Doc Shoe's Music Blog

“The Break” by The Penetrators

Here’s a comp from 1978, focusing on the New Wave scene in Washington D.C.  The music is great, but I’m also fascinated in this record as a cultural artifact: We’re being given a peek at D.C. moments before Hardcore erupted.  From the original liner notes:

[…] The increasing complexity of the record industry forced many bands to the realization that to be “discovered” they’d have to move to New York or the west coast.  Recently, many of the local club owners remain contented plodding along with that dinosaur, Heavy Metal, or have gone for the easy trend bucks supplied by John Revolta clones and that dreaded social disease, disco music.  The one club in town  which “stumbled” across New Wave music lost its integrity and has sunk to its depths like its namesake.  But local musicians have found an ally in WGTB FM, which has been eager to air New Wave music and help promote a local scene.  This sampler reflects the positive air in the DC area regarding New Wave music.  The 16 tracks represent a cross section of the talent here, and your ownership of this album shows your support and involvement in the D. Cene.