Confines - Withdrawn 7" - I love this 7"! I was completely taken aback at how good it was. I had heard their demo and was kinda into it and even saw them live, where they were even better, but MAN this 7" rips. Colman brought a bunch of copies back from one of his regular visits to NH and I'm very thankful for that! Copies still available from Side Two and Labour Of Love.
Crazy Spirit 7" - Crazy Spirit's first 7" on Toxic State is one of the catchiest thing I had heard this year and I never really got tired of it. While I am very stoked to hear their new 7", I'm a tad concerned that the band might be a one-trick pony. Still, I don't mean to hate: This record rules and the band is awesome.
Drunkdriver LP - The record no one wants to acknowledge. A lot of people pretend this record doesn't exist or that this band never happened, which is truly a bummer for the music on this LP, which is probably Drunkdriver's strongest material and may have even catapulted them to the big time! Hypotheticals aside, this is a seriously good record, no matter where you stand on the Drunkdriver issue.
h100s - Live In Cleveland 1995 LP - This was advertised to the public as having incredible sound quality for a live record and BOY was that accurate! I actually prefer some versions of these songs to their original 7" versions. On top of getting some of the best Clevocore on here, you also get hilarious stage banter courtesy of the Erbas. Seriously, track this down if you can!
Low Threat Profile - Product #2 LP - Not as good as their perfect 7" from last year, but this LP is still pretty incredible. Andy's voice sounds way more weathered than on the 7", but it's still awesome. The music occasionally retreads older ground, but who fucking cares? The drumming is still insane and this is one of the coolest hardcore records of the year. Copies are still available from Deep Six.
Milk Music - Beyond Living 12" - I slept on this release for awhile, but I finally checked it out towards the last moments of 2010 and was blown away. Sounding like late 80s SST bands, especially Dinosaur Jr., this band has the coolest fucking guitar tone I've heard in forever. Do not sleep on this one. To get a copy, email milk_music[at]hotmail[dot]com.
Nerveskade LP - God, I'll be so happy if I never have to see another crossed-out eighth note. Seriously, what's the beef? Lady GaGa rules. Still, despite a tidal wave of shitty raw punk hitting peoples' ears this year, there are still some real deals and Nerveskade is one of them. I got to see them twice this year and they blew me away both times, so I wasn't surprised that this record was as good as it is. The rerecorded version of "Forced To Live" is my anthem at the moment. I'm sure copies of this are still available. Figure it out!
Nomos - Notes From The Acheron 12" - To be real, I don't even bother listening to their demo anymore because this is so much better. To (mis)quote prominent NYC punk figure Jesse Gasface: just try not destroying your room when "Pharmakon" comes on. You will fail. BOOSH. Copies are still available from Deranged.
Swallowed 7" - My friend CJ showed me this record and it blew my mind. Swallowed plays slower, Autopsy-influenced death metal. Seriously one of the most disgusting records I've heard in awhile. Their demo they released before this is faster and more derivative, but still worth checking out. Be sure to track this down on vinyl, as it's mastered perfectly. I cannot fucking wait for their LP.
Weed Hounds - Beach Bummed 7" - The Reefer Pooches put forth their best material yet with this two-song single. The A-side of "Beach Bummed" is one of their more pleasant and pretty songs, but the B-side of "Skating Away From The Cops" is the real gem on this. It's their best song thus far and is only but a taste of what is to come in 2011 for the band.
And there you have it! Now, for my top ten list for the year:
10. Kriegshög - Self Titled LP
Crusty hardcore from Japan. I had a few of their 7"s and thought they were pretty neat, but none of it really left a lasting impression on me. Still, I had to check out this LP and I'm super glad I did because I think it's far superior to their previous material. There's something really special about this record. Perhaps in the way in which is actually sounds transgressive and urgent, not unlike Lady GaGa. Seriously, the Kriegshög LP is one of the best hardcore full lengths of the year. Believe the hype, I guess.
9. Urban Blight - Total War 7"
Based on the songs themselves, this could have been in my top three. Unfortunately, the band takes their blown-out sound to a whole new level. It's certainly interesting, but I wish the production was way cleaner. Still, the songs themselves are absolutely amazing. This Toronto band plays fast hardcore with, apparently, Oi! influences. I mean, I see them (especially on my favorite track "Social Order"), but I'm no expert on Oi!. Despite my minor gripes with the production (which some people love), this is still a sick record.
8. Omegas - Sonic Order 7"
Montreal's Omegas are one of the best live bands I saw all last year. This 7" isn't quite as good as their live spectacle, but it's still awesome. This is one of the most fun hardcore punk 7"s I've heard in awhile.They have a new LP coming out soon on Parts Unknown and, based on the quality of the track I heard from it, it should be one of the best records of next year. Taste the street meat.
7. Tonetta - 777 LP
In 2010, everyone in proximity to my friend Vinnie (mad love!) became obsessed with Tonetta, a hidden YouTube sensation. Tonetta's videos are some of the most bizarre yet addicting things I've ever encountered on the site. Apparently, Black Tent Press thought this, as well, and has been pressing many of the tracks to vinyl. Thank god! This particular LP collects material recorded over more than a decade and is seriously the most fucked record of the year. This truly is one of the most depraved things I've ever heard and I still can't tell whether his stabs at conventional music are actually more bizarre than his more recent, hypersexual side. I absolutely love it. Hopefully, you will too.
6. Merchandise - Gone Are The Silk Gardens Of Youth CS
2010 was a big year for the Merch Rockers. Their long-delayed LP finally came out and I guess people liked it or something. This particular tape has material culled from those sessions, as well as a few other goodies. Despite being all over the place, it still makes for a pretty coherent listen. Demos of LP favorites and upcoming releases make up this excellent cassette. Perhaps it's just for the hardcore fans (if they exist), but this tape is loaded with hit after hit. I have my obvious biases, but I love this tape. Get into it!
5. Pollution - ®SMUT LP
Pollution! The best punk band in Brooklyn that no one cares about in Brooklyn. Unless playing with a larger band, I go to their shows and see only a handful of people there outside of their significant others and usual friends. Seriously, is everyone stupid? Ranting aside, Pollution is great. While their consistently incredible live show is unfuckwithable by most bands (especially in the area), some have complained their the recorded material doesn't quite capture the magic. I mean, it doesn't, but that would be impossible. Still, this particular LP is some of their best material. Some have complained about the snare sound on this, but they just don't realize it will be considered revolutionary in thirty years. OK, maybe the sound does resemble an obese man self-flagellating with a tennis ball wrapped in a wet tube sock, but I can look past that when the drumming is so insane. SERIOUSLY, I CAN'T SHUT UP ABOUT THIS BAND. Be on the lookout for a split LP with Grids, a new LP, and a tour with Double Negative, all coming in 2011!
4. Nitberg - Nagelreid CD
I might get shit for including this, but who cares? BlazeBirth Hall veterans Nitberg unleash this 56 minute long CD consisting of just one track! Granted, there are about five or six songs obvious song breaks, but it's technically one piece. Anyway, this is some quality black metal from Russia. As my friend Andrew described it, this record is a total riff party. There is an endless amount of astonishing guitar parts that just never stop. This is definitely my favorite metal record of the year. You can hate the men for obvious reasons, but holy balls the music!
3. Slices - Cruising LP
I was heartbroken to find that my two favorite Pittsburgh bands Brain Handle and Slices would be taking a break, with Brain Handle taking a more permanent one. Still, I can still fall back on all their excellent recorded material, particularly the Slices LP. I loved the 7"s so much and this record met all of my expectations and then some. The B-side of this record is one of the best pieces of hardcore I've heard from this decade. The whole thing is a treat, though. Hopefully they churn out more material, despite being on hiatus due to irresponsible life decisions, like law school or some shit. Dumdums.
2. Bastard Noise - A Culture Of Monsters LP
As a skull servant (lol), this was probably my most anticipated release of the year, especially since I really dug their split LP with the Endless Blockade from last year. As with that split, this record is a return to their Man Is The Bastard-esque sound, as opposed to traditional noise. I love both eras of this band, but I need more MITB, you know? Not everyone will agree, but I actually really enjoy how proggy (and even jazzy) the band has become. Really, though, Eric Wood could do just about anything and I'd love it. I wonder how good this record is from an objective standpoint. I'll never know! Oh, also, I wish the band would return to their more traditional cover style. I'm not entirely sold on the artwork. Still, this record is flawless and Wood is a true bass wizard and this is the most bass fishin' record of the year.
1. The Rival Mob - Hardcore For Hardcore 7"
WHAT THE FUCK ELSE?
This one came as a surprise to me. When I was figuring out how to order my top releases, I thought this would be towards the bottom of the list. It was then pointed out to me that this was all I ever listened to or talked about. I think realized that I had actually listened to this 7" twice as much as everything else on this list COMBINED. Holy moly!
The Rival Mob are the kings of hardcore right now. Seriously, I can't think of any other band that comes close. Taking an NYHC blueprint and modern Boston-ing it, the band has created something truly special. And those divebombs! WYYYOOOOOOOOO. I don't think I've ever bedroom-moshed to a band as much as this. Please, do yourself a favor and see this band live. The stage banter is unstoppable. Really, I will lap up whatever this band does for the rest of their existence. Mob Rules My <3. I heard this band invented hardcore or something.
And that's all I can fart out for you guys. The only thing I have to look forward to in 2011 is the new Lady GaGa album, Born This Way. That's enough of a reason to keep going, I think.
:EDIT: What's the deal with the new GaGa single? It's bumming me out! :(
This one came as a surprise to me. When I was figuring out how to order my top releases, I thought this would be towards the bottom of the list. It was then pointed out to me that this was all I ever listened to or talked about. I think realized that I had actually listened to this 7" twice as much as everything else on this list COMBINED. Holy moly!
The Rival Mob are the kings of hardcore right now. Seriously, I can't think of any other band that comes close. Taking an NYHC blueprint and modern Boston-ing it, the band has created something truly special. And those divebombs! WYYYOOOOOOOOO. I don't think I've ever bedroom-moshed to a band as much as this. Please, do yourself a favor and see this band live. The stage banter is unstoppable. Really, I will lap up whatever this band does for the rest of their existence. Mob Rules My <3. I heard this band invented hardcore or something.
And that's all I can fart out for you guys. The only thing I have to look forward to in 2011 is the new Lady GaGa album, Born This Way. That's enough of a reason to keep going, I think.
:EDIT: What's the deal with the new GaGa single? It's bumming me out! :(
9 comments:
No Satanic Warmaster?
I cut it last minute. I think it's a great LP and I do listen to it fairly regularly, but it's kind of a disappointment when compared to the last two LPs.
-Adam
Was going to comment on the new GaGa, but I see your edit now. New song is really bad and doesn't hold up to her older material at all. And that performance... Ugh.
Knowing that you still haven't heard it, I'm not surprised to see the new Plutoloko left out. It even features an Eric Wood noise track! Buy it already, or forever remain a poser skull servant!
Anon 1 - It makes me so sad :(.
Anon 2 - FUCK. I just ordered it. I forgot to the last time we hung out. I bet it rules. Plutoloko rules.
-Adam
Did you not like Strange Songs? I thought it was one of the best pop records of the year.
Oh I loved it, but I also put it out and therefore I didn't include it on the list.
-Adam
I'll never be able to forgive you for introducing me to Tonetta.
Haha, you're welcome!
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