7" Vinyl Reviews T-Z

THINGY Sausages and Plants and Goldfish

One of the greatest UK punk releases of 2001, no messin'. I mean, everybody seemed to dig this - an amalgam of Wycombe's finest; THE CHINEAPPLE PUNX and CIDERFEX with 6 stormers which seemed to outshine even all the previous incarnations offered. With tracks such as Bod & The Chainsaw, Caring, Sharing & Swearing and Me & My Straight-Edge Siamese Twin- how could any of you resist? Delivers the goods in a hardcore meld of bouncy happiness and punk rock fury which'll leave you more happy & exhausted than any other pastime you'd care to mention.

THIS SIDE UP/WHITE FROGS Still Without an Answer Split 7" EP

More fast melodic hardcore from Italy's Good Will records, this time a joyous bit of unity from Good Will's main man Adam's band THIS SIDE UP and Brazil's underground answer to BAD RELIGION, WHITE FROGS (in fact, they finish things off with a corking cover of U R The Government!). Just goes to show that DIY don't all mean Discharge clones and dodgy 4-track recordings (not that there's anything wrong with that either, but it's just a point for those more discerning/fussy). THIS SIDE UP sorta make me think of 7 SECONDS YOUTH BRIGADE, but I'm not sure why. "Hardcore is my Life" could be the theme tune for a lot of you loverlee punkers out there who inspire so much. All in all, a fab EP!

THREE CHORDS...FREEDOM! (DREI AKKORDE...FREHELT!) compilation EP

Bizarre yet chunky booklet from Deutchland und Czech mit 7 bands wot are all chums. Includes some ace tracks by BURNED OUT, WHITE RABBIT, KORT PROSESS, MRTVA BUDOUCNOST, WUT-ENTBRANNT, ASMODINAS LEICHENHAUS and KÜCHENMESSER NR. 8 (straight up). Definitely a valued nugget for them wot likes their punk rock very fast, thrashy and shouty. Dripping with DIY-ness, with a particular snotty, crust-core charm.

TROTTEL It's Up To You

TROTTEL are weird. They're never the same twice, which I suppose makes 'em kinda interesting, 'cos predictable they ain't. I always thought of them as Hungary's version of CRASS, politico punk with shades of skank and experimentation. This is more like some kinda hep'n'jazzy jamming sesh with Frank Zappa than anything else. I thought at first I didn't like it, but it does seep into your psyche somewhat. Perhaps a trifle too much pretension, but don't you get that with all geniuses? Comes with a foldout poster sleeve with lots of words all over it.

USEFUL IDIOT Waste

I really can't comprehend why these North Devon punk types haven't been latched on to by all and sundry. They're just the sort of band that's only just been 'discovered' by the musick press, late-night Channel 4 hip programmes, etc. etc. Funky-punky with strong reggae overtones and a U.S. hardcore (SAMIAM, JAWBOX, FUGAZI) undercurrent. Of course, this lot have been doin' it for years now, but ain't it always the geniuses who get ignored? 4 powerful, emotion-driven, excellent tracks.

THE VECTORS Some Raging Rock'n'Roll from The Vectors EP

This is one of those records where you'll need a spider-thingamajig for the large centre hole, but it's well worthwhile to hear the truly raging tracks: Floorboards, C'Mon Baby, San Francisco, and Strumatic.

WACT/COUCH POTATOES Punk Rock Sucks/Frisbee split EP

I've a feeling WACT have summat to do with that groovy combo THE PSEUDO HIPPIES, from a few years back. I rated them, and I rate these hipsters even more! This is summertime, everyone have a party, swing your pants, shout oi-oi-oi & hup-hup-hup a lot, 'cos we're just psycho-high school dropouts (from Clapham, probably). Real DESCENDENTesque fun punk y'ere with an almost Everly Brothers tongue-in-cheek cabaret tinge to 'em. The COUCH POTATOES are more your harmonic bass-lines, slow down/speed up stuff, but still with a strong US influence, though perhaps more D.C. than East Bay - still, I reckon it's their bestest noise so far!

WHATEVER Snack Time EP

If your fancy is tickled by such punk genius as THE DESCENDENTS, SCREW 32, ALL, NOFX, SNUFF, SCREECHING WEASEL, THE BOLLWEEVILS, THE VANDALS, D.I. and other such baggy-shorted, skate punk, summertime sounding stuff, then you are gonna go ape over WHATEVER!! This fast-speed, hard-hitting, stage-diving, mosh-making, melodic '90s punk rock is rad, cool and not a little spiffing. It grows on you with every spin of Mr Twirly - 3 originals + a cover of BERLIN'S The Metro !! In short, WHATEVER move me in a kind of butterflies, shaky, infectious energetic way. I also love the cover and the somewhat cruel photo on the label, but you gotta laugh…

WHITE TRASH DEBUTANTES Crawl for It

One of the most infamous U.S. punk bands ever and one that I've wanted to hear for a long time, if only for the sheer intriguing novelty value of 80-year-old singer, Punk Rock Patty Pierce! This mother of Vi Subversa & Charlie Harper is backed by a cavalcade of kitschy lovelies straight outta the Rocky Horror Show, including fellow vocalists Ginger Coyote, Chelsea Rose, Emma Nation, Lula Perla & more! Also featuring none other than Jimmy Crucifix & Joey Ramone in their ranks, WTD conjure up 4 songs of wonderfully exhilarating trashy glam-punk in the vein of THE TUBES, WAYNE COUNTY & THE ELECTRIC CHAIRS, DESTROY ALL MONSTERS and THE POLES. Needs to be heard to be believed: sleazy, cheesy, camp & queasy! Totally we-don't-care punk blended with glitzy rock musical extravagance.

ZEMÊZLUC Máme Co Jsme Chtêli £2.40 $6 €4.90

Top-notch, power-packed, tuneful, sing-a-long punk protest from the Czech Republic. Kinda reminds me of the oft-ignored recent wave of melodic stuff such as MACHINE GUN ETIQUETTE, EX-CATHEDRA, JUGGLING JUGULARS (all bastard grandchildren of THE CLASH, UPSTARTS & UK SUBS), but most of all, these are East Europe's own NEWTOWN NEUROTICS. 5 great songs o' good ol' protest and social comment, sung in Czech, but with complete translations, in a foldout sleeve. Well worth trying out, you maverick punkers, you.