Friday March 29th 2024

Vicious Mistress Records – “Punk In The Streets Vol.3”

ww

Vicious Mistress Records – “Punk In The Streets Vol.3”

 

“Vicious, you hit me with a flower. You do it every hour. Oh, babe you’re so vicious.”

That was Lou Reed quoting Andy Warhol, in a suggestion the later gave to the former for a song once. And this record company is called Vicious Mistress.

So when I pay my weekly visit to my dominatrix, to atone for my sins of impurity, I say to her. “Hit me hard, hit me harder. Hit me as the slimedog I know I am. Hit me…with a flower.”

You see, humiliation…degradation, that’s fine with me. Why, if you’re a walkin’, talkin’ human bean on this planet- you’ve learned to rejoice in such indignities.

But Pain?- not so much…I got alcohol to pour upon my psychic wounds to heal my daily injuries, though I know I’ll pay the price for it tomorrow.

But this is a cd review, not a review of alternative lifestyles, though, all that has been written before might of led you to think that. This is a small Connecticut (Corn etiquette) DIY punk/hardcore label that releases compilations, rarely, but when they do they aren’t sometimes good, they are in fact, always amazingly great.

“Lick the boots of shiny, shiny leather. Whiplash, girl-child, in the dark…Taste the whip in love not given lightly.”- “Venus In Furs”- Velvet Underground.

Let’s partake and taste this cd, see how tasty it might be.

Damn Broads are an all female hardcore band from Connecticut and have been my favorite local hardcore band for awhile. “Reap What You Sow” begins with the rhythm section slowly increasing in speed then arriving with a blasting, in-your-face hardcore explosion. In the past I’ve referred to them as the female Minor Threat. That description still holds.

“Cans For Brew” by Boston’s Moose Knuckle starts with a bass line that seems harmless enough but once the other participants step in- then the shithole known as life goes up in flames! They’re Oi, They’re Anarcho-punk, They’re hardcore- and they’re fun and wild as hell much like this song.

M-13 from Connecticut has long been known to TNB as one of the very best hardcore bands in New England. Here they prove why with “A.C.A.S Fuckin B” sporting the tightest rhythm section in hardcore and possibly the most venomous vocals as well. As Iggy Pop once sang it’s “Hard To Beat.”

“Listening Post” by Cry Havoc leads off innocent enough with a marching beat but soon switches into an intense punk/hardcore beat and Jonny’s near hysterical, passionate vocals riding the crest of the grinding chords. Another super tight, great Connecticut (Cornet It Cuts!) band. Another intense outpouring of guts and passion.

Sick Joke grew out of the demise of the excellent Boston heavy hardcore band, Enemy Within. Here with “The Spins” they tell a tale of over-indulging in alcohol. “Why don’t I learn every fuckin’ time?” Something Slimedog could’ve wrote. A lyrical punk vibe married to a heavy hardcore musical assault completes a successful union.

Maine’s best hardcore band USA Waste contributes “Human Parasite.” This song is like a headlong thrust into the heart of hardcore but also carries the early punk feeling of bands like The Damned. Either way it’s chock full of energy, spite and greatness.

“Rictus Grin” is a gay drunk/punk band from Boston and their song is called “Sloppy Fucking Drunk.” And it has wonderful sloppy, fucking, drunk words, music and vocals. Society may try to restrict their rights but they will never be able to eradicate the energy, wildness and fun generating from their great music. (And this band would still be fabulous even if they weren’t gay…or drunk.)

With a churnin’, burnin’, rollin’, rockin’ rhythm- “Turning Trix” by Chips Ov Oi erupts out of the speakers. “Turning tricks for chocolate chips.” This song is energetic, funny and exciting and my favorite new band (to me) on this compilation. Though special mention to Call The Cops and Weapons Of Choice as well.

Andy and I grew up aware of the Boston scene and the Rhode Island scene as well, being it’s only a few miles apart.

But when we started TNB we were soon made aware of the vibrant Connecticut scene (Con-eh-tick-cut) which we never knew existed in the past.

A lot of our favorite bands comes from this land and are on this compilation, too. Damn Broads, M-13, Cry Havoc- you can’t get much better than that. And I’m wearing another Connecticut’s bands t-shirt as I write this- Blastmat, who recently met its demise (eaten by a rabid cluster of moths).

But what hasn’t met its demise, and appears indestructible, is the DIY ethos that grew out of the original punk movement, that Bang and I were part of.

The whole network of college stations, record stores, venues and fanzines grew out of what we experienced and continues connected, in social media. We were a small but important part of what got the ball rolling, in Boston and New York (the only punk scenes in American that existed then.) And now all the indi folks can thank, or blame, us for starting it.

Like the unfortunate Blastmat, I guess all these bands on the compilation can disappear, be eaten by a rabid, ravenous species. But what can’t and won’t die is punk and what it represents- the feelings, thoughts and ideas of those who don’t fit in, who are wise and of the future but still feel lost and unwanted in a society that rewards the worst and gives the least to the best.

But this compilation is stocked to the brim with the best- all these bands, not just the ones I’ve chosen to write about- scream words that are honest, real and passionate along with sounds that scream and are vital, potent, exciting and fun.

That feels even better than when, after the whip hits, you can actually feel the blood drip down from your wound.

(Slimedog)

Related Tags: ,

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.

More from category

Live Fast Die Fast – “Snakes In Disguise”
Live Fast Die Fast – “Snakes In Disguise”

Live Fast Die Fast – “Snakes In Disguise”   Every New York band that TNB has written about in [Read More]

Miracle Blood – “This Message Contains No Content”
Miracle Blood – “This Message Contains No Content”

Miracle Blood – “This Message Contains No Content”   I recently saw Miracle Blood perform for [Read More]

Wrought Iron Hex – “Wrought Iron Hex”
Wrought Iron Hex – “Wrought Iron Hex”

Wrought Iron Hex – “Wrought Iron Hex”   One of my favorite things about writing about bands and [Read More]

Triggered – “Piss You Off”
Triggered – “Piss You Off”

Triggered – “Piss You Off”   Triggered is a fairly new band upon the local Boston scene. I [Read More]

A Bunch Of Jerks – “Shart Topping Hits”
A Bunch Of Jerks – “Shart Topping Hits”

A Bunch Of Jerks – “Shart Topping Hits”   A lot of people rightly accuse TNB as being “a [Read More]

Insider

Archives