feedtime / King Snake Roost – Buffalo Bob / More Than Love [7''] (1988, Aberrant Records)

 

The split single 'Buffalo Bob / More Than Love' from 1988 is one of those great little artifacts from the Australian underground, the kind of record that perfectly captures how tight and collaborative that scene really was. It pairs up feedtime and King Snake Roost, two bands who shared stages, influences, and a general love for loud, stripped-down, no-frills rock.

 
What makes the record especially cool is the concept behind it. Instead of just contributing their own tracks, each band covers the other. feedtime takes on “Buffalo Bob,” originally by King Snake Roost, while King Snake Roost returns the favor with their version of “More Than Love,” a feedtime song. It’s less of a split in the usual sense and more like a conversation between the two bands, each one filtering the other’s material through their own sound. 

The feedtime version of “Buffalo Bob” leans hard into their signature style -slow, pounding, repetitive, and almost hypnotic. There’s a kind of blunt-force groove to it, like a blues riff that’s been dragged through mud and distortion until it becomes something raw and primitive. On the flip side, King Snake Roost’s take on “More Than Love” is rougher and more chaotic, pushing the song into noisier territory, with a sharper, more aggressive edge that hints at the direction noise rock and early grunge would take in the following years. 

Both bands were central figures in the late 80s Australian underground. feedtime had been around since the late 70s and built their reputation on a minimalist, blues-infused take on punk that felt completely out of step with trends at the time. Their music was repetitive in a deliberate way, almost trance-like, and later on it would be recognized as a major influence on the grunge and noise scenes that exploded in the US.

 
King Snake Roost, coming out of Adelaide in the mid-80s, were a bit more abrasive and chaotic. Their sound had more in common with the harsher end of American noise rock, but they still shared that same DIY spirit and obsession with raw texture. They even made their way over to the US and worked with Butch Vig before he became a household name, which gives you an idea of how connected these scenes were becoming. 

There’s also a live element to their relationship that adds another layer to this record. The bands played together often, and it wasn’t unusual for members to jump on stage with each other. At times, King Snake Roost’s Peter Hill would even perform “Buffalo Bob” live with feedtime, blurring the lines between the two groups even further. 

In the end, this split isn’t just a couple of songs pressed onto vinyl -it’s a snapshot of a moment where a small, noisy scene was cross-pollinating in real time. You can hear the shared DNA, but also the subtle differences in approach, and that’s what makes it such a satisfying listen, especially if you’re into the roots of noise rock and grunge.

 

 

Label: Aberrant Records – MORETHAN1BOB 

Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM 

Country: Australia 

Released: Feb 19, 1988 

Style: Garage Rock, Grunge, Punk, Pigfuck 

 

Tracklist: 

A feedtime – Buffalo Bob 

B King Snake Roost – More Than Love 

 

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Fecal Matter – Illiteracy Will Prevail [Cass] (1986, Not On Label)

Fecal Matter was a punk rock band from Aberdeen, Washington. The group was formed in 1985 by Kurt Cobain, the future frontman of Nirvana, along with Dale Crover of the Melvins and drummer Greg Hokanson. Melvins members Buzz Osborne (also known as "King Buzzo") and Mike Dillard appeared in a later version of the band during rehearsals the following year. The band was short-lived, disbanding in 1986. 

 

Songs from the group's sole recording session were issued as the 'Illiteracy Will Prevail' demo tape. With the exception of the song "Spank Thru", the tracks from this session remain unreleased officially. A re-recording of "Downer" was also released on the first Nirvana album, 'Bleach'. 'Illiteracy Will Prevail' is the earliest documentation of Cobain's songwriting in circulation, and helped Cobain establish himself as a composer and performer among his peers in the emerging grunge scene in Washington State. 

 

Although the band had become inactive, Cobain continued passing around the Fecal Matter demo tape to friends and peers. His acquaintance Krist Novoselic, with whom Cobain had briefly jammed previously and had wanted to collaborate for some time, heard the tape and particularly liked the song "Spank Thru". The two agreed to form a band, which eventually became Nirvana. They began rehearsals later in 1986 for the new project, and reused the Fecal Matter songs "Downer", "Anorexorcist", and "Spank Thru". Novoselic later mentioned in the liner notes for the 'From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah' live album that "Spank Thru" was "...the first Nirvana song" and it is perhaps the earliest known example of what would become Nirvana's signature combination of punk energy, noise, and pop melodies. 

 

"Spank Thru" has been featured on several official Nirvana releases and was performed live numerous times early in the band's career: January 1988 during the band's first studio recording session and a second version was recorded a few months later. This second version was included on the 'Sub Pop 200' compilation released in December 1988, making it the third ever Nirvana song to be officially released. Later in 1989, "Spank Thru" was also recorded at the band's first BBC Peel Session. "Spank Thru" holds the distinction of being the only Fecal Matter song played live after 1988. It was included on many 'Bleach'-era setlists and rarely on 'Nevermind'-era setlists. 

 

Officially released live versions include: a 1990 live version that was included the UK "Sliver" CD single pressing and later deluxe versions of 'Bleach', a 1991 version included on the 'From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah' live album, and the band's 1992 'Live at Reading' performance. A video recording of a 1988 band rehearsal performance was included on the 2004 'With the Lights Out' boxed set's DVD. The 2005 Nirvana rarities album 'Sliver: The Best of the Box' included the original "Spank Thru" recording; this is the first and only official release of any recording from 'Illiteracy Will Prevail'. 

 

"Downer" was re-recorded by Nirvana in January 1988 during the band's first studio recording session. Although originally omitted, "Downer" was eventually added to Nirvana's 'Bleach' album starting with its 1992 reissue and was part of the 'Incesticide' compilation also released that same year. 

 

The song "Anorexorcist", part of a nine-minute medley on the Fecal Matter demo, was on setlists of several early Nirvana shows. "Anorexorcist" was played during a 1987 performance on KAOS when the band was named Skid Row; this performance was eventually officially released on the 'With the Lights Out' boxed set. 

 

'Illiteracy Will Prevail' remained a highly sought-after and elusive item for collectors as Nirvana rose to fame, and became notorious for forged versions being bootlegged as being the demo. [SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA]

 

 

Label: Not On Label (Fecal Matter Self-released) – none 

Format: Cassette 

Country: US 

Released: 1986 

Style: Sludge Metal, Grunge, Punk Rock, Lo-Fi, Pigfuck, Hardcore Punk, Post-Hardcore, Noise Rock

 

Tracklist: 

A1 Sound Of Dentage 3:42 

A2 Untitled 1:19 

A3 Bambi Slaughter 3:25 

A4 Laminated Effect 2:11 

A5 Untitled 2:40 

A6 Untitled 4:01 

A7 Untitled 1:57 

A8 Untitled 9:16 

B1 Untitled 4:35 

B2 Spank Thru 3:52 

B3 Untitled 1:31 

B4 Class Of '86 4:20 

B5 Blather's Log 2:29 

B6 Downer 3:04 

B7 Untitled 1:41 

B8 Turn Around 2:07 

B9 Untitled 6:13 

 

Notes:  

Recorded on a TEAC A-2340 four-track recorder at Burien, Washington in December 1985 (according to Michael Azerrad) or Easter 1986 (according to Gillian Gaar). 

 

Tracks A2, A5 - A8, B1, B3, B6, B7 and B9 are not indicated on the cover. Only tracks A1, A3, A4, B2, B4 and B5 are listed. 

 

Track B8 is "Turn Around" by Devo. Nirvana later covered the song on their 1992 album 'Incesticide'.

Track B9 contains the guitar riffs to all the songs on the album. 

 

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King Snake Roost – Things That Play Themselves [LP] (1989, Aberrant Records)

Gifted with a rhythm section that sounded like a garbage truck's exhaust backfiring and a guitarist who rarely felt the need to play chords, Australia's King Snake Roost played the kind of noise rock that let them easily fit into the roster of Amphetamine Reptile Records. They also confirmed Australia as a hotbed of blues-punk -yes, the influence of the blues can easily be discerned beneath all the garbage truck backfiring and dearth of guitar chords, and their vocalist did his best Delta-blues-scorched-black growl. Can't really claim these guys as some unjustly obscure geniuses; after all, their path had already been pretty well-trod before them (question: is Nick Cave an Australian "national hero" like Springsteen is in the States? Just wondering). Still, when you want some down n' dirty, defiantly art-free noise rock, they're a damn fine cup o' disease. Inspirational lyric (from "Trogman's Buried"): "He showed my mom his circumcision scars / Then he drowned in his own blood." [SOURCE: RATE YOUR MUSIC]

 

 

Label: Aberrant Records – 1THING 

Format: Vinyl, LP 

Country: Australia 

Released: Jan 25, 1989 

Style: Alternative Rock, Noise, Noise Rock, Punk Blues, Grunge

 

Tracklist:

A1 Worm's Eye View 

A2 D.T.'s 

A3 The Ledge Does Vegas 

A4 Everything Falls Apart 

A5 Hammerhead 

A6 Acid Heart 

B1 Fried 

B2 Trogman's Buried 

B3 Talking Turkey 

B4 Shunting Yard 

B5 That Again? 

B6 Gutterbreath 

 

Other Versions: 

Amphetamine Reptile Records (1989, US): LP (ARR 89168-1) + Cassette (ARR 89168-4)

Megadisc (1989, Netherlands): LP (MD 7906) 

 

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64 Spiders ‎– Potty Swat [7''] (1989, Regal Select Records)

 

64 Spiders was a proto-grunge band from Seattle formed in 1984 and disbanded in 1987. Members were Brother James Burdyshaw (vocals, guitar, later Cat Butt, Sinister Six, The Bare-Ass Minimums, Yummy), Joe Ross (vocals, bass, ex The Green Pajamas, later Capping Day, Joe Ross & The Bird Watchers, Yummy), Norman Scott McCollum (drums, later Capping Day, Gruntruck, Skin Yard, Softy). Other members were Brian Wright (drums, 1984), Ross Cottrell (bass, 1984-85), Dave Lee (vocals, 1985-86) and Eric Lee Walker (drums, 1985-86). They released one self-titled cassette on Endgame Records in 1987 and one 7’’ (‘Potty Swat’) in 1989 on the garage punk label Regal Select Records. 

 

Label: Regal Select Records ‎– M-005 

Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single

Country: US 

Released: 1989 

Style: Indie Rock, Grunge, Punk Blues

 

Tracklist:

A1 Potty Swat 2:28 

A2 Nope 1:19 

B Rubber Room 4:31 

 

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God Bullies ‎– Plastic Eye Miracle [LP] (1990, Amphetamine Reptile Records, Mad Queen Records)

They cover such songs as Link Wray’s “Preacher Man” and Terry Jacks’ “Which Way You Goin’ Billy.” Every other word out of their mouths has to do with god in some shape or form. There are enough sermons embedded between the notes to stock a religious radio station. One song even begins with a sweet little girl singing a hymn. But make no mistake about it: gospel this ain’t. The God Bullies are everything Sister Mary Elizabeth warned you about. Formed in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the God Bullies debuted in 1988 with the single “All I Want Is My Mamma” and followed that with the cassette-only half-live/half-studio 'Plastic Eye Miracle' (later vinylized in Germany). As the voice of the beast, Mike Hard has learned his lessons well from The Sisters of Mercy: a slow, deep growl interspersed with a glazed-eyed psycho laugh so gleeful and ghoulish that you wonder if it’s an act or just the Halidol wearing off.  [SOURCE: TROUSER PRESS] 

 

 

Label: Amphetamine Reptile Records ‎– ARR 7/71, Mad Queen Records ‎– ARR 7/71 

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album 

Country: Europe, US

Released: 1990 

Style: Grunge, Noise, Goth Rock, Noise Rock

 

Tracklist:

A1 It's Over 3:50 

A2 You Cry Now 2:55 

A3 She's Wild 5:05 

B1 Plastic Eye Miracle 2:21 

B2 Freefall / Act Of Desire 5:30 

B3 Like It Like That 2:30 

B4 Live Sex (Mamma) 3:50 

 

Notes:

Tracks B2 to B4 were recorded live to cassette at Cabaret Metro, Chicago, 20 April 1988. 

 

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Janitor Joe ‎– Big Metal Birds [LP] (1993, Amphetamine Reptile Records)

'90s noise-alt group Janitor Joe is best-known as the original band of late bassist Kristen Pfaff, who would go on to join Courtney Love in Hole. Originally comprised of members Joachim Breuer (guitar, vocals), Matt Entsminger (drums), and Pfaff, Janitor Joe was formed in Minneapolis during 1991. The trio signed with the Amphetamine Reptile label shortly thereafter, issuing a debut LP in 1993, 'Big Metal Birds', a must for any fans of noise rock over-shadowed somewhat by Nirvana's success at the time. An extremely consistent album for those who like their bass fuzzy, guitars minimal, but caustic and the overall mood close to sleazy and creepy. Joachim's vocals veer between tensely lower register spoken voice and snarling, gruff voiced screaming. They sound like a better written Tar or a darker/noisier version of The Wipers. [SOURCE: RATE YOUR MUSIC] 

Label: Amphetamine Reptile Records ‎– ARR 39/247, Amphetamine Reptile Records ‎– AMREP 014

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album 

Country: US, Europe, Poland

Released: 29 Mar 1993 

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

Tracklist:

A1 Early Retirement 3:13 

A2 Voucher 2:03 

A3 Boyfriend 2:49 

A4 Limited Edition 2:19 

A5 One Eye 3:47 

A6 Big Metal Birds 3:13 

B1 Boys In Blue 3:43 

B2 Slur 2:28 

B3 Steel Plate 3:05 

B4 Goal Oriented 3:22 

B5 Sunshine 2:37 

B6 Head 2:04 

B7 African Necklace 3:03 

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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. 

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The Fluid ‎– Clear Black Paper [LP] (1988, Sub Pop)

It should be pointed out that it was Denver outfit The Fluid that seemed to fire the first shot in the stakes which would later be deemed grunge rock not Seattle (although it came via Sub Pop). Previously there existed a taboo in the underground not to mix 70’s riffs with 80’s hardcore, yet as the 80’s progressed Black Flag seemed to almost lobby to have their name Flag changed Sabbath. The Fluid showed that punk could progress only so far before you had to seek outside influences. Tracks such as "Cold Outside", "It’s My Time", "Left Unsaid" and "Try Try Try" were powering and indicated that The Fluid were an act with enormous potential. Later efforts such as ‘Glue’ and ‘Roadmouth’ gleamed acclaim for The Fluid’s yet their golden moment clearly remained ‘Clear Black Paper’. [SOURCE: RATE YOUR MUSIC] 

Label: Sub Pop ‎– SP 16 

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album 

Country: US, Canada, Germany

Released: May 1988 

Style: Alternative Rock, Garage Rock, Garage Punk, Grunge

Tracklist:

A1 Cold Outside 

A2 Nick Of Time 

A3 Lonely One 

A4 It's My Time 

A5 Left Unsaid 

B1 Try, Try, Try 

B2 Hall Of Mirrors 

B3 Much Too Much 

B4 Your Kinda Thing 

B5 New Questions 

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64 Spiders ‎– 64 Spiders [Cass] (1987, Endgame Records)

64 Spiders was a proto-grunge band from Seattle formed in 1984 and disbanded in 1987. Members were Brother James Burdyshaw (vocals, guitar, later Cat Butt, Sinister Six, The Bare-Ass Minimums, Yummy), Joe Ross (vocals, bass, ex The Green Pajamas, later Capping Day, Joe Ross & The Bird Watchers, Yummy), Norman Scott McCollum (drums, later Capping Day, Gruntruck, Skin Yard, Softy). Other members were Brian Wright (drums, 1984), Ross Cottrell (bass, 1984-85), Dave Lee (vocals, 1985-86) and Eric Lee Walker (drums, 1985-86). They released one self-titled cassette on Endgame Records in 1987 and one 7’’ (‘Potty Swat’) in 1989 on the garage punk label Regal Select Records. 

Label: Endgame Records – EG006 

Format: Cassette, Album 

Country: US 

Released: 1987 

Genre: Rock 

Style: Grunge, Punk Blues

Tracklist:

A1 Potty Swat 

A2 Into The Grey 

A3 Nope 

A4 Bolemic Saturday 

B1 Rubber Room 

B2 There Ain't 

B3 Dance Of Ages 

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Cat Butt ‎– Journey To The Center Of [LP] (1989, Sub Pop)

Seattle's Cat Butt was known for its supergroup lineup. Its original members consisted of two parts U-Men, one part 64 Spiders, and one part Girl Trouble. They were all bands that had created a stir in the Northwest punk scene during the mid- to late '80s. With two separate lineups, Cat Butt lasted a total of two years, churning out garage rock with a hardcore attitude. They left a trail of debris stemming from their fall 1989 tour, on which their bassist vomited at GWAR's home in Richmond, VA; their singer fell in love with Superchunk bassist Laura Ballance in Chapel Hill, NC; and they discovered The Reverend Horton Heat. Ultimately, one of the incidents from the tour, which involved a van supplied by Sub Pop records, led to their release from the label. [SOURCE: ALLMUSIC] 

Label: Sub Pop ‎– SP 41 

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album 

Country: US 

Released: Aug 1989 

Style: Garage Rock, Grunge, Garage Punk

Tracklist:

A1 Maximo 

A2 Freebase 

A3 3 Eyes 

B1 Born Loser 

B2 Sedgwick 

B3 Zombie 

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