Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Sonic Overload 1/21/13


While I mourn the New England Patriots’ loss at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens, it’s time to press ahead with this week’s Sonic Overload. It’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day and I begin this week’s show with a new clip taken from an interview on NBC’s Frank McGee Report a bit under a year before Dr. King’s assassination. As with the previous clips I’ve used, it shows how King’s activism reached beyond desegregation and civil rights to encompass a wider-ranging economic ideology, as well as vehement opposition to the Vietnam War. I hope I articulated that at least somewhat coherently at the top of the show. It always astounds me when right wingers try to make the claim that King was conservative. It’s mind-boggling. If anything, King was a democratic socialist and he’d be appalled at the Republican Party’s agenda. He’d just as likely be disappointed with or at least critical of Obama, with his own aggressive foreign policy, attack on civil liberties and inability (so far) to do much about the ever-widening gulf between the haves and have nots. I haven’t paid much attention to Obama’s inauguration today—I was busy working on the show but heard he quoted King. I hope Obama will fully embrace what King stood for. But call me a cynic—I’m not holding my breath.

Sonic Overload 1/21/13

TRACK 1

BLIGHT-The Dream Was Dead (Touch & Go)

SOCIETY NURSE-Self Made Man (Iron Lung)
SLICES-Medusa (Iron Lung)
NEEDLES-Desperacion (Iron Lung)
DUSTHEADS-Altered States (Don Giovanni)
FEJLFIX-Tvivl I Dit Sind (Spaghetti Cassetti)

JOEL GRIND-Vengeance Spell (self-released)
PARASYTIC-Ire Of War (Relapse)
BLANK STARE-White Hell (Third Party)
PRISONER ABUSE-Worst Intentions (Painkiller)
RAISE CAIN-Sense Of Fear (Amok)
MAD CONFLUX-Bloody Character (from “Virus,” Jungle Hop)

ROLLERBALL-Savage Eyes (CNR)
LOST KIDS-Cola Freaks (from “Bloodstains Across Europe”)
PORCELAIN FOREHEAD-Human Touch (Corpus Callosum)
C.R.A.S.H.-Cult Merch (Post Present Medium)
WHITE FANGS-Sick & Sad (Azbin)

TRACK 2

ARTICLES OF FAITH-Bad Attitude (Version Sound)
TEEN IDLES-Fiorucci Nightmare (Dischord)
REPOS-Go Faster (Youth Attack)
PANDAMONIUM-Bring That Shit (demo)
TIPPER’S GORE-Closed Your Mind (Flat Black)
VITAMIN X-About To Crack (Tankcrimes)
COLD SHOULDER-Not For Sale (Cowabunga)

CYNICS-Way It’s Gonna Be (Get Hip)
VKTMS-White Girl (Broken)
NEIGHBORHOOD BRATS-Throw Away Girl (Modern Action)
LA URSS-Hasta Fin De Existiencas (La Corporacion)
GAY ANNIVERSARY-Dear Killer (Slovenly)
P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S.-D.U.M.B. (Doomtown Sounds/Static Age)

SOFT BOYS-I Wanna Destroy You (Matador)
THIS MOMENT IN BLACK HISTORY-Lottery Dad (Snax)
THAT PETROL EMOTION-Can’t Stop (Demon)

TRACK 3

TERVEET KADET-Viimeinen Naula (Kämäset Levyt)
RAYGUN-Ahne Poliitikko (Kämäset Levyt)
ANTIKEHO-RAY (from “Russia Bombs Finland,” Propaganda)
BANNLYST-50 Døde Barn (X-Port)
SVART FRAMTID-17 Milliarder (X-Port)
CITY X-Avis (Grand Theft Audio)
7 SECONDS-I Have A Dream (BYO)

BLACK BUG-Midnight (XVII)
FNU RONNIES-Cut To Ribbons (Load)
SYNTHETIC ID-No Context (1-2-3-4, Go!)
HYGIENE-Asbestosi (from “State Funeral,” Artcore)
FOLDED SHIRT-Folded Shirt (Proud To Be Idiot)

SUBURBAN STUDS-No Faith (Pogo)
TIGHTS-Howard Hughes (Cherry Red)
SPIZZENERGI-Where’s Captain Kirk? (Rough Trade)
KLARK KENT-Don’t Care (IRS)

TRACK 4

RED DONS-Pieces (Deranged)
WEEKEND-Age Class (Slumberland)
OUT ON A LIMB-Peking Man (Taken By Surprise)
DOGMATIC ELEMENT-Just Friends (from “Strange Passion,” Cache Cache)

MEGA CITY FOUR-Start (Decoy)
NILS-I Am The Wolf (Siegfried)
ARRIVALS-Analee (Thick)
SOVIETTES-Bottom’s Up, Bottomed Out (Adeline)
PULSES-Scandal (Dirtnap)
KICKING SPIT-Way Out (Tankcrimes)

AU PAIRS-Come Again (Castle)\

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Sonic Overload 1/14/13


Damn, 61 degrees out today and I couldn’t get away to take a walk. Ah well—given the fact last year was the warmest on record, I imagine there will be more days like that during the winter. In the meantime, this show definitely veers towards older music this week. The mail’s been a bit slow on the slow side although I think there’s still enough new stuff to keep things fresh...

Sonic Overload 1/14/13

TRACK 1

REPLACEMENTS-Kids  Don’t Follow (Twin/Tone)

INMATES-You’re Not A Part Of Us (Painkiller)
BORN WRONG-Enjoy (from “Destroy Music, Start Your Own Band,” Schizophrenic)
LIP CREAM-No Rules (Dynamite)
PEELANDER-Z-Mad Tiger (Swell)
ANTISEEN-Queen City Stomp (TKO)

KICKER-Kick Off/Walking Headache (Tankcrimes)
VIOLENT SOCIETY-You’re Gonna Fall (Motherbox)
VIOLENT MINDS-Riot (Parts Unknown)
PUNCH IN THE FACE-At War With Everybody (Lengua Armada)
WASTED TIME-Futility (Grave Mistake)
SHELL SHOCK-Wake Up (Puke N Vomit)

SYNTHETIC ID-Pressure Gauge (1-2-3-4, Go!)
FOREIGN OBJECTS-Fast Asleep (Vinyl Rites)
WOLVES-9 (Coalition)
AMERICAN STEEL-Graveyards (Lookout)

TRACK 2

THIS MOMENT IN BLACK HISTORY-Everything We Do (Snax)
GAY ANNIVERSARY-Cop City (Slovenly)
BLACK BUG-Reflecting The Light (XVII)
METZ-Negative Space (Sub Pop)
LAMPS-You’re Belinda (In The Red)

BOOKS LIE-Williamsburg Is Burning (Satellite Transmission)
PEECHEES-Genuine Article (Kill Rock Stars)
PENADAS POR LA LEY-El Quintero (Rotthnness)
VOIDS-Bad Dreams (Dr. Strange)
PATH OF DECAY-His War (Ha-Ko Bastards)

WIRE-1 2 X U (EMI)
DEADBEATS-Kill The Hippies (Dangerhouse)
GROUND ZERO-Nothing (self-released)
THE CURSE-Shoeshine Boy (Other Peoples Music)
KLEENEX-Ain’t You (Kill Rock Stars)

TRACK 3

COMES-Baca Moss (Dogma)
CRIATURAS-Esperanza (Trabuc)
RENEGADES OF PUNK-Same Old Shit (Thrashbastard)
RAZZIA-B-Alarm (Weird System)
LIBERTY-Our Voice Is Tomorrow’s Hope (Mortarhate)

USELESS EATERS-Daft Love (Southpaw)
GAYTIME-I’m Only 28 But I’ve Got Lots Of Problems (1:12)
PREDATOR-Creep (Douchemaster)
IVY GREEN-I’m Your Television (Pogo)
WHITE LUNG-Two Of You (Sabotage)

DEEP WOUND-I Saw It (Radiobeat)
DEATHWISH-Tailgate (Amory Arms)
SIEGE-Conform (Deranged)
LAST RIGHTS-Do What You Want (Taang)
NEOS-Conscripts (Ratcage)
AGNOSTIC FRONT-Friend Or Foe (self-released)
CAUSE FOR ALARM-Parasite (self-released)

TRACK 4

JAH WOBBLE-Betrayal (Virgin)
SHRINK-Energy (Oval)
FIRE ENGINES-Everything’s Roses (Domino)
JOSEF K-Heads Watch (Domino)

WEIRDOS-Helium Bar (Frontier)
DAMNED-Machine Gun Etiquette (Chiswick)
FULL SPEED AHEAD-Overload (Manic Ride)
BOTTLES & SKULLS-War Machine (TKO)
FUCKED UP-Last Man Standing (Deranged)
FLESHIES-You’re All Doomed (Alternative Tentacles)

GBH-Bell End Bop (Clay)

Friday, January 18, 2013

Sonic Overload 1/7/13


Happy New Year—back to doing a “regular” show with a mix of old and new music and various styles. I don’t know if every listener likes every song—probably not, but I hope you’ll find something you’ll want to check out. It’s funny—when I post videos on my Facebook page, I always get tons of “likes” for the well-known bands but it seems as though people ignore most of the newer or lesser-known bands I post. Well, that’s their loss! I’m always seeking out new bands and stuff I missed in the past. Who wants to “listen to the same fuckin’ records every single day,” as Hüsker Dü sang all those years ago?

Sonic Overload 1/7/13

TRACK 1

JOHN BROWNS ARMY-Playing With Fire (Gloom)

SNFU-(Real Men Don’t Watch) Quincy (from “It Came From Inner Space,” Rubber)
HARPOON GUNS-Hey Man (Square Wave)
SPECIAL FORCES-What’s This (Boner)
SICK PLEASURE-Three Seconds Of Pleasure (Subterranean)
HUL-Vandalisme & Haevaerk (Hjernespind)

CLOAK/DAGGER-New Years Resolution (Jade Tree)
GORILLA ANGREB-Soldat Til Leje (Feral Ward)
LA URSS-Ciudades (La Corporacion)
REPROBATES-Rat Maze (No Way)
BAD TASTE-The Curse (Feral Kid)
NO-TALENTS-J’Suis Punk (Broken)

FUCKING INVINCIBLE-The Hellbound Heart (Atomic Action)
DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE-Power Politics (Vex)
ENDLESS GRINNING SKULLS-Catholic Blues (Viral Age)
HASSLER-Enlightened (Schizophrenic)
PISSCHRIST-Never Give Up (HG Fact)
VICTIMS-Your Division (Havoc)

TRACK 2

WYMYNS PRYSYN-Let It Snow (Scavengers Of Death)
BITS OF SHIT-Rock Sing (Homeless)
STATIC EYES-Waves (Windian)
SOLID ATTITUDE-Shit Business (Rotted Tooth)
SAILBOATS ARE WHITE-Mercy (self-released)
CITY SCUM-Dead Man (Rich Bitch)

SOFT MOON-Machines (Captured Tracks)
A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS-My Weakness (Dead Oceans)
COLA FREAKS-Dødt Batteri (Local Cross)
FESTIVAL OF DEAD DEER-Hunting (Three.One.G)

JOEL GRIND-Cross Damnation (demo)
NIHILISTICS-Black Sheep (Braineater)
DR. KNOW-What To Do (Mystic)
DIRECT CONTROL-Direct Control (Kangaroo)
POISON IDEA-Thorn In My Side (Fatal Erection)
UNDERTONES-I Gotta Getta (Sire)

TRACK 3

BROTHER INFERIOR-Capital Gains (Sensual Underground Ministries)
SICK & TIRED-Society At Half Mast (self-released)
GULAG-No Tengo Dios (Carnus)
TRUNCHEONS-Control (Distort Reality)
RELIGIOUS SS DISORDER-People Not Property (Punks Before Profits)
NOG WATT-Going On (Revenge)

HYENES-Dead Pompidou’z (self-released)
THE MOB-Another Day, Another Death (All The Madmen)
ESKORBUTO-Enterrado Vivo (Munster)
DOTTIE DANGER-Served Two Punisher (TRVS)

RUDIMENTARY PENI-Radio Schizo (Corpus Christi)
PARTISANS-Blind Ambition (Captain Oi)
RF7-Kiss Ass (Grand Theft Audio)
SECRET HATE-Midas Touch (Skunk)

TRACK 4

TYVEK-Efficiency (In The Red)
CRANK-Sour (self-released)
DEFEKTORS-Doomsday Girl (Nominal)
KIM PHUC-23 (Iron Lung)

SACCHARINE TRUST-Disillusion Fool (from “Life Is Ugly So Why Not Kill Yourself,” New Underground)
21-645-Copulator (demo)
FORGOTTEN REBELS-Surfin’ On Heroin (Star)
NERVOUS EATERS-Get Stuffed (Rat)
ANEMIC BOYFRIENDS-Guys Are Not Proud (Red Sweater)

SVT-New Year (self-released)

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Sonic Overload 12/31/12--Best of 2012


Each week, when I wrap up recording the show and the last song fades out, I shut off the mixer and say to myself, “another show in the books.” I imagine it’s weird to talk to yourself but, come on, if anyone reading this says they don’t do that, they’re lying. So, finishing this week’s show, it’s time to say another year in the books. Despite the fact that I ended the show with the perennial Embrace song, 2012 wasn’t that bad a year for the most part, at least for me (I know others have different experiences). Listenership seems to be up and I’m happy to hear that because it would kind of suck if I put in all this work and no one was listening.

Another positive was finally replacing my mixer that I’d been using since 2005 and had been on its last legs for the last year or two. Thanks to the support of many listeners, I was able to defray the cost of the unit, a Numark dual CD mixer. It has an iPod dock so that makes it easier to play MP3s although I prefer to play vinyl (and CDs are OK, too). I know not every label can send out promos and I’m still an active record-buyer but the “freebies” definitely help since my record budget is limited.

I think this show represents a pretty wide musical variety. I’ve definitely been shifting away from straight hardcore the past few years, although there’s still plenty of that here but you’ll also hear everything from garage to heavy, 90s-inspired noise to shoegazer rock to post-punk to cold-wave. A bit of everything.
In closing (FINALLY!), I’d like to thank the very nice administrators of the Sonic Overload Facebook page—Jim, Carrie, Chris and Mike. And, last but not least, all of my listners... Happy New Year!

Sonic Overload 12/31/12

TRACK 1

CREEM-Think Twice (Katorga Works)

CRACKS-Someone Else To Screw (Slipping Grip)
BIRTH DEFORMITIES-You Can’t Catch Me (Cowabunga)
HOAX-Discipline (Painkiller)
DOUBLE NEGATIVE-Boys For Sale (Sorry State)
WALLS-Just Complain (Iron Lung)
KABUL GOLF CLUB-Bits Of Freedom (Uproar For Veneration)

NEGATIVE DEGREE-One Horse Town (Offside)
WHITE PAGES-Please Kill Them (Can’t Stand Ya)
GOD EQUALS GENOCIDE-Wasting Time (Razorcake/Dirt Cult)
BAD DADDIES-Doesn’t Mean I Don’t Want To Die (Central District/Finch)
UTAH JAZZ-Seeing The Eye Doctor (Feral Kid)
HANK HAINT-Problematic (Voodoo Rhythm)

RAPPA-Jigokunoparty (demo)
BRAIN KILLER-War (Framework/Vinyl Rites)
BLOODKROW BUTCHER-Anti-War (Side Two)
ANCIENT FILTH-Too Young, Fuck Adults (Shock To The System)
POISON PLANET-Border Fences (Third Party)
BUKKAKE BOYS-Weakness (Sorry State)

TRACK 2

SLUGZ-Empty Space (Cowabunga)
NARCS-Long Hot Summer (Cowabunga)
MÜLLTÜTE-Pest (HeartFirst)
TV FREAKS-I Can’t Win (Schizophrenic)
SCHOOL JERKS-Problems (Grave Mistake)
TIMMY’S ORGANISM-Poor and Bored (In The Red)
FLIP SHIT-Amerika (Reel Time)

SYNTHETIC ID-Killing Time (1-2-3-4 Go!)
HOLOGRAMS-Memories Of Sweat (Captured Tracks)
CRIMSON SCARLET-Sanctuary (Cool Summer)
ARCTIC FLOWERS-The Wrecking (self-released)

CLAW TOE-Panic Attack (Criminal IQ)
POOR LILY-Third Rail (self-released)
PLATES-Salvation Morning (Big Neck)
BAD AMERICAN-Dictator (Bad Recordings)

TRACK 3

EX-CULT-Don’t Feel Anything (Goner)
UV RACE-I’m A Pig (In The Red)
PUFFY AREOLAS-1982 (HoZac)
LAMPS-Learned Hopelessness (In The Red)
SLICES-Greensleeves (Iron Lung)
CEREMONY-World Blue (Matador)

WETBRAIN-What Are We Supposed To Worship? (demo)
COFFIN PRICKS-Group Home Haircut (Stationary Heart)
RAISED ON REPLICAS-OMG (Louder Than War)
DEADBEAT ECHOES-Forces (Louder Than War)

CROSS STITCHED EYES-Vile Corpse (Alternative Tentacles)
WHITE LUNG-I Rot (Deranged)
POTTY MOUTH-Hazardville (Puzzle Pieces/Ride The Snake/Feeble Minds)
THE MEN-Please Don’t Go Away (Sacred Bones)

TRACK 4

TOKYO STORM WARNING-Spy Hunter (Mind/No Mind)
METZ-Get Off (Sub Pop)
MIND SPIDERS-Wait For Us (Dirtnap)
NÜ SENSAE-Burnt Masks (Suicide Squeeze)
BIG EYES-Back From The Moon (Grave Mistake)

BILL BONDSMEN-Overcrowded Control (Fourteegee)
DRY HUMP-Everybody Loves You When You’re Dead (Cowabunga)
BOSTON STRANGLER-Primitive (Fun With Smack)
CRAZY SPIRIT-Baseball Bat/You (Toxic State)
HANK WOOD AND THE HAMMERHEADS-It’s Murder (Toxic State)
JOINT D?-(I’m) Haunted (Sorry State)

EMBRACE-End Of A Year (Dischord)

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Sonic Overload 12/24/12

You want a War on Christmas? I’ve got your War on Christmas right here! Two plus hours of holiday music you’re not very likely to hear in the shopping mall. So sit back, relax, have a cup of eggnog and turn it up LOUD!    Next week, it’ll be the Best of 2012. In the meantime, Happy Holidays! And don’t tell the Fox News morons that I didn’t just say Merry Christmas.

Sonic Overload 12/24/12

TRACK 1

RED AUNTS-Little Drummer Bitch (from “Happy Birthday Baby Jesus,” SFTRI)

ALCOHOLICS UNANIMOUS-Santa Forgot The Booze (Brilliancy Prize)
NOTHING BUT ENEMIES-Foul Mouthed Elf (from “Cashing In On Christmas, Vol. 2,” Black Hole)
STEEL MINERS-I Hate Christmas (All Year Round) (Get Hip)
YARD TRAUMA-Christmas Tyme (Baby) (from “A Midnight Christmas Mess,” Midnight)
CANNIBALS-Christmas Rock ‘n Roll (Hit)

HARD SKIN-Ding Dong Merrily Oi! Oi! (Knockout)
WRETCHED ONES-The Christmas Song (TKO)
PARABELLUM-Joyeux Noel (Mantra)
ANTI-HEROES-Hail Santa (GMM)
CRUCIAL YOUTH-X-mas For The Skins (New Red Archives)
SHOWCASE SHOWDOWN-Merry Christmas, I Fucked Your Snowman (Tario)

TRACK 2

HELLACOPTERS-Holiday Cramps (Liquor and Poker)
MHZ-Secret Santa (from “X-Mas Surprise Package #3,” Flying Bomb)
MISTREATERS-Santa Stole My Baby (from “X-Mas Surprise Package #4,” Flying Bomb)
MEANS-Die Hard (It’s XMas) (Reptilian)

BEAT HAPPENING-Christmas (from “Mondo Stereo,” Tinnitus)
RESIDENTS-Santa Dog (Ralph)
THE FALL-No Xmas for John Quays (IRS)
WESLEY WILLIS-Merry Christmas (Oglio)

ANGRY SNOWMANS-No Presents (Stiff Hombre)
FEAR-Fuck Christmas (Slash)
THE CLAP-Christmas In A Body Bag (Fraud)
WARDS-Santa’s Cadillac (self-released)
ALAN MILMAN SECT-Punk Rock X-Mas (Bedazzled)
SNAP-HER-I Hate Christmas (New Red Archives)
DESTRUCTION 666-Merry Christmas and Fuck Off (Death)

TRACK 3

MOTÖRHEAD-Fire, Fire (Roadrunner)

KING DIAMOND-No Presents For Christmas (Roadrunner)
VENOM-Black XMas (Castle)
RAJOITUS-Joulu On Taas (PFC)
RATTUS-Reaganin Joululanju (from “Welcome To 1984,” Sonic Reducer)

A-TEAM-Christmas Claws (Painkiller)
GERIATRIC UNIT-Christmas 1977 (The Endless Sickness) (Boss Tuneage)
DARK AGES-No Cops No Christmas (demo)
BORN AGAINST-Xmas Eve (Kill Rock Stars)
BLOODSPORT-Ghosts Of Scrooge (Homestead)

LUIS AND THE WILDFIRES-Who Likes Christmas Anyway? (Norton)
FREAK OUTS-Santa Claus (from “The Funhouse Comp Thing,” MyFatAss)
SONICS-Don’t Believe In Christmas (Estrus)
SANTO & JOHNNY-Twistin’ Bells (Stardust)

TRACK 4

WILD BILLY CHILDISH AND THE MUSICIANS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE-Joe Strummer’s Grave (Damaged Goods)
THE CLASH-1977 (Epic)

DIDJITS-Under The Christmas Fish (Touch & Go)
DICKIES-Silent Night (A&M)
SWINGIN’ NECKBREAKERS-Under The Christmas Tree (Norton)
DOOMED TO OBSCURITY-Yuletide Girl (from “Cashing In On Christmas, Vol., 2,” Black Hole)
TVTV$-Daddy Drank Our X-Mas Money (from “Punk Rock Christmas,” Rhino)

MYDOLLS-Christmas Day (CIA)
SERVOTRON-Christmas Day Of The Robot (Amphetamine Reptile)
HANOI ROCKS-Dead At Christmas (Castle)
CAMALEONES-Noche de Paz, Noche en Vietnam (from "Punk Que Punk?," Munster)
BASEMENT 5-Last White Christmas (Island)