The Miles Apart - Almost Light 7" - Blue Vinyl (/100)

Green / Assurd (2017)

What a blast from the past it was to see a new release from Italy's The Miles Apart.  Forming from the ashes of the very wonderful Eversor, The Miles Apart put out a handful of albums and singles during the early 2000's.  This band was on my radar mostly due to being such a big Eversor fan, but also because they were one of those bands featured on a Snuffy Smile split 7".  When that happens, there's pretty much a one hundred percent chance I'm going to hear your band.

This 7" features three songs from The Miles Apart, their first new material in over ten years.  It doesn't sound like it's been that long at all as the band picks up right where they left off, turning in three songs of their melodic, bright and ultra catchy pop songs.  Their band name is also the name of a pretty spectacular Mega City Four song, and you can certainly hear the influences of not only MC4, but the entire early 90's scene they sprang from.   

Hints of Senseless Things creep up in "Lost In Nowadays" and you can hear some of the energy and guitar dynamics of early Snuff in "Almost Light."  I'm not sure what made The Miles Apart decide to get back together and release some new songs, but whatever the reason I hope they stick with it.  The songs on this 7" are exactly what I need to hear right now.  All three songs are flat out perfect.

The Miles Apart - Almost Light 7":

https://assurdrecords.bandcamp.com/album/ar-033-almost-light

Stay Clean Jolene - Green 7"

Stay Clean Jolene - Green 7", a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Drunken Sailor / Just Say No To Government Music / Eager Beaver / Rad Girlfriend (2013)

My first thought before listening to this 7" is "really, 4 labels all need to co-release one 7" record?" Then I listen to it and wish I could have gotten the PopKid logo on there too. What a debut. Leatherface-ish/Broccoli-ish UK punk rock. Gruff, but smooth vocals, dynamic guitar work, great hooks. Please someone confirm for me that they're working on a full length.

This is pretty much everything I look for in a punk rock band, and really takes me back to the glory days of the UK scene when it was populated by the likes of Chopper & Hooton 3 Car. If those types of bands strike your fancy or if you are someone that enjoys the punk rock that Snuffy Smiles puts out, this 7" should be the next thing you pick up. From whichever label is closest to you.

Stay Clean Jolene - Green 7":
drunkensailorrecords.bandcamp.com/album/s-t-7

Mr. T Experience / Sicko - Split 7" - GREEN VINYL /100

Mr. T Experience / Sicko - Split 7" - GREEN VINYL /100, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Top Drawer Records (1993)

While my record collection is extensive and the individual collections of my favorite bands are completed for the most part, there are still a handful of records that I feel like I'll never hunt down. The first one is the 1st self released Love As Laughter cassette, but another that has been on the list forever is the Mr. T Experience / Sicko split 7" that came out on Top Drawer records in 1993 on green vinyl. Sure I had the version on Top Drawer that came out on black vinyl. I have the version that eMpTy records later released. Heck, PopKid records even sort of released this 7" (We put a PopKid stamp on the back of about 50 leftover black vinyl Top Drawer versions). But the limited to 100 copies green vinyl version always eluded me.

Well how about that! One showed up on eBay last week. I've never seen this record for sale before, and there was no way I was letting it slip through my fingers. Sure I paid collector prices for this, but I don't care. After years and years of looking out for it, it's finally mine! Super, giant, huge thanks to @AlanRappa for giving me the heads up on the auction. Had I missed it, I would have been crushed. It's difficult to explain just how thrilled I am to finally have this in my collection, but on top of the rarity and the excitement of finally having this record, let's not forget that the songs by both bands are 2 of the best they ever released.

Sicko: 80 Dollars (I could only find a live version online):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=O10iWkIECPs

Mr. T Experience: Together Tonight:
Sadly I couldn't find this streaming anywhere, but trust me, it's great.