7 & 7 IS

The best 45 not being written about this week is the Derailers' green vinyl romancing the gemstone "California Angel"/"Raspberry Beret." That's because this limited edition single, in a beautiful card sleeve, was a promo-only freebie given away at some record releases. Seeing as this is probably the best local 45 to come out since Sixteen Deluxe's first Trance Syndicate single, it should be commercially available. It isn't. Call your congressman today to have the matter rectified. Or Sire/Watermelon. Looking equally nice in its neon green sleeve and pink vinyl is Power Squid's latest slab of progressive post-punk punk rock. It's DIY, local, and crude, yes - in production, songwriting, and musical execution - but lurching through different time signatures is always fun. More fun is the Little Deputy Label's "Lonestar Showdown Volume 1," featuring four songs from a quartet of local bands. The Reclusives win the battle o' the bands hands-down by punking it through the "UT Fight Song," while the Motards, "Action (Part II)," get the silver, and the Cryin' Out Louds pick up the bronze for "Here We Be." (Wormdirt is disqualified for mistaking their name for a style.) This is one EP infinitely worthy of Volume 2. Another offering from Little Deputy comes in the form of Mike & the Molesters' invitation to get nasty - you know, fast, sloppy, yucky. Punk rock. "Mi Amigo Con Carro" is the best of the lot, and probably enough to entice one to some punkapalooza bill at the Bates Motel one night when these locals are playing. Walter Daniels' name on the marquee is usually enough to entice a few locals out to the Hole in the Wall or Emo's, and his billing on The Revelators' new Sympathy for the Record Industry single, "Old Slew Foot"/"Rockinitis," demands you check out his harp prowess on these respective oldie goldies. "Old Slew Foot," a Johnny Horton nugget, slugs it out with Billy Boy Arnold's furious b-side, and the results are a thankful sigh of relief that this single can be bought at any singles wall near you. Thankyaverymuch. - Raoul Hernandez

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Sire/Watermelon: 936 Broadway, New York, NY 10010; Little Deputy: PO Box 7066, Austin TX 78713

"7 & 7 Is" reviews all local and national vinyl singles. Send to: "7 &7 Is," The Austin Chronicle, PO Box 49066, Austin TX 78765.