Finals are coming up so I'm going to be super busy. I may not have the time or the motivation to update the blog so just stay tuned 'k?

Ghost Mice- Collection One or The Fairy War

Ghost Mice and This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb were staples back when I was in high school. I played Front Seat Solidarity by TBIAPB so much that I nearly had to buy another CD player just so I could have one to put something else in it. I had a burned CDR of Ghost Mice material that I played and played until I had memorized every song from front to back. Ghost Mice are a strictly acoustic folk punk band who can write some really, really great songs. They're one of the "rock star" bands of the Plan It X record label who have released a lot of great albums over the years while sticking to a strictly non profit ethos. The best part is the work ethic they stick to, CDs are sold for a measly $5, so quit being a miser and go buy something (lol irony). Collection One collects a lot of the band's early material from various splits. I'm pretty sure it's out of print, so that makes it alright to download this. Ghost Mice are one of those bands that stay in my constant rotation.

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Right Away, Great Captain- The Bitter End

I don't like to double post but I've been listening to this and really enjoying it. Right Away, Great Captain is a concept band who write songs about a sailor far from home, broken hearts, and a dishonest mistress. Supposedly every song is a journal entry in the sailor's journal to his family back home or his captain. Sad melodies and heart breaking lyrics with that trademark indie "fuzzyness" to the music that sends the panties right off of those cute coffee sucking indie chicks. There are a some upbeat numbers too that will get your head bobbing. A great night time album that you put on before you go to bed. Disregard the fact that Andy Hull plays in a shitty band(manchester orchestra) and looks like a huge douchebag.

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Hammerhead- Into The Vortex

Hammerhead were yet another one of those great AmRep bands during the label's golden age. While Ethereal Killer saw the band playing a more standard set of noisy, post hardcore, the band switches gears on Into The Vortex. The entire album has a great outer space vibe to it and the dense, heavy noise rock will crush your face in. There are some doom metal albums that aren't as heavy as this.

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Master- On The Seventh Day God Created Master

I like to think that Master sounds like Slayer if Slayer played Death Metal. Master is another one of those long running, consistent old school death metal bands that have somehow remained under the radar. The songs are fast and have that thrashyness to their sound.

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Die Hard- Evil Always Returns

If you're anything like me you probably read that title and was hoping that I would be posting a leak to the next Die Hard movie where Bruce Willis fights his old German nemesis Hans Gruber who has risen from the grave and been given cybernetic implants.

Well I don't have that but I do have something that's almost as good.

Die Hard are a thrashing outfit from Sweden who lay down some serious Sodom worship on their Evil Always Returns EP. But hell, if you're going to be inspired by a band it might as well be one of the strongest metal outfits out there. Some great thrash with that extra dash of black metal. According to their myspace they have a new album out which I do not have. So check that out after you download this and maybe buy something while you're at it.

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Tiger Uppercut! and something about a pokemon themed hardcore band

At the risk of sounding incredibly smug and hipster like, I'll say that I've listened to quite a lot of different music. I've listened to an accordion Phillip Glass cover artist, a Soviet Yiddish tribute album, authentic Steppe People's yodeling from Mongolia, and even an album just of a person taking a shit. But last night I heard something I never expected.

Graveler, the pokemon themed power violence band.

Yes you read that correctly.

Addiction growing
Gameboy glowing
Deep into the night
Insomnia settles in
Patience wearing thin
Just one more trainer fight
Fuck all the rest
I need to be the best
With my pokemon squad
On Victory Road I stand
Things got out of hand
I am the pokemon god
Crushing the elite four
Trailing paths of gore
Now it's more than just a game
Killing with a grin
No choice but to win
They will all know my name

Now anyone who listens to powerviolence or "thrashcore" knows that the genre is no stranger to gimmicks and themes. You have a whole crop of bands devoted solely to writing songs about wrestling, action movie stars, misogyny and political incorrectness. Hell, Anal Cunt built a career and a legacy out of being ridiculous. Even the mighty Charles Bronson is attributed with being the "best worst band." There are no boundaries in this genre.

While I'm talking about themed bands, why not discuss some Tiger Uppercut!


Tiger Uppercut! were a hardcore band with an awesome street fighter theme. The lyrics are goofy, but in a really awesome sort of way. But just because they're a "joke" band doesn't mean they can't play. Tiger Uppercut! serves up some mosh friendly hardcore that's just as good as any "serious" band. I prefer their demo to their Till My Last Fucking Quarter EP because I'm a big fan of that shoddy, garage production that fits a hardcore band like a glove. Plus the demo has my favorite song, I Could Never Pull Off The Piledriver

EDGE!
MOSHER!
Break on through to the other side

You think you're pretty tough, you think you're the shit
Too bad Zangief would destroy you in the pit
His piledriver devastates any of his foes
Windmills and spin kicks, you don't have any throws

EDGE!
MOSHER!
Break on through to the other side

You mosh and hit 'em in the face, they push you back
Then you fight 'em, cheap like kick to nut sack
You say it's the way it's always been
Well I say it's time for a fucking change

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Bones Brigade- I Hate Myself When I'm Not Skateboarding

Here's some great crossover skate punk from a gang of Boston shredders. Not much else. I've been really busy lately and I wish I could type up a description that would give this awesome band justice.

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Whiplash- Power And Pain

YOU KNOW YOU'RE DEAD
WHEN YOU'RE
NAILED
TO
DA
CROSS

Jet Set Radio Future OST

Ah Jet Set Radio Future...It's the perfect example of a timeless game. It came from a period when developers weren't afraid to take major risks. This game was made back when cel-shading was an emerging graphic style, one that sadly doesn't exist anymore.

The premise of Jet Set Radio Future revolves around the player's gang of rocket powered roller blading hooligans in their fight against rival gangs and the typical futuristic dystopian government using the power of, what else? Graffiti and music. This is another one of those rare games that has so much style. Everything about the art direction and the presentation were spot on. The graphics were great and still look good for an xbox launch title. Everything looked like it was taken out of a some trippy manga. There was nothing like blasting through a futuristic Tokyo trailed by policemen while some awesome dance music blared in the background. The game was fun. Simple and pure. Everything about it was just so great. It was such a major improvement over Jet Grind Radio.

Why is there such a focus on realism in newer games? Yes, I'll admit that new games do look impressive and I'm astounded at the further level of detail they manage to cram in each time, but the problem with realism is that it's so...boring! As technology advances, even games like Uncharted 2 and Crysis will eventually look dated. I'm not saying that new games are bad, but we've seen this happen before. Remember when Gran Turismo 2 was considered the ultimate simulation? Games that put the emphasis on the HOW of graphics instead of the WHAT will live on forever.

Anyways, the soundtrack is full of pulsing electronic music and hip hop that fit the electricity fueled landscapes of the future. Drop that top and bump these funky jams

UNDERSTAND UNDERSTAND