Joy Zipper - Early EPs and compilation tracks

No I this month due to a lack of Inspiration. So instead, a special treat for you in J.

Husband and wife team Vincent Cafiso and Tabitha Tindale entertained us for nearly 10 years as Joy Zipper with their blend of blissed-out alterno-pop songs. I can remember listening to the first album when it came out on a listening post in Rough Trade, Talbot Road. I didn't buy it. I don't remember why exactly. I've a feeling that it was hyped a little bit and I was underwhelmed. It was four years later that I got into Joy Zipper with the release of their mini-LP "The Stereo and God", in particular it was the songs "If I'm Right" and Gun Control". As usual in these cases I had to reassess my previous opinions of the debut album and hunt out all of the early EPs. And here they are. Firstly is 1999's "Christine Bonilla" EP featuring two exclusive b-sides.

Boy Clipper

Secondly is 2002's "Gun Control" EP featuring the excellent "Christmas Song" and "Gun Control" (different to the version that appears on "The Stereo and God") as well as an exclusive b-side "Moonmoonmoon".

Soy Dipper

And thirdly, the "Ron" EP from the same year with b-sides "Absent Father" and an instrumental version of "Dosed and Became Invisible".

Toy Slipper

To round off the post is a collection of four tracks from compilation albums over the years. All covers, they include The Clash's "Hitsville UK", The Cure's "Just Like Heaven", The Pixies "Wave Of Mutilation" and Daniel Johnstone's "Held The Hand". Enjoy.

Ploy Gripper

In retrospect I think I was right about their first album, but "American Whip" and "The Heartlight Set" more than made up for it.

Helmet - Biscuits For Smut EP

1994's Betty is probably my favourite Helmet album and so I've chosen the singles from that album for today's post.

First is Wilma's Rainbow, a seven track EP containing five live versions of some of their best tracks.

You're mentally endowed

The second single from Betty was "Biscuits For Smut". This EP contains a different version of Milquetoast called Milktoast, an exclusive b-side and a remix of Biscuits.


Better fed than forced

Geisha - Hymns For The Living Dead

This, their second EP from 2004, contains four tracks of mind-blowing riffs and the most extraordinary raw power. I have no idea how to get a hold of their more recent output; albums "Mondo Dell'Orrore", "Die Verbrechen Der Liebe" and "Maudit A Minuit" otherwise I would send you there. I have the first and third but can't remember where I got them. Their website has info on releases but no obvious way of buying them. My copy of this EP is obviously a promo, as it has a press release in it with some terrible quotes including "Geisha have piss all over their chips and an antisocial behaviour order in the post" by manchestermusic.co.uk. The website doesn't have this quote any more - instead it says "This is music for aspiring serial killers where everything is fuzzed up past the point of sensibility. Even the drums and indeed the distortion has distortion on it." Fair enough.

Pish and chips

Fighting With Wire - Singles and compilation tracks

 Few bands have caught my attention more over the last couple of years than Fighting With Wire. Out of the ashes of Jetplane Landing, FWW pushed the rock up a notch and are quite rightfully seen as the Irish Foo Fighters by lazy journalists and me. There's so much good stuff coming out of Ireland at the moment; And So I Watch You From Afar, Bats, Adebisi Shank etc. I've been eagerly awaiting their follow-up album from 2008's "Man vs. Monster" - supposedly due out this year. In the meantime, like me, you will have to put up with a collection of EPs and compilation tracks that have appeared. But what a treat they are!

First off is, what I believe to be, their 2010 tour EP "I Am Ursus". Chances are, when the new album comes out, these four tracks will become generally available because at the moment they really aren't.

Tour de force

Second are the two b-sides from their 2009 single "Sugar" which includes one of my favourite FWW tracks "After The Show".

Sweet sweet music

Third is the four track self-titled EP that got me into the band in 2008. The first track "Everyone Needs a Nemesis" is on the album but the other three are not.

Writing with fire


Finally is a collection of odds and ends. The b-side of their extremely limited (300 copies) "All For Nothing" 7" called "Photograph", and four other tracks that have appeared on various compilations.

Take a picture, it'll last longer

If you want to buy the album or any other releases they make available go to Smalltown America here. I strongly recommend it. They also released three more EPs as far back as 2004 that I have been unable to track down for love nor money: EP1, EP2 and "Machine Parts". If anyone knows where I can locate these items I'd really appreciate it.

Ex Models / The Seconds - Raw Wild Love

An interesting little EP this. Two tracks by each band. I really liked the first Ex Models album "Other Mathematics"; less impressed by their follow up "Zoo Psychology". Like Shellac meets Talking Heads, you might say they sound. This EP came out in between albums and was a split with the Seconds, whom I've never heard of. But I've included their songs as they're actually quite good - punky.

Pheasant pluckers

Dinosaur Jr - Whatever's Cool With Me

It was never going to be too long before Dinosaur Jr made an appearance on this blog. As all of the early EPs are available on Fossils or as extras on the re-releases of the first three albums, I've chosen "Whatever's Cool With Me" which, to my knowledge, is no longer commercially available. May Warner Music ask me politely to remove this post if that isn't so. The title track and "Sideways" are exclusive to this EP along with two live tracks; "Thumb" and "Keep The Glove". Despite being a fan since about 1990, I never saw them live until about 1996 in Cambridge. I was stood at the front and had J's Marshall stack full in my face. I can remember my hair being blown by the soundwaves and my ears bursting during "Sludgefeast".  Pardon?

The Chalets - Nightrocker + Live on Other Voices

They weren't with us long but made a fairly large impact on me. Dublin's The Chalets apparently formed after attending an ATP in Camber Sands (in the good old days when they had more bands on playing for less time and you could smuggle beer in more easily). One album and a few singles later they were gone. But not forgotten. Here is one of their EPs "Nightrocker" with three exclusive b-sides plus, as an extra special treat, a live recording of their appearance on Ireland's "Other Voices" that I ripped from the internet some time ago. Five tracks including two written after the release of their album. I can't explain why I like the Chalets so much. Maybe it's because they're from Dublin. Maybe it's because Paula 'Pee Pee' Cullen is so lovely. Er... hang on... Check in. Check out.