Search >
| Archives | Blog | Collections | Interviews | Reviews | Shirt Database | Swap | Home |


Few and The Proud - Stampede - Organized Crime #18 - 2006
  -- Thursday, July 27, 2006

Is this some elaborate joke? Maybe some of you remember what happened the last time I reviewed the Few And The Proud - Weapons of War release. Needless to say, John the drummer requested that I wasn't sent that demo, but it was sent anyway. Then almost a year later, I get the full length from Organized Crime Records. Either the record label has pulled a great prank on the band, or the band has a real good sense of humor.



Few and The Proud are Chicago Straight Edge. I'm cool with that. I've always wanted to hit up Chicago, see the sights, and the edge is always in with me. Last time, in a frenzied, negative mood, I compared the band to Ten Yard Fight. According to everyone, I was way off base, that's probably true. Then again, I just compared the last Outbreak lp to Kid Dynamite. Neither actually sounded like those bands, but the attitude and vibe was very similar. Apparently, Few And The Proud sound to most people like Sheer Terror, Judge & Slapshot.

I honestly don't hear any of that. I can't claim to listen to Sheer Terror every minute, but I play Judge and Slapshot frequently. I'm not hearing that comparison. My comparison would be to Integrity - Den of Inequity or Demo era, and maybe a little Confront. Minus all guitar solos, of course. The screams are there, the pounding bass, drums, ... Minus the Cleveland vibe too. And obviously, not as amazing as those releases. But honestly, not much can achieve that level.

Cool t-shirt concepts ...


Quick note 1: the band is playing in Brockton tomorrow night at Romans. This album was released on the 16th of this month so I'm sure they'll probably have cool tour merch and whatnot. Go support Chris and the shows he puts on.

Quick note 2: in my last review, I commented on how the song Absolute Truth begged for crew chants. Apparently someone was listening; in this recording there is a crew chant "TO LIVE."

2 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...
where is the part where you actually review the record?

-steve
7/30/2006 05:02:00 AM  


Blogger hows yr edge said...
Apparently you have my review page confused with something else.
8/01/2006 10:30:00 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home


Since Remembered - Coming Alive - Blood & Ink Records #18 - 2006



The intro starts off on a good note. It pulls you in. It's not the typical, hardcore, "you're moshing" intro, but it was still enough to wet the appetite for the next song. The next song began and I lost my appetite completely. I listened to the entirety of the next couple of songs. And then the beginning of the rest of the tracks. The music was good. But the vocals. I couldn't get past the vocals.

Every time he sang, I would get this image of Kid Rock and Joe C on stage. Sometimes, it'd be live footage, but most of the time it would be that episode from the Simpsons.



The singer sounds like Mark Porter on speed, or really high speed dubbing. I just couldn't listen to it, without thinking of Mark or Joe C. That's not what the band was going for, but my little pea brain can't get past things like that. It's a curse.

I peeped the lyrics and I thought I would share a song with you. Now, is it me or does this song rip off lyrics from EVERY single American Nightmare song? You be the judge.
i still remember those broken steps we took that night, and those silhouettes on empty streets, dead as the air I breath. forever you took my heart that night when you said those words.
those words. you made me cheap.
get it out of my head. out of my head.
i still remember the way you looked in those lights that night. breaking hearts on city streets. fell dead took my hearts last beat. forever you took it all that night when you said those words.
those word, they made me cheap.
get it out of my head. out of my head.

So Since Remembered, they are a hardcore band. They thank The First Step, and there are photos of Aaron TFS moshing/singing along to this band. He's a good dude.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home


Straight Edge : Hardcore Punk, Clean-Living Youth, and Social Change - Ross Haenfler - Rutgers University Press 2006
  -- Friday, July 21, 2006



I'm going to begin this review with a warning. If you are looking for the next All Ages, keep looking. This book doesn't have interviews with scene celebs or stories of Straight Ahead at CBGBs. It barely has any stories, in fact, minus the introduction and places where context is useful for quotes.

For those of you who have gotten past the warning, this book is really insightful into the ins and outs of Straight Edge. I won't pretend I'm a scholar of any sort (despite having a Master's degree, ZING!), but this seems like some real heady material. Ross drops his share of sociological jargon and scientific references. This book takes straight edge out of the local venue and puts it under the microscope. That's a good thing, in my opinion. It's books like this that will demystify straight edge to the masses and prevent it from becoming another "hard hitting" segment on 20/20.

There are whole sections in this book discussing roles in hardcore: militants, older edge dudes, women. And guess what, girls aren't just show coat racks. Hardcore really is more than just boys fun. I really appreciated the section on militants. It's interesting to see how scene to scene, there is such a diversity in attitudes. In all honesty, I can't think of a single instance where a hardcore kid got beat up for smoking at a Boston area venue. Maybe we are too laid back with our edges up here? Not sure.

I also appreciate that he made a footnote about the term "sXers." I hate that term more than any other, and was initially put off that he used it. But thanks to the handy footnote, I know it was just a matter of convenience. That's cool by me.

This book should be hitting shelves soon. If you want an interesting, (social) scientific read, I'd suggest this one. You can pick it up from Rutgers University Press.

1 Comments:

Blogger DEATH TO FALSE BLOGS said...
its great to see another punk related book and not just another old one (like all ages) rip off
9/04/2006 02:50:00 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home


108 - Creation. Sustenance. Destruction - Equal Vision 118 - 2006
  -- Thursday, July 20, 2006



I never got into 108. I'm not sure why. I love Shelter and don't mind a band with an over the top Krsna influence. But for some reason, 108 was too metal for me to get into. James Ritter loves them, but I was never phased either way by them. Since I never got to see them live, I probably missed the boat. Then I got this double cd discography from EVR. 36 fully remastered tracks. Everything 108 ever put down onto vinyl. This thing has it all. And I can appreciate that.

But what really sets this album apart, is the intense little details that Vic and crew put into this package. Each song has a little description and a note or too from the band. And then there is a 4 page spread on the history of 108. It's quite in depth, and it really lets you know about who and what the band is. I like that part of this package more than anything else. A super slick layout doesn't hurt either.

According to their website, they are working on a new LP. The lesson here? Never count this band out. No matter how many times they break up, they will almost certainly get back together soon enough for a new record. I'd say the universe really is cyclical. If you believe that, you should probably hit up EVR and buy this album right now.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home


Rally The Fray - To Never Live In Denial - Volatile 004 - 2006



I honestly have no idea what is going on with this band. The intro was making me rock out, bob my head, get down. Then the first song kicks in with some growl/roar vocals and chill guitar parts. It's like Jamey Jasta singing for Reach The Sky. It just doesn't mesh to me. Hell, even the chorus lines sound straight from So Far From Home.

The promo sheet that came with the cd suggests this "for fans of: Killing The Dream, Shai Hulud, With Honor, Stay Gold, Comeback Kid and Undying." I still don't get it. However, I'm guessing much like the Ignite cd, you can spread your message faster if you name drop Comeback Kid.

I'll leave this one up to you guys. It's just weird to me. I really dug the intro, and the choruses are strong and real heartfelt, but the vocals are just too weird for me. The song The Value of My Integrity would sound amazing if the singer did more of a talking/hardcore voice, rather than a metal growl (that is, until it hits that metal part around minute 2). Check them out on myspace, and make up your own mind.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home


Outbreak - Failure - Bridge 9 #74 - 2006
  -- Thursday, July 13, 2006



Ok, hear me out. Now this likely only makes sense to me, but when I listen to this album, I am constantly reminded of Kid Dynamite. Of course, a super fast and pissed KD, but still Kid Dynamite. Add a ton of riffage to that comparison and you have Outbreak. At least, in my head. In your head, you are probably thinking, "who gave this guy the right to review anything?"

Let me take this comparison a little further to see if I can sway any opinions. When I listen to Kid Dynamite, I hear a raw intensity that not many bands pull off. Plenty of bands attempt to achieve this sound, but fall VERY short. Outbreak doesn't fall short. They hit the mark and actually, surpass it. Ryan gives 110% all the time. The rest of the guys, too. Nobody in that band is slacking when they play out live. And coming from Middle O Nowhere, Maine for most of these shows must take a toll. But you don't see them slacking or playing it safe. It's either all or nothing with these dudes. That attitude comes across in this release. The vibe is just right.

I think I'll put it on again. Peace.

2 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...
kid dynamite?????? nahhh
7/20/2006 04:12:00 AM  


Anonymous somedude said...
im totally with you on the raw energy part, KD does bring that raw energy, obviously with a different sound though.
8/19/2006 04:47:00 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home


Panic - Strength In Solitude - Bridge 9 #77 - 2006

For some reason, when I got this cd, I was expecting NEW material. Yeah, it's not new material. It's the discography. First two EPs and the demo. The sound is good, and it's nice that I can play it while driving around in my car, but that's it. And now that I re-listen to it, I'm beginning to wonder how I was a big fan of it all back then. It just hasn't stood the test of time in my book. It's like Strife's One Truth. I remember listening to that on repeat for hours when I got it. But when I put it on now, I fail to see why it held me mesmerized. Same goes for Panic. And the video bonus is a bummer to me. It's 3-4 songs from two different shows. But instead of showing one song per venue, they splice footage of the two venues together throughout each song. Now, that's pretty arty, but I'd rather watch the video to see my friends stage diving and having fun. That's just me though.

On the bright side, my favorite part of this release is the layout/liner notes. The first pic on the inside cover is a GIANT shot of AJ moshing for Panic. Who'd have thought? Also, the last pic shows Azy wearing an In My Eyes shirt and sporting an x-rated swatch. Ah, I remember those days. Good times.



Track down that unreleased, live track for yourself. You could be a big fan.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home


Betrayed - Substance - Equal Vision 129 - 2006


Once upon a time, Aram played in a band called Champion. At the same time, Todd Jones was busy playing in Carry On, Terror, Snake Eyes, ... Greg and Todd P. were busy with bands of their own, too. Along came the opportunity to do a side project between TJ and Aram. At the time, I remember thinking, this could be huge. Aram has been around the world, he's seen everything. Now he's given a mic and allowed to speak his mind (in fact, keep your eyes peeled for a Aram interview on HYE). And TJ, well, he's got riff after riff waiting to be put down on wax. Together, they made the Addiction EP aka magic.

This time around, they enlisted Todd P and Greg Bacon (well, Greg when live, at least) for the LP. Needless to say, it's an amazing album. I know it's early to say, but I'm calling it my favorite release of 2006 (I'm sure my mind will change slightly when the LOJ lp hits. Then the two will be tied for best of 2006). The production on this LP is on point, courtesy of Kurt Ballou and a vigilant Todd Jones. Hell, even the layout of the album is cool. Real simple, black and whites, easy to read fonts, chill pics. That's tops in my book.

Now for a few things you may or may not know about this LP:

a) Kurt Ballou is tall. In fact, he's so tall, that the soundboard at God City is up on 8x8 timbers so Kurt can fit under it. He is quick to reprimand people who lean on it, too.

b) The layout was masterminded by Scott Magrath and Mr. Todd Jones.

c) Casali attended the backup vocals session wearing a bright yellow fleece jacket. He was semi odd man out. A month or two after backups, Aram calls me and asks, "Who is Casali?" Apparently, Casali only signed the slip with his last name and Aram could not recall who he was. I spoke about the yellow jacket, and it all came together.

d) The cover art features 4 dudes at a rocky point chilling. Plenty of crucial looking shirts and attitude. Except for one thing. Aram is sporting a swatch guard on his x-rated swatch. Sweet Pete wouldn't stand for that.

e) The City Lights is dedicated to Brandie Bailey. During the recording process, group chants were recorded for this song, but they were cut from the final release because "they didn't sound appropriate." Look for the unreleased song on the Betrayed Box Set to be released in 2012.

f) Todd Jones thanks Pete Lynch in the liner notes. It's written like this "name x, name y, Pete Lynch (haha), name z..." Pranked!

That's all for now. Spend less time reading this review and more time going to the store to pick this up. Get going. No, now. Go!

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home

Added in the last 7 days:
  Swap Lists: 0 / 1285
  Shirts: 0 / 1834
  By band(s):

  Collections:

The last 5 Interviews added to the Interview Section:

The last 5 blogs added to the Blog Section:

Previous Articles

Archives

Advertise

Click here for your favorite eBay items



. © 2001 - 2008 . How's Your Edge . design by b. murphy .