - Headless Horseman Flexi

Feral Kid (2017)

This is the first time I've been sent a flexi to review since I started up this website.  Right away, that stood out.  Plus, while I can't say I like the artwork, it's definitely colorful and attention grabbing.

I reviewed another Radiation Risks 7" earlier in the year and while I do like the songs on this new flexi more than the older 7", I still can't go so far as to say I like this band.  But I don't dislike them.  It's complicated.  I like the music quite a bit.  It's fast and upbeat with jangly guitar, fun chord progressions and pretty decent hooks.  I find my head bobbing along when I listen to it and in particular I just love the guitar tone they achieved with this recording.  They should bottle that stuff.

By only hang up is that I'm not really partial to the singer.  Though, again, it's a big improvement from the last 7".  I still think the band as a whole would benefit from some more melody in the vocals and a less ferocious delivery.  This singer kind of feels like he's still trying to transition from a hardcore band into whatever Radiation Risks is turning into.  The progression is happening and change is obvious; these are much better songs.  But, i don't think that the band is there yet.  If they truly embraced the pop songs that they're writing, I think they could be great.

Radiation Risks - Headless Horseman Flexi:

https://radiationrisks.bandcamp.com/album/headless-horseman

Helvetia & Built To Spill - Spooky Action At The Sufferbus 7" - FlexiDisc (/1000)

Helvetia & Built To Spill - Spooky Action At The Sufferbus 7" - Flexi Disc (/1000), a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Joyful Noise (2013)

Despite my deep, undying love of the 7" singles series, I couldn't bring myself to plunk down for Joyful Noise's 2013 Flexi Disc series. A, because there were really only 2 bands announced that I liked and B, I can't get all that excited about flexis. In Joyful Noise's defense, this is just about the best sounding flexi I've ever played and they obviously have put a great deal of care and work into the artwork, packaging and the like. But I honestly couldn't tell you why they just don't up the price of the series a bit and put out real 7"s. Seems wacky to me.

Anyway, since I wasn't going to buy the series but I had to maintain my complete Built To Spill 7" collection, I went to eBay. Picked this up for $18. Probably too much to pay for 1 song, but far from a rip off and certainly cheaper than buying a whole series of records I didn't want. The song is pretty good. You can certainly hear the Built To Spill in there, but I think the song is more driven by the Helvetia folks. It's upbeat pop that just screams of the 90's. It reminds me quite a bit of bands like Some Velvet Sidewalk or other K records pop shenanigans.

This record was essential to add to my Built To Spill collection, but unless you're a completist, this isn't a record that should at the top of your overpay on eBay list. Can't find the song streaming anywhere unfortunately.