Call me a traditionalist, but I never liked the idea of
singles playing at 331/3 rpm. Seems to me if you’re trying to eke
out another couple of minutes on your single, you’ve already missed the whole
point. One shot, one song (c’mon, the A-side) that’s it. Still, that may be the
least of the problems on Starfish’s recent live split 7-inch with Bobaphet
(Trance/Big Enormous), which sounds like it was miked by a tin can connected
with a string to another tin can. Tell you how bad it is; I’ll stick with
Southwestern Bell Telephone, thanks. The locals in Marvel Anne also get points
taken off for driving 331/3 rpm on their “Brand New Shiner!”
(Pimpadelic), more because their songwriting needs some tightening rather than
the record’s groove — though the almost-there B-side, “This Time,” lengthens
suspiciously into something resembling a suite. The Mullens/Mess split (Direct
Hit) also clocks in at 331/3 rpm and gets penalized for the latter
band’s ultra-fast but ultra-bland choice of styles: squirrel-humpingly fast
punk. Their Dallas brethren, the Mullens, on the other hand, sound like they’ll
do well recording their debut for San Antonio’s Unclean label, home to other
retro-garage rockers like the Dropouts and Sons of Hercules. Another Dallas
band, UFOFU, gets away with their thirtysomething transgressions with an
intriguing Devo-meets-Primus sound (Time Bomb), so we’re glad to get four songs
out of ’em and there’s no complaints here. In the end, though, it’s Austin’s
Million Sellers (on Wanda) who get big points for sticking to the blueprints —
45rpm — pressing up on yellow vinyl, sounding like Redd Kross, and
still getting four songs on their purple pic-sleeve vinyl treasure. Way
to go, guys.
— Raoul Hernandez
Pimpadelic: 2725 La Mesa, Bay City, TX 77414; Direct Hit: POB 496946,
Garland, TX 75049; Time Bomb: 219 Broadway #519, Laguna Beach, CA 92651; Wanda:
POB 4399, Austin, TX 78765
“7 & 7 Is” reviews all local and national singles. Send to: “7 &7 Is,”
The Austin Chronicle, POB 49066, Austin, TX 78765
This article appears in August 9 • 1996 and August 9 • 1996 (Cover).