In The Bin: Permanent Records’ Gnarliest Rock Records of 2011 (FILTER Exclusive)

On June 4th, 2011, Lance Barresi and Liz Tooley decided to relocate themselves to Eagle Rock and lucky for us, they decided to open another location of their already impressive and succesful, Permanent Records. The original record shop of theirs remains open back in Chicago, but the dup has decided to call the west coast their new home.

So we at FILTER decided to take advantage of this new migration by asking them to contribute a monthly feature for us which will feature them doing what they do best, talk about music and reccomend some new jams. Every month a new "In The Bin" feature will hit the FILTER site and will cover new vinyl and bands that have come through the Permanent Records bins (get it?) and that is about all the rules we have them. Without further adiue, In The Bin.

Ten of the Gnarliest Rock Records of 2011
by Lance Barresi

We're well into what could possibly be the last year of existence, as we know it.  Now that you’ve seen all the Best Of 2011 Lists you can possibly stomach, here’s another one with wildly different inclusions than most of you are used to viewing.  The purpose of the list below is to highlight some of the Gnarliest Rock Records of 2011.  I realize that “Gnarliest” is not a neat easy-to-file genre, but this particular adjective describes some of my favorite types of music.  I can’t say for sure that you’ll like all or even any of these records, but if you like your music "difficult, dangerous, or challenging" you’ll definitely find something to love below.


Colour Buk - Licht Dinger LP (Wir Wollen)
Drop the needle, drop the other needle, and commence nodding your noodle.  The first track on this slab is an absolute slayer.  “I Am A Philosopher” is it’s title and it’s sole lyric, repeated ad nauseum of course.  This suburban NY duo keeps it simple, devolved, repetitive, and noisy.  Only 100 of these hand-numbered, hand-screened artifacts exist and methinks it’ll “be puzzled over and studied and followed... forever”, like the work of Seven's serial killer, John Doe.  A friend and colleague described “Licht Dinger” thusly:  “…something like a more industrial version of Happy Flowers or the Hospitals run through a strainer of classic Dead C or Futurians obliteration techniques”.  I concur.


Degreaser - Bottom Feeder LP (Negative Guest List)
This record's on the Aussie label Negative Guest List.  Degreaser is comprised of members of Sea Scouts and Bird Blobs, a couple of bands that slipped under my radar and slipped off into obscurity only to be discovered posthumously in the NGL zine.  I've been searching high and low for those records ever since I saw 'em printed about, with bleak results.  Bleak is a good descriptor for "Bottom Feeder".  Not exactly what you call feel good music.  It's bummer punk to be sure, but there's a bit of a swampy, stoner psych vibe in the repetition and lysergic guitar work, which makes sense with at least one member of the Krauty psych group Coconuts in the blend.  Minimal rhythmic throb and guitar skree mix better than gin and tonic and "Bottom Feeder" is a prime example of that simple fact.  If you've ever found yourself wishing that Slug Guts, Francis Harold and the Holograms, and Subtle Turnhips took more Quaaludes to make music to take Quaaludes to, you'll definitely find yourself thoroughly impressed by Degreaser's debut.
 

Holy Cobras - Forever LP (Telephone Explosion)
Do you like Chrome?  Yeah, me too.  That’s probably why I like Holy Cobras so much...they sound a lot like Chrome.  And Loop.  And cut-and-paste, hypnotic, psychedelic punk.  These are a few of my favorite things.  If I were a Canadian citizen (thank goodness I’m not) I’d vote this duo the Ottawa Senators’ of acid punk.  Their debut single “Feed Yr Head” was excellent but, like repetitive patterns, long-players suit psych best. “Forever” is Holy Cobras debut LP on Canuck label Telephone Explosion.  The label and I are calling to tell you it’s a mind-blower.
 

LA Hell Gang - Just What Is Real LP (BYM)
Apparently, the kids are alright and they're listening to a lot of Spacemen 3 down in Chile these days.  Although they could use a bit of assistance naming their bands, they don't need any help distilling their druggy influences down to a very potent spirit.  La Hell Gang sound like a more lead guitar heavy Spacemen 3 or a less Blind Faith-ful Birds of Maya.  One of the longer tracks on "Just What Is Real", "Pista 5", takes a slowed down "Wild Thing" bass line and extends it for just over 9 minutes while the guitarist tears ass down the fret board.  Fans of repetitive rhythm sections and bitchin' lead guitar parts will flip over this record.
 

Mordecai - Mordecai LP (Killertree)
"Mordecai" is one of the best "we don't give a fuck" / "we're not trying to please anybody but ourselves" DIY records to come across my table since I first dropped a needle on UV Race, Kitchen's Floor, and Subtle Turnhips platters.  Mordecai is a band of brothers borne of Butte, Montana and this is their very first full-length long-player.  And oh, what a tremendous debut it is!  The label behind this glow-in-the-dark screen printed release, Killertree, namedrops bands like Swell Maps and The Fall on their one-sheet and they're not far off.  However, the prefix "shambolic" would need to be added to either of those comparisons to make them apropos.  Audiophiles need not apply as these shit-fi sounds were captured on tape in the not-exactly-Electrical Audio confines of an abandoned YMCA bathroom.  Limited vinyl only pressing…one per Montana resident...that’s 300 copies if yr counting.
 

Obnox - I'm Bleeding Now LP (Smog Veil)
If you don’t recognize the name Lamont “Bim” Thomas, don’t worry ‘cuz even those familiar with Bim’s previous bands probably won’t recognize the Obnox moniker or the sounds ground into these abominable grooves.  Mr. Thomas’ resume includes membership in such prestigious gun clubs as the Bassholes, This Moment In Black History, and Puffy Areolas, the latter of which having the most in common with Obnox.  “I’m Bleeding Now”, aptly titled as I'm sure he is after recording this basher, is Bim’s first LP as Obnox and it’s brilliantly brutal.  Smog Veil somehow beat In The Red to the punch on this one and I feel punched in the head every time I listen to it.
 

Rubble - Farewell Drugs LP (Latino Bugger Veil)
Ever heard of Drain?  No?  How about the Butthole Surfers?  Now that I’ve got your attention, please allow me to introduce the Buttholes drummer King Coffey and his new noisy, psychedelic rock group Rubble.  If you’ve already been acquainted with King Coffey through his label Trance Syndicate or his aforementioned solo project Drain, then you might be prepared for “Farewell Drugs”.  If not, you might find your mind blown.  For this LP, King Coffey got some his best weirdo drug buddies together to take a Texas trip to the dark side. When the dust settled, all that remained was this insanely intense heavy psych tape and a tumbleweed.  If you get your kicks on route sicks-T-sicks, then "Farewell Drugs" is your next exit.  While your there, be sure to check those killer covers:  Joe Byrd & The Field Hippies’ "You Can't Ever Come Down" and Willie Deville's "It's So Easy".  What?  Yeah.
 

Slug Guts - Howlin' Gang CD/LP (Sacred Bones)
If you share a love of Lubricated Goat, Scientists, and Birthday Party with Slug Guts and myself, then "Howlin' Gang" must be heard.  These Brisbaners graduated to a slightly bigger label in Sacred Bones for their sophomoric effort and it certainly ain't no slump.  These sharp dressed men honed their sound a bit and incorporated a slightly blacker vibe on this gothic, swampy, post-punk record.  Members of Circle Pit and Blank Realm guest and I suggest giving it a test.
 

Throat - Licked Inch Fur LP (Made In Kansas)
The only thing nastier than the title of this record are the heavy vibes the stylus gleans from the wax.  "Licked Inch Fur" is a four song long, bonged throng of an EP by some fucked up Fins who call themselves Throat.  If you’re hep to the negative vibes of vintage AmRep and you’re looking for something new and exotic to chug through yer earholes, Throat is an exquisite elixir. Certainly not for the faint of taint, this record’s got elephantitis of the balls.  Brought to us domestically by the fine Grids over at Made In Kansas.  Midwesterners going through real winter will get it, will you?
 

Various Artists - Wings Over Gabba: The Best In Songs Of Negativity LP (Negative Guest List)
If you can only afford to acquire one record on this list, make it this one.  It’s a Gnarliest Rock Records of 2011 sampler if there ever was one and it (like the also included Degreaser LP) is on the Negative Guest List label, so you know it’s of impeccable quality. The songs contained within the grooves of this Australian import were all originally included on the “Songs of Negativity” CDr comps released over the last couple of years or so. What one gets here is a veritable best-of-the-best of noise rock from the two most musically imperative sides of the globe currently, the Land of Oz and the Land of the Free.  The names on the track listing include one already mentioned (Mordecai) and a whole slew of unsavory others like Meat Thump, Sewers, Blank Realm, Kitchen’s Floor, Jaguar, Future Blondes, Butcher Cover, Hatefuck, Rubbish Throwers, and Bits of Shit.  I’d tell ya more about the record, but I don’t want to spoil the fun of discovery for ya.  Unfortunately, this record is currently out-of-print so you’re gonna have to do some diggin’ to find it, but it’s well worth oiling up the shovel for.


If you'd like to take a peek at my entire BEST OF 2011 list, type this URL into your search bar:
www.permanentrecordschicago.com/zine/PREX-BEST-OF-2011.pdf