European Invasion

It's time to get motivated and update this thing more regularly, my apologies for those of you who actually read this and enjoy it, i actually do enjoy writing about music, and just writing in general and now that i have a reliable computer it will make things a little easier. I also updated my other blog, Against The Grain, I'm starting to do book reviews so check it out if you want to know about some cool books.

This post is going to be solely about European youth crew, specifically those bands on Powered Records. First off, the new Common Cause record "The Power To Change" is really great. I got the pre-order a couple of weeks ago and have been listening pretty consistently, I'll do a more in depth review when i can find a digital copy somewhere and have more time to listen to it. Secondly, the new True Colors 7" has solidified these guys as my favorite current youth crew band with Fired Up close behind, with TFS now out of the picture. Speaking of Fired Up, they're coming out with a new 7" on Youngblood Records I think, i can't wait for that, it'll more than likely be on my top 10 list at the end of the year.

Getting to that True Colors 7", it's probably their best material to date and that's saying something coming from me considering i can't get enough of their LP "Focus on The Light". The songs off of "Perspective" just sound more complete and little more dynamic. It's still straight forward catchy youth crew, with gruff, sometimes Ray Cappo-esque vocals and solid delivery all around. You can tell these guys have been around for a bit longer though, they've improved as musicians, or at least in their chemistry with one another and Packo's vocals seem a little more worn, which works just as well. The lyrics are positive and at times insightful. At this point this record is probably my favorite to come out in 2008, considering there have been a lot of other memorable releases this year that's some pretty high praise. Well worth it though. If you haven't heard this yet, it's really essential, especially if you enjoy any sort of youth-crew hardcore, this band reaches near perfection within the parameters of this genre, and that's right where they should be.

I was lucky enough to see True Colors play last night on their North American tour. It was awesome, they played a YOT cover, "I Have Faith" along with some of my favorites from their own collection. Their live show is somewhat reminiscent of the recently defunct First Step's, which is a really good thing, they had a ton of energy, their vocalist, Packo, was relentlessly yelling his lungs out and all the while sprinting, jumping, and moshing throughout the tiny space he had. Speaking of small places, the venue where this show was held, Siesta Nouveaux, was pretty small, it was the first time i had been there since it took over as the primary spot for hardcore punk shows, it has a cool vibe though and the owner of the place seems really into it. This is a good thing considering good venues in this city are few and far between.

This was also the first time my younger brother was able to make it to a show with me, his first hardcore punk shows, so it was definitely cool to see, he's been into the music for a while so it was about time he got to take part in the real deal. We got there half way through local band Come Clean's set, i won't link them because they were not enjoyable, although I'm sure some people would like them, just too melodic and the vocals were really bad. Next, another local, Molested Youth played, they were all really young, no older than 17 or 18 so that was good too see, they've got a good concept too, just a stripped down early 80's hardcore sound. They weren't very together on most songs and the guitarist couldn't figure out how to tune his guitar and aside from one valiant effort didn't seem to care that he was way out of tune. Their set was highlighted by their singer spinning around on the floor like Curly from The Three Stooges used to do, it was pretty weird.

True Colors were next, they opened their set with an instrumental in which Packo was leaping and moshing, i think the intention was to get himself warmed up. I don't remember all the songs they played but going off memory they played "Coming Through", "The Way To Myself", "Perspective", "Enough", "Direction", and maybe one or two others, they finished with "Focus On The Light" which was really fun. Also During the song "Perspective" they have a near seizure educing mosh sequence than would make any youth crew fanatic stomp into oblivion. If you haven't heard this song, it's on their new 7", listen to the last 30 seconds or so. There wasn't really many kids into it, although they drew the biggest response on the night. But nonetheless it was an awesome time and I'm thankful they were able to make a stop in Toronto on this tour.

Cruel Hand played next and although i wasn't really that enthused with them on record i thought they played a really good set, they had a lot of energy and seemed like they were dead on through every song. They also, along with True Colors seemed really grateful to be able to play which was cool too see. I'll definitely check this band out more thoroughly and catch them next time if they come back to the city.

Anyway, that's it. I'll leave with the lyrics my favorite song off of True Colors latest.

Without faith

Walls of lies - Buildings of hate
The people stand in line to taste the poison they create
Losing touch - Reality
Humanity is marching on a song without faith

Without faith

Without faith, without faith - brainless fools
Without faith, without faith - blindfolded truth

It's all the same, with all those stories
Power over wisdom, it's all about their glories
No eyes for no one, except themselves
The world is dying your own hands
Selfish needs - Absurdity
Selfish needs - No identity

Are you fuckin' buying it - No fuckin' way
Go

Hatred is becoming a natural thing - It's time
To do something

It's not too late

Walls of lies - Buildings of hate
The people stand in line to taste the poison they create
Losing touch - Reality
Humanity is marching on a song without faith

Currently Listening: The Clash - London Calling

Won't Leave It Behind

Another major blogging hiatus is coming to an end, my computer is partially broken but that's only partly an excuse. Really I've just been lazy and with school starting and sucking not only money but most of my liveliness out of me, I'm having a more difficult time getting motivated. I didn't blog much this summer mostly due to not really listening to as much music as i would have liked, i found myself dedicating most of my free time to reading this summer.

I also think I've found more of a balance as to where hardcore and punk fit into my life, i no longer really look to lyric sheets for an escape or for "enlightenment" or whatever you want to call it. That probably has more to do with age, most kids around playing bands are around my age, or if they're now defunct they were around my age when they wrote their best stuff. I guess in a lot of ways I've stopped looking to punk or hardcore for my identity, that's stupid anyway, but i would say as a younger kid it helped me in a lot of ways. I'm not trying to say that kids in their early twenties don't have anything good to say, it's quite the contrary, there's something amazing that you can only really capture in your youth, the older you get the harder it is to sustain but i would say one of the most important things a person can do is hang on to their youth, to never get old in spirit.

The point I'm trying to make is that i think you move past the point in life where punk music can really have a profound impact on your life, that's not say you stop participating in it, or stop loving it, it just means that you're able to put it into a greater perspective that sees punk music as only a piece in the vastness of your entire life and your development as a person. I think the impact that punk or hardcore can have on a person can resonate throughout their whole life and can help them connect or carry on what it meant to them to others, it never dies, it just shifts priorities. Punk music has had a huge impact on my life, it's shaped part of who i am now, i can still remember the first punk song i ever heard, i was 11 or 12 years old and my aunt bought me a cover album which included a song by MxPx. I must have played that song a thousand times over within a week, something just clicked, the rest is history. A lot of my ideas as a kid in high school came from the music i listened to and for that I'm incredibly thankful, thankful i had music to spare me from the otherwise mundane existance of an awkward, angry teenagers life.

Although my philosophical bent on life has been changing and is in some ways moving away from some of the more dominant ideals in punk music there are still a lot of relevant bands whose political and social commentary speaks to what i believe. Good Riddance will forever be that band, specifically their record Operation Phoenix, which is a masterpiece. There are also bands like Minor Threat and 7 Seconds that speak to me and have influenced me on that level. And more recent bands like Strike Anywhere, Stretch Arm Strong, Verse, and Lion of Judah are encouraging to me, just to know that it's not lost on these bands that effecting the world in a positive way is the most noble thing a group of kids with a microphone and a few attentive ears can do.

With all that said, I've been listening to a lot of great music the last little while though and will be more so now. The Hostage Calm LP has been constantly churning the hard disk on my mp3 player, the more i listen to it the more i like it, perhaps my praise for it was a little subdued in the review i wrote for it, probably not. I've also been listening to the new True Colors 7", which is very good, maybe even better than Focus on The Light and Battery's Whatever it Takes is gaining near legendary status in my personal discography.

Over the past year or so I've been giving more time to Battery's entire discography and i haven't been slightest bit disappointed. I remember when i first heard of this band and i went through a struggle to get all their material so i could listen to all of it. Whatever It Takes was the first album i came upon and as often seems to be the case, with myself at least, it's still my favorite stuff by them even though I've had a chance to listen to their full discography thoroughly enough.

I think this album flows together better than any of their others, the production is a bit more crisp and seems to capture them as a band better. I've never been awed by Battery's lyrics, with the exception of Why Is She In Pain and this record is no different, the content is really good it's just not written great. They still saywhat they're intended and what they're intended to say is definitely worth saying. The song Who Are You? is also one of my favorite Battery songs, i love the riffs and melodies in it. This record really seems like a completion of their style, i don't want to say they coined a new style of hardcore but they certainly had a sound that would not have been recognizable before their existance. They're one of a few bands that have a distinctive style and sound that sets them apart from they're contemporaries and this record is in my opinion the most complete display of Battery's style of hardcore punk. If you don't have this record yet, pick it up here: http://revhq.com/store.revhq?Page=search&Id=REV065

I've written too much this post, one more thing. I'm going to be turning my other blog, Against The Grain, into a book review blog of sorts . I've read a ton of books over the past few years, some of them which have been hugely influential on my life so i thought it would be cool to do a little write up on some of them. So hopefully i'll have the first one up by the end of the week, just a heads up to anyone who may be interested, it will be on Leo Tolstoy's The Kingdom of God is Within You.

Also, i almost forgot again, check out A Riot of My Own it's a really good blog by xroldx from The Netherlands. Some cool interviews and album reviews over there, definitely worth the time!

Currently listening: Good Riddance - Operation Phoenix

Passing The Torch

I've been a fan of Another Breath since they released "Not Now, Not Ever" in 2004, the first time i heard it i was thoroughly impressed with the sound this band produced, really thick guitars and furious vocals, melodic but with enough edge that it doesn't get boring. I remember making a copy of this for the car just after i heard it for the first time, on the ensuing drive i must have listened to it 5 or 6 times, it seemed like i would start at track one and track eight would be over before i could really appreciate what i had just heard.

Since then I've made listening to this record a regular occurrence. I've since gained more of an appreciation for the lyrical content of this record, it's very straight forward, almost harsh but with a sincerity that comes across infinitely better than the number of bands who attempt to play a style of hardcore similar to this. The lyrics are introspective, but they aren't written so obscurely that there is absolutely no way you can relate to them, they're written in a way that seems to focus more on the personal effects of social or political forces. I've always been someone who looks first to the macro level rather than the micro, for good or bad, its always something I've done when attempting to address problems whether big or small. That's not to say that individual responsibility is lost and it certainly isn't in the mind of the singer as is evident is Clio, perhaps the best song on the record.

The song Rotting is probably my favorite lyrics wise, it deals with the struggles of unrealistic expectations based on appearance and superficial means as the first half of the song demonstrates; "Contingencies. You have no choice in this. We're brought into a world where judgment's made on face value. Desperation turned inward and another face frozen in time with disregard for substance. Billboard girls your smile looks so fake, the rain, your only tears, your eyes are dripping black. A false appearance. A brainwashing. Perfection unattainable. Image destroys the female youth." Another lyrical highlight comes in "Truth In Television" when the words; "You won't find any answers if you're looking away to The person that you wish you could be. I can't justify hiding behind masquerade. Reminding yourself that who you are doesn't matter at all," ring out to end the album.

Musically Another Breath play a style reminiscent of melodic youth crew with a heavy modern hardcore sound, similar to Go It Alone or Blue Monday. This record is well worth checking out if you haven't already, the only complaint i have was that it took a long time to place the lyrics within the songs, the singer's scream is somewhat indiscernible so at times you get lost, but overall it's a pretty futile detail especially if you take the time to let these songs grow on you.

Anyway, Pick this Record up at Rivalry Records

Currently Listening: Lagwagon - Hoss

No more Complacency

Out of the plethora of music that i listen to and in particular hardcore or punk, there are a lot of bands that move me, whether it be socially, politically, or personally based i try and fill my ears with music that means something more than just the decibels pulsing through the speakers towards my ears. For me, punk was always about this, as much as there were certain records that i can say without a doubt helped me deal with growing up i always gravitated towards music that was solely agitated by how twisted the world is, music that not only witnessed this but sought to change it. There are very few records that can actually push a person to do something, to take legitimate action regardless of the cost and Verse's latest LP Aggression is one of them.

Verse has been one of my favorite bands since they formed, there is something so urgent in their music that is hard for me to ignore. Having listened to their previous efforts, Rebuild and From Anger and Rage thoroughly enough to be able to recite almost any lyric i can comfortably say that Aggression is their most complete, most thoughtful, and most powerful release to date. Each and every song and each and every word are played and sung like it's the last note or the last word ever to be produced.

The record starts urgent and pleading with A New Fury which highlights the devastating plight of our lives if we actually sit back and watch what's taking place, it ends with the words, " But they'll never silence me as long as i can breath". Those words and others like it are why this band is worth listening to, you can see the hopelessness, but if your not willing to fight it until there's nothing left of you, you may as well not know at all. Another moment of inexplicable will is witnessed in the song Scream, when after going over the defeats of others who haven't been willing to settle, vocalist Sean Murphy's insightful yell is heard exclaiming the words "But as long as my heart keeps beating. I still can't stop screaming. Silence. Is Violence. I'm Bending. I'm Breaking. I'm Broken. I'm still alive."

There are many moments on this record that have the potential to push stagnant minds into action, none more powerful than the album finale, Sons and Daughters. This song is really a recap of everything that's been said throughout the entire album, although it seems to say it even more powerfully than before. As the song slows to a halt the word Aggression is chanted with impassioned messages in between, culminating in the words "I won't stop until I've broken every chain" yelled until it seems every ounce of conviction has left the singers body.

I didn't make any mention of the musical qualities of this record, the words are more important, although the music is good, really good, the lyrics are overshadowing and in my opinion that's the way it should be. Most importantly this record isn't about rebellion, or angst, it's about truth and it's hovering very close to what i believe is the answer. The hard part is making the necessary sacrifices to be able to make a difference and this record can surely provide solace and motivation for those wishing to do so.

Pick this record up from Rivalry Records (In my opinion the best hardcore/punk label going right now) here.

Currently Listening - Verse - From Anger and Rage

Draw the Connections

There's been quite a few new releases come out lately by bands that I've either been interested for a while now or have just been getting to know. The new Police and Thieves 7" out on Youngblood Records rips, i'll do a full review when I've had more time to listen to it. I received the new Killing the Dream LP last week from Deathwish, upon initial listen i wasn't impressed but i liked it much more upon the second listen and more the third time through, I'm not overly impressed with the lyrical content, after sitting down with the spiffy looking gate fold layout and reading the lyrics while listening to each song respectively i can't say that there's anything new or even remotely groundbreaking being said, although there doesn't always have to be and I'm sure the writing process was helpful for their singer.

One of the recent releases I've really enjoyed is Hostage Calm's debut LP "Lens". I love melodic hardcore punk when it's done right and this band does this style justice and then some. I've likened this band to Dag Nasty a couple of times now, if not entirely based on their sound it's because i can hear the ingenuity of their approach to the melodic punk sound, similar to what Dag Nasty was able to accomplish with "Can I Say". I'm not suggesting that this album at this point is in the same stratosphere as "Can I Say" but there is something about this record and this band that's unique enough to have even a fraction of the lasting impact of the aforementioned band and record and that, although seemingly pales in comparison is a feat not many in the 22 years leading up to this have been able to match. "Lens" is driven by a fast paced melodic rhythm that's present throughout every song but ultimately it's the vocalist who catapults each and every song beyond what the music gives potential for. It's in this aspect that i see the Dag Nasty comparison most glaring. The lyrics are equal to the vocal wizardry, without words worth singing there's really no point in singing. The lyrics are, like contemporaries Strike Anywhere and Verse, a call for change, really an urgent plea for our generation to wake up and even though that might sound cliche, it would only be cliche if we weren't all sleeping. Speaking of Strike Anywhere, there are more than a few moments on this record where the similarities between the two bands arise, in a song like Interchangeable Parts the Strike Anywhere comparison is easy to pin point. Audible and Lacuna are two songs with incredible melodies and really showcase the potential this band has while song like Nosebleed Section and Grayscale showcase a more stripped down approach. There isn't a weak point on this record, at least not that i can see in the 25 - 50 times I've listened to it, if you're into melodic punk, political punk, hardcore punk or whatever, just good sincere music with a message check this record out. Their demo, released last year is also really good, you can pick it up at the following link.

If not at your local record store, pick it up here: http://www.andnowthisishappening.com/

Currently Listening: Craig's Brother - Homecoming

Much The Same

Anyone who knows my musical likes and dislikes, or has read this blog much at all knows that i love 90's skatepunk, i never really got in touch with the roots of this genre and it was only until bands like Lagwagon, Millencolin, Face to Face , NOFX, and No Use For a Name started playing a brand of skate punk more melodic than the genres founders that i got into it. I guess that's when it became more popular as well, regardless there's something to be said for music that can hearken you back to a time when you were just beginning to grasp the influence of music on the world and on your own life.

Much the Same were a 2000's era skatepunk band that remind me a lot of how it felt to hear the blistering fast melodies of many of the aforementioned bands for the first time and it's a feeling i never get sick of. They're heavily influenced, or at least sound influence by many, if not all of the bands i mentioned above. In 2006 they released their second full-length entitled Survive, it's more polished and more melodic than any of their previous efforts but it's also their most complete album. I just recently decided to give this a listen and i was more than glad that i did. It's incredibly catchy but it still has that edge that a lot of modern bands attempting to play this stuff lack. The guitar work is fairly simple, it's layered heavily enough, almost too much, but the more I've listened to this record the more it fits. Overall i really enjoy the guitar on this record, i also think the vocals are the strongest aspect, they aren't overbearing, but they aren't too timid either, they just fit the music very well. I guess that's how i would describe this whole record, it fits together really well, it's the culmination of playing hundreds if not thousands of shows together and releasing two E.P.'s and two full-lengths over the course of 7 or 8 years. There isn't much else to say, i won't even mention any stand-out tracks, their aren't any, outside of Skeletons. It seems to flow well enough that each song has a distinctness while still maintaining a fluidity that's hard for most bands to discover. Every song is worth listening to, the lyrics are nothing spectacular but they aren't mindless either, whatever the case it's clear that an incredible amount of effort went into every aspect of this record. This band just recently broke up, it would have been nice to see them live but judging by this record they left on the top of their game. If you're into this stuff, or think you might be, pick this up, it's on Nitro records which in my opinion is one of the better punk labels putting out music right now.

Tried and True

I've spent some time thinking of new things to do with this blog, maybe making it more focused. Doing something like themed mixes like the guitar solo one a couple posts ago, it don't see many if any blogs attempting to do that, it would be difficult and i would probably get sidetracked and have trouble keeping regular updates. I thought about uploading rarer out of print stuff, but i really don't have enough of that stuff nor do i feel like doing that, there are a ton of bloggers doing that now, a few that i have linked on the side bar. I really have no desire to be a critic of any kind, i enjoy writing about music i like and i don't see the purpose in tearing something apart that a group of kids have put their heart and soul into creating. I'm sticking to writing about bands and records i love and am currently enjoying, I'm not going to upload them, good music is worth sacrificing a bit of the all might dollar to enjoy in its entirety. I might do some of those themed posts i mentioned, if i ever get the motivation.

With all that said, I'm going talk about an album released last year, one that would have made my best of '07 list had i heard it on time. Nothing Done's "Everybody Knows" LP. Nothing Done are from the Netherlands and they have a that European hardcore punk sound to them, one that I've come to love over the last few years. In terms of contemporary Euro bands, they're comparable to One Voice and True Colors, although their hardcore punk roots show through a lot more. Their latest record sounds like a perfect mish-mash between early Black Flag, SSD, Uniform Choice, and the band i use to rank any, even remotely youth crew band, Youth of Today. They put their own twist on things, without it this record wouldn't be quite as memorable, there's something about it that seems less jaded and less influenced by the cynicism and bull-shit attitudes that are all to present not only within hardcore punk but within society at large.
This record is an awesome listen start to finish. It starts off with the incredibly catchy "Over and Done" the middle of the record is highlighted by songs like "Pull Me In", their staple, "Jailbreak", and the title song "Everybody Knows". The best part of this record is the point where your 30 seconds from being done listening to it, thinking how you should probably listen to it again, or at least more often, and the solo on "Give it Back" kicks in. Go download the mix i made a couple posts down if you want to hear it, i probably listened to that song in particular 4 or 5 times in sequence after hearing it for the first time. I love records that have closing songs that leave nothing on the table, this entire album and really anything this band has ever released seems to be built on that priciple. Let it all out, and demolish any and everything that appears in under 90 seconds.

Back from the Dead

I've been sleeping on the internet the past couple of months, it's actually more liberating than you might think. Anyway i'll get back to updating this blog regularly. In the meantime I'm going to list off some of the albums I've been paying special attention to and i'll expand on them in future posts. Most of them are newer so i haven't had adequate time to listen.

Verse - Aggression - This record is incredible, so much urgency and desperation i can't wait to get my pre-order from Rivalry. This band is the hardcore punk band right now, they aren't just making music, they're creating and calling to life ideas that can change the current worn-out state of the world.

Hostage Calm - Lens - This band is the Dag Nasty of the 2000's. Innovative melodic hardcore punk, not generic in any sense of the word. I said this band ruled on my best of '07 list and this record puts my not so daring statement in a nuclear bomb shelter.

RAH - Intelligent Design 7" - Finally some good, new local stuff. This stuff rages, although it doesn't really speak to me on a personal level, it's emotional and angsty and reminds me, at least upon initial listen a bit of the Lights Out LP.

88 Fingers Louie - The Dom Year's - This band rules, this record rivals "Back on the Streets". I'm looking for a copy of this, someone give me a heads up.

Avail - Front Porch Stories - Prior to a couple months ago i hadn't given this record much thought but after a few listens i realized i was depriving myself. Avail are an awesome punk and have never missed a beat as far as I'm concerned. A Full review of this is in order when i get a chance to listen to it more.

The Real Guitar Heros

A few weeks ago i was listening to Straight Ahead and the song "Breakaway" came on, if you know that song, the solo is incredible. It got me thinking i need to make a play list of all of my favorite solos in hardcore or punk songs. So for the next couple weeks i picked out the songs i knew had to be on the play list from the top of my head and then put my media player on shuffle hoping to stumble across a gem or two from my music library. I came up with 17 songs, I'm sure there are plenty i missed and some of these songs are just personal favorite's. There are a handful of NYHC songs, as would be expected, some youth crew stuff, and some punk stuff. I tried to get a good mix of everything. Anyway i'll list the songs, if they don't play in your media player in this order, put them in this order, I've listened to this through a few times and i think it works best the way I've ordered them. I'll try and say a little something about each song as i list them.

1. Iron Boots - Don't Come Back
- This song rages right from the start, Iron boots are one of my favorite NYHC style bands going right now, worth checking out.

2. Straight Ahead - Breakaway
- I don't think i need to explain my choice here, one of , if not the best hardcore solo I've heard.

3. Propagandhi - Purina Hall of Fame
- One of my favorite Propagandhi songs off of what i think is their best record, Todays Empire Tomorrow's Ashes, this song closes out the record in an incredible way.

4. Bad Brains - Don't Need It
- This one doesn't need explaining either, a great song from the first and probably most technically proficient hardcore punk band.

5. Seaweed - Rethink
- If you were ever into the 90's grunge stuff I'm sure you know of this band. Far more punk than grunge, this song is one of my favorite.

6. Uniform Choice - Once I Cry
- I had a tough time choosing between this song and In Time, you can't really go wrong with UC so Once I Cry it is.

7. Leeway - Defy You
- I'd feel dumb if i didn't put a Leeway song on this, i just picked my favorite Leeway song and here it is.

8. Dag Nasty - Justification
- This was a no-brainer, the solo in this song is awesome and Can I Say is a quintessential punk record.

9. On The Rise - Turncoat
- I love the guitar work from On The Rise, i had to include one song just because of my affection for this band.

10. Adolescents - Amoeba
- This is one of the best punk songs ever written, enough said.

11. Cro-Mags - Crush The Demoniac
- Without a Cro-Mags song this mix would fall short. I've never been huge into them, why? I don't know. But this song is great and it's impossible to ignore.

12. Nothing Done - Give It Back
- This song is incredibly catchy and from one of my favorite current bands. I love the way the solo kicks in and eases you through the last song off of their 2007 LP Everybody Knows.

13. Reagan Youth - Miss Teen America
- This is from Reagan Youth's later stuff and although i don't like it as much as their early songs its got some great guitar work in it.

14. Bold - Your The Friend I Don't Need
- I couldn't leave this song out, Bold were a great band and this song is more than likely my favorite by Bold.

15. Killing Time - Happy Hour
- The solo in this song shreds and Killing Time are one of my favorite NYHC bands.

16. Rise Against- Join The Ranks
- Rise Against were one of my favorite bands in the early 00's, they released two unbelievable records on fatwreck, the first being The Unraveling. This song was included in the re-issue of that record, although i think it was either originally from either the Transistor Revolt Demo or a compilation of some sort. Regardless, this song rules.

17. Outbreak - Sailin' On
- I could have included the original Bad Brains version of this song but Outbreak do an admirable job at covering this song and i didn't want to have two songs from the same band on here.

Here's the link: www.mediafire.com/?2ddlj4nyxl3

Enjoy!

Cheap Shot Youth Anthems

I went and saw Paint It Black and Cold World last night, it was a really fun time, by far the best show I've been to since Go It Alone last August. Cold World were fun to watch, they actually surprised me quite a bit, i had previously written them off without giving them much of a chance but they played an entertaining set at the least, i picked up their newest LP so we'll see if i like them on record.

Paint it Black were just awesome like you would expect. Yemin is an absolute madman on the mic, the best part is when the song ends and for a few seconds after he stand at the edge of the stage with a gruelingly intense look on his face glaring into the crowd. They played Memorial Day and Atticus Finch which are two of my favorite songs. For the ending of Memorial Day Yemin got off that stage and everyone gathered around to help him sing the anthemic ending. They closed with Atticus Finch and if you know that song it needs no explanation, its perfect for the mosh, I've never been much a mosh connoisseur but that song wrenches it out of me.


I went with a friend i met in my social movements class who had never been to a punk show before, it's always funny watching someone react the first time they see kids climbing all over each other shouting indiscernible words into at the singer of a band. She enjoyed it though. We went to a jazz bar before the show and watched a guy rocking out harder than i though possible with a cello, there was a definite contrast in the music consumption last night.

Weathered to the Bone

I've been listening to Leatherface a ton lately. They're the type of band that if i let myself listen to them just a bit i'll be hooked for a few weeks, they have a really contagious sound. If your not familiar with them, they have a really raw and emotional melodic punk sound. The songs are full of great melodies but there is an undeniable authenticity within the production of the guitars and especially the vocals. At times it's hard to decipher what words are being sung just because the vocals are so raspy.

I've been listening mostly to their second last release "Horsebox" it was released around 2000 i think. Outside of maybe Mush this is my favorite record by them. I think this record is probably their most daring, i mean they attempt a Cindy Lauper cover, the song True Colors, they nail it like no other band could. Ship Song is different song as well, its a bit slower and driven by a piano which actually fits well with the band. Sour Grapes and Watching You Sleep are two more stand out songs, both of those songs are extremely catchy. When i say they're catchy it's only because i can't think of a better word, i never really find any of the songs stuck in my head, maybe that's why i enjoy them so much, they don't wear out. There's no use in saying anymore, if you haven't heard this band go buy their records. I would recommend starting with either this one or Mush, or if you want to go back to the start, start with Cherry Knowle. Either way, if you like punk rock in any way whatsoever you won't be disappointed. I know this band is somewhat obscure, hiding out in the North Eastern part of the UK, but they're essential for anyone into any type of music in my opinion.

Speaking of Leatherface, after being out biking nearly everyday this winter my face has been subject to some rather harsh conditions. I'm so glad it's over, or at least we think it's over. This has been the worst winter i can remember. It hasn't been this consistently cold in years, nor have we had this much snow in a long time. I think the city of Toronto is near breaking the all-time record for snowfall set in the 1930's. I don't think we will though, mother nature isn't likely to give me that badge of honor. We have a bit of a volatile relationship, which is a pointless, she always wins and all i ever do is whine about it.

My bike has taken the brute of the punishment, i can hear the chain grinding the sand through the gears wearing them out as i peddle, as soon as the roads are cleaned up I'm going to need to take everything apart, clean it, grease it, and maybe get some replacement parts. That won't be enjoyable, although i will enjoy riding a good bike again. Here are pictures of my bike freshly spray painted last spring and then after all the torment it's endured. I don't know why I'm posting them.

Before

After

Looking For Gold

This winter weather is really starting to bother me, i think having to bike nearly everyday in it is the primary reason why but mostly anybody would be sick of the winter we've had this year. It's supposed to be spring and it feels like January and has for most of the past month. The area of the city i live in looks like Chernobyl in the winter. I braved the cold and went to Hits & Misses today intending to pick up a repress of the Adolescents self titled LP, i didn't have much money to spend so i wasn't planning on looking around much. But before i headed for the A's i decided to check out the used section to see if anything new had come in, after flipping through a few records i found Outlast's "As Sure As I Live" LP. I've come to really enjoy this band and was not expecting to find this LP anywhere so needless to say, i picked it up.


As far as i know this was this Outlast's final release, i think it was a compilation of a previous 10" and a previous 7" which would explain why the recording is different on some songs than others. I know I've talked about this record numerous times on here but the more i listen to it the more i appreciate how sincere and emotional it is, I'm really looking forward to putting this record on the turntable and sitting down with the lyric insert and finally getting a chance to get more in touch with the message behind the music. As much as I've listened to this band my searches to find their lyrics online have mostly resulted in futility and considering the vocals are hard to understand outside of some of the sing-a-longs, chances are my obsession with this band will reach a fervent level.

There's also an insert which seems to be some sort of letter, I'm guessing written by the singer, about the band and what it meant to him, how he felt it was a way of using creativity to make a difference. I haven't read it all yet but it seems to venture off in to some sort of discussion about life and it's purposes and how to go about fulfilling them. It's a cool thing to see a band do and it's nice to know the songs I've been listening to all this time were born out of something more substantial.

I've had a hard time finding much out about this band, if anyone knows much about them or where i can pick up anymore of their music let me know.

Anyway, after i left the record store i got a call from a friend from elementary school i hadn't seen in at least 10 years. We had been planning on hanging out so we went and ate some Thai food, talked about how things change and just life in general. We actually have quite a bit in common which is a bit ironic considering i used to be into playing hockey and acting obnoxious and she used to be into books. It's weird how time changes.

Paint It Green and Blue

*Disclaimer* Mike, if do not wish to be seething with jealousy by the end of this post please discontinue reading NOW and quickly hit the back button on your browser, or close it all together, whatever works.

I got my Paint it Black pre order in the mail last week. I was glad to know the vinyl version of this release was being done by Rivalry, I've been a fervent supporter of that label for a few years now. I was definitely anticipating hearing this record, I thought Paint It Black's two previous releases were really great. Both records were chalked full of well written angsty hardcore punk anthems.

New Lexicon is angrier sounding than anything Dan Yemin has been able to churn out to this point. This record is probably the most aggressive and straight forward Paint It Black release yet, there are a few anthemic moments reminiscent of those on CVA and even Paradise. Songs like The Ledge and Shell Game Redux are examples of this, while songs like Four Deadly Venoms and Dead Precedents start full of pure aggression and grind to a bitter pulsing halt.

My favorite song on this record is probably Past Tense, Future Perfect, i think it combines the more melodic qualities of Paint It Black with the aggression that makes them such a vaunted presence in hardcore punk. It's hard to really compare this record with their previous efforts, they've never released a bad song. Like any great band each record has a feel of its own, you know its still the same band but there's a separate dynamic that makes each record special in its own right.


New Lexicon continues Dan Yemin's impressive ability to turn every musical en devour he touches into gold, even if he's not the one playing the guitar it still comes out sounding as tight as anything possible could. You can really hear the chemistry between all the musicians on this record and on every Paint It Black release for that matter. I remember hearing Kid Dynamite for the first time and not being able comprehend how together everything sounded, I'm sure if I'd been living under a rock all these years and came out to listen to Paint It Black I'd get that same feeling.

The lyrics on this record are pretty good as well. There definitely a lot of imagery and social/political undertones. They aren't as blunt as some other bands that tackle the same issues but when it's all said and done the message gets a hammered home effectively enough. Here are the lyrics to Shell Game Redux, probably my favorite on this record.

Shell Game Redux

Sweep out the cobwebs & recalibrate the
currency. They're robbing us blind.
They're trimming the fat, and counting every
calorie. Can't you see that they're robbing
us blind? Inveterate invertebrates ingest and
regurgitate. They are robbing us blind. There's
no convincing explanation for the crumbs on
your dinner plate.

Sharpen the knives and sugarcoat the medicine.
Consult your astrologist and be sure to tip the
weathermen.
I know we promised you a dividend...

They steal the bread from our mouths. They
steal the air from our lungs.
And they steal the ground from under our
feet. They will try to steal the words from our
tongues.

DON'T LET THEM

"... We Keep Warm With The Words That We Scream

It's been a while since my last post, I've been busy writing essays and waiting for my Paint it Black pre-order to come, it came today but my camera is broken so i can't show off the slick looking vinyl. I probably need to listen to it a little more before i post about it, so i'll use this post to talk about one of the most dynamic emotional hardcore records of the past few years.....

How We Are - To Teach a Hundred. I actually didn't start listening to this record until sometime last year but it's really well written modern emotional hardcore. I guess a good comparison would be their upstate New York counterparts, Another Breath. This album definitely has an upstate NY vibe to it, there's even a sentimental song about Rochester. Most of the songs are of a much different nature, they're influenced heavily by Daniel Quinn's thought provoking Novel Ishmael which, if you've read the book is given away by the title of the record. I use the word dynamic to describe this record because it really is, the guitar work is incredible and Rory VanGrol's harsh and urgent vocals seem to drive, or be driven by the quick pulsing guitar work. Couple that with exceptionally well written lyrics that carry a message most people couldn't bare the weight of and this record is something you need to hear. I also really like how the tracks on the record were organized, there are two mellowed out instrumental tracks entitled "Takers" and "Leavers". Which again if you've read Ishmael make for an almost euphoric listen. There aren't a ton of bands that have a whole lot to say and of the bands and the records that do, this record ranks up near the top. I was sad to see this band call it quits last year, but they've left a dent big enough to keep me remembering.

I couldn't write about this record without at least mentioning a little about the book it seems so inspired by. I read Ishmael this past spring and it really helped me to see the world from a different perspective. From a perspective that is removed from the hustle and bustle of modern life, kind of like an eye in the sky that doesn't see all the superficial benefits our system of living creates, but instead sees the rape and destruction of an environment and an animal kingdom that has never so much as raised a finger against humanity. For hundreds, thousands of years we've been taking and taking, never giving back, never leaving anything to quench the throats of what we've left thirsting. Reading this book and then listening to this record is like a cold slap in the face, the kind where you just stand there for a few minutes, speechless, blinking your eyes in confusion, wondering what just happened. All it takes is one idea, one spark, to teach a hundred.

Anyway here are the lyrics to the title song, i really hope the LP gets released sometime soon like its been planned.

To Teach A Hundred

With split lips, shin-splints and sore throats.
With words constantly begging revision.
With all our desires, dressed in our basements best.
So anyone that ever wanted change could hear a voice that sounded the same as theirs.
The question has never been whether or not hope would remain,
but if we can gather enough in our hands to match the fire in our lungs.

We keep time with songs on repeat.
We keep warm with the words that we scream.
Hope is a crutch.
Push your desires.
Our words are fire.
To teach a hundred.

The Doctrine

I finally had a chance to listen to Paint It Black's latest effort New Lexicon today. I did the pre-order with Rivalry so thanks to Rivalry being awesome and letting anyone who did the pre-order download the record starting on it's release date (today) i will be listening religiously over the next few days. So far it's great, i'll do a full review when i receive the vinyl.

Sticking with melodic hardcore, Long Island's Capital released a record entitled Homefront last year that doesn't stray too far from the Yeminite formula i can't seem to get enough of. I actually slept on this band for quite sometime, i remember reading reviews for this record and the one previous to it on Punknews but for some reason i didn't ever take the advice of the reviewers and check this band out.

About a month ago i heard Homefront and i was immediately impressed. Musically it's got a major Dag Nasty feel to it, just sped up and much more spiteful. There are some more progressive qualities to this record that make it stand out. It's got somewhat of a post-hardcore vibe to it at times and i hate to use this comparison because I've heard it used many times before in reference to this band but these dudes definitely listened to a lot of Quicksand somewhere along the way.

One thing that jumped out at me is the way the vocals are delivered. They give you a really creepy, unsettling feeling and almost force you to listen to the lyrics, which are also really good. Do not sleep on this band, this record rules and would have undoubtedly made the top 10 in my Best of '07 list.

Ohh yeah i almost forgot, this is my 100th post with this blog. I have officially reached a level of internet savvying that i can put on my Resumé, right along my impressive inability to hold onto a job with any longevity.

The Best Medicine

I was bored tonight and having just finished with two exams and feeling a little under the weather, i needed to laugh. I've always found it really funny to see people lose control and do completely irrational things to neutral objects. Like... let's say a computer. I've never been angry enough to ruin pricey pieces of technology aside from a video game controller when i was younger. I also used to throw my skateboard around when i couldn't land tricks, used to punch my guitar when i would screw up and got exceedingly mad and took unnecessary penalties playing hockey some games. When i got to high school i graduated to breaking old televisions with baseball bats in front of a camera with my friends. I grew up in a small town. Anyway i was searching youtube and found some hysterical videos of guys breaking computers out of pure frustration.

Computer Smashin'

Keyboard Wreckage

Video Game Vengeance

9 -5 is getting old

Peer Hatred

This one's also really funny, no anger but equally entertaining

Turning Pages

Last Friday night i decided to venture out to Adrift for the last show that will be taking place there. They're moving to a new location that doesn't have a back room/skate park in it. That place was always great for shows, a really small intimate setting, almost every show i saw there was good. It sucks to see it go but apparently there is a new venue that's popped up somewhere. You wouldn't think that venue's would be a problem in a city of over 5 million but the affordability factor is tough to get around.

Anyway i only showed up for the two middle bands, i was intending to see Libyans but unfortunately i showed up too late. It was nice to see Acid Reflux, i had heard them a bit beforehand and though they would be fun live. They play early 80's hardcore punk. Kid's were sort of into them. Next were Brutal Knights, really the band i went for. Behind Career Suicide they're probably my favorite Toronto hardcore band going. They play a style similar to Career Suicide, maybe a little more up beat, a little more punk, and a little slower. Anyway, as usual kids lost it for them. Rampaging around the floor, hanging from piping in the ceiling, throwing beer everywhere. I don't like the whole bringing the mosh when you have a beer in your hand then just losing control and flinging your beer at every person standing within a 15 foot radius of you.

The place was packed being that it was the last show there. It was really hot and stank like only it can when vast numbers of shower rebelling punks start sweating, so i left before Rammer played. This is a pretty bad post, i got no sleep last night and now I'm trying to tire myself out so i can sleep, get up early, and further decimate the confidence i have in my physical prowess when i go run around for a while in the morning. It's more like an angry, heaving trek through completely unacceptable weather conditions.

"Slick Shoes!....Are You Crazy?"

I decided to start jogging and get myself is better shape, for what reason i don't know. I went to the store and got some runners, the vans weren't going to cut it, there weren't a decent pair of shoes for less than $90. I haven't bought running shoes in years but this is absurd. I'm still on my pop punk kick so the first run i went for i decided on Slick Shoes for my soundtrack. Bad Idea. I'm way out of shape even though i bike nearly everyday, running is so much more difficult.

Needless to say i was not having too much fun and the happy music bursting into my ears just made the situation worse. My energy quickly deflated i got home and collapsed on the floor until the burning in my lungs receded to a non-lethal level. Next time i need something pissed, just as much as i will be when my lungs decide to punish me for years of inactivity, any recommendations are welcome.

On the topic of this band 'Slick Shoes'. It's a bit of a weird name but it's from the movie The Goonies, thus it's a great band name. I started listening to this band when i was 12 or 13 years old. Their first LP Rusty, which was released in 1997 got me hooked. They've since released 2 or 3 other LP's that I've listened to pretty frequently.

They play ultra fast melodic punk with some great poppy melodies and smooth vocal delivery. The vocals are actually one of my favorite parts of this band, most of the time the delivery is spot on and they're just original enough to keep you engaged. The guitar work is also very good, it's well written and in terms of punk music it certainly isn't the most technically dull.

They have a song called called Last on this record that is one of my favorite songs. You know when your a kid just getting into a style of music you can relate to and you find a song that you can't stop listening to. Last was one of a few songs that i would play over and over and never get sick of it. I'm going to make a mix tape of all my favorite stuff from this band, i'll post a link for it up here when I'm finished.

16 songs of unmitigated pop punk glory

...And It Continues

I've been listening to the band Digger constantly this week, They were on Hopeless Records in the mid to late 90's and early 2000's. Anyway, their first two LP's, Powerbait and The Promise of an Uncertain Future are both awesome.

Powerbait is 14 tracks of classic pop punk jams, this stuff is really uplifting and fun to listen to. I can't really explain this recent pop punk trend I'm onto. Usually around this time of year a band like Think I Care would be a perfect accentuation to the doom and gloom of winter. I guess I'm sick of the doom and gloom.

I catch myself playing these songs over and over in my head. Whether I'm in lecture, trying to read, or trying to sleep, i can't get some of these songs out of my head.

Lyrically it's pretty typical of pop punk bands of that time period, there's even a completely ridiculous song called I Want My Hat Back which is seemingly void of any meaning other than the dude really wants his hat back because he got a 'stupid haircut'. There are songs about screwing up in school and being in love with a girl who snarls every time she looks your way. There's even a Madonna cover. It sounds good, although I'm sure the original version would make me want to rip my hair out.

I don't really know what to say about the album art, other than that it's not very good and kind of weird. Do yourself a favor and check this record out, even if you don't typically like pop punk i think this record has enough appeal to make even the most cynical of cynics regress there prior opinions if even just a little.

Shake off the Dust

This past week I've been revisiting all the old bands i used to listen in the late 90's when i was starting to really take to music. Tooth And Nail Records used to put out these compilations called Songs From the Penalty Box, i think they release four versions before the compilations for the most part went downhill along with the label. Anyway, it was through those compilations that i found out about bands such as MxPx, Slick Shoes, Dogwood, The Huntington's, Ghoti Hook, Craig's Brother, and The Undecided to name a few. Those bands, although shunned upon sometimes for their lyrical content were bands that had a profound impact on me as a kid and are still a part of me today. I have my friend Ben to thank for buying me a couple of those cd's for my birthdays over the years we hung out, he moved to North Carolina shortly after high school started and i haven't talked to him much since then. Thanks dude, wherever you are.

I dug out one of those cd's today because i remember there being a band that played skate/pop punk i really liked but could never manage to get a hold of any of their material. It turns out the band was called Off The Record. They only had one formal release entitled Remember When. So finally today i looked the record up, it was out of print so i resorted to soulseek, i wasn't expecting to get any results but fortunately i was able to find a copy and download it. I just finished listening to it once through and i was smiling through the whole thing. It kind of sounds like Blink 182 Dude Ranch era with a few more hard hitting, more technical riffs. The vocals have more attitude than Blink 182 could ever muster, as much as i like Dude Ranch, this blows it out of the water. At least upon initial listen.

One of the coolest things about music is that you can go back and revisit the bands that helped shape who you are today. You can feel just like you did when you were a 15 year old kid and didn't have to care about anything other than how you were going to explain your latest truancy from school to your parents or where you were going to skate without having the cops threaten to take your board away. Even though i only heard one song from this record previous to today, listening to this record let's me relive a part of my life i wouldn't change for anything. That's priceless.

Ohh yeah, on a side note, i started a new blog called Against the Grain. So from this point forward this one will be reserved for all things music since it pretty much already is. And the other one, well i don't really know i guess political/philosophical banter that will make no sense to anyone but myself. It probably won't even make sense to me.

Best of 2007

2007 seemed like a bit of an off year in terms of punk and hardcore music. There were a few releases that really grabbed me but beyond that i wasn't too excited about much. There were plenty of good records released, just not many great ones.

With that said the year prior had a lot of great records released, there's really no way this year could compare. Last year picking my top 10 was way too hard, this year the top five were easy and after that i had some trouble. The "Honorbale Mentions" category for this year is huge just because so many records i listened to this year were good but were just lacking that final knock out punch.

Anyway, I'll get on with this. I might add a category or two more to this years edition, we'll see how it goes as i work my way through the cobb webbs of the year that was.

Top 10 Releases of 2007

1. True Colors - Focus On The Light

I wrote about this record earlier this year so i won't too in depth. Here's a link documenting my unrelenting praise for this record.

Positive energy oozes from this record. It's pretty typical Youth Crew both lyrically and musically but there just enough originality and edge to help earn this record the #1 spot on my list. I'm sure I'll be vehemently disagreed with on this, but i really can't think of another record more deserving of this spot.

2. Bitter End - Climate of Fear

This record is crushing, i'm usually not huge on metallic hardcore but this record is nearly perfect when it comes to this genre. The vocals are downright venemous and the words being spewd don't lack an ounce of conviction.

Musically there are some really catchy melodic riffs, and some really cool building to burst apart bass lines, just enough to maintain a sharp edge. There's plenty of punishing breakdowns, they just don't sound overly typical. There's a diversity evident in this record that is rarely shown within this genre. Combine that with near perfect production and well written, well thought out lyrics and this record gets the # 2 spot on my list. I can't wait to see what waits ahead for this band.

3. Go It Alone - Histories

This was Go It Alone's second and final full length LP. I thought everything they had put out up to this record was some of the best stuff modern hardcore had to offer. Needless to say my expectations were high. After an initial let down, i let this record grow on me and now it ranks right up there with the rest of GIA's discography. The rager songs on this record rage at a level of furiousity that's hard to top.

I won't go into to much detail, i wrote about this earlier in the year after i recieved one of the more limited copies in my Rivalry Records pre-order. Click here if you want to read more.

4. The Geeks - Every time We Fall

Seoul Korea's finest. The Geeks really stepped it up this time. This record towers above their previous efforts in so many ways. The production is cleaner than before but still raw enough to maintain the sincere emotion that makes this band so fun to listen to.

Musically they mesh better, the vocals are more controlled but still unrelenting enough. I really can't say enough about how much this record rules. One listen is explanation enough.

I wrote about this record earlier in the year as well. Click here to see the cool vinyl from Get Outta Town Records.

5. Lifetime - Self Titled

I couldn't have asked for a more triumphant return for this band. Amidst all the cynical talk surrounding these reunions i knew this band would pull through. They did and then some.

This record might even be better than Jersey's Best Dancers. That's a bold statement given the timelessness associated with Lifetime's previous work. You would expect that no matter how good another Lifetime record is, it would never be able to live up to the precedent set almost a decade ago. But somehow this record's done that. Anyone who doubted Yemin's prowess regarding this brand of hardcore punk really needs to check their head. Everything the guy touches is gold and this is no exception.

6. Get The Most - Moment in Time EP

Get The Most's follow up to 2006's Common Goals EP, is pretty much just as expected. More catchy, generic youth crew that hasn't strayed far from their most glaring influences. This record is beyond fun and incredibly positive and upbeat.

Don't let the vibe of the record throw you off though. There are some words that need to be heard even if they're just reinforcing what we already know. A record like this will always appeal to me, they could make 10 more EP's sounding exactly like this over the next 10 years and they would probably all find their way into my year ending top 10 lists. One more thing. The drumming on this record absolutely shreds.

7. Shook Ones/Easel - Split EP

The three Shook Ones songs on this split are probably my favorite stuff they've released to date. That's saying something considering how much i like Sixteen and Facetious Folly Feat. The opening track Order Form is classically catchy, the way the vocals bend and twist with the music is really fun to listen to. They cover the song Bad Year originally by Seaweed to finish off their side of the split and do more than an admirable job.

The Easel side of this split is great musically but i don't speak Japanese so it's a little hard to understand the lyrics. Other than that minor detail i really like this band. They sound a lot like early Lifetime, not as good but pretty close and that's good enough.

8. Smoke or Fire - This Sinking Ship

Above This City was one of my favorites in '05 so i was eagerly awaiting This Sinking Ship. With this record Smoke or Fire don't stray too far from their previous material. It's a little more mature in the lyric department and maybe a 1/2 step slower. I don't know if it's better but it certainly isn't a regression.

Being on Fatwreck it's pretty easy to predict what this band will be about. It's melodic punk with socially and politically conscious lyrics. There are some things that don't need to change and this is formula that works great for Fatwreck and a lot of the bands they work with.

If Smoke or Fire can up to this level for records to come they'll be another band added to an already stacked list of great Richmond punk bands.

9. The Swellers - My Everest

I decided to give this record a chance when i heard there was a bunch of young kids playing melodic skate/pop punk. I had put off checking these guys out for a long time , i guess i was doubting that kids barely out of high school could reach back a decade or so and play the stuff i grew up listening to.

I'm really happy i gave this record a chance, not only do these guys play this style, they excel at it. It may be a little too polished at times and there are a couple acoustic tracks i could do without but the bulk of this record is so much fun to listen to. I'm glad kids are still playing this style and not letting it be too watered down and just become plain old pop punk. These kids can shred, here's to hoping they keep it up.

10. Career Suicide - Attempted Suicide

This is what hardcore punk is. It's what it started as and there will always be a place for it. These Toronto dudes are taking it back more than a few years and with Attempted Suicide they do it with unrelenting precision.

I can't stress how much this record rips from start to finish. It doesn't relent one bit. Compared to their earlier material it isn't much different it's just a lot more precise, it's probably the most in sync record of the year in that regard. I can't even think when i listen to this record, it puts me in a state of paralysis.

Honorable Mention:

• Sinking Ships - Ten EP
• I Rise - Down EP
• Down To Nothing - The Most
• Soul Control - Involution
• Modern Life Is War - Midnight In America
• Justice - Escapades
• Allegiance - Desperation
• A Wilhelm Scream - Career Suicide
• In Stride - Place of Decay EP
• Ruiner- Prepare to Be Let Down
• Ambitions - Stranger
• To The Lions - Baptism of Fire
• Only Crime - Virulence
• Strung Out - Black Hawks Over Los Angeles
• The Swellers - My Everest
• Red Handed - Wounds Remain
• Loud and clear - Self Titled
• Common Cause - Statement of Purpose EP
• Circles - Demo
• Hostage Calm - Demo
• Blacklisted - Peace On Earth, War On Stage
• One Voice - Break Free EP
• Government Warning - Arrested
• Go It Alone - Histories Single
  

Best Show:
Go It Alone August 23rd @ Adrift.
One of the best Toronto shows in a long while. I wrote something about, click here.

Runner Up: The First Step sometime in April @ Adrift. Not a whole lot of people were there but there was enough kids into it and TFS always bring the energy.

Best Song:
Go It Alone - Relics
This is kind of a weird category, you can't really pick one song. But, if i had to choose right now this song would be it . The lyrics are some of the best written by the band, they give off an eerie hopefulness if that makes any sense. Musically the song builds from a slow paced hard-hitting intro into the furious pace Go It Alone kept up so well throughout everything they released. Seeing them open with this song in August was awesome, one of the highlights of this past Summer.

Best Up and Coming Band:
Hostage Calm
I wouldn't have made this category if not for the emergence of this band from the ashes of At All Costs. This band rules and their only getting better, think Ignite mixed with In My Eyes.

Best Record Not Released in 2007:
Good Riddance - Operation Phoenix
Even though this record was released 8 years ago it's words still pierce the air with an unsettling urgency. This is by far Good Riddance's most hard hitting album, it's probably their angriest and most politically motivated as well.

I could have picked any album by this band, I've found myself listening to them more and more as the year has progressed. Some albums speak to you more than others, this is an album that at times seems to speak to the core of who i am, there isn't much more meaningful than that.

Looking Forward....
I don't really know what this year holds music-wise. I don't really care, if it's good i'll hear it.

Moving away from the music front, i might start an additional blog to this one where i'll put essays and other ramblings. I want to start building the basis for something a little more substantial, that might be the place to start.

I'll be finishing my 3rd year of school and not a second too soon, i want to be finished now. Provided everything goes smoothly, and it better, i only have a total of 9 months left sitting in a classroom with surprisingly low amounts of stimulus flowing through my brain. And not because I'm brain dead.

2008 will be a better year, there was nothing glaringly wrong with 2007 but nothing went overly well either. Hopefully i'll be veering closer and closer to the potential my future holds in '08, hopefully I'm consistently doing that. I know, its stupid to judge things year by year.... what's time anyway.