Zero Boys | Vicious Circle (LP)

Zero Boys: Paul Mahern (vocals); Terry Hollywood (guitar); David "Tufty" CLough (bass); Mark Cutsinger (drums). While hardcore's story was largely told on both coasts at the very beginning, scenes sprang up everywhere trailblazers like Black Flag and Dead Kennedys played live shows. One such area, the unlikely city of Indianapolis, concealed one of hardcore's best-kept secrets--the Zero Boys were as smart, funny, and furious as their more famous contemporaries, and their sense of pop melody and songcraft were better than most. Exuberant songs like the Who-esque "Livin' in the '80s" and the hyper-agitated "You Can Touch Me" race by explosively while still maintaining total clarity. Singer Paul Mahern spit out his socio-political lyrics in a rapid-fire cadence that never disintegrates into barking, and bassist David Clough is as nimble a bassist as hardcore ever saw. Though the Zero Boys sputtered out into obscurity shortly after 1982's VICIOUS CIRCLE was released, Secretly Canadian's reissue reminds listeners of just what could have been.

Tracklist

A1        Vicious Circle
A2        Amphetamine Addiction
A3        New Generation
A4        Dirty Alleys / Dirty Minds
A5        Civilizations Dying
A6        Livin' In The 80's
A7        Drug Free Youth
B1        Down The Drain
B2        Outta Style
B3        You Can Touch Me
B4        Forced Entry
B5        Hightime
B6        Charlies' Place
B7        Trying Harder
B8        She Said Goodbye
B9        Slam And Worm

*Audio and/or tracklist may vary slightly from the vinyl version.

Label: SELY
Catalog: 50188
Rel. Date: 03/02/2009
UPC: 656605018812

• Released: 03/02/2009
• Genre: Alternative
• Format: Vinyl
• Format Detail: LP