Notes from the underground.

STARTING OFF WITH THE SMALL RECORDS, you gotta check out Sonny Vincent's Old School Motor Punk on Flapping Jet Records. On this double-sided slab are two barn burners from the frontman of the Testors, backed by an illustrious all-star cast: Scott Asheton of the Stooges, Richard Lloyd from Television, Captain Sensible from the Damned, and the True Believer's Javier Escovedo, Fuckin' A, perhaps only Sonny could pull this one off. And there's an LP comm' out with more. Do yourself a good favor and find this one... The Dirtbombs' Pray for Pills is all live and dirty, recorded in Australia. It's primal and stomps, and actually sounds really good to boot. It's on Corduroy Records, for your listening enjoyment.

And the Japanese garage invasion continues on: check out the Chordvetts' My Boyfriend's Learning Karate and Tiger Shovel Nose's Cappuccino Twist, both put out by I Don't Feel A Thing Records, The former is almost too cutesy for its own good, reminiscent of Shonen Knife or others of that ilk. The latter is a bit more on the solid rockin' line, but both are good for quality listenin'.

Perhaps a nice taste of things to come, the Bell Rays have put out a 7" picture disc with two new ones: "Get It Right," which is the more rockin', and "Chain on You," which is more of the slow groove variety. A fantastic band that people can never quite seem to peg, these guys (and girl) show no signs of lettin' up any time soon.

Good country music tends to stick to some of the long-standing ciches--cars, girls, beer, depression, and murder, among other less noble pursuits. The Compulsive Gamblers stick to the tried and true and add a healthy dose of noisy punk (how could they not, with Jack and Greg from the Oblivians?). Live and Deadly--Memphis/Chicago (on Sympathy For The Record Industry) captures two live shows and the best songs, warts and all. Some of this shit is so damn good it blows away most of the junk passing off as country these days. In the righteous vein of Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley or Johnny Cash, and all countrified rockers, this shit smokes. Period.

Mike over at Gearhead seems to have a knack for pickin' up early on the next big thing. He put out early stuff by the Hives and the Hellacopters, to name a couple, and his mag of the same name has always been a good read. He also put out a new compilation, Smash-Up Derby!, and it's got some killers on there: the New Bomb Turks, the Hives, the Hellacopters, the Sewergrooves, and some up and comers as well. Cars and rock and roll--as American as it gets, fellas.

What is that caterwauling? Must be the new Triggers LP, Shoot Your Mouth Off on Dirtnap. Man, Dirtnap has their shit together. These guys wail, female-fronted full speed punk rock blast, back up yelps, the whole bit. Put it on and pogo!.

The first ever demo tape by the legendary Minor Threat has been released (on Dischord). It's basically their first release but a little sloppier, maybe a little slower, but, shit, I can't really tell. Best part of the whole deal? It's part of Dischord's master plan to make the goods affordable; it's only $4 postpaid. And shit, check the cover photo and tell me Ian didn't skate vert in 1980 (Team Sahara!) Anyone catch Ian's Q&A at the Women's Center?.

Limecell's It's Gonna Get Ugly is a full-tilt blaster, fueled by beer and anger. Landing on the HC side of punk, loud, full guitars are up front and speedy. This shit kills.

Steeped in garage but definitely not confined to the genre, Toronto's the Deadly Snakes convulse through some mean blues stuff (just like the early Stones did!) on their third LP, Ode to Joy on In the Red. Excellent tunes with your beer of choice.