SFA - "New York" EP

Blogging time has been scarce lately, but I've had some mp3 rips collecting dust that I just hadn't posted. This short burst of postings will probably come to a quick end soon enough. In the meanwhile, let's listen to some SFA.

In Brendan's brief history of SFA he writes: "The EP was crap. It didn't help that our engineer was doing lines of coke on the mixing board while we were laying down tracks. If you're one of the unfortunate few who bought out first EP, I apologize. It was so bad that I used to break copies of the record before giving it to promoters and zines so they could judge it without having to suffer through it."

Regardless (sorry Brendan), in the interest of hardcore history I'm posting it here. I believe this might be the only vinyl release featuring both of SFA's vocalists (Mike Bullshit and Brendan) singing together. If it ain't the only one, there are few anyway. Just be advised that, as Brendan has noted, it is SFA's worst recording production-wise. But doesn't that just make it more endearing?

Songs:
Intro/Bliss
Once Again
95 Average
Gyroscope
Zip-A-Tone
Finast
RealityJourney


Visuals:
Cover (large)
Back
Insert 1
Insert 2
Vinyl

Fearless Vampire Killers "Target" EP

While Japan is better known for its crusty thrash, grindcore and d-beat, Discharge-clone bands like Disclose, FVK was more like a Bad Brains clone. Unlike the d-beaters FVK doesn't live up to the standards of their hero band (BB) by any stretch of the imagination (especially in the vocals department, in my opinion), but this is nonetheless a classic 80s Japanese release worth a listen.

Songs:
Though We're Youth (Smegma-O-Mara)
One Summer Vacation
All You Offend To My Eyse (sic)
Buffalo Slam
Dept 49
Oh Your Mammy

Visuals:
Cover (large)
Back

SCRAPS - "Aaargh" 7"

I never anything about this band beyond what it says in this record, but the folks at Kill From the Heart have more info…Enjoy.

Songs:
Dubeauf s'en va t'en guerre
Au service de la loi
Macho Klan
Major Shits
I Hate Memories

Visuals:
Cover (large)
Back
Insert 1

Life's Blood Defiance 7" and 1988 Demo

Here is the Life’s Blood “Defiance” 7” along with the 1988 Demo recorded at Don Fury.

7inchpunk.com also posted the 7” so you can compare this rip with theirs and see which you like better. Jay (Jason O’Toole) gave me the green light to post this (MiddleAgedYouth.com had posted it too, but removed it, prompting me to ask Jay if he cared if it got posted).

Random trivia about this record: I happened to be at Dave Stein’s apartment when the first shipment of Defiance arrived in the mail. A couple lucky friends and I got to buy the first ones out of the box. I remember Dave talking about how he thought Maximum Rock'N'Roll would probably give Life’s Blood a better review than many NYHC bands, because he thought they would "Iike the packaging" and because the songs critique a lot of BS in the NYHC scene at the time. He was totally right on. MRR gave it a great review. The look and feel of the cover and inserts look everything but NYHC circa late 80s. Speaking of packaging,another bit of trivia: According to a source close the situation at the time, the cover of this 7″ was made on stolen card stock. MRR’s review, of course, was due to more than the packaging. The music was right on and the lyrics critiqued a lot o’ crap going on in the NY scene then. The only minor MRR complaint (according to Dave K. was that Tim Yohanan said that “Catch our Breath” just sounded so obviously like Blitz that it “it just couldn’t be forgiven.” Dave claims Life’s Blood never played the song life again. I don’t know. For more info on Life’s Blood, see the Middle Aged Youth post.

Eventually I’m going to post a live LB show at CBGB’s as well as some other random LB tracks that I have.


Songs:
Sorry folks! I've deleted the Life's Blood 7" at the request of Neil, as I understand it is going to be re-released via Prank records. When I have more information I'll post that here. (Hmmm, digital re-release. Does this mean my original vinyl 7" goes UP or DOWN in value? Hard to say. The punk rock futures market is one big roller coaster in today's digital age.)

1988 Demo

The demo is all on one mp3 file so here is the song list:
Maximum Security
Left Behind
Never Make A Change
Stick To It
Not For The Weak
Youth Enrage

Defiance Visuals:
Cover (large)
Back
Insert scans coming soon. My files got messed up.
Insert 1
Insert 2
Lyrics

Swiz - "Down" 7"

Between the birth of my beautiful daughter and school, there is precious little time for mp3 blogging of late.

This is the first 7" of the great D.C.-area group Swiz. I saw them multiple times in Albany and Connecticut in the late 80s, including on the awesome "SwASide" tour with Soulside and New Jersey greats American Standard (upcoming post -- American Standard's first LP, stay tuned). Trivia: vocalist Shawn Brown was Dag Nasty's first singer (Aug 1985 - Feb 1986) before quitting to form Swiz. He later sang for a number of other bands, most recently in Jesuseater.

Songs:
Much
Time
Cause
Lie

Visuals:
Cover (large)
Back Cover
vinyl side A
vinyl side B
Insert A
Insert B