BEST of 2009

Well, since it is the end of the year and a shit ton of great records came out in many genres, I've decided to create a few Best of 2009 lists by genre (sort of). I tried to pick the best albums from both established bands and newer groups that have a growing underground buzz. Some of the bands are a mixture of styles so they really could be on multiple lists. For instance, the new Thrice record should really be considered post-hardcore or alt rock, but I threw them into the Punk list. They are listed in no particular order and it was very difficult to narrow the lists down. I will continue to listen to all these albums well into 2010 and beyond. You should too if you know what's good for you. Plese talk shit to me if you disagree or think I left an epic album out.

Best of Punk Rock/Pop-Punk:

Brand New - Daisy
Thrice - Beggars
NOFX - Coaster
New Found Glory - Not Without A Fight
Saosin - In Search of Solid Ground
Dead to Me - African Elephants
Strike Anywhere - Iron Front
Propagandhi - Supporting Caste
Set Your Goals - This Will Be the Death of Us
Polar Bear Club - Chasing Hamburg

Best EP: A Wilhelm Scream - A Wilhelm Scream


Best of Hardcore Punk:

Gallows - Grey Britain
Horse the Band - Desperate Living
Fear Before - Fear Before (2008)
Paint It Black - Amnesia/Surrender
Blacklisted - No One Deserves to Be Here More Than Me
Defeater - Solid Ground (EP)
Evergreen Terrace - Almost Home
Every Time I Die - New Junk Aesthetic
Rise and Fall - Our Circle Is Vicious
Alexisonfire - Old Crows / Young Cardinals


Best of (Extreme) Metal:

Poison the Well - The Tropic Rot
The Black Dahlia Murder - Deflorate
Winds of Plague - The Great Stone War
Converge - Axe to Fall
Broadcast the Nightmare - Twenty Twelve
God Forbid - Earthsblood
Mastodon - Crack the Skye
Between the Buried and Me - The Great Misdirect
August Burns Red - Constellations
After the Burial - Rareform (Reissue)


Best of Rock/Alternative:

Marilyn Manson - The High End of Low
He is Legend - It Hates You
Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything to Nothing
Dave Matthews Band - The Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King
Muse - The Resistance
311 - Uplifter
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular (2007)
Modest Mouse - No One's First and You're Next (EP)
Emery - In Shallow Seas We Sail
Animals As Leaders - Animals As Leaders

Some Honorable Mentions:

Shadows Fall - Retribution
Dethklok - The Dethalbum II
Castevet - Summer Fences
Banner Pilot - Collapser
AFI - Crash Love

Gallows – Grey Britain

This is probably the best hardcore punk album released in the past few years and this band will certainly be going somewhere. Every time that I listen to this album, I like it more and its highly motivational sound makes it great to listen to when you want to get pumped up. I think it is much better than their first release, Orchestra of Wolves, which I loved but lacked the outstanding musicianship of Grey Britain. I think the reason is pretty simple: Gallows got better at playing their instruments and being a band. This is certainly evidenced by the intensity of their live show that I recently described in the Warped Tour Part 2 entry.

Gallows hail from the UK and formed in 2004 out of the ashes of a couple of punk bands. Their first album got the attention of Bad Religion’s guitarist, Brett Gurewitz, who helped get it released in the U.S. on Epitaph Records. They turned some heads and knocked some socks off at the 2007 Warped Tour and began to get some serious attention (I saw them at Warped and loved them). I think this album is what is really going to propel this band into a hardcore scene legend.

I want to talk briefly on what hardcore punk is for those who may not know (most people outside the scene don’t have a clue). When I use the word hardcore or say “hardcore band” I am not using it as the commonly used adjective. I am making a reference to the genre of hardcore punk, which most people simply refer to as hardcore or hXc. Of course, it is a more hardcore version of punk rock, but it has a very specific style that has evolved dramatically over the years. I consider Black Flag and Bad Brains to be the first hardcore bands and their styles along with the genre itself has influenced nearly every punk or heavy band. In contemporary music the most obvious nod to hardcore is the breakdown, which powers the mosh pit! Find out more at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardcore_punk

Grey Britain is one of those albums that stands out in the hardcore genre, especially during this time period. Some believed that hardcore would not progress anymore and would simply be abandoned for newer forms like post-hardcore or metal-core. This is simply not the case and Gallows is the reason! They are a band that isn’t afraid to utilize classical elements like symphonic samples and piano, yet nearly every track can make a mosh pit churn. The album’s intro opens up with a slow build of an orchestral sample, then pounding drums and the shriek of Frank Carter’s vocals. The next track is f*cking nasty! It is one of my favorites on the album and really moved the pit at the Warped Tour. It exemplifies their tough-guy, we don’t give a damn attitude, yet it is uniquely British and reminds me of pub fights and football hooligans. Lyrically Carter attempts to expose the deep-seated political issues in Britain but his dark tone is fueled by anger (very much a hardcore punk element). Sometimes the songs do not seem to go as deep but simply conjure up images of fighting in dark alleys in London’s rain soaked streets (listen to “Black Eye”). “I Dread The Night” follows a similar theme but the lyrics are much better and it is a standout track on the album, absolutely amazing live. The Vulture is perhaps the most stylistically different on the album and Carter actually sings, but it is a haunting and melancholy track. I would talk about every track but I honestly think they are all incredible and it is an album that is meant to be listened to from front to back.

So please check out this album, it is incredible and even if you’re not into hardcore it will probably grow on you. I am certifying this album as 10/10 Deliciously Nasty! It is a great achievement in hardcore punk rock and is only Gallows second album. This band will be huge, at least in the punk and hxc scene.

NOFX - Coaster

NOFX has been one of my favorite punk rock bands for almost as long as I have been listening to music. Their unique style of pop melodies mixed with grungy garage punk rock as well as their provocative lyrics and sense of humor has elevated this band to legendary status. Not to mention the fact that their frontman, Fat Mike, has his own label (Fat Wreck Chords) that is helping countless underground bands get exposure and has promoted DIY as an alternative to major labels. Although they will probably never top their pivotal album, “Punk in Drublic”, I believe that their entire catalogue is essential to anyone who really loves punk music.

This album is classically NOFX yet they always seem to be moving forward musically and lyrically. Fat Mike’s vocals seem to get better on every album and his diverse lyrics that deal with everything from humor and sex to family relationships and organized religion are quite thought provoking. What is truly amazing about this band is how each of their albums is very eclectic stylistically so they never run into the “every song sounds the same” problem. This album is a great example of this and each song sounds different AND deals with a different subject matter lyrically. The drumming by Erik Sandin is great and really keeps their fast and staccato punk rock style solid (in all their albums). The guitar work by their token Mexican El Jefe is outstanding and even Eric Melvin got more creative (and continues to do supporting vocals. As a band they have never sounded tighter and as usual pull off the fast and happy tone of punk rock in each song but the mood is distinct and matches the lyrical content.

Coaster opens with “We Called it America” and Fat Mike continues his liberal political commentary that he has become more passionate about over the span of their last few albums. It’s a great punk rock track and if you dig this song, you will probably like most of their music. The most emotional track on the album is “My Orphan Year”, which describes the year that Mike lost both of his parents; it is very serious and melodically delicious. The song ‘First Call” is an alcoholics anthem that is very funny and complements their other comedic song, “Creeping Out Sara”. This song is very poppy but very fun to listen to and jokes about meeting the band Tegan and Sarah and creeping them out with a conversation on drugs and sex. “Blasphemy” is a great anti-organized religion track that points out the ridiculousness of choosing faith over reason (although everyone is entitled to their own opinion). “Best God in Show” carries a similar theme but showcases their rendition of the reaggae/ska style. The whole album is great from front to back and closes with “One Million Coasters”, which nostalgically speaks of the end of old music mediums, notably the CD that has now become a mere coaster due to the domination of digital music.

I think this album perfectly reflects what punk music is in this day and age when many people think that it is dead. As long as NOFX keeps putting out amazing albums, it will certainly live on! It’s amazing that despite all the various trends in music, NOFX has always done their own thing and they do it better than most bands. I am certainly biased because I love this band but I am open to any criticisms anyone might have. Please comment!

Coaster by NOFX receives a 9/10 and is certified NASTY. It is definitely better than their last release and the different styles of each song make it a very enjoyable listen.

The Warped Tour Part 2

The Warped Tour 2009 (Part 2)

I experienced similar situations a couple more times but sometimes the bands would dictate how long I watched them. I watched Aiden for about 4 songs and they have quite a stage presence despite being the ugliest band on the festival and their lead singer is insane (12 foot stage dive off of a speaker). But I knew Gallows would be starting so I raced across the venue to the other stage and sprinted when I realized they were already playing.

Gallows gave the best performance of the tour hands down. Their lead singer Frank Carter has an intense, tough-guy stage presence that invokes a high-energy fervor in the crowd, especially among fans. He compliments his energy by coming down into the crowd and doing his vocals from the pit. He did this for most of the set and I personally gave him a shove and yelled into the mic, “Ventura is the reason!” a nice improv Frank added for their song “London Is the Reason” from their latest and greatest album Grey Britain (2009). Another highlight was when they had the crowd run around the sound booth (something they attempted at Warped ’06 but only a few ran including myself). This time the crowd was overwhelmingly excited and stampeded over people and trashcans, as the mosh pit whirled like a tornado. They played their last couple songs with all members except the drummer rocking out inside the mosh pit, I still wonder how those cords weren’t broken or unplugged.

As Gallows walked off the stage I ran towards the other main stage to catch the last half of The Ataris set. They sounded great live and their new material is much better than their last album, which was atrocious. They ended it with a revamped version of San Dimas that brought me back to my freshman year in highschool. I’ll be looking forward to listening to and reviewing their upcoming new album. Next I watched Scary Kids Scaring Kids who sound better live than on their albums, especially due to the raw talent of their lead vocalist Tyson Stevens (his screaming and singing was perfect). Finally, I checked out The Devil Wears Prada, a band that I don’t think gets enough credit, especially from the metal community. For some reason most metal fans shunned them and so they are tackling the hardcore scene, which I believe makes more sense for their style. They got a decent response from the fans in Ventura, although people were tired due to it being the end of the day. I think they won over some fans and they sounded excellent. Notably the crowd was digging the pounding breakdowns and the bands synced head banging was a good sight for the younger punks to be exposed to.

Anti-Flag and Bad Religion sounded good as usual and if you enjoy punk music and haven’t heard these classic bands, please check them out. The band that surprised me the most was A Day to Remember, whose interesting mix of pop-punk and mosh-core has garnered them widespread attention. They actually sound really good live and their breakdowns are worthy of a sizable mosh pit. They seemed to have a very devout fanbase for such a new band and everyone knew their lyrics. The other newcomer that I think deserve some attention is I Set My Friends On Fire who blend electronic beats with post-hardcore and pop-punk. These guys are still teenagers but put themselves on the map with their cover of Soulja Boy’s Crank Dat (its amazing!). I can see them going places and they definitely rocked the crowd at Warped.

Nasty Awards:

Best Performance: Gallows
Best Vocalist: Tyson Stevens from Scary Kids Scaring Kids
Best Drummer: Alex Rodriguez from Saosin
Best Screamer: Mike Hranica from The Devil Wears Prada
Best Old Band: NOFX
Best New Band: I Set My Friend On Fire
Biggest Surprise: A Day to Remember
Heaviest Band: Underoath
Funniest Band: NOFX
Ugliest Band: Aiden

Was it worth paying $35 to see 14 of my favorite bands in 1 afternoon?
Hell yes.

The Warped Tour

Warped Tour 2009!

I went to the Warped Tour yesterday in Ventura, CA and it turned out to be an epic show with some amazing performances. I must preface this post by explaining that I am 22 years old and so I was in the minority of over 20 year olds at the festival. Even though most of the bands had members that were older than me, the overwhelming majority of the fans were teenagers, in particular 12-16 year old kids. Most of them were followers of the punk rock, hardcore or emo scenes and so they dressed like it was Halloween and had terrible haircuts. These odd sights did not faze me though because I was there for the music; some of the bands I had been listening to for over a decade.

One of the best things about Warped Tour is the fact that you can check out dozens of bands in one day from many different genres and styles of music. However, one of the worst things about the festival is the fact that sometimes you’re favorite bands will be playing at the same time. This made my experience at this year’s Warped Tour pretty frantic and chaotic, although certainly not boring. What sucks about Warped is that the more diverse your music tastes are, the harder it is to see all the bands you wish to see. In previous years the festival has done a better job at spacing out the bands, but as my music tastes have broadened, I have found it increasingly difficult to manage my time at the show.

Even after that rant I must say that I was able to see Thrice, I Set My Friends On Fire, Anti-Flag, A Day To Remember, Underoath, Saosin, NOFX, Senses Fail, Bad Religion, Aiden, Gallows, The Ataris, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, and The Devil Wars Prada (14 Bands). Unfortunately I missed Less Than Jake, Escape the Fate, Streetlight Manifesto, Bayside, Therefore I Am and Alexisonfire and this was because I was watching other bands or they played too early (another criticism). They should consider adding a few more bands, making the set times longer and stretching the festival out to two days to solve these problems. Well, seeing 14 of the 20 bands that I wanted to see is not bad at all.

So I had the difficult task of trying to watch a few songs of one band and then had to race to another stage to catch half the set of different band. This was only a serious problem during the afternoon because Saosin began playing at 3:45 but NOFX started at 3:55 and Senses Fail at 4:15. I watched the first 4 songs from Saosin and then ran over to catch the end of “Linoleum” by NOFX and stayed for the rest of their set. By the time I had fought through the crowd to get to Senses Fail, they were thanking the crowd and played their last song (which sounded great). Saosin seemed to be having problems with their sound equipment (I’m not sure whose fault this was) but their vocals sounded pretty bad despite the fact that Cove Reber is an incredible vocalist. Their drummer lives up to his reputation: absolutely legendary chops, he has excellent fills and drops beats better than Neil Peart. NOFX also lived up to their reputation and were the best seasoned punk band of the tour. Despite Fat Mike’s desire to talk more than rock, they sounded perfect when they were playing and had a pretty interesting set list. My advice to them is to save the jokes and chatter for their headlining tours and just play their music during short sets on festivals.

Check Out Part 2 Next!