Undiscovered Bum - The Big Takeover Top Ten 03/2012

One of the hats I wear is as music critic for The Big Takeover, in both print and online versions. I used my Top Ten list of favorite recent reviews to assemble a DJ set, which morphs from punk to metal to noise to mutant blues.

Thanks to all the artists and labels who sent me stuff to review. Keep sending it to me. You inspire me in so many ways.

The Big Takeover Top Ten 03/2012 by Undiscovered Bum on Mixcloud

Undiscovered Bum - Almost Molly Blooms

Sometime around the summer of 2007, a friend asked me and a few other people to join him in DJing a night at Molly Blooms II in Amityville, NY. We'd each get an hour to play whatever we wanted and, if things went well, we'd be able to do it again. Unfortunately, at the last second (like the day before) the people at Molly Blooms canceled and nothing ever came of it. I always wondered what that set-list I'd had in my head would have sounded like and, after looking over my notes, I finally assembled an approximation of what I would have played that night. My intention was to show my interpretation of dance music, beyond the confines of what it is commonly perceived to be. Being the first real DJ mix I've ever assembled, it's not perfect, but I think it's a lot of fun and, hopefully, it gets my philosophy across in an entertaining manner.

Almost Molly Blooms by Undiscovered Bum on Mixcloud

Undiscovered Bum - Gainstep Volume One

Wow, 2011 went by and I didn't post a damn thing.

Well, I've been working on some new stuff so I thought I'd start posting it here.

Here's a "mixtape" I constructed of ultra-noisy dubstep and drum & bass using samples from my favorite horror movies, something I call GAINSTEP.

Tracklist: Intro, Instrument of Evil, Piledriver, Piss Your Pants, Guadelupe One, Macumba, Death, Gallbladder.

Gainstep Volume One by Undiscovered Bum on Mixcloud

World War IX - Locked In

Damn! I can't believe I haven't updated in over a month! Well, time to get back on track. I've been in a punk rock mood, so here's more of "the best trashy punk band in NYC," to quote myself again.

This is another "single" with Max on vocals, but for some reason, he's not so annoying on these. Actually, his voice kinda works, although of course, Mike would be preferable. Unfortunately, you can't have everything in life.

I remember writing a review for Under the Volcano where I called "The Life" a "punk rock opera" or something equally ridiculous. I'd reprint that review here if I wasn't too lazy to dig through my UTVs to find it.

The images and music were uploaded with Justin Melkmann's consent. Thank you, Justin!

World War IX
Locked In CD
(Elis Eil)
2006

01. The Life

02. Preteen Supermodel

Visit WWIX on MySpace!

Ghoatefische - Room For One More

(Photo by Ackronomicon)

Some quick shameless self-promotion.

In 2003, I resumed my noise project Goatfish, only I added a few letters to the name and, taking some guidance from Ron K of Eckankore, I focused my soundscapes rather than letting chaos rule. The result was a darker, more nightmarish noise than my Merzbow-inspired experiments of old.

Initially released as a made-to-order CDR, the web-based Eleventh Key Records has reissued Room For One More, my first album as the mutated Ghoatefische, in their "Distributed Titles" section with new album art designed by Brian Magar. It's only $2 but over an hour of eardrum-piercing intensity, so it's quite a bargain, if I do say so myself.

Also, watch for news of the Necroparthenophacy/Layr split 3"CD, coming soon on Eleventh Key!

Ghoatefische
Room For One More CDR/MP3
(MPAE)
2003

Download Room For One More from Eleventh Key!

Stream the album on Bandcamp!

Violent Fit - Descent of the Monarch

A quick one to get back on track.

Violent Fit is Dan, bassist/vocalist of Ultrabastard!, doing a solo hardcore thing in the Garage Band program. Don't let the "guy on a computer" aspect turn you off, though. This is some seriously noisy, pummeling shit, kind of a cross between Rupture and The Cows, or maybe Melt Banana and Poison Idea. I dig it, and you should, too.

Violent Fit
Descent of the Monarch MP3EP
(MPAE)
2010

Download Descent of the Monarch as a .zip file!

Sample track:

Descent of the Monarch

400 Blows - 3-19-98

Here's another one that I'm extremely excited to be posting.

400 Blows were part of the Downtown LA scene that also spawned Leopold and Sleestak. In fact, I remember hearing that members of Sleestak and Leopold were instrumental in getting the band members together. Out of the three, though, 400 Blows became the most popular, taking a Melvins/Karp-style assault to an even more basic, primal level.

Christian (or Xian, as he later became known) played a guitar that was tuned to a single chord. He played with two fingers and daisy chained two amps together to get the high-end squeal and the low-end bass, so he effectively acted as both guitarist and bass player. Ferdie was the manic metronomic drummer propelling and accenting the wall-of-sound that emanated from Christian's two amps (and two fingers). At the front of the stage, Skot gyrated and contorted his body like a spastic as he delivered his oddball lyrics of alienation and reckless abandon. All three members wore black naval uniform shirts that Skot found in a thrift store. Sometimes Christian wore a bunny thing on this head. Eventually, Skot expanded his wardrobe to include black leather gloves and aviator sunglasses.

Most of these songs have been rerecorded and released on other 400 Blows albums, but this is how I remember the band sounding - a raw, in-your-face attack by an overgrown three-year-old who tauntingly chants "na na-na na na" as he beats your face into the edge of the concrete curb. For that, this is absolutely my favorite album by them. I suggest turning it up as loud as your ears can take, then a few more clicks and dancing like a heathen to the primitive groove.

I believe they're still around in some incarnation, though Skot's the only original member at this point. After not seeing them for years, I caught them in 2004 at the Knitting Factory in NYC. Skot was outside and he couldn't believe his eyes when he saw me. He gave me a hug and got my buddy and me in on the list. That's the last time I saw the original lineup.

The images and music were uploaded with the full consent of Anthony Francoso, owner of Total Annihilation Records. Thank you, Anthony!

400 Blows
3-19-98 CD
(Total Annihilation)
1998

Download 3-19-98 as a .zip file!

Sample tracks:

The Bull That Killed the Matador

Premature Burial

Electric Wilderness