Don't Panic "Just Be Cool"

Don't Panic
Just Be Cool (cassette)
2006

1. Don't Panic - Fine Dining (2:44)
2. Don't Panic - Sensory Deprivation For Change (3:02)
3. Don't Panic - Marine Recruiter (4:36)
4. Don't Panic - We'll Get There Eventually (5:01)
5. Don't Panic - Lying To The Government (5:33)
6. Don't Panic - Don’t Panic Theme Song (3:27)
7. Don't Panic - I'm Sorry Mister Rogers (5:58)

I was sadly unable to retrieve all of the scatterbrain album art for this release (which included strange drawings, information about the songs, and a Calvin & Hobbes comic among other things), as its creator was unable to pass it over to me during our radio show last night. But I got anxious, and I'm posting this album anyway... Part of the less-than-spectacular sound quality of these mp3s can be attributed to myself, as I converted this to mp3 a few months ago with my analogue 4-track, which somehow sounds as though it degraded the quality from the way the exact same songs sounded on Don't Panic's Myspace Page: http://www.myspace.com/canyoubelievetherewasadaylastweekwheniwasntdrunk...

Here's what I can remember about it: "Marine Recruiter" was influenced by Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska LP, and "I'm Sorry Mister Rogers" is a cover of Kenny Rogers' "The Gambler." Knowing what I know about Don't Panic, I'd have to guess alcohol consumption played a mighty large part in the production of this tape. This is the first time this album has been available digitally, and this specific version of Just Be Cool offers an exact replica of how the original tape was presented. Tracks 1 through 4 make up side A, and track 5 through 7 are side B. After the end of tracks 4 and 7, some hardcore punk songs show up out of nowhere, since that's what Don't Panic was taping over when he recorded this monstrosity. And yes, there are some static-laced and strange monsters to be found here...

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KC Quilty "Clover/Coriander"

KC Quilty
Clover/Coriander
2010

1. kc quilty - Clothes (2:45)
2. kc quilty - Siiya (3:14)
3. kc quilty - Supernova (4:04)
4. kc quilty - Tags (4:39)
5. kc quilty - Borneo (5:35)
6. kc quilty - Jackshit (4:24)
7. kc quilty - What Is This?! (4:04)
8. kc quilty - Little Minor (3:03)
9. kc quilty - Shark Week (2:27)
10. kc quilty - Mr. Benjamin Wilson (4:14)

KC Quilty has recently shortened their name to simply Quilty. I'm really bad at reviewing, but I can at least say I hear a lot of my favorite bands ever in their music, such as The Breeders, Failure, Pavement, and PJ Harvey.. I'd like to think bands such as Quilty contain the sound of where rock music will eventually be headed, returning to distortion, feedback, sludge, grunge, slack, loud, guitar rock. I know more great bands like this are out there, but for whatever reason they're just SO difficult to find these days. One would figure with the internet making it so simple to find music, that somewhere a resource for straight-up "loud guitar rock" (that doesn't sound like asses) might arrive somewhere. But really, as far as I can find, there's nothing much right now. Last year's discovery of The Brontosaur's album was almost a complete fluke.. Straight up loud guitar rock is due for a more mainstream return, and when it does, fans of music that sounds like Quilty and The Brontosaur might hopefully be able to access it far more easily. For now, enjoy the Quilty record... Trust me; it's kickass.

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Bernie [demos]

Bernie
(various demo recordings)
3 Song Demo (1999)
Live Recordings & Other Demos (1999-2000)

1. Bernie - Second Weird (5:35)
2. Bernie - The Stars (4:24)
3. Bernie - I'm The Best (3:15)
4. Bernie - You Got Issues (2:38)
5. Bernie - Masturabtion (4:49)
6. Bernie - March Of the Dead Basketball P (5:31)
7. Bernie - Colorado (7:02)
8. Bernie - Tourette's (1:44)
9. Bernie - Kill Your Parents (mono) (8:17)

Before Hoveral, there was Bernie... There was more to Bernie than the 9 songs collected here, but this is essentially the set one would need for all of the original demos recorded during their roughly one full year of existence. All other songs they played live were either originals previously demoed in other bands ("No Vision") or covers ("Stuck On You," "Molly's Lips," "Unbelievable," "Song 2," etc, etc..) One thing I always loved about Bernie was that all four band members were lead vocalists, and three of the band's four members sing lead at some point throughout these 9 tracks.

The 9 songs here are collected chronologically. The first three tracks are from Bernie's demo tape recorded in Spring 1999. The live version of "You Got Issues" was also included on Trumbull Scene: The Big Hits, and has been included here as well, as it's currently the only known recording of this song, from Bernie's long-fabled performance at Tashua Knolls in July 1999. Tracks 5 through 8 were demoed by Adam, Luke and Mike, and do not include Jay as he was at an out-of-state college at the time. However, in these recordings, one may start to hear the forming of Hoveral's sound, especially on "March Of The Dead Basketball Players." The "tourettes" cover has been included as it was the only cover demoed, and not a live recording. Track 9 is an instrumental early demo of what eventually became Hoveral's "User Friendly," and includes songwriting and input from all four band members.

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Junefest...

Junefest certainly had its ups and downs this year.. And I've had some bummer/boring Junefests in my life, but 2010 was certainly a memorable one.. and a decently happy one for the most part. I'm happy to report I did see lots of great bands during this year's Junefest, and I'm gonna try and post some videos soon... I'd certainly like to post more videos but editing through Flip Camera clips is super time consuming, unfortunately... Perhaps sometime this summer I'll get to post some hot vids of bands such as Hooray For Earth, BrokeNCYDE, Nachtmystium, and Polvo among others..

As for Taste My Kids, I felt Junefest shouldn't close completely without a few more t.scene releases, which I'm now gonna try and post here quickly before heading off to sleep.. Lots more t.scene will be coming in July, along with the highly anticipated top 40 of our big summer countdown, "80 Jams From The 80's."

Saying goodbye to Junefest is always tearful, but don't forget there's still 2.5 months of summer left...

"I Hate The 80's"

Just in time for the half-way mark of the "80 Jams From The 80's" feature, a new track from The Vaselines has been released called "I Hate The 80's." And wouldn't you know it, this song is effin rad...

80s Jams Reflection

Close calls...

Bobby Brown "My Prerogative"
Cameo "Word Up"
Cyndi Lauper "Time After Time"
Def Leppard "Hysteria"
Devo "Whip It"
Dinosaur Jr "Forget The Swan"
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five "White Lines"
Jackson Browne "Somebody’s Baby"
Jim Carroll Band "People Who Died"
Johnny Hates Jazz "Shattered Dreams"
Joy Division "Atmosphere"
Joy Division "Dead Souls"
Kim Wilde "Kids In America"
Love & Rockets "So Alive"
Metallica "Fade To Black"
Nirvana "Beeswax"
Prince & The Revolution "Take Me With U"
The Pixies "Tame"
The Police "Driven To Tears"
The Replacements "Left Of The Dial"
The Replacements "Unsatisfied"
Simple Minds "Don't You Forget About Me"
The Smiths "The Queen Is Dead"
Tom Petty "I Won't Back Down"
U2 "With Or Without You"
Wham! "The Edge Of Heaven"
The Wipers "Return Of The Rat"

Runners-up...
80's (+3) Jams: Ministry "Stigmata" (1988)
80's (+3) Jams: After The Fire "Der Kommissar" (1982)
80's (+3) Jams: Def Leppard "Love Bites" (1988)

80-41...
80. Camper Van Beethoven "Take The Skinheads Bowling" (1985)
79. Joe Jackson "Steppin' Out" (1982)
78. Daryl Hall & John Oates "Say It Isn't So" (1983)
77. Cheap Trick "I Can't Take It" (1983)
76. Public Enemy "Fight The Power" (1989)
75. Suicidal Tendancies "Institutionalized" (1983)
74. My Bloody Valentine "Nothing Much To Lose" (1988)
73. The Replacements "Alex Chilton" (1987)
72. Don Henley "The Boys Of Summer" (1984)
71. Duran Duran "Planet Earth" (1981)
70. Bronski Beat "Smalltown Boy" (1984)
69. Tears For Fears "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" (1985)
68. Eric B & Rakim "Lyrics Of Fury" (1988)
67. R.E.M. "Radio Free Europe" (1983)
66. Prince "Controversy" (1981)
65. Tears For Fears "Head Over Heels" (1985)
64. Berlin "The Metro" (1982)
63. Fugazi "Waiting Room" (1988)
62. Pet Shop Boys "West End Girls" (1984)
61. Pixies "Monkey Gone To Heaven" (1989)
60. Guns N' Roses "It's So Easy" (1987)
59. The Bangles "Eternal Flame" (1988)
58. The Human League "Human" (1986)
57. The English Beat "Mirror In The Bathroom" (1980)
56. Hüsker Dü "Celebrated Summer" (1985)
55. Daniel Johnston "Casper The Friendly Ghost" (1983)
54. Crowded House "Don't Dream It's Over" (1986)
53. Musical Youth "Pass The Dutchie" (1982)
52. The Replacements "Kiss Me On The Bus" (1985)
51. Nirvana "About A Girl" (1989)
50. David Bowie "Modern Love" (1983)
49. Modern English "I Melt With You" (1982)
48. Madonna "Lucky Star" (1984)
47. The Church "Under The Milky Way" (1988)
46. Mudhoney "Touch Me I'm Sick" (1988)
45. Def Leppard "Photograph" (1983)
44. The Replacements "Bastards Of Young" (1985)
43. Fleetwood Mac "Little Lies" (1987)
42. The Soft Boys "I Wanna Destroy You" (1980)
41. The Primitives "Crash" (1988)

80s Jams #41: The Primitives "Crash" (1988)

The Primitives' sound pretty much defines the lighter side of British pop in the late '80s: straight-ahead pop melodies, tinged with a bit of Manchester danceability and shoegazer experimentation. Some of the Primitives' more "pop" songs are a bit too straightforward and bland, but the majority of Lovely is well-written enough to make up for the occasional lapse into plainness. -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:k9fyxqr5ldde

80s Jams #42: The Soft Boys "I Wanna Destroy You" (1980)

The Soft Boys were never a punk rock band -- their sound was most clearly influenced by psychedelia and '60s pop -- but it's impossible to imagine their gloriously engaging yet fractured sound coming together without the liberating influence of the punk movement, and the group's masterful second album, Underwater Moonlight, opened with what would become an enduring post-punk anthem, "I Wanna Destroy You." Coming from a band and a songwriter who generally seemed most comfortable with Syd Barrett-influenced surrealism, "I Wanna Destroy You" was a surprisingly direct and vehement attack on the standing social and political order. In less than three minutes, Hitchcock lays lyrical waste to the military/industrial complex, hatred in many forms, and the unscrupulous press, closing with an all-encompassing attack on everything in the world he finds ugly and frustrating. -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:fcfwxzy5ldfe

Note: This youtube video is labeled incorrectly and this song and album were both definitely released in 1980...

80s Jams #43: Fleetwood Mac "Little Lies" (1987)

Artistically and commercially, the Stevie Nicks/Lindsey Buckingham/Mick Fleetwood/Christine and John McVie edition of Fleetwood Mac had been on a roll for over a decade when Tango in the Night was released in early 1987. This would, unfortunately, be Buckingham's last album with the pop/rock supergroup -- and he definitely ended his association with the band on a creative high note. Though Buckingham doesn't over-produce, his thoughtful use of synthesizers is a major asset. -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:wifpxqy5ld0e

The song was penned by the band's keyboard player and vocalist, Christine McVie, and her then-husband Eddy Quintela. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Lies

80s Jams #44: The Replacements "Bastards Of Young" (1985)

With "Bastards of Young," the Replacements' Paul Westerberg finally delivered the rock & roll anthem he'd always threatened -- a rallying cry for a generation of misfits and ne'er-do-wells raised on false hopes and dim aspirations, it's less about thwarting fate than accepting it, a celebration of resignation and defeat in the absence of anything else worth clinging to. It's frustratingly appropriate that much of "Bastards of Young" is unintelligible, the poignancy and sensitivity of Westerberg's lyrics obscured by his deliberately half-assed diction -- even the final, acerbic cries of "Take it, it's yours" blur together as the song crashes and burns. Also noteworthy is the "Bastards of Young" video clip -- comprised of a single black-and-white take of a stereo blasting out the song, its utter contempt for the music video medium and the culture which spawned it is so hilariously palpable that in its own unique way, it's one of the landmarks of the form. -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:aifixqtdldhe

80s Jams #45: Def Leppard "Photograph" (1983)

Rougher-edged than chart-friendly, glossy rock acts like Journey and Loverboy, and preceded by noisy, hard-edged acts like Joan Jett (who had two Top Ten hits the previous year), "Photograph" not only benefited from smooth production but also the just-right pop and rock amalgam. The Marilyn Monroe homage was tightly arranged and accessible for pop fans, but had accompanying loud guitar riffs and Joe Elliott's raspy, screeching vocals for rock fans. The lyrics were simple, obsessed-fan rants of unrequited, frustrated libido. -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:wxfexqudldke

80s Jams #46: Mudhoney "Touch Me I’m Sick" (1988)

The first commercial 7" single ever released on Seattle's pioneering grunge/ indie label Sub Pop, Mudhoney's "Touch Me I'm Sick" was a crucial and vastly influential touchstone in the evolution of the grunge movement, virtually defining the term with its raw, filthy-sounding guitar racket and the unhinged vocal rants of Mark Arm, whose lyrics wallowed gleefully in disease, self-loathing, angst, and dirty sex. -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:0pftxztjldfe

80s Jams #47: The Church “Under The Milky Way" (1988)

Scoring a left-field pop hit in America might not have been the goal when Starfish was being recorded, but that's what "Under the Milky Way" did - even more impressively, with a strange, downright gloomy song musically and lyrically, rather different from what R.E.M.'s at-least tunefully upbeat "The One I Love" did for them. With a quiet acoustic guitar start - a bit of production effects making it sound almost lost and forlorn, much like Steve Kilbey's singing with it - the song then picks up a calm, steady energy to add a bit of subtle contrast. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:dvfixcw5ldke

80s Jams #48: Madonna "Lucky Star" (1984)

"Lucky Star" had been the song that got Madonna signed to Sire Records in the first place, however, and it would be her commercial breakthrough, reaching number four in the summer of 1984 and becoming one of her defining early hits, thanks hugely to a simple but powerfully effective video that simply showed Madonna, with a pair of backup dancers, showing off both her moves and her body against a simple white backdrop. -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:g9fixxqdldhe

80s Jams #49: Modern English "I Melt With You" (1982)

"I Melt With You" was never a Top Ten or even a Top 40 hit -- it peaked at number 76 in July 1990 -- but it's one of the most recognized songs of the new wave era. Originally released in the U.K. in 1982, the song was a minor hit in the U.S. in the spring and summer of 1983 -- thanks, in part, to being the love theme of the cult hit Valley Girl. (It was used in the mid-movie montage as well as over the end credits.) The song's strummy up-tempo beat, vocalist Robbie Grey's English drawl, and the ultimately positive, us-against-the world chorus made the tune a hit in dance clubs and on pop radio. -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:fzfyxberldke

80s Jams #50: David Bowie "Modern Love" (1983)

If the whole of David Bowie's Let's Dance had sounded like this, there could have been few complaints. A high-energy, effervescent rocker, it epitomizes all that was good about Bowie's 1983 reinvention as a willing superstar -- the speed with which so many of the production techniques began sounding dated, contrarily, merely highlights the flaws inherent in the reinvention itself. -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:09fwxztjldae

80s Jams #51: Nirvana "About A Girl" (1989)

The song's melody is aching and wistful, sung over a simple chord progression, but subtle touches help flesh out the song: Chris Novoselic's bass line continues to ascend as Cobain repeats the same two chords during the verses; the chorus features a Cobain trademark, a slight key modulation whose chords land just a little bit away from where the ear expects; plus, on the Bleach version, harmony vocals and tambourines appear in the background. Similarly, Cobain's lyrics are full of wonderfully subtle associations and double meanings, plus an effacing humor that belies the narrator's desperate neediness and cynicism. -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:fbfqxqehldte

80s Jams #52: The Replacements "Kiss Me On The Bus" (1985)

A romantic love song, "Kiss Me on the Bus" offers an urgent plea from the smitten narrator for his crush to loosen up and join him in a spontaneous and public show of affection: "Your tongue, your transfer/Your hand, your answer/On the bus/Watch our reflection/On the bus/I can't stand no rejection...ooh if you knew how I felt now/You wouldn't act so adult now/Hurry, hurry, here comes my stop." With handclaps, sleigh bells, and a Chuck Berry-like guitar solo, the song -- from the college-radio classic Tim (1985) -- is an effervescent piece of pop from a band at the top of their game; the performances seem effortless and ebullient. -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:0ifuxqtdldhe

I have to admit, this entry was supposed to be for "Unsatisfied" but I couldn't find any videos of it on Youtube, and so instead, "Kiss Me On The Bus..." Great performance regardless...

80s Jams #53: Musical Youth "Pass The Dutchie" (1982)

Musical Youth crashed into the British scene with all the presumption, exuberance, and flash of...well, youth itself, storming to the top of the U.K. chart in the fall of 1982 with "Pass the Dutchie," their irrepressible cover of the Mighty Diamonds' Jamaican smash "Pass the Kutchie." At the time, the Youth were a revelation and a revolution, for in a day when DJs toasted and singers sung, but not together, they invented an entirely new style. Although the Two-Tone bands had experimented with this kind of mix, the Youth took it a step further with the addition of harmonies, and in that respect were the true precursors of all that was to come in the modern dancehall. Schoolboys they may have been, but Musical Youth were the wave of the future. As the roots scene faded in Jamaica, they sign-posted a way forward with their seminal blend of pop-reggae, that a host of veteran vocal groups would subsequently ride into the mass market. -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0ifuxqwgldfe

80s Jams #54: Crowded House "Don’t Dream It’s Over" (1986)

Split Enz needed to end, particularly since founding member Tim Finn found his little brother Neil's growth spurt uncomfortable, but also because Neil was no longer writing tunes that made sense within the context of a band that ran the gamut from art rock to eccentric new wave. Neil was now writing songs that were undeniably totems of popcraft, but infused with the spirit and introspection of a singer/songwriter. This formula would later become quite popular with artists from Matthew Sweet to the legions of basement auteurs in the pop underground, but this sensibility was relatively unheard of in the mid-'80s -- hence the birth of Crowded House. Neil retained Paul Hester from Enz, added Nick Seymour for the trio, and recorded one abandoned attempt at an album before joining with Mitchell Froom for the band's eponymous debut. At the time, Froom's clean production seemed refreshing, almost rootsy, compared to the synth pop dominating the mainstream and college scenes at the time, but in retrospect it seems a little overreaching and fussy, particularly in its addition of echo and layers of keyboards during particularly inappropriate moments. But Finn at his best overshadowed this fairly stilted production with his expert songcraft. -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:3ifuxqe5ldfe

80s Jams #55: Daniel Johnston “Casper The Friendly Ghost" (1983)

As for his early music, Yip/Jump Music may be the best place to begin immersing yourself in the world of Daniel Johnston. Extremely primitively recorded with little instrumentation other than keyboards, Johnston's upbeat mood makes this a funny, sometimes moving exercise in obsessive behavior. Two things he thinks about a lot, the Beatles and Casper the Friendly Ghost, are the subject of songs, along with his usual examinations of unattainable love. Not the easiest record in the Johnston canon, but a rewarding one nonetheless. -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:39fexq95ldae

80s Jams #56: Hüsker Dü "Celebrated Summer" (1985)

"Celebrated Summer" is a prime example of Hüsker Dü's unique ability to effectively combine wistful, even tender moments with the hardest elements of rock & roll. Certainly the song is a step toward the mainstream -- unflinchingly melodic and well-produced -- but it never compromises the passionate spirit of the band nor the ferocious energy that fuels them. The song's arrangement has a beautiful, aching quality, most evident in the sprawling, open guitar chords that are played through warm, yet powerful distortion. -- http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:3nftxq9sldae

80s Jams #57: The English Beat "Mirror In The Bathroom" (1980)

The English Beat's first hit single, "Mirror in the Bathroom" is one of the pinnacles of the British ska revival, up there with any of the best Specials singles. Unlike the loose funkiness most commonly associated with ska, "Mirror in the Bathroom" is as coiled, paranoid and jumpy as Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures, only with a more danceable beat. Singer Dave Wakeling has since admitted that the lyrics are about cocaine addiction and its attendant paranoia, making sense of the almost creepy self-absorption of the song, but its real power comes from the knife-sharp interplay of the band, who were easily the tightest and most exciting of the ska revival acts. Decades later, "Mirror in the Bathroom" is still as musically exciting as it is lyrically disturbing. -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:gjfpxv8gldte

80's Jams #58: The Human League "Human" (1986)

The Human League turned to American R&B producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis in the wake of their success with Janet Jackson's Control, and the combination brought the group its second number one hit with the Jam-Lewis composition "Human," which harked back to the earlier "Don't You Want Me," albeit with a gentler tone. -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:aifqxq85ldse

80's Jams #59: The Bangles "Eternal Flame" (1988)

Although a masterful pop ballad, and extremely successful (it went Top Ten in 1988), "Eternal Flame" is somewhat removed from the Bangles' sound and vibe. In a way, it is a precursor to singer/co-writer Susanna Hoffs' solo career. Led by a gentle, lilting melody, the traditional melody seems ready-made for an artist such as Anita Baker or Whitney Houston. The song features a dramatic bridge that takes the song to a wonderfully emotional place, and adds to the overall dynamics of the piece. In the end, it doesn't fit the Bangles' catalog well, but it remains a minor pop standard. -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:3xfwxzerldae

80's Jams #60: Guns N’ Roses "It’s So Easy" (1987)

Guns N' Roses' debut, Appetite for Destruction was a turning point for hard rock in the late '80s -- it was a dirty, dangerous, and mean record in a time when heavy metal meant nothing but a good time. On the surface, Guns N' Roses may appear to celebrate the same things as their peers -- namely, sex, liquor, drugs, and rock & roll -- but there is a nasty edge to their songs, since Axl Rose doesn't see much fun in the urban sprawl of L.A. and its parade of heavy metal thugs, cheap women, booze, and crime. The music is as nasty as the lyrics, wallowing in a bluesy, metallic hard rock borrowed from Aerosmith, AC/DC, and countless faceless hard rock bands of the early '80s. -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:wiftxqu5ldde

80's Jams #61: Pixies "Monkey Gone To Heaven" (1989)

"If man is five...then the Devil is six...and if the devil is six...then God is seven!" It is hard to argue with this bit of numerological logic, from one of the Pixies' best-known songs, "Monkey Gone to Heaven." The song is as good as any in illustrating what the Pixies did best: a skewered pop arrangement with agitated surf and punk-influenced guitar textures, dramatic dynamics, girl group backing vocals, and a lyric that is at once humorous, surreal, and a little spooky. -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:fpfoxzu0ldje

80's Jams #62: Pet Shop Boys "West End Girls" (1984)

It was one heck of a way to come to public attention and still stands out as a peak of the Pet Shop Boys' career, not to mention arguably being one of the first hip-hop singles to go top of the charts. That may seem strange, but it's pretty obvious Tennant is delivering the verses in his own English style of flow; he confirmed in later years that the source of inspiration was the Grandmaster Flash single "The Message." Lyrically, though, his focus is slightly different, a focus on class as much as inner-city pressure (though he later said that the commonly accepted vision of the song being about rough trade was not the intent). -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:apfexq9dldhe

80's Jams #63: Fugazi "Waiting Room" (1988)

Fugazi is without a doubt one of the most important independent bands of the '90s, influencing so many not only with their progressive and incessant musical style, but also their diligent and uncompromising work ethic. "Waiting Room" is most likely the band's most recognized song, and it is often responsible for pulling people in to become fans of their entire body of work.There is something in the moving bass line, aggravated guitar, and sprawling interplay of Ian MacKaye's and Guy Piccotto's voices that is strong and addictive, often unavoidable. -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:hcftxxq0ldae

80's Jams #64: Berlin "The Metro" (1982)

Originally released by the fledgling Enigma Records in 1982 and picked up by Geffen in early 1983 when the lascivious novelty single "Sex (I'm A...)" started picking up radio attention, Pleasure Victim is a frankly exploitative little slab of synth pop cynicism, so baldly crass in its positioning of lead singer Terri Nunn as a sex kitten (posing her in the nude on the inner sleeve, listing her contributions as "vocals, bj's" in the liner notes) and lyrically obsessed with the seedy side of the Los Angeles demimonde that criticism becomes nearly beside the point. Lyrical obsessions aside, Pleasure Victim actually holds up quite well as a piece of early-'80s synth pop, with two very good tunes ("Tell Me Why" and "Masquerade") and one masterpiece of the genre, the gimmicky and atmospheric "The Metro," the one song where Nunn's limited vocal abilities are put to their best use. -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0ifwxql5ldde

80's Jams #65: Tears For Fears "Head Over Heels" (1985)

"It is basically a love song and one of the most simple tracks that Tears for Fears have ever recorded. It is a love song that goes a bit perverse at the end." -- "Head over Heels" had been developed nearly two years prior as part of a segue with the song "Broken", which was previously a stand alone B-side to the 1983 "Pale Shelter" single. -- Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_over_Heels_%28Tears_for_Fears_song%29

80's Jams #66: Prince "Controversy" (1981)

One of his most respected classic funk songs, "Controversy" addresses certain speculation about Prince at the time such as his sexuality, religion and racial background, and how he could not understand the curiosity about him. The song has two main verses, a few choruses, with the title repeated throughout the track. Towards the middle he recites the Lord's Prayer in full, which fueled the fire for some to say the song was blasphemous. Toward the end is a repeating chant of "People call me rude / I wish we all were nude / I wish there was no black and white / I wish there were no rules." The song is straight funk with a steady drumbeat, synthesized bass, "chicken grease" guitar and keyboards. -- Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controversy_%28song%29

80's Jams #67: R.E.M. "Radio Free Europe" (1983)

With more distorted guitars, this song could be a straight-up punk rock number. Instead, the driving clean electric guitar textures offered a new and enigmatic sound in 1981. Picking licks from chords (as opposed to strumming), guitarist Peter Buck harkens back to the 1960s folk-rock of the Byrds, but the insistent rhythms and urgency of the track has more to do with punk rock than the rock & roll traditionalism of other Byrds-inspired roots-rockers like Tom Petty. -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:wxfpxxu0ldhe

80's Jams #68: Eric B & Rakim "Lyrics Of Fury" (1988)

Having already revolutionized hip-hop, Eric B. & Rakim came up with a second straight classic in their sophomore album, Follow the Leader, which basically follows the same blueprint for greatness, albeit with subtle refinements. Most noticeably, Eric B.'s production is already moving beyond the minimalism of Paid in Full. "Lyrics of Fury" manages to top it in terms of sheer force, using the break from James Brown's "Funky Drummer" before it saturated the airwaves. Follow the Leader may not have broken much new ground, but it captures one of the greatest pure hip-hop acts at the top of its form, and that's enough to make the album a classic. -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gpfwxqy5ldfe

80's Jams #69: Tears For Fears "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" (1985)

"Everybody Wants To Rule the World" sounds like an entirely different band than the mopey British duo that recorded 1983's pretty but pained The Hurting. It's big, and anthemic, and it sounds, for lack of a better descriptive term, American. Clearly, this song was designed for one main purpose: to crack the US charts in a big way, which it in fact did. Opening with a pealing guitar curlicue (and featuring not one but two hard-rocking guitar solos), the song dismisses the band's weedy synth-pop roots in favor of a more muscular sound. -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:fzfwxxuhldfe

80's Jams #70: Bronski Beat "Smalltown Boy" (1984)

Jimmy Somerville's soaring tenor may take some getting used to, but the songs, many of them dealing with homophobia and alienation (none more eloquently than "Smalltown Boy"), are compelling vignettes about the vagaries of life as a gay man. Cynics predisposed to dismissing entire genres of music based on trendiness or a limited appeal ("dance music is for dancing, not listening") miss the point in lumping this in with more mindless forays into techno or neo-disco. As the Pet Shop Boys (the world's greatest disco band) proved a few years later, you can have substantive content and wrap it up in a compelling, visceral, dance-oriented package. Few bands understood this better, or earlier, than Bronski Beat. -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:kzfwxql5ldae

Warning: Good song, bad vid...

80's Jams #71: Duran Duran "Planet Earth" (1981)

Duran Duran's debut single is a good example of their early sound, a sort of new wave/ disco hybrid that crossbred the icy cool of groups like Roxy Music with the propulsive rhythms of groups like Chic. The lyrics of "Planet Earth" name-check the new romantic movement that spawned the group ("like some new romantic looking for the TV sound") and present the kind of bleak futuristic scenario popular with these groups as the song's narrator looks at the night sky and tells any aliens who may be watching that "there's no sign of life." -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:jifoxv9hldje

80's Jams #72: Don Henley "The Boys Of Summer" (1984)

The tune -- written and almost entirely performed by Mike Campbell of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers -- is melancholic and gorgeous, and Henley wisely dials down his histrionic tendencies to deliver the most low-key vocal performance of his career, singing the verses in a quiet near-monotone that perfectly counterpoints the beseeching chorus. Although much was made of the yuppie-baiting line about a Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac (although one rather doubts that Henley was driving a beat-up Datsun at the time himself), the song's overall feel is much more personal and intimate than that soundbite suggests. It's truly Don Henley's masterpiece. -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:kcfyxx9kldte

80's Jams #73: The Replacements "Alex Chilton" (1987)

A homage to Paul Westerberg's underdog songwriting hero, "Alex Chilton" succinctly captures Big Star fans' feelings about that band's music with one simple line: "I'm in love with that song." As with Westerberg's other subjects and protagonists, Chilton serves as the ultimate outsider. In the view of Westerberg and other fans, Chilton's intelligent power pop anthems and gorgeous ballads should have resulted in rock stardom for him and his band, where those "millions" did flock to see him. The beauty of the writing is that the author can create such a wishful scenario, even if it is only imagined. Alas, the similarly influential Replacements also enjoyed precious little commercial success and, like Big Star, never really graduated beyond cult-band status, while those directly influenced by them reaped far more rewards. Obviously, this is one reason Westerberg identified with Chilton. "I never travel far/Without a little Big Star." -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:hifoxqtdldhe

It was either the album cover or some random dude playing Rock Band... I chose the album cover...

80's Jams #74: My Bloody Valentine "Nothing Much To Lose" (1988)

"Nothing Much to Lose" is a prime example of a band smart enough to blend pop hooks and guitar power with distinctive sonic textures into a unique concoction that was both groundbreaking and infectious. The track starts with sputtering snare drum rolls erupting against a wall of twisting guitars that are so saturated with effects as to sound otherworldly. -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:hxfqxxesldte

80's Jams #75: Suicidal Tendancies "Institutionalized" (1983)

One of the first hardcore bands to shrug off the distinction between punk and metal, Suicidal Tendencies — formed in Venice, California in 1982 as a personal soapbox for fiery singer Mike Muir (and once voted both Worst Band and Best New Band by the readers of Flipside magazine) — made its intentions to not be contained by genre or expectations known early by selling scads of its first album, produced clearly by Glen E. Friedman. Half-sung, half-recited and built on repeated sudden tempo changes, "Institutionalized" is a unique, devastating centerpiece. One of the era's quintessential expressions of teen dislocation, it converts generation gap misunderstandings into a complete communications breakdown, encapsulating all the punk sociology of such films as Repo Man and Suburbia in four minutes. -- http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=suicidal_tendencies

Warning: this video is kind of terrible

80's Jams #76: Public Enemy "Fight The Power" (1989)

First released on the soundtrack for the film Do the Right Thing, an extended version was released in 1990 on Public Enemy's third album, Fear of a Black Planet. The song has largely served as the political statement of purpose for the group, and is their biggest single. "Fight the Power" was recently ranked #1 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop, further demonstrating the impact of the song. -- Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fight_the_power

80's Jams #77: Cheap Trick “I Can’t Take It” (1983)

The album produced by Todd Rundgren and released in 1983 received favorable reviews upon release, and yielded the minor hit singles "I Can't Take It" (as credited, the only Cheap Trick song written solely by lead singer Robin Zander, though actually co-written with Pete Comita) and the Rick Nielsen-penned "Borderline", which was debuted on The Alan Thicke show. The then-band members (Jon Brant, Bun E. Carlos, Rick Nielsen and Robin Zander) consider it one of their best albums. "I Can't Take It" has become a concert staple over the years. -- Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_Position_Please

80's Jams #78: Daryl Hall & John Oates "Say It Isn't So" (1983)

"Say It Isn't So" is a 1983 hit song by the American duo Hall & Oates. It was one of two new tracks included on their greatest hits album, Rock 'n Soul Part 1. The song was released as a single and entered the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in October 1983, eventually spending four weeks at number two at the end of the year and into the next. "Say It Isn't So" topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.[1] The song is about a love gone wrong and a fellow who asks his girl to "Say it isn't so". -- Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Say_It_Isn%27t_So_%28Hall_%26_Oates_song%29

This version of the song kinda sucks, and it's the only version I could find on Youtube which is a shame...

80's Jams #79: Joe Jackson “Steppin’ Out” (1981)

While it can be argued that it borders on adult alternative, it’s classier than that. While lots artists in the early eighties had tacked on to the money bags that ‘softer’ rock brought, guys like Paul Davis and Air Supply were schmaltzy, maudlin song writers who went for the lowest common denominator. Jackson, on the other hand, was able to sculpt solid pop rooted in traditional pop morays whilst rising about platitudes and cliché and release songs that were catchy, emotional, and heartfelt without getting all saccharin. -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:wjfixzrrldje

80's Jams #80: 80 Camper Van Beethoven “Take The Skinheads Bowling” (1985)

The arrangement is dominated by Jonathan Segel's wavery violin line and a couple of enthusiastically strummed acoustic guitars, as lead singer David Lowery sing-speaks nonsensical lyrics in a yelping voice that sounds like Jonathan Richman's southwestern cousin after a long session with a beer bong. The difference is that the song has an incredibly catchy singalong chorus and a bouncy, country-ish tune that has neither the hardcore punk nor the ethnic folk influences of the rest of the album. Immediately adopted by 1985's black-clad teenage hipsters as the key novelty song of the burgeoning American indie scene (along with the Dead Milkmen's "Bitchen Camaro"), "Take the Skinheads Bowling" eventually bit Camper van Beethoven on their collective posterior, giving the group a reputation as goofy jokesters that proved impossible to shake as they tried to grow artistically on their later albums. -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:3zfpxz85ldje

80's (+3) Jams: Def Leppard "Love Bites" (1988)

Naturally, "Love Bites" had the signature big, polished Def Leppard sound, but it wasn't choked with the melodramatic sentiment of most '80s power ballads, nor the usual power ballad pose of bad boys with sensitive hearts of gold. In fact, "Love Bites" is moody and even kind of sinister, creeping along quietly until bursting into a chorus featuring lines like "love bites, love bleeds...love leaves, love dies." Actually, the darker tone was a refreshing departure, its themes of fear and unsentimentalized pain making the song seem much less calculated than the commercial sheen of the music itself would suggest. -- Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:kifyxcr5ldje

80's (+3) Jams: After The Fire “Der Kommissar” (1982)

The record company decided upon a double A-side release and were redeemed when "Der Kommissar" reached number one in German-speaking countries in January 1982. ... In the United States and the United Kingdom, Falco's hit didn't fare as well, despite topping charts throughout Europe and Scandinavia during spring and summer 1982. In the summer of 1982 the British rock band After The Fire recorded an English version of the song, also called "Der Kommissar", and released it as a single, but the record floundered. Coming off a tour opening for Van Halen, After The Fire was working on material for a new album when in December 1982 the group announced onstage during a concert that they were breaking up. ... After The Fire's record company, CBS, pleaded with the band to regroup, but to no avail. -- Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Der_Kommissar_%28song%29

80's (+3) Jams: Ministry “Stigmata” (1988)

The live version on In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up is even more nihilistic, winding up with a repetitive "f*** [fill in the blank]" rant that's entirely absent from the studio version (various targets include Jesus, the church, and finally everyone and everything). There's a certain gonzo quality about "Stigmata" that Ministry didn't quite match until "Jesus Built My Hotrod," which wasn't nearly as dark; that combination made "Stigmata" one of the most striking of Ministry's guitar rockers. - Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:kzfexzr0ldke

80 Jams From The 80's

My version of the 80's comes and goes... I seem to remember stuff, and then it fades and comes back.. Occasionally I get into "80's mode" where I enjoy lots of 80's media all at once, which is when things "rise to the surface." Somehow being into 80's mode during work, and writing a list of the 80 greatest 80's hits, brought to mind subject matter that I more or less had forgotten about... A few weeks ago I found myself reading the wikipedia entry on Ducktales. And earlier today, some random Shel Silverstein poems (was he 80's?) got stuck in my head out of nowhere. Random TV from PBS and ABC (since that was all I watched during the first half of the 80's) found their way into my passing thoughts and memories...

As of late, I've actually decided that Lee Majors portrayal of "The Fall Guy" is one of the most badass dudes ever on TV, and totally could kick MacGuyver's ass on any day. I'd post some clips here, but I think I'd rather just recommend a Youtube search since I can't decide which clips would work best. And then this brought to mind Hardcastle and McCormick, Jake And The Fat Man, Simon And Simon, Hart To Hart, and of course The "A" Team, which is apparently an amazing movie, although I've yet to take a look... Needless to say, I miss the days of car chases and explosions, both of which are pretty much never on TV in 2010.

Moving on....

While bored at work, I spent a fairly huge amount of the past week or so throwing together a decently unfuckwitable list of 80 amazing songs from the 80's... which will be posted here starting tonight complete with Youtube videos, and literature that I plan on stealing from other websites in order to speed up the process, and allow myself to not have to think as much, since I plan on drinking lots of beer while posting these 80 songs. I'm also expecting these opinions to change over time, as my 80's list from 10 years ago likely would look very different from the one that will start here tonight. 3 honorable mentions will also be listed.

Various Artists "Trumbull Scene: The Big Hits"

Various Artists
Trumbull Scene: The Big Hits (2 Disc set)
2000, 2002 (2010 Reissue)

Disc 1
1. Hour Zero - Odd Man Out (3:33)
2. Bernie - You Got Issues (live) (2:40)
3. GLU - Ma Woman (0:52)
4. Splice - Mackerel Sky (3:11)
5. MC Sho Nuff - Bunnies Flowers and Sunshine (1:51)
6. Dowcet - Training For Space (3:22)
7. Hot Beat Faktory - Project 2 (1:25)
8. Axiomatic - Dawn (2:56)
9. Some Band - Rooftop Blues (5:47)
10. Factor 8 - The (11:57)
11. ??? - Jay's Hold Music (4:17)
12. Ascend - All We Need (3:35)
13. All American Rap Band - My Name Is George (2:05)
14. Hyve - Mackerel Sky (3:38)
15. Splice - Tonight (3:46)
16. Preston Creed - Crush (2:59)
17. Seitz and Sounds - Gimme that Bone (1:17)
18. USAUSA - Party Girl (2:22)
19. 24 After Midnight - Friends (1:03)
20. Ghost Town Riot - Just Don't Care (2:56)

Disc 2
1. Stu Wanker - Ash That MF Please (3:01)
2. The Smooth Hands - Handjob City (live) (1:20)
3. The Juicebox Institute - Broken (2:44)
4. Dead Wives - Good Suffering (Long Version) (12:15)
5. -------------- (1:00)
6. The Juicebox Institute - Aching For Sara (4:52)
7. ---------------- (1:00)
8. Hot Beat Faktory - Yelp (1:15)
9. Jeff Peck & The Black Mullet - That Song (demo version) (4:25)
10. Lowt Ide - Ceiling (live) (1:13)
11. Hoveral - American Sneakers (3:46)
12. The Juicebox Institute - Heed (2:54)
13. Beard - I Want You To Want Me (8:19)
14. Lip Keebler - Rock Part 2 (0:43)
15. Smile Democracy - White People (3:36)
16. Stu Wanker - (I Hate) Kids With Cell Phones (1:08)
17. Dowcet & GLU - Swing Easy (0:32)
18. Buds Vs. Dowcet - Friends (1:11)
19. Daddy's Got Dibs - Daddy's Got Dibs (3:45)
20. GLU - Friends (Remix) (0:48)
21. Hospital - Don't Come To Ohio (3:19)
22. Lowt Ide - Bonus Track (2:34)

In an effort to eliminate redundancy, it's been decided that t.scene releases should NOT post the 2000 compilation Trumbull Scene Volume 1 and the 2002 compilation Trumbull Scene Volume 2 with their original track listings. Many of the songs on these 2 compilations will be available here in future posts. And so instead a new collection has been compiled: A 2-disc set (or 2-zip file set, whatever).

Trumbull Scene: The Big Hits features more than half of the songs from Vol 1 and Vol 2, plus many other previously unavailable treasures from the t.scene vaults:

...The original version of "Mackerel Sky" from Hyve. ...
...3 of the (at least) 10 interpretations of Buds 1998 hit single "Friends." ...
...Both exclusive Splice originals from 1999's More Crap EP. ...
...All 3 tracks from The Juicebox Institute's mp3.com page. ...
...Previously unreleased live tracks from Bernie, The Smooth Hands, and Lowt Ide. ......And so much more....


Download Disc 1

Download Disc 2

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

And here's some additional information (or "liner notes") regarding Trumbull Scene: The Big Hits, seeing as how everyone reading this is more than likely on the verge of bursting with hardly contained excitement at the mere announcement of this release...

Disc 1
1. Hour Zero "Odd Man Out" (3:33)
(1999. from their self-titled LP.)

2. Bernie "You Got Issues (live)" (2:40)
(1999. recorded live at Tashua Knolls at the infamous show where the band jumped into the pool during the last song.)

3. GLU "Ma Woman" (0:52)
(from GLU's 1998 LP 3D which will be available from t.scene releases in the future.)

4. Splice "Mackerel Sky" (3:11)
(from Splice's 1999 More Crap EP)

5. MC Sho Nuff "Bunnies Flowers and Sunshine" (1:51)
(previously only available on the original Trumbull Scene V.1, Paul M. recorded this in 1999, possibly for his blog at the time. Paul sadly passed away in 2005 but the music lives on...)

6. Dowcet "Training For Space" (3:22)
(previously from Trumbull Scene V.1. I don't know what year this was produced, but a compilation of Dowcet's recordings from the early 2000's will be available for download here in the future.)

7. Hot Beat Faktory "Project 2" (1:25)
(2000, Luke F's electronic project. Hot Beat Faktory compilation will be available here in the future.)

8. Axiomatic "Dawn" (2:56)
(from their 1998 LP, this was Russ & Karl's electronic project.)

9. Some Band "Rooftop Blues" (5:47)
(2000, Doug's band at UConn, from their 4-track demo.)

10. Factor 8 "The" (11:57)
(before Lowt Ide, there was Factor 8.. Russ & Karl's other project alongside Axiomatic, they had several LP's released during the late 90's)

11. ??? "Jay's Hold Music" (4:17)
(When Jay worked at Emstar, Jeff & John were continually amazed by his hold music, and it was requested that he leave Jeff a voicemail message purposely so this could be recorded. A possible collection of Jeff Peck's outstanding voicemail messages from 1998-2002 is being considered for release from the t.scene vaults in the future. More details coming soon...)

12. Ascend "All We Need" (3:35)
(2002. From Adam's ECSU friends.. This is one of the most important songs ever recorded.)

13. All American Rap Band "My Name Is George" (2:05)
(Jay W, Luke F, Dave M & Joe A in summer 1994. In 2003, this song was featured in Mister Glue's Angry Rednecks short: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE5BIypM0xg)

14. Hyve "Mackerel Sky" (3:38)
(The original version of Mackerel Sky in 1995, before it was reinterpreted by Splice in the late 90's, and later covered by Lowt Ide in various forms throughout the 2000's.)

15. Splice "Tonight" (3:46)
(From 1999's More Crap EP, which also included an alternate version of "Wanting It All" and their cover of They Might Be Giants' "A Self Called Nowhere.")

16. Preston Creed "Crush" (2:59)
(From Preston Creed's self-titled 1999 LP produced by Sir Mix-A-Lot.)

17. Seitz and Sounds "Gimme that Bone" (1:17)
(2001, Doug S's video game music demo.)

18. USAUSA "Party Girl" (2:22)
(Originally a solo demo by G-Zuz from G-Spot. In 2000, it was used in the band White Suburban Angst with Jay W, Jay G, Mike F & Jeff P. Their name was later changed to USAUSA, with only one public performance in August of 2000, mostly made up of Radiohead and Nirvana covers, along with "Party Girl," Bernie's "You Got Issues" and Interface's "No Vision.")

19. 24 After Midnight "Friends" (1:03)
(One of the many interpretations of Buds' 1998 single "Friends," and one of the bonus tracks on Trumbull Scene V.1.)

20. Ghost Town Riot "Just Don't Care" (2:56)
(Before Hour Zero there was Ghost Town Riot. 4-track demo, 1998. Mixed by Jay W.)

Disc 2
1. Stu Wanker "Ash That MF Please" (3:01)
(GLU's "Dick" moved onto Stu Wanker in 1999 and throughout the 2000's. A compilation of his recordings may be available here in the future.)

2. The Smooth Hands "Handjob City (live)" (1:20)
(Live from their 2006 WXCI performance which may be available in full for download here in the future. "Handjob City" is a non-album track, not included on the 2004 LP I Love You So Much.)

3. The Juicebox Institute "Broken" (2:44)
(Jeff P & Adam S's emo project. 3 tracks were available in 2002 at their mp3.com page. All 3 were previously unreleased until now.)

4. Dead Wives "Good Suffering (Long Version)" (12:15)
(An excerpt of this was included on Dead Wives 2010 Demon Priest demo EP. Recorded in April 2009 by Mike F & Dan B.)

5.

6. The Juicebox Institute "Aching For Sara" (4:52)
(From their mp3.com page)

7.

8. Hot Beat Faktory "Yelp" (1:15)
(from Hot Beat Faktory's planned but unreleased Indian Burial Grounds LP. Many of these recordings may be available here in the future.)

9. Jeff Peck & The Black Mullet "That Song (demo version)" (4:25)
(In summer 2000, demos were recorded for the planned but unreleased follow-up to 1999's Playing For Keeps with assistance from Jay G & Mike F, The Black Mullet's other 2 members.)

10. Lowt Ide "Ceiling (live)" (1:13)
(Live at Laszlo's, December 2000, their 2nd show, back when they were called "Low Tide." This is Part 3 of their popular 3-part "operatic" piece "Hair Lampshade Ceiling," as yet only performed live and never recorded for an album.)

11. Hoveral "American Sneakers" (3:46)
(From their 2002 self titled 5-song EP)

12. The Juicebox Institute "Heed" (2:54)
(From their mp3.com page)

13. Beard "I Want You To Want Me" (8:19)
(Summer 2005. This is a demo recording for Beard's unfinished 4-song LP Texas Hold'em, which was to consist of elongated stoner-metal cover versions of The Weather Girls' "It's Raining Men," Destiny's Child's "Lose My Breath," Loggins And Messina's "Danny's Song," and Cheap Trick's "I Want You To Want Me." All four songs were recorded and nearly completed, but were later lost due to computer failure. The demo of "I Want You To Want Me" was recovered, however... Beard's vocalist was Stevie Ray Beard, who does not appear on this version, but the vox were instead demo'd by lead guitarist Jimmy Jam Beard. Produced by Steve O.)

14. Lip Keebler "Rock Part 2" (0:43)
(2000, "Rock Part 1" was recorded in 1997 and included on Trumbull Scene V.1, although it does not appear here as it's not very good. However, Parts 1 and 2 were the only 8-track recordings produced by Lip Keebler. A 4-track demo tape was recorded in 2004 and the band changed its name to Dead Wives in 2006.)

15. Smile Democracy "White People" (3:36)
(After Jamie Found Out, there was Smile Democracy. "White People" was released in 2009 and is the only officially released recording so far.)

16. Stu Wanker "(I Hate) Kids With Cell Phones" (1:08)
(2001, from Stu Wanker's mp3.com page)

17. Dowcet & GLU "Swing Easy" (0:32)
(The only collaboration of Dowcet & GLU in December 1999.)

18. Buds Vs. Dowcet "Friends" (1:11)
(Yet another interpretation of "Friends.")

19. Daddy's Got Dibs "Daddy's Got Dibs" (3:45)
(A 1-song project recorded in 2006 by Adam S & Jerome W.)

20. GLU "Friends (Remix)" (0:48)
(Another interpretation, included on their album 3D from 1998.)

21. Hospital "Don't Come To Ohio" (3:19)
(One of Hospital's early recordings from 1999.)

22. Lowt Ide "Bonus Track" (2:34)
(Recorded after Lowt Ide's 2nd show at Laszlo's in Decmeber 2000. Later included on Lowt Ide's unreleased triple album, and as the last song on 2004's Live At Madison Square Garden and also included on their "Best of" album in 2010. This has also been performed live by Lowt Ide at least twice.)

--------------------------------------------------------

And here's those links once again...

Download Disc 1

Download Disc 2

Glenn played by Ed O'Neill

With only 86 seconds of screen time between 2 movies, this amazingly just might be the greatest character in the history of American cinema...

Ovlov "Crazy Motorcycle Jump"

Ovlov
Crazy Motorcycle Jump (EP)
2009

1. ovlov - strand of steve-o (2:28)
2. ovlov - ahhehuhah (2:38)
3. ovlov - i'm your dini (3:40)
4. ovlov - mustachio (3:53)
5. ovlov - deep fried head (2:23)

Ovlov's music reminds me of classic skate-rock, referring to the type of rock music played often in old school skating VHS tapes, which is probably my favorite thing about it. Steve H and Dave B had some decent local success for years in the band Home Movies before deciding to head in a heavier direction towards the middle of 2008, fusing pop hooks with abrasiveness and taking influence from The Pixies. Over the next few months, 13 songs were demo'd with input from new guitarist Quentin H, and after Home Movies' last official show at the end of 2008, the 13 songs were narrowed down to 5 for Crazy Motorcycle Jump, which has been handed out for free at Ovlov shows ever since. The (local college) radio hit seems to be "Strand Of Steve-O," and the fan favorite seems to be "Deep Fried Head." However, since my first listen I think I've always loved "Mustachio" the best, mostly because it reminds me of The Rentals. Throw this on with some buds and reenact the "1979" video. It will make your summer that much more complete.

DL IT!

The Smooth Hands "I Love You So Much"

The Smooth Hands
I Love You So Much
2004

1. 01 - The Smooth Hands - cant u see i need u (1:00)
2. 02 - The Smooth Hands -makin out (1:00)
3. 03 - The Smooth Hands - freinds friend (1:00)
4. 04 - The Smooth Hands -paying for dinner, i got it (1:00)
5. 05 - The Smooth Hands - your little sailboat (1:00)
6. 06 - The Smooth Hands -do u miss me (1:00)
7. 07 - The Smooth Hands -sycamore tree (1:00)
8. 08 - The Smooth Hands -seasons (1:00)
9. 09 - The Smooth Hands - girlfriend (1:00)
10. 10 - The Smooth Hands - from good to great (1:00)
11. 11 - The Smooth Hands -sleepy head (1:00)
12. 12 - The Smooth Hands - dollar menu dream (1:00)
13. 13 - The Smooth Hands - This Weekend (1:00)
14. 14 - The Smooth Hands - lookin at you lookin at me (1:00)
15. 15 - The Smooth Hands - holding balloons (1:00)
16. 16 - The Smooth Hands - dont peek at your presents (1:00)
17. 17 - The Smooth Hands - pretty (1:00)
18. 18 - The Smooth Hands - banged it out (twice in one night) (1:00)
19. 19 - The Smooth Hands - less than 3 (1:00)
20. 20 - The Smooth Hands -our relationship (1:00)
21. 21 - The Smooth Hands - silly king (1:00)
22. 22 - The Smooth Hands - bbol (1:00)
23. 23 - The Smooth Hands - comfortable (1:00)
24. 24 - The Smooth Hands - cinematic cinescape (1:00)
25. 25 - The Smooth Hands - recording in your room when you aren't here (1:00)
26. 26 - The Smooth Hands -over the phone (1:00)
27. 27 - The Smooth Hands - in a boys mind (1:00)
28. 28 - The Smooth Hands -Tonight is Saturday night and I'm dreaming of you (1:00)
29. 29 - The Smooth Hands -spoon the whole night thru (1:00)
30. 30 - The Smooth Hands - sex (1:00)

Hush, my little lambs... The T.Scene release series continues tonight with one of my very favorites... Most of the people who read Taste My Kids (all 3 of you) probably already know the story behind The Smooth Hands, so here's the explanation for the n00bs:

I Love You So Much is a lovely little 30-minute album consisting of 30 (awesome) 1-minute songs, all of which are about.. well, love (dating, making out, spooning, liking your friend's friend, paying for dinner, the dollar menu, etc..) taking the concept of "love songs" to an absurd degree rarely heard elsewhere. The idea behind their song-length was based on the 60-second limit allowed by Windows Sound Recorder, which along with a single microphone make up album's entire production value. This only adds to the album's charm, not to mention their knack for outstanding vocal hooks and guitar riffs. Considering the limits they've allowed themselves, there's a wide range of textures to explore, perfectly aligning the ups-and-downs of love itself. Way back when they played live shows, I recall there being many fan fav's, especially "Makin' Out" and "Sleepy Head." However, my favorites here are "Your Little Sailboat," "This Weekend," "From Good To Great," "Holding Balloons," "Over The Phone," and of course the outstanding closer "Sex."

And I'm not just praising it because I've played in 3 bands with these handsome dudes... It's a rad album. I'd buy the vinyl if I could (which would be amazing just to see 30 1-minute songs crammed onto a single LP).

Download here!!

Lowt Ide "Fuck You Mom: A Decade Of Heroin And Judd (2000-2010)"

Lowt Ide
Fuck You Mom: A Decade Of Heroin And Judd (2000-2010)
2010

1. Lowt Ide - Ryan Healey College (0:41)
2. Lowt Ide - The Trashcan Song (0:22)
3. Lowt Ide - EXIT (0:12)
4. Lowt Ide - Chateau 19 (1:50)
5. Lowt Ide - I Saw Whoopie Goldberg's Crotch In Sister Act And Got A Hardon (1:06)
6. Lowt Ide - P.S.A. (4:06)
7. Lowt Ide - Have You Fucked A Cement Truck? (2:22)
8. Lowt Ide - Let's All Go Around And Each Person Say Your Name, Major, Occupation, Where You're From, And What September Eleventh Means To You (2:03)
9. Lowt Ide - Your Turn 1 (0:02)
10. Lowt Ide - I Love My Appendix (live) (1:57)
11. Lowt Ide - Would You Guys Mind Not Playing Anymore Songs? (1:19)
12. Lowt Ide - Captain Lou Albano Moved To Iraq So He Could Get Shot (0:25)
13. Lowt Ide - The Hymn Of Healing (0:49)
14. Lowt Ide - Mother North (6:20)
15. Lowt Ide - As My Hands Gently Rub Her Pussy (2:33)
16. Lowt Ide - Speak To Me/Breathe/On The Run (6:51)
17. Lowt Ide - Driving Home And A Slut Swallowed My Load (live) (2:11)
18. Lowt Ide - Creep (0:46)
19. Lowt Ide - Your Turn 3 (0:19)
20. Lowt Ide - I Got Judd In My Bones (0:30)
21. Lowt Ide - Come Scab (Theme From 'Afro Beach') (0:25)
22. Lowt Ide - Shit... (0:39)
23. Lowt Ide - ...And Piss (0:34)
24. Lowt Ide - Lowt Ide Has A High R.O.I. (1:02)
25. Lowt Ide - The Stranger (2:14)
26. Lowt Ide - TBN (0:05)
27. Lowt Ide - Scott Stapp Fucking Garfield (2:22)
28. Lowt Ide - Metal #1 (2:43)
29. Lowt Ide - An Enlarged Penis Penetrates Super Mario's Ass (0:45)
30. Lowt Ide - LO!L@* (2:27)
31. Lowt Ide - Cactus Cunt Johnny's (1:36)
32. Lowt Ide - Mackerel Sky (2:40)
33. Lowt Ide - Hair Lampshade Ceiling (Parts 1, 2 & 3) (5:06)
34. Lowt Ide - I Won't Forget You (2:27)
35. Lowt Ide - Bring God Back To America (2:42)
36. Lowt Ide - Little Kid's Bike (1:34)
37. Lowt Ide - The Hymn Of The Blood '09 (0:31)
38. Lowt Ide - Beach 2000 (2009) vs Door (Live At UMass Amherst) (0:42)
39. Lowt Ide - Ryan Healy Goes To Subway (1:06)
40. Lowt Ide - I Swear My Herpes Are In The Inactive Stage (0:09)
41. Lowt Ide - Bonus Track (2:34)

Lowt Ide was too lazy to record an album this year so instead they shat out another "worst of" compilation, spanning all 10 years of their mediocrity and Satanism. I'm happy they were finally able to admit their drug problems through the album title, something I had suspected for years.

Why these guys don't try and reform the band Splice is beyond my grasp. We can only hope this remains a possibility for the future, as many Splice covers and tributes were included on Fuck You Mom, such as their a capella cover of the classic "Mackerel Sky," and the tribute "Ryan Healey Goes To Subway," as well as an excerpt from the unfortunate 8-minute slop garden known as "Ryan Healey College." Only 41 seconds have been included here, but it still feels like 8 minutes. (Other Splice teases appear in the intro of "As My Hands Gently Rub Her Pussy," where the guitar intro of "Door" is sampled, as well as "Beach 2000 (2009) vs Door (Live At UMass Amherst)," where it appears 2 songs have been thrown into a blender and left incomprehensible to the listener.)

A few previously unreleased recordings emerge here, most notably the long fabled "Hair Lampshade Ceiling," only played publicly 9 times throughout the last 10 years. However, Lowt Ide made the unfortunate decision to include the performance of this trainwreck from their first concert in August of 2000, complete with annoyingly loud voicemail messages being blasted over the PA system. The only song I'm truly happy to see here is their cover of Billy Joel's "The Stranger." I would have liked to have heard more of their covers of Goo Goo Dolls and Matchbox 20, which previously appeared on 2005's This Album Fucking Sucks, an album which was hardly represented in this collection (only 3 songs by my count).

Lowt Ide should be ashamed of themselves. I hate them.

Download Here

Dead Wives "Demon Priest"

Dead Wives
"Demon Priest" (Demo tape)
2010

1. Dead Wives - Horrified (2:34)
2. Dead Wives - Good Suffering (2:39)
3. Dead Wives - Action Park (4:54)
4. Dead Wives - Allergic (2:30)
5. Dead Wives - Don't Stop Bleeding (3:40)
6. Dead Wives - Witch Trials (4:35)

Does this look like a real album blog yet? Am I fooling everyone nicely? So yes, here it is... The first ever album blog post for t.scene releases. Dead Wives last demo tape was called Hellrazor which, despite the name, was far less abrasive than Demon Priest. I'm not sure what else to say about it...

Dead Wives is currently searching for performance venues, since the band has never played a show. (Four shows were scheduled between late-May and mid-June of this year, but all had to be cancelled for one reason or another.)

I should probably mention here that I'm in the band Dead Wives, and I normally record the demo tapes on my own. If you're looking for a focus track from Demon Priest to start with, I might recommend "Don't Stop Bleeding," and for anyone who was wondering, yes the song title is a reference to Journey. "Good Suffering" is an excerpt from a 12- or 13-minute-long experimental tape, recorded in April or May of 2009 by my friend Dan and myself. The song title is a quote from the movie Hellraiser. "Action Park" was named after the park in New Jersey, which I was fortunate enough to experience without dying in the summer of 1995. Some of these songs may be performed live in the future, and some may not.. Collections such as these are mostly just about trying out new ideas and seeing what works.

Download Here!!

T.SCENE UPDATE

Okay, I've decided that I hate the label "T.Scene" so at some point in the future it will hopefully get changed to something else.. Leave suggestions if you'd like!

New Feature: T.Scene Releases

EXCITING NEWS: Taste My Kids will be entering the world of "album blogging."

Start getting exciting: All new amazing releases are cumming your way, as well as re-releases, and compilations! Very soon! In fact, 2 of them are being released today!!!!

The new Dead Wives EP and the new Lowt Ide "best of" album were both originally supposed to be posted here this morning at 6AM, which would be the 6th hour of the 6th day in the 6th month, which is the best time of year to release any album, especially while sacrificing a goat to the dark lord. But I was too tired to finish the new Lowt Ide in time, so I fell asleep. True story.

(In case you were wondering, the "T" in "T.Scene" stands for "Trumbull." Once upon a time, a series of comps was planned out called "Trumbull Scene," which was an ironically terrible name since there was really nothing happening musically in Trumbull at the time, or really at any time as far as I can tell. However, most of the people I was friends with at the time were all making music or noise of some sort, and so a 17 track release was planned called "Trumbull Scene Volume 1." We made about 50 copies, and it was given away for free to anyone who wanted one. We left 7 or 8 copies at Laszlo's (a coffee-venue in Monroe) and Laszlo told us himself that he considered it "a damn good album," which gave us a sense that maybe we did something right. If I'm not mistaken, I still have at least 4 copies left in the trunk of my car which have probably been weathered and rendered useless by this point. "Trumbull Scene Volume 2" was also put together, but was only given away digitally and I'm pretty sure almost nobody heard it who wasn't on the album itself.)

Shortening the "Trumbull" to "T" will make the label far less embarrassing. I don't really feel like explaining why Trumbull is embarrassing.. it just is. So anyway, get ready for a couple new releases later today, and hopefully a lot more in the future!

(If anyone can help me think of a better name than "t.scene" that would be tremendous. I just don't feel like putting effort into it right now.)