80119-01070-2

The Blood Brothers - ...Burn, Piano Island, Burn (2003)

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When this album was released in 2003 I had no idea how big of a deal it was. I thought the Blood Brothers were just another insignificant little Seattle post-hardcore band that only I and a few friends knew about. But damn, this record took the "underground" music scene by storm and it's not so surprising now that I realize it was out on a label owned by Richard Branson, Ross Robinson produced it, and Pitchfork gave it a fucking 9.1 rating. I don't think anyone else realized that at the time either, but hot damn was this a poplar record. Androgynous male singers singing about who the fuck knows what, subtle keyboard hooks, and neon colored album art. No wonder it was the patron saint of Livejournal rating communities everywhere.
ANYWAY, this album has not aged well and that's mostly due to the vocalists. Just can't stand anything they do, whether it's their shrill squeaks or overly serious spoken word/sung parts. It doesn't help that the lyrics are for the most part nonsensical. BUT the instrumentation is insane/intense while remaining laser precise. Epitaph should consider reissuing this as an instrumental.

SN047

The Blood Brothers - Pink Tarantulas (2003)

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B-side off the "Ambulance vs. Ambulance" single. Probably the best Blood Brothers song you've never heard.

GSL-45

De Facto - Megaton Shotblast (2001)

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The Mars Volta before they were the Mars Volta. Originally a three piece consisting of Cedric, Omar, Jeremy, they hooked up with Ikey and started cranking out the dublicious tunes. I don't know a fucking thing about dub music but I do know that this record is fucking amazing.

Released on GSL.

HH666-111

Daughters - Hell Songs (2006)

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DAUGHTERS were one of the many off-beat "grind" bands that emerged from the whole Locust rip off scene. First album is basically Locust worship with better drumming and Arab On Radar guitars instead of keyboards. Nothing wrong with that but on this album they traded their piss colored Locust LPs in for some Birthday Party tapes. Longer songs with more conventional structures but still the face grating guitars and technical fills along with Nick Cave channeling vocals. I love this album.

Hydra Head is a label out of Los Angeles run by Aaron Turner of ISIS.

GSL-07

The VSS - 21:51 (1996)

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Been a while, been busy, sorry.
THE VSS were a post hardcore band fronted by Sonny Kay, owner of GSL and previously of Angel Hair. This is a compilation of previously released out of print material.

SFTRI 644

Tourettes Lautrec - Red All (2001)

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Tourettes Lautrec was a short lived punk band from San Diego best known for their contribution to a Queen tribute record released by 31G. Female fronted spastic punk similar to the Sick Lipstick/Black Cat #13 or PRE.

Released on Swami, a subdivision of Sympathy for the Record Industry.

AF02

The Plot To Blow Up The Eiffel Tower - INRI (2006)

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The PLOT was a one of a kind San Diego punk band with a sexually overcharged in your face attitude backed by jazzy saxophone hooks. Of all the bands that have come and gone over the years that I miss most, this one would have to be in my top five due to their amazing live performances. This was their last proper release (a posthumous release was planned by 31G but was later scrapped after the bassist's fatal heroin overdose) containing a new track, a Bowie cover, and a remix of the title track.

Art Fag is a Southern California label that didn't really come into prominence until last year with releases from Ye Olde Maids, Dum Dum Girls, Best Coast, etc.