SECOND STORY WINDOW – 12″

  In relation to the 3 Studies post there is even less information here for SSW… They released a 7″ in 93 & a 12″ in 94, both for Gravity Records. They were also the post Heroin band for bass player Ron Johnson. I wasn’t that hot on this record in the past but hearing it now I like it, it’s something of the Gravity ’missing link’. The songs are short with a chaotic urgency but well played and in a punk style very similar to Spacehorse. At the time I imagine they drew a few Fugazi comparisons (how reviewing has changed) as many things outside the conventions of ‘punk’ did back then. The vocals are heavy on the Rites of Spring influence but in the same way Torches to Rome took inspiration. For ease the cover image was scanned from the photo in the DIY Album Art book that came oput this year. If you have not seen the book yet I highly recommend checking it out. The only other bit of reliable knowledge I have is that Ron tried out as bassist for Cars Get Crushed. Paging Jeff Winterberg, please report!

THREE STUDIES FOR A CRUCIFIXION – Demo

 

 Following on from the last post I figured it may be beneficial if somehow people can get more info on certain bands. In particular there are barely any traces of Three Studies for a Crucifixion, none that I can find anyway. This is as much as I know: the band was from Columbus, OH and existed between 94-99. They seemed to only release split records (Coleman, Harriet the Spy & Melt Banana) and this demo from 1994? There were a few comp tracks, most notably the Amnesia compilation on Ebullition. The style was very in keeping with the ‘modern hardcore’ sound of the mid 90’s. Queues here taken from labels like Gravity, Gern Blandsten, Vermin Scum, Old Glory etc. Anyhow, check out this 5 track demo (no titles) and see what you make of it:

THREE STUDIES FOR A CRUCIFIXION – Demo 1994

 

HARRIET THE SPY / 3 STUDIES FOR A CRUCIFIXION split 7″

 Just a quick blast here… This split 7″ between Harriet the Spy and Three Studies for a Crucifixion was released in 1997 on Donut Friends. Harriet the Spy came from Kent, OH and made something of an arty post hardcore racket. In fact this recording sounds like something Vermin Scum would’ve released around that time, and probably would’ve if they were a Baltimore band. Three Studies for a Crucifixion were from Columbus, OH and I always thought they had an excellent choice of bandname. Three Studies sound like they would’ve fitted in well on Gravity, and probably would have if they were from Southern California. 

 

 

 I just checked out what members of each band were doing now. One guy (guitarist) from 3 Studies plays in a band called Dead Sea who I have never heard of before now but shall be checking out further. Teeth of the Hydra I have heard before, they feature Jamie Stillman on drums and I think the vocalist from 3 Studies. Post Party of Helicopters Stillman plays with new band Drummer. This split 7″ is packaged in a screened manilla envelope with glued picture on the back, something of the ‘emo’ prerequisite at the time. Although this record can be pinpointed of the era it comes across as uncontrived and is an honest statement for both bands. Records like this just never happen anymore, so have a quick reminder of twelve years ago hardcore.

PARTY OF HELICOPTERS – Fairy God Fighters 7″

 

  I’m not going to say much here… The Party of Helicopters have always been a great favourite of mine. This excerpt from a press release helps give a good idea:  ’a big tangle of knotted up guitar riffs, thundering percussion, saw toothed fuzz bass, and vocal melodies that dart and dive and wander like a hobo.’ Or ’an insanely good rock band’ which hits the nail on the head plainly speaking. ’Fairy God Fighters’ was the band’s first 7″ released on Donut Friends in 1996:

GOLDEN – 7″s

 

 

 GOLDEN, a name seldom heard since the 1990’s. I lost off after ’Super Original Movement’ some 10 years ago now. It would appear they did another two records before changing their name to Extra Golden and playing a very different style altogether. It was easy to see early on that they had a hybrid sound that put them somewhere between The Fucking Champs, Trans Am & Don Caballero.

 According to ‘the internet’ they released an album ‘ Here comes the Golden fuzz” in 1997 on Slowdime, I’m not inclined to believe this even exists for a number of reasons… If anyone can clear this matter up, or either upload it? that would be fantastic. Golden’s s/t on Transsolar was probably most people’s intro to the band, it was something of an ear opener at the time. I’m tempted to upload more stuff but you can still buy a lot of it here, everything I have heard I can recommend highly.

 As far as I know there were only two 7″s, the first with large foldout Derek Hess artwork features two tracks recorded by Bob Weston in 1995. The second released in 1999 is a bit more obscure with what was to become a new direction with ‘Deep Skills’. In many ways similar to The Sorts but with additional dirty funk. B-side is ‘Violator’ a ZZ top tribute recorded on what sounds like a 4 track. This is a brilliant lofi tribute, with accurate solo-ing. Both weird and catchy like Trans Am.

GOLDEN 7″s