100 Flowers, “100 Flowers” (Superior Viaduct; original release 1983)
Minimalist/absurdist first-wave LA punks learn to play, and the result is the truest American counterpart to Wire’s 154 – tensely machine-tooled guitar-bass-drums interplay that still has pop bounce and brilliance and punk abandon. Each tune is its own distinct, perfect little contraption, but sixteen of ‘em sure pack a collective wallop.
Try 1/ 1, 2/1, 2/ 8
7/11/18

1910 Fruitgum Co., “1-2-3 Red Light” (Buddah, 1969 [?])
The late-‘60s bubblegum was a hardier breed, with loud guitars and pounding beats to suit an audience used to hearing Hendrix blaring from their older siblings’ bedroom. This ultra-catchy confection drew from garage-rock, in-turn influencing stuff like the Ramones and Talking Heads (and bearing a striking resemblance to that first King Tuff album we just got the reissue of).
Try 1/1, 1/5
10/3/13