Vicious Circle

by The Zero Boys

Overview

When he walked into Keystone Recording in Indianapolis on August 18, 1981, Zero Boys singer Paul Mahern told producer/engineer John Helms he wanted his band's debut LP to "sound like the Germs' GI," released two years prior. "He really nailed it!" laughed Mahern recently. Much agreed: Few records have ever sounded this whizbang buzzing. And whereas GI transformed an appallingly shambolic L.A. band into a shocking powerhouse, Vicious Circle merely snared a smokin' Indiana band that'd been rehearsing five hours a day -- so tight they spun this corker out in just two days, by recording live together. It still bursts out of your speaker on CD as it did off a needle when released on Nimrod records 19 years ago. Terry Hollywood's razor-zinging guitar and Tufty Clough's Speedy Gonzalez' bing-bing-bing bass playing (fastest fingers in the Midwest) burn like blowtorches, and drummer Mark Cutsinger plays like he IV'ed amphetamines. Mahern sings like a hurrying rabbit, rapid-firing words about assassinations/celebrity-shootings, anti-nostalgia, having a "high time," and, well, doing speed. Whereas other records of the new hardcore scene tried to sound tough, this was like Johnny Thunders, Sex Pistols, Ramones, Dictators, and S.L.F. on 45, smiling like dopes. Reissued with two bonus tracks from the same session, Vicious Circle remains a vicious pleasure of frenzied attitude, chops, speed, tight playing, and rocket-launching zeal. ~ Jack Rabid

Product Details

Release Date:	02/03/2009
Label:	Secretly Canadian
UPC:	0656605018812
Rank:	32989

Tracks

1. Vicious Cycle
2. Amphetamine Addiction
3. New Generation
4. Dirty Alleys/Dirty Minds
5. Civilization's Dying
6. Livin' In The 80's
7. Drug Free Youth
8. Down The Drain
9. Outta Style
10. You Can Touch Me
11. Forced Entry
12. Hightime
13. Charlies' Place
14. Trying Harder
15. She Said Goodbye
16. Slam And Worm

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Zero Boys   Primary Artist
Paul Mahern   Vocals
Mark Cutsinger   Drums

Technical Credits

John Helms   Producer,Engineer,Engineer,Producer
The Zero Boys   Producer,Composer
Paul Mahern   Composer
Kai Davis   Cover Art
Roger Seibel   Mastering
Mark Cutsinger   Composer
Jack Rabid   Liner Notes