Frankage

This is one of my favorite records of all time. The Descendents were (cue cliche) ahead of their time. Their pop punk stylings foreshadowed Greenday, the Offspring, Weezer and all the inane pap that was to follow (Blink 182 et al.).

After about 2 decades, I've been listening to this album a LOT again, and it's made me marvel at just how good they were. This to me is their best. It also marked the first appearance of lead singer Milo Aukerman, inspiration for the Milo character that was featured on most of their covers. And he was going off to college, hence the title (duh).


Later, they went more for the pop side of their sound, leaving behind their more creepy negative side - both in terms of lyrical content and the Black-Flag-influenced sound heard here.

Today I found out that founding member, guitarist, and the man responsible for their darker lyrics, Frank Navetta, passed away last Halloween (2008). He had quit the band back in 1958, burning all his gear to become a fulltime fisherman in Oregon.


So this entry becomes my belated tribute to Frank as well as to the Descendents. Rest in Peace.

TWO THINGS AT ONCE (MGTC, Bonus Fat)

1. "Myage" – 1:59
2. "I Wanna Be a Bear" – 0:42
3. "I'm Not a Loser" – 1:28
4. "Parents" – 1:38
5. "Tonyage" – 0:56
6. "M 16" – 0:43
7. "I'm Not a Punk" – 1:04
8. "Catalina" – 1:46
9. "Suburban Home" – 1:40
10. "Statue of Liberty" – 1:59
11. "Kabuki Girl" – 1:10
12. "Marriage" – 1:39
13. "Hope" – 2:00
14. "Bikeage" – 2:14
15. "Jean Is Dead" – 1:33

BONUS FAT:

1. "My Dad Sucks" - 0:36
2. "Mr. Bass" - 2:05
3. "I Like Food" - 0:16
4. "Hey Hey" - 1:35
5. "Weinerschnitzel" - 0:11
6. "Global Probing" - 1:08
7. "Ride the Wild" - 2:30
8. "It's a Hectic World" - 1:50

Liz Phair. Once ubercool indie queen, she tried to go polished-pop, but it didn't take. Now she's on Dave Matthew's label, which is a nice midpoint between Matador and Capitol Records i suppose.

These are her casette 4 track demos that got her the Matador contract to rerecord many of the songs which would become "Exile in Guyville", which was rereleased by DM's label last summer.

GIRLYSOUNDS:

(NOTE: The songs in the zip are in a different order than this list, which is how they appeared on the original casettes.)

Yo You Buddy Yup
Word To Ya Muthuh
(cassette one)

Side One

White Babies
Shane
6 Dick Pimp
Divorce Song
Go West
Don't Hold Your Breath
Johnny Sunshine

Side Two

Miss Lucy
Elvis Song
Dead Shark
One Less Thing
Money
In Love With Yourself
Fuck Or Die



Girls! Girls! Girls!
(cassette two)

Side One

Hello Sailor
Wild Thing
Fuck and Run
Easy Target
Soap Star Joe
Ant in Alaska
Girls Girls Girls

Side Two

Polyester Bride
Thrax
Miss Mary Mack
Clean
Love Song
Valentine
Shatter

cassette three

???

Also available individually at www.girlysound.com

Irish Rover

I intended on posting 4 cds of bsides and rare tracks by the Pogues, to celebrate St. Patty's, but zshare wouldn't let me! So, instead, here are the boys with the Dubliners doing "Irish Rover".

Cheers!

Black Sheets of Rain

Allright, so i am back for what is becoming my monthly post. Pathetic, I know. Sorry dudes and dudettes. Sometimes i just ain't in the mood!

But anyway..

I know "Workbook" is supposed to be Bob Mould's best solo ouvre, but this one's my favorite:

It's dark, cathartic, obsessive, loud, bitter. All good things, in my book!

I have been listening to Husker Du's Zen Arcade and Warehouse of late, and really, Grant Hart's tunes just haven't aged as well as Bob's songs. His new one is supposed to be coming out soon, so we'll see how it's sounding after the electronica a go go debacle that was his last one. It's supposed to be more guitar-rocking this time, which doesn't guarantee that it'll be good, mind you. I'm just glad he got over the clubby stage.

Not that he hasn't the right to. Like Chris Cornell, Bob is free to follow his bliss all he wants, but I'm not necessarily obliged to go there with him.

BOB MOULD - BLACK SHEETS OF RAIN

"Black Sheets of Rain"

"Stand Guard"

"It's Too Late"

"One Good Reason"

"Stop Your Crying"

"Hanging Tree"

"The Last Night"

"Hear Me Calling"

"Out of Your Life"

"Disappointed"

"Sacrifice/Let There Be Peace"

Anyway, all of this, apropos of my brother Andrés having met the man a short time ago! How jealous am I? Not one iota! The grapes were sour anyway!