Welcome To Hell

I’ve been going back and blasting the hell out of these guys through the trellises’ speakers for the past several weeks now. Every once in a while you just want some good ole’ fashioned “balls-to-the-wall” rock ‘n’ roll that you can get your fingernails dirty to and these guys have it in spades. The Hellacopters’ earlier albums straddled that fine line between arena-styled metal that veered precariously close to being posture driven and Detroit-fury styled punk which was probably just as equally posture driven. If anything, they remind one of the Dictators: equal parts metal, punk and pop and thus probably bugging the crap out of anyone who happened to be a fan of any of those genres by putting them in the position of forming their own opinion on the group’s validity.

The music itself is derivative as all hell but it rocks the house while simultaneously being a whole lot of fun. Their first three records, Supershitty To The Max (1996), Payin’ The Dues (1997) and Grande Rock (1999), are where it’s at before the band moved on in a more overtly metal direction where they remained before calling it a day in 2007.

RECOMMENDED!

The Hellacopters – “Hey!” (mp3)

(from the Sub Pop CD, Payin’ The Dues, 1997)

Hey, Cana-duh?!?!

While I’m not one to jump up and down and clap my hands ecstatically when presented with the idea of bands re-recording their earlier work, at the same time I can’t claim that it’s a prospect that completely turns me off either dependent on the situation. In the case of Vancouver’s The Subhumans, taking their debut album, Incorrect Thoughts, plus an EPs worth of extra songs written at the same time for another spin in the studio and releasing it as Same Thoughts Different Day is completely and without a doubt warranted.

While most pundits of the late 70s/early 80s punk movement rate Incorrect Thoughts as one of the greatest punk LPs ever, for years its been widely unavailable and going for what many consider a small mint as far as records go. After the band reformed and started releasing new material in 2005, the prospect of re-releasing their earlier records was planned and, in the case of Incorrect Thoughts, scrapped due to legal issues over the original masters. The only reasonable course of action at this point for the band and their fans was to go back into the studio and re-record the entire album using modern day recording techniques.

Having never heard the original recording of these songs until last night, I’m in the unique (although not uncommon based on the original’s availability) situation of hearing Same Thoughts Different Day with completely fresh and unbiased ears and the idea that Incorrect Thoughts could be any more ferocious, sizzling and downright extraordinary is an opinion I find incomprehensible. I would have no problem placing Same Thoughts Different Day alongside other personal punk favorites like The Clash’s Give ‘Em Enough Rope and The Saints’ (I’m) Stranded as well as more contemporary records such as Leatherface’s Mush and Jawbox’s For Your Own Special Sweetheart. Catchy yet raw at the same time, this album absolutely smokes.

HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

The Subhumans – “The Scheme” (mp3)

(from the Alternative Tentacles LP, Same Thoughts Different Day, 2010)

Better Than This...

No new musical territory being discovered on this one but if you like Sell Out-era The Who…if you like The Kink Kontroversy-styled Kinks…if you like The Jam’s best album, The Modern World as well as lesser known groups who play in a similar vein like The Attack, The Move, The Jolt and The Chords then there’s no way you don’t end up liking something about the Len Price 3’s third album, Pictures. While I enjoyed this Medway, U.K. trio’s previous albums, it all seemed to come together this time around with Pictures’ driving energy and catchy hooks. This album rips and slashes in all of the right places and after listening to it for the better part of two months, I find it hard to believe that something else will come out during the remainder of this year and knock it off of my Top 5 Best Of list for 2010.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

The Len Price 3 – “I Don’t Believe You” (mp3)

(from the Wicked Cool Records CD, Pictures, 2010)