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Early Volume

by Slug

supported by
Daniel Alward
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Daniel Alward Today's serendipitous personal Slug revival is bringing much joy. Now I can listen regularly to those songs from the singles stuffed away in the place where my neglected records hide out. The songs are great, but one thing really special about this compilation is the fact that the artwork for the singles sleeves are joined with the songs in the MP3 version. What a nice touch! Also, the unlisted 1 minute version of Sock is easier to handle than the 12 minute version at the end of the Swingers CD.
André Custodio
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André Custodio I accidentally stumbled onto this band at the defunct Chameleon Club in San Francisco many moons ago, and their sound made an indelible impression on me. Great album. Great band.
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1.
Sore Thumb 03:28
Do you bite your thumb at us sir? I do bite my thumb, sir. Do you bite your thumb at us sir? I do bite my thumb, sir. Chew and spit and split and gnaw, An open wound that's cold and raw Your brain in control, begins to pull, You in four directions at once. Here's the punch: The cut is open the liquid is flowing, But where is all of that anger going? You're singing curses a caustic song, But you know to whom those teeth belong. Sore thumb! The skin is angry, it's blue and swollen It tries to heal, but something is stolen It's a pain (it's a grain, of salt or sand) That courses throughout your entire hand. More than ignorance, your anger will get you killed. The bone is broken, the nerves are dead- Lose your thumb to save your head! Oh Montague, oh Capulet, Remember your thumb when you mourn and regret Oh Montague, oh Capulet, Lose your thumb to save your head!
2.
Painbaby 02:48
3.
4.
Aversion 03:22
Hey buddy can you spare a dime? Excuse me sir but do you have the time? They say that time equals money. If that's true, then you're wasting my time, If that's true, then you have some of mine, If that's true, then you owe me I want it, give it to me, I'll keep it safe - no one will see You owe it, I know it, an object , an object of desire, a commodity, an oddity, a target, That's red, white and blue, Through the cross hairs, you'll see it there, You've lost your grip it's eluded you. I've created my own religion, succeeded from humanity My head is full, my heart is empty. If they say, that love's for sale So they say, another failure, I must believe my every word. I want it, give it to me, I'll keep it safe - inside of me. You owe it, I know it, an object , an object of desire, a commodity, an oddity, a target, That's red, white and blue, Through the cross hairs, you'll see it there, You've lost your grip it's eluded you. Possession Aggression Confession. I want it, give it to me, I'll keep it safe - inside of me. You owe it, I know it, an object , an object of desire, a commodity, an oddity, a target, That's red, white and blue, Through the cross hairs, you'll see it there, You've lost your grip it's eluded you. Possession Aggression Confession.
5.
Elevator 02:07
Desperation - Run! Desperation - Run! They've got sticks that make the sound of god They tear a hole in me. Fire sticks, thunder sound. They tear me down. No difference - To run No difference - Life. To run, it makes no difference. They rip me apart for my skin, They tear a hole in me. They tear my head off for my teeth. They tear me, they tear me down. Desperation - time! Desperation - time! They pull the skin off of my back They tear my life apart I guess they need it more than me For their clothes, their jewelry.
6.
Breathe the thing In, Breathe The Thing Out, Breathe the thing In, Breathe The Thing Out, Through these old sick lungs, residue from our past Gagging up the trust we've broken, giving in to the crumbling like old hacks. Desperation of our search, and what we'll find A long forgotten sickness, spitting out a lie   "Aves la noche...sometimes the night, Takes you with it, wraps you up and rolls you along Leaving you washed in sleep, at the morning's edge... and sometimes the night goes on without you."  *   In with the good air, our with the bad. Corrupted inside me, a chance it never had. Time elapsed suffocation, some call this perfect health. All I know, this is all I've felt.   Breathe the thing In, Breathe The Thing Out, Breathe the thing In, Breathe The Thing Out,   In with the good air, our with the bad. Corrupted inside me, a chance it never had. Time elapsed suffocation, some call this perfect health. It's all I know, it's all I've ever felt.   If these old shaking hands weren't banging on my chest, Once again unconscious, maybe I could get some rest. Respiration of our search, and what we'll find A long forgotten sickness, swallowing a lie.   *From "At Paso Rojo" by Paul Bowles
7.
Go tell 01:39
Go tell it on the anthill through the tunnels and everywhere Go tell it on the anthill, that I tried to hurt myself, that I tried to kill myself. And this blood is mine.   Go tell it make it known, and I'll feed on every word, Spill it like a vat of ether, feel the thrill of snapping sinew And the rush of breaking bones.   When I was a preacher, I looked both night and day I asked the Lord to help me, 'cause I forgot how to pray.   Go crush it on the anthill through the tunnels and sliding downwards Go tell it to the Christians, that I tried to hurt you all, but I was the first to fall. And this blood is mine.
8.
Break neck 02:18
I hit the pavement running, no time for looking back. No wants an explanation, when they could see a broken neck.   I always had the knack for saying the wrong thing I never could quit when I was ahead I was the one who rolled the snake eyes, Pedal down, I ran the red.   Get your filthy hands off of me You trying to make me a nervous wreck? Losing my head was nothing new But it's the first time I lost my neck.   Been by these doors 1000 times Guess I've never tried the locks. Streetlights have never looked like strangers I'm just not used to getting caught.
9.
Godstopper 03:25
Big old Boots, he's a big old power Big old brute he's a big old power Last night I didn't wanna run Batteries: leaked and loaded Once sighted, she's gon' loathe him Lost irons, lets wind it up. Power! That side of why: Burning a torch, (with) Bat-sight and wounded wings. Blood stain! Red vulture, want everything. Outside you won't let it, Inside until you've bled it. Now now now Now now now Pulse guide him, bound to heed the trance, In the name of separation That traitor sent in the lance. "Let us in" With pride on buttered side. Forget the Finnegan's Wake, Be it glad, In its stead. What say to now? What say to now? To now, it's out. Once there for me to see, what side will I entwine? New fates, Looking lean. Giant's apparition, White sand in a sacred space. Futheration, That said, I want a modern disgrace. I ran a riot, girl. One sat in a wired cell. I plan a river route. Backstab-an-out, and he say: I, a-lie here, O I fade aloud! Once head a-loaded, Let's say, One lauded. Now now now Now now now Now now now
10.
11.
Hambone City 02:32
GOD DAMNED DOGS! They were a callin and a-growlin' and a-foulin' and a fallin', as they slid on the stones under blacksmith skies. Light bulbs swingin' , the sore throats singin', the rain it was stingin' their hell-hound eyes. Hot on their heels and cold in their tracks, one eyed cowered on the sour trash they devoured, The other watchin' over their mangy backs. They were ballin' and bitchin' and barkin' their lungs, sinkin' the mud while sinkin' their jaws Shakin' their necks, slappin' their tongues, devouring the streets, leaving tracks of their paws. Hot on their heels and cold in their tracks, one eyed cowered on the sour trash they devoured, The other watchin' over their mangy backs. They stopped for the night and they pissed where they stood, their gums flashed black and they lowered their heads Stared at each other while the rain hit the roof, the first one asleep is the first one dead. GOD DAMN! GOD DAMNED DOGS!
12.
The gates have been broken we're off for the feast, lend me your hand and we'll lift up this beast. Light up your lantern the hour is late, what's in his belly will be on our plate   Voices fill those who need to be fed, stare at the king with a fistful of bread. What's in the stomach has burst into flame: our throats have learned that nothing has changed.   Our mouths have shrunken and shriveled in size. Stretched by consumption when we were alive. This passion and trust - not easily earned. We'll take you with us, when we return. The gates have been broken we're off for the feast, lend me your hand and we'll lift up this beast. Light up your lantern the hour is late, what's in his belly will be on our plate   Voices fill those who need to be fed, stare at the king with a fistful of bread. What's in the stomach has burst into flame: our throats have learned that nothing has changed.   Our mouths have shrunken and shriveled in size. Stretched by consumption when we were alive. This passion and trust - not easily earned. We'll take you with us, when we return.   This racket and ruckus, I've seen it before. Inflicting persuasion you can not ignore. 'Cause nothing can fill what's empty inside. Slamming the gates - forever denied.
13.
Rubberape 02:36
Gnawing on her knuckles while the woman was a walkin', only an eel skin bound around her own one. Too many steps she kept a foot-fallin', A momentary glare from the ice on the street. Baby blue heaven, don't get around much, sweet little angel, she was shot out of the sky. You better take a wrap dear,  this cold will be the death of you.   Wrap The Little ones tight and tuck in their tails, Swallowed down the river mouth, she's well on her way Cups her hands and splashes her face. Disturbed by sleep, only when she's awake.   Shed us your skirt and give us a kiss dear, (I'm constantly amazed at how easily the skin peels) Drop it on a floor in heap with the others, we're hot buttered snakes a-swimmin' in the  flash fry. Weighed her options on an opium scale, she was pushed and pulled and lulled and punctured. Beating on her chest, she was pounding out a rhythm, the neoprene nose it nodded in agreement. One by one shooting monkeys in a barrel.
14.
Seitenwagen 02:21
Smooth grinding of the miles, a stained-glass look at broken land. Friction in the cylinders, a throttle blast of sun-burned sand. Heat through you, my love, Erma shaking in my hands. Drunken dogs in uniforms, hang under their cigarettes. Bolt breaks, sidecar, over the cliff, Free flight, earthbound... The ground's so near, it's so clear.
15.
16.
Borax 01:44
17.
Choker 03:05
Hands around that slender goose Her hands I'd take a liken to My ugly mug shot starin' from a locket On a velvet noose As I watched that wooden ceiling, The pulley nailed up on the rafters And I heard that varnish-peeling, Alkeelhaulic laughter and I said "Pull it tight and hitch the knot, We'll draw upon what's gone before, Hoist me up so I can soar." Hey I'm down here and it's waist deep, I’m looking up that tunnel well, The only light that's starin' down Is sucked in by your shadow. This is a sunken hole, if you throw me a line I'll tie it twice around, and it hangs From your neck down to mine. Pull it tight and hitch the knot, We'll draw upon what's gone before, Hoist me up so I can soar. Pull the ribbon off your throat; You're standing naked on the stones. Heaven tears as it's unraveled, To reveal its bitter truth: The clouds hang in rags and tatters, No angelic light shows through. All that shown was all that mattered, A conscious absence -- nothing there. Shaming me for ever wanting, Spring is over, winter's here.

about

All tracks originally released on singles or compilations between 1991-1994.

credits

released November 18, 2016

Tomas Palermo - Drums
Todd Williams - Guitar
Damion Romero - Bass
Steve Ratter - Vocals
Michael Bergman - Bass
Rich Alvarez - Guitar (tracks 1-12)
Collin J. Rae - Guitar (tracks 13-17)

Additional phoned-in vocals on "Seitenwagen"
by Daniel Rohnert

All songs by Slug except "Streetsweeper" by Unsane
and "Pink Party Dessert" by Cherubs

Produced by Reginald Barnes

Tracks 1-8
Engineered by Robert Hammer
Recorded at Surrogate Spike, Los Angeles

Tracks 9-17
Engineered by Tom Grimley
Recorded at Poop Alley Studios, Los Angeles

Digital hi-jinks by Tom Grimley

Digitally remastered by Damion Romero

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about

Slug Los Angeles, California

Active from 1988 to 1996, Los Angeles based experimental noise-rock sextet Slug recorded three albums, a half-dozen singles, and tracks on several compilations, and played hundreds of shows in Los Angeles, the northwest and throughout the US.

Their entire discography has been digitally remastered and is now available here on Bandcamp.
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