from Burka for Everybody Records (Valencia, Spain), and for the first time on vinyl. 300-copy limited-edition. New artwork by Joni Contencioso. Photos by David Ackerman and David Wilde. U.S. distribution through Subterranean Distribution or Revolver. Skullman Records has 20 copies for sale: to get one, paypal $25 to info (at) skullmanrecords.com with your address. First come, first served.

Also available from CD Baby are MP3s of the 1999 CD-R reissue of R&R Hell by Zeno (includes Live at the Met cassette tracks, does not include Trap Sampler tracks).

• Napalm Beach : Thunder Lizard (1991) Recorded and released in Germany; never released in the U.S.
• Napalm Beach : In My Tree (1994) Recorded in Spokane, Washington, originally released on C/M Shinola. Napalm Beach’s final studio album.
• Napalm Beach : Live 2008 (2008) aka Kill For My Bitch Recordings mostly from Napalm Beach’s Jan 11, 2008 reunion show in Portland; 1 track from a subsequent Seattle performance.
• Snow Bud and the Flower People : Ripped Van Stinkle (1992) Originally released on Tim Kerr. This is the first album released by the current lineup of Snow Bud and the Flower People. It was recorded twice, because prior to mixing, the first master was burned in the Dogfish Studio fire that destroyed the masters of many northwest bands….
• Snow Bud : Stoned and Alone (1996) originally released on C/M Shinola Records (Craig Meros). This is a mostly acoustic album, with Chris playing all instruments himself.

Okay, so the Cramps made their greatest records with no dang bass player – they didn’t need one! Boo Frog operates on a similar premise, I think. There’s so much great guitar here it takes awhile before the listener even notices there’s a rhythm instrument that’s usually there that ain’t. I haven’t even said a word about the songs – if these were JUST Chris Newman songs, it’d be a great album. But add Erika Meyer’s songwriting, guitar playing & singing into the equation – AND Paul Vega’s drumming (and great carny/Suicide/Jim-Carroll-esque vox on “Mind Bender”), and we’ve got a truly excellent album here. Erika’s “Anabasis” could be a riot grrrl outtake from 1994 (I hope the band doesn’t edit THIS part of the review out – I mean it as a compliment!), and then “Jake the Alligator Man”, complete with theremin from engineer deluxe Mike Lastra, is a psychedelic masterpiece that would fit in between the Seeds & the Lollipop Shoppe on a 60s mixtape. Seems like Erika sings a lot about dead people… and hey! Do I know “Bad Pam?” Newman has been making music for Portland & beyond for the last 30 years now, and will hopefully continue for 30 more – this record proves that his best work isn’t behind him yet. He’s been on a writing/recording/playing-live rampage the last 4 or 5 years, and this newest band of his, Boo Frog, raises the ante further. Glad to know you guys, and glad to keep seeing you live.

There’s a video from the session this album came from at Smegma that’s pretty cool – more contributions from renaissance man Mike Lastra – check it out

Boo Frog/Better Than the Rest, Skullman Records CD 84502-40389-3, 2010.re

• CDBaby.com/cd/boofrog2
• Sonic Recollections

Or in Portland:

• Sonic Recollections
• Music Millennium
• Zeno Oddites

Napalm Beach - Fire Air and Water - 1990

Fire Air and Water was recorded in Düsseldorf, Germany during Napalm Beach’s first European tour, November 1989, at Peter Krick’s Skyline Studios. The band had just returned from Berlin, where the Wall was coming down. This album features Chris Newman on guitar, keys, vocals; Sam Henry on drums and keys; Dave Dillinger, bass and is available on amazon.com

Chris Newman - Volunteer - 1994