TUTTI PARZE 7"

TUTTI PARZE    

Self titled 7” Package

Inner City Sound

Limited to 250

A long time ago, I was at a party, and happened to be wearing a Conflict T-Shirt. A guy with a Poison Idea “Pick your King” T-Shirt came up to me and said “great T-Shirt”. I said “yours is better”. “Why” he asks me “because Poison Idea are the Kings of Punk” I said. “Yeah” he replied, “but Conflict are the angriest”. And we left it at that and kept chatting. If Conflict were the angriest, then Tutti Parze were the most Pissed Off.

Sydney's Tutti Parze existed for a short time somewhere from the late 80's to the early 90's. 

I saw Tutti Parze a couple of times just before  they broke up in the early 1990’s at the Jellyheads warehouse and The Vic on the Park  Pub (which I’m pretty sure was their last show). Full On. I remember one of our straight (not not gay, just ....”normal”) friends came along to that show, and he just watched with his mouth open and said later on “I’ve never seen anything like that before, or anyone that angry on stage”. 

Tutti Parze played at a time when there was a lot more mixed bills with punk/crust/grind/metal/thrash bands. I remember a friend who had seen them a lot, and had taken some metal head mates to see them  told me the   metal heads had said they were has one of the heaviest sounding  bands that they had ever heard.          

 

With the unique, distinctively  heavy  guitar sound  of the late Billy Hughes (RIP) this is angry, pissed off, political, heavy  hitting anarcho crust punk.

The 7” comprises the only 4 tracks Tutti Parze ever recorded. I remember getting the “Sounds of ordinary Madness” CD comp years ago because it had two Tutti Parze songs on it, and it’s great now to hear them on vinyl. The other two were released on another comp a few years later.

This package comprises the 7” record, with original art work (from a flyer I think), a live CD, sticker, and badge.  The CD is a patchy recording from a live gig, but the heavy sound is well evident, and singer Wil’s tirades are well audible. The CD is worth it alone for the booklet containing comprehensive notes, and some great pics.

It comes in a hand sewn “Tutti Parze” bag . This is a really well put together package, and it’s suited to the 7” format perfectly. Great Stuff,   and it's great that this has been finally released.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 http://innercityuprising.bigcartel.com/product/tutti-parze-bite-back-7-and-cd-pack                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

VANILLA MUFFINS - THE TRIUMPH OF SUGAR Oi!

VANILLA MUFFINS

The Triumph of Sugar Oi!

2015 Spirit of the Street Records 

Having known about the Vanilla Muffins for a while and not having any of their stuff, they were on the “to get” radar . When I saw this neat “new” “greatest hits” package summarising their  stuff, I couldn’t resist.

Originally released in 2014, this is a 2015 repress, so it must have been popular. 

This has 14 cuts representing all of the Muffins recorded output, opening with the unreleased (and slightly naff and very cheesy) The Sugar Oi! Jive, It moves onto one of the highlights, the irresistible Ladies choice. There’s only one from their debut Suagar Oi! will Win, Storm over England. The Drug is Football LP covers half this comp, with 7 cuts including the buzzy singalong title track, Brigade Loco, 3 Comrades, No Punk Rock in My Car, The Mob from Kannenfeldpark, and The one and only.  

Vanilla Muffins are one of those band perhaps you either like or don’t and their unique brand of melodic Oi! mightn’t be for everyone.  There are a variety  of more comprehensive Vanilla Muffins compilations (mainly on CD) but this one’s a neat little overview that doesn’t overstay it’s welcome and makes its point quick smart. It’s hard not to like, and I guarantee you'll be singing along.

Package wise not bad. Nice silver and black cover, comprehensive notes with the track list on the back indicating which songs come from  which release. Inner sleeve with pics, and no lyrics save for The Sugar Oi! Jive.  Good quality vinyl and great sound , courtesy of the nice distorted sound on the guitar, which works well production wise.   

THE RUMJACKS 7” SINGLE and LIVE REVIEW

THE RUMJACKS

“BLOWS AND UNKIND WORDS/PLENTY” Double A-Side 7”

Single release from the “Sober and Godless” album

A single release in the truest sense of the word –  this has one song per side. I actually thought this was an EP . No matter, it’s great to have a good ol’ single that you can whack on and flip over. Fittingly, the energy  of the band fits the 7” format well. “A- Side” Blows and Unkind words rolls and rambles with aplomb  in The Rumjacks unique  style and take on celtic-punk (or however you want to frame it. And, they have a very Australian sound, mind). Frankie McLaughlin’s vocals drive the song, accompanied by guitar/bass drums and accentuated by accordion and mandolin.  

“B-Side” Plenty has a bit more of a straight up “rock” flavour about minus the enhancements of accordion etc, and makes its point quicker than the other side.

Package wise – the cover art is a winner. There’s no info on the band etc, but then it makes it point, if you will, solely being about the two songs. Production is punchy but not overstated, letting everything be heard within this  5 piece without  one thing being overheard on top of the other.

I got this from the merch table at the gig, and I’m not sure when it came out, but I think it was last year. You can get this with a T-Shirt package, and other merch, (including  the “Sober and Godless” album on vinyl) from the band’s facebook page.

THE RUMJACKS

5 March

Hotel Gearin, Katoomba

The support band, Bell Jar weren’t really my cup of tea, but they did put in an energetic set of accordion driven gypsy-folk.

THE RUMJACKS are one of those bands that just don’t turn in a bad show and they were on form tonight as part of a tour for the “Sober and Godless”  album launch.

I could do the research, name more songs and the band members, and hand over a detailed professional rock-journo type review. Basically though, Lead singer Frankie McLaughlin leads the band on, and they all basically put their heads down and get on with it, whilst enjoying themselves .  They play well, without being overly polished on stage with a mix of old and new songs. Highlights were The Jolly Executioner (always a standout) from “Sound as a Pound”, and new songs from “Sober and Godless”,  Blows and Unkind words,  Barred for Life, and  Sober and Godless.

Check ‘em out if they play near you.

CJ RAMONE GIG AND ALBUM REVIEW

CJ RAMONE, ROCKS, BATFOOT!

12.2.2015

Bald Faced Stag Hotel

Chinese Burns Unit  had to unfortunately pull out at the last minute. Batfoot!play uptempo poppy punk with youthful energy.

ROCKS put in a kick arse set, as always. Featuring Pete back on bass, their blistering set covers all eras of Rocks recorded output. Songs such as Mental Bank, Migraine headache, Your so boring, Combat Zone, What I say, and even a new one called Bombs away rev us up in a blitz  for CJ. Forget  superlatives, they were just fuckin’ great, OK and that’s about it.

CJ and his band come on a little while later kicking off with Understand Me? , the opening cut from his new LP Last chance to dance. From then on, the set is Ramones classics peppered with CJ’s solo stuff, mostly the bulk of  Last chance to dance, and a couple from his earlier release Reconquista. Highlights from Last chance to dance include Pitstop, the title track, Clusterfuck, and Won’t stop swinging. The majority of the set is Ramones classics – Blitzkrieg Bop, Suzie is a Punk, Sheena is Punck Rocker,53^rd and 3^rd, Judy is a punk, Cretin Hop, Commando, Glad to see you go,  Do you wanna dance, I wanna be sedated,the list goes on.

The band is absolutely shit hot, and they’re all having a great time. The guitars of Dan Root and Steve Soto (both from the Adolescents) are spot on, as are their back up vocals. On songs like Listen to my heart they are note for note perfect with the harmonies. CJ's bass, with Pete Sosa (Street Dogs) provide a rock solid rythym section.  CJ banters in between songs just enough to engage with the crowd, but not hinder the workmanlike ethic of the band to just get on with it, which he obviously learned during his apprenticeship with the Ramones.

CJ is in the enviable position of being able to hand-pick his own favourites from the Ramones back catalogue. Interestingly  there is a bit of a trend towards the love themed songs, such as  the KKK took my baby away, She’s the one and Baby I love you  (of which he said “I guarantee you’ve never heard this one live before”). They play only one song  from CJ’s tenure with the band, Strength to endure.

In summary, if you are a (Ramones) fan, you just couldn’t be disappointed. CJ is gracious enough to give the fans what they want – Ramones songs (geared to the early stuff, which everyone loves), even though his own solo material is more than worthy;the proportion of solo stuff is far outweighed by the Ramones stuff in the set. The set goes for almost an hour and a half, played by one of the last remaining Ramones, with band that’s got a pretty good pedigree. Everyone’s got their favourite Ramones songs, but  it would have been impossible for anyone in the room to not have heard plenty of their own in the sizable set.

“There’s only one way to close a set like this” says CJ. They launch into R.A.M.O.N.E.S. and it’s all over.  


CJ RAMONE 
LAST CHANCE TO DANCE
Epitaph (2014)

I’ll admit, this one blipped on the radar late last year when it came out, but I let it slide as I wasn’t really familiar with CJ’s solo stuff.   Then I heard CJ was touring here in February and a mate said Let’s go. So I thought I’d check out the record, and get familiar with the songs for the gig.

First time I put  on Last chance to dance I was hooked. And that was listening over/through my kids noise and mayhem. I gave it a proper spin later on –twice in a row. It was about the only thing I played for a week.

For me, CJ pushes the Ramones legacy here and keeps it alive, whilst doing his own thing. If ya don’t mind me saying, it’s a Ramones-y record. But it’s not the Ramones, it’s CJ Ramone and his individuality of course shines through here. Let’s not forget who revitalised the band when Dee Dee left.

There’s a  kinda late-era Ramones feel here but with a completely different flavour. Understand Me,  and Won’t Stop Swinging,  a one-two punch pop-punk melodic gem barrage kicks  the album off, and One more chance keeps the pace up. The next two, Carry me away and ‘Til the end slow things up a bit, but that ain’t a bad thing, and  the melodic element is highlighted  to good effect. Side one closes with the more out and out buzzsaw-rock  interpretation of Alice Coopers’s Long Way to go.

The rock element continues with the chugging Mr Kalashnikov. It’s back to core business with Pitstop (which borrows/uses the chorus harmony from Carbona not Glue, again to good effect. Correct me if I’m wrong).  Grunt is also a bit of a chugger, and if I’m guessing correctly is partly based on CJ’s experience in the Marines. You own me slows it up again, while the title track gets back firmly again in pop-punk territory, and gives a nod to Do you wanna dance (off Rocket to Russia).  The hardcore of Clusterfuck closes the  album with a bang.

It’s obvious CJ and the band are having fun and coalesce well together. CJ’s bass flourishes and vocals seem to cement everything in place. The long time relationship between CJ and Steve Soto (Adolescents-guitar) is apparent, having played together since at least the late 90’s when CJ filled in on bass in Steve’s band for 22 Jacks for a while.

Package wise, not bad at all. The black and white cover is a bit of a nod (in my mind anyway) to The Ramones first LP. There’s a lyric sheet which is simple but effective. Production gives a  tight   but not overly glossy sound which suits the album well. Download code for those that need ‘em.
4/5 

TOP TEN VINYL PICKS FOR 2014

1.       BISHOPS GREEN  - “Pressure “. Probably THE best punk/oi!  album of 2014. Upbeat, tight, infectious singlalong tunes. In terms of vinyl, great package, great sound excellent artwork, coloured vinyl.

2.       NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS -  “Live from KCRW”. Live interpretations of songs from “Push the Sky Away”, plus a few highlights from Nick’s back catalogue on great sounding vinyl with neat packaging make this a winner.

3.       THE BELTONES –“On Deaf Ears” (Record day re-release). Infectious punk with gravel ly vocals that had me going back for more. Great sounding vinyl to boot.

4.       Oi! THIS IS STREETPUNK  VOLUME 4 – Various.  Latest and  perhaps strongest in this series of Oi! comps.

5.       UK SUBS -  XXIV. I know, I know, this was actually from 2013 but I got it early 2014. Solid offering from Charlie Harper (who turned 70 in 2014!) and his cohorts.

6.       BURNING LOVE -  “Songs for Burning Lovers”. And this is even older but I heard it in the record store and had to get a copy – it fuckin’ rocks!

7.       ENGLISH DOGS “We did, we do, we always fucking will!” Wakey returns with his warped lyrics and acerbic punk.

8.       THE CYANIDE PILLS “Still Bored”. Another one that was technically from 2013. Second LP from Yorkshire snotty boys. Great sound and packaging as well.

9.       THE CRAMPS “Rare Tracks” This is older also, found it in a record store.  2 X LP 24 song comp of B-Sides etc from the legendary Lux and Ivy.

10.   NEGATIVE APPROACH Self Titled 7”. Still around if you want a copy, no nonsense hardcore.

Second hand  special mentions that I acquired through the year –THE EXPOITED “Death before Dishonour”, EDDIE AND THE HOT RODS “Life on the  line”, “A COUNTRY FIT FOR HEROES”   No Future records compilation, “KILLED BY DEATH” Comp #7

BATTLE OF THE ENGLISH DOGS VINYL RELEASES PART 3

ENGLISH DOGS – TWO DIFFERENT BANDS; two separate vinyl releases in 2014

The UK PUNK Version with - WE DID, WE DO, WE ALWAYS FUCKING WILL! Versus The Metal Dogs version with THE THING WITH TWO HEADS.

Separate reviews are below in full.

Content/Integrity

WE DID, WE DO, WE ALWAYS FUCKING WILL!  Wakey’s lineup stick to their original ethos of sharp punk songs laced with astute lyricism. The integrity of this release stacks up to the English Dogs early material with Wakey, and is a worthy addition to the English Dogs somewhat patchy output post 1985.

THE THING WITH TWO HEADS Adey, Pinch and Gizz stick  to their “metalmorphosis” and largely disclaim their punk origins, to their detriment. Despite Pinch’s claims that it would be the missing link between their landmark crossover punk metal gems To the Ends of the Earth and Forward into Battle, it misses that mark in their mission to be metal. It doesn’t quite stack up to the legacy of those records, and whilst it’s an OK English Dogs release from core members of the “metal” line up, they needed to infuse it with a bit more punk energy.  

Playing/lyrics

WDWDWAFW features a rejuvenated line up that’s having fun. The playing is great, and showcases their punk energy. The lyrics encapsulate Wakey’s warped outlook and  shrewd observations.

TTWTH features a tight band and sound for sure. But they’re almost too spot on and technical, in contrast to the unbridled energy of To the Ends of the Earth and Forward into Battle. The lyrics are a bit too comic book Tolkienish.  One song keeps referring to a retard.

Production

The production on WDWDWAFW captures the band perfectly. The spark’s there, and there’s a full stereo sound that’s solid.

Production on TTWTH is good, that’s about all I have to say, except well, it’s a bit clinical.

Packaging

WDWDWAFW isn’t overstated, but does the job effectively  good old black and white, it’ put together  well,  nicely set out with inner sleeve.

TTWTH tries its best with gatefold sleeve, great cover art, and coloured green vinyl.  It’s nice,  but it doesn’t seem quite right.

CONCLUSION

The UK PUNK Version with - WE DID, WE DO, WE ALWAYS FUCKING WILL!  Emerges victorious and wins the battle.

At the end of the day, it’s a stronger release as a whole, and it’s the one that had me singing along. There’s a bit more integrity to it. If you read the lyrics to Death to the Dogs from WDWDWAFW it kind of says it all really. They laid down a challenge to the Metal Dogs – and they win.

There are loads of positive reviews for TTWTH, and it’s only my opinion. As a fan of the English Dogs I did buy both, and I remain a fan of both versions/line ups. I saw Wakey’s lot when they came out last year, and they were great, it was great to see them play the old stuff alongside stuff from WDWDWAFW. If the Metal Dogs version came out I’d go and see them.

I like TTWTH – it’s still an English Dogs release and it has some good bits on it, I’ve played it a fair bit. There’s some bits that I’m just not too enamoured with.   It’s let down by some songs which just don’t use enough of their original DNA.

Here’s an idea. Perhaps if they hadn’t had their differences, the two bands could have released a split LP. Then it really would have been “The thing with two heads” .

chrismccousin@gmail.com

BATTLE OF THE ENGLISH DOGS 2014 VINYL RELEASES Part 2

ENGLISH DOGS 

(US –Based METAL version)

The Thing With Two Heads

Candlelight Records

Following on from a successful 2012 US Tour performing the classic punk-metal crossover records “To the ends of the Earth” and “Forward Into Battle”, this version of the English Dogs with core members of the lineup that recorded those releases, Vocalist Ade Bailey, guitarist Gizz Butt, and drummer Pinch hatched plans to record and release new material culminating in The Thing With Two Heads.

The Thing with Two Heads commences with the single Turn away from the light.  Crunchy metal that at once incorporates death metal and rap style vocals. It’s clear from the start that they’re fully embracing their metal side. Freak Boy continues the theme, speeding up a tad, and revealing a hint of the punk roots past. Organized and Hate song continue in the same vein.  Ghost note has a bit more energy and pace. Then there is the sea shanty that is Up from the depths, and The thing will arise channelling 80’s metal.

Side two opens with the promising Planet of the living dead which is perhaps the closest they come to channelling their old selves here; with its speedy delivery and the “whoahs”, melodic solo, it’s easily one of the best songs on the record. Royal flying corpse is great, except it sounds like an Iron Maiden song. It’s all downhill from here. Rectify sounds like they have been listening to the Red Hot Chilli Peppers for fucks sake.  Down with the Underdogs starts out like a  ballad, is too long  and too overblown. I found it a challenge to  listen to the whole thing. There are some good moments in this epic, when it picks up about half way, just when I’ve gone to sleep. I thought I was dreaming that they sounded like they should again ... they almost recapture that old energy..... for a minute.

Lyrically there’s many references to “The thing with two heads”.  Some of the lyrics are not only uninspired, but, pretty well, embarrassing. Hate song is an example  “Just for you/here’s a hate song/and it makes me sad to say you’ve made my shitty day/ And I’m sick, sick of dealing with a retard/ 1-2 Fuck You/3-4 What a bore/5-6 Whiny bitch/You ain’t nothing but a retard/Fuck You”. Really. It appears Pinch channels the lyrics of his other band The Damned’s Love Song and recycles them.

The Thing With Two Heads was touted as “the missing link” between To the ends of the Earth and Forward Into Battle by drummer Pinch but this doesn’t appear evident. There’s more in common with the ambitious Tolkienesque  Where legend began  (which I don’t mind) and the crunchy metal of Gizz Butt’s later English Dogs incarnations in the 90’s.  To the ends of the Earth and Forward Into Battle may not have had the best production but there was a distinct energy that was captured there. What also made them was the merge of equal parts punk and metal. Their punk roots were still evident and really shaped those records and sound. There’s a  relentless raw ferocity and punk energy that was present on To the ends of the Earth and Forward Into Battle – inclusive of the metal solos  -that is lacking here, and they have all but abandoned their punk side. 

The Thing With Two Heads was recorded over several sessions, with all the members recording separately, but I’ll give ’em that it sounds cohesive. While you expect the appropriate changes in production in a thirty year gap, The Thing With Two Heads is a bit too tight and slick. The playing is good, the guitars are spot on, as is the rhythm section, and Bailey stays within his vocal range, for the most part

Package wise this is a bit of a funny one. There’s some love and a care gone into it, absolutely. Great artwork and all.  But.  There’s a comic book appeal (see the title lettering) that kinda gives the game away. Nice gatefold sleeve which harks back to their earlier releases. There’s lyrics inside the gatefold, but the print is small and obscured by the Tolkienish cartoony fantasy drawings. Good quality green vinyl and sound though.

Look. I didn’t expect them to rehash  To the ends of the Earth or Forward Into Battle. But I was excited by the prospect of them harnessing some of that energy  again and creating another punk-metal masterpiece. And they have got to move on, get with the times etc etc. And I do like it, and will listen to it. But it just could have been so  much more if they had gone back to being the English Dogs rather than the Metal Dogs.  There may not have been such a high expectation had they not made the claim that it would be the “missing link between “ To the ends of the Earth” and “Forward Into Battle” – because it has little in common with those records.  They are more intent on showcasing that they can play different types of metal here. Had they kept in touch with their former selves, and retained their identity this could have been fuckin’ great, instead of OK. If you didn’t know it was the “English Dogs”, you couldn’t put the old record against this and still say it was the same band. Things could have been better, rather than them just being a by-the numbers metal outfit.

In an interview with Gizz Butt a few years ago he said he regretted “not staying with the formula and going over the top with Where legend began ”. So what the fuck?

I would have loved to have been more positive on this one. And after all it’s only my opinion right? But I did fork out for it.

Maybe I’ll put it on in 6 months and go “Well fuck. Now I get it”

ENGLISH DOGS - Turn Away From The Light [Official Video ...

► 3:46► 3:46

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBGM2GJ6xPQ