The Plague – Nuclear Polka and Sinning for Dollars

The Plague
Nuclear Polka and Sinning for Dollars
19?? (no label)
Detroit, Michigan, USA

Jay Mendamin

1. Jesus Presley
2. Overload
3. You Deserve It
4. Hell Machine
5. Sinning for Dollars
6. What’s the Difference?
7. The Plague Street Level WDTR Radio Spot
8. Fools and Strangers Street Level WDTR Radio Spot

I know that the tape above says this is Nuclear Polka and Sinning for Dollars, but the truth is that it only has 2 of the 5 songs from Nuclear Polka. But they actually sound more interesting when removed from the meandering songs that surround them there. Then there are 4 other songs that may or may not make up all of the songs that were on Sinning for Dollars, and two radio spots by the guy that is apparently the leader of both this band and Fools and Strangers (there are two Fools and Strangers demos on the b-side). It is not uncommon for bands to take the best songs from older demos and put them on a new demo. I just don’t know if this is that demo, or if there is an actual Sinning for Dollars tape out there with more songs. All of the songs on here are the lo-fi one-person band type, with guitar and no bass over drum machines. No information or song names, so some of the titles listed might be incorrect. I still get the impression that the intent here is punk, or punk/metal hybrid – but the lo-fi recording process gives it an underground electronic / indie rock feel as well. The song that I called “Hell Machine” is the weirdest – it starts off with a human beat box, and the singer kind of rapping over it – before the same over distorted guitars on the rest of the album kicks in. It is weird and kind of interesting as well. Jay identifies himself in the radio spots at the end, so this may be his project. they also have at least two other tapes – Infected and Knucklehead.

Missing Information: Release date, some song names, who played on this?