New York City college students decide to make a record in a basement in 1983. Chris D'Agostino wrote the lyrics and played guitar, Jon Coats (later to join Phantom Tollbooth) played drums, and with the help of Jim Culinan on bass, they recorded Catch The Plague. When was the last time this particular arithmetic resulted in anything less than embarrassment or a Pavlovian gag reflex? And the db’s don’t count cos they were from Winston-Salem. Maybe The Speedies? Certainly well before the Feelies made the world safe for jumpy rhythms and nerd glasses. And I haven’t ever even heard the Feelies!What I have heard though is The Plague: two guys from Long Island attending The University Of Hartford Connecticut who are seemingly pissed off at just about everything happening in America circa 1983. The Cold War, MTV, Jewish American Princesses, gonorrhea - all this has gotta go says The Plague (no ‘hey-hey’s’, no ‘ho-ho’s’, no Ramones and thankfully also no trace of hardcore)! While pursuing their academic studies in the Nutmeg State, our bubonic duo spent their summers back home in the loving embrace of Strong Island (birthplace of Lou Reed AND Eddie Money) and, as legend has it, aired out all their many grievances in the guitar-player-slash-singer’s parents’ house over the course of two days. First take, last take, good enough (not sure who played the piano parts).What you’re left with is nothing less than a cruddy milestone mess of a record. Giving O.Rex, Afrika Korps and The Screamin’ Mee-Mee’s a run for their money, the ineptitude and bile of The Plague burns brighter than a thousand tanning bed lamps and alone more than compensates for the existence and career of Vinny Testaverde. Even Maximum Rock ‘N’ Roll agreed, calling ‘Catch The Plague’ “A great example of the true spirit of D.I.Y. punk, the likes of which haven't been heard in many a year.”But please - don’t allow the imprimatur of MRR to dissuade you from enjoying these wonderful sounds. Everyone knows they’re lame and the Plague are the furthest thing from MDC.Vinyl copies of this record have sold for upwards of $250 between collectors. Here is The Plague, as intended, remastered by drummer Jon Coats, more than 30 years after the original recording.