The Haskells - Hopscotch and Bourbon (1995, Flipside)

Many of you old timers on here remember Flipside fanzine, a content-heavy punk/alt-rock rag that crammed more reviews and articles into one issue than it’s DIY contemporary, Maximum Rock N Roll could in four. To cut to the chase, when the magazine folded in the late ‘90s, it’s in-house record label, Flipside Records (duh) did as well. Aside from some gnarly punk/hardcore compilations, the label released many mediocre LPs by even more mediocre bands, but The Haskells’ Hopscotch and Bourbon was a thankful and enjoyable anomaly.

Like many before and after them, L.A.’s Haskells flew the three-chord banner with fervor. More specifically, axe-slinger Mark Sogomian, by accident or not, adopted the well-manicured crunch that Bob Mould brandished on the final Husker Du record, Warehouse: Songs and Stories. To my ears, the fourteen cuts here also recall Mercyland, a band who has been discussed on these pages before. Highly recommended.

01. Spinning Round
02. Brand New Friend
03. She Said
04. Filling the Space
05. Something to Do
06. Pull Back the Skin
07. Willow
08. Media Whore
09. Miss America
10. Karma Machine
11. Superhero
12. Pretty When You're Dead
13. Cross on Wheels
14. Waiting for the Train

Hear