Welcome to Review Revue, where every Thursday I dig through the KEXP stacks to share DJ reviews and comments written on the covers of LPs (and occasionally CDs) in the ’80s and ’90s, when the station was called KCMU, the DJs were volunteers, and people shared their opinions on little white labels instead of the internet.
People who are familiar with Seattle rock/grunge history are probably aware of Sweet Water, one of the many local bands to make national waves and jump to a major label in the early '90s. Fewer of those people, I would wager, know that Sweet Water started out, with a slightly different lineup and assumed names, as SGM, the young gang of upstarts - featuring Captain Blackout on drums and Mike Loser on vocals - who brought Seattle such hits as "Tap the Keg" and "Do Me ('til I Die)."
The KCMU crew - unaware of this young group's bright future - were split on the merits of SGM's Aggression, but it's clear there was at least some promise on display here. Anything that inspires this much vitriol and name-calling must have some merit to it, right?
"Infantile, pathetic [scratched out] nobody should [scratched out] ever waste time listening to this."
"ROCKS! I guess I'm just a pathetic, time-wasting little kid."
"For what this is I think it's pretty great. Brain Pain-ish, but great. H perhaps?
"Way Great!"
"Oh Tim, you're such a rock-dude. It's kinda cool. I'd buy it for my mom . . . yeah."
"I think it stinks."
"You would, wimp."
"Whoever stole the red dot on 1.4 really stinks." [I mean, the song is titled 'Blow Job,' so that's kinda on you.]
"I will always read song titles from now on. Honest - I previewed it."
"Toddcore doesn't like it because they didn't want him in the band."
This week's Review Revue spotlights Miracle Workers' album Inside Out. See what KCMU DJs thought back in the day.
This week's Review Revue spotlights Mecca Normal's self-titled debut album. See what KCMU DJs thought back in the day.
This week's Review Revue spotlights the Poison Idea LP Pajama Party. See what KCMU DJs thought back in the day.