Bitch Magnet - Bitch Magnet

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Customer reviews
Press release

5...according to our Mike on Thu 01 Dec, 2011.

Wow! Temporary Residence is a long-time favourite label of mine and with releases like this I can't see that changing any time soon. Originally released between 1988 and 1990, the three albums neatly contained in this set helped turn rock music on its head in the early days of the grunge revolution. With a crunchy sound that's as visceral as it is cerebral, it's easy to hear their influence in countless bands of today - the likes of Harvey Milk, Shellac and Don Caballero are among the luminaries who have quite clearly supped from this particular vessel. While their influence persists to this day, their records were never quite so easy to get hold of, so this anthology is a very welcome update for those of us who were a little too young first time around (I was a mere seven years old when they called it a day). As if that wasn't enough, they'll be playing for the first time since 1990 at the Battles-curated day of next weekend's All Tomorrow's Parties festival, so this has dropped just in time for us to catch up on the tunes and be familiar enough with them to rock out properly when the time comes. They mix the basic neanderthal tone-worship aspects of the best '80s noise rock with a melodic focus and restrained sense of pace that has aged astonishingly gracefully. If I'm listening to Umber right now and even if this had come out yesterday it'd be rocking the shit out of me. I started off with Ben Hur, which had a more instrumental-heavy Harvey Milk-esque feel (astonishing considering when it was made), and now this one is coming across with more of a Tad-meets-Arcwelder vibe. The musicianship is great and the tones are so punchy and ragged. Brian and Phil both agree the original pressings were much tinnier than these so I guess they've really benefited from their remaster. There's some bonus unreleased cuts on here that have been mixed by the very competent John Congleton, too. Listening to Star Booty now and it's a bit poppier. I was wondering why they were being cited as an influence on Superchunk until I got to this. Now it all makes sense. All these albums are totally rad, like really wicked awesome, and their release is a timely reminder of how freaking brilliant these proto-grunge pioneers really were. Mega excited about seeing these guys now.

Complete anthology of seminal post-punk pioneers. Influenced dozens of bands, including BATTLES, SUPERCHUNK, DON CABALLERO, RODAN, GUIDED BY VOICES. Includes 8 rare and previously unreleased tracks, Remastered with over 50 rare photos, flyers and posters. RIYL: SLINT, MOGWAI, SHELLAC, BATTLES, JUNE OF 44, DON CABALLERO, SUPERCHUNK. “Probably more than any other band, Bitch Magnet sent me in the direction I took with the music I have tried to make.” – Ian Williams (Battles, Don Caballero) // “Searing post-hardcore punctuated with bruised introspection that stands a mile high above most of its kin. ... Bitch Magnet anticipated the emergence of what would become known as ‘post-rock.’” – Mojo // Temporary Residence Ltd. is proud to present the remastered and repackaged reissue of the legendary Bitch Magnet’s seminal and critically acclaimed three albums – Star Booty, Umber, and Ben Hur. The deluxe 3xLP/3xCD package include all three albums, plus more than a half dozen rare and previously unreleased tracks, a total of 34 songs, remastered from the original, restored analog master tapes. Bitch Magnet was formed at Oberlin College in 1986. Immediately following the release of its debut Star Booty in 1988, the band garnered rapturous reviews and established itself among the top-tier of America’s independent music underground. The band’s reputation continued to grow with tours of the US and Europe, and the subsequent releases of Umber (prominently included on Mojo‘s list of “Lost Albums You Must Own”) in 1989 and Ben Hur in 1990. The latter two have been frequently cited as a key inspiration for what would become known as “post-rock.”

Tracks:

Dragoon (9:31) Valmead (3:33) Ducks and Drakes (4:34) Mesentery (2:34) Lookin’ At The Devil (3:38) Gator (2:13) Spite y Malice (3:08) Crescent (4:41) White Piece of Bread (4:06) Sadie (1:37) Motor (3:48) Navajo Ace (2:30) Clay (3:37) Joan of Arc (2:33) Douglas Leader (4:46) Goat-Legged Country God (3:03) Big Pining (3:16) Joyless Street (2:17) Punch and Judy (2:49) Americruiser (6:49) Motor (Alternate Mix) (3:47) Punch and Judy* (2:52) Joan of Arc* (2:36) Big Pining* (3:27) Joyless Street* (2:17) Sadie* (1:32) Carnation (3:07) C Word (2:30) Sea of Pearls (3:42) Hatpins (1:47) Knucklehead (3:03) Circle K (3:25) Polio (2:34) Cantaloupe (4:10)

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