Bronx Obsession fed

The Bronx have a 30 minute documentary and live footage from london done Mariachi El Bronx II is being written. sated.

2010 - Best Re-Issues

ReIssues:

Cock Sparrer. Entire Catalog!!! - while the Pirates Press entire box set is hard to swallow - spending $350 at once on music you have already; they give these legends the royal treatment. and when 180 gram vinyl is pressed in ltd edition (400 copies for most) and it sells for $10 for full lp's,...well, that is undeniably wonderful. if you can't get the all, pick and choose your favorites. just get what you can while you can!

Underdog "Matchless" Bridge 9 - Take the well-respected and beloved "Demos" and add to the studio full length, "The Vanishing Point" and you get an impressive collection. Peep the double lp - gatefold with digital download.

Anitdote - "Thou Shall Not Kill" Bridge 9 - with a cool note from Robb Nunzio. This short ditty gets the re-press treatment for those of us who were 5 when it came out...or who's parents still had not met and were 8 years from fornicating. Either way, this classic NYHC from 1982 gets the treatment. colored vinyl 7" with DD.

Negative Approach (s/t) 7" - T&G - everyone is pissed about the cover - but just listen to the wax, homey. One of the greatest collections of spite and angst gets a little 2010 bump. Sounds incredible. And this is remastered and put out by the original label 28 years later. Still sounds raw and chaotic and fucking angry. The high priced original may be out of reach, but now you can own this on vinyl for a reasonable price.

C.I.A. "God, Guts, and Guns" More Than A Witness - Originally a 7"; this has those 6 songs, adds a few more, demos and a live set from The Anthrax. This CT hc band ripped it up around the time of 76% Uncertain and Violent Children. "I Hate the Radio" is worth it alone!

Dag Nasty - "Dag With Shawn" - Dischord - I wouldn't say the regular verses sound all that different - but the emphatic yells are more intense and raw. The music is bouncy, but darker in this demo form. I like it a lot.

Earth re-issue ("A Bureaucratic Desire fo Extra-Capsular Extraction") Southern Lord - This finds the perfect mix of their 20 year/genre bending career with the well executed amalgmation of all their varied styes of indie, drone, and doom.)

Top 13 of 2010 - Oi, Punk, and Hardcore (punkier...)

AGAIN - most of these are reviewed in their own post throughout the year - go back and read if you doubt their placement!

1. OFF! "First Four EPs" fuck you. this is the "Nervous Breakdown" lost tapes. dark, scathing, pissed off l-fi hardcore tunes from your grandpa. Respect your elders!!! this is no fooling around angry punk rock.

2. Anti-You "Two Bit Scemes and Cold War Dreams" recalling early '80s hardcore with a small infusion of UK punk - this Italian brigade brought an amazing lp.

3. On File - "Breaking Rules" forgoing the lo-fi beauty they mastered, they remain as catchy but have a more solid, electric production (RAC...sound?). Tough and and strong, these elder statesmen rep the true Oi sound! Stellar release.

4. No Resistance "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" what a surprise. these texans blew me away

5. Evil Conduct "...Rule, Ok?!" My other favorite old guy outfit from europe bang out agreat release.

6. 45 Adapters - Woah! two &"s inch lo-fi wonder. tighter than garage of older dudes gettin in touch with the Templars/Cock Sparrer love.

7. Street Dogs "(s/t) yep. they did it again. way better than "State of Grace" just pure streetpunk. Honest, detailed, intelligent, emotional storytelling over catchy street music. infectious.

8. The Bodies "Angel on the Nine" 7"

9. Kings of Nuthin "well. finally back with a proper full length of all original songs. Hardcore kids playing true blue rock and roll.

10. Usual Suspects "Old, Fat, Bitter" actual US oi? yep. from Providence.

11. Modern Action "Molotov Solution"

11. Oxblood "Thugcore" ep What A Comeback! RIP Kevin

12. Cenobites "No Paradise for The Damned"

13. Mad Sin "Burn and Rise"


I WILL ADMIT _ I NEVER HEARD _
GBH "Piss and Perfume"
DOA "Talk - Action = 0"
Bad Religion "The Dissent of Man"

although i am glad they all still make music and will get around to those lp's.

Best of 2010 - Top Metal

1. Black Breath - "Heavy Breathing" (Channeling Poison Idea and Discharge wins me over every time)

2. Electric Wizard - "Black Masses" (The big guys jam out and deliver a top notch lo-fi record)

3. Cough - "Ritual Abuse" (Fierce and evil. music is untouchable, the croaky troll voice can get a wee bit tired for me; but al in all - this is fucking metal)

4. Nails - "Unsilent Death" (Todd Jones can write riffs in any genre. This is staggeringly dark and vicious. D-Beat/Crust love from a HC master.)

5. Bison BC "Dark Ages" (big huge riffs, that are heavy and hardcore at heart)

6. The Sword - "Warp Riders" (i know everyone hates on this - but it is a damn sweet album. It's ZZ Top covering Sabbath; a touch of Clutch and a big nod to NWOBHM gallops))

7. Black Sleep of Kali - "Our Slow Decay" (Wow. This is the perfect sound of doom...)

8. Hail of Bullets "On Divine Wind" if Tragedy did WWII themed metal. A lot of reviewers called for Bolt Throwers comparisons, appropriately. Pummeling, dark metal. I wish it sped up more, but it is a crushing vibe that i dig.

8. Tryptikon - "Episterara Daimones" (Heavy and Loud. Mr Warrior brings it better than these newbies. Loudest, heaviest band to grace my ears in a while)

9. High on Fire - "Snakes of the Divine" (they got better)

10. Kylesa "Spiral Shadow" being a favorite for years, delivered a great album. they went a little different - more soft feelings but still a vicious journey. Some called it erroneously "Psych-rock", it just still bangs; tight riffs and pounding percussion. saw hem live after this was released and do not think they slowed down at all! two drummers to pound you into the earth.

11. Across Tundras - "Old World Wanderer" (Something different and chill. i hate hippie crap - and when i heard this described as Neil Young doing doom - i was a hater. but as the line between doom and psych becomes (more expansive or thinner....? ) this band leads the way making amazing music.)

12. Alunah - "Call of Alverus" (nice 70's feel with soft female vocals)

13. Earthride "Something Wicked" (Biker Doom that slaps you around. But i still like "VC" & "TotD" better for a more crisp production, but this is damn good.)

14. Zoroaster "Matador" hard to deny the riffage on this



*** Agalloch "Marrow of the Spirit" Non Conventional Metal (npr to eMusic) to truest of underground metal heads love this black metal masterpiece. i appreciate it for what it is. i just can not do too much black metal. so i would go back to it few and far between.

Best 2010 - Hip Hop

Most of these will have a review by me in the prior year of posts.
*** look here next year for Slaine and the return of Virtuoso!!!

Hip Hop

7L & Eso - dope beats; top lyricists. Untouchable. Nearly flawless if i was executive producer on it. could not ask for more. 97.5/10l

The Left (Apollo Brown & Journalist) "Gas Mask" - gritty raps; angry and tough, but self aware. Social and Political slant but not prand "Gas Leaks ep"eachy. But in a Black Panther way; gun talk and hustle - but a hate of the system and money' grip on the people shine in the forefront. Just the best shit i have heard in a long time. The entire album is listenable, front to end. and the production is Soulful - this is Detroit, people. Apollo Brown slams you with all my favorite (essential) ingredients: Brash horns, deep funky bass, strong drums, strings, and keys. And good solid vocal hooks with relevant, catchy samples. i l ove this lp and ep so much. this is hip hop.

Celph Titled & Buckwild "Nineteen Ninety Now" the most clever lyrical bender, gun and girl talk never eschewed. So one of my favorite men on the mic comes with a proper full length. And how better to do it than to get exclusive beats from Buckwild left in a vault from the 90's. Again, a nearly flawless album. peep the prior review.

El Da Sensei & Returners "GT2" El returns with his lyrical game stepped up over amazing production from The Returners. This is even better than its predecessor. Guest spots are sweet as well.

Ill Bill & Muggs "Kill Devil Hills" Check my review - Muggs bring in the dark, dusty marching stomp neats with crackles and horns - as Bill spits mind challenging Illuminati tales.

Ras Kass with DJ Rhematic "A.D.I.D.A.S." some surprising funky blues and soulful beats; but even the club like synth eats are good (which i usually hate). but my alwas knocks/ out of 24 tracks, some i skip. But actually i like about 20 of them. a lot. He remains one of the best lyricist in the game - unique, clever and ever self critical of himself; constantly pushing (getting like a cd a year now!). HRSMN track on here, "Where Did She Go?" is the best over a beat Marvin gaye would dig. "I Am Legend", GC pt 2" and "Scenario 2010" are all outstanding. and that is just the beginning. A man that used o want the money out of hip hop in his early career, letting that sully what could have been - and label disasters and jail time all have hindered my man - but know free of jail and label constraints - Rassy has fully embraced DIY and pumped out prolific tenacity. And each verse is better than 98% of anything that touches a recording booth, pop and non.

Q-Unique - "Between Heaven and Hell" this is a great lp of NY tales. Beats are raw.

Wu-Massacre - while the chemistry isn't 36 Chambers benchmark (they came in and recorded verses separately...ugh); but still a great notch in the Wu legacy.

Murs & 9th Wonder "Fornever" - while not as epic as "3:16" or "Murray's Revenge"; still a golden release. better than anything you will hear on the radio. Murs has skills; no doubt. But you throw in his down to earth approach; honest and sincere. and dope. And 9th's soulful beat keep it moving.

Blacastan - "Blac Sabbath" This dude is mad original, smart and hard working.

Skyzoo and Illmind - "Live from the Tape Deck" just one of my favorite rappers out there.

Other noteworthy:
Bumpy Knucks over Premier - "Animalistic" best single of the year. Can't Wait for more!

The Roots had a great year; "How I Got Over" and the John Legend album, "Wake Up!" - - “Hard Times” and CL Smooth on a track!

Rah Digga dropped a solid lp, "Classic" - the title track is hip hop gold.

WC & Crazy Toones - 1 song, 1 verse. Freestyled a tirade that is West Coast gangsta Strutting. Bad Ass and funky. A real beat, no electro crap.

Marco Polo "The Stupendous of Marco Polo" while not the Star Studded cast of "Port Authority"; this lp has the master of beats show boating. Especially his boy, Torae. "Combat Drills" stands out. Large Pro, Royce, Skyzoo, and Skoob of Das EFX show up too.

Joell Ortiz - Making moves, but "Farewell Summer" was a sincere tale, well spit.

Y Society (Insight & Damu) "Don't Do It"

Smiley the Ghetto Child "I'm Legend" angry, fast spitting; crushing beat. The energy is impressive


Reks "Eat or Starve" prod by Statik Selektah - a dope singe as a "Teaser" for 2011

Vinnie Paz feat R.A. the Rugged Man "Nosebleed" i was disappointed with the lp, but a few good songs on there. This was the best one of those.

REEF the Lost Cauze vs Guns & Butter "Fight Music"

Snowgoons "Kraftwerk"

Take Control "Tables Will Turn" Review

Take Offense "Tables Will Turn" Reaper Records

SUMMARY:
Here's some NYHC worship. A definite '90s Crossover feel - but more AF than Ludichrist. Leeway, Cro-Mags and Crumbsuckers nods. Then you get the '85 - '87 Suicidal Tendencies feel - direct emulation of M Muir's crooning and all. There is a SubZero influence; and the riff writing comes in straight off of an Inhuman Best "of...". So here is a band that loves its NYC Crossover. You can bang your head, you can mosh to it. All bases are covered.

All that said - you can think contemporary bands as well; Naysayer, Rival Mob, Trapped Under Ice, Alpha & Omega, Bitter End, Mind Eraser, etc. So the stomp is there. Big riffs to plod along to and a few straight ahead parts, but not two-step here *(short of a small bit in "Beware the Path" and "Can I Do It?") - fast parts are for circle pits abound! They can write a gang vocal cheer like their peers, so the kids will have a chance to finger point. But the focus is the gee-tar - with dive bomb squeals and lots of scrambling leads.

HIGHLIGHTS:
"In the Face of Disaster"
"Hand of Time" - especially with its breakdown. This is destined to be a classic.
"Beware the Path" - strongest song
"What Goes Around" Anthrax intro and all! Super tight riffing into big chords to chug to - then a solo.

FOR FANS OF:
Late '80s Crossover NYHC.
2010 American Hardcore bands that worship Late '80s Crossover NYHC.
Inhuman
Suicidal Tendencies (he sounds exactly like Cyco Myko - this is the album from 1987 that ST should have made to garner maintain HC kids' respect!)

BOTTOM LINE:
If Mike Muir sang for Inhuman.