2 - S.O.A. "No Policy"

S.O.A.? Like State of Alabama? Weird name for a band that's from Washington D.C.


Of course, S.O.A. is Henry Rollins’ band shortly before he was in Black Flag and long before he became a famous guy who yells at clouds on camera (I love him). However, from the first song on this release, you will learn that he has always sounded like an old man. It’s balls to the wall from the get-go, which is really all I want in a band like this.


Notes aka my random thoughts while listening:

  • I love the bridge not-a-guitar-solo moment in “Draw Blank.” It’s just dry strumming for 8 bars or whatever, because what else would you put there?
  • “Girl Problems” reminds me of something but I can’t put my finger on it. Side note: Isn’t there an interview with Henry from the 90’s where he says relationships are dumb or something? Idk. Side side note: For a very sad time, look up the video where Henry Rollins tells a reality TV show date a story about the one time he was actually in love. It's very sad but adds a lot of insight into who he is. 
  • “Blackout” has a pop sensibility, even down to the lyrics (“I don’t know what to say/I don’t know what to do”), which was more common in 80’s hardcore than we tend to recognize. 
  • Man, I love a good pick slide. The Idles had a good pick slide too, I’m pretty sure. 


This is the kind of dumbed down, all of your energy at once punk rock that I respect so much. Even playing in a “technical” punk band, I try to approach all of it with this energy. Speaking of which, you know what other record is like that? Dude Ranch by blink-182.


Listen to Dischord no. 2 here.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

3, 5, 12 - Minor Threat "First Two 7"s" ("1st 7"" and "In My Eyes")

Image
Did Minor Threat rip off Rancid album with this album cover? Not cool, guys. Not much to say about this that hasn't been said already. Dan Ozzi recently wrote a great piece about Minor Threat that I highly recommend you read it . That article encapsulates a lot of the feelings I have about this band and what they represent to me.  Anyway. I like the title of this blog, but what if I had named it, "icantkeepupicantkeepupicantkeepup.blogspot.com?" Just an idea for you little rascals out there. I'll sell you that URL idea for the price of one Fugazi show. Top 3 riffs on this Minor Threat compilation: Screaming At a Wall I don't Wanna Hear It Seeing Red And that bass picking in "12XU." Let's go Brian! Ok actually screw it, here are a couple MINOR (THREAT) memories that come to mind when I listen to this band. At one of Shrug Dealer 's early shows, there was a very cute, very short, very wasted woman who was celebrating what had to be at LEAST her 40t...
Read more

8 - Void/Faith "Split"

Image
  As a man of faith, I have to give these guys a round of applause for their band name. Void (Note: I started this Void part like 3 times in the last 2 weeks so this is a mix of my notes from all three sessions. Finally finished!) That droney chord? Fuck yes. Also, I think that Void’s bass player walked so RHCP could crawl. Is that even the bass (see: “Time to Die”)? I can’t tell. Ok, there’s no doubt: I love the Void side of this split. You can really see hardcore starting to get bored of itself and changing up the formula to things that eventually became part of “emo.” This primarily includes weird time changes and dynamics in the music. The song “Think” starts off so wacky and off-kilter, which is very much my thing. To be fair, the middle of their side was kinda rough and sloppy for a few songs but it ended really strong. Definitely one of my favorite early Dischord releases. It blew my mind the whole time I listened.  I DON’T KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND WHY YOU’RE HERE BUT I’M E...
Read more