Bang Zoom 3

CS released in 1983 on Bang Zoom

Bang Zoom was an early cassette fanzine, and focused mostly on crap (in this issue they say that "new music in America" should sound like REM's Murmur LP and in previous issues they shat themselves over bad disco bands and dull funk like George Clinton). Each issue, however, usually had something that made it worth listening to--usually an interview, but this time, the unreleased material (Who Killed Society, Big Black and the Swans) is what justifies its existence.

Who Killed Society sound like a (much) meaner version of Lungs-era Big Black--totally scorching, trebly, distorted guitar attack--but with a sissy for a vocalist and some vague rock/pop sensibilities. They were friends of Steve from Montana, and were supposed to have a 12" out on Ruthless, but it never happened. They shared membership with/turned into Circle Seven, who did have a record out on Ruthless. At the time the cassette was released, the band had changed their name to "Circle 9." If anyone has some more stuff by Who Killed Society, or Circle 9, or Circle 7, or whatever they were called, drop me a line.

Circle Seven when they were called Who Killed Society actually were a motherfucker band. Just amazing. If you can imagine it, almost a cross between old Agent Orange and Siouxsie and the Banshees. Then they turned into Circle Seven...whose record had its moments but it definitely wasn't as good as it should have been.

--Steve Albini, Forced Exposure 9

The Big Black songs on this tape were part of Crib Death, a column done by Gary Sperrazza in Bomp, and then the New York Rocker. It transferred quite nicely to cassette.

Whoever told me the Big Black tracks were identical to the 12" versions was a fucking LIAR. Jump the Climb is definitely a different version than Bulldozer--it sounds nothing like the anemic, feeble version that got released, and is probably the best Steve-solo Big Black stuff that's out there. Whatshisface asked "who played circular saw on that last number?" The other two tracks are similiar to the Lungs stuff--maybe alt mixes, but they're different enough to warrant seeking out. There's some guitar overdubs and echo effects on Roland and Steve that make 'em sound even worse.

The Swans song is a slow dirge that appeals to me for whatever reason. I'm pretty sure it's exclusive.

I won't comment on the rest of the stuff here, since I'll probably just end up pissing a bunch of people off.