Merry Xmas from X

Inspired by Kenny when reading Days of our Youth I trundled on over to purchase my very own copy of this release and can highly reccomened it to anyone who has a penchant for the mightly X. Rather than me ramble on about them pop over to Kenny's place and read his ramblings as I couldn't add anymore.

In the meantime if you have 2 minutes 24 seconds to spare go watch this youtube video of X doing Los Angeles. It's just the best version I've heard them do...and I have a lot of their live shows.....Billy's guitar is simply awesum. X - Los Angeles .....I watch this video too much and everytime end up saying to myself "god, I fucking love X!"

Or X - The New World

Honest to goodness the bars werent open this morning
They must have been voting for a new president of something
Do you have a quarter?
I said yes because i did
Honest to goodness the tears have been falling all over the countrys face

It was better before before they voted for whats his name
This is suppose to be the new world
It was better before before they voted for whats his name
This is suppose to be the new world

Flint ford, auto mobil alabama
Windshield wiper, buffalo new york
Gary indiana, don't forget the motor city
Baltimore and d.c.now all we need is

Don't forget the motor city
This was suppose to be the new world
Don't forget the motor city
This was suppose to be the new world

All we need is money, just give us what you can spare
Twenty or thirty pounds of potatoes or twenty of thirty beers
A turkey on thanks giving like alms for the poor
All we need are the necessities and more

It was better before before they voted for whats his name
This is suppose to be the new world
It was better before before they voted for whats his name
This is suppose to be the new world

Don't forget the motor city
This was suppose to be the new world
Don't forget the motor city
This was suppose to be the new world

Does anyone know if these videos come from an official release?  I really want a copy.

Target of Demand - Man's Ruin (1983)

A brutal slice of early 80's hardcore. If you like your music soft and gentle then avoid this like the plague, it'll make your ears bleed. A great band and a fantastic release from Happy Hermit records :) After they split some members formed Dissension.

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Second Wind - Security (1984)

A group formed out of the ashes of many others by: -

Bert Queiroz (Untouchables, Double-O, Rain, Manifesto, Youth Brigade)
Mike Brown (United Mutation)
Rich Moore (Untouchables, Double-O)
Steve Hansgen (Minor Threat, Governemt Issue, Weatherhead, Emmapeel)

Another one of those great incestuous DC bands.  This release was criticised for sounding too much like Minor Threat, but that was only a passing resemblance to MacKayes vocal style, they were more than that. It's a fine slab of DC punk and contains a great version of Mr Suit by Wire a song that really takes me back as a band I was in used to cover that....fun days.

I've added to the zip a copy of their demo recorded before they split up.  This is more in the Dag Nasty vein and shows a nice progression...shame they never managed to release it with some proper production as it's really good stuff.

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Code of Honor - Beware the Savage Jaw (1984)

If I could only listen to 5 albums for the rest of my life, this would be one of them.

Formed at the tail end of 81 when Sick Pleasure lost their singer, happily for the world, Johnathan Christ was able to step in as his previous band, Society Dog, had come to an end. The band released one 7'' "What are we Gonna Do" a split album with Sick Pleasure and this album.

Comprised of: -

Johnathin Christ - Vocals
Michael D Fox - Guitar
Dave Chavez  - Bass
Sal Paradise - Drums

Their first two releases show that hardcore didn't have to follow a standard path and could have it's horizons pushed. Both are excellent releases and are "must haves". However, Beware the Saveage Jaw is where they blew me away.

I was trading records with Americans in the 80's and received this one in a tatty form from a guy who, thought, he'd ripped me off.  He sent me a lot of stuff I hadn't asked for and took some very good stuff in return. I was pissed off at first, but would now thank him as he sent me this record in '84 and I've loved it ever since. This album is one of the pariahs of the punk world and is still dismissed by people who don't sit down and listen to it. This ISN'T an instant album, it takes a few listens, but if/when it clicks it's very rewarding.

All the band could really play their instruments and this release is where they got to show that in fine detail. There isn't a bad track on it and each one flows with intricate bass, guitar and drums, all tied together with Johnathins excellent lyrics and snotty voice. If you haven't heard it, I can't give a fair description of what it sounds like, but it's punk based, pushed beyond it's limits.

I've said previously that there's bands that leave you feeling robbed, Code of Honor are number one on my list. I can only dream of the music that they could have gone on to produce had they survived.

I could drone on about this album for years, but rather than do that can I suggest that you go buy their recently released discography CD from the mighty Subterranean records here Support the label and the band, they both deserve it and the CD's very nice.

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Lyrics here: - lyrics

Overkill - Discography

Not the New York trash metal band, but the LA band formed in 1980 by Ron Cordy & Kurt Markham. After a few false starts with various personnel the band settled upon: -

Merrill Ward -Vocals
Jeff Dimick - Guitar
Ron Cordy - Bass
Kurt Markham - Drums

Completed by Felice LoCoco on guitar they kicked off their own brand of punk mixed with heavy metal in anger.  This was before the crossover was fashionable and meant the band were greeted with mixed reactions from some. They never choose to follow the fashionable/easy route, either punk or metal, and maintained a mid paced sound throughout

Coupled here are their 7'' - Hell's Getting Hotter.  A great slab of punk, more in line with British punk than American hardcore in my opinion.  I base that purely on the mid-tempo pace, but it's still unmistakeably American.

Their album "Triumph of the Will", slated by many as being a second rate metal album, but this is a blinkered and ill-informed view. This IS Overkill, they weren't trying to follow a trend, this is the direction they were always travelling and it's a damn fine album. After a few listens you can't help but sing along as the songs are so catchy.

A demo, debatably from 84, with a stonking version of Blitzkrieg Bop.

They effectively split in 83 after Merril was kicked out and Ron quit to play in Bitch. Overkill are more than just a footnote in punk and hopefully after listening to this you'll agree. Incidentally, Merrill Ward was also in Nig Heist and sang in SWA with Chuck Dukowski.

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Essential Logic - Beat Rhythm News (1979)

Formed by Lora Logic after she left (was sacked) from X-Ray Spex in 1978.  The band completed by William Bennett (guitar), Mark Turner (bass), Philip Legg (guitar/vocals), Rich Tea (drums, incidentally one of my favourite types of biscuit), and Dave Wright on saxophone.

They didn't leave a huge legacy of recordings as Lora split the band fairly soon to go solo, before she retreated from music to concentrate fully on the Hare Krishna religion. Lora used some of the sax lines she'd came up with for X-Ray Spex on this release, even though they appeared on the X-Ray Spex album she was not credited.

She rejoined X-Ray Spex in the mid 90's when they reformed. In 2001 Essential Logic were brought back to life and released new material. This release is my favourite, it displays their jarringly creative style really well.

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Really Red - Teaching You the Fear (1981)

If I could time travel I'd definately go back to Texas in the early 80's, not because I want to be a cowboy, although watching Roy Rogers at Saturday morning cinema did have an impact, but not that much. Anyway, Texas, what was it about that place that produced such a diversity of style? Big Boys, Dicks, MDC, Really Red all pretty much unique.

Whilst the others may be well written about, Really Red don't get that much exposure, try a net search to see what I mean....yet they should, as they were equally as important as any band you care to mention. 

They didn't release a single dud, but I think this is their best release. I'd be hard pushed to describe what they sound like, suffice to say they are NOT your typical hardcore/punk sound, they are unique.  They were a political band, but the politics never managed to over shadow the music. It's a real shame that after they split that none of them went on to notable bands......and a even bigger suprise.

Really Red were an amazing band and remain a huge favourite.

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As an added extra, here's the lyrics to the album. Lyrics

Fastbacks - It's Your Birthday (1981)

No Threes was a record label I followed religiously as they'd produced so many greats. This release was no exception.

Formed in 1979 by Kurt Bloch (guitarist),Lulu Gargiulo (guitar/vocals) and Kim Warnick (bass/vocals) and a million different drummers, on this release it was Duff McKagan later of Guns & Roses. This release is so good, it's pure pop/punk. They lasted until 2001 before splitting up. Their back catalogue is well worth exploring.

If you download nothing else from this site you need to get this one, it's that good. I never get tired of hearing it...shame I sold my copy to a guy in Japan. On the upside he did pay a small fortune for it :)

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The Clash - Live, Hammersmith Odeon (1979)

Paul McCartney organised benefit concerts for Kampuchea in '79 at one the Clash made an appearance. This recording was taken from the sound board and was bootlegged many years ago. 1979 is the peak of the Clash for me and this recording shows how good they were.

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The Mutants

Formed in Liverpool 1976 and split up by the middle of 1978.  A short life for a good band who didn't give a shit what anyone thought of them.  They looked like they'd been created from a punk by numbers set and had a guitarist who looked like Larry Wallis, but again, they didn't give a shit.

Sweet William - Vocals
Al Sation - Bass
Keith 'Kid' Steele - Guitar
Roddie Rodent - Guitar
Paul Pleasant - Drums

This is typical 77 style punk, snotty, stripped down and aggressive....and I love it.  I've coupled both their 7'' here Boss Man and School Teacher.

Music