Buzzmuscle - (1991) Assembler 7''

The record is composed of a 2-color picture disk image 7" vinyl/plastic disk packaged in an attractive, die-cut sleeve designed to invoke a package of Oscar Mayer brand bacon. The die-cut windows on the packages backside invite you to "shop for the good one" just like you would actual bacon. 
The Buzzmuscle "Assembler" single was chosen to be a part of the Mixing Messages exhibition, an overview of contemporary graphic design. This show was produced by the Cooper-Hewitt Museum, which is the Smithsonian Institution 's National Design Museum in New York City. The record became a part of their permanent collection, joining other National Treasures such as the Apollo 11 spacecraft, the original copy of the Constitution, and the moon rocks. Its "National Treasure" status means that in 400 years, anthropology students with access to the Smithsonian archives may be inspired by it to devote a bunch of time exploring the Art of The Corporate Era, constructing rambling theses on the "juxtapositions of late 20th Century art and commerce" and the "cult of consumerism." Perhaps most importantly, as creators of National Treasure, the designers are completely exempt from Federal Income Tax for the duration of their lives.

What kind of band was Buzzmuscle?
"We were an aggressive rock band who didn't sound like anybody in particular, but were compared to The Volcano Suns more than once. Other than the fact that I can't really sing, I don't see the comparison. We wrote our own music, and except for cover versions of "Eat Lead" by Breaking Circus, did not stray from that repertoire. We all came from a fairly punk rock background; Dave Schleitwiler's previous band was the Brookfield, IL hardcore band Bhopal Stiffs. Brian Gay was an original member of one of the original American hardcore bands, Government Issue, and was in later Chicago bands such as Savage Beliefs and The Watchmen. My previous band was the Chicago surf/hardcore Defoliants and Greg Dunlap, while not from a band previously, was directly responsible for the punk rock scene in DeKalb, IL during his tenure as a student at Northern Illinois University, putting on many shows. We pursued our music as an outlet for our creativity, and because playing tough, loud angry music is never a mistake."