Wynona Riders (The) - Artificial Intelligence

Name: Wynona Riders (the)

Album: Artificial Intelligence
Year: 1997
Style: Punk
Similar Bands: Low Budgets, Dead Milkmen, Generation X, Clash
"One-Word" Review: Catchy Slacker Punk
Based Out Of: San Fran, CA
Label: LookOut! Records #162

Cover, Back, CD Tray, CD

Liner Notes & Lyrics, CD Back

Artificial Intelligence (1997)

1. Good Luck Bison 3:24
2. Sprang 3:45
3. Bang Bang Orangutan 3:29
4. Corrupted To Hell 3:16
5. Masquerade 4:26

Album Rating (1-10): 7.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Dave EC (Henwood) - Drums & Outrage (Vagrants, Pot Valiant, Filth, Toyboat, Crimpshrine, Greenday)
• Richie (Bucher) - Bass & Farm Noise Toys, Art (Albany Dread, Buggerall, Courtney & The Crushers, Juke, Prick, Soup, Sweet Baby, Top Ten, Unskilled Labor, Here Kitty Kitty, Crimpshrine, Raoul, Green Day, Hunx and his Punx, 2 Lazy Boys)
• John Silly (Selby) - Guitar, Vox (Bonstones, Three Years Down)
• Skip (Ron Greer) - Vox, Surly Disposition (Dead Kennedys, Here Kitty Kitty, The Killer Smiles, Running Man)
• Andro / Andy E (Ernst) - Recording, Keys (Sass, Andro & Ross, Diabolical Exploits, Julian Vilante, MC Sway & DJ King Tech, Toyboat, J Grooves, Subincision, Green Day, Link 80)

Unknown-ness: I don't thin i knew who this band was, but i did know Lookout! Records, and i trusted the discount CD bin at Philly Record Exchange when it was just below South Street for a $3 bin find. It can't b too serious of a record with such an obvious name-play. Assuming it will be goofy juvenile punk stuff.

Album Review: The band formed in 1988 under the name Miss Conduct, but changed to WR a year later. Later in their career, they also released an EP under the name The Nation of Wenonah (tribute to The Nation of Ulysses). It seems this EP was recorded just before they broke up for good...as "for good" not referring to their reunion shows in 2017. Current bands Bonstones (San Fran) & Running Man (IL/IA) feature members.

Lots of feedback fuzz and snotty vocals kick off the record. "Sprang" has a more slacker alternative punk aesthetic, while "Bang Bang" is the most in your face aggressive of the tracks. "Corrupted" sounds like if the Clash covered They Might Be Giants song "Spy." Masquerade is a straight up New Wave track.

Stand Out Track: Masquerade

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(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)

1. Something Dirty 2:31
2. Human Machine 1:36
3. Mutual Masturbation 2:21
4. City Life 1:14
5. You Get Nothing 2:51
6. The Saint 3:13
7. Fuck it Up 3:01
8. Get Up Get Out 2:21
9. Rat-Bite Fever 2:08
10. 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

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Vanwarmer, Randy - Beat Of Love

Name: Randy Vanwarmer
Album: Beat of Love
Year: 1981
Style: New Wave, Island, Light Rock
Similar Bands: The Cars, Grandaddy, Generationals, Marshall Crenshaw, Cecilio & Kapono, Eric Carmen, Howard Jones, Billy Squier
"One-Word" Review: Wispy Contemplative Pop
Based Out Of: New York

Label: Bearsville, Warner, Warner Communications

Cover, Record

Back/Lyrics, Record

Beat of Love (1981)

1. Suzi Found a Weapon 3:08 (single #55)
2. Always Right 3:56
3. Babel / Don't Hide 3:07/4:08
4. Amen 1:48 
5. I Guess it Never Hurts to Hurt Sometimes 3:54 /
6. Frightened By the Light of Day 3:26
7. Hanging On To Heaven 3:18
8. The Beat of Love 4:33
9. When I'm Dead & Gone 3:27 (McGuinness Flint cover)
10. Don't Wake Me Up 2:48

Album Rating (1-10): 6.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Randy Vanwarmer - Vox (Brian Briggs, Michael Franks, Svenne & Lotta, Barbara Mandrell, Ottar "Big Hand" Johansen, Tony Wilson, Pat Terry)
• John Holbrook / Brian Briggs - Producer, Engineer, Guitar, Synth, Vox (TCTC, Freida Parton, Utopia, Josh Joplin Group, Claude Dubois, Paul Butterfield, Bernie Cash, Isley Bros, Terence Boylan, Roger Powell, Ian Hunter, Nicole Wills, Tony Wilson, natalie Merchant, Joy Askew, Katell Leineg, Madder Rose, David Mead, Jim Weider, Honky Tonk Gurus, Brian Vander Ark, Five Day Rain, Upchuck, Verve Pipe)
• Ian Kimmet - Producer, Vox (Jook, The Band, Trevor White)
• Del Newman - String Arrangement & Conducting (Cat Stevens, Ten Years After, Peter Frampton, Donovan, Roger Daltrey, Elton John, Kiki Dee Band, Neil Sedaka, Rod Srtewart, Charles Aznavour, Art Garfunkel, George Harrison, Squeeze, Paul Simon, Carly Simon, more)
• Jeff Golub - Guitar (Avenue Blue, Rod Stewart, Billy Squier, Sharz, Patris, Bill Evans, Peter Wolf, Toshiki Kadomatsu, Palace, David Broza, Paul Shaffer, Tina Turner, Grayson Hugh, Bryan Adams, Rick Braun, Cheryl Wheeler, Dar Williams, Gato Barbieri, Kazee, Shawn Mullins, Philippe Saisse, Marcia Hines, Joe Lynn Turner, Miu Sakamoto, Everette Harp, Marc Antoine, Dulcie Taylor, Richard Elliot, VIP Club, Marek Niedzeiecki, Krysten Berg, Jimmy Norman, Steve Cole, Steve Ferrone, Yves Carini, Sax Pack, Harlem Parlour Music Club, Bernie Williams, Kirk Whalum. Euge Groove, David Benoit, Michael Lington, Nils, Bob James
• Leigh Foxx - Bass (Blondie, Brian Briggs, Benny Mardones, Paley Bros, Frankie & Knockouts, Nicole Willis, Iggy Pop, Henry Lee Summer, Cyndi Lauper, Debbie Harry, Yoko Ono, DJ David Knapp, Clayton Bruce Ost, Holly & the Italians, Sonny Kenn Band, Karen Lawrence & the Pinz)
• Mike Braun - Drums, Percussion (Graham Parker & the Shot, Brian Briggs, Elliott Murphy, King of Hearts, Arlen Roth, Eddie Schwartz, Tycoon, Rick Wakeman, Leon Redbone, Peter Criss, Nicole Wills, Michael Bolton, Ellen Shipley, Stevie, Dian Tell, Rick Springfield, Peter Allen, Jennifer Rush, Elm St Group, John Waite, Hall & Oates, Diane Tell, Eileen Ivers, Madgesdiq, Mackintosh Braun, Kenny Rogers)
• Murray Weinstock - Keys, Horn Arrangement (Fifth Ave Band, Mark Moogy Klingman, Jon Paris Band, Bread & Butter, Manhattan Transfer, John Sebastian, Tom Pacheco, Woodstyock Mts Revue, Artie Traum, Pat Alger, Sic Fucks, Nicole Wills, Motherhead Bug, Richie Havens)
• Kevin Jones - Congas (Sunrize, Winard Harper, Charles McPherson, Archie Shepp, Isley Bros, Michael Gregory, Clyde Criner, Sweet Obsession, Larry Price, Blaze, Nick Rolfe, Norman Simmons, Babatunde Lea, Winvent Ector, Jihad Muhammad, Organissimo, 
• Cyndi Cashdollar - Dobro, Vox (Asleep at the Wheel, Bob Dylan, Leon Redbone, Dave Alvin, Guilty Women, Geoff Muldaur, Tx Sheiks, Woodstock Mt revue, Happy Traum Band, John Herald, Ryan Adams & Cardinals, Cathy Winter, Karen Beth, Jean Redpath, Christopher Shaw, Graham Parker, Peter Rowan, Hans Theessink, Don Walser, Steve Hames, Peter Stone Brown, Manhattan Transfer, Omar & the Howlers, George Strait, Trace Adkins, Red Dirt Rangers, Kris Kehr, Rod Moag, Leroi Bros., Rex Foster, Gina Lee, Dwight Yoakam, Susanna Van Tassel, Roger Wallace, Ted Roddy, Lucky Tomblin Band, Joe McDermott, Beausoleil Avec Michael Doucet, Cooder Graw, The Gimbles, Eric Hanke, Van Morrison, Bill Kirchen, The Twang, Heybale, Burrito Delux, Matthew Ballard, Fingerpistol, Marcia Ball, Carolyn Wonderland, James Hand, Leo Rondeau, JaLaLa, David Newbould, Houston Marchman, Bordertown Bootleggers, Esteban, Manodlin Bros, Booka & Flaming Geckos, Pinetop Perkins, Carla Olson, Arlen Roth, Okee Dokee Bros, Amy Laber, Happy Traum, Elly Wininger, Rosie Flores, Mamadou Kelly, Leif Vollebekk, Shelley King)
• Mark McKenna - Engineer, Vox (Johnny Average Band)
• Ray Neznik - Asst Engineer
• RJ Raymon - Asst Engineer
• Shep Siegel - Asst Engineer
• Bob Ludwig - Mastering
• Philip Balou - Backing Vox (Revelation, Utopia, Genral Johnson, Southside Johnny & Asbury Jukes, Steve Goodman, Joe Thomas, Major Harris, Asleep at the Wheel, Jebadiah, John Hall, Ramona Brooks, Bette Midler, Charles Earland, Lou Rawls, Luther Vandross, Hi-Gloss, Pleasure, Change, High Fashion, Aretha, Michael Franks, Irene Cara, Melba Moore, Howard Johnson, Cheryl Lynn, Fonzi Thorton, Bernard Edwards, Michael Wycoff, Lillo Thomas, Dionne Warwick, Manhattans, Kashif, Nile Rodgers, Carl Anderson, EPM, Teddy Pendergrass, Damaris, Merc & Monk, Village People, Ralph macDonald, Jeff Tyzik, Nona Hendryx, Tramaine, Air Supply, Peter Gordon, Jonathan Butler, Glenn Jones, The System, Gavin Christopher, Bernard Lavilliers, George Benson, Stage Dolls, Billy Ocean, Darryl Tookes, Carol Davi$, Dance With A Stranger, Laurie Anderson, James Taylor, Billy Joel, Simon Tittley, Arnold McCuller, David Lasley, Carly Simon, Harvey Miller, Michael Wycoff, Power Station, Boys Choir of Harlem, Tom Jones)
• Benny Diggs - Backing Vox (Revelation, Douglas Sisters, Melba Moore, Southside Johnny & Asbury Jukes, Asleep at the Wheel, Lou Rawls, Ramsey Lewis, Hi-Gloss, Sylvester, Nona Hendryx, Robert Palmer, Doc Powell, Joe Cocker, Diana Ross, Dance With a Stranger, Al Green, Braxtons, Laurie Anderson, Carly Simon, George Benson, Westlife more)
• Morris Gray - Backing Vox (Revelation, Ramsey Lewis, Cheri, Peter Gordon, Golden Gospel Singers)
• Kevin Owens - Backing Vox (Revelation, Ray Goodman & Brown, Luther Vandross, Jaheim, Caress, Festival, Masquerade, Lou Rawls, Cheri, Ramsey Lewis, Pleasure, Nona Hendryx, Curtis Hairston, Doc Powell, Gavin Christopher, Kirk Whalum, Gregory Hines, Philip Michael Thomas, Millie Scott, Freddie Jackson, Darryl Tookes, Dance With a Stranger, Edelweiss, Marc Nelson, Lisa Fischer, Noel Pointer, Ava Cherry, Smappies, Byron Stingily, USA-European Connection, Boris Midney, Black Russian, Kathy Troccoli, Anastacia, Norman Connors)
• Dick Katz - String Performance (New World Philharmonic, Benny Carter, Buck Clayton, Gene Quill, Jimmy Knepper, Joe newman, Larry Sonn, Lee Konitz, Loren Schoenberg, Manny Albam, Oscar Pettiford, Osie Johnson, Paul Horn, Stan Getz, American Jass Orch, Jay and Kai, Mat Matthers, Tony Scott more )
• George James - Trumpet (Benny Carter, Louis Armstrong, Lucky Millinder, Teddy Wilson, Harlem Blues & Jazz Band, Sarah Vaughn, Jabbo Smith, Clyde EB Bernhardt, Fats Waller, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Punch Miller, Albert Wynn, Sine, Alex Hill, Hoagy Carmichael, Junie C. Cobb, :Kid Punch" Miller)
• Josh Shneider - Alto Sax (Irene Cara, Eric Von Schmidt & the Cruel Family, Artie Traum, Steve Forbert, Late Nite Music Band, Tom Rush, Force MDs, Joy Askew)
• Ralph Carney - Tenor Sax (Tom Waits, Tin Huey, B-52's, Marc Ribot, Jim White, Jonathan Richman, Waitresses, Clarinet Thing, Caucho, Labatomy, Swollen Monkeys, Pluto, Preacher Boy, Melon, Bill Laswell, Victoria Williams, Jad Fair, Allen Ginsberg, Galaxie 500, Loved Ones, Elvis Costello, Grant Lee Buffalo, Pere Ubu, Custard, Chuck Prophet, Jack Kerouac, Black Francis, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down, Stephen King-John Mellencamp-T Bone Burnett,St. Vincent, Drive By Truckers, Legendary Shack Shakers, more)
• Tim Ritchie - Art Direction, Design
• Broun - Photos
• RonVanwarmer - (WDST)
• Helen Kimmet - Haircuts

Unknown-ness: I've never heard of this singer / band. From the cover photo and the band photo on the back, I imagine this will be nasally, anxious, neurotic, jittery, catchy-as-hell power pop. I'll actually be slightly upset if it is not...perhaps i'm setting too high a bar, surly to lead to disappointment.

Album Review:  From the first track, Vanwarmers voice is delicate and warm, a little like Ric Ocasek  but an octave higher. The opening two tracks mixes power chords with jangleypop melodies and throws in some keys and synth to keep up with appearances in the 80's. Much of the rest are lighter ballads, that harken back to simple oldies and classic country, and a couple would fit right in to today's breezy island pop sound, even if it is not all synthesized.

Vanwarmer was a friendly, well liked musician who passed away too early at 48 years old from leukemia, a year after diagnosis. He had a short, bright career in pop, with the #1 single "Just When I Needed You the Most," a song that his wife sued Warner/Chappell for copyright ownership. Soon after his first 3 records, he transitioned to writing Country songs when "I Guess It Never Hurts to Hurt Sometimes" which already sounds like a country ballad, was covered by the Oak Ridge Boys. Other musicians Charley Pride, Michael Johnson, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Alabama (and many more) converted his songs to hits. Upon his death a portion of his ashes were sent into space.

Stand Out Track: Suzi Found a Weapon

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Truth (the) - Playground

Name: The Truth
Album: Playground
Year: 1985
Style: Jangly Pop
Similar Bands: Hall & Oates, Dire Straits, ABC, Tears for Fears, China Crisis, Howard Jones, Spandau Ballet, Style Council, JoBoxer
"One-Word" Review: pub rock with a smooth new car smell facelift
Based Out Of: UK
Label: IRS, MCA

Cover, Record

Back, Record

Playground (1985)

1. Spread A Little Sunshine 3:35
2. Exception of Love 3:07 (single)
3. So Many Things 2:52
4. Always On My Mind 4:02
5. I'm In Tune 2:44 /
6. Playground 3:22 (single)
7. Solution 3:25
8. It's A Miracle 5:18
9. Thursday Club 3:35
10. You Play With My Emotions 4:15

Album Rating (1-10): 7.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Dennis Greaves - Guitar, Vox (Nine Below Zero, NHS Voices, The Co-Operative, Perfect Crime, Gwyn Ashton, Steve Marriott, Squeeze, Glenn Tilbrook & the Fluffers)
• Mick Lister - Guitar, Vox (The Stowaways, Perfect Crime, Moody Marsden, Jamai, The Beat, Tony Hadley)
• Chris Skornia - Keys (Fabulous Poodles, The Boyfriends, The Cane, The Planets, Billy Ray Cyrus, The Overtures)
• Allan Fielder - Drums (The Climb)
• Richard Parfitt - Bass (60ft Dolls, Blood Brothers, McAlmont & Butler, Lene Marlin, Duffy, David Sinclair Trio, Martin Carr)
• Carolyn Lovell - Cello (Flesh For Lulu)
• Dennis Weinreich - Producer
• Hein Hoven - Producer
• Trevor Hallesy - Engineer
• Dave Powell - Thanks @ Konk Studios
• H.T Murkowski - Photos

Unknown-ness: I had never heard of this band. I found 2 of their records in a dollar box, but decided on this one after simply reading it was a better / more popular record...but did not hear it at all. With a 1985 date, I assume this is smoothly produced pop with a bunch of synth effects in place of typical instruments.

Album Review: It is one part jangly pop, but also has a bit of a blue-collar pub rock edge, if only a small bit, underneath the mid-80's overproduction sheen. They possess standard nasally British vocals, and some Blue-Eyed, Mod-revival pop experimentation on a couple of the tracks with synthesized horns.

This is their first album, three years after Greaves and Lister formed the band and a handful of non-album singles. Two more albums followed, with the middle one being the big hit in the US (Weapons of Love), with some songs being featured in the 1987 sci-fi film The Hidden. They were on track to follow in the Jam's footsteps, but ended up coming off without their power and drive, and ended up succumbing to the era's Miami Vice soundtrack bands in the states, and never recovered back home. You can hear it quite clearly on the track "Is There a Solution," which is musically great until the Phil Collins like vocals and chorus hit.

Stand Out Track: Exception of Love

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Translator - Heartbeats and Triggers

Name: Translator
Album: Heartbeats & Triggers
Year: 1982
Style: Post Punk, New Wave
Similar Bands: Alarm, Jonathan Richman, Clash, Jam, Rifles, The dB's, Wire Train
"One-Word" Review: Solid Punky Art Rock
Based Out Of: San Francisco, Los Angeles
Label: 415 Records, Columbia, CBS

Cover, Record

Record, Back

Heartbeats and Triggers (1982)

1. Everywhere That I'm Not 4:03 (single)
2. Necessary Spinning 3:41
3. Everything You See 3:35
4. When I Am With You 3:06 (single b-side)
5. Nothing is Saving Me 5:16 /
6. Sleeping Snakes 3:37
7. Favorite Drug 3:32
8. Everywhere 3:19
9. Dark Region 2:31
10. My Heart, Your Hear 3:43

Album Rating (1-10): 10.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Steve Barton - Guitar, Vox (The Oblivion Click, Present Tense, Blow Up, Waking Bartonomous)
• Robert Darlington - Guitar, Vox (The Lies)
• David Scheff - Drums (Teatro ZinZanni, Dead Kennedys, Bang Bang Men, Half True, Winter Hours, Wilma, Bounty, Slow Children, American Music Club, Sachiko, Ramona The Pest, Flying Color, Billy & Dolly)
• Larry Dekker - Bass (Bang Bang Men, Map of Wyoming, Sachiko)
• David Kahne - Producer, Engineer
• Philip De Lancie - Remote Assistant
• Paul Stubblebine - Mastering
• Robin A. Spear - Cover Concept & Design
• Trudy Fisher - Photos

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band. While the date is 1982, the cover looks like a millennial angular pop-punk offering. The bleak two tone color scheme give them a darkness to the music, potentially. But i really don't know what's going to be on here...based on their pics, they look like a new wave band, so let's go with that.

Album Review: This record is really great. Two vocal styles from two vocalists round out the good with a Jonathan Richmond style voice, and a Peter Weller style vocal, with music to complement both styles. The songs can be a little jangly like the Alarm, but a good recent comparison would be to the UK band, the Rifles. It feels like the third or fourth catalogue offering of a previously raucous punk band who has aged well and lost a bit of their driving, angsty edge, yet this is their debut.

This record received substantial airplay for college and underground radio stations via the record label's connection to CBS/Columbia, particularly their anthem "Everywhere That I'm Not." They release 4 albums in the 80's then quit, and reformed 26 years later to release another album, two best-ofs and a handful of new singles. One of their biggest inspirations was the Beatles, and they sounded so much like them, that many Beatles fan thought their 1983 cover of "Cry for a Shadow" was a new recording by the living members in time for the Beatles Anthology release in 1995.

Stand Out Track: Everywhere That I'm Not, Necessary Spinning, Everywhere

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Loz Netto - s/t

Name: Loz Netto
Album: s/t
Year: 1986
Style: Synth Pop/Rock
Similar Bands: Taco, David Bowie, ABC, Thomas Dolby, INXS
"One-Word" Review: Overproduced smooth synthetic back alley
Based Out Of: Brighton / Coventry UK
Label: Atlantic, Warner

Cover, Record

Record, Back

Loz Netto (1986)

1. Walking in the Dark 4:15 (single)
2. We Touch 4:45 (Single, on Miami Vice)
3. Dance to the Music 5:05 (single)
4. No Reaction 3:22
5. Silent Movie 4:48 /
6. Fat City 3:13
7. Do What You Want 5:27
8. One Night Out 3:46
9. Substitute 3:58

Album Rating (1-10): 6.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Loz Netto - Vox, B. Box, Guitar (Moon, Sniff N' The Tears, Los Pacaminos, Tasmin Archer, Sharpeez, Ben E King, Thomas Dolby, Lene Lovich, Paul Young, Eye Talk, Brian Copsey & the Commotions, )
• Tessa Niles - B. Vox (George's Band, OPbsession, Sharpe & Niles, Strictly Unreasonable Zang Tuum Tum Big Beat Colossus, ABC, Morrissey Mullen, Tik & Tok, Caroline Munro, Higsons, Gary Numan, Flesh For Lulu, Tina Turner, Shakin' Stevens, Bowie & Jagger, Grace Jones, Explorers, Gloria Gaynor, The The, Everything But the Girl, Eric Clapton, Paul Hardcastle, Duran Duran, Berlin, Julian Cope, Cabaret Voltaire, Marillion, Pet Shop Boys, Escape Club, Steve Winwood, Sad Cafe, Spandau Ballet, Tears for Fears, Liza Minnelli, Rolling Stones, Dusty Springfield more)
• Steve Butler - B. Vox (Kartoon, Russ Abbot, Martyn Lacey, Party Boppers, Silver Screen Orch, The Law, Wendy James, London Theater Orch, Newton. High Jinx, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Don Estelle, Enlightenment, russell Watson, kevin Kennedy, Nigel Stonier, Barclay James Harvest, Thea Gilmore, Keith Hopwood, Malcolm Rowe)
• Paul Young - B. Vox (Gyro, Mike & the Mechanics, Sad Cafe, Measles, Toggery (5), Young Bros, Young & Renshaw, Roger Cook, Mandalaband, Union, Sir John Betjeman, SAS band, Streetband)
• Ian Wilson - B. Vox (Barclay James Harvest, Greasy Bear, Gyro, Mandalaband, Sad Cafe, Ramones, Kartoon, Sign System, Jon Astley, Martyn Lacey, The Law, Chippendales, Wendy James, Deborah Harry, Newton, Don Estelle, Kevin Kennedy, House of Saints, Keith Hopwood, Malcolm Rowe, Oleta Adams, Bunk Dogger, Paul Young, Casey Abrams, Johann Sebastian Bach, Joanna Eden)
• Richie Close - Keys (Annette, Both Hands Free, Frequency 9, Masters of Acid, T-Coy, Mainstream, Mike Harding, Maddy prior. Mandalaband, Heebeegeebees, Corey Hart, Allan Taylor, Camel, Tracey Carmen, Kartoon, Hombres G, Michael Chapman, Icicle Works, Jon Astley, Marilyn Martin, Jim Capaldi, Shadowland, Texido, ABC, Roger Spencer, Houghton Weavers, Danza Invisible, M People, Big Country, Thomas Lang, Barclay James Harvest, Keith Hopwood, Malcolm Rowe, 2AM, David Alexander)
• Jon Carin - Keys (Industry, Fishermen, Pink Floyd, Pete Towsend, David Gilmour, Bryan Ferry, Corey Hart, Psychedelic Furs, Escape Club, Dream Academy, Roger Daltry, Live, Love Spit Love, Soul Asylum, Gipsy Kings, NWO, Who, Richard Butler more)
• Phil Palmer - Guitar (Bob Geldof & Vegetarians of Love, Dragonfly, K Wallis B and the Dark Shades of Night, Legacy, Spin 1ne 2wo, Symphnoica Band, Bliss Band, House Band, Troll, Dire Straits, David Gilmour, Chris de Burgh, Shakin' Stevens, Joan Armatrading, Frank Zappa, Ian Matthews, Joe Egan, David Essex, Sheena Easton, Tears for Fears, Murray Head, Scott Walker, Toyah, Howard Jones, Alphaville, Swing Out Sister, Sam brown, Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, George Michael, Dusty Springfield, Celine Dion, Tasmin Archer, Pete Townshend, Katy Sagal, Milla, Take That, Bryan Adams, Robbie Williams  more)
• Mike Hehir - Guitar (Barclay James Harvest, Sad Cafe, Sneaky Pierre, Corey Hart, Jon Astley, Greenway, Jim Capaldi, The Law, Marie Claire, Deborah Harry, Alan Simon, Paul Young)
• Ashley Mulford - Guitar, Producer (Champion, Mandalaband, Sad Cafe, Chilliwack, Therapy, Tim Hart, Mark Haines, Candi, Michael Learns to Rock, Tears For Jeanie, Jascha Richter, Paul Young, Riversea, Last Knight)
• Dave Irving - Drums Overdubs (Dianno, Eddie Cave & the Fyx, Sad Cafe, Supercharge, Paul Young)
• Jon Astley - Fairlight, Producer (Virginia Astley, Corey Hart, Tori Amos, Heavy Metal Kids, Gary Shearston, Sandy mcLelland & the Backline, Sad Cafe, The Law, Deborah Harry, Wendy James, The Who,  more)
• Steve Piggot - Keys (10cc, Living In A Box, Dogs D'Amour. Jon Astley, Ian Thomas, Brother Beyond, Escape Club, Gary Moore, Sad Cafe, Mark V, Vicki Morgan, Celine Dion, The Law, Mike & the Mechanics, Phillip Boa & the Voodooclub, Mikel Erentxun, Cliff Richard, Deborah Harry. Mitch Malloy, Jaki Graham, Sheena Easton, Zazie, Edyta Gorniak, Julien Clerc, Gipsy Kings, Joe Cocker, Jennifer Rush, Loreena McKennitt, Russell Watson, Preacher Boy, Rod Stewart, Barclay James Harvest, Kevin Kennedy, Dzal Martin, Nazareth, Keith Hopwood, Malcolm Rowe)
• Snake Davis - Sax (James Brown, Smokey Robinson, Chaka Khan, Eutythmics, Massive Attack, M People, B*Witched, Lisa Stansfield, Blue Shoes, Was (not Was), Sad Cafe, Swing Out Sister, Paul McCartney, Dusty Springfield, Shirley Bassey, OMD, Robert Palmer, Soul II Soul, Dionne Warwick, Pet Shop Boys, Denise Williams, Tina Turner, George Michael, Spice Girls, Paul Hardcastle more)
• Andy "Heavy" Macpherson - Producer, Recording, Guitar
• Phil Chapman - Asst Producer
• Michael Hoppen - Photos, Concept
• C-More Tone Studios - Graphics, Design
• Bob Defrin - Art Direction
• Robert Raymond - Mgmt

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this artist. And i'm not sure what to make of the prediction. From the name Loz and the dude on the motorcycle i presume is Netto, i first thought this may have a Hispanic / Latin influence. The year makes it hard to deduce what will be on it...86 was a year without one popular guessable style.  

Album Review: The album sounds like there is not one real instrument on it, which was popular at the time. So it is pretty smooth in production, and the vocal style is smooth as well and relaxed, and a little Bowie + Michael Hutchence-like. Fat City shares a very similar intro as Prince's 1999.

Loz was a nickname acquired back in elementary school growing up in the UK by Netto. He grew up in a variety of bands but first made it big in Sniff N' the Tears until a motorcycle accident put him in a cast and caused his departure. This only led to a recovery time full of songwriting, which in turn, catapulted his solo career. He's produced and created his own studio and recorded with many artists which all links back to his past connections. Still making music today, he never gained notable popularity, especially not in the US.

Stand Out Track: Fat City

Links:

Discogs

Allmusic

Website
Miami Vice Wiki

Facebook
Dangerman Interview
UK Linked IN

Rate Your Music
Mandy UK
N1M

States - Picture Me With You

Name: States
Album: Picture Me With You
Year: 1981
Style: Power Pop
Similar Bands: Hawks, Loverboy, Pezband, Records, Shoes, Sparks
"One-Word" Review: Pure Harmonic Powerpop
Based Out Of: Norfolk / Hampton Roads,VA
Label: Boardwalk Records/Entertainment Co.

Cover, Record

Record, Back

Picture Me With You (1981)

1. Picture Me With You (single) 3:00
2. Angel of the Morning 4:39
3. Saturday Night (single) 2:50
4. Love on the Line 4:27
5. Tell Me It's Love 3:27 /
6. Love You Girl (single) 3:11
7. Let's Roll 3:42
8. Jenny 3:00
9. Just A Dream 2:30
10. Get It 4:28

Album Rating (1-10): 7.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Dominic "Butch" Germano - Bass 
• Morgan Hampton - Vox, Drums, Percussion (Mason, Vandy)
• Barry Scott - Vox, Guitar (The Barrys)
• Jimmy McDonnell - Vox (Zooch)
• Robert Schindler - Keys (Zooch)
• Steve Chandler - Guitars, Backing Vox 
• John Ryan - Producer
• Bill Drescher - Recording & Mixing
• Tori Swenson - Asst. Engineer
• Nicky Hopkins - Grand Piano (Zooch, Cliff Bennett, Rebel Rousers, Climax Blues Band, Cyril Davies, Jeff Beck Group, Lord Sutch & Heavy Friends, Neil Christian & Crusaders, Night Quicksilver Messenger Service, Screaming Lord Sutch & Savages, Soul Survival, Sweet Thursday, Terry & the Pirates, Immediate All-Stars, Jerry Garcia Band, Sessions, NH Caravan, Rolling Stones, Kinks, Easybeats, Steve Miller Band, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver, The Who, John Lennon, Jerry Williams, Nilsson, John & Yoko, Carly Simon, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Cheece & Chong, Donovan, Andy Williams, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Strawbs, Mark Almond, Martha Reeves, Joe Cocker, Peter Frampton, David Soul, Art Garfunkel, Rod Stewart, Bay City Rollers, Eddie Money, Badfinger, Pointer Sisters, Graham Parker, Meat Loaf, Marc Bolan, Nils Lofgren, Pure Prarie League more)
• Jerry Jurmonville - Sax (Delaney&Bonnie&Friends, Les Getrex & Creole Cooking, Dr. John, Ry Cooder, Duane Allman, Doobie Brothers, Maria Muldaur, Mike Bloomfield, Dave Mason, Bonnie Raitt, Iron Butterfly, Rod Stewart, Gap Band, Van Morrison, Johnny Rivers, Dusty Springfield, David Soul, Little Feat, Leo Sayer, Brooklyn Dreams, Albert Lee, Bette Midler, Harry Nilsson, Doobie Brothers, Ringo Starr, Jules and the Polar Bears, Eikichi Yazawa, Tommy Tutone, Michael Bolton, Smokey Robinson, Captain Beefheart,   some more)
• Doug Thaler - Mgmt, Direction
• Mickey Watts - Crew
• Eddie Zapata - Crew
• David Harwood - Crew
• Tommy Steele - Design
• Jeff Fey - Design
• Phil Fewsmith - Photos
• Ron Larson - Hand Coloring
• Mike Donaldson - Hand Coloring

Unknown-ness: Never heard of States. I get a sense of easy listening yacht rock from the coloring choices, mixed with 70's power pop, based on their ages, hair and style

Album Review: It is definitely pure powerpop. They take turns with lead vocals, and it looks like there are a bunch of covers, as many of the songs have writing credits that are not the members. At least im familiar with "Angel of the Morning." And "Get It" has a harmony similar to Difford/Tilbrook of Squeeze. "Jenny" feels like it belongs somewhere Meatloaf's Rocky Horror Picture Show songs and Buddy Holly, with an 80's power pop update in production.

They were a locally popular band in the Virginia Beach nightclub scene in the late 70's early 80's, with their biggest moment coming as an opener for Hall & Oates (aside from their first album being on a major label: Chrysalis). Only recorded this and a previous self titled album in their 7 year career 77-84.

Stand Out Track: Jenny

Links:

Discogs

Allmusic
Rate Your Music
Spirit of Metal
Butch Memorial
Forgotton 80's Podcast
F-Measure

Tapes (the) - Party

Name: The Tapes
Album: Party
Year: 1980
Style: Post Punk, Punk, New Wave
Similar Bands: Talking Heads, Husker Du, XTC, Residents, The Jam, Wire, Television
"One-Word" Review: Disjointed Space-filled Angular Wave
Based Out Of: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Label: Passport Records, Jem Records, WEA

Cover, Sleeve, Record

Back, Lyrics, Record

Party (1980)

1. (I Fall) Head First 3:00
2. The Mating Season 3:48
3. Blue Thighs 2:55
4. Point Eighty Eight 3:38
5. Into Action 4:14 /
6. To Assemble 4:05
7. LG/DG 2:18
8. Lonesome Max 2:45
9. Party 3:20
10. In The Crocodile's Mouth 2:16
11. Inside Out 5:03 

Album Rating (1-10): 8.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Rolf Hermsen - Vox, Guitar, Cover Design (Mathilde Santing)
• Fred Hermsen - Mgmt, Writer
• Peter Meuris - Drums (Frits, Zonder Naam, Slagwerkgroep, Mathilde Santing, The Nits, Astrid Seriese, Julya Lo'ko, Trockener Kecks)
• Igor Roovers - Bass (Dynastie Van Oer)
• Michiel Brandes - Guitars (Mathilde Santing)
• Don Willard - Producer
• Angele Grevelink - Photos
• Peter O. Kapteijn - cover photo inspiration

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band. From the cover art (and back art, which is basically a cover for side two) of white outfits and ties, it would seem to project new wave. They look rather clean cut, so my guess is more to the synth side of new wave than dirty, hard, or blue collar new wave. 

Album Review: It's a tad funky, with some discordant, flat hooks similar to the Residents, and vocals similar to the Jam. They can be categorized right there in the middle of the new wave / post punk bridge. Lg Dg is quite frantic and a little spooky with the guitar sound meshed with the vocals.
Known as the Dutch Talking Heads for their first two records, this band from Amsterdam recorded 3 records, and took cues from the scene of XTC, Wire, and the aforementioned Talking Heads. This is the only of their records remastered & put to CD with bonus live tracks

Stand Out Track: Lg Dg, Into Action

Links:
Discogs
Allmusic
4 live tracks on Bandcamp
The Velvet Vox - in Dutch
No Longer Forgotten Music
Fredheadset - live recording
Rate your Music
Written in Music

Swinging Pistons - I Love the Sound of Machines

Name: Swinging Pistons
Album: I Love the Sound of Machines
Year: 1986
Style: Punk, No Wave, Industrial Techno
Similar Bands: Quintron & Miss Pussycat, Gang of Four, Crash Course in Science, En Vogue, B-52s
"One-Word" Review: Dance-Funk-Industrial-Punk in Synergy
Based Out Of: New Jersey
Label: RD3 Records

Cover, Record

Back, Record

I Love the Sound of Machines (1986)

1. (ever since i was young) I Love the Sound of Machines 3:21 /
2. (ever since i was young) I Love the Sound of Machines (Mechanized Mix) 4:28

Album Rating (1-10): 8.0

Members & Other Bands:

• E. William Tucker - Vox, Guitar, Bass, Writer (Ministry, My Life With Thrill Kill Kult, Pigface, Chemlab, Chris Connelly, Regressive Aid, KMFDM, Revolting Cocks, Foetus, Darling Kandie, Hyperhead, Scornflakes, Thanatos, Final Cut, 16 Volt, Everplastic, Chainsuck, Illegal Teenage Bikini,  )
• Andy Gomory - Backign Vox, Keys, Programmer, Engineer, Writer (Groceries, Dennis Young)
• Judy Jones - Vox (Soul Train Gang, Mandrill, Charles Jackson, Pattie Brooks, Munich Machine, Brooklyn Dreams, Jeff Kutash & Dancin' Machine, Twennynine w/ Lenny White, Stacey Lattisaw, Allan Anthony, Lou Rawls, Najee, Paulinho Da Costa, Earth Wind & Fire)
• Greg Frey - Engineer

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but I got this because i liked the homemade nature of the cover. I didn't realize when i bought it that this was only a one song single with a remix on the back, but I was interested to see what this record, with the industrial sounding name and song title, would be like.

Album Review: Barely an album review, as it is just one song, but there is a lot of depth to the song. It is part kitchen sink-industrial  with a cold wave dance beat that comes off a punk, but more approachable, perhaps because the chorus is a soulful & sexy woman singing the title (think En Vogue). Maybe a little playfulness too like B-52's minus the surf aspect as well.

There is not much out there about this record/band, except for the information surrounding William Tucker. After this release, Ministry's Al Hourgensen picked him up to play on tour. He's from Jersey, so he has ties with Ween where he was in a band with their early producer/bass/keyboard player Andrew Weiss, and he gave guitar lessons to Deaner, AKA Mickey Melchiondo. He unfortunately took his own life in 1999.

Stand Out Track: (ever since i was young) I Love the Sound of Machines

Links:
Spotify
Wiki- William Tucker

Discogs

Allmusic - William Tucker

FB page
rate your music

elvis pelvis obit

Steve Swindells - Fresh Blood

Name: Steve Swindells
Album: Fresh Blood
Year: 1980
Style: Pub rock, Power Pop, New Wave
Similar Bands: Dire Straits, A's, Graham Parker, Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen, 
"One-Word" Review: Unpolished Americana Wave
Based Out Of: London, England
Label: Atco, Warner Communications Company, Atlantic

Cover, Sleeve, Record

Back, Lyrics, Record

Fresh Blood (1980)

1. Turn It On, Turn It Off 3:12
2. Fresh Blood 3:36
3. I Feel Alive 3:47
4. Low Life Joe 4:16
5. Bitter and Twisted 3:50 /
6. Don't Wait on the Stairs 3:22
7. Is It Over Now? 4:08
8. Down on Love Street 5:37
9. Figures of Authority 5:12
10. Show Down in the Night 5:12

Album Rating (1-10): 7.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Steve Swindells - Producer, Writer, Vox, Keys (Squidd, Pilot, Hawkwind, Hawklords, Danmingo, The Plastic Surgeons, Sacrosanct, Spirits Burning, Bridget Wishart, Dave Evans, Capdevielle, Robert Calvert, 
• Huw Lloyd-Langton - Guitars (Hawklords, Widowmaker, 2001 A Space Rock odyssey, Broken Bits band, Cosmograf, Hawkestrel, Hawkwind, Robert Calvert, Nic Potter, Dr Brown, The Meads of Asphodel, Sacred Geometry Band)
• Nic Potter - Bass (Van der Graaf Generator, Pool Sharks, The K Group, The Misunderstoods, The Noise, The Tigers, Unkestra, Henry Schifter, Colin Scot, Peter Hammill, Rare Bird, Chuck Berry, Guy Evans, Magna Carta, Steve Hyams, VDGG, Huw Lloyd-Langton, )
• Simon King - Drums (Hawklords, Hawkwind, Captain Lockheed & Starfighters, Michael Moorcock's Deep Fix, Opal Butterfly, Brian Eno, Robert Calvert, The Bunch,  )
• Simon Fraser - Engineer
• Bill Price - Mixing
• Jerry Green - Asst. Engineer
• Bob Carlos Clarke - Photos
• Richard Evans - Graphics
• Bill Curbishley - Mgmt & Direction
• Pete Fountain - Mgmt & Direction

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this dude. From the cover and back, it looks like he's trying to be a scummy version of Billy Joel...a harder edge and if the back has any say, it looks like the model for the film They Live. 

Album Review: The album starts out strong, the first two tracks are fun and bouncy, with calm focused vocals similar to Mark Knopfler, but the rest takes a dive into darker territory mixed with blue collar Americana. Don't Wait on the Stairs has a little Elvis Costello / Graham Parker sound in his voice. A couple songs, like Bitter and Twisted embrace electronic synth effects, which were en vogue at the time. Figures of Authority brings in an extra layer of Goth, sounding a little like Sisters Of Mercy, or one of the early record reviews Bay of Pigs. 

So apparently, he's English, from Ipswich, Suffolk. And after music didn't pan out (to which he considers being "out-gay" might have been a contributing reason in 1981), he shifted it to a hobby and worked as a party/concert promotor and later a journalist. He then returned to music, and is still active self-releasing old and new material. A couple of his songs were recorded by Roger Daltrey.

Stand Out Track: Turn It On, Turn It Off

Links:
Wiki
Discogs
Allmusic
Facebook
music gateway 
Soundcloud
Steve's Wordpress
Second Songs
Record Collectors Mag

Sumner - s/t

Name: Sumner
Album: s/t
Year: 1980
Style: New Wave, Blue Collar Rock
Similar Bands: John Mellencamp, Nick Gilder
"One-Word" Review: Wispy Power Rock
Based Out Of: Los Angeles
Label: Elektra/Asylum, Warner Communications, Nonesuch Records

Cover, Record

Back, Record

Sumner (1980)

1. Radioland 4:22
2. Dynamite 2:46
3. Wishes 3:28
4. Hot Night 7:28 /
5. No Time to Stop 3:24
6. Run Cindy Run 3:00
7. It Ain't Up to Me 2:56
8. You Excite Me 4:18
9. More Beer 3:14

Album Rating (1-10): 7.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Sumner Mering - Vox, Guitar (Lauren Wood, Rock Along)
• Larry Treadwell -Guitar, Backing Vox (Thomas Dolby, Lost Toy People, Repairs, J. Eric Freedner, Peter McCann, Lauren Wood, Tom Franzak, Allee Willis - Pee Wee Herman, Pointer Sisters, Ofra Haza, Mona Lisa, Cyndi Lauper, Fiorella Terenzi, Honey Pig, Jeff Larson, David Vidal, Gerry Beckley, America)
• Novi (Ilene) Novog - Keys, Electric Viola (Rebecca & the Sunny Brook Farmers, Nilsson, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Indigo Girls, Violent Femmes, David Poe, Flat Duo Jets, Cynthia Clawson, Kenny Loggins, Holly McNarland, 10000 Maniacs, 
• Robert Louis DiChiro - Bass (Les Deux Love Orch, America)
• Mark Sanders - Drums (Jah Wobble, Asunder Trio, Atlas, Badlands, Bruise, David Tucker Group, Dean-Trovesi Double Quartet, Deep Whole Trio, Dirty Songs, Elton Dean Quartet, Foils Quartet, Georg Graewe Quintet, Howard Riley, John Law, John Lloyd, London Improvisers Orch, Lunge, Minnow, Nick Stephens, Orch Entrophy, Paul Dunmall Moksha Big Band, PAURA, Predicate, Riverloam Trio, Rope, Santers, SFE, Six-In-One, Speeq, English Roots Band, Kris Wanders, The Number, Trevor Watts, Thomas Borgmann, Trio Nang Naak, ZFP Quartet more)
• Jack Nitzsche - Producer
• Bill Evans - Engineer
• David (Gino) Giorgini - Second Engineer
• Gregory J. Edwards - Prophet Programming
• Wally Traugott - Mastering
• Ron Coro - Art Direction & Design
• Jeffrey Scales - Photos
• Steven Steinberg - Mgmt

Unknown-ness: Never heard of Sumner, but it looks like he's got a full band on the back, so not just a singer/songwriter, but that's what I'd imagine this will be. 

Album Review: Sumner's vocals are slight and struggling. He seem a little pained, either like he's just getting over laryngitis or that the vocals will faint or dissolve away into thin air. Music this is pretty straight forward power pop/new wave. The theatrical Hot Night is unnecessarily 7 1/2 minutes long and is sparce, leaving a lot of room for anticipation and experimentation, and even though it builds slowly to a back alley, street walker rock jam, it really lacks anything exciting to look forward to. The album ending track is fratty in it's overly masculine chanting of the title "More Beer." "Radioland," "It Ain't Up to Me" and "No Time to Stop" (with is two note Simpsons theme sound-alike) are some catchy pop songs. While there are some strong, fun, bouncy bass lines throughout the record, and it definitely rocks at times, as a whole, it feels slight, like the vocals.

While Sumner may not be that popular, his daughter, as Weyes Blood, has become very popular over the past couple of years. Apparently she did not know her father was a touring musician (dated Joni Mitchell apparently) until she was about 6 when they lived in Doylestown. But it sounds like Sumner lived fast on the roller coaster ride that burned out many bands in the late 70s: from talented bar band to major label to one-(or two) album-and-done, then back into obscurity. 

Stand Out Track: No Time to Stop

Links:

Youtube Full Album

Discogs

Allmusic

Bandcamp

Weyes Blood Connection

Sumner Mering Ministries

Live Youtube Set Madame Wong's 5-31-80

Suburbs (the) - Love is the Law

Name: The Suburbs 
Album: Love is the Law
Year: 1983
Style: New Wave, College Radio, Art Rock
Similar Bands: Wolfgang Press, Alarm, Bram Tchiakovski, Fad Gadget, Roxy Music
"One-Word" Review: Dark Cowwave
Based Out Of: Minneapolis, MN
Label: PolyGram, Mercury

Cover, Sleeve, Record

Back, Lyrics, Record

Love is the Law (1983)

1. Love is the Law 4:41 (single)
2. Monster Man 3:15
3. Rattle My Bones 3:25
4. Skin 4:22
5. Accept Me Baby 3:46 /
6. Hell A 4:30
7. Perfect Communist 5:05
8. Rainy Day 5:00
9. Crazy Job 5:04

Album Rating (1-10): 8.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Steven Greenberg - Producer, Engineer (Lipps Inc)
• Paul Stark - Producer, Engineer, Recording, Mixing
• Edouard Manet - Cover Painting
• Bruce C Allen - Guitar, Art Direction (Buzzwel) 
• Blaine John Chaney - Beejtar, Vox
• Michael Halliday - Bass 
• Hugo Klaers - Drums (Buzzwell, Creatures of Habit, 
• Chan Poling - Keys Vox (The New Standards, Buzzwell, Lucy Michelle, Replacements, A Few, Bobby Z, Slim Dunlap)
• Scott Snyder - Trumpet (Willie Murphy, Bonnie Raitt, Dr. John, Bettye LaVette, Temptations, Four Tops. CC Septet, Century College Jazz Ensemble, St. Croix Jazz Orch, Emperors of Jazz Dixieland Band, Explodo Boys, Raggs)
• Tom Burnevik - Sax (Lamont Cranston Band, Curtiss A, Soul Asylum)
• Terri Paul - Backing Vox (Fine Art)
• Howie Weinberg - Mastering
• Laurie S Allen - Photos
• Lonni Ranallo - Photos
• Haga Photography - Photos

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but the cover art of choice makes for a bleak dreary musical guess. Counterbalancing that, though is the collage of photos, patches, cards, and art on the back. I'm gonna guess this will be something like brainy college rock, jangley and meandering just for the sake of sounding complex 

Album Review: So the album itself is not that great. Solid music, but lots of talking, dialogue-like vocals. The appeal is the couple of stand out tracks like the single & title track (with great sax hook), "Rattle My Bones" (which is a little embarrassing with its "knee bone connected to the thigh bone" lyrics) and the driving synthy, video-game like "Skin" with multiple hooks. The rest of the album is cold & dark, like an underground beatnik coffee bar. There is weariness and knowledge in the singers voice. But it is a record that could only be produced in the 80's.
They quickly became a fixture on the Minneapolis music scene in the late 70's, gaining fans like Bruce Springsteen, and opening for B-52's and Iggy Pop brought them across the country. They flipped between a bunch of labels and broke up 10 years after their start in 1987. But like most bands of that era, one-off reunions could not be denied and they even put out new crowd funded records in 2013 and 2017. They even received a star outside of Minneapolis nightclub First Ave for contributing a major affect to Minne's music scene and selling out shows at the venue. Their single Love is the Law was approved for use as the theme song for the campaign to legalize same-sex marriage. 

Stand Out Track: Love is the Law, Skin, Rattle My Bones

Links:

Spotify Full album
Wiki

Discogs

Allmusic

Website

facebook

Snopek - Thinking Out Loud

Name: Snopek
Album: Thinking Out Loud
Year: 1979
Style: Musical New Wave, Avant-Garde, 
Similar Bands: Sparks, Be-Bop Delux, Gruppo Sportivo, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci
"One-Word" Review: Quirky Campy Avant-Wave Pop
Based Out Of:  Milwaukee WI
Label: Mountain Railroad Records

Cover, Sleeve, Record

Back, Sleeve, Record

Thinking Out Loud (1979)

1. Kathleen 4:20 (single)
2. Radio Hearts 2:54
3. Shining in Here 4:34 (single)
4. Hamburger Holocaust 5:04 /
5. God is a Big Wheel 2:45
6. New York Jumpers 3:06 (single b-side)
7. San Francisco Radio 9:35
8. Kali Kala 4:16

Album Rating (1-10): 7.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Sigmund Snopek III - Writer, Vix, Synth, Keys, Flute (Bloomsbury People, Violent Femmes, Milwaukee Symphony & Chamber Orch, Tom Paxton, Brian Ritchie, Jim Spencer, Major Arcana, Btsy Kaske, Lou & Peter berryman, Java, Jim Post, Ecoteur, John Kruth, Heidi Spencer,  )
• Byron Wiemann III - Writer, Vox, Guitar (Man With a Camera, The Coachmen, Wayward Set, Rocket 88, Byron and Band, Betsy Kaske)
• Jim Gorton - Vox, Bass, Asst Engineer, Asst Mixing (Man With a Camera, Newlook, Jim Spencer, Betsy Kaske)
• Mike Lucas - Drums (Man With a Camera, Elliott Murphy, Chris Spheeris, Michael Jones, Wayne Gratz, LD Levy)
• Hermie Dressel - Producer
• Steve Powers - Co-Producer
• Charlie Keenan - Album Design, Art Direction
• Al Gartzke - Photos
• Stanley Ryan Jones - Photos
• Joel Gast - Project Coordinator
• Dave Neitzke - Engineer, Mixing
• Andy Waterman - Asst Engineer

Unknown-ness: Not much to go on here on a band i've never heard of, named after one of the member's last names, and a cover picture that looks kinda like the Bee Gees. The very general, but geometric art design, and basic all caps font do not help. I'm gonna guess they're a basic light rock, power pop band

Album Review: Like a mom tells her interesting but awkward and ultimately underwhelming child, this album is "creative." It is definitely a new wave act, with signs of prog, jazz, vaudeville and theatrical / musical tendencies, but misses the mark and lacks the perfect recipe, posessed by a band like Sparks. I mean, just the title Hamburger Holocaust is quite cringe-worthy taken at surface value. Single "Kathleen" sounds a little like a Ben Folds song, and "God is a Big Wheel" has a bit of a Talking Heads / Human Hands feel. Alas, Sigmund is the band leader and has a history in music dating back to the late 60's, where he was a pioneering Progressive Rock artist in Bloomsbury People before the term prog was universally accepted. Before that, he was writing and recording classical style music for pipe organ and guitar. So it makes sense to combined his two passions of classical and guitar to form prog music. This album comes roughly 10 years later, and while it keeps a foot in the prog and avant-garde arena, it embraces the pop & new wave genre (which was pushed to the front for any band with commercial drive) with extra help from Wiemann (Wiemann, who lives in Germany now, and Gorton had been a part of Sigmund's solo albums before they donned the band name). After Snopek, Wiemann and the rest of the band formed Man With A Camera: a more rock oriented outfit. Sigmund was induced into the Wisconsin music hall of fame, which also makes sense as many of his compositions are a shining tribute the pride of the state (from beer, to small towns to baseball and other assorted WI highlights).

Stand Out Track: God is a Big Wheel, Kathleen

Links:

Youtube album
Sigmund's Wiki

Discogs

Sigmund's Allmusic

Sigmund's Website

Byron's Website

Sigmund's FB

Man W/A Camera FB

Prog Archive

OZY

On Milwaukee

Bavarian Bierhaus (live 2020 show)

Wiemann interview

rate your music

Silencers (the) - Rock 'N' Roll Enforcers

Name: The Silencers
Album: Rock 'N' Roll Enforcers
Year: 1980
Style: Power Pop, New Wave
Similar Bands: Cars, A's
"One-Word" Review:Keyboard Heavy Dancy Hard Power Wave
Based Out Of: Pittsburgh, PA
Label: Precision, CBS

Cover, Record, Promo Photo, PR Bio

Back, Record, PR Bio

Rock 'N' Roll Enforcers (1980)

1. Modern Love 3:18 (Single)
2. Head On Collision 3:50 (Single)
3. Remote Control 3:35
4. Illegal 3:45
5. Johnny Too Bad 3:40 (Slickers Cover) /
6. Peter Gunn Theme 2:21 (Henry Mancini cover, Single)
7. Shiver & Shake 3:23 (Single)
8. Take Out Service 3:20
9. Cold Sweat 3:47 (James Brown Cover)
10. I Can't Believe It 3:16

Album Rating (1-10): 9.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Bob Clearmountain - Producer, Recording, Mixing (Bowie, Springsteen, Stones, Pretenders)
• Tom Cossie - Exec. Producer
• James Farber - Asst. Engineer
• Raymond Willhard - Asst. Engineer
• Lucy Laurie - Asst. Engineer
• Jason Corsaro - Asst. Engineer
• Ed Evans - Tech Assistant
• Ira Kemp - Tech Assistant
• Mark Betts - Tech Assistant
• Malcolm Pollack - Tech Assistant
• Gregory Mann - Asst Engineer
• John Palermo - Asst. Engineer
• Walt Seng - Photography
• Frank Czuri - Vox, Piano, (Jaggerz, Diamond Reo, Solid Gold, Skyliners, Igniters, Medallions, Von'Ls, Jimmy Mack & Music Factory, Friends, Hollywood, Laurels, Dancing in the Street, Keith Sparbanie and the Soft Parade, Joey G, IronCity Houserockers Joe Grushecky, Brick Alley Band)
• Warren King - Guitar (Diamond Reo, James King, Usual Suspects, Keith Sparbanie & the Soft Parade, Norman Nardinin & the Tigers, Midnight Creepers, Mystic Knights of the Sea, Noble Thin Man Watts, Joey G, Ernie lancaster, Iron City Houserockers, Floyd Miles & Friends, Chicago Bob Nelson, Screaming Iguanas of Love, Smokehouse, Eric Culberson, Sonny Rhodes, Roy Roberts, Kenny Neal, Junior Markham, Lour Pride, Joe Grushecky, Sharkweek, JJ Burner )
• Ronald "Byrd" Foster - Drummer, Vox, (Roy Buchanan, Bon Ton Roulet, Friends, Iron City Houserockers, Jimmy Mack & the Music Factory, Keith Sparbanie & the Soft Parade, Skin & Bones, Sweet Lightnin', Igniters, Midnight Creepers, Mystic Knights of the Sea, Joey G,  Norman Nardini, Floyd Miles & Friends, Noble Thin Man Watts, Dr Hector & Groove Injectors, Roy Roberts, Chizmo Charles, John Harrison, Joe Grushecky, Skin & Bone, Brick Alley Band, Philip Harris, Screaming Iguanas of Love, Ace Moreland, Smokehouse, Chicago Bob Nelson, Eric Culberson, Sonny Rhodes, Lou Pride, Barry Rapp, Galloway & Kelliher)
  
• Dennis Takos - Keys, Vox 
• Michael Pella - Bass, Vox (BE Taylor Band)
• Cathi Capiola - Writer 

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but from the looks of the cover band photo, and the artwork, and a cohesive theme of spys and espionage, with full members as operatives rap sheet included as a promo insert. Their mission is to "preserve rock 'n' roll," but i chalk them up to just another power/pub pop band.

Album Review: Hailing from Pittsburgh, this five piece band plays new wave power pop with a bit of a harder rock edge. Typical bouncy new wave + heavy on the keys makes this band a very catchy pop outfit with the undercover cold war espionage/enforcer theme, perhaps exemplified in their honorary cover of the private eye Peter Gunn theme. They had a record deal before they even played a show, thanks to contacts gained from Czuri and King's prior bands. They were right in time for the MTV age, and had a music video (medley of Peter Gunn, Remote Control, Illegal, directed by fellow Pittsburgh native, George Romero) run on the initial 1981 broadcast at spot #40. While Takos, Foster and King have all passed away from cancer, Czuri has performed with a variation of the band as recent as 2019.

Stand Out Track: Illegal, Head-On Collision

Links:
Czuri Wiki

Discogs

Allmusic

Pitts Music History

Facebook

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Scars - Author! Author! E.P.

Name: Scars
Album: Author! Author
Year: 1981
Style: Post Punk, New Wave
Similar Bands: Gang of Four, The Jam, Haircut 100
"One-Word" Review: Soundscape inspired Post Punk
Based Out Of: Edinburgh, Scotland
Label: Stiff Records

Cover, Record

Back, Record

Author! Author! E.P. (1981)

1. All About You 3:59
2. Leave Me in the Autumn 2:48 /
3. Author! Author! 2:52
4. She's Alive 2:57 

Album Rating (1-10): 9.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Robert Blamire - Producer (Penetration)
• Steve McLaughlin - Drums (Cubs, Jimmy Cliff, Badly Drawn Boy, Ilan Eshkeri)
• John Mackie - Bass (Bitter Moon)
• Paul Research (Mackie) - Lead Guitar (Heavy Drapes, VoiceX)
• Robert King - Vox (Opium Kitchen, Groucho Handjob, Lip Machine)
• Laurence Diana - Engineer
• Pete Anderson - Photo
• Rocking Russian - Cover Design

Unknown-ness: Never heard of them. The cover artwork makes me think of a punk version of Los Lobos. It also kinda reminds me of the artwork of the Hoodoo Gurus, so maybe it will be more conceptual rock than angsty punk. Either way, Stiff Records bodes well for the sound.

Album Review: This EP is an extension of their only album by the same name, Author! Author!. They were part of the literary art-punk scene in Edinburgh. They did a reunion show in 2010, and have a 2015 documentary called Big Gold Dream about them. The style of the single, "All About You," which was written in the studio to be a single, is soundscape, new romantic post punk. "Leave Me in Autumn" is like a combo of Duran Duran and Gang of Four. "She's Alive" is driving, bouncy, Clash like post punk.

Stand Out Track:She's Alive

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Saga - Worlds Apart

Name: Saga
Album: Worlds Apart
Year: 1982
Style: Prog, New Wave
Similar Bands: Prism, Genesis, Yes, Rush, Styx, Triumph, Toto, Marillion,
"One-Word" Review: Fun Driving Melodic Pop-Prog
Based Out Of: Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Label: Portrait, CBS

Cover, Sleeve, Record

Back, Lyrics, Record

Worlds Apart (1982)

1. On the Loose 4:12 (Single US #26)
2. Wind Him Up 5:48 (Single Canada #22)
3. Amnesia 3:29 (Single)
4. Framed 5:42
5. Time's Up 4:08 /
6. The Interview 3:51
7. No Regrets (Chapter V) 4:44
8. Conversations 4:44
9. No Stranger (Chapter VIII) 7:05

Album Rating (1-10): 8.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Rupert Hine - Producer
• Stephen W. Tayler - Recording Engineer
• Ian Morris - Asst Engineer
• David Rolfe - Asst. Engineer
• Clive Corcoran - Mgmt
• Zoran Busic - Mgmt
• John Berg - Design
• David Kennedy - Cover Photo
• Shostal Associates - Star Photo
• Bob Ludwig - Mastering
• Michael Sadler - Lead Vox, Keys (Pockets, Voices with Heart, Ozzy Osbourne, Emmanuel, Magnum, No Sweat, Lovetrick, Boby Kimball, Frankfurt Rock Orch, Toss 'n' Turn, Sheela, Rudy's Journey, Chain, Frameshift, Henning Pauly, Amaran's Plight, Jeff Jones, Transmission, Roswell Six, Lisa LaRue, David Barrett, Rock Sympnoy Orch ORSO, Karibow, Alan Simon, Dissociative Identity Disorder, Jonah Kihlberg;s Impera, In Continuum, Chardeau)
• Jim Crichton - Bass, Keys (Pockets, Fludd, magnum, No Sweat, Yes, Wet Paint)
• Jim Gilmour - Lead Keys, Vox, Clarinet (GNP, Phil Henry, Terry Crawford, James Gerrard Gilmour, Spookey Ruben, Henning Pauly, Negus, Glen Drover, ACT, Karibow, Mike Thorne)
• Ian Crichton - Guitars (Pockets, H30+, Any Day Now, Asia, The Alchemist, Herring Pauly, John Payne, Phenomena, Michael Sadler, Rob Moratti)
• Steve Negus - Drums, Percussion, Simmons Electronic Drums (Pockets, Fludd, GNP, Fullerton Dam, Chris de Burgh, Rupert Hine, Nylons, One to One, Lunch At Allen's)

Unknown-ness: Never heard of Saga, but i bet this sounds like Yes or Genesis, or any other Prog band of the 70's, even if this is dated 81/82. No doubt about it: from the fonts, to the name, to the world map on the back: definitely  conceptual prog.

Album Review: The songs are definite Prog: Meandering, energetic complex riffs that paint a picture all their own, with passionate vocals. The songs are very lively, catchy, and I feel like there is very little self-masturbatory jam sessioning here. I'm really enjoying the album more so than normal prog bands. This is their fourth - and first with American break out songs - of their 21 album catalogue. The core group of members have come, gone, and returned over the years, with a couple You Tube auditions for replacements. Every time a milestone was set, the fans pulled them right back in (including a strong following in Germany), including calling it quits in 2017 after 40 years, only to play final shows in 2018 and a reunion tour in 2020. Interestingly, they have a concept album scavenger hunt across seven records between 1978 - 2003, where some tracks- not in any particular order, are scattered and numbered as individual chapters: 16 in all. Upon completion, a live compilation of the chapters was released in 2005 to unveil a conceptual sci-fi story line about Einsteins brain, alien interest in humanity's self-destruction, and technological resurrection of the dead. Chapters 5 and 8 are here.

Stand Out Track: Amnesia, On The Loose

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