Tad / Pussy Galore — Damaged I / Damaged II

• Artist: Tad / Pussy Galore
• Title: Damaged I / Damaged II
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1989 – Bought it for myself at our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA.
• Keeper: Maybe

This is a combo 7 inch with Tad on one side and Pussy Galore on the other. I suppose I could’ve filed it under P, or Various, but I have it under T just because. In our actual record collection that is. Both songs are Black Flag covers, “Damaged I” and “Damaged II”, which were both on Black Flag’s break-out album uh… “Damaged.”

I guess that original record made a big impact on folks for trendy indie artists to be recording covers from it only eight years later, in 1989. Another 16 or so years later and that seems a little strange. I bought the original Black Flag “Damaged” album in 1981. I loved it then as an angsty teenager, but it’s not the kind of thing you want to play often. Same goes for this 45. It’s kind of fun to have two cultish bands doing covers of a cultish band on a 45, limited edition of 2500, but I doubt I’ll ever play it again. And in the late 1980s no record label was cooler than Sub Pop. So cool in fact that even though my brother and I owned a record store we had to get this one just like everyone else, by joining the Sub Pop Singles Club.

The Lemonheads — Luka

• Artist: The Lemonheads
• Title: Luka
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 4
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: ? – “No clue at all”
• Keeper: No

I never liked The Lemonheads even when it seemed like everyone I knew did. They were just boring to me, even their early stuff that some consider “punk” or “hardcore.” They’re often compared to The Replacements, another band that completely bores me. I remember seeing The Lemonheads live on tour for “Shame About Ray”, which was probably their peak in terms of popularity. I like almost anything live, but I was bored then too. Did I mention that I think they boring? Not bad really, just boring.

House of Freaks — Tantilla

• Artist: House of Freaks
• Title: Tantilla
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1989 – I got it for her from our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

This music is better than I remember. My faves are the more bluesy cuts. This is the only other HoF record we have and so it concludes my little tribute to Bryan Harvey and his family. I still can’t believe their lives were ended that way. I’d like to get it out of my head.

Rest in peace.

D.A.D — No Fuel Left For The Pilgrims

• Artist: D.A.D
• Title: No Fuel Left For The Pilgrims
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1989 – Promo we received at our record store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA.
• Keeper: Maybe

The band’s name was originally “Disneyland After Dark.” That name might’ve worked at home in Denmark, but once they went bigtime they had to change it. And, no, I didn’t forget a period after the last “D”, that’s how they write it.

This is a pretty rocked-out record and the lyrics, against all odds, are not dumb. So, of course I like it. Somewhere I have a CD of theirs that I actually paid for. I may keep this, but I’m not sure I’ll play it that much. There’s a layer of production slickness that I think takes away the truly hard rockin’ going on below. These things happen.

U-Men — Step On A Bug

U-Men -- Step On A Bug

• Artist: U-Men
• Title: Step On A Bug
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1989 – Bought it for myself at our store RIP Records.
• Keeper: Yes

Fans of Birthday Party will love this, though the band was part of the Seattle scene through most of the 1980s. I first heard them on the “famous” C/Z record label compilation which also included tracks from Soundgarden and others.

Birthday Party may be a lazy comparison, but I think it’s accurate. There are, of course, differences, but it’s hard not to think of Nick Cave when you hear the frenetic, strained vocals on this record. I believe this was their only proper, full length album.

La Muerte — Death Race 2000

• Artist: La Muerte
• Title: Death Race 2000
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1989 – Bought it for myself when we had RIP Records.
• Keeper: Yes

I was reading about these guys at Trouser Press and I realized that I got into them near the end. Apparently in their earlier work they were influenced by Birthday Party/Nick Cave. I never noticed from this record which is heavy, in a more conventional way, but the vocals are similarly intense or insane, you decide. In some ways it’s similar to Head of David in the way the riffs are layered up to create these fantastic metallic dirges, but, again, the vocals are way more intense.

I Love You – Live

• Artist: I Love You
• Title: Live
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1989 – Promo we got at our store RIP Records.
• Keeper: Yes

This is an EP. The word we got from the label rep was this EP was intended to create some buzz about the band, similar to how Guns & Roses was hyped. These guys are nothing like GNR. They are more of a straight-up riff rock band not unlike a lot of the hard rock coming out of the northwest at this time. Please don’t call it “grunge” kids. I have no idea where these cats were from.

Four originals and one solid cover of Cream’s “SWLABR.”

Camper Van Beethoven – Key Lime Pie

• Artist: Camper Van Beethoven
• Title: Key Lime Pie
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1989 – This was a promo my brother and I got at our record store, RIP Records.
• Keeper: Yes

I like Camper Van, but never really followed them. This album is interesting musically and lyrically, but it just doesn’t get me that excited. I believe it was their major label debut, and their cover of “Pictures of Matchstick Men” was a mild hit on alternative radio.

I think they are back together in some form. Who knows? Click the search links to find out.