Chromatics - Arms Slither Away 7'' (K, 2002)

Chromatics
Arms Slither Away 7''
K
2002

Rating: 5.5 appetizing grease fires out of 10

This might technically be the glossy, coke-hazed, electro-pop group Chromatics, but outside of the name you'd never guess it.  Instead, you've got a noisy indie rock band who clearly hadn't discovered or couldn't afford synthesizers yet.  Neither the title track or the b-side "Skill Fall" are bad, they're just not what you're expecting if you came in only knowing their modern incarnation, nor are the songs good enough to overcome those expectations.  This will eventually get filed away into my seven inch bins, and then at some point in the future I'll forget what it is, pull it out expecting catchy electro-pop, and go through this all over again. 

Teenage Fanclub - Free Again 7'' (K, 1992)

Teenage Fanclub
Free Again 7''
K
1992

Rating: 8 dumb hopes out of 10

Two non-album covers from one of the greatest pop bands to ever exist, Teenage Fanclub.  Side A, "Free Again," is an Alex Chilton number that sounds just like a track that Fanclub might have written early in the oeuvre.  It's a match made in heaven.  The flip track "Bad Seeds" is originally a Beat Happening piece that doesn't work quite as well, but then again I've never gotten my feathers ruffled over the Beat Happening so I'm sure that's a big part of it.  Regardless, anything Teenage Fanclub releases is worth having, and I was excited to stumble upon this. 

The Make-Up - R U A Believer 7'' (K, 1995)

The Make-Up
R U A Believer 7''
K
1995

Rating: 6.5 fired hats out of 10

I love all things Make-Up, and while this isn't their strongest release it's still worth having.  The title track is a jammer, and also available on their singles comp "I Want Some."  To be fair, Ian Svenonius could read the ingredients off of a Shake-n-Bake box, set it to a funky beat, and I'd shill for it.  The B-side title is listed as "Version," but in actuality it's a Dub Narcotic remix of the title track.  Maybe not necessary, but certainly a sign of the era this record is from. 

Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Music for Pets 7'' (K, 1991)

Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet
Music for Pets 7''
K
1991

Rating: 7 broken hears out of 10

It's completely impossible for me to listen to Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet and not think of "Kids in the Hall" - not only did they play the theme song, but all the between skit bits as well.  And as I've watched every episode of that show multiple times...listening to this makes me expect Bruce McCulloch or Kevin McDonald to start talking after each song is over (most likely dressed as women).  Anyways, the band plays five instrumental surf tracks here, or actually four and one track that is just the band talking to your cat.  All of the songs are animal related, and the real highlight is their version of ballpark favorite "Baby Elephant Walk."  Hearing it really makes me wish I still DJ'd so I could play this earworm of a song just to drive people crazy. 

Seaweed - Deertrap 7'' (K, 1990)

Seaweed
Deertrap 7''
K
1990

Rating: 6 prescription pads out of 10

Not the best songs by Seaweed, but still worth giving a shot.  Both the title track and the b-side "Carousel" would also be included in the self-titled compilation the band put out this same year, collection this seven inch and a couple of others into one locale.  But since I don't have that comp, this smaller player will have to do. 

Modest Mouse - Blue Cadet-3, Do You Connect? 7'' (K, 1994)

Modest Mouse
Blue Cadet-3, Do You Connect? 7''
K
1994

Rating: 6.5 spinning dogs out of 10

Early Modest Mouse when they were at their weirdest.  This slab claims five songs but most of them are noise and none of them are the sort to get wrenched up over.  You can definitely hear the band they become though.  Too bad this isn't worth any money, they made a bazillion of them. 

Chain & the Gang - In Cool Blood (K, 2012)

Chain & the Gang

In Cool Blood

K

2012

Rating: 7 early risers out of 10

There's nothing really different or noteworthy about this third release from Chain & the Gang, and that is as it should be.  Ian Svenonious has honed his "garage soul" sound down to a science, and it is not to be trifled with.  Did I make up the phrase "garage soul"?  Doubtful, surely someone has used the phrase in a Dirtbombs review at some point.  If there is anything different to say about this at all, it's the addition of Katie Alice Greer as the female yang to Svenonious' yin, and she's not just singing back-up - she leads a few songs.  I prefer the Ian led songs, but tracks like "Nuff Said" where they play off of each other work great. 

Listen, if you're a fan of what Svenonious does, you're gonna like this.  If you're not, you won't.  And if you have no idea who the dude is, go out and get "13-Point Program to Destroy America" or "Plays Pretty for Baby" by Nation of Ulysses and realize why the man has so many idols like myself in the world.