Harsh Distractions - Playlist for 12/5/10

Chapterhouse - Breather - Whirlpool
Best Coast - Boyfriend - Crazy For You
The Soft Moon - Phantoms - 7"
Have a Nice Life - Wizard of the Black Hundreds - Time of Land
Cyborg - Cream Queen - Demo
Reckless Agression - Crusties Fear - Demo
Like Rats - Hunger - 7"
Vaccine - Fuck Your Faith - Human Hatred
Vaccine - Rotting Away - Human Hatred
Wiccans - Teenage Cults - Teenage Cults Ep
Sucked Dry - Oedipus - Tour Tape
Omegas - Ravages Of Age - Sonic Order
Tigers Jaw - Smile - Two Worlds
Summer Camp - I Only Have Eyes For You
Ty Segall - My Sunshine - Melted
Snowing - I think we're in Minsk - I Could Do Whatever I Wanted if I Wanted
Death In June - Peaceful Snow - Peaceful Snow / The Maverick Chamber 7"
Whirl - Sandy - Distressor EP
Crime In Stereo - I Cannot Answer You Tonight - I Was Trying To Describe You To Someone

Download

Harsh Distractions Playlist for 11/14/10

Chapterhouse - Breather - Whirlpool
Spells - Oh My - Demo 2010
Spells - The Losing Kind - Demo 2010
Spells - Hopeless & Heartless - Demo 2010
The Fresh & Onlys - Waterfall - Play it Strange
Population - Croatoan - Demo
Fielded - The Mark, My Good Master - Sister Split
EUC - Red Of Deception - The Prey EP
Ty Segall - My Sunshine - Melted
Risk - Tip it Back and Smile - Demo Volume 1
Nails - I Will Not Follow - Unsilent Death
Masshysteri - Vintern - Masshysteri
Manipulation - Secrets - Manipulation EP
CYBORG - Tough Love - Demo
Bad Banana - Green & Red - Crushfield
The 1900s - Tucson - Return of the Century
Coma Cinema - Gentlewoman - Blue Suicide
Sun Airway - Waiting On You - Nocturne Of Exploded Crystal Chandelier
The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Lost Saint - Say No To Love 7"

Download

Harsh Distractions Halloween Episode - 10/31/10

Here is tonight's episode of Harsh Distractions. Happy Halloween everyone!






Vince Guaraldi - The Great Pumpkin Waltz (intro)
Bobby Picket and the Crypt-Kick - Monster Mash
Type O Negative = Black No. 1 (Little Miss Scare-All)
Misfits - Night of the Living Dead
Misfits - Skulls
Misfits - Astro Zombies
Misfits - Teenagers from Mars
Creedence Clearwater Revivial - I put a Spell on You
B-52's - Rock Lobster
Ink and Dagger - The Road to Hell
Misfits - Halloween
Misfits - Children in Heat
Muder City Devils - I Drank the Wine
Cat Power - Werewolf
Los Shains - El Monstruo
The Zombies - Time of the Season
Ramones - Pet Cemetery


Download

Harsh Distractions Playlist - 10/24/10

Tonight was the first episode of Harsh Distractions in our new time slot. The show will now be on every Sunday from 5-6pm CST.

1. Chapterhouse - Breather - Whirlpool (Intro Music)
2. End of a Year - Charles Ewert - You are Beneath Me
3. Title Fight - Dreamcathers - America's Hardcore Compilation
4. RVIVR - Tiny Murders - Dirty Water EP
5. Boilerman - Bright Young Things - Bright Young Things EP
6. OFF! - Upside Down - 1st EP
7. Summer Camp - Was it Worth it? - Young EP
8. Zola Jesus - Sea Talk - Valusia EP
9. Black Math - This Love's Got to Change - Phantom Power
10. †‡† - Simona 6.40
11. Model Worker - Look Away - Squares and Triangles
12. Weekend - Youth Haunts - Sports
13. Minks - Our Ritual - Ophelia
14. The Splinters - Motorcycle - Kick
15. Gayngs - Ride - Relayted
16. Sun Kil Moon - Half Moon Bay - Admiral Fell Promises
17. Slices - Medusa - Cruising


Download

Harsh Distractions - 10/12/10 Playlist

Here is the playlist from tonight's show. Download link is at the bottom of the post.

Chapterhouse – Breather - Whirlpool (intro music)
Population -Waltzing a War - Population Demo
Population - Heaven Can't Help - Population Demo
Superchunk - My Gap Feels Weird - Majesty Shredding
Nomos – Mendicant - Notes From The Acheron [One-Sided 12"]
The Rival Mob - Face to Face with Your Executioner - Hardcore for Hardcore EP
Like Rats – Hunger - 7"
All Pigs Must Die - Die Ignorant - All Pigs Must Die
Sweet Cobra – Matriarch – Mercy
Sweet Cobra – Crusader - Mercy
No Age - Valley Hump Crash - Everything In Between
The Love Language - Summer Dust – Libraries
Wild Nothing - Golden Haze - Golden Haze EP
Owen - Abandoned Bridges - Abandoned Bridges b/w I'm Always in Love
No Joy – Heedless - Ghost Blonde
EUC - Rising Tide - The Prey EP

Download

Harsh Distractions - 10/5/10 Playlist

It's been a while since I've posted a playlist from my show. I apologize for my laziness, but hopefully now I will be able to stay on top of things. Here is the episode from last Tuesday. If you've paid attention to my radio show or this blog you may notice this episode is only 1 hour long. This is a slight test run for the new format of the show, which will go from being 2 hours to 1 and will broadcast on Sunday evenings from 5-6pm CST instead of Tuesdays starting on October 24th. Big changes are on the horizon and the bright side is that bands will soon be performing live on the show again. I'm incredibly excited about that. Download link is posted below for interested parties. If you're in a band and want your stuff played on my show send me an email and we'll go from there.

Chapterhouse - Breather - Whirlpool (intro)
Ty Segall - Imaginary Person - Melted
EUC - Shattered Glass - The Prey EP
Former Ghosts - Winter's Year - New Love
Toro Y Moi - Blessa - Daytrotter Studio 9/14/2010
La Sera - Never Come Around - "Never Come Around" b/w "Behind Your Eyes"
Craft Spells - Party Talk - Party Talk 7"
Marvelous Darlings - Sleeping Like a Dead Man - Sleeping Like a Dead Man EP
Cülo - I Don't Like Today - Military Trend EP
Bad Banana - Celery - Crushfield
Daytrader - Paper Pusher - Demo
Confines - Downward Harmonization - Withdrawn 7"
The Cobblestones - Anytime - Highlight of Superficial Provocation
Four Eyes - Tough Shit - Four Eyes 7"
The Vaselines - Overweight but Over You - Sex With An X
The Verve - No Knock On My Door - A Northern Soul

Download

Murder Weapon - Demo 2002

Murder Weapon were a relatively short-lived NYHC style band from Richmond, VA. They only released this demo and an EP on the now defunct Martyr Records entitled Nervous Wreck. The EP was something of a let down because it seemed to lack some of the intensity and fluidity of this demo. It seemed too calculated or edited, whereas this demo is raw and hard and everything a band like this should be. I used to listen to this on repeat on a boombox in my parents basement. Now I can listen to it on my iPod thanks to the wonders of technology!

Download

Young Moons - Music from the Manor CS

Young Moons is the moniker of Chicago based singer/songwriter MJ Grant. On his first effort, Music from the Manor, Grant brings 4 excellent rootsy, yet jangly acoustic tunes to the table. His voice is intimate and melancholy and lends itself well to the loose bluesy guitar work. This is a perfect listen for a rainy Sunday morning after a long night out. Check it out.

Young Moons - Music from the Manor CS

Pick up the cassette over at Priority Male.

Loose Dudes - Permanent Sex Vacation CS

Permanent Sex Vacation is the raucous follow up to their four song demo. Where the first Loose Dudes recordings had a bit of a polished feel, these songs sound more true to their live show - a raw yet tight blur of aggression and humor that borrows heavily from early 80's west coast punk rock. There are 5 songs on here and each serve as a reminder of why you got into punk in the first place.

Loose Dudes - Permanent Sex Vacation CS

Pick up the tape over at Priority Male.

Joel PPO - Relationship Status CS

On Mother's Day of 2010 members of Running, The Catburglars, The Pagan Blonde, The Plain White T's posted up in a studio and wrote and recorded 4 songs in the span of 4 hours. The result is Joel PPO, a fuzzed out, lo-fi garage punk homage to our brother Joel who went on sabbatical to New York for several months. Lyrics include incriminating details about various friends, inside jokes and generally confusing banter from the mouth of one of the greatest minds of our time, Ben Phillips. However, no one will ever be able to decipher the words because of the layers of static and noise burying the vocals. Check it out and pick up the cassette from Prio Male.

Joel PPO - Relationship Status Cassette

The Alright Alreadies - S/T CS

Right out of the gate, The Alright Alreadies established themselves as an excellent 4 piece, all-girl punk band. Then seemingly as quickly as they began, they rearranged their line up, slowed it down a bit and started borrowing more influence from 60's girl groups and surf-rock than Screeching Weasel. As a fan of their early material, I was skeptical of their shift in direction, but these songs are so catchy and well written it's hard not to get psyched about what they are doing. Maggie and Meg's vocals compliment each other wonderfully to create the layered vocal harmonies necessary for this style of summery garage-pop and the recording is lo-fi and natural without sounding muddled and shitty. Check out this cassette and pick it up from our friends at Priority Male.


The Alright Alreadies - S/T CS

Buy the cassette from my dude at Priority Male

Wound Up - 7" and Unreleased LP

In 2002-2003 I was in a hardcore band with several of my childhood friends called Time to Die. We didn't know how to write music or play very well, but we had a good time practicing and playing shows. We went on a poorly planned tour out to California that resulted in us breaking up while we were in LA. It was inevitable. We only released a demo, no one knew us outside of Chicago and even then, I'm sure a lot of people didn't know or care who we were. It was a bad idea from the get go.

After Time to Die broke up Donny and Matt (the singer and bass player) started a straight forward, 80's style punk/hc band with Tim (the guitar player of Unit Pride), Mark (the drummer of Punch in the Face) and Neal (who currently sings for No Class) called Wound Up. They recorded 3 songs for the Hysteria comp which were later released as a 7" by the mighty Painkiller Records and 7 songs for an LP slated to come out on Manic Ride/Deadalive Records. After recording the LP, Manic Ride folded, the band disbanded shortly thereafter and as such, only a handful of people have these songs. Since they might not ever see a proper release it only seems fair to post them here so anyone can check them out. Wound Up was a great band who unfortunately broke up a bit too soon.

Wound Up - 7" and Unreleased LP

Weekend Nachos - Bleed EP

The other day I woke up to an email from blogger regarding a post on my blog that allegedly infringed upon the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. I took it with a grain of salt and assumed it was justified because even though I try to primarily post out of print and old records, a lot of major labels tend to get upset when you go around sharing records for free even though they let them go out of print. I'm a rational person and I understand these matters from a variety of angles, but if a record isn't even available to purchase anymore and technically out of print (i.e. Hum's Downward is Heavenward), why shouldn't people be able to access it somewhere else?

However, I didn't receive the email about Hum, CNN, Casual or any of the other major label records I've posted in here. Rather, it was about these two Weekend Nachos songs they personally made available via their MySpace and on message boards that I merely reposted. The link on my blog goes directly to the mediafire link they put up prior to the release of Unforgiveable. This was back in April of 2009. Though they didn't (and don't) really need my help promoting their band, they are my friends and I was psyched on the record they were about to release so I posted the two songs and a short interview with John. Though in the grand scheme nothing happened other than blogger setting the post back to "draft" status of which I was easily able to republish, it was still a curious and annoying situation.

With that said, here is their brand new EP Bleed, ripped from the original master copy straight from the band. Don't bother with the other horrible sounding version floating around, this one sounds awesome and heavy as it was intended. 2 songs in 14 minutes complete with drawn out, sprawling, heavy riffs, periodic fast parts and the occasional NYHC groove ala Madball. It's a bit of a departure from everything else they've done, but it's as well thought out and intense as anything they've done.

Buy the record and attend their record release show on July 18th if you live in the Chicago area.

Download

V/A - Summer Goth: For the dark days of Summer.

Inspired by my friend Joel's mix, I figured I'd try my hand at a Summer Goth compilation. Enjoy or not as you see fit.






1. Bauhaus - She's in Parties
2. The Boys Next Door - Somebody's Watching
3. Gene Loves Jezebel - The Immigrant
4. Killing Joke - Complications
5. Have a Nice Life - Hunter
6. Dead Can Dance - The Trial
7. The Cure - Play for Today
8. Siouxsie and the Banshees - Cities in Dust
9. This Mortal Coil - Mr. Somewhere
10. Cocteau Twins - Cicely
11. Zola Jesus - Odessa
12. AA - Suicide Fever
13. Silk Flowers - Flash ofLight
14. Alien Sex Fiend - I'm Her Frankenstein
15. Psychic TV - The Orchids
16. Kate Bush - Cloudbusting

Download

Harsh Distractions Playlist 05/04/10 - Jawbreaker Appreciation Day!

Unfortunately my guest for the evening had to bail at the last minute, but since it's May 4th, the internet has deemed it International Jawbreaker Appreciation Day. Not being one to go against traditions I heard of 12 hours before, I figured it was only appropriate to play a bunch of Jawbreaker songs in celebration. Here is the playlist. Download links are at the bottom.

Chapterhouse - Breather - Whirlpool (intro music)
1. Jawbreaker - Chesterfield King - Bivouac
2. Jawbreaker - Sluttering (May 4th) - 24 Hour Revenge Therapy
3. Jawbreaker - Oyster - Dear You
4. Jawbreaker - Ashtray Monument - 24 Hour Revenge Therapy
5. Jawbreaker - Sea Foam Green - Etc.
6. Jawbreaker - Boxcar - 24 Hour Revenge Therapy
7. Rocketship - I Love You Like the Way that I Used to Do - A Certain Smile, A Certain Sadness
8. Pomegranates - This Land used to be my land, but now I hate this land - Everybody, Come Outside!
9. Shoppers - Demo - Demo I (You Shot Me and I woke up in my Next Life
10. Ova Looven - The Killer Six - Gravity Has Expired
11. Husker Du - New Day Rising - New Day Rising
12. Loomis - Conquistador - You're No Tiger | Meow, Meow, Meow
13. My Best Fiend - Cracking Eggs - Cracking Eggs
14. Shook Ones - Not a Day Goes By - Slaughter of the Insole
15. Sea of Shit - Sea of Shit - Tour Cassingle
16. Leather - Prince of the Salon - Anchorite 7"
17. Total Abuse - 14 Years Old - Mutt
18. New Dad - Quitter - Demo 2009
19. Black Breath - I Am Beyond - Heavy Breathing
20. White Mystery - Aaron - Powerglove 7"
21. Loop - Got to get it Over - Fade Out
22. Smith Westerns - Diamond Boys - S/T
23. Jawbreaker - Kiss the Bottle - Etc
24. Jawbreaker - Tour Song - Bivouac
25. Jawbreaker - Busy - Unfun
26. Jawbreaker - Do You Still Hate Me? - 24 Hour Revenge Therapy

Hour 1
Hour 2

Harsh Distractions Playlist - 4/20/10 w/ Dave Hofer

Last week Dave Hofer came on the show and we took a step back in time a bit to discuss growing up in the 90's punk scene in Chicagoland and played songs from the era. Unfortunately, the computer froze and erased the first 7 songs we played, but here is what was salvaged.


Boris The Sprinkler - She's Got a Lighter - 8 Testicled Pogo Machine/She’s Got a Lighter 7”
Brockmeyers – 202 – Paul - 2006
Brent's TV – Trinidad - V/A - Can of Pork – 1991
Green Day – 80 - Kerplunk! - 1992
Hey Mercedes - Our weekend starts on Wednesday – Every Night Fireworks - 2001
Propagandhi – Showdown - How To Clean Everything - 1993
Screeching Weasel - Slogans – My Brain Hurts - 1991
Digger - Boy Toy Days - Powerbait - 1996
Rhythm Collision - After Hours (Oh Yeah) – Clobberer ! - 1995
All - Million Bucks – Pummel - 1995
Dear Landlord - Goodbye to Oakland – Dream Homes – 2009
NOFX – Bob – White Trash, Two Heebs and a Bean - 1992

Download Hour 1
Download Hour 2

Harsh Distractions Playlist - 3/2/10

The week after Duress played a great set on an otherwise disaster of a show, I was alone in the studio and stuck to playing songs. Here's the playlist.

1. Chapterhouse – Breather - Whirlpool
2. Nails - Unsilent Death - Unsilent Death – 2010
3. Infest - Wheres The Unity? – Slave – 1988
4. Life's Blood - Youth Enrage - Defiance 7" – 1987
5. Guided by Voices - Interest Position - Hold On Hope EP – 2000
6. Knots – Heartbreaker - Heartbreaker b/w Action – 1980
7. No Warning – No Time For You - 2002
8. Monsula - Down Inside – Sanitized – 1992
9. Sleepwall - Since Third Year - 4 Song EP – 2009
10. Best Coast - Wish He Was You - Something In The Way – 2010
11. Piece By Piece - All My Life (I Say Fuck You) - Piece By Piece – 2010
12. Say Goodbye - Anti-Social - Anti-Social 7" – 2003
13. The Dismemberment Plan - The City - Emergency & I – 1999
14. Beat Happening - I've Lost You – Dreamy –
15. Get it Away - Nation of the Damned - S/T 7"
16. Holding On - These Hallowed Halls - Question What You Live For – 2003
17. Koro - Dear Sirs - Koro 7" – 1983
18. Nazi Dust – Fervor - Nazi Dust 7" – 2009
19. Zola Jesus - Devil Take You - The Spoils – 2009
20. White Hinterland - No Logic – Kairos – 2010
21. The Teardrop Explodes - Went Crazy – Kilimanjaro – 1980
22. Blueboy - Always There – Unisex – 1994
23. Lemuria – Hours - The First Collection – 2007
24. Gun Outfit – Like it Is - Dim Light - 2009
25. AA - Suicide Fever - Essential Entertainment – 1981
26. The Legends - Something Strange Will Happen - Over and Over – 2009
27. Closure - The Vomiter - Closure 7" – 2009
28. Sin Orden - Otra Muerte - Arte, Cultura, Y Resistencia – 2009
29. Girl Alliance - Time Heals Nothing – S/T – 2008
30. Letting Up Despite Great Faults - In Steps - Letting Up Despite Great Faults – 2009
31. Wild Nothing - Vultures Like Lovers - Summer Holiday – 2009
32. My Bloody Valentine – Good for You – Unreleased Songs

Download Hour 1
Download Hour 2

*The photo above is a neon Louis Vuitton sign inside the freight elevator of the Fearless building. Why it's there, I don't know.

Harsh Distractions Playlist - 2/16/10 w/ Dan Richardson

Tour manager, artist, budding clothing designer, and across the board mover and shaker Dan Richardson came in to chat play some metal tunes I have little knowledge about back on February 16th. He's had this posted on his blog for weeks, but I'm a much bigger slacker. Here's what we played:

Chapterhouse - Breather - Whirlpool (intro)
1. Trap Them - The Iconflict - Seance Prime
2. Last Rights - Chunks - Chunks 7"
3. Urban Blight - Not Like You - Urban Blight EP
4. Sodom - Code Red - Code Red
5. The Templars - Victim - Omne Datum Optinum
6. Landmine Marathon - Certain Death - Rusted Eyes Awake
7. The Catburglars - King Kong - The Catburglars LP
8. Shrinebuilder - The Architect - Shrinebuilder
9. Criminal Damage - Everything that Bleeds - No Solution
10. Converge - Plagues - No Heroes
11. The Pagan Blonde - Cool Life - Be Free EP
12. Obituary - Immortal Visions - Slowly We Rot
13. Wasted Time - I'm Surrounded by Winners - Wasted Time LP
14. Rot in Hell - Kingdom of Heaven - Hallways of the Always
15. Cannibal Corpse - Hammer Smashed Face - Hammer Smashed Face EP
16. Dead Can Dance - The trial - Dead Can Dance
17. Watain - Storm Of The Anti-Christ - Sworn To The Dark
18. Crime in Stereo - Republica - I was Trying to Describe You to Someone
19. 16 - Me & My Shadow - Bridges To Burn
20. RazorxFade - Turn Your Back - Demo 2010
21. Rival Mob - RCBS - Raw Life
22. Trap Them - Digital Dogs - Sleepwell Deconstructor

Download Hour 1
Download Hour 2

Harsh Distractions Playlist - 3/30/10 w/ Kyle from Fireworks/Smear Campaign

I haven't posted a Harsh Distractions playlist in months and for that, I apologize. Here is the first hour of the episode with my friend Kyle. Like so many instances in the past, the computer lost the second hour. It's very frustrating.

Chapterhouse – Breather - Whirlpool (intro music)
1. Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) - Hounds Of Love - 1985
2. Alkaline Trio - Hell Yes - Hell Yes 7"/Remains
3. Cheap Girls - Hey, Hey, I'm Worn Out - My Roaring 20's
4. Dum Dum Girls - Jail La La - I Will Be - 2010
5. The Animal Upstairs - Fail and Fall - Is Anybody Upstairs - 2010
6. Modern Life is War - Pendulum - Midnight in America
7. Descendents - Thank You - Everything Sucks
8. The Ergs - Books About Miles Davis - Upstairs Downstairs
9. Death in June - The Accidental Protégé - Rose Clouds Of Holocaust - 1995
10. Defiance, Ohio - The List - The Fear, The Fear, The Fear
11. Billy Bragg - The Milkman of Human Kindness - Back to Basics
12. Bad Business - Inside A Dogs Brain - Bad Business - 2004
13. Nomos - Operation Cyclone - Demo Tape
14. Fordirelifesake - We are the Company we Keep - Dance. Pretend. Forget. Defend. (cuts off)

Download

Everyday Gems

Throw this one in your google reader.

Everyday Gems

Spring Skinhead - A Mixtape

1. Criminal Damage - World is Not Enough
2. The Templars - Victim
3. YDL - Skinheads 88
4. Negative Approach - Can't Tell No One
5. Morrissey - The National Front Disco
6. Symarip - Skinhead Girl
7. Faust - The Sad Skinhead
8. Youth Brigade - Moral Majority
9. R'N'R - Your Rules
10. Blitz - Attack
11. Death in June - Symbols of the Sun
12. Christian Death - Romeo's Distress
13. Nazti Skinz - Defending Liberty
14. Rome - Swords to Rust Hearts to Dust
15. The Last Resort - Violence in Our Minds (Singles Version)
16. Unrest - Yes, She is my Skinhead Girl
17. The Ronettes - Do I Love You?

Song selection inspired by and for one of the most interesting and misunderstood youth subcultures, the skinheads. Above photo borrowed with the utmost respect from Alison Kinsey.


Download Spring Skinhead - A Mixtape

Duress - Live on Harsh Distractions - 2/23/10

Last Tuesday Duress came and played live on the show. The show as a whole went poorly, but we got a decent recording of their performance which included some new songs and a cover or two. Check it out and get their 7" when it comes out.

Duress - Live on Harsh Distractions - 2/23/10

* Photo by Ryan Lowry

Boiling Over - Barriers [Cassette]

Chicago's Boiling Over recently announced they are breaking up after playing the remainder of shows they have booked. This is a pretty big loss for Chicago as they are one of the best bands around right now, in my opinion. Fortunately for everyone, they recorded 5 new songs that rank among their best. If you've never heard Boiling Over, they play classic, Boston inspired hardcore, taking cues from bands like SSD, Last Rights, etc. These tracks have a much more gritty, raw feel than the Trash City 7" on LifeLine. Pat sounds even more pissed and the song "Control" might be their hardest yet. So while it's a bummer they are breaking up, at least they are going out at the top of their game. Check it.



Boiling Over - Barriers [Cassette]

The Saturday People/The Clientele Split 7"

Slumberland has a storied history of releasing great indie-pop singles and splits. So, I'm sure the idea of pairing up two fantastic singles bands in The Clientele and The Saturday People must have been a no brainer. After all, the majority of these bands finest output were singles and 7" EP's.

On the A Side is the original single version of "Grace" by The Saturday People. It was re-recorded for their LP, but in my opinion this version is head and shoulders above the later version. This song was my introduction to 'The People and it is one of, if not, THE finest recorded moment of their short tenure. "Grace" is everything a beautiful indie-pop song should be - shimmering guitars with a catchy hook and breathy vocals so delicate it seems like they could break at any moment.

On the flip side is The Clientele's contribution with "Porcelain." While it is not my favorite of their early tracks, it is a fine edition to a nearly flawless singles catalog. It's a moody, dreary track perfect for this time of year when you really want to isolate yourself from the cold, grey weather.

If you like either of these bands, or pop music in general, you need this one.


The Saturday People/The Clientele Split 7"

Omegas - Demo

I was a little late to the game on this one, but this demo is incredible. Omegas are a hardcore/punk band from Montreal that have a great take on frantic, vintage 80's hardcore. The four songs on here are all ragers that bring to mind classics like Bad Brains and Void. They have an EP entitled Sonic Order out on High Anxiety I've yet to hear, but if it continues in the same fashion as this demo then I'm sure it's great.

Omegas - Demo

Harsh Distractions Playlist - 02/09/10 w/ BIRTH

A few weeks ago Josh and Tim from Chicago band Birth came on the show to guest DJ and play some songs of their own. Here's what we played. Hopefully they will be back on the show soon to play a live set. Download links are below.

Download Hour 1

Download Hour 2

Chapterhouse - Breather - Whirlpool (intro music)

1. Oxymoron - Get a Gun - Pack Is Back - 1997
2. Quicksand - Omission - Slip - 1993
3. Rapeman - Dutch Courage - Two Nuns and a Pack Mule - 1988
4. The Abused - No End in Sight - Loud and Clear 7" - 1983
5. The Minutemen - This Ain't No Picnic - Double Nickels on the Dime - 1984
6. Drunkdriver - Ode - Born Pregnant - 2008
7. Birth - Emerging Manhood - Demo
8. Birth - Suits - Demo
9. Washed Out - Feel It All Around - Life of Leisure EP - 2009
10. Whirl - Meaningless Demo 2010
11. Witch - Rip Van Winkle - S/T
12. Secret Mountains - Gate/Gate/Paragate - Kaddish - 2009
13. Outburst - No Choice - Miles To Go EP - 1989
14. Rome - To Die Among Strangers - Flowers From Exile - 2009
15. White Zombie - Diamond Ass - Soul Crusher - 1987
16. The Jesus Lizard - Nub - Goat - 1991
17. The Burbon Knights - Manner Mit Bartes - 2009
18. The Melvins - Nude with Boots - Nude with Boots - 2008
19. Electric Eyes - 1st Track - Demo
20. Huey Lewis - The Heart of Rock n Roll - Sports - 1984
21. Swans - Cop - Cop - 1984
22. Dinosaur Jr - Forget the Swan - Dinosaur - 1985

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Harsh Distractions Playlist 02/02/10

Here is the playlist from 2/2/10. Download links are at the bottom.

1. Chapterhouse - Breather - Whirlpool (Intro)
2. Empire Of The Sun - Walking On A Dream - Walking On A Dream – 2008
3. Like Bats - 3814 Wirth Road - Look on the Bright Side 7” – 2010
4. Veronica Falls - Found Love in a Graveyard - Found Love in a Graveyard 7”- 2010
5. Guided By Voices - Yours To Keep - Bee Thousand - 1994
6. The Saints - No Time - (I'm) Stranded – 1977
7. Implodes - Meadowlands – Demo – 2009
8. Medicine - Miss Drugstore - Shot Forth Self Living – 1992
9. Devotion - My Desert - Bastard Son Of Affluence Blues – 2009
10. Nomos - Pax – Demo – 2009
11. Some Girls - Skull's Old Girlfriends - Heaven's Pregnant Teens – 2006
12. Year Of The Rabbit - I Wanna Be Adored - Hunted EP – 2002
13. Hum - Puppets - Comin' Home 7" – 1998
14. A Place To Bury Strangers – Ocean - To Fix The Gash In Your Head – 2008
15. RazorXFade - Holy Hands - Demo 2010
16. RazorXFade – Choke - Demo 2010
17. Last Lights - The Dream Homes of Insomniacs - Last Lights 7” – 2008
18. Short Ride - Tones of the shark - Cant Keep Us Out - 2010
19. The Isolation - Dancing Away - The Isolation EP – 2009
20. Lungfish - Put Your Halo On - Talking Songs For Walking – 1991
21. Scotia Widows - Good Mosque – Demo – 2009
22. Mother Of Mercy – Demise - No Eden - 2008
23. Nuclear Family - Safety Net - S/T – 2009
24. Gene Loves Jezebel - The Immigrant - Desire 12" EP 1985
25. Teenager - Alone Again – Thirteen – 2007
26. The Boo Radleys - I Feel Nothing - Everything's Alright Forever – 1992
27. Archers of Loaf - Harnessed In Slums - Vee Vee – 1995
28. Sonic Youth – Schizophrenia - Sister – 1986
29. Puerto Rico Flowers - This is Murder - 4 Song 12" – 2010
30. Chronic Sick - Dress Code - Cutest Band In Hardcore - 1982


Hour 1

Hour 2

Japp Gutter - Heaven Dollars (Cassette)

Japp Gutter are a San Francisco/Chicago based noise project featuring Matt from Running Ben from The Pagan Blonde and a few friends. It's a blown out, lo-fi wave of distortion with desperate, buried vocals somewhere within. I'd love to get my hands on the lyrics because I'm sure they are hilarious. Check it out!

Japp Gutter - Heaven Dollars (Cassette)

Buy the cassette from Priority Male Tapes

Harsh Distractions Playlist - 1/26/10

Last week Eric came in and we discussed Nirvana, played some tunes and generally had a great time. Here is what we played. Download links are at the bottom.

Chapterhouse – Breather – Whirlpool (intro music)
1. Nirvana - Anuerysm - Live at Reading Festival
2. Harvey Milk - Barnburner - Life....The Best Game in Town
3. Girl Alliance - Lost – EP
4. The Mighty Lemon Drops - Inside Out - World Without End
5. Fugazi - Repeater - Repeater
6. Whirl - Leave - Demo
7. Megadeth - Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? - Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?
8. Beat Happening – Noise- You Turn Me On
9. Aerosols - God is USA's Terrorist - S/T LP
10. Minor Threat - Look Back and Laugh
11. Cruel Hand - Life In Shambles - Prying Eyes
12. Shark Attack - Foreign Job Lot (Antidote Cover) - Discography
13. No Tolerance - Pay The Cost - Demo 08
14. Nirvana - Very Ape - In Utero
15. Free Spirit - Stand As One - Be Yourself Demo
16. Agnostic Front - Society Sucker - Victim In Pain (Reissue)
17. Radiohead - There There - Hail to the Thief
18. Weed Hounds - Best Friends - Demo [Cassette]
19. Ringworm - No one Dies Alone - Ringworm/Terror Split 7"
20. Tigers Jaw - Meet Me At The Corner - Spirit Desire
21. Black Flag - My War - '82 Demo
22. Iron Lung/Walls/Pig Heart Transplant - Sexless//No Sex
23. Deftones - Knife Party - White Pony

Harsh Distractions Playlist - 1/26/10 Hour 1

Harsh Distractions Playlist - 1/26/10 Hour 2

Harsh Distractions Playlist 01/19/10

Here is the playlist for last weeks episode of Harsh Distractions. Download links are at the bottom.

1. Chapterhouse - Breather - Whirlpool (Intro Music)
2. Parade - Penelope Shoes - A Red Button - 2005
3. The Exploding Hearts - (Making) Teenage Faces – Shattered – 2006
4. Girls in the Eighties - Yesterdays Don't Mean Shit - Teenage Royalty – 2009
5. Kill Your Idols - Hardcore Circa 1999 - Something Started Here – 2007
6. Souls She Said - Sunken City - As Templar Nites – 2006
7. Turn Cold - Shattered - S/T 7"
8. Starflyer 59 - Good Sons - Talking Voice Vs. Singing Voice – 2005
9. In The Red - Red Light - 4 Song Demo - 2004
10. Failure - Enjoy The Silence (Depeche Mode Cover) - Rare/Demos
11. Paleo - Boring Together - May 19, 2006 - Carpet Samples from The Song Diary - 2006
12. Last Priest - Here On The Ground - We All Failed - 2005
13. Descendents - Clean Sheets - Liveage! – 1987
14. Stay Gold - 40 Smith And Wesson - Pills And Advice - 2002
15. Loose Dudes - Black Preacher – Demo – 2009
16. Pale Saints - Under Your Nose - Slow Buildings - 1994
17. Times New Viking - DROP-OUT -Rip it Off - 2008
18. Right Brigade- More Than I've Got - Right Brigade/A Poor Excuse Split 7" - 1999
19. Oxymoron - Bored & Violent - F**k The Nineties...Here's Our Noize! - 2006
20. Knapsack - Less Than - (Don't Forget To) Breathe – 1997
21. Bad Moon Music - Dirty Words - Empire - 2004
22. The Trouble - We Are The Blood - Nobody Laughs Anymore – 1998
23. Seaweed - Thru The Window - Actions And Indications
24. Ringworm - Take Back What's Ours - Birth Is Pain - 2006
25. National Skyline - A Night At The Drugstore - This=Everything – 2001
26. Crooked Fingers - New Drink For The Old Drunk - Crooked Fingers - 2000
27. The Church - The Unguarded Moment - Of Skins And Heart - 1982
28. Alcian Blue - Fall Behind - Years Too Late - 2007
29. Beat!Beat!Beat! - Sinking Slow - Living In The Future - 2006

1/19/10 Hour 1
1/19/10 Hour 2

Whirl - Demo

Whirl are a fantastic new Shoegaze/Dream Pop band from Northern California. I don't know much about them at all, but in the few days I've had this demo, I've listened to it no less than 30 times. As a long time fan of this genre, one of my biggest issues is with some of the recordings. Too often, bands go for a slick, overproduced sound that takes the warmth away from the songs. Two prime examples of this are Slowdive's Just for a Day and the Cocteau Twins' Heaven or Las Vegas. Both have incredible songs, but the production is so bright and full treble I'd rather listen to something else.

Thankfully, Whirl avoids this pitfall by having a warm and inviting recording, perfect for listening to through headphones. There is a sound permeating through the demo that sounds like tape hiss, but rather than being a nuisance, it adds an extra element of texture to the songs as it kind of clips in and out. The first track entitled "Leave" is a beautiful and distant yet blown out wall of sound that definitely takes some cues from Loveless. The haunting indecipherable male/female harmonies bring it together and sound so gorgeous I wish the song was 3 hours long. There are days where I can listen to songs on repeat, and I could spend the rest of this grey Chicago afternoon listening to this track over and over again. "Meaningless" is a bit more of an up-tempo rock song carried by a driving riff and the layered male/female vocals that show the other side of Whirl. With this demo only being two tracks, I'm left wanting more and I'm anxious to hear what else they will bring to the table in the future. If you like shoegaze/dream pop or trust my opinion, give this demo a listen. You won't regret it.


Whirl - Demo

Turn Cold - S/T 7"

Turn Cold was a fairly short lived hardcore band from Brighton, UK that released a demo and a 7" and cd EP on Courage to Care. They played fast, dark hardcore that took more than a few cues from early 2000's Boston hardcore, especially in the imagery and lyrics. As a fan of those bands, Turn Cold always resonated with me, so I was kinda bummed when they called it a day. Singer Nick Worthington now sings for Bridge 9 band Dead Swans who kind of picked up where Turn Cold left off, only heavier and more "pro" sounding.

Turn Cold - S/T 7"

Harsh Distractions Playlist 12/08/09

Goodrich from Iron Rain came in to chat and play some songs from their upcoming 7" into some other songs under the theme of The Fest. Sadly, the first hour was cut off due to a technical problem, but here is the second hour of the show.

1. Iron Rain - Silent Sins - Silent Sins 7"
2. Dillinger 4 - Super Powers Enable Me to Blend in with Machinery - Midwestern Songs of the America's
3. Ty Segall - Standing at the Station - Lemons
4. Drive Like Jehu - New Math - Yank Crime
5. Good Luck - 1,001 Open Hands - Into Lake Griffey
6. Kylesa - Nature's Predators - Static Tensions
7. My Bloody Valentine - Sunny Sundae Smile - Sunny Sundae Smile EP
8. Mudhoney - Hate the Police - Superfuzz Bigmuff Plus Early Singles
9. Off With their Heads - Die Today - Hospital
10. Paint it Black - New Folk Song - New Lexicon
11. Touche Amore - Honest Sleep - ...To the Beat of Dead Horse
12. The Vaselines - Let's Get Ugly - The Way of the Vaselines: A Complete History
13. Real Estate - Fake Blues - Real Estate
14. Iron Rain - Illusion of Truth - Silent Sins 7"
15. Olehole - Ostinato - Holemole

Hour 2

Harsh Distractions Playlist 11/10/09

On 11/10/09 frequent Harsh Distractions guest and contributor Joel B came in and we discussed our favorite fall songs.

Chapterhouse - Breather - Whirlpool (intro music)

1. Boris - Farewell - Pink
2. Slowdive - Alison - Souvlaki
3. Autolux - Audience No. 2 - Audience No. 2
4. Jens Lekman - Pocketful of Money - Oh, You're So Silent Jens
5. The Beatles - She Said She Said - Revolver
6. Built to Spill - LIfe's A Dream - There is no Enemy
7. The Pixies - Here Comes Your Man - Doolittle
8. Sic Alps - Love is Strange - Description of the Harbor
9. The Strokes - Hard to Explain - Is This It?
10 The Raveonettes - Gone Forever - In and Out of Control
11. The Clientele - We Could Walk Together - Suburban Light
12. Woods - Rain On - Songs of Shame
13. New Order - Ceremony - Substance
14. Owls - Everyone is my Friend - S/T
15. Braid - Urbana's too Dark - Frame and Canvas
16. Hot Snakes - Lax - Suicide Invoice
17. Dinosaur Jr - On the Way - Where You Been?
18. Darker My Love - Two Ways Out - 2
19. Cold Cave - Youth and Lust - Love Comes Close

Hour 1

Hour 2

Harsh Distractions Playlist 11/17/09

In mid November Drew from Weekend Nachos and formerly of Convicted came in and we discussed Chicago underground music both new and old. Here's what we played:

Chapterhouse - Breather - Whirlpool (intro music)

1. Alkaline Trio – Message from Kathlene – Goddamnit
2. Canadian Rifle In A Land Of Flakes Nothing Sticks - Canadian Rifle 7"
3. Slapstick – Broken Down – Lookit!
4. Boiling Over - Trash City – Trash City 7"
5. Houseboy – Puke is on the Way – V/A Achtung Chicago Drei
6. Gods Reflex - A Chance in a Disaster - When It's Down To This
7. Oblivion – Bob and Weave
8. The Catburglars - I Hate My Job - Holy Shit
9. Sig Transit Gloria – Chapter One – Red Line Distribution Compilation
10. Smith Westerns - Be My Girl - Smith Westerns
11. Apocalypse Hoboken – Jerk Lessons - Easy Instructions for Complex Machinery
12. Duress - Allergic To Hope – V/A The World Itself Is A Bad Dream
13. MK-Ultra – Killing for College Money – Melt 7”
14. Like Bats – Lousy – Demo
15. Thirty Seconds Deep – Champion – Hot Carl 7”
16. Screeching Weasel – Cindy’s on Methadone – My Brain Hurts
17. Daylight Robbery – Bent Out of Shape – Washtenaw EP
18. Tuesday – Disappear – Freewheelin’
19. The Ponys – Another Wound – Celebration Castle
20. The Broadways – 15 Minutes – Broken Star
21. The Repos - More Kicks Than Bricks - Hearts And Heads Explode
22. The Mushuganas – Disappointed – V/A Lo-Cal A Taste of Chicago Compilation
23. 88 Fingers Louie – Past Mistakes – 88 Fingers Up Your Ass

Hour 1

Hour 2

Harsh Distractions Playlist 11/24/09

Here is the playlist for the 11/24/09 episode of Harsh Distractions. A bit late, I know, but the songs are still good.

Chapterhouse - Breather - Whirlpool (Intro Music)

01. Felt - The Day the Rain Came Down - Ignite the Seven Cannons
02. The Bitters - East - East b/w Foreign Knives
03. Former Ghosts - Us And Now – Fleurs
04. Have A Nice Life -Trespassers W – Voids
05. Rival Mob - Mob Rules All - Raw Life
06. Aloha -You've Escaped - Here Comes Everyone
07. Summer Camp - Ghost Train - Single
08. Best Coast - Feeling Of Love - Make You Mine 7"
09. Toro Y Moi - Blessa - Causers Of This
10. Insted - There's Nothing Like It - Bonds Of Friendship / We'll Make The Difference
11. Wide Awake - The Truth - 25 Song Discography
12. Heaven and Breakfast - More or Less - Water Lines and Anti-Light
13. Carry On - Fuck Your Politics - It's All Our Blood
14. R'N'R - I've Had It - I've Had It b/w Your Rules
15. The Lucksmiths - Synchronised Sinking - Why That Doesn't Surprise Me
16. The Church - North, South, East And West – Starfish
17. Negative Approach - Can't Tell No One - 7"
18. Silent Majority - Party at Rich's - You Would Love to Know
19. The Libertines - Cola Queen - Single
20. G.B.H. - No Survivors – Single
21. The Untouchables - Nic Fit - Flex Your Head Compilation
22. Dead Boys - What Love Is - Young, Loud and Snotty
23. Nouvelle Vague - Teenage Kicks - Nouvelle Vague
24. Matt Pond PA - Measure 3 - The Green Fury
25. Deathreat - Pay No Mind - The Severing Of The Last Barred Window...Plus Early Tracks '97-99
26. Interpol - Precipitate - Precipitate EP
27. The Lightning Seeds - Pure – Cloudcuckooland
28. Ida - Maybelle - Will You Find Me?
29. Dead Serious - Delaware Hall - It's What You Can't See

Hour 1
Hour 2

Harsh Distractions Playlist 12/01/09

My friend Dan came on the show early in December and proposed the theme of "Ignorance" to me. I never thought I'd end up playing Fury of V on my show, but there I was, listening to "Takin' Respect." I guess there is a first time for everything. Download the episode below.

Chapterhouse - Breather - Whirlpool (intro)
1. Clipse - Doorman - Til the Casket Drops
2. Merauder - Gangsta - God is I
3. Harm's Way - Delusion - Reality Approaches
4. In Cold Blood - Straight Flush - Suicide King
5. Melvins - Goin' Blind - Houdini
6. Mobb Deep - Drop a Gem on Em - Hell on Earth
7. The Black Dahlia Murder - Funeral Thirst - Unhallowed
8. Agnostic Front - Public Assistance - Cause for Alarm
9. Fear - Fresh Flesh - The Record
10. No Warning - Short Fuse - Ill Blood
11. Cro-Mags - Crush Demoniac - Best Wishes
12. Birdman - Money to Blow - Pricele$$
13. Fury of Five - Takin' Respect - At War With the World
14. Outburst - The Hard Way - V/A: The New Breed Comp.
15. Hate - Scab Nation - Crimes 7"
16. Cam'ron - Leave me Alone Pt. 2 - Purple Haze
17. Rick Ross - Magnificent - Deeper than Rap
18. Antidote - Foreign Job Lot - Thou Shalt Not Kill
19. Stigmata - Nothing But Enemies - Hymns for an Unknown God
20. M.O.P - Ante Up - Warriorz
21. Weekend Nachos - Nights - Unforgivable
22. Biohazard - Chamber Spins Three - Urban Discipline

Hour 1

Hour 2

Loose Dudes on Harsh Distractions 1/12/10

Last week Loose Dudes came on the show played a live set and played some songs they brought in. Here is the first hour:

Chapterhouse - Breather - Whirlpool (intro)
1. Devo - Don't You Know - Freedom of Choice
2. Henry's Dress - Can't Make It Move - Henry's Dress/Rocketship Split 7"
3. Duress - Indifference - Indifference 7"
4. Pissed Jeans - Human Upskirt - King of Jeans
5. Snuff Film - Director - Snuff Film
6. The Horrors - I Can't Control Myself - Primary Colours
7. Damages - Dreamt a Little Dream of You - Love's Labor

Loose Dudes Live Set

Mission of Burma - Red - Signals, Calls, and Marches
Canadian Rifle - Infinity - Visibility Zero
Hunks and his Punks - Cruising - Gay Singles
Young Governor - Summer Girls
Double Dagger - No Allies - More
Birdman Ft. Drake & Lil Wayne - Money to Blow - Pricele$$

Loose Dudes on Harsh Distractions 1/12/10

The Saturday People - Twilight Story b/w The Castle 7"

Prior to the release of their self-titled LP The Saturday People released a handful of great singles, all of which were rearranged and rerecorded for the album. On this 7" are the original versions of "Twilight Story" and "The Castle," two essential, shimmering 60's pop gems worthy of repeated listens. More Saturday People material will be posted soon.


The Saturday People - Twilight Story b/w The Castle 7"

Harm's Way - Live on Harsh Distractions - 12/22/09

A few days before they embarked on a west coast tour, Harm's Way came and played some new songs on my radio show. If you happen to catch them, they have tapes available for sale with these songs. For everyone else, here is an mp3. I can't wait until they record these properly for their upcoming 7" on Closed Casket Activities.


Harm's Way - Live on Harsh Distractions 12/22/09