Band Focus: C.I.A.

C.I.A. were a Bridgeport super group that featured scene luminaires from Lost Generation, Reflex from Pain, Vatican Commandos, Dresden, and several members who later formed the core of 76% Uncertain.


Their output was limited to a super rare 7” on Shmegma (1983)  “God, Guts, Guns” and an eponymous  LP “C.I.A” on Incas (1986), plus some comp tracks, the Hendex Demo (currently not indexed on Discogs) and a deluxe rerelease of “God, Guts….” featuring some session tracks (some later recorded by 76% Uncertain), parts of the aforementioned Hendex demo, and some live tracks. I’d recommend this reissue if you don’t want to pay big bux for the originals and still get a chance to hear the band.


Here’s my thoughts on the releases:


C.I.A. “God, Guts, Guns” 7” Shmegma (1983) - Short blasts of early CTHC, featuring Bones and Kenny who left for 76% Uncertain after this. It’s my preferred release. Saw the 7” for $540 on Discogs the other day.


“C.I.A.” LP Incas (1986) - The band has become a trio at this point, featuring EJ on bass and vocals (later of Dresden), Chip Moody on drums (on loan from Vatican Commandos?), and Mark on vox and guitar who was on the majority of their releases. The album burns on at a good pace, though the recording is a little murky and the songs kind of blend together after a while. Still, a solid and classic CTHC release. Cover by Synnerbob of Lost Gen


Connecticut Fun Comp 1985 - The two tracks on this amazing comp are decent, though EJ’s vocals seem a bit deeper to me than on the LP released the following year. 


C.I.A. “God, Guts, Guns And More” 2010

I mentioned this earlier and it’s definitely worth hearing to get not only the rare 7” tracks, but all of the extra live and demo session material, though the packaging could have done with a bit more biographical info on the band.


#punk #hardcore #80s_hardcore #cthc







Comments

  1. UnknownOctober 27, 2023 at 1:49 PM

    God, Guts, Guns is absolutely epic. So glad this material was finally re-released as the original 7" goes for sick prices. I had a dub of these recordings on cassette in the 80s but whoever I recorded it from never wrote down the bands or the songs so for a decade+ I rocked out to this and had no idea it was CIA. I had the first two 76% records as a teen so you would have thought that I'd put 2 and 2 together on my own, but no such luck, and I also never at the time associated 76% with anything as blistering as God, Guts, and Guns. I got a sealed copy of Estimated Monkey Time a few years back for a song. I had an opportunity about 12 years ago to buy an original copy of the CIA 12" at a record store in Calif. (1234 Go) for about $30. No idea why I didn't. I came back a few days later after I'd come to my senses and it was gone.

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  2. TANovember 7, 2024 at 6:54 PM

    Never got to see the 5 piece band but saw the 3 piece plenty of times. They were great live but I remember waiting and waiting for the LP to come out and then when it did, it was a little disappointing compared to the 7". But still a killer band. RIP EJ.

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