Slew_4 notes 4/20/11 - Driving & Talking. The SHOW  /  The PICS 1. Johnathan Richman and the Modern Lovers - Self Titled LP, Beserkley (JBZ-0048, 1976) I blame Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers for all that is known as punk music today. Riding from town to town, tormenting the parents and teachers by filling the heads of young folks with grand ideas of love and government centers. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Richman 2. Black Flag: Wasted – Nervous Breakdown 7”, SST Records (SST-01, 1978) Of all the first wave of punk records that came out of southern CA this one’s my favorite by a long shot. Four songs with Keith Morris (Circle Jerks, Off!) doing the vocals. It sounds funny to say this release was ahead of it’s time, but it was. By a long shot. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Flag_%28band%29 3. Urinals: Ack Ack Ack – Year Of The Rats compilation LP, no label (RAT-78, 1988) I readily admit I don’t know a goddamn thing about the Urinals save that they were from Southern California, released three singles from 1978-1980, and The Minutemen cover this song on both the Ballot Result and 3-Way Tie For Last Lps. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urinals_%28band%29 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ack_Ack_Ack_Ack 4. X: Los Angeles – Los Angeles LP, Slash Records (23930-1, 1980) Of course we had to play this song since this episode is all about the history of southern California punk. Absolutely classic LP from 1980. I’d be surprised if anyone listening to this hasn’t heard this album, but if you haven’t, go buy it now! http://www.xtheband.com/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_%28American_band%29 5. Angry Samoans: Matchstick Men/Posh Boy’s Cock – Return To Samoa, Shakin’ Street Records (Yeah Hup 008, 1990) Two Angry Samoans obscurities from this bootlegish collection of old songs from the Jeff Dahl days. Posh Boy’s Cock is a re-work of ‘Steaknife’ that was on Back From Samoa and Matchstick Men is originally by Status Quo. http://www.angrysamoans.com/ 6. M.I.A.: Cold Sweat – Last Rites For M.I.A./Genocide, Smoke Seven Records (Smk7-104, 1982) Not indigenous to southern CA, M.I.A. moved in from Nevada and released a great album (Murder in a Foreign Place-1984) on Alternative Tentacles, an okay album (Notes From The Underground-1985) on National Trust and an album I just can’t come to like on Flipside. This split LP is the first thing they released and is a lot more rough than what came later. Cold sweat isn’t my favorite song of theirs off of this, but it’s the only one I like that managed to record without a skip halfway through and it’s got the classic ‘fuck the cops’ theme. Alternative Tentacles has reissued almost all of their material so grab it if you like it. http://www.miaband.com/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M.I.A._%28band%29 http://www.alternativetentacles.com/bandinfo.php?band=mia 7. Circle Jerks: When The Shit Hit’s The Fan – Golden Shower Of Hits, LAX Records (LAX1051, 1983) Golden Shower Of Hits, the often looked over third Circle Jerks album, has quite a few good songs on it. When The Shit Hit’s The Fan is also featured in the movie Repo Man where the Circle Jerks perform the song as a lounge band. I think the Circle Jerks were planning on getting back together until Keith (singer) got a better gig with OFF! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle_Jerks http://www.myspace.com/circlejerx 8. Battalion of Saints: Beefmasters – “Second Coming” LP, Nutrons Records (E1020, 1984) Battalion of Saints was only around for five years but left their mark by releasing this fucking awesome LP along with other records that I don’t think are nearly as good. The singer reformed the band in 1995 and they are still playing somewhere. I remember Beefmasters being my friend Jon’s favorite song so this one goes out to him. http://www.myspace.com/battalionofsaints http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battalion_of_Saints 9. Descendents: Silly Girl – I Don’t Want To Grow Up LP, New Alliance/SST Records (