Amer$ide Rock And Roll Is Dead Long Live Rat At Rat R

Amer$ide was released in 1985 on Neutral Records, a label deeply embedded in the gritty, experimental downtown New York City music scene of the early eighties. The record captured the abrasive and chaotic energy of Rat At Rat R, a band known for their challenging, dissonant approach to post-punk and noise rock. Emerging from the same creative ecosystem that nurtured artists like Sonic Youth and Glenn Branca, the band utilized unconventional guitar tunings and percussive, jagged rhythms to push the boundaries of traditional song structure.

The album was produced during a period when the downtown scene was heavily influenced by No Wave aesthetics and the industrial experimentation of the era. The cover art and overall sonic presentation reflect a deliberate rejection of commercial polish, aiming instead for an unfiltered, visceral experience. While the release remained a cult artifact within the underground noise community, it is frequently cited by enthusiasts of the 1980s NYC experimental scene as a definitive document of the label's commitment to uncompromising, avant-garde soundscapes.