Bad Brains: Rock for Light

(Caroline, 1991)

Discovery:  See previous BB post.

Result:  This album was originally released in 1983 on PVC Records, and re-issued in '91 on Caroline.  It was their second official full length and would be their last before the first of several breakups.  This album features a number of re-recorded songs off of their debut release, but also includes a bunch of new reggae and hardcore tracks.  It packs a mean punch and is the only Bad Brains I have on my computer/iPod as all others are vinyl, so I probably listen to this one the most by default.

Stand-out Tracks: "I and I Survive", "F.V.K.", "Rock for Light"

Bad Brains: (self titled)

(ROIR, 1982)

Discovery:  Bad Brains were such an influence to so many bands and styles of music, I could not escape hearing about, and paying proper respects to, them.

Result:  An inspiring debut release from the punk/hardcore/reggae musicians who fused so many musical styles and broke boundaries in what was formerly a white-male-dominated genre of music.  This record definitely needs to spin more on my player.

Stand-out Tracks: "Sailin' On", "Banned in D.C.", "Pay to Cum"

The B-52's: (self-titled)

(Warner Bros., 1979)

Discovery:  I have no idea how I came across The B-52s, but my guess is somewhere between my phase of new-wave obsession or my friends and I being really into "Rock Lobster" in school.  In any case, this is a really fun band to listen to.

Result:  This record always puts me in the best mood!  Sometimes I feel like I'm not high enough to listen to some of these songs, but they put a smile on my face and a bounce in my step nonetheless.  And how insane is the video for "Rock Lobster"?

Stand-out Tracks: "Dance This Mess Around", "Rock Lobster", "Hero Worship"

Avengers: We Are the One

(CD Presents, 1983)

Discovery:  My discovery of the Avengers came during the phase in my life when I was obsessed with old school punk rock, including a brief study into the variety of female musicians in the scene.  Singer Penelope Houston became a bit of an icon to me, as I'm sure she inspired a host of other girls both in those formative punk rock years (1977-78) and long after.

Result:  This is a compilation of sorts, compiled by the band from recordings done over the three years of their existence.  It gives a good overview of the Avengers music, and is probably the only vinyl you'd be able to find given the rarity of any original recordings.  While there is nothing spectacular about this record, I always find it inspiring to listen to music from a time when punk rock WAS punk rock, and to pay respects where they are due to bands that influenced a movement.

Stand-out Tracks: "We Are the One", "I Believe in Me", "Corpus Christie"

Authority Zero: Andiamo

(Lava, 2004)

Discovery:  I believe I first saw this band play with Pepper when I was really into my ska/punk phase.  

Result:  I remember seeing these guys live a bunch in a short period of time, being really into this record, and then sort of leaving it/them.  I have a few friends who this time period and this type of music really resonates with, so I find myself re-visiting AZ in those situations.  It is a good album and will have a special time and place for me, just not really the kind of music I'm devoted to these days.

Stand-out Tracks: "Revolution", "Find Your Way", "Retreat"

Austin Lucas: Somebody Loves You

(Suburban Home, 2009)

Discovery: I had heard his name before, but my first true listen to Austin Lucas came from the album he did with Chuck Ragan entitled "Bristle Ridge". I enjoyed the energetic folk-punk on that release, so I picked up this latest offering from Austin Lucas.

Result: This is a good chill-out/cleaning the house record, or an excellent background to a lazy summer day or a country drive. I am not particularly committed to this album because it's a little too country for me but it is a nice change from the usual "guitar-driven alternative rock/punk" I listen to frequently.

Stand-out Tracks: "Singing Man", "Wash My Sins Away", "Go West"

Audio Karate: Lady Melody

(Kung Fu, 2004)

"Last time I'll have to explain my withdrawal"

Discovery: Remember compilations? Cheap records featuring a variety of bands from a record label or festival, back when record labels ruled and you knew if you liked one band on a label, you had a good chance of liking a few more. I first heard Audio Karate on a Kung Fu comp called "Punk Rock is Your Friend". I believe it was $5 or something, and the title and some of the other acts on it caught my young attention.

Result: This album from the Californian quartet was produced by Bill Stevenson, and features great, dark, pop-punk anthems. I should listen to this album more often, because it is a dynamic collection of songs with distinctive vocals, hooky guitars and the type of punk rock angst that shows personal struggle and maturity.

Stand-out Tracks: "Jesus is Alive and Well (and Living in Mexico)", "Ms. Foreign Friendly", "Gypsyqueen"

At the Drive-In: Relationship of Command

(Virgin, 2000)

Discovery: I'm not entirely sure how I came to discover ATDI, but I believe I heard one of their songs on either a compilation or soundtrack of some sort. I didn't really fully appreciate them in their prime, and unfortunately they are one of the bands I love that I have never seen (nor will ever see) live. Shame shame. There are rumours of a reunion though, so keep those fingers crossed and look for former members in The Mars Volta (Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez) and Sleepercar (Jim Ward).

Result: This third and final offering from At the Drive-in is a fantastic post-hardcore offering of a musical style mixing hardcore, aggressive music and melody that has many times been copied but not often perfected like this band does. I should definitely own more ATDI. For those just discovering them, I would recommend the anthology "This Station is Non-Operational" as a jumping off point, as it gives you a great overview featuring 18 songs and is readily available (released by Fearless Records in 2005).

Stand-out Tracks: "One-Armed Scissor", "Enfilade", "Catacombs"

Arkells: Jackson Square

(Dine Alone, 2008)

Discovery: The people at Dine Alone sent over the Arkells EP "Deadlines" before its release in 2007, and it was apparent to me that this was a band that had something going on. An extensive touring schedule meant I have had the pleaseure of seeing them live many times over the past few years, which is where this band really shines.

Result: This is a great album. While I was a little annoyed that they put ALL the songs from the EP on the record, it's a fantastic listen and reminds me a lot of summer. Definitely worth picking up, and you must get to a live show.

Stand-out Tracks: "Tragic Flaw", "No Champagne Socialist", "I'm Not the Sun"

Architects: Hollow Crown

(Distort, 2009)


Discovery: This album came to me from Team Distort and friends. My buddy Adam is really into UK hardcore, and he first tipped me off to this band. With Distort releasing this album in Canada, I got to both listen to the record and see the band live when they toured with Misery Signals, Sights and Sounds and Dead and Divine. I like hardcore music with pretty singing over it.


Result: Architects are a great band to see in concert, given that this type of music lends itself to a very energetic and frantic live show. I don't listen to this album a ton, but find it most enjoyable while partying with friends or driving.

Stand-out Tracks: "Early Grave", "In Elegance", "Hollow Crown"

The Arcade Fire: Neon Bible

(Merge, 2007)

"I walked down to the ocean after waking from a nightmare"

Discovery:  See previous entry.

Result:  Neon Bible gets its name from the fantastic book by John Kennedy Toole, definitely a recommended read.  I would say most of my love for The Arcade Fire comes from watching them live.  That being said, I love listening to this album, especially when I'm in a mellow and contemplative mood.  Recorded in an old church the band bought and renovated, the strings, horns, haunting vocals layered with pretty backups and medley of instruments and sounds mean this album achieves the epic proportions it aspires to.

Stand-out Tracks: "Black Mirror", "(Antichrist Television Blues)", "My Body is a Cage"

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"

American Steel: Rogue's March

(Lookout!, 1999)

Discovery: My lovely friend Tyler was into this band, and for some reason I scoffed at him when he told me I should check them out. Boy, did I eat my shorts! Now they are not only one of my favourite bands to listen to and see live, but I may or may not have an AmSteel tattoo. Thanks Tyler!

Result: This album is very rough around the edges production-wise, but I love it. It reminds me of the happy punk rock times of my youth, and the raw feel to the record really fits the tunes. Don't be mistaken though, the songs are super catchy. I probably appreciate the more-polished sounds of AmSteel Round II more, but this record is still a great listen.

Stand-out Tracks: "Loaded Gun", "Every New Morning", "Whisky, Women, and Blackguarding"

ALL: Live Plus One

(Epitaph, 2001)

Discovery: I found out about ALL probably the same way most people found out about ALL, being a really big fan of Descendents. When Milo went to college, the remaining members of Descendents formed ALL, adding singer Chad Price. The difference between the bands is pretty minor. I probably prefer Descendents songs, but that's probably because I know them a lot better.

Result: This double-disk release features live ALL on disk one, and live Descendents on disk two. I planned on leaving out live albums, compilations, etc., for this project, but I was saddened by the fact that while I have a plethora of Descendents albums, this was the only ALL record I own. My own neglect aside, this is a fantastic collection of 22 live ALL tunes.

Stand-out Tracks: "World's on Heroin", "Carnage", "Carry You"