Fishbone - "Truth and Soul"

I really love this album. There's not much else to say. Part funk, part ska, part new wave, part punk, part hair metal (yes), and part comedy. Fishbone is awesome, but an acquired taste. I got this on cassette a few years ago from the aforementioned neighbor. It's like a Sublime made of real, live black people! (I hope that didn't sound racist, I'm just not down with whiteboy reggae.) Fishbone are an amazing band and I was lucky enough to see them a few Halloweens ago. If there's a band that you should listen to while dressed as Tank Girl and being the only minor in a crowd of too-friendly drunk old men and University students, Fishbone is probably it. Their shows don't turn out a lot of people, but this album contains their two huge singles "Ma and Pa" and "Freddie's Dead." This is a great starter for a really esoteric, underrated band.

PASSWORD:freddiesdead
87.07MB ZIP file
Click Here to purchase from Amazon.com

TRACK LISTING:
01.Freddie's Dead
02.Ma and Pa
03.Mighty Long Way
04.Pouring Rain
05.Deep Inside
06.Question of Life
07.I Like to Hide Behind My Glasses
08.Bonin' in the Boneyard
09.One Day
10.Subliminal Fascism
11.Slow Bus Movin' (Howard Beach Party)
12.In The Name of Swing
13.Ghetto Soundwave
14.Change

Akiakane - "Kasumisou"

Okay, so it's no surprise that I'm a total sucker for ladies in punk rock. This time up to bat, we've got Chiba, Japan's Akiakane. I first heard of this band on Asian Man Records' Plea For Peace vol 2. These little girls are FIRECRACKERS, and I love it. Imagine if the Powerpuff Girls started a punk band! Okay, maybe that was a tad general, but I swear this is exactly what it would sound like! If that doesn't appeal to you, fine. But you're missing out.

PASSWORD:unclesam
34.94MB ZIP file
Click Here to purchase from Asian Man Records

TRACK LISTING:
01.Uncle Sam
02.Tepee
03.Clover
04.1945
05.Kaze to Tomoni
06.Hanamichi
07.Kasumisou
08.Dear Friend
09.I'm Not Down
10.Fuckin' Media
11.Fighting Spirits
12.On the Record
13.E.M.I.

Blatz - "A Touch of..."

Blatz is a band that you either love or hate. Touted by many as "the worst band ever," they're named after "the worst beer ever." Released on Lookout! Records in 1990 as a split LP with FILTH, this is ONLY the Blatz side. It contains a FEAR cover, screechy and abrasive lady vocals, and very little talent. If I had to throw together a description it would be "Cleveland Bound Death Sentence gets drunk, takes some downers, and shits itself while playing singalongs." Yes, there's a high likelihood that you will hate this, but if you're more about fun and Gilman St. History, go for it! (Sidenote: A local band, Cizana, does a bitchin' cover of Berkeley is My Baby)

PASSWORD:tucsonismybaby
99.19MB ZIP file
Click Here to purchase from Alternative Tentacles

TRACK LISTING:
01.Fuk Shit Up
02.Fuk NY
03.Lullaby
04.Blatz to the Future
05.Hustler
06.Homemade Speed
07.Lullaby & Chuck
08.Berkeley is my Baby (and I Wanna Kill it)
09.Cockroach Cafe
10.California
11.Dolly
12.I Don't Care About You
13.FSU
14.Learning How to Smile
15.Roadkill
16.Nausea
17.WW3