Top Sounds - G
GAN - Do That Again. AGAIN!?! {Boss Tuneage} Dunno why, but I never owned a GAN record or even remember being exposed to the band. GAN was a 4-piece from North Lincolnshire, UK and this 24-track comp collects the band’s 1992 album ‘Do That Again’ plus the singles ‘Blink’ (‘93), ‘Water Powered Teenies (‘95) and the split EP with LITHIUM JOE (‘96). The sound is indicative of the melodic HC bands of the day, with SENSELESS THINGS and MEGA CITY FOUR being obvious reference points, although the fluent guitar work of Andy certainly adds some ALL-o-gistics - check out ‘Here It Comes’ in particular. The album flies along at a hectic pace while the singles certainly show musical progression with the ‘Water Powered...’ EP being the highlight. All the material has been remastered and packaged with liner notes, pics and lyrics. Various members went onto form ONE CARE PILE-UP. While this is far from bad, it doesn’t do quite enough for me. The songs all rattle along at a similar pace without having too much identity. Had I heard this in ‘92, well, it may have left more of an impression. (29.07.09)
GÄWJ - So Far Away From Giving A Fuck We Can’t Be Seen {Idoneum Bello} Ever wonder what it’s like to have your face burnt off while simultaneously being ripped a new arsehole? Wonder no more because New Zealand’s very own GÄWJ will sort both issues out! This is a trip-to-hell 15-track 7" pressed on resplendent white vinyl that melds the spastic blur of the most ferocious Japanese HC (think LIP CREAM), a WARCOLLAPSE-esque Crust vocal assault and some down-tuned Metal riffage to create a noise that is guaranteed to dissolve the bowel of any Gaslight Anthem fan at 50 paces. The opening squeal of feedback heralds one of the highlights, ‘Buried Under 1000 Years Of Shit’. The feedback continues to assail the ears between every track with ‘Roadside Slaughter’ and ‘All Burn Together’ being other notables. Packaging is top stuff too with a fold out poster, inner sleeve and full lyrics. I personally could’ve done without so much Metal in the sound, but when a track like ‘Fuck Your World’ hits, then all is fine by me! (11.10.09)
GEARS, THE/ D.I’s, THE - Rockin’ At Ground Zero {Hep Cat} Not an obvious Hep Cat-style release but a seriously impressive reissue for one of the best (and most unsung) original LA Punk bands, THE GEARS. This double CD package compiles everything the band released on one disc plus that of post-GEARS band, THE D.I.’S on the second disc. THE GEARS came on like a perfect mix of RAMONES bubblegum cool, X rock ‘n’ roll brawn and DEAD BOYS sneer to create a compelling, memorable and natural sound. The disc captures the 1980 album, ‘Rockin’ At Ground Zero’, the ‘79 ‘Let’s Go To The Beach’ 7" and the original, never before released 1979 demo. Each track bristles with the dissenting energy of a new-found sound, retaining enough identity to make this a truly essential addition to any Punk collection. Highlights include the much-covered ‘Don’t Be Afraid To Pogo’, ‘The Last Chord’ and the taunting sleaze of opener ‘Baby Runaround’. The D.I’s (Drill Instructors, not to be confused with Fullerton HC band, DI) was GEARS’ vocalist Axxel G Reese’s project post-GEARS. It’s an equally addictive sound, although owing more to roots Rock ‘n’ Roll than the GEARS. The X reference is ever more appropriate (X guitarist Billy Zoom produced two of these sessions including the ‘Lock ‘n’ Load’ release) if matched with the countrified twang of early LONG RYDERS and the psychotic drive of FLESHEATERS. The highlight has to be ‘Mohawk Vs D.A’ - a rollicking tale of haircuts! TSOL’s Dave Emory played guitar on one session too. Like the caliber of the music is not enough to draw you in, both discs have been remastered (and sound fucking great), both come with a fold-out poster, digipack sleeves and the whole collection is wrapped in a neat cardboard wrapper. Reissues do not come any better! (27.11.09)
GEE STRINGS - No Good (For You) {Sprinter Records} This German band has never released a duff record and this frisky, frivolous and frantic 7" slice o' wax could be the band’s fastest slice of snotty, noxious Punk Rock cool so far. The lead track opens with a cutting piece of feedback from Bernadette’s guitar before the bass rumbles in, Ingi lets out a scream and the song then hurtles along at an unstoppable velocity. B-side ‘Makin’ You Small’ relies on a slower, sleazier, ‘77 vintage sounding groove to make its point with those sneering vocals given plenty of room to do their thing. You think that’s all? Pah! Throw in a warp-speed thrash through IGGY’s ‘Real Wild Child’ and you’ve got a prime contender for the best sub 10-minutes of action you’re gonna get all year. (09.01.09)
GEOFFREY Oi!COTT - I Was Monty’s Double {Boss Tuneage} Mail order only 7" from these cricket-loving Yorkshire Oi! boys. Things are very much in the HARD SKIN vein, be that the sound or the humour. The lead track is actually a bit of a leg-before-wicket cracker, opening with a grizzled, fuzzed bass that bowls into a romper stomper of an innings. The flip includes ‘Trophy Bird’ and a remake of THE PARTISANS classic ‘17 Years Of Hell’ renamed here ‘17 Pints Of Ale’ and it works fantastically well! Just like all good Punk Rock 7"s, this comes with a lyric sheet, witty graphics and a dual-cover picture sleeve. West Ham may have had the COCKNEY REJECTS and Tottenham Hotspur... um... Chas and Dave. Yorkshire County Cricket Club can now proudly claim GEOFFREY Oi!COTT as its very own New Wave Of A Closer Shave representative. Trouble on the terraces? Gertcha!! (08.01.10)
GERIATRIC UNIT - Permethrin Blues {Boss Tuneage} Fourth slice of astringent and blazing UKHC from this 4-piece that includes ex-HERESY, HARD TO SWALLOW and IRON MONKEY members. The 12 tracks last a mere 15 minutes and open with the scathing ‘The Price’ that attacks those Punk bands that dwell in apathy, lusting after the ‘big-deal’ contract and a sheen of mass acceptance. ‘Sellout’ follows. I think it’s fair to say that these fellas have no time for opportunist, careerist Punk arsewipes that seem to over-populate our Punk Rock community. For the first time on a GERIATRIC UNIT release, I sensed a nod toward the classic, early FUCKED UP 7"s, most notably on the title track and ‘Irony’. Elsewhere ‘The Idiots Think I’m An Idiot’ features some frantic riffing that has Japanese spazz HC written all over them while ‘Digital Death’ and ‘All Tries Will Fail’ harkens back to full-throttle Britcore. Drummer Steve really stood out, laying down some super-sonic beats. Production is solid, clear and uncompromising rounding off what is the band’s best release so far. The others were good, but this just contains an extra depth that propels it into a whole different league. (08.01.10)
GOVERNMENT ISSUE - The Punk Remains The Same {DC-Jam} A neat sub-ten minute five-track EP from one of the bastions of DCHC. It’s prime time stuff too; two tracks from May ‘83 and another three recorded at the infamous Wilson Center from October ‘82. It kicks off with a squeal of feedback before the killer riff of ‘Notch To My Crotch’ opens and Stabb’s screaming, "I just wanna fuck!" Three Wilson Center tracks follow beginning with a furious ‘Snubbing’. The final track is another take on ‘Sheer Terror’ - recorded versions of this song must be in double figures by now! Sound quality is OK - it’s a bit muddy in parts but far above bootleg standard and it would have been neat to have heard Stabb’s between song banter. As it stands, this is definitely a release long-term fans will enjoy. Be warned though: if you wanna taste the G.I. experience and need a place to start, then this may not be it. As far as I am concerned though, pass me another Strange Wine while I spin this sucker again! (28.09.09)
GOVERNMENT ISSUE - Make An Effort EP {Dr.Strange} Hell, fire and brimstone - is this really 25 years old? This 4-track 7" was originally released on Fountain Of Youth Records back in 1983 and sees GI sounding its most angry. Brian Baker (MINOR THREAT/ DAG NASTY/ BAD RELIGION) played guitar on this and it kicks off with the simply jaw-dropping greatness of ‘Teenager In A Box’ featuring that classic cyclic riff, which is quickly followed by the slow-fast blitz of ‘No Way Out’. Flip it over and you have the intense DC thrash of ‘Twisted Views’ and the relatively epic but pummeling signature song, ‘Sheer Terror’, which possesses some experimental and forward-thinking ‘core that would epitomise the band in years to come. Dr Strange has reissued this complete with authentic artwork and uncompromising production - choice! A 7" that is probably overshadowed by the ‘Legless Bull’ EP and ‘Boycott Stabb’ 12" (in no small part due to the Dischord connection) but, for me, it remains one of the band’s most essential releases. (05.05.09)
GRIT, THE - Straight Out The Alley {People Like You} Second full length from this band of Geordies (that’s Newcastle, England) and quite a rollicking mix of Punk spirit and Rockabilly dynamics it is. Think TIGER ARMY but mixed with the acoustic element of a raucous BLUBBERRY HELLBELLIES. Highlights have gotta be ‘Victim Lives Another Day’ that could be on the soundtrack of any contemporary Spaghetti Western, the blunt ‘This World’, and ‘12th Floor’ that rolls along on the crest of a riff as addictive as whisky! A big positive for the band is the fact that there is no attempt to mask the Geordie accent which results in something original, sincere and certainly lends a sense of placement to the sound. Gotta say though, the Ska of ‘Tell Me Lies’ is, while fun, more UB40 than THE SPECIALS! I’m sure the band is at its most effective live, but this sophomore release makes for a fun and varied roots Punk Rock listen. (28.05.09)
GANG GREEN (3 releases), GBH, GEE STRINGS, GERIATRIC UNIT, GIGLINGER, GOOD RIDDANCE (2 reviews), GO-SET, GRACER, GREAT. ST LOUIS, GUN CLUB, GUV'NORS