Kill the Kool

Originally issued on vinyl so the Seattle band could sell it on a 2011 tour, Kill the Kool could be The Spits’ quintessential fanboy release—20 tracks, including everything from demos to outtakes and singles tracks. With precious few bands clinging to the tenants of true old-school punk these days, these guys are the real thing, to be treasured before they call it quits when you least expect it. Fans need to own the adrenalin-drenched “Army Life,” the robot-space-punk gems “Hit the Dead” and “Halloween Fun,” and the Ramones-wrapped goodness of “Wait” and “Trouble” all in one collection. You could be the only kid on your block blasting the lo-lo-fi, B-movie-grade remix of the song “Kill the Kool” or the snarling, ’77-and-black-leather-flavored “Take Pleasure in Someone Else’s Pain.” Punk rock lives, pal, and these guys are one of its last reigning bodies.