UK Subs-Work In Progress

This is to be released on Jan. 10th. Do yourself a favor and get it. I have listened to bits of this on Amazon as a preview and I have to say that this is a pretty damn good album. While I am partial to Nicky's playing, Jet does a fine job. This album is a tad more varied and I think this is what makes this album work. The beauty of the first 4 albums had the same idea. Not every song needs to scorch a hole in your brain. Even more cool is that you get a Subs rendition of The Sonics classic, Stychnine! I am stoked to get this! Well done Charlie and the boys!! Below is the link for you to hear pieces of each song.
Ken
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004GECNXS/ref=dm_sp_alb

Joe Strummer

Today marks the death of Joe Strummer. Patron saint of punk rock??? Sure seems that way huh. What other person aside from maybe Sid Vicious can make a mark like Joe did. The difference between the two is that Joe inspired folks to get off their ass and do something and Sid was a cartoon character. Joe has become the poster child of punk deity just like Bob Marley has for reggae. The Clash were my first love in music. The first record I ever bought was London Calling. Train In Vain still makes me smile from ear to ear. In fact, The Clash inspired me to pick up a bass and start a band. Joe you were an amazing inspiration. We all will never forget you.
Ken

Green Noise Records/Dirtnap Records

Just wanted to give a little plug for an online retailer who I dealt with the other day. I decided to order the new single by The Tranzmitor's so went through all the steps of ordering online. The postage rates to Canada were set automatically. The next day I received an e-mail from Paypal with a refund for $1.00 stating that the retailer had overcharged slightly on the postage. How honourable is that and how many retailers would be that honest to give a refund that I totally wouldn't have expected as their postage rates were very reasonable to begin with. Just wanted to mention my experience and spread the word as they have some very cool releases that I'm sure many of the people who visit this blog would enjoy. 2 Thumbs up to Green Noise records.

Now go buy something!

http://www.greennoiserecords.com/

Cheers
Angry

MY 2010 Best Of

Here we are with my top ten for 2010. Basically I viewed this with the idea that I would rate 1-10 by how many plays these albums or singles received at my home and car. Another criteria was for me to base this on reviewing these releases. So as you see below there are two recent releases that have gained mention. Firstly, The Boys. This is is such a fantastic release that the number one pole is deserving. If it was not released this year, Sham 69 would have won hands down. The second release is the new Wire one. It is pretty damn good too. Now let the debate begin!



1. The Boys-Mattless Boys
Yeah I know they are titled as The Mattless Boys, but really it is The Boys. This is as good as anything they have done in their career
2. Sham 69- Who Killed Joe Public
No Jimmy Pursey??? Sacrilege! Yeah right, this is their best ablum since The Game. This has been in constant rotation in my house since its release
3. Off- First 4 Eps
Keith Morris and Co. finally make an album that has the rage of the early days. This is what Black Flag should have sounded like after the Nervous Breakdown 7”. Classic!
4. From The Jam- Later Days
Russell Hastings and no Paul Weller? Look, I am as big of a fan as anyone with Weller leading The Jam. But truth be told, we will never see that happen again. This song has all the classic sounds that made The Jam my favorite band of all time
5. Swingin’ Utters- Taking The Long Way Ep
I am a little biased but who cares. This is MY blog! Fantastic return by these Santa Cruz/SF punk rockers.
6. Poly Styrene- Black Christmas
Yep, this made my top ten! The slight reggae meets Germ Free Adolescents (song) makes this a huge winner for me
7. DOA- Talk-Action=Zero
DOA have been hitting on all cylinders over the last few years and this is a fantastic release!
8. Killing Joke- Absolute Dissent
In my opinion this is their best since Nightime. Sure wish I could have seen them a few nights ago
9. The Vibrators- Under The Radar
Another strong release by these class of ‘77 vets. They just keep ticking away!
10. Bad Religion- The Dissent Of Man
Was not sure whether this was going to make my top ten this year or not. For me, their formula has been getting a little stale. After seeing them live, I have renewed faith in them. Subsequent listening have proven that this is a great release. Not a classic mind you, but worthy!

Honorable mention:
*Leatherface-The Stormy Petrol....just added this on 12/29/10...I forgot this beauty!
*GBH- Perfume and Piss
Still churning out the speedy, spikey punk that I have been digging since 1982
*Wire- Red Barked Tree
Picked this up today and have listened to it 3-4 times now and I am impressed! Sounds like Chairs Missing in places and 154
*Penetration- The Feeling 7”
This one almost made my top ten. This single is just soooooo damn good! Glad to see such a quality band releasing new material.
Ken

The Dils

Just to show you all that I am not just hyping new releases and such, I will be posting this in the next few days. This covers their singles, their one track on Rat Music and a slew of live stuff that is not available to my knowledge. The holidays and work have me swamped but I will get this out. This was released in 1990 on Damaged Goods and has not been reissued since. Here is what you get live:

9 Citizen 2:25
10 It's Not Worth It 1:53
11 Intro 0:28
12 National Guard 2:41
13 Tell Her I Love Her 2:18
14 Gimme A Break 2:41
15 Mr. Big 2:25
16 Love House 3:23
17 Wreck Of The Old 97 2:04
18 New Kicks 3:29
19 Before The Law 3:07
20 Tell Me What I Want To Hear 2:12
21 Class War 2:01
22 Blow Up! 2:21
23 I Hate The Rich 1:37
24 C-A-R 2:02
25 Turgid Tosh 3:10
26 Some Things Never Change 3:54
27 Poor Poor Girl 3:52
28 Only The Lonely 2:33
29 You Don't Matter Anymore

9 and 10 live, punks against black lung benefit, Mabuhay Gardens, San Francisco, March 20 1978
11 to 24 live, Aito's, Berkley, November 18 1978
25 to 28 live, Los Angeles, 1979
29 live, Temple Beautiful, San Francisco, September 11, 1979

Ken

Mattless Boys

Who are the Mattless Boys you ask??????????? Think about it for a second........It is The Boys without Matt Dangerfield. Though you get a fanastic replacement with Vom from Die Toten Hosen! So essentially it is The Boys. Maybe Matt owns The Boys name or something??? Well to be honest here, I am a huge fan of The Boys and all of the poppy punkish sounds! Mainy from It's A Shit Thing put me in the right direction with them. I checked around and found out that they have a full length available. I bought mine on iTunes. Since it was purchased on iTunes and it is a new release, I will not post a freebie for this. Trust me, this will make my top 10 of 2010 very easily! It is available at Amazon and here is the link to Drumming Monkey Records who put this out. I think Vom might have something to do with this too.
Ken

http://www.drummingmonkey.de/

VIce Squad-Christmas songs

ahhh Beki all Christmas'd up!!! Hey folks go to their site and click on the News tab. One free song and one you have to pay for. Both are realy good!!
Ken

http://www.vicesquad.co.uk/vicesquadshop/home.html

Poly Styrene-Black Christmas

Hey all, I just wanted to point out that Poly Styrene of X-Ray Spex has released a fantastic single entitled Black Christmas. It is kinda reggae influenced and really good IMHO. It is available for free download on her site. Here is the link.
http://www.poly-styrene.com/

Best of 2010

Sorry I've been a little scarce as of late but things have been very hectic in Angry's personal life. Thought I would take the time to post my top picks of the year though. Very good year for music imo. Here are Angrys top releases of the year in no particular order (although I have put one on the top of the list!)

Bouncing Souls - Ghosts on the Boardwalk
Manic Street Preachers - Postcards from a Young Man
Paul Collins - King of Powerpop
Jim Jones Revue - Burning Your House Down
Sham 69 - Who Killed Joe Public
Grinderman - Grinderman 2
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Superchunk - Majesty Shredding
Bad Religion - Dissent of Man
Off with their Heads - In Desolation
Off - Box Set
Hoodoo Gurus - Purity of Essence
Alejandro Escovado - Street Songs of Love
Class Assassins - You've Got it All Wrong
Len Price 3 - Pictures
Devo - Something for Everybody
Alkaline Trio - This Addiction
Against Me - White Crosses

And top pick by far goes to the smokin hot rock and roll lp pictured above! Excellent!

Get it here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/SWINGIN-NECKBREAKERS-Pop-Tops-LP-NEW-SEALED-GARAGE-/260701000511?pt=Music_on_Vinyl&hash=item3cb2fd933f

Update

Hey all, I will be posting some new stuff here in the near future. I just wanted to get my interview with Jason Honea out of the way. Look below and read a great interview that I (as well as Jason) put together.
Ken