The Goons

Reviews

The Goons Mars EP

This is the GOONS’ first studio release in nearly twenty years. I gotta talk about the cover of this lil’ spinner, where we see an astronaut’s boot on the surface of Mars stepping in gum amongst cigarette butts and bottle caps. Does this mean there are punks on Mars, or just litterbugs?  The tunes are punk’n’roll ragers in the ZEKE, CANDY SNATCHERS, and NASHVILLE PUSSY vein. In the six minutes it takes you to get through these four songs, two things are going to happen. First, you’ll want to flip the record over and hear them again. Second, you’ll want to flip the record over and hear them again. And on and on, until you get to Mars to start your mission of finding punk Martians or litterbugs or both. Solid release. There are only 500 of these (on Mars red vinyl, no less) so grab this while you can to keep you company on your journey.

The Goons DCxPC Live Presents, Vol. 5: Live at the Black Cat LP

This label has been putting out quite a few live releases in the style and look of the old V.M.Live Presents records, and the GOONS might be the best one yet. I wasn’t super familiar with this band, but a good friend and native New Yorker informed me that they were an East Coast institution and a band that punks from all ages and scenes saw live and all liked (at least a little). Me, being an ignorant ex-Californian, was left clueless but curious. The songs are fast and beer-heavy, and you can hear them level this 2001 crowd with some Oi!/UK82 working-class-inspired hardcore, sorta like the WRETCHED ONES, 86 MENTALITY, or SUBMACHINE with a little mid-tempo POISON IDEA. The songs are catchy as hell, especially “I’m Alright,” “Hey You,” and “Every Day.” Snappy between-song banter completes the at-home live listening experience without the sticky boots and coughing up cigarette smoke. Real nice.