I’ve kind of shied away from the Minutemen in recent months. Not by conscious choice, but by the inevitable interferences of everyday life. Same can be said for a lot of the old standbys, actually. Sleep. Extra time. My sanity. Anyway, this is the back sleeve cover to Minutemen’s 1983 EP, Buzz or Howl Under the Influence of Heat. If you’ve ever felt like a gringo, you should check it out (track 6).
Tag Archives: Minutemen
Watt Are You Talking About?
“I never gave a damn about the meterman, ’til I was the man, who had the read the meters, man.” – Mike Watt
Tie
3-Way Tie (For Last) was the final album released by San Pedro legends, Minutemen. Frontman D. Boon would tragically lose his life in a car accident almost immediately after 3-Way‘s release. One of this energetic guitarist’s last work of art was the painting used for the cover. A bit sad, all around, and kind of a departure from their previous albums, 3-Way features a handful of covers (CCR, Meat Puppets) that neatly pay tribute to this Southern California band’s early influences. Like with all Minutemen releases, 3-Way Tie (For Last) is essential listening material. RIP D. Boon.
Spot On
I had no idea until today that Spot produced The Decendent’s Milo Goes to College. Makes sense, as Milo was first released on New Alliance Records, a label owned by Minutemen D. Boon and Mike Watt. The more you know, I guess.
Volume II
Over the weekend I paid $8 for this SST Records comp, The Blasting Concept Volume II, which, adjusted for inflation is only $0.30 more than the original $3.49 suggested retail price, or in this case, the special list price. So, that’s something. Also, as a proud owner of The Blasting Concept Volume I, I can’t wait to spin this Minutemen, Saccharine Trust, Black Flag, Husker Du, Meat Puppets, comp as soon as the day job allows. This minimalist cover is hilarious, when compared to the mildly disturbing Raymond Pettibon cover for Volume 1. I’ll just leave it at that.
Buzz or Howl
I just remembered the time I sold all my laser discs to afford a camping trip up the coast… anyway, Minutemen’s Buzz or Howl Under the Influence of Heat (1983 for those keeping score), is by far, in my humble opinion, the rawest non-single release from the San Pedro trio. Considered an EP, she contains 9 tracks, chief among them Little Man with a Gun in His Hand and I Felt Like a Gringo. There really is no bad place to start when it comes to this genre-bending troop, but if I had to pick, I’d say leave the 45-track Double Nickles on the Dime for a later adventure, and pick up Buzz or Howl.
‘Nuff Said
The Burning Brothel.
Saturday
When left to my own devices… the current from Whiskey River is a calming and reassuring vehicle. Here are, in order, my spins for this Saturday before Jaws Day. Drink responsibly, or carry a life vest.
Willie Nelson – Red Headed Stranger
George Thorogood & the Destroyers – More George Thorogood & the Destroyers
George Thorogood & the Destroyers – One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer (single track)
The Zombies – Odessey and Oracle (side B)
Minutemen – The Punch Line
Willie Nelson – Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain (single track x2)
The Statler Brothers – The Best of the Statler Brothers
The Night Marchers – Allez! Allez! (side A)
Tim Hardin – This is Tim Hardin (mono)d
Underworld – MMM Skyscraper, I Love You
I’m a proprietor of the thought that wading in the pool of nostalgia is a worthy and substantial endeavour.
Read What You Listen To
I’m excited for these newly (ish) released 33 1/3 titles from Bloomsbury Publishing! Adding to the handpicked selects from this amazing series that already includes The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society, Paul’s Boutique, Double Nickels on the Dime, People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, and 20 Jazz Funk Greats (to name a few), is Dead Kennedys’ debut, Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables, and Koji Kondo’s Super Mario Bros. Soundtrack. I can honestly say, I’m not sure which title I’m more excited for. These books are quick and entertaining reads, and with over 108 titles on albums by a diverse collection of bands (from Serge Gainsbourg to Joy Division), you’re certainly bound to find something that tickles your learning fancy. Here’s the checklist. Have a look, and get reading!
504
So, for this coffin I’m about to open, this is where I stand… the Ramones are NOT, in my humble opinion, punk. Were they influential monarchs of the mid-70’s rock-crowd-extravaganza? Yes. Grandfathers of punk? (Fuck) no. Proto-punk? YeAH! Where does Death factor into this equation? If the Ramones are, globally considered punk, than Death, without a doubt should also be included into the fold. Disagree? That’s your right, but you’re wrong. 🙂
Wistful Negligence
This is what I get for leaving the house this morning and forgetting to snap a photo for today’s post… no photo for today’s post. With the Faith No More show tonight, I likely won’t be back home again until the wee-wee hours of tomorrow’s AM, so I’m left to scrounge through the limiting photo library to find something worthy of a few, hurried sentences. I present to you, with wistful negligence, a photo of our collection circa: Wednesday, April 22nd. (Please ignore the antique iMac, but don’t overlook the book, A Wailing of A Town “An Oral History of Early San Pedro Punk and More” 1977 – 1985… essential reading material.)
Anchor… Dragging… Behind
Every-every time I drink this beer, see its label, or hear its reference, I can’t help but think of this song, and this fascinating band… the immensely underrated, Minutemen, and this, their 1983 opus, The Anchor.
A Wailing of a Town
So, Saturday’s show down at Harold’s in Pedro, and the $10 cover, contributed towards the raising of funds for the Craig Ibarra penned, Pedro punk scene inspired book, A Wailing of a Town. “An Oral History of Early San Pedro Punk and More” from 1977 – 1985, this book is highly anticipated by the Prudent Groove, and is suggested throughout the punk, quality, and truth music scene across the globe. Political-minded, Pedro-proud.
world war three
Angst, disguised as power. Paranoia equates conscious oversight. Question everything. Assume nothing. Honor that which moves you.
1979
When you’re sick and tired of the Minutemen (which is an impossibility), check out the band before the band… the Reactionaries. Worthy of the hunt, this EP / LP harnesses the voluptuous ramifications of early Minutemen, but with a modern day influence. Side A is the shit, while side B is a San Pedro area, local musician proud, collective remake of the original, done with deep respect, and unquestionable angst.
I Finally Got My White Whale
It took me far too long to sequester my copy of What Makes A Man Start Fires? “I never gave a damn about the meterman, until I was the man who had to read the meters, man.” – Mike Watt
Watt ‘er Ya Gonna’ Do?
To my dismay, I received a discogs ordered Mike Watt Ball-Hog or Tugboat? double LP with a chopped corner. The seller didn’t list said missing chunk in the item description, and now I don’t even want to look at the thing, let alone listen to it. I’m torn between reselling it (as returning it, I’m finding, is not an option), or begrudgingly keeping it, only to scowl at it every chance it’s in eyesight. I’ve been contemplating this decision all week as it haunts the waiting room of my collection. Oh well, Watt ‘er ya gonna’ do?
Drawings: Raymond Pettibon
I broke the mold of tradition yesterday and removed the shrink wrap that bound my copy of Double Nickels on the Dime, the Minutemen’s timeless magnum opus. It has become habit for me to neatly slice the plastic along the sleeve opening, preserving the virgin cover, back, and in this case, gatefold center.
I’d never owned Double Nickels in any format until I found this reissue, so I was more than amazed when I released the fruits of this gatefold for the very first time. Aside from the usual credits and a collage of action band shots are seven drawing by Raymond Pettibon I’d never seen before. Famous first throughout the Southern California early punk scene, then the world over, Mr. Pettibon’s art ranges from morally exposing to minimalist shock, which, after reading this again, does absolutely no justice to either the style of his characters, or the weight of his foreboding, and ominous messages. His often humorous take on the vulgar details of moral principles (many struggle their whole lives to ignore) raise a sense of loaded guilt that makes you want to go out and punch an elected official in the face, but you know… in a good way.
George Hurley – Back Cover
So often do priceless nuggets of cultural significance go overlooked. Featured, as far as I can tell, ONLY on the back of 1981’s The Punch Line LP (15 mins for 18 songs…), this industrial landscape not only shows promise of conviction, it also showcases the many, astute talents of an already gifted musician, George Hurley (drummer for Minutemen).
Like so many onion-like layers of creative mystique the Minutemen continue to provide, this alternate, artistic expression by one of the world’s best drummers, Mr. George Hurley, was / is good enough for cover art, but for a prolific band such as this, takes sidecar, and settles for a prominent, yet secondary place on the back cover.
No filler did plague the Minutemen. History has converted this opinion into fact.
Been into These Guys Lately
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The Prudent Groove 