Sunday, January 22, 2012

Parade - Love and War (1987, Dangerous Rhythm)

It was nearly three years ago that I shared a scarce slice of wax by Concord, CA's Parade, titled Circle of Deception.  Still got that one in your ipod?  Yeah, I thought so.  It wasn't until I was browsing at Jerry's Records in Pittsburgh that I discovered there was a second Parade album, which I'm featuring today.   Turns out they were up to their same old tricks on Love and War, copping a pint or two from the 'Mats/Magnolias/Junk Monkeys wet bar.  Ringing guitars and punchy, high strung exuberance all around, with a number of comparatively refined ballads on side two.  If any of you can offer some details on Pariah, Parade's precursor band.  The singer/bassist is Ray Lujan, and I have to wonder if he's the same Ray Lujan who writes for Maximum Rock 'N Roll.  I suppose I'll keep wondering 'til someone confirms that suspicion. 

01. Flowers For Pretty
02. True to Life
03. Heaven Help Us
04. One Step Closer to Home
05. Torn in Two
06. The Forgotten Man
07. Love and War
08. When Hope Walks By
09. Time Won't Stop for Us
10. Prisoners of Our Dreams
11. How Can You Win?
12. Dignity

Hear

7 comments:

panzan said...

Do you/did you live in Pittsburgh? I lived in an apartment right around the corner from Jerry's 1996-1999. My LP collection grew tremendously in those years.

spavid said...

No, actually I don't, but I'm long due for a trip. Great store.

Neal said...

pariah was more of a classic southern california punk band, like agent orange, adolescents, m.i.a. maybe not quite in the same league, but good melodic stuff. you can find the re-issue cd version of their posh boy album "youths of age" on ebay for really cheap.

it is the same ray lujan. i used to always check his mrr top 10's and reviews since he was the resident pop punk guy pretty much. i used to see him at bay area shows when i first moved there too. he went onto another par- band after parade, the parasites. just for a few years i believe.

spavid said...

Thanks for the info Neal! Had a feeling it was the same Ray Lujan. Maybe I should email him...
Will have to check out Pariah one of these days.

AFA's Internet Zine said...

Dude, my Dad was in Parade. They opened for the Damned and him and Ray got a picture with Dave Vanian. I think Pariah is way better than Parade and I always jokingly give my Dad shit for "ruining a great hardcore band."

spavid said...

Cool beans. Make sure to show this to your Dad, as I'm sure he'll get a kick out of it. I'm looking forward to hearing Pariah now more than ever.

Jay Muzuu said...

Hey there! Sorry for being a decade late to your blog. Would it be possible for you to repost this Parade LP as well as Circle of Deception LP? I remember listening to these records as a teen and it would be nice to hear them again as an old fart. Thanks!