The Saustex Variations

(saustexmedia.com) The secret to putting out a good label sampler compilation is a mysterious puzzle few have solved, but Saustex somehow stumbled upon the key to this complicated lock: have a good label roster! Copper Gamins, Hickoids, A Pony Named Olga, Churchwood, Pinanta Protest and the others don't all sound alike, but all make sense, for various reasons, destroying the stages of forward thinking Texas honky-tonks. And that is exactly how this honky likes getting tonked!

Pissing Match

(MorePower Tapes) Ahhhh! Hardcore that hit me hard in my core and scared me more than the old man in Phantasm (and that dude scared the piss out of me. And unlike these furious fellas state in their 21 second mainfesto “Piss Test,” I was pissing in a cup).

Glamour Girls

(MorePower Tapes) If you want to argue that lo-fi/no-fi recording production values and glam rock are two terms that should never go together I’m willing to listen. But then I will play you this filthy audio mess that is also a functional suite of strut anthems, and I shall rest my (cassette) case.

Gilooly

(MorePower Tapes) Sounds like Suicidal Tendences if Suicidal Tendencies weren’t good at skating and weightlifting.

Fleshy Mounds "You're Welcome"

(More Power Tapes) Stripped down, explosive art school hardcore performed by actual gorillas who didn't get into art school. Just like Hitler.

Gerry O’Keefe “Whatever Suits You”

(facebook.com/gerrydokeefe) Suitably brilliant elegant power pop, that really ties one on! (Get it, suit and tie?)

Rickity “Greatest Hits Vol. 1”

(Hyperspace) It takes boldness and ball s to call your debut “Greatest Hits,” but it takes the same to be a wailing funk/classic rock heavy duty hybrid party/show band! Rock on and funk on, funky rockin’ brothers (and sister)!

Billy Joe Winghead “Spanish Asshole Magnet”

(Saustex) What’s not to love? There’s evil bar rock, a theremin, Hitler jokes, sock puppet videos, profanity, a shemale, a Mummies cover, a Mel Brooks cover, an Andrew Lloyd Weber and more Hitler jokes!

S. Carey “Range of Light”

(Jagjaguwar) Gentle, fragile, lush musical mood enhancers. I’m S. Cared of you!

The Sensibles “a bunch of Animals”

(Rijapov Records) Cute animals drawn on the front cover, cute white people photographed on the back cover --- I’m not sure which one is supposed to be the band, as these bouncy, happy, rockin’, sugar high, cotton candy bubblegum ditties sure sound like they are being performed by cartoon characters. Makes Shonen Knife sound like Slayer!