DMZ “DMZ” 1978. Debut full-length LP by Boston garage-punk rockers. Loud, raucous, filled with 50′s/60′s rockin’ rhythm-and-blues beats and riffs, plus some organ (courtesy of vocalist/frontman Mono Mann aka Jeff Connolly who went on to form the Lyres). DMZ would be the band’s only true album, though there’s some other material out there including an EP from ‘77 on Bomp, live albums, compilations of demos; DMZ pretty much split by ‘79, with occasional live reunions.

DMZ is pretty great and super-raw in the Stooges spirit. My top tracks are the opener “Mighty Idy,” their cover of the The Sonics’ “Cinderella,” the snappy punk “Destroyer,” the hard-rocker “Out of Our Tree” – a cover originally by The Wailers (not Bob Marley’s! the band also known as The Fabulous Wailers who are credited as the very first American garage band) and their cover of The Troggs’ “From Home.” I’m not fond of “Baby Boom” – it’s super-silly and simple; yes that’s what the Ramones did but this track feels campy and not at all subversive which is what the Ramones did so well.