The Mystrys - Witch Girl 7''

The mystery of The Mystrys.  Garage rock from Melbourne 1968.  Absolute classic and absolutely impossible to replicate.  One thing these guys regretted was always performing in hoods - can you imagine that? 

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Slugfuckers - Cacophony

This is a double CD reissue of their total output and includes their ultra hard to get LP 'Transformational Salt'.  Great name!  Hail from Australia and could be termed avant-guard or experimental.  These tags ring alarm bells with me as it often translates to crap.  In this case though, I like the band and enjoy their W&W nature.  Also blogged on Mr Weird and Wacky.

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Atlas - Self Titled

Atlas was the spark formed by Ronnie Charles (previously with The Groop), Les Gough, Glen Turner (early Wishbone Ash) and Terry Slade (ex Sunshine). They could be described as a 'hard rock/boogie outfit', slotting in somewhere between Wishbone Ash, Free and Status Quo.  This debut album was issued in 1973 - but the band then called it a day in 1974.  All the best in trying to find this LP (it has never been re-issued) - I suggest you just settle for this LP conversion.  

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Southern Cross - Self Titled

After the Australian band Buffalo called it quits in 1975, guitarist John Baxter and vocalist Alan Milano formed Southern Cross.  They released this album in 1976 with a sound that was more a type of melodic hard rock, quite different to the heavy sound from Buffalo.  Some were quick to point out that it steered towards AOR rock.  Hmmm, not really - but few actually listened to this.  Since it's impossible to find, here's your chance to give it another listen.

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Corpse Grinders (Aus) - Self Titled (Mini-Album)

Hailing from Australia, the Corpse Grinders released this killer mini album to hardly a murmur.  Rock n Roll doesn't get much better than this.  Two extra tracks: 'I Eat Babies' (their earlier single, previously blogged) + 'I Go Crazy' from the AuGoGo compilation "Asleep At The Wheel".

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Corpse Grinders - I Eat Babies & I'm Goin' Crazy

This is the Australian Corpse grinders - the band before Intoxica.  Great name, great band.  These 7'' singles share a common song '7 and 7 is' - a cover version from everyone's favourite band, Love (Arthur Lee).  BUT, the thing is, this song (as it appears on these singles) is by The Olympic Sideburns!  Partners in crime you could say.  The singles were released simultaneously and are probably as rare as hen's teeth.  Did either band release anything else?  Yup - further blog entries will hopefully contain further releases (from both bands).  Stay tuned, but any further info would be greatly appreciated.

Download "I'm Goin' Crazy"
Download "I Eat Babies"

 

Sunnyboys - Wildcat (1989)

Much maligned post-Sunnyboys album by ... Sunnyboys.  Essentially the band disintegrated after their third album and Jeremy Oxley rejigged this lineup.  Hey - I really like it.  Betcha it's not going to be a part of their latest reissue program.  It sells for silly $$ but not if you get the download here!

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Super K - Recurring Nightmare 7''

This one-off group occurred when Brad Shepherd teamed up with former Hitmen member and fellow flatmate, Clyde Bramley (bass guitar) to record a single "Go Go" / "Recurring Nightmare" (1982).  Followers of this blog have already tasted Brad's previous band (The Fun Things) and may well be wondering "what happened next"?  This single is now very hard to get and will probably never see the light of day in CD or official digital format.  So we may need to make do with a Wired and Wasted conversion.  Better than nothing.

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Cornflake Zoo - Collected

Garage rock rules in my house and sometimes, one of those bands comes along and presses the right button.  Cornflake Zoo is do just that.  Named after an Andy Ellison song (he was in John's Children), they only put out 3 singles: 'Just A Game', 'Hey Conductor' & 'The End Of The Beginning (Hippie Hill)'.. OK, the last is really an EP but either way - they're output is very limited.  More the pity.  It's also very hard to get, so here you go.

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The Last - LA Explosion!

The album title is very apt.  This explodes around your ears from beginning to end.  It's the remastered version with all the extra tracks.  Can't complain about that.

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The Misunderstood - Before The Dream Faded

A compilation from one of the great psych bands. It's solid and you'll find yourself uncontrollably chasing down their LP's.  Well worth it.

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Lime Spiders - Beethoven's Fist

The third album (for those that like this band), has always been hard to get.  It really had minimal exposure on release so fans missed it way back when.  By now, they may have given up on it - but worry not erstwhile W&W followers - here it is.  You probably won't rate it as highly as their previous output, but a band as good as this will still knock you over.

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Intoxica - Collected

Intoxica are an Aussie band and they play dirty Rock n' Roll.  OK, some will be quick to dub them as Psychobilly.  Are they wrong, not really.  It would also be cool to call them Garage or Punk or Rockabilly or ...  whatever, they cover all tags (not Rap though - phew!).

Spewing forth from the ashes of The Corpse Grinders in 1987, they have been able to release three albums: 'Self Titled', 'Suburban Roulette' and 'Drag Stripper'.  They're included in this blog entry.  A number of singles have been released - I do not have any of these so the word "collected" is an obvious (intentional) flaw.  However, I do have the first single from the Corpse Grinders and I will blog this later.  Note also that their first LP (Self Titled) was the first release from Shock Records (SHOCK LP 001!!).  Shock are a giant of Australian independent releases.

Check out the covers, they give a hint as to what is contained within.  Sort of like The Cramps - that's the best comparison that I can make.

Download each (or all)

Fast Cars - Live Tape (Hot Records)

Released on Hot Records (the hallowed ground of early Ed Kuepper and The Apartments), this was the last output of early Fast Cars.  Absolute killer live release.  No home should be without this.  Geez I used to love these cassette releases - whatever happened to ....

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Fast Cars - Love Child 7''

Released in 1984 on Method Records (where their other singles were released), this sounds like a band hitting their straps.  Which begs the question - how can an Aussie band of this caliber not get the recognition they deserve?  Three great singles - no further interest.  Doesn't make sense.


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Not convinced, check out their two other singles from 1980/81.

Toys Went Berserk - The Smiler With A Knife

Underrated Aussie band with a knack for putting out quality music.  Female vocalist (not that there's anything wrong with that ...).  This cover maybe  suggests that they were a bit goofy but thats a long way off.  Straight out dirty rawk n' roll -ie- Punk.  Released on Aberrant Records (one of Australia's most revered DIY punk labels).

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Behind The Banana Curtain - Various (Collection of Brisbane Bands)

If you meet someone who knows nothing about music from Brisbane (Queensland, Australia) - then direct them to this double CD.  Comprehensive and absolutely essential it stretches from 1975 to 2000.  So many favourites on this collection that it's hard to pick one.  Red rag to a bull, I will pick one: Pineapples From The Dawn Of Time 'Too Much Acid'.  And then there's The Go-Betweens, Saints etc etc.  Not in print anymore and also hard to get at the time of release.  Just download and play in the car.

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Peg - Awaiting The Retriever

Another addition to the Peg catalogue.  They only released two albums and I'm pretty it did not include the usual stream of EP's or singles.  Their other album (preferred by many) is the Science of Imaginary Solution

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Blunt - Who Cares Wins (A Biased History of Australian Rock)

This is an essential 2CD compilation of Aussie rock from 1986-95.  It accompanied a book of the same name (the pages of my copy are well and truly worn - released in 2001).  Why Blunt?  Well, it was written by Bob Blunt.  Can you still get the CD - I doubt it.  Have never seen it around and I kindof remember it being a limited run to go with the first 500(?) copies of the book.  All the best in trying to find a copy of the book BTW.  It would be an absolute shame if this gem disappeared from history.  Please download and distribute.

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Fun Things - When The Birdmen Flew 7''

In 1980, the Fun Things released one helluva EP.  Obviously taking their cue from Radio Birdman, this was their one and only release.  After it's release, Brad Shepherd joined The Hitmen and Le Hoodoo Gurus.  His brother, Murray Shepherd formed The Screaming Tribesmen.  So, all we have is this one extremely collectible item.  That's it - you'll play this a lot.

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Essendon Airport - Palimpsest

Very wired and wasted.  Not entirely a fan but they certainly went in the opposite direction of many.  Part of the 'Fuck Dance, Let's Art' movement, you'll probably find yourself at some point saying "There's only so much of this that I can take".  Anyway, I'll let you be the judge of that.

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The Humans - Teen Idol 7''

Much sought after punk (pre-punk!) single from Australia.  Nothing more released so this will have to do

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