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. 

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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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