Bad Brains — I And I Survive / Destroy Babylon

• Artist: Bad Brains
• Title: I And I Survive / Destroy Babylon
• Year: 1982
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: Not sure, mail order I think.
• Keeper: Yes

Punk rock, heavy metal, and separately reggae, with heaping helpings of spirituality and weirdness from four black guys from D.C.? Sign me up for some of that! Bad Brains, despite not being that prolific, or maybe because of it, is probably my favorite band, ever, for all-time, into the future even. I can’t imagine a new band creating music this special to me. Their music has a sophistication, and their playing a musicianship pretty much unheard of in the world of “punk” or “hardcore.” From the moment I heard their music I thought it was as exciting as it was unlikely.

This four song EP must be pretty rare. All of the songs, “I And I Survive”, “Destroy Babylon”, “Coptic Times”, and “Joshua’s Song”, were also released on “Rock For Light” a year later. I’m not sure if they are the same versions. I was unable to quickly find another picture of this awesome cover art on the web. So, enjoy it while you’re here. I liked the art on the label on one side of this record so much that it was basis for the tattoo on my massive right bicep. See the pic.

Another interesting tidbit is that this record was produced by Ric Ocasek, of The Cars. Didn’t know Ric was that cool, did ya? To learn more read this article about Bad Brains at Wikipedia.

Pailhead — I Will Refuse

• Artist: Pailhead
• Title: I Will Refuse
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1987 – Bought it for myself when I worked Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

Yay! More industrial punk weirdness. This is the second Pailhead record logged here, but “I Will Refuse” came out first. With Ian MacKaye of Minor Threat fame on vocals with Al Jourgensen and Al Barker of Ministry it’s bound to turn out pretty good. I like this 7 inch more than the four song EP, “Trait”, that came next, but both are great. I have no idea what “I Will Refuse” and the flipside “No Bunny” are about but both still sound fresh, original and intense. Not many songs with “Bunny” in the title can be described as “intense.”

Ignition — Sinker

• Artist: Ignition
• Title: Sinker
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1987 – “Probably at a show”
• Keeper: Maybe

I was trying to figure this record out when I did a search and found this. That guy’s site probably will tell you more than you ever wanted to know about Ignition. I agree with him that the bass is way loud. It’s like the bass player sneaked back into the studio after everyone left and made a few “adjustments.” Anyhow, I was surprised it was self-produced and not on Dischord until I read the piece linked to above. I only got to see the band once or twice and I didn’t buy any records. Mary must’ve seen a better performance. And why is there an illustration of a distributor, cap and rotor on the back? Oh right, “Ignition.”

The Faith — Subject To Change

• Artist: The Faith
• Title: Subject To Change
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1983 – Probably Olsson’s in Georgetown, DC.
• Keeper: Yes

Did this come out after the band had broken up? I asked Mary what she would rate “Subject To Change” and she said “I’d give it a 7.” I said “7, that’s a pretty good review” and she replied “it’s a pretty good hardcore record.” I agree and enough said.

Etched in the vinyl margins:

• THIS SIDE: PULL YOURSELF TO PIECES
• IVOR SIDE: TOO STUPID FOR WORDS

And speaking of the vinyl, check out the sweet blue vinyl below. What color are your MP3s?

Dischord No. 11 people. My wife is so punk rock!

Pailhead — Trait

• Artist: Pailhead
• Title: Trait
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1988 – Bought it for myself at our store RIP Records.
• Keeper: Yes

Ian MacKaye on vocals with Al Jourgensen and Al Barker of Ministry and the outcome is pretty much what you would expect. Which is fine because I would expect that combo to rock. It does. This EP is only four songs. I think this came out before the Ministry album “The Land of Rape and Honey” that was also released in ’88. That album blew everyone away. This EP was a clear signal of the Ministry metal maelstrom that was to come.

The Faith / Void

• Artist: The Faith / Void
• Title: Self-titled
• Year: 1982
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1982 – Some store in Rockville, MD that she can’t remember.
• Keeper: Yes

Classic DC hardcore. And a classic punk format with two bands on a single LP. The Faith on the first side with Ian Mackaye’s younger brother Alec. I believe they later dropped the “The” in their name. Void on the flip. The Void side is a little angrier.

One of the many fun things about vinyl is that occasionally people will write little messages in the margin between the end of the record and the label.

• Faith side – “THERE’S NO CHOICE LIKE A PIG”
• Void side – “IN MEMORY OF BRIAN SEAN FINNIGAN”

Dischord No. 8, for those keeping score.

Dag Nasty — Can I Say

• Artist: Dag Nasty
• Title: Can I Say
• Year: 1986
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1986
• Keeper: Yes

Dag Naz-tay! Now we’re getting somewhere. Sure sounds a lot like to Minor Threat to me. They could do worse. With Minor Threat guitarist Brian Baker in the band, and singer Dave Smalley sounding pretty similar to Ian I guess they couldn’t help it.

I think Baker went on to start another band, Junkyard. I can’t remember much about the sound, but they were laying on the rocker-greaser-car-club-biker image awfully heavy. Not that those things don’t appeal to me, but still…

I noticed with this album that the collection is in need of some serious alphabetizing. Buncha 12 inch singles are completely separate, and some earlier “D” records got skipped. DC3 will have to wait until the next pass through.

Dischord No. 19, for those keeping score.