![]() ![]() Following the release of the Cathedral of Tears EP, T.S.O.L.'s replacement drummer, Mitch Dean, referred to Cathedral of Tears as a "synthesizer band" whose music he did not particularly like, adding, "not to make fun of it or anything," but that " doing what he wants. They then signed to independent label Alternative Tentacles, releasing the Weathered Statues EP early in 1982, and the melodic Beneath the Shadows album later that year the latter featured a new member, keyboardist Greg Kuehn.Īmid personal turmoil, Grisham, Barnes and Kuehn all left the band in 1983.Īfter his exit, Grisham formed Cathedral of Tears, who released a 1984 EP on Enigma Records, followed by Tender Fury, who issued three albums: Tender Fury (1988), Garden of Evil (1989) and If Anger Were Soul, I'd Be James Brown (1991). Their first full-length album, Dance with Me, was released later in 1981 on Frontier Records, and showcased a more gothic/deathrock sound. This first release was harshly political, featuring tracks such as "Superficial Love", "World War III" and "Abolish Government". T.S.O.L.'s debut five-song EP, T.S.O.L., was released in spring 1981 by Posh Boy Records, featuring the reconvened original lineup. According to legend, the band acquired their instruments by casing a local music shop, waiting until closing, and then performing a smash-and-grab robbery. The original lineup consisted of vocalist Jack Grisham (who has been credited as Jack Greggors, Alex Morgon, Jack Ladoga, Jack Delauge and Jack Loyd, among pseudonyms), guitarist Ron Emory, bassist Mike Roche and drummer Todd Barnes. Originally under the name Vicious Circle, the band eventually changed their name to T.S.O.L by September 1980. ![]() Although most commonly associated with hardcore punk, T.S.O.L.'s music has varied on each release, including such styles as deathrock, art punk, horror punk, other varieties of punk music, and hard rock.įormed in 1978 in Long Beach, T.S.O.L. ( True Sounds of Liberty) is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California. The EP itself at the end is much slower than Circle, but it's still got this casual snottiness about it that make them compelling.įor the most part, essential listening for '80s hardcore aficionados.T.S.O.L. Still, it's not terrible stuff and the songs have their moments. The songs are often sort of clunky and lack the fire that made Circle so enchanting. Not all of these songs work as well, though, as the band seemed to gain some confidence trying to branch out after doing some of their first full-fledged tours with various bands and getting to see the country (as well as Canada). Though there's an occasional demo feel to these, something like opener "Drive In" is a woulda-been classic, with a driving tempo, simple hook and wailing solo. It's also got their first EP, Livin' in the '80s. History Of is also reissued here, a collection of songs the band recorded with the intention of a sophomore full-length but never officially finished. This particular reissue (it's seen one by Lookout! in 2000, another in the late `80s by Toxic Shock) has some good background information and quotes from the band on the recording and the two bonus tracks ("She Said Goodbye" and "Slam and Worm") that didn't make the cut on the original 1982 release. Things tend to hover somewhere between mid- and fast-paced, from "Civilization's Dying" packing a surprising punch of melody and hooks to the bizarre, quasi-Buzzcocks-esque pop-punk of "Livin' in the 80's" (which sticks out like a sore thumb, as it's a redux from the earlier and slower EP of the same name). With slightly more of an emphasis on the punk in hardcore punk, Vicious Circle rocks in the vein of the Germs' (GI), Dead Kennedys' Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables and Bad Religion's How Could Hell Be Any Worse? (influences of which are mentioned up-front in the expanded liner notes). Their debut full-length, Vicious Circle, neither rages as hard as Black Flag or cuts as precise as Minor Threat, but it's a great little album and enjoyable historical document. The Indianapolis-based outfit formed in 1979 and helped forge the early `80s hardcore sound that was being popularized on the surrounding coasts, but ended up being highly overlooked in the process. Zero Boys aren't exactly the first band to come to mind when talking about `80s hardcore, but Secretly Canadian's recent reissues aim to at least get them a mention in there. ![]()
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