Spit - Thrust And Disgust

Name: Spit

Album: Thrust And Disgust

Year: 1987

Style: Grunge-Core, Humours, Indie

Similar Bands: Jello Biafra / Dead Kennedys, Christian Lunch, Dead Milkmen, Residents, They Might Be Giants

One Word Review: Growley-Smutty-Synth

Based Out Of: Philadelphia, PA

Label: a + r

Thrust And Disgust - Cover, Tape

Thrust And Disgust (1987)

1. Distress 3:16
2. Tear You Apart 2:57
3. Givin' Up 2:57
4. Skin Tight 4:29
5. They Got You 3:19/
6. World Torture Me 2:19
7. Football Star 3:22
8. Weakling 4:05
9. Sorry Out Of Tofu 2:02
10. Do You Wanna Whip Me 5:53

Album Rating (1-10): 7.0

Members & Other Bands:
Vinnie Spit - Vox, Guitar, Producer, Cover (Batz Without Flesh)

Mc Clay - Cover 

Myers - Cover

Unknown-ness: I never heard of Spit. Just got this in a pile of gothic / dark wave / industrial tapes, so I can only conclude it is one of the same like Sisters of Mercy.

Album Review: Smut and lewdness seem to describe singer / artist Vinnie Spit, the self-proclaimed “Godfather of Smut.” Although this first album of his is relatively tame compared to his later compositions, shreds of indecency pop up in Football Star and Do You Wanna Whip Me. A Philadelphia native, he has gained minor popularity thanks to hometown radio station WMMR in 1989, and John Peel in England in 1988. He now lives in California, and still plays out live as of 2016.

“Distress” begins with a kick drum, and a discordant bass line. Guitar and a drum machine add in to form an aggressive, growley vocal style and driving song. The chorus finds a progressive rolling bass line under more raspy, growling vocals. The song then repeats, starting over with the first bass line. The song does build and recover nicely, continuing to push the momentum forward through the three distinct sections.

“Tear You Apart” starts with the drum machine, and dark tonal guitars. The speedy bass bounces all over the  place, and the growling vocals drag the song along. The bridge, into the chorus used a dark wave, crystal synth tone. The vocals sound like a rougher Rodney Anonymous from Dead Milkmen.

“Givin' Up” is a little more mysterious and new wavey, perhaps a little like the Residents. Drum machine and synth are the primary elements here. There is a drum machine breakdown with radio transmitted vocals spoken over top.

“Skin Tight” is an instrumental that begins with drum machine hand claps, and a slinky mysterious bass line. The drum machine is given a few solos that remind me simultaneously of early They Might Be Giants, Run DMC, and Harold Faltermeyer’s Axel F. The track, although it carries the bass and drum beat as a constant get a little jazzy at the end.

“They Got You” is a driving punk song, more straightforward than anything on the album yet. Looping guitar and bass sections and steady basic drum beat. The chorus is a little too basic, repetitive and embarrassing.

“World Torture Me” has a slow, jazzy start. It reminds me a little of a skatty Tom Waits song. It also reminds me of some of They Might Be Giants early b-sides, particularly Counterfeit Fake era b-sides.

“Football Star” starts off as a looping, repeating guitar driven song. The vocals ae very clear, and makes a juvenile, humorous commentary on football players, and their sexuality. It has a similar tone to Butt Trumpet songs. Overall, it is a pretty catchy song.

“Weakling” kick drum machine begins this track, followed by a bass heavy, stutter-stepping tempo. The vocals are even gruffer than usual. The song never diverges from the stumbling tempo, and the song grows boring pretty fast.

“Sorry Out Of Tofu” as a very Devo, new wave tempo and melody, featuring a rattling drum machine and building progression.

“Do You Wanna Whip Me” starts with non-melodic drum machine beats, and swirls up into progressive and spooky synth melody. It is anxious and nervous musically, but confident and subservient lyrically. The instrumental section features some soaring electric guitar and other synth effects, before transitioning back into the building verse melody. 

Stand Out Track: Football Star

Links:
allmusic

bandcamp page

Vinnie's Page

John Peel's Festive 50

Facebook

Vinnie - Discogs

Punsters - Boardwalk Santa

Name: (the) Punsters

Album: Boardwalk Santa

Year: 1981

Style: Juvenile Rock, New Wave, Pub Rock, Variety

Similar Bands: Fabulous Fondas, Dead Milkmen, Beru Revue, Ween, Coolies, Weird Al, Blasters

One Word Review: Exaggerated Pub Vaudeville

Based Out Of: New Jersey

Label: Rosebud Records

 Boardwalk Santa - Cover, Record

Boardwalk Santa - Back, Record

Boardwalk Santa (1981)

1. Boardwalk/Ghetto Santa 2:34
2. My Heat's In Gridlock 2:20
3. What's So Funny 2:34/
4. Shell Game 1:59
5. I Asked the Angels 3:05
6. Baghdad Daddy 1:40
7. I Dreamt I Dreamt of Gefilte Fish 1:15

Album Rating (1-10): 6.0

Members & Other Bands:

Robert Kaplow - Vox

Tim Korzun - Keys, Bass

Michael Townsend - Bass

Marc Lanzoff - Vox

Carmen Presti - Guitars, Vox

Ken Cohen - Drums

Glenn Taylor - Engineer

Miguel Pagliere - Photography

Unknown-ness: I've never heard of this band, but the album was very appealing. Recorded in 1981, with a silly name & title, and cover art to go right along with the title, apparently taken in Asbury Park.Lots of local bands from this era put out some fun, bouncy music, so I just hope this is in the same vein as the Fabulous Fondas.

Album Review: They were a silly, satirical band from Jersey, with a few singles and this EP under their self-producing belt. Singer Kaplow has moved on to writing novels, scripts and other works. The band was on NPR back in the 80’s, and appeared on the Uncle Floyd show, along with Tiny Tim.

“Boardwalk/Ghetto Santa” begins with an amateur rock opera dialogue over a tinkling piano, as if it is the wishes of a young boy asking Santa to save him from the town. The song kicks in with a fun surf-rock style, and deep, vocals seeming to maybe mimic Elvis a little, but the lyrics are comedic in theme.

“My Heat's In Gridlock” is a gritty song that sounds as if it is sung by an angry, agitated Weird Al. The song’s style is slinky pub rock, with exaggerated vocals.

“What's So Funny” starts with spoken work over quiet music. The song kicks in with a toe-tapping, bluesy Blasters style song. The song is sectioned out in intervals, the music is broken up by spoken word sections. The song is questioning what is so funny about TV shows like Benny Hill or TV Bloopers, as they are more sick than humorous.

“Shell Game” is another exaggerated vocal performance, this time in a new wave theme, over a driving bass line. It reminds me a little of They Might Be Giants, and includes a new wave (Elvis Costello) organ effect.This is probably the most straight forward song on the album, and the best one.

“I Asked the Angels” starts after a spoken word discussion and then a false start. But the song is a slow 50’s styled doo-wop, vocal band ballad. Like a silly version of Earth Angel. I do keep anticipating the vocals to sing “Angels of Harlem” rather than “Angel Sent You”

“Baghdad Daddy” is a particularly cringe-worthy song, introduced with an A&R man discrediting the band. The song has exaggerated vocals pared with deep complimentary vocals, singing a greaser-pub rock style song. The song uses the Beatles line from Come Together: “One and One and One is three”

“I Dreamt I Dreamt of Gefilte Fish” is a straight up silly Bob Dylan Parody song. And is another cringe worthy track. The singer sings of Gefilte Fish being eaten all of the time and everywhere in his place, which will most likely make him a Gefilte Fish soon. It has a very vaudevillian feel to it in the ending.

Stand Out Track: Shell Game

Links:
Allmusic

Kaplow's Site

Shotgun Solution

Rate Your Music

Steven Hart fr 2009

Bingo Gazingo - s/t

Name: Bingo Gazingo
Album: s/t
Year: 1997
Style: Outsider Music, Poetic Ranting
Similar Bands: Half Japanese, Very Early Ween, Wesley Willis
"One-Word" Review: repetitive-auction-sports-commentating-to AM radio.

Based Out Of: New York City, NY
Label: WFMU Production

Bingo Gazingo - Cover, Photos, CD & Back

Bingo Gazingo - Liner Notes

Bingo Gazingo (1997)

1. Psycho/Psycho 4:44
2. Up Your Jurassic Park 3:36
3. Everything's OK at the OK Corral 5:55
4. I Love You So Fucking Much I Can't Shit 2:18
5. Everyday I leave 10 Dollars on the Table 2:14
6. Baba Booey 2:45
7. I'm a Wabbitt 2:41
8. Indecent Proposal 2:39
9. Two Strangers From Georgia 2:45
10. Two Pack Shaker 3:25
11. Calling Casablanca 3:06
12. Like Beavis & Butthead 3:01
13. Artie Wexler 3:08
14. Are You A Lover? 2:37
15. Oh Madonna (You Stole My Pants) 4:05
16. Bingo Gazingo's Bolero 14:14

Album Rating (1-10): 5.0

Members & Other Bands:

Bingo Gazingo - Vocals

R. Stevie Moore - Piano, Bass, Guitar, Theremin (R. Stevie Moore Cassette Club,

Dennis Diken - Drums, Percussion (Smithereens, Husky Team)

Chris Bolger - Guitar, Bass, Egg, Moog Source, Recording Engineer

Stork - Producer

Krys O. - Production Assistant
Chris Drago - Production Assistant

Stephanie Damoff - Production Assistant, Photography, Design, Cowbell

Scott Williams - Production Assistant

Diane Farris - Recording Engineer

Dave Amels - Recording Engineer, Remixed to DAT, Mastering, Arp Odyssey, Farfisa, Moog Source, Piano, Theremin (Husky Team, Reigning Sound)

Brian Drago - Mastering

Chris Butler - Guitar, Autoharp, Conga, Bass

Bob Brainen - Drums, Percussion

Rich Hazelton - Layout

Unknown-ness: I'm gonna be honest here, I bought this, not knowing it at all, but because the name has the same flow and is reminiscent of Oingo Boingo, and it was a quarter. The first thing I noticed was that this was sponsored/recorded by/in a radio station, which, when read next to the track titles, made me believe this might be a "comedy" album. And I might be right: from the inspection of the booklet, this was a live recorded album that is basically dialogue over unmatched music. There is a notice that "The musical accompaniment was entirely extemporaneous, in case you were wondering." The vocalist is a rather old gentleman, so I image some "getoffmylawn / racist" content. But some of the jokey titles suggest a time capsule of things pop-culture in 1997. This might be a complete waste of time.

Album Review: After reading more about the man behind Bingo Gazingo, and his tragic passing two years ago, I had a better picture of what to expect. The stories about his self-promotion and his rise to mediocre notoriety are pleasant and fun. A friend even has one of his songs on an outsider music compilation (Songs in the Key of Z).

“Psycho/Psycho” starts after a few seconds with an echoing, antique vocal recording of BG reciting a music-less song (as he calls it: not poetry) he wrote regarding the film Psycho. It sounds like a sports announcer recalling a close head to head horserace. There is faint use of the theremin through out the song. The voice waxes in wanes in intensity, seeming very psychotic, dual personality in itself.
“Up Your Jurassic Park” actually has musical value with a synth bass beat and video game sounding watery effects. This time the vocals recount a trip to Jurassic Park. The vocals are almost preachy, but they still retain the handheld radio sports caster quality of audio with a tinny pitch. The sound effect flow in and out and up and down on their own accord, unrelated to the vocals, but that is what the disc warns against: audio and voice are independent of each other.
“Everything's OK at the OK Corral” features music as if in a sad country western piano bar, mixed with a calming surf guitar. The vocals announce, in a calm but enthusiastic way, a play by play of what happens at the OK Corral, which is anything but OK. There is a nice side to side, drawn out, reassuring swagger behind the delivery and production of the music. The vocals seem to be an off-the-cuff account, and feel unscripted, except they always loop back to the title & message of the song.
“I Love You So Fucking Much I Can't Shit” is a jittery, nervous account of love and pain of the literal dilemma of constipation due to love. The music is jazzy and frantically played, as different instruments take turns over a mostly constant driving drum beat.
“Everyday I leave 10 Dollars on the Table” has a ticking clock percussion followed by acoustic guitar to start off. The song has a very beatnik, coffee shop feel to it, and the repetitive rhyme of table, cain & abel.
“Baba Booey” rocks out from the very start, with driving guitars and drums, like a typical alternative song. The vocals are very low-fi, and the repetitive chorus of the once-famous Howard Stern side kick is catchy. You could say this is reminiscent of early Ween. The theme is that of a crazy love song to Baba Booey, that ends up devolving into crazy noises that kinda sound like the name.
“I'm a Wabbitt” is quiet and ethereal in its start. It is spoken slowly with the “Ewmer Fwudd wisp.” The theme of this song is about being a wabbit & making love. I get the impression the POV is from Fudd’s mind when he is dressed up like a rabbit trying to get Bugs.
“Indecent Proposal” is a very smooth and fun surf-rock song. But the vocals are a cliff’s notes of the film of the same name. The music stops for a stint while the vocals give a menu of indecent proposals. The surf comes back, and the menu continues, followed by the restrictions and stipulations on the proposal.

“Two Strangers From Georgia” revisits the country bumpkin musical theme. It still uses a nice looped poetic flow, revisiting the chorus/title after two or three lines. The song continues to wind down for a good deal of time after the lyrics stop.
“Two Pack Shaker” is a funky jam with bluesy guitar and a church organ. The free flowing lyrics are more refine here, and flow in a much more rhythmic pulse. It is much more listenable, and is a bio about Tupac, who had recently passed away in 1997…with a little extra rhyming verse added in.
“Calling Casablanca” is literally a one sided phone call, as if a madman is ranting about whatever he wants to, related to the film. There are some hints and lines from the movie and lyrics sort of sung of Louis Armstrong’s As Time Goes By from the movie…and parody variants on said song. The backing music is ethereal and ambient, not really fluid, but it paints the feeling of the hotel in Casablanca very nicely.
“Like Beavis & Butthead” is very neurotic, as said/spoken as if on speed or coke. It is reminiscent of a horse race or auctioneer caller. I think the lyrics are recounting different episodes of B&B. The music behind is upbeat and sort of new wave poppy. The song devolves into yacking and sounds that emulate the famous Cornholio character from the cartoon as the song finishes.
“Artie Wexler” is a swaying waltz musically with a deep, dark undertone. The prose is circular, repeating “Artie Wexler” and “on the roof” about Artie Wexler making love. The organ played in this song is a very new wave sound (Elvis Costello and XTC) but it is not played jittery or fast.
“Are You A Lover?” is a smooth jam that is juxtaposed against crazy and fast spoken questioning from the crazy ranting vocalist. It consists of lots of short and quick repetition of rhyming words (usually the same word)
“Oh Madonna (You Stole My Pants)” is an electronic disco song with zapping, pulsing electric beats in the beginning that evolves into a general buzz. The rhythmic beatnik recitation of the lyrics feels very performance art inspired. It flows and twists into different topics, each following topic tripped into by one random word from the preceding section. It ends in a climactic flurry of vocal at the height of excitement, and the end of the song rides out on the disco beat.
“Bingo Gazingo's Bolero” starts out with a poetic description of a relationship. The accompanying music is dark and cloudy, but basic and simple. The vocals continue to repeat with the same rolling repetition. The music begins to take shape as a sort of military march cadence. This is a very long song, and as of now, I see no signs of it changing from this pattern over the final 10 minutes of the album. The general line of repetition is “a woman that’s more than a woman, and a man that’s more than a man” The music builds louder and louder, and begins to gain a bit of a Celtic feel to it. This would truly be impressive to see live, if it were all in one take, because there is virtually no break in the rushed rambling of the vocals.

Stand Out Track: Oh Madonna (you stole my pants)

Links:

wikipedia

rsteviemoore website
rsteviemoore trouserpress
BG on WFMU's blog
This CD's website
Dave Amels wikipedia site

RIP Life Just Bounces

HTMl Giant
'97 NYTimes article
EV Grieve

wiki songs in key of Z

allmusic