# 16 Jeremy Enigk ''the missing link''

This is another of the Jeremy Enight solo records. This is a re releas of the world weights disc but with extra tracks. And recorded live in the studio. this is another very solid releas my the man the myth the artist Jeremy Enigk. This is a split releas between lewis hollow records and 567 records. tracks 1 - 4 are the new ones and 5 - 9 are the re recorded live studio stuff. this is a must have CD I recomend it to every one. Its claming on a stressful day you put this in and it melts the bad day away like a hot shower. If you have a stress ful job this is a great way to releave your torture from work and feel better on your ride home.

stand out songs are TATSEO SHOW, RIVER TO SEA,CANONS

M.

# 15 the clash ''the essential''

this is another double CD best of disc. CD 1 has 20 tracks and 2 had20 as well. It containes songs that span there whole career as punks most important band. They were the CNN of the music world back in the day. they placed a spotlight on the problems around the world and tried to make changes for the better. They were not the first or only band to do that but they did it with a passion that no other band had.
My sister got to see them live, I never did ( got to see Joe strummer solo and all ). But thats not the same This is a wonderful cd set, a great way to introduce your self to the most important band of 1980.

M.

# 14 / 666 slayer 'south of heaven'

You ask most slayer fans what the best slayer record is and Im sure they will say reign in blood. And Im sure thats most likely true, but My personal favorit is south of heaven. That CD is balls out crazy from track one. I cant get enough of that cd I remember when it come out I was in JR High school I think 7th grade now I already had reign in blood an the other ep and all thanks to my older sister but south of heaven WAS the first salyer I bought with my owne money! yep my mom and dad would give me a few bucks a week for doing dishes taking out the trash exc... and I spent it on slayer what a great investment that was, its given me decades of enjoyment.
when I was loading music on my phone south of heaven was one of the first things I put on it. I listen to that cd atleast once a week to this very day. the title track is one of my top 5 favorit metal songs of all time. When I was in college my friend Joe and I did a radio show called all out war, and we would play punk, metal. hardcore, exc Im sure you get the picture. Well one night we were playing South of heaven and we opend the mic and sang along with the cd, it was Joe, Amber ( who is my wife now ) and I doing it now Joe and Amber needed the lyric sheen but NOT yours truly heck NO! that cd is burnt straight into my memory like a brand on a steer in Texas. LOL good times
and every one needs to see slayer once live in there life time!

# 13 fugazi '13 songs'

How fitting the 13th post is titled 13 songs. couldent have planed it any better. this is dischord records 36 releas. from one of DC greatest bands FUGAZI, I realy dont think I need to go into the band members past, we all know who they are and the amazing ground breaking bands they hail from.
13 songs is a killer no filler disc with amazing songs lyricaly it touches on relationships, to looking at society from the outside looking in. The musci has a pulse to it like a heart beat, it mythotical. It sinks under your skin and sits there you cant help but have this sence that alls not right with the world but calm at the same time. Sort of has a disturbing calming effect if you will.
when the are live its like watching a train wreck but in slow motion, I know that dont make much sence but if you ever seen them live you know what im talking about. And NO Im not talking about you tube or video. You need to be in front of the stage to get what im saying.

M.

# 12 pegboy 'strong reaction'

Some time in the mid 1990's Pegboy put out ''strong reaction'' CD/LP and it was a hugh hit in the punk world. Snotty enough to appeal the the anarcho punks and rock N rool enough to cross over to the rest of the punk world. The title track is my personal favorit of all the pegboy stuff. Infact this is my personal favorit of all the pegboy stuff period. Vocals have a rugh grit to them almost forced out a sence of pain or loss can be herd as Larry Damore howels into the mic. The band has xe-Nacked raygun members in it another band that I realy like but thats another post. musicaly its a buzz saw and a sonic boom at the same time.
I remember seeing them a few times in the past and was shocked at how good they were live. Very tight they could read each otheron stage and gave the crown exactly what they wanted, a rockin good time.


side note thet recently got back together and toured with face to face. I mised the show ( totaly forgot about it to tell the truth ) but Im hoping to re live my past if they do come back.

M

# 11 sunny day real estate ''diary''

In 1994 I was in college, and I met a kid there named Ken, we both skated and were straight edge. And we both loved the band sunny day real estate. In 94 SDR released the best record that sub pop records ever put out diary. This slab of music changed my life. Its haunting, simple yet complex, hard and soft at the same time, with abstract lyrical content that makes you swim in a sea of mental immages. the cd has never ever fallen out of favor with me. I cant believe this band never became the next nirvana. ( thats what people were saying about them ) I feel that fame scared them a bit and they imploded befor the jump to stardum was taken. Not only that but the band had all sorts of odd ball quarkes. They refused to play California, do interviews, stuff like that. They did do a advertisment for a large store but had a fake singer in the band and changed there name for the add. But the real name did leak out at one point.
They called it quits due to internal tention, and Jeremy being a reborn Chirstian.

this post is a too be continued due to the self titled LP and the band getting back together.

PS this disc / LP was re released last year by sub pop with new packeging and extra tracks. but thats a nother post for latter.

M.

# 10 bad religion 'how can hell...'

OH bad religion, I have a love hate relation ship with them. I do love them more than hate them I must say. This was originaly titled 80-85, Im guessing you can imagin the reason for this is because its all the songe they recorede from 1980 -1985well all but the tracks from the famed 'into the unknown' LP, the bad religion record that exists but dont exist. LOL
I love this cd it has a ton of killer songs, Im not going to start to list them I just may list them all.
the cool thing about this is it has the lyric sheet for the songs, and a bunch realy nice pics of the band from the early 80es. that to me is worth the price of the cd.
now I have seen bad religion several times live and never bin disapointed they have always come through with one hell of a live set and dont neglect the old songs. The first time they played Pittsburgh it was like being in a live juke box, we would yell out a song and they would play it what a great night. that was a great week if I remember social distortion, played then a few night later bad religion played, and the next night was murphys law, Then the weekend come round and sub machien played. Man that was a bloody killer week.

side note the into the unknown LP was a record the band recorded but after the sessions were complete and the record went to press the band was un happy with the sound as well as the departure from there signature sound. So they shelved them to never see the light of day. But many did get out of the bag and the rest were destroyed by the band. And it will NEVER ever be repressed so if you see a cd its a boot. 12''es of this exist as a boot as well. so if you decide you want to drop the cash on an original do your home work, So you dont get screwed.

M

# 9 cave in ''jupiter''

well if one band ever did a 180 in sound it was CAVE IN, the first several releases all 7''es and LP all sounded like converge. But in a good way. Then the band gos away for some time then all of a sudden they come back with the most dynamic releas of the year. Every one was raving about them. this disc got a shit ton of positive reviews. and landed them on an opening spot for the fu fighters in Europe. as well as a major label record deal. But thats another post.
this in my opinion is what led zepplin would sound like if they were around today. I realy dig this record every track on it is rock solid. 'New moon' is my favorit of them all.

I remember when this come out all the hype I thought there is no way this can be that good. Well I was wrong it was that good. and then some.

M.

# 8 iron maiden edward the great

OK I have seen alot of odd ball collectors in my time misfits collectors, clash collectors, comic book collectors toy exc... But the ones who take thecake are the iron maiden collectors. there is so much stuff out there and it all gos for a heck of a lot of cash. there are all kinds of different little things that set stuff apart. And us nerds will drop large sums of money to finish off a collection. but as luck would have it Im NOT a maiden collector I just like them. this is a gret best of cd that has all there hits its a one stop shop for all my favorit maiden tracks.

# 7 the damned ''smash it up anthology 76-87''

The damned is one of the best english punk bands of all time. this is a best of 2x cd. If you are new to the damned this is a great started kit for ya to pick up. I have a shit ton of there 7''es I think almost all of them. but I digress, lets get back to the cd at hand. cd 1 has 21 tracks all fantastic disc 2 has 14 tracks again all great stuff. some of the best tracks are new rose, I fall, smash it up, the history of the world, elose, anything, ohheck the list can go on and on.
one great thing about this set is it comes with a tracking sheet of all the stuff they released so us vinyl nerds know whats out there and we have a great check list.
funny story, a few years ago my wife and I went to see the damned with the misfits, after the damned played Cap sensible was at the bar hitting on my wife. It was funny, when I walked over he turned into me and asked if she was my girlfriend I informed him she was my wife and he looked at me and said ''good show mate'' and shook my hand. He was awsome we talked for about two hours he was telling us about tourning with the clash, and sex pistols and all the mayhem that went with that. It was a great night to say the least.

# 6 Jeremy Enigk ''ok bear''

Jeremy is quite possibly my favorit singer song wrighter of all time. He could sing the encyclopedia britannica and I would buy it, And love it. OK BEAR is the latest of his solo works. And one hell of a releas it is. this is more of a throw back to his days with SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE. It has a much richer sound and a solid rock N rool back bone. The lyrics are abstract with a root in religion. Its comforting that he has embraced his religion and can sing about it but a non - preachy way. With songs like 'lifes too short' and 'state of mind' there are hints of religous nature but nothing that will turn off a person.
His voice has a very distinctive quality and fits him quite well. His high piches vocals are so different than most out there that it kind of puts him in a all class of his owne. its haunting yet strangly beautiful it wraps around you like a old blanket.
When lewis hollow records stated they were doing a pre order and it come signed! well hell I had to put my order in.
this is a heck of a disc and needs to be in every ones collection.

ps the cool thing about this is it was recorded in Spain with studio musicans and written there as well. It come out so well you would think it was years in the making. that just gos to show you how amazing of a musician he is.

my favorit track on this is ALL OF THEM I CANT PICK ONE!

# 5 Grade separate the magnets

Second Nature records realy hit it out the park with this one. Grade hails from Canada and hade a great run. put out some killer records and EP's befor calling it quits a few years back. If you ask most people that were into grade they will say this is there best releas. I tend to agree with that. Its the bule prints to what become screamo. Alot of bands owe there success to them if there was no grade or hour glass there would be no used or any other crap band that out today. Not only do I have this on cd but the 10'' is also safe in my collection as well.
Man I remember when this come out I was at brave new world a good record shop here in Pittsburgh Spar had this playing in the back ground and we got to talking I picked this up while I was there and went to see blood runs black that night. I listened to this disc the whole way home from the show ( I live a bit over an hour out side of Pittsburgh ). then it never left my player for weeks. the vocals are so raw abd the musuc sounds like buzz saws with a structure. AMAZING stuff the rummer from the grape vine has it they are playing again. I know they did a few new songs for a new comp that come out with a zien a few weeks ago I still need to get it.

# 4 the shins chutes too narrow

This is the second record from sub pop records new darlings the shins and what a great cd it is. kicking off with the rack ''kissing the lipless'' and ending with those to come. every thing in-between is simply amazing. I herd this band from the film garden state. I was into the few tracks that made it into the film and thought oh what the hell and picked up a disc and have bin following them ever since. great pop sensability killer hooks, abstract lyrics. all equal an outstanding record.

# 3 avail dixie

Look out records had alot of great bands on there roster, but only a few are amazing and one of them was Richmond Virginia AVAIL ''Dixie'' was released on this world in about 1993 I think.
Avail is one of those bands that punks, and hardcore kids can get into and love them just the same. they are a ball of energy a fantastic live act stupendus song wrighters. of you dont know whw they are get off your ass and check em out!

# 2 def leppard ''vault''

I was NEVER ever into hair metal I found it to be quite anoying. But I did like one band. And that band is Englands Def leppard. Man back in the 80es these guys were the shit. they made some great metal songs. on through the night was a killer LP, high and dry great, pyromania amazing, but they realy come into there owne with hysteria. That tape ( thats what I hade it on ) was in my player all the time. I never told any one about my passion for them it was my dirty little secret one I keep for quite along time. I dont know maby after your drummer looses an arm you realy need to steep it up a notch. every song on that thing was a hit. That record played nothing but GOLD. Listen to it it you will see what I mean. It was a main stay on MTV back when MTV played music. Yes can you imagin that they realy did play videos! crazy I know LOL
I have no idea why I love this band I just DO and Im glad to finaly come out of the closit and tell the world YES I LOVE DEF LEPPARD!! WOW I feel alot better now with that off my chest. thanks

this is a greatest hits disc with all the good stuff, IE pour some sugar on me, animal, foolin, and my personal favorit armageddon it.

Ok Im going to make do my favorit quote this is from my wife after she realied my total love of this band ''mike is such a music snob, who ever thought he likes def leppard did they put any thing out on color vnyl?'' hahaha love it

M.

# 1 hot hot heat ''make up the break down''

The year was 2002 and I was working at a group home for men with MH/MR problems you know doing the greater good for humanity and my fellow man. I was out of college for a little bit married for about two years. And was sitting in my living room when I was flicking through the channels on the TV and landed on the local colleges TV station. They played videos from time to time and I stopped to see what was playing. And the commershal ended and the videos started to play again. a hand full of crap played I left to room got a drink and some chips, started to hunt the remote control and then there it was. The keyboard riff that started to play it cought my attention and I held back from switching the station. Im glad I did it was my first listen to 'bandages' by HOT HOT HEAT. that song stuck in my head like glue for the life of me I couldent get it out of my head. I keep singing it to myself over and over again. Then finaly the CD was dropped and i ran out to get it. And to my wonderful suprise it was amazing, the whole disc was filled with killer tracks! This is a cd I fell in love with the second I put it in. I wanted to hit restart the second it was over. Not all that many discs can do that it was and is POP perfection every song a jewel. If you could bottle a bright sunny day and make it into music this CD would be just that.
If Im in a bad mood to this day I put ''make up the break down'' in and BAM im good. It's the musical reset button for your soul. think 1980's synth pop with a heavy dose of pop punk tossed in a blender with a little pinch of the cure sprinkled on top for good measure.

most popular track: 'bandages' but I LOVE 'god damnit'


M.