Rain City Paradise

Vancouver continues to produce a plethora of great hardcore/punk band. I guess Circles is the latest. www.myspace.com/circlesvancouver

I've only hear the three songs they have up but I'm really into it. Former members of Blue Monday and one or two other bands. The Blue Monday influence is pretty prevalent in the songs I've heard. Far more punk sounding than anything Blue Monday ever did, just read their influences and its pretty easy to see where they're coming from.

If you check this out be sure to listen to the song "Find My Breath" i can't stop listening to it.

Good Riddance

This band is one of my all-time favorites, a perfect blend of punk and hardcore. And i always liked that they had a bit of a 90's skate punk vibe to them at times. It's sad to see them go, but they had more than a good run. It also means more time for Only Crime, who are touring through Canada later this summer.

Here are two of my favorite records as well as their last record. I haven't given it much of a listen but from what I've heard it sounds as good as ever.



It's impossible to pick a favorite song by Good Riddance, looking at it from a musical and lyrical perspective they had so many solid songs. Whether the songs were about personal, political or social issues they were always well written and thought provoking. If i had to pick a song it would probably be "Choices Made", this could change by next week but as of this moment this song will have to do.

"Choices Made"

I'm so alone
In the darkest place I know
I'm a prisoner in my mind
And I'm searching for that light
And the faith I left behind
I've tried so hard
To look you In the eye
Time has never been a friend
And once again I've been betrayed
By the weight of what I know
And the choices that I've made
You stood so tall
And I've watched you fall
Looking on the bright side
I've known some peace
Cried on the shoulders
Of better men than me
It's going to take a lifetime
To wash away
If I want to stay clean
I've got to start today

DIY Drumming Pt. 2

Haha, check this out. My brother exposing his drumming skills to the world of youtube.

DIY Drumming Pt. 1

Time Marches On

Go It Alone have been one of my favorite bands ever since i heard the Vancouver Gold EP. Then, after the The Only Blood Between Us was released i was even higher on this band. Needless to say i was anticipating GIA's second full length pretty intensely.

Initially i was a little disappointed in the progression of their sound. I heard the Histories Single and i was really impressed but when i first heard the full length it seemed like the band had lost a bit of their edge. I wasn't going to give up on it that easy, so i listened a few more times and sat down with the lyric sheet and let Histories grow on me. The more i listen to this record, like any previous GIA record, the more i appreciate it. This record is more mid-tempo but it's just as furious. It's more hard hitting and has more a dreary rain city vibe to it.

Histories is also more of a themed record. I think that's one of the reasons i like it so much, it really shows the creativity of vocalist Mark Palm. The record seems to flow flawlessly from one song to the next without losing any steam. Songs like 'Monastery' and 'Rapture' have a more typical GIA vibe lyric wise. While a song like 'Love' shows the sincerity put into the lyric writing. Of all the songs this band has written i think this one is the most easily related to and one of the most beautifully written.

I'm sure there are those who will just stop listening to this band given their relative "popularity" within the hardcore scene. But it's their loss. I can't wait to see this band in August, i guess then we'll see if they've been disbanded to join the heap of "unhipular" bands that came before them. In any case, this record is great, listen to it.

"Love "

I never felt the ache of being alone, never sensed an empty space inside myself. Never felt the urge to fill a void with the presence of someone else. But you uncovered a feeling inside of me, unfamiliar and unique. Created a vacancy within where one never used to be. Dear absentee, dear missing piece, I've missed you since the day we met. Dear truant friend, dear tune stuck in my head that i cant forget....a lost memory, an errant wish, you were a missing limb; every morning i had to wake up and realize you were gone all over again. An unfinished sentence, an interrupted thought, a name on the tip of my tongue. An unsent letter, an unopened book, a lyric left unsung. Dear absentee, dear missing piece, I've missed you since the day we met. Dear truant friend, dear tune stuck in my head. Dear you....I've got these feelings inside, somehow i always knew you'd understand. they've been laying dormant for a lifetime. I'm waking up for the first time.