☆ File under: Oldiescore - The Beatnik Termites CDgraphy (1995-2003) [REFRESHED & RESTORED] ☆

The Beatnik Termites are a Cleveland, Ohio power pop band with a heavy surf rock influence. Their sound and vocals are similar in style to the Beach Boys and early 1960s girl groups. While often lumped under the category pop punk, what sets them apart from other bands in this genre is their more complicated melodies, vocal arrangements, and mid-tempo beats. They are seen as the progenitors of subgenre of punk dubbed oldies-core, which is characterized by sugary doo-wop/oldies-influenced harmonies coupled with aggressive buzzsaw guitars and surf punk drumbeats.

Great songs, stunning melodies, trademark Beatnik Termite harmonies, soaring upper-register vocals, and a driving surf punk back beat. The Termites' highly stylized music is a progression of the power pop sound that has left so many fans breathless: a modern pop whose quality is timeless. The Termites music is urgent and direct: not retro, -but timeless. Stories of hopeless love, wrapped up in infectious melodies, written and executed with precision, and hitting a bulls-eye right in the cross hairs of modern indie pop.


The band's original lineup of Reggie Silvestri on drums, Pat Kim on guitar and lead vocals and Brian McCafferty on bass formed in 1987. After releasing several EPs and compilation tracks, the Beatnik Termites released their first full-length CD, "Taste the Sand", in 1995, which established them as the torchbearers of the oldies-core genre. After Brian McCafferty left the band in 1995, and the band lacked a bass player for a several years. (Soon after, Josh Yakunich, formerly with The Proms, joined the band to record the live album "Live at the Orifice" in 1996 which was later released in 1997). Also, in 1996, they've recorded "Bubblecore" with Pat Kim playing Bass. This release was a foray into harder-edged sounds, and after discussions to release the album with pop-punk giant Lookout! Records, they eventually released it with Recess Records in 1999. In 1997, the band covered the entire Ramones 1981 album "Pleasant Dreams" released jointly by Coldfront Records and Clearview Records. In 2003, they returned to their classic oldies-influenced sound with "Girl Crazy". The Beatnik Termites' catalog is currently available on Insubordination Records.

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☆ File under: Oldiescore - The Beatnik Termites CDgraphy (1995-2003) [REFRESHED & RESTORED] ☆

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Examples of other bands derivative of this style (some of whom cite the Beatnik Termites as a direct influence) include the Spazzys, The Proms, The Travoltas and The Unlovables. The Beatnik Termites are also cited as a major influence by numerous straightforward pop punk acts including the Teen Idols, The Steinways and Mach Pelican. The Queers are rumored to have named their Bubblegum Dreams EP after two Beanik Termites releases, Bubblecore and Schoolboy's Dream, respectively; even co-opting the artwork theme from Bubblecore. Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain is documented to have cited the Beatnik Termites as a favorite band in the Cobain Diaries.

Tracklist:

01. Ode To Susie And Joey
02. 9:15
03. Denise, Denise
04. Angel Saw Reggie's Dick
05. Half Pipe
06. Surf Dancin'
07. Mary Lou
08. Voice On The Radio
09. Termite Hop
10. Undesirable
11. My Sweet Valentine


Recorded by Bill Korecky at Mars Studio
Mastered by John Golden at John Golden Mastering

• Pat Kim - vocals & guitar
• Brian McCafferty - bass & vocals
• Reggie Silvestri - drums and backing vocals

Release Date: November 14, 1995
Label: Black Pumpkin Records
Catalog No.: BP 9510 CD

Beatnik Termites "Bubblecore!™" was recorded in 1996 but first released on Recess Records in 1999, and the band continued to tour for three years. 14 tracks on Bubblecore are without question the angriest that you've heard or will hear from the Beatnik Termites. The highly infectious super sugary melodies are played with the Termites' irresistible style that is punk only in spirit, not in sound.

Tracklist:

01. I Don't Wanna Hang Around
02. You're All Talk
03. A Girl I Know
04. Shit, Fuck
05. I Don't Wanna Be Bad
06. Skateboard
07. You're The Only One
08. You Make Me Sick
09. Circles
10. Eddie's Got A New Zit
11. Can't Pretend
12. Jailbreak
13. Beach Girl
14. Don't Tell Me

all songs written by P. Kim except "8" by Kim/Silvestri


Recorded and Mixed by Bill Korecky at Mars,
except "1,6,7,10,13" Mixed by Mass Giorgini at Sonic Iguana

• Pat Kim - vocals & guitar, bass on all tracks
• Reggie Silvestri - drums and backing vocals

Original Recording Date: 1996
Re-Release Date: January 10, 2006 (2003)
Format: Original Recording Remastered
Label: Insubordination Records
Catalog No.: ISR-034



Tracklist:

01. Charlie Brown Gets A Valentine
02. 9-15
03. How Many Times
04. Strawberry Girl
05. Angel Saw Reggie's Dick
06. Mary Lou
07. When She's Nearby
08. Granola Head
09. Veronica
10. Surf Dancin'
11. Ode To Susie And Joey
12. Termite Hop
13. I Don't Wanna Be Bad
14. Shit, Fuck


Recorded by Ken Brown
Mixed at Tall Dog.

Originally Released: 1997
Format: Original Recording Reissued
Label: Clearview Records
Catalog No.: CRVW-43

In 1997, the Termites' recorded and released a cover of the entire Ramones' LP "Pleasant Dreams", reinventing it with their signature sugar-coated sound. The release was the last in a highly collectable series of Ramones cover LPs' originally issued as vinyl only on Clearview Records, covered by such bands as Screeching Weasel, The Queers, and Mr. T-Experience, among others. The Beatnik Termites' "Pleasant Dreams" was recorded with special guest on bass Ray Ahn from the Hard-ons, Australia's premier underground export. The "Pleasant Dreams" session was also the first complete Termites session recorded by highly acclaimed producer Mass Giorgini at Sonic Iguana Studios. As master of the control knobs, Giorgini would actualize for the band the recorded sound which the Termites had envisioned and been striving for. Giorgini later commented that the Termites' "Pleasant Dreams" session was one of the highlights of his professional recording career. The album won more praise from now longtime Termites supporter Marky Ramone, who when questioned on the multitude of Ramones' covers being released commented succinctly in Hit List Magazine #4 of the Termites "That cover LP I like. It was real good". The praise landed the Termites with an official nod from the Ramones in the liner notes of the Ramones own re-mastered version of "Pleasant Dreams" on Rhino Records. It seemed that everyone was hip to the Beatnik Termites!..

Tracklist:

01. We Want The Airwaves
02. All's Quiet On The Eastern Front
03. The KKK Took My Baby Away
04. Don't Go
05. You Sound Like You're Sick
06. She's A Sensation
07. 7-11
08. You Didn't Mean Anything To Me
09. Come On Now
10. This Business Is Killing Me
11. Sitting In My Room


Produced & Engineered by Mass Giorgini
Recorded at Sonic Iguana, Lafayette, IN.
Prepared for CD reissue: unknown %

• Pat Kim - vocals & guitar
• Ray Ann - bass & backing vocals
• Reggie Silvestri - drums & backing vocals

Originally Unreleased: 1997
CD Release Date: August 2, 2003
Label: Insubordination Records
Catalog No.: ISR-030

The assiduous Termites recorded, and released their "Girl Crazy!" CD in 2003 followed-up with two years of continuous touring. It's hard to believe that the Termites' "Girl Crazy!" is not a Greatest Hits release when you listen to hit-after-hit-song – but it's simply the latest output from the band. On "Girl Crazy!", the Termites deliver nine new hit songs demonstrating their mastery of the unique style of modernized sock-hop power-pop which they developed on their seminal 1989 recordings. And they are still playing those same bitter sweet, instantly catchy bubblegum melodies that you can sing along with the first time you hear. "Girl Crazy!" delivers nine instant classics with all of the 50's songwriting hooks that have made this pop staple infamous in the underground music scene. The Beatnik Termites have clearly gone infectious!

Tracklist:

01. Red Haired Girl
02. Somebody Else's Baby
03. Amanda Tells Me
04. Rock All Night
05. Reanna
06. Dream Girl
07. Angel
08. Sorry
09. All Messed Up

all songs written by P. Kim except "4", "7" by J. Yakunich, and "8" by Ray Ahn


Produced by Mass Giorgini, Pat Kim & Reggie Silvestri
Engineered by Mass Giorgini at Sonic Iguana Studios, Lafayette, IN

• Pat Kim - vocals & guitar, bass on "9"
• Josh Yakunich - bass & backing vocals
• Reggie Silvestri - drums & backing vocals

additional musicians:
- Ray Ahn (Hard-Ons) - bass on "Sorry"
- Mass Giorgini & Dan Lumley - tamborine on "Reanna"

Original Release Date: 2003
Re-Release: January 4, 2005
Format: Original Recording Reissued
Label: Insubordination Records
Catalog No.: ISR-027


What's new:
Scans: Everything's new.
EAC: Each album re-ripped again (except "Live").

more Termites: V.A. - Ben Weasel Presents: Punk USA (1994)