This record has been in the “should it stay or should it go” pile for quite awhile: nostalgia has prevented any serious consideration. We saw Black Halos open for Murder City Devils in July ’99 when they were on tour promoting this LP. The Murder City Devils played one of the best shows we’ve ever seen, in a 120 degree packed-to-the-rafters O’Kayz Corral in Madison. The Black Halos…I honestly don’t remember much from their set. I’m sure it was fine and they probably played most of the songs from this record. The Black Halos, at least on paper, ticks all my boxes: garage punk, snotty, danceable (ish), a Stiv Bators meets the Ramones sound. But it’s just not that exciting – kinda repetitive, the songs all kind of sound alike. For those reasons I can’t really name any top picks but for an idea of what the whole record sounds like, check out “Shooting Stars” and “The Worst Things” which are both pretty decent and the last track “B.S.F.” is a pretty good raucous punk burner. I’m still making up my mind about keeping or staying, but I guess if anyone is really  stoked on having this in their collection, shoot me an offer.

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Here is a live version of “Dancing Shoes” performed at The Mohawk Austin; I don’t know what year but it’s obviously a more recent concert by the decidedly dad-look singer Spencer Moody is sporting. But he still rocks almost as hard as he did in the late 90′s, when he sported the more college computer nerd look, which you can see in a different live performance of “Dancing Shoes.”

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