I must admit. When I first spun The Illustrated’s Alphabaggage I was ready, during the first track, to make a snide remark about giving the album to someone I dislike. The opening track did nothing for me. It’s not that it was bad, it just carried a sense of familiarity which has no place in my interests. The three piece, consisting of Bryan Beardsley, Matt Murphy and Andrew Fink, started out as jazz influenced avant-punk. All three are also members of an ongoing art project known as The Minge Collective. Alphabaggage brings to mind early ’80s to mid ’90s under-produced hardcore. Perfect for fans of Rites of Spring, This Day Forward and the Cro-Mags. (Andrew Seale)
CD, Livid Records, www.lividrecords.com