Thrift Store Music: (the) Vexers

Tuesday, January 11, 2022

(the) Vexers - s/t

Name: The Vexers
Album: s/t
Year: 2003
Style: New Wave, Post Punk
Similar Bands: The Daves, Blondie, Bikini Kill, Delta 5, Runaways, Long Blondes, Elastica, Wire, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Martha & the Muffins, Sleater-Kinney
"One-Word" Review: Dark, Ragged Energetic Punk
Based Out Of: Philadelphia, PA
Label: Ace Fu

Cover & Back

Liner Notes, CD Back, CD

The Vexers (2003)

Something Dirty 2:31
Human Machine 1:36
Mutual Masturbation 2:21
City Life 1:14
You Get Nothing 2:51
The Saint 3:13
Fuck it Up 3:01
Get Up Get Out 2:21
Rat-Bite Fever 2:08
Sick Sick Sick 3:21

Album Rating (1-10): 9.5

Members & Other Bands:

Mike Musmanno - Recording, Mixing
Rachel Kotkoskie - Live Photo
Michael Hammel - Bass
Jennifer Taylor - Guitar/Vox (Caramel Jack, Marcia Hines, Max Sharam, Jan Hellriegel, Annie Crummer, Australian Youth Orch, Amity Dry, Anthony Callea, Billie Thorpe, Beat Bugs)
Jesse Van Anglen - Drums
Tres Warren - Guitar (Compound Eye, Messages, Psychic Ills, Moon Duo, Jeff Burch, Alfredo Thierman)

Unknown-ness: Never heard of the band. But I liked the simple angle of the font of the band name on the front and the MS Dos font on the back. Perhaps this is an angular, computer thinking band who used tech and synth in their basic indie rock style. Ace Fu is a Philly label, so I'm surprised i didn't hear of or cross paths seeing this band back in the aughts, as i was going to a lot of shows then.

Album Review: The band borrows from 70-80's new wave/punk with catchy guitar work and bass lines and straightforward spoke/sung melodic but powerful female vocals. Mutual Masturbation brings in the angular guitar and energetic vocals bringing to mind the great 80's punk bands like Blondie, The Runaways and Sleater-Kinney at times. It is just a very fun record, full of driving energy and danceable spirit.

The band is 3/4 LA kids who left the lifestyle out west for shocking reality of Philadelphia's forgotten youth. 5-10 years older than the rest of the bands they played with, they started with a confidence their counterparts were trying to build, and still moved slowly, being true to their musical vision and selves. Apparently their live shows were fun (really wish i had seen them around the scene then), and from this record, i can tell they would have been a favorite.

Stand Out Track: Mutual Masturbation

Links:

The Mind's Construction Quarterly

In Music We Trust

The Studio Philly