My Top Five 7-inch Records of 2004
Yeah, we're almost four full months into 2005, but I wanted to share my top five 7" picks from 2004 just to let you know what kind of music I enjoy!
5) Better Than You
The Lipstick Pickups http://www.lipstickpickups.com/
Kapow Records www.kapowrecords.com
This single is the best thing to come out of Orange County in a while. It's more pop than punk, but it reminds me of the early West Coast punk scene. Tracy, who does the vocals, is a lighter version of Charlotte Caffey. When you first hear her voice you'll be reminded of that snobby girl your girlfriend always hung out with in freshman highschool. She gets to scream on the B-side ("Make Your Bed"), but still needs to develop that skill more. I've never heard of the band before I saw an ad for this in Punk Planet, and the only reason I bought it was because the sleeve art caught my attention. There's a big yellow sickle on a red background, and instead of a hammer crossing it, there's some lipstick. I just thought it would just be fun to order, but I was really impressed after only the first listen. (There were a 100 of these pressed on blood-red vinyl, and the rest in black).
4) John Wayne Was A Nazi
The Stains (M.D.C.) www.free.freespeech.org/deadcops/mainhome.htm
Rabid Dog Records rabiddogrecords@yahoo.com
Before they took the name Millions of Dead Cops, (and played faster), they were called the Stains and recorded this classic in 1981. (Yeah, I know The Germs had a reissue also, but I picked this single, (b/w "Born To Die"), over them. I go crazy whenever I hear some street punk band cover this song at a backyard gig! This is the only song I know that exposes the role of John Wayne films in society--propaganda--to make you root for the brave cowboy who kills the savage Indians. And let's not forget all the war movies he made (U-S-A! U-S-A!). "John Wayne wore an army uniform/ Didn't like us reds and fags that didn't conform/ Well John we have no regrets/ As long as you died a long and painful death (chorus) He was a Nazi/ Not anymore/ He was a Nazi/ Life evens the score."
3) Self-titled E.P.
Mika Miko www.mikamiko.tk
Post Present Medium www.thesmell.org/ppm
Mika Miko are a bunch of cool girls (and a guy on drums) from L.A. They're known for playing a lot at the Smell, (a popular Downtown all-ages venue). But they've played all over (including South Central's Florence district in the backyard of this writer's old pad). Some people will tell you that they got the riot grrl sound going on. Others will swear to you that their music is reminiscent of early L.A. punk. Truth is, they're just a really cool party band. (Everyone goes crazy at their shows). Side one starts off with, "Forensic Scientist," a fun song filled with fuzzy guitar and keyboard sounds. The second song, "Sleepover Slumber PArty," is off their 5-song demo, but this time recorded way better! The second side of this 4-song E.P. is also filled with cool guitar and insane keyboard noise, but most importantly, reminds us that lyrics can be weird! "This cereal smeels like skunk/ My milk tastes like sunblock." (By the time I write this they will probably be sold-out).
2) Himalayan Frostbite
Rai Ko Ris www.geocities.com/raikoris
BatAttaK Records www.batattak-records.com
The label that pressed this is from Florida, but the band is all the way from Nepal (you know, the small country tucked in-between China and India, where there is currently a strong Maoist revolution making great gains). I'm not sure how to describe the sound the sound of this band. It has been described as something like X meets hardcore. Kinda, but not really. Side A is definately my favorite as lead singer's Sareena's vocals are showcased here and the music really just accompanies her storytelling. The first song is called "Nepal Bandh," which literally means, "Nepal Closed," and refers to the nationwide strikes that happen frequently in the country. The second song, "Jaro Maina Ayo" (Winter Months Are Here), is also a political song). "Don't see many people working in the rice fields these days/ Where has everyone run to? America!/ Ten people in one room in America/ Is it heaven or hell? I really can't say." The other two songs on side B, although also political, are more personal and don't deal directly with the situation in Nepal (as does side A). However, hardcore fans will probably like this side better as the band's hardcore-style vocals are highlighted on this side.
1) Only The Magic School Bus goes Back In Time
Hit Me Back www.hitmeback.s5.com
625 and Hate the Eighties www.625thrash.com
Most bands that come out of South Central are either skacore or street punk, but not HMB. They somehow managed to develop into one of the West Coast's best thrash bands. (For those unfamiliar to the genre, just think really-fast-punk). Side A starts off sounding like you just bought the latest Vines/Hives/(insert garage band of the week here) album. But really the guys are just playing a joke on us. (Or maybe just letting peole know they can play their instruments any way they like)? After a few seconds the the album gets into familiar HMB territory: wild drumming that goes all over the place trying to catch up with the fast guitars guided by simple and personal lyrics. There's two songs about skateboarding, two political songs, a Heresy cover and a song called, "If You Feel Fee, You Are Free." (Write what you know, eh)? The last song is the title-track and the long title actually refers to stubborn punks who refuse to listen to anything unless its "old-school" punk. I really like the surprising way the song ends, as the guys prove once again that they are real musicians.
posted by Nikolai Garcia @ 5:55 PM
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