Total Abuse - Total Abuse LP

A 28 minute musical nightmare from these Austin,TX hardcore degenerates. An astonishing and disturbing debut album brimming with nihilism and fury. After a 4 minute atonal noise intro the unhinged home invasion rampage "I Can See In The Dark" sets the table for 12 songs about the awful things people do to each other and to themselves. The occasional sludge jam ("Secrets," "Banned In Austin" and the brutally corrosive "Disease") mixed with some of the most intense breakneck hardcore in recent memory (such cheery singalongs as "Fucked And Injured," "Scarred" and "The Same Mistake Since Birth"). The album crashes to its conclusion with the horrifying abduction scenario jam "Electrical Tape." The CD version also includes the 2007 masterpiece SEX PIG 7" and their original 2006 demo. You'll need therapy, a shower and maybe a colonic when yer done listening.

Chungking Express

This 1994 Hong Kong masterpiece is the film that put Wong Kar-Wai on the radar of international cinephiles. Just in time for the New Dark Ages comes this fantastic Blu-Ray deluxe version from the venerable folks at the Criterion Collection. A dizzying blend of the techniques usually utilized in Hong Kong action films with what are, at heart, two interweaved love stories. Great performances from Brigitte Lin, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung and the screen debut of the adorable pop-star Faye Wong highlight this whirlwind mosaic of violence, loneliness, romance and longing.

Sex Vid - Communal Living

After unleashing 3 nosebleed inducing super-limited 7" singles and some even more obscenely rare tapes, these Olympia,WA shit disturbers deliver an 8 song 14 minute 12" EP that continues the brutal maelstrom of hardcore they honed on the excellent NESTS 7" and TANIA 7" from a couple years back. One of the few modern punk bands who can incorporate feedback a la the mighty D.C. legends Void while still bringing the neck breaking hardcore reminiscent of the brilliant Deep Wound, Jerry's Kids and SS Decontrol. Passionate, harrowing and essential.

The Fresh & Onlys - The Fresh & Onlys

Ya know all those great undiscovered bands on those killer Messthetics comps? Well imagine if they were informed by doo-wop and girl group jams, had an understanding of the solid song structure of rocksteady and were steeped in the best qualities of mid-'90s boozy lo-fi (92-95 GBV, Strapping Fieldhands and Thomas Jefferson Slave Apartments). Well yer almost there. Kinda like the musical equivalent of a stew you keep adding things to and reducing down to get to something essential that is more than the sum of its parts. Consider it "makes you clean yer plate" jams.

Neil Young - Sugar Mountain: Live At Canterbury House 1968

Fresh from extricating himself from Buffalo Springfield baby Neil had just released his debut solo album and here at the college ministry at the University of Michigan, he delivers tremulous versions of Springfield tunes and new solo jams. Goofy and obviously stoned raps between songs and the uncertainty and vulnerability in this early performance add to it's charm. It's interesting to compare this to the already released 1971 Massey Hall Toronto solo performance and to see how in 3 short years he went from a timid performer to one of absolute assurance and command. A beautiful "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing" (a Neil song that the Springfield didn't even let Neil sing in its studio incarnation because they said his voice wasn't good enough) and a heartbreaking "The Old Laughing Lady" highlight this early look at the only singer/songwriter who can come close to being included in the conversation with Bob Dylan.

tip: I miss the fuck out of Mark Weagant, Ken "Spiderman" Hamilton & Anthony Marin.

EPMD - We Mean Business

Yeah they do! I been asking around and a lot of people didn't even know this was out. Is it lack of airplay and promotion, or are folks not checkin' this classic duo anymore? Whatever the reason, here is a solid example of the some of the Golden Era's finest still making noise.

Estelle - Shine

This is a great summertime at Mission Rock, dancing outside with ur lady or man, spreading the love, good vibe for all, wonderlific type joint. Look at it this way: a lot of people know the single "American Boy" with Kanye, which isn't even one of the better tracks on here! If you liked that, chances are you'll love the whole album.

Lalo Schifrin - Enter The Dragon soundtrack

The hard to get LP is back! Lots of funky mood music from the classic film.

Large Professor - Main Source

Q-Tip - The Renaissance

It's hard to live up to the stuff Tip put out as a part of Tribe. When you've been at the top of the hill, the only way to go is down right? While it's definitely not a reunion record for the group, there are successful guest appearances galore, including Raphael Saadiq, Norah Jones, D'Angelo (What?!), and production by the late J Dilla. Besides these greats, Tip is pretty much on his own again after a long, long hiatus. He rhymes, sings, and produces on this record... and overall it's not too bad. In fact, it's the vitamin deficiency supplement a lot of us have been waiting for.

tip:

Every 4^th Saturday of the month, after shopping at the Haight street store, head on over to the Milk DJ BAR / Lounge (across the street) and get down to musical treats provided by the local and world renown TRIPLE THREAT DJs at their monthly event, Flava Of The Month. 21+

 

Also, be on the lookout for a new project from the Bay Area’s own beat banger BOBIWAN, a Hip Hop based EP entitled Atack Da Clonez. Obrigado!

Burnt Friedman & Jaki Liebezeit - Secret Rhythms 3

Hector Zazou - In the House of Mirrors

Bernard Herrmann - Aldous Huxley's Brave New World

Vincent Price - Master Of The Macabre

Iceberg Slim - Reflections

Levitts - We are The Levitts

Trash Talk - Trash Talk

This Sacto band has been around for years, but this self-released, self-titled LP, recorded by Steve Albini, is their masterpiece. Pure claustrophobic hatecore. All ragged knuckles and jagged teeth. It is an iron shield against the inhumanity of the world. If it counts for anything, I listened to this record everyday while I walked to work during the holidays. Take Born Against, speed it up, slap it around a bit, and substitute the politics with absolute derision, and you’ve got this record.

Sabertooth Zombie - Everything

Too many releases to pick just one. Imagine early Metallica doing Black Flag covers in the parking lot of a Parliament Funkadelic show and you may have the slightest idea of this band's essence. They have gathered the sounds of every band to call Norcal home, from CCR to Blatz to Exodus, and have created a most perfect hardcore cacophony. No other band has so diligently bore the burden of punk rawkish progression as the Zombie.

Ceremony - Still Nothing Moves You

Have you ever been a teenager walking home from a woeful day at a cut-rate public high school on an overcast afternoon with nothing more on your mind than seeing the next morning come without dragging a blade across your throat because you are ugly and your parents are monsters and nobody wants to hang out with you? This album is the soundtrack to that disposition. These are the jams of a wretched adolescence.

Never Healed - Discography

This band is an unappreciated gem in the murky waters of Norcal hardcore. Take the mammoth bombast of Neurosis and slather it with the caustic chemicals of  Die Kreuzen and then nestle the whole thing into the rotten cradle of the East Bay's darker punk rock and you will have this band in a nutshell. A really fucked up nutshell.

Don't Trip - The Root Of All Evil

A new band on the scene, rising from the foggy depths of the Peninsula, that combines '80s East Coast greats like Token Entry and Leeway with newer Bay Area bands like Lights Out and Nerve Agents. They are good now, as this release proves, but greatness is just around the corner. One to watch, for sure.

Skin Like Iron - Skin Like Iron

A rogue wave of dissonant noise. Dark as hell itself, this band combines the brooding contempt of Deadguy with the dystopian abandon of Leviathan, and when spiced with a dash of the static, lyrical depression of Joy Division, the results are overwhelming. Their releases and appearances are fleeting and mysterious, so you will have to dig deep into the foul soil to find this treasure. But find it. For your own good, find it.

Lifelong Tragedy - Runaways

This is a rare thing. The anthemic hardcore of Sick Of It All with the slit-wrist desperation of American Nightmare. This great band broke up this year, but this album is a wonderful testament to their honest depiction of suburban wasteland angst. All the great parts of hardcore boiled down into a single, potent, and disturbing spirit.

Madmen - Season One

There is a reason everyone is talking about this show. There is a reason everyone shoould watch this series. The attention to detail is exhaustive. Each character and episode is well-written, acted, and costumed. Eyes candy with plenty of healthy, good old-fashioned nostalgia for almost any age. AMC delivers and HBO-esque low story arc, with an ensamble cast that has few (if any) weak links. The commentaries are insightfull (in many cases two per show) and warrent repeated viewings. Season Two is cut from the same cloth.

Wanted and Desired

Roman Polanski doc, Wanted and Desired. Copious quality archive '70s footage & current interviews pull together this brutal portrait of a crazy genius. Good commentaries. Nice extras. Worth the $20.

Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell

An amazing portrait of a good Iowa kid rubbing shoulders with Philip Glass and Sonic Youth, then becoming mr. cocaine disco kid in the '80s. His parents and lover bookend this brilliant documentary with good performance footage. Listen to the cassette he sent his parents from here in S.F. in the '70s on bonus features.

The Rockford Files: Season Six / The Streets of San Francisco: Season Two (Vol. 1-2)

The final season of Rockford Files and the most recent collection of The Streets of San Francisco are high quality '70s TV at its best: chock full of brilliant character actors, well-written, time capsules of dime phone calls. Guests include: Tom Selleck, Lauren Bacall, Nick Nolte, Lola Falana, and Leslie Nielson. If you haven't seen previous seasons of either - get on it - they are well-worth your time.

tip: Go to the beach, watch Rockford.

Averkiou - Throwing Sparks

Rob Bonfiglio (Wanderlust/The Skies of America) - Bring On The Happy

The Disciplines (Ken Stringfellow/Briskeby) - Smoking Kills (Norwegian import)

The Nerves - One Way Ticket

A.C. Newman - Get Guilty

Pas/Cal - I Was Raised On Matthew, Mark, Luke & Laura

The Soundtrack of Our Lives - Communion

Starling Electric - Clouded Staircase (reissue)

Matthew Sweet - Sunshine Lies

Various Artists - Titan: It's All Pop

Adam Payne - Organ

Sounds like Mr. Echoes is having fun again! Blotchy shred over Raspberries/Meat Puppets chunkers. A fantastic extension of the poppy stuff on Firsts, last year's platter, with one extendo blastoff for the beards to chew on. We're waiting on the next one already...

Pussygutt - She Hid Behind Her Veil

Idaho duo win this year's Iceberg Sweepstakes in a crushing landslide. Fans of the slow/loud/ugly amp-melt which so many practice and so few master must find this. Oh yeah, no drums. Bass lurk w/keyboards meets armies of violins and dungeons, skulls, all that. Pets love it and curl up near the speakers. Incredibly blissful and disturbing.

Prizehog - Alive & Well

The first squirt from the loudest band I've ever seen. I say shit like that all the time, but I think they compete, easy. Listen to this the night before and after you go see them lobotomize some dive, and you'll know. People talk about cavemen beating wooly mammoths in slow motion all the time, but this band actually does it, without bragging even.

Family Fodder - More Great Hits!

Tried not to include reissues, but this is special. Sparks, Beefheart, and Lee Perry all squished together with a French female vocalist. All demographics, creeds, alignments, backgrounds, sects, please apply.

Demian - Demian (reissue)

Two lead guitars, three part vocal harmonies, Corpus Christi classic rock (previously played as Bubble Puppy) -- Hells yeah! They hit me first with their "Gathering of Promises" then knocked me out with this stellar album of revved-up and re-worked gem jams. Turn it up!

Tujiko Noriko - Trust

A few unique tracks, mostly bookended by remixes and re-imaginings. Worth it solely for track 4: a remix of "Saigo no Kiss" by Hideki Ataka that could double for an alternate Twin Peaks theme song. In a word: Breathtaking.

Bottle Rocket (Criterion)

Charming, clever, and hilarious. Plus, the climax of this film is punctuated by the utterance of an almost (almost) transparent Guns 'N Roses lyric.

Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters

Everything about this film haunts me. So much so that I cannot really think of anything to say about it that hasn't been said, or that I can say in just a few sentences. Biopics are funny little windows into multiple worlds of interpretation; this film follows the model at least ten fold, begging the audience to question just how blurry the border between life and art is.

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains

This movie doesn't put out.

Various Artists - Kissa Rock - "Kaze wo Atsumete"

70's era "cafe rock" from Japan. A folk-rock collection of a somewhat Yacht Rock caliber, smooth as a perfectly poured espresso on a rainy Autumn afternoon. Includes the song by Happy End used in Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation.

tip: Procure a copy of Veeps: Profiles In Insignificance by Bill Kelter and Wayne Shellabarger for your bathroom bookshelf. You'll thank me for it later; you're welcome!