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ihopeitscancer.tumblr.com
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ihopeitscancer.tumblr.com
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ihopeitscancer.tumblr.com
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YUGOSLAVIA! YEAH!

I don't know anything about this except A) it's ska B) it rules C) it's not in English. I think it's Russian. Whatever it is, I didn't do any research or anything, so you're on your own.

The Swingers

A great song and a great video from the brains behind Split Enz, Phil Judd.

Open yer' wounds!

. . . fer the Maggots! Let them wiggle around in the open sore you used to call your face as they blow it away. Pull 'em out, play with 'em, squash 'em . . . I don't give a fuck. It's punk rock, dude, you do what you want. This 7" (which you can find HERE) is a lost Bay Area masterpiece, dating all the way back to the dawn of time, that golden year: 1977. "Let's Get Tammy Wynette" is a surprisingly strong single from a rotating cast of high school punks who went on to play with members of the Dead Kennedys, Flipper, Los Olvidados, Ribzy, and Crucifix (among others) as well as with Courtney Love (Insane Jane, Maggots' lead vocalist, played drums for her very first band, Sugar Baby Doll). This is punk rock at its loud and bloody birth, pissed off and ready to pogo. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Note: This record was recently reissued. Check their Myspace for details on how to purchase this wonderful, wonderful record.

we will all be well

The punk rock warrior princess above is Monica Canilao, a native of Redwood City, CA and one of the best artists to ever come out of the Bay Area. Her work is filled with magic and an intoxicating wonder that makes me want to run away and climb trees forever.
When I look at Monica's art, it makes me feel like an insomniac lying in a familiar bed, exhausted from a long day. As I begin to drift halfway between consciousness and dreaming, I realize that I am about to fall into a deep sleep. I smile as I recall the sun on my cheeks and sink with the anticipation of rest.

HERE is her website. Seriously, check it out.

Take as Needed for Ennui

Medicine were an early 90's shoegaze band from Southern California. Although they are often referenced as an American counterpart to Loveless-era My Bloody Valentine, Medicine draws from a more psychedelic/ industrial pool of influences. "Shot Forth Self Living" is their first album, released in 1992, and, from what I've heard of their other material, their best release. The song above is not from this album, but it will give you a general idea as to what you can expect: a layer of fuzz stretched over a vast sea of drone-y pop goodness. Admitedly, a few songs nearly trespass into people-with-colored-dreadlocks-music territory, but the album as a whole is solid enough to sustain even drawn out moments of such sonic douchebaggery. The song "Miss Drugstore" especially will satisfy your craving for hearing damage and put to rest any qualms you may have with the rest of the record. Grab yourself a copy HERE.

Kiwis! (Part One)

Oh shit! Billy Corgan! I don't really know what to say about Split Enz, so I'll let the video do most of the talking/tiptoeing, but I can give you a little history. Split Enz were formed in the early 1970's in Auckland, New Zealand and released their debut album, "Mental Notes," in 1975. The gem above is from their second LP, "Second Thoughts." If you enjoy what you hear/see above enough to dive into their expansive discography, be aware that their sound is all over the place, but somehow manages to hold onto a distinctive vaudevillian charm throughout. A seriously weird band from a seriously weird country (I mean that, of course, in the best way possible).



Mi-Sex were a popular new wave band from New Zealand during the late 70's and early 80's which I'm hoping is a good indicator of how awesome the island's population must be. Who knew that playing computer games could be so . . . hot? This band is PURE SEX! (especially the guitarist) Ow-wa-wee-wa-wa!



Straitjacket Fits were an indie rock band from Dunedin, New Zealand in the second half of the 1980's whose lead singer looks miraculously like Sandra Bernhard (is she from New Zealand too??). Also, they were on Flying Nun so it's safe to assume that the rest of their material is at least better than most, although I haven't heard much else. Kinda' like early Jane's Addiction meets Teenage Fanclub?