Various Artists, “Wanna Buy A Bridge?” (Rough Trade, 1980)
Watershed com of Rough Trade’s definitive early roster. “Post-punk” as a form-shattering avant-garde – political, rhythmic, spatial, tonal, you name it. And the songs are catchy as hell even so. This is a genuine “greatest hits.”
Try 1/ 2, 1/ 4, 1/ 8, 2/2, 2/ 3, 2/ 5
6/18/18
Various Artists, “World War I Fighter Planes In Action” (Riverside, 1961)
Not vintage cylinder recordings from the field (though how awesome would that be?!) but a clean, modern document of collector-dudes flying these magnificent machines around a private airfield. This is the real original noise; Jesus and Mary Chain are mere bubblegum popsters by comparison. Throbbing Gristle? Wimps. And if that isn’t enough, there are odd, very long passages where the planes are almost inaudible that seem to anticipate ambient Eno.
Try 1/1, 2/ 4
11/10/16
Various Artists, “Philly Thrash Brigade: Play Fast Or Die” (Creeping Vine Productions, 2008)
A mix of speedmetal, hardcore and related stuff, the common criterion being sonic restlessness and a socially confrontational stance. The scene-comp angle gives it coherence and force – it sounds like they Mean It.
Try 3, 4, 6, 9, 11, 12, 14, 18
7/29/12
Various Artists, “Pop Pop Yeh” (Sublime Frequencies, 2012; original recordings 1964-70)
Another entry in SF’s continuing and crucial documentation of ‘60s Southeast Asian pop, this volume focuses on work from Malaysia and Singapore. This is great stuff, like Chinese/Arabic surf music with quicksilver guitars and mesmerizing female vocals distantly reminiscent of French yé yé pop.
Try 3, 5, 7, 16, 19, 21
4/19/13
Various artists, “Mind Expanders” (Past & Present, 2010; original releases late 1960s, early 1970s)
Mainly European psych, for soundtracks and the like; really tripped-out commercial/countercultural clash, like watching the wallpaper come alive.
Try 3, 5, 6, 14.
2/14/13
Vivians, “Vivicide” (Hit And Run, 1989)
Great lost Cleveland band in the heavy post-punk style prevalent on the eve of the Alternative Era, but these women blast with a dark desperation worthy of their hometown pioneers (Pere Ubu, Elecric Eels, Pagans, etc.). rumbling night-drives that hit hardcore velocity at times, but heighten the drama with bruised melodies that open into spaces of surprising beauty.
Try A/1, B/1, B/3
7/29/14
Vivian Girls, “Share The Joy” (Polyvinyl, 2011)
The last three years have brought more good-to-great underground rock and roll than any period since the early ‘90s, or even the late ‘80s, and along with the Fresh and Onlys, Vivian Girls occupy the very apex of this wave. Like the Fresh and Onlys, too, this is the follow-up to a previous album that pushed the band’s sound to a frenzied raw-nerve edge, and in apparent reaction is more circumspect and understated, but equally intense in its own way. Vivian Girls’ tremulous, melodic-yet-dissonant guitar-pop has never been more hauntingly beautiful than the best stuff here, or cut deeper.
Try A/1, B/5
5/1/11
Vivian Girls, “My Love Will Follow Me” (Wild World, 2010)
After the shattering stun-guitar assault of their (great) second album, Vivian Girls return with one of their sweetest, quietest songs yet, on the A-side; it’s actually pretty intense in its way, like a shaft of sunlight in a shady place. The B-side is good, but it can’t hold a candle to the Chantels’ original. (Check out anything by them).
Vilently Ill, “Group Hug” (Knot, 2001)
These guys stood out in the crowd of the turn-of-the-millennium “power violence” HC wave. Their speed-blur had definition and solid punch, and they wrote good tunes, reminiscent at times of old-school Boston HCers Negative FX.
Try A/1
7/29/14
Vice Squad, “The Complete Punk Singles Collection” (Anagram, 1997; original release c. 1981-1983)
This band was the cream of the early ‘80s UK streetpunk/hardcore crop, songs that were simultaneously gritty and anthemic, put across by Beki Bondage’s soaring wail, kind of like a punk Sinead O’Connor.
Try 1, 4, 10
5/5/12