Rock & Indie 421 Items

After several years of relentless travel up and down the West Coast circuit, Oakland’s Smokers has finally completed their blistering 15 song debut album The Rat That Gnawed the Rope. Inspired by favorite bands like The Stranglers, Minutemen, and early Replacements, Andy Asp (Nuisance, The Pattern), Cyrus Comisky (Black Fork, Drunk Horse), Jim Nastic (Talk is Poison, Year Future) and Omen Starr (St. James Infirmary) met up with lead engineer Phil Becker (Pins of Light) at San Francisco’s historic El Studio to put together the songs that became The Rat. The sessions progressed swiftly, and sonically define the band’s tough but thoughtful compositions. Highlight tracks include the driving ‘The Irish Tenor,’ ‘East of Oakland,’ and the reflective Covid-era song ‘The Strand.’ Fans of garage rock, East Bay punk, pub rock, and vintage street rock will find something here in this succinct, powerful collection. Smokers have played with The Avengers, Jawbreaker, Samiam, Subhumans, Murder City Devils and countless others.

Simple Reality cements the short lived legacy of Coventry DIY group Skeet.

Emerging from a scene of first-generation punks and 2 Tone kids, Skeet was instigated by Gary and Nigel Meffen in 1981, fusing tightrope instrumentals with a Roland CR-8000 under the glow of projected visuals. After a cassette of their debut performance found its way to Kay Booth who worked at Inferno Records, the unsuspecting frontwoman took the liberty of adding her own vocals. Instantly embraced as a permanent member, Booth’s shy delivery and open-diary expressions of social alienation and romantic rejection hovered over the brothers’ scratchy guitar and agitated bass.

Playing as few as 10 shows, their unnerving minimalism was recorded in a suburban home studio, borrowing a reel-to-reel from Toby Lyons (The Colourfield) and a mixer from Jerry Dammers (The Specials). Record labels gestured interest until one day they were no more - no arguments, no official split, just a silent parting of the ways and three people taking journeys in different directions. Unheard and unloved in the vaults for nearly four decades, 'Brief Call' finally resurfaced via the Coventry Music Museum compendium Alternative Sounds Volume 1, followed by a micro pressing of the full suite on Chris Long’s Almost Unknown imprint in 2023.

Simple Reality now offers a definitive snapshot of these must-hear neurotic post-punks. Mastered by Skeet fanatic Mikey Young, newly discovered instrumental multitracks are restored alongside a live recording of their final stand. Performed atop of a trailer in a pub beer garden, the release-worthy desk tape adds three new tracks and a more energised swing at ‘Left On the Shelf’s apathetic techno-pop.

RIYL: Fire Engines, 23 Skidoo, A Certain Ratio, Young Marble Giants, pel mel

Debutalbum by hard hitting avantgarde quartet featuring Wilco members Nels Cline & Glenn Kotche, plus improv heavyweights Chris Corsano & Darin Gray.

Debutalbum by hard hitting avantgarde quartet featuring Wilco members Nels Cline & Glenn Kotche, plus improv heavyweights Chris Corsano & Darin Gray.