Can: The Singles - Can (Mute/Spoon Records)

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

05 September 2017

Hits: 4259

So, while a single a-side was supposed to get you up and interested, a B-side wasn’t. In fact, many bands - particularly mainstream bands - would plop dud choons on the B-side, convinced that no-one was listening.

Nope. The fans were listening. And boy, did some fans get annoyed with the shit they found there. Why would your favourite band slip you sludge on the B-side? You pay good money, you expect a decent track on the flip.

Smarter (and poorer) bands began to use the B-side to their advantage - slipping in a cracking live rendition of a familiar song, or a joke or experimental track. Hell, a record costs money to make, you don’t want to spend all that just to waste the space on the flip. Hence The Damned’s crackling rendition of “Help!”, the Beatles song performed with kettle drums at a million miles an hour. Brilliance.

• singles
• kraughtrock
• can band
• mute records

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You Were There - Suzie Stapleton (self released)

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

05 September 2017

Hits: 5585

So why is a free downloadable single such a significant item? 

Because it’s not just a cheaper snapshot into an artist’s work. It can be an Instagram into an imaginary, lush and extraordinary world. The single worships the song itself, transforms it from one more song in a sequence (as with a CD or LP) and one more song in a set, and draws the song into greater, more concentrated focus.

Which means, when you hear something labelled a single, if it’s an old single, like from before the 1990s, you really do have to imagine the new owner playing the song over and over.

• bad seeds
• jim jones and the righteous mind
• suzie stapleton
• you were there
• cypress grove

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Punk Avenue: Inside the New York City Underground 1972-1982 by Phil Marcade (Three Rooms Press)

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By The Barman

The Barman

02 September 2017

Hits: 7941

Phillippe Marcade was briefly drummer and then frontman for long-running New York City band The Senders, and a close confidant of many on the CBGB and Max’s Kansas City scenes.

Born in France, for the most illegally living in NYC, he rode the rock and roll roller coaster as hard as anyone in Lower Manhattan. 

“Punk Avenue” - the title is a play-on-words reference to the Park Avenue location of Max’s - is a fantastic read. There are no dead spots; Marcade tells his story colourfully, underlined by droll, self-deprecating humour. 

• new york punk
• heartbreakers
• cbgb
• max's kansas city
• new york dolls
• ramones
• blondie
• jerry nolan
• johnny thunders
• sid vicious
• phil marcade
• the senders
• punk avenue
• nancy spungeon

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Oh, Canada! Fleshtones are still Bigger and Better than we'll ever be

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By Dave Champion

Dave Champion

02 September 2017

Hits: 6677

_{The Fleshtones joined by Miriam Linna (and Dave Champion at right of stage) . Photo: LePetitRusse}

The “Wheel of Talent” was spinning in northern Ontario, Canada, baby. Oh yeah!

I very rarely open the newsletters and catalogs I get from various labels and bands but for some reason I was drawn to this month’s from Norton Records.

What do I see but that the mighty Fleshtones are playing two hours from home. And Sudbury hometown girl, Miriam Linna (head honcho at Norton Records, ex-Cramps drummer and solo artist in her own right), was going to be joining them. On stage. So, yeah, I had to go.

• live
• fleshtones
• peter zaremba
• bill milhizer
• keith streng
• ken fox
• miriam linna
• norton records
• rob sweeney

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How Did I Find Myself Here? – Dream Syndicate (Epitath/ANTI)

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By The Barman

The Barman

02 September 2017

Hits: 4541

This is a review of an album by a band regarded as leaders of The Paisley Underground movement of the 1980s, written by someone who never bought into that scene. 

Genres are a device to apply easily understood descriptors so other people know what you’re talking about. They’re hard to avoid if you want to communicate meaningfully but all the same, they’re annoying because they infer boundaries. Deal with it. 

“How Did I Find Myself Here?” is a rock and roll record. It gets you to a place and  takes a path less obvious than most bands (reluctantly) wearing a label. 

• paisley underground
• dream syndicate
• how did i find myself here
• epitath
• steve wynn

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Warm reception as The On and Ons welcome us aboard

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By The Barman

The Barman

01 September 2017

Hits: 5848

T_{he On and Ons Glenn Morris and Jon Roberts with guest guitarist Murray Cook . Shona Ross photo}

At the risk of stating the bleeding obvious, this was a night of three contrasting but not dissimilar bands when The Smart Folk, Loose Pills and The On and Ons weaved their guitar pop web over Marrickville Bowling Club. It was also the album launch for The On and Ons' wonderful CD "Welcome Aboard".

These sorts of night are infrequent in Sydney these days. Ones where the bands on the bill complement each other and the venue doesn't turn people off, so they turn out in good numbers.

You’re here to read a live music review? Hang in there. There's a bit of preaching to go through, first...

• alive
• loose pills
• sydney
• clyde bramley
• the on and ons
• murray bennett
• the smart folk
• marrickville bowling club
• welcome aboard
• glenn morris
• brian morris
• jon roberts

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Ain't that cool? Another Aints show, supports announced

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By The Barman

The Barman

01 September 2017

Hits: 5119

The Aints Play The Saints (’73-78) national tour in November led by Ed Kuepper and an all-star band is selling out all over so new shows have been announced.

The gig at Melbourne's Caravan Music Club has joined Sydney’'s The Factory Theatre as a pre-tour sell-out.  Limited tickets remain for the other Melbourne show (November 18 at the Corner Hotel) and all other shows in Perth, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Due to demand, Sunday, November 26 has been set aside for a performance at Aussie World on the Sunshine Coast and tickets are on sale via aussieworld.com

• Medew
• saints
• ed kuepper
• tour
• australian
• the aints

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Leave Home Deluxe Edition – Ramones (Rhino)

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By The Barman

The Barman

01 September 2017

Hits: 4693

Contest the claim if you like, but there isn’t a better Ramones album than “Leave Home”, their second long-player.

Yes, the debut was retrospectively ground-breaking and a beacon for rock and roll’s shift back-to-basics, but “Leave Home” surely should have been the point where “punk” (at least as America knew it) crossed the line, converting from Cult Curiosity to Mainstream Soundtrack.

High-tensile guitars, off-colour humour, melodies and energy live large within its groove. Bubblegum, doo-wop, pop and rock bundled into the perfect musical package, married to an image of teen rebellion, leather jackets and shades. What the fuck is there not to love?

• rhino
• deluxe
• new york
• ramones
• punk rock
• leave home

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They Just Want Their Fun: Why Exploding White Mice will walk again

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By Ronald Brown

Ronald Brown

29 August 2017

Hits: 11229

Exploding White Mice burst on to the Australian musical landscape in 1983. They formed in Adelaide = the so-called City of Churches – and toured Australia constantly, releasing their “A Nest Of Vipers” EP in 1985.

Originally Paul Gilchrist on vocals, Andy MacQueen on bass, Gerry Barrett on guitar, Craig Rodda on drums and Giles Barrow on rhythm guitar, they made an immediate mark with their mix of Radio Birdman-meets-the-Ramones punk rock.

• adelaide
• exploding white mice
• jeff gilchrist
• jeff stephens
• noise for heroes
• craig rodda
• andy macqueen
• david bunney
• jack jacomos

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