LUCY ENIGMA

 

Tonight my Union held a vote to elect rank and file officers and I went to cast my ballot after work (because that's what you fucking do - you wanna abstain from civil participation as a protest I totally get it, but it doesn't get more local than your workplace). I ran into a now-retired sister who I hadn't seen in over a decade and she exclaimed "You used to be a child!!" and proceeded to talk about shared (work) experiences from two (plus) decades ago....when we were both younger. It made me feel old....but it made me happy to have been young(er). LUCY ENIGMA makes me feel younger - Indonesian alt-gaze genius that sounds like Todd and me sitting in the living room in Norman in 1992. I was sober and he was maybe stoned as were were just riffing on records and bands while his dog chased its own tail uncontrollably. These feels are enhanced and/or exasperated when "The Man Who Sold The World" starts because THE 'LIPS did that shit too but this version is even better. Weirder. Cue "Yellow Is The Color" and I want to know why this band has not been with me forever because they are FANTASY and WAX IDOLS and THE SUNDAYS and COCTEAU TWINS and all of the pleasantly airy and magical things that my punk-listening self is constantly lacking. It's been a long time since something jerked me back in time like this tape did...I'm grateful.

GARU, 16 OKTOBER 2019

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THE MAJESTIC

 

This one asks more questions than it answers, but once the solo in "All Rise" hits you won't even remember what you wanted to ask because you will be consumed with rock 'n roll. THE MAJESTIC hit so many nerves that I hesitate to communicate all of the vibes; garage punk, GLUE (OK), Jay Reatard, Tom Petty, skinhead ska, GEORGIA SATELLITES, Japanese pop punk, X-RAY SPEX.....hopefully you understand the challenge I'm confronted with here. Multiple vocals, keys and saxophone only when appropriate, wildly addictive soulful punk. THE MAJESTIC came out of nowhere and I'm all flustered - 101/10 would recommend. 

HOME

CINDERBLOCK

 

Remember ten years ago when CINDERBLOCK fukkn exploded in front of our eyes with one demo, one LP and one EP and then just vanished? It was exactly what we needed - hard edged high energy street punk ripped from the grooves of the Punk Lives - Let's Slam comps. It was DEFIANCE for the generation who never got to see Consensus Reality-era DEFIANCE, it was punx 'n skins, it was CRIMINAL DAMAGE and everything we hoped the CASUALTIES would be....and oh my stars was it good. Fortunately for you, young punk rocker, this shit hits just as hard as it did in the last decade. If "Disco Killers" doesn't get stuck in your head then you're either square or you're dead, and "Voiceless" still makes me lose my voice. 

CINDERBLOCK

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COUMADIN

 

(This) reality breeds desperation. Unspeakable stress collides with constant uncertainty, and it feels heavy beyond words (sometimes). It feels like a weight that envelops and suffocates you - limiting hope first. Air second. This is what COUMADIN sounds like. Like a slog. Disorienting. Slow-motion excrutiation. 

COLD EYES

ONE BAD PIG

 

The fifth full length from Austin's premier (?) christian punk band is shockingly good - even though much of the enjoyment comes from the eyerolls while reading the lyrics. "You're A Pagan" is a legit thrash/punk ripper and there are several tracks here that transcend ideology. Serious party punk with occasional Dr. Feelgood vibes and more funk/punk undertones than anyone should be comfortable with. I sit with these tracks and read the lyrics and....well, there's a lot of confusion here. The 5+ minute hair metal anthem "Cut Your Hair," the would-be should-be SXE thrasher "Sober Up" that turns into a skamedy (that's ska+comedy) track, "Never Forget The Cross" in its entirety....there's just a lot here. I have a lot of questions - I'm a curious person. 

I SCREAM SUNDAY

The only tag this thing gets is TEXAS. 

WEEKEND AT GRITTY'S

 

I don't know how many times I will tell you that a well crafted and curated mix tape is a wonderful thing....but here I am telling you again today that a well crafted and curated mix tape is a wonderful thing. Weekend At Gritty's is the seventh in the Pinhole Mixtape series (the first five volumes are already here - the sixth is....well, you're gonna have to wait for Halloween or something) and the brilliance in construction is perhaps best demonstrated when the curator rolls effortlessly from NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL to JEF THE BROTHERHOOD to a cut from Return Of The Living Dead. This mix is soundtrack heavy, which makes for an even better "casual" listen that allows you to relax and drift before yanking the leash with cuts from SIR DOUGLAS QUINTET, JESUS AND MARY CHAIN or THE SQUALLS. It's a gorgeous listen...highest recommendation.

WEEKEND AT GRITTY'S

SLYTTER

 

Wild freak and/or dirt punk amalgamation...like SONIC YOUTH conjuring STOOGES, CRUCIFUCKS, FLIPPER and '76 NYC punk at the same time and making you feel like you were an idiot (are...present tense...you are an idiot) for not understanding. It doesn't just make sense, SLYTTER feels perfectly relevant and/or present. Punk can be messy and confusing. Punk be like that sometimes.

TÆNKER PÅ DIG