Alkaline Trio – From Here To Infirmary LP (Black / ???)

‘From Here To Infirmary’ was the first Alkaline Trio album I listened to. I borrowed it from a friend while in high school and getting into punk. I had this record behind the counter at Beatdisc, I went to buy it one day and they told me they had sold it. It turned out my sister bought it for me for Christmas.

I don’t think pop punk can get much darker than this. Crusades are doing a good job though.

This reissue/repress was released by Cobraside Distribution Inc. and Vagrant Records.

Website: http://www.facebook.com/alkalinetrio

            http://www.alkalinetrio.com/

Rort – Rort 7” (black / ???)

Brutal, unrelenting and violent hardcore. Get your hands on a copy!

FFO: Extortion and Taipan

Website: http://www.facebook.com/pages/RORT/309153119121094

Elvis Costello and The Attractions – Imperial Bedroom LP (black / ???)

Elvis Costello. What else needs to be said?

Website: http://www.elviscostello.info/

           

Faith – Subject To Change plus First Demo LP (black / ???)

This LP brings together Faith’s 1982 ‘Subject To Change’ on the A side and their first demo from 1981 on the B side.
This is essential 80’s DC hardcore. Faith formed from the ashes of SOA and The Untouchables.

Website: http://www.dischord.com/band/faith
            http://www.dischord.com/release/172/subject-to-change-plus-first-demo

Descendents – Cool To Be You LP (black / ???)

Released in 2004, ‘Cool To Be You’ is the Descendents’ sixth album and their first since 1996.

Besides being an amazing record, ‘Cool To Be You’ has ‘Mass Nerder’ on it. Possibly my favourite Descendents / song.

Website: http://www.facebook.com/thedescendents
            http://www.myspace.com/descendents

            http://www.descendentsonline.com/

Helta Skelta – Helta Skelta LP (black 39/250)

Coming from Perth and with members of Extortion and Negative Reinforcement, Helta Skelta have released a hell of a record. Raw and threatening punk rock. I need to see this band play live!

The artwork by James Doohan is also amazing. Little demons running around the jacket fighting each other and causing mischief.

There are only 250 copies of this and I advise that you grab one! I saw a few copies in Repressed Records last night so go buy them!

FFO: Ceremony, Royal Headache and Fucked Up

Website: http://skeltahelta.blogspot.com.au/

            http://heltaskeltarecords.bigcartel.com/

           

Four Year Strong – In Some Way, Shape Or Form LP (black / ???)

When pop punk bands attempt to ‘mature their sound’ I cringe. For their fourth album, Four Year Strong have made an attempt to ‘mature’. They have kicked out the keyboardist/synth dude and written more radio friendly songs.

This album has grown on me and in between the radio friendly shit, there are a few great songs here.

FFO: Set Your Goals

Website: http://www.facebook.com/fouryearstrong

            http://fouryearstrongmusic.com/

            http://www.myspace.com/fouryearstrong

            http://twitter.com/#!/fouryearstrong

           

Weekend Nachos – Black Earth 7” (black / ???)

Brutal and crushing hardcore with elements of both power violence and grind mixed in. This four track 7” features two songs (‘Black Earth’ and ‘Friendship’) which appear on the ‘Worthless’ LP and ‘Priorities’ which can be found on ‘This Comp Kills Fascists Vol 1.’

I’m not 100% sure of pressing numbers, but I’m pretty sure that the black vinyl is part of the first pressing. Correct me if I’m wrong.  

Website: http://weekendxnachos.blogspot.com.au/

            http://weekendnachos.bandcamp.com/

            http://www.facebook.com/weekendxnachos

Bad Religion – Suffer

I am a little bit of a late comer to Bad Religion. I guess I was a little intimidated by the massive catalogue, which album I should start on and the die hard fans.

‘Suffer’ is one of the most influential records in punk rock. Released in 1988 after a hiatus by the band, the strength of this album still stands today.

I don’t think it would be possible for anyone to sleep Bad Religion for any longer than I have but don’t make the same mistake as me. Get this album.

Website: http://www.facebook.com/badreligion

            http://www.badreligion.com/

            http://www.kingsroadmerch.com/bad-religion/region/

Hot Chocolate – Hot Chocolate’s Hottest Hits LP (black / ???)

Attract cougars with this record.

Website: http://www.hot-chocolate.co.uk/

Hot Snakes – Thunder Down Under

Recorded live at Triple J while touring Australia in 2005. ‘Thunder Down Under’ is the Hot Snakes’ final album before breaking up. This was my introduction to Hot Snakes and it’s a pretty good starting point for their blend of garage punk and rock n roll. The songs are great and played perfectly.

Website: http://hotsnakes.com/

            http://hotsnakes.tumblr.com/

            http://www.myspace.com/hotsnakesband

Descendents – Enjoy! LP (black / ???)

‘Enjoy!’, released in 1986, is the Descendents’ third album. Even though this album isn’t the best record that Descendents ever released, the good songs are great and make up for the ‘filler’.

‘Enjoy!’ sees the Descendents experimenting with metal and their farts. Even at their worst, they are better than most.

Website: http://www.facebook.com/thedescendents
            http://www.myspace.com/descendents

            http://www.descendentsonline.com/

Cheap Girls / Lemuria – Split 7” (grey mix / ???)

My girlfriend Jade gave me this 7” for Christmas. She knows exactly what I like.

Both Cheap Girls and Lemuria have slowly crept their way into my life. I find myself selecting their records from my collection more often. I find myself listening to them while I’m on the bus on my way to work, while I’m at work and again while I’m on the bus home from work. I hum their songs when I’m not listening to them. Finally I have both bands in the same place.

Cheap Girls have one song here. Dinosaur Jr-esk punk with a bitter and angsty hook appropriately titled ‘Pure Hate’.

Lemuria have two songs. Both are cute and adorable with a sexy punk quirk.

I’ve read a couple of reviews and most ride this album off as boring and a let down. I personally love this split. So I’m going to put this on again and have a beer, stretch out in bed and read comics.

Website: http://www.facebook.com/Lemuriapop

            http://lemuriapop.storenvy.com/

            http://www.lemuriapop.com/

            http://www.facebook.com/CheapGirlsMusic

            http://cheapgirls.tumblr.com/

            http://www.cheapgirls.bigcartel.com/

            http://www.myspace.com/cheapgirls

            https://www.noidearecords.com/

Descendents – I Don’t Want To Grow Up LP (black / ???)

In 1985, after a two year hiatus, The Descendents released their second album, ‘I Don’t Want To Grow Up’. You need this band and this record. Go to your nearest independent record store and buy it. That is all.

Website: http://www.facebook.com/thedescendents
            http://www.myspace.com/descendents

            http://www.descendentsonline.com/

Anchor Down – Steel To Dust LP (orange / 400)

I took a chance on this LP. I had had a couple of beers and this record was only $12. The gamble paid off. Gruff and melodic pop punk via Solidarity Recordings.

FFO: The Riot Before The Anchor and Hot Water Music

Website: http://solidarityrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/steel-to-dust

            http://solidarityrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/steel-to-dust

            http://www.facebook.com/solidarityrecordings?ref=ts

Hot Butter – Popcorn / At The Movies 7” (black / ???)

Double A side single of instrumental rock n roll from 1972. This is kinda nice. But nice is boring.

Even if you’ve never herd of Hot Butter before, you have herd their songs in TV commercials, movies, etc.

Bad Religion – How Could Hell Be Any Worse?

‘How Could Hell Be Any Worse?’ is the debut album by the insanely influential Bad Religion from 1982. This CD contains ‘How Could Hell Be Any Worse?’ (1982), the first EP (1981), ‘Back To The Known’ (1984 and tracks from ‘Public Service Comp’ (1981).

There is a lot of material here and is a great intro for someone getting into Bad Religion for the first time and also for other Bad Religion fans wanting to know more about the band’s beginning as a raw punk band.  

Website: http://www.facebook.com/badreligion

            http://www.badreligion.com/

            http://www.kingsroadmerch.com/bad-religion/region/

Hoodoo Gurus – Stoneage Romeos LP (black / ???)

‘Stoneage Romeos’ is the 1984 debut album by the Hoodoo Gurus. Fun Australian rock n roll. I’m sure this record is in your parents’ record collection somewhere.

Website: http://www.hoodoogurus.net/

            http://www.facebook.com/hoodoogurus

Richard Hell and The Voidoids – Blank Generation LP (black / ???)

One of the best rock n roll albums of all time.

FFO: The Heartbreakers, Television and Dead Boys

Website: http://www.richardhell.com/

Halal, How Are You? – Halal, How Are You? LP (black / 200) & test press (1/2)

Even if these guys weren’t my best mates, Halal still would’ve been my favourite band. Halal’s live show can never compare to anything on record, though this self titled LP does a good job. Packed full of classic rock inspired riffs, vocals growling and yelping sexual innuendo and plenty of hooks that will get stuck in your head for weeks.

All round manic and hyperactive fun. I’m sure the band still has copies of this LP lying around so get in contact and get one!

Max also was kind enough to give me a test press (1/2) of this record. Thanks Max.

FFO: King Khan and Tom Waits

Website: http://www.myspace.com/halalhowareyou

            http://www.facebook.com/halalhowareyou

            http://lesstalkrecords.bandcamp.com/album/halal-how-are-you

           

Stephen Egerton – The Seven Degrees of Stephen Egerton LP (clear yellow / 200)

Stephen Egerton, of Descendents and All, has written a bunch of great songs and enlisted a whole bunch of awesome vocalists to sing.  This is essential for any fan of Descendents or All as this is the closest thing to a new release by both bands.

This record sat in Beatdisc Records for a long time. I don’t know why noone bought it, because this is damn good. Their loss and my gain I guess.

Track listing:
1. Flip (feat. John Speck of The Fags)
2. Fire's On (feat. Jon Snodgrass of Drag The River)
2. Abundance Of Fluff (feat. John Moreland of Jon Moreland and the Black Gold Band)
4. South For The Winter (feat. Tim Mcllrath of Rise Against)
5. Funny Face (feat. Chad Price of ALL/Drag The River)
6. Never Again (feat. Bill McShane of Ultimate Fakebook)
7. On The Avenue (feat. Jesse Cole of In Stereo/Le Fang)
8. Our Last Song (feat. Dan Andriano of Alkaline Trio)
9. She's Got Everything (feat. Milo Aukerman of The Descendents)
10. Cut Me Down To Size (feat. Mike Herrera of MXPX)
11. Sunny Disposition (feat. Scott Reynolds of ALL)
12. When They Roam (feat. Joey Cape of Lagwagon/Me First And The Gimme Gimmes)
13. Print On Paper (feat. Chris DeMakes of Less Than Jake)
14. Falling Out (feat. Frank Daly of Big Drill Car)
15. Silencer (feat. Mark Vecchiarelli of Shades Apart)
16. Willie Wicked (feat. Abe Brennan of My Name/Wretch Like Me)

FFO: Descendents, All and the band of every vocalist involved.  

The Dopamines – The Dopamines LP (pink / 70)

The Dopamines 2008 debut LP released by It’s Alive Records. The copy I have is from the third pressing (see pressing details here). Essentially pop punk with songs mainly about getting drunk, fucking up, girls and drinking. I really enjoyed this album. I can imagine seeing these guys live would be an absolute party.

FFO: Dear Landlord, Off With Their Heads and Be My Doppelganger

Website: http://www.itsaliverecords.com/releases25.htm

            http://www.facebook.com/thedopamines

            http://www.thedopamines.net/

            http://thedopamines.limitedpressing.com/store