Be Your Own Pet - early singles

If I remember correctly, this was one of those rare occasions on which I was sent a promo that was any good. So before the hype, I was able to get down to Rough Trade and snap up their first two singles "Damn Damn Leash" and Fire Department". I was in New York a little later and was able to get an advance copy of their first album. So in a way, Be Your Own Pet were thrust upon me by opportunity. Sadly, I never saw them live before their premature split in 2008 after only four or five years of existence.

"Damn Damn Leash" is an excellent EP, with all three songs full of energy and fire. It is probably the best thing they ever did.

So, better call the "Fire Department" to put it out. Another three great songs but more laid back in approach compared to DDL.

"Extra Extra" read all about it. I think I only have this as a download EP, but another three good songs that were not on their albums.

All - EPs

I got into ALL by accident. I had, of course, got a couple of Descendents albums (mostly because of a cover of "My World" that a scouse indie band called Drive did on a free single that came with their album "Out Freakage" in 1991). But I wasn't even aware of ALL. In about 1993, a friend on my course at University was announcing he was selling loads of his vinyl cos he was broke. There was a lot of hardcore in his collection, stuff that nowadays I would have snapped up. But a lot of it I didn't know about or like at the time. Including a Swans album that's probably worth a fortune now. I remember I bought two records. One was the first Fugazi EP. The other was Allroy Saves. He said I would like it if I liked the Descendents.

I didn't. At least not at first. Being quite different to "Milo Goes To College" and "I Don't Want To Grow Up" - I hadn't got the Descendents ALL LP. But very quickly, I grew to love it, bought "Allroy's Revenge" and bought the "Shreen" EP the day it came out.

I love the Scott Reynolds era ALL. The songwriting by all members of the band is brilliant, as is the playing. Here are two EPs from that period plus one from the first album with Chad Price on vocals.

"She's My Ex" is a great punk-pop song but I really love the b-side "Crazy". Lyrically one of their best, like "Fool" on "Allroy's Revenge", very clever and funny.

"I love you" that's what she said, but I need you like a hole in the head

"Dot" is another superb punk-pop song - two minutes of bliss. B-sides here are a cover of Johnny Cash's "Boy Named Sue" and another great song "Can't Say".

Can't say I blame you, can't deny I'm sorry, but it does me no good. Said "fuck you", I wish that I could

Guilty is OK, but not as good as the other two. I feel a bit guilty about saying that.