Dark Entries Records

Dark Entries Records hosted a small event last night to celebrate the release of their new compilation record, Bay Area Retrograde Vol 1. An amazingly awesome collection of local underground new wave bands of the early eighties. The record is wonderfully designed, with an awesome fold out poster, much like you would actually get back in the 80s when you purchased vinyl. The whole thing made me happy as cat getting it's belly scratched.





Here's a little mix put together for the event (I pulled this and everything else from their website, which you should check out below):

BART Vol 1 Party Release Party 5.26.11 by darkentriesrecs



After you get through with that, then listen to Tuxedo Moon "No Tears"... just because:

Friends

There have been several points in my life that friends have approached me and asked for my opinion on their music. 9 times out of 10, I have to bend the truth a bit or give a remark such as "It's good for what is was", or some near asshole response like that. Sometimes I just avoid them after the show altogether.

So, it's nice when I don't have to.

My buddy, Joey Postiglione makes electronic dreampop/chillwave under the guise of Sunless, that's right up my ally. Special attention must be given to the third track "The First", a slowed down tune that reminds me of driving home watching the sun go down after a long day at the beach. He ends the four song endeavor with something that sounds like it could have been pulled out of the Cocteau Twins back catalog. I hope he appreciates the comparison...




Also just crafted, are some new Boyz 4 Men tracks. This was recently recorded by Phil Manley of Trans Am fame. If you don't know who Trans Am are, then I'm sorry. You're missing out...




Rocky IV by Boyz IV Men

One of my favorite Trans Am tracks:



...also, check out The Fucking Am, if you get a chance...members of Trans Am and The Fucking Champs get together for some mayhem...

On the flip side...

I'm kind of amazed these guys, Boring Girls, are from the UK. They sound like more of a trashy Midwest kind of thing...

Portlandia Electronica

If you missed the Reporter show (along side Boyz4Men) at Engine Works in San Francisco, you missed a good night of dancing. I like a lot of the minimal italo disco infused beats of groups hailing from Portland.

Reporter:



Chromatics:



Glass Candy:

Miss The Postal Service?

Yeah,so do I....but there's still some stuff out there that is in line with what they were doing....

Magic Man was definitely a favorite of last year....














The year before that, I was listening to Deastro a lot. Some of their songs sound like they may even need to pay royalties to The Postal Service.





















You know that before The Postal Service, Jimmy Tamborello was in Figurine, right? Good. Glad to know you're in the know...

Off!

It's kind of hard not to get excited about Off! Bringing punk back to the way it's supposed to be, simple short and powerful get's an old timer like me all in smash mode.


I can't wait to see them at the Eagle Tavern on April 21st.

Top 5 favorite hardcore bands as follows (in no particular order):

Social Distortion (A bit of a man-crush on Mike Ness)



Minor Threat



Black Flag



Die Kreuzen




Circle Jerks

Chrome Guy

Yup. That was my nickname for a while. It wasn't even self appointed either. It was coined by my friends due to my complete obsession with this experimental band from the late 70s and early eighties. I won't destroy your mind with anything to obscure and abrasive, however, if you want to further dig around, know that they did get a little demonic over time...








They were pretty science fiction....



The Stooges on acid?



Jesus Lizard covered them once...