bemisbrain. bb 123/124 / 18 tracks / nov 1981

UK: ? / ?

RI: bemisbrain/enigma. 70106-1 / 1985 (??)

RI (CD): time bomb. / 18 tracks / 1998

First US version has a red sleeve, UK version has a grey sleeve, US reissue has a green sleeve & different labels. US CD reissue goes back to the red sleeve.

In 1981, Los Angeles was home to some of the best punk and hardcore bands in the world; so it’s no wonder that a compilation from that year turns out to be a classic. Tons of great music, even though several tracks have been released before. Most bands play rough melodic west coast hardcore punk, and there’s a few goth punk songs, too. Highlights are 45 Grave, Social Distortion, Rhino 39, but most of the others are cool, too. [8]

Genialer Los-Angeles-Sampler von ’81, als in LA noch ein Sound gepflegt wurde, der zwar das poppige West-Coast-Feeling hatte, aber im Gegensatz zur SF-Scene rauher und weniger ’artsy’ war. Nur sehr wenige Ausfälle, die meisten Bands bringen coolen HC, hart, aber melodisch und eingängig. Einige Songs sind schon veröffentlicht, trotzdem eine tolle Zusammenstellung mit guten Songs von 45 Grave, Social Distortion, Rhino 39 usw. Lohnt sich.

Tracks: 45 Grave - evil / concerned citizen / 45 grave / Christian Death - dogs / 100 Flowers - reject yourself / Rhino 39 - marry it / Super Heroines - death on the elevator / enbalmed love // Social Distortion - lude boy / telling them / Legal Weapon - daddy’s gone mad / Red Cross - puss’n’boots / Modern Warfare - out of my head / street fightin’ man / Secret Hate - deception / new routine - suicide / Conservatives - suburban bitch / just cuz - nervous