The Short List is a periodic dive into non-LPs: Reissues, Splits, 7″s/EPs, Live, Comps, etc
EPs:
River City Rebels Pop Culture Baby Screaming Crow
Pre-order Now
Vermont’s River City Rebels brought a vigorous punk sound to Victory Records in 2000. Victory in the ‘90s was known for metallic vegan SXE hardcore with Earth Crisis, Snapcase, Strife; metallic savagery with Integrity, Bloodlet, Deadguy; some tough shit with OLC, BFB, and Skarhead. But by 2000, River City Rebels was a standout among the vicious metallic hordes. RCR used politics to feed the outrage and place those lyrics over charging horns and rambunctious rhythms. The band provided the label with four records in five years, building a dedicated fanbase of disenfranchised youth yearning for a snotty yet infectious outlet. The next decade birthed two more albums and a 2014 EP on Screaming Crow. 2024 witnesses a rebirth as frontman Dan O’Day returns with four new New Englanders behind him.
River City Rebels continue with their sound with four tracks on Pop Culture Baby. RCR is still antagonizing the system with titles such as “Rock a Cross” and “Unless You’re White”. O’Day and new mates blend power-pop and brash punk taking from Buzzcocks and The Boys to U.S. Bombs and The Briefs. Infusing trashy sleaze and Glam Rock into the songwriting trigger a jolt int RCR’s guitar driven punk. Feeling fresh for 2024, RCR unveils a rejuvenated energy on Pop Culture Baby.
7” Vinyl: Black, Translucent Rust, Translucent Green, and Lemonade
Order from Screaming Crow
Follow RCR on instagram
COMPILATIONS:
Integrity All Death is Mine : Total Domination Relapse Records
Out Now
Here is quite the interesting compilation. Dom Romeo, guitarist (Day Of Mourning, Pulling Teeth, Slumords, Ilsa, and now End Reign (with Mike Score of All Out War on vocals and members of Bloodlet, Noisem, Misery Index, Exhumed) and owner of A389 Recordings, lived his dream when recruited to play for Integrity. The stint with Holy Terror legend, Dwid Hellion, would last seven years and one studio record, Howling, For the Nightmare Shall Consume (Relapse, 2015). Cultivated from those years, Romeo compiles non-album songs which he recorded with Integrity; “new songs, covers and reinterpretations with a fresh mix by Arthur Rizk”. Romeo had been emailing Dwid asking historical and guitarist questions since the late 90’s, strictly as an inquisitive fan. Decades later, Dwid drafting Dom into the legendary band combined two passionate and proficient players. Some original tunes, again, are recharged by the superior touch by Rizk. The bulk of the record is comprised of enthusiastic covers of the greats, Roky Erickson, Misfits, G.I.S.M., Septic Death, Motorhead, Ozzy and more. Integrity has a classic sound, being one of the first to incorporate darker metal than crossover and painting with a crimson brush of sinister horror. Romeo’s role, playing a bevy of instruments, ensures a legacy in the later chapter of the band.
Relapse Records has Black Cassette and Colored Vinyl:
Gold Nugget, 2116
Opaque Red Inside Translucent Red with Black and White Splatter *Relapse.com Exclusive, 354
Black Ice, Translucent Gold, + Black Ice Tri Color Striped with Metallic Gold, Metallic Silver and Bone White Splatter *Relapse.com Exclusive, 153
Clear *Not available to the public, 100
Follow Integrity on bandcamp and instagram
Electric Frankenstein Shipwrecked /Annies Grave Revisited Boxer Face Records
Out Now
Monsters of punk, Electric Frankenstein, have been slinging three-chord disruption since 1989. The band’s discography boasts scores of releases; LPs and EPs and myriad splits with the royalty of punk rock and roll: Supersuckers, Gluecifer, The Cheats, Hookers, ANTISEEN, LES Stitches, Hellacopters, and more on upper echelon labels such as SubPop, TKO, Devil Doll, Coldfront, Victory, Triple X, Estrus, Man’s Ruin, etc. The core was formed by the Sal and Dan Canzonieri. The brothers joined by many others through three decades, originally in New Jersey and relocated to North Carolina.
Considering Electric Frankenstein’s duration (read, legacy) and the company move, it’s reasonable to acknowledge the number of members. The unique aspect about Shipwrecked/Annie’s Grave Revisited is that the band recently trapped themselves in Tim Armstrong’s studio in Hollywood CA, Ship’recd. Two cold December days captured these tunes spewed by a few variations of past line-ups (some of whom had never met) and no solid plan. At the helm were Tim Armstrong and Rancid’s chief sound engineer, TJ Rivera, and assistant, Nate Bonner. The results were four new abrasive, energetic tunes slapped on Side A, appropriately titled, Shipwrecked.
With remaining time in Ship’recd, Electric Frankenstein decided to resurrect some old tunes given the opportunity with the ex-members there. The result is Annie’s Grave Revisited, Side B. The title track has a high-voltage new version. The other two songs are not from 2001 (LP, Victory Records). “Demolition Joyride” was dug up from the annals of 1995’s, The Time is Now (10”, Nitro! Records). “Listen Up, Baby!” is the titular track from 1998 (10”, Man’s Ruin; 12” Repress, TKO). RIP Frank Kozik. Side B also holds a treasured secret cover song (recorded with one of the prior tracks back in NC).
Electric Frankenstein blends their nostalgia via the present. Electric Frankenstein’s allegiance to chaotic, horror punk is elevated on this record. The revitalization of the band and the old material is pushed by pounding drums and the rumbling, dirgy bass. Screaming guitars and an unapologetic attitude solidify the impact of this revered band.
Vinyl released in two rounds. Total pressings, 300
First Round: Red Translucent, 150
Dive into the deep historic catalog of Electric Frankenstein
Order vinyl or digital on Boxer Face bandcamp
Modern Life Is War Tribulation Worksongs Deathwish Inc
March 22, 2024
Modern Life is War was an explosive melodic hardcore band which tapped into the punk zeitgeist of the era, defined by daunting emotions and sounds. Their music, like contemporaries American Nightmare, The Suicide File, and Bane influenced the wave of later 2000’s hardcore like Go It Alone, Sinking Ships, and Have Heart. Dark. Sullen. This is angry music but fueled by a solemn reality, one of political desperation and disappointment when analyzing social dynamics. The band began in 2002 and released a few EPs and three full-lengths. The Deathwish 2005 record, Witness, is legendary and grabbed the world by the throat. This launched them to EVR, producing Midnight in America. Standing upon an Alpine-like peak, they disbanded within a few months its release.
MLIW resurfaced for a 2013 record on Deathwish Inc, Fever Hunting. Years trickle to see MLIW put out three seven inches on Deathwish, Tribulation Worksongs Vol I, Vol II, and Vol III. Now, Deathwish compiles the three EPs onto one LP. Comprised of seven tracks, one of which is a dub of a track “Feels Like End Times”, appropriately named, “End Times Dub”, reimagined by Urian Hackney (Rough Francis, Iggy Pop etc).
Earning respect from their early peers has drawn in those people in current roles. Art and package design by Jeffrey Eaton, Thomas Hooper, and J. Bannon. Tribulation Worksongs was recorded by Luke Tweedy at Flat Black Studios, mixed by Kurt Ballou at God City Studios, and mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege. Being a band which thrived due to their use of raw, exposed feelings, MLIW now utilize perspective and maturity to filter the same frustration and aggression. The punk is boldly present, in songwriting and in spirit. One of the great hardcore bands of our time continually finding an incendiary spark burning inside, begging to be vented.
First Press:
Peach (Lifeline Exclusive), 250
Red / Blue / Yellow Tie Dye (DW Exclusive), 250
Clear w/ Splatter, 500
Pre-order at Deathwish Inc
Pre-order at Lifeline
Pre-order bundle with 20th Anniversary of first seven inch at Lifeline
REISSUES:
Big Boys Where’s My Towel/Industry Standard + Lullabies Help the Brain Grow + No Matter How Long the Line is at the Cafeteria, There’s Always a Seat 3XLP Reissues Touch & Go Records
March 29, 2024
Time for that debated term, “underappreciated”. Big Boys are beloved by their ardent fans. But, they do not always get mentioned with Black Flag, Minor Threat, and Agnostic Front. Austin TX was ripe for rebellion in 1979. Along with The Stains, DICKS, and Butthole Surfers, Big Boys brought attention to a desolate scene. While DICKS injected a bluesy swagger, Big Boys uniquely infused a funk influence blended with hardcore and art-punk. Big Boys, with Tim Kerr and Randy “Biscuit” Turner as the propellers, Big Boys antagonized and spat proudly at their traditional, homophobic, close-minded, Uber-Christian Texan Reagan loving neighbors.
Touch & Go steps up and reissues their three classic records. Their approach and sound were more Flipper, Husker Du, Minutemen than Misfits, Dead Kennedys, and Negative Approach. Big Boys expanded boundaries and brought a new attack to punk, experimenting and delivering with furious cynicism. The plunky, lo-fi scathing music fueled fervent fans with their Agitprop punk. Big Boys attacked the establishment from 1979 to 1984. This is a great opportunity for old school lovers and this new wave of youth to indulge in one of the most original bands.
VINYL:
Where’s My Towel/Industry Standard: 1981; 140 gram, aqua blue, 1000
Lullabies Help the Brain Grow: 1983; 180 gram, opaque pink, 1000
No Matter How Long the Line is at the Cafeteria, There’s Always a Seat: 1985; 180 gram, opaque purple, 1000
Touch & Go:
Not doing pre-orders as of yet. But all three LPs set up to order March 29, 2024 on Big Boys page
RevHQ:
Pre-order Where’s My Towel/Industry Standard here
Pre-order Lullabies Help the Brain Grow here
Pre-order No Matter How Long… here
