EMPIRE - Expensive Sound [USA new wave, post-punk 1981] 2003 Poorly Packaged Products PPP-CD-002

 

Empire was an offshoot of punk legends Generation X, very influential for the '80s Washington D.C. hardcore and UK neo-psychedelic scenes, acting somehow as the missing link between new wave and grunge. “Expensive Sound” was originally released in 1981, their music was raw, bare, warm—distinct from the glacial, antiseptic pop that would dominate the decade.

While “Expensive Sound” may be better known for the bands it inspired — the neo-psychedia of The Stone Roses and the athletic fretwork of Fugazi — they deserve appreciation on their own merits: one of the finest guitar pop records of the era.

Empire

THE BLACKJACKS - American Independents Complete Recordings 1984-1989 [USA garage, rock, pop] 2004 Retrospect Records RR-04-006

 

The Blackjacks were a four-piece band from Boston who released one sole full-length record plus an EP called "Basic" in the mid-1980s.

They remind me of bands like Infidels or The Outnumbered but they played a very personal brand of potent garage pop, track 'Zeroing in on Me' being quite representative of their sound, but they could also play more refined songs like the jangly tune 'Possession' or the poppy 'Simple Math' which John Borack himself listed among the "100 Killer Pop Tunes" of all time in his "Shake Some Action" book.

The best song on here is probably 'That's Why I Always Dress In Black' which should appeal to all Radio Birdman fans.

Blackjacks

VAA - Spare Parts In The Cuca Garage - From The Stacks [USA garage, rock 60s] 2019 Numero Group NUM094

 

Spare Parts In The Cuca Garage - From The Stacks

THE TUNNELRUNNERS - Neath Abbey Road [UK punk rock 1978-82] 2018 Only Fit For The Bin Records OFFTB024

 

This Release Rounds Up Everything The Band Have Ever Recorded From Late ’77 Up To The Early 90s. This Band Were Known As The Welsh Ramones. The First Five Tracks Are From The Bands Only Release That Came Out In 1981, The Next Five Tracks Are From The Bands Unreleased Second EP And The Remaining 18 Tracks Are ALL Unreleased.

Neath

TOP DRAWER - Solid Oak [USA psychedelic rock 1969] 2022 Guerssen GUESSCD069

 

One of the rarest private pressings from the US, originally released in 1972 by this band from Mansfiel, Ohio. Psychedelic hard rock with a charming, homemade feel. Including the monster psych opus “Song Of A Sinner” plus more cool tracks with great guitar/organ interplay.

Oak

GENERAL ACCIDENT - 1977-1980 [UK punk rock] 2019 Only Fir For The Bin Records OFFTB049

 

General Accident whose home town was Reading became the Band to see around the town.Soon to be selling out local venues and causing mayhem. Regularly headlining a Punk club called BONES where some big names on the punk scene played.  the band was just a front to a drug ring…. They were raided, arrested,fought the law and the law won.

The band were active between 1977 – 1981 and managed to release one single on the ‘Quicksilver’ label called ‘Computer Dating’ b/w  ‘Person To Person’. Both of which are featured on this release along with eighteen previously unreleased tracks.

General

ZOOM - Sweet Desperation [Canada garage, rock, punk 1977] 2016 Ugly Pop Records UP061

 

ZOOM formed in Toronto in 1976, going on to release (arguably) the city’s first punk 45 before parting ways and joining The Viletones and The Diodes. The duo tracked their material anyway, culminating in this blistering, 13-track masterpiece.

Zoom