Top Sounds - S
SECTION 13 - A Demonstration {Boss Tuneage} There’s one huge problem with this. There’s only eight fucking songs!! I wanted at least double that! This new UK band features ex-members of GASH as well as Ian Murphy, formerly of UKHC band VISIONS OF CHANGE, and plays a raging, USHC-influenced form of fiery Punk Rock. There is a sincerity here that is so often missed by bands that simply go through the motions, be it the discord of ‘Newspeak’, the barbed melody of ‘Trophy Wall’ or the uproarious power behind closer ‘Coffee Grinds’. While the influence of USHC is evident (and that of DAG NASTY and 7 SECONDS specifically - check out ‘Minor Seventh’ for some vintage 7 SECONDS sounding ‘core), this is a decidedly British band with a parallel to FOUR LETTER WORD not being outta place. Lyrics are angry and socio-political in nature while the great raw production gives it a nice fuzzed, rough edge. This will be one of the best records you’ll hear this year from what is already one of the best bands in the UK. (14.06.09)
SHADOWCOPS - A Big Pot Of Hot {TNS} A big pot of rock more like!! This quartet from Manchester, UK certainly crank out the riffs - and they nail ‘em! There’s 12 songs here that mix an AC/DC balls-out rock blast played with the speedball-laced ferocity of early ZEKE and a UK Punk Rock accessibility that mirrors both VANILLA POD and CONSUMED. Best moments include the riff-riddled raucousness of ‘The Sleep Awake’, the super-catchy rocking coolness of ‘Vaulted Sky’, the SUPERSUCKERS belch of ‘Calling Out The Elders’ and the brisk burst of ‘Folie a Deux’. Production is bold with everything seemingly overdriven but not at the expense of any one instrument. If there is a fault, it’s that sometimes there is just one riff too many; a bit more conciseness may work wonders. It’s my guess that live, with a few beers in the belly, these fellas blaze big time. Definitely one for those who like a good helping of Rock in their Punk Rock. (28.07.09)
SHIT S.A. - 1983-1985: The Boski’s Cut {B-Core} Ever wonder what the GERMS would have sounded like had they been from Spain? Wonder no more! SHIT S.A. was a band outta Barcelona in the mid-80s and never officially released anything bar a couple of tracks on international comps - including the classic W.A.R./P.E.A.C.E. This massive 37-track comp is made up of remastered tapes that guitarist Charles Boski had. The quality, as you can imagine, varies from the absolutely terrible (a cover of the STOOGES ‘1970’ that is drum and bass and lots of fuzz) to incisive, cutting slices of blazing Punk ‘core (the final 11 tracks from ‘85 form an unrelenting thrash attack). Elsewhere you get a decent DAMNED cover (‘Ignite’ - not an obvious one) and an apocalyptic noise-fest version of ATTAK’s ‘Died’. Everything is in Spanish - including the expansive booklet which looks packed with info, pics and flyers. While not as instant as L’ODI SOCIAL or SUBTERRANEAN KIDS, this is still another fantastic document of vintage Spanish Euro-core from B-Core. (02.06.09)
SHITTY LIMITS - Beware The Limits {Boss Tuneage} Highly anticipated debut album by this genre-smashing UK band. The opening, droning guitar chords followed by a descending riff set the tone well for what follows. The band has an elasticity about its sound - one minute it’s stretched to breaking point before snapping back with a crack. A lot has been made of the fusion of styles the band employs; there is an obvious nod to WIRE with hints of KILLJOYS (vocally it’s a deadringer Rowland in parts) Punk, VOIDOIDS drawl, RANDY’s twisted Garage energy and SHELLAC’s Touch and Go-esque noise barrage. Best moments for me include ‘Hard Wired’ that features a tension building guitar intro and pivots around a great riff, the rapid fire staccato blast of ‘Your Limits Are My Limits’ and the taut closing title track. The drummer constantly impressed, ‘Vehicle’ in particular featured some incredible tribal tom-tom beating. Not sure I quite grasped whatever it is that many in the UK seem to be raving over about this band. While it is undoubtedly convincing, I just found it a little disjointed. Be interesting to hear the EPs that predated this album. (28.07.09)
SIC FUCKS - Live: The Bowery Collection {MVD} Need I say that this is best avoided for those with delicate sensibilities? The SIC FUCKS was one of the original CBGB/ NYC Punk bands of the 70s and featured Tish and Snooky, who were formerly BLONDIE’s back-up vocalists. This is obviously unrefined, raw Gutter Rock that mixes Punk, Glam and an early TALKING HEADS-esque experimental streak. All the warped, degenerate favourites are here: ‘St. Louis Sucks’, ‘Chop Up Your Mother’, ‘Teenage Abortion’, ‘Fags On Acid’ and a killer ‘Take Drugs’ to close. Thankfully, all the in-between song banter and obnoxiousness from the infamous Russell Wolinsky is left intact - which is as vital to a live SIC FUCKS recording as the songs. I was caught unawares by how vilely vibrant these songs still sound - and watch out for a killer Jazz trip-out take of ‘Blitzkrieg Bop’. The only negative is the generic packaging given by MVD to this series of CDs. As for the new breed of obnoxious rockers - you gotta lot to learn boys!! (21.02.09)
SOUNDS OF SWAMI - Halcyon Days {TNS} Mightily impressive 7" from this British band. You get six tracks of catchy, mid-paced but concise, corrosive HC that brings to mind the direct accessibility of CONSUMED mixed with the discordant, power-packed taughtness of KIDS NEAR WATER. Side A seems to be the more straightforward, with three raging slices of HC with opener ‘Briefcase Of Ignorance’ and ‘Lapels’ being specific highlights. Flip the vinyl and you get another three equally insistent but slightly more challenging tracks with ‘The Clue Is In The Title’ providing some studio-trickery surprises and closer ‘Your Name Not Here’ leaving me gagging for more. This apparently showcases the band’s more HC side and an impressive side of the band it is. Vocally this is powerful, argumentative and, most importantly, clear while the band is tight, crisp and formidable at playing fast ‘core with Revolution Summer discordant bridges. (28.07.09)
SOUTHPORT - Armchair Supporters {Boss Tuneage} It’s been a long wait for SOUTHPORT’s follow-up to the debut album ‘Nothing Is Easy’ nearly a decade ago. That’s a starvation diet for those who - like me - revel in the guitar playing of SNUFF founder Simon Wells. While that incredibly powerful rhythm playing is still evident, it’s apparent Wells has turned his amp’s Drive control back a few notches as this is a more textured and power-pop tinged record than anything he has been involved with previously. THE JAM continually comes to mind and - oddly - THE POLICE (if only on the sombre ‘White Lightning’ and ‘Falling Man’). The mellower direction takes a few plays to digest but soon the rollicking opener ‘Days Like These’, the dynamic bass/ drum play and killer chorus of ‘Edge Of Something’, the SNUFF-isms of ‘Disco 3000’ (an instrumental that could’ve been on ‘Reach’), and the cheeky closing pairing of ‘New Oi For Jake’ and ‘Optimism’ soon impress and had me smiling. The band features ex-BLOCKO and MIDWAY STILL members while production is crystalline and sharp. Parallels could be drawn between Wells and Bob Mould: both are great writers, both push boundaries and both leave it too long between records. Please, not another 10-year wait Simon! (28.07.09)
SPEEDJACKERS - Secularization {New Model Label} Debut release from this Italian, triple-guitar pronged, slash and burn rock ’n’ roll outfit. Imagine a mix of ZEKE energy, SUPERSUCKERS cool, the accessibility of New Zealand’s very own DATSUNS and a liberal sprinkling of ROSE TATTOO balls-to-the-wall Rock and you’re there. Considering there are three guitarists, it should be of no surprise that riffs rule the roost while the guitar solos, much like TURBONEGRO, blaze without being studiously pretentious Metal wank-offs. Highlights are ‘Il Suo Pensiero’, closer ‘Harage’ (that kicks off with some seriously intuitive ROLLING STONES-esque acoustic sleaze before being devoured by turbo-charged greabo rock heaven) and ‘The Girl’s Joke’ which saunters along on a nervous, edgy riff before exploding into a killer chorus. Decent stuff for a debut but it would’ve benefited by being a bit looser and faster. (25.05.09)
SPERMBIRDS - Set An Example {Boss Tuneage/ Rookie} Some 20 years after recording the classic debut, Germany’s SPERMBIRDS are back with another 14 track cracker. While the premise of snotty Punk arrogance hasn’t changed, the music has evolved into a diverse yet powerfully direct Punk riff machine. Lyrically this is sarcastic, stinging stuff, focusing mainly around socio-politics and delivered with the formidable belligerence of Lee Hollis’s vocals. Highlights are plenty; ‘Knifethrower’ is a slower, corrosive surge that could contend for the album’s best track while ‘Say It Loud’ plays with a fun, staccato riff and 999-esque melody. ‘Hate Me’ employs a few FUGAZI-ish dynamics to spellbinding effect while ‘Never Be Sorry Again’ is textured and super-arrogant. Oh yeah - there are a couple of bonus tracks too!! This was recorded back in 2004 and is just the latest in a very impressive back catalogue. Still got something to prove... (21.02.09)
SPIZZ - Where’s Captain Kirk? The Very Best Of... {Cherry Red} I’ve never been too taken by the output of SPIZZ. I find him a little too eclectic for my tastes. Highlights of this career-spanning retrospective for me had be the SPIZZENERGI stuff, espeically the minimalist ‘Soldier Soldier’ and ‘Amnesia’. I enjoyed the SPIZZENERGI:2 stuff also which surprised me. For those unfamiliar, SPIZZ is an individual who, at various times, resurrects his musical career with a new SPIZZ venture. Musically, he kinda mixes WRECKLESS ERIC with TELEVISION PERSONALITIES, BUZZCOCKS and an electronica direction that could suggest a SPARKS influence. The 19 tracks here really represent all I will ever need - or have the desire to own - by SPIZZ (and of those I could have lost at least four!). Also includes a 1996 enhanced version of ‘Where’s Captain Kirk? (21.02.09)
STAJNAS LOBOS - Brain Waves Searching Hearts Beats {Lupa} Third release from this Swedish, dual female vocal attack, 6-piece. It’s high energy stuff mixing the warped Indie Pop bliss of BIS with the hyper dynamics of THE REZILLOS, the angular abrasion of SIOUXSIE AND THE BANSHEES and the unrelenting energy attack of RANDY. The 11 tracks fly past in under 20 mins and each one reverberates with more gum-chewing cool than an entire Wrigley’s factory. Highlights include the ‘My Sharona’ New Wave stylee groove of ‘Last Of The Robots’, the jarring opener ‘Sonic Eaters’, the sauntering, swaggering ‘Death Machine’ and ‘Trash’ that has all the ambivalence of the grimiest rock ‘n’ roll THUNDERS-wannabes mixed with a definite Punk Rock arrogance. Cracking stuff that’s well played, vibrant and produced with enough Garage Band balls to keep it at a miraculous distance from mainstream fastidiousness. (21.02.09)
STAND OUT RIOT - Carnival Militia {TNS} Let’s get the obvious outta the way: there’s a huge CAPDOWN influence going on here. Thankfully, there is a heap more than mere ‘Civil Disobedients’ revisionism. The fact the band has eight members who create some dexterous arrangements gives it a distinct LIGHTYEAR vibe that could prevail over the CAPDOWN influence - check out ‘Ambush Paddington’ for proof. Add on some acoustic guitars, violin and flute to accompany the brass and a vague folkly/traveller feel is brought in. Lyrics are strong be they political (‘The British Nazi Parade’ and ‘The Oxbridge Mafia’ are especially potent) or personal and written with flair and intelligence. Production is clear and big and the graphics in the booklet are sharp and imaginative. It’s early days for the band and whether it eventually claims the vacant LIGHTYEAR crown remains to be seen but, as an album, this had me dancing around like a sore-arsed baboon that had just sat on an ants nest. This is a band that knocks seven-shades-of-shit outta most other so-called Ska Punk bands - especially those on the other side of the Atlantic! (15.06.09)
STRUNG OUT - Agents Of The Underground {Fat Wreck} I’ve never made a secret of how I consider this lot to be the most overrated band on Fat Wreck. So, given that this is the band’s seventh album and 20th anniversary, I find it hard to believe a band so stunningly mediocre can be together that long and be consistently supported. Anyway.... This is another slab of Metal-infused Punk-lite. There’s guitar noodling all over the fucking show. Yuck. This does seem much more radio-friendly that the last few releases though but, while the bluster may have been tempered, the tedium hasn’t. For all I know, this could be Whitesnake... Iron Maiden... Even fucking Bon Jovi in parts. This is produced by Cameron Webb who has worked with luminaries like SOCIAL DISTORTION, DANZIG, PENNYWISE and more. I guess he had to finally get a blot on his CV. If this is Punk Rock, then look out for STRUNG OUT shows with Meatloaf coming to an auditorium near you every soon. (14.12.09)
STRUNG OUT - Prototypes And Painkillers {Fat Wreck} There’s good news and bad news with this. The bad news is that Fat has sent this out in a shitty b/w cardboard sleeve. The good news is it’s only another piece of incongruous Metal jizz from STRUNG OUT. This is a career-spanning comp of outtakes, singles, demos and other assorted slices of dismalness. I did enjoy the first couple of tracks, but a Metal-tinged take on the DESCENDENTS classic ‘I’m Not A Loser’ signaled the string-bending and vocal warbling histrionics. By the time of a take on Ozzy Osbourne’s turd, ‘Bark At The Moon’, this has degenerated into a slime-laden amalgamation of safe, radio-friendly ‘Punk’ and spandex enshrouded widdley Metal. (14.05.09)
STUPIDS - The Kids Don’t Like It {Boss Tuneage} Over 20 years since the last Stoops album and the first thing you hear is Tommy and co taking the piss outta Led Zeppelin! Yeeesss!! The 16 tracks that follow that sarcastic opening barrage stand up to and possibly usurp those recorded in the 80s. You want white-hot scathing thrash with attitude and humour? Check out ‘Beach Punk’. Killer guitar breaks? Check out ‘It’s Not My Fault’. The chorus of a massive hit, but in the context of bracing cauldron of smoking, DC-tinged core? Check out ‘Remember Me, Dismember You’. That old humour? Check out the whole album! While there are no suggestions of farts, burps and junk food, there are also no macho Metal breakdowns or extraneous guitar solos that proliferate HC today. In place of the juvenile frivolity of those classic early albums comes the pathos of tracks like ‘Middle Aged Punk’ - a song that could only be written by a guy hitting 40 who has had critical success in both Hardcore and dance music! There’s still a GOVERNMENT ISSUE vibe, but mixed with the hard-hitting dynamics of THE FREEZE. And I’ve not mentioned the epic, 5 minute+ closer followed by their renowned self-deprecating humour yet! If you don’t know ‘Retard Picnic’ or ‘Jesus Meets...’ already, then this is the place to get au fait with Les Stoops. The band’s best album? Quite possibly! (28.07.09)
STUPIDS - Feel The Suck {Boss Tuneage} This record defies all reason. How a band that redefined UK Punk and Hardcore and which reveled in the irreverent joy of youthful abandon can release its first record in over 20 years and retain the indelible sound it possessed in the 80s, add to it and record what could be its best material to date is beyond me. Yep, LES STOOPS are back with Tommy in the driving seat and Marty Tuff playing guitar with the same urgency he had on ‘Peruvian Vacation’. This three-track, red-marble vinyl 7" is the first fruition of their reuniting with a lead track that could easily have fitted on 'Jesus Meets...', while the flip sees two faster, thrashier numbers akin to the band’s earlier records. Of the three tracks, only ‘Rock Gods’ doesn’t appear on the soon-due album, ‘The Kids Don’t Like It’. It’s no throwaway track; opening with a resounding shower of discordant power chords before sliding into a DCHC-inspired fury and culminating with an almost RITES OF SPRING-esque breakdown. Tommy’s vocals sound great too; the intervening 20 years haven’t made him sound any less bratty, but they have bestowed a depth to his voice that was missing on ‘Retard Picnic’ et al. Great to have you back boys! (14.06.09)
STUPIDS - Violent Nun, Peruvian Vacation, Retard Picnic, Complete BBC Peel Sessions
Violent Nun was the band’s debut 7" single and totalled eight tracks of thrashy, fun, adrenalised Punk. Additional to the 7", you get another four tracks from the same session (making up the ‘Leave Your Ears Behind’ demo) and the debut 15-track demo cassette, ‘Fat Drunk And Stupid’. The difference between the two tapes is unequivocal. On ‘Fat Drunk...’ Tommy Stupid plays guitar and the sound is comparatively plodding UK82 stuff with quirky Yank humour. Six months later, the ‘Leave Your Ears...’ demo sees Tommy in his rightful place - behind the drum kit and singing - the sound is faster, catchier and instantly brings to mind early GOVERNMENT ISSUE. Having owned the 7" for many years, it’s hard to pick highlights but opener ‘Elephant Man’ and the dismissive ‘I Don’t Like Nobody’ still thrill.
Released in 1986, Peruvian Vacation was, at the time, the most intensely hyper, USHC influenced record thus far released by a UK band. Even today, the velocity of ‘You Die’, ‘This Is The Norm?’ and ‘The Pit’ coupled with killer melodic hooks remain virtually unequalled. Looking at these re-issues, this debut album was the only album to be recorded with a consistent line-up until the final release, ‘Jesus Meets...’. The whole album is indicative of mid-teen Punks thrilled by the urgency of USHC and jaded by redundant UK82-isms in ‘86: it’s bratty, snotty, arrogant, full of life, irreverent and miles away from any political preaching. It’s not all thrash though; the band’s wicked humour was at the fore on the lounge-jazz of the title track while ‘I Scream Inside’ employed some deft DAG NASTY-esque guitar tones. Besides the original 14 tracks, you get another 19 comprising of the unreleased ‘Mr Adult’ album (a ‘Peruvian Vacation’ precursor but slower and muddier), a demo and three (throwaway) tracks from the off-shoot band, COOLEST RETARDS, that feature future Stoopie, Ed Shred.1986 also saw the release of the second album, Retard Picnic which is probably the one I still play most. Like the debut, this was recorded twice with the second version being preferable. During recording, bassist and co-founder Wolfie Retard left the band leading to a greater role for Ed Shred. The album saw the band’s songwriting really evolve with those DAG NASTY tones coming to the fore on tracks like ‘Terrordome’, ‘Shaded Eyes’ and the classic opener, ‘The Memory Burns’. There’s still plenty of white hot Thrash - check ‘Heard It All Before’, ‘Slumber Party Massacre’ and ‘Killed By A Cripple’. This totals a massive 42 songs and besides the original album you get an unreleased flexi-disc and some of the original sessions (including the band’s first foray into Hip-hop with ‘Arthur C Clarke’s Army’). It culminates with a 1987 live recording from Washington DC, featuring a make-shift line-up of future SHUDDER TO THINK bassist, Stu Hill. It’s a 17-track affair played to a mildly responsive crowd but, oddly, both Tommy and Ed are the epitome of politeness! This is probably the place to start if you are ignorant of these UKHC legends.
Complete BBC Peel Sessions says it all. From December 1986, THE STUPIDS recorded three Peel sessions within a year plus one as the band’s alter-ego FRANKFURTER. With the exception of the second STUPIDS session, all are unreleased and consist mainly of alternative versions of songs available elsewhere. The pick of the sessions for me is probably the final STUPIDS one, thanks to a cracking cover of the UK SUBS’ ‘You Don’t Belong’. Other notables include a pastiche of 7 SECONDS on the FRANKFURTER session and Tommy Stupid apparently recording both ‘Dog Log’ and ‘Stupid Monday’ entirely on his own. Probably the least essential of the reissues, but one that those who own all the original albums will be most interested in. (22.05.09)
STUPIDS - Van Stupid/Frankfurter - Eat EP, Jesus Meets The Stupids {Visible Noise} It’s 1987, the STOOPS sign to Vinyl Solution and Van Stupid is my least favoured release of the band’s. While some songs are among the strongest the band recorded, the disc always left me confused. Ed Shred’s likeness appeared on the cover, he wrote many of the lyrics - but he never played on the album. Furthermore, the band’s flirtation with Hip-Hop reached its nemesis with ‘Stoopie Boys’ - a dire stab at BEASTIE BOYS white-boy Rap which, when delivered with a Suffolk accent, falls flat - yo?! It was this release that saw things blossom beyond imagination for the band with mainstream music press front covers and even a centre-spread in Smash Hits due to the band’s obsession with skateboarding. Subversion without intention - the best form! The CD is filled out with the superior Frankfurter - Eat EP release. As the title suggests, the release had an obsession with food, along with zombie songs. It epitomises the band’s frivolous nature and saw Ed Shred take over guitar duties when Marty Tuff quit. There is a sense of fun that ‘Van Stupid’ lacked whilst the playing, especially on ‘Gimme Donuts’ and ‘More Of The Same’, is sharp and pointed. The disc is rounded out to 24-tracks with the original ‘Frankfurter’ demo and an unreleased AC/DC parody.
The ‘Rock’ influence continued on the final release, Jesus Meets The Stupids. The opening salvo is another AC/DC pastiche while ‘Pigman’, an instrumental, incorporates lots of rockisms. Thankfully, the remainder reverts to excellent, forward-thinking ‘core with ‘Stupid Monday’ and opener ‘You’ll Never Win’ being two of the band’s best ever. With the addition of Stevie Snax on bass, this was the first album since the debut that saw the band with a stable line-up, which could explain why, 20+ years on, this sounds the most impressive of all the STUPIDS releases. As with the early records, this has a big GOVERNMENT ISSUE vibe, but rather than ‘Legless Bull’, this possesses the majesty of ‘You’. Bonus cuts here get limited: there’s the 7" EP that came with initial copies of the album consisting of two comedic commercials, an old co-written ‘Tard tune and that blazing UK SUBS cover mentioned elsewhere. Finally there is the unreleased (and rejected) TEN minute sub-Zeppelin slice of hideousness that is ‘Buttum’ and then the track from the Sounds mag freebie EP, ‘Live To Rock’. I would love to have seen the ‘No Cheese’ tour 10" the band recorded with Australia’s HARD ONS added to this, but alas no. Easily the best of the Vinyl Solution releases and, given hindsight, possibly the most satisfying of all these re-issues. (22.05.09)
SUBHUMANS - Death Was Too Kind {Alternative Tentacles} Way back in 1978, a band outta Canada released its debut single - ‘Death To The Sickoids’/ ‘Oh Canaduh’. The band was the SUBHUMANS (not to be confused with the British Anarcho band) and it went on to release many notable records. This compiles all of the band’s earliest releases, beginning with the aforementioned single and progressing onto the self-titled 12" EP and the ‘Firing Squad’ 7". A couple of unreleased remixes of rare tracks flesh it out. Comparisons with countrymen D.O.A are inevitable; the bands shared members and D.O.A recorded a version of the SUBHUMANS’ classic, ‘Fuck You’. It’s fair to say SUBHUMANS was slightly more diverse in its sound with the likes of ‘Slave To My Dick’ and ‘No Productivity’, but the band is certainly no less essential. Each track (complete with individual liner notes) represents classic time-capsules of an era outraged by Punk and which was to inspire USHC, but ‘Firing Squad’ remains a firm personal favourite. It’s been remastered from the original recordings too bringing new life to some long-lost (or at least rare, E-bay expensive) classics. (21.02.09)
Hit HERE for material reviewed prior to 2009 including:
SAINTE CATHERINES, SCIENTISTS, SCOURGE OF RIVER CITY, SCREECHING WEASEL, SCREWED-UP FLYER (2 reviews), SEDACED, SHAI HULUD (4 reviews), SHAM 69, SHAPES, SHOOK ONES, SICK 56 (2 reviews), SICK OF IT ALL, SIGNAL LOST (2 reviews), SINCE BY MAN (2 reviews), SINGLED OUT, SINKING SHIPS, SIX SIX CRUSH, SKIMMER, SKIRMISH, SMOGTOWN, SMOKE OR FIRE (2 reviews), SNUFF, SOCIAL DISTORTION, SOFAHEAD, SOLEA, SON OF THE MOURNING, SONS OF CYRUS, SOUTERHN CRADLE/ Arcane Parade split, SOVIETTES, SPACE COWBOYS, SPERMBIRDS, STAR FUCKING HIPSTERS, STATE OF THE UNION, STEAKKNIFE, STEAM PIG, STIFF LITTLE FINGERS, STOKOE, STRAIGHT CORNER, STRIKE ANYWHERE, STRIVING HIGHER, SUBHUMANS UK (2 reviews), SUBTERRANEAN KIDS, SUBURBAN REPTILES, SUICIDE BID, SUNDAY DRUNKS, SWING DING AMIGOS (3 reviews), SWINGIN UTTERS (2 reviews)