This Is Not L.A.

These are high quality digital transfers from original vinyl of extremely rare seven inches by foundation hardcore punk bands from across the country. A lot of these tracks have gone on to find their way onto CD re-releases over the years but here they are in their original forms, with no "digital remastering" or remixing. This is as close as you will come to hearing them the way they were intended as you can without owning the vinyl (in fact, chances are this digital transfer from my super high-end turntable will sound better than it would with an average system).

These tracks havent been cleaned up. Most of them are FCC friendly but a few have an occassional expletives. Avoid tracks titled "fuck you" (DOA) and most Minor Threat songs unless you are in safe harbor.

notes:

Feederz: Phoenix, very unique sound, definately not generic or typical hardcore sound. Exceedingly intelligent and anti-social lyrics, themes

Society Dog: SF band

JFA (Jody Fosters Army): the original skate-punk band, from Phoenix. They were all about 15 when they recorded this.

Meat Puppets: not "hardcore" per se, these guys were just plain old weird. This stuff falls into hardcore cuz it was intense and out of control. They ended up on SST records in their first few years but after about 1984 turned into a terrible rudderless "college rock" band. blegh!

Minor Threat: epitome of the DC, east coast sound. Very disciplined, going well with their straightedge philosophy. Went on to become Fugazi. Many FCCs as Ian was generally pissed off and couldnt express himself otherwise.

Stains: became MDC because of name conflicts with LA band. moved to SF from austin. Very political, uber hyper political in fact. Very intelligent stuff.

Beastie Boys: Yes, this is THE beastie boys, proving that they were in fact a NYC hardcore punk band when they started out. In the photo on the record they all look about 15 years old.

DOA: Vancouver band, one of the first. Their sound and approach was mostly just political heaviness, serving as inspiration for bands that followed, that became "hardcore". Its argued that DOA coined the term "hardcore".

Double-O: DC band, incestous with Minor Threat.

Husker Du: Minneapolis trio. In 1985 they were picked up briefly by a major label and everyone thought that they were the first sell-outs, that hardcore was about to become palatable. The record tanked in the mainstream (which had to wait til hardcore was sugar coated enough by Nirvana to bite) but the band is famous for bringing pop and accessible sentiments to punk, helping to invent "alternative" and "indie rock" (with the Pixies, et al).

Jerry's Kidz: Albuquerque band, skaters, that shredded. Underappreciated, this record is RARE.

No Thanks: one of the small handful of bands that were truly hardcore with a female singer, front person (sorry, the Avengers dont count). From SF.

Rebel Truth: Sacramento, very rare.

Seven Seconds: Reno band that grandstanded all things straight edge and skater, to point of being nauseating.