Customer Reviews

Squirrel Bait

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Squirrel Bait record truly was a revelation for the small group of kids who discovered it in '85. It predates Nirvana's first full-length by about 3 or 4 years--and a lot of the original Squirrel Bait fans, myself included, are still bitter that Nirvana grabbed all the glory.

Similarities between the bands notwithstanding, Squirrel Bait were a lot more intelligent, were mere kids when their record came out, and frankly, make Nirvana sound like corporate hair metal. The first time I heard "Hammering so Hard" I couldn't believe my ears it was so good. It was hardcore gone rock, with hooks galore and zero loss of intensity.

Peter Searcy's voice just has to be heard--he outdoes Cobain. As for the drumming, sorry Dave Grohl, the kid behind the kit was phenomenal!! We used to air-drum to it over doobies in the rec room.

An absolute monstrosity. Easily, THE most powerful 20 some-
odd minutes of music ever recorded. A complete, cacophonous
roar led by twin-barrels burnin' buzzsaw guitars and a drummer
named Ben who sounded like Keith Moon AFTER he destroyed the
skins. And Peter Searcy screaming/mewling/howling/caterwauling
over this riotous din like Paul Westerberg after a few
"whatever you're havings". As good, if not better, than
anything those Husker Dudes were doing at that present time.
As frontman Searcy anguishly laments on the final song "You
won't see-you won't know-that everything was PERFECT"...
believe me Peter...it all was.

in the immortal movie "summer school," one of freddy shoop's students, who's slept through class all semester, turns out to be a male stripper. when the shoop truck confronts him, larry responds with a question, "what if you could be 18 again, but you would know then what you know now?" of course, shoop agrees. so is squirrel bait, the noisy, highly intelligent punk band you wish you would have formed in high school. each song of the record is pounded out with all the angst these teens could muster, resulting in, to quote grant hart of husker du, "the best $400 [he's] ever heard." the liner notes are also a juicy read, comparing the record to, among other things, "i ain't marching anymore" by phil ochs and "light my fire" by jose feliciano. anarchists indeed.

Squirrel bait were in high school when they recorded both their records. It's amazing that kids that young could produce such amazing music. I was in a band at 16 and it sounded like a bunch of 16-year-olds. These kids ROCKED !!! If your a Discord fan check these guys out. Great 1985-86 Pre EMO I just wish the recording was better.

Louisville's own Squirrel Bait, the band who would later form Slint (without Peter Searcy) hits a homer with their debut. Although production is better on their next release, Skag Heaven, the songs here are superior.

Unlike the DIYers, I try to avoid labels, and SB doesn't adhere to them on this disc anyway. Not exactly punk/hardcore/math/indie/alternative/straight(crooked) edge, et.al.,ad nauseum, it's rock music because it has heart.

With less than 10 reviews, it's obvious this music has been overlooked, and that's too bad. However, with today's barren musical landscape, this album would be a real treat for those as yet unexposed to it. Get it from Amazon, new or used, because it's doubtful even the most eclectic music store would have a copy.

I've always found new music to enjoy, from the 1960s through the 1990s, however this most recent decade has really left me cold. Thus, I go back into my collection and enjoy stuff from 25 years ago.

Now that we from the 1980s are over 40 and irrelevant, you don't have to listen to what we produce, but certainly the songs of our youth will give you great listening enjoyment. Like I said, check it out.

There are eight songs on this EP and atleast four of them are really good. Those four being the first half. The second half isn't bad, but the songs seem kind of worthless compared to the first half. The first song, "Hammering so hard", is the EP's best track. It sounds like The Replacements meets Nirvana briefly introduced to Minor Threat. That pretty much goes for the entire EP. The vocalist, Peter Searcy, sounds like Kurt Cobain, Paul Westerberg, and Rick Froberg mixed into one. There is also a little Husker Du influence in some of the songwriting. I'm sure many of you looking at these reviews are fans of Slint, but I warn you not to expect anything like Slint from this band here. The guitar work shows a tiny little bit of the Slint sound, but it's not obvious. Remember Brian McMahan (Slint's vocalist/second guitarist) is only on guitar, not on vocals (and thankfully, because Searcy is a much better vocalist for this band). Also, Britt Wilford (Slint's drummer) is on drums. I may as well take time to note that the other members of Squirrel Bait, bassist Ethan Buckler and second guitarist David Grubbs, do a fine job on this recording.

In conclusion, I haven't got the Squirrel Bait full-length (Skag Heaven) yet, but this EP is just begging me to. A really good listen, and yes the Nirvana/Husker Du comparisons are completely true.

squirrel bait are unstoppable. i've had this record in my car cd player for a month now. this is essential listening. get it now!

There are eight songs on this EP and atleast four of them are really good. Those four being the first half. The second half isn't bad, but the songs seem kind of worthless compared to the first half. The first song, "Hammering so hard", is the EP's best track. It sounds like The Replacements meets Nirvana briefly introduced to Minor Threat. That pretty much goes for the entire EP. The vocalist, Peter Searcy, sounds like Kurt Cobain, Paul Westerberg, and Rick Froberg mixed into one. There is also a little Husker Du influence in some of the songwriting. I'm sure many of you looking at these reviews are fans of Slint, but I warn you not to expect anything like Slint from this band here. The guitar work shows a tiny little bit of the Slint sound, but it's not obvious. Remember Brian McMahan (Slint's vocalist/second guitarist) is only on guitar, not on vocals (and thankfully, because Searcy is a much better vocalist for this band). Also, Britt Wilford (Slint's drummer) is on drums. I may as well take time to note that the other members of Squirrel Bait, bassist Ethan Buckler and second guitarist David Grubbs, do a fine job on this recording.

In conclusion, I haven't got the Squirrel Bait full-length (Skag Heaven) yet, but this EP is just begging me to. A really good listen, and yes the Nirvana/Husker Du comparisons are completely true.

There are eight songs on this EP and atleast four of them are really good. Those four being the first half. The second half isn't bad, but the songs seem kind of worthless compared to the first half. The first song, "Hammering so hard", is the EP's best track. It sounds like The Replacements meets Nirvana briefly introduced to Minor Threat. That pretty much goes for the entire EP. The vocalist, Peter Searcy, sounds like Kurt Cobain, Paul Westerberg, and Rick Froberg mixed into one. There is also a little Husker Du influence in some of the songwriting. I'm sure many of you looking at these reviews are fans of Slint, but I warn you not to expect anything like Slint from this band here. The guitar work shows a tiny little bit of the Slint sound, but it's not obvious. Remember Brian McMahan (Slint's vocalist/second guitarist) is only on guitar, not on vocals (and thankfully, because Searcy is a much better vocalist for this band). I may as well take time to note that the other members of Squirrel Bait, Ben Daughtrey on drums, bassist Ethan Buckler and second guitarist David Grubbs, do a fine job on this recording.

In conclusion, I haven't got the Squirrel Bait full-length (Skag Heaven) yet, but this EP is just begging me to. A really good listen, and yes the Nirvana/Husker Du comparisons are completely true.