7 Inches for Idiots

Drive Like Jehu
“Bullet Train To Vegas”
Hand Over Fist/Bullet Train To Vegas 7”
Merge Records
1992

This 7” in particular is considered the paragon of 90’s hardcore, in some circles. The A side ‘Hand Over Fist’ is full blown rock terror with a mild hint of melody, while ‘Bullet Train To Vegas’ has some of the most psychotic guitar playing of that era.

Unwound
“Totality”
MKultra 7”
Kill Rock Stars
1994

Justin Trosper and Vern Rumsey were in a band before Unwound called Giant Henry. What a great name for a band. This is what Slim Moon had to say about them:

Giant Henry’s last show was just about the funnest party/show I’ve ever been to. For the last song, they played their smash hit “Chris Jordan” for about half an hour. Eventually one of them got up and walked off but the other two kept playing. A member of the audience grabbed the unused instrument and joined in. After a while, all the members of the band had left but the song was still being played. It seemed like it went on for hours. The reason Giant Henry broke up was because Brandt wanted to quit. Later, the same three guys started a new band with all new songs. They called themselves “Cygnus X-1” (or something like that) before settling on Unwound….

Duster
“Orbitron”
Transmission, Flux 7 inch
Up Records
1997

Space-rock from the ashes of Mohinder and Calm. Very loud drummer that kinda looked like a Thundercat, according to one source.