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

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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

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*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

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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)

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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