My focus on this masterpiece have been on the title track. But today I actually gave the b-side a spin and was suprised that these tracks are great too. But they’re easily overshadowed by the incredible Giving Me…

I really hope the “do do do do” will make some punks here upset. Real punks are so easily upset by great powerpop. I don’t know much about The Fans. This is their first 7inch out of two. They also appeared on a compilation LP released by Fried Egg.

Japans 1977 Records have re-issued both their records and a compilation CD that I would love to hear: The Fans-You Don’t Live Here Anymore.

Country: UK
Year: 1979
Label: Fried Egg
Format: 7″
Songs:
Giving Me That Look In Your Eyes.mp3
Stay The Night.mp3
He’ll Have To Go.mp3

It’s good to get to hear these old hard to get classics on some boot. Like Bloodstains Across California who has Move on there. But sometimes things go wrong. They’ve speeded it up a little bit. The original version(here) is 1:17 and on Bloodstains it’s 1:15. Well I do favour a faster version but since it’s not how it original sounded I just have to post it.

The same goes for Let Go that’s been posted by the mighty Something I Learned Today. It actually sounds better there(trashier and beefier but it’s originally a really thin production) clocking in on 1:33 but the original version is 1:35.

Don’t know if the Plugz counted the punks in Hollywood but on the “Special Thanks To” list they thanks “…all the 200 punks who rule Hollywood.”.

“With rough, sardonic tunes, including a punk version of Chicano cover favorite ” La Bamba “, the Plugz earned a seminal spot in the annals of punk, sharing the stage with groups such as X and the Circle Jerks at clubs like Madame Wong’s and the Masque.”

Country: USA
Year: 1978
Label: Slash
Format: 7″
Songs:
Move.mp3
Mindless Contentment.mp3
Let Go.mp3

The Numbers-Sunset Strips(posted some months ago) changed their name to The Riptides and became more of a powerpop band. That wasn’t a bad idea wich this record fully proves. Tomorrows Tears is as classic as a classic can be. Well crafted from start to finish. Not a single weak spot. Concidering the song is 3:04 that’s a big compliment from my side. The b-side is a sad story on the other hand.
Country: Australia
Year: 1979
Label: Flat
Format: 7″
Songs:
Tomorrows Tears.mp3
Some Other Guy

20 years after Xband(posted couple of days ago) from Tallahassee, Florida released their 7inch The Cheap Thrills from the very same town releases theirs togheter with Nervous Habits.

Nervous Habits has the best good looking sleeve part but it’s The Cheap Thrills that rocks. Their own Explosive Love is backed up with a cover of the PVC classic Sick Of You. Why they decided to go for a cover beats me since they’ve got plenty of great tracks that can be heard on their Myspace page. Snotty vocals and trashy production.

Seems like this page sort out the crap bands and the great ones are the ones who sends us stuff.

300 pressed and 100 on blue vinyl plus insert with a hilarious written story by the record boss Wang Chung:”You ever kill human being on accident, then stop eat him body for lunch? Me too.” etc. Know Crap sold out their copies but Underground Medicine have it or write to: gimmecheapthrills@yahoo.com.

Country: USA
Year: 2006
Label: Terminal City
Format: 7″
Songs:
The Cheap Thrills - Explosive Love.mp3
The Cheap Thrills - Sick Of You.mp3
Nervous Habits - Get Shocked
Nervous Habits - Genetic Mutation

Too bad there’s only three good tracks on this one. The production on the other hand makes it sometimes worthwhile to listen through the whole thing. Incredible punchy! If this had been a 7inch with Don’t Come… and Enemy Man it would’ve been a monster. A perfect mix of punky powerpop with a slight hard rock influence(hey it’s from Detroit!).

“The self-designed cardboard sleeve saw Cinecyde singer Gary Reichel and guitarist Jim Olenski machine-gunned to bits by the band’s SS-suited drummer, Roger Wesch.”

Country: USA
Year: 1982
Label: Tremor
Format: 12″
Songs:
Don’t Come Crying To Me.mp3
Better Dead.mp3
Wondering Why
Top Secret
Professionals
Enemy Man.mp3
Girls Who Play Tricks On You
Wake Up
Firefight
I Don’t Want Nothin’ From You

Sort of a “mystery” band out of Tallahassee, Florida. Even back then I can’t remember seeing anything about them.Got this along a huge package from Raunch(Can’t remember if that was really their name. Pushead had done the logo for them.) distro in Texas including Rebel Truth, Rights Of The Accused, Koro and more. Still remember the day I sat down listening through the pile of records. And it was back when every single record had something good to offer. Xband was one of my favourites.

I liked the lo fi production as a contrast to their musical skills. Six tracks and not everyone of them good. Tends to repeat themself on Moondog and Stop This Now. If they stucked to the three tracks posted here this should’ve been a classic. The last track ain’t listed on the record so…

Country: USA
Year: 1986
Label: Yomamas
Format: 7″
Songs:
NCT.mp3
Behind The Wall.mp3
Moondog
Stop This Now
Untitled.mp3

The title track reveal what I suspect what this band was really all about: bad pub rock jumping on the punk bandwagon. But I can’t deny that the flip Grammar School Girls is a catchy Stranglerish punk ditty with piano. Love it.

And what makes me love this even more is the fact that 77punk.co.uk wrote this:”To top it all, they resort to that most base of rock’n'roll tricks of roping in some topless model to help flog the single.” Sure it’s a simple trick but there’ve been worse: all these bands “looking” punk to trying to sell their shit.

Country: UK
Year: 1978
Label: Big Bear
Format: 7″
Songs:
Girl On Page 3
Grammar School Girls.mp3

Released in 1977 this is the US The Boys second 7inch. The first one beeing released as early as 1975! Up there with classics like Shivvers-Teenline and assorted powerpop. Righfully The Boys have been included in the Teenline series. The only complaint I have is that Where Too Young drags on far too long in the end.

“Up in Lincoln, the Boys ruled the power-pop roost. 1977’s “You Make Me Shake” is probably their best, but “She’s My Girl,” their 1975 debut, provides a nice missing link between full-blown American power-pop…”

Country: USA
Year: 1977
Label: Outrage
Format: 7″
Songs:
You Make Me Shake.mp3
We’re Too Young.mp3

“She just wanna put her lips around stiff love. She’s too busy sucking on stiff love. She’s gonna get a mouthfull of hot cum!” Offensive lyrics is without a doubt the strongest side of Californias The Insults. And listen to the sloopy drum playing right after the first chorus when T. Brendon have counted in with 1 2 3 4. Ha ha hilarious bad in a good way.

Incredible obnoxious vocals added to the thought provocing lyrics I sense that these guys got a lot of shit from the cooler guys in high school. “I ain’t no lawyer. I ain’t no doctor. I ain’t no dentist. I’m just a dophead. I’m just a doper!”

I’ve added a scan from an original gig flyer that came with my copy when The Insults played Mabuhay Gardens in San Francisco. But wich year was it? This is their second 7inch. The first one can be found at Something I Learned Today.

Country: USA
Year: 1979
Label: Sick Sound
Format: 7″
Songs:
Stiff Love.mp3
Tax War.mp3
I’m Just A Doper.mp3