Alt rock with a hint of alt country from Canada. - Blogatrix
Tracklist
| 1 | Like A Rock | |
| 2 | Grey City | |
| 3 | Good Dog Nigel | |
| 4 | Edge Of The World | |
| 5 | Foreign Money | |
| 6 | Good Thing | |
| 7 | Play In Motion | |
| 8 | No Way Out | |
| 9 | Crooked Hand Jack | |
| 10 | Roll Me Down | |
| 11 | O'Reilly (Live) | |
| 12 | Bad Luck (Live) |
While Kurt Swinghammer may not have as prominent a profile in the Canadian arts scene as, say, Barenaked Ladies, he has nonetheless made an impact as a musician, technician, and visual artist.
Getting his start in Niagara Falls, Ontario, initial Swinghammer performances in 1978 were definitely more art-school than pop-schooled, incorporating multimedia apparatus such as projectors and televisions, combined with both live and pre-recorded musical numbers. After performing in the Niagara area for several years, with occasional trips into Toronto, Swinghammer finally made the move into Toronto proper in 1984. In addition to recording off-center solo works, Swinghammer performed with a number of bands over the subsequent years, including General Electric, the Lawn, and Vital Sines. He also recorded other artists at his home studio during this time -- including an unknown bike courier by the name of Ron Sexsmith. Frustratingly, even with all of this music under his belt, in musical circles he may have been best known as the person who hand-painted the suits that the Shuffle Demons wore during performances.
Though he'd previously self-released a number of cassettes, it was the 1991 release of the PoMo a GoGo CD that finally brought Swinghammer to a cross-Canada audience, thanks to a distribution deal with Fringe Product. Though he continued to indulge his more artistic side during this time, he also hooked up again with superstar-in-the-making Ron Sexsmith, performing in Sexsmith's band the Uncool, and performing together under the unlikely moniker Sexhammer. The beginning of the '90s also found Swinghammer beginning to compose more often for movies and television programs.
When Swinghammer finally got back into solo performing mode, his choice of subject material was perfectly in line with his artistic sensibilities; Vostok 6 was a concept album dedicated to cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in outer space. Though the album didn't exactly sell by the truckload, it made a fan of Ani DiFranco, who not only gave the album wider release on her own label, but also invited Swinghammer to perform in her live band and on her To the Teeth album. His solo release Black Eyed Sue followed in 2001.
Between solo projects, Swinghammer remains busy with his composition work for the screen and his guest appearances on albums by other Canadian artists (Dan Bryk, Great Big Sea, and Sarah Slean, to name just a few).
Tracklist
| 1 | 6'16'63 | |
| 2 | Blue | |
| 3 | Nocturne | |
| 4 | Of A Dream | |
| 5 | MC Squared | |
| 6 | The First | |
| 7 | Vostok 6 | |
| 8 | White Russians | |
| 9 | Star City | |
| 10 | Mercury | |
| 11 | Cold War | |
| 12 | Dark | |
| 13 | Falling Star | |
| 14 | Retro Rocket | |
| 15 | Valentina | |
| 16 | Seagull | |
| 17 | Dawn |
Alt rock comp on spinART record label - Blogatrix
Tracklist
| 1 | The Apples In Stereo– | What's The Number |
| 2 | The Apples In Stereo– | Shine |
| 3 | Johan (5)– | Everybody Knows |
| 4 | Johan (5)– | He's Not There |
| 5 | Lotion– | Mrs. Mouth |
| 6 | Lotion– | Marijuana Vietnam |
| 7 | Poole– | Glumb |
| 8 | Poole– | No Matter What |
| 9 | Holiday– | All I Want |
| 10 | Holiday– | Hot Carl |
| 11 | The Revelers– | Silver Ship |
| 12 | The Revelers– | Hey, Hey, Hey |
| 13 | Squatweiler– | Visionary |
| 14 | Squatweiler– | Hot for Teacher |
| 15 | Lilys– | Hermit Crab |
| 16 | Throw That Beat In The Garbagecan!– | Cool |
| 17 | Sneetches*– | ...and I'm Thinking |
| 18 | Suddenly, Tammy!– | Lamp |
| 19 | Dambuilders*– | Louisiana |
| 20 | Small Factory– | Come Back Down |
| 21 | Marbles (2)– | Go Marilee |
Pop compilation on Squealer record label - Blogatrix
Tracklist
| A1 | Paste (2)– | Freeing Up The Heat |
| A2 | George Willard– | Smog |
| A3 | Will Simmons– | Most Of The Time |
| B1 | Mag Wheels*– | Short Wave |
| B2 | Loris*– | Shiny Black-Eyed Beauty |
| B3 | Altamont (3)– | Maggot Butch |
US alt rock band comprising Michael Bishop (bass/vocals; ex-GWAR), Tim Harriss (guitar/vocals) and former Honor Role drummer Seth Harris (later replaced by Ed Trask). Formed in the early 90s, they took their name from the pesticide that was manufactured by the Allied Signal Corporation of Hopewell, Virginia, in the 70s, and caused the company’s employees severe neurological damage (this incident was also the subject of a Dead Kennedys song, ‘Kepone Factory’). The band’s deliberate, anthemic rock style was unveiled with the 1994 release of Ugly Dance for Quarterstick Records. A potent collision of punk pop with the distinctive employment of dual lead vocals, it followed on from their excellent 1993 singles, ‘Henry’ and ‘295’. The latter single was released on Jello Biafra’s (ex-Dead Kennedys) Alternative Tentacles Records - supplying ample evidence of Kepone’s original inspiration. Skin and Kepone were further slices of the band’s endearingly offbeat alternative rock.
Tracklist
| This Side | |||
| A | 295 | ||
| Bat Side | |||
| B | Phobic |
Japanese compilation of punk and alt rock. - Blogatrix
Tracklist
| 1 | Two Ball Loo– | Garbage Man |
| 2 | Nicotine (3)– | If You Are Gone Away |
| 3 | Queens Of The Stone Age– | Avon |
| 4 | Wrongside (2)– | Paala |
| 5 | Flatus– | I Think It’s Time |
| 6 | No End Way*– | The Moment Is Everything To Me |
| 7 | Mustard Plug– | Not Giving In |
| 8 | Never Good Enough– | Time Is Money |
| 9 | Scared Of Chaka– | Teenage Lust |
| 10 | Indian-Hi– | Okinawa Justice |
| 11 | Guttermouth– | Hit Machine |
| 12 | Uzumaki– | Mask |
| 13 | Mad Caddies– | The Gentleman |
| 14 | Bullshit (5)– | Toki No Arashi |
1990s punk band from Starkville, Mississippi, USA. The band was Steve, Jamie, Jayson, and Marsh.
Sloppy punk rock with fun, comedic lyrics from small town Mississippi. - Blogatrix
Tracklist
| A1 | Punk Rock Hero | |
| A2 | Same Ol' Shit | |
| B1 | Everyday | |
| B2 | DeNiro |
The Minneapolis-based Love-Cars write lyrically enriched emo-style pop/rock songs as a group rather than as individuals. Formed in 1997, the band consists of frontman James Diers, guitarist Matthew Foust, bassist Alex Gaddis, and drummer David King. Of the four, Diers, a rock writer/editor, tends to get the most attention, mostly for his gripping vocals. The indie rock quartet debuted in 1998 with Chump Lessions, followed by I'm Friends With All Stars in 2000. No Alternative released both albums, but Love-Cars decided to self-release their 2002 album, Thank You for Telling Me What I Already Know.
Highly recommended indie rock, which at times wavers into American Music Club territory. - Blogatrix
Tracklist
| 1 | Somerset | 2:37 | |
| 2 | Hand Over That Rule Book | 2:50 | |
| 3 | Letter Grades | 2:58 | |
| 4 | Lucky You | 3:40 | |
| 5 | Shaping Up To Be | 5:02 | |
| 6 | This Is Progress | 4:01 | |
| 7 | Northwest Orient | 3:31 | |
| 8 | Blue, I Read | 4:00 | |
| 9 | Brite! | 3:15 | |
| 10 | Broken Toes | 7:35 |
Compilation of 33 bands from British Columbia and Ontario, Canada - Blogatrix
Tracklist
| 1 | Kops For Christ– | What Do You Want For Xmas? |
| 2 | Insult To Injury (3)– | Sorehead |
| 3 | Gus (5)– | Dave Del Castilo |
| 4 | Hoofrarump– | Headstone |
| 5 | Ignatz (2)– | Will This Ever End? |
| 6 | Render Useless– | Hardline |
| 7 | Blunderman– | 309 & Beyond |
| 8 | Hudson Mack– | Time Is Your Enemy |
| 9 | Dirty Bird (4)– | Swingback |
| 10 | Black Market Fruits– | Indigenous |
| 11 | Floragore– | Buttermans |
| 12 | Benchwarmer– | Death Of Punk Rock |
| 13 | Mr. Nobody– | Linda's Nightmare |
| 14 | Ache Hour Credo– | Give Fascism A Chance |
| 15 | Nothing To Lose– | Going Nowhere |
| 16 | Wad (4)– | Bad Day |
| 17 | The Uniks– | Sick Boy |
| 18 | Phallocracy– | One Good Reason |
| 19 | Giblet (2)– | Carousel |
| 20 | Enfa/lak– | Metaphorhetoric |
| 21 | Black Kronstadt– | Take Aim |
| 22 | Blowhard– | Beyond Hope |
| 23 | MPA*– | Illiterates/UFO/Butcharts Gardens |
| 24 | Union Of Uranus– | Backhand |
| 25 | Goatboy*– | No To Elections Yes To People's War/She's Not A Fuck |
| 26 | Hockey Teeth– | Don't Belong |
| 27 | Minnow (3)– | Drizzle |
| 28 | Lootbag– | Kill A Cop |
| 29 | M Blanket– | Kid Collision |
| 30 | Whatever (7)– | Astra |
| 31 | Swell Prod.– | Junior |
| 32 | Splatter Boys*– | Pride |
| 33 | Submission Hold– | Cranium Ache |
Bevil Web is one of the many Guided by Voices-related splinter projects. This one features ace songwriter Tobin Sprout and drummer Don Thrasher, both of whom have logged a number of years in the Dayton-based band. In 1995, Sprout and Thrasher contributed three songs to a split 7" release with 3 Dream Bag called Dig Out the Catacombs. The duo has also released a 7" on their own, Minutemen, on the Wabana label. Sprout, in addition to recording semi-prolifically under his own name, has also released records under the name Eyesinweasel. Thrasher is also known as one half of Swearing at Motorists.
3 Dream Bag featured Guided By Voices / Swearing At Motorists / Bevil Web drummer Don Thrasher and bassist Greg Demos. - Blogatrix
Tracklist
| A1 | Bevil Web– | Dig The Catacombs |
| A2 | Bevil Web– | Apple Cores & Plums |
| A3 | Bevil Web– | Gleemer |
| B1 | 3 Dream Bag– | Saline Man |
| B2 | 3 Dream Bag– | Demons Become Doves |
| B3 | 3 Dream Bag– | Bad Rice Stew / Chase & Sanborn |
Hardcore band from Clifton Park (near Troy), New York, USA.
Tracklist
| 1 | Chapter 11 | 3:01 | |
| 2 | Nightfall | 4:26 | |
| 3 | No One | 3:19 | |
| 4 | Words Of Love | 3:13 | |
| 5 | Inferno | 5:23 | |
| 6 | Chained | 3:56 | |
| 7 | Dead Air | 2:36 | |
| 8 | Tubesteak | 0:40 |
'77 style pogo punk band from New York. The band formed around 1991, releasing 3 LPs and a number of 7" EP's along the way. Within a decade they sold over 60,000 records, making them one of the biggest street punk bands on the East Coast.
Tracklist
| 1 | Losing My Brain | 2:26 | |
| 2 | Void | 2:12 | |
| 3 | No One Cares | 1:51 | |
| 4 | Dog | 1:47 | |
| 5 | Watch You Drown | 1:49 | |
| 6 | Burn It Down | 1:57 | |
| 7 | I Don't Wanna Be | 2:05 | |
| 8 | Suburbia | 2:39 | |
| 9 | I Wanna Be A Punk | 2:42 | |
| 10 | Hit And Run | 2:21 | |
| 11 | Up The System | 1:25 | |
| 12 | Gimme Speed | 1:34 | |
| 13 | Drag | 1:44 | |
| 14 | Static | 1:39 | |
| 15 | Crash & Burn | 2:03 |
Punk hardcore compilation on Shakefork Records - Blogatrix
Tracklist
| A1 | Time Out (10)– | Pain Of Remission |
| A2 | Apocalypse Hoboken– | Slack |
| A3 | Target (10)– | What Do You Call It? |
| B1 | Slaphappy (2)– | Gangway |
| B2 | Weedeater (2)– | Limb From Limb |
