Love Cup | Hum | Dis- | Steakdaddy Six - Twelve Inch Records "Single of the Moment" series

The artwork for these singles is as hard to find as the singles themselves nowadays.  I have to admit, I don't own any of 'em myself.  I forget where I stumbled upon these mp3s but I'm glad I did. 

Twelve Inch Records can describe these better than I can:

Lovecup - Tearing Water b/w Juggernaut

Single of the Moment #1 (1992)

Every scene, every era has a great unsung band and Love Cup is that band for Chicago-Urbana in the early 90's. They found a perfect balance between metal and indie rock and influenced my band [Poster Children] and had an even greater influence on Hum. 

Hum - Hello Kitty b/w Roar, I'm a Tiger
Single of the Moment #2 (1992)

Jeff Dimpsey (formerly of Bad Flannel and Poster Children) takes up the bass after Baltie leaves to form Mother and Andy makes his last appearance on guitar and vocals. Recorded in the big city of Chicago with Brad Wood at the soon to be very hip IDFUL. This single moves even closer to the now familiar Hum sound.

Dis - Ed Was Solace b/w Girl Song

Single of the Moment #3 (1992)

Dis was the only 12 Inch band not to hail from the twin cities; they were a trio of Albini familiars hailing from the city of Milwaukee. Their song Ed Was Solace was their entry into the hearts and minds of the Twelve Inch family. Chris Fuller played guitar and sang, Rob Sieracki played bass and sang. Matt Morgan played drums. Recorded with finesse by Steve Albini in his home studio.

Steakdaddy Six - Rubber Pants b/w Play

Single of the Moment #4 (1992)

This single was recorded by Hum drummer Brian St. Pere at his home studio. Two drummers, heavy guitar and wah-wah bass sounds like a recipe for disaster but these guys pulled it off with panache and a sense of humor. They were the figurehead band of Twelve Inch, releasing all of their music on the label.

get 'em

Hurl - Bessemer Process 2x7" | Shale - Truth/Lie 12" EP | Swob - The Explosion of Scilence 7"

I was a DJ at WRCT 88.3 fm at Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh during my college years.  I didn't play guitar or drums, the standard indie rock instruments of the day, but I wanted to be a part of the burgeoning local scene.  My solution was to pool resources with several of my station alumni friends and help release records by some of our favorite local bands.

Fiscally speaking, our independent record label failed horribly.  It was a common story then and now, and it's not worth retelling.  Suffice to say that our enthusiasm for the business did not match our enthusiasm for the music.  

Musically speaking, however, I am pleased with our legacy.  Among our releases were Hurl's The Bessemer Process 2x7" and Shale's Truth/Lie 12" EP.   If memory serves, those were two of the three to be celebrated at the advertised "TRIPLE RECORD RELEASE PARTY!" on your left.  Also included, mostly because of dumb luck and a wealth of photos archived at Hurl's MySpace page, is the third and final 7" release by local art damage no wave scoundrels Swob.

For the unfamiliar:

Hurl = midwestern indie rock a la Bitch Magnet, Don Caballero, Hum, Slint (fun fact - Hurl bassist/vocalist Matt Jencick has been Slint's bassist for their recent reunion performances)

Shale = heavy post-punk indie crossed with screamo/hardcore

Swob =  psychopathic musings accompanied by atonal guitar splattered with tribal thuds.

touch that dial and you're history

(PS, if anyone reading has some good digital images of any of these records' artwork, please pass 'em on, eh?)

Thee Speaking Canaries - The Joy of Wine LP

Right about the time that Don Caballero began turning heads outside of Pittsburgh, drummer Damon Che's "other band," Thee Speaking Canaries, started playing out around town.  They began as a trio with Che on guitar and lead vocals, Karl Hendricks on bass and occasional vocals, and Ian Williams on drums.  Williams was succeeded by Noah Leger in time for the recording of this, their first LP.  

The Joy of Wine was released in a limited edition of 500 vinyl copies on the local indie Mind Cure.  It's mostly reminiscent of midwestern indie rock styles from the time, and quite a few steps away from the Canaries' later and better known turn as the bastard child of a Sonic Youth-Wayne Rogers-Van Halen three way orgy.  

Hate your war on cool