Useless Children – Sky Is Falling (2009)

Useless children are a noise rock band hailing from Melbourne. They released this gem in 2009 on Exo Records (they’ve since released another LP featuring a track with Rick Feedtime and they have a video clip for the song “Walk Away” featuring David Yeow as a creepy janitor). It was a bit of a relief finding something local and a bit lighter on the sludge side. Don’t get me wrong band’s like Dead, Inappropriate Tough Guy Behavior and Firewitch are great but… I have this theory (yet to be proven or perhaps not) that if all I listen to is sludge then I’ll turn into slime. Useless Children’s album Sky Is Falling is bit more punk or rock mabey, I’ve seen them called hardcore before but I’m not quite sure if the bill fits. Sky falling is a hard and fast experience, nice and riffy full distortion and broken wild screams from gifted Cinta Masters (drums / vocals also of The Emergency, Gold Tango and Aktion Unit) the kind of music that will leave you average noise rock enthusiast gleeful.

Useless Children – Sky Is Falling

DL: Here

Kitchens Floor – Look Forward to Nothing (2011)

If apathy had a voice… Kitchens floor are a Brisbane band that remind me of someone going limp and being dragged on their face. There is this kind of dead beat, looser rock feel to the music that seems you can only earn though being beaten by life. Kitchens floor have been kicking it up and down the east coast for 3 or 4 years now leaving people feeling bleak and empty. Laying out tracks like raw acoustic tracks like “kidney infection” and downer pop like “116”, Look Forward to Nothing’s got a really slapped together kind of feel to it more so than your average lo-fi kindo’ band. There blasting deadpan often off key vocals are unwillingly complemented by swirls of semi attempted guitar solos embroiled into 20 minutes of short bittersweet tunes.

Kitchens Floor - 116

DL: Here

God Bullies – Kill The King (1994)

First time I heard this album I couldn’t stop listening to is for weeks. It’s a well written journey that starts off with the anthemic almost uplifting “Neighborhood Kids” and ends up deep in the freak fest of “Artificial Insemination By Aliens” and the purely satanic “Hate”. The album sounds a lot less musically spasmodic than earlier God Bullies; there has certainly been a cutback on the sampling but no compromise on sound. A punchey raw rocking combo all tied together with the manic preaching of front man Mike Hard (if you like the bullies check out “Thrall” too). There’s a reason why these guys have a following willing to kill and it’s not just the cult brain washing effort.

It’s also worth checking out “Teenage Larvae” comprised of David B. Livingstone (God bullies guitarist) and Kevin Rutmanis (Cow’s e.t.c.)

God Bullies – King Of Sling

DL: Here

(Sorry link updated - 19/7/12)

Sweet Teens - .​.​.​"this aint england" & the ominous horror (2012)

I made the mistake of googling Sweet Teens without a safe-filter, I don't think the band chose their name based on a love of dubious porn, but I recommend adding the words "band" or "music, melbourne" if you are gonna try to look them up online.
.​.​.​"this aint england" & the ominous horror is a tasty bit of good, solid, melbourne sound. Taking cues from The Clash and others of that ilk, their tunes sway from loose to tight, but never too much of either. Thoroughly, enjoyably toe-tapping. Standard guitar, bass, drums with all voices getting involved. Prolifically gigging 'round melbs at the moment, get involved.

(no video available due to being bombarded with porn when I search)


DL: Here

Throbbing Gristle - 20 Jazz Funk Greats (1979)

Throbbing Gristle were pioneers of early industrial music, who evolved out of the performance art consortium COUM Transmissions. Comprised of performance artist and ex pornography actress Cosey Fanni Tutti~ vox, guitar, synth, keys, cornet, Counterculture propagator and founder of Thee Temple Ov Psychick Youth, Genesis P-Orridge~vox, guitar, synth, bass, clarinet, keys, violin, and "vibes", Peter "Sleazy" Christopherson~ vox, cornet, special effects, tapes (who went on to be part of Psychic TV, Coil), and Chris Carter~ vox, keys, synth, drum and rhythm programming, sequencing. 20 Jazz Funk Greats contains little to no jazz or funk, the cover is a ruse in the style of TISM's Machiavelli and the four seasons the unassuming backdrop is Beachy Head a popular suicide spot. The album has all kinds of flavour, at times swoony (in the breathy Hot on the heels of love), zone-out-dreamy (Exotica, Beachy Head, Tanith), oppressively nightmarish (Six six sixties, What a day), toe tappingly throb-driven (like in Still Walking and the Kraftwork-esque Walkabout) or just all-out creepy (Persuasion).

Convincing People - Throbbing Gristle


DL: Here

Cows – Cunning Stunts (1992)

The Cows are one of the first “Noise rock” bands I really got into along with Pussy Galore. Between Shannon Selburg’s (also of the heroine sheiks) wild screaming and bugle blasting and Thor’s twisted idea of what a guitar should sound like these guys really pushed some boundaries. It’s music with more attitude than anything I’d herd before, a real keys stone amp-rep band and one that certainly solidified my interest in the label. Kevin Rutmanis (bass) also later ended up playing for The Melvins and Tomahawk. There is also a cover of the midnight cowboy theme (“You only live twice” theme take 2).

Cows – Mine

DL: Here

Boss Hog - Drinkin' Lechin' Lyin' (1989)

If you liked the late 80's / early 90's and all the grungey trash that spewed forth during this magical era I would be surprised if you don't like this ep. This one hits the nail on the head with guitars that sound more like chainsaws cutting through wind chimes than anything else, prime production by Steve Albini as always, and kicks splashes and thuds that sound like they’ve been recorded in Beirut. Another Cristina Martinez / Jon Spencer dynamic duo performance along with Kurt Wolf (Pussy Galore, Loudspeaker and later on he did some stuff with Foetus), Charlie Ondras (Unsane), and Jerry Teel   (Chrome Cranks, Honeymoon Killers, Knoxville Girls, Jerry Teel And Big City Stompers)

This is some hard as fuck grunge rock, the kind of stuff that would leave Axel Rose singing cry me a river to himself as he slowly sobs off to sleep, Death to cock rock!

Boss Hog – Fix Me

DL: Here

Snapper - A.D.M (1996)

Snapper is another great band hailing from Dunedin, New Zealand. This one is Peter Gutteridge's project (of The Clean and The Chills), and features David Kilgour on this album making it 2/3's Clean, but there is an obviuos diffrence in the directions taken as Gutteridge is frimly in control. This album sounds like somthing between Feedtime and The Jesus And Mary Chains' - Psychocandy. Quite dark and heavily droney it slams down layer upon layer of heavy fuzzed out riffy guitars and bass and synths, driving drums, and grungey distorted vocals. Well worth a check out if your into the drone-ier side of life.


Also their song buddy is awesome but its on there first EP which I'll post later, for now though:
Snapper - Buddy 


Snapper - Hammerhead (from A.D.M.)


DL: Here

X - Aspirations (1979)

X is an Australian punk band from Sydney, produced by Lobby Lloyde ( Purple Hearts, Coloured Balls, Rose Tattoo - with Ian Rilen, X's guitarist). Raw and energetic just the way good punk should be these guys were right up there with The Saints and there other contemporaries. There first LP made it to Am Rep in 1992 (originally released on X Music there own label in 1979) and has been re-released recently by Aztec with some bonus material. I landed my hands on a CD copy published by Ultimate Record Company (1990) that has 16 tracks it seems they threw in "Halfway Round The World" and "Mother". So the only song my copy doesn't have is "The previously unreleased version of mother" in comparison to the Aztec version. Brilliant edgy punk, It's easy to see why this one made it into the "100 Best Australian Albums" book.
Enjoy


X - Suck Suck


DL: Here

Cop Shoot Cop - Consumer Revolt (1990)

Cop shoot cop are one of those bands that really break the mould. It's easy to see why when you take a look at the line up with: two bass players, keys / samples, and a drummer who was really into incorporating various objects he found into his kit. The result comes out as something like an industrial version of a tragic figures era Savage Republic. It's disturbingly catchy, crashy, edgy, industrial rock. Check it out..


Also for those interested  Phil Puleo (drummer) went on to play for Swans, Jack Natz (Bass) is in the current line up for Lubricated Goat, Jim Coleman has his own project Phylr and has collaborated with J.G.Thirlwell (Foetus, etc.) under the moniker of Baby Zizanie, David Ouimet (keys, samples) went on to Motherhead Bug, Sulfur, and Firewater with Tod A. (Singer / Songwriter, Bass) who was in Shithäus with John Spencer (Pussy Galore etc.) when they went to Brown University together.


Cop Shoot Cop -  Eggs For Rib


DL: Here

The Adventures Of Robert Savage - Vol. 1 (1971)

This is a band that I came across by accident. I accidentally downloaded a torrent called great psych unknowns or something like that... while I was try to legitimately collect some psychedelia records through purchasing I-tunes songs and later burning them into a gramophone record I was no longer using (Burt Newton's - The Bert & Patti Family Album). Anyway I stuck my boots into the psychedelic stew that was The Adventures Of Robert Savage - Vol. 1 and found a warm welcome surprise running up my leg. The band consisted of three core members from what I can tell (Don Parish, Robert Savage, Tommy Richards) and the album was recorded in California and there was never a follow up unfortunately. It's hard to dig up much more information than that... from the net anyway (Shout out to my boy theredhippieteenager who has his own blog, for the info). It fells like someone has compacted lots of different influences and even cliche's at times into this album, but having said that... I never feel like I'm listening to something I've heard else where before, or something that's predictable or boring. With heavy fuzzy guitars, and forever grooving drums and bass I'm sure this album would leave very few psychedelic rock fans disappointed. 
Don't believe me check the link.

The Adventures Of Robert Savage - 7 Days Drunk 


DL: Here

Lubricated Goat - Paddock Of Love (1988)

Lubricated Goat are a Noise Rock / Grunge band from Australia (Perth / Adelaide / Sydney). Lead by Stu Spasm (Later in Crunt with his then wife Kat Bjelland)  with Guy Maddison (Bloodloss / Monroe's Fur, and post 2001 bassist for Mudhoney), Brett Ford ( from kryptonics and X another great Aussie band), and Pete Heartly (also from kryptonics). These guys are raw,  abrasive and noisy a perfect fit for am-rep records. They made a few ripples when they appeared on Andrew Denton's T.V. series Blah Blah Blah and performed In The Raw naked. There was a short doco made about it that was played at Meridith or something but I haven't been able to find it on-line. Not the album for everyone but there are some folks out there who I think will get a real kick out of this.

Lubricated Goat - In The Raw (Nude Censored Version)


DL: Here

Pain Teens - Destroy Me, Lover (1993)

The Pain Teens are an Experimental / Noise Rock band from Huston, Texas who made it onto the wonderful and unfortunately ill fated Trance Syndicate label (run by King Coffey - Butthole Surfers). Their sound spans a fairly diverse range that's often serene, eastern, and floaty but then also equally capable of being gothy, grungy, industrial, trash. You get a real mixed bag with this one even a cover of The Story Of Isaac (Leonard Cohen) makes it in but it's an amazing ride. If your into dark heavy guitars and layered tape loops / samples this is probably for you. 

Also worth noting that they do an awesome cover of 'you only live twice' (dare I say the best bond theme) check it out here... and yes it is almost exactly the same as midnight cowboy but considering they're both written by John Barry  I feel he earned his two paychecks with the one masterpiece anyway. 


Pain Teens - Prowling 

DL: Here

The Lounge Lizards - The Lounge Lizards (1981)

The self-titled debut album from The Lounge Lizards is a demented tongue-in-cheek take on jazz, played with a punk attitude. If you just read the word 'jazz', and have been scared off by the thought of 7 minute drum solos and clichéd love lyrics please don't go; this not your usual jazz band. What you will hear is sleazy swing, noise, some funk and a ballad called 'Ballad', all delivered in a chaotic and manic fashion. Most of the songs were composed by saxophonist John Lurie who hasn't been as active as he used to be due to illness, however, you might already know him from the television series Fishing with John or a few Jim Jarmusch films. Lurie also composed some of the music for the film Get Shorty.

One more thing worth mentioning is Arto Lindsay's approach to playing the guitar. Over the course of the album I think he plays about three 'normal' notes while the rest of the time is spent treating the guitar like a percussive instrument and making abrasive, twangy noises. Imagine somebody furiously trying to break amplified guitar strings with a fork and you'll get the idea. 

The Lounge Lizards (on this album) are:

John Lurie: Saxophone

Evan Lurie: Keyboards

Steve Piccolo: Bass

Arto Lindsay: Guitar

Anton Fier: Drums

The Lounge Lizards - Do the Wrong Thing 

DL: Here

Huns - Live At The Palladium (1979)

Self confessed arseholes, The Huns were a punk band with more attitude than musical talent no one can deny that. To take a direct quote from the bands drummer Tom Huckabee "We were mean, arrogant, pedantic, petty, pious, selfish, whiny, insensitive, greedy, lying, effeminate, lazy, lecherous, inconsiderate, self-aggrandizing, vindictive pricks". This combination of massive egos and riotous behaviour led to arrests and the early demise of the band (prior to ever recording a LP). Thankfully there is this recording and a 7" floating around that are both worth checking out. The Huns produced some high energy, artless, trashy songs that have earned them a place in Texas punk history amongst The Dicks and The Big Boys. 


Check out this article if you want to know more, it's written by Tom Huckabee: Link 

Huns - Glad he's dead 


DL: Here

Pussy Galore - Dial 'M' For Motherfucker (1989)

If you like music that's noisy, stompable and just don't give a fuck this album might become you favourite plastic love toy. Pussy Galore was one of John Spencer's earlier bands, and by my reckoning still the best (gotta say earlier boss hog is a pretty close second most of the time and I'll definitely be posting Drinkin' Lechin' & Lyin' later).This one was originally going to be titled "Make Them All Eat Shit Slowly" but certain record clerk stiffs deemed it too rude for the shelves, so a sticker saying Pussy Galore "New Album" accompanied the titleless front cover for a while, with it's interior revealing the full title "Dial 'M' For Motherfucker". 


Its blues with more attitude than a pissed off honey badger, and according to Dr. House the track "Kicked Out" is capable of inducing seizures in epileptics. So you might want to put your helmet on for this one.


Pussy Galore -  Eat Me

DL: Here

Die Haut - Head On (1992)

This album is amazing if not for the music (which definitely is amazing)  for the names contributing vocals. Here's the list: Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth / Free kitten etc.), Alan Vega (Suicide), Debbie Harry (Blondie), Jeffrey Lee Pierce (The Gun Club), Kid Congo Powers (The Cramps / The Gun Club), Blixa Bargeld (Einstürzende Neubauten), Cristina Martinez - (Boss hog / Pussy Galore), Anita Lane - (Birthday Party / Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds), and Lydia Lunch (Teenage Jesus and the Jerks etc.)


If your not sure why this album is great now do your self favour and check out all the bands aforementioned, they're all brilliant.


Die Haut / Jeffrey Lee Pierce -  Breaking In Your Day Dream

DL: Here

Six Finger Satellite - The Pigeon Is The Most Popular Bird (1993)

These guys were the first band to lead me into the synth punk freakout of the 90's and consequently Brainiac, however this album I would say isn't part of the genre. It's much more guitar derived but still defiantly holds a similar approach to music, if you think of Primus but more angry, screamy and paranoid you probably wont be too far off the mark. The album was original released over two records that were made available to the public 4 weeks apart, the CD release has all the tracks in the same place though. There's a little experimental track usually heavily involving synth's and effects between each track which can be a little frustrating at times but you'll quickly learn to accept it as the majority of the tracks are real banging. Laughing Larry was definitely the track that had me hooked for more so check out the youtube link if you wanna know what's up.


Six Finger Satellite - Laughing Larry

DL: Here

The Birthday Party - Drunk On The Pope's Blood (1991)

The Birthday Party is the brain child of Rowland S. Howard and Nick Cave, definitely two of  the greatest figures in Australian underground music. The original release of this album was a split with Lydia Lunch. The birthday party's side consisted of 4 live tracks (Including a cover of Loose), Lydia's side was called "The Agony Is The Ecstasy" containing a 16 min song by the same name. The CD re-issue of this album (which I've posted) has the 4 original Birthday Party tracks and a hand full of bonus material in place of Lydia Lunch's side. There are a couple of different versions of songs a few demos and to top it all off 2 recordings by the Tuff Monks - "After The Fireworks", and "After, After The Fireworks" (which as far as I know is the only track recorded by the band "After, After The Fireworks" being a reversed remix of the first track). The Tuff Monks consisted of Rowland S. Howard, Nick Cave, and Mick Harvey and three members of another iconic Australian band The Go Betweens (Robert Forester, Grant McLennan, Lindy Morrison). 

One my favourite Birthday Party moments, definitely worth adding to the collection if your a fan. 

The Birthday Party - Pleasure Heads 

DL: Here 

The Ventures - Live In Japan '65 (1995 ... Duh U.S. release)

As far as Surf Rock goes it doesn't get much better than this. A pristine quality recording of one of my favourite Surf Rock bands and as the name suggest Live in Japan 1965. All the wet guitars, drum rolls, and bumping bass lines you could dream of. It's quite a musical journey running 29 tracks long but there's never a dull moment. The recording includes a brilliant cover of the them song for Slaughter on Tenth Avenue, a hand full of Ventures classics including Out of Limits, and a re-work of Brahms - Hungarian Dance No. 5 titled Rap City. 


I highly recommend this album if you like surf, or even considered it a genre you might like to dabble in.


The Ventures - Out of Limits


DL: Here

Bikini Kill - Pussy Whipped (1993)

I'm a big fan of 90's grungy stuff so naturally that includes Riot Grrrl. As far as the genre goes I think its pretty hard to ignore this album. Raw, dirty and energetic with a 3rd wave feminist twist definitely a must listen for anyone who has fond memories of the 90's or likes strong female vocals and The Dead Kennedys. To all the Riot Grrrl's / fans of Riot Grrrl's out there, if you haven't got it yet, get it now.


It's worth a mention that members of this band went on to form / came from: Le Tigre, The Go Team (not to be confused with 'The Go! Team' a UK act I'm sure you've all heard of), The Frumpies, The Julie Ruin, The Casual Dots, and there's a few more I'm sure you can find out about for yourself. It's also probably worth mentioning Rebel Girl made number 27 on the Rolling Stone Magazines list of most excellent songs of every year since 1967.


Bikini Kill - Sugar


DL: Here

Tactics - My Houdini (1980)

Being an Aussie I thought it might be nice to kick this blog off with some Australian flavoured post-punk madness. This is the first full album release of the Sydney band (originally from Canberra), although it was a song of there first E.P. 'Long Weekend' called Standing By The Window that caught my ear (heard it on a comp called tales from the Australian underground - singles 1976-1989 which is well worth a look into) this album made it into my top 20 quickly. Full of sharp stabs and witty cuts, it's a cleverly composed mess of wet clangy guitars, sleazy sax, energetic miscalculated timing and a vocal screeching comparable to David Thomas (Pere Ubu, Rockets from the tombs, etc.). Tactics could pass as the sound track to Ian Curtis's dancing.


You might like this album if you like the idea of Pere Ubu and Devo having a bastard child who's better of than most in a enthusiasm/limb count kind of sense.



Tactics - No More Talking


DL: Here