Bizarros / Rubber City Rebels – From Akron (Vinyl, 1977, Clone Records CL-001)

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Bizarros / Rubber City Rebels – From Akron (Vinyl, 1977, Clone Records CL-001). 
Punk caught fire and a scene quickly emerged in many cities.  Akron, Ohio was one of them, and  Bizarros / Rubber City Rebels – From Akron showcases two prominent Akron acts of the time, Bizarros and Rubber City Rebels, with half an LP each.  Clone Records was founded by a member of Bizarros, to get the band's music out there and to document the Akron scene.  Other Akron acts of this time included The Waitresses, Tin Huey, The Human Switchboard, and Unit 5.  The Waitresses went on to New York and some major label releases, albeit without a lot of success outside of the niche audience that adored them.
Bizarros / Rubber City Rebels – From Akron looks to be the first LP ever released by Clone Records, and the catalog number CL-001, would support that.  The label folded in 1981, although when Bizarros reformed in 2003, the album they put out was released on Clone Records.
[Yes, Chrissy Hynde of Pretenders' fame is from Akron, but she doesn't ever seem to have been involved in the Akron scene per se, far as I can tell.  Chrissy was messing about in Europe during much of the 70s.]
Musically, what have we got on this record?
Bizarros are certainly not punk . . . and not really new wave.  Their sound reminds of the harder moments of the Velvet Underground, more than anything.  There is some talent here, musically and songwriting-wise.  Bizarros sound like an act that could have had a more extensive career.
Rubber City Rebels are much more punk, musically and lyrically.  The presence of keyboards, unusual in this kind of band, doesn't soften things as much as one might think it could.  The punkiest song, in terms of sheer bad taste and irreverence, is "Child Eaters, about a race of aliens that are, well, you guessed it.  But the song ends up being funny, and I feel like that's intentional ... the precious tone of the lead vocals makes it impossible not to laugh, a perfect glam affectation.  Again here, there's no lack of talent.  But some things weren't meant to last, I suppose.  "Rubber City Rebels" is a legit great song, although the ending could've been dispensed with.

Bizarros / Rubber City Rebels - From Akron is simply packaged in a non-gatefold jacket with a generic inner sleeve (not pictured).  There are no markings on the spine, as if the record company was trying to make this seem like a bootleg.  There is little wear on the spine or corners, but the top and bottom look as if the cheapo packaging is ready to split.  MP wear-through on the white areas, unusual for a record that's been around this long.
The record sounds pretty well recorded for an indie-type label, with good balance and bass levels.  There are some crackles here and there, but nothing too significant.
Bizarros / Rubber City Rebels - From Akron is an important record for me, not because these bands changed music history or anything like that but because it sums up what the spirit of punk was supposed to be about -- local scenes springing up and thriving, bands not needing the blessing or finances of a major label, dispensing with the standard success formula, acting stupid/gross/antisocial, and reaching out with their music to the fed up and underserved listener.  Civic pride turned on its head and by doing so, reaffirmed.
This record is one tiny affirmation of that aforementioned spirit, and as such it's meaningful and important.