Killed By Death Records

Arty and a little twisted but of course great UK punk. Can’t decide which I like the best False Pretences which is the obvious hit with it’s full on force punk sound. Or Strangers On A Train with it’s pulsating and aggressive steady beat. I tend to spin Strangers… a lot more. I love sleeves like this who don’t reveal how the record sounds. It’s ugly and boring but coupled with how the record actually sounds it makes you feel like you’ve discovered something great that other people would miss cause of the design of it.

Frank Details have been comped on Everyones A Classic and the Chuck’s Messthetics comps:”Frank Details were were built around two guitarists -Richard Furzer and Andy Milner- who shared a distinct taste for the New York City sounds of Richard Hell, Television, and [Fred and] Patti Smith.“. After reading this I can cleary hear Hell and Television in there.

Country: UK
Year: 1980
Label: Buzz Bomb
Format: 7″
Songs:
False Pretences.mp3
Strangers On A Train.mp3

Repost from September the 2nd 2006. Added more scans and new rips in better quality for all tracks.

For those of you who are new to The Middle Class this is the bands debut released in 1978 and considered to be the first Hardcore record.

I read an interview with Henry Rollins(wrong it was Jello) where he speaks about Middle Class or a dutch 7inch released as early as 1972 beeing the first HC record. Can’t find that interview now though.
It’s an earth shattering record considering the year of the release but the best song I’ve heard from MD is from their second release posted at Good Bad Music For Bad, Bad Times! Situations reveal what was to come: a more gloomy dark post punk band.

“If your around check out the brothers stores “Out of Vogue” and i dont know the name of the other one. Both in downtown fullerton right next to eachother both very sucesful stores one a high-end retro furniture and housewares store run by Mike and his wife, the other a trendy boutique with Paul Frank shit and stuff like that. They sell an “official” release cd of all their stuff at the shops, they’ll sign ‘em but dont ask em to play again.” Check out the Out Of Vogue shop.

Do a search for Middle Class here and you’ll find a link to a recent interview.

Country: USA
Year: 1978
Label: Joke
Format: 7″
Songs:
Out Of Vouge.mp3
You Belong.mp3
Situations.mp3
Insurgence.mp3

Just incredible! Laugh = 3:14 and I don’t want it to stop. Total killer punk complete with loud guitars and snotty vocals. Listen to the background guitar how it builds up from a low chugga chugga on one string up till the chorus. And the Ha! Ha! Ha! parts oh my… The solo works too. It’s a complete dorky rock solo but fuck me if it dosen’t blend in perfect. Automatic Lips ain’t as bad as it’s reputation. A little quirky powerpop song that suits me just fine. Actually I think Automatic Lips is great. Give it some spins.

How does their 12″ from 1982 sound? Anyone?

Country: USA
Year: 1979
Label: Broken
Format: 7″
Songs:
Laugh.mp3
Automatic Lips.mp3

I think it’s hard to pick a favorite band. There’s so many good bands out there. But Husker Du is one of the bands that I can put on almost anything they did and still get goose bumps everytime. From their aggressive HC days like this or the New Day Rising LP. If I have to pick a fave it’s Everything Falls Apart. It’s the only CD I have in my car and I can spin it anytime and still not get tired. Hey I even love almost all the stuff Bob Mould been doing after Husker Du be it Sugar or his solo stuff. Check out Last Dog And The Pony Show from 1998 it’s one of the best stuff he’ve ever relased. Marvelous. No one can write such lovely hooks as Bob. Be it HC or be it Pop. Listen to The Silence Between Us from his latest District Line. I mean come on! How is it possible for a guy to deliever such great stuff year after year? There’s so much more that could be said about Husker Du but one thing is for sure: I fucking love this band!!!

And by the way here’s some of the best stuff I’ve seen:
Husker Du Live in Minneapolis in 1981

I’ve had another Harddrive crash so all mail sent from Nov 2007 until now is gone. If you’ve sent mail and still haven’t got a response please write again. Contact link on the left.

Country: USA
Year: 1982
Label: New Alliance
Format: 7″
Songs:
In A Free Land.mp3
What Do I Want.mp3
M.I.C..mp3

This is a re-post from April the 30th 2006. And it’s also a double penetration post together with Erichs Good Bad Music who post the rare and awesome 12″. Get it! Added more scans, new rips, Frustration and Don’t Be Afraid.

First release from the Mutha label. Just as State that Patrik put up a couple of days ago this is Hardcore the way it used to be. NO METAL! As far as I’m concerned it was most of the NY bands that made HC sound like crap from 1985 and onward. You can exclude Gorilla Biscuit from the list cause they where great. My copy is signed by Trezza the guitarist and his wise words are:”Louder+Faster”.

Country: USA
Year: 1982
Label: Mutha
Format: 7″
Songs:
Time Zone.mp3
High Volocity.mp3
Futur.mp3
Frustration.mp3
Don’t Be Afraid.mp3

This is a re-post from April the 12th 2006. Added more scans, new rips and For var frihet.

Another great record from a not-so-well known swedish band. Can this be described as ”drumplaying in a discharge-style with desperate vocals”? This is the only record made by this band and I love it so much…

Country: Sweden
Year: 1980
Label: Noon
Format: 7″
Songs:
For var frihet.mp3
Depression.mp3

Why I didn’t get to hear White Trash for the first time until a couple of years ago is really strange. It got all the qualities that the classic HC 7inches released 80-83 had like: Koro, Minor Threat, SOA, Deep Wound… you fill in the blanks. Tight playing. Great songs, production and lyrics about nazis, war and Reagan. Add to that it’s on the classic Local Anesthetic label that released gems like: Frantix and Bum Kon. Play this loud while you enjoy this:
http://youporn.com/watch/155809

Country: USA
Year: 1983
Label: Local Anesthetic
Format: 7″
Songs:
Wake Up.mp3
Nazis In My Neighborhood.mp3
Ballad Of Ronnie Raygun.mp3
I Hate My Toes.mp3
Daddy Warbucks.mp3

It’s a mod world. As you all know I have a weak spot for high quality powerpoop and mod bands. Start from the land of the wonderful food chain the Hooters dosen’t try to hide that they love Jam on their mod toast. But who cares as long as they crank out nuts like No Direction. Invisible Man start out great but just as with GG & The Amputators b-side they get lost in some psychedelic rush and drag on for 4 minutes and 44 seconds. During the song I managed to do my laundry, drink coffe, take a look at my willy(3 inches) and call my soul mate Sid Vicious and tell him to fuck off.

Start where from from San Francisco which might explain the length of the b-side.

Country: USA
Year: 1981
Label: Win
Format: 7″
Songs:
No Direction.mp3
Invisible Man.mp3

They look like The Mentors. Where they aware of them? How many bands dressed up like executioners? I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I hate you. What a complete and honest statement backed up with a killer song. This 7″ could’ve been perfect if they just had cut crap out of Racing For The Pink. Two long and absolutely pointless guitar solos that makes me fall a sleep. The song got a strong melody but 4:44???? Come on. Anyone got some info to share?

Country: USA
Year: 1982
Label: Self Released
Format: 7″
Songs:
I Hate You.mp3
Racing For The Pink.mp3

The Skunks from Texas did one REALLY great song: Earthquake Shake. Amazing blend of hard rock and punk. Great licks, intense drive, great sound and clever lyrics to follow along. The a-side tells you more how The Skunks sounded most of the time. Yeah like a tired bar band with songs too long. Sorry.

Since I’m tired after a hard weekend with wine, roast beef and Xbox 360 gaming I’ll leave you with this link:
Young, Loud, and Cheap: The Skunks, the Band That Broke Austin Out of the Seventies

Country: USA
Year: 1979
Label: Skunks
Format: 7″
Songs:
Can’t Get Loose.mp3
Earthquake Shake.mp3