Steve Perry - (1984) Street Talk CS

Because of the strength of the number three single "Oh Sherrie," the rest of Steve Perry's first solo album was somewhat overlooked, even though it managed to put three other songs into the Top 40. Even with Journey's power ballad formula draping every runny lyric and mawkish keyboard stretch, Perry was able to make the album sound relatively steadfast and sincere all the while. "Oh Sherrie" deserves it's chart placing, accentuating Perry's vocal power, especially throughout the explosive chorus. Both "Foolish Heart" and "She's Mine" aren't as strong, but they do provide the same type of romantically florid appeal that made "Open Arms" and "Faithfully" hits for Journey, minus the sturdiness of his former band. "I Believe" is pulled along by a catchy melody and highlighted by Steve Douglas' sax playing, but songs like "Strung Out" and "Running Alone" begin to drown in sugary currents of insipid fluff. Steve Perry does a respectable job in producing the album though, and the overall package comes off rather clean and bright. Street Talk proves that Perry's song writing and vocal prowess is worthy of its acclaim, but the musicianship that accompanies him throughout the album is noticeably weaker than what he is used to.

Devon Williams - (2011) Your Sympathy 7''

'Your Sympathy' isn't really a knockout punch, but more a gentle hug from a friend. The unassuming quality of the track is actually what makes it so great. By the time the final seconds of the track fade out, you're ready to press play all over again. Shimmery pop music.

Electroscope - (1998) Out On The Edge Of Time 7''

Electroscope formed spontaneously in 1996 while testing an old Ferrograph reel-to-reel. John and Gayle like what they heard and, finding the word Electroscope in a randomly opened copy of Everyday Electronics from the '70s, the band was born.

Man Is The Bastard - (2014) Backwards Species 7''

In 1992, Charred Remains AKA Man Is The Bastard agreed to do a 7" release with German label Ecocentric Records and delivered "Backwards Species," a seven-song "skull powder-keg" of exploratory, progressive aggression that is still heralded today as one of M.I.T.B.'s most memorable sound offerings. Packed with complex, dual bass guitars, frying pan six-string axe work, incredibly diverse drumming, and loyal, heartfelt lyrics/vocals, the record was nearly gone immediately after its release. It has now been re-issued under "skull authority" by Deep Six Records in all its awareness-based glory.

Organic - (2000) ST 7''

The worst & most misleading music review ever:
As if they were straight out of Oakland or San Francisco (but actually from Las Vegas) this power trio belts out old East Bay tunes. Comparable to the likes of AMERICAN STEEL, JAWBREAKER, CRIMPSHRINE, or OPERATION IVY these down to earth folks play their hearts out on these 5 songs. Contains the sort of sincerity that only Aaron Cometbus can contain today. Sometimes it takes a band like this to remind you why you got into punk in the first place. 

Scrog - (1994) The Sacred Masses 7''

Scrog was a sludge band from Tampa,FL.
Like a bit Melvins mixed with Buzzoven.

Shepherds & Ignatz - (2008) Split 7''

Tinny practice recording by Shepherds, kind of sounding like a newer Meneguar track on a loose instrumental tear, building up anxiety and some mild psychedelic dust. Missed out on their album and would really like to hear it. This is a nice one but the compressed dynamics of the track make it less than essential. Ignatz goes out on a bent folk binge then starts playing with the levels. Bedroom (or perhaps hostel) loneliness made public, on the abstract, clinical side. Last in the series and I’m wondering if I have the same ears as I used to, because hardly anything stuck in this year’s subscription. Of course it might not be me.

Stress Ape - (2010) Time Hard 7''

Stress Ape was a band from Chicago, IL
Hardscrabble Amateurs was a limited-run cassette label focused on contemporary electronics and the margins of rock music.

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."

Homostupids - (2006) ''The Glow'' 7''

This is basically the demos I raved about finally issued on vinyl. To review, Homostupids are a trio from Cleveland, contain Nine Shocks front man Lean Steve on vox/ bass, the guy who played guitar for McShitzz at Horriblefest (and who has been in a bunch of other bands, and is actually from Buffalo, from what I'm told) on guitar, and, uh, a drummer. It's like cavemen plying really fast and mad hardcore-ish punk-noise shit. Aggro and a little bit sludgy. Future primitive.

Homostupids - (2008) Cat Music 7''

Full disclosure: Homostupids are my favorite rock band in the world as of the printing of this. Both live and on record. This 'Cat Music' EP could be their best vinyl since 'The Glow', and that's some real talk from a dude like me. "Beneath the Blackman" is perhaps their most majestic piece since "Mr. Payback", nearly beautiful in it's ear-clinging deliciousness. "Elves Children's Choir" will rampage through your living room like an army of small children off their adderrall and hopped up on Reese's Pieces. And don't get me started on the B-Side of "Fang Vs. Keyman"...a fucking anthem to nothing if there ever was one. Riveting, and it's backended by a small horn ensemble covering "Sixths". Sheer fucking genius. Someone give these guys the Nobel fucking prize already. Whereas Clockcleaner have apparently succumbed to the pressures of playing Skull Music, Homostupids seem to be getting stronger from it. This record is making me sick...sick of other bands.

Homostupids - (2010) Night Deacon 7''

Here we have six brand new tracks from the best band in America.  The songs featured here are better than all previous recordings, side B kicks off with a 'stupids' traditional re-recorded by a mandolin quartet.  This wonderful record is a must have for morons worldwide.

FNU Ronnies - (2008) Meat 7''

Fantastic debut single from this Philly band released via Richie Penetrator's Richie Records/ Testostertunes imprint. Reminds me of what a better recorded Homostupids offering could sound like on "Meat" (not that this is a high fidelity job in the slightest either), mating garage-punk and hardcore for one of the tastier songs I've heard since the New Year. Wicked solo and a real bouncy and tight rhythm with nasty vox. "Normal Citizen" is deconstructed cyborg-punk like shit, with dual vocals from one dude with a fresh tracheotomy and the other in retardo-warble style, heavy and electronic, and "Ugly" keeps the same vibe, remiscent of a less irritating latter-day Functional Blackouts-like moment. Drum sound mixes the real shit with some machine beats and there's plenty of static and echo to go around. "Robot" is drone-dirge tomfoolery with stream-of-consciousness rambling. Really like this one a lot, visceral thrills backed up with some offbeat tricks and an overall sense of mechanical menace while still sounding pretty loose. Want more. Great insert too.

Gibbous - (2015) Mortal Crust 7''

Genius boy Gib from many stl bands you love playing warped space punk all by himself. Brilliant. Hand stamped covers. Lumpy Records #35

The Warden - (2015) ST 7''

'Not too far off from what a 3rd Sweet Tooth 7" would have sounded like. The beefy kings of hardcore in St Louis.' - LUMPY RECORDS

Blank Dogs - (2007) Yellow Mice Sleep 7''

Blank Dogs, the project of New York's prolific Mike Sniper, indulged in a sloppy, lo-fi version of Joy Division.
Spankin new 45 by our mysterious friend, and it's even better than the 12. "Yellow Mice Sleep" betrays its creator's fond feelings towards My Bloody Valentine and Jesus and Mary Chain with its dreamy melody and thick, soupy guitar-bed. "Housefly" quivers and disturbs, while "Smashed Up People" is Mr. Blank Dog's best song yet, stuffing a catchy chorus into what sounds like a demo version of a Chairs Missing cut.

Silk Flowers - (2008) ST 7''

Forging a hallucinatory blend of synths and deep, slurred vocals that sound like Ian Curtis on cough syrup.

Silk Flowers - (2009) In This Place And Time 7''

New York City gives us a gift all wrapped up and delivered in 4-track filth called Silk Flowers. Featuring members of some of the great weirdo bands of the past like SOILED MATTRESS AND THE SPRINGS and EMERGENCY, this new musical enterprise sounds nothing like either. Somewhere between KRAFTWERK, “cough/cool” era MISFITS, and JOY DIVISION through a broken boom box while sweeping floors at the art museum, you will find this great and deliberately confusing 7” single. An Amalgam of samples, keyboards, drum machine, live drums, pedals and tape hiss finds our present is unveiled and it is as skuzzy and bright as it gets in New York

Puce Mary - (2013) Ultimate Hypocrisy CS

Puce Mary, whose sound has late 70s Industrial’s sexual preoccupation with a vein of dark purple malaise running straight to the tip. Degradation, submission, loss of self, and cathartic release all make an appearance from the cover of Ultimate Hypocrisy to the supplicating female voice that warbles “I was willing to do what he said.” Perverse curiosity forces you to lean in while high-pitched whines drag you backward; this music has you on a leash and it’s taking you where it wants. It does what it pleases. It’s not a kink thing, it’s not a Noise thing; it’s the dark pool seeping under the door in our heads we think we’ve locked up so tight.

Internazionale - (2015) Brothers Of The Baltic Pearl CS

Tuneful ambient. Melodious industrial. Janushoved. Posh Isolation. Copenhagen, Denmark.