There's been some recent reissues of crucial Chrome albums, hence the AFS airplay last week of "Pygmies in zee Dark" and "Zero Time."
I picked up copies of "Alien Soundtracks," "Half Machine Lip Moves," and "3rd from the Sun" in this series. Not sure if there's similar reissues of the debut album from 1976, "The Visitation," or the fifth album (and last really good one) called "Red Exposure." But these three (and especially the "AS" and "HMLM" are the best of the lot. WAY AHEAD OF THEIR TIME!
The reissues seem to be bootlegs. Covers are just a one-panel of cardstock with a somewhat degraded copy of the original cover image. The back of the panel is blank. But the inner label on the vinyl looks pretty pro and still says Siren Records, the band's own original label from back in the day.
They were probably from Europe because they cost me $21 each. They came with Chrome stickers and lapel pins.
If you must start with any one album of Chrome, I recommend "Half Machine Lip Moves." It was reissued about 18 years ago on CD by Touch & Go along with "Alien Soundtracks" on one disc. This was no doubt inspired by the Jesus Lizard's 7" EP with Chrome covers on it which T&G had put out just a little bit before that.
This band was so diversely influenced, and they're still a pretty primary influence on a lot of the most exciting new shit today.
Official website...
http://www.staticwhitesound.com/chrome/history.htm
http://www.myspace.com/chrome2012
Don't buy any Chrome recorded after "Red Exposure." Guitar-god Helios Creed had left by then, and those records suck pretty bad.