MASSES are heading out on a North American tour starting here in Vancouver on the 9th, so we asked them to share their favorite record picks with us. We’re excited to see them at the tour kick off, and if they’re heading to your city make sure you are there to support…dates below!
Band Pick
Killing Joke – Self Titled
This was literally the only LP we could all agree on, it was and is very influential on Masses sound.
Tessa – Bass
Blitz – Second Empire Justice
I grew up on early Blitz, baby mohawked Tessa couldn’t get enough of Voice of a Generation. As I got older and discovered the post punk and goth classics, Christian Death, Joy Divison etc later era Blitz’s album Second Empire Justice is the one that stood out for me the most, and I can listen to over and over again and never get sick of it. You can very clearly hear, especially in the vocals and driving drum beats the Oi influence which gives the album such bite. I guess maybe also it’s a bit nostalgic for me, I was thrashing this album a lot when I was 19/20. I hadn’t gotten tied down with studying and work, was squatting with my best friend who now lives overseas, had just joined Masses and rode my bike everywhere. Honorable mention to Spectres – Last Days which is a very close second.
Ashleigh – Drums
Wire – Chairs Missing
The post punk album that I have spent the most time with, and that has influenced me in many different facets of music making, is Wire’s Chairs Missing. Released in ’78, it took more of a thoughtful approach on punk in terms of song writing, production and presentation. No ransom note lettering here. But what I really like about this record is the mood errs on the psychedelic side of things, exploring surrealism with a wink and tongue placed in cheek. ‘I feel mysterious today’ and ‘Marooned’ remind me of moments off The Pretty Things’ album from 10 years earlier, S.F. sorrow. ‘Heartbeat’ exhibits a perfect amount of restraint and subtlety and ‘Outdoor Miner’ is nothing but pure pop perfection. There’s still your energetic straight up punk numbers such as ‘Sand in your Joints’ and ‘Another Letter’ and the absurd chanty classic ‘I am the fly’ to yell along to. Lovely stuff.
Nellie – Synth & Vocals
This Mortal Coil – It’ll End In Tears
Owner of 4AD records and lots of appearance from Cocteau Twins, Dead Can Dance and Howard Devoto. Perfect range of eerie and ethereal to more standard post punk bangers. Also TWO big star covers. Absolutely classic album that stays with you forever. This album is also lovingly handled in The Doom Generation – I also wish I could crawl up inside this album.
James – Guitar & Vocals
Vex – Sanctuary
Vex are a band I find myself constantly recommending to fans of a genre that they helped create. Sanctuary is a scolding post punk album that offers an experimental take on their contemporary anarcho punk scene. There is a balance of aggression and melody that, to me, has not been captured more perfectly than song like “Sanctuary” or “Rushing to Hide.”
Sat July 9th – Vancouver
Sun 10 – Seattle
Mon 11 – Olympia
Weds 13 – PDX
Fri 15 – Oakland
Sat 16 – SF
Sun 17 San Jose
Mon 18 – LA
Tues 19 – LA
Weds – 20 – Merced
Sat 23 – New York
Sun 24 – Pittsburg
Mon 25 – Columbus
Tue 26 – Detroit
Weds 27 – Chicago
Fri 29 – Cinncinati
Sat 30 – Cleveland
Sun 31 – Toronto
Monday August 1st – Montreal
Wed 3 – Boston
Thurs 4 – Philly
Sat 6th SLM
