Records of the Day by Creature

All Record of the Day reviews from Creature's Double Feature

Records of the day for your ol’ pal Creature are new records by Alvilda and Tiikeri. Hot new 45 by Finnish punk band Tiikeri -Tee se itse E.P. Their name means tiger and they play ferociously catchy punk. No distortion and it still totally works. Self-released because DIY rules. I got mine from General Speech and you probably can too.

Also, been listening non-stop to the new Alvilda LP C'est Déjà L'heure out on Static Shock. All woman French band playing catchy punk/indie sounds with 60s style girl group harmonies. As John Brannon would say, check it out.

Records of the day for your ol’ friend Creature are a late 90’s swedish dbeat banger from Uncurbed - peacelovepunklife…and 2020’s a quien le echamos la culpa? by Peruvian punks Morbo. In the words of uncurbed, “I am a fucking Rock’n’Roller-rocking for our freedom Freedom and understanding-peace, love and happiness.” Couldn’t have said better myself. As for morbo, my spanish is a bit rusty but its catchy as hell and has me pogoing around the living room singing along as best I can. Check em out!

Records of the day for your ol’ friend Creature are a late 90’s swedish totalitar-esque raw punk blast from Chainsaw (despite being a one man band in the here and now) and a recent reissue of Ngozi Family’s Heavey Connection. Chainsaw’s When Will We Die is a solo effort by Jeff Poot and makes me want to smash my face into a wall. Ngozi Family’s Heavy Connection has abig sticker introducing me to Zamrock on it, and while I am already familiar, if you are not, get onto that heavy, fuzzed out Zamrock sound. “I really shot her…with my gun..yes I did”. I picked up these records in lovely Providence at two of our great record shops, Armageddon Shop and Analog Underground, so maybe you can too.

First up, Straw Man Army. Earthworks is the third (I think) LP for these new York punks with a heavy, rhythmic peace punk sound and lyrics to match. No cookie cutter crass soundalikes here. Elements of uk diy and post punk bubble through, with clear, understandable vocals delivering a message that we so desperately need to hear right now. From “Mass Production of Loneliness” - “We made our bed, we’re lying in it! Slowly strangled by the peace we’re finding in it. Our lives are mass produced To break the link from me to you”.

Decay is your friend / even empires end…

For the back half of this double feature, a brand new (old) recording from one of Creature’s favorites Les Rallizes Denudes - YaneUra Sept. ‘80. It's no secret to anyone that knows me, that I perhaps have an unhealthy obsession with Japanese psychedelic noise rock legends Les Rallizes Denudes. Another legitimate reissue by temporal drift records (is it really run by one of the guys from LA metal punks zig zag? - band rips). This may not be the best introduction to this band, but the version of flames of ice in this recording is on fire and the guitar playing is making me think this could be my favorite version of the song. Featuring guitarist Fujio Yanaguchi of hard rock/glam outfit Murahachibu (if anyone has a copy of their album available cheap, yr’ ol’ pal creature wants to give it another listen). The mastering here is a clear live recording and Fujio's guitar has an unusual sound for Les Rallizes Denudes, pushing harder and more proto punk, making this one of the heaviest version of Flames of Ice I've ever heard. Playing all around is excellent and Creature is just going to keep jamming this one.

Normally this is where Records of the day would go, but since I’ve already talked your ear off about ‘em, here’s two more:

The Ward - The New Dykes. Hot new release from ugly pop records of a couple songs from a mid 2000s Toronto band I sure wish recorded more songs back then. This falls on the melodic side of punk, luckily staying on the gruff Leatherface/blotto side with great vocals and unabashedly queer lyrics. Double a side banger.

Nubs - Dog. I know this is the b-side and the a-side is probably a better song, but this is my column. Classic kbd punk. Luckily last laugh reissued it, so still cheap and easy to find. Love the commitment to the lyrics/gimmick. So dumb, so catchy, so punk.

Records of the Day from your ol’ pal Creature are a new reissue and a new to me record. First up, Frau - punk is my boyfriend. Apparently this is like a decade old, but I found a copy at big dig records in the fall and the cover was cool and, what? I'm not gonna buy a record with a song called punk is my boyfriend on it? Duh, bought it and it fucking rips.

Next up, Skull flower - Last Shot at Heaven. Recent double LP reissue and first vinyl edition of maybe my favorite Skull Flower LP. Heavy and unrelenting guitar damage. Real mind eraser (ed. note, the act of erasing one's mind, not the sick band) of a record for sure. Put it on to forget about everything and disappear.

Records of the week from Creature are a new one from one of Philly's current best acts and a dbeat hardcore reissue from Japan. Emily Robb - rotation free 7”. Solo guitar outta Philly. Emily has released 2 of my favorite lps in the last couple years of experimental guitar droning bliss. Here's a new short one recorded at her studio a couple years back. Get lost in it.

Apocalypse - s/t. New reissue on prank/mangrove records of recordings by Crow (the man) following Crow (the band) last chaos record and right before his grave new world project. Discharge, screaming, and psychedelic vibes. I love Crow and this rules. It starts off with looped screaming vocals and the wasteland Chick started calling this the screaming record. Check it out. https://prankrecords.bigcartel.com/product/apocalypse-s-t-lp

Records of the Day from your ol’ pal Creature are going to be in solidarity with a couple of our neighbors that are under threat. First up, a Canadian minimal synth/techno classic I discovered at the old In Your Ear records on Mass Ave in Boston back when I was in college. The Absence of a Canary by Ceramic Hello. This is a nice minimal one to chill too. Love it.

Next up, an old 7” compilation on Darbouka Records outta France, fittingly titled “Panama HC-Punk” featuring 4 early 90’s Panama harcore and punk bands from shortly after the last time the US invaded their country. We got some bouncy punk from Ramiros and P.H.B., thrashy hardcore from Consipracion Piromaniaca and some killer hardcore from Caras de Hambre. Check it out.

https://music.cliggo.com/artist/Various/album/7746609-Panama_HC-Punk

Records of the day for me are a newish one from Japan’s noise punks Ferocious X - Krigs fanatiker and a great 90s garage punker - Los Huevos - Kiss My Cruiser. The poster included with the Ferocious X flexi is so sick! Punk rules. I can’t find these records online, so here’s links to some other cool shit they did.

Ferocious x krigs fanatiker

It’s been a hell of a week, so going to keep the records of the week short and sweet. First up, a new reissue of the classic Japanese hardcore band Outo - Fragments of Outo, which compiles their tracks from several classic comps (and includes my fave recordings by them). I like cola!

Next up, sometimes ya just gotta chill out and listen to the Marine Girls - you must be mad b/w don't come back. Dreamy indie pop from these girls. Perfection.

With such a packed weekend, I took the chance to relax on Friday night by doing my favorite thing, listening to records. Records of the week for me are the Welsh post-punk classic Pyst by Datblygu. Just love this band.

Next up is Suspicious Beasts - Might Die Tomorrow. Last album from this band featuring Yusuke Okada from blotto and lost balloons. Downer garage psych rock at its best.

Records of the week. First up, Zadkiel - s/t LP reissue that I picked up from General Speech’s distro this week. Great raw proto-thrash metal. I’m not super into metal, my tastes mainly lie in the rawer Hellhammer/Celtic Frost/Venom/Bathory vein, but this is right up my alley. Despite some obvious rips (Motorhead anyone?) this is fucking sick! Suitably raw studio and blown out live recordings on this compilation including the classic Hell’s Bomber ep. Can’t stop spinning this one!

Up next, some Australian powerpop/punk from Romero with their album Turn It On! Super catchy, great guitar leads and a hell of a singer. Supposedly the singer was found by other band members singing in a Blues Brothers cover band in some bar, which I am glad they rescued her from. Blues Brothers is the worst ( it sucks, fight me - ed.). Lotta bangers on this album. I think Petals is my favorite on this one right now.

Record of the week news is that I finally found a copy of the Nightmare Agitators LP by The Massacred. Stoked, especially since I was just complaining to EZ I couldnt find a copy at armageddon, but it was in stock today. LP rips with great thrashy Finnish style hardcore mixed with more mid-tempo hardcore beat. great packaging and came with a huge promo poster. Hope I can catch them live one day.

Next up, Slates by The Fall. I have so much and so little to say about The Fall, but really, just dive in and you’ll find something pretty damn good in all eras.

Up first for records of the week are Nothing People’s Late Night. Psych/post-punk outta late 2000s Orland, California. A damn good band who put out some really good records. This really is a perfect album to put on late at night, settling down after a long night.

Next up is Swankys - Very Best of Hero. One of my favorite punk records of all time. Noise cat! Recently reissued by Kings World Records and General Speech.

Records of the week are hard for your pal Creature this week because my stylus broke this morning and that means no Sunday punk listening party. Boo. So up first is what we listened to on family game night, a great comp of Algerian proto-Rai music on Sublime Frequencies called “1970’s Algerian Proto-Rai Underground”. This is a collection of underground 45 from the early 70s showing the formation of Rai music as a protest against government censorship.

Up next is a record I still haven’t grabbed a copy of yet, but without a record player I stumbled onto the album Music to Guts LP by Judy and the Jerks. Love the snotty vocals and this album is so fucking fast. Makes me want to smash shit, which what more can you really ask of a punk/hardcore record? California is a sick song and then comes “I Lost My Feet”.

Got a new stylus and after a lot of swearing and some bad soldering, my turntable is back up and running and ready for records of the week. I was reading the latest issue of Record Time magazine and the article on SST records reminded me to pull out the Divine Horsemen - Middle of the Night LP featuring Chris D. . As much as I love the Flesheaters, the first few Divine Horsemen records are my favorite period for him, with his poetic lyrics showing through. Great stonesy, bluesy, rootsy punk (typically bad words to yr. dear ol’ editor, but it really works here). In particular Julie Christensen and Chris D.’s voices really suit each other and the mood perfectly.

Next up, I couldn’t escape the “D” section because I flipped right to The Dogs - Different LP and had to pull it out. A little more 60’s garage rock on their first LP following their more punk hits on Melodies Massacre (which recently got reissued as an LP). Really good garage/punk rock record with sharply written songs and solid production. I picked this up at the old Second Coming shop on Mass Ave in the early 2000s and it’s been my favorite record of theirs since. I love the look of each member on the cover, who’s giving the hardest of Paddington stares.

Records of the day are two new releases. First up, a self-released LP by Peer Pressure Zombies called Screen on the Green. Featuring Steve Peffer from way too many good bands over the years including 9 Shocks Terror, The Mormons, Homostupids, Factorymen, Pleasure Leftists, etc… This is bass/synth/drums and getting weird. Simple and effective repetitive bass lines and synths creating a menacing atmosphere, while Steve’s vocals will have you singing along in no time.

Next up, a self titled 12” by Excrement, a raw punk band from Sapporo, Japan recently out on General Speech. Never heard of this band before, but they appear to be from the early 2000’s and have a great raw punk sound channeling noise punk legends like Confuse. Underneath all the noise, shows band that reminds me more of fellow Sapporo bands like Slang. Not necessarily in sound, but in how they have varied influences including tougher 80s hardcore in their sound. Unique combo and I keep spinning this one.

I haven’t had as much time for listening to music these past two weeks, so I listened to more 7”s and 45s. One recent one that I keep returning to is Emily Robb’s Rotation-Free single on Stoned to Death. I think I’ve featured one of her previous albums in an earlier Rag mag, but this new single is fuzz explorations of the highest order. Droning guitar loops and strong personal playing becoming hypnotic until it ends with a bang. As you can see from the gallery below of pictures of some of her other records from my collection, I’m a fan.

All of her records so far have been favorite’s on my turntable. Bummed I found out she actually played at the Columbus Theater a few years back at a show I didn’t hear about. Hope I can correct that mistake soon because I imagine seeing this live will be even better.

Records of the day are a couple of recent releases. First up, the Tombs 7” by No Fucker is still getting a lot of play around the house. Anti-war d-beat. No Real Music indeed. Sometimes originality isn’t the point when the emotion gets through. sloppy noisy chaotic music recorded raw and played like they have no choice but to play it. perfect

Next up is the new LP by King Blood - Eye I Aye Ivy on Petty Bunco records. Feedback drenched experimental psych rock with riffs for days from the guitarist of early 2000s noise rock band Snake Apt. Gone is the more overt noise on previous LPs on Permanent Records and Richie Records with more overt krautrock-isms and I am really digging the vibes on this one. Turn it up loud.

Records of the day. First up is a reissue of A Mechanical Joey, a super limited LP by Bill Orcutt originally released a few years ago that now has at least more than 100 copies in the world. Instead of electric guitar noise ala Harry Pussy or his solo acoustic guitar, this time it’s computer music using his own custom music making software. This is the ultimate Ramones-core records, reducing the Ramones down to nothing but Joey shouting 1 2 3 4 5 6. Sampled over and over, this ends up sounding like an insane techno record. Punk as fuck.

Next up, an excellent reissue by the Mesh-Key label of an early Vanity Records (Japan) rarity. R.N.A. Organism - R.N.A.O Meets P.O.P.O LP from 1980 is dubbed out post-punk tape experiments by anonymous musicians known only by aliases. For me this sounds like it could fit somewhere on the It’s War Boys label like Amos & Sara or something like the slits without vocals. Perfect late night record.

Records of the day are two new hardcore punk releases. First up is the Gritos Norteno LP by Destruxion Amerika, a group out of NYC featuring members of ivy, kaleidescope, straw man army and so many others from the D4MT lab punks. Urgent and raw, with lots of different styles coming though all topped out with fuzzed out guitar and lyrics sung in Spanish screaming about anti-nationalism. Powerful and timely.

Next up is Necron 9’s - people die 12”. Ripping hardcore, but has some crusty discharge heft to keep things punk with their poison idea inspired core. Gut the pig and kill the fucker express the lyrical mood and the kids sound pissed off. Sick as hell.

Records of the week starts off with a the new Contrast Attitude - Discharge your Noise LP. D-beat raw punk from Mie City. These guys have been around a long time, I remember first hearing them from a killer single on the legendary MCR Company label from over 20 years ago. Band sounds even tighter and more dedicated to their sound then ever. Good record with nice packaging, lyric insert and a poster. Can’t find a way to hear it online so here is a video of them playing at the Kawakami Forever gig from earlier this summer. Wish I could have made it out to this.

Next up is the Modern Lovers because sometimes you just need to listen to the modern lovers because the modern world fucking sucks.

Records of the week starts off with a brand new 3 song 45 called Shut Up Shut Up and a Double Fuck You by Out of the Blue, a new band with Matt Z from Funeral Cone and Abby Banks on vocals. Cool darker adverts style punk played at hardcore speeds and a ripping (and fitting) cover of Up Front by the Wipers. Record rules and hope to get to see them live someday. The only contact info on the entire record is a 1-800 number where you can hear the a-side and leave a message for the band. 1-888-368-HELL. Hit them up!

Next up is a recent record from Rock Candy, a guitar duo of Emily Robb (Astute Palate/solo) and Kryssi Batalene (Mountain Movers/Headroom) in what the label Carbon Records is calling a powerhouse guitar duo. Having heard previous records by both members of the duo, I was expecting something more aggressive and loud and instead we have two meditative, quiet pieces, drifting along and I am here for the ride. Give us an LP worth of this guitar bliss.

Records of the week was hard cuz I don't gotta record player in my car. Stuck with whatever was last put on my old mp3 player. Ended up blasting the first Life Stinks LP which was described by the label at the time as flipper meets the velvet underground and I can't think of a better description. The cover art for this is so good and the songs are blasting out the negative vibes. My My My.

Speaking of Life Stinks, Chad from that band is in a cool newer band called spiral dub that has a solid LP come out a couple years back. Love the track Punch Me in the Face and they made a cool animated music video for it too out of gross old 70s food magazine pics.

Other record of the week is the song Jess by Nudge Squidfish. Part of the Harrisburg, ohio scene that birthed Mike Rep and the Quotas, Nudge released several good records over the years and feeding tube records has released some compilations of his early stuff. This song was on a 7” compilation called the Harrisburg players volume 1 and was part of the ill fated Columbus discount records singles club that released some cool records even if I got ripped off on a couple never being delivered. Worth it for this song alone.

Records of the week - Demo Tape Edition. Got some new batteries for my fake walkman, so blasted some demo tapes over the last week. I missed seeing Uniformed Service last month as I was outta town and bummed I didnt catch em. Early skitslickers/anti-cimex vibes with a nice blown out recording by EZ at Active-8 studios with Brian from Savageheads on guitar/vox. Shit rules.

Corpse Gas - Music for Scum, a 4 song promo tape of crasher crust out of LA. Completely over the top gloom worship from LA, probably playing the same riffs as Uniformed Service but to different ends of the same proposition. This is for the freaks that live for the feedback. Brutal.

Last up is B.A.D.G.E. - What's Not to Love demo. No clue what B.A.D.G.E. is an acronym for, but the tape conveys their live energy. More straightforward early Boston style hardcore, but noisy as fuck giving it the energy I need to dig this kind of music. Reminds of that first think I care 7" that Molinari put out. Rippin'!

Records of the week

First up is an all time classic, The Spaceshits Misbehavin' LP on sympathy from 1998. Second LP of 90s garage punk classics, featuring none other than young King Khan and BBQ. Sold this off long ago and was always a big regret. Found a copy at Armageddon Shop and stoked to have this back in the mix. Playing this one non-stop.

Next up is a new record from Metadona Records by Voragine, the panico 7". Incredible art and poster make a nice package and the 33rpm 7" works for this band as it almost feels like an LP for this tight, well recorded d-beat. Hits a variety of d-beat styles, but originality isn't the point with punk. Nice guitar playing and the change in styles keeps it fresh. You can feel the passion. Sick.

Records of the week

First up is a new one from Kaleidoscope - Cities of Fear on La Vida Es Un Mus Records. Another killer record from the d4mt lab Brooklyn guys featuring members of straw man army, ivy, deformity, tower 7 and so many more. This sounds a lot angrier than the earlier records from this crew, and they rip through 8 raw songs. Heavy 80s anarcho-punk vibes with raw, chaotic energy. Good lyrics and a cool poster is included as well. Rips.

Next is the new Eskolopendra - Criminal LP on metadona records. First time I think I've heard a band from Tenerife (Canary Islands). Punk truly can thrive anywhere. Love the vocals. Catchy, dark and primitive, it sounds like the teenage punk band you wish you were in.

Records of the week

orange whip patch from Creature's collection

First up is Boston band, Orange Whip. Their highly anticipated (at least by Creature) debut 7" is out as soon as the records arrive, but they put up 2 songs on Bandcamp as a preview. Been listening to them non-stop, especially Fake Ghost Video. That guitar lead has been stuck in my head since the last time I saw them. Super excited for the record to drop, but enjoy these songs in the meantime.

Since we are officially in spooky season, next up is a death rock band out of Sacramento named Screature. S-S records released their LP Four Columns about a decade ago, and I found a cheap used copy recently. Been spinning a lot and the haunting female vocals and post-punk/death rock vibes are strong on this one. Solid songwriting and varied tempos keep this one interesting. Rips.