Machine Gun Analysis

Machine Gun Etiquette was equally a triumphant return for The Damned after their 78 break-up and a sort of last hurrah for the original British Punk Rock sound. Post-Sex Pistols break up proved to be a very chaotic time for Punk in both sides of the Atlantic sporing Post-Punk, Oi and Hardcore, among others. New approaches to the minimalist three-chord formula were being birthed constantly by the late 70's and early 80's. After reforming in 1978, The Damned didn't join the burgeoning hardcore scene or pursue a more "intellectual" punk road like The Pop Group or Joy Division. After their disastrous sophomore release, Music For Pleasure (a main catalyst for Brian James' departing and subsequent break up) MGE found a Damned in peak form. Finally, MGE is a defiant stand during a sort of tumultuous gray void that occupied Punk Rock history in the wake of the Sex Pistols death. This 1979 album subtly screamed (at the time) the now obscenely cliched phrase, "Punks not dead!"

MGE is one of the most furious punk albums in existence and certainly The Damned's best, by far exceeding their freshman (and sophomore) output. Sure, Damned Damned Damned is the first British Punk LP, however it sounds dated and more like a band still working on their sound (at least in the authors opinion). Plus, it really doesn't stand in comparison to the Punk output that would arrive soon after, like X-Ray Spex or The Sex Pistols plain steamrolling (British) music in 1977. With the exit of Brian James, and Captain Sensible taking over much of the writing, The Damned not only sounded much more refreshed but more confident and in some ways more menacing. And I don't mean menacing in the scary (Death/Black) Metal sense, but menacing in the cheeky, juvenile sense that Brit Punk is so infamous for. Love Song kicks the album off with a sleazy psychedelia-like intro before Sensible makes some hilarious analogies about love, "I'll be the rubbish if you'll be the bin". The album titles song, is their fastest and most furious, as The Damned dabble with the blooming Hardcore sound of the time. Noise Noise Noise, as the song title implies is wonderfully crafted with chaotic chorus guitar work and lyrics that the author fully agrees with, "Noise is for hero's, leave the music for zero's!" Anti-Pope is a hilariously cheeky song as Sensible takes potshots at the church:

There’s gonna be some fun tonight

Spreading news around the town

That the vicars are transvestites

With a fetish for robes and gowns

MGE reaches an apex by Smash It Up with a sensational intro in part 1, leading up to a juvenile frenzied epic in part 2.
In the authors opinion, most of The Damned's material has been mostly hit or miss (no pun intended). MGE's successors like The Black Album, Strawberries or Phantasmagoria hardly compared to their 1979 monstrosity unfortunately. And while one can applaud The Damned for constantly experimenting with their pop sound, their successes were a mixed bag half the time. However, MGE was not only The Damned's most thrilling work but most consistent too. Perhaps the only low point of the album was These Hands, which feels like a failed attempt at the bands staple oddball, black humor. The Damned were fearless however, treading a barrage of complex solos and chords; an area that many of their contemporaries would shy away from. Furthermore, its easy to pick up on the Psychedelia and Blues influence within this album (other than the White Rabbit cover) such as the sleazy Love Song intro, a beautiful climax on Plan 9 Channel 7 and even conga's on Anti-Pope (of course I'm just grouping in the odd use use of congas into the Psychedelic field...but hey, it's my blog). Personally, I can't listen to the album too much as the more I do listen to MGE the more I find myself falling in love with this masterpiece.

MAY ROUND-UP

Mixes are usually viewed as a cheap and effective way to get into the opposite sexes pants. That's partly correct. It's a convenient way to convey an image or reveal emotions or thoughts in a 700 megabyte piece of plastic. Its cost effectiveness means no financial or otherwise material harm will be done (aside from emotional) if the Mix does not produce the intended reaction from the receiver and there is also the bonus of a possibility of mass production(again, no harm done). Mixes aren't merely cheap alternatives to flowers, chocolates or conversation, they serve many non-sexual functions as well. Mixes are made for friends, family, exercise, clubs, parties and many other things. A Mix either on CD form, Ipod, vinyl (if possible?) or tape can be divided into four categories. The first being an Identity Mix, conveying the mixers thoughts, ideas or to portray a certain image of the mixer in music form. The Identity mix can be intended for someone else or oneself. The second being, the Pro-active Mix, usually intended for clubs or parties or gyms or even more relaxed areas such as cafe's or stores or ones home. The purpose of such a mix is generally not a keen interest in the artists but rather to improve the ambiance of a certain space--either by relaxation or stimulation--, help produce an intended physical reaction from the audience or act as a catalyst for the occupants of some place. The third mix is the Promotional Mix. This includes commercial compilations, both of a specific band/artist or of various bands. Generally speaking, Promotional Mixes seek to promote a specific band/artist, a music scene/genre/location or a record label(and its roster). Finally the fourth is a Personal Mix, which might go hand-in-hand with the Proactive Mix. Basically, a mix only intended for the mixers own ears.

After that long, run-on paragraph however, I'm not posting a mix here. Instead, this is a Round-Up. It's anything or anyone that I have been listening to in May. Newly discovered and recently re-discovered. Obscure and popular. They're all what I consider the most intriguing of audio adventures I had this month. Songs are in accordance with the Collector to the right.

MAY ROUND-UP
Painkiller - Death - The Sound of Perseverence
You've got to be an awesome Death Metal band if your lead singer untimely does what the bands name conveys. Though tradic, this would be Death's last album and definitely their best. Painkiller sounds like a parody of the 80's Thrash days as much as it is a homage to the scene. Regardless, an amazing song.

Front Page - Teengenerate - Get Action!
Americans think Japan is weird! When it comes to imported music, Japan is home to the utterly bizarre (see Boredoms or Sigh) or the utterly hyperactive (or both). Teengenerate is what I like to call a "What-If" band. Like what if the Ramones were crack-heads. Its a shame they're not as famous as Eastern Psychobilly contemporaries such as Guitar Wolf or post-Kill Bill 5,6,7,8's.

Snow Driver Engine - Vampire Mooose - Serenade the Samurai
Vampire Mooose proves Chord Palming is really really fun. Although Samurai isn't exactly amazingly mind blowing, it does deliver blow to the mind. I have a feeling that they're just stretching their muscles for what's to come on their next LP.

Gypsy - Emperor - In The Nightside Eclipse
All this jabber about Watain has made me want to look into my Black Metal history again. Anyway, whats not to love about a Mercyful Fate cover.

Toxica - Plastic Peoples of the Universe - Egon Bondy's Happy Hearts Club Banned
Should I be surprised or indifferent to the fact that the Soviet Union produced one of the weirdest art rock bands of the 70's? Whatever, look out for those violins throughout the song; surreal.

Beneath the Mire - Opeth - Ghost Reveries
Ghost Reveries astonished the hell outta me. The best song in my opinion is Beneath the Mire which has a sort of Gorguts-like, avant-death beginning. Look out for the killer dual solo's in 3:00.

Think Quick - Infiniti - The Infiniti Collection
Inifiniti is Juan Atkins' more mellow stuff. Lots of simple repetitive melodies accompanied by subtle dance beats. Great stuff.

Don't You Cross The Line - Boot Camp Clik - The Last Stand
BCC prove they're on to a good thing since The Chosen Few.

Surf Combat - Naked Raygun - Throb Throb
I've loved Naked Raygun since my facial-hairless days of yore. My only previous knowledge of them however, was the masterpiece, Jettison. Jeff Pezzati's yelp, "Muscle Beach is now Pork Chop Hill" is the crowning moment on Throb Throb.

Cause I'm a Playa (ft. Pimp C) - Project Pat - Crook By The Book (The Fed Story)
I love Pat. In the Three 6 Mafia reality show, Adventures in Hollyhood, Project Pat barely speaks a line each episode (his episodical appearances seem infrequent too), which I am thoroughly convinced is due to the fact that he is a complete psycho.

Of Darksome Origin - Edge of Sanity - Purgatory Afterglow
I think that I've played this song at least once every month for at least three years already.