7 & 7 Is

Something about CDs just isn't very "punk rock." It starts with the price tag -- and the fact that their initial marketing push was made to yuppies -- but ends up slightly more intangible; something having to do with digitized music, neatly stored and catalogued on a shiny aluminum coaster. It's all too anal, too computer-age. Singles, on the other hand, scream "punk rock." Made by torn jeans `n' T-shirt, leather-wearing Drag-worms in bands, who can barely eke out a meager living to bring two whole songs to like-minded, -dressed, and economically challenged fans, singles are the currency of gutter punks everywhere, and they can change lives. Whether three recent Jesus Christ Superfly singles will do that is another story, but one thing is for sure -- two of the three 45s are as representative of the band's full-throttle punk rock as either of their two CDs. "Dead End Days" and "Displaced Person" (Scooch Pooch) can both be found on JCS's recent Texas Toast CD, and feature Ron Williams' calm, eye-of-the-hurricane vocals. Williams once again takes lead vocal duties on "Gun," the A-side of the band's Lance Rock Records 45, but it's the live flip-side, "I'm Drunk," that finds the band and Rick Carney at its gallop-beat, beery best. Beer is the connecting theme between "I'm Drunk," and JCS's lead-off track on the terrific all-instrumental EP, Shut Your Face Volume 1 on Austin's own No Lie Label. The band surfs "40" (again recorded live at Emo's) like Dick Dale beer-bonging punk metal. It's the best track on the EP, which isn't to say the three other tracks -- all recorded by Tim Kerr at Sweatbox -- are anything but high-octane, hot-rod road burners. Houston's Sugar Shack with "Fuck You Hodad," Austin's Cryin' Out Louds with the aptly titled "Hot Rod" and the Motards' "Theme From Vampire With Rabies" combine with JCS for a 7-inch mini-album, which could indeed change lives. -- Raoul Hernandez