As usual this section is meant to be more of a "recommended listening" sort of thing rather than a review section. I'm really only sharing the things I think are cool and worth hearing. Update* - To hear some choice numbers from these selections click on the radio option above!

(7.14.11)



Black God - s/t - Black Cross and Black Widows were the bands that Rob Pennington and Ryan Patterson formerly made music together in. When Coliseum largely let me down with their last change of pace, and because Lords seems to lie dormant I wondered who my new Louisville fix would be. Black God's presence was announced and they have won the title of new Louisville fave. The matrix of the record says it all: "Rule #1 - No song over two minutes. Rule #2 - No record over six songs." This band has a great philosophy already. More of that fun Black Cross sound you may have been missing on this one.

Brutal Supremacy - V/A - Holy shit, Painkiller records finally got all their new releases together and mailed them out. This is one I was sort of mixed on personally. It featured the cuts of Iron Lung, Minder Eraser, Hatred Surge, and Scapegoat. I don't care much for Scapegoat unfortunately and was only really looking forward to the Iron Lung and Mind Eraser stuff. I just haven't been exposed to too much stuff from HS. Overall I'm really pleased with this jam though. All bands bring the brutality (literally - 3 of 4 have titled their songs with "brutal" in the name). Iron Lung's shit is perfect jump off point, and Mind Eraser has a bunch of new short-style joints. Best part about their's is the Brendan / DFJ trade off vocals on the first track. Hatred Surge really won me over with their talent and heaviness, and again Scapegoat is cool but not too much for me. I listened to this record twice in a row after receiving it I would say it's almost too much of the same.. that may be the only down side. I probably wouldn't think this if I didn't listen to it over and over though. But it would've been cool to have two heavy as fuck bands (like I.L. & M.E.) and then have bands like Waste Management and No Tolerance on the B sides to switch it on em. Check this out if you can (although it's probably already sold out.)

Little Italy - Demo Tape - I stumbled across this band somewhere on the internet and was really surprised it took me this long to hear about them. Maybe they don't play out that much or something, but this piece of garagey pop-punk is right up my alley. 3 piece sound really stripped down with a demo-quality recording. "Telephone" and "Change His Mind" are definitely standouts for me because they remind me a lot of a project I used to do that was all based on writing spontaniously. Love this band, can't wait for more, or to see them out.

Puppy Mill - Demo 2011 - Late comer on this band too. Great female fronted 90s inspired indie punky rock. Some of the lyrics get a bit cheesy on this tape, but I love it. Its the exact type of thing I think is missing from music. Right to the point about what they're trying to say. I want to see this band live too. I think they're from Boston?

Soul Swallower - Devoured - I dropped the needle on this sucker and was stunned about just how heavy it really was on this new lp. Then the vocals came in... oops, it's at 45. Oh well, even at 45 this shit is still harder then every other record out. I can't wait till next month when I get to see them live because I think it'll only be their like 3rd show or something. If you're into power-violence stuff with black metal and a little bit of classic Metallica intro stuff you'll love this band.

Waste Management - Power Abuse - Holy fuck this is some hardcore shit. I didn't much like Craig's voice at first listen to this band a couple of years ago. It grew on me and I fell in love with 'Get Your Mind Right.' I waited and waited for something new from that camp. Finally a few cuts ripped from a tape made their way onto the net. Simple, knuckle-dragging, amazing Boston style shit. The only bummer about this 7" is that I've had these songs for 6 months or so and when I put it on for the first time I already knew it so well. Get a copy before it's gone.



(6.15.11)



Beastie Boys - Hot Sauce Committee Part Two - It was a long while and the making and it's finally here. I'm an obsessive fan of the Beastie Boys, always love what they do but in the case of their last non-instrumental album, To The Five Boroughs, my love wasn't necessarily so well deserved. That album wasn't terrible, but it wasn't the B-Boys as we've come to know and love them. HSCP2 is a return to the things we love about them - hip-hop samples mixed with live instrumentation, lyrics about boasting rather than politics, and more distortion on the mic than you can handle. Once "Nonstop Disco Powerpack" hits your ears I think it's impossible to resist making this your favorite album of the summer.

Beastie Boys - B-Boys In The Cut b/w Pop Your Balloon - Two cuts that came along on a single with the preorder of the vinyl version of the above album. Probably two cuts plucked off the original version of Hot Sauce Committee Part One that fit best with the selections on Part 2. Worth picking up if they got it in stores.

Citizen's Arrest - Soaked In Others Blood - Holy shit on this one. I am pretty open about my distaste for bands getting back together all the time, and even more about them recording new songs. Here is a situation where I'm completely blown away and it works. First off the production on this recording couldn't be better or more fitting, and you know from the first note that this was the right move for Citizen's Arrest. Having been to two of their recent reunions at two very different situation I know these guys are just happy to be playing again and are genuine. These songs may have been from demos from back before they disbanded... because they fit right along with the tracks of the past. Only bummer - NO PHYSICAL RELEASE! What gives? I'll put it out on 7" yo, gimme a ring.

Creem - Demo - Best demo I've heard in a while. This is a band from Brooklyn from the 538 Johnson posse. A real rager. The opening song is the definite stand out and with get your fist fucking pumping by your side before you even know what's going on. The rest of the songs have more of a skinhead Boston sound, which is no problem. I am stoked about these guys and hope for more in the future.

Creem - Good Riddance b/w I Hate You - Oh wait, here's more! Two more energetic hardcore tracks on Katorga Works out of 538 Johnson as well. Boston HC sound from Bushwick.

Ghostface Killah - Apollo Kids - My only issue with current hip-hop record is the amount of guest appearances. That's my general beef. I have absolutely no problem on this one though. First off that first track with GZA and Killah Priest is the best shit, second the track with Black Thought where they talk about how shit was way back when... another classic. I had low expectations thanks to The Wizard Of Poetry but Starks is back with his A game.

Girlfriends - Cave Kids b/w Eat Around The Bad Parts - These are two of my favorite Girlfriends songs that I got the pleasure of hearing on tour with them night after night. I knew them so well by the end of the record I wasn't too surprised when I laid the needle down for the first time recently. I do love hearing the subtle differences in performance from the live to recorded versions. These three should just put out a full length already and make my life complete.

Hockey Dads - Demo - Great demo from a new Boston band, more on the melodic side of things. I can't say too much about it other than it's short enough and good enough to make me want to hear more from them.

Iron Chic - Split N Shit - The Chicsters are the best at writing pop-punk music, there is no question about that. This time around with the new line up we have some new twists on the tracks. A few unexpected moves and even a Bikini Kill cover! Woah. It's a track from Reject All American too. Very strange to hear Lubrano in the key he's in on that one, but mucho restecp for doing it. I just wish the hardcore kids with the wacky legs would stop crowd surfing at their shows.

Most Precious Blood Demo - So I got this demo on cassette already, but it was announced that along with the vinyl you'd be gifted a download to some bonus cuts... most notably a CBGB set of Minor Threat covers. I had to cop this for that alone because I was at that show and remember them posting mp3s on mostpreciousblood.com years ago and hearing myself singing along to "Seeing Red." Totally worth it.



(2.23.11)



Big Eyes - Why Can't I b/w Your Lies - More amazing rock-pop-punk from this NJ/BK trio. Out on Don Giovanni, who will also be releasing their first full length in the near future. "Why caaaan't I, why caaaaaannn't I?!" will be glued to your brain for hours.

Big Soda - Paper Route - Here's a band that I love but a record I hate... my copy that is. On the b-side of this slab of alternative-rock-influenced-by-the-90s-and-bart-simpson my track five's left channel just drops out! Is this a no test press scenario, or did I get the dud? Great record from my other favorite Brooklyn trio. My dream was to do a Big Eyes / Big Soda split 7" and a tour. I even offered to drive the van to make it happen! My offer still stands you guys. If I could see both of those bands and hear them together for a couple weeks my life would be enriched.

Burning Love - Songs For Burning Lovers - After hearing the 7" version of the demo, and the single with the Nick Cave cover I was basically hooked on this band. I actually put off getting the LP for the price of shipping, but secretly somewhere in my mind it was because I didn't want to tarnish a great band who may have put out too much too soon. I was wrong. This shit grooves. The vocals might be a touch loud for my taste because they stand out the whole time a whole lot but that doesn't take away from the craft of the songs at least. Deranged did it again.

Capital - Givers Takers - My most anticipated album of 2010 finally comes out in early 2011, aaaanndd it's free to the public! That's right... free. Well you can download it but the vinyl will eventually cost ya. Capital recorded this two years ago pretty much, and Tommy sluggishly worked the vocals. They recorded more than enough tracks and edited it down to the perfect mix of edgy 90's "buzz bin" numbers to short and sweet punk meets late 80s NYCHC. When you add a few Capital standards to that new mix you got a perfect record.

Concrete Cross - Demo - I've had these demo songs for some time, since Tone posted them that is, but until recently I had not the slightest what frontman RT Philie was rambling about. Now that I have a hard copy of this demo cassette (the way things were meant to be) I can finally enjoy it. Fast hardcore featuring members of bands you probably like.

Fellow Project / Go Sell Drugs - Split 7" - I have had the joy of playing with both of these bands on multiple occasions and each and every time I am left completely with the state of music in my scene. Both of these bands show diversity still exists, and that you can teach and old dog (underground music) some new tricks. I just got the FP Rok Lok 7" too that I need to give a spin, but I still gotta track down some more GSD...

Free Spirit - Free Yourself - I love these Boston bands. Simple. They do hardcore the way it should be down. They went to the hardcore library, read all the required reading, handed their homework in on time and aced the term papers. Gil gets a B on vocal techniques for trying to lower his voice down though. I liked it better on the demo in that respect. Longer songs on this one, but no less enjoyable.

KRS One & Buckshot - Survival Skills - Wow. This is a couple years old now (came out in 2009 or '10 I think?) but I hadn't bought it until I spotted it used at Goodwill. I hesitated you see because the last KRS album I spent money on, Metahistorical, seemed to me like a phoned in extension on his summer house? No disrespect to either party involved but my hopes were extremely high for that one and only until now do I think they are finally fulfilled. Although Survival Skills is veiled with guest appearances (a quality I've come to dislike in recent years) the production, the content, the layout... everything delivers. This is the closest thing to the standard I hold hip-hop albums I've heard in years.

Soul Swallower - Devoured Promo - Got this at the last Rival Mob show I was at. Of the Boston cats out there Soul Swallower wasn't ever my favorite arrangement. That's just me kickin' the truth. I love it, don't get me wrong. It just doesn't accumulate plays as much as some of the others groups of the same camp. This promo however has me more stoked about this band than ever. Upping the ante for sure. It's like Mind Eraser just traded places then decided to add more metal to their mix. Cool with me.

Thought & Memory - Quote.. / Minds.. tape - Instrumental bands aren't usually my thing, that's the real. But I guess usually that's because the only bands I've ever heard are bands I've never seen. I have seen T&M many a time and have always enjoyed myself. This tape sounds terrific and goes multiple places... especially into hidden track zone where it gets heavy. Love that part.

Wax Phantom / Criminal Culture - Split 7" - I can't much comment on the CC side of this, but Wax Phantom really gets me going on this release. These songs are epic in a whole new way, and the lyrics seem to be on the deeper side this time around. The combination of Dumps and Lubrano on vocals is a winning line up. If you like melodic pop punk you had better give this a listen.

White Lung - It's The Evil - I haven't gotten into this band's earlier output yet and that's probably a mistake judging from this LP. I don't have any specific bullets to talk on unfortunately. It's just good. Sort of dark, mostly face paced punky female fronted tunes. The singer could do with a bit more range of emotion in his hollering. Musically they keep it interesting and fresh. Maybe it's the 3 am talking, but can't think of any comparisons coming to mind.



(11.19.10)



America's Hardcore - Various Artists - Sick comp with some heavy hitters and some floppers. Highlights include the Free Spirit opener, The Rival Mob's stellar donation, and the Rev NYHC comp style booklet. Page winner might be Backtrack with the sick photo montage.

Bad Religion - The Dissent of Man - Fifteen full length albums and 30 years and still nothing I would consider really and truly bad. This is another catchy record full of songs differing in styles of the past three albums. Any BR fan will love it.

Big Eyes - Demo - Quite possibly my favorite thing to come out in 2010, this was released almost a year ago but made it onto vinyl only a few months ago. I love this band because I feel like Kate Eldridge has embodied the living spirit of Joan Jett and put it towards making the best pop-punk-rock records.

Confines - Withdrawn - This is the new band that Andrew from Cut The Shit formed with some Das Oath guys or something. They did that demo that was super fancy and made specifically for Youth Attack slurper-uppers. I didn't get a copy of it but I would've torn right through that fucking wax seal. You can't mess with it musically cause it's a rager. Their written manifesto makes sense I guess but is a bit too much for me.

Dag Nasty - Dag With Shawn - So it seems before Shawn Brown, original Dag Nasty singer, parted ways with the band they recorded an Inner Ear Session. Here it is. Really cool to hear some of the punk world's favorite songs in such a different context. Uncovered history... thanks again, Dischord. Can't wait for that Artificial Peace session.

Pissed Jeans - Your Life Is Worth Pissed Jeans - I guess that's the title, it could just be Your Life Is Worth... or maybe according to the digital download it's named after the A side, Same Kinison Woman. I love this band's sense of humor. I love the way they write riffs and play drums and say lyrics.

Rival Mob - Hardcore For Hardcore EP - This is also a bunch of months old but because I never got around to updating I want to include it now. It's that good. The only thing that bothers me is the timing on the gang vocals on the title track, that's if we're picking things that bother us. Perfect hardcore record from the most perfect hardcore band.