For this next post, I’ll be continuing what I left off, that is posting records released here locally that I actually like. In case you don’t know it yet I’m based here in Manila and acquiring records means ordering abroad or asking your friends living in the US or UK to buy these records for you. Because finding good records in your local record shop is like finding an adamantium meteorite! So finding a good record that I actually like is a total high for me.
But in recent years, local record companies acquired licenses to release Mammoth, 4AD, Victory, Noise, Ryko, Rhino labels among others. For the first time, Pixies, Sonic Youth, Modern English, Sugar, Bob Mould, Cocteau Twins, Warzone and others became available. This move made a lot of us here very happy. And it did lower the CD prices considerably because I don’t have to scour the imports bin or order them.
Redd Kross’ Phaseshifter was one of those records that actually saw Manila’s shores. Boy, I am so glad it was released here locally. It was one of those all-killer-no-filler albums. I actually lent this to one of the bosses in my office. He’s not into rock music but I think he was trying to open his mind a bit (hehehe). Prior to that, he told me he bought Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell II: Back to Hell (is that right? who cares!) and the two Use Your Illusion CDs of Guns n Roses and he actually liked them. So he asked me if I could suggest some more ‘rock’ records since I’m the office ‘rocker’ (wtf!). So lent him my cassette copy of Phaseshifter (I already bought the CD copy by this time) and I told him that this will kick the asses of both Meat Loaf and the whole GnR crew! The next day came and he was all praises for Redd Kross and asked me how come he never heard of them before because they were so damn good. For the first time I was stumped. I don’t know what to say. I can’t explain it either. So I told him that there’s no justice in this world we live in (hahahaha). I added that there are lots of bands as good (a lot of them) or even better (not so many bands actually) than Redd Kross that do not get the recognition they deserve to have. Bands like Ramones, Pixies, Husker Du/Sugar/Bob Mould, Joy Division, Descendents/ALL, Wipers just to name a few, deserved more recognition and success than bands like Motley Crue and Warrant got! He agreed with me, though he hasn’t heard any of the bands I mentioned. He just took my word for it just on the strength of Phaseshifter. That’s how good this record is, so grab it if you do not have this one yet on your collection!
Next up is the Posies’ two DGC releases, Frosting on the Beater and Amazing Disgrace. I first learned about the Posies because their songs Definite Door and Dream All Day received considerable airplay in the local rock station. So I first bought the cassette since CD prices were so high back then. The plan was to buy the cassette first then if it’s any good then I’ll buy the CD. Some plan huh. The melody is the key to the Posies. Their ability of churn out good melodies on top of those heavy guitars, say in Definite Door, is astonishing. That makes this record on heavy rotation for months to come especially after I bought the CD two days after I bought the cassette.
And when Amazing Disgrace came out, I immediately bought the CD on the strength of Frosting alone. And what do you know, Amazing Disgrace did not disappoint. ‘Amazing’ offered a lot more to the table than the last one. Elements of punk and some feedback a la Sonic Youth were infused. Terrorize’s intro is reminiscent of the Pixies. What’s more was the guest appearance of power pop stalwarts Robin Zander and guitarist Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick.
But in recent years, local record companies acquired licenses to release Mammoth, 4AD, Victory, Noise, Ryko, Rhino labels among others. For the first time, Pixies, Sonic Youth, Modern English, Sugar, Bob Mould, Cocteau Twins, Warzone and others became available. This move made a lot of us here very happy. And it did lower the CD prices considerably because I don’t have to scour the imports bin or order them.
Redd Kross’ Phaseshifter was one of those records that actually saw Manila’s shores. Boy, I am so glad it was released here locally. It was one of those all-killer-no-filler albums. I actually lent this to one of the bosses in my office. He’s not into rock music but I think he was trying to open his mind a bit (hehehe). Prior to that, he told me he bought Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell II: Back to Hell (is that right? who cares!) and the two Use Your Illusion CDs of Guns n Roses and he actually liked them. So he asked me if I could suggest some more ‘rock’ records since I’m the office ‘rocker’ (wtf!). So lent him my cassette copy of Phaseshifter (I already bought the CD copy by this time) and I told him that this will kick the asses of both Meat Loaf and the whole GnR crew! The next day came and he was all praises for Redd Kross and asked me how come he never heard of them before because they were so damn good. For the first time I was stumped. I don’t know what to say. I can’t explain it either. So I told him that there’s no justice in this world we live in (hahahaha). I added that there are lots of bands as good (a lot of them) or even better (not so many bands actually) than Redd Kross that do not get the recognition they deserve to have. Bands like Ramones, Pixies, Husker Du/Sugar/Bob Mould, Joy Division, Descendents/ALL, Wipers just to name a few, deserved more recognition and success than bands like Motley Crue and Warrant got! He agreed with me, though he hasn’t heard any of the bands I mentioned. He just took my word for it just on the strength of Phaseshifter. That’s how good this record is, so grab it if you do not have this one yet on your collection!
Next up is the Posies’ two DGC releases, Frosting on the Beater and Amazing Disgrace. I first learned about the Posies because their songs Definite Door and Dream All Day received considerable airplay in the local rock station. So I first bought the cassette since CD prices were so high back then. The plan was to buy the cassette first then if it’s any good then I’ll buy the CD. Some plan huh. The melody is the key to the Posies. Their ability of churn out good melodies on top of those heavy guitars, say in Definite Door, is astonishing. That makes this record on heavy rotation for months to come especially after I bought the CD two days after I bought the cassette.
And when Amazing Disgrace came out, I immediately bought the CD on the strength of Frosting alone. And what do you know, Amazing Disgrace did not disappoint. ‘Amazing’ offered a lot more to the table than the last one. Elements of punk and some feedback a la Sonic Youth were infused. Terrorize’s intro is reminiscent of the Pixies. What’s more was the guest appearance of power pop stalwarts Robin Zander and guitarist Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick.
Enjoy!!!
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