Kitty Little - Self Titled 7" (2001)

Kitty Little is another band that never quite broke up as far as I know, but they haven't played any gigs in a while for standard reasons (members living far away, playing in other projects, or just other priorities) and haven't released any new material since their 2010 split with Scientific Maps aside from a 2012 two song digital release. A great cross between power pop and pop punk with some '90s indie rock like Dinosaur Jr mixed in there.

They have a pretty solid discography and you can still pick up some of it from guitarist/vocalist Matto (who you may have seen from several other posts) and his record label Peterwalkee Records. My personal favorite being the aforementioned Scientific Maps split, but this first 7" comes in at a close second. This version has a couple of unreleased tracks that were uploaded to the KL bandcamp too, including "Never Stay" which is probably the best track from both releases (and also the first song played in the video above).

Tracklist:

1. Running
2. Be Mine
3. I Wanna Be Your Man
4. I'm Bitter
5. Never Stay (bonus track)
6. Home (bonus track)

Download URL: https://www.mediafire.com/file/xg5h1f4t2n8dxb8/Kitty_Little_-_Kitty_little_s-t_7.zip/file

Swindle EPI - ...And Everyone is Ignited (2004)

Really didn't get the chance to see these dudes as much as I'd have liked to, but they were always killer when I did. Hailing from Charlton, which I'm pretty sure is in the Burnt Hills/Glenville area but who knows, Swindle EPI wrote catchy dual vocal street punk vaguely reminiscent of Civil Disobedience. Don't really know what of these songs were on this actual release or not, but I know they did a couple different recordings from the differing sound of a couple tracks.

Tracklist:

1. Farewell
2. Sanchez Hozar
3. Untouchable
4. Robert Paulson
5. Pull the Punches
6. Garner St. Massacre
7. For All Eternity
8. Guns in the Belltower

Download URL: http://www.mediafire.com/file/op7virww4wy6wf7/SwindleEPI.zip/file

To Hell And Back - Will We Be Torn Apart? (2011)

Another one of my favorite releases from the area, To Hell And Back fused hard rock and hardcore punk which is a description that really doesn't do them any justice and was weirdly good. Like, really good. Members of a substantial amount of good Albany bands from the late '90s and beyond, they used the full scope of their musicianship to rip ridiculous solos so hard you can smell the pickguards melting through your speakers. They did two full lengths and a split with The Shemps, and eventually unceremoniously disbanded. It sounds like it was more an issue with members not living in the area (imagine that) and otherwise being involved in other projects. Great band to see live, and this record holds up to those performances. With the revival of '70s influenced hard rock that's been going around now these guys would have killed it, but people kinda slept on them. Might as well download it now to see what you missed.

Tracklist:

1. Street Train
2. Thinned Skin
3. Blood of the Father
4. Bell Book Candle
5. Devil's in the Details
6. Black Hole
7. Venom and Saline
8. Cold Hungry Eyes
9. Release the Kraken
10. Grassroots Brushfire

Download URL part 1: https://sabercathost.com/5md8/ToHellAndBack-WillWeBe.zip

Download URL part 2: https://sabercathost.com/5md9/ToHellAndBack-WillWeBe2.zip

Outa Commission - Life is a Disease That Kills Everyone (2006)

Ah yes, the band that brought the world some Albany punk staples. I remember seeing the pre-Outa Commission band Victims of Hunger and not thinking very much of them, but with a few lineup adjustments they gave it another go and the change was like night and day. Adding madman Connor as the vocalist definitely gave them the edge they needed, with his natural stage presence and unique sense of humor (remember watching him eat a lit cigarette during a set before), combined with Dan playing as fast as he could and only getting faster, and Party Shirt doing what Party Shirt does. Shared the stage with these weirdos a lot, and it was always a pleasure and I'm pretty bummed I missed their last show and the reunion that followed years later. Really don't even know what to compare them to, but it's fast and it's pissed.

Tracklist:

1. Necessary Evil
2. System Shhhmystem
3. Red Cross Does No Good for No One
4. Monahan
5. Germaphobia vs. Environmental Conservationism
6. Dead as Your Dreams
7. Tupac Shakur Don't Belong to You
8. Punk Standards
9. Whatcha Gun' Do
10. Turn Your Life In
11. Fiend
12. Pollute Me
13. Traumatized
14. So Long

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/5md7/OutaComission.zip

Nuclear Family - Self Titled (2010)

Nuclear Family were a much needed injection of melody in Albany during a time when we were all playing as fast and as loud as we could. Very danceable mid-tempo punk that is reminiscent of Dangerhouse Records stuff with some Avengers thrown in here and there. Some really solid riffing here that is relatively unexpected for a genre known for gratuitous use of power chords. Yet another band where the entirety of them no longer live in the Albany area, but they've all gone on to do cool projects across the world. As far as I know all the members are stateside again though, so you should be able to catch them gigging around their respective cities and on tour.

Tracklist:

1. Scapegoat
2. What They Say
3. Useless
4. Believer's Voice of Victory
5. Little By Little
6. Mistakes
7. More of the Same
8. Nothing New

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/5md6/NuclearFamily-LP.zip

Rutger Hauer - Wülfgar (2007)

This is a band that a lot of people forgot about, I imagine because they never played a whole lot of shows and didn't really last long, but this shit is killer and I would highly recommend it. Very similar to From Ashes Rise which is appropriate because I've heard they shared a member at one point. Not much to say here because I don't even remember who was involved to tell you what other projects they were in. Take my word for it, you'll wanna check this out.

Tracklist:

1. ...On Death and Dying
2. Septic
3. Camp Fever
4. Cholera
5. Mourning War

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/5md4/Rutger_Hauer_-_W%C3%BClfgar.zip

Rockets and Blue Lights - A Smashed City With Flames and Music In The Air (2002)

This band didn't really do anything for me when I heard them the first couple times, admittedly it was the early '00s and I was only interested in faster, louder, harder and less into things of a more melodic and experimental vibe, but I remember seeing them at one of Albany's old bigger shows at Valentine's like Hawaiian Rock Fest or the one with pancakes or something along those lines, and their live show intensity really won me over. I'm not even really sure how to describe them because genre titles like math rock, post rock, or even screamo all bring to mind much, much worse music than this. Some really cool guitar work here throughout, an excellent spacey atmosphere focusing mostly on music with sporadic mumbled vocals here and there. Wish I could see them now when I'd appreciate it more, but isn't that usually how it goes?

Tracklist:

1. A Smashed Piano
2. Andee
3. Forrest Green and Autumn
4. We Bleed This in the Winter

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/5mc1/RocketsAndBlueLights.zip

The Mysterians - Need a Drummer (1995)

The Mysterians came out of Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, originating as a two piece acoustic act that ended up gathering a following and starting a full band, they ended up putting out one 7" before disbanding. I'm not too sure about who was involved or if they played in any other projects, but this is a fun record with a distinctly '90s pop punk sound with a little bit of Pink Lincolns mixed in there too. For a city that had a pretty big punk scene by the late '90s there really doesn't seem to be a lot on record which is unfortunate, but this is a cool one to add to the archive.

Tracklist:

1. Lunchbox
2. Milk Chocolate Trouble
3. Haircut
4. Theme Song

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/5mc0/Mysterians-NeedADrummer.zip

Blotto - Combo Akimbo (1982)

Blotto were some hometown heroes in their day for sure. Starting off in 1978 as the Star Spangled Washboard Band with small gigs in Saratoga Springs at 17 Maple Ave and soon finding worldwide success and even some MTV exposure in the early days (bassist Cheese Blotto was a very close friend of my dad growing up and once told me proudly that they were played on the first day MTV was on the air). Their music was a little more rock n' roll, almost power pop at times, with comedic lyrics, and pretty funny music videos with excellent camp value.

They disbanded in 1984, but would reunite a couple years later for the occasional show. Unfortunately members Cheese and Sarge Blotto are no longer with us, Cheese in 1999 and Sarge just a couple of days ago. Rest in peace to two local music staples that were well respected in the capital district.

Tracklist:

1. Too Much Fun
2. It's Only Money
3. Scream
4. I Quit
5. Metal Head
6. It's Not You
7. Occupational Hazard
8. When the Second Feature Starts
9. Goodbye, Mr. Bond

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/5mbd/Blotto-ComboAkimbo.zip

I, Wurdalak - Self Titled (2010)

From the archives of ultimate shredder Kieran "Party Shirt" Robbins, with drum machine Sullivan, Connor from Outa Commission on vocals, and Shawn Plantz according to the bandcamp who I never knew very well. I really have no idea how to explain this, you just have to listen to it. A whirlwind of the bizarre. Total manic guitar licks, weird off timing, and lyrical ramblings of a madman. Kinda sounds a little like if Mike Patton was into punk and also didn't suck. Very interesting album here, it's a shame it didn't see an actual release until just a couple years back when it was posted on Bandcamp.

Tracklist:

1. Misconceptions in Touch
2. Emotion Quite Dysfunction
3. Loved it but I Loved it Twice
4. Your Payment's Due
5. Tell Me Why
6. Fun Feel Free
7. Binge Good Binge Bad
8. Run

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/5mbc/I-_Wurdulak_-_I-_Wurdulak.zip

Hail Mary - All Aboard the Sinking Ship (1999)

This may be one of the best releases by this band, and they vary a little in quality depending on the revolving door of bandmates they had throughout their existence, but this one is solid. From what I've been told, this band is the baby of vocalist Mark Telfian of By the Throat and Devoid of Faith, among others, giving this a distinct aura of refined harshness and weird riffage a la Born Against. Start to finish there's not a dull moment.

Tracklist:

1. Grist for the Mill
2. Man Overboard
3. Slipped Away
4. Beating a Dead Horse
5. Maimed
6. Crashing Down
7. In Motion
8. Diversion
9. Starboard Bow
10. Flounder
11. Excommunicate

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/9yfT/Hail_Mary-All_Aboard_The_Sinking_Ship_LP.zip

Glee Club - Looking (1989)

A little bit of classic Dischord Records by way of Albany, Glee Club were a bunch of young kids who were definitely hardcore along the lines of 7 Seconds but had hints of stuff like Embrace too. Really don't know a whole lot, but I know it came out on Hella Cool which was run by Nate Wilson who, as you've heard before, went on to start Gloom Records. This isn't really my thing so much, but some of you might dig it. They have another 7" that came out in 1990 that I haven't had the chance to check out.

Tracklist:

1. Elephant Head
2. Ignorance
3. Looking
4. Not Too Late
5. Role Model
6. These Things

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/9yfS/Glee_Club-looking_ep.zip

Exul - Self Titled (2017)

Can we talk about how crushing this is? I mean, really truly honestly crushing? Exul were the remains of Bad Friends after they split, Jake Brady on vocals still and now taking up bass as well, Will back on guitar, and Kae on drums. This three piece powerhouse had a HUGE sound, down tuned and violently hopeless sounding hardcore punk that brings to mind Tragedy if you ran some doom metal through their filter. Got to play with them once, which was one of only a couple shows they did if I remember correctly, but live they were an experience of rumbling madness and total war. This album is a feat in itself, and I'm bummed they never released it on any kind of physical media.

Tracklist:

1. Dire Wolves
2. Nails
3. Ice and Ash
4. Red Handed
5. Present//Future//Hell
6. Mammoth
7. Shadows in the Blizzard
8. Fault Lines
9. Inhumed
10. Spade
11. Moths

Download URL part 1: https://sabercathost.com/9yfQ/EXUL-Exul.zip

Download URL part 2: https://sabercathost.com/9yfR/EXUL-Exul2.zip

Anal Warhead - Self Titled EP (2010)

Oh for fuck's sake, these steaming bags of shit. They are all great people individually but when you put them in a band together they morph into the sloppiest, most out of tune, drunkest, and dumbest group of sorry motherfuckers you'll ever see and it is GREAT. Couldn't begin to count how many times I saw these jerks play, and I'm even pretty sure I played a show as a stand-in drummer for them one time too but I still hope that it was a fever dream or something. This is their first effort of fast hardcore punk in the vein of shut up and listen to it. Don't remember if it was this release show or another one, but I do recall them buying a few hundred bouncy balls and throwing them into the crowd at Oddfellow's Hall (a defunct DIY spot in Rensselaer) which then erupted into chaos. They just reunited to play their first gig in I don't know how many years for drummer Dan's birthday this past November and it was awesome. Fond memories here.

Tracklist:

1. Protect and Serve
2. Again & Again
3. Out of Time
4. I Wanna Know
5. Stressed Out
6. Get Out While You Can

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/9yfO/Anal_Warhead_-_Anal_Warhead_EP.zip

Devoid of Faith - Denial By Machinery (1994)

This is a band I've been looking forward to getting up there. Probably one of the more well traveled Albany bands, and definitely one of the most legendary as far as hardcore punk, this 7" rips pretty damn hard. Weird riffage, raging drums, and dark as fuck, this is necessary to add to your collection. Features Nate Wilson of, well, a whole fuckload of bands and Kevin O'Sullivan from Intent working together again alongside Jim of Affirmative Action and Jason of Monster X. Got to see them reunite at Gloom Fest 2004 (maybe 2005?) at the Trinity Church and it was easily one of the most hectic sets I saw in those days, only second to 9 Shocks Terror who played right after them. This seems to be the 7" to pick up by them, but I personally dig their split LP with Voorhees. Also ended up with a couple releases on the Bacteria Sour which is run by none other than vocalist of Septic Death and disgusting art man Pushead.

Tracklist:

1. Denial By Machinery
2. Compliance
3. Threefold Law
4. Shark Fin Soup
5. Middletown

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/9yfM/DevoidofFaith-DenialByMachinery.zip

No Outlet - Demo (1987)

Guilderland hardcore, imagine that for a second huh? These guys made an appearance on both the Welcome To Albany and Albany Style Hardcore 7" comps but I think this demo is the most memorable of those recordings. The rawness in the guitar and drum tone bring to mind second wave British punk demos, but with distinctly NYHC song structure and vocals.

Tracklist:

1. First Glance
2. Last Time
3. Just How it Goes
4. Push Back
5. Know Yourself
6. Abuser
7. Have a Say
8. No Outlet
9. Thanks

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/9yfK/no_outlet.zip

Terror Cake - I Know (1990)

I'm pretty unfamiliar with this band as a whole too, but they were on the This Town We Own 7" compilation alongside bands like Glee Club and Intent so I figured I'd check out more of what they had to offer. This seems to be their only other release, and is pretty standard late '80s/early '90s hardcore with melodic female vocals which adds a cool contrast. The one thing I was able to find that was interesting was the singer Sarah Paul moved from the Albany area out to Cleveland which makes me wonder if that's where the Cleveland connection originated. Either way, this is pretty cool and worth checking out. Sarah Paul is in a new band called Glass Traps in Cleveland, and from what I've heard on their bandcamp they're pretty solid post punk/goth kinda shit which definitely scratches an itch.

Tracklist:

1. I Know
2. Death By Pick
3. Falling Down
4. Oozing Rhyme

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/9yfI/TerrorCake-IKnow.zip

The Extras - Ugly American (1982)

Though not released until 2001, this was recorded way back in June of 1982 shortly before bassist Mark DeForge was locked up until 1985 for about $12 worth of LSD. It took 21 years for these recordings to see an official release outside of friends of the band, but here they are collected on one CD. Previously, they only had one song on the Hudson Rock compilation and these were recorded at Jim Furlong of Last Vestige's insistence, using his money to make sure these songs were documented. This band always had an expiration date, being that DeForge intended on moving to Taiwan after school was out. Fortunately, he was able to later after his prison stint where he stayed for 15 years. There is a band he started with some other folks from the Albany area out there which is cool, I'd love to hear a recording some day, if it exists. Last Vestige still has plenty of copies of this for sale on CD which is totally worth picking up for the extensive history of the band in the insert.

Tracklist:

1. Ugly American
2. Standing on the Roof
3. Rick's Girlfriend
4. Big Love and Peace
5. It's Not the End of the World
6. Why Do You Think They Call It Dope
7. Erie Canal (traditional)
8. That's Okay
9. Are You a Boy or Are You a Girl (The Barbarians cover)
10. Don't Go in the Water
11. She's Got Bugs
12. Monkey Around
13. Face the Future
14. Down the Drain
15. This Generation Doesn't Judge
16. 30 Secs Til Bonus Track!
17. Italian With an I

Download URL part 1: https://sabercathost.com/9yfG/Extras-UglyAmerican.zip

Download URL part 2: https://sabercathost.com/9yfH/Extras-UglyAmerican2.zip

Trauma School Dropouts - Beach Party Dragstrip (1995)

Listened to this one obsessively for a long time, the first Trauma School Dropouts full length was the intersection of drive-in movies and punk culture in one neat package. Catchy riffs, great singalongs, and memorable lyrics throughout this album really hit the spot as a young punk just learning about the local scene and I still look fondly upon this and listen to it enthusiastically from time to time.

Trauma School Dropouts were preceded by Plaid who had a similar sound, though a little less nose-in-the-air punk than a grungier song structure, and evolved into Nogoodnix which was more Irish pub punk kinda stuff. Vocalist Duane Beer is in the horror punk band Blase Debris now, and I'm unsure what everyone else is up to really. TSD had some good compilation tracks too and a pretty solid follow up album, but this one stands the test of time for me.

Tracklist:

1. Psycho Babble Intro
2. Late Nite Television
3. Love Still Kills
4. Typical Drugs
5. Exploding Boy
6. Mailorder Bride
7. Teenage Abduction
8. Miss Liberty
9. Creepshow
10. My Kinda Girl
11. Bikini Beach
12. Violent Years
13. Material Girl
14. Loser Friendly
15. Goin' Black
16. Dick-N-Hand
17. Test Tube Revolution
18. Trauma School

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/9y3h/TSD-BPDS.zip

Acid Reflux - Demo / EP (2006)

Acid Reflux was another accomplished Albany band, with a demo, three EPs, and a handful of tours under their belt. Probably snottier than ECFU, but definitely higher quality riffage here with some really classic tunes. Always a pleasure seeing these dudes play, even when they lit dozens of incense sticks to smoke out the venue or played "Louie Louie" for longer than their whole set of originals was. One particularly memorable occasion had them doing a full Agnostic Front cover set complete with a limited run of Acid Reflux Skinhead shirt designs for the gig, all of which done without warning.

This demo was later on released as their first 7" with less songs and a mocking note poking fun at the people who bought the record but not the cassette. Earlier on they had Nick from the Menace Society on guitar, but later on Sean Joyce from Coughing Fit took up the mantle until the band's demise. The artwork below is for the 7" but is basically the same as the original cassette release.

Tracklist:

1. Vasectomy Boys
2. Do Your Parents Know You're a Ramone?
3. Old Timer
4. Customers Fuck Off
5. I'm No Soldier
6. Do You Like Mangoes?
7. All Bosses Are Bastards
8. Bleed and Destroy
9. Oh Good, There's an Applebee's

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/hWl2/AcidReflux-Demo.zip

Braincandy - Tape (2013)

Another band from the school of melodic hardcore punk in the vein of His Hero is Gone, Braincandy was a band that I only got to see a few times but damn were those riffs punishing. Another all-star lineup here, with members of After the Fall, Infidels, Bad Friends, and Coughing Fit making up this monster. Never got a physical copy of the tape unfortunately, but the mp3s have gotten regular play on my iPod to this day. A shame this band never released anything more, but at least we have this left.

Tracklist:

1. Pray
2. Ring
3. Bake Sale
4. Trash Life
5. Painter
6. "Smile"
7. Better
8. Our War Again

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/hWl1/Braincandy-Tape2013.zip

Coughing Fit - Getting Natural EP (2010)

Would have been a shame to not include Coughing Fit just because of my inability to find a digital copy that wasn't just one long track*, but that's how you should listen to this 17 song EP clocking it at just over 10 minutes anyway, really. Raging, raging, raaaging straight edge fastcore which is still a highlight in Albany history. Started out with a demo as xReptarx and following it up with a 7" shortly thereafter, they ended up changing their name and the sound only got more dialed in. A few lineup changes here and there, but otherwise a pretty similar core group throughout this band's existence.
They put out a single sided tour LP in like, I dunno, maybe 2011 limited to 130 copies on Loud Punk Records. This EP really did it for me the most, but the LP is a great follow up for sure. After the band's split several of them went on to start Ajax after fleeing the sinking ship of Albany to greener pastures in NYC. The video above is from an eviction show they did at their old place in Albany which is still spoken of in high regard. Forever will regret not just calling into work to get a glimpse of that madness in person.

Tracklist:

1. Thrown Away
2. Lose for Life
3. Cosmic Purposeless
4. Flash in the Pan
5. Out of Breath
6. Nothing
7. Starvation
8. Subcultures
9. Flus
10. Bad Ideas
11. Brass Tacks
12. Eye for an Eye
13. Issues
14. Sign Me Up
15. Cross Me
16. Empty Your Pockets
17. On the Wall

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/5md5/CoughingFit-GettingNatural.zip


*edit: new download URL with separated tracks now!

Death is Easy - Demo (2007)

The void left by Permanent Trip was soon filled by another Krak brother collaboration called Death is Easy (D.I.E.) with the addition of Dave Stevenson and Dave Boyce, this was the lineup on the demo and in the video above. Eventually Boyce would leave and be replaced by everyone's favorite shredder Kieran "Party Shirt" Robbins which made for a great lineup, despite Party Shirt's ridiculous workload at that point (Girls of Porn/Mouth Hole, Damnation Alley, I Wurdalak, and probably others). More straight foward hardcore with Jay's trademark snarling grunts and headbutt laden stage presence. Great demo, you can smell the weed in the air when you hear it.

Tracklist:

1. Death is Easy
2. Potcore
3. Black Water
4. Mummified Saints
5. Urine Paranoia

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/hWkY/DIE-Demo2007.zip

No Children - Live at the Sports Bar Demo (2012)

A short lived but fun band, No Children brought together a hell of a lineup in a great era of Albany punk with members of Acid Reflux, Death Is Easy, and Coughing Fit. Live at the Sports Bar also captures another DIY spot that came and went quickly in the basement of the back side of a warehouse on Central Ave. Gigs there were great, but ultimately the entire space was destroyed and there was no hope of ever going back. Great demo, catchy tunes, and an awesome Mornington Crescent cover thrown in for good measure.

Tracklist:

1. Berzerker
2. Repeat Offender
3. High Turnover
4. Sanctuary
5. Banger
6. Fool's Gold
7. In Bed (Mornington Crescent cover)

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/hWkU/NoChildren-LiveAtTheSportsBar.zip

Wolfpack - New York Wolfpack (1988)

Probably the first hardcore LP out of Albany featuring vocalist Steve Reddy who went on to start Equal Vision Records, Wolfpack (eventually New York Wolfpack) was pretty standard NYHC by way of the capital city. While historically important, this didn't really do much for me for a while but the more I hear it the more I dig it now. As far as I know this is their only recorded output, but start to finish a pretty solid record overall.

It sounds like the vocalists were on a revolving door for a while, including Don Sullivan from other classic Albany hardcore band Fit For Abuse. Definitely a lot of influence from other American hardcore of the time, particularly DYS which is where you can assume they got the name from. In the video above they're opening for Jerry's Kids at 288 Lark which must have been a killer show at an already legendary defunct local club. There are still pristine copies of this record in circulation if you know where to look!

Tracklist:

1. Black Mark
2. Stood Up
3. Bustin' Out
4. Suicide
5. Chipmunk in the Road (track missing from zip file)
6. Rich Life
7. Pack of One
8. Pride of the Pack
9. Black Book of Hell
10. Wolfpack

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/hWkT/wolfpack.zip

1313 Mockingbird Lane - the Second Coming of (1989)

To patrons of Valentine's and Last Vestige, you may recognize organ player Kim from serving you up some drinks and records respectively. Albany's 1313 Mockingbird Lane (name inspired by the address of the Munsters) were rulers of spooky garage rock which was equal parts sleazy rock and psychedelic weirdness that makes for a good toe tapper. They were pretty prolific in the late '80s and the '90s, disbanding in 1996 after playing their last gig at Pauly's Hotel.

Definitely for fans of The Cramps, probably more accurate comparisons can be made but I've always had a blindspot for garage rock. This is their second effort, so it has lots of grit and grime which feels pretty complimentary for the source material. Something brings to mind Murder City Devils too, but it may be from the obvious use of organs and the general dark atmosphere. Drop some LSD, put on a sexploitation movie, and get weird with this shit.

Tracklist:

1. Teenage Devil Doll
2. Tilt-a-Whirl
3. Things Are Different Now
4. Egyptian Caveman

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/hWkS/1313mockingbird-secondcoming.zip

Lumpen Proles - She Wasn't Home b/w Positive Thinking (1983)

Active from 1982 to 1985, not sure if I heard Lumpen Proles first on the Hudson Rock comp or the Live at 288 comp someone dubbed to cassette for me (still looking for a copy if any are around) but this shit is pretty cool and wasn't out of the norm for Albany in that era. Very reminiscent of Gang of Four and Theatre of Hate, this slice of post punk is definitely a band I wish had more recorded. I had heard of them reuniting in 2015 for their first show in 30 years, and I know they had played a Scumfest gig too, but somehow they remained under my radar until someone told me "yes they are THAT band from those comps" and I was promptly bummed on missing out. Give it a listen, it's dark and gloomy.

Tracklist:

1. She Wasn't Home
2. Positive Thinking

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/hWkQ/LumpenProles-SheWasntHome.zip

ECFU - Demo (2002)

Schenectady, the Electric City, has bred some memorable adventures in punk from my days in the Sleaze and Scag Rotter but unfortunately I hadn't been acquainted with these dudes at this point. Members Paul and Ron later went on to form Acid Reflux, while Joe and Andrew ended up being members of The Jury, making this demo an all-star lineup of simple straight forward hardcore with loads of snark and speed. This was done before the era of downtown revitalization that tried to put a new coat of paint on the rusted husk of a burnt out industry city and you can hear every bit of the grittiness that encompasses the Old Schenectady on this demo perfectly. Ron, as a warm up of what was to come with Acid Reflux, with the perfect combination of simplistic and clever lyrics written together all as a band.

Tracklist:

1. New York Shitty
2. Al Side
3. My Dad Sucks
4. Ruiners
5. Fuck You, You Suck
6. Killing Spree
7. Early Retirement
8. Send More Cops (Zombies)
9. Electric City Fuck You

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/hWkP/ECFU-2002Demo.zip

Suzy Wong and the Honkeys - We'll Cum to the CuntTree (2006)

If I had to guess the year this came out I'd say 2005 or 2006, but I could be mistaken. I know that my old band Scag Rotter did more than a few gigs with this Cobleskill crew of weirdos, and I was stoked every time. A clear Bikini Kill sound here, though exactly what they'd cite as their primary influence I am unable to speculate. All I know is that these folks were tough as nails and wrote killer songs that were slow to midtempo but no less intense in a live setting.

I think this release particularly stands the test of time, but they also came out with another release a year or two after that is solid too. Not sure how the band ended, but it sounds like some members aren't on such good terms with other members? Beats me. Download it.

Tracklist:

1. Lynze-e-e-e-e We Kicked Your A-a-a-a-ass
2. Bloody and Fucked
3. Dopeface
4. Hole to China
5. Lori's Baby
6. Astrologicality
7. We're All Friends Now, Right?

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/m8qo/SWATH-CumToThe.zip

Permanent Trip - Demo CDr (2005)

Definitely a necessity for your Albany collection, straight up stoner hardcore punk from the Krak brothers Jay and Jared who, to anyone involved in the Albany scene '00s to today, you are acquainted with alongside other familiar faces Sean Doody and Nate Wilson. Blending Ripcord-esque fast punk parts with psych heavy breakdowns lend to a killer atmosphere that make this demo necessary to listen to start to finish each time you hear it. They put out a great 7" too which is totally worth your while, and this CDr which I heard found a short cassette run too (lemme know if you have one you wanna get rid of). Fondest live show memory: PT playing on the floor downstairs Valentine's at the Total Fury show and Jay having to stand with his foot against the kick drum to keep it from sliding. At least it was packed enough so it looked normal to have Jay standing in place.

Tracklist:

1. Coffee Break
2. Stasi
3. Rotten
4. Dregs

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/m8qn/PermanentTrip-Demo.zip

The Tragics - Mommi I'm a Misfit (1981)

The Tragics, or The Misfits as they were originally known before anyone had heard of Glenn & Friends, were another ripping late '70s style punk band from Albany and another one of the earliest examples of punk from the area. Kind of a passing resemblance to X-Ray Spex and the Damned here, but definitely rougher than either one ever were. This was another international cult hit thanks to the exposure of Killed By Death record compilations, and their records were highly sought after for a time. They rereleased the back stock of this record in 1990 as "Mommi I'm Still a Misfit" with updated sleeves and a photo book insert. In 2007 Loud Blaring Punk Rock (now known as Loud Punk Records) put out an official reissue that you can still stumble upon occasionally. Check it out!

Tracklist:

1. Pretty Boys
2. Laughing Lover
3. When I Was Young
4. Mommi, I'm a Misfit

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/m8qk/Tragics-MommiImAMisfit.zip

The Morons - Suburbanite b/w Changing Days (1981)

The Morons were self declared as the "only band that never mattered" but as far as Albany history goes, that's pretty inaccurate. Started in 1979 and ended in 1982, the Morons have a pretty short catalog as far as their musical output. Similarly to The Verge, The Morons had a 7" and a song on the Hudson Rock compilation and that was about it as far as official releases. However, this lack of releases doesn't mean shit as The Morons were an embodiment of the Albany mentality that set the tone for the rest of punk in the area whether they knew it or not. This is snotty as shit, crazy catchy stuff that wouldn't be out of place on a Killed By Death compilation (much like The Tragics, who will be getting their own post soon). I feel like some members are in The Last Conspirators now, but I'm not really all that sure.

Tracklist:

1. Suburbanite
2. Changing Days

Download URL: https://sabercathost.com/m8qj/Morons-Suburbanite.zip