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Originally released in 1980, this was Stiv Bators' first solo album. Now reissued with 2 bonus tracks, not available on the original version, a slightly different picture on the cover (the actual unfiltered photo as used on the 1980 issue) and a booklet with extensive liner notes and photos. Bators was the man who destroyed Rocket from the Tombs, from which he hijacked half the members to found one of the most influential American punk bands to have existed, The Dead Boys. Stiv had turned in his broken teeth for a more power pop oriented solo career. This is not an album recorded by a has-been former punk idealist; instead it’s a true step forward into another unknown arena packing all the glare and attitude that remained from the last. The music is more similar to 60's power pop than the vicious punk rock that Bators became known for originally, while a member of The Dead Boys. New generations continue to discover it. It still holds up very well and sounds as fresh and vibrant as ever. On August 11th of 1980, Stiv Bators, David Quinton Steinberg, George Cabaniss and Frank Secich flew to Vancouver, in British Columbia, Canada. They were there to do the West Coast leg of the "URGH! A Music War" tour. On the bill of the tour were Pere Ubu, Magazine, the Members, and they were billed as Stiv Bators and the Dead Boys or just the Dead Boys. After the tour they were supposed to embark on a 6-week tour of Australia, New Zealand, and the Far East. During the beginning of the Urgh Tour the Australian Tour was abruptly canceled. Greg Shaw who owned Bomp Records decided that since the band were already going to be in California that they should do Stiv's solo album which they had planned to do after returning from Down Under. So, Bators and the rest of the group set up camp at the infamous Tropicana Motel in West Hollywood and Greg booked them into Perspective Studios in Sun Valley, CA. Before going into Perspective, they went into Andy Chappel's Stone Fox rehearsal studio in North Hollywood, CA for a few days to rehearse the songs and arrange them for the album. “We had ‘Evil Boy’ (Zero-Secich), David Quinton's ‘Make Up Your Mind’ and my song ‘A Million Miles Away’. We also rearranged mine and Stiv's ‘The Last Year’ changing the key from D to F# and making it much easier to sing in a power pop vein. In addition, we had ‘Swinging A Go-Go’ another great contribution by George Cabaniss. Stiv and I had written two more for the album ‘Ready Anytime’ and the album closer ‘I Wanna Forget You (Just the Way You Are)’. We also had a moody dark instrumental (written by Cabaniss-Quinton-Secich) that we were playing around with for some time. Stiv was supposed to write lyrics for it, but he never got around to it, so we left it as an instrumental. It had a great vibe and reminded me of the John Cassavetes 1956 film "Crime in The Streets" and was thus christened that. The last song we picked for the LP was ‘I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)’ which was the one cover we did that suited Stiv's voice perfectly. After a few days of rehearsing at Stone Fox, we went into Perspective Studio in Sun Valley, California. Greg hired Thom Wilson (who would later become a famous punk rock producer of Offspring, Iggy Pop, Dead Kennedys, T.S.O.L., Bad Religion and many others). Stiv co-produced with Thom and Andy Chappel and Thom did the engineering.” Frank Secich recalls. In September, after the "Disconnected" mixing sessions, Stiv went to Baltimore to film "Polyester" with Movie Director John Waters and actors Tab Hunter and Divine. Stiv then went to the UK to record with the Wanderers doing their LP "Only Lovers Left Alive”. He wanted to have both bands going simultaneously but logistically and practically they all knew that could never work. The "Disconnected" Band would do one last tour to support the album release of "Disconnected". The LP was released by Bomp Records on Monday December 08th, 1980. Later that night, John Lennon was murdered in New York City. So many of the principal characters involved in the creation of “Disconnected” have passed on. Stiv Bators (June 3rd, 1990), Greg Shaw (October 2nd, 2004), Thom Wilson (February 8th, 2015), and George Cabaniss (July 17th, 2020). But “Disconnected” lives on and on and has left quite a legacy for itself. There have been over 100 cover versions internationally of the songs from “Disconnected” and it has been in print and reissued in various forms in many countries around the world. New generations continue to discover it. It still holds up very well and sounds as fresh and vibrant as ever. Label: Munster REcords, Bomp! Records Barcode: 8435008845612 -
2CD edition in hard-back 32p book with bonus disc of four demo sessions and more. The faulty 1977 LP was known as 'muddy' – the master was lost when Track went bust. Previous issues were out-takes, remixes or ‘mud’ – but it’s now heard clearly at last! First issued as a much sought-after vinyl LP for RSD in July 2021, now this CD version comes together with a bonus CD - 'the L.A.M.F. demos, plus'; a 19-track collection of four demo sessions from 1976-77 and three tracks from singles. It’s packaged in a hard-cover 32-page book, with notes by Simon Wright and a 2012 interview with Walter Lure (the last of the LAMF Heartbreakers who sadly passed away in 2020), together with rarely-seen photos. Upon release in 1977, Johnny Thunders & the Heartbreakers’ L.A.M.F. had a mastering fault, widely condemned as a ‘muddy mix’. Track Records went bust and the master was lost – so subsequent releases were compiled from out-takes or re-mixes. Forty-four years later, the master has been found in the attic of producer Daniel Secunda, a crystal-clear 1977 ‘Copy Master'. Now L.A.M.F. can at last be heard as the band and producers intended! Tracklist The Found '77 Masters 1-1 Born To Lose 1-2 Baby Talk 1-3 All By Myself 1-4 I Wanna Be Loved 1-5 It's Not Enough 1-6 Chinese Rocks 1-7 Get Off The Phone 1-8 Pirate Love 1-9 One Track Mind 1-10 I Love You 1-11 Goin' Steady 1-12 Let Go 1-13 Can't Keep My Eyes On You 1-14 Do You Love Me The Demo Sessions, Plus 2-1 Born To Lose (Chris Stamp Single Mix) 2-2 Chinese Rocks (Chris Stamp Single Mix) 2-3 Born Too Loose (Essex Studio Demo Feb '77) 2-4 Chinese Rocks (Essex Studio Demo Feb '77) 2-5 Let Go (Essex Studio Demo Feb '77) 2-6 Can't Keep My Eyes On You (Jay Nap Studio Demo '76) 2-7 I Love You (Jay Nap Studio Demo '76) 2-8 It's Not Enough (Jay Nap Studio Demo '76) 2-9 Do You Love Me (Jay Nap Studio Demo '76) 2-10 Take A Chance (Jay Nap Studio Demo '76) 2-11 Born To Lose (Jay Nap Studio Demo '76) 2-12 I Wanna Be Loved (SBS Studio Demo Jan '76) 2-13 Going Steady (SBS Studio Demo Jan '76) 2-14 Flight (SBS Studio Demo Jan '76) 2-15 Pirate Love (SBS Studio Demo Jan '76) 2-16 Give Her A Great Big Kiss (Riverside Studio Demo Dec '77) 2-17 Too Much Junkie Business (Riverside Studio Demo Dec '77) 2-18 London Boys (Riverside Studio Demo Dec '77) 2-19 Can't Keep My Eyes On You (Live) (Single B-side 1977) Label: Jungle Records Barcode: 5013145213421 -
US Import. Death were a black power trio from Detroit who released a single in 1975 and pretty much disappeared after that. Inspired by the raw Rock 'N' Roll of the Stooges and MC5, the three brothers moved away from their Funk/R&B roots into a new realm.... for the Whole World to See features the two songs from the single ('Keep on Knocking' and 'Politicians in My Eyes') and five other tracks. MOS DEF SAYS: "These dudes were pre-Sex Pistols, pre-Bad Brains, pre-all that shit, and nobody knows about them. I don't understand how the world could forget them. You really should read up on the history of this Rock n' Roll artifact. A google search will help; something like "death band punk 1974"... The album reminds me of these bands: MC5, The Jam, Zero Boys, Early Police, RadioBirdMan - to name a few. If any of those bands are at your top 10, then this is a must have piece in your collection. NOTE: They are also selling it on vinyl on here!!! The story to this piece of work is very interesting not to mention inspiring to say the least. The songs? All are hits in my mind. I just wish there were more!" Label: Drag City Records Barcode: 781484038719
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The Zeros is a pioneer punk rock band formed in 1976 in Chula Vista, California. Comparisons with The Ramones are often made when describing the energetic and fierce guitar driven sound of the group. The first singles recorded by the band instantly catapulted The Zeros into a top draw on the local scene and have become legendary. Unfortunately, the band never cut an album during these days. This release compiles all their early singles, some rare tracks (including the previously unreleased ‘Left to Right’) and songs taken from a 1978 live show. We are thrilled to reissue this essential ‘80s power pop gem as part of a series of releases celebrating Bomp! 50th anniversary. The Zeros is a pioneer punk rock band formed in 1976 in Chula Vista, California. Comparisons with The Ramones are often made when describing the energetic and fierce guitar driven sound of the group. Their debut single was released in 1977 on Greg Shaw’s very own Bomp! Records. It included ‘Don’t Push Me Around’ and ‘Wimp’, two of the greatest punk rock songs of all time, both written by Javier Escovedo. It was followed by another single in 1978, “Wild Weekend” and a third one in 1980, “They Say That (Everything's Alright)”. The first singles recorded by the band instantly catapulted The Zeros into a top draw on the local scene and have become legendary. Unfortunately, the band never cut an album during these days. This release compiles all their early singles, some rare tracks (including the previously unreleased ‘Left to Right’) and songs taken from a 1978 live show. Label: Munster Barcode: 8435008846213
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In the Fishtank 1 is an EP by Vancouver punk rock band Nomeansno. Recording during the band's 1996 European tour, it was the first release in the In the Fishtank series, in which the Netherlands-based De Konkurrent label provided bands with two days of studio recording time and released the final results. In the Fishtank 1 has been issued with five different covers and contains new versions of previously released songs recorded live in the studio with the band's short-lived four-piece incarnation, including second drummer Ken Kempster. Label: Konkurrent – FISH01 Barcode: 0718752037518
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It’s new for a hardcore band to be big, unprecedented for one from Australia. Big in two ways—for hardcore kids from Sydney, playing good shows worldwide, proudly representing their scene. And second, for any band from the scene playing hard music, crossing over hard into the larger world. It’s quick work to find SPEED doing both: headlining shows in England, New York, Japan, globally, turning in blazing sets at Sound & Fury and This Is Hardcore, among other massive heavy music festivals. Seven-figure viewed videos—their set at S/F, short films for their songs—and tunes headlining video game soundtracks. Famous folks wearing their jerseys, people new to the scene showing up to more gigs. SPEED know that because of these global crossover moments, they might be some people’s first hardcore band; the idea is that they’ll get introduced not only to SPEED, but also to the scene and the people behind it. Find SPEED, and you’ll find Sydney hardcore; find a band making hard music, find more energy back home. Their new debut full-length, "Only One Mode," exemplifies their growth and distillation. For fans of Madball, Biohazard, and Trapped Under Ice. Label: Flatspot Records Barcode: 0198391570315
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Original press from 1988 on German label Subway Records, not a bootleg! Probably the most important "unknown" band in the history of punk rock, this unfailingly offensive, undeniably brilliant gaggle of rock critics and hooligans went out of its way to offend 99% of society while inspiring the remaining 1% to paroxysms of joy. This early-'80s collection ranks with the band's finest, highlighted by sonic joyrides like "They Saved Hitler's Cock" and "My Old Man's a Fatso." The Samoan influence extends through to 1997, with their songs popping up regularly in sets by bands such as the Foo Fighters (who often open with "Gas Chamber," included here) and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones (known to pop off a cover of Back From Samoa's "Lights Out"). File under: how to win friends and alienate people.--David Sprague Originally released in 1982. Label: Subway Records Barcode: 0021075103410
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A deluxe ultra collectible reissue of hardcore punk icons Reagan Youth’s landmark 1984 debut release! Features the highly sought after original R-Radical mixes packaged in a unique 6 panel foldout poster jacket! Label: New Red Archives Barcode: 0889466352812
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Off!, the punk braintrust formed in 2010 by Keith Morris (ex-Black Flag, Circle Jerks) and Dimitri Coats (ex-Burning Brides), release their first new album in eight years, Free LSD on Fat Possum Records. The band’s powerful new rhythm section: bassist Autry Fulbright II (...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead) and drummer Justin Brown (Thundercat, Herbie Hancock) accompany the release. The injection of new energy into the band’s signature high-anxiety hardcore is palpable and volatile, adding a new swing to the music’s incendiary thrust. Cover art by Raymond Pettibon. Housed in Glow in the Dark Gatefold Edition with Blotter Lyric Sheet. Indie Exclusive Deep Purple color Vinyl. Label: Fat Possum Records Barcode: 0767981180915
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Out of print for almost three decades and is massively in demand amongst the band's rabid fan base, this is the first officially sanctioned repress of the album since its initial pressing back in 1983. Restored by Dan Johnson at Audio Archiving Services. What is there to say about SSD's long out-of-print 1983 release, Get It Away, that hasn't already been written? Long heralded as the album which defined the band, this collection of songs captures a time and an era in the nascent hardcore scene before formulas and posturing. In other words, it's an unfiltered artistic statement that's singular in scope and vision. The Boston act's follow-up release was extremely limited, never repressed, and has gone on to have a life of its own despite the fact the only affordable way to listen to it has been low-quality streams on YouTube. Now, after being out of print for 40 years, the album will be available on vinyl by Trust Records with updated remastered audio. Available for the first time on vinyl since 1983 "Get it Away" has been remastered by Dave Gardner at 45 rpm to ensure the highest sonic quality . World renowned artist Bryan Ray Turcotte recreated the packaging to match the original XCLAIM version. Label: Trust Records Barcode: 0794558800815
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Originally released by Startracks in 1994 (Startrec at the time), this is the debut album by Refused. The record established them as one of the leading hardcore bands and quickly gained attention both in Sweden as well as abroad. Left-wing political lyrics combined with NYC hardcore influenced music. After being licensed to various labels as Epitaph, We Bite and Victory Records the catalogue is now back again with it’s original label Startracks. Label: Startracks Records Barcode: 7340169402493
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HARLEY FLANAGAN's solo recordings from 1982-1983. The CRO-MAGS are without a doubt, one of the most influential New York Hardcore bands of all time, and these are the 1st demos ever recorded by the sole founding member of the band. The tracks were recorded at the Song Shop in 1982 and finished in 1983. By 1984 the CRO-MAGS played their 1st show. These are the demos that started it all! Label: MVD Audio Barcode: 0760137088516
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From Mississippi and Olvido Records: Steel-string guitar and vocals by the great Giorgos Katsaros, a mythic figure of Greek rembetiko. Our obsession with underground Greek music continues with 10 ultrarare recordings of heartbreak and vice from rembetiko legend Giorgos Katsaros. Katsaros, who by some accounts lived to be over 100 years old, carried the old songs of Greece to the Diaspora in the United States, bridging centuries of music in one storied lifetime. Born in 1901 on the Greek island of Amorgos, Katsaros’ was enchanted with the songs he picked up as a kid in the streets of Piraeus and Athens. Encouraged by his grandfather, an amateur singer, Katsaros developed a style that mirrored his upbringing - centuries-old Asia Minor songs, island rhythms of his homeland, well-known Athenian songs of the time, and anonymous ‘rebetiko’ songs. Katsaros’ songbook was vast, but he was most drawn to the street life and music of the manges of early 20th-century Greece: outcasts who dealt with the indignities of an unstable economy and an inauspicious future with the old standbys: wine, hash, and dancing. These ten tracks are remastered from Katsaros’s 64 surviving early recordings, many rarely heard since their original release. Hypnotic melodies plucked over repeating thumbed basslines back his deep, mournful voice. Katsaros brought this nostalgic late-night music to smoke-filled rooms of Greek exiles in Chicago, Philly, and New York, where he emigrated in 1917. He continued to travel the country and play until his music was supplanted by more modern styles in the 1950s. He retired to the town of Tarpon Springs, FL, famous for its Greek sponge fishers, til a late-in-life revival brought him back to Greece for a few massive concerts and national accolades in the 1990s. Like many great artists, Katsaros carefully curated his own mythic backstory over the decades. He sometimes claimed he was born in 1888, making him 109 on his passing, and conflicting accounts of his birth and travels circulate to this day. Greek researchers Stavros Kourousis and Konstantinos Kopanitsanos, who also compiled these tracks, contribute groundbreaking new historical research on Katsaros’ life. Lyrics, poetically translated by Tony Klein, further fill in the picture. Clean and rare 78s were remastered by Stereophonic. Katsaros has never sounded better than on this LP, pressed at Smashed Plastic in heavy black or red vinyl, with extensive notes and lyrics. Label: Mississipi Records Barcode: 0850024931695
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Ace Of Spades - the title track of Motörhead's 1980 iconic, game changing album isn’t just one of the greatest hard rock songs ever written - it has truly become a lifestyle anthem for several generations of rockers, metalheads, punks, bikers, athletes, rebels, outcasts, and freethinkers all around the world. Few songs in modern history can instantly ignite the adrenaline of music fans the way the song’s opening dirty bass riff, and drum roll can. From zero to 100 mph in a matter of seconds. That speaker-destroying opening riff is unstoppable. And the song altered the course of hard rock…forever. Upon its release in 1980, the Ace Of Spades album was nothing short of a gamechanger for all forms of hard rock. Like lightning in a bottle, it perfectly captured everything great about hard rock, heavy metal, and punk, amped it all up to 11, and came racing out of the gates at what felt like a million miles an hour. Pushing at every musical boundary, nothing was harder, nothing was faster, and certainly nothing was louder. Issued in a single sleeve with printed inner sleeve with lyrics. Release also includes a download code. Label: Bronze/Sanctuary Records/BMG Barcode: 5414939917653
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Vinyl reissue of this stonewall classic. Repulsion is the band that introduced the world to insane blasting drums, bone jarring distorted bass, and the most vile lyrics imaginable. Originally released in Europe in 1989 by members of Carcass on their Necrosis Records label, Horrified is a genre pioneering masterpiece that has influenced so many death acts, most notably Napalm Death, Carcass, Entombed and Cannibal Corpse. This reissue includes the classic LP, the Excruciation 7", and the elusive demos, plus a bonus disc replete with tons of extras! Disc 1 "Horrified": - recorded in June 1986. Disc 2 - "Rarities": - Rehearsal Demo 11/84, aka Armies of the Dead Demo, recorded in Phil's Basement on a portable cassette. - Violent Death Demo Autumn '85 recorded in Matt's bedroom on a portable cassette. - WFBE Demo 1/26/86, aka The Stench Of Burning Death Demo, recorded at WFBE Studios, Flint, MI. - Genocide's live recording from 5/14/86 is a soundboard recording. - Repulsion's 1991 Final Demos were recorded in Matt's bedroom on a portable 4 track. Label: Relapse Records Barcode: 0781676656325
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Vinyl reissue of this stonewall classic. Repulsion is the band that introduced the world to insane blasting drums, bone jarring distorted bass, and the most vile lyrics imaginable. Originally released in Europe in 1989 by members of Carcass on their Necrosis Records label, Horrified is a genre pioneering masterpiece that has influenced so many death acts, most notably Napalm Death, Carcass, Entombed and Cannibal Corpse. Hype sticker states "Limited to 2500 Copies". Relapse website states "2659 x Oxblood Standard Gram". Label: Relapse Records – RR6563, Wyatt Earp Records – RR6563 Barcode: 0781676490912
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Thou has always been a force of raw energy and unapologetic dissent, defying easy categorization and challenging listeners to confront the complexities of existence. Though often lumped in with New Orleans sludge bands like Eyehategod and Crowbar, Thou transcends genre boundaries, drawing inspiration from a diverse array of influences spanning from ‘90s proto-grunge icons like Nirvana, Alice in Chains, and Soundgarden (all of whom they’ve covered extensively) to the raw intensity of obscure ‘90s DIY hardcore punk found on labels like Ebullition, Vermiform, and Crimethinc. Their latest record Umbilical, Thou’s first full-length release of original music since their 2018 Sacred Bones debut Magus, is their firmest nod to the latter - a record filled with mosh-ready riffs, heavy breakdowns and scathing vocals. The band’s aesthetic and political impulses have always been punk and like anyone embroiled in the subculture Thou have been exploring what it means to exist within and without a rigid morality. That exploration takes thematic center on Umbilical and their self-assessment is as harsh as that of the world around them. They’ve called us anarchists, criminals, foreign meddlers, lunatics, dispossessed, relativists, utilitarians, egoists, passion maximizers, ascetics, negators of everything. Clearly, the “Thou” experiment is never going to appeal to audiences who demand that art rigorously enforce a coherent and righteous worldview. And yet, are we not ourselves constrained by our own rigid morality? In those quiet moments of deep contemplation, when the bargains and concessions are thoroughly examined, when we yield before the Judging Eye—what is the summation of our choices? If the unspoiled self beyond the immensity of time were given voice, what pronouncements would be made? What would such an internal audit yield? What undeniable character would be revealed? This record is for the radicals, the crackpots, the exiles who have escaped the wasteland of capitulation. This record is for the militants and zealots refusing to surrender to comforts, to practicalities, to thirty pieces of silver. And this record is most especially for the weaklings and malingerers, burdened by capricious indulgence, hunched by the deep wounds of compromise, shuffling in limp approximation, desperately reaching back towards integrity and conviction. —Thou Label: Sacred Bones Barcode: 843563174104
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Reissue of this 1994 album from the Crust/Doom Metal band. HUMAN GARBAGE was the first full length (1994) released on the bands' own Life is Abuse and Misanthropic Records. From '91 to '93 Dystopia existed as a four piece. Included with this release are the tracks from splits with GRIEF and EMBITTERED, both from 1993 and another only previously released on the first CD format of this collection. Out of print for years these songs find a new home at Tankcrimes. The pure anger and misery that is constantly present on this record make it undoubtedly one of the most disturbing, depressing and misanthropic records ever. An essential part of any sludge punk, crust metal or doom fan's collection. Label: Tankcrimes Records Barcode: 0879198108528
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At long last, the final Dystopia full length will see the light of day! This record contains 6 new tracks, plus a cover of an unreleased song by Dino's old band CARCINOGEN. Recorded at Tim Green's LOUDER STUDIOS during various sessions between 2004-2005, this record is the last chapter of Dystopia's existence writing bleak and heavy doom ridden punk. Crazy shit as we know them for! Comes with a 20 pages fullcolour booklet with lots of collages. Label: Tankcrimes Records Barcode: 0879198111726
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Dystopia was a sludge punk band from California defined by misanthropic lyrics and the use of samples. 'The Aftermath' was originally released in 1999 as a four-track LP on Life Is Abuse Records. 12 tracks + booklet. Contains all Dystopia tracks off of The Aftermath 12" (1-4) Backstabber 7" EP (5-7), Dystopia / Skaven split LP (8-11), Dystopia / Suffering Luna split 7" (12) Track Listing : Side A 1. Population Birth Control 2. Father’s Gun Side B 3. Self Defeating Prophecy 4. Sleep Side C 5. Socialized Death Sentence 6. Backstabber 7. They Live Side D 8. Anger Brought by Disease 9. Jarhead Fertilizer 10. Taste Your Own Medicine 11. Instrumental 12. Diary of a Battered Child Label: Tankcrimes Records Barcode: 0879198111627
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MTJ Records present a reissue of Siekiera's Nowa Aleksandria, originally released in 1986. A classic record from the legendary '80s Polish post punk band. Originally released in 1986, Nowa Aleksandria caught brilliantly the cold, sultry atmosphere of the dark times of last years of communism in Poland. Influenced by British post punk heroes like Joy Division and Killing Joke, the album represents one of the most important records in the history of Polish rock. Graphic layout by Alessandro Adriani; Re-arranged from the original design cover by Alek Januszewski. Mastered by Damian Lipiński from the original analog master tapes. Edition of 500. Label: MTJ Barcode: 5906409999158
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Reissue of Siekiera's Nowa Aleksandria, originally released in 1986. A classic record from the legendary '80s Polish post punk band. Originally released in 1986, Nowa Aleksandria caught brilliantly the cold, sultry atmosphere of the dark times of last years of communism in Poland. Influenced by British post punk heroes like Joy Division and Killing Joke, the album represents one of the most important records in the history of Polish rock. CD 1 includes: - Nowa Aleksandria" (LP/1986) CD 2 includes: - "Jest Bezpiecznie / Misiowie Puszyści" (7", 1986) - Ja Stoję Ja Tańczę Ja Walczę from V/A "Jak Punk To Punk" (1987) - Serce (Unreleased song from "Nowa Aleksandria" session) - 2 songs from Jarocin Festival '85 - 4 songs from Róbrege Festival '85 - 5 songs from '85 Demo Comes with twenty-eight-page booklet that contains lyrics. Label: MTJ Barcode: 5906409902417
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The Sound's second album, From The Lions Mouth (1981), solidified their stature as post-punk legends, despite their lack of mainstream recognition. Produced by Hugh Jones, the album exhibits a fuller sound compared to its predecessor, Jeopardy, while maintaining the band's atmospheric edge. Tracks like 'Winning' confront life's challenges with resilience, setting the tone for the album's introspective yet determined themes. The record effortlessly navigates between dynamic tracks like 'Fatal Flaw' and the atmospheric 'Silent Air,s shows the band's versatility and emotional depth. Adrian Borland's songwriting evokes a sense of loneliness tempered with a glimmer of hope, resonating with listeners even decades later. From The Lions Mouth stands as a timeless masterpiece of the new wave era, offering a poignant exploration of personal struggles and resilience. Despite their lack of commercial success, The Sound's influence on the underground music scene remains undeniable, cementing their place among post-punk icons. The album's reissue, with its spectacular sound quality and subtle inclusion of hidden gems like 'Hothouse,' pays homage to Borland's vision and the band's enduring legacy. Label: Warner Music UK Barcode: 5021732340634
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Formed in 1979 and fronted by the mercurial and troubled Adrian Borland (he would commit suicide in 1999 after years of battling depression), The Sound are one of the most unjustly neglected bands of the ’80s. They may not be as well-known as their contemporaries Echo & the Bunnymen or Joy Division, but their contributions to the first wave of English post-punk are as equally unique and influential. Fed up with its simplistic structure and rote posturing, Borland cut ties to the punk movement after fronting ’77-era group The Outsiders. Not unlike Magazine’s Howard Devoto, whose similar inclinations led to his leaving The Buzzcocks, Borland wanted to create a sound that relied more on atmospheres, tensions and instrumental interplay while harnessing the urgency of punk’s spirit. With the release of Jeopardy, The Sound turns this inspiration into a nearly perfect debut. Featuring rough-edged production fitting its £800 recording budget, Jeopardy is a caustic rush, full of songs with hooks and emotional impact that never resort to histrionics. The album’s opener starts off minimally, until the nervy guitars of the chorus rip through the song. This auspicious beginning only hints at what’s to come. Every song that follows builds on the momentum of a complex pop masterpiece. Borland’s lyrics also prove him to be one of the few post-punk songwriters whose words are worth poring over and analyzing. The album received extremely positive reviews, with NME, Sounds and Melody Maker all bestowing their highest ratings, and influential British DJ John Peel welcomed the band into the studio to record a session. All of the critical praise heaped on the band makes it hard to explain why The Sound never rose to the prominence of the two bands to whom they received the most comparisons, but one only need to listen to Jeopardy to hear Borland’s perfect combination of Joy Division’s dark, tortured angst and Echo & the Bunnymen’s accessible glam/art-rock fusion. Label: Warner Music UK Barcode: 5021732340719
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The Sound were a band ahead of their time, and All Fall Down (1982) stands as their definitive contribution to their legacy. Despite facing commercial pressures from their label, Adrian Borland and the band stayed true to their artistic vision, delivering a masterpiece of post-punk melancholy and timeless songwriting. The album's ten tracks, marked by a sense of longing and introspection, showcase Borland's poetic lyricism and emotive vocals, from the haunting beauty of 'Monument' to the raw energy of 'Red Paint,' each song leaving a lasting impression. Despite its initial lack of commercial success, All Fall Down remains a hidden gem for those who appreciate music that speaks to the soul. Label: Warner Music UK Barcode: 5021732340696
