Off! : Live At Generation Records (Vice Records/2011)

Off! Is something of Los Angeles hardcore punk rock supergroup. Formed by Keith Morris of Black Flag and Circle Jerks and Steve McDonald of Redd Kross, Mario Rubalcaba of Rocket From The Crypt and Dimitri Coats from Burning Brides in 2009. The band quickly recorded and released The First Four Eps 7” box set in 2010 on Vice (Magazine) Records. The band is amazingly effective and and direct and have a refreshingly raw sound. Considering the bands' ages, they could come across really ineffective. Thankfully, that's not the case.

On October 22 in 2010 the band played a free show at Generation Records in New York. I attended the show and it was pretty awesome. Vice Records recorded the show and released the four-song Live At Generation Records 7”the following year on Record Store Day 2011. It's a well-performed, well-recorded affair. And it only hints at the loud greatness that was the show. The band sonically resemble early Black Flag, which shouldn't suprise anyone considering Morris was Black Flag's first ever vocalist.

Highly recommended for the punk rock set.

Here's the video review:

Barry Andrews: Town And Country EP (Virgin/1979)

Barry Andrews was the keyboard player for XTC from 1976 to 1979. He appeared on one EP (The
3-D EP), two albums (White Music and Go 2) and four singles. He was largely responsible the band's whimsical funhouse sound. He quickly grew tired of being a third wheel to dominant composers Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding. Virgin Records however loved his contributions to the band and upon leaving XTC released his first three solo singles. The first of these was the Town And Country EP which was released in May of 1979.

It contains some of Barry's whizzing organs and keyboards albeit in an understated way than on his records with XTC. Colin Moulding is the bassist on the EP which features an outtake from Go 2, “Sargasso Bar”. “Me And My Mate Can Sing” is perhaps the records' catchy stand-out track and appears to reference groupies or hanger-ons. “ Mousetrap” and “Bring On The Alligators” are measured, punky, cockney mini-rave-ups.

The EP was produced by Martin Rushent (who had produced XTC's “Are You Receiving Me” single) and engineered by Hugh Padgham (who later engineered XTC's Drums & Wires and Black Sea albums). I personally like it as it fills a gap between Barry in XTC and his time in the bands Resurant For Dogs, The League Of Gentleman and his formation of Shriekback with Dave Allen of Gang Of Four.

For fans of XTC and Shriekback or late 70's Post Punk.


Here's The Video Review:

Junior Senior: D-D-Don't Don't Stop The Beat (Crunchy Frog Records/2002)

Junior Senior were a Danish duo consisting of Jesper Mortensen (Junior) and Jeppe Laursen (Senior). Ostensibly they were an indie/dance pop band. However their sound is an happy amalgamation of garage rock, breakbeat, B-52's kitsch pop, electronic music, mid 60's Rolling Stones, rockabilly and surf guitar lines, ecstasy-influenced dance pop and sprinkles of hip hop. But more than all that, their music is unabashedly lively, uninhibitedly gleeful and unpretentiously fun. The album was rightfully perceived as a breath of fresh air when it was released as it sounded – purely based on attitude alone - nothing like anything else at the time.

The band's debut album D-D-Don't Don't Stop The Beat was universally acclaimed upon it's 2002 (or depending on the market, 2003) release. I first became aware of the band when I heard their classic “Move Your Feet” single on the radio on July 4th 2003. I thought it was some new wave dance classic that had somehow escaped me and I was only just hearing it for the first time. Not surprisingly it was a universal hit that Summer (a top 40 hit in a dozen countries, peaking at #3 on the UK singles chart and #45 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart). “Rhythm Bandits”, which is possibly my favorite track on the album, was also a top 20 hit in the UK. The third single, “Shake Your Coconuts” appeared in the films Loony Tunes: Back In Action, She's The Man and Confessions Of A Teenage Drama Queen.

The humorously references several American pop musicians on “White Trash” nearly as much as they reference themselves on “Go Junior, Go Senior” and “C' Mon”. And they make it abundantly clear on tracks like “Chicks And Dicks” that Junior, is straight and “nasty and small”. While Senior is gay and “handsome and tall”. Junior sounds like Michael Jackson singing “Rock With You” on “Move Your Feet” sounds like Wham's “Club Tropicana” played at twice the normal speed.

The vinyl release only came out in two markets; Denmark and the UK. The Danish version of “Shake Me Baby” is an entirely different recording with different lyrics and is titled “Just Shake It Brother”. It also has alternate mixes of “Boy Meets Girl” and the American version of the album contains the single version of “Rhythm Bandits” (which again, also vary on various other editions as well). And the cover art image is flipped on various versions and the UK vinyl version has a cover unique unto itself.

If you're going to have a party where people may be inclined to dance via their own uninhibited natures or perhaps doses of MDMA or large quantities of alcohol. Combined with a good sound system and the volume turned up a ways, this is the album for you. Most very highly recommended.  

Here's the video review:

David Bowie: ChangesTwoBowie (RCA/1981)

David Bowie was a legend. A musical chameleon with a flair for the dramatic who adapted to or set trends. He was a trendsetter for glam rock, proto punk, experimental electronica, art rock, new wave, dance rock and blue-eyed soul.  He had impeccable style, taste and always worked with the most-interesting musicians. He's influenced basically everyone, indirectly in one way or another. He's produced music that is very easy to take for granted in that he completely made it sound too easy.

I've chosen to review a lesser-revered release of his. ChangesTwoBowie, which was a follow-up compilation album to ChangesOneBowie, and was a contractual obligation release that RCA put out without any involvement from Bowie. Needless to say, it's not as satisfying a compilation as it could be, as it omits several singles from 76-81 (namely "Boys Keep Swinging", "Heroes", "Beauty And The Beast", "Be My Wife", "Up The Hill Backwards", "Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)", and "Look Back In Anger"). In other words, it could have easily been a very satisfying double-album.

It does however feature the amazing "Fashion",  the equally fabulous "Ashes To Ashes", the great "DJ" (which supposedly was Bowie aping David Byrne), the funky "Sound And Vision" and the underrated and unique ballad "Wild Is The Wind". It also contains the remake of "John, I'm Only Dancing". The seven minute long "John, I'm Only Dancing (Again)", which was recorded in 1974 during the Young American sessions but not released as a non-album single in late 1979. It also contains the pre-1976 songs "1984", "Starman", "Alladin Sane" and "Oh U=You Pretty Things".

It's not as perfect as ChangesOneBowie (nor as successful), but it's still a great listen as these tracks are all top-notch Bowie and stand as a mini-testament to his unique talent.

The Fleshtones: I Surrender b/w Dominique Laboubée (Yep Roc Records/2015)

New York Garage Rock legends The Fleshtones have been signed to Yep Roc Records since 2002. In that time they've released six great albums, six fantastic singles and one delightful EP. 2015 saw the release of the bands "I Surrender" single.

The A-Side is a faithful cover of the 1968 Bonny St. Claire mod anthem. The production here closely mirrors that of the original recording. The band sounds in fine form and it also marks the return of a Fleshtones horn section. Both Steve Greenfield (on sax) and Joe Loposky (on trumpet) have played on and off with the band since the late 80's. In my opinion, the only thing that is missing from a modern day Fleshtones show or recording is a horn section. And "I Surrender" is proof of that. The song also seems to musically reference the classic Fleshtones rave-up "Whatever Makes You Happy".

The B-side is a tribute to the late lead singer of the French band The Dogs, "Dominique Laboubee".
The song has a nice, moody harmonica line that recalls The Beatles' "There Is A Place". It's a nice tribute to Dominique Laboubee.

"I Surrender" was something of a Summer hit on Sirius Radio's Little Steven's Underground Garage. In fact it was even nominated for Little Steven's Coolest Songs In The World for 2015. The vinyl single comes with a digital download code. And all in all a fine slice of vinyl from The Fleshtones.

Here's The Video Review:




Special Thanks To: Cassandra Fowler.