Transformers (USA, 1982)

You may have heard the A side of this on the Teenline #103 CD-r from Hyped To Death. It has been described as great and catchy pop-punk/power-pop. That would be the A side. The B side is rather mediocre in comparison.

Transformers - Take A Vacation / Arithmetic 7" (Bullet RG-7777, 1982)

Is MediaFire anally obsessed?

I received notifications from MediaFire today that 2 files were removed: the Anal Babes and the Anal Fleas. Everything else still seems to be available but probably for not much longer since my account now has 2 strikes against it. I wonder why just those 2 files were removed? Is someone at MediaFire a little too fixated on things anal?

Sturgeons / Suburban Slag (Canada, 1979 - 1980) UPDATED

I had previously posted links to recordings of The Sturgeons and Suburban Slag at the Calgary Cassette Preservation Society. Those original posts have since been updated so if you got those versions you may want to pick up the new improved:
Suburban Slag
Sturgeons.

*****,***** (Cough, Cough) (Australia, 1982)

Mostly instrumental, at times experimental, at times noisy, fast and abrasive, *****,***** (Cough, Cough) consisted of a bass player in his mid-20's, a college student, and a drummer still in high school. This is their first cassette release - a compilation of 1980 to 1981 recordings from various sources. Their second cassette is available at Aberrant Adherents. There is also an interview and several tracks on the Fast Forward cassette magazine series - Volume 4 and Volume 13.

*****,***** (Cough, Cough) - 1 cassette (1+1 001, 1982)

NOTE: Download removed by request.
Update (June 6, 2014): I had thought their material was to be available online by now but I can't seem to find any mention of it anywhere.

Sphex / Twitch - 1970's Canadian reissues

The Supreme Echo label has done a great job reissuing 3 previously almost unknown Canadian 1970s rock / proto punk records. Originally released as private pressings of around 100 copies very few people had ever heard of these records. Nicely released with quality sleeves and detailed booklets these are highly recommended.

Both are available directly from the label on eBay or via the email address on their website. 

Sphex

This Canadian teenage group from small-town Ontario had their own mature sound, predating punk and surpassing all older groups in the region.  Recorded for a soundtrack at the Montreal National Film Board in 1976 and released in 1977, "Time" is a dynamic heavy rocker, whereas "Leaving This Crazy City" is a proto-punk surprise!  Originally issued as a private press, sleeveless gold labelled 45 in a very small edition, now reissued with repro labels, deluxe picture sleeve (not fold-over), and 16 page booklet with detailed history & tons of photos.  For fans of the many other little known proto-punk hard rockers of the mid-70s.  Fully authorized, limited edition of only 600 copies. (Supreme Echo, 2012) 

Twitch 

Canada's long lost doom/proto-punk legends finally unleashed! Distancing themselves from the bustling local psych scene, they formed in 1971 on the rural outskirts of Vancouver becoming a hard rock trio unlike any other local group. A newspaper article dated January 18, 1973 mentions "the ear-splitting Twitch" playing regularly to capacity audiences. Twitch's legacy is the missing link for both early '70s proto-punk and proto-metal of the Pacific Northwest region; what was yet to come during 1974-78 only confirmed such to be true. Originally issed as two separate sleeveless 45's in very small editions, now compiled onto one EP with orange repro labels, deluxe picture sleeve (not fold-over), and 16 page booklet with detailed history & tons of photos. Fully authorized, limited edition of only 600 copies. (Supreme Echo, 2012)   

The label also has a number of future releases planned: watch for Northern Haze, Neos, Twitch and Dishrags LPs! 

Domestic Animals / Animals Fight Back (Canada, 1983/84)

Two cassette tapes featuring bands from London, Ontario from 1977 - 1984. Various sources, varying sound quality. As with many compilations of this era there is punk, new wave and more. The best known among punk fans would be the Demics and NFG/63 Monroe; both had several vinyl releases. Other bands with vinyl releases in this time period: Crash 80's, Generics, Mettle, Hippies, Sheep Look Up, Regulators, Sinners and Spiral Scratch. The Nihilist Spasm Band (avantgarde / noise) have had a number of releases since the 60's. You can find more from some of these bands at the CHRW - London Music Archive including The Terminals.

V/A - Domestic Animals cassette (1983)

 V/A - Animals Fight Back cassette (1984)

Crash (Netherlands, 1981)

Whenever I see this one it is usually accompanied by adjectives such as punk, KBD, killer, powerpop. I'll let you judge whether it lives up to the usual hype.

The Crash - New York / Fair Exchange 7" (WS 198171, 1981)

Armatur (Sweden, 1980)

Hard rock/metal from Kristinehamn. Info: 500 copies, issued with help from the local music store Duvan.

Armatur - Rock 'n Roll / Mr. X 7" (Duvan LJ 630920, 1980)

Pedestrians (Canada, 1980)

This one was posted on YouTube back in 2009, probably around the only time I've seen it on eBay where the auction was ended early. Other than that, all I found about it online was its inclusion on a few want lists and that they were likely from Toronto. Cool punk record - are they related to this disco outfit?

Pedestrians - Before Suicide / Suicide 7" (World Is Round WRC5-1369, 1980)

Skarecrow (Canada, 1977)

Other vinyl releases from this band include the (We Don't Need) René Lévesque 7" (apparently around only 10 copies survived) and a double LP. The only time I've ever seen this one on eBay it was listed as "psych" which I guess is another generic eBay description like "powerpop" or "KBD". The A side sounds like 70s pop-rock and I suppose the B side (which I like better) might be "psych"-y.

Skarecrow - Wrong This Time / 4 Minutes After 9 7" (Goat GR - 4444, 1977)

HaClique (The Clique) (Israel, 1981)

The title of this LP is something like "Mother - I Do Not Want To Go Thru Rehab" or "Mommy, I Don't Want To Dry Up". Or perhaps "Mother, I Don't Want To Be Weaned" might be better as suggested in the comments. The sound is edgy new wave with some almost punk moments every now and again. There's a second LP from 1983 called "Crowded World". I don't find it as interesting as it is more of a rock/pop LP with some songs tending towards the style of this one. More info.

Clique - Mother - I Do Not Want To Go Thru Rehab LP (CBS 85078, 1981)

Promille (Sweden, 1979)

Hard rockers from Gislaved with their only release. There's maybe some hints of punk in there as well.

Promille - s/t 12" EP (Tonåring / Tjackpundaren // Låtsasliv / Drömmen) (UFS 794, 1979)

T.H.E. HAB (Canada, 19??)

We'll do a few obscure Canadian records today, starting with 2 releases from T.H.E. HAB. As far as I know these were their only releases. No indication of where they were from but I'd guess the Vancouver area. One source says the first is from 1981 and calls it powerpop. I suspect these were both done about the same time since the dead wax #s are 3645 and 3646. For more Canadian obscurities check Out Of The ... Igloo!!

T.H.E. HAB - Sedentary Blues / You Make Me "Glow" 7" (HAB Records, 19??)
T.H.E. HAB - Get Tough / Don't You Know 7" (HAB Records, 19??)

Squeezeplay (Canada, 1984)

I came across this recently and the label name sounded promising and it was cheap. I was thinking maybe it was some kind of surf pop or something similar. There are no beaches in Edmonton unless you count the waterpark at West Edmonton Mall. The A side sort of grew on me after a few listens. Unless you like country boogie rock avoid the B side. Nothing at all found about it online.

Squeezeplay - Do I Do It Alright / Shake Shake (Let's Dance) 7" (Beach Party Records, 1984)

Mike Honeyman (Canada, 1983)

From the cover you might be expecting some kind of hippie / flower child folk especially since it is from Vancouver. It isn't that bad. The B side is unremarkable pop rock. The A side is more energetic and would easily pass for powerpop on eBay.

Mike Honeyman - A Life Like That / Win Or Lose 7" (self released MH 001, 1983)