Nag

“False Anxiety” b/w “imsosmall”

Total Punk

For awhile I’ve felt that Total Punk is the label that’s best representing punk rock music as I currently enjoy and appreciate. Every email updating of new releases from them has me buying EVERY new release. The have a solid distro list too.

The cohesion and consistency, not only in design (red ink rubber stamps on plain paper sleeve, almost always) but in content is an absolute bitch to pull off.

Punk labels, almost by design, are not supposed to last long. They’re supposed to crash and burn. Going on six years for these guys and I want to hand them a gold medal. They are doing god’s work.

So all their shit is solid, but this Nag single sticks out as being particularly impressive and memorable.

Quick, strident and to the point on the A-side, featuring some A-Frames touchstones without becoming pastiche. The b-side ‘imsosmall" reminds me of Nirvana’s 1988 recordings with Dale Crover on drums. Dreary, depressingly good and accented by a manic rave-up mind bend. I smile.

I don’t say this about much, but I don’t think you can go wrong with anything on Total Punk. But if you want somewhere to start, please do grab this Nag single. I promise.