SKJIT-LARS - The Absolutely Last Shit 12" (one sided)

I hope you all don't hate me for not providing downloads for the "Random Shelf Pull" series. I needed a new format for posting without going through all the treacherous tasks of ripping files, scanning, photographing, resizing, etc. I know, "wah wah." I spent a little time ripping some records today to win you back...

I'm grateful for my sweet and thoughtful friends. Especially when they know my musical tastes well and go out of their way to gift me great rare records! This thing is limited to 100 copies and is a one-sided 12". Despite the fact that I find both of those details to be ridiculous and unfortunate, this record totally kills. If you're like me, you have only heard the disheveled and incoherent SKJIT-LARS track from the Welcome To 1984 compilation. This release shows the Norwegian punk wacko spurting forth 15 amazing, short, and catchy as fuck hardcore punk tracks, all recorded between 1981-1985. It's not so much in the tradition of the Norwegian bands you may be thinking of, but more akin to Swedish punk Gods MISSBRUKARNA. Bits of experimentation spice up the calamity but don't distract from the urgency. Many thanks to my friend Arndt for this! 

THE ABSOLUTELY LAST SHIT

TOOLS - #3 EP

Third EP (duh) from this San Francisco punk band. "Asexuality In The 80s" is the obvious hit, though this is a cleaner recording than the version on the SF Underground comp. Guitarist Michael Fox also played in SICK PLEASURE, and SF's greatest, CODE OF HONOR. Great early punk with anti-authoritarian lyrics, sung very clearly, and a persistently dance-able sound. Oh, and fucking raaaaare. 

TOOLS #3 EP

LOS LAXANTES - No No No No EP

LOS LAXANTES formed in Argentina back in 1979, and this very high quality live recording was done in 1981. This 7" includes seven songs of upbeat and fiery punk, chock full of charismatic vocals in Spanish. Great choruses, great guitar and bass licks. The early Argentine punk scene remains much less documented than many other early scenes, but this recording is evidence that there was surely some compelling stuff going on there. Other highly recommended Argentine releases include the first LP by LOS VIOLADORES, the INVASION 88 compilation LP, and MASACRE PELESTINA EP. The first two have been reissued/bootlegged on vinyl, and the early M. PALESTINA stuff has appeared on CD collections and shouldn't be too difficult to find for download somewhere. 

LOS LAXANTES

V/A - GBG Hardcore - 81 Punk 85 CD

A phenomenal document of 14 hardcore/punk bands from the early 80's in Göteborg, Sweden. Apparently this came with a zine, which I unfortunately do not have but would love to see. Many of the recordings seem to be alternate demo or live versions, or simply from rare records such as the ABSURD EP. Styles range from the familiar classic Swedish d-beat hardcore masters ANTI CIMEX and DISARM, to the catchy and upbeat sing-along punk of BUMSEN MUSS MAN and GBG PUNX. Particularly compelling to me are: 

1. the seemingly live DISARM tracks (it takes a few seconds for the person at the mixing board to get the levels right, but once they do it's devastating! Those vocals!). 2. The single track by INJEKTION is insanely catchy, but I mostly love it for the maniacal laughter at the end. 3. Three perfect crude blasts from youngsters NISSES NOTTER, especially the burp that kicks off "Pissefjong." 4. The tuneful TROUBLMAKERS tracks with undeniable swagger and unforgettable choruses! 

An overall essential collection!

GBG HARDCORE

PARAF - Izleti LP

I don't share much post punk or new wave stuff on here, so you may not know of my affinity with such sounds. PARAF's second album is a big departure from their preceding single and album of raw catchy '77 style punk, but it's no less amazing. Here they've added a strong woman vocalist and switched their sound to more darkwave/post punk, complete with vibrant keyboard lines. They are considered one of Croatia's classic punk bands, so if you haven't heard them and don't mind starting with the dark post-punk/wave material, this one's the best! Also, if anyone has a copy of the Fini Dečko / Tužne Uši single for fair  price/trade, I'm in need of the vinyl only - I have a sleeve and a cracked disc! 

PARAF - IZLETI LP

FALLOUT - Conscription EP

First EP from this ultra DIY anarcho punk band from England. Audibly, it fits among the CRASS roster, but I guess they were doin' their own thing. Cool, simple, politically-charged punk. This band is post SIX MINUTE WAR. I can't ever get enough of stuff like this. 

FALLOUT - Conscription EP

V/A - PUNK TERRITORY VOL. 4: Italian Hardcore 1981-87

For you to obsess over throughout the course of your weekend: 33 tracks of full throttle hardcore from Italy! I love this CD because it offers some of the less celebrated names of the era, mostly from rare cassettes, and it still delivers the goods as much as a comp with WRETCHED, NEGAZIONE, CCM, and PEGGIO PUNX would. Here's the run down:

5 tracks by THE WOPS - USHC style reminding me of something like THE FIX // four tracks by WRONG BOYS - the first song is a dead rip-off of TSOL's "Superficial Love" in riffs and arrangement, while the other 3 are fast and punchy hc tunes // BLAXFEMA shreds through 3 thrashier hc tracks // 3 fast SoCal punk sounding tunes from CRAPPING DOGS, channeling DEAD KENNEDYS at times // One melodic upbeat oi/punk track from THE SKULLS // 6 catchy punk tracks by TRAUMATIC, taken from the Senza Tregua comp on BCT // 2 raw and hook-filled punk songs from WARHEAD // 3 punk tracks with a wild and expressive vocalist from DICTATRISTA // 2 rambunctious tracks from STAZIONE SUICIDA // finally, 5 more melodic and post-hardcore sounding songs from U.N.S - sort of a cross between HDQ and HEIMAT-LOS...or something...definitely the odd one of the bunch. 

PUNK TERRITORY VOL 4

BETON COMBO - Perfektion Ist Sache Der Götter LP

Essential German punk LP! Upbeat, hook-laden, driving stuff from West Berlin, 1981. Most songs are driving political punk tunes, but there are a couple slower and more dynamic tracks on here, and they break the mold with a few unconventional moments - most notably in the epic "Der Längste Ritt." They went on to release a more hardcore sounding EP called "Sound Ltd." in 1983, and a cool mini LP in 1985 called "23 Skiddoo." Perfect for the spot between TOXOPLASMA and SLIME on your next mix tape! 

BETON COMBO LP

MISTRAL - Unisex/Stop L'amour 45

Wanna hear one of my favorite songs ever? MISTRAL's "Unisex" is the epitome of a perfectly crafted pop song. Bouncy beat, eloquent and urgent male/female vocal interplay, warm bubbly staccato bass-lines, and a guitar lead outro that will only make you want to dance harder through the end of the song. Catchy catchy CATCHY! This one is a staple on every mix tape I've made in the last 5-or-so years. The B side is no slouch either. I know absolutely nothing more about this band other than they also did an LP, which I've never heard, but would be eternally grateful if someone out there would share it! 

MISTRAL - Unisex/Stop L'amour

V/A - Challenge: No Submission/Mercenary God/No Suicide LP

Here's a really cool 3-way split from Italy circa 1981, on Bootleg Records. I originally tracked this down for the NO SUBMISSION tracks after I found out they were pre- WAX HEROES, who released one of my favorite post punk/new wave EPs of all time! Luckily the rest of the material on here turned out to be stellar as well!

NO SUICIDE kicks this thing off with three offerings of infectious cold/minimal wave punk kinda stuff with female vocals in Italian. They don't seem to have any other releases as far as I can tell. MERCENARY GOD does 4 songs of 77 style KBD punk with distorted and jangly guitars, and snarling vocals in English. There's a 2004 reissue of a whole LP's worth of stuff called Burning Generation. NO SUBMISSION is the highlight on here for me, with their catchy upbeat punk and some post-punk moments. You may recognize their third track from the Killed By Death #201 D'Italia comp - it's got the same swaggering "d-beat" that the BUZZCOCKS did before DISCHARGE, hehe! All four of their tracks on here are just awesome and way ahead of their time. The vocalist/bassist has an especially unique singing style, just as is the case in his other incredible, and much darker band, WAX HEROES. Enjoy this rare Italian punk treat!

V/A - Challenge LP