Holidays
From
the P-REX crew.....
ORIGINALS REGULARLY FETCH $30!
We've been waiting for a reissue of this rarity for a long time now! So go ahead and start thanking whatever god you believe (or choose not to believe) in that Matt Hord (Heavy Times, Running, Priority Male) and Steve Krakow (Plastic Crimewave, Galactic Zoo Dossier, Secret History of Chicago Music, etc) did it.
ONO were (and still are) Chicago's premier noisy art rockers, so far out there in fact, they couldn't even fit it with the punk scene that they sprung from back in the day. Thermidor Records issued Machines That Kill People back in 1983 and just now are bands getting around to deconstructing rock music as forcefully as ONO was doing thirty years ago.
"Machines" is a unwieldy ball of Throbbing Gristle like industrial pulses, no wave guitar clatter, clanging post punk noise, eerie gospel chants and free jazz freakout thats would've made Albert Ayler proud. SO YES IT'S RIGHT UP OUR ALLEY. ONO's Machine That Kill People is a lost piece of Chicago's vibrant music scene no longer, thanks to this reissue treatment. Here's keeping our fingers crossed for a repress of Ennui, their other lp on Thermidor from '86.
Cooper Crain (of Cave) has delightfully remastered the lp for extra umph and Priority Male recreated the original hand screened artwork for what amounts to one of the most carefully done reissues of the year.
The only thing is they didn't press up too many copies, so grab a copy of this before it's gone.
AS ESSENTIAL AS THEY COME!!!! (And don't forget to grab ONO's brand new album from this year, Albino, out on Moniker Records...)
1990 CZECHOSLOVAKIAN RE-PRESS ON GLOBUS INTERNATIONAL!
We found some "dead stock" of another terrific record and we wanna SHOUT about it!
FUCK EVERYTHING YOU KNOW...well, about David Peel anyway. You may think you know David Peel if you're familiar with "Have A Marijuana" or "The Pope Smokes Dope", but if you don't know David Peel and the Lower East Side's "1984" you don't know the half of it. In 1983 David Peel teamed up with Wayne Kramer, G.G. Allin (and the Jabbers guitarist Alan Chapple) to record an ode to George Orwell's literary classic. The lyrics on this album are entirely based on the text and they're sung in a much more robotic, less Fugs-y way than "I Like Marijuana" or any of the Lower East Side's late-60s / early-70s material. This stuff is way more psych (especially the scorching guitar leads!) and punk (do you think DX over at Distort would be into it if it wasn't?).
In short, it's David Peel's psych-punk tribute to Thought Police, Doublethink, Big Brother, and the rest of the Members of 1984. Outside of the pages of recent issues of Distort (a zine worth subscribing to) this record has not been critically acclaimed they way it deserves to be.
If you're not outraged you don't own this album, you should be, it's an album well worth owning. Especially if you dig outsider rock, weird punk, psychedelic rock, and INSANITY.
WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND buying this record right now, or at the very least checking out this clip (and then buying this record immediately aftwards - it slays):
SEALED "DEAD-STOCK" FIND!!!
Maryland melodic troubadour Bob Lind is responsible for some of the Folk era's most well-crafted numbers and further proof can be found on the Verve Folkways album, The Elusive Bob Lind.
A poignant mix of political and personal subjects, Lind weaves a narrative of optimistic melancholy throughout this record. Losing, loving, wishing, dreaming, demanding his way along, Lind clearly understands what it means to be both disappointed and satisfied. And if the eclectic mix found on this album wasn't enough, The Elusive Bob Lind contains what at least one P-Rex employee thinks may be his strongest song - "Cool Summer." Hmm... just thinking about that song makes everything a little better, especially with the darkening days and dropping temperatures.
Hugely recommended reissue of a staple classic folk record!!
After spinning the Printed Gold single on Richie Records to death last year we finally received this long awaited full length album by Perth outfit Taco Leg. Baltimore based Fan Death Records handles the releae this time around and man oh man are we glad they got this pressed up in time for Christmas.
We've been blathering on and on about all the amazing music coming from Australia lately (we know, we know, we sound like a broken record) and well looky here, we got another warm and fuzzy brewing with this debut full length from Taco Leg. One of the things we love about Taco Leg is that being waaaaaay over in Perth, they are bringing their own unique brand to the stellar tunes coming from down under, free of influence from the eastern acts currently burning up the scene. Akin to acts like Hygiene, Fang, the Messthetics sound and even some K-Records jangle mixed into their stripped down sound of guitar driven primo downer pop, Taco Leg are making simple yet exciting sounds full of youthful exuberance with just the right amount of naiveté.
Preposterously Recommended.
The Southpaw Records gang has pressed up the final Bare Wires album after their break up earlier this year at SXSW this year, and we're stoked they did. Cause let's just say, Bare Wires are going out with a BANG!!!
It's more than sad to see this band go after giving us the highest quality power-pop nuggets for years on end, bringing their show on the road and pumping out the high energy good vibes with all the feral rock 'n' roll attitude fully in tow. "Idle Dreams" is not just the final recordings of a great band, it's the Bare Wires' fucking masterpiece.
They not only hit all the touchstones of the classic Bares Wires sound, but also the touchstones of any great pop record. The raw garage barrage energy is present, the glam flavored tuggin' at the heart strings rockin' makes several appearances and the righteous immediacy of Bare Wires delectable arrangements make Idle Dreams a swan song that is not soon to be topped. Infectious hooks will have you fiending for more more more, but some times it's not up to us, sometimes its up to the supplier, and shit... we're cut off... we guess it's time to ride it out cold turkey.
So cop a shot of Bare Wires' "Idle Dreams", let loose some wild screams and sweat it out with the rest of us. Don't sit idle on this one, RECOMMENDED.
Newish imprint Beyond Beyond is Beyond Records lets loose this fine as wine release by Prince Rupert's Drops and you're not gonna want to miss out.
Prince Rupert's Drops' debut full length seemingly came out of nowhere and has been getting plenty of attention around P-Rex HQ. Gauzy psychedelia with a heaping dose of UK influence stirred into this concoction is what NYC's PRD are bringing and they are doing with class, charisma, and some serious gat-damn chomps.
This unit plays like some seasoned veterans and when they are firing on all cylinders they transcend into some wondrous shoegaze psychedelic majesty. With hints of hippy dippy pill poppers Soup Dragons and BMX Bandits sprinkled atop some summery groove haze a la Fresh & Onlys and Mmoss, coupled with the country swagger of The Byrds and the Dutchess And the Duke, Prince Rupert's Drops know how to spark a fun strum sing a-long into a motorik thumper of kinetic hallucinatory intensity only to segue into hand clap 60's sunshine garage pop with nary a misstep.
Never afraid to dole out a 2 minute pop ditty and then turn around and unfurl a 9 minute effects drenched burn out jam, Prince Rupert's Drops will have you shedding Dutch Tears in no time.
SUPER RECOMMENDED.
The Moon Glyph label returns with this teaming of interstellar minds shooting through the cosmos and bringing the spaceage soundtrack straight to your ears.
Food Pyramid and Roy Orb D.mt. have composed an album of
blissed out sonic excursions that's right outta this world. "Arp Navigators" is six tracks
of motorik oscillation, late night thumps, shimmering glide, and warm
tempered undulating music of the spheres. Armed with an arsenal of
synthesizers, these guys hunkered down and made some beautiful
space-is-the-place passages that blend and segue into each other further
adding to the theme of exploration and navigation, never stepping on
each other's toes (or tones we should say) this collaboration finds a
group of like minded musicians and sonic pioneers melding minds seeking
out the unknown path. They are bringing us all along for the adventure,
so strap in, let's head for the stars to find some spiritually healing
knowledge of the universe.
Cosmically Recommended!!!
EDITION OF 500
Oakland's Meat Market (anybody else just get really hungry?) dole out their debut full length album, this self titled little gem released by the fine folks at Under The Gun Records. Meat Market are bringing some surfy major chord pop flavored punk that has some hefty bounce, some Kid Congo and the Pink Monkeybirds attitude, hooks that will ensnare even the most cautious of explorer and big sun filled smiles billowing out its grooves.
This self-titled debut is supplying some Cramps-ian murk, some Black Lips swing and a garage swagger ready for your next beach blanket bong out. These dudes will twist your watussi right up your bobby socks sucka!
A Big Meaty Recommendation for Meat Market.
In late-2012, Bombon played an in-store with Death Hymn Number 9 in LA. These lovely ladies looked amazing and sounded even better…femme fatales too busy kicking out the surf/garage jams to break hearts or take names. We were left with jaws on the floor and a handful of their sole LP, and we couldn't be happier.
If you're searching for some fun in the sun right now, look no further. "Las Chicas Del Bombon" has you covered like SPF 70…you won't get burned.
EDITION OF 300
Vancouver's High Drops just spawned a new 10" on the Under The Gun Records imprint and it is 5 cuts of Stones-y VU-isms filtered through modern garage lurch. Swinging bass lines, big full strum reverbed guitars, a steady back beat and echo-washed vocals combine to make some divine psych pop tunes that'll stick with you.
The music scene in Vancouver BC of the past few years has been steadily pumping out killer new acts of all kinds and the High Drops are setting the bar mighty high, if you like your bud green and your mind in the clouds. If you dig the above mentioned Rolling Stones, Velvet Underground, The 13th Floor Elevators or some of today's modern practitioners of laid back sunshine-y psych pop like Cosmonauts, Apache Dropout or The Black Angels then pop this platter on your turntable and enjoy the heady good vibes. Recommended.
7in - FUZZ - This Time I Got A Reason b/w Fuzz's Fourth Dream (Color vinyl - Ltd to 500) - $4.99 - BUY
- LISTEN 
- LISTEN Find something to hold to... Our Trouble In Mind amigos have unearthed a thick slab of bottom heavy hesher grooves from a mysterious new band more than aptly named FUZZ.
Great googily moogily! FUZZ ain't no joke, this is furry and groovy and sounds like some long lost recordings from some forgotten basement dwelling head bashers. The cheer is blue, the sabbath is black and the sound is in the red Trogg stomp mixed with some Pentagram sexy snaking through its infectious groove filled muscular psychedelic din of hairy Sir Lord Baltimore-isms.
AAHHOOOOOGGA! The line at the Slaughterhouse is getting shorter every second as these Bay Area Twins are unleashing the Reverse Shark Attack with each new Tide. The soundtrack to growing your hair long, fist in the air, and no fucks given.
Mega Recommended. GET SOME FUZZ NOW.
7in - Liminanas - La fille de la ligne 15 b/w Mobylette (Color vinyl - Ltd to 500) - $4.99 - BUY - LISTEN
- LISTEN Another stunner from the Trouble In Mind camp! Any new Limiñanas material is always warmly welcomed round these parts and their latest single for TiM is another pop smash to add to their ever-growing catalog.
"La Fille de La Ligne 15" and "Mobylette" are both works of subtle strut and always cool pop perfection. Just the right amount of jangle, some hypnotic keys and the sultry croon and come hither are back in full effect, making this single ideal for dance floor flirtations, first date canoodling or life partner lip locks. The Limiñanas are furthering their dark pop aesthetic and leading the pack of modern day revivalists.
Don't sleep on this one cuz this 'un is gonna sashay away to the heart of the night with only a waft of smoke lingering in the moonlit penumbra.
Superbe Recommandé.
Thee Cormans have joined the esteemed Total Punk roster and delivered unto the world another frying pan to the dome of fuzz-arific surf madness.
We're not totally convinced over here that Thee Cormans aren't in fact real life cavemen surfers that put out surf punk singles on the side just for shits and giggles. Well whatever the case, Mingo and Tiger Lilly are 2 more crapsterpieces of classic instrumental surf dirge recorded with the littlest attention to fidelity imaginable.
So yeah, this sucker rips! Thee Cormans are tossing off whomped-out surf stompers in the grand tradition of the Mummies, Untamed Youth, a la the Estrus and Crypt Records catalogs and they are doing it with not a care in the world.
Fiendishly Recommended.
7in - Mac Blackout Band - Black Knight B/W Life Is Hard - Glow In The Dark Vinyl - Limited to 300 copies - $4.99 - BUY - LISTEN
- LISTEN GLOW IN THE DARK VINYL LIMITED TO 300 COPIES
Mac Blackout Band emerges from the shadows to deliver a brand spankin' new single on Diversey Records. "Black Knight" and "Life Is Hard" are two prime cuts of aggro power pop that Mac Blackout Band have boiled down to perfection.
Combining the attitude and provocations of early associated acts Functional Blackouts and Daily Void and marrying them to the sugar coated leather jacket love songs of Mickey, Mac Blackout Band have risen to the occasion with these two gems of bratty power punk. Rife with glowing hooks and a sneaking feeling your about to get a switchblade to the gut, Mac Blackout Band are making some pretty thrilling modern punk with no doubt a nod and a wink towards the past. Pressed up in a limited edition of only 300 copies on glow in the dark wax, this single is sure to blow outta here pronto so hop to it!
Seriously Recommended.
FUUUUCK YEEEAAA-YEAH!!!! The Fan Death Records crew let's the gate swing wide open and sic's the Hiss on yer ass with this vicious live document from WFMU.
"A Little Off Center (Live At WFMU)" finds Purling Hiss displaying their prowess in the live context. Comprising cuts from the debut LP "Purling Hiss" on Permanent, "Public Service Announcement" LP on Woodsist, and the "Lounge Lizards EP" on Mexican Summer, this little ripper of a live cassette shows a band that has spent some time on America's highways crisscrossing all directions and honing their live set assault. The vocals are a bit more in the mix and not covered in trademark reverb, but it only adds to the virility and essence of "being there" like any great live record does. "A Little Off Center (Live At WFMU)" is sure to sear your ears and batter your brains with each repeated listen and we're certain our copies will be getting constant rotation in the shop deck.
Ol' Hendrix woulda been proud, Polizze and company shred frets and launch feedback squalor the likes of Monterey Pop Festival only stopping short of setting his guitar aflame as sacrifice to the rock gods!
Mega Recommended.
MAG - Scam - Issue #9 Fall 2012 - $2.99 - BUY
Issue #9 Of "Scam Zine" is completely dedicated to Black Flag's first album Damaged. So we were hooked right away, author Erick Lyle tells the tale of the LA punk scene in the late 70's and early 80's and has interviewed members of Black Flag to get a sense of what it was like at the time the shit was going down. Insights into the recording of this classic hardcore album are revealed by the members themselves as well as stories from the frontline of police brutality, suburban wasteland teenage ennui and how the 80's found California in quickly changing climate of revolt.
Right down to the Friz Quadrata font on the cover, "Scam" #9 is a proper tribute to one of punk's most uncompromising bands and one of their most vicious tyrades cut to vinyl. The zine itself is of the classic half size variety, partly hand written partly typed, black and white photo-copied photos from back in the day, footnotes in the back that further flesh out the full story. Perfect for bathroom reading, academic inquiry, or to really get in the spirit of the Flag, get in the van and live the lesson. Super Recommended.
