Hardcore Architecture explores the relationship between the architecture of living spaces and the history of underground American hardcore bands in the 1980s. Band addresses are discovered using contact listings found in demo tape and record reviews published from 1982-89 in the fanzine MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL (MRR). Google Street View is used to capture photos of the homes. Street names and numbers are removed to respect the privacy of people currently living at these addresses.
While care is taken to confirm that the home in the photo matches the street number listed in MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL, accuracy is not guaranteed. Some addresses have been confirmed using real estate websites. When multiple homes are built close together, the band-associated home is the house in the center of the composition. If you are a member of a band on this page and notice an error, please feel free to contact me. This research will later be supported by additional writing and exhibitions.
Some of the MRR reviewer initials included in selected posts are: Jeff Bale (JB), Jello Biafra (Jel), Chris Dodge (CD), Dr. Frank (DF), Devon Morf (DM), Dogtowne (Dog), Rob Glaser (RG), Walter Glaser (WG), Mike La Vella (ML), Pushead (Pus), Ruth Schwartz (RS), Chuck Sherrill (CS), Steve Spinali (SS), Martin Sprouse (MS), Jason Traeger (JT), Tesco Vee (TV), and Tim Yohannan (TY).
Hardcore Architecture is a project of Marc Fischer and Public Collectors.
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The address given for their self-titled LP in Normal, IL 61761. Source: MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL, issue no. 75, Aug., 1989. Street view date: Sept., 2023. Sample quote from the review: “Despite being a bit generic, this is a raging early HC-styled romp.” (TY).
The address given for their "Acres of Concrete" cassette in Renton, WA 98066. Source: MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL, issue no. 75, Aug., 1989. Street view date: Sept., 2018. Sample quote from the review: “Standard upbeat punk with good aware lyrics.” (WG).
The address given for their "Breaking the Scales" cassette in Tacoma, WA 98466. Source: MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL, issue no. 75, Aug., 1989. Street view date: Aug., 2024. Sample quote from the review: “A very thick sound here; power-oriented "progressive" HC a la late Black Flag and Neurosis, but these fellows have a more metallic feel.” (WG).
The address given for their untitled cassette in Park Ridge, IL 60068. Source: MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL, issue no. 75, Aug., 1989. Street view date: Sept., 2023. Sample quote from the review: “Raw garage punk that has a sort of basic appeal to it. Rebellious lyrics, decent sound quality.” (WG).
The address given for their untitled cassette in Chicago, IL 60622. Source: MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL, issue no. 75, Aug., 1989. Street view date: Sept., 2022. Sample quote from the review: “A primo production job here. Five tunes of rockin'ish punk with little singalong bits lurking about.” (WG).
The address given for their “Giallo” cassette in Normal, IL 61761. Source: MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL, issue no. 75, Aug., 1989. Street view date: June, 2023. Sample quote from the review: "U.S. stench/ metal/ death/ core/ noise/ whatever with (surprise, surprise) horror-movie lyrics. File next to your Carcass LP. Song title of the month: "Bitch Death Teenage Mucous Monster From Hell." (WG).
The address given for their “No Duh” 8 track tape in Wilmington, DE 19803. Source: MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL, issue no. 75, Aug., 1989. Street view date: July, 2023. Sample quote from the review: "If you have a 8 track player you may as well get this." (WG).
The address given for their “Demo 88” cassette in Sterling Heights, MI 48310. Source: MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL, issue no. 75, Aug., 1989. Street view date: Aug., 2018. Sample quote from the review: “Snotnose punk that reminds me of early LA stuff: Angry Samoans, Circle Jerks, etc. Not original by any means, just fierce blasts of momentum and energy." (WG).
The address given for their “The Word is Go!” cassette in New York, NY 10010. Source: MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL, issue no. 75, Aug., 1989. Street view date: June, 2019. Sample quote from the review: “Garage thrash that reminds me a bit of the first Poison Idea EP. Lyrics are mostly personal." (WG).
The address given for their "I Shot Lennon" cassette in Holliston, MA 01746. Source: MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL, issue no. 75, Aug., 1989. Street view date: Sept., 2023. Sample quote from the review: “A short (4 songs) but potent dose of noisy, thrash. Not sure about the words, but 'Violent Man’ is the best tune." (WG).
The address given for their untitled cassette in Etters, PA 17319. Source: MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL, issue no. 75, Aug., 1989. Street view date: July, 2023. Sample quote from the review: “Mid-tempo punk with metally guitar inclinations. Funny lyrics, an obnoxious attitude and clips from the "Quincy Punk" episode makes this one pretty fun.” (WG).
The address given for their “Babe” EP in Pittsburgh, PA 15232. Source: MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL, issue no. 75, Aug., 1989. Street view date: Nov., 2024. Sample quote from the review: “Rarely have we seen such a smokin' platter come outta Pittsburgh. The Crow Flies, alumni of many P-burgh groups, formed about two years ago and broke up very recently. All that's left is this limited (500 pressed) EP. Catchy songs, occasionally brilliant lyrics and good recording (you can hear the bass).” (ML).
The address given for their "Sugar and Spice" cassette in Methuen, MA 01844. Source: MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL, issue no. 75, Aug., 1989. Street view date: July, 2023. Sample quote from the review: “Good rocking '77-style punk, 10 songs all of great sound quality.” (RG).
The address given for their "Star Booty" Mini LP in Oberlin, OH 44074. Source: MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL, issue no. 75, Aug., 1989. Street view date: Sept., 2023. Sample quote from the review: “Has this been out for a while? Well, we just got one and it's pretty damn good. Sometimes they lean a little into that mid-period Hüsker Dü rockin' sound, but not exclusively. Actually it's a pretty mixed bag of styles, but it works.” (ML).
The address given for their untitled EP in Brooklyn, NY 11211. Source: MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL, issue no. 75, Aug., 1989. Street view date: July, 2022. Sample quote from the review: "This is my old pal Alan Peter's (from Pittsburgh) band that he got together after leaving Agnostic Front. Lyrically, this keeps in the NY tradition of bands like Cause For Alarm in that it asks a lot of questions about the world around us. Musically it's that NYC sound all the way, that I think is OK in small doses." (ML).
The address given for their "Dub #1" cassette in San Francisco, CA 94114. Source: MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL, issue no. 21, Jan., 1985. Street view date: May, 2019. Sample quote from the review: “There are three tracks here, all in the "angry young singer-songwriter vein. It's sort of a pissed, poetic stream of consciousness rap laid over driving rhythms, not unlike early Lou Reed or Jim Carroll (but with better lyrics)." (TY).
The address given for their "Ballroom Blitz" cassette in Oakland, CA 94609. Source: MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL, issue no. 21, Jan., 1985. Street view date: Nov., 2024. Sample quote from the review: “Reminiscent of early '70's rock, with tributes of sorts to the Sweet, Mott The Hoople, etc.” (TY).