Today’s Vinyl: Plain Wrap

The record nerd’s cocoon of willful obscurity was ruined years ago by the internet; whatever it is you’ve got secreted away in the closet, at least two of the three other people who also possess it have already created a site with hi-res images, FAQs and an extended, annotated review. Or, in this case, you discover that the short-lived southern California trio that released a middling punk-pop record with a silly, catchy 1-minute goof in the middle of side 2 not only has a goddamn mySpace page but is also pimping a deluxe CD re-issue of said obscurity.

Plain Wrap’s album design and band name were a send-up of those generic grocery products that debuted in the 80s (see also: Repo Man), and most of the material here is bland, competent punk or straight-up bar band rock. Still, look at that chest hair:

I bought this record, as I think everyone else did, for Green Light, Red Light, a short blast of silliness that encapsulated every punk musical trope (yes, really, all of them - listen carefully) in about 60 seconds. It’s Black Flag, Fear, the Dead Kennedys and Descendents ground up and smashed into a concentrated paste, and it’s tasty. Look Out (WARNING: SKATER FOOTAGE) is the only other memorable track here, another fast, fun nugget that plays like the same kind of near-parody as Green Light, Red Light.

Keep your fingers crossed for the inevitable reunion tour – hairy-chested goof-punk is due for a comeback.