FISH OUT OF WATER

Since today is the start of a new decade and all, I thought maybe I should post something super special and/or poignant. But then, I really don't give too much of a shit about any of the other holidays, so why should this one be any different?  So instead, I'll celebrate this otherwise average Friday with a compilation cassette put together by Ruptured Ambition Tapes back in 1989.  Lots of unknown and killer crap on here, most notably the two tracks by CRUST, whose vocalist is a dead ringer for SIOUXSIE, and even though by '89 Ms. Banshee was plastered all over MTV and had little to do with anything remotely underground, these songs are stellar.  GROOVY TRASH's "Permafrost" is sadly not a MAGAZINE cover, but it's close stylistically, with heaps of keyboards hovering over the whole tune. ZYGOTE delivers a predictably good track, as do CULTURE SHOCK, OI POLLOI and CONFLICT, but even these bands are overshadowed by COWBOY KILLERS blazing UK punk.  It's not all glorious, the TATTOOED LOVE BOYS song is possibly as awful as the name of the band, THE RETREAT are boring as piss, and while C.D.S. is pretty ripping, and probably the heaviest band on the tape, I just can't get over a song called "Bomb Pizzaland," perhaps I'm closed minded. But three clunkers  in 90 minutes?  Them's pretty good odds, and plus, you get two NICK TOCZEK songs, so there's nothing to complain about.

FISH OUT OF WATER Side A

FISH OUT OF WATER Side B

 

And, only vaguely on topic, today will be my first January 1st in half a decade that I will not be foolishly running into a frozen (or nearly frozen) Lake Michigan at 12:00 CST. I will make a half hearted attempt to soak myself in solidarity by plunging into the pathetically warm Pacific Ocean, and for those few shivering moments, my heart will be in Milwaukee.  A Fish Out Of Water indeed.