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Has anyone noticed FnB isn’t around that much? Please allow me to delve deeply into this topic.
cub – Great band. Too bad their first two albums “Betti-Cola” and “Come Out, Come Out” are out of print. However, for those of you who wish to continue to follow the work of Lisa Marr I strongly urge you to check out Buck (which kind of picks up where cub’s last album, “Box Of Hair” left off). Buck’s s/t album is on SFTRI. She also put out a country-ish album under the name The Lisa Marr Experiement, and she did a collab album with Kim Shattuck of the Muffs called The Beards. It’s all good.
that dog – “Retreat From The Sun” was easily their best work. Anna Waronker’s solo album was along these lines but not as enjoyable as any of the 3 that dog albums. Also: Petra Haden’s solo album is kinda cool if you’re into a cappella “la la las” with some violin sprinkled in once of twice.
Muffs – “Blonder and Blonder” is a classic. All others have their hit moments but alas, writing the perfect pop nugget after perfect pop nugget doesn’t come to Kim as much as it once did. Also, her voice is pretty shot now.
Rose Melberg – the first Softies album will always remain my favorite. Tiger Trap was great, well worth seeking out. The Go Sailor collection is pretty cool if you want a little more pep and a little less twee. I would avoid the Gaze stuff. I don’t think it really was her band, she just played drums and sang back-ups. Not near as awesome as any of her other work. The Rose Melberg solo album is spectacular as well.
Talulah Gosh and Heavenly = two very underrated bands. Very. The TG album that K put out is essential, as is Heavenly’s “Vs. Satan”, “P.U.N.K. Girl” and “Operation: Heavenly”
Damone = I don’t think much more needs to be said. Made my top 10 last year. Awesome record.
Veruca Salt, Belly/Tanya, Letters To Cleo, Helium, Frogpond, pretty much all other 90’s college radio bands that have been listed = all fall under my “5 Good Songs Per Album” phenomenon. I can’t dismiss the hits that Elastica, the Cardigans, and Sleeper put out, but I can resist the filler that’s found on their albums (not necessarily bad stuff, none of these bands were bad, but none of them I would label tremendous or indispensable). These are the records you buy used for 5 bucks and under. (Although to be fair, the first Cardigans album is worth full price – it’s a gem). I could (and have, in the case of LTC) take the relatively small catalogs these bands put out and made one awesome compilation with them.
Lots more to say about other people’s recommendations (…were they recommendations, or are people just listing what’s in their collection?)
Here’s some more stuff to check out:
Prissteens – Scandal Controversy And Romance. Great album from top to bottom. The whole band is credited with songwriting but it is suspected that this was a Damone/early Donnas-like band, where this one guy wrote the tunes and 3 girls fronted the action. RIYL: Joan Jett, the Muffs
Beautys – Liquor Pig. A cool, squirrelly, r’n’r garage rock trio. Chica Baby had some great pipes. RIYL: whiskey drinking, tattooed women.
Riot Grrl stuff – not sure if Bikini Kill and their ilk was mentioned yet. Check out Bort Compilation # 14 or 15 for the best of the best.
Dear Nora – if you ask me you should all go to Magic Marker records and buy her complete discography. 3 of her releases have made my year end top lists. It’s sweet, simple but very striking, lo-fi indie bedroom pop. Sometimes Dear Nora is a jangle pop trio, other times it is just Katy Davidson with a 4 track. RIYL: the Softies, Rose Melberg, maybe a less world-weary Nico, The Softies.
The Tough & Lovely – Born Of The Stars. Just discovered this band this year. The lead vocalist is awesome, she can really belt it out. Many of the tunes are Oldies/Nuggets derived but that’s what makes it great. RIYL: PJ Harvey at her most passionate and rockingest.
POP PUNK STUFF. If you like Damone, or the Muffs, or Joan Jett, or a combination of those in some form, check out:
The Unlovables – Crush, Boyfriend, Heartbreak (Whoa Oh Records). Power poppy punk stuff that’s like Damone and the Go-Gos and a teenager girl’s diary all meshed together.
Riff Randells – Lethal Lipgloss 10” (Alien Snatch records). Catchy, fun, sometimes sexy punk with loads of sugar.
The Soviettes – LP and LP2 (Adeline Records). Easily the favorite amongst lovers of rock’n’roll (female fronted or otherwise). Both LPs are a feeding frenzy of catchy-as-hell rock.
Excessories – Pure Pop For Punk People (Screaming Apple Records). The title says it all. Also the same label put out the Exploding Hearts LP, so that’s gotta count for something…
Anyway, that’s that. Hope someone finds something good.
bort
np: Swans
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