Live Skull ‎– Dusted [CD] (1988, Homestead Records)

Of the three official albums this New York art rock group produced, 'Dusted' is the less straightforward and most compelling document. Blending the bleak desperation of Joy Division and the seductive complexity of '80s Sonic Youth, their better works were anchored by an exuberant young vocalist, Thalia Zedek, whose later work with Come could righteously claim her the trophy of best American blues singer of the '90s. After the achievements of their peers Sonic Youth and the Swans, Live Skull's name remained more often a footnote in the biographies of the better-known avant-rock groups. Fans of the '80s New York post-punk shouldn't miss out on this highly accomplished album, considered by many to be their best. [SOURCE: ALLMUSIC] 

Label: Homestead Records ‎– HMS090-2 

Format: CD, Album 

Country: US 

Released: 1988 

Style: Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Noise Rock, Post-Punk

Tracklist:

1 Machete 3:45 

2 Cavity 3:17 

3 Dusted Part 2 2:26 

4 Kream 4:13 

5 Ⓧ W/ The Light 4:14 

6 Slugfest 2:12 

7 Debbie's Headache 3:17 

8 Back In The Earth 3:09 

9 5·D 2:49 

10 Fat Of The Land 3:12 

11 Dusted Drummer 4:06 

12 Alive Again 3:50 

13 Pusherman 6:3 

Notes:

CD version includes two bonus tracks (12 & 13). 

DOWNLOAD HERE

Killdozer ‎– For Ladies Only [LP] (1989, Touch & Go)

Killdozer had already made their name in part with their not exactly respectful but not anything else covers of wreckage from the '70s, sometimes from unimpeachable sources like Neil Young and sometimes from the kind of acts people pay to forget. The logical end conclusion of this was 'For Ladies Only', which saw the trio tackling the same sort of dress sense/sleaze/'tude as labelmates Urge Overkill and arguably trumping that act at their own game. The glamour shots of the trio in their ridiculously fly polyester shirts are nutty enough, as is Dan's Love Quiz in the liner notes, but it's the music, originally released on a series of vinyl singles, that's the reason to stick around. The song choices range from the inspired ("Hush," as made famous by Deep Purple, Elvis' "Burnin' Love," even Conway Twitty's "You's Never Been This Far Before") to several that will have most praying for the sweet release of death. Logically Killdozer does nothing too radical to them -song tempos generally stay the same and there aren't any noticeable edits- they just play them as if they were the original songwriters, Butch Vig again on production as the Hobsons and Gerald grind the damn things down to the ground. Hearing Gerald's near-inimitable groan/snarl/moan make hay of the grotesquely annoying "One Tin Soldier (The Legend of Billy Jack)," Steve Miller's "Take the Money and Run," and Bad Company's "Good Lovin' Gone Bad" is a treat enough, but that's nothing compared to the demolition of Don McLean's "American Pie." Every last overwrought metaphor and obnoxious singalong from the full version of the original comes under the gun, and by the time Gerald and company grunt out the final chorus, the have-a-nice-day decade is finally dynamited to smithereens. About time, too. [SOURCE: ALLMUSIC] 

Label: Touch And Go ‎– 08-17739, Touch And Go ‎– TG039LP 

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album 

Country: Germany, US 

Released: 1989 

Style: Hardcore, Noise, Noise Rock, Post-Hardcore

Tracklist:

The Romantic Side 

A1 Hush 

A2 Good Lovin' Gone Bad 

A3 Burnin' Love 

A4 You've Never Been This Far Before 

The Side Of Love 

B1 One Tin Soldier - The Legend Of Billy Jack 

B2 Take The Money And Run 

B3 American Pie 

B4 Funk #49 

Notes:

Inner sleeve with "Dan's Kiss Quiz" 

The Romantic Side: Play soft with the lights down low and a bucket of chilled champale. Don't Forget to wear a raincoat! 

The side of LOVE: Love is like Oxygen: if you get too much it gets you high; Not enuff, and you're gonna DIE. 

DOWNLOAD HERE

Jad And Nao ‎– Half Robot [CD] (1992, Paperhouse)

A strange paring of two musical pioneers. Jad Fair (low-fi king, psychologically imbalanced vocalist) and Nao (Japanese sound artist and noise / pop musician). Together they have release several unique recordings that are nearly impossible to classify. [SOURCE: DISCOGS]

Label: Paperhouse Records ‎– PAPCD 15 

Format: CD, Album 

Country: UK, Japan 

Released: 1992 

Style: Experimental, Freestyle, Art Rock, Noise, Avantgarde, Sound Collage

Tracklist:

1 Population Is Only 2 

2 Walk Right In 

3 Art? Ha! 

4 Hope/Bogart 

5 ETCs 

6 Happy Together 

7 Smile Pretender 

8 Our Love Has Come 

9 Neat Beings 

10 I Like It 

11 Gone With Window 

12 Pu- 14 Is Ls- 4 Of gB- 10 

13 Brigham's Coffee Shop 

14 Distorted Moon 

15 Kukaimanimani 

16 Navel Cake 

17 Intuition 

18 Broom Of Love 

19 Zuizuizukkorobashi 

20 Amy's Smile 

21 Coffee Me 

22 Water 

23 I Don't Know 

24 April 

25 Egg 'n' Ham 

26 Haircuts 

27 Do Hachamecha 

28 Nihon No Otoko 

29 999 Years Loan 

30 Fresh Meat 

31 Pepper And Salt 

32 Fornever 

33 Hana O Meshimasho 

34 Junkful Junk 

35 Made In Paradise 

36 The Band 

37 Do You Like America? 

38 Debt For Debt 

39 Beast Wishes 

40 Charlie Chaplin 

41 As Seen On T.V. 

42 Oh! My Buddha 

43 $1.99, $2.99, $ 3.99 

44 Time 

45 Protecting 

46 Simon, Not Simon 

47 Nynyusa 

48 Bride With Cowboy Boots 

49 Candy 

50 Pornographies In The Safe 

51 Happy Birthday 

52 Can't Buy By Money 

53 Typewriter 

54 Curious Crowd's Faces 

55 My Name Is Jad Fair 

56 Morale Booster 

57 Bob Hope 

58 Industrial Refuse Freaks 

59 Miserable Shit 

60 Yes, I'm Not Tired 

61 Too Much Car 

62 Tatoo Of Hello Kitty 

63 Cold Summer 

64 Vegetarian Puts Leather 

65 Kiss Tribe 

66 Sleep 

67 Newborn Babies 

68 Tokolo De Kolewa Nani 

69 Cato And Dogu 

70 40 Monsters 

71 Watch T.V. 'Til You Die 

72 Taking A Bath 

73 Rocky Mountain Oyster 

74 Blue Suede Shoes 

75 Homosexual Teacher 

DOWNLOAD HERE

Illusion Of Safety ‎– Ecstatic Crisis [Cass] (1986, Complacency)

Illusion Of Safety has existed and persisted since 1983, and like many projects of a certain age it frustrates attempts at pat summation. It began after Daniel Burke, a visual artist and music fan from Chicago’s northern suburbs, drew from Throbbing Gristle’s farewell concerts the impetus to make sound his vehicle for confrontation, self-discovery, connection, and transcendence. In 1986 Thymme Jones and Daniel Burke formed the Complacency label and proceeded to document Illusion Of Safety on a series of cassettes. [SOURCE: ILLUSIONOFSAFETY.NET] 

Label: Complacency ‎– CPC-3 

Format: Cassette, C60 

Country: US 

Released: 1986 

Style: Experimental, Sound Collage, Dark Ambient, Noise, Drone, Tape Music

Tracklist:

A1 Directed Action 5:20 

A2 Ceraunoscopy 4:10 

A3 You Figure It Out 1:30 

A4 Anger And Hatred Are Very Powerful Emotions 3:10 

A5 Music W/Out A Film II 2:20 

A6 Confusion 2:40 

A7 Flowering Blossom To The Full Moon 7:20 

A8 Make Everybody Think You're; (Of One Thought ???) 4:37 

B1 The Patient Tolerated The Procedure Well 5:05 

B2 Religious Sexual Spasm 1:30 

B3 Castrated Anxiety 6:00 

B4 Toneline 3 3:20 

B5 Dedicated To... Well, That Seems Rather Obvious 1:08 

B6 Mors Justi 3:02 

B7 Mother 6:00 

B8 Tenet 4:20 

DOWNLOAD HERE

Hambi & The Dance ‎– L'image Craqué [7''] (1981, Virgin)

Hambi & The Dance’s 1981 single 'L’Image Craque' was likened to an overwrought Ultravox sound. What it is did sound like was a more synthetic harbinger of the slightly psychedelic, yet expansive sound of another Liverpudlian band yet to come; The Icicle Works. Throughout its history, that band also contained several notorious figures of the Liverpudlian New Wave scene: Chris (Adam & The Ants) Hughes, Gazza (China Crisis) Johnson, Paul (Frankie Goes To Hollywood) Rutheford, and Wayne (Dead Or Alive, The Mission) Hussey. So it was one of the fertile branches on the Liverpool Tree Of New Wave. The B-side here was the only remix of the band’s music with the dub mix. [SOURCE: POST-PUNK MONK] 

Label: Virgin ‎– VS437 

Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single 

Country: UK 

Released: 1981 

Style: New Wave, Synth-pop 

Tracklist:

A L'image Craqué 4:30 

B L'image Craqué (Dub) 5:40 

DOWNLOAD HERE

Go Flamingo! / Intelligence Dept. / Plastic Trash ‎– A White Chance [LP] (1984, White Studio Recording)

The Intelligence Dept. is a new wave band founded in 1982 in Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. In the first years of activity there are a lot of changes in the formation, the group finds a definitive asset in 1984 when Susanna Zaghi joins the band as vocalist. The other members of The Italligence Dept. are: Stefano “Dedo” Panzera (bass), Gian Paolo Di Federico (keyboards), Davide Carlotti (sax and synth). With this formation the band records the first demo tape, with songs such "Sleeping City", "Too Late Too Love" and "Anger Inside". The same three songs that immediately later will be enclosed into the split record compilation 'A White Chance', together with tracks from Plastic Trash and Go Flamingo! (two other very good bands from the same city of The Intelligence Dept.). [SOURCE: LAST.FM] 

Label: White Studio Recording ‎– WS 001 

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album 

Country: Italy 

Released: 1984 

Style: Italo-Disco, New Wave, Minimal Wave, Post-Punk

Tracklist:

A1 – Go Flamingo! Sonic Beat 

A2 – Go Flamingo! Time Out Of Joint 

A3 – Go Flamingo! Come Closer 

A4 – Intelligence Dept. Anger 

A5 – Intelligence Dept. Too Late To Love 

B1 – Intelligence Dept. Sleeping City 

B2 – Plastic Trash All Before You 

B3 – Plastic Trash Princess Of Misery 

B4 – Plastic Trash If You Turn Off The Light 

DOWNLOAD HERE

The Foetus All-Nude Revue ‎– Bedrock [12''] (1987, Self Immolation, Some Bizarre)

A five-track EP including a few versions of the bluesy title track, 'Bedrock' also includes the Foetus ode to musique concrète via a pair of crushing tracks that reveal Thirlwell's nearly successful assault on music. The stars are mostly for "Diabolus In Musica" -scary and essential, prime Foetus. [SOURCE: ALLMUSIC] 

Label: Self Immolation ‎– WOMB FAN 13, Some Bizzare ‎– WOMB FAN 13 

Format: Vinyl, 12", 45 RPM, 33 ⅓ RPM 

Country: UK, US, Netherlands

Released: Jul 1987 

Style: New Wave, Industrial, Industrial Rock, Dark Cabaret

Tracklist:

A Bedrock 7:17 

B1 Diabolus In Musica 9:45 

B2 Shut 0:56 

B3 Rattlesnake Insurance 2:16 

B4 Bedrock Strip 7:54 

Notes:

A1, B4: Recorded at Milo and Paradise, London 

B1 A raw version of this piece of music appears as part of the soundtrack of "The Manhattan Love Suicides" directed by R. Kern. 

B3: Recorded at Stroud Green and Milo, London Mixed at Livingstone, London 

B4: "(for Mick Harvey)" 

DOWNLOAD HERE

Effigies ‎– For Ever Grounded [LP] (1984, Enigma Records)

The Effigies were formed in 1980, making them one of Chicago's earliest significant punk bands. The Effigies made their live debut in late 1980, and in early 1981 they made their vinyl debut on the locally seminal compilation 'Busted at Oz', named after the club that served as the epicenter of the early Chicago scene. The band's own debut EP, 'Haunted Town', followed late in 1981 on the small Autumn label. Unhappy with the label's handling of the record, The Effigies started their own Ruthless label, which would also release early material by Naked Raygun and Big Black, and land a distribution deal with Enigma. The Effigies' inaugural Ruthless release was the 1982 single 'Bodybag', which was accompanied by extensive national touring. It was followed by another EP, 'We're da Machine', in 1983, which drew fire from some scenesters for refusing to make explicit political statements, despite the band's clear musical improvement. It was followed in 1984 by The Effigies' first ever full-length album, 'For Ever Grounded', which bore a stronger post-punk flavor and found the band hitting its full musical stride. [SOURCE: ALLMUSIC] 

Label: Enigma Records – E-1056, Enigma Records – E1056 

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album 

Country: US 

Released: 1984 

Style: Punk, Hardcore, Post-Punk, Post-Hardcore, Hardcore Punk

Tracklist:

A1 Smile! 

A2 A Tight And Blue Cut 

A3 Silent Burn 

A4 Patternless 

A5 What's The Beat 

A6 The Infiltrator 

B1 Hand Signs 

B2 Rather See None 

B3 Coarse In Vein 

B4 Mob Clash 

B5 Something That... 

DOWNLOAD HERE

Demolition Group ‎– Mizerika [LP] (1988, Hiara Records)

Demolition Group comes from Slovenia. Soon after their coming out they were signed by the Italian label Hiara Records (Modena), for whom they released two records, which were promoted in most European countries. Demolition Group's music is an energetic fusion of electronic and acoustic drums, rock and funk oriented guitars, neurotic saxophone and specific vocals. The second song in 'Mizerika', "Gaba D'Na" really slaps. And the two "Beautiful Side" songs both reach massive heights of frantic energy and screechy free-jazzy improvisations over repeating bass ostinato, which is also certainly the case. Thankfully practically every song on this record fits that description. [SOURCE: RATE YOUR MUSIC] 

Label: Hiara Records ‎– HR 53702, Hiara Records ‎– 50 HR 53702 

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album 

Country: Italy 

Released: 1988 

Style: EBM, Electro, Post-Punk, Minimal Synth, Coldwave, No Wave 

Tracklist:

A1 Love Street 4:23 

A2 Gaba D'Na 4:08 

A3 Right Is All Right 4:46 

A4 You Better Stay Alive 5:12 

B1 Go West (Shake Some More) 4:43 

B2 Bad Gag 2:40 

B3 Beautiful Side I 3:50 

B4 Beautiful Side II 2:00 

B5 I Wana Play I Wana Say 4:45 

Notes:

Recorded and mixed at Tivoli Studio, Liublijana, 1987, in november and december 1987

DOWNLOAD HERE

The Chesterfield Kings ‎– Don't Open Til Doomsday [LP] (1987, Mirror Records Inc.)

The Chesterfield Kings still stun with their talent for writing catchy garage pop reminiscent of the '60s, despite the facts that by 1987, the widespread underground garage-rock revival had already passed its climax, and that this album has a higher production level than previous efforts. Some of the originals aren't as exciting as those on 'stop!', and some are great songs, but the band sounds restless in its current position as garage-rock gurus, wanting to make something different but unsure of how to go about it. [SOURCE: ALLMUSIC] 

Label: Mirror Records Inc. ‎– MIRROR 12 

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album 

Country: US, France, Canada

Released: 1987 

Style: Garage Rock, Psychedelic Rock, New Wave, Garage Rock Revival

Tracklist:

A1 Selfish Little Girl 3:22 

A2 I'll Go 2:18 

A3 Everywhere 3:00 

A4 Time Will Tell 2:44 

A5 I Can't Get Nothin' 2:42 

A6 You're Gone 2:41 

A7 Someday Girl 2:33 

B1 Social End Product 2:56 

B2 Baby Doll 3:10 

B3 No Mind - No Soul 2:47 

B4 Ain't No Use 2:52 

B5 Look Around 2:23 

B6 I'll Be Back Someday 2:30 

B7 Doin' Me Wrong 2:31 

DOWNLOAD HERE

Biting Tongues ‎– Don't Heal [LP] (1981, Situation Two)

This Manchester, England-based unit was formed by Graham Massey and Howard Walmsley in 1980, ostensibly to provide soundtracks for the latter’s live film screenings. Fusing jazz, punk and dance music influences, Biting Tongues went on to release four albums over the 80s, the last of which saw them move to influential Manchester independent Factory Records. Strictly speaking Biting Tongues don't sing -they just talk to their music recounting stories. 'Don't Heal' is highly experimental and full of unusual harmonies. The unhinged and quirky saxophone works wonders all through the album literally transferring the music into some different dimension. [SOURCE: RATE YOUR MUSIC] 

Label: Situation Two ‎– SITU 1 

Format: Vinyl, LP 

Country: UK 

Released: 1981 

Style: Industrial, Experimental, Avantgarde, Post-Punk, Experimental Rock, Funk

Tracklist:

Face Up - The White Valise 

A1 Blue Traces 4:38 

A2 Dog Face 5:50 

A3 Heart Disease 4:20 

A4 Or With Eyes Closed 5:56 

Face Down - Darkroom Skin Transfers 

B1 Stabbing Soft Ice 5:06 

B2 You Can Choke Like That 3:51 

B3 Walkaway 1:59 

B4 Coil 4:40 

B5 R.R.O.R. 1:48 

B6 Give Diamonds / You Can't 6:40 

Notes:

Side A recorded 23, 24 January 1981 

Side B recorded 17 August 1980 

DOWNLOAD HERE

Afghan Whigs ‎– Big Top Halloween [LP] (1988, Ultrasuede)

Too often, Midwestern rock bands cannot escape being labeled Replacements clones, but The Afghan Whigs, although vocalist Greg Dulli was originally called a rougher Paul Westerberg, show on their extremely rare debut release that Midwestern rock doesn't necessarily have to overwhelm with its country influences. Although 'Big Top Halloween' is sometimes too cluttered in its mix, the album delivers bits of beauty and evidence of the band's future brilliance. [SOURCE: ALLMUSIC] 

Label: Ultrasuede ‎– Ultrasuede 001 

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album 

Country: US 

Released: 1988 

Style: Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Grunge, Hard Rock

Tracklist:

A1 Here Comes Jesus 3:32 

A2 In My Town 2:55 

A3 Priscilla's Wedding Day 3:32 

A4 Push 2:53 

A5 Scream 3:20 

A6 But Listen 5:50 

B1 Big Top Halloween 3:24 

B2 Life In A Day 2:06 

B3 Sammy 3:16 

B4 Doughball 2:13 

B5 Back O' The Line 2:45 

B6 Greek Is Extra 2:44 

Notes:

Recorded, engineered and mixed at Group Effort Studios, Crescent Springs, Ky. between April & September of 1987. 

DOWNLOAD HERE

400 Blows ‎– …If I Kissed Her I'd Have To Kill Her First… [LP] (1984, Illuminated Records)

400 Blows was something of an avant funk band from England that followed in the steps of groups like 23 Skidoo and A Certain Ratio. Like those earlier groups, 400 Blows was rhythmically dense with little concern for melody or basic rock song structures. '…If I Kissed Her I'd Have To Kill Her First…' is an early NewWave / Industrial / Disco / Noise album with three funky electronic tracks, and a lot of somewhat ambient noise-tracks with spoken document or very tribal. The good thing is that the whole album works very good at all, and the disco-tracks are very danceable and a little weird. [SOURCE: DISCOGS] 

Label: Illuminated Records ‎– JAMS 42 

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album 

Country: UK, Spain, Japan 

Released: 1984 

Style: Dub, Funk, Electro, Industrial, Experimental, Post-Punk, Dance-Punk

Tracklist:

A1 Groove Jumping 4:51 

A2 Declaration Of Intent (Re-Mixed) 4:42 

A3 Them Thar Hills 4:25 

A4 Love 3:06 

A5 Introduction 0:50 

B1 Conscience 4:52 

B2 For Jackie M 6:16 

B3 Lapwing Chant 3:25 

B4 Men Of Divine Wind (The Kamikaze) 4:10 

B5 Perspective 3 0:40 

DOWNLOAD HERE

Various ‎– The Last Nightingale [12''] (1984, Rē Records)

Plays like what it is (a fundraising effort produced by multiple artists). The first two tracks are great -spacious woodwindy RIO tunes with vocals from Robert Wyatt. They're as good if not better than most of his contemporary contributions to News From Babel. The Henry Cow song is just the remixed version of the opener to 'Unrest'. The other two tracks are intriguing spoken word pieces, conspicuous only because they're on a disc that also includes music. It is a curiosity with some substance, but mainly for aficionados. [SOURCE: RATE YOUR MUSIC] 

Label: Rē Records ‎– Rē 1984, Rē Records ‎– Re 1984 

Format: Vinyl, 12", 45 RPM, Limited Edition 

Country: UK 

Released: 1984 

Style: Political, Avantgarde, Prog Rock, Spoken Word, Avant-Prog, Poetry

Tracklist:

A1 – Lindsay Cooper, Chris Cutler, Bill Gilonis, Tim Hodgkinson & Robert Wyatt Moments Of Delight 

A2 – Lindsay Cooper, Chris Cutler, Bill Gilonis, Tim Hodgkinson & Robert Wyatt In The Dark Year 

B1 – Adrian Mitchell Back In The Playground Blues 

B2 – Henry Cow Bittern Storm Revisited 

B3 – Adrian Mitchell On The Beach At Cambridge 

DOWNLOAD HERE