EXPRESSO

Artist: EXPRESSO

Title: First Cup        

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1981

Songs: 10

Label: Freight Records

Style: Instrumental AOR

Expresso was a talented group of five who were based in California.  The album centers around the skillful guitar playing of two of its members and is all instrumental. 

CANCEL

Artist: CANCEL

Title: Webs Of Fever

Format: Vinyl EP

Year: 1986

Songs: 4

Label: Brains For Breakfast Records

Style: Post Punk

Post Punk guitar rhythms and synth from obscure Netherlands outfit.

PENTAGON

Artist: PENTAGON

Title: The Four Sides Of     

Format: Vinyl EP

Year: 1984

Songs: 4

Label: Self Released

Style: AOR Pomp

Outstanding Pomp Rock from an obscure band out of Pennsylvania.  Clean, crisp and well produced catchy up-tempo pompous rock AOR.  

THE FACTION

Artist: THE FACTION

Title: 2x2      

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1985

Songs: 8

Label: Red House Music

Style: New Wave Rock

Unknown indie rock private obscurity from Norwalk, CT.  The opening ‘Grey Little Girl’ sets the tone with highly melodic mid-tempo’d rhythms against plush keyboard arrangements. ‘Watching You In The Mirror’ and ‘After Tomorrow’ have powerful drumming arrangements and striking synth work. 

WOODWORK

Artist: WOODWORK 

Title: Anyday Now

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1980’s

Songs: 10

Label: Pear Records

Style: Hard Rock

Three-piece guitar fueled melodic hard rock outfit from Winnipeg, Canada.  Pretty consistent arrangements and rhythms throughout with solid guitar playing and a capable vocalist.

MONTREAL

Artist: MONTREAL

Title: Self Titled

Format: Vinyl EP

Year: 1987

Songs: 6

Label: Self Released

Style: Hard Rock     

Mega rare private release from this New Jersey based indie rock band.  Opener ‘Sunshine Love Affair’ is an energetic blend of pomp and hair metal.  ‘City Lights’ has an uplifting catchy chorus and continues the pomp influences.  Both ‘Wild Lovin’ and ‘Never Gonna Go’ are more mid-tempo affairs, but they maintain a muscular edge with aggressive guitar work.  A solid underground rock obscurity.

BILLY HAGEN

Artist: BILLY HAGEN

Title: Taking Notation

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1990

Songs: 10

Label: M.F.C. Records

Style: Bar Band Rock

Up-tempo twangy guitar antics and good time bar band rock ‘n roll from Singer Songwriter Billy Hagen and enlisted band members.  The band looked to have been operating out of Portland, OR.