dankrsta

I didn't find any threads about them, and I've been thinking where to put them, but since there's a Chrome thread here, that's were I ended. They've been compared to Chrome, but in a very loose way, mostly due to the fact that both bands managed to merge some very diverse influences and were totally elusive to classifying.

MX-80 Sound was a unique band, but very confusing to the listeners and labels. They've been called post-punk, proto-punk, art-dada-rock, art-jazz-metal. They have existed since the early 70's and were influenced by Captain Beefhurt and Frank Zappa. They managed to release first EP "Big Hits" on their own in 1975 or '76 and then a proper LP "Hard Attack" (1977) in Britain. The sound was an unlikely marriage of hard rock/metal riffs and solos and punk immediacy and energy. (a weird fusion of influences from The Stooges, MC5, Beefheart, Zappa, Pere Ubu). But, the band sound was very individual and unique in spite of all these recognizable influences.

Then, they hooked up with Residents in San Francisco and released next two albums on Ralph Records: Out Of The Tunnel (1980) and Crowd Control (1981). These were more in the vein of new wave and post-punk, but too hard-rocking for the punk crowd. Generally, people didn't know what to make of them. Hopefully, now, in these times of post-this and post-that they'll be more appreciated.

From "Big Hits" 1976


From "Crowd Control" 1981


Soundtrack for some film released as a single in 1980