Song(s) Of The Week: Leatherface Mix

Two things sparked this post: 1) I fuckin' LOVE Leatherface! 2) I finally saw Leatherface live this summer and while I was having a religious experience of it, a large majority of the crowd (what I like to call the hair-style-of-the-week crew) was sitting OUTSIDE during the band's set (!), probably waiting for the flavor-of-the-week band that was to come on after. Since the late eighties, the UK's Leatherface have consistently (more or less) written some of the most driving, powerful, beautiful, sad, joyous punk in the history of that musical style. Although they have legions of reverent fans worldwide, my encounter with the pathetic enclave mentioned above leads me to believe there are a few unanointed, could-be Leatherface fans out there. For better or worse, the band influenced a ton and a half indie rock-via-punk bands like The Sainte Catherines and Hot Water Music, but I have yet to hear a band of this style as heart-breakingly powerful.

Seeing that it's impossible to choose only one Leatherface song, I've put together a mix of 10 favorites. That was still a hard task, so I limited myself to one track from each album, and a couple of singles selections. As usual, if you like what you hear, go to BYO Records and order some of the band's fine work. Their early LP, "Mush," is unanimously considered their opus, but you can't go wrong with any of their releases (especially "Fill You Boots," "Horsebox," "Cherry Knowle," and their split with Hot Water Music).

Link has been removed. Go to BYO or the Leatherface myspace.

Tracks:

1. "Dead Industrial Atmosphere"
2. "Sour Grapes"
3. "Here Comes The Judge"
4. "Deep Green Beautiful Levelling"
5. "Patrick Kills Me"
6. "Animal Day"
7. "Books"
8. "Dreaming"
9. "Hops and Barley"
10. "Hoodlum"