Taz
Wake Up & Sweat Vol.1
The tunes within Wake Up & Sweat were recorded between 1986 and 1989. The volume gets its title from the sessions of the same name at the Monterey Sound Studios in Glendale. Perhaps the first observation I would make of these songs, especially the seven recordings from 1986, is that Taz had a raw, almost stripped down, punkish garage rock sound. But they were also working to hone their craft. On this disc you'll find two different versions of two of their most popular songs: She Does Bad Things and Love Violation. The changes are both nuanced and notable within both songs. I enjoyed both versions, maybe leaning more to the second incarnation of each. But, fundamentally, Taz was pushing their music in the direction of riff ripping, big beat, melodic hard rock with roaring guitar solos and that street-wise groove. Notable songs to fit this include Political Song, Bad Religion, and Tattoo You.