Through Being Cool - A Tribute to Devo

Artist: Various
Title: Through Being Cool - A Tribute to Devo
Release: 1997
Label: Jolly Ronnie Records

Track List:
1. The Johnnies - Gut Feeling / Slap Yer Mammy
2. The Role Models - Jerkin Back 'N' Forth
3. Mexican Breakfast - Come Back Johnny
4. The Sillies - Through Being Cool
5. The Slobs - Be Stiff
6. Snap-her - Mongoloid

I just picked this up yesterday and I thought it was so much fun I had to share it right away. When I first saw the title I thought it had to do something with Saves the Day, and then I noticed where it says "A Tribute to Devo" and got really excited. Lo and behold, one of the bands featured on this record was The Role Models, whom I have posted about before. I wasn't 100% certain if it was the same band at first, but the address on the back was the same as the one given for where their song on "As I Look to the Future" was recorded.

I don't know anything about the other bands on this compilation, except that I think this is the same band as The Sillies on this record. What I do know is that Devo is awesome and these covers are all in their own way excellent takes on their songs. My personal favorite is The Johnnies' cover of "Slap Yer Mammy".

Scans of the front, back, and insert included.

Download: Through Being Cool - A Tribute to Devo (LAME 3.98r V0) Multiupload

Download: Through Being Cool - A Tribute to Devo (LAME 3.98r V0) Mediafire

Cluster Bomb Unit/Raagg - split

Artist: Cluster Bomb Unit/Raagg
Title: split
Release: 2002
Label: Rabid Dog Records and Crimes Against Humanity Records

Track List:
1. Cluster Bomb Unit - Parties in Villas
2. Cluster Bomb Unit - Wie Lange Noch
3. Cluster Bomb Unit - Das Große Spiel
4. Raagg - Death of Last Species
5. Raagg - Sick Society Suicide Systems
6. Raagg - Extinction

This was one of the first records I ever bought. Probably not long after it came out. I dunno how I found Crimes Against Humanity Records, but I remember the first time I went to their website I was floored by how cheap everything was. Seriously, if you like hardcore, grindcore, or metal take a look at their selection. Odds are you'll find at least a few things you want, and for prices that are still so low I can't help but wonder if they actually make a profit on what they sell.

Anyways, enough plugging someone else's business. Cluster Bomb Unit is rad crusty hardcore from Germany. They've put out a number of records over the years, some of which have been collected into partial discography CDs. I think this 7" isn't on any of them. I will likely post those discography CDs in the near future. The artwork for their side of the split is punk as fuck. I'll admit it's the reason I ordered it in the first place. I figured it had to be good. I was right.

Raagg is noisy hardcore from Japan. I know absolutely nothing about them. As far as I (read "Google") can tell this split is their only recorded output. Their side has some minor static noise in it that I wasn't able to remove. I think it might actually just be the original recording was done on shitty equipment and not due to the vinyl playback. Given the kind of bands we're dealing with here that's extremely likely.

At least Cluster Bomb Unit has a website.

I had to change one of the filenames to make it work with the .zip format. If you're curious as to why that's sometimes necessary read this.

Download: Cluster Bomb Unit/Raagg - split (LAME 3.98r V0) Multiupload

Download: Cluster Bomb Unit/Raagg - split (LAME 3.98r V0) Mediafire

Japan in Decline

Artist: Various
Title: Japan in Decline
Release: 1999
Label: Six Weeks Records

Track List:
1. Slang - Yukusaki-Wa-Michi
2. Fuck on the Beach - Go Muscle
3. Shikabane - Pain of Existence
4. 324 - Advance
5. Smash Your Face - I Believe in My Way
6. Frigora - Ett Krig Formel
7. Curtainrail - Away
8. Hellpop - Act Like Nothing
9. Kung-Fu Grip Man - Like You
10. Mass Genocide - Justice?
11. Vryker - Do as You Feel!
12. Unholy Grave - Kamui: Indigenous Peoples
13. Smash the Brain - M.F.
14. Majestic Four - 出るなら出てこい!
15. Carcass Grinder - Waffle Is Not a Crepe
16. Judgement Disorderly - Crazy
17. Dudman - Simon Hell
18. Su19b - Disappoint
19. More Noise for Life - Exterminate Racism
20. Hashdum - Insain and Future!!!
21. T.R.U.T.H. - Hatred for the Self-Humanity of Stupidity (Total Raw Death Noise Mix '97)

You know that feeling when you're browsing through the wares of a record store and you chance upon something totally unexpected and totally awesome and you take it right out of the bin or whatever and think to yourself "Holy shit!"? That was exactly what I felt when I found this record. I still feel like I won the lottery when I look through my own record collection and see sitting nicely near the end where I keep all my compilations.

If you're a fan of any of the bands on this compilation you've probably already seen this posted over here before. The dude who does that blog does excellent work. But, sadly the CD version of this compilation, which is what he posted, inexplicably leaves out two tracks. I'm mystified as to why since the LP version is a mere 2 minutes 11 seconds longer (clocking in at 26:14). That's short enough to fit on a CD two and a half times over.

So here it is, a rip of the LP version of this fantastic compilation of Japanese hardcore and grindcore (mostly grindcore) bands. There's some real gems on here, notably from Slang and Shikabane. Both of whom would be placed up fairly high if I had to make one of those bullshit favorite bands lists.

I really wish I could have scanned the insert but it's far too large for my scanner. The only band to put lyrics (in English) in their info was Unholy Grave. I'm really glad they did because they touch on a very sensitive subject in Japanese history, the Ainu people, who are the true indigenous people of what is now known as Japan. Since around 720, and likely before, they've faced persecution and outright genocide at the hands of various Japanese administrations mostly so that their land could be taken for farming. Today they still face discrimination even if it is no longer sanctioned by Japanese law. I've been told that the subject brings up lots of strong negative emotions in Japan, so it's kinda cool to see a Japanese band discussing the issue of indigenous people's rights. Especially since it took until 2008, 9 years after this compilation came out, for the Japanese government to fully recognize the Ainu people as a distinct culture of their own.

Kamui: Indigenous Peoples
Ainu-moshiri... We know it as Hokkaido
Before... No Japanese there
It was land for the Ainu race
For indigenous peoples living with Kamui

They have no letter
It never means the lower race
Before the Japanese invasion
It was land for the Ainu race
For indigenous peoples living with Kamui

Download: Japan in Decline (LAME 3.98r V0) Multiupload

Download: Japan in Decline (LAME 3.98r V0) Mediafire

Affront/District - split

Artist: Affront/District
Title: split
Release: 1997
Label: Plastic Bomb Records

Track List:
1. Affront - Time Is Now
2. Affront - New World Disorder
3. Affront - It's Your Life
4. District - I Can't Stand the Crush on Me
5. District - Bored for a Lifetime
6. District - Sensational

Yet another bargain bin gem (I'm gonna be posting a lot of these). This split features two bands from Germany. It was recorded in 1997. That's about all the background information I know. Both bands are fast, energetic, and angry hardcore punk. Nothing you haven't heard before, but if that's a problem for you then you probably don't like punk anyways.

Download: Affront/District - split (LAME 3.98r V0) Multiupload

Download: Affront/District - split (LAME 3.98r V0) Mediafire

On My Side - Redefinition

Artist: On My Side
Title: Redefinition
Release: 2007
Label: Words of War Records

Track List:
1. Firm Grasp
2. On My Side
3. Definition
4. Speak Out
5. Prison Break
6. Do It Right
7. Gossip

I miss this band so much. It still bums me out that they broke up. Great dudes playing great hardcore with extremely positive lyrics is what you're in for here. Musically they remind me of Judge and other similar late 80's NYHC bands but Carlos' lyrics are far more upbeat and far less negative. He told me once that he actually had a cold that caused his sinuses to back up when they were recording this so the vocals didn't turn out how they wanted at all.

Carlos was awesome enough to send me a CD copy of the "Redefinition" EP the other day. I've heard this a thousand times, but it's always been rips from a cassette or vinyl, and never ones done properly. So hearing it with this much clarity for the first time is, for myself, a real treat.

Download: On My Side - Redefinition (CD) (LAME 3.98r V0) Multiupload

Download: On My Side - Redefinition (CD) (LAME 3.98r V0) Mediafire


Here's a little bonus (I guess...). This is a rip of my cassette copy. I got a decent tape deck at Goodwill for like 8 bucks a couple of months ago so I've decided to start ripping some of my cassettes. After some minor tweaking in Adobe Audition I'd say this sounds pretty damn good for a tape. But still not as good as the CD.

Scans of the cover and lyrics insert included.

Download: On My Side - Redefinition (Cassette) (LAME 3.98r V0) Multiupload

Download: On My Side - Redefinition (Cassette) (LAME 3.98r V0) Mediafire

The Upsets - Tommy Gun Heart

Artist: The Upsets
Title: Tommy Gun Heart
Release: 1998
Label: TKO Records

Track List:
1. Tommy Gun Heart
2. Sonic Reaction
3. Vampires

Straight from the bargain bin this was a pretty awesome find. The Upsets are polished but not overproduced punk rock. More rock than punk, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. "Tommy Gun Heart" is catchy as hell and will get stuck in your head. I can't find anything about this band but this record is apparently still for sale at TKO Records. I got my copy for a fair bit less from End of an Ear in Austin.


Download: The Upsets - Tommy Gun Heart (LAME 3.98r V0) Multiupload

Download: The Upsets - Tommy Gun Heart (LAME 3.98r V0) Mediafire

Between the Clouds

Artist: Various
Title: Between the Clouds
Release: 1991
Label: Greenrecords, SOA Records

Track List:
1. Creepshow - Something Inside
2. Growing Concern - Beyond / Your Democracy
3. One Step Ahead - Break the Chain
4. Rabid Duck - Search
5. Permanent Scar - Fed Up

This is for fans of Judge and late '88 era NYC hardcore. Given my previous experience with Italian hardcore I never would have guessed. I know absolutely nothing about this compilation though.

Download: Between the Clouds (LAME 3.98r V0) Multiupload

Download: Between the Clouds (LAME 3.98r V0) Mediafire