If the posts on Facebook are the thermometer, the Freaks of Nature still enjoy the status of cult-band even among the most haunted garage-sound lovers, at least here in Italy.Moreover, given the absence of magazines and being absent on Youtube and Spotify, I'm not surprised. Same fate touched years ago to Oh No's, whose record I believe is on the net and only my paper on paper, however short as he wanted at the time the director of a magazine that feared unconditional love for the garage-punk and instead suffered the harassment of those who wanted indie rock in power.
  
Come out of Phoenix now five years ago and with a real album (here included in full along with all the tracks of the two singles except one), the Freaks of Nature are faithful to the line of the wildest garage-punk branded Back from the Serious . Stuff that even on digital media, sounds like a troglodyte shit recorded at Sound Ideas or Pharaoh Records Studio by bands like Alarm Clocks and Zakary Thaks while the parents were on vacation

From the covers of It's to Cryin 'Shame , Now You Say We're Through , Do not Blow Your Mind and Can not Tame Me down to Paula (obviously dedicated to Pierce delle Pandoras),Make Me Cry , the Diddleyani What's the Use? , Hurtin ' gruesomesian dementia , the plucked and wobbly Yardbirds of Wonder Why , the Freaks of Nature report garage-punk in the pit.

Arm yourself with shovel.

​Franco "Lys" Dimauro

ANYTHING RELATED WITH THE BAND FATHERS DAY IF YOU USE THE CODE: FATHERSDAY2018

Now through June 17th we are going to be offering 50% everything in the store related to the band Fathers Day.

Mountain Rock (Reissue) – Orindal Records

This is the first album I really got into this year. I don’t normally include reissues on my best of lists but this had to be an exception. I have listened to this album easily 80 times (at least) this year. I feel really lucky I got to see Dear Nora so many times this year too, every time was perfect.

Previously Unreleased

Despite not releasing anything this year, Mia Loucks has actually recorded and sent me about a dozen new songs (including this one) in 2017 and they are all wonderful. I really hope she puts out more music soon.

Faust Studio Sessions And Other Recordings – Klangbad Records

Mary Ocher actually released 2 albums in 2017. The Faust Studio Sessions… album is more of a B-Sides album but I really enjoyed it and Related Records is re-issuing it on cassette later this year.

Art Guards – Lauren Records

I feel like “Art Guards” should have been on everyone’s end of year list. This is easily my favorite album of 2017. The whole thing is written like a really beautiful/complicated storyline movie script with every character and story coming together in the end. Like, I cannot stress this enough, listen to this album and I know you will love it. I wish I put it out

A Bit Of Both – Self Released

I’ve been a fan of everything Paul does and I am really happy he finally put out a full length album this year of his weirdo/minimal keyboard music. This is my favorite one on the album and actually the longest song on the album, it’s over 11 minutes long

Introduction To Escape-Ism – Merge Records

This might be my favorite thing Ian Svenonius has ever done. It feels unlike anything he’s done before but you listen to it and you’re like “oh wow this is so Ian Svenonius” it’s minimal, it’s raw, its tough, it sounds old, it feels brand new, and like everything he does it’s so fucking cool!

We Can’t Go Back Now – Cold Rhymes Records

The album this is on is more of a compilation or “greatest hits” for Jack Topht. You see this is the first legit release the dude has had. Everything he has released before this was on a CD-R or home recorded cassette tape.

Clit Kat Worldwide – Penniback Records

My favorite punk band in Los Angeles right now. DANG! These kids are wild! They have been around since 2014 and this is their first full length release. It rules, they play the smell in LA all the time. Go see them sometime and go crazy.

The New Malaise – Self Released (but should be out on Slope Records soon.)

Losing My Shit is on the 3rd Man Hands album and I think it’s their best. It was supposed to come out in 2017 officially on Slope Records but it was delayed for a bunch of dumb reasons so the band made a handful of CD-R’s and started selling the new album at their shows this year.

Get This In Ya – Self Released

These dudes are from Australia and they rip - simple, dumb, fun punk music written by poor 17-18 year olds kids in the sunshine coast. My spouse introduced them to me later in the year, I downloaded their two EP’s and cannot get enough.

Young Brothers – Southpaw Records

Pretty much any project that came out of the early 2000’s disco-sex-rock group Gravy Train I am a huge fan/supporter of. Younger Lovers rule, this new album is a lot mellower than the others and comes across as more sincere and romantic than their previous albums and I love it.

Self Titled – Self Released

I work with 3/4s of the members of this band at my day job. They are all old mid-late 90s punk guys and have been playing in bands together forever. The thing I like the most about El Googly Diablo is the lack of attitude/image, it’s just pure friendship rock n roll

Mono or Mono – Flap Fjord Records

What can I say? When it’s good, it’s good. They recently added a horn section and I think it adds a lot. Their new album is solid and creepy.

They Don’t Think It Be Like It Is But It Do – TVLIFE Entertainment

MAAAAAAANNNN Exxxtra Crispy is my favorite band to come out of 2017. Easily the most refreshing thing I’ve heard recently and they like to get wild live. Austin (or I guess he goes by Ricky now) Is such a great front man and sax player and the rest of the band is really tight as well.

Under The Cover with Ryan & Andrew – Related Records

This is a cover of a GST Mugwump song that was recorded in 2015. In 2017 Related Records released a sort of B-Sides album for D+H & right before it was released D+H decided to go on a hiatus. So this song is kind of ironic to hear now, but it’s also my favorite song on the album.

Homophobin’ Single – Self Released

I’ve wanted to hear a song calling out ska homophobia for a couple of years now (at least since 2015 when the ska band Be Like Max harassed & bullied my friend for being gay online) I don’t know this Matt Wixson guy but I am really happy he wrote this song, I hope I see more of this in 2018

FGGTFAILUR – Self Released

FGGTFAILUR is the first full length release from my longtime friend Jaime, he’s been doing this electronic, sexy, angry, performance art project since 2005 and I am so happy this exists.

Top Of The Pile – Self Released

Like so many other artists on this mix, Cult of the Yellow Sign has been around for such a long time and just never released anything legit until this year. If you are a fan of vaudeville, nerdy shit, gameboy music or the occult I highly suggest checking them out.

Demos That Got Stuck In The Tar – Self Released

Dinosaur Love was really busy this year. In April Related Records released the full length album “The Gospel” and recorded a second full length album that should come out in 2018. They also released a collection of demos that didn’t make it & I think it’s some of their best work.

Orphan Arms – Self Released

I saw this freak folk duo in 2014 and bought their album Biotic Rituals and it was one of my favorite albums of 2014. This new album features a lot more members and gets even freakier and more conceptual. Very classic performance art type shit that I love.

We also released a new compilation since the last blog post called "Recherché"

This is the new website, I am still tweaking things here and there, but let me know what you think. The store is almost ready, there are a handful of items on it feel free to check it out and order something!

We have a bunch of new releases planned for the next year and I'm not sure whats coming out first new releases from Mooey Moobau, Saint Dad, Hi My Name Is Ryan, Turqouiz Noiz and Yairms

It comes out officially on November 16th on limited edition turquoise colored cassettes (limited to only 100) and vinyl (limited to only 500) They are about to embark on tour which starts November 11th. Tour schedule is below make sure to follow them on facebook and see them when they come to your town.

NOVEMBER 11 - SAN FRANCISCO, CA @VACATION w/Diesel Dudes
NOVEMBER 12 - LOS ANGELES, CA @HOUSE SHOW w/The Mad Walls
NOVEMBER 13 - PHOENIX, AZ @LOST LEAF w/Mooseknuckle Sandwich
NOVEMBER 14 - LA PUENTE, CA @BRIDGETOWN DIY w/Vision
NOVEMBER 17 - SAN FRANCISCO, CA @EAGLE TAVERN w/Andy Human & The Reptoids**
NOVEMBER 18 - PORTLAND, OR @AMERICAN LEGION HALL w/Melt**
NOVEMBER 19 - SEATTLE, WA @THE CENTRAL SALOON w/Steal Shit Do Drugs**
NOVEMBER 21 - SEATTLE, WA @OFFICE SPACE w/Nail Polish**
NOVEMBER 22 - PORTLAND, OR @TWILIGHT CAFE w/Mr. Wrong**


** w/bAdbAd

First the new Human Behavior full length "Kedumim" which I gotta say is their best release so far. It comes out officially on September 2nd. You can pre-order a copy of it here. It will ship out August 29th. Vinyl release is available through folktale records.

Next is the first full length from The Pooches. I have been a fan of these guys for the past couple years and I was so excited when they approached me about releasing their new album on cassette. I special ordered olive green colored cassettes that turned out amazing! This album comes out officially on September 9th. You can pre-order it here. All Pre-orders will ship out on September 5th. Vinyl release is available through Lame-O records. This album has already received some great press from Impose Magazine and Stereogum.

Then on September 19th we are officially releasing the debut release from the Drew Danburry/John-Ross Boyce project known as The Funny Uncles. This is over 100+ minutes of music spanning between 3 Red, White and Blue colored cassettes. The album will also feature a zine of amazing illustrations from John-Ross. His artwork is so cool! and I know everyone is going to want it. Related Records is pre-ordering a VERY limited number of these, you can order it here. Orders will be shipped out as soon as it's finished (which will probably be the first or second week of September) The rest of the copies of this release will be with the duo while they are on tour this fall go here for full tour schedule.

MOOSEKNUCKLE SANDWICH IS HERE!

Their debut album is so good it plays 10 times on 1 cassette! For fans of Melt Banana, Anul Cunt and Nirvana

Click here to listen, download and purchase

Our next compilation is in the works. It is a tribute to the punk & hardcore career of the Beastie Boys. More info on that can be found here. Submission deadline is July 26th. The compilation will be released on August 4th (which is the 35th anniversary of the very first beastie boys show)

First is Famey a 3-song sound collage made by James Kochalka back in 1991. Side B is the entire tape played in reverse.

Second is a formal cassette release of his 2012 master piece "Beautiful Man" which was previously only available online as a digital download. This album was recently reviewed by Vice magazine where they compared James Kochalka Superstar to Ty Segall and Mac DeMarco.James Kochalkas response was "who are they?"

We also finally released our most beautiful digital compilation to date Unlimited Semiosis Volume 1

Unlimited Semiosis is completely free and there is more info on each of the artists available if you click on the individual songs.

The new Treasure Mammal LP is here and we have sold more than half of the copies already. Sorry I didn't post this earlier. It came out November 7th and we've been really busy filling orders and with the next few releases. Every album copy is on hand poured colored wax! and the album features so many amazing artists including (but not limited to) Wayne Coyne, R. Stevie Moore, Yvonne Lambert, Robin Vinning, Lonna Kelley and more! Only 300 were made and If we do a re-issue the colored wax is unlikely. So you should pick up a copy ASAP.

You can listen, download and purchase the album here.

The new Yairms EP is here! He is on tour now with Alhhla.

Here are the remaining dates

11/02 - Dallas, TX
11/03 - Austin, TX
11/04 - Houston, TX
11/05 - New Orleans, LA
11/06 - New Orleans, LA
11/07 - Tallahassee, FL
11/08 - Atalanta, GA
11/09 - Greenville, SC
11/10 - Charlotte, NC
11/11 - Durham, NC
11/13 - Harrisburg, PA
11/14 - New York
11/15 - New York

Mia Loucks first full length album is here. It's titled "The Sister Honey Demos." We have so many nice things we could say about this album but, feel its better and more exciting for you to just listen for yourself so you can have the same exciting feeling as we did upon discovering this beautiful artist.

You can purchase the album through our web store.

We also have two brand new releases coming out this month.

First, is "Songs For Savages" by The Freaks of Nature. which will be officially released on May 16th, and will be available on CD and cassette.

Then is a split from Human Behavior (from Tucson, AZ) / Basement (from San Francisco, CA) which is officially released on May 26th.