“Caution” — Fifteen
I was driving in my car going south on Telegraph. It was 1992 during the month of April and I was sad. First love will send a man into different gears; first love lost will send a man belly flopping into the grass. Somehow I knew that the tape sitting on my dashboard by this band from the East Bay called Fifteen would help. I was right. Swain’s First Bike Ride is one of the albums I plan to pass down to my kid. It’s the album that cleaned the gunk out of my eyes on that day when nothing seemed right.
“You don’t talk to me no more/and I don’t talk to you/well that’s all right pretty baby/cuz I’m just looking for something to prove/You’re telling me that you don’t feel the same/but that’s all right pretty baby/cuz I don’t mind being insane.”
By the time I got to the tune, Caution, the aches rolling around my insides started to ease up. And suddenly I felt like rolling down the windows a little lower and turning up the music a half-notch louder.
“I’d Rather be Sleeping” — D.R.I.
Posted in MP3, hardcore, metal, old school punk at 8:57 pm
So you come home from work. Take the dog out. Clean the counter. Steam some broccoli and heat up the chicken. You wonder where this headache came from, and then you decide to turn the music up just a half inch louder.The band D.R.I. (Dirty Rotten Imbeciles) have been good pals to my ears for many moons. Their 1985 LP, Dealing with It is a quintessential thrash core album that makes the wimpiest kid in the class feel like he might just be able to beat some ass.
The tune we’re going to check out is called “I’d Rather Be Sleeping”. I imagine there are a few other blokes out there who would claim this classic ripper as their favorite as well. Songs like this were built for the pit: start off with the archetypal 599 mph hardcore bass line, and then bam — drums. Everyone goes crazy, knocking the shit out of Joey Bootboy and Darby Nobody. Arms flailing, fists flying, and then slow it down. Give the cigarette smokers a chance to catch their breath. And just when the coast looks clear — repeat the cycle of madness over again.
Give this beauty a listen — you’ll see what I mean.
“Warbrain” — Alkaline Trio
Thanks for all the kind feedback regarding Episode 1. I’ve decided that in between episodes (yup, Episode 2 is in the works) I’m going to post tunes that I’m currently listening to. I’m also going to do some other stuff — I’m not sure what that is but I’ll figure it out as I go along. By the way, if anyone wants to set a deadline for Episode 2 I’d be more than happy to work something out.
So let’s dive back in with a tune by Alkaline Trio called Warbrain.
This track comes off the 2007 Vagrant Record’s release, Remains, which is actually a collection of EPs, B-sides and international releases. Warbrain was originally released on the Rock Against Bush, Vol. 1 compilation album which features other standout acts like The Descendents, PennyWise and Jello Biafra w/DOA. I got all this information from Wikipedia but I put it in my own words because I try to lead by example, and if I’m going to teach the kids that’s what I’ve got to do. But damn, goddamn — that compilation looks like it would be a hell of a listen.
Like the majority of Alkaline Trio’s tunes, Warbrain, encapsulates the straightforward intimacy of Alk3 trademark sound. This is a band that has always made me feel like they would be good dudes to hang out with. The kind of guys that would talk to me about what their lives were like when they were 13. The kind of guys that would listen as I told a tale or two about my upbringing as well. Plus, they rock really hard, and give me that urge to go outside and walk a few laps.
Episode 1
Posted in Podcasts at 11:32 pm
There are two things I know: Natalie Portman’s best movie was Beautiful Girls, and Zebra’s ‘83 classic rocker, “Tell Me What You Want” brings out the devil’s horns in all of us.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way — welcome to the Five Minute Convo — this is Episode One. This first show features music from the following bands:
Big Drill Car Samiam Fall of Troy
Thanks to all the labels and artists who gave me permission to play their songs. Let me tell ya’ when Sergie from Samiam responded to my email in less than a hour well, a few chills ran down my spine. And I’ve got to say — the receptionist who answered the phone at Dischord was real damn nice as well. It’s good to know that there are still plenty of folk willing to put themselves out there for a complete stranger.
I also want to thank my old pal, Brian Ansel, for providing me with two of the instrumental tracks (Don’t Wake my Dog When you Leave in the Morning, and Fly By) that helped to make my voice sound right. Both tunes encapsulate greatness on many different levels, and I plan to feature more of Brian’s music on future shows.
Please don’t hesitate to post comments or send me feedback. I recommend downloading the MP3 file so you don’t have to stream it. Play it in your car when you’re driving somewhere far. And make sure to turn the knob up real fuckin’ loud.
Enjoy…
