As this is very obscure band, there is next to nothing online but I did find this live performance “Where the Wild Things Are” (not on Living in the Mirror) from ’87 at the now gone but not forgotten and also infamous O’Cayz Corral (Madison):

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Wisconsin is fast-paced 80′s punk with Dr. Demento-meets-Jay-Tiller (Tiller is from Wisconsin’s Couch Flambeau) level vocals, which is a bit off-putting, borderline ear-bleeding but it does make The Crucifucks unique. The musicianship is surprisingly competent, with lots of big rhythm and remarkable, almost prog-rock level hypnotic guitar riffs and solos (ie “Concession Stand”). There’s also some crazy experimentation, especially on the epic track “When the Top Comes Off” where all of the above-mentioned characteristics are present (and the screechy grating vocals are on overdrive). The tracks “Artificial Competition” and “The Savior” both have great grooves but for home-state solidarity, I’m going to say the title track “Wisconsin” is my favorite on the album though it’s probably the least-punk track on the LP with a rather delightful lilting jangly guitar that morphs into a great blues riff (but it still has Dart’s nails-on-chalkboard screech).

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Rebel Waltz recorded The Last One To Die Is A Rotten Egg at Smart Studios in Madison, WI around the same time Nirvana was doing some of their recording for Nevermind. The grunge influence on this 6-song EP is obvious, though much more melodic: Midwestern-nice punk/grunge. If I didn’t know these guys were from around my hometown, I’d guess that they were from the Minneapolis area, with a sound that is very Replacements-esque (and Soul Asylum-y). Audio links to the record, or any single track, seem to not exist but their album Rubber Walls from 1990 does so if you are so inclined, you can listen to that.

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Nevermind hit #1 on the album charts in the US and the top 10 in many other countries, with four charting singles: “On a Plain” (#25), “Lithium” (#64), “Come as You Are” (#32) and the monster “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (#6). Probably my favorite song on Nevermind is the non-single acoustic “Polly” (originally written in 1989 and titled first “Hitchhiker” and then “Cracker’), which is a truly disturbing track inspired by a 1987 rape and abduction of a 14 year old girl. It’s one of the few tracks on the record that I can parse all the lyrics, despite a million or so listenings to the album, due to Cobain’s famous mumbling delivery (perfectly lampooned by Weird Al’s “Smells Like Nirvana”). My brain doesn’t retain lyrics like it used to so I’m still following along, this 1,000,001 time hearing “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”

Load up on guns
Bring your friends
It’s fun to lose and to pretend
She’s overboard, self assured
Oh no I know, a dirty word

Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello

With the lights out, it’s less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an Albino
A mosquito, my libido, yeah

Hey, yay

I’m worse at what I do best
And for this gift, I feel blessed
Our little group has always been
And always will until the end

Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello

With the lights out, it’s less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an Albino
A mosquito, my libido, yeah

And I forget just why I taste
Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard, it was hard to find
Oh well, whatever, nevermind

Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello

With the lights out, it’s less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an Albino
A mosquito, my libido

A denial, A denial, A denial, A denial, A denial
A denial, A denial, A denial, A denial

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Gish is Smashing Pumpkin’s debut release, named after silent screen star Lillian Gish, and it eventually was certified platinum. Filled with swirling psychedelic sounds, heavy guitar and pain, Gish’s recording and production was notable for its time and budget, long and big, for an indie label and studio (Smart Studios). My favorite track is “Bury Me” which has sound that basically sums up early 90′s music. (and the clip I’ve linked below is sooo 90′s: Ben Stiller and Janeane Garofalo introduce it).

Reading about the recording and production of Gish, along with all the other albums Vig worked on at Smart Studios in Madison, WI in the late 80′s and early 90′s always weirds me out a bit. I was living a block from the Capitol in Madison at that time while going to UW-Madison and very likely hung out at bars (I heard that Vig hung out at Cafe Montmartre which was around the corner from my apartment) and went to shows (like at R&R Station on Park St.) where members of Smashing Pumpkins, L7, Nirvana and Killdozer were hanging out (or not, but it’s fun to imagine).

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