This week, Left For Dead Records shared a new reissue of an incredible relic from the 1980s New Jersey hardcore punk scene.
At a time when the New York and SoCal scenes were garnering most of the attention, a fierce new band had formed called TMA. The band comprised of Mike Demko, Tom Emmanuele, Al Rosenblum, and Dave Oldfield put out a series of impeccable hardcore records What’s For Dinner? (1983) and Beach Party 2000 (1987). Unfortunately, the band broke up before ever being able to go out on tour and would-be punk anthems like “(I’m In Love With) Nancy Reagan” and “Love Is All Around” (also covered by Hüsker Dü) were left in relative obscurity until today.
The two LPs and the band’s never-released Just Desserts EP are getting a deluxe reissue including a limited 500 vinyl pressing! The release comes on the heels of the passing of singer/lead guitarist Mike Demko.
“The Jersey hardcore scene never got the respect or exposure it deserved, and especially TMA. I’m really happy to see this reissue. TMA is a band that deserves to be known!” —Matt Pinfield, WRSU / MTV
“TMA’s Beach Party 2000 is a clambake for the apocalypse…”, reads the final line of the band’s original press release dating back to 1987. Even though it was written in the waning years of the Reagan Era, it feels even more fitting today. As we gear up for the conclusion of another frightening political cycle, it seems appropriate to celebrate the rebirth of TMA, a band that was born out of the ‘hip to be a square’ generation and finally give them credit where credit is due. Left For Dead Records is proud to reissue the TMA’s first two LPs ‘What’s For Dinner?’, ‘Beach Party 2000’, and the never-before-released ‘Just Desserts’ EP.
The four-piece hardcore punk rockers – Mike Demko, Tom Emmanuele, Al Rosenblum, and David Oldfield – are the unsung heroes of the New Jersey punk scene that saw a flurry of new talent spring up in the mid-to-late ’80s. Their ferocious tempos, minute-long tracks, and unsavory lyrics were right on par with contemporaries like Black Flag, Misfits, Minor Threat, Germs, and others. Unfortunately, the band rarely toured outside of the tri-state area, and by the time they had records to promote they had all but disbanded.
As a listener digging into this deluxe reissue, it’s easy to hear TMA’s potential. “Nancy” aka “(I’m In Love With) Nancy Reagan,” is a perfect punk anthem. It also appeared on an iconic New Jersey punk collection called Hardcore Takes Over that featured bands who played at the Bloomfield, NJ dive, The Dirt Club. That track alone would’ve made them Jersey one-hit-wonders on par with Detention’s “Dead Rock ’n’ Rollers.” TMA album also gave us the title track, “Love Is All Around,” known as “The Mary Tyler Moore Theme” (also covered by Husker Du), “I Forgot,” “Bag Lady Love” and, “Shit Don’t Stink.”
Left For Dead Records manager Jim Reynolds is mostly responsible for putting together this new reissue. He elaborated on the band’s importance and how the release materialized,
“Back in the ’80s, these bands never got their fair credit and now people can take the time to go back and re-discover some incredible material from that time. I discovered the TMA recordings as I was looking to do release a New Jersey punk compilation called Armpit of America. When I heard TMA it just hit me in the face and I scrapped the idea of the compilation and decided to release TMA instead. Funny enough, the person who put me in touch with the band was Laura Albert aka famed literary persona JT LeRoy. And with the passing of lead singer Mike Demko earlier this year, the release now serves as a memorial to him and the band.”
As the late-80s press release proclaims, “TMA—four young men with purpose and power, and the means to make it stick.” Over thirty years later it seems they’ve finally made their mark.
“Who are these guys? Well, whoever they are, they really shred. TMA play totally fast, gnarly thrash with lots of hooks ‘n’ tunes. Tight and clean, too. The lyrics are typical ‘punk rock’, bitchin’ ‘n’ moanin’ ‘bout everythin’. -MAXIMUM ROCK N ROLL
“the short-lived NJ band released some true underrated gems of ’80s hardcore…” -BrooklynVegan
“Crammed with 42 tracks total, this compilation offers something for any ‘n’ every punk rocker.” -Rebel Noise
