Track of the Day: Units

I love when a reissue crosses by desk that not only possesses a sound that's totally strange and absolutely timeless, but also comes from a San Francisco band. I wish I could say I was cool enough to know about late '70s synth punks Units before Portland's Community Library label sent me the comp of the trio's singles it's releasing next month. But I've since done a little homework to learn more about San Francisco's version of the Screamers. Between 1978 and 1984, the group merged punk's caustic attitude toward commercialism with supremely catchy, synth-driven pop hooks, giving their music both a danceable beat and a cultural edge. The Units have since relocated away from the Bay Area, but there's still much local history to be had in History of the Units, which will be available on June 12. Check out the single "Cannibals."  "Rows and rows and rows and rows of vampire eyes" never sounded so good. And by good, I mean great.