I haven't written one of these "fond remembrance" type entries lately, having skipped all of 1995.  But, after going through the albums I'd acquired in 1996, my sophomore year in art school, I thought a couple releases would be worth addressing.  Others not so much, but I'll address them anyway. NOFX – Heavy Petting Zoo I first saw NOFX at the Trocadero the year Heavy Petting Zoo was released, the farm-animal-as-fuck-puppet theme of the album further explored via blow-up sheep, ("There's even a hole for your cock!", as I remember singer/bassist Fat Mike excitedly putting it), being volleyed and bounced throughout the audience.  And of course there was the raunchy banner of the greasy-haired 1950s looking dude on the cover in a 69 with a sheep acting as a backdrop for the band's performance.  At the time, sure it was funny.  Now?  Eh, whatever. I can't deny that NOFX was actually a solid live band and that those shows were a lot...

Kaada/Patton : "Immodium" (via Rarely Unable/YouTube) Dälek : "Guaranteed Struggle" (via Rarely Unable/Vimeo) Dälek - Guaranteed Struggle (OFFICIAL VIDEO) from deadverse recordings on Vimeo . So Pitted : "feed me" (via Sub Pop/Live Nation TV/YouTube) Gorod : "Inner Alchemy" (via Earsplit PR/ MetalSucks /YouTube) Kyson : "You" (via Friends of Friends/YouTube) Hooded Fang : "A Final Hello" (via Force Field PR/ Under The Radar /YouTube) Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Today, the world lost the essential component to the most essential rock group: Photo from The Beatles Rarity . Sir George Martin has passed away at the age of 90.  He was the visionary producer who'd signed The Beatles to Parlophone Records , and acted as the band's chief collaborator, arranger, and producer.  His remarkable ear and brilliance as a composer enabled him to act as The Beatles' guide through their well-documented evolution as artists and songwriters, the vast knowledge and understanding of the studio he possessed critical to the development of what are some of the greatest albums ever recorded.  To him, we owe many, many thanks. Here's a clip of Sir Martin talking about the making of "Strawberry Fields Forever:" As fascinating as he is when describing his process and how he and The Beatles were able to achieve what were, for their time, very innovative feats in sound through experimentation and educated trickery, the work itself re...

So Pitted neo Sub Pop Released: 2.19.16 No Ripcord review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Suzisuzi is a wildly aggro Japanese metal act comprised of ex-members of the bands Yellow Machinegun and Abnormals .  Apparently 7 years in the making, Suzisuzi is releasing its debut LP this week, Scream Addict .  I would rate the band's title track, which you can sample below, alongside Naked City and Boredoms in terms of its sideways, jazz-infused concept and Cripple Bastards for presentation, i.e. its calculated, relentless and thoroughly battering incursions of scream and beat. Scream Addict will be out on CD and digitally March 11th via Pure Evil .  The single, information on the release, and links were supplied by the always excellent people at Us/Them Group.  Japanese punk-metal band Suzisuzi premiere first track from forthcoming debut Dual female vocalists, ex-members of Yellow Machinegun, Abnormals Japanese punk-metal quartet SUZISUZI (featuring ex-Yellow Machinegun and Abnormals members) premiere the title track from their forthcoming d...

Mayflower Madame : "Weightless" (via Big Mouth Publicity/YouTube) Tacocat : "I Hate the Weekend" (via Hardly Art/YouTube) Lake Ruth : "The Inconsolable Jean-Claude" (via Lake Ruth/ The Great Pop Supplement /Soundcloud) Yardsss : " Granfalloons II" (via Us-Them Group/ SELF Group /Soundcloud) Jerkagram : "Cloud Builder" (via Us-Them Group/ Noisey /YouTube) TOMBS : "V" (via Relapse Records/YouTube) Rangda : "The Sin Eaters" (via Rarely Unable PR/ Drag City /YouTube) Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

I'm finally on board with something Neutral Milk Hotel related . Dietrich & Barnes is the work of John Dieterich ( Deerhoof ) and Jeremy Barnes (the aforementioned Neutral Milk Hotel and A Hawk & a Hacksaw ).  A new single from the duo's upcoming LP, The Coral Casino, was just issued today called "Out and About." It's a jovial experiment, a combination of Samba-inspired rhythms met with a hyper melody and repetition akin to a group like Can . Listen below: The Coral Casino is scheduled to release via LM Duplication on May 6th.  The track and info were provided by Kinsman and Meng. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead