Label: Alternative Tentacles
Reissued 9/6/2024, Originally released 1984
Formed in Las Vegas in 1980, M.I.A. moved to Orange County in 1981 and started playing shows at the infamous Cuckoo’s Nest. They first appeared on the classic Last Rites for Genocide and M.I.A. split LP (Smoke Seven) in 1982. After a short break, the band got back together in 1983 and recorded a six-song demo at Greencarton studios in November. They quickly became known for their energetic live shows, blending fast, guitar-driven hardcore with singer MIKE CONLEY’s unique melodic voice and the trademark Southern Californian punk sound. After a show with the Dead Kennedys, Jello Biafra offered to release their next album, Murder In a Foreign Place on his Alternative Tentacles label in the summer of 1984. The band went on to release two more records, Notes From the Underground (National Trust 1985) and After the Fact (Flipside 1987), re-issued as a 2 LP set in 2023 by French label Modern City. Sadly, singer Mike Conley passed away in 2008 following a tragic accident; but original members NICK ADAMAS (guitar, vocals), PAUL SCHWARTZ (bass, vocals) and LARZ PEARSON (drums) perform as a three piece. Now to mark the album’s 40th anniversary, Alternative Tentacles and Modern City have teamed up to bring you Murder In a Foreign Place in 2024. With a total of 19 tracks, the re-issue includes the original album along with 2 studio out-takes and the full Greencarton demos. Unreleased track “Help Me Up” appears here for the first time ever! No matter if you have original copies of Murder In a Foreign Place, or just discovering M.I.A. for the first time, this album is a must for any collection! It’s an incredible re-issue for an indispensable album.
Track listing:
Our Side
- Modern Way
- Small Man In A Big World
- All I Know
- What's Your Problem
- Boredom Is The Reason
- Who Will Survive
- Used To Know Me
- Murder In A Foreign Place
- Las Vegas
- Reality Is Killing Me
- There Is No Love
Their Side
- Help Me Up
- Reality Is Killing Me
- Hatin’ Life
- Modern Way
- Murder In A Foreign Place
- Boredom Is The Reason
- Hatin’ Life
- Help Me Up