Dirtnap   Page 2

Sugar Stems

Only Come Out At Night

Dirtnap

***BETSY, JON, STEPH and DREW are back with their third and finest album—and this time they're joined by ANDY HARRIS (ex GOODNIGHT LOVING) on organ! Only Come Out At Night is the second SUGAR STEMS album to be released on Dirtnap and follows last year's wonderful and warmly received Can't Wait. Sugar Stems are still the best power pop band going today, and again the band has delivered a beautifully crafted and immaculately produced collection of songs. Continuing in the direction of Can't Wait, this album finds Betsy's songwriting reaching new levels of sophistication and maturity. And with the added dimension of keyboards, the band's sound is fuller and richer than ever.

Steve Adamyk Band

Dial Tone

Dirtnap

***Ottawa’s STEVE ADAMYK BAND returns with their 4th LP (released barely a year since the last one), Dial Tone, and it’s their best yet! For this release, SAB travelled to Oakland, CA to record with MATTHEW MELTON of Warm Soda/Bare Wires fame. Melton grew up in Memphis and that influence definitely shows on Dial Tone. While still plenty fast and catchy, Dial Tone shows the band dialing (ha!)  back a little on the break-neck punk/pop tempos of previous releases, with increasing nods to classic rock n’ roll form. If 2011’s Forever Won’t Wait was their “pop” album, and 2013’s Third was their “punk” album, let’s call this one their “garage” rock masterpiece! Features guest appearances from Matthew Melton and the PRIMITIVE HEARTS DANIELLE AGNEW.

Estranged

S/t

Dirtnap

***THE ESTRANGED return with their 3rd (4th, if you count the Singles Comp LP) album for Dirtnap! The Estranged formed in Portland, OR back in the summer of ‘06 by MARK HERMAN (vocals, guitar), DEREK WILLMAN (bass) and KEITH TESTERMAN (drums). All 3 were in legendary Portland band REMAINS OF THE DAY, and various members are/were in notable Portland bands such as FROM ASHES RISE, HELLSHOCK, LEBENDEN TOTEN and more. Continuing in the band’s tradition of mutating and evolving with each subsequent release, the new album is an epic, sprawling masterpiece of tense, ominous angst-ridden postpunk. The influences on their newest album range from the Cure to Echo & the Bunnymen to The Troggs. Lyrically, they have more of an ambiguous angst ridden approach, musically showing the bands continued maturity in their song writing and recording process. The first pressing of 1,000 LPs are packaged in ultra-heavy “tip-on” style jacket and inner sleeves. Subsequent pressings will come in regular jacket/sleeves. All copies come with download coupon.

Sonic Avenues

Mistakes

Dirtnap

***Having delivered the quintessential powerpop/punk album in 2012's Dirtnap released burner Television Youth, Montreal's SONIC AVENUES take it to another level on their third LP Mistakes. Building on their signature melodic style, the Aves return with an evolved and considerably more varied effort that resulted from dropping all preconceived notions of how a "punk" record should sound. The band made a concerted effort to not repeat itself, and it shows. While no doubt teeming with energy and hooks, Mistakes eases off the light speed tempos of previous releases and shows greater sophistication in both songwriting and production. Self-produced by the band in singer MAX’s apartment, Mistakes was written over a period of 7 months and produced in less than three. Mixing together songs dark, bright, short, and long, this release really finds the band coming into its own and claiming a distinct niche within the contemporary pop/punk pantheon. Fans of previous Sonic Avenues efforts will discover treats both familiar ("Waiting For A Change") and completely unexpected ("Better Days To Come") on this album - by far the band's best to date!

Neighborhood Brats

Total Dementia

Dirtnap

***NEIGHBORHOOD BRATS are back with a one-off 7” for Dirtnap, and it’s a scorcher! This is a US pressing of a recent limited-to-300 tour 7” that had previously only been available on the Neighborhood Brats’ Fall 2013 European tour. Led by crazed frontwoman JENNY ANGELILLO and guitarist GEORGE RAGER, and recently relocated to Los Angeles from San Francisco, the Neighborhood Brats are joined on this record by the new rhythm section of TOMMY BRANCH and RICHIE CARDENAS. The new lineup tears through 3 originals (The title track is actually a re-worked version of the b-side of the ROOFIE AND THE NIGHTSTALKER’s lone 7”, Jenny and George’s short lived pre-Neighborhood Brats project.) and a Go-Go’s cover, all to ferocious effect. Neighborhood Brats are one of our very favorite current bands, and we are beyond excited to release this EP! All copies come with download coupon.

Autistic Youth

Nonage

Dirtnap

***Reigning from the burbs of Portland in late 2003, AUTISTIC YOUTH has spent the past 10 years touring and releasing records in North America and Europe. After almost three years since their last full length record, Autistic Youth is releasing their junior LP. Drawing from both classic and obscure influences, Nonage is more refined, yet remains true to the sound they've had for so many years. Nonage was recorded and produced by Autistic Youth, ADAM BECKER and MATTHEW MORGAN at Red Lantern studios in Portland, OR this past winter. AY's upcoming West Coast tour with Freedom Club begins in November with a European tour to follow in February. LPs come in a gatefold sleeve with download coupon.

Radioactivity

S/t

Dirtnap

***BACK IN PRINT!!! Note new price. RADIOACTIVITY is a continuation of THE NOVICE, JEFF BURKE’s band while living in Japan. Jeff has since moved back to Texas, and out of respect to the Japanese lineup of the band, has changed the name to Radioactivity. Some of these songs are re-purposed Novice tracks, while others are brand new. Jeff is one of the most distinctive songwriters in the punk rock underground, and these songs will sound instantly familiar to any fans of THE MARKED MEN or POTENTIAL JOHNS. Band members include Jeff Burke, MARK RYAN and GREGORY RUTHERFORD, whose credits read like an all-star lineup of Texas punk and garage rock royalty, including members of The Marked Men, MIND SPIDERS, BAD SPORTS, WAX MUSEUMS, THE REDS, VIDEO and The Novice.

Mind Spiders

Inhumanistic

Dirtnap

***MIND SPIDERS are back with their 3rd album in 3 years! Featuring a streamlined lineup of MARK RYAN on vox/guitar/synth, MIKE THRONEBERRY on drums, DANIEL FRIED on bass, PETER SALISBURY on synth, Inhumanistic finds the band going in a slightly more stripped down direction than previous efforts. The album was written while messing around with different drum machines, and while there is live drumming as well, drum machines play a prominent role as well, which is partly why the record is called Inhumanistic.  The recording is very tight, direct, and almost claustrophobic. Influences for this record include Devo's Freedom Of Choice, Wall Of Voodoo and old horror movies (the song “Electric Things” is about the movie From Beyond, for example). Inhumantistic is Mind Spiders catchiest, most direct and rockin' (although they also slow it down a couple times, to great affect!) release yet! We've been cranking out Mark Ryan related releases for almost a decade now, and have no plans to slow down anytime soon!

Bad Sports

Bras

Dirtnap

***Denton/Austin's BAD SPORTS are back with their third album—and second on Dirtnap! Produced by the Marked Men's MARK RYAN and JEFF BURKE, Bras is a major departure from the '77 pop/punk feel of 2011's terrific Kings of the Weekend. This time the band brings a tougher, harder-edged sound and takes on a wider variety of musical styles. While still very much in the classic vein of Texan garage/punk, Bad Sports are also bringing to mind the heyday of New York City punk. With hints of Dead Boys snarl, Dictators thump, and even some artier Lou Reed/Television leanings, this record finds the trio refining its songwriting chops and rocking harder than ever. The album's got a little bit of everything—from booming Cheap Trick style power pop to straight-up catchy garage punk to grimy proto-punk not far removed from ORVILLE’s other band OBN IIIs. And while Bras builds on the foundation of previous records, quite frankly it blows away anything else the band has done to date. Scorching tracks like "Washed Up" and "Race To The Bottom" beg to be played at obnoxiously loud volumes, while "Nothing In This World" might be the best pop song you hear this year. Elsewhere, "Get You" and "Terrible Place" manage to satisfy the fan base even as they push the band's sound to the next level. Lots of bands pay lip service to the idea of duplicating the energy of their live shows on record. Bad Sports have gone out and done it! Turn it...

Missing Monuments

Missing Monuments

Dirtnap

***If you still think of MISSING MONUMENTS as a KING LOUIE project, you're a few years behind the times! The band began in New Orleans in 2009 when Louie (ROYAL PENDLETONS, PURSUADERS, KAJUN SS, etc.) and his guitar slinging pal JULIEN FRIEND recruited drummer AARON HILL and bassist BENNETT BARTLEY. A 7" on Douchemaster Records and tours of the Midwest, the West Coast, and Europe followed soon after. BENNY DIVINE (WIZZARD SLEEVE) replaced Bartley on bass shortly after the release of the band's debut album Painted White in June 2011. With its lineup solidified and a rougher sound cultivated, the band was just starting to hit its stride. Last year's superb "(I'm Gonna) Love You Back To Life" EP on HoZac was a brief taste of what Missing Monuments were capable of, and now the band truly delivers the goods on its sizzling second LP. The words "power pop" always seem to come up whenever Louie Bankston is involved, and not without good reason. But that's just one element of many in what proves to be a righteous mix of sounds. Missing Monuments play gritty rock n' roll with a distinctly Southern flavor—blending in hints of pop, garage, soul, oldies, and even hard rock. Missing Monuments have the chops and the songs that cannot be beat. And lyrically and vocally, this is some of the most passionate and personal material Louie has turned out in years. If "I Don't Share" and "Heart and Soul" fail to leave you stunned, you...

Novice

What You Want

Dirtnap

***Dirtnap Records is excited to present the first and last release from JEFF BURKE’s (MARKED MEN, POTENTIAL JOHNS) band in Japan. THE NOVICE was based in Mito, Japan and were active between April 2010 and August 2012. Members included TAKAHIRO HASHIMOTO and ISAO FUJITA, who have both played in numerous punk bands and SEIKO HARADA, whose first band was The Novice. Recorded with FUMITO YAMAZAKI from YOUR PEST BAND in April (?) 2012 and JIMBO KAWAMATA from FIRESTARTER designed the cover. Jeff Burke is one of the most distinctive singer/songwriters in punk today, and this single will be instantly recognizable to anyone familiar with his work. Short, choppy, fast, catchy buzzsaw pop, with the perfect balance of melody and grit. One time only pressing of 1,000, all copies come with download coupon.

Youthbitch

I’m In Love With Girls

Dirtnap

***YOUTHBITCH is a four piece based out of Portland, OR, but made up of transplants from Illinois, St Louis, and Idaho. Their second LP, Don't Fuck This Up, came out on Jonny Cat Records in August 2012. The Willamette Week called it 'the best local document of such a sound since the Exploding Hearts’ Guitar Romantic, and it deserves a vaunted spot next to Gentleman Jesse’s self-titled debut in taxonomies of contemporary classics. Now they're back with 3 of their best songs yet, a heterosexuality-affirming hit on the A-side, backed with 2 of their trademark wired-up geeky garage/pop jams on the flip!

Sugar Stems

Can’t Wait

Dirtnap

***“If you looked up ‘pop’ in the dictionary, I'm pretty sure you'd be referred directly to the SUGAR STEMS. Formed in Milwaukee in 2007, this band has been delighting power pop fans for several years with its shamelessly sweet melodies and upbeat, impossibly catchy songs. And if there's one person on earth who was born to sing hook-driven feelgood pop of this magnitude, it would be the talented BETSy HEIBLER. With ties to both classic power pop and the phenomenal early 2000s Wisconsin punk scene, the Sugar Stems bring plenty of power to go with their dizzying sugar rush of pop. Hear one song, and immediately you'll be wondering: ‘Why is this band not huge?!’ Includes a download.

Steve Adamyk Band

Third

Dirtnap

***BOOM! Canada's Capital City veteran punks THE STEVE ADAMYK are back at it again, unleashing their third album, aptly titled, Third. The last two years have taken SAB on tour in Europe (twice), to SXSW (twice), Awesome Fest, Sled Island and beyond. Late 2011 saw the first line-up change, bringing DAVE FORCIER of PREGNANCY SCARES to the kit, along with SEB GODIN of SONIC AVENUES on bass into the mix, keeping DAVE WILLIAMS active in the band with studio endeavors. The formula is the same as always; bringing a punk edge to classic power-pop, with help from a strong modern garage influence. You could call it aggressive pop-punk, keeping it tight and far from over-produced. The formula is simple - no one is trying to re-invent the wheel. With that said, they're staying clear of cheese and cliches. Third is the band's most solidified recording to date. Don't miss them coming to your town in 2013!

Low Culture

Screens

Dirtnap

***Scrappy, melodic garagepunk from Las Cruces, NM, featuring members of THE MARKED MEN and SHANG-A-LANG. In late 2011, when it was clear that Shang-A-Lang was coming to an end, CHRIS asked SAM and CADE (of TOTAL JOCK) if they wanted to start a new band. LOW CULTURE practiced a few times as a three-piece, but a few weeks later JOE (Marked Men/Shang-A-Lang) moved back to Las Cruces and joined the band. Low Culture’s first show was in early November 2011 was at Shang-A-Lang’s last show and the band's been moving full steam ahead ever since. With a few short regional trips and a tour of the Northeast and Canada with Iron Chic in support of their debut 7" under their belt, they're showing no signs of slowing down. A European tour is in the works for March of 2013 as well as many US dates as their work schedules will allow. Low Culture plays catchy garage punk that while not far removed from some of the members' previous projects, Shang-A-Lang, has a lot less emphasis on riffs and blown out recordings, and more emphasis on melody and crisp (while not necessarily “over-produced”) recordings. Produced by MARK RYAN (Marked Men/Mind Spiders) in Fort Worth, mastered by DAVE WILLIAMS (Crusades, Steve Adamyk Band) in Ottawa. This is their debut LP, with the promise of more to come.

Big Eyes / Mean Jeans

Mean Jeans / Big Eyes

Dirtnap

***Fresh off a joint West Coast tour, two of our favorite bands proceed to team up for a split 7". We probably should have put this out BEFORE the tour, but whatever! One new original song from each band, plus they each cover a song from the other band as well. We're psyched to finally be releasing something from BIG EYES, and we've released many things from MEAN JEANS, with more on the way in 2013! If I know both of these bands, look for much touring in the near future! All copies come with download coupon.

Legendary Wings

Making Paper Roses

Dirtnap

***“It happens very rarely (like a couple of times over the course of 120 releases) that we here at Dirtnap get a random CDR demo in the mail, pop it in, listen to it a couple of times, and then slap our fist down on the counter and say ‘fuck it, we'll put that out!’ And that's just what happened in the case of Kalamzoo, MI's LEGENDARY WINGS. Unsolicited demos are largely a lousy way to round up new bands for the label, but once in a blue moon you get one that's just THAT good. Musically, the apple that is Legendary Wings doesn't fall TOO far from the tree that is Dirtnap Records, (think caffeiniated, raw, fast pop), but they are also unmistakably, instantly identifiable as originating from the Midwest. Potential Johns meets Gaunt? Scared Of Chaka if they were from Minneapolis? Denton with jangle? Their mix of caffeinated instrumentation, and overly sensitive lyrics will make you melt if the mood is right.”

Occult Detective Club / Something Fierce

Something Fierce / Occult Detective Club

Dirtnap

***“Dirtnap Records returns to our favorite regional talent pool (TEXAS!) to unleash this limited edition split 10" (only the 2nd in Dirtnap history) released to commemorate SOMETHING FIERCE and OCCULT DETECTIVE CLUB’s joint 2012 tour! Something Fierce (Houston, TX), one of the leading lights on the label's current roster, return with their 3rd release for Dirtnap. 3 more catchy, addictive, well-written, well-played mid-tempo punk/pop jams. If there is one thing you can count on with Something Fierce, it's that they don't make the same record twice. And while the songs here are not a million miles removed from last year's Don't Be So Cruel LP, it would seem like they are moving away from some of their more obvious ‘77-79 era punk influences, and rapidly adopting a more distinctive songwriting style. Occult Detective Club (Denton, TX) started as a one man recording project, and has morphed into a full band lineup, with past and present members of MAASTER GAIDEN, ANS, STYMIE, and lots more. We're borrowing them from Alive/Bomp Records (who put out their stunning Crimes LP a couple of years ago) for this release, but they fit right in on our roster as well, and are a prime example of "that Denton sound" circa 2012. Fast, choppy, nervous riffs. Super catchy, short-but-well-thought-out-songs with good lyrics. This record is a one time only pressing of 1000 and comes with a download card. Look for an all-new Something Fierce LP on Dirtnap in 2013.”

White Wires

WWIII

Dirtnap

***Here it is, the 3rd album from Ottawa Ontario's WHITE WIRES, and it's their best one yet! We're not just saying that, either! Much like other recent Dirtnap releases like Mean Jeans On Mars, and Something Fierce's Don't Be So Cruel, WWWIII finds an older, more established band turning in a slightly more "mature" album. They've turned down the irony and turned up the sincerity. Gone (for the most part) are the stupid (in the best possible sense) built-in-punchline party songs that were all over their first 2 albums. In their place is confident, heart-felt pop that's just about the catchiest thing you've ever heard. This is a rock solid album that really hits a stride as it goes along. One thing we've always admired about this band is how each of their albums are very distinct from one another, but are unmistakably, undeniably The White Wires. The first record was the "garage" album, the 2nd was the "punk" album, this one is the pop masterpiece. Get ready.

Guantanamo Baywatch

Chest Crawl

Dirtnap

***The second album (first for Dirtnap) of sexy, sleazy, reverb'd out slime from GUANTANAMO BAYWATCH. Guantanamo Baywatch was started by JASON POWELL and CHEVELLE WISEMAN in Portland about 4 years ago to an immediately enthusiastic reception, released a very well received and now out-of-print LP on Portland's awesome Hovercraft Records, as well as a couple of EP's/tapes. The band really came into it's own, though, in late 2010, with the addition of CHRIS MICHAEL (also in BOOM!) on drums. Technically they joined the Dirtnap roster in June 2011, but they took their time recording their debut for the label, done mostly at home by the band themselves. Chest Crawl sees the band working more vocal numbers into the mix, incorporating the usual surf/garage suspects (Cramps, Trashmen), more obscure ‘50s rock n' roll/RNB wildmen, as well as slightly heavier nods toward the young-oldies sound being popularized today by bands such as Hunx, Shannon And The Clams, Nobunny, etc. Wildly popular in Portland, and not afraid to tour, Guantanamo Baywatch are gonna be all over the place in 2012, starting with a two week tour with frequent bill-mates The Mean Jeans in March, followed by a solid summer of touring following the release of Chest Crawl.

Mean Jeans

On Mars

Dirtnap

***Portland's premier party punks THE MEAN JEANS return with their long-awaited follow up to 2009's Are You Serious! This is a different album, though, more mid-tempo catchier, and poppier (but less "pop punk" if you know what we mean) than their debut. In addition to the standard 3 piece instrumentation, Mean Jeans On Mars also features, at various times, acoustic guitar (!), keyboards (!), drum machines (!), empty Jaeger bottles (!) and boxes of macaroni (!) played as extra percussion. Oh and it also features the debut of new member JR. JEANS on bass! (Howie Doodat is busy tearing up Portland in the Suicide Notes!) This is a fantastic, exhilarating summertime pop album, so down a couple of jaegy bombs and get ready to moonwalk into the unknown with the Mean Jeans!

Sonic Avenues

Television Youth

Dirtnap

***SONIC AVENUES are just four Montreal kids who started riffing punk tunes in 2006, but since getting swept up in the booming punk epicentre of neighbouring Ottawa, they've been catapulted into the ranks of the best pop-punk acts in Canada! After releasing a few singles, SA dropped a bomb in late 2009 with their debut LP on Ottawa's infamous Going Gaga Records. Within a few short months, the record had sold-out twice, including a European repress by Germany's fine Taken By Surprise and Sabotage Records. Two years later, after obliterating eardrums from stages across North America and Europe, they returned home to record a crushing follow-up, Television Youth for Portland-based label Dirtnap Records. Featuring more of the over-driven guitars, infectious harmonized melodies and blazing 2-3 minute songs that powered their debut, SA have nonetheless pushed the limits into new territories with this latest offering. In short, Television Youth is punkier, poppier, louder and dirtier than anything they've done before. Armed with this devastating new arsenal, as well as ambitious touring plans spanning the (un)civilized world, SONIC AVENUES are sure to keep fists in the air and beers a-flyin' for years to come.

Mind Spiders

Meltdown

Dirtnap

***Received a 7.7 rating from Pitchfork. The Second album from MARK RYAN’s (MARKED MEN, HIGH TENSION WIRES) MIND SPIDERS, and it's a Meltdown, alright. This is a very different beast from the s/t Mind Spiders LP released just 13 months ago. The most obvious difference is that while the s/t LP was recorded piecemeal, with Mark more-or-less playing all the instruments, Meltdown is the first Mind Spiders recordings to feature the full live band. And what a band it is: members of THE BAD SPORTS, High Tension Wires, Marked Men, UPTOWN BUMS, etc etc. The fact that there are two drummers (MIKE from the Marked Men and GREG from The High Tension Wires both play drums at the same time) gives alot of these songs a rhythmic complexity that sets the songs apart from a lot of other "garagey" type bands. Loosely organized like the first LP, with the more straightforward, rocking stuff on side A and the weird curveball stuff on side B, Meltdown, while remarkably cohesive, blends a lot of different elements: Great sounding guitar tones. Happy, warm organ. Mean, buzzing synth. 60's pop sensibilities. Snotty garage rockers. Dark, brooding postpunk. Weirdo sci-fi soundtrack stuff. Nods to Krautrock.

Little Cuts

Plastic Disaster

Dirtnap

***DAVE HERNANDEZ of legendary garage punk band SCARED OF CHAKA formed LITTLE CUTS in Seattle during a break from touring duties with indie rockers THE SHINS in '08. His years with The Shins left him anxious for a return to the louder and more chaotic leanings of his earlier bands. ANDREW CHURCH was the obvious choice for wingman in the group. Having previously played and recorded with Hernandez in power rock outfit BROADCAST OBLIVION, he filled bass duties handily when not working with his other great band THE COPS. CURTIS JAMES of OLD HAUNTS had met Hernandez mid tour in the early ‘90s when he'd drummed for Olympia band EXCUSE 17, and it was total random coincidence that had him tattooing at a shop next door to Hazelwood, Church's bar in Seattle. He completed the three piece, and they set about recording a handful of CDRs that were passed around town, and played a handful of shows as well as releasing a single for Bag of Hammers. This new 7-inch was recorded by LARS FINBERG.

Steve Adamyk Band

Forever Won’t Wait

Dirtnap

***THE STEVE ADAMYK BAND are a bunch of obnoxious, rowdy, "kids" from Ottawa, Ontario. While the name would automatically draw comparison to a blues, jazz or rock band given the layout, make no mistake; the Steve Adamyk Band are a punk band. The SAB play trash-pop inspired by seventies punk, the skinny tie bands of the eighties, and nineties garage rock. From the ashes of MILLION DOLLAR MARXISTS (Gearhead Records) and SEDATIVES (Deranged Records), the group was born out of necessity—a whack load of orphan songs with no band to call home. Frustrated playing in bands that would eventually call it quits, Adamyk formed a band that could have an endless timeline, even if the name is outside of the standard band name zone. Releasing two European singles before their first live performance, the SAB would go on to unload 4 seven inch singles and an LP in 2010. The self-titled LP in question sold out its initial pressing in three months and received rave reviews. The following year, the SAB toured Europe, performed at SXSW and recorded their sophomore LP Forever Won't Wait. More touring and releases are currently in the works for 2012, as it doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon.

Bad Sports

Kings of the Weekend

Dirtnap

***Back in print on vinyl!!! BAD SPORTS were formed in 2007 in Denton, Texas by ORVILLE NEELEY, DANIEL FRIED and GREGORY RUTHERFORD, who came from a variety of different bands in the North Texas area. Their debut self titled full length was released in late 2009 on Douchemaster Records following a string of singles, and showed the band's songwriting mature into a more refined pop territory without losing their edge. The group's energetic live shows (inclduing a show-stopping performance at Dirtnap Records' 2011 SXSW Showcase) have won over audiences across the US, as well as helped gain them notoriety as one of the best live acts in the nation. Prolific to a fault, Bad Sports members currently also play in the HIGH TENSION WIRES, OBN IIIs, the live incarnation of MIND SPIDERS, WICCANS, VIDEO and many more. Kings Of The Weekend, the band's debut for Dirtnap Records, picks up right where the last one left off, showing a penchant for highly developed pop songwriting skills mixed with the speedy garage punk/pop sound of their first LP. A great recording by MARK RYAN of The Mind Spiders/Marked Men fame really compliments the band's sound, making this one of our absolute faves of 2011, as well as the 4th LP in a row Dirtnap has released by Texas bands.

Career Suicide

Cherry Beach

Dirtnap

***A long time in the making, this 7-inch is the proper release of a UK/Northern Ireland tour-only single released by CAREER SUICIDE in 2008. Re-recorded versions of two of the three songs (Sadly, the Cuby and the Blizzards cover has been lost to the sands of time!) on the tour 7-inch appear here, along with two brand new scorchers heard for the first time. The cover art is brand new as well, featuring kick-ass cartoon inspired graphics from DAVE NEESON, as well as an 11”x17” double sided poster/insert and download coupon.

Something Fierce

Don’t Be So Cruel

Dirtnap

***The third album and proper Dirtnap debut from Houston, TX upstarts SOMETHING FIERCE. If the group’s There Are No Answers perfected the Marked Men-meets-The-Buzzcocks brand of snappy poppy punk they’d been working on since their inception in 2005, Don't Be So Cruel finds 'em rapidly expanding outwards from that sound. While undeniably influenced by various strands of ‘70s punk, this record is slightly more subtle and sophisticated than mere ‘77-revivalists would have it. Slightly nuanced, almost understated at times, vapid party-punk this is most definitely not. Thoughtful, well written, well played songs that strike a perfect balance between fun and smart.

High Tension Wires

Welcome New Machine

Dirtnap

***The third album from Dirtnap Records North Texas super-group! The current lineup of HIGH TENSION WIRES features MIKE WIEBE (RIVERBOAT GAMBLERS), MARK RYAN (MARKED MEN, MIND SPIDERS), CHRIS PULLIAM (THE REDS), plus DANIEL FRIED and GREG RUTHERFORD (both of the just-signed-to-Dirtnap THE BAD SPORTS, the live incarnation of The Mind Spiders). High Tension Wires originally started as an on-again-off-again recording project. Welcome New Machine is a perfect synthesis of their previous two albums. Rocks as hard as Send A Message, while incorporating the nuances they began developing on Midnight Cashier. A fair amount of ground is covered here, from the Marked Men's trademark choppy pop sound to straightforward punk, to darker-edged postpunk, some new-wavey bits, and an absolutely stunning Teengenerate-style garagepunk ripper sung by Mark Ryan, all capped off by Mike Wiebe's seemingly endless font of unusual, interesting lyrics.

White Wires

Wwii

Dirtnap

***“Ottawa, Ontario is exploding with good bands, easily one of our favorite musical hotbeds in North America at the moment, and we here at Dirtnap knew we had to get in on the action, before the action got in on us. What better way to start than with THE WHITE WIRES WWII, a sun-soaked garage-pop gem that will satisfy anyone's sweet tooth. Simple, spare, haunting, instantly memorable pop songs that’ll leave you glad to be alive. White Wires refers to WWII as the band’s “Dirtnap” album, in that it’s a little more “punk” and a little less “garage” than their debut. The tones are a little brighter, the tempos a little faster, the songs a little catchier than WWI.”

Autistic Youth

Idle Minds

Dirtnap

***Long awaited second album from hardworking PDX youngsters, following up their classic Landmine Beach LP, as well as singles on Black Water, Rock Bottom, Taken By Surprise, and more. Driving, melodic punk / hardcore (but NOT "melodic hardcore" if ya get the distinction) with dark, swirling undercurrents. Catchy but not at all vapid. Sounding like a cross between Portland, Southern California, and Copenhagen, you could compare this to bands like Observers / Red Dons, No Hope For The Kids, Articles Of Faith, Reagan Youth, The Wipers, Adolecscents, etc. Co-release with Dirtnap / Black Water in the US and Taken By Surprise / Sabotage in Europe.

Estranged

Subliminal Man

Dirtnap

***Dirtnap Records is proud to bring you the second album from Portland dark-punk kings! Past and present members of Portland hardcore mainstays such as REMAINS OF THE DAY, HELLSHOCK, WARCRY, LEBENDEN TOTEN, and others pull a 180 and dish out ten tracks of icy, ominous post-punk. Since their last release, THE ESTRANGED have dialed back the explicit aggression of their early singles a bit, and dialed up the textured, atmospheric, layered sounds of prime ‘80s deathrock / post-punk. A little less US influence, a little more UK, a little less Wipers, a little more Cure / Chameleons UK / Joy Division, etc. The Subliminal Man was painstakingly, impeccably recorded at Type Foundry Studios in Portland and features eight new ones, a re-recording of "Statue In A Room" (originally released as a split 7-inch with Autistic Youth) and a rather stunning cover of The Flys' 1978 classic "Love And A Molotov Cocktail." You need this. LP includes a download coupon.

Goodnight Loving

Goodnight Loving Supper Club

Dirtnap

***BACK IN STOCK!!! GOODNIGHT LOVING have become a Milwaukee institution, but unlike Laverne and Shirley or Pabst Blue Ribbon, they're still here adding to their legend. The Goodnight Loving Supper Club is another milestone in that legend, expanding on their already classic sound of country-and folk-laced rock ‘n roll by forging headlong into psychedelia, surf, spaghetti western, and anything else exotic enough to send your neurons into an electrified dance of pop induced pleasure. With this their new album, GOODNIGHT LOVING follow in the footsteps of The Great American Rock & Roll Bands (ie. CCR, The Hawks, Crazy Horse, Big Star, The Replacements et al.), re-imagining the conventions of our native rock n' roll in a way that's both fresh and timeless. The Goodnight Loving Supper Club is the band’s first recording as a four piece, yet the sonic landscape they paint is more lush and nuanced than ever. Like all great bands around for more than an album or two, they're maturing and pioneering, effortlessly weaving in ideas from unlikely sources to color their songs in ways that seem strange at first, but then obvious upon reflection. This is immediately apparent from the moment the needle drops, moving brusquely between ‘60s British invasion-style psychedelia and twangy folk melancholy, to jangly barnstormers and songs of dark, bittersweet paranoia effortlessly and naturally. Along the album's path we are treated to brief forays into tragic ‘50s pop à la Del Shannon, Ennio Morricone on Mars instrumentals, nods to Roger Miller, and sugary,...

Mean Jeans

Are You Serious

Dirtnap

***THE MEAN JEANS are the kids that live down the street that blare the Ramones and the Angry Samoans late at night while they are playing "Edward 40s Hands." They have three things in their refrigerator: ketchup, beer and slime. The Mean Jeans were born when, at the ripe ages of 23 and 24, JEANS WILDER (skins, vox and smokes) and BILLY JEANS (vox, riffs and spliffs) started playing their parent's DC-area basements in the winter of 2006. They grew another member, HOWIE DOODAT (aka JEAN JEANS on the bass guitar), after moving to Portland, Oregon a year later. The thirteen garage pop tunes of Are You Serious harkens back to the Lookout! Records of the early ‘90s, when pop-punk meant snotty low-brow three-chord goodness and not glossy soundtracks to mall strolls. Like any good Cretin’s soundtrack, the "songs about partying" vs. "songs about girls" ratio leans fully toward PBR fueled pogo punk. Pitchfork already said The Mean Jeans "comes over like the Ramones mixed with a pinch of Joan Jett’s classic ‘Bad Reputation’ and makes you want to slam dance with its guitar riffs and rollicking drumbeats."

Goodnight Loving

Nothing Conquers Us

Dirtnap

***“Soulful, energetic alt-country / garage / Americana / whatever from hard-touring, crazy-prolific basement Milwaukee punk kids. Inventive songwriting with a depth and diversity of influence that belies these guys' relatively young ages. Two new songs from one of our very favorite bands in the current American underground. Seriously, we listen to at least one (often more) of their three albums just about every day here at Dirtnap HQ. We've wanted to do something with this band for years, but the stars have never aligned until just now. One of the most underrated bands we can think of, these guys really should be huge.”—Ken (Dirtnap)

Marked Men

Fix My Brain

Dirtnap

***BACK IN STOCK!!! Note new price. "Reissue of the third MARKED MEN LP, which shows the band's pop sensibilities in full bloom. Not only are the Marked Men one of our very favorite bands of the ‘00s, but at this point we'd put 'em up there as one of Texas' great musical exports. Originally issued on Swami Records in 2006, this release put the Marked Men on many people's radar, and remains some folks' favorite to this day. Unfortunately, this thing has been unavailable for quite some time (especially the vinyl), so we thought we'd do you a favor and make this available once again. You can thank us later. And if you think we're done milking the Marked Men thing now, you, my friend, are sadly mistaken. Look for several more MM related titles coming out in 2010, including a new High Tension Wires LP, Potential Johns 7-inch (yes, it's really coming out), and a 7-inch from Mark Ryan's new project, which doesn't have a name yet, but rules."—Ken (Dirtnap)

Raydios

Now

Dirtnap

***“Our first release from a Japanese band, and we couldn't really ask for a better one than this. For those not in the know, THE RAYDIOS is FINK from the legendary TEENGENERATE and current member of FIRESTARTER. This is their 2nd album, coming about 10 years (!) after their Demo LP on Screaming Apple. The CD version of Now is released by Japan's Mangrove Records last year (and is being distributed by Dirtnap in the USA), and is just now seeing the light of day on vinyl. It's been remastered for vinyl and remixed by Fink himself, and sounds GREAT. Musically this is no frills, crunchy, mid tempo rock n roll. Less trashy than Teengenerate, but not quite as ‘pop’ as Firestarter, this is kinda a middle ground between the two. Total dream release for Dirtnap. Pinch us.”

Marked Men

Ghosts

Dirtnap

***VINYL BACK IN PRINT!!! Note price increase. The fourth full-length album from THE MARKED MEN. Blurring the rawness and velocity of their self-titled debut with the slightly more developed songwriting "chops" of the last two, the Marked Men have truly delivered the best of both worlds. Since their debut album came out on Rip Off in 2002 (reissued in 2008 on Dirtnap!), the Marked Men have established themselves as one of the best, most distinctive, compelling, and instantly recognizable punk bands of the 2000's.

Minds

Plastic Girls

Dirtnap

Cripples

Dirty Heads

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