Lawrence Arms/Chinkees- Present Day Memories

Asian Man Records

This split record has the four best songs that The Lawrence Arms ever wrote. All of their songs are top notch on this release but “100 Resolutions” is the true standout. Both vocalists are essential, one raspy voiced and the other somewhat nasally, leaving you in the wake of an unbelievably full vocal attack. The Chinkees part of the album is my least favorite of the two, but still a pretty decent listen. Vocalist Mike Parks voice is appealing in a Screeching Weasel pop punk sort of way, and the music is pretty spastic and with the organ reminds me of the Blue Meanies without a horn section. Not too shabby if you’re a semi-ska fan.         CS

Cave In- Jupiter

Hydra Head Records (Circa 2000)

Ambient, edgy, and way off the beaten path, are only a few of the ways to describe Jupiter. Since there metamorphosis from strictly hardcore agendas, Cave In have never failed to impress this listener. Digital rock  n' roll calculation with infectiously spacey guitar work separate these boys from other imposters failing behind sound boards. Having heard their next two album after this I can testify that Cave In has and will continue to steer away from the trindy-indie and avoiding the over-usage of digital toys. This band has definitely filled a void the music had before they met.     PM

Alkaline Trio- Goddamnit

Asian Man Records (Circa 1998)

I can’t listen to this album without being taken back to those times inebriated times when I drank massive amounts of alcohol to not only cut loose, but to numb the heartache as well. Alkaline Trio had a penchant for writing tunes about lost love with a twist- tales of heartbreak, revenge and drowning yourself in the drink. Matt Skiba’s cathartic lyrics rang true over the galloping drums and bass that held up the essence of the band. I instantly latched on to songs like ‘Nose Over Tail’ and ‘My Little Needle’, songs that depicted my inner most thoughts. Trio hasn’t made an album this brilliant since; they came close with “Maybe I’ll Catch Fire” and their self titled collection of rarities… but lightning, apparently, only strikes only once. This is classic Trio when they concocted dreary melodic punk masterpieces, using their catalogue of loneliness, depression and intoxication to spin their yarns instead of ridiculous ‘goth’ imagery.           CS

Strung Out- Twisted By Design

Fat Wreck Chords (Circa: 1998)

Strung Out exploded on the scene like car-bomb in Northern Ireland when Twisted By Design reached the masses. Songs like "Mind of My Own" and "To Close to See" spoke to so many kids that appreciated heartfelt music with fast guitars and in-your-face lyrics. Twisted By Design is to punk music what The Rocky Horror Picture Show is to cinema. A cult classic. Having just gotten my first drum set around that time I was blown out of the park by Jordan Burn’s crack-fed percussion style. Not as quintessential as previous album Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues, but none the less what put them on the punk rock map for all time.     PM

Strung Out- Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues

Fat Wreck Chords (Circa 1996)

When someone mentions the term ‘skate punk’, the first thing that comes to my mind is Strung Out’s “Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues”. The band perfected the art of melodic punk played at breakneck speeds. Playing at the speed of light and adding intricate guitar lines and Jordan Burn’s superior drumming, Strung Out were also one of the first bands in the genre to eschew the typical punk rock stereotypes and wear their hesher metal hearts on their sleeve with their heavy theatrics and Iron Maiden like riffage on songs like ‘Bring Out Your Dead’. From the anti-war strains of ‘Firecracker’, and other songs pointing out the downfalls of society to the albums closing track ‘Wrong Side Of The Tracks’, a song about acknowledging faults within yourself…this is a well rounded and amazing album. So, get it if you don’t have it and if you don’t have it, well, you’re a tool.          CS  

Saves The Day- Can't Slow Down

Equal Vision Records (Circa 1998)

This is the most advanced punk rock album 16 and 17 year old kids have ever put out. I had  hard time believing they were unpopular in high school like they sang about. A true achievement for such a young bunch. The song "Three Miles Down"  is a true testament to the hardships and awkwardness that high school present to most of us. Chris Conley pulls off the nasally vocals like no band could thereafter. Nothing more than solid fast pop-punk. The original emo kids if you will. And I will. Although I've become less interested as they put new albums out, I can still respect the fact that these young-guns have been at it for almost a decade. Hopefully their acne has cleared up by this time. That can really fuck a prom-night up.      PM

Queens Of The Stone Age-  Lullabies To Paralyze

Interscope Records  (Circa: 2005)

You may remember hearing a tune on MTV or a popular radio station a few years back, a popy

yet dirty sounding song that you probably liked.  'No One Knows’ from the album ' Songs for the Deaf' was one of three songs the Queens ever had played on the radio (probably largely attributed to the fact that legendary Nirvana drummer Dave Ghrol was on board). The latest single to draw some attention was off of 'Lullabies to Paralyze' called 'Little Sister ' and while in itself a great song, never reached the popularity that 'No One Knows' peaked at. Alas, these are the dregs of our superficial music industry for The Queens are certainly one of the hardest working, musically spot on collaboration of artists we lovers of rock are blessed to have. With an ever changing array of musicians from acts like Soundgarden, Peal Jam, Dinosaur Jr., Dwarves, Danzig, Screaming Trees, A Perfect Circle, the Smashing Pumpkins and ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, front man Joshua Homme creates some of the most erie, ball busting rock grooves around. Lullabies To Paralyze was the bands most successful album to date, scoring a number five slot on the billboard charts. A snot nosed powerhouse of catchy riffs and smooth melodies have made this record a must have.

Rehasher- Off Key Melodies

No Idea Records (Circa: 2004)

If this album is not in your collection then you’re just missing out on the fun. This record starts off strong with light speed music and Roger’s slightly scratchy voice leading the battle cry towards pop punk superiority. You might recognize Roger’s voice from his other band, Less Than Jake, but fear not ska haters…Rehasher may carry on in the same hook laden ways of LTJ, but these boys are on a different musical plain of existence. “Off Key Melodies” is ten tracks of absolutely amazing and enjoyable fast paced pop punk, the kind that you probably haven’t heard since the early to mid nineties. I love this disc.          CS

Hot Water Music- The New What Next

Epitaph Records (Circa: 2004)

When this album first can out I’m not afraid to say I hated it. I listened to it once and disgustedly placed it next to the other HWM releases in my collection. Initially, the only thing that saved “The New What Next” from used record store hell was that I owned all of their previous releases and wanted to keep the collection together. Six months went by and one day I had a wild hair up my ass to listen to it. I popped it in, and magically the record came alive for me, suddenly I got it. Was I disappointed in the album itself before or just disappointed in the fact that it doesn’t sound like “Fuel for the Hate Game”? Hot Water Music over the succession of several albums had liquidated most of the ‘dueling vocals’ and just that raw power they once had; placing an emphasis on more thoughtful melody. It rubbed me the wrong way at first, but now I relish in the swirling sounds they create on songs like ‘All Heads Down’ and ‘Ink and Lead’. Softer chords, slightly softer gruff vocals but still a lot of power packed into them. “The New What Next” is still my least favorite HWM album, but I have a new appreciation for it. And let’s face it, these guys could record an album solely of them farting into microphones and it would still be better than 95% of the albums out there now.          CS

Skeleton Key- Fantastic Spikes through Balloon

Capital Records (Circa:1997)

 I was Introduced to this group by one Nathan Alman and have taken pleasure in showing it to others ever since. Featuring a drum kit put together with tin cans and propane tanks, fondly referred to as a 'Trash Kit'. This album, like the rest of the bands work contains some of the most original material I've been exposed to. They're a little bit thrash and they're a little bit swing. I think to myself what’s better than the blues on buzz saw guitars and the answer Is Skeleton Key. If I told this particular record won a Grammy, you might be interested, or you might say Grammy’s are for stupid babies. I would agree with you, but the Grammy was for the album art anyways, so we were both right. I on the other hand, think that the musical content of 'Fantastic Spikes through Balloon' Is what deserves awarding. These are talented musicians who know what they're doing and for those of you who appreciate sweet sounding catchy carnage, this record delivers.    JD

Against Me!- Reinventing Axl Rose

No Idea Records (Circa: 2002)

Come sit around the campfire kids and hear the legendary stories of how the finally put Axl Rose back together again. This album is just that. A collection of dirty punk songs about drinking, heartache, and not giving a fuck. Witty lyrics sung through a whiskey- torn throat makes for a pleasant evening around the stereo with drunken bastards you call your friends. And of course the ever popular "Pints of Guinness Make You Strong" is for certain an Irish proverb as well as a sad folklore. Against Me! have since then put several other great masterpieces worthy of your hard earned dollar. This is what cowboys would listen to if they grew up in Florida.     PM