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PUNK Magazine Listening Party #16 (5/2/2003)
Jolly's Birthday Bash Part One
By Jolly Prochnik, Lou Copeland, Frank from Goin' Places, James A., The General, Maddy, and John Holmstrom
It's raining out. Jolly turned 40 a few days ago, so we decided to have a marathon Listening Party. I also invited James Aquafredda (founder of RamonesMania.com/We Got The Airwaves and ex-Ramones roadie!) and his friend Frank from Goin' Places.
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PUNK Magazine Listening Party
PMB 675
200 East 10th Street
New York, NY 10003 |
Satanic Surfers | Crime | Jeff Dahl | The International Noise Conspiracy | The Tossers | Misjudged | U.S. Bombs | Turbonegro | Turbonegro | F-MINUS | Matchbook Romance | Black Keys | She Wolves | Mirrormen | Mill Valley Taters | The Used | The Miss | Dysfunction | The Dead Celebrities | The Guts | The Methadones | The Apers | The Broke | Tiger Army
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JOHN HOLMSTROM:
With a name like Satanic Surfers, I expected something better. This is just emo. It's not bad, just, you know - the same old.
JOLLY PROCHNIK:
This is a sound that I first started hearing when John started doing the Listening Parties. That sound has been honed here. I don't know if "perfected" applies, but definitely "honed." For perfected try Hot Water Music. But I gotta say: "What it is about this kind of music that seems to demand uh...corny, sensitive lyrics?" Listen, I'd rather know or meet these nice kind of people than the scum I seem to run into these days. But... Satanic? What happened to truth in advertising?
LOU COPELAND:
The sound hooks at times rise above the monotonous rhythm section. Not much subtlety in the lyrics.
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HOLMSTROM:
I remember Crime. Dennis Eichhorn (aka Ike Horn) interviewed them for PUNK #11. He wrote a funny comic strip for his Real Life Funnies comic book about it. They were the only "punk" band in San Francisco around 1976, before punk became the Sex Pistols, so they dressed in suits and wore slicked back hair and played rock 'n' roll. They were definitely unique. This is a live CD from around that time. It's a mess. It's below bootleg quality. But somewhere in the impossibly bad mix, the cassette tape recorder quality, the terrible club acoustics, is some real rock and roll.
JOLLY:
WOW! This is NUMBER ONE with a BULLET AND A BADGE! Best album title! First song: "Murder By Guitar!" This is the only thing from San Francisco I ever liked and I just started hearing it now! WOW! THE BEST! MAN! I remember hearing about these guys back when they existed! I used to dg the photos they took! THIS IS CRIME, BABY! WHEW! One time I seen a pitcher of 'em dressed from head to toe as - get this - COPS! And they were posing in front of a parked S.F. police car in front of - get this - A S.F. POLICE STATION! Not like Richard Hell and Tom Verlaine: "Then Richie said let's dress up like cops think what we could do!" And not like Blondie on Plastic Letters "Oh pretty please Mr. Nice Policeman won't you let us pose in front of your nice, pretty, blue and white car?" There was a rumor that Hank Rank (of Crime) hotwired that police car! I am more than prepared to believe it! Anyhow! Whew! Cadillac Faggot - if there's anyone doesn't like this - anyone, man, woman, child, beast, inanimate object - they're a... Well, a... I can't say it anymore. But PLAY IT! LOUD! Again... (regaining my composure) WOW!
FRANK (from Goin' Places):
The sound quality on this screams: "Bootleg." Once you get past the sound though and pay attention to the songs it's not too bad... Not too special either, but not too bad. Track 8. "Rockabilly Drugstore," caught my ear. It's just a straight-up, rock 'n' roll song.
JAMES A.:
NAILED IT. Kinda Buzzcocks, Johnny Thunders-like. Not original enough. Pretty damn good. I dunno, how they fell through the cracks for me!
6 out of 10.
LOU:
The mix is mud but the energy the band generates could supply the tri-state area.
THE GENERAL:
Crime is great. A real punk band and then some.
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HOLMSTROM:
I like this - it's awful. Sounds like a 1974 glam band. They cover a Mott The Hoople song (one of my favorite bands back then), but it sure doesn't sound like Mott.
JOLLY:
It's what I imagine Kim Fowley might have sounded like, having read about him. I leave it to you whether that's good or bad. I myself don't...
MADDY:
Nice sound but forced and squeezed. I think it chugs along right into the dirt. But the words could well deserve a better listen. When the girls started singing it all made better sense - like a girl lecturing the lover and on and on and on. I just keep feeling bored so where's my Wonder bread?
FRANK:
The opening song "Street Fighting Reptile" was OK. For the most part none of the songs really grabbed me but then again it was just a quick first listen.
JAMES A.:
Cool stuff. This is some retro-sounding music. Not bad for punk light!
4-6 out of 10.
LOU:
Reminds me of Alice Cooper's new wave records only worse.
THE GENERAL:
Sounds like a broad singing. Stupid name for a singer. The Cheese Doodles are good though.
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The International Noise Conspiracy
Bigger Cages, Longer Chains
Epitaph
www.epitaph.com |
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HOLMSTROM:
There are several music videos on this CD plus a video excerpt of Noam Chomsky. What the hell that guy has to do with rock 'n' roll is beyond me. The CD booklet has more political references in it than I've ever seen before. I wonder if these guys ever vote?
JOLLY:
Okay. Noam Chomsky on vocals. Death on bass. ONLY CIA in the audience. (Snipers and SWAT anti-sniper brigade included.) It's a complete show with OPINIONS! Gee! In America? "No way" you'd say - but, apparently - yes!
MADDY:
I like the guitars right away, like they're indulging power chordsand flipping off to funk at the same time. I have a feeling the lyrics aren't too deep.
FRANK:
I've heard a lot about this band. I actually saw them in September at Irving Plaza on the Plea for Peace Tour. They didn't make much of an impression on me that night since I was more psyched to see Common Rider. This CD however sounds pretty good. It's not what I'd usually listen to but I could see myself popping the disc in every once in a while. I wouldn't be surprised if this band ends up on mainstream radio but I don't know if that's necessarily a good thing.
JAMES A.:
I never did like INXS anyway. U2 circa 1982 but BAD!
2 out of 10.
THE GENERAL:
Noisy.
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Jolly stops the party to play Hot Water Music for some recently-arrived guests...
JAMES A.:
This band rocks. A bit of pop mixed in but they rock.
7 out of 10.
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HOLMSTROM:
Kind of like Irish folk music. It's a change from our usual Listening Party music, but it's just not my cup of tea.
JOLLY:
Okay, so don't kill every Irishman you meet.
MADDY:
Dropkick Murphys Irish jig devolves into quasi-hardcore drinking binge with people mashed together in a sweaty, unkempt mass. Appealing to some.
FRANK:
We started with the second track ("The Balled of the Thoughtful Rover") and my first thought was Flogging Molly. Then I took a look at their bio and saw that they mentioned F.M. and the Dropkick Murphys. Sounds like a good disc to listen to with a group of people to sing along to. Probably perfect to listen to while drinking, too bad for me I don't drink.
JAMES A.:
When the Irish Jig meets U.K. punk rock = Tossers.
7 out of 10.
LOU:
Trad Irish stylings with a rock 'n' roll beat. I'm not impressed.
THE GENERAL:
It's getting hard to write with so much beer and Cheese Doodles on the paper. The Cheese Doodles are good. In a little while I'm gonna stick some up my nose. On the other hand, the pork rinds stink.
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HOLMSTROM:
Chris Frantz told me about this band - his nephew's in it! They sound like one of those Exploited/Crass type bands - bad English accent and everything. I like the attitude. "Fuck Nazis" has a great chorus of "Fuck You" that's kind of catchy. "Fuck The System" is another good "Fuck" song. You can never have enough songs with four-letter words in the title.
MADDY:
The song "Fuck Nazis:" Very sharp and good sound, very sweet and innocent. Traditional hardcore which still holds the athletic promise that with the right combination of chemicals and rage, one might aspire to play faster than the others.
FRANK:
Musically this is better than most of the stuff we've heard so far tonight. The vocals remind me of Anti-Flag, especially the chanting background vocals.
JAMES A.:
PUNK & THRASH! These guys are nailin' it! Buy this or steal this but get this. It's hard, loud and fast, fast, fast!
8 out of 10.
LOU:
Kids who would be better off expending their hormonal excesses with a wank. The effluvia would end up in a tissue instead of pressed to disk.
THE GENERAL:
Yeah! They sing about having sex with Nazis! My kind of band! I really like how they sing about how Nazis are so cool.
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HOLMSTROM:
Anti-American anthem rock. This is how dumb these guys are - they do a (pretty damn good) song called "John Gottie." They can't spell the Godfather's name right? Oh well, it's all in the tradition of Dee Dee Ramone's political anthems... People who like the Clash will like U.S. Bombs.
JOLLY:
He: Sounds like pick to me, bastard!
She: Sounds a lot like the Dolls!
He: Things look bad.
She: Death.
MADDY:
Nice drummering banding guitaring musicianship right away. Excellent production. But all Clash all the way. Then I read some lyrics and flet slightly ill. Bad spelling and psycho handwriting.
FRANK:
Another good CD. The production is great (not surprising since it's on Epitaph). After a few listens I know I'd be singing along, and that's always the sign of a good band.
JAMES A.:
Boy, this party's rockin' now! I got Cheese Doodles flowin' at me and two good CDs in a row! These guys sound cool. A lil' ska in there. Mostly U.K. sound '78.
7 out of 10.
LOU:
Peppy ditties with melodic guitar breaks. I wouldn't lay out cash for it but decent background party music.
THE GENERAL:
Any band that has a picture of a burning American flag on the cover stinks. They're stupid too. I wonder if John would get mad if I wrote these reviews with a Cheese Doodle instead of a pen?
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HOLMSTROM:
I like this a lot! The photos inside the CD cover are a tribute to Alice Cooper's Love it To Death. The music reminds me of lots of good stuff like that. The third song, "Get It On," sums up their formula: Borrow the music from The Ramones "I Just Want Something To Do" (just add guitar solos) then steal lyrics from Alice Cooper's "I'm Eighteen (and I Like It)." Instant Turbonegro song. They're really derivative but I like 'em (Although they are so derivative they descend into parody at times).
MADDY:
Nice straight ahead rock tunes. Some beauty and hooky hooky play hooky, yeah, Ithink they're pretty good.
FRANK:
Nothing too fast, nothing too slow, just good and heavy rock 'n' roll. I don't know if I'd classify it as punk rock, but I can see myself giving it another listen. The goth look is a little much for my taste though. Now that I've listened for a few more minutes I find myself less and less interested in these guys.
JAMES A.:
Son of Glam! URGH! Sounds like Alice Cooper's cousin, Mo Cooper. High hair, I bet...
3 out of 10.
LOU:
A primer of musical clichés.
THE GENERAL:
BUUUUURP! How a band can be worse than Jeff Dahl is beyond me!
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HOLMSTROM:
"The Midnight NAMBLA" is a hilarious title for a song, but it's not the greatest song. "I Got Erection" is another great song title, and another disappointing song. "Hobbit Motherfuckers" is another great song title - but this time the song is OK! They're like The Jerry Springer Show on CD... Actually, they remind me a lot of Zodiac Mindwarp, but ZM was better. And I think Apocalypse Dudes is better than Ass Cobra.
MADDY:
I think it's pretty good. I can't figure out why John keeps fast-forwarding. He says we have to live through another CD.
[ED. NOTE: Everyone is complaining about listening to two CDs in a row by the same band.]
FRANK:
More of the same. I like that the cover of the CD is a spoof of the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds. Too bad that's where the similarities end.
LOU:
No songs about cute little bunnies here.
THE GENERAL:
Screw this rotten CD. Jolly is acting up and trying for a fistfight. Is there anybody more fucked up than Jolly? NOOOO!!!! I do like how he's scaring the guests at this Listening Party! Jolly rules!
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HOLMSTROM:
This is some hardcore shit. Not bad, but a steady diet becomes a bit tedious. It's like the same song over and over and over.
FRANK:
My initial thought was the singer sounds a lot like Henry Rollins. The next song sounds like it's a different singer. I tend to listen to really poppy stuff but on the occasion when I wanna listen to Minor Threat but can't find their album, this record might fit in.
JAMES A.:
They're OK for thrash. Not really punk though. Not bad.
4 out of 10.
THE GENERAL:
GREAT! GENIUS! I WANNA GET DRUNK AND BREAK SOME CHAIRS!
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HOLMSTROM:
Oh man, this is just awful. Emo - but with more feeling. Super emo. Super bad emo. Oh, I'm sorry, we always try to listen to at least three songs all the way through on every CD we review but this is torture. This might be the worst CD we've ever played at a Listening Party.
FRANK:
The more I listen to new music the more I realize that I'm out of touch with what is "cool." These days kids are eating this type of stuff up, but i just don't get it.
JAMES A.:
I hate it. Four Million sold!
3 out of 10.
LOU:
Nuts to this.
THE GENERAL:
OHHH... The pain... the pain...
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HOLMSTROM:
I like this! They bring back that bad-ass 1950s sound. And it's only two guys! I usually don't notice stuff like how a record is produced but this has a great sound. Lots of bass, real noisy. Great cover of The Sonics' "Have Love Will Travel." This is the best CD of the night! One of these days I'll have to put together a Listening Party of only the best CDs we've heard and then have a Battle of the Bands... Anyhow, these guys are contenders.
JOLLY:
It's pretty good. Like.
FRANK:
These guys have a bluesy sound. I can see my father digging this disc. They definitely know how to play their instruments. But it's just not my thing.
JAMES A.:
Not punk but funny-soundin' blues here. Sounds like it was made with a "box" radio?
4 of 10.
LOU:
Adds enough funkiness to a basic blues approach to keep my interest. Nice + fuzzy.
THE GENERAL:
Black keys singing in a garbage can - just like where they belong!
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HOLMSTROM:
I know the guitarist/singer, Donna from the Cycle Sluts From Hell. (A good band from the late 1980s/early 1990s - The General and I did a great story on them for HIGH TIMES magazine in the April 1988 issue with some awesome photos by John Eder - one of the best stories I ever worked on.) Donna's new band is really good! They're great fun. They do a great cover of the New York Dolls "Trash."
JOLLY:
(Unintelligible) Supposedly, the drugs have taken effect.
FRANK:
These songs are simple and you might find yourself singing along right away (especially track five: "Trash"). Nothing revolutionary, but a good listen.
JAMES A.:
Fun fun fun! Comic pop punk for everyone! Rip it up grrrls! The Donnas should take a few notes from them. She Wolves "Trash" cover rules!
8 of 10.
LOU:
I like this. Lots of nifty exchanges. Only an EP but it doesn't lose its momentum. Good guitar work kinda sneaks in from the side.
THE GENERAL:
THIS BAND IS THE GREATEST! SHE WOLVES ARE THE NUMBER ONE STEAK SAUCE BAND! YEEEEEAAHHHHH!! EVEN BETTER THAN CHEESE DOODLES!
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HOLMSTROM:
Okay, we're starting to lose people. Jolly has become a stark, raving, drunken and stoned loony, and people are just wearing out. And it's only 9:00 PM - we're only two hours into this. Anyhow, this CD is cool! I think if we had played it earlier in the evening it would have gotten a better reception. It's not the greatest CD ever made, but it is good, solid punk rock, and there's nothin' wrong with that.
FRANK:
I like this. It's aggressive music and vocals. I can't think of any bands they sound like. I think that's probably the best compliment any band can get.
JAMES A.:
Fast punk. Smells like Bad Religion. Cool stuff-eh!
5 of 10.
THE GENERAL:
SUCK!
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HOLMSTROM:
I like this CD a lot! Awesome stuff! I am a big fan of music without singers. I never heard of these guys before. They're from Connecticut - that's where I grew up. They sound like all the other great instrumental music I love: surf music, The Ventures, Man... or Astroman, hot rod music, The Raybeats, "The Peter Gunn Theme" etc. etc. This CD is a definite keeper.
FRANK:
Starts off kind of spooky sounding. This is a weird record - no vocals (at least from what I heard). Weird stuff.
JAMES A.:
Wow! TV theme music sells now? Great '70s "Detective" songs.
1 of 10.
LOU:
Sounds like a demo reel for a jingle composer. Innocuous, friendly to the ears, but the tracks get a little tired after about two minutes in.
THE GENERAL:
I like the food better than the band.
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HOLMSTROM:
This is the most hyped "punk" band out there right now. Well, I'm sorry to say they flat out suck.
FRANK:
This band is everywhere these days and I don't know why. I know the singer is dating Kelly Osbourne. She's cute, so I think I'll review her album instead. I know I might lose punk points for saying this but her CD is pretty damn good. I was totally surprised when I heard it. Go buy her album instead of the Used CD.
JAMES A.:
Commersh punk emo.
2 of 10.
LOU:
Suburban teen nonsense.
THE GENERAL:
ZZZ-ZZZ-ZZZ.
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HOLMSTROM:
Good atonal punk. It's not bad. It's just lacking that certain something. Something... Something that stands out and says to the listener "You've never heard anything like this before! It's different! And exciting! You're going to like this!" No, this CD is saying something that's more like the conversation you overhear on a bus.
FRANK:
The vocals are buried too low in the mix. Other than that it sounds pretty cool. With some better production these guys could make a good record.
JAMES A.:
I missed this.
LOU:
Sprightly songs with a solid rhythm section and good guitar work.
THE GENERAL:
I'd rather hear Jolly babbling. This band should be renamed the Miss-take. Things are getting weird. Jolly is calling everybody "darling."
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HOLMSTROM:
They're from Moscow! Cool! So I like 'em already! They sing in Russian so who cares WTF they're saying, right? I seem to be alone in this room when I say this, everyone else seems to dislike this, but I like this CD! It's different. I encourage the continuing spread of the international punk movement. Rocket to Russia!
FRANK:
I don't think it's fair to judge these guys because the recording itself is so bad. They very well may know what they are doing, but it's hard to tell.
JAMES A.:
These guys from Moscow get an "A" for effort. Good punk stuff. Get it!
6 of 10.
LOU:
Affectations in vocals and cheesy arrangements. No go.
THE GENERAL:
Send 'em back to Russia where they belong!
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HOLMSTROM:
It's punk rock! Punk rock! Punk rock! It's punk rock and I like it! Yeah I like it, love it, like it, love it, like it, love it, like it, it's punk rock and I like it! (Turbonegro's not the only one that can rip off Alice Cooper's "I'm Eighteen!") But I do like this! It feels like a wakeup call! It's loud and fast and funny and rockin'! They play sirens! Siren solos are cool! Hey - everyone seems to like this CD! THIS IS A DAMN GOOD PUNK ROCK BAND!!!
FRANK:
Definitely like this one. Fast & aggressive stuff. I'll give them an extra point for the funny stage names (Sid Sinatra, Elvis Kennedy, Houdini Garcia, John Paul Nixon). I think this one is worth checking out.
JAMES A.:
These guys sound like they're havin' fun! Good punk stuff! Get it!
9 of 10.
LOU:
I don't know, other caballeros seem pretty impressed with this one, but I found the vocals thin and on the irritating side.
THE GENERAL:
The band sounds better with Jolly screaming behind it. And he screams. Oh, does he scream. FUCKING GREAT BAND! (PS Jolly looks more and more like Beavis from Beavis & Butthead as the night goes on.)
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HOLMSTROM:
This here is one of them old-fashioned pop-punk bands. They got a tough act to follow in the Dead Celebs... But they're actually pretty good. They're more like The Ramones than emo. The fifth song, "Mystery Dance," is really a great song!
FRANK:
These guys are great. I looked at the cover and saw one guy wearing a Groovy Ghoulies t-shirt... Great tastes in music! Awesome background vocals and catchy as hell music. They covered Elvis Costello, too! This is my new favorite for tonight.
JAMES A.:
Great stuff here! Give this a shot ASAP!
8 of 10.
LOU:
Nah, more teen hop and bops.
THE GENERAL:
At first I liked them when I thought they were broads. The photo of them that made me laugh was the one of a band member with his cat - what a pussy!
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HOLMSTROM:
We usually like stuff from Stardumb Records - they're like a signal of quality music from overseas. Reminds me of The Dwarves: psychedelic guitar, fast and loud, lots of production tricks, good lyrics... Professional punk rock. (And I mean that in a good way!)
FRANK:
I already had this album for a month so maybe I'm a little biased, but this record is incredible. This is on Stardumb Records, which I think is the best label going today. This band features Dan Schafer on vocals, from Screeching Weasel and The Riverdales. This was recorded at Sonic Iguana by Mass Giorgini (Screeching Weasel, Groovie Ghoulies, The Huntingtons, The Beatnik Termites, The Queers, etc.) so you know it sounds like gold. Just buy the damn thing already. There isn't nearly as much Bad Religion influence on this as there was on their first album. Great stuff and catchy as hell. Best track is "Say Goodbye to Your Generation."
JAMES A.:
Good rock music here. Tight sound, some melodies.
8 of 10.
LOU:
All beware the punk that came from the suburbs.
THE GENERAL:
Good Cheese Doodle kicking ass music! A little Top 40/Matchbox 20 for my taste.
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HOLMSTROM:
Stardumb strikes again - this is more good stuff. These guys remind me of The Queers (in a good way). We're hearing some good punk rock tonight! (Except that Jolly has begun to sing along!)
FRANK:
Another home run from Stardumb. The Apers may be the best band going right now. This album is just as good as their other releases and believe me, that is saying a lot. Fans of MTX, The Queers, and Screeching Weasel will already own this. Any fan of all the other shit that is selling today should go out and buy this and learn what good music is all about. Standout tracks: All of them.
JAMES A.:
More fun here. We've officially lightened up here - fun pop punk! Good shit! Get aped!
9 of 10.
LOU:
Bah!
THE GENERAL:
Great band, and better yet - excellent record cover!
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HOLMSTROM:
Okay, at this point in the evening we've heard everything. These guys are okay but they sound like everything else we've heard. So I'm losing my critical faculties. In the spirit of fairness I'm going to end this party soon.
FRANK:
The singer reminds me of Lars from Rancid at times. This is good sing along punk rock.
JAMES A.:
Good music.
8 of 10.
LOU:
This makes me wanna take my pants off and pull them over my ears. Not impressed.
THE GENERAL:
What makes this review so painful is that Jolly just sat on my pen! I got Jolly butt germs on my fingers!!!
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HOLMSTROM:
Some excellent psychobilly to end the evening. Great version of "Twenty Flight Rock." I like psychobilly bands, there's something about the genre. I don't think I've ever heard a bad psychobilly band. I wish I could say something more intelligent but I am losing it!
FRANK:
Good stuff. It's getting late and I'm tired of hearing so many CDs, but I think if I was in a better mood I might enjoy this more.
JOLLY:
"I'm not stoned/I love my life"
-Jolly
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