MACHINE SONG(S).

Something a bit different this time, an early Eighties classic "pre-noise rock" record all the way from Christchurch, New Zealand…

The Gordons were a three-piece that melded bombastic sheets of noise with power & melody. Somewhat akin to a band like Gang of Four, but with a deeper element of energy, chaos & suspense.
I'd be surprised if you've never heard them / heard of them, but if not, here's a perfect opportunity to hear a timeless record that I - maybe even YOU - will find is an easy listen right next to anything else featured here on the L-RV...

The Gordons - The Gordons / Future Shock EP

DECRY.

In my mind, a classic Los Angeles hardcore record - one that does not get the love that, say, the Adolescents got...

Underrated as fuck, the twin-guitar attack here is ahead of its time, the bass player "laying right in the pocket" (the way bass should be played), etc. Now add some suburban angst (peer pressure, drugs, violence, depression, cops,) and it all adds up to the perfect formula for some classic 1980's first-generation American Hardcore (the good shit).
None of this needs to be said though, honestly - let the music do the talking…

Decry - Falling

Link in comments.

GG ALLIN.

Back before Jesus Christ Allin became "The Highest (heroin) Power" who threw shit on everyone, Kevin Michael Allin was worshipping at the altar of Stiv Bators & that ain't no bad thing!

This here - the first album from back in 1980 - is chock full of snotty pop-punk. I usually (always) hate that kind of shit, but GG was over the top lyrically from the beginning.

While you either loved him or hated him, there is absolutely NO ONE who even comes close to the "violent rock 'n roll madman furious-style" that GG lived. Sadly, he never fulfilled his plan of "taking myself out onstage -and a few others as well". Heroin, alcoholism, various addictions, incarceration, & metal-state deterioration turned him into a pathetic mess in the end. Honestly though - I miss the fuckin' dude - used to be every week for me back in the day that folks were talking about what GG did at his last show, etc.

R.I.P. Scumfuc!

GG Allin - Always Was, Is, and Always Shall Be

Link in comments.

ANTiSEEN.

Pulled out an old favorite today - some "Destructo Rock" for you from the Queen City (Charlotte, N.C.).

ANTiSEEN is a veritable juggernaut of blood, hatred, barbed wire, washboards, un-PC thinking, & punk rock mayhem all wrapped up in a sleeveless flannel Confederate Flag.

Love them or hate them you're just gonna have to "eat more possum"…



ANTiSEEN - Eat More Possum

Link in comments.

DEVIATED INSTINCT.

True leaders of the pack as far as crafting the bass-heavy crust sound known as "Stenchcore", Deviated Instinct are still out there 25 years into it.
You ever wonder what you'll be doing in 25 years?
These guys are still practicing their crunchy / crusty craft, and we are all better off for it.

There are many pretenders are to throne - Deviated Instinct wrote the curriculum for how it's done properly.



Deviated Instinct - Welcome to the Orgy

Link in comments.

PLASMATICS.

Wendy O. Williams will probably never get the respect she deserves when it comes to her place in rock-and-roll history. She fronted one of the most uniquely shocking bands back in the day; one that if you tried to emulate today you would just be laughed at.
She lived a hard life, was an entertaining front person, and sadly it has been nearly 11 years now since she took her own life. There will never be another one like her, and there will never be another band like the Plasmatics.

Here now for your listening pleasure is a quality live recording of the band at the pinnacle of their power, enjoy.



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Plasmatics - 04.23.1983 The Circus, Bergenfield, NJ

D.O.A.

Well, the holiday season is in full-swing - I've defintiely been enjoying the down-time - and I thought I'd make my year-end post in grand style, so here is the namesake-classic hardcore album of the genre itself.

Let's all be thankful that Chuck Biscuits is still with us, shall we?



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D.O.A. - Hardcore '81



*Ahem*

There will be NO Lo-Res Viscera end-of-year best-of list.

That stuff is all pretty trivial in my opinion - working at a snobby indie/altie record shop for a few years in the past definitely changed the way I LISTEN to music, and it took me some time to figure out (once again) how to feeel confident & find my own voice when it comes to writing about great bands/records that move me.

I'm positive I would bum out a good portion of the blogosphere if I was to post my "Shittiest-and-Most-Overrated-Records-of-2009" list, and so - seeing as how I'm not out to make any new enemies - I'll keep that one to myself (although it would probably read like 57% of Decibel Mag's Best of 2009)...

DEVO.

Here's a great-sounding vintage Devo treat for you...

The Spudboys were hard to beat back in the day, and this early performance is testimony to that as they tear through material from the first two albums.

I always enjoyed their early stuff, as they pretty much made digital tones on beautiful analog instruments better than anyone else. The first two albums are my favorites - especially "Duty Now" - but I'd say up through "New Traditionalists" it's all classic. After that they pretty much lost me.

For the record, Alan Meyers is one of the greatest drummers that ever beat the skins, and to me, it AIN'T Devo w/o him...



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Devo - 11.03.1978 Walker Art Center, Mpls. MN



Hawaii was fucking incredible.
I ate some amazing food, drank some decadent cocktails - I even put on a collared shirt! The beach was killer, did some boogie-boarding/surfing/swimming/snorkeling, our hotel resort was fucking plush, saw some amazing waterfalls/flora/fauna/coastline, went to BJ Penn's training facility, slept in, and just generally r-e-l-a-x-e-d.

The good times always go by too fast, don't they?

FEAR.

Fear was definitely one of the very first punk bands to start crafting the sound that would eventually come to be known as hardcore (that stuff we all know and love).
While it wasn't quite the raucous musical masterpiece that "THE RECORD" was, "More Beer" still holds many a wry drunken anthem within its seething grooves.

Many have emulated Lee Ving, yet no one possesses the same charisma / humor / intimidation as the man himself. Why bother, ya know? Plus, he played a Gibson Sonex - (my guitar of choice)...



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Fear - More Beer

RAMONES.

While I've never been the biggest fan of The Ramones, their early material was indeed fucking "ALL THAT", and this thirty-year-old recording of them in action at a small Michigan club proves it.

You WILL be amazed by the sound quality of this thing, and the band is tight as fuck - the cover art is STELLAR too, by the way ;)

Enjoy this recording as you rarely see it around the 'webernet...



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Ramones - 02.26.1979 Second Chance Saloon, Ann Arbor, MI (Part I)



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Ramones - 02.26.1979 Second Chance Saloon, Ann Arbor, MI (Part II)




Now playing: Jerry's Kids - We Don't Need It
via FoxyTunes

STEEL POLE BATH TUB.

The last two summers that I lived in Ann Arbor & Detroit in the 80's were a fucking drug-addled mess, and these guys were the soundtrack to my existence on a nearly-daily basis.

Once I moved to S.F. in 1991, a good friend of mine introduced me to them.
I got to know them a bit better, watched them in action in the studio, and as housemates at one point for a short time back when The Mission was ALOT more scary than it is now.
San Francisco had all kinds of bands back in the 90's before the dot-com boom (which seems ages ago now), and these days "the scene" here is pretty much riddled with ironic hipster metal or -even worse - electro bullshit or free jazz/folk garbage.
I am assuming, mind you, as I find the "live music experience" to be highly overrated these days and rarely go to shows.

I will stop pining about the old days now...

Enjoy what is most definitely a classic piece of San Francisco punk rock history made by a couple of dudes from Montana who decided to move to The City and make one hell of a (beautiful and sometimes ugly) racket.



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Steel Pole Bath Tub - Lurch




Now playing: Outpatients - Cover Girl
via FoxyTunes

RED CROSS.

Um, this is before the lawsuit/name change.
Some trashy & raw punk-ass demo cuts from these L.A. legends.
You don't see this around much, so check it out.

Something a bit different from the L-R V for a change...



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Red Cross - Born Innocent Demo Tapes





Now playing: Protestant - Neglect
via FoxyTunes

400 BLOWS.

You always know what to expect when 400 Blows comes around.
Definitely one of the most minimalistic and sincere bands I have been witness to on many an occasion.

I recorded this off the 'webernet a few years ago at the time it aired, plus I made you some sweet-ass cover art too, so double score for you!

Truly a "party band" in every sense of the word...



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400 Blows - 05.18.2004 "Lock Up", BBC Radio




Now playing: Raw Radar War - Rupture
via FoxyTunes

THE STOOGES.

To me, this is the best of the lot as far as Stooges bootlegs go.
I probably listen to this more than any other Stooges release out there.
The mix is dirty - just like the music itself.

Some great takes on some great songs.



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The Stooges - My Girl Hates My Heroin




Now playing: Monster Magnet - Third alternative
via FoxyTunes

CHARGED G.B.H.

The last of the really good G.B.H. albums - their third release overall - just so happens to be my favorite as well.
While the levels on this recording could use a good remastering, I feel that this era of G.B.H. proved to be their hardest/heaviest/darkest w/ excellent songwriting.

The cover is pretty awesome, too.



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Charged G.B.H. - Midnight Madness and Beyond.......




Now playing: Dwight Yoakam - Train In Vain
via FoxyTunes

FLESHIES.

Hyper-as-hell and punk-as-fuck, The Fleshies have consistently kick the collective ass of the Bay Area for nearly 10 years now. They combine some punky three-chord ROCK with gallons of spastic energy, creating a rock experience par excellance!
Singer Johnny No-Monicker is definitely one of the most charismatic front guys I have ever witnessed, and he even dedicated a song to my son Benito Strummer the day he was born. (it was a cover of the Clash's "Koka-Kola", by the way).

They haven't been active in some time now, but they haven't broken up either. These guys always stay busy w/ side projects, etc.

Here's their stellar 2001 hit album - enjoy!



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Fleshies - Kill the Dreamer's Dream




Now playing: Multiplex - Inside Out
via FoxyTunes

GG ALLIN.

Here's some early rockin' punk stuff by GG - much better than the post-prison violent drunken-junkie GG material. While you either love him or hate him, there will never be another rock star like this guy.

Rock & Roll could certainly use another TRUE psycho right about now...

IF ANYONE HAS GG ALLIN/BRIAN DOUGLAS CLEMONS - "The $20 POEM" WOULD YOU PLEASE SEND ME A LINK TO EITHER THE AUDIO OR VIDEO IF YOU HAVE IT? THANKS.



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GG Allin - Dirty Love Songs




Now playing: Special Forces - Nobody Rules

DEVO.

Man, Devo used to rule my world back in junior high/high school!

The soundtrack to my daily life back then used to be these guys, Kiss, Cheap Trick, AC/DC & The Clash. I'd spend most of my days out on my BMX bike or my skateboard, playing Cenitpede or Defender or Joust at the 7-11 near my house, sneaking Kools from my Dad's pack.
Nice, huh?

Here's a sick collection of rare tracks/mixes from the Spud Boys themselves.
I believe this was only released in an edition 5000 pressed, and fuckin'-a if it don't rule...



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Devo - Recombo DNA Pt. I



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Devo - Recombo DNA Pt. II



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Devo - Recombo DNA Pt. III



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Devo - Recombo DNA Pt. IV




Now playing: Harvey Milk - Plastic Eggs