Jeffrey Lee Pierce — Flamingo

• Artist: Jeffrey Lee Pierce
• Title: Flamingo
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 4
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: No idea

Arty doesn’t always equate to interesting and noise is no substitute for real intensity. I was big fan of Gun Club, but this solo EP from Jeffrey Lee Pierce just doesn’t cut it. By the third track Mary mentioned “he’s doing a little bit of everything.” I wish he had focused on music like “Love & Desparation” from the second side instead. That’s a great song, but most of this is annoying noodling around that shouldn’t even qualify as B-side filler.

Various Artists — Slash: The Early Sessions

Various Artists -- Slash: The Early Sessions

• Artist: Various Artists
• Title: Slash: The Early Sessions
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1983 – Olsson’s in Georgetown, DC.
• Keeper: Yes

Good ol’ Slash Records. This is a compilation of music from some of the great bands on Slash from 1979-1983. The presence of The Blasters and X (two songs each) is what pushes this rating up to 8. Another tasty bit is Fear’s “New York’s Alright If You Like Saxophones.” From the lyrics on that song, and others, it’s hard to tell if they’re homosexuals, homophobes, or just having fun making uptight people mad. Fear was always good for a little controversy.

Here’s a funny story about Fear’s appearance on Saturday Night Live, at Wikipedia.

Artists include:

• The Blasters
• Gun Club
• Rank and File
• Violent Femmes
• X
• Fear
• Germs
• The Dream Syndicate