Archive for March, 2008

Rocco Roll, singer for KBD legends The Absentees, has been sentenced to 55 years to life in prison for the attempted murder of a police officer. You can read the whole story right here. Judging by the article, it sounds like Rocco isn’t really playing with a full deck these days. Seeing as how Rocco is currently 52 years old, unless he somehow manages to survive until he is over 100 years old, he’ll be spending the rest of his years on this planet behind bars.

The fine folks over at Nickel and Dime Records have released a couple of old Orange County punk albums on vinyl that is well worth noting. First and foremost they have released the second full-length album from punk legends D.I..

D.I. - Horse Bites Dog Cries LP on blue vinyl

This was the band’s third record, and second full album. It is chock full of classic and catchy punk tunes such as “Pervert Nurse” and others. It is one of those punk albums (along with the band’s first EP, often referred to as Team Goon) that should be in everyone’s record collection. Now that this has been reissued, there’s no excuse for not having one!

Not only has this been reissued on vinyl, but this version contains a bonus track that was previously only available on the CD. There are two colors of vinyl available for this release; blue vinyl (pictured) and white vinyl. Both colors had 500 pressed.

Nickel and Dime Records releases should be available at most places that stock punk vinyl, or you can order direct from the label’s website. If you do, tell them MXV sent you!

Flipper - Live DVD
Target Video/MVD Visual

Flipper were one of the most bizarre and challenging bands in the history of punk rock. To say they were unique would be an understatement and I’m pretty sure the term, “acquired taste” was invented for the band. For those who “got it” however, there was and never will be another band like Flipper. Their chaotic “song structure” was part of their charm and they took “art punk” to the extreme. No one sounded like Flipper, and though some have tried in the years that followed, none have been able to replicate what made Flipper so unique.

This DVD, shot by the legendary Target Video, compiles footage from two shows in Flipper’s hometown of San Francisco. The first one was recorded at Berkeley Square in 1980. This was in a small room in front of an even smaller crowd. The multi-camera footage is really clean and the sound is pretty good too. In fact I was surprised by how well the footage held up after 27 years! The other show was from 1981 and it was at Kezar Stadium at a show that had Flipper opening for Throbbing Gristle. This was shot on multiple cameras but the footage isn’t nearly as clean. While the video is a bit on the soft side it is still good enough to warrant checking out such a legendary gig. The sound is also pretty good. The performance itself is quite the spectacle as Will Shatter was all liquored up yet somehow manages to keep it together enough to keep the show going even after their bass being broken.

There is one bonus clip of Flipper playing on some cable TV show which has good picture and sound quality. This was from 1982. This DVD has two audio options; stereo and 5.1 surround, both of which sound pretty good. I actually preferred the 5.1 surround option while I was watching this. The DVD also comes with an insert containing some interesting liner notes.

If you are one of the people who “get it”, you’ll probably want to add this DVD to your collection as it is a great document of the band back in it’s prime. It is also great to see some more Target Video footage getting released and I hope this leads to more in the future.

Related links:

Order the DVD from amazon.com

MVD Visual

Target Video77

It has been reported that vinyl is once again become popular amongst music fans and has even been outselling CD’s in certain cases. Record collecting is becoming a lot more popular especially in the independent music world. It should come as no surprise that new record labels have started popping up, some of them putting out some really quality new releases and that is the subject of this feature on the label known as The Mylene Sheath who sent over their first three releases.

The bands on The Mylene Sheath so far have one thing in common; they are all instrumental bands. I’ve been really enjoying this style of music from such bands as Russian Circles, Red Sparowes, Pelican, and others. It seems that in the last couple of years this style of music has been growing and these bands are showing you can make interesting music without the need of vocals.

Beware of Safety - LP

Of the three releases so far, this one is the most visually striking. The black and red cover is simple yet interesting and the choice of vinyl colors matches the cover nicely. Musically they are able to weave a variety of emotions into their songs without so much as a single syllable being spoken or shouted. Beware of Safety will take you on an emotional roller coaster throughout the coarse of a single song and set you gently back down on your feet at the conclusion. It feels like a lot of thought went into their song construction like a well-edited movie. “Weak Wrists” is the perfect example of how they do a slow build to a pretty big payoff only to slow it back down before slapping you with the other hand and going right back into another round. That song alone warrants the purchase price, and it’s even better that this record is a great listen from start to finish.

The vinyl comes in three different flavors:
Clear with red/black splatters (this looks amazing by the way) - 100 pressed
Red w/black swirl - 200 pressed
Red vinyl w/black haze (shown above) - 350pressed
Black vinyl - 250 pressed

Check out the Beware of Safety myspace page and get a sample of this fine slab of wax

Caspian - The Four Trees 2xLP

This is the longest release on the label as it is a double album. The music has a lot more ambiance to it than the other two releases and the songs seem to be longer overall. They seem more deliberate in their delivery and each song has a sort of signature feeling to it. When they are all quiet and mellow it’s good chill music to have on in the background, then one of the harder songs will come in and it will snap you back into reality and they prove they can pack a punch like any other. I really liked the mixed styles on this double album and again it is a great listen from the start of the first side all the way through to the end of the fourth. The record comes packaged in a really nice gatefold sleeve and also has an insert.

The record has two variations:
Translucent green w/splatter + translucent blue with splatter - 200 pressed
Half white/half yellow vinyl (shown above) - 500 pressed

Check out Caspian on myspace to hear some of their music

If These Trees Could Talk - LP

Of the three releases on The Mylene Sheath, the debut album from If These Trees Could Talk is hands-down my favorite. In fact I was so taken with this record I had a hard time prying it from my turntable to play the other releases on the label! The songs really seem to paint a very vivid picture and are atmospheric without being spacey. This record really feels like one big song split into six parts. The songs blend seamlessly into each other and it comes off sounding like a soundtrack to some place in your imagination that lasts for about 30 minutes. The song, “Signal Tree” is going to rank way high up on my list of best songs in the past five years and I don’t foresee this record leaving my turntable very often in the next few months. I think the cover art really fits the music quite well and I’m labeling this record as one of those that should be issued with every turntable, it is that damn good.

The vinyl came in three different varieties:
Black vinyl- 250 pressed
Clear with orange haze (sold out)
Orange with black splatter (band only)

Now I’m on the quest to get both colors because this is easily my favorite record of the past year. Anyone out there have one to spare??

Check out the band’s myspace page.

The Mylene Sheath is run by a couple of the nicest people I think you’ll find in the record business and they obviously have a great ear and are big fans of the vinyl format. So far they are batting 1000 in their releases in both great music and great packaging and I hope they keep it up.

Check out The Mylene Sheath website and their myspace page.

Last night I updated the Punk Vault Store with some new items including some original copies of the Toothpaste 7″. I hope to have some more items in stock soon and look for a new pressing of the JFA/Faction 7″ in the not too distant future.

I’m still trying to figure out options for overseas shipping so I can automate it and not have to have people email in orders and me weigh them up but it’s not proving to be an easy task in the framework of the system I am using.

My two favorite people in the record business (Lisa and Betty of Frontier Records) sent over the latest color vinyl reissues of their fine punk rock classics. There’s nothing like coming home to find a box waiting for me full of pretty colored vinyl!

Suicidal Tendencies LP on orange vinyl

Adolescents - The Complete Demos on clear vinyl

Red Kross - Born Innocent LP on blue vinyl

Dangerhouse Volume One compilation LP on opaque yellow vinyl

Dangerhouse Volume Two compilation LP on green vinyl

All of these limited edition records can be ordered direct from the Frontier Records website. I’m sure they won’t be around very long. If you pay them a visit, be sure and tell them MXV sent you. As always thank you Lisa and Betty!