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BHP Best Of 2018

21 December, 2018 Brian Mc Leave a comment

It’s that time of the year again folks where I share with you the bands and albums that caught my attention throughout the year.

Sure, my reviewing is infrequent these days, may not make total sense or even be read by many for that matter, but I can tell you that I am listening to as much music as possible daily.

If my memory serves me correct, this will be my 10th Best Of post. Sitting back and just thinking that this blog has been around for 10 years now completely floors me. Thanks to anyone who’s ever stopped by to see what’s good. Here’s to however many more years I decide to keep this going.

With that said, happy holidays and here is my list in no particular order:

Timeshares – Out There EP
-Easily one of my most played EPs of the year. I was obsessed with it for weeks and was caught off guard in a good way by it. I can not wait for their next full-length now. Loving their rejuvenated sound.

Strung Out – Blackout the Sky EP
-Not going to lie. I was not stoked at all to hear Strung Out was going to do an acoustic album. I do not know why I even doubted that they would not have done something amazing. This EP was amazing and showed a completely different side to one of the best bands out there.

Spells – Loose Change Vol. 1
-Ok so this is a collection of early out of print tunes by the Colorado punk party rockers, but this was my first taste of the band after somehow missing out of them for all these years. I caught them touring with Off With Their Heads earlier this year and turned into an instant fan.

Curtail – All Your Luck
-This is probably one of the best releases that came out this year that you may have not heard about. I could sit here and talk about it for hours, but I will leave it to you and check it out. Just think 90s alt rock mixed with 00s emo/post-hardcore goodness.

Laura Jane Grace & the Devouring Mothers – Brought to Rot
-This was the most punk rock album to come out all year. Laura Jane Grace is sincere as she talks about her current dwelling and overall situation without holding back. I was overly impressed with this one.

Turnstile – Time & Space
-An amazing hardcore release that really is so much more once you get sucked into it. It really is a genius album to listen to especially with some 80s punk and R&B moments tossed in for the hell of it (just listen to “I Don’t Wanna Be Blind”). Certainly happy I stumbled on these guys.

Light Years – Afterlife
-Hands down, this is one of the best pop punk albums to come out this year. I knew it was going to be good, but I did not realize it was going to be that good.

Face To Face – Hold Fast (Acoustic Sessions)
-This album has turned me into an even bigger Face To Face fan. I feared hearing it because I really did not want to hear a punk band play acoustic renditions of their songs, but man, I was so wrong to doubt them. They reinvented their songs in the best way possible.

The Interrupters – Fight The Good Fight
-Two-toned, punk fueled, and amazing throughout. There’s a reason why Tim Armstrong produced this album.

The Ruen Brothers – All My Shades of Blue
-This album was like listening to The Gaslight Anthem team up with Roy Orbison to score a Wes Anderson flick. I adore these guys and hope to hell I can see them live one day. This was the album that complete caught me by surprise this year and fell in love with.

Spanish Love Songs – Schmaltz
-This album is like the energy of The Menzingers + the emotion of MakeWar. The band clearly has matured into something incredible and this release proves it. Do not sit on this one.

Red City Radio – SkyTigers EP
-This is the best thing this band has ever done. There was just this certain amount of gallant confidence throughout. The song “SkyTigers” proved that to me over and over.

Johnny La Rock – Gold Codes
-I was drunk in Vegas earlier this year and admitted Gold Codes was an album of the year for me. La Rock is a hidden gem in Cleveland that the world really should get to know some.

Bar Stool Preachers – Grazie Governo
-Working class and bad ass all in one album. These guys rule. It’s like Dropkick Murphys if they were a ska band.

Mad Caddies – Punk Rocksteady
-Taking punk rock songs and putting their own reggae style to it was just a brilliant idea. This covers album was done right and received well by this listener.

Restorations – LP5000
-Yeah, this was one of my favorite releases this year. This band can do no wrong and I appreciated their maturing lyrics more than ever. Seeming them live finally this year was also an added bonus.

Four Fists – 6666
-This collaboration between P.O.S. and Astronautics completely slays. This rap duo really dropped an impressive album complete with plenty of punk references and beats guaranteed to get stuck in your head for days.

Vessel of Light – Woodshed
-This album takes everything great about Danzig, White Zombie, and even old Alice in Chains and puts them all together for a solid listen. Super impressed with this one.

Frank Turner – Be More Kind
-Everyone needs to listen to this album, especially “Be More Kind”. I am fairly sure it will make your day if not a better person. Frank Turner is one talented mo-fo.

Lucero – Among The Ghosts
-I love this album mostly for the band embracing where life has taken them over the years. They have not lost their style one bit and for that I thank them. This has turned into one of my favorite Lucero releases.

Thanks for reading and happy holidays!

Cleveland, Hardcore, Music, New Release, Punk, Review, Rock

EP Review: The Stable – Difficult People

2 July, 2018 Brian Mc Leave a comment

Hey Cleveland, how ya doing?

Lebron (more like L.A. Bron) is gone, but who cares?

Well if you do care, just know local punkers The Stable recently dropped an energetic, gritty album on BandCamp that’ll help you forget all about that sports nonsense in mere minutes.

Featuring members of Seafair (R. Kelly), RAM ONES ( J. Voland), Above This Fire (C. Wright), and Varsity Pinball (I. Bowers), it’s no surprise at all how impressive The Stable’s debut EP is.

4 songs, all quality, are contained in Difficult People. These may be quick bangers, but they certainly are impacting and leave a mark.

“Clothesline From Hell” is proof of my previous statement. Full-force, no corners cut track full of insane drumming, vocal chord destroying singing, and of course some good ol’ group vocals.

“We Belong In Hell” might just be my favorite cut off the EP given how catchy it is. There’s something to be said about a song that embeds in your mind as a track you won’t soon forget, this is one of them.

“Shyamalan Twist” seemed to carry this 90s punk/hardcore ethos in the background that I totally adored. I loved the breakdown towards the end as it just made it that more enjoyable.

I warn you, this EP is quick, but if you are like me, you’ll jump back to the beginning for another round.

The Stable remind me of The Shaking Hands and The Holy Mess a ton in a good, good way. Given the gents who are in this band, I expect big things to come in the near future. I can not wait to check them out live soon.

Check them out:

Hardcore, Music, Music News, New Release, Punk, Review

Album Review: Western Addiction – Tremulous

1 March, 2017 Brian Mc Leave a comment

After 12 years since their debut dropped, I have to admit I was shocked and overly stoked when Western Addiction announced that they were dropping a sophomore album on Fat Wreck Chords.

What got me even more stoked was to hear that Joey Cape was producing it and Dead To Me’s Chicken was back offering bass duties.

Once I heard all of this news, I was like a giddy little kid impatiently waiting to hear it. I loved Western Addiction’s debut album, it ruled on so many levels. Finally today, I was able to check out Tremulous and it does not disappoint at all.

“Clatter and Hiss” started things off well. The energetic track really proved to me that this album was going to be sick. “Masscult, Vulgarians and Entitlement” was just a rager of a song to listen to. I dug the vocal ranges throughout as it just added an enjoyable edge to it.

The tough “Taedium” was just perfect to listen to tonight after having a stagnate day at the paying gig. I could not help but to think about Mötorhead on this track, and that is not a bad thing at all. Add the fact that Propagandhi’s Todd Kowalski dropped some vocals in it make it even that much better for me. This was a hell of a track.

“Red Emeralds” was a short track, but one that left a mark. This hardcore track was full-forced from start to end.

The guitar playing on “Humming Bars of White Light” reminded me one again of Mötorhead, again, not a bad thing at all. This track ruled.

Then there was “The Rockery”. This track was all over the place with a hardcore feel that morphed into a punk rock jam that eventually all ended by a guitar solo like no other.

Album ender “Your Life Is Precious” was written in tribute to the band’s friend, and Enemy You frontman, David Jones. This track was not like the others and easily was my favorite cut off the album. I loved the different approach taken and really was reminded of something Danzig might have done in this prime. Not saying there are “woahs’ and “yeahs” being screamed, but I am saying a damn fine song took you on a ride.

Western Addiction really have dropped a killer release. This punk/hardcore act has delivered after a 12 year wait and did not cut any corners in doing so. If you are looking for something to listen to without smooth edges and loud, check out Tremulous.

<a href="http://westernaddiction.bandcamp.com/album/tremulous-2">Tremulous by Western Addiction</a>

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BHP Best of 2016

5 December, 2016 Brian Mc Leave a comment

It’s that time of the year again folks. Time to sit here and type out a list of bands that have impressed me one way or another. I am not keeping to a set number as it would take me forever to narrow it down.

A sincere thanks to everyone who’s ever visited this site – seriously. I know I tend to say that around the time I do my best of lists, but I really mean it. I almost called it quits earlier this year and reconsidered at the last minute.

This blog is very personal to me and even if more people find it while Googling how to fix their headphones, it is still fun to do. If I can turn someone on to a new band just by one post, then my job is done.

With that said, I plan on sticking around for a while.

I am sure I will add a few more as they come to me in the next couple of weeks (as I always do [up to 3 edits now]), but for now, here’s the list of the albums that really caught my attention in 2016:

[EDIT: The year is not over yet and I needed to throw in just a couple more…]

Chandeli’ers – Breaker
-This was the album that hit me in the right way. It was fun across the board and sounded like the Clash meets Elvis Costello. What more could you ask for?

Run The Jewels – RTJ3
-This album was not supposed to drop until 3 weeks into the new year, but El-P and Killer Mike decided to drop it on Christmas day for all to enjoy. I can not stop listening to it. I know I am not the only one either.

MakeWar – Developing a Theory of Integrity
-Hands down one of my favorite surprise releases of the year. This punk rock band has thrown together an album I will be listening to over and over for years to come.

Joe McMahon – Another Life
-This is another one of my favorite albums this year. McMahon shared with the world an outstanding collection of tunes that everyone needs to check out. His solo material is a lot different from his Smoke or Fire days and that is not a bad thing at all.

Bob Mould – Patch the Sky
-Mould recorded a masterpiece with Patch the Sky. If you have not had the chance to listen to this album, you are missing out. This album is perfect to listen to any day.

Jonathan Richman – Ishkode! Ishkode!
-I am kicking myself for not putting this on my list initially. Richman is one of the most prolific songwriters out there and put out quite the release. I loved how song his songs were fun at times while others were just complex and reached across borders. He really showcased his musical abilities on this release. This guy has been writing music for longer than I have been alive and still is able to put out quality albums.

Dinosaur Jr. – Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not
-I have been a fan of this band for over 25 years now, so it only makes sense that this release made my list. Oh, it also kicks so much ass. Lou Barlow singing on it made it that much better.

All Dinosaurs – Total Dissatisfaction
-Where do I even start with this one? It’s like listening to the Bronx, but better, and from Cleveland. I love this album so much that I literally just bought the LP from their bandcamp page. No lie.

Useless ID – State is Burning
-This band will always be one of my favorites and this release continued to keep me a fan. With a much more harder approach, they really killed it on this one. I also adored the nod to the late Brandon Carlisle of Teenage Bottlerocket.

Pulley – No Change in the Weather
This band was a huge favorite of mine in the late 90s and I thought they were done in the mid-2000s, but low and behold, they came back with an album that seemingly continued where they left off without missing a beat. “Sometimes” is such a great track.

Beach Slang – A Loud Bash of Teenage Feelings
-James Alex (and former crew) have created a timeless album for music fans of all ages. Catchy yet poignant, the album has been on a weekly rotation to my ears since the album dropped. It may clock in at around 30 minutes, but it is a hell of a ride from start to finish.

Worship This! – Mint
-So what if these guys are my pals, their sophomore release blew me away. I can not say enough good things about this album. It is poppy, punky, and addictive. More people need to check this album out as these Akron/Cleveland boys really know how to make sweet jams. They are the next big thing in my mind and I love them all dearly.

Descendents – Hypercaffium Spazzinate
-Having one of my all time favorite bands release something new in 2016 was pretty rad. Having one of my all time favorite bands stick to their sound from start to finish and have no indication of slowing down made it that much better.

Nothing – Tired of Tomorrow
-I never thought I would like shoegazing. To be honest, I really never knew what shoegaze was until I heard this album and I am still not quite sure. Indie rock and neo-psychadelica mixed with plenty of distortion and emotion made for an album that I could not get out of my head for weeks. That’s a good thing.

Mean Jeans – Tight New Dimension
-Mean Jeans are probably one of the most underrated bands out there right now. This album further proved that. A modern-day Ramones-like banger. I loved it.

Bouncing Souls – Simplicity
-The Souls are like a fine cheese or wine to me. With age, this band seems to just get better. Their latest release was just full of punk rock fun. When I started singing along to the first song during my first listen, I knew I was going to love this album and play it over and over.

Blink 182 – California
-I can’t help it, I got sucked in to the new Blink and I know why… Matt Skiba. He was the perfect addition to reinvent this band.

The Avalanches – Wildflower
-16 years after their debut, The Avalanches came back with an all new release that very well probably took all 16 years to create. I know some of my pals were not digging this release fully, but I adored it. It probably helps that the likes of Danny Brown and Biz Marke helped make this album what it is.

Arms Aloft – What a Time to be Barely Alive
–This is the one album I really need to do a proper review on, but I keep getting sidetracked. I listen to it all of the time and it is freaking amazing. Punk rock from the 80s perfectly blended with punk rock from the mid 2000s is one way I can describe these fellows. The music is infections, the lyrics are fun, and from what I hear the band is pretty cool too. This kind of sounds like a review, but it is not. This is just me telling y’all that this album was impressive.

Signals Midwest – At This Age
-This is their third release and probably their most tied together, mature material I have heard them create. They have pushed their limits from a one time local band and are more or less prepping themselves for what’s next to come. I am proud of these dudes.

Arliss Nancy – Greater Divides
-This band really should be at Lucero levels by now. They are exceptional at what they do and it can be heard throughout their latest release.

Har Mar Superstar – Best Summer Ever
-Har Mar continues to put out incredible material with each release. This man is so talented that he drops albums that cover various genres and avoids any and all gimmicky sounds.

NOFX – First Ditch Effort
-After all this band has been though, it only makes sense that they dropped a more personal album. It took me a couple of listens to truly appreciate. Don’t worry, it’s still crass at times as well as hilarious, but man, that Tony Sly tribute song will put tears in your eyes.

Harvey Pekar – The Astral We
-This Cleveland hardcore band is just that… This album was insane yet intelligent, and I loved every moment of it.

The Falcon – Gather Up the Chaps
-I love that Dave Hause was on this album. I love that he had to play ska riffs knowing how much he hates ska because Brendan Kelly decided it was a good idea. This album was far from serious and a good time all around.

NOTE: I promise you, Red Scare did not pay me for putting so many albums on this list. They just had a hell of a year with releases… Toby, I take plastic btw.

I wanted to throw a couple of EPs on here as well:

Jonathan Richman & Tommy Larkins – That’s All We Need at Our Party
–Blue Arrow Records and the creative vinyl masters Wax Merge teamed up to put out an insane variant of this 7″. I was lucky enough to score #100 out of 100. It’s a thing of beauty plus the tunes on it kick ass. I love me some Jonathan Richman. I am sure there are a few left, so snag one if you can.

Throw Shade – Self-Titled
-I have talented friends who make beautiful music. This EP is absolute proof.

Nine Inch Nails – Not the Actual Events
-I really did not know what to expect from Reznor and crew with this EP seeing how I just lost interest in their material for the last 10 years. Man, was I pleasantly surprised. This EP brought me back to 90s NIN and I can not wait for their full-length to drop in 2017.

Bracket – The Last Page
-At just over 70 minutes, this is one long-ass song and it’s amazing. The track keeps it together for the listener and takes them on a punk rock voyage. My first listed was distracted thanks to my paying gig, but my second listen with headphones on was incredible.

Finally, I know this is a best of list, but it would not be right if I did not make mention of this:

RIP Dag House…
It goes without saying, sometimes you find yourself in the right situations by chance. Thanks to an amazing batch of pals who kept Dag House going for years. Not everyone gets to experience basement shows, and some of that could be by choice, but goddamn, if you are a music fan, basement shows are the best shows. Dag House threw together a hell of a rager for their last show, and I was happy to be a part of it. Thanks for the memories Dag.

2016 was a crazy year. If you’ve made it this far in my post, thanks for sticking around and being so rad. It is people like you and the bands above that keep me doing what I do. Be well.

Cleveland, Hardcore, Music, New Release, Punk, Review

Album Review: Harvey Pekar – The Astral We

30 August, 2016 Brian Mc Leave a comment

Poetic. Poignant. Hard.

Those three words are what keep reoccurring in my mind as I listen to The Astral We by Cleveland’s Harvey Pekar.

The lyrical content in this album is beyond deep. It makes you think and react based on how you interpret it. There is no tongue in cheek rhyming, stolen ideals, or laziness in these songs.

With that said, it’s nice to hear Harvey Pekar once again. Spite a lineup change since the last album, OG members Elliot Frank (guitar), Nick Krastas (vocals), and Nick Schmitt (bass) joined forces with Nate Kelly (drums) and Tyler Sickels (guitar) to create a more solid band than ever. Without worrying about reinventing their sound, Harvey Pekar continued full force where they left off on their debut release back in 2013.

“Huff Joules” started off the album strong with the band as a whole not holding back at all. “The Heritable Self” was a true hardcore romper with plenty of group singalong opportunities as Krastas screamed his thoughts out. Loved this track.

“Ferrous Kin” was one of the songs where I just felt like Krastas was delivering a spoken-word of sorts backed by heavy riffs and fast-paced drumming. The lyrics, “frail is the life trivialized by that of artifacts” really stuck to me for some reason.

“Truisms of Infinite Regress” caught my attention in more ways than one. The track, which seeming talked about conformity and a sense of false logic, sped up midway making for quite a powerful statement and throw down. This track begged to be heard over and over by this listener.

I should also mention how much I found myself enjoying “Crystal Starlings”. The breakdown about half way though and change up kept the track interesting, the group vocals towards the end make the song enjoyable.

Everyone has their own definition of hardcore music. Harvey Pekar’s is more aligned with the genre I recall from the 90s and early 2000s, at least the hardcore I enjoyed the most mixed with a punk feel and beyond intelligent lyrics. Perhaps a little more melodic than some might like, The Astral We impressed the hell out of me and has been fueling my ears daily since it’s release a few weeks back.

Looking past the band’s sound, Harvey Pekar consists of some of the most down-to-earth guys I have had the pleasure of knowing over the years. I’ve seen them play in bars, inside a warehouse, and even on a church stage on a Sunday morning over the years and they always put on the best show and always are down for a hang afterwards.

Here I am sounding biased now. I am just calling it as I hear it. Listen for yourself and make your own determination.

<a href="http://harveypekar.bandcamp.com/album/the-astral-we">The Astral We by Harvey Pekar</a>Snag a copy of The Astral We over at Little Heart Records.