Torture Kitty - "The Kid with the Crazy Eyes + 5

Torture Kitty - The Kid with the Crazy Eyes + 5 [House O' Pain, 1996]

Though, I never owned this record before it was generously donated to the blog by House O' Pain Records, I remember this band well -- mostly because I hated them. However, I was one of the few who did, as they played Huntsville rather often to bigger and bigger crowds. Listening to this now, they weren't so bad. I think it's just the same haterade i'm spilling even today when everyone is gushing over a band I can't see the big deal in.

Anyways, what you got herea Knoxville, TN band playing the kind of mildly-threatening hardcore pop punk that was all the rage in the 90s a la The Queers, Screeching Weasel, and Squirtgun. Also of note is that this record was produced by none other than Mass Georgini who has produced and/or played in all those previous influences mentioned.

The Beautys - "Sweetheart! Sweetheart!" 7"

The Beautys - Sweetheart! Sweetheart! EP [House O' Pain, 1997]

Another, much appreciated donation from House O' Pain. These guys hailed from Ft. Wayne, IN, which may be slightly out of my jurisdiction, but since when is it punk rock to start following rules and shit? Once again, I'll use this rare opportunity to let the band's Myspace profile speak for itself:

1995-2003 The Beautys are a hot blooded trio of rockers that hail from the seemingly innocent city of Fort Wayne Indiana. They have toured the U.S. several times and have shared the stage with such rock-n-roll luminaries as: the New Bomb Turks, Electric Frankenstein, The Dwarves, The Donnas [the name dropping could go on and on]. The Beautys have also garnered good reviews for their independent releases, as well as their releases for labels such as: Hopeless/ Sub City, Mutant Pop, and House-o Pain records. The Beautys play a wicked combo of sleazy,high-energy punk rock. Whether singing songs about the blue collar angst of living in a soul sucking factory town, or ripping it up in the key of hangover flat, these freaks really mean it. So what if 1/3 of the band is a card carrying estrogen factory? This is no shy, retiring, girly-poo kind of set up going on here. Chica Baby swings from angel to demon as she sings and hammers away on her guitar while Erick and Salsa Dave lay down the beats the old fashioned way, fast and hard!

Stupid Americanz

Stupid Americanz - Lost Cause EP [House O' Pain, 1991]

Stupid Americanz were a hardcore punk band from Nashville, featuring a pre-Teen Idols' Phillip Hill on either guitar or bass. According to its catalog number (HOP-001), this is also legendary Music City punk label House O' Pain's first release.

Somehow this record found a great deal of popularity in my home town 4 years after its release, long after the band had dissolved, and understandably so. It's packing a dangerous combo of fury & melody in the vein of Bad Religion, but instead of politics, their songs are all about zombies, beer, and giving your friends a hard time for no reason. If I were in the habit of rating these records with a star system (and I've considered it), I'd give this thing 4 out of 5.

Pink Lincolns - Sumo Fumes 7"

Pink Lincolns - Sumo Fumes 7" [Stiff Pole Records, 1993]

I feel like I'm finally catching up on some Florida coverage lately. First with the Stun Guns, then Load, and now this 7" I picked up once upon a time by the Pink Lincolns. These guys were a very popular band in their day, and are apparently still rockin' it.

From Wikipedia:

The Pink Lincolns are a punk rock band formed in Tampa, Florida in 1986 by vocalist Chris Barrows and guitarist Dorsey Martin. The rest of the lineup has frequently changed and currently includes bassist Kevin Coss and drummer Jeff Fox. The band has released five studio albums and six EP's as well as splits with Screeching Weasel and The Queers.^[1][2] The cover for the bands album Suck and Bloat was drawn by Iggy Pop, and their album Pure Swank was produced by Bill Stevenson of The Descendents.^[3]

This single isn't very representative of the band. One side has a cover of X Ray Specs "Oh Bondage, Up Yours!", and an uncredited track I'm assuming is an original and possibly called "Monsters". The other side has a cover of "I Got You" by Split Enz.

Teen Idols / Mulligan Stu Split.

Teen Idols / Mulligan Stu Split 7" [Rhetoric Records, 1995?]

If you follow this blog at all, you've probably read enough about the Teen Idols to get an idea of who they are and what they sound like. Mulligan Stu is a little punk pop band from Rockford, Illinois who are apparently still playing. Teen Idols do the original "Peanut Butter Girl" and a cover of Lindsay Buckingham's "Holiday Road" from the Vacation movies. Mulligan Stu contribute the infectious "I Used to Love You" as well as a cover of "Crash" by the Primitives.