Godstopper - Demo (2010)

Seriously, I can't stop listening to this at the moment. Its grimy hooks are buried in my brain, yanking away, screaming for me to listen. Godstopper exist in a strange realm where Swans had a love child with Ween and this demo is the outcome of that sordid night. The weird, mid range sludge of the guitars seems at odds with the very melodic "rock" of the vocals at times but in this world they work perfectly together. The suffocating, claustrophobic, lo-fi production only adds to the general air of grime and filth which in turn makes the vocal patterns leap out from the mix. I really have struggled at trying to describe this to people so I will just leave it here for your to understand yourselves..

Godstopper - Demo 2010

Here is the video for the best song on here, seriously. I love this so much.

Coalesce - Last Call For The Living 10" (2000)

As I have said before, there are certain bands and albums, that if someone doesn't like, then I don't trust them. Anyone that reads this blog will know which I mean. Well Coalesce are on there as well. A prime influence on me musically and also one of the best bands ever. Fact.
So as a treat for a cold, dark Sunday night, here is the "final" release they put out just before they split up in 2000. It was made available at the "final" show. Of course, it being Coalesce, they reformed inside of 6 months and stopped selling this making it a pretty rare item.
"Last Call For The Living" is made up of very early demo recordings, when the band was still finding its sound. The recording quality differs quite a bit to anything else, but they are demos. Sean Ingram had not yet discovered "that voice" and his vocals on here owe more to the 90's hardcore scene they played for. The first 3 tracks are said demos and are followed by early versions of SXE baiting classic Harvest of Maturity and On Their Behalf as well as a early version of Simulcast. Bitchin' stuff.

Coalesce - Last Call For The Living

Certainly a completely different listen compared to any other Coalesce album and only real Coalesce geeks will get anything out of this. But then if your reading this, your a Coalesce geek like the rest of us losers.

The Minutemen Duo/Watt and Hurley - Live at ATP (2003)

You like The Minutemen? Everyone should like them. If you don't know about them then get reading and hearing up on your history. They will enrich your life. Obviously the band ceased to exist after the tragic loss of D Boon back in 1985 but Mike Watt and George Hurley have got back together on a few select occasions. Just that wonderfully tight rhythm section laying it down. Here is a live recording from an All Tomorrows Parties show in LA back in 2003. They rip through 26 classic tracks.  For all these shows, Watt even set up a guitar and amp at the other side of the stage in memory of D Boon.

The Minutemen Duo - Live at ATP 2003