Darkbuster - 22 Songs That You'll Never Want To Hear Again (For fans of Dropkick Murphys, Sham 69, The Business)

I've been a fan of Darkbuster's "A Weakness for Spirits" for a while now, but for some reason, I never really got around to checking out their debut release "22 Songs That You'll Never Want To Hear Again".

For those unfamiliar with Boston's Darkbuster, they play punk rock / oi with the occasional ska song, sort of like if early Dropkick Murphy's decided that they wanted a horn in 3 of their songs. As you can tell from the title, "22 Songs That You'll Never Want To Hear Again" contains 22 songs (although that's sort of a stretch, since a few are just 5 second clips of the band calling you a jerk).

While I personally like their sophmore release "A Weakness For Spirits" better, there are definitely some standout songs on "22 Songs" including That's Correct, Nothing At All, and Lilith Fair. If you're into oi or just some straight up punk rock, check it out. You'll be singing along to "I Hate The Unseen" regardless of how much you may dig The Unseen.

MP3:
Darkbuster - Lilith Fair

More:
Dropkick Murphys - Do Or Die
Sham 69
Anti-Pasti

Buy:
Darkbuster

Kid Dynamite - Shorter Faster Louder (For fans of Paint it Black, Lifetime, The Steal)

Seriously, Kid Dynamite can get me stoked no matter where I am. Shit, I'm ready to stage dive off my desk and get my ass fired.

The second and final release from arguably the most influential Philadelphia hardcore band, "Shorter, Faster, Louder" has 18 songs that clock in just under 25 minutes. It's hard to believe it's been 10 years since this album was released, and sometimes I feel that SFL got shafted when it came out, saying it didn't live up to the expectations that Kid Dynamite's Self Titled laid down. These people are smoking something funny.

Sure, I'm a die hard fan of the Self Titled, (it's in my favorite top 10 albums ever released), but Shorter, Faster Louder is just as hard hitting as the first. I don't really know what else to say about it besides pure melodic hardcore bliss. Listen to it motherfuckers.

MP3:
Kid Dynamite – Cheap Shot, Youth Anthem

More Kid Dynamite:
Full Kid Dynamite Set (2010)
This Is Hardcore 2010
Kid Dynamite, And The Art Of Moshing Everywhere

Buy:
Jade Tree

Swingin Utters, The Copyrights, Have Nots (Live In Philly 9/23/10)

Last night, I rushed out to the North Star Bar to catch a rather impressive lineup: Have Nots, The Copyrights, and then headlined by veterans The Swingin Utters. Fuck yeah.

Have Nots:

When the Have Nots took the stage, the room was feeling pretty empty, and there were originally only 4 or 5 people up front interested (myself included). That didn't really effect the Boston band's energy though, as they played their hearts out for us few, and eventually more people filled the room a few songs in... and no wonder, these guys are fucking tight.

Playing a decent chunk of newer songs that they just finished recording before the tour (stoked about the release, probably sometime in winter) mixed with some solid songs from their last year release. Their Operation Ivy-esque punk ska translates very well in a live setting, and I look forward to seeing them again. Chill dudes as well.

The Copyrights:

Seriously, how can anyone hate on The Copyrights? Playing pop-punk the way it was meant to play, these guys always put on a solid set. They kept the stage banter to a minimum, and just powerhoused through the majority of their songs. At one point, some dude who looked like Zach Galifianakis tried to start up a pit, mostly in vein... but you'll have your moment later Zach.

Energetic punk rock that had a few in the crowd singing along, but it seemed like the majority had no idea who they were.

Swingin Utters:

As soon as the band took the stage, two things became very apparent. Firstly, Swingin Utters were the reason the majority of the people were there, and secondly, these guys were fucking veterans. The band took the stage with a commanding stage presence, and lead vocalist Johnny Peebucks antics alone showed were enough to entertain the crowd.

That whole lame no mosh rule the North Star Bar has? Fuck that. With a decent sized pit breaking out for the majority of the set (both to mine and Zach Galifianakis' delight), the crowd remained frenzied, feeding off Peebucks energy. The man repeatedly punches himself, does robot walks, and other bizarre things that may almost rival Ross from Ceremony (almost).

Sound wise, the band was tight, and I was incredibly impressed how much they seemed to love to be on stage playing. Dudes seemed super nice without any rockstar attitudes either. At the end of the show, they took the opportunity to thank both Have Nots and Copyrights for letting them tour together.

Setlist:
Pills
Brand New Lungs
Untitled 21
Tell Me Lies
Nowhere Fast
Don't Ask
Bent Collector
Petty Wage
Long Way
5 Lessons
Jackie Jab
Windspitting Punk
Time On My Own
15th and T
Lepers
Sign It Away
Back To You
Angels
Kick It Over
Teen Gen
Forward To Fun
Next In Line

Encore:
Fruitless
Dirty Sea
Catastrophe
MP3:
Swingin' Utters - Sign it Away
The Copyrights - Over It
Have Nots - One In Four

More:
Swingin' Utters - A Juvenile Product of The Working Class
Have Nots - Serf City USA

Buy:
Interpunk

Youth Brigade - Sink With Kalifornija (For fans of NOFX, Bad Religion, 7 Seconds)

I've heard Youth Brigade declared as the most important punk band from Southern California that you've never heard of, and that is certainly the truth. Youth Brigade was founded by three brothers and became one of the most influential punk bands of the 1980s with their blend of hardcore and melody.

While they focused more on the melody aspect in later releases such as "To Sell The Truth", their compilation Sink With Kalifornija shows their earlier, faster songs. Consisting of their first release Sound and Fury, What Price Is Happiness 7-inch, and a few live tracks, it took a while for the album to grow on me, but once it did, I couldn't stop listening.

Some of the songs have a more hardcore, youth crew type bite to it such as Fight To Unite while others are more standard punk anthems (such as Men in Blue... well minus the joke rap at the end).

If you like any punk rock band formed after 1990, they probably were influenced in one way or another by Youth Brigade, so you might as well check out some punk rock roots.

MP3:
Youth Brigade - Sink With California

More:
Youth Brigade - To Sell The Truth
Nofx - Coaster
NOFX - So Long And Thanks For All The Shoes

Buy:
BYO

Banner Pilot - Resignation Day Reissue (For fans of Dillinger Four, Lawrence Arms, Hot Water Music)

The title of Banner Pilot's latest Fat Wreck re-issue "Resignation Day" is something I wish I can declare. But alas, while I can't afford to quit my job, at least I'll have something sweet to jam out to while I work.

First off, I usually feel pretty negatively towards remastered/re-issues. Sure, let me spend my hard earned money on songs that I already own. However, for Banner Pilot's "Resignation Day", I actually never listened to the original, and everything I've read from fans state that there is a HUGE, HUGE difference between the two versions. The guitars are full, the vocals better mixed, and the songs actually have a presence as opposed to feeling flat and recorded out of someone's butt hole.

So for old fans, you could probably skip down to the track and see the difference for yourself and just know that the reissue includes two bonus tracks.

For people unfamiliar with Banner Pilot, "Resignation Day" is pretty much Midwestern punk rock with a bit more melodies added in. Think Dillinger Four meets Hotwater Music and Lawrence Arms. The songs have enough punk rock grit and catchy harmonies to keep me coming back, and if it wasn't for the fact that the original was released in 2008, this would definitely be on my top 10 albums of the year.

MP3:
Banner Pilot - Overwinter

Housewives Day:
The Holy Mess - Benefits Sesh
Dillinger Four - Situationist Comedy
Off With Their Heads - In Desolation

Buy:
Fat Wreck

Face First - Overexposed (For fans of Catch 22, Houston Calls, High School Football Heroes)

When you think of New Jersey ska, bands such as Catch 22 or Streetlight Manifesto come to mind (maybe if you're a long time reader here, you'll think of Hub City Stompers or Folly). Face First however was one of the most underrated NJ ska bands out there. I popped in their "Overexposed" album for nostalgic sake the other day, and I forgot how much I used to dig these guys.

While Face First disbanded back in 2002 to form the much more emo-y and trendy Houston Calls, they put out some really solid ska back in the day. The ska itself is a little more poppy than I usually like (such as High School Football Heroes), but the music itself is catchy. Some of my favorite Face First songs come from 2001's Overexposed, including Fourth Floor and One For The Road.

If you're like 95% of people out there who despise ska, then you could skip this one, but if you've been craving some ska you've maybe never heard of, then definitely check out Face First's Overexposed.

MP3:
Face First - Fourth Floor

More NJ Ska:
Hub City Stompers - Ska Ska Black Sheep
Rare Catch 22 Tracks
Before there Was Catch 22, There Was Gimp

Buy:
Way Out Of Print...

Kill Your Idols - This Is Just The Beginning (For fans of Negative Approach, Ignite, Casualties)

Holy fucking shit. How can something be right under your nose and rock so hard and you don't even realize it? Case in point: for years I owned Kill Your Idols "This Is Just The Beginning", but never really gave it a spin until recently. Completely. Blown. Away.

Giving a new meaning to Long Island hardcore, Kill Your Idols blend blistering fast thrashy hardcore with melodic street punk. Often compared to Negative Approach (so much so, that the the band actually wrote a song on a different album called "Stop Comparing Us To Negative Approach"), these guys hung up the hat back in 2007 after being a band for nearly 12 years.

"This Is Just The Beginning" is actually a compilation of two of their earliest EPs. Songs like "Falling" show how melodic Kill Your Idols could be while title track "Just The Beginning" is simply best described as ripping your limbs off and then using them to beat you.

I'm disappointed that I got into them so late, as I'd imagine their shows were completely insane.

MP3:
Kill Your Idols - Enjoy The Show

More Hardcore:
Lighten Up - Absolutely Not
Gorilla Biscuits
Ten Yard Fight

Buy:
Interpunk

The Holy Mess - Benefit Sesh (For Fans of Dillinger Four, Smoke or Fire, Off With Their Heads)

I've seen Philly's The Holy Mess's name thrown around quite a bit these days and even have seen them open a few shows I've gone to (to which I've described their set as: "tight, but jesus christ they like to hear themselves talk). For some reason though, I never really got to sit down and check out any of their recorded work. I finally got to listen to their latest "Benefits Sesh" 7-inch, and it's really fucking tight.

First off, while "Benefits Sesh" only has 2 songs (and one bonus through digital), they are really damn good, and has sold me on The Holy Mess. Playing catchy, gritty punk rock, The Holy Mess mixes their east coast sound with that of the Midwest such as Dillinger Four.

Seriously, just check it out already.

MP3:
The Holy Mess - A Soulful Punk Tune About A Working Class Dreamer

More Readings At The Holy Housewives:
Dillinger Four - Situationist Comedy
Dillinger Four - Civil War
Off With Their Heads - In Desolation

Buy:
Evil Weevil Records

The Great Explainer - The Way Things Swell (For fans of Hot Water Music, Smoke Or Fire, Static Radio NJ)

Man, why couldn't Trenton, NJ's The Great Explainer be in existence when I lived 15 minutes away from there growing up? With their debut EP "The Way Things Swell" released a few months ago on Chunksaah, these guys got the gruff melodic punk rock down to a science.

While The Way Things Swell is only 4 songs long, those songs sure are promising. Taking cues from bands such as Static Radio NJ and Smoke or Fire, The Great Explainer packs catchy, energetic hooks with pounding rhythms. Mixed vocal duties also make the sound more versatile, with Bystrzycki’s strained (in a good way) yells countered with Vaneekhoven’s slightly more wimpy poppy backing vocals.

I'll be keeping my eye out for a full length from these guys. Definitely check out if you dig Hot Water Music, Smoke or Fire, or dig any of those orgcore bands on punknews.org.
MP3:
The Great Explainer - I Finally Found My Dreamboat

More:
Smoke or Fire - Above The City
Smoke or Fire - This Sinking Ship
Static Radio NJ - An Evening of Bad Decisions

Buy:
Chunksaah

If You Took Off Labor Day, You're A Socialist (Mix)

Well I'm back and I hope you all had an awesome socialist day yesterday (and for those who are forced to work, I'm sorry... time to quit.) We'll be having some cool reviews up soon, some new shit, some old... but in the meantime, here's some Labor Day jams for you all.

MP3:
The Slackers - Work Song
The Virus - Working For The Company
Paint It Black - Labor Day
Hudson Falcons - Working Class War
Ignite – Know Your History

More Mixes:
Songs to Piss Off The Personal Fitness Trainer Below Me Mix
Drunken Yuppies Breaking Into My House Mix
Your Job Sucks Mix
Every time it Rains, The Bus Is Late Just To Spite Me

Buy:
Interpunk