We're Killing Each Other By Sleeping In

I still think Dear You is a great album. Here are its bookends.
"Save Your Generation" and "Unlisted Track"
Previously: Jawbreaker [1, 2, 3, 4 Who's punk? What's the score?]

Barbara Manning

It wasn't all punk rock and crude cartoony zines in the Bay Area during the early '90s. Other people like Barbara Manning (World of Pooh, SF Seals) were pushing the indie pop bracket.

Barbara Manning - "When I Dream"

Two Bright Sides

1) FINALLY stumbled upon the blog Tuba City which is written by one of the guys behind the infamous (and hysterical) Superchunk "Laughter Guns" deconstruction radio show. Amazing. Spent quite a night in the summer of '97 with Mike, Wayne, and Dina curling up to that one. If you've never heard it, download the 42 minute mp3 right now and smoke some pot or whatever, listen and lose yourself. Best dialogue ever. There should be a "memorable quotes" page for this. (Helps to know the song they're talking about, "Hyper Enough.")
2) Yes! Another punk rock fan loves early Genesis and prog! I-told-you, Gage! Fuck off.

Superchunk - "The Mine Has Been Returned To Its Original Owner"
You can also download another track from the Laughter Guns EP, the awesome "Her Royal Fisticuffs" on their website.

Asexuals

Before The Doughboys, sixteen year old John Kastner and three friends from Montreal formed the Asexuals in 1983. They hit the ground spinning circles with above-average melodic hardcore (was anyone calling it "melodicore" by then?) that didn't skimp on hooks and sing-songy chorus parts. Here are the opening tracks from their first two albums (John left the group before the third), Be What You Want and Contemporary World, respectively. I recommend tracking down the CD re-issue that has both LPs.

"Be What You Want" and "Where Were You"

Band-related: Marc Arnold from Big Drill Car played guitar on The Doughboys' last tour and went on to form All Systems Go! with Kastner shortly afterwards. Check out YOU ARE THE SCENE! - a website dedicated to the early days of punk rock, hardcore and garage music in Montreal. More Asexuals commentary can be found at Dressed for the H Bomb.

Big Drill Car

The pop punk bands of late 80's/early 90's L.A. and parts south were a bit more polished and metal-tinged than their Northern Cal counterparts. Cruz Records made sure of that. They also had longer hair.

CMJ New Music Report, December 16, 1988: Hailing from SoCal, Big Drill Car arose from the ashes of a band called M.I.A. and, according to their bio, have a lot of trouble with their van. Their literally one-sided 6-song EP, Small Block (Varient Records, 266 E. 20 St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627), was produced by ALL guitarist Stephen Egerton and features fun, infectious hard-edged power pop with a big, fat squalling guitar sound – Imagine Soul Asylum and the Descendents combined into the same band, and you’ll begin to get the idea. The guitar licks are smokin', but the vocals are smooth (traces of Milo) and there are some nice hooks...

Big Drill Car - "Take Away" and "If It's Poison"

Nebraska State Song (Indie Rock Re-mix)

Sideshow - "Beautiful Nebraska"

Margarine Walker

Here's to work, a job, workers, and jobbers. If Count Stroganoff doesn't get you, then the Purple Cow will.

Wat Tyler - "Operation Ivy and Don Brennan"

Tropicana (We Ride)

Image from pre-HiFiNY Randy when he used to get Deeper

This week's Florida vacation inspiration can be blamed, partially or wrongly, on Will Oldham and the Harty Brothers. (Of course, "Gulf Coast Guards" would be more appropiate.)

Palace Music - "West Palm Beach"