Hate Your Friends No. 7

Once again it’s been a while. Another attempt to keep a regular cadence for posting here. We’ll see if it sticks.

Every week Apple Music makes a Friends Mix. Each week I will make off the cuff “reviews” of the songs in this list.

Spiritualized “Lay Back In the Sun” A broken record, I should like Spiritualized. I don’t, although this song is really good and probably why I keep trying. Listened to it all.

The New Pornographers “Myriad Harbour” I pretty much am done with them after the first three. This confirms my position. Listened to 10 seconds

Pavement “Stop Breathing” I have a great dislike for them, this doesn’t help. Made it through 25 seconds as I wasn’t paying attention.

Fugazi “Life and Limb” Recently I found all the Fugazi CDs I didn’t have and bought them. This is ok. Listened to all of it.

Frank Black “Don’t Ya Rile ‘Em” I like the first two Frank Black solo albums. This is like if The Beach Boys covered Pixies songs. Listened to all of it.

The Breeders “Opened” I like the Breeders way more than Frank Black solo stuff. Listened to all of it.

Deerhunter “Neither of Us, Uncertainly” Here is a band I actively avoid for no reason. This was pretty good, I guess I should explore. Listened to it all.

Swervedriver “Something Out of Nothing” Somewhere along the line Swervedriver became a favorite band. This is not one of their best. Listened to it all.

Husker Du “Dead Set On Destruction” Fucking great. Really have been into the the last two albums recently. Listened to it all.

Smoking Popes “Gotta Know Right Now” Here’s a band that fell off my listening radar. Still like them but don’t get the urge to listen much. Again not one of their better songs. Listened to it all.

Soul Asylum “Something Out of Nothing” Last good album, yeah they were great before “Run Away Train”. This album was a bit of disappointment after “Hang Time” and this song is one of the lesser efforts. Listened to it all.

Killing Joke “Primitive” Will we get to something I don’t know this week? This is great, the current bands obsessed with “post-punk” have nothing on this. Listened to it all.

The Vibrators “Whips and Furs” More power-pop than punk. Regardless good stuff. Listened to it all.

Protomartyr “Elimination Dance” Another band I should like but it just doesn’t click. Goth-ish (in the classic sense) post-punk. Listened to it all.

Squid “Pearl to Stone” Finally, something I don’t know. Very serious indie rock/post-punk. Pretty bland and nondescript Listened to it all.

Public Body “Break from Life” New Wave disguising itself as post-punk. Sounds like the singer from the previous band. Doesn’t move the needle. Listened to 32 seconds.

The Lemon Twigs “Every Day is the Worst Day of My Life” I really want to like this band. Super 1970’s throw back pop rock. I probably just need to sit down and take a good listen. Listened to it all.

Damien Jurado “James Hoskins” Never cared for his stuff, but this is intriguing but the song goes nowhere. Listened to it all.

Wire “Madman’s Honey” The missing piece of Wire in my collection. I don’t like this electronic period as much as everything else but it’s still good. Listened to all of it.

Sinead O’Connor “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got” I never listened to a whole album of her’s before she passed. Guess I’ve been missing out. Listened to it all.

Burn “Last Great Sea” Youth Crew mosh core goes alt-metal garbage. Maybe listened to 10 seconds.

Drug Church “Foam Pit” Shouty, kind of hardcore indie rock thing that’s popular. It’s ok. Listened to it all.

The Charlatans “Heaven” 1990’s hippy Manchester junk. All I can think of is that dumb white guy dance the singer would do. 30 seconds to write this.

Ozzy Osbourne “One Up the B Side” There’s a reason this didn’t make an album. 30 seconds.

Lungfish “Creation Story” Discord repetition kings. Sounds like Slint, it’s fine. Listened to it all.

Hate Your Friends No. 7

Holy NWOBHM, a New Metallica Song.

Metallica Lux Aeterna

I have a love/like/hate relationship with Metallica. Love the first four albums, the last two are good and everything in-between is an abomination.

This is a surprisingly good song that seems to be a love letter to the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. If you told me this was a long lost Savage song that they were covering I’d believe you.

On one hand I’d like them to break new ground but when they have done that it’s been a disaster. They are best when they stick to what they are good at. Aping the NWOBHM is something they are great at.

At at about 3 1/2 minutes it’s a good omen. Digging a little deeper the album is 12 songs in 77 minutes, so an average of 6 minutes 40ish seconds which is not good. One of Metallica’s issues is their inability to edit themselves.

Here’s hoping for the best.

Holy NWOBHM, a New Metallica Song.

Hate Your Friends No. 6

I’m back, it’s been a while. I haven’t been able to get into the blog to edit it. I figured it out. This is from last week so there will be another for tomorrow’s play list. Enjoy.

Every week Apple Music makes a Friends Mix. Each week I will make off the cuff “reviews” of the songs in this list.

Fugazi “Give Me the Cure” My favorite Fugazi is the first two EPs. Sometimes “End Hits” comes close. Listened to it all.

Hüsker Dü “It’s Not Funny Anymore” Some of the first signs of the pop leaning Hüskers, essential. Listened to it all.

Maritime “Light You Up” Adult contemporary indie-rock. Made it through 1:19.

Guided By Voices “Striped White Jets” As I said before give me the big rock production GBV with complete songs. Listened to it all as it’s short.

Pavement “Stop Breathing” Still don’t like this band, aping a Velvets sound here. No thanks. 34 seconds.

Dinosaur Jr. “Don’t” While I usually say “just listen to ‘Bug'” but this one is not one I need to hear. Stoped at 1:01.

Superchunk “On the Mouth” This is a good one. Fast, raw, when they were fun. Listened to it all.

Minutmen “Take Our Test” Not well versed in the Minutmen, I’ve tried. I liked this one. Listened to it all.

Sammy “Possibly Peking” Finally something I don’t know. This is alright, slink, raw indie rock. I’ll give these guys another listen despite the name. Listened to it all.

Turnstile “BLACKOUT Keep hearing how these guys sound like 80’s hardcore, they dont. It’s not bad, the hype doesn’t help it. Listened to it all.

Soundgarden “Full On (Reprise)” Throw away from a great album. Listened to it all.

Black Flag “Black Coffee” I’ve warmed up to Rollins Black Flag recently, Still think “Everything Went Black” is my go to but I’ve been going back to the Rollins stuff. Listened to it all.

Dr. Know “Watch it Burn” Fucking this is the shit. Raw 80’s hardcore. Listened to it all.

Government Issue “Caring Line” The last two GI albums are classics. Psychedelic, Punk, Rock and some great songs. Listened to it all.

Soul Side “Pearl to Stone” The early hardcore Soul Side, love it. Just keep that new stuff the hell away from me. Listened to it all.

Rocket From the Crypt “Sturdy Wrists” When RFTC wrote a catch anthem it stuck in your head. Great stuff. Listened to it all.

Void “Who are You?” From when DC hardcore was far less sophisticated. Raging. Listened to it all.

Gang Green “Alcohol” Their signature song. Good stuff from before they became a novelty band. I’d rather fuck than drink though. Listened to it all.

Spiritualized “Come Together” I’ve tried multiple times to get into this band. Still not there. Listened to all of it to see if it changed my mind. It didn’t.

Lush “Stray” Love me some original wave shoegaze. Listened to it all.

Low “Light You Up” This makes me sad. RIP Mimi. Listened to it all.

Sunny Day Real Estate “Seven” Not sure how this ever got labeled emo. It’s arena rock, Listened to it all.

The Cure “Just Like Heaven” What the hell do you say about this. Listened to it all.

Unsane “East Broadway” Not my thing. I like noise but there needs to be something to hook me in. 10 seconds.

Ted Nugent “Queen of the Forest” Fuck this. I burned all my Nugent albums. Didn’t even start it.

Hate Your Friends No. 6

Day Late and a Dollar Short, My Favorite Music of 2019

Even later than last year. My favorite 15 albums from 2019 in alphabetical order. Dedicated to Mike “Old Man Juke Box” Bailey who I would have discussed this with. Rest In Peace.

Giuda E.V.A.
Sure this isn’t as good as their first two but it’s damn fun glam rock.
[bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=3312560575 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5]

Hurry Up Shotgun This Crystal Vessel
90’s style alt rock.
[bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=1616394342 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5]

Le Butcherettes bi/MENTAL
Finally combined the chaos with great songs.

No/No Diagnostic
Nuwavy goodness, well when the guitars are prominent. Tapers off and gets more generic on the songs with less guitar. Go Wisconsin!
[bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=2418662106 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5]

Raketkanon #3
This is a weird one. Kind of like Faith No More without the funk and more Gary Numan. Listen to a few tracks as it’s all over the place.
[bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=3426652370 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5]

Redd Kross Beyond the Door
Classic glam/power pop/punk rock kings return. Once again they make a catchy album that retains their sound but is different than all they did before.
[bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=2122783215 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5]

Ride This Is Not A Safe Place
An odd case of liking the band better after their reunion. “Kill Switch” is my favorite song of the year.
[bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=1969405503 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5]

Starcrawler Devour You
An amalgam of 70s and 80s rock that they put their own stamp on. Lots of hooks. Why isn’t everything on bandcamp makes this much easier.

Swervedriver Future Ruins
On par with their first two albums. Nice surprise.
[bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=3288388686 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5]

The Hussy Looming
Garage rock usually isn’t my thing. Usually the songs aren’t this good. Go Wisconsin!
[bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=1813453384 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5]

The Neptune Power Federation  Memories of a Rat Queen
Aussie classic metal done with lots of flair lead by the  Imperial Priestess. Pretty over the top which makes it better for me.
[bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=3805787157 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5]

UV-TV  Happy
Punk shoegaze. Great when the woman is singing, less so when the dude is. Some killer songs on this.
[bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=1043076915 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5]

Versing  10000
These guys love Sonic Youth. Very 90’s alt rock.
[bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=3068514945 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5]

White Reaper  You Deserve Love
Power pop that stands out above the deluge.
[bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=2361582558 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5]

Young Gov  Gov 1
The best of the year. Power pop as good as anything that has come before it. “Gov 2” isn’t remotely as good.
[bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=3776892109 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5]

Day Late and a Dollar Short, My Favorite Music of 2019

Hate Your Friends no.4

ImageEvery week Apple Music makes a Friends Mix. Each week I will make off the cuff “reviews” of the songs in this list.

Again giving me a bunch of stuff I like. Maybe I need to listen to more metal on Apple Music?

Sparklehorse “Someday I Will Treat You Good” Was ready to hate the hell out of this. I think I like it. Listened to it all.

Replacements “Valentine” Week 4 with Replacements. “Please to Meet” me is equal to Cheap Trick’s “Lap of Luxury”. Totally limp. I tried, lasted to 1:59.

Seaweed “Start With” Hey, we talked about this album last week, it still rips and it’s still better than the city Spanaway . Listened to all of it.

Echo & The Bunnymen “Do It Clean” I like Ghost’s cover of their song “Noturnal Me”. This song isn’t as good as “Nocturnal Me”, either version. Listened to all of it.

Mission of Burma “Progress” A lesser Burma song is better than most.. Listened to all of it.

Superchunk “Mower” From the “classic period”. I like the faster songs better. Listened to all of it.

Guide By Voices “Drag Days” Prefer the super rock production on “Isolation Drills” and “Do the Collapse.” At least this is a whole song. Listened to all of it.

Moving Targers “Less than Gravity” Sounds like Hüsker Dü filtered through Boston (the city). Big fan. Listened to all of it.

Nervebreakers “Hijack the Radio Down to the Hospital” Don’t know this. Shrug. Listened to 2:26.

Seam “Dust and Turpentine” Another one I listened to last week and it shows up here. Of course I like it, I listened to it last week. Listened to all of it.

Reigning Sound “Drowning” Sloppy vaguely 60s sounding, I’ll just listen to something from the 60’s. Made it to :53.

Big Black “Bazooka Joe” A novelty band. Listened to all of it.

Half Japanese “Firecracker” Nope, I hope someone got stuck listening to Primus as I listened to a bunch of that last week. :22 as I was across the room and it took a little bit to skip this.

Oblivions “Bad Man” Overly distorted generic garage rock. Tried but only got to 1:27.

X “Johny Hit and Run Pauline” Any Cow Punk is too much Cow Punk, save X and The Gun Club. Listened to all of it.

Wire “Two People in a Room” I would have hated this when it came out, time cures some things. Listened to all of it.

Crass “General Bacardi” Somebody was listening to a ton of Crass last week so I expected this. It’s fine. Listened to all of it.

The Spitfire Boys “British Refuge” For all that is holy use distortion on both guitars. Listened to all of it.

Fugazi “Repeater” Ahhhh the Fugazi album that everyone pisses themselves over. Whatever. I particularly don’t like this song. :15 then skip.

Black Flag “Black Coffee” I listen to “Everything went Black” for all my Black Flag needs. Listened to all of it.

Bikini Kill “Alien She” I don’t think I ever listened to Bikini Kill. Don’t think I missed much. Listened to all of it.

Pansy Division “Pee Shy” This is a really dumb song. 1:59 as I was doing something.

Texas is the Reason “The Magic Bullet Theory” Does anyone else in a band think, “people are going to find out I listen to my own band?” I do but don’t care if everyone knows. Listened to all of it.

The Cure “Fight” Robert Smith could go toe to toe with any thrash metal band’s white high tops. Listened to all of it.

Beck “Side of the Road” The only Beck album I like all of, I like Nick Drake too. Listened to all of it.

Hate Your Friends no.4