LETHAL YELLOW -- Declaration of Retardation EP

Stench Records -- Miami -- 1985

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

In the Mess

Cockroaches

Velveeta Cheese

Spastic and Proud
The Obnoxious Song

Paul Enema -- vocals

Ivan Gripweed -- guitar

Syd Upp - bass

Mike -- drums

Retardation is the most obvious charm of these brave young banana-men. Digging deeper, you'll find laziness and slovenliness as well. It is worth the effort.

The stunted visions here are the first recorded by a couple of prolific South Florida punk social mutants, Ivan Gripweed (nee Osorio) and Paul Enema. Paul went on the lead the Stun Guns, while Ivan could be found in the Jeffersons, F The Band Formerly Known as the John Birch Society and Sick Dick and the Volkswagens. I'm sure there are others.

This is basically what used to be called hardcore, but is looser and sillier than music that word is used to describe today. Every song is catchy and soaking in self-deprecation. Two involve cheese. A sample: "Velveeta, there ain't nothing sweeter...Spread it on your bread or melt it on your head" Depending on your outlook, this may make you laugh, make you cringe or make you hungry.

"The Obnoxious Song" has been the most enduring track, as it appears on the superb Killed by Florida comp for which this site is named. The song also is heard playing on a car radio in John Sheppard's novel "Small Town Punk," which is about punk kids in Sarasota, Florida, in the early '80s.

STEVIE STILETTO AND THE SWITCHBLADES – It’s a Bogus Life 7”

Razor Records – Jacksonville (1985)

A.O.T.

Just Go Away

Running People Over

Party Dog

Lets Blow this Taco Stand

It’s a Bogus Life

Ray Rae – vocals

Thommy Berlin – guitar

Butler – bass

Rob Akkkkk – drums

Probably the best thing ever from Jacksonville (some Allman Bros and Lynryd Skynyrd possibly excepted). Rather than sitting and sulking in the land of “let’s make the whole dang county into our city – so we can be the biggest” (surprised Texas never thought of this), SSSB made this fine record and more to follow. True to the credo of most Florida punk rock, these guys are not totally serious. Over the course of six songs, we’re treated to near-HC speed songs and slower 50’s, 60’s melodic influences – all memorable and more than competently played. AOT is about as good a hateful punk rock song as I can imagine at the moment. Just Go Away veers toward a commercial new wave sound, but is well written and another stand-out. Running People Over starts with a Gary Numan snippet and winds up stop-start HC concerning running people over. Party Dog is an up-tempo 50’s style rock song. Taco Stand is back to HC and bile. Bogus Life is a statement of the obvious that pretty much sums up the previous five songs. Had they put this out a couple years earlier, collector types would be frothing over it. 1985 gets no respect.

MAGGOT SANDWICH – Dead to my World 7” EP

KML Records – Pensacola (1985)

You’re a Bum
Gut Bomb
Abortion Debate
Communism
Everything I touch

Vik Kaos – guitar, vocals
Steev Kaos – drums
Kandy Gram – keyboards
Buzz Zerk – vocals, Harmonica
Kaptin Krap – bass

1985 was not a good time to begin your punk rock career in Florida (or anywhere else). Most sensible people bailed when they looked around at a punk show and couldn’t find an actual female person in the audience. Luckily for these folks, they lived in the middle of fucking nowhere & the rot apparently hadn’t spread to Pensacola. This record is recorded fairly horribly and is more hardcore than punk, but has interesting flourishes here and there. Ugly cover though. I’m reminded of Broken Talent, but can’t figure out why – probably lyrically. Their next record was even better. Features Kaptin Krap on bass!