A Rare Treat: 3 music reviews

Here ya go, readers. Not very timely, but these releases fit the narrow scope of this weblog..


FRESH CUTS & CIGARETTE BURNS compilation single
Criminal IQ Records

Well, here’s a 6 band compilation single on Criminal IQ. I’m under the impression that the cover I have a rush-job for test-presses. Let’s hope so, as it’s below par for even the low standards of this weblog. At any rate, we can only hope that the “Steve Firth” responsible for the art received a passing grade in a community college graphic design course. The music? The FNU Ronnies start it off with one of their best. Fans will recognize it as a staple of their live set. It’s called “Ain’t No Place” and it’s a goddamn punk scorcher with a stiff shouted robotic chant on top of it all. The type of tune that the Ronnies exceed at. Up next is the surprise winner of the record… “Fuck Kids” by Sick Jump! Not sure if the title should be read as a demand or a sentiment, but it’s a fucking rager. Loud guitar, foaming vocals, lashing-out kind of vibe to this. Seems kind of indebted to the Boston Crew.. specifically Gang Green and Jerry’s Kids. The record’s worth the price for these 45 seconds alone. This one’s high in the running for tune of the year. The record takes a nosedive from there. The plane crashes right into the goddamn mountain. A couple tracks are inspired by British accents and skinny-tie type music. At the end is pretty serviceable HC pro-drug tune from Clevo’s Flying Trichecos, but who has the patience to wade through the nonsense that comes before it?



SICK JUMP! Cassette
38/100 self released

Here’s a pretty handsome cassette from the Philadelphia area’s possibly defunct Sick Jump! And I can assure you that the band and not me provides the explanation point at the end of their moniker. It’s got a nice looking package, a photo of some zonked-looking band members, and about a dozen compelling song titles. I was hoping that the music on this tape would live up to the standard set on their track on the compilation described above, but there’s no way to tell because the fucking drug addicts in the band forget to dub any of their own music onto the cassette. Instead I’ve got a tape of some jazz-guy named Boyd Raeburn that’s been defaced by a Sick Jump sticker. If anyone out there as heard this thing, please get in touch. I’d love to read about it…

THE NEW FLESH Cassette
Fan Death Records

Ah, the New Flesh. With the exception of TUI, they’re just about the only worthwhile outfit from Baltimore. This is a reissued, pro-made cassette of their original demo recorded in 2003 back in the classic Danny Propert/ Rick Weaver/ Jason (fucking) Donnells phase of the band. Real thuggish and ugly, the rhythm section cooks up a trebly swirl, while the guitar kind of grinds up against it. Despite the occasional blast-beat, this shit just builds and builds and gets tenser and tenser with no release. Tortured vocals give it a real alienating vibe… kinda distant and addressed to no one in particular as opposed to being pissed off. Howling at the moon, I guess. Hard to take on repeated listens… it’s got a pretty gross sound. Any sicko who likes this should seek out a copy of their split 12” with a group called Puke Attack. That one still gets a lot of spins around here.