B9

When I was getting heavily into hardcore in high school Bridge 9 Records was on top. As I went though college I grew wary of the bands they were signing: straight-brimmed hats and '508' tattoos. With the new Have Heart and Ceremony records, they've recovered for me.

I think Have Heart's Bostons is one of the best hardcore songs ever written. It's unbelievable. And I can't stop thinking about Ceremomy's "Still Nothing Moves You." It's beyond angry. Punk. Pure. In the spirit and vein of Kill Your Idols truly, NO GIMMICKS NEEDED.

True Punk & Metal

http://truepunkmetal.blogspot.com/

This blog has been one of my absolute favorites over the past year or so. I think the guy who does it has a hand in Gloom Records, a great Albany label that has put out awesome bands like Last In Line, 9 Shocks Terror, Close Call, Cut the Shit and the Prowl. Anyways, he searches his amazing record collection, uploads a record, and reminisces about it. He pulls out a lot of gems and tells great stories about growing up as a metalhead in Albany in the 80's.

Example:
"I eventually bought this only because the band thanked bong hits & brew hahs, I was baffled that this came out on the label that it did, not typical at all. Listening to this totally brings back those memories of Luke picking me up Friday after work, and us hitting all four record stores in Albany. I typically might have spent about $80 a week on records back then."

Soo good!

sabbathbloodysabbath

Study the cover, imagine what it sounds like. It's necessary.

Deathwish Inc.

When I starting veering from punk to hardcore in high school, Bridge 9 Records was making a name for itself with awesome records from bands like American Nightmare, Shark Attack and Carry On. Around the same time, Deathwish Inc. was putting out the more metal-inspired side of things, which I paid less attention to.

Over seven years I've watched a majority of hardcore recede from a scene of truth and individuals to a circus of flat-brimmed hats and tough guy attitudes. One of the only punk record labels that I've seen evolve and make an effort to branch out and put out new sounds is Deathwish Inc. I cannot compliment DW enough; they've released AWESOME bands like Rise & Fall, Life Long Tragedy, Pulling Teeth, Cursed, Breather Resist and Knives Out. These bands exist outside of the coffin that hardcore made for itself in this decade. They took hardcore back from the messageboards and reminded us all that no matter how dissonant, music is art. The packaging and artwork make me excited to buy music. It's no wonder it's run by a member of Converge.

I'm so fuckin thankful and stoked right now.

Narrow Teeth

I rarely make the effort to get into new bands anymore, regardless of their genre. It's not that I think "it's all been done", there's just decades of music that's already been released and I'd like to focus on where everything from today came from, as opposed to where it's going. Traditionalist, I know.

It's not that I'm not into progressive music, it's just that I see a lot of today's music as idle and unoriginal. Unless the grandchild is Refused or Hot Water Music, why not focus on the grandparents? They were much more interesting. It was all their idea anyway.

Now, all of this of course comes with exceptions. I've been drooling over two new(er) bands for a while now. The first is Narrows, a band with only a single song available (http://www.myspace.com/narrowsnoise). The catch is that it has members of Botch, TAAS, Unbroken and many others. Botch's singer is back, this time with the brainchild of TAAS's awesome riffs, Ryan Frederiksen. I am so excited for this band to release their first 7'' on Deathwish later this year.

The second exception is Baltimore's Pulling Teeth. Their newest full-length, "Martyr Immortal" is the perfect batch of hardcore, punk and metal. P-E-R-F-E-C-T. I don't think they've created a new genre or anything but I just can't stop listening. Their doomy imagery, harsh vocals and riffs make me giddy inside. (http://www.pullingteethmd.com/)

Homme

As with most people with pulses, I think Josh Homme is the fucking man. And it's not just because he was in Kyuss or anything, but look at the man. Watch him smoke. Jesus. And he knows his garage rock history pretty damn well. Before I die I want a night out drinking with Homme and Jesse Hughes. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has thought that today.

Rodney Mullen OS!

Rabbit In Your Headlights

Last night I put on a random Radiohead mix that I had hanging around and "Rabbit In Your Headlights" came on. It's actually by Unkle and it simply features Thom on vocals, but sometimes I forget how great this song is. I worked someone once who had the quote from the movie "Jacob's Ladder" tattooed on their arm, as it's featured as a sample in the middle of the song. It's a great quote but it's also one of the longest quotes I've seen tattooed.

"If you're frightened of dying and then you're holding on, you'll see devils tearing your life away. But, if you've made your peace, then the devils are really angels freeing you from the Earth."

Anyways, the video for this song is one of my favorite ever.

Top 20 of 07

THE LIST

20. Far From Finished - Living In The Fallout (Think Fast!)- Somehow this band went under my radar for a long time. They play punk rock the way I like it: influenced by the Clash and Social D. I can't get enough.

19. Neurosis - Given To The Rising (Neurot)- The most aggressive album of the year totally lived up to my expectations.

18. Pelican - City Of Echoes (Hyda Head)- Pelican are so good that even though this is their weakest record yet, it's still superb. "Dead Between The Walls" is one of their best songs.

17. Cloak/Dagger - We Are (Jade Tree)- I liked this band from the start, especially because I was a huge Count Me out fan in high school. I don't think all the songs are as strong on those from their demo or the "Pinata Breaks" 7'', but it's a great record nonetheless. "Kamikazes" and "Walk The Block" more than make up for the couple of filler tracks.

16. Torche - In Return (Robotic Empire)- I fucking love Torche. That's all that really needs to be said.

15. Pig Destroyer - Phantom Limb (Relapse)- I am not a metal head. Never was and never will be. But there's something about the violence and severity of Pig Destroyer that has always drawn me in. "Heathen Temple" makes my mouth water, lusting for destruction and ruin. Is that too cheezy to say about PD?

14. Explosions In The Sky - All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone (Temporary Residence) -They (still) do it best.

13. Modern Life Is War - Midnight In America (Equal Vision)- Nothing MLIW will ever do will be as good as "Witness". MIA is really good, though; better than most people have been giving it credit for. Standup tracks include "These Mad Dogs Of Glory," "The Motorcycle Boy Reigns" and the title track. "I drag my chains, they don't drag me."

12. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible (Merge)- Neon Bible reminds me a lot of last winter. Snow days and cold apartments. Walking around Philadelphia freezing my ass off. It's a terrific collection of songs and though a little indulgent at times, it's really triumphant.

11. Ceremony - Scared People EP (Bridge 9)- Obsession.

10. Blacklisted - Peace On Earth, War On Stage EP (Deathwish)- Believe the hype! "Canonized" was the best hardcore song of the year.

9. Baroness - Red Album (Relapse)- I-can't-stop-listening-listening-to-this.

8. The Dillinger Escape Plan - Ire Works (Relapse)- Miss Machine part II. That's a really good thing. Sidenote: Gil Sharone is a maniac. Top tracks include "Nong Eye Gong," "82588" and "Milk Lizard." The closer is right on, too.

7. Grinderman - Grinderman (Mute)- Nick Cave is a fuckin role model. "No Pussy Blues" takes the award for best song title in music history.

6. Chuck Ragan - Feast Or Famine/Los Feliz (Side One Dummy)- This stuff has been on heavy rotation since it came out and was the soundtrack to my autumn. Really strong songs, namely "Do You Pray?"

5. Jesu - Conqueror (Hydra Head)- I always thought shoe gaze was really overrated. This proves me wrong.

4. Radiohead - In Rainbows (self-released)- Q: How did a new Radiohead record come out and it's not my number 1?

3. Dinosaur Jr. - Beyond (Fat Possum)- A: Because Dinosaur Jr. got back together.

2. The Good, The Bad & The Queen (Parlophone)- And because Damon Albarn made a record with Paul Simonon.

1. Pissed Jeans - Hope For Men (Sub Pop)- And because aside from Tragedy, Pissed Jeans are the best punk band on the planet.

Best of 2007

During each year I compile a list of new records that have come out, which I deem notable, important, or just plain good. I have been having trouble putting 2007's list in any order, and I came to the conclusion that it doesn't matter. I ranked the top 6, and the rest are all still really good.

1. Pissed Jeans - Hope For Men
2. The Good, the Bad & the Queen
3. Dinosaur Jr. - Beyond
4. Jesu - Conqueror
5. Radiohead - In Rainbows
6. Chuck Ragan - Feast or Famine/Los Feliz
Electric Wizard - Witchcult Today
The Dillinger Escape Plan - Ire Works
Neurosis - Given To The Rising
Modern Life is War - Midnight in America
Blacklisted - Peace on Earth, War on Stage EP
Baroness - The Red Album
Pelican - City of Echoes
Pygmy Lush - Bitter River
Grinderman - Grinderman
Pig Destroyer - Phantom Limb
Torche - In Return EP
Cloak/Dagger - We Are
Bad Brains - Build a Nation
Far From Finished - Living In The Fallout
Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

Some of 2007's new music that really disappointed me was:
The Stooges - The Weirdness
Queens of the Stone Age - Era Vulgaris
Bjork - Volta

2007 was a much better year for new music than 2006. Much better. And 2008 is looking to even exceed it. For far we can look forward to:
Cursed - III
Dead Meadow - Old Growth
Disfear - Live the Storm
The Loved Ones - Build & Burn
Paint it Black - New Lexicon
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks - Real Emotional Trash
HWM - Til the Wheels Fall Off
Blacklisted - Heavier Than Heaven, Lonlier Than God
D4 - The Civil War
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!

Damned Dickies

Two of my most recent music buys have been two punk classics. I found "Machine Gun Etiquette", the Damned's 1979 album, along with "The Incredible Shrinking" by the Dickies on sale. MGE is 16 flawless tracks of their "Damned Damned Damned" sound, slowed down and more powerful. I'm really digging the song, "These Hands", a first-hand account of a killer klown and his exploits. This special edition also has an absurd cover of "White Rabbit". It works just as well as Slapshot's version, only it lacks the humor of a straight edge band covering a drug-classic.

The Dickies are what Green Day have long strived to sound like. L.G. Phillips' singing is the blueprint for the inflections and tones that Blowjob Armstrong has always gone for. This silly record is such a treat, and its humor ranks it along the Ramones and Descendents. One of their first singles was actually a hypersonic cover of "Paranoid" in 1979 (which isn't very worthy of the original), and this record contains other covers such as "Silent Night" and S&G's "Sounds of Silence." So much keyboard/organ between this and MGE!

Also, the new Paint it Black record, "New Lexicon" is unreal. With each record this band evolves more and more, and they exemplify the originality that is still possible in music as claustrophobic as hardcore. Dr. Dan's diction and rhyme are perfectly suited for Dalek's interludes and flawless production.
Key Tracks: We Will Not, Gravity Wins, The Beekeeper, Check Yr Math

Axl Rose circa 2007

Shiiiit...