various artists - Mojo Presents: Small Faces & Friends

The things I know about Small Faces could fit on an index card. I know that "Ogden's Nut Gone Flake" is one of the first concept records (if not the first), that Kenny Jones replaced Keith Moon as the Who's drummer after Moon died, and that "Whatcha Gonna Do About It?" is a killer proto-punk banger. Oh, and Steve Marriott left to start Humble Pie, which led to Rod Stewart & Ronnie Lane joining the leftover members to start Faces, whose entire catalog I celebrate.

See, an index card.

But, in the estimation of Mojo Magazine, they also had some cool friends. I'll cosign Nico (performing a Gordon Lightfoot composition) and the Nice; one of my favorite Teutonic vocalists AND some proto-prog featuring Keith Emerson is worth checking out. I only knew Murray Head from teaching me about one night in Bangkok; I discovered via this freebie from 2014 that he was a label mate of Small Faces with his 1967 single "She Was Perfection". There's an early Rod Stewart solo cut from 1968, and compiler Rob Caiger even whipped up a pair of Small Faces rarities.

This one's even got a pretty cool cover. Not something I typically see in Mojo comps, but here, it's poppin'.

Discogs

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various artists - Bloodshot Records Lonely Hearts Valentine's Day Sampler

Another St. Valentine's Day is upon us. And while some of my still-blogging brethren "celebrate" with a sad bastard emo band or a Love Stinks mix, I'm going to go in the opposite direction. Herein, I present to you a free sampler I downloaded from Amazon Music in 2011, compiled by the cheerful folx at Chicago's Bloodshot Records. If you're going to be alone on the corporately-blessed Luv Day, you might all well turn up the honky tonk, pour three fingers of Evan Williams, and belt along to some back catalog from the same gang who also brought us some great Mekons, Sadies, and Lydia Loveless records over the years. It's a time honored tradition, and while we here at Primitive Offerings won't be joining you (we'll be snuggling with the missus, god willing and the creek don't rise), we wouldn't dare mess with tradition. Or Texas. But that's neither here nor there.

Discogs

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various artists - Suburban Home Records Teaser

Eight tracks from three bands on one CD-R. All cowpunk, trucker caps, flannel, and Hot Water Music pins on a backpack torn from one too many boxcars.

This one is one I can still sing along to from memory. It got an awful lot of play, in lieu of going out to shows in 2006 & 2007. Tim Barry was making a transition from beloved frontperson of Avail to singer-songwriter territory. Matt from Planes Mistaken For Stars was part of a new Denver band called Ghost Buffalo, trodding some of the same ground that Murder By Death and Lucero were traipsing upon. Then there were the honkytonkers in Drag The River, who came to my attention because it featured Chad Price from ALL and Jon Snodgrass from Armchair Martian. Suddenly, it was all clear to call back to those country records that were playing in my early childhood, to embrace George and Tammy and Merle and Loretta. Because the punks who hadn't pivoted to an electronic future were rediscovering their country pasts.

Discogs

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various artists - Mojo Presents: Beloved (A Treasury Of Classic British Indie Rock)

Far be it for me to miss a second straight week of Mojo Mondays. And with St. Valentine's Day right around the corner, what better time is it to celebrate our beloved 80s British indie bands?

From the Monochrome Set and Orange Juice (shout out to The New Vinyl Villain for their ongoing OJ/Edwyn Collins singles series) through the Sound and Half Man Half Biscuit, all the way up to McCarthy and the La's, this is good confirmation that this was a classic era of indie for the UK. Universally, none of this broke in the States at the time of its release, but I sure as hell keep an eye out for these records in secondhand stores and thrift shop bins. This is the kind of physical media that the Gen X'ers seem to still be ditching if they didn't 86 it all when streaming really took hold. It's one of those "beggars can't be choosers" situations, where you're paying a premium to seek out specific records. But if you're down for a bit of aural adventure, you can finally determine why Julian Cope is held in such high regard, why Cherry Red is still reissuing Felt recordings 40 years on, and why you should give a damn about Pete Wylie and his various iterations of Wah! (Heat).

Discogs

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various artists - Dim Mak Records Sampler, "I'm like a stepping razor don't you watch me i'm dangerous

Long before Steve Aoki became a famed cake thrower, but after he booked HC & emo bands to play shows in his dorm room at the Pickle Patch at UCSB, he was a purveyor of some renown for the cutting edge of indie rock. This 23-year-old relic comes from just before he linked up with Bloc Party and helped break them here in the States. So it has sprinklings of fun stuff from Pretty Girls Make Graves, Panthers, the Gossip, Die Monitr Bats, and the Von Bondies. I'm partial to the contribution from post-Huggy Bear outfit the Phantom Pregnancies, as well as a live Soledad Brothers cut. It's a fun reminder of the time when the hardcore kids were playing house records alongside riot grrrl, and coke mirrors with the logo of your band were a crucial element of your show merch. 

Discogs

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various artists - Live From The Masque: Wewecancandodowhatwhatwewe Wanna Do

The second of three volumes in the "Live From The Masque" series, this one has F-Word, the Zeros, the Alleycats, and the almighty X. So two Dangerhouse bands, one of whom remains an all-timer, along with the group that gave us El Vez, and an early Posh Boy highlight. L.A. circa 1978 was so fucking cool.

Discogs

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Happy Flowers - Too Many Bunnies (Not Enough Mittens) (An Historical Perspective 1983-88)

You gotta be extremely smart to be this dumb.

Mr. Anus and Mr. Horribly Charred Infant were Inner Ear Records alumni, D.C. compatriots from down I-95 in Richmond who resembled more 9353 and No Trend than Fugazi or Shudder To Think. They made abrasive songs in the guise of a six-year-old. What's stronger than "abrasive"? Corrosive?

This 1989 CD on Homestead collects tracks from their first two LPs and three 7"s. Favorite song? "They Cleaned My Cut Out With A Wire Brush". Favorite song title? "If This Gun Were Real (I Could Shoot You And Sleep In The Big Bed With Mommy)". Happy Flowers are up there with Drunks With Guns, A.C., and G.G. Allin for musical performers that crossed the line of good taste back in the 80s and 90s. It's a shame they've not been remembered in the way those other bands have been. OK, maybe not a shame, but they're worth a retrospective.

Discogs

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various artists - Jetset In-Flight Entertainment

I couldn't quit y'all.

Jetset Records came to my attention in 1997 with their release of a Jesus Lizard 10" and the American version of Mogwai's first LP, along with a collection of their earlier recordings. TJL was a known quantity, although on the back end of their original run as kings of noise rock. And one of my best friends, an Anglophile who'd been buying a bunch of Chemikal Underground records back then, swore by Mogwai.

So that sets the scene for me getting a copy of this sampler in 1999. Mogwai's moved on to Matador here in the States, releasing "Come On Die Young" and blowing many minds. I'm familiar with who the Go-Betweens, Macha, and Firewater are, even though I haven't heard them then. I'm tickled by a band going by Prolapse, and the rest are brand new to me.

In retrospect, this is one of those perfect samplers. It's a comp built for me, the young indie rock enthusiast with a fistful of expendable income. I'm pretty sure that, with the exception of Tomorrow's World and Kid Silver, I bought every record represented here. "Bedhead Loved Macha", "The Lost Album", "England Made Me": all recordings released around this time that I still revisit on the regs.

My copy came in this clear, round clamshell, while Discogs says this came in a generic cardboard sleeve. For whatever that's worth to ya.

Discogs

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various artists - Working Holiday

Merry Xmas, friends! Let's keep it short and sweet today with this two-disc compilation of (most of) Simple Machines Records' "Working Holiday" 7" series. As per the notes, it's missing the original Bratmobile, Swirlies, and Jonny Cohen tracks, but adds a second disc of live tracks from the Working Holiday festival. There's plenty of good mid-90s indie rock to be found here in the form of Tsunami, Superchunk, Jawbox, Lungfish, Codeine, Versus, and Scrawl. The live disc adds Archers Of Loaf, Rodan, and Crain. I'm a sucker for anything Simple Machines put together, which is why I hope received the requested copy of Tsunami's "Loud As Is" from Santa this year.

Now, get back to your family, your homies, your feasting, your gift opening, a crackling fire, and/or a bottle of brown liquor. As the saying goes, however you keep Christmas is between you and the Lord. I'm taking a few weeks off to enjoy California's Central Coast and my in-laws' famous hospitality. See you sometime in January 2026.

Discogs

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various artists - Mojo Presents: Life Companion (15 Tracks That Shaped Keith Richards)

Well, it's the last Mojo Monday of the year for me. And let's end the year with one from ten years ago, celebrating our Keef. Keef will not be touring in 2026, for reasons yet to be announced publicly. But if you're old enough to have played with half the performers on this selection, then you have the right to stay your ass home and enjoy the rest of your life. After all, the Stones aren't some weekend warrior shit. They're a machine, well worth the four figure tickets for the stadium seats. Better to leave your feet up if you don't have it in you anymore...or for the time being. You're Keith Richards; you shit where you want and you owe nothing to anyone.

Discogs

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various artists - A Matter Of Degrees (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

"A Matter Of Degrees" is the second and final film directed by W.T. Morgan, who is notable for having previously directed "X: The Unheard Music". I've never seen it, probably on account of it having been released before THE YEAR PUNK BROKE, and thus being a bit of a forgotten film. It features a few A+ character actors in the form of Tom Sizemore and Wendall Pierce, with Michael Imperioli making a very early, unnamed appearance. John Doe, Kate Pierson, and Fred Schneider all show up as well, apparently. The plot revolves around a college student refusing to sell out and go to grad school, and rebelling against a corporate takeover of the college radio station. I assure the Gen Z'ers amongst my readers that, yes, this is something we were concerned about in the 90s. It actually mattered.

The soundtrack, however, is best described as "mad solid"...very representative of where the majors were fishing in the pre-Nirvana, post-Replacements college rock pond. fIREHOSE contributes an exclusive track to this soundtrack, as do Yo La Tengo. This, along with the misconception that Lou Reed had something to do with this movie (due to the cover), were the reasons I plunked down a dollar for this. Additionally, you get the Pixies song everyone put on a tape for me in the 90s, a Lemonheads track from their contemporary release, and a Miracle Legion cover of Mission Of Burma that only appeared on the Japanese release of their debut LP. There's a token hip hop track from Schooly-D, and even the great Alex Chilton shows up with "Rock Hard" from his classic 1979 record "Like Flies On Sherbert". Shout out to Jim Dunbar, who was music supervisor on the movie, did A&R for Columbia in the 90s, and also played in Wylde Ratttz for "Velvet Goldmine".

All of this is to say that I'm not going to chase down a copy of "A Matter Of Degrees", but I would probably throw it on one Sunday morning when my wife is still asleep and I'm doing laundry.

Discogs

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