I picked up
this demo from a Shot Point Blank show. Down tuned mosh. I am not a fan of this
at all. Boring as shit. I’m so thankful that there is only one song on here.
FF: Acacia
Strain, Shinto Katana and Hand Of Mercy
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
H20 – Nothing To Prove
Just as the
album title of this record states, H20 have nothing to prove. They have accomplished
a lot. They have toured around the world, they are one of the most respected
hardcore bands, and they were even signed to a major label!
What would
a hardcore record be without guest appearances? Well ‘Nothing To Lose’ has plenty,
including CIV, Matt Skiba, and Lou Koller to name a few. There are also
snippets of their friends and family separating the songs which I thought was
pretty cool. Sometimes I wish I was straight edge. As Good Clean Fun said, they
get all the good sing a longs.
FFO:
Madball, Gorilla Biscuits and Sick Of It All
Website: http://www.h2ogo.com/
Half Hearted Hero – Defining. Refining.
This is a
strong full length for this Massachusetts
pop punk band. The hooks, dueling guitars and sing a long lyrics all come
together to put a smile on your face.
FFO:
Punchline, Fireworks and Rufio
Website: http://halfheartedhero.bandcamp.com/
Half Hearted Hero – Home
Half
Hearted Hero are one of the better pop punk bands that I have stumbled across.
FFO:
Punchline, Fireworks and Rufio
Website: http://halfheartedhero.bandcamp.com/
Half Hearted Hero – Summer Demo
3 song demo
from these New
Bedford, MA pop punkers. Fun and catchy. I can’t
remember where I downloaded this from but the band has this up for stream on their
bandcamp.
FFO:
Punchline
Website: http://halfheartedhero.bandcamp.com/
H20 – CBGB OMFUG Masters: Live August 19, 2002 - The Bowery Collection
I’m not
really a fan of live albums but I picked this up from the bargain bin and I figured
this is the closed that I’m going to get to seeing a band at CBGB.
I really
don’t know why hardcore bands put out live albums. They just don’t work. You need
to be at the show. This show for example, the bass and guitars cut out halfway through
the set and the band carry on. I’m assuming it is pure mayhem and hot as hell,
but I wouldn’t know, because this is just a CD. You can tell that the band and
the crowd are having a blast.
FFO: The
Bouncing Souls, Sick Of It All and Gorilla Biscuits
Website: http://www.h2ogo.com
H20 – Thicker Than Water
H20’s
second album from 1997. New York City
hardcore at its catchiest.
FFO: The
Bouncing Souls, Sick Of It All and Gorilla Biscuits
Website: http://www.h2ogo.com
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
H20 – Go!
H20’s fourth
album. Released in 2001 and on MCA Records! Wait! Hardcore on a major label! NO WAY! This album
rules even if it was produced by the same guy who produced Maroon 5.
FFO: 7
Seconds, Gorilla Biscuits
Website: http://www.h2ogo.com/home
H20 – F.T.T.W.
H20 are one
of those hardcore bands that everyone seems to love and enjoy. Hell, even my
girlfriend likes them! That’s how I tricked her into liking hardcore coming
into hardcore shows with me! This is H20’s third album, released in 1999. This
is fun and energetic hardcore with a bounce that doesn’t keep people from
getting into them. This is the first H20 album that I got. Keep that PMA!
FFO: 7
Seconds, Gorilla Biscuits
Website: http://www.h2ogo.com/home
Bridge and Tunnel – Rebuilding Year LP (solid white/clear yellow split / ???) plus Live at Fest 9 7” (fruit tingle /???)
I pre
ordered the shit out of this album! I was excited enough about a new Bridge and
Tunnel album, but the addition of a limited 7” as well was too much. I also managed to catch them play twice in Sydney and once in Melbourne
while they were touring Australia
on the back of ‘Rebuilding Year’.
So I’ll
start off with the 7”. Rachel (guitar/vocals) broke her hand (in a bike accident?)
and as a result couldn’t play guitar for their set at Fest 9. So the band did a
covers set with Rachel on vocals. The National Underground were there to record
it.
The
packaging is simple and effective, black and white paper live shot on the sleeve
with a stamp on the back.
Track list:
Side A:
- Minor Threat – Small Man, Big Mouth
- Minor Threat – Seeing Red
- Inside Out – No Spiritual
Side B:
- Bikini Kill – Rebel Girl
- Propagandhi – Fuck The Boarder
- Modern Life Is War - D.E.A.D. R.A.M.O.N.E.S.
Now onto
the LP. Everything that I love about this band is here. The twinkly and noodly guitars,
unique song structures, duel male/female vocals and meaning full, sincere and
heartfelt lyrics. This had me singing along in the first song. I’m a fan of the
artwork as well. Who doesn’t like paper mache? And the vinyl looks great! To
top it all off it’s housed in a gatefold jacket.
Get this!
FFO:
Latterman, Small Brown Bike
Website: http://bridgeandtunnelmusic.com/
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Friends With The Enemy – New World DisOrder
I picked up
this EP/demo when I saw Friends With The Enemy supporting Pour Habit and Smoke
or Fire at the Gaelic Club (boy have they fucked that venue up with pokies
now). I was pretty impressed.
Friends
With The Enemy are a female fronted melodic punk band from the Gold Coast. Fast
and at times techy. I’m definitely digging this.
FFO: Strung
Out, Tsunami Bomb and Heartsounds
Gyroscope – Are You Involved?
This is the
last record in G!!!! Finally!
‘Are You
Involved?’ is the follow up to ‘Sound Shattering Sound’. I didn’t find this
album as exciting as I did ‘Sound Shattering Sound’. I think Gyroscope went
with a safer direction with these songs. That’s not to say that these songs aren’t
good because they are.
FFO: Trial
Kennedy, Horsell Common and Kisschasy
Gyroscope – Fast Girl/Beware Wolf
This is the
CD single for both ‘Fast Girl’ and ‘Beware Wolf’ which both appear on Gyroscope’s
‘Are You Involved?’ album.
Other songs
on this single include ‘T.I.A.’, ‘Monument’ (a Jebediah cover from Triple J’s
Like a Version) and an acoustic version of ‘Sexxxy’.
FFO: Trial
Kennedy, Horsell Common and Kisschasy
Gyroscope – 1981 7” (white /500)
‘1981’ is a
single from Gyroscope’s album ‘Breed Obsession’, which I never bothered to pick
up. ‘1981’ if more of a soft rock Gyroscope song with a disco vibe. Not my
thing. The B side ‘This Will Kill You’ isn’t much better. Soft Gyroscope is
kind of boring.
FFO: Trial
Kennedy, Horsell Common and Kisschasy
Pour Habit – Suiticide
First off
before I get to the music, this artwork is HORRIBLE! Fucking horrendous!
OK now I have
that off my chest onto the music. Pour Habit play 90’s Fat Wreck/ Epitaph
styled punk rock with a dose of metal and a hint of reggae. ‘Suiticide’, which
has been reissued by Fat Wreck, is Pour Habit’s debut. I picked up this CD when
I went and saw Pour Habit play at Herman’s Bar when they were touring with
NOFX. Not really hearing about these guys before that they completely grabbed
me. Their live show was amazingly fun.
For some
reason I can’t help but think of Power Rangers while listening to some of these
songs, especially the guitar solos.
All in all,
the music makes up for that horrible artwork.
FFO: 90’s Fat
Wreck/ Epitaph
Website: http://www.facebook.com/pourhabit
Smoke Or Fire – The Speakeasy
I really
enjoyed Smoke or Fire’s ‘Above This City’ and ‘This Sinking Ship’ and with Justin
“Gwomper” Burdick of Avail playing bass on this record I should really fall in
love with ‘The Speakeasy’. It took me a few listens to really start enjoying this
album. I’m not sure why though as it has everything that I could want from
Smoke or Fire. Catchy melodies, sing along choruses and punk rock energy. I
think I was being a little to harsh as I had high expectations. This is an all-round
good record, though if you’re new to Smoke or Fire this probably isn’t the best
place to start.
Ryan Parrish from Darkest Hour also plays drums on this
record.
Listen to
Avail!
FFO: The
Flatliners, The Draft and Against Me!
Gyroscope – Sound Shattering Sound
Listening
to this brings back a lot of memories of high school. I listened to this album
a lot. ‘Sound Shattering Sound’ is Gyroscope’s debut album. It is full of
extremely catchy indie rock n roll with angst filled melodies.
FFO: Trial
Kennedy, Horsell Common and Kisschasy
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Guttermouth – Musical Monkey
I remember
when I first herd this record I wasn’t too impressed. Coming back to it a few
years later I’m still rather listen to NOFX. Sure there are some great songs to
listen to on this but that is it.
FFO: NOFX
Website: http://www.xxx-guttermouth-xxx.com/
Guns Up! – Outlive
Heavy on
the mosh hardcore. I enjoyed ‘Outlive’ a lot when it came out and still enjoy this
album quite a bit. Stage dive to this.
FFO: Terror,
No Warning and Down To Nothing
Website: http://www.gunsuphc.com/
Gunnerson – Paper Tigers
Another mini
album up for free download via Death To False Hope Records. Gunnerson play rocky punk that gets you
singing along. The recording could be a little tighter at times but the song writing
overshadows that.
FFO: Samiam,
The Loved Ones and Small Arms Dealer
Gunmoll – Board of Rejection
I herd some
Gunmoll songs on splits and comps but while liking what I herd, I never really
bothered to try and track down any of their albums. I had a few beers and threw
this CD on and I am now hooked. This is the typical No Idea Records affair (I know
I may be taking the easy way out by saying that but it’s true). Mike Hale’s
gruff vocals growl perfectly along this melodic punk rock. I love this.
These guys
are inactive now which is disappointing. Here’s hoping a reunion at this years
Fest.
FFO: Hot
Water Music, The Tim Version and Leatherface
Website: http://www.myspace.com/gunmollrocks
The Gun Runners – A Few Friends
The first
time I checked The Gun Runners out was at the Lansdown Hotel. I think they were
playing with Easy Company and maybe The Optionals. I had a few beers and they
played an Avail cover. That was enough for me. The next morning I woke up and
discovered that I had bought this album.
The Gun
Runners are from Melbourne,
playing melodic punk rock. ‘A Few Friends’ is their debut album and with 14
tracks it’s got both quantity and quality. If you like the stuff that Poison City
Records put out then chances are you will love this.
FFO: Easy
Company, Avail, Mid Youth Crisis
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