Le Face - Isolation (2008)

fresh and looooooow-fi punk rock

It's no secret that I'm a closet punker. I keep hip on all the latest underground punk bands with my subscriptions to punk oriented magazines or "zines" as we call them. I'm always going down to the record store and buying split-45s featuring 4 or 5 killer local bands, real DIY like. That's why I was hesitant to listen to Le Face's Isolation. I mean, we all know what happens to bands after they sign on to Dead Beat Records. Alright, this pointless and unfunny charade is taking up too much of my time. I know nothing about this band or Dead Beat Records. I do know that a friend told me about this album when I was in a musical rut and couldn't get exited about anything. I don't listen to much punk, especially modern indie stuff like this. But this album made me want to. It's the kind of lo-fi punk that really gets me going. It's too frantic to be pop-punk and too catchy to be hardcore. Honestly some of the songs sound alot alike, but they rarely stray above 2:30 so what have you got to complain about. Okay, the Salvador Dali song is kind of stupid. But whatever, it's 25 minutes long and well worth your time.

Listen if you like: Black Lips, Lovvers, Joy Division

My favorites: Bright White Faces, Manic Depression (not that Manic Depression,) Isolation, Boys and Girls (the intro reminds me of 69 Tears, am I crazy?)

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Their one live video doesn't do the band justice. Just listen to the album.

Charlie & the Moonhearts - Thunderbeast (2008)

great lo-fi garage punk n' roll

Apparently, this was a super limited cassette release from this California band which is probably why we've never heard of them. Luckily, a buddy of mine found them on this English guy's blog then sent it my way. It's a super rad blend of 50's rock n' roll, 60's garage rock and 70's punk. They're one of those bands that blows your mind when you hear they're only a 3 piece. If you only download a couple albums tonight, make this one of them. Their cover of Del Shannon's Runaway is worth downloading the album for. My one complaint on the album is "The Prom Song." For some reason it reminds me of Weezer. It's clearly them trying to do their take on a sweet 50's love song but for some reason it just comes across as Weezer-esque. (Weezey?)

Listen if you like: Black Lips, The Hives, The Dirtbombs? Hell, I don't even know. They're not that original sounding, it's just hard to place.

My favorites: Charlie Moon (Style Tycoon), Runaway, Walla Walla (Washington)

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Couldn't find any videos from this album but this one suits it's purpose. (I don't think that keyboardist is really in the band.)

The Mummies - Never Been Caught (1992)

loud, fast and out of control garage punk

It is not the most original idea to combine Garage Rock and Punk Rock. Some of the first uses of the term "Punk Rock" came from describing what we know today as Garage for the Nuggets compilation. The Garage songs that people have really hung onto over the years are the fast, loud and angry ones. The Mummies are not the most original band. A great deal of their material is comprised of cover songs. I used to dislike them because I thought their toilet paper suits were gimmicky. Despite the strikes against them, I gave them a listen courtesy of doctorfuckwit. Jesus Christ was I wrong. This album will make you drop to the floor in a puddle of ear blood and your melted face. I don't even think their costumes are gimmicky anymore because any good garage band knows their live shows have to make up for their sloppy music. These guys don't need the costumes but I like to picture punk-mummies jumping around. It's a bunch of trashy, lo-fi noise that keeps true to the music I love.

Listen if you like: The Sonics, The Gories, The Oblivians, any incarnations of Billy Childish

My favorites: Stronger Than Dirt, Sooprize Package for Mr. Mineo, Skinny Minnie, Jezebel

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