... Cassette

... LP, Vinyl record album

Anthrax's I'm The Man EP may be dumb fun, but it's high-minded dumb fun, and done with geniune love for classic rap. . .gutsy stuff from these true godfathers of thrash metal, from a time when their peers took themselves way too freaking seriously. Well, either gutsy, or maybe they just didn't give a s**t, which makes it all the more amusing. Punchy riffs, an obvious take on Billy Squier's "Big Beat" in the drums, and their knowingly goofy attempts at Beastie Boys-style comic rap. If rap metal began and ended right here we'd be better off, but we won't blame Anthrax for all the bad stuff to come! Includes "I'm The Man (Censored Radio Version)", "I'm The Man (DEF Uncensored Version)" – plus live versions Anthrax staples "Caught In A Mosh", "I Am The Law" and "I'm The Man". LP, Vinyl record album

Essential late 80s thrash from one the genres linchpin bands! State Of Euphoria draws the short straw when it comes to critical recognition of the band's 80s output, thanks in no small part to the fact that it's the full length follow up to Among The Living. It's hard to live up to the legacy of one of the greatest American heavy metal albums of all time, but we're feeling pretty euphoric revisiting this one after all these years! Anthrax always leaned more on trudging riffs than lightning speed or showy guitar solos, arguably making them the most fun of thrash's vaunted "Big 4" and this one holds up better than it's given credit for. Includes their classic cover of Trust's "Antisocial", "Be All, End All", "Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind", "Schism", "Misery Loves Company", "13" and more. 2LP pressing includes a 2 bonus versions of "Antisocial" – with French language vocals and a live recording at Hammersmith Odeon – plus "Friggin' In The Riggin'", "Pipeline", "Parasite" & "Le Sects". LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

Essential late 80s thrash from one the genres linchpin bands! State Of Euphoria draws the short straw when it comes to critical recognition of the band's 80s output, thanks in no small part to the fact that it's the full length follow up to Among The Living. It's hard to live up to the legacy of the one of the greatest American heavy metal albums of all time, but we're feeling pretty euphoric revisiting this one after all these years! Anthrax always leaned more on trudging riffs than lightning speed or showy guitar solos, arguably making them the most fun of thrash's vaunted "Big 4" and this one holds up better than it's given credit for. Includes their classic cover of Trust's "Antisocial", "Be All, End All", "Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind", "Schism", "Misery Loves Company", "13" and more. CD

One of those landmark meetings of mighty talents that sounds even better on record than it does on paper – as the set somehow finds this really special space that's completely between all the best early 70s modes of both Terry Riley and John Cale! Cale was really coming into his own at the time as a solo act – creating amazing records after leaving the Velvet Underground, but also still tied to the deeper art scene from which he emerged. Riley was on the way to becoming one of the most popular of the more modern composers – thanks to a nod from The Who, and a big audience for his wonderfully trippy records on Columbia. The label allowed the pair to create this really special music here – sounds that borrow from Riley's minimalism, while also having some of the darkness of Cale's own compositions – and coming across with this jagged, almost modal sort of approach that's really great. Cale only sings on one song, and the rest of the set is instrumental – as Riley plays piano, organ, and soprano sax – and Cale joins in on bass, guitar, viola, and harpsichord. The two of them groove together in these totally cool tracks that build and build, with minimal lines repeating over and over in endlessly fascinating groove – in a way that touches on a weirdly funky mode! The cut "Ides Of March" has the potential to be dancefloor groover in the jazz dance scene, and there's lots of other great tracks like "Church of Anthrax", "The Protege", and "The Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles". CD

One of those landmark meetings of mighty talents that sounds even better on record than it does on paper – as the set somehow finds this really special space that's completely between all the best early 70s modes of both Terry Riley and John Cale! Cale was really coming into his own at the time as a solo act – creating amazing records after leaving the Velvet Underground, but also still tied to the deeper art scene from which he emerged. Riley was on the way to becoming one of the most popular of the more modern composers – thanks to a nod from The Who, and a big audience for his wonderfully trippy records on Columbia. The label allowed the pair to create this really special music here – sounds that borrow from Riley's minimalism, while also having some of the darkness of Cale's own compositions – and coming across with this jagged, almost modal sort of approach that's really great. Cale only sings on one song, and the rest of the set is instrumental – as Riley plays piano, organ, and soprano sax – and Cale joins in on bass, guitar, viola, and harpsichord. The two of them groove together in these totally cool tracks that build and build, with minimal lines repeating over and over in endlessly fascinating groove – in a way that touches on a weirdly funky mode! The cut "Ides Of March" has the potential to be dancefloor groover in the jazz dance scene, and there's lots of other great tracks like "Church of Anthrax", "The Protege", and "The Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles". CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

A great look at the huge second wave of UK punk after the bigger labels were leaving the music behind at the end of the 70s – a bold surge of independent sounds from the underground, including a fair bit of work that was really pushing the boundaries of the music and its politics at the time! Some of these groups are strongly in the spirit of 1977, others are even more radical, and still others are maybe more rough around the edges with an agenda that's a bit hard to figure out – a bit like the way that the LA hardcore scene was changing at the time too. The package provides a huge amount of detail on the moment – a lavish book-style set with pages of notes on the groups and their music, and lots of great images too – all to support a whopping 117 tracks by the likes of Urban Dogs, Anthrax, Anti Pasti, Poison Girls, Cockney Rejects, The Toy Dolls, Blitz, The Ejected, Chelsea, Rudi, GBH, 4 Skins, Charge, Vice Squad, The Mob, UK Subs, Blitzkrieg, The Insane, Damned, Erazerhead, The Samples, Chaotic Dischord, The Adicts, Anti-Nowhere League, Angelic Upstarts, Rabid, Violators, Crash TV, Icons Of Filth, Ultra Violent, Omega Tribe, Subculture, Criminal Justice, and dozens of others! CD

Two very cool, very trippy numbers – both with almost a freakbeat sort of vibe! "Look At The Lights" has superb arrangements from John Cameron – who brings in a bouncy groove with jazzy flourishes next to the more psychedelic vocals, lyrics, and guitar! "Hold On To Your Mind" is an especially unusual number – very obscure, and a track that begins with this freewheeling romp that mixes piano, percussion, and a rolling rhythm that's maybe a more condensed version of the Church Of Anthrax territory explored by John Cale and Terry Riley – then graced with wicked vocals that really send the whole thing over the top! 7-inch, Vinyl record

Maybe one of the last moments of genius from Public Enemy – and a set that still has their power and politics very much at the top of their game! The message may even be more powerful than the music at points – no surprise for Chuck D and crew at this point in their career – but in comparison to so many other weaker records from the time, the whole thing's still held up very well with age – and has managed to slide strongly into the rest of their previous catalog. Titles include their popular "Bring Tha Noize" duet with Anthrax – plus "Get the F–- Outta Dodge", "Can't Truss It", "By The Time I Get To Arizona", "Nighttrain", "Shut Em Down", "A Letter To The New York Post", "1 Million Bottlebags", and "More News At 11". CD

Maybe one of the last moments of genius from Public Enemy – and a set that still has their power and politics very much at the top of their game! The message may even be more powerful than the music at points – no surprise for Chuck D and crew at this point in their career – but in comparison to so many other weaker records from the time, the whole thing's still held up very well with age – and has managed to slide strongly into the rest of their previous catalog. Titles include their popular "Bring Tha Noize" duet with Anthrax – plus "Get the F–- Outta Dodge", "Can't Truss It", "By The Time I Get To Arizona", "Nighttrain", "Shut Em Down", "A Letter To The New York Post", "1 Million Bottlebags", and "More News At 11". CD

Maybe one of the last moments of genius from Public Enemy – and a set that still has their power and politics very much at the top of their game! The message may even be more powerful than the music at points – no surprise for Chuck D and crew at this point in their career – but in comparison to so many other weaker records from the time, the whole thing's still held up very well with age – and has managed to slide strongly into the rest of their previous catalog. Titles include their popular "Bring Tha Noize" duet with Anthrax – plus "Get the F–- Outta Dodge", "Can't Truss It", "By The Time I Get To Arizona", "Nighttrain", "Shut Em Down", "A Letter To The New York Post", "1 Million Bottlebags", and "More News At 11". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic compilation that was a key primer on punk rock and new wave for the mainstream in the US – one that pulls together some of the best late 70s tracks from both sides of the Atlantic, into one package that's overstuffed with great work! Most of these numbers have gone onto be classics, but a few are ones that didn't stand the test of time – and titles include "Subways" by Urban Verbs, "Map Reference 41 N 93 W" by Wire, "Temper" by John Cale, "Social Fools" by Devo, "I'm Straight" by Modern Lovers, "Busy Little B Side" by Pearl Harbor & The Explosions, "Swan Lake" by Public Image, "Anthrax" by Gang Of Four, "No Fun" by Sex Pistols, "Video Killed The Radio Star" by Buggles, and "Nervous Breakdown" by Brian Briggs. LP, Vinyl record album