rottenstructure – “No Replastering, The Structure Is Rotten”
This is a local compilation release that includes several bands I’ve written about in the punk scene, plus others who play other styles.
But, more importantly- “All proceeds go to Black Lives Matter (blacklivesmatter.com) and Mass. Bail Fund (massbailfund.com).
And we try not to get too political at TNB, but our website does believe in equality and freedom of speech to protest.
And for me there’s nothing more punk rock than that.
Let’s listen to some of the great music on this benefit release:
Boston Cream is a band that grew out of one that was originally called The Fagettes. They changed their name, eventually, after being shut down from Facebook for allegedly being homophobic. Even though they originally had a lesbian and a female bisexual in the band! This song “Wave” is highly original, suggesting creative eighties synthesizer bands though, this band doesn’t use one! Trance like, hypnotic, cool while being hotly expressive- this is a cool and hot tune, simultaneously. Please feel free to wave things like this at me at any time.
Sewer Buddies, a band that writes punk songs geared for parents to introduce their children to punk while avoiding the NSFW, x-rated lyrics many punk songs have. Here they contribute one of my favorite songs by them, “Don’t Wanna Be A Person.” With a splattering, splurging push of power violence inspired, hardcore punk. Lead singer/drummer Lindsey Lauren Warnot spews out passionate particles of emotion, energy and excitement over a tsunami of propulsive rhythms and sounds. In an incredibly, impulsively, incandescent song.
“Die Better” by Saint Ripper is a sludgy, but ripping heavy, hardcore number which lunges out at you with a vibrant, vicious, vitrolic vocal that grabs you by the ears, throat and mind. This song detonates on the spot where grindcore, metal, hardcore and punk meet and do all these genres justice.
“Nothing To Do” by Adult Learners shoots off with a high-pitched keyboard and high energy, suggesting early Sterolab to me. This song has melodic, female vocals- wonderfully, and frantic rhythm guitar recalling The Velvet Underground, creating a song that is propulsive and pure and perfect. Oh-oh-oh!
“Wiggin Out” by Electric Street Queens who, I believe, is one of the best live bands from Boston when playing shows was still, actually a thing. This bands’ male musicians do don long-haired wigs as they are kind of a throwback, a homage to seventies hard rock. But Coco-A-Go-Go, their diminutive singer, performs with so much style and passion and humor, it’s as if Pat Benatar suddenly decided she wanted to be Courtney Love. Like most of their songs, this song sounds like an Iggy Pop outtake instead of a current punk or hardcore tune. Which, of course, makes it even more punk to me.
Funeral Cone is one of my favorite bands I’ve reviewed in the last few years. Besides having great songs, they remind me of how crazy and wild “new wave” bands of the late seventies/early eighties could be, being more extreme, at least musically, than the punk bands. And that’s what I hear with this band. “X’Ed Out OF This World” splutters out with a funhouse organ sprayed upon an aggressive, Devo like rhythm section augmented by expressively, exasperated vocals. This band and this song is very unique, original and great.
“On The Loose” by Loretta, who is an (almost) all female band that draws their inspiration from the early punk scene. In fact, their name is derived from the best known song by the great, and still existing Boston punk band, Nervous Eaters. Loretta’s sound is spiced up with hardcore and riot grrl influences, as well. “I was a nice girl, but now I say no more.” I am a nice reviewer but I need to say no more- just listen to this great tune by a great band.
Conmen, who I’ve reviewed before, is the only punk band I’ve known, who are not only influenced by the Ramones- but fully get where that band was coming from and successfully, transfer that inspiration greatly, into their own original style. They also encompass great bands like the Buzzcocks and The Saints in their sound. And their song “Nice Nice” is not merely nice but really “Great Great,” and carries a feel that feels like the spirit of ’77 to me.
I don’t have enough space to write about all the great bands on this compilation, one of the best compilations I’ve ever reviewed! There’s the metal/punk of Il Mostro, the authentically, cool psychedelic music of Mardi Kings and some great, instrumental surf music by Beware The Dangers Of A Ghost Scorpion.
So buy this compilation, I did even though I didn’t have to. The money is going to such great causes. If you’re young and reading this remember, the future will ultimately be in your hands so become and stay involved, because you have the most at stake.
Me, I’m pissed because I didn’t get to tell any jokes. I feel like a Southern debutante, all a glow in her dressy, summer gown, that no suitor will approach to dance with as they feel too intimidated by her beauty.
Sorry, been re-reading a lot of F.Scott Fitgerald, lately, who I highly recommend, as I do this compilation.
(Slimedog)
