“Southern Mark Smith”, The Jazz Butcher

This way:  Southern Mark Smith

The Jazz Butcher, also known as The Jazz Butcher Conspiracy and The Jazz Butcher And His Sikkorskis From Hell, was a British musical group founded by Pat Fish. The band was formed in Oxford in 1982 by Pat Fish and Max Eider. The début album in Bath of Bacon was released by Glass Records in 1983. A second album A Scandal in Bohemia, also on Glass, featured guest appearances from David J and Kevin Haskins of Bauhaus. After four albums, and two singles collections for Glass, Fish signed to Creation Records in 1988, releasing eight albums on the label, culminating in 1995's Illuminate. 

[Spotify]   Southern Mark Smith

“Batyar”, The Ukrainians

This way:  Batyar

Sunday support for the mighty Ukrainians battling tyranny. Here is a great cover of the Smiths. 

[Spotify]   Batyar

“English Dream”, Generation X

This way: English Dream

I'm not sure why I like Generation X as much as I do, by all accounts i should not like them at all. Guilty pleasure perhaps. Those first few LPs have some real gems.    

[Spotify]  English Dream

“Cherez Richku, Cherez Hai”, The Ukrainians

This way:  Cherez Richku, Cherez Hai

Have you asked yourself, well can the Ukrainians rock? The answer is a resounding YES. The Ukrainians are an English band, which plays traditional Ukrainian music, heavily influenced by western post-punk.

The Ukrainians were formed in 1990 by Wedding Present guitarist Peter Solowka, with singer/violinist Len Liggins and mandolin player Roman Remeynes, after all three had played on the Wedding Present's Ukrainian John Peel Sessions recordings (Ukrayinski Vystupy v Johna Peela, released 1989). Following the success of that release, the trio began composing and recording in Ukrainian as a separate band.

[Spotify]   Cherez Richku, Cherez Hai

“U.X.a.”, U.X.A.

This way: U.X.a.

One of the great voices of California Punk Rock. American band from Hollywood, Los Angeles, California born at the end of the 70s and reformed in 1994. They put out a great LP on Posh Boy records, Illusions of Grandeur, from 1981. Featuring lead singer DeDe Troit. 

[Spotify]  U.X.a.

“Even If”, Screaming Trees, RIP Mark Lanegan

This way: Even If

Tragic news on the death of Mark Lanegan. Too Young. Mark had a great solo career with tons of great LPs. This is from 1988 from his original band Screaming Trees, what a voice. Screaming Trees were an American rock band formed in Ellensburg, Washington, in 1984, by vocalist Mark Lanegan, guitarist Gary Lee Conner, bass player Van Conner, and drummer Mark Pickerel. Pickerel had been replaced by Barrett Martin by the time the band reached its most successful period. Although widely associated with grunge, the band's sound incorporated hard rock and psychedelic elements. The band released seven studio albums, five EPs, and three compilations. 

Screaming Trees is known as one of the pioneers of grunge along with the Melvins, Mudhoney, U-Men, Skin Yard, Soundgarden, Green River, and Malfunkshun. Screaming Trees rose to fame as part of the grunge movement of the early 1990s, along with bands such as Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and Soundgarden and was one of the most successful underground music acts of the 1990s. The band achieved one top ten single on the Modern Rock Tracks charts, as well as two top ten hits on the Alternative Airplay Charts. Screaming Trees were plagued by extended inactivity due to their problems with making a follow up to Dust. This led to their official breakup in 2000. Mark Lanegan died in February 2022. 

[Spotify]  Even If

“Eisbaer”, Grauzone

This way: Eisbaer

Grauzone (German for grey area, [ˈɡraʊ̯.tsoːnə]) was a band from Berne, Switzerland that was active and disbanded in the early 1980s. Grauzone is most famous for their 1981 hit "Eisbär" ("Polar Bear"). The single charted at #12 in Germany and #6 in Austria. In addition to "Eisbär" they had some success with the singles "Film 2" and "Wütendes Glas". 

[Spotify]  Eisbaer

“Buffalo”, Boyracer

This way (downloadable): Buffalo

That’s a lot of sub-two minute songs. Boyracer (sometimes styled Boyracer UK) is an English indie rock group from Wetherby.

Boyracer was founded by vocalist/guitarist Stewart Anderson in 1990 and released their first single in 1991. Richard Adams left the group in 1993, after which the group released its first EP, Naked. They then arranged to release further recordings via Sarah Records including two more EPs in 1993. Both James Chadwick and Simon Guild departed early in 1994, and Anderson put together a new line-up before releasing the group's debut full-length for Slumberland Records. 

More lineup changes ensued in 1994 while the group continued to put out releases, with a number of 7 inch EPs and they toured the United States for the first time at the beginning of 1995. Later that year they signed with MCA subsidiary label Zero Hour Records. The label dropped them while they were doing a nationwide U.S. tour. They then released several singles on independent American labels over the course of 1996. Early in 1997, the group split up, but in 2000 Anderson reconstituted Boyracer with several new members and new material.

[Spotify says NO] 

“Pajama Party”, Unit 3 With Venus

This way: Pajama Party

Los Angeles area, California, USA band that featured a pre-teen singer named Venus DeBaun. Her mother, Patty Bondage, played bass and her father, Henree Herd, played keyboards. The parents and another member were also part of the band Stingers. Not the right record cover, but this song is a smash hit! 

[Spotify]  Pajama Party

“We're the Noiz Boiz”, Noiz Boiz

This way: Were the Noiz Boiz

Here is some kind of perfection. "That was the Noiz Boiz, and they certainly are." John Peel, 1981. Noiz Boiz 15 minutes of fame lasted just 3 minutes 34 seconds, but even such a brief mention from the great man was a huge achievement for a Weston band. Noiz Boiz were formed in 1981 by Julian Gutsell and Mark Chapman after Negative Earth split. They were joined by Andy Upstone on drums and Ian Foster on bass. The track Noiz Boiz was written at their first rehearsal and, with no small amount of bravado, the decision to record it was made there and then. The single was released as a limited edition run of 500 copies on Caveman records in late 1981. It sold well but the unsold copies propped up manager Chas Taviner's bed well into the naughties. Eventually Chas sold them on to a dealer who in turn sold them (with a repackaged Mod cover) to Japanese punks. Always a great live band, Noiz Boiz gigged extensively around the West Country over the next few years building a loyal fan base. A number of line-up changes saw Negative Earth bassist Paul (Tank) Griffiths replace Ian Foster and Geoff Crofts join the band on keyboards. In Noiz Boiz final incarnation Jim Reynolds replaced Mark Chapman as singer. Since 1997 Noiz Boiz have turned up on a number of compilation CDs, including Raw And Rare British Punk Volume 3, proving that if you're noisy enough people will always want to listen.

We're the Noiz Boiz[Spotify] 

“I Hate My School”, Redd Kross

This way:  I Hate My School

Fantastic band! Redd Kross is an American alternative rock/punk rock band from Hawthorne, California, who had their roots in 1978 in a punk rock band called the Tourists, which was started by brothers Jeff and Steve McDonald while Steve was still in middle school. With the addition of friends Greg Hetson and John Stielow on drums, the band's first gig was opening for Black Flag. 

[Spotify]   I Hate My School

“I Don't Want to Hold You”, David Microwave

This way: I Don't Want to Hold You

David Microwave founder of Los Microwaves with Meg Brazil and Todd Rosa — were a San Francisco trio in which synthesizers predominated. Although they issued 45s as early as 1979, their debut album came out in 1981, by which time leader David had done a five-song, 12-inch EP on his own, using musicians outside his band. 

This track was included on the compilation Rodney on the Roq vol. 1. Which was legendary. Featuring Adolescents, Circle Jerks, UXA.

[Spotify]  I Don't Want to Hold You

“I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass”, Nick Lowe

This way: I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass

Nick Lowe (born 24 March 1949) is a British singer-songwriter, musician and producer. A noted figure in power pop and new wave, Lowe has recorded a string of well-reviewed solo albums. Along with vocals, Lowe plays guitar, bass guitar, piano and harmonica. 

He is best known for the songs "Cruel to Be Kind" (a US Top 40 single) and "I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass" (a top 10 UK hit), as well as his production work with Elvis Costello, Graham Parker, and others. Lowe also wrote "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding", a hit for Costello. He lives in Brentford, London, England. Jesus of Cool is the solo debut album by British singer-songwriter Nick Lowe. Produced by Lowe, it was released in March 1978 by Radar Records in the UK.

In the United States, the album was reconfigured by Columbia Records and retitled Pure Pop for Now People, a slogan that had appeared on the original UK album cover, with Columbia opting for a different track listing: "Shake and Pop" was replaced with "They Called It Rock," a slightly different version of the song by Lowe's other band Rockpile, which had been included as a single-sided bonus 45 in the original UK album

[Spotify]  I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass

“Girls Talk”, Dave Edmonds

This way: Girls Talk

David Edmunds (born 15 April 1944) is a Welsh singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. 

His own solo LP from 1975, Subtle as a Flying Mallet, was similar in style. The Brinsley Schwarz connection brought about a collaboration with Nick Lowe starting with this album, and in 1976 they formed the group Rockpile, with Billy Bremner and Terry Williams. Because Edmunds and Lowe signed to different record labels that year, they could not record as Rockpile until 1980, but many of their solo LPs (such as Lowe's Labour of Lust and Edmunds' own Repeat When Necessary) were group recordings. Edmunds had more UK hits during this time, including Elvis Costello's "Girls Talk", Nick Lowe's "I Knew the Bride", Hank DeVito's "Queen of Hearts" (later a larger, international hit for American country-rock singer Juice Newton), Graham Parker's "Crawling from the Wreckage", and Melvin Endsley's "Singing the Blues" (originally a 1956 US Country No. 1 hit for Marty Robbins, then a US pop No. 1 cover for Guy Mitchell, and a UK No. 1 for both Mitchell and Tommy Steele). The album Repeat When Necessary received a Silver Certification from the British Phonographic Industry on 20 March 1980 (for over 60,000 copies sold in the UK). The single "Girls Talk" also received a Silver Certificate from the BPI.

[Spotify]  Girls Talk

“Teenage Kicks”, The Undertones

This way: Teenage Kicks”

Get ready for another does of absolute perfection. The Undertones are a rock band formed in Derry, Northern Ireland in 1974. From 1975 to 1983, the Undertones consisted of Feargal Sharkey (vocals), John O'Neill (rhythm guitar, vocals), Damian O'Neill (lead guitar, vocals), Michael Bradley (bass, vocals) and Billy Doherty (drums). Much of the earlier Undertones material drew influence from punk rock and new wave; the Undertones also incorporated elements of rock, glam rock and post-punk into material released after 1979, before citing soul and Motown as the influence for the material released upon their final album. The Undertones released thirteen singles and four studio albums between 1978 and 1983 before Sharkey announced his intention to leave the band in May 1983, citing musical differences as the reason for the break up. 

Despite the backdrop of the Troubles in Derry and across Northern Ireland, the vast majority (though not all) of the material the Undertones released focused not upon the political climate, but upon issues such as adolescence, teenage angst and heartbreak.

[Spotify]  Teenage Kicks”

John Peel (the great British DJ) had written that, apart from his name, all he wanted on his gravestone were the words, "Teenage dreams, so hard to beat", from the lyrics of "Teenage Kicks". A headstone featuring the lyrics and the Liver Bird from his favourite football team, Liverpool FC, was placed at his grave in 2008. Peel's body was buried in the graveyard of St Andrew's Church in Great Finborough, Suffolk.

“Bored Teenagers”, The Adverts

This way: Bored Teenagers

The Adverts were an English punk band who formed in 1976 and broke up in late 1979. They were one of the first punk bands to enjoy chart success in the UK; their 1977 single "Gary Gilmore's Eyes" reached No. 18 in the UK Singles Chart. The band was formed in 1976 by T.V. Smith (Tim Smith) and Gaye Advert (Gaye Black). Smith was from the town of Okehampton in mid-Devon, and Advert was from Bideford, a small coastal town in North Devon. After relocating to London, the two young punks recruited guitarist Howard Pickup (Boak) and drummer Laurie Driver (Muscat), and the Adverts were born. 

 

The Roxy, London's first live punk venue, played a crucial role in the Adverts’ early career. They were one of the pioneering bands who played at the club during its first 100 days. The Adverts played at the club no less than nine times between January and April 1977.

[Spotify]  Bored Teenagers

“Harmony in My Head”, Buzzcocks

This way: Harmony in My Head

This way (maybe better): Harmony in My Head

Is there a better band? There is no better band. This is one of my all time favorite songs from the perfect LP (not near perfect, actually perfect) Singles Going Steady, every song a gem. From the original DIY band who put out 'Spiral Scratch' all on their own without any label. 

Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Bolton, England in 1976 by singer-songwriter-guitarist Pete Shelley and singer-songwriter Howard Devoto. They are regarded as a seminal influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement, punk rock, power pop, and pop punk. They achieved commercial success with singles that fused pop craftsmanship with rapid-fire punk energy. These singles were collected on Singles Going Steady, an acclaimed compilation album described by critic Ned Raggett as a "punk masterpiece". Devoto left the band in 1977, after which Pete Shelley became the principal singer-songwriter. Steve Diggle, the guitarist and co-founder of the band wrote and sings this song.

[Spotify]  Harmony in My Head

“You Push, I'll Go”, Baby Dayliner

This way: You Push, I'll Go

Baby Dayliner (AKA Ethan Marunas) is a musical recording and performing artist from and based out of New York City. He was born and raised in New York City, and went to Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, also known as the high school from the 1980 film Fame. He attended St. John's College in Annapolis, MD and Santa Fe, NM. After varying roles in different bands, Marunas decided to take the stage as a solo act. He became deft at synths, samplers, and recording, and began crafting songs that would be performed under the Baby Dayliner name.

Baby Dayliner has released two albums on Brassland Records. He was signed to the label as The National's favorite live performer in New York City. Marunas has opened for a variety of musical acts including Scissor Sisters, The National, and Trans Am. According to Uncut magazine, Baby Dayliner is "a retro romo romp through a New York ghost world that is neither the drainpipe-and-denim sweat pile of CBGBs nor the mirrorball glitz of Studio 54 but somewhere in between." 

[Spotify]  You Push, I'll Go

“Summer Babe”, Pavement

This way: Summer Babe

Pavement is an American indie rock band that formed in Stockton, California, in 1989. For most of their career, the group consisted of Stephen Malkmus (vocals and guitar), Scott Kannberg (guitar and vocals), Mark Ibold (bass), Steve West (drums) and Bob Nastanovich (percussion and vocals). Initially conceived as a recording project, the band at first avoided press or live performances, while attracting considerable underground attention with their early releases. Gradually evolving into a more polished band, Pavement recorded five full-length albums and ten EPs over the course of their decade-long career, though they disbanded with some acrimony in 1999 as the members moved on to other projects. In 2010, they undertook a well-received reunion tour, with another reunion tour across Europe and the United States scheduled for 2022.

Though only briefly brushing the mainstream with the single "Cut Your Hair" in 1994, Pavement was a successful indie rock band. Rather than signing with a major label as many of their 1980s forebears had done, they remained signed to independent labels throughout their career and have often been described as one of the most influential bands to emerge from the American underground in the '90s. 

[Spotify]  Summer Babe

“Ox Driver”, Modern Folk Quartet

This way: Ox Driver

This may be a terrible song, apologies. Typically I only post songs that are north of really good. But there is something charming here. The Modern Folk Quartet (or "MFQ") was an American folk music revival group that formed in the early 1960s. Originally emphasizing acoustic instruments and group harmonies, they performed extensively and recorded two albums. In 1965, as the Modern Folk Quintet, they ventured into electric folk rock and recorded with producers Phil Spector and Jack Nitzsche. Although MFQ received a fair amount of exposure, their rock-oriented recordings failed to capture their sound or generate enough interest and they disbanded in 1966. Subsequently, MFQ re-formed several times and made further recordings. 

[Spotify]  Ox Driver

“Ya Mama”, Fatboy Slim

This way: Ya Mama

Fatboy Slim, is an English musician, DJ and record producer who helped to popularise the big beat genre in the 1990s. In the 1980s, Cook was the bassist for the Hull-based indie rock band the Housemartins, who achieved a UK number-one single with their a cappella cover of "Caravan of Love". After the Housemartins split, Cook formed the electronic band Beats International in Brighton, who produced the number-one single "Dub Be Good to Me". He then played in Freak Power, Pizzaman, and the Mighty Dub Katz with moderate success. 

In 1996, Cook adopted the name Fatboy Slim and released Better Living Through Chemistry to critical acclaim. Follow-up albums You've Come a Long Way, Baby, Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars, and Palookaville, as well as singles such as "The Rockafeller Skank", "Praise You", "Right Here, Right Now", "Weapon of Choice", and "Wonderful Night", achieved commercial and critical success. In 2008, Cook formed the Brighton Port Authority, a collaborative effort with a number of other established artists including David Byrne. He has been responsible for successful remixes for Cornershop, the Beastie Boys, A Tribe Called Quest, Groove Armada, and Wildchild.

Despite not releasing a new studio album since 2004, Cook has been musically active with touring and made a concept album Here Lies Love with Byrne in 2010. Cook holds the Guinness World Record for most top-40 hits under different names. As a solo act, he has won nine MTV Video Music Awards and two Brit Awards. 

[Spotify]  Ya Mama

“Voldemort Under My Headscarf”, Lady Parts

This way: Voldemort Under My Headscarf

If you have not seen this terrific show you are really missing out. Great show on Peacock network: 'We Are Lady Parts'. It is a British television sitcom created, written, and directed by Nida Manzoor. The series follows an eponymous British punk rock band which consists entirely of Muslim women.

After airing as a pilot in 2018 on Channel 4, it was commissioned for a six-episode series which premiered 20 May 2021. The show has been nominated for awards including two prizes at the Gotham Awards and a Rose d’Or award. In addition, it was reported in November 2021 that creator Nida Manzoor is to receive the Rose D'Or Emerging Talent Award following her work on the show. 

[Spotify]  Voldemort Under My Headscarf

“Single Again”, The Fiery Furnaces

This way: Single Again

The Fiery Furnaces are an American indie rock band, formed in 2000 in Brooklyn, New York. The band's primary members are Matthew and Eleanor Friedberger. The siblings are originally from Oak Park, Illinois, a near-western suburb of Chicago. They are known for their ambitious, highly conceptual releases, which have frequently divided critical opinion.

In May 2011, the band entered a nine-year hiatus, with both Matthew and Eleanor pursuing solo careers. In February 2020, it was announced that The Fiery Furnaces would reunite to play at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic the event was canceled. It was later revealed that the band signed to Jack White's Third Man Records label.  

[Spotify]  Single Again

“Jazz on the Autobahn”, Felice Brothers

This way: Jazz on the Autobahn

The Felice Brothers are an American folk rock/country rock band from New York. The Felice Brothers got their start as a band playing in the New York City subway. They lived in a little apartment in Brooklyn and would play in the subway stations at 42nd Street and Union Square and in Greenwich Village. The three brothers originally hail from Palenville, New York in the Catskill Mountains. Now they tour the country, traveling in their "Short Bus". Their 2006 self-released debut album was Through These Reins and Gone followed by Tonight at the Arizona released in 2007 through Loose. Through These Reins and Gone made it onto Radio Woodstock WDST's top 25 albums of 2006. About their album Adventures of the Felice Brothers Vol. 1 James Felice said, "We put one record out on an English label (Loose), and we've released all the other stuff ourselves" (on their label 'New York Pro'). The Felice Brothers have played at Levon Helm's Midnight Ramble in Woodstock, New York and also toured with Bright Eyes in the fall of 2007.

[Spotify]  Jazz on the Autobahn 

“Cliff”, Wednesday

This way: Cliff

Wednesday is a band from Asheville, North Carolina. But apparently there was a band in the seventies with that name. Please google it before choosing monikers. The band consists of vocalist Karly Hartzman, guitarist Jake Lenderman, lap steel player Xandy Chelmis, bassist Margo Schultz, and drummer Alan Miller.   

[Spotify]  Cliff

“Big City”, Spaceman 3

This way: Big City

Spacemen 3 were an English neo-psychedelia band, formed in 1982 in Rugby, Warwickshire, by Peter Kember and Jason Pierce, known respectively under their pseudonyms Sonic Boom and J Spaceman. Their music is known for its brand of "minimalistic psychedelia". Spacemen 3 had their first independent chart hits in 1987, gaining a cult following, and going on to have greater success towards the end of the decade. However, they disbanded shortly afterwards, releasing their final studio album post-split in 1991 after an acrimonious parting of ways.

They gained a reputation as a 'drug band' due to the members' drug-taking habits and Kember's candid interviews and outspoken opinions on recreational drug use. Kember and Pierce were the only members common to all line-ups of the band. Pierce has enjoyed considerable success with his subsequent project Spiritualized.

[Spotify]  Big City