People treat bands like The Clean, The Chills, and Tall Dwarfs with a reverence normally reserved for the divine. Drop the term “Kiwi rock” into any music discussion, and watch everyone around you begin to glow. The label that has defined this sound is Flying Nun Records. From Kurt Cobain to Jay Reatard, Guided by Voices and Crystal Stilts, the sounds put out by the indie label that started up in 1981 might be the most cherished of any scene, genre, or record collection. The influence that the label has had on music in the last 30 years is nearly immeasurable, and continues to inspire countless bands.
For some reason, label-mates The 3Ds aren't generally included alongside their much-worshiped brethren. They've scored a #2 record in their homeland and supported U2, but their records have gone largely unnoticed in the States since their debut in late 80s; regardless, if any time was right for fans of Flying Nun to discover The 3Ds, it would be now. Sounding like the Kiwi cousins of some of the iconic bands from the decade that killed the 20th century—Pavement, Archers of Loaf, and Superchunk—you have to wonder why America ignored the four LPs and handful of singles the band released.
Just as noteworthy is the recently released Early Recordings 1989-90. Much like the above-mentioned American bands, The 3Ds' early stuff is wonderfully noisier than later work, but retains a slightly poppy feel. This track in particular, sounding like Stephen Malkmus giving up his Mark E. Smith immitation so he can jam out some Flipper sounding dirge rock.
The 3Ds, “The Burrymen” (demo version)
Also, to compliment the song, we've got three videos of 3Ds bassist Denise Roughan talking to Flying Nun owner Roger Shepherd.
