The Arcade Fire: Funeral

(Merge, 2004)

"Sleeping is giving in, no matter what the time is"

Discovery:  The Arcade Fire probably marks one of my major forays away from punk and the guitar-driven alternative rock I almost exclusively listened to until recent years.  I had heard about them because they got a TON of hype in the music scene, Canadian and otherwise, but I must admit to remaining largely indifferent to them.  I liked them, but never really took the chance to study and get to know the music.  That all changed when I saw them play at Deer Lake Park in the summer of 2007.  Being in the middle of a forest, looking at a stage with the sun setting on the lake behind it, listening to this ethereal music surrounding me, I was moved.  I came away with a feeling of surrealism, and knowing I had to love this band.

Result:  This debut record from the Canadian indie heavyweights was not the first one I heard (as mentioned above, I first got into them during the Neon Bible era), but a case of me going backwards for more.  Personally I like Neon Bible more, it seems darker to me, but I also really love throwing this record on and lying on the couch and thinking.

Stand-out Tracks: "Crown of Love", "Wake Up", "Rebellion (Lies)"

Anti-Flag: The Terror State

(Fat Wreck, 2003)

"You can murder the rebel, but you can't murder the rebellion"

Discovery: See first AF entry.

Result: This is Anti-Flag's last independent release, before they made the much-criticized decision to jump to a major. I'm the last person to call someone a sellout, I do, however, feel like you can't really be against flags but for major labels. Especially in this day and age, majors are not really needed, and I don't buy the "our message to more people" argument. It doesn't appear that Anti-Flag has gained any more popularity in recent major-label years over their indie ones. But, I digress. This album is their best in my opinion, as it transcends the usual punk rock chord party, while still addressing the heavy issues of current times.

Stand-out Tracks: "Turncoat", "Sold As Freedom", "You Can Kill the Protester, But You Can't Kill the Protest"

Anti-Flag: Underground Network

(Fat Wreck, 2001)

"They try to blind us but we stand up and fight"

Discovery: See previous entry.

Result: This album was AF's Fat Wreck debut, and brought the band a higher profile on this indie heavyweight. You still have the angry and political lyrics, but add to it some more advanced songwriting to get another batch of punk rock anthems.

Stand-out Tracks: "Angry, Young and Poor", "Underground Network", "Stars and Stripes"

Anti-Flag: Die for the Government

(New Red Archives, 1996)

"Punk by the book"

Discovery: Anti-Flag was another one of those bands that as a young kid first getting into punk rock and politics, I couldn't avoid hearing about or getting into. I have a random collection of their albums, but they always put on a great live show, and ignite some of that old punk rock angst even in their (and my) ripe age.

Result: This album was AF's debut, and would set the tone for many, many angry punk rock records full of anthems complete with plenty of gang-vocal chants about various injustices in the world. I find Anti-Flag a bit much these days so I don't really listen to them that often, but the times I've seen them in recent years have still been pretty fun.

Stand-out Tracks: "Drink Drank Punk", "She's My Little GoGo Dancer", "Punk by the Book"

American Steel: Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts

(Fat Wreck, 2009)

"We only need a song to dance to, we only need a chorus to sing along to"

Discovery: See first AmSteel entry.

Result: This album is definitely poppier than their last, and there is no lack of gang-vocals making this a sing-a-long pop rock record. While I prefer Destroy Their Future, this record has some great hook-y tracks that I hope will translate well live. I have yet to see them play any shows since this release, so the true test is yet to come.

Stand-out Tracks: "Emergency House Party", "Tear the Place Apart", "Safe and Sound"

American Steel: Destroy Their Future

(Fat Wreck, 2007)

"We need love and logic"

Discovery: See first AmSteel entry.

Result: While I LOVE Communique, the band that is American Steel's pop-fantastic alter-ego, I am very excited that AmSteel is back making music and playing shows. Destroy Their Future marks this triumphant return. And what a return it is. If you're looking for somewhere to start with American Steel, look no further. This record is by far their best work. This album was one of the ones that got me excited about new music again.

Stand-out Tracks: "Dead and Gone", "Love and Logic", "Razorblades"

American Steel: Jagged Thoughts

(Lookout!, 2001)

"I'm your cold-sweat epiphanies, you're my red wine soliloquies"

Discovery: See previous entry.

Result: I love this album. I guess that's true of every album American Steel has released, but I find the songwriting on Jagged Thoughts to be superior to their previous record, but still keeping that raw punk rock edge and staying true to their sound of hooky guitars layered with melodic vocals that I have come to love. This album got some flack upon its release for not being an appropriate follow-up to Rogue's March, but that's what I like about this band. Each album is almost a different sound than the previous, while still being undeniably American Steel.

Stand-out Tracks: "Shrapnel", "Rainy Day", "Turn It Out"