Various -- No Age - A Compilation of SST Instrumental Music
- Artist: Various
- Title: No Age – A Compilation of SST Instrumental Music
- Year: 1987
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 6
- Owner: Tracy
- Acquired: 1987 – Bought it when I worked at Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA.
- Keeper: Maybe
This SST compilation of challenging instrumental music is full of big names, cult names, and just names. Check out the list below and decide for yourself which artists belong in which categories. I have records by many of these folks and I’ve also seen a number of them live. I don’t know if I’ll ever play this double album again. Some tracks were fantastic, but some were just annoying post-prog-rock-for-nerds. Again, decide for yourself who belongs where.
- Black Flag
- Blind Idiot God
- Henry Kaiser
- Elliott Sharp
- Lee Ranaldo
- Lawndale
- Glenn Phillips
- Pell Mell
- Paper Bag
- Scott Colby
- Lawndale
- Paper Bag
- Universal Congress Of
- Steve Fisk
- Gone
- Alter-Natives
- Elliott Sharp
- Fred Frith & Henry Kaiser
- Artist: D.C.3
- Title: You’re Only as Blind as Your Mind Can Be
- Year: 1986
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 6
- Owner: Tracy
- Acquired: 1986 – Probably when I was working at Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA.
- Keeper: Maybe
D.C.3 put out “You’re Only as Blind as Your Mind Can Be” in the same year as “The Good Hex.” I think they should have taken a longer break. To me, this one just isn’t as exciting. I mentioned when I logged “Hex” that it didn’t sound too jammy despite a lot of guitar soloing. Well, this record crosses the line. I was playing it while Mary and I were packing for our big move to Asheville, and she walked in the room and said “What the?!? When does this song end?” I’ll have to admit that I too was feeling pretty jammed out by the time that song ended. That said, there are a few dittys here that totally rock out and make me want to keep it. And though much of it sounds retro, even for 1986, especially in 1986 I was happy to get my hands on anything that felt like rock and roll.
- Artist: D.C. 3
- Title: The Good Hex
- Year: 1986
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 7
- Owner: Tracy
- Acquired: 1986 – Bought it for myself when I worked at Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA.
- Keeper: Yes
Dez Cadena is the D.C. in D.C. 3. He has been in a number of bands, but I’m guessing most people who have any idea who he is remember him as the pre-Rollins singer of Black Flag. He also played guitar on “Damaged”, which was Rollins’ debut and Black Flag’s first record to get a lot of attention.
I’m not sure how I got into D.C. 3, but I really liked this record when it came out in 1986. It’s pretty heavy rock and though there is a lot of guitar noodling it doesn’t sound too much like jam music. Some might even describe it as “classic rock”, but there is definitely something more happening here. I was surprised to read that Cadena was only 25 when they made this record.
There’s a note from Dez on the back cover that ends:
To those who ask what the difference is between the music I play now and what I used to play, I would say that there is no difference. — D.C.
My favorite song is a high speed, almost metal track that kicks off side two called “No One But Yourself To Blame.” Even the lyrics are cool.
You can never… never… blame anyone but yourself.
You can… but you’re playin’… a loooooosing game.
You’ve got no one but yourself to blame.
Or something close to that. Hard rockin’ words to live by if you ask me.
P.S. Keith, say what you will about downloaded digital music, but you can’t flip it over, there is no side two, and you can’t even take a picture of it. So what’s the point? Rock and roll is not about convenience.
- Artist: Painted Willie
- Title: Live From Van Nuys
- Year: 1986
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 5
- Owner: Tracy
- Acquired: 1986 – Bought it when I was working at Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA.
- Keeper: Maybe
“Live From Van Nuys With A Kiss And A Grapefruit” is etched into the vinyl margin on the side first. I have no idea what that means, but on most indie labels it’s worth taking a second to peak. Often there are little notes there, sometimes they’re funny.
Again, this was in the era when I would buy anything SST put out. I probably bought this because look like a heavy rock/metal band and I needed something with crunch. For the most part they deliver, but it’s little more punk than I expected, not a bad thing. I like the first song “Crossed Fingers” a lot. Doubt it’s a keeper though.
- Artist: Negativland
- Title: Escape From Noise
- Year: 1987
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 3
- Owner: Tracy
- Acquired: 1987 – Bought for myself when I worked at Mother’s Records and Tapes in Hampton, VA.
- Keeper: Maybe
For the most part this isn’t music; it’s what I would call audio art. Lots of noise from various gadgets, talking voices, etc. I think in 1987 I was buying pretty much everything the record label SST was putting out. They have a following and maybe knowing that also prompted me to check it out. I would guess that their fans are what people from my planet would call “nerds.”
Noteworthy, and maybe another reason I bought it is the long list of artists who made contributions to Escape From Noise: Jello Biafra, Steve Fisk, Fred Frith, Jerry Garcia, Alexander Hacke (Einstürzende Neubauten), Mickey Hart (Grateful Dead), Mark Mothersbaugh (Devo), The Residents, and others.
I’m committed to playing all these records before I write about them. Mary asked me to please finish playing this one while she took the dog for a walk.
I don’t imagine I’ll ever play this again, but I’m on the fence about keeping it unless I can find someone who wants it. Like I said, they do have fans. And the teenager in me finds that “CAR BOMB” bumper sticker funny. Maybe I’m a nerd too.
