Monday, February 25, 2013

Toxie ‘Newgate b/w Ties’ 7” – Brand Spankin’ #13

Released February 2013
Memphis, TN’s Goner Records has issued a flurry of new 45’s lately and ‘Newgate b/w Ties’ by fellow Memphans(?) Toxie shines brightly.  Both tracks are carefully crafted garage tunes.  More wistful than stompin’, the approach Toxie uses works super effectively with the prevalent and laid back female vocals.  This is definitely a 7” that you can keep flipping over and spinning again.  And again.  And again.  Get the picture?  Hope so!  If you hurry Goner may have a few left on bubblegum pink vinyl.



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Sunday, February 17, 2013

Windian Records 'Subscription Series #1' - Busy Singles #03

Released January 2013
The start of 2013 saw the mighty Windian Records out of Washington, DC issue there brand new 'Subscription Series #1' box set.  To say the set is impressive probably doesn't do it justice.  The quality of the tunes and the attention to detail of the packaging are all first rate.  The set is made up of five excellent 7" 45’s from fantastic and well known garage-punk-pop veterans Barreracudas, Heavy Times and Terry Malts plus outstanding up-and-comers Static Eyes and Suns Of Guns.  For the collectors out there, there are only 200 sets available.  Each 45 was pressed on black wax and housed in a custom Subscription Series sleeve.  Those were in turn packed into a custom Subscription Series box with 12-page insert and button.  MP3's were made available as well.  Top that off with a custom-stamped mailer and this is easily the set to beat for 2013.  Check out a stream of all 5 A-Sides below!
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Sunday, February 10, 2013

California X S/T LP – Brand Spankin’ #12

Released January 2013
Guitar rock.  It can mean a million different things to just as many people.  Beat Bands from 60’s-era UK, Thin Lizzy’s twin guitar attack and Seaweed’s sweat blasting riffage all qualify.  The guitar rock I’m thinking of right now is more along the lines of high-volume, hair-flyin’, fuck-everything-else-we’re-busy-destroying-eardrums kinda guitar rock.  California X is the latest to explode onto the punk and indie scene with this sort of guitar rock.  A powerful trio outta Amherst, MA, California X’s sonic assault pays a strong nod not only to 80’s forefathers Dinosaur Jr. (hometown heroes) and Husker Du, but to bands that more immediately followed in those bands’ footsteps such as the Nirvana and early Foo Fighters lineage.  The thing that really helps push California X ahead of the pack is the way they develop their songs into future-punk anthems, a-la Jeff The Brotherhood or Ex-Cult.  One need look (or listen) no further than their self-titled debut LP, courtesy of Don Giovanni Records, for 8 prime examples of scorching, and essentially timeless, rock ‘n’ roll blasts.  It really is as simple as that!

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