1/23/2011

PORCELAIN BUS - Fragile

PORCELAIN BUS Fragile cd 1990
Blue On Blue / Sister's Life / Those Foundry Blues / Into The Fire / Miss America / The Last Train / Blackburn Tower / Driftwood.
Produced by Brett Myers.
Engineer: Alan Thorne
Mixed By: Alan Thorne & Brett Myers.
Porcelain Bus: I. James: vocals / P. Patrick: bass / A. Toole: drums / R. McKiernan: guitar.
+ S. De Silva: percussion.
Not much was ever written about Porcelain Bus while they were around in the ten year period 1981 to 1991. Since then little has become virtually nothing. And that’s a tragedy, because this was a terrific band that didn’t deserve to be lost amongst Sydney contemporaries like Died Pretty, the Celibate Rifles, New Christs, Happy Hate Me Nots, and a host of other bands that shared the Citadel label with them or appeared on other local labels...
Porcelain Bus actually began in 1980 when Rob, Ian and bassist P. Patrick got together while still in school. They began stumbling about trying to play, influenced both by their local favorites and also by overseas groups ranging fromstraight rock bands like the Who and the Flamin' Groovies, to more off center groups like Pere Ubu, Wire, the Soft Boys, Velvet Underground and the Feelies, to country-edged pop/rock like the Long Ryders and early REM. An eclectic mix, and one that contributed heavily to the unique sound that Porcelain Bus came to have.
The debut single in 1986 launched Porcelain Bus into the midst of a heady time in Australian rock. Overseas recognition of the Australian underground (especially in Europe) was beginning to happen in a significant way, and having a single in the first 25 ever released by the prestigious Sydney label Citadel put Porcelain Bus in the company of labelmates like the New Christs, the Stems, Died Pretty, New Race, the Lime Spiders, the Screaming Tribesmen, the Lipstick Killers, the Bamboos, and the Moffs, assuring that many fans would buy their record just because of the company it kept. When they got it home, they’d invariably find that their trust had been well placed. The single was quickly licensed for release in France by Teenage Records, a spinoff of the excellent French indie label Closer. In those days releasing a single was a big deal, and many indie bands came along slowly where recording was concerned. So for Porcelain Bus, their next recording wasn’t for another year when they released the 1987 single pairing “The Well Is Dry” with “The Hands Have Control”. Recorded in February, the A side of this single is a subdued ballad that could almost be called a folk record if it wasn’t for a strong electric middle eight. Ian’s deep baritone vocal dominates the track. The flip is another story altogether. Beginning with a roar of feedback from Rob and a barbaric scream from Ian, the song is one of the killer Porcelain Bus rockers. The verse by itself powers, but there’s a guitar
bit that leads into the chorus that makes the entire song soar into another dimension. All in all, a wonderful single with two very different tracks that each work magnificently.
Porcelain Bus were back in the studio in July of 1987 to record the six songs that would become the "Steel Bros." mini-lp. A strong record at this point probably would have locked Porcelain Bus into the same level of critical and commercial regard as bands like Died Pretty, but although it’s a pleasant enough record, "Steel Bros." just isn’t the best that Porcelain Bus had in them. A couple years later a German Citadel release handled by the Normal label would combine the six tracks from "Steel Bros." with both sides of the first two singles to make a very solid full length CD called "Sacred Relics"... To those hoping for another Australian masterwork, it came as a bit of a disappointment. But those who kept their allegiance to the band were rewarded, because it turned out that Porcelain Bus did indeed have a classic record in them, and that record was the brilliant 1988 lp "Talking To God". The ten songs on this lp fit together perfectly, with a great mix of strong rockers and softer tracks. It was their fourth time in the studio and third working with Died Pretty guitarist Brett Myers as producer (Rob Younger had done the first single), and it seemed that everyone had learned their role well by this point. The songs have a great sense of dynamics, something that hadn’t always been there before.
After "Talking To God" Porcelain Bus made a heavy commitment to making things happen, touring heavily in Australia. But as often happens, the big push to break things open created fissures in the band, and out of one crack popped John Nolan, who quit as drummer. A. Toole was recruited to replace him, and the band went to record their second lp in February 1990. The resulting eight song collection, prophetically entitled "Fragile", sounded like another strong record to these ears but apparently not to the band.
Shortly after releasing Fragile, Porcelain Bus toured Europe to enthusiastic crowds. Their records were released in Germany, and superficially things were looking good. But on returning to Australia, the band folded..." Toshmeister
Excellent article on the NKVD fanzine here and a long review of "Fragile" here !
Buy it HERE !

1/21/2011

MENTE ENFERMA: Zombs' new blog !

Zombs from Bonito Cadaver blog (Rip) starts a new blog called MENTE ENFERMA !
Check it here...
And welcome to Zombs' Hell !

1/20/2011

MOTOR CITY ROCKERS - Rollin' & Tumblin'

MOTOR CITY ROCKERS Rollin' & Tumblin' cd 1995
When The Cat's Away / Rotten Candy / Sex Bomb / Stone Blue / Loverbaby / Scratch My Back / Rockin' The Joint / Under My Skin / Boom Boom / Shook All Over / Rollin & Tumblin'.
Produced by Black Cat.
Motor City Rockers: J. Marinos: vocals / R. Gillespie: guitar, keys / G. Miller: guitar / P. Petrucci: bass / S. LaCross: drums.
This is the awesome solo project from Romantics drummer, singer & songwriter J. Marinos, the voice, beat & creator of "What I Like About You" , one of the top rock and roll party anthems of all time !!! This album originally had a very limited early 90's release in the USA on the indie Black Cat Records & in France on Revenge records. If you dig the Romantics sound, you'll be into this: a great undiscovered rock & roll gem! A must...
Romantics meet the Stones meets early Kiss & AC/DC. Nine edgy originals from the streets of Detroit completed by J. Lee Hooker's "Boom Boom", M. Waters' "Rollin' & Tumblin' " and Esquerita's "Rockin' The Joint".
Buy It HERE !

1/16/2011

PUSHTWANGERS - Push That Twang Into Motion

PUSHTWANGERS Push That Twang Into Motion cd 1991
Reasons To Live, Part One / Caroline In The Sky / The Electric Child / Doin' Time / Acid Rain / Tune In, Turn On / The World Of Recycled Tears / Miracle / Walk In Balance / Pucci Girl / Saviour Of The World.
Produced by G.-A. Krantz & M. Herrström.
Pushtwangers: Z. Säll: bass / E. Forslin: drums / G.-A. Krantz: guitar & backing vocals / P. Liljander: keyboards / Nome: singer.
"Push That Twang Into Motion" is the fourth Pushtwangers album, recorded in 1991 on NMW like the last Sinners & Wilmer X albums. Guitarist M. Lundborg has left the band. This album is a little overproduced with a lot of keyboards... not bad but certainly not my cup of tea!!! Then the Pushtwangers disbanded...
"After a break and rehab after years of touring, one of Swedens most legendary garagerock acts has finally returned to the musicscene. With the originally ambition to be the missing link between Sex Pistols and Beach Boys , Pushtwangers started out in the early eighties together with Swedish acts like The Nomads and The Creeps. Their powerpop-influenced 60-ies garagerock was spread through 4 albums with international record-deals and tours in a selfburning tempo through the years 1984 to1991. This new start is done with an almost intact line-up, Nome: guitar/vocals, P. Liljander organ, G. A. Krantz guitar and E. Forslin on drums, the bassplayer Zeke and guitarist Mike has been replaced with M. Ronnerstam bass (ex. Japop and Prins Valiant). The new album contains mostly new recordings of their hitsongs that are no longer available, but there is also a bunch of new songs thrown into the mix." Source
You can buy this album titled "We Are The Pushtwangers And You´re Not" HERE !
It was in 2005... I 'm not sure that the 'twangers are always involved in the musicscene today...

1/15/2011

PUSHTWANGERS - The "Uncensored" cover

Sent by Ryp (Twilightzone!) & Musicmasterfuzz here's the "Uncensored" front cover of "Here We Go Again". Max has done a new booklet with conviction... who would not undress a pin-up like that ?

Enjoy it!

1/09/2011

PUSHTWANGERS - Don't Be Afraid!

PUSHTWANGERS Don't Be Afraid! lp 1988
Whorehouse / Perfect Heart / Rights For All? / I Won't Get Out Of Bed! / A Speach Held At The American Space Club / Smalltown Times / The Man You Love To Hate / European Song / Funeral Of Our Youth / Die Like A Virgin / Beyond These Walls.
Produced by 4-Eyed Thomas.
Pushtwangers: Z. Sael: bass / E. Forslin: drums / M. Lundborg: guitar / G.-A. Krantz: guitar, backing vocals, tambourine, string, backing vocals & piano arrangements / P. Liljander: piano, organ,piano & strings arrangements / Nome: vocals.
The third album...
All work on the covers by Max!
Thanks to Fabien!
Stay tuned for more... in a few days

PUSHTWANGERS - The Man You Love To Hate 7''

SINGLES: PUSHTWANGERS The Man You Love To Hate 7'' 1988
The Man You Love To Hate / The Chinese Soy Conspiracy.
Produced by 4-Eyed Thomas.
Pushtwangers: E. Forslin: drums / G-A Krantz: guitar / P. Liljander: piano / M. Lundborg: guitar / Nome: singer / Z. Saell: bass.
Second single , always on Amigo & always produced by 4-Eyed Thomas the Nomads' producer, from the 3 rd Pushtwangers album "Don't be Afraid!".
All work on the covers by Max!
Thanks to Fabien!
Stay tuned for more...

PUSHTWANGERS - Father's Name Is Dad 7'' flexi

SINGLES: PUSHTWANGERS Father's Name Is Dad flexi 7'' 1986
The Pushtwangers plays a song by Dave Lambert, guitarist & singer of The Fire !
Pushtwangers: E. Forslin: drums / G-A Krantz: guitar / P. Liljander: piano / M. Lundborg: guitar / Nome: singer / Z. Saell: bass.
All work on the covers by Max!
Thanks to Fabien!
Stay tuned for more...

MICK BLOOD & THE PUSHTWANGERS - 3 rd Season 7''

SINGLES: MICK BLOOD & THE PUSHTWANGERS 3 rd Season 7'' 1987
3rd Season / Hung Up.
Produced by N. Mainsbridge
M. Blood: vocals / G-A Krantz: guitar & vocal harmonies / M. Lundborg: rythm guitar / E. Forslin: drums / P. Liljander: organ / Z. Saell: bass.
Towards the middle of 1985 the australian band, the Lime Spiders split up with Mick Blood, their singer touring Europe. Whilst M. Blood was in Europe, he performed as a guest singer with Swedish band the Pushtwangers for this single release. If they were distant geographically they were musically close. In the 80's, real rock'n' roll often came from Australia & Sweden
All work on the covers by Max!
Thanks to Fabien!
Stay tuned for more...

1/08/2011

PUSHTWANGERS - Here We Are Again

PUSHTWANGERS Here We Are Again lp 1986
Ticket To Paradise / Why Are You Treating Me So Bad? / Love For Everyone / I'm A Man / Fire In Vain The Shot / Baby Don't Go / She's Blind (But I Don't Mind) / Dancing On Thin Ice / Big Cities / Tear It Apart! / Alice (Won't You Hang For Us).
Produced by E. Nathorst-Böös.
Pushtwangers: E. Forslin: drums / G-A Krantz: guitar / P. Liljander: piano / M. Lundborg: guitar / Nome: singer / Z. Saell: bass.
Here's the second (& full) lp of the Pushtwangers the first one on Amigo records home of the best swedish bands like the Nomads, the Sinners, Wilmer X...
All work on the covers by Max!
Thanks to Fabien!
Stay tuned for more...
Error on songs 1 & 2 fixed...

PUSHTWANGERS - Perfect Heart 7''

SINGLES: PUSHTWANGERS Perfect Heart 7'' 1987
Perfect Heart / Mr Black.
Produced by 4-Eyed Thomas.
Pushtwangers: E. Forslin: drums / G-A Krantz: guitar / P. Liljander: piano / M. Lundborg: guitar / Nome: singer / Z. Saell: bass.
"...With the originally ambition to be the missing link between Sex Pistols and Beach Boys (waow?!) , Pushtwangers started out in the early eighties together with Swedish acts like The Nomads, Wilmer X and The Creeps. Their powerpop-influenced sixties garage rock was spread through 4 albums with international record-deals and tours in a selfburning tempo through the years 1984 to 1990..." Source
All work on the covers by Max!
Thanks to Fabien!
Stay tuned for more...

1/06/2011

PUSHTWANGERS - Pushtwangers

PUSHTWANGERS Pushtwangers lp 1984
Bad Bad Girls / Naked In My Car / Lies / I Will Make You Run / Boyfriend / Leave Her To Heaven / Cruisin' / I Was Sad / My Father's Name Is Dad / Strangler From Behind / "Coma" / Mr Black / The Chinese Soy Conspiracy.
Produced by E. Nathorst-Böös.
Pushtwangers: E. Forslin: drums / G-A Krantz: guitar / P. Liljander: piano / M. Lundborg: guitar / Nome: singer / Z. Saell: bass.
Here's the first Pushtwangers (mini) lp ! Recorded in 1984 on Blackboard & Chalk in Sweden and Closer Records in France.The Pushtwangers belong to the sweden 80's wave of rock garage in the same spirit than the Nomads, Hidden Charms, Bangsters, Creeps, Slammers or the Shoutless for the first two albums. Their third lp was a little different with more melodies and a powerpop side.
"Except for an awkward pronunciation here and there, it's impossible to tell that the garage this clean-sounding sextet rocked out of is in Sweden. Although the Pushtwangers use enough horns and strings on their energetic second album to do some serious commercial damage in spots, the group's roots are strictly '60s and '70s punk, something which sneery singer Nome and guitarists G-A. Krantz and M. Lundborg never forget. The contrasting blend of slick production, tight playing and raunchy instincts doesn't go for max stylee, but the effect is nifty nonetheless. (As is the racy front cover: the American edition has a peel-off day-glo sticker to satisfy the curious, while the Swedish original prudishly surprints an opaque black dress.)" Trouser Press.
All work on the covers by Max!
Stay tuned for more...

PUSHTWANGERS - Strangler From Behind 12''

SINGLES: PUSHTWANGERS Strangler From Behind 12'' EP 1986
Strangler From Behind / "Coma"/ Ticket To Paradise / Why Are You Treating Me So Bad? (Acoustic Version).
Produced by 4-Eyed Thomas.
Pushtwangers: E. Forslin: drums / G-A Krantz: guitar / P. Liljander: piano / M. Lundborg: guitar / Nome: singer / Z. Saell: bass.
It's the same single but it's the maxi EP on Relativity records (not Amigo). "Strangler From Behind" and " "Coma" " are two non lp tracks."Ticket To Paradise" is from the album "Here We Are Again" and "Why Are You Treating Me So Bad? " is an acoustic version from the "Here We Go Again" sessions.
"Strangler from Behind is a four-song 12-inch with two fine new items, "Ticket to Paradise" (from Here We Go Again) and an all-acoustic version of the same LP's "Why Are You Treating Me So Bad?," with Ms. L. Elwin providing guest vocals..." Source
All work on the covers by Max!
Thanks to Fabien for music & scans!
Stay tuned for more...

PUSHTWANGERS - Strangler From Behind 7''

SINGLES: PUSHTWANGERS Strangler From Behind 7'' 1986
Strangler From Behind / "Coma".
Produced by 4-Eyed Thomas.
Pushtwangers: E. Forslin: drums / G-A Krantz: guitar / P. Liljander: piano / M. Lundborg: guitar / Nome: singer / Z. Saell: bass.
All work on the covers by Max!
Thanks to Fabien for music & scans!
Stay tuned for more...

1/04/2011

PUSHTWANGERS - Love For Everyone 7''

SINGLES: PUSHTWANGERS Love For Everyone 7'' EP 1985
Love For Everyone / Why Are You Treating Me So Bad? / I Was Sad.
Produced by Ernst Nathorst-Böös.
Pushtwangers: E. Forslin: drums / G-A Krantz: guitar / P. Liljander: piano / M. Lundborg: guitar / Nome: singer / Z. Saell: bass.
Thanks to Fabien for music & scans!
All work on the covers by Max!

Stay tuned for more...