V/A “The Local Anesthetic” (Smooch Records 2008)
In 1981, Duane Davis, owner of Colorado’s Wax Trax Records, started a label out of his store. This label, Local Anesthetic, released punk singles by area bands. Many of these bands were years ahead of their time, and a good deal were never heard from again. All of the releases, however, became highly sought-after, as they escapsulated the early sound of the underground scene so beautifully. Now, Smooch Records has tracked down many of these singles and compiled them into an easy-to-find CD/LP. The Local Anesthetic compilation features singles by Frantix (some of whose members went on to become Sub Pop darlings The Fluids), Your Funeral, The Gluons, Bum Kon, Defex, and The Nails (who later went on to have a hit with “88 Lines for 44 Women).
The term punk may be a bit of a misnomer to describe these singles, as the compilation portrays so much more than that. While some early classic-sounding punk singles by the Defex, also included are seminal grunge band Frantix and their famous pissed-off single “My Dad’s A Fucking Alcoholic,” not to mention nearly unlistenable thrash punk songs by Bum Kon and White Trash, who play impossibly fast and ridiculously hard. But the compilation also includes the dark new wave stylings of Your Funeral and Young Weasels, and, of course, Local Anesthetic’s first release, the Gluon’s single “Birdbrain,” led with the wonderfully insane ramblings of Allen Ginsberg. Jeri Rossi’s song, “I Left My Heart But I Don’t Know Where,” moves into experimental goth territory, and The Nails are a sort of odd prog-punk, if that were possible.
It’s pretty incredible that these singles are being rereleased, as they’re vastly important in the grand scheme of independent music in general. While it’s not hard to identify the major national influences in many of these releases, it’s also interesting to see how ahead of their time many of these bands were. Considering that Local Anesthetic was the only local label at the time, it was the only way for people in Colorado (and those who could get their hands on the limited releases) to hear the weird and wonderful music people were making. So not only is the Local Anesthetic compilation is pretty important, it’s also quite fascinating.
Your Funeral - I Wanna Be You.mp3
White Trash - Wake Up.mp3
Bum Kon - The Draft.mp3
Jeri Rossi - I Left My Heart But I Don’t Know Where.mp3