I've gotta spread things out a bit in order to make sure that casual visitors don't think I'm only posting one specific style of music up in this shit, but if you pass on downloading these mp3's because of your own narrowminded musical tastes you're an idiot, because this is probably one of my favorite CD's in my entire collection. It's definitely in my top 25 most played CD's, I bet. Without question Guns 'n' Wankers' "For Dancing and Listening" is easily one of the best Fat Wreck Chords releases ever. It came out in 1994 and I still listen to it all the time—repeatedly, since it's so damn short! Eight tracks in just about 21 minutes, consisting of tunes from some of the band's three 7"s on Rugger Bugger Records: "Pop", "Hardcore", and "Metal". From what I can gather the Fat Wreck CD doesn't have the songs from the "Metal" 7" on it, which pisses me off, so I guess I really need to track down that EP somewhere.
Anyway, Guns 'n' Wankers was a shortlived trio from England that formed after the breakup of Snuff in 1991. Snuff was pretty good in their early days (I ought to pick up more of their stuff), but when they reformed in 1994 I couldn't really hang once they started bringing in horns and keyboards and stuff, though they still had some true keepers on hand. I'd give anything to have had Guns 'n' Wankers continue on instead, because every second of every song on this CD is a keeper. It's pop-punk to a degree, but it's really thick, ultra catchy, and still sounds sincere and legitimate. It's not pop-punk by today's standards, nor is it generic pop-punk that has too much in common with what Fat Wreck and Epitaph were dealing with in the mid-90's when this material was released. Don't be fooled by the shoddy cover art or the sarcastic band name—there's definitely a fun-loving sense of humor lingering about, but the music delivers, and only one or two of the songs come remotely close to hitting on those types of angles.
Guns 'n' Wankers "Help"
Guns 'n' Wankers "Skin Deep"
The disc is still in print (and dirt cheap at $8 brand spankin' new from the label), so you should damn well snag it if you dig these tunes:
Comments
An absolutely underappreciated band. If you havent already, pick up the Southport record as well. It’s another Snuff spinoff band, and it’s just really good, sad, midtempo pop punk. They had a record on Go-Kart, but I’m not sure how easy it is to come by these days.
5.19.2005 | By Nick Fucking Miller
Looks like not only is it still in print, it’s dirt ass cheap everywhere I look! Great! I’ll pick one up soon, many thanks for the recommendation.
5.19.2005 | By Andrew Aversionline
great band, thanks for the tunes! Do any of these guys still play in current bands?
5.19.2005 | By Machinegun
The main songwriter in Guns n’ Wankers is currently running the show in a band called Billy No Mates, who just had a CD come out recently in the UK, but I haven’t been able to find it anywhere in the US. You should also pick and choose through some of Snuff’s back catalog if you like this, as the two bands sound similar, though for me Guns n’ Wankers is definitely a step above! Glad you liked it…
5.19.2005 | By Andrew Aversionline
Just saw this on Fatwreck.com - Snuff’s double disc. Greatest hits, and rare recordings and a few new songs. Six Of One, Half A Dozen Of The Other: 1986-2002 how can you go wrong with a double CD for $10.
5.21.2005 | By dissension
This is actually really good. Keep it up!
5.21.2005 | By Anonymous
hi there, i’ve just downloaded the album again after 11 years. i first got this album on vinyl when it first came out (1994) and loved it! we also interviewed snuff when they were playing in cologne. Best songs: Help, Skin Deep, and Sunstroke.
6.12.2005 | By Anonymous
hey machinegun!
these guys were basically the snuff line-up. snuff are still active. if you live in europe you should be able to see them live somewhere.
tito
8.7.2005 | By Anonymous
Check it out, all three of the GN’W 7” records are here:
http://cosmozebra.blogspot.com/2008/07/guns-n-wankers-pop-hardcore-metal.html
And the Bonus ‘Silly’ 7” that came out with a magazine is here:
http://vulturesquad.blogspot.com/2009/03/guns-n-wankers-silly-7.html
Come join the Yahoo! group if you’re interested in checking out more SNUFF stuff!
3.27.2009 | By Iyehf Taidu Leikh: It Must Be Boring Being Snuff