These guys sing about everything: cops, hating their jobs, rats, left-handed guitars and throw in some great love songs too.
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Carolyn Keddy’s Top 10+ Of 2003
by carolyn
Husbands "Introducing the Sounds Of The Husbands" LP (Swami)
This record has everything I look for in great rock and roll. The Husbands are an all female band with great songwriting, playing and vocals. Sarah has one of the best voices in music today. It’s deep, powerful and truly amazing. The music is primitive garage, but in that great get-you-off-your-ass way. There are six covers (all cool choices Barbarians, Bo Didley, Carol King, etc.), but it is the original songs that I like the most. "Swept Aside" is a perfect unrequited love, defiant woman song. Fantastic.
Tyrades LP (Broken Rekids)
The Tyrades blow me away. It is as simple as that. They put on an amazing live show that I am happy to say the people in SF finally went to see this year. They write incredible, spazzy, short blasts of punk rock perfection. Singer Jenna has an amazing voice. It is tough and authoritative. The band is right there with her blazing through the tunes at break neck speed. As my co-worker commented to me, this is a perfect punk record. I couldn't agree more so I played it a few thousand times more. I never get sick of it.
Dirtbombs "Dangerous Magical Noise" LP with 7" (In The Red)
In a perfect (i.e. another) world The Dirtbombs would be the most popular band on the planet. But as we all know the majority of the general public has very bad taste so the Dirtbombs will remain in that middle ground were they play sort of big clubs to sold out crowds. Personally I’d rather it that way ‘cos I hate going to stadiums. I want to see the boys up close. "Dangerous Magical Noise" features all original tunes crossing musical genres, but coming out as one perfect piece. Without a doubt “Stupid” is one of my all-time favorite Dirtbombs’ songs. If you are like me you picked up the first pressing of Dangerous Magical Noise on vinyl so that you could get the bonus 7” which featured two fantastic Cheater Slicks covers, Possession and Refried Dreams. This 7” alone is one of the best things the Dirtbombs have ever done. It was such a well kept secret that you either had to be in the know or know someone in the know. There was no mention of it on the cover so you were surprised when you opened up your record. By the time you read this those copies will probably be long gone. You should have bought "Dangerous Magical Noise" by now anyway.
Vaticans "Commotion/ Talking About You" 7" (Pure Filth)
One of the defunct San Francisco bands I miss the most. This 7" is all I have left. Two sweet gems of '60 s girl in the garage group pop. The commanding, soulful lead vocals harmonize beautifully with the backing vocals and twinkling guitar. "Talking About You" is a catchy and scathing condemnation of the gossipy rock scene. Or am I reading too much into it?
M.O.T.O "Kill M.O.T.O" LP (Criminal IQ)
This is the one record people always wanted to talk about with me in 2003. Perfect poppy punk songs. This record is so catchy. These guys sing about everything: cops, hating their jobs, rats, left-handed guitars and throw in some great love songs too. The big KUSF hit is "Dance Dance Dance Dance Dance To The Radio", their blasphemous ripping off Joy Division while adding an anti-PC homeless stance. But all the songs are equally great.
Mr. California and the State Police/ Vilently Ill split EP (Proud To Be Idiot)
Mr. California is a certifiable genius. The world could use many more of them. Although he released more records this year than anyone has the time to remember, I pick this release because it includes the equally genius Vilently Ill. These two one-man bands are what all other one-man bands should be judged against. Mr. California and The State Police deliver nine songs on this 7" record at 45 rpm. My favorite is "Sexual Robot" a blast of silly and gross, but very catchy punk rock. Vilently Ill delivers five songs on his side. His best is "Heroin Is Stupid". Everyone start a one-man band today!
Monsters "I See Dead People" LP (Voodoo Rhythm)
Despite the unfortunate choice of title, this is one smoking garage record. Lightning Beatman once again proves he is king. He has the best male voice in rock and roll. The Monsters quickly thrash through fourteen hyped up garage hits in about 30 minutes. "Fuck My Brain", "Sonic Nightmares", "Acid Dreams" and "Diggin' My Grave" plus others. This is the good stuff.
Thee Flying Dutchmen "Thee Caveman Sessions" LP (Boom Boom)
There aren't many bands that can even come close to the great sound of the Mummies or Supercharger. God knows many have tried. Thee Flying Dutchmen manage to get some similar frolicking garage music blazing through some cheap shitty recordings. It should sound like a disaster, but this is one cool record.
Feederz "Vandalism: Beautiful As A Rock In A Cop’s Face" LP (Broken Rekids)
A new record by any legendary band always makes me wary. Usually it is as I expect, complete crap, but not in the case of the Feederz. They are still hysterically funny and can rock. Frank Discussion's piercing, sarcastic vocals combined with the new rhythm section sounds as great as they did on Ever Feel Like Killing Your Boss. CD version even features MP3 version of each song. It's a nice fuck you to all those rock star poseurs who keep complaining about how they are losing so much money because of people downloading music. Keep up the good work!
Oblivians "First Recordings" LP (Goner)
A nice limited edition collection of Oblivians' songs before they became the Oblivians' songs we know and love for those of us that still cannot get enough of the Oblivians. I am sure I am not the only one. The recordings are super distorted and lo-fi, but the spark is there. /font>
Queen Cobra LP (Boner)
Usually I would never pick a record that I am so closely involved with, but as my boyfriend Michael said if I don’t pick it no one will. And I really like it. A wild guitar, bass, drum machine assault that has been compared to Metal Urbain with the female John Brannon singing. That’s what people have said to me and I’d like to believe them. Includes the great song "No Drummer" written for all the boys who thought we’d be a great band if we got a real drummer.
2003 Top Re-issues:
Metal Urbain "Anarchy In Paris" (Acute), The Len Bright Combo "Len Bright Combo Present The Len Bright Combo By The Len Bright Combo/ Combo Time!" (Southern Domestic), Pop-O-Pies "Pop-O-Anthology" (Pop-O-Pie), Solger "Codex 1980" (Empty), Mummies "Death By Unga Bunga" (Estrus), Supercharger "Singles Party" (Rip Off), Blacktop "I’ve Got A Bad Feeling About This - The Complete Recordings" (In The Red), Big Boys "Wreck Collection" (Gern Blandsten), Geeks "Dreamland/ Hey Wreck!" 7" (S-S), Gits "Frenching The Bully" (Broken Rekids), Motards "Stardum" (Mortville), DMZ "s/t" (Sepia Tone).
2003 Top Live shows:
Rocket From The Tombs, Tyrades, FM Knives, Smirk, Las Ultrasonicas, John Wilkes Booze, Orphans, Poontang Wranglers, Jack Saints, Anteenagers MC, Taxi.
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