VA - A Small Circle Of Friends - A Germs Tribute

The Germs were an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California, United States, originally active from 1976 to 1980. The band's main early lineup consisted of singer Darby Crash, guitarist Pat Smear, bassist Lorna Doom, and drummer Don Bolles. They released only one album, 1979's (GI), produced by Joan Jett, and were featured the following year in Penelope Spheeris' documentary film The Decline of Western Civilization, which chronicled the Los Angeles punk movement.

The Germs disbanded following Crash's suicide on December 7, 1980. Their music was influential to many later punk rock acts. Smear went on to achieve greater fame performing with Nirvana and Foo Fighters.

"It's a bit odd to have a full-blown, star-studded tribute to a band that only released one album, especially when that band was better-known for their aggressive, audience-baiting performances than their songwriting abilities. Nevertheless, the Germs were a cult favorite among underground rockers for many years, partially due to the mythology surrounding their self-destructive lead singer, Darby Crash, and partially due to their claim as the first punk rock band in Los Angeles. And that explains why "A Small Circle of Friends: A Germs Tribute" was created. Allegedly a full four years in the making, "A Small Circle of Friends" features a full 20 tracks from such alternative rock stars and heavy hitters like L7, Mike Watt & J Mascis, Meat Puppets, Matthew Sweet, Free Kitten, NOFX, the Melvins, Flea, Gumball, Dave Navarro, that dog., D Generation, the Posies, and various one-shot supergroups like the Puzzled Panthers (Thurston Moore, Mike D, Kira Roessler, Dave Markey) and the Holez (Pat Smear with Hole). Nearly every one of the artists deliver passionate, affectionate performances, but they can't quite save the songs from being rather mediocre. After all, what made the Germs compelling were the performances, not the songs themselves -- apart from "Forming" and "Sex Boy," the songs were not that memorable. Still, fans of either the Germs or any of the individual artists involved in the tribute will find something of interest on "A Small Circle of Friends". And despite the evident effort of everyone involved in the album, "A Small Circle of Friends" remains one of those tribute records that you listen to once and then file away." (allmusic.com)


Tracklist:

- NOFX Forming
–Free Kitten Sex Boy
–Melvins Lexicon Devil
–The Holez Circle One
–D Generation No God
–Mike Watt & J Mascis What We Do Is Secret
–Ruined Eye Land Of Treason
–The Posies Richie Dagger's Crime
–O-Matic Strange Notes
–White Flag Manimal
–That Dog* We Must Bleed
–Flea Media Blitz
–Sator The Other Newest One
–The Wrens Let's Pretend
–Matthew Sweet Dragon Lady
–Gumball (2) Caught In My Eye
–Meat Puppets Not All Right
–Puzzled Panthers Now I Hear The Laughter
–L7 Lion's Share

VA - A Small Circle Of Friends - A Germs Tribute

(320 kbps, cover art included)