Artist: the Stickmen

In '82, punk's first wave was over and its second was on the rise, allowing New Wave and post-punk's many faces to emerge. Amidst this genesis of genre and musical evolution, Philly-based No Wavers The Stickmen revamped a sound that defied convention. With guitar, synth, and frenetic energy, The Stickmen distinguished themselves as local darlings, opening for acts like the Slits, Gang of Four, and the Pop Group. Along with founding member, Peter L. Barker, fellow guitarist Beth Ann Lejman, who eventually took over duties on the keys, crafted a memorable fusion between punk, funk, and art rock. [...]

Transformer Marnie Stern, a darling of guitar technicians and navel-gazing music insiders shows why she's loved in limited circles. Her new CD "This is it and I am it and you are it and so is that and he is it and she is it and it is it and that is that" should be a warning right from the start. Not only is it borrowed (poet Alan Watts c. 1960), it's long and self indulgent. The CD cover boasts a sticker claiming "Kill Rock Star Goddess of Shred™, Marnie Stern, has created a pop record [...]

• Marnie Stern - Transformer

The Philly skronk-punk outfit known as The Stickmen had a brief existence, but their hyperactive, disjointed music still gives our stereo an electric jolt. The band's songs were shaved down to their bare essentials--all three tracks below clock in at the sub-two-minute mark--and packed with popping basslines and squeaked exclamations from lead singer Peter L. Baker, who passed away in 1994. The Stickmen - Caged Sex [MP3] The Stickmen - Master Brew [MP3] The Stickmen - Mystery Party [MP3] The Stickmen [avantart.com]

• The Stickmen - Caged Sex » thestickmen_cagedsex.mp3
• The Stickmen - Master Brew
• The Stickmen - Mystery Party