14 August 2015

CAN'T STAND // IT CAN BE ALL RIGHT


Near the end of 2014, I went on a short tour from Austin to Mexico City. At our second show, a nice gentleman told me that our driver was probably gonna listen to shitty music and he handed me this mixtape for our first drive (which was 20+ hours). We never listened to the tape on tour (I don't think Mapex has a tape deck in his Renault anyway...), but I popped this baby in when I got home, and it seems that, in addition to being thoughtful, motherfukkr knows how to make a killer comp. Full power ass shaking punk, with an emphasis on bands with saxophones. ESSENTIAL LOGIC, BLACK RANDY & THE MEETROSQUAD, CONTRAZIONE, TIPEX...solid bangers placed with care. There are the "cool down" tracks (STOOGES, 39 CLOCKS, KLEENEX, RITUAL) and there are straight burners (I had never heard DEBIELE EENHEID's "Million Volts Anal Vibrator" before this tape), and an appropriate smattering of newer bands (MALLWALKERS, PUFFY AREOLAS) that never fuck with the flow. The deep cuts (and there are many) aren't pretentious "neener neener, look how much underground music I know about" tracks, they're just good ass songs on a really good comp tape...and the inclusion of "Grim Reaper" from SIEGE is a bold (read: perfect) move. Everything is presented in raw fidelity, perfect for blasting out your car window while driving down the highway....which is exactly the point.




4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Slight correction please: i jested that the music on the tape would irritate Mapex, not that he has... For the record, i was rather impressed with the selection at his shop, Carcoma. -c

the wizard said...

Noted!! As it was, I think we just listened to grindcore (when Mapex wasn't driving), but at a low volume, which was strangely soothing. Unfortunately, my only experience at the shop was getting a MASACRE 68 LP handed to me through the window of the van as we drove by. That's what I call service!

Anonymous said...

Ahh, very nice, almost unsurprising however i thought that he and Paye tended toward imports. When i wanted to get lost in some obscure-to-me neighbohood, i would fruitlessly go on wild goose chases looking for a cassette of TNT's Perro Rabioso with a cup of tepache.

Again, thanks for the kind words and i'm glad you enjoy it. keep 'em coming - c

Oski said...

Thanks for posting this! It's brilliant. Cheers from Venezuela.