Fudge Tunnel - Hate Songs in E Minor

Fudge Tunnel were from Nottingham, England and lasted from 1989-1995. They put out three albums and a handful of singles/EPs. Hate Songs in E Minor (also called Fudge Tunnel's First Movement) was their first full-length. It came out in 1991 on Earache Records.

The band had a sound that didn't fit comfortably into any one genre. Although, at times, they were saddled with both the metal and grunge tags. I've also heard the term noise-rock used to describe them and supposedly the band named Big Black as an inspiration for their sound.

This record is great. I used to have it on cassette but lost it years ago, so it's cool to rediscover it. Heavy as shit, but not overly repetitive and monotonous, there's enough variety in the songs that you can listen to it often and find something new to like each time.

Check out an mp3 of the song "Tweezers" and a video clip of the band's cover of Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love" below:

Tweezers

Earache only has Fudge Tunnel's last two records for sale on their site, but you can find used copies of Hate Songs on Amazon or download it on emusic.

I'm Blipping Now...

I'm on this blip.fm thing. It's a good idea, but there are a lot of bands that can't be found and a lot of times when you can find a band but not the song you want. Still, I'm liking it. Songs I've picked are here.

More BBB updates soon. No... really, I promise.

The Arrivals - Marvels of Industry

Marvels of Industry is the third full-length by Chicago's The Arrivals. I'd describe it as melodic yet gritty pop punk, but singer/guitarist Isaac Thotz doesn't like the pop punk tag. In an interview, he said: “I don’t know if I’d call us pop punk. We’re pop punk like Chicago pop punk, like Naked Raygun and Pegboy. I think we fit in that kind of vein. We’re that middle-school, ’80s Chicago pop punk, but not pop punk after Green Day." They definitely have more in common with Raygun/Pegboy than Green Day, but the band they remind me of the most is Dillinger Four (which makes even more sense when you know that Paddy from the D4 is in the band now).

Even though the songs on Marvels of Industry are catchy, no one tune stood out the first time through. It's the kind of album that grows on you the more you listen to it. No weak songs, so it's not easy to pick which to share. Check out the YouTube clip of the band playing "I'm Sorry For Saying Sorry" and an mp3 of "Open Faced" below:

Open Faced

Marvels of Industry is available from Recess Records. The band's first two records were released by Thick Records.

Bad Times - Bad Times

Been awhile since my last post. Jay Reatard, Eric Oblivian and King Louie Bankston: names you'll be familiar with if you're into the garage punk thing. Reatard is the most well-known since he signed a deal with Matador and is touring incessantly. According to the liner notes on this CD, the three got together, took one day to practice and then recorded the album in one day. Goner Records put out the vinyl in 2001. The CD followed in 2002 on Sympathy For the Record Industry.

I like the record, but don't expect the polished sounds of Reatard's recent solo stuff. This is scuzzy, raw and poorly recorded. It'll appeal to those who like their punk dirty and lo-fi. That's not to say that there aren't some incredibly catchy songs like Oblivian's "The Jim Miller Bounce" and Reatard's "Trapped In The City." You can check those two out below:

The Jim Miller Bounce

Trapped in The City

Goner doesn't have the record in stock (although they have a lot of other good stuff) and SFTRI isn't doing mail order, but you can purchase the mp3s on Amazon.

Rein Sanction - Mariposa

It's almost impossible to find reviews or articles about Rein Sanction that don't mention Dinosaur Jr. and guitarist J. Mascis. After listening to Mariposa, the Jacksonville, Florida band's third LP (second on Sub Pop and released in 1992), I understand the connection. Each band has a distinctive guitar sound that carries the music. But other than that, I'm not hearing much in the way of similarity between the two bands. A lot of Dino Jr. songs had melodies and hooks while Rein Sanction's stuff relies more on mood and atmosphere.

It's difficult to come up with a good description of the band's sound. For an idea, check out this review from Aquarius Records. Whoever wrote it goes pretty overboard with the language, but I'm willing to chalk it up to one too many bong hits and not some music writing douchebaggery. Maybe smoking a few bowls is the best way to listen to Mariposa. The first time through, none of the songs jumped out as instantly memorable. It's the kind of record (and the type of band) that grows on you after repeated listens.

The band released its two Sub Pop albums (Broc's Cabin and Mariposa) in 1991 and 1992 after grunge had blown up. I'm sure the records came and went unnoticed since they didn't have much in common with the bands that were getting all the hype. Since then, they put out another record in the mid-90's and a 7" in 2006.

Check out two songs from Mariposa:

Loaded Decision

Hell Day

Go here to buy the CD from Sub Pop.

Shark Pants - Porno Snakehead

Do a Google search for Shark Pants and you'll find links to sites where you can buy children's pajama pants with sharks on them. You'll also find this crazy trio from Tucson, Arizona. I'm not sure what it is about living in the Southwest that causes bands to sound like Nuggets-era garage rock on a psychotic meth-binge, but that's what you've got here. Shark Pants remind me of an even more wacked out Scared of Chaka (a great band from New Mexico who broke up in 2002 but have reunited for some shows this year), which is a very good thing.

The songs on the band's 2004 record, Porno Snakehead, explode out of the speakers (or the iPod or whatever) and grab you by the throat. 9 songs in 16 minutes...a quick shot of adrenaline and an assault on the senses and boom, it's done. I imagine they must put on one hell of a live show. Since this first record came out, they've put out another one called Automatic Pinner on Underground Government, a Japanese label. Hopefully, they'll put out more stuff on Recess (who put out this one) or another U.S. label in the future.

Here are a couple songs from Porno Snakehead for your listening enjoyment:

Canyonero

Dogner

Go here to purchase Porno Snakehead on LP or CD. The LP has three extra songs.

Headache City - Headache City

Headache City are a Chicago band (2003-present) and this is their self-titled first full-length from 2006 on Shit Sandwich Records. They have ex-members of the Motards and the White+Outs, which means you can expect some fuzzy garage punk in their sound. But the band add something different to the mix in the form of poppy melodies and new wave keyboards. Reviewers are all over the map on this band, comparing them to everyone from the Knack, the Modern Lovers, The Fall and the Flying Nun bands from New Zealand.

I was excited to find this for $1.99. I'd heard how good it was when the record first came out and I'd been meaning to track it down but forgot. I've listened to it several times and I'm kind of torn. At first, the keyboards and the singer's way of annunciating stuff really bothered me. The more I listen to it, the more it's grown on me. Repeated listens have me thinking it's punchier and darker than I thought. Still, it's the kind of record I have to be in the right mood to enjoy.

Check out these songs:

Wax Pedigree

Tearjerker

You can purchase the album on LP or CD here.