Record Shopping

Scored some cool shit in Newport News last week. I went to Fantasy and American Oldies with a new friend, and in the same week got packages from Hear More and Deep Six, as well as some other random stuff. Pretty great week.



Cassette
GODFLESH - Merciless - Columbia/Earache (1994)

CD
AUTOPSY - Dead As Fuck (Live in '91+'93) - Necroharmonic (2004)
BASTARD NOISE/CHRISTIAN RENOU - Brainstorming (2002)
GLAZED BABY - Squeeze the Tail, Suck the Head EP - Allied (1993)
GLAZED BABY - Karmic Debt - Red Decibel (1994)
GLAZED BABY - Ancient Chinese Secret - Atomic Action (1996)
GLAZED BABY - Atomic Communists - Red Decibel (1996)
TWILIGHT - Twilight - Southern Lord (2005)
XASTHUR - Telepathic with the Deceased - Moribund Cult (2004)

7"
THE CANDYLAND CARCRASH/SERAPHIM - "A Rocket Trip to the Moon" Split 7" (Black) Small Craft Advisory
GLAZED BABY - Squeeze the Tail, Suck the Head 7" (Black) Allied
LOW THREAT PROFILE - Product #1 7" (Pre-Order; /100 Red) Deep Six/Draw Blank
PEDRO THE LION - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen b/w Silent Night 7" (1st Press; /2000 Purple) Suicide Squeeze
PIG HEART TRANSPLANT/JUHYO - Split 7" (1st Press; #173/300 Black)


LP
THE BASTARD NOISE/THE ENDLESS BLOCKADE - "The Red List" Split 12" (Pre-Order; /100 Red) Deep Six/20 Buck Spin DAVID BOWIE - Let's Dance - EMI
THE POLICE - Outlandos d'Amour - A&M
LYLE LOVETT - Lyle Lovett and His Large Band - MCA
THORR'S HAMMER - Dommedagsnatt - Southern Lord
U2 - New Year's Day 12" (US Single) Island


Also grabbed more than a hundred new comics and have records on the way by Innumerable Forms, Middle America, Slices, and Society Nurse. Amped.

Top Ten of 2009?

10. Nihill, "Grond" CD/LP (Hydra Head)

When describing black metal, I find myself thinking the word "brutal" is often over-used. The term makes me think of hardcore kids, or death metal fans getting rowdy as shit, breaking things, and hurting each other. For that, there is a time and a place, sure (Posi #'s, Maryland Deathfest, etc.) but in the case of black metal albums, this notion of "brutality" has always seemed (to me) a stretch. Sure, there are bands, albums, and songs that make me want to smash shit (Craft and Leviathan come to mind first,) but I'd be listening to Mind Eraser or Entombed if I was looking for something to obvious as that. No, when I listen to Black Metal I'm looking for unadulterated hatred. Anger that cannot be quelled, but with a sense of misanthropy rather than incited rage. I want to feel like I'm listening to a bunch of outsiders, not kids who host parties or were popular in school.
I don't really think there's anything wrong with this new school of Black Metal that's emerged over the past three years. I think bands like Deathspell Omega have worked long and hard at their craft and are pushing the envelope, perhaps in ways that purists aren't quite comfortable with, but Nihill (hailing from the Netherlands) exhibit the writing skill, the desire to push their music forward, and the lyrical spite that I feel benefit metal rather than holding it back in desperate mimicry.
It's arguable that better black metal albums dropped last year, but this one appealed to me immediately, and despite myself, production value goes a long way for my ears, so forgive me for choosing a sleeper on a "bigger" label (Hydra Head) over something by Volahn, Ashdautus, or Bone Awl, as good as they each are in their own right. I'm not trying to prove that I have the most underground taste or wildest collection of demo tapes. I'm just typing (in a slightly more masturbatory manner than usual) about last year's best records.
A musician I have a certain respect for was recently mentioning in his own blog that the top albums in any given year are not necessarily those I deem best as of January first the following year... time will prove a much better judge than myself, this serves best as a notion of what I could recall enjoying as the year wrapped.
Anyhow...

... also recommended Wolves in the Throne Room, "Black Cascade" CD 2xLP (Southern Lord)

09. Screen Vinyl Image, "Interceptors" CD/LP (Custom Made Music/Safranin)
Dreamy synth-pop with a dark edge. This brother and sister based band from Maryland recorded with a drum machine, played live with a drummer, and then gave him the boot after a Japanese tour. Can't say I have a preference for the live act with the drums, or the album with the drum machine, but either way I found myself surprisingly into this debut full length (after an EP, and split LP with Virginia's Ceremony). Swirling, shoe-gaze guitars mixed with a driving rhythm section and layers of sound loops. Catchy as hell, and kind of spooky at times. That is, spooky like that cute chick with the black hair and pin-striped jacket in your coffee shop, not like an episode of Celebrity Ghost Sightings. Perfect for driving late at night, and highly recommended for fans of My Bloody Valentine, New Order, and Depeche Mode.

... also recommended (on a more psychedelic tip), Warlocks, "The Mirror Explodes" (Tee Pee)

08. Cult Ritual, "Cult Ritual" LP (Youth Attack)

The best, fucked up punk album to drop in a while.
Sadly, it's potentially ushered forth a horde of imitators, citing Sonic Youth, Flipper, and later Black Flag as influences while they ride the wave that Pissed Jeans, Sex Vid, Total Abuse, Clockcleaner, and these dudes towed in, but the weak and lame, like always, will fall by the wayside and the true innovators will be remembered. This album was a high point for hardcore in a year that wallowed in mire.
Probably best that they broke up at their arguable peak, but it appears (from the Nazi Dust demo and Slave Scene 7"), that the Kvlt Ritval dudes aren't really calling it a day just yet.

... also recommended Taylor Bow. "Taylor Bow" LP (Youth Attack)

07. A Storm of Light, "Forgive Us Our Trespasses" CD/2xLP (Neurot)

Saw these dudes open for Wolves in The Throne Room this summer and they might have stolen the show. Perfectly executed, noisy, heavy, and forward-thinking. It was like seeing a three-piece version of Neurosis (which makes sense, as their frontman has done lights/visuals for The Tribe of Neurot for more than a handful of years and later formed the much acclaimed Red Sparrowes.) This new album picks up right where they left off with on their split LP with Nadja, melding lush melodies with pounding bass and drums.
Great band with consistently solid output. Get into it.

... also recommended, "Primitive North" split CD/2xLP with Nadja (Robotic Empire)

06. Swallowed Up, "This Is, And Goddamn Is It!" 10" (Self Released)

No image here, but this is (for me, at least) all I hope for in modern hardcore. Well executed, intelligent, and thoughtful.
The members of Swallowed up live in a collective outside of New York, and live and breathe DIY. They hand-screened and hand-sewed every copy of their 10", and refuse to let a[ny] label get their hands on their music, despite several offers.
Musically similar to Panic, The Hope Conspiracy, and even Trial or Catharsis at times, but in theory and practice reminiscent of Reversal of Man, Fugazi, pg. 99, or Born Against.
PC, against the grain, and 100% serious about every word they say. Jah bless, this is an offering from the Hardcore Gods, whether or not modern hardcore knows it.

... also recommended, Pulling Teeth, "Paranoid Delusions/Paradise Illusions" CD/LP (Deathwish/A389)

05. Sunn O))), "Monoliths & Dimensions" CD/2xLP (Southern Lord)

Easily my favorite Sunn album to date. Anderson and O'Malley find themselves accompanied by (for all intensive purposes) a stringed orchestra, and frequent collaborators like Oren Ambarchi and Attila.
They begin with the haunting "Aghartha," and so shall you.
Let the music speak for itself. This is the album that takes minimalism up a notch, and proves that drone is indeed "music."

... also recommended, Khanate, "Clean Hands Go Foul" CD/LP (Hydra Head), and The Bastard Noise & Christian Renou, "Brainstorming II (House Pig).

04. Converge, "Axe to Fall" CD/LP (Epitaph/Deathwish)

Won't bullshit. Not my favorite Converge album, but when these dudes drop a new album, it will inevitably be one of the year's best. A few power-metal influenced tracks; a Jesus Lizard-esque romp; two longer, slower numbers, one reminiscent of Tom Waits (and featuring Steve Von Til, of Neurosis), and a handful of songs that will be played at every Converge show for years to come.
You've probably heard how everybody else in the God-forsaken world of metal and hardcore plays on this record. Uffe from Entombed and Disfear, most of Cave In, some jerks from Ghengis Kahn, George from Blacklisted, Triv from 108, etc. It's not a collaboration album though - this is a Converge record, and a good one, the guys just decided to try something new, and on most fronts they succeed. Even their short-comings outshine the majority of their peers however, so how much do I really give a shit?

... also recommended, Doomriders, "Darkness Comes Alive" CD/LP (Deathwish)

03. Tombs, "Winter Hours" CD/LP (Relapse)

Not usually that into the Relapse stuff, save for maybe Pig Destroyer and ANB, but I couldn't wait for this fucker to drop. Mike Hill (Anodyne, Versoma, etc.) has compiled another full length of his paranoid isolation, lack of understanding the rest of humanity, and musical fucking prowess.
The dude has a great tone, and a way of playing that I can't recall hearing from anyone else, but without being flashy or full of shit. He just knows when to restrain, when to rage, and who to fill out his band with. Since their debut "EP," Tombs have obtained a new drummer, and (to my understanding?) bassist as well.
Not a whole lot to say here. I like the way Mr. Hill writes and plays music, I like the things he has to say, and I think this band smokes live. At times this album borrows heavily from black metal pioneers like Darkthrone and Burzum, but Tombs take heavy cues from The Jesus Lizard, Swans, Rollins Band, and many, many more punk, metal, and noise-rock bands. Thankfully though, they know better than to borrow and steal, and have crafted a brainchild of their own.
I expect no less from a veteran like Hill at this point, but it's nice to be pleasantly surprised, isn't it?

... also recommended, Shrinebuilder, "Shrinebuilder" CD/LP (Neurot)

02. Hatred Surge, "Deconstruct" LP/Cassette (RS/Financial Ruin)

It pleases me greatly to see hope for grindcore beyond rehashing the best albums and bands of the 80's and 90's. Hatred Surge take a highly power-violence influenced approach to the trade, which has tied them to bands like Iron Lung and The Endless Blockade, but hold true to their Gulf Coast roots (Insect Warfare, Mammoth Grinder, Faithealer, NIBIRU, War Master, etc.)
With last year's "Servant b/w Bestial" EP, the band took their no-bullshit, 1000mph assault to a lower gear, and churned out two heavier-than-hell monsters. With their full length, momentum has again been gained and the band rages through seventeen songs in just under nineteen minutes. After all, why change one of the best parts of grindcore?

... also recommended, Iron Lung/Walls/PHT "Public Humiliation" Collaboration LP (Iron Lung)

01. Moutheater, "Ornament" CD (Thrashed!)

Heavy, dirty, rock and roll highly influenced by hardcore. Seven stellar tracks of Am-Rep friendly dirge and three noise pieces compile this stellar debut of a full-length. I don't think I listened to another album for two weeks after "Ornament" came out.
I won't drag this one out. If you don't know the record, order a copy, go see the band live when they come through your town this summer, and like myself, you'll eagerly await their next effort. For fans of Nirvana, The Melvins, Tad, The Jesus Lizard, Helmet, Deadguy, Unsane, etc.

... also recommended, Fight Amp, "Manners and Praise" CD/LP (At a Loss/Brutal Panda)

With that said, some great EP's from last year included...
- Ash Pool's, "Saturn's Slave" 7" (Hospital Productions)
Two raging black metal tracks highly influenced by Oi and Hardcore.
- Slices (Two self-titled 7"s, one on 16Oh, and another on Home Invasion)
"If Crossed Out played Side B of My War." Awesome, noisy hardcore from Pittsburgh.
- Low Threat Profile - s/t 7" (Deep Six)
Dudes from No Comment, Infest, and Lack of Interest. They've still got it.
- Nazi Dust - Demo (Self-Released)
Members of Cult Ritual. Sounds like Life's Blood, but new. And frankly, better.

New Tunes

Went on a record-hunting expedition with Andrew yesterday and picked up some cool shit.

Anodyne - Quiet Wars CD - Escape Artist
Ash Pool - Saturn's Slave 7 (Blue) Hopsital Productions
The Bastard Noise/Malachi - The Immortals CD - House Pig/200mg
The Bastard Noise & Christian Renou - Attached at The Skull: Brainstorming II CD - House Pig
Brown Jenkins - Dagonite CD - Moribund Cult
Burning Star Core - Body Blues 7" - Hospital Productions
Burning Star Core - Challenger LP (2nd Press) Product
Entombed - Monkey Puss (Live in London) CD - Earache
Entombed - Out of Hand CD EP - Earache
Malachi & The Bastard Noise - The Immortals CD - House Pig/200mg
Nihill - Grond CD - Monumentum
Prurient - Fossil CD - Truculent
Raspberry Bulbs - "Finally Burst" Demo 2009 CS - Self-Released
Rotten Sound - Cycles CD - Spinefarm
Slogun - ... Kill to Forget CD - Jinx
Violent Ramp - Strange Notes CS (#63/77) Fag Tapes
Winter - Into Darkness/Eternal Frost CD (Gold; #1663/2000) Metal Mind Productions
Wolf Eyes - Always Wrong CD - Hospital Productions

... and a few albums I'd already had downloaded or needed to replace (Melvins, Slayer, Terrorizer, etc.)

Altogether, a pretty awesome day.

DISTRO SALE!

If you order anything from my distro before Midninght TOMORROW (Jan 1st, 2010), It's a buck off every 7" or CD, and $2 of LP's, and $3 off 2xLP's. Shoot me a message on facebook, text, or email (ryanaircraft@hotmail.com) and you've got dibs... If you're not in the Seven Cities I can mail out on Monday.

Order more and I'll knock more off. Shit is NEGOTIABLE here.

7”
ABOUT TO SNAP - s/t (Silk-Screened B-side) Specimen 32 $4
ABOUT TO SNAP - Already Dead (1st Press; Grey) A389 $4
AGAINST ME! - The Disco Before the Breakdown (4th Press; /440 Cherry) No Idea $5
AGAINST ME! - Sink, Florida, Sink/Unsubstantiated Rumors (3rd Press; /1000 Grey) No Idea $5
AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED/THE ENDLESS BLOCKADE – Split 7” (1st Press; /500 Black) Relapse $7
ANNIHILATION TIME - Cosmic Unconsciousness EP (/300 Black w/ Green Silkscreen Cover) Tank Crimes $7
THE ASSAILANT – The Nurse EP (Picture Disc) Init $7
BLACK SHIPS – Low (Black) New Romance for Kids $5
BOOKBURNER - s/t (1st Press; /445 Clear) 16Oh $5
BRACEWAR – Whatever It Takes 7” (1st Press; /700 Black) TWGG $6.00
CRIME DESIRE - In Lucifer’s Grip (1st Press; Black) Life’s a Rape $5
DEATHCYCLE - s/t (1st Press; Black) 17 cm $3
THE DEDICATION - Youth Murder Anthems (1st Press: /848 Clear) Deathwish Inc. $4
DOUBLE NEGATIVE - Raw Energy EP (1st Press; /1500 on Clear/No Labels) Sorry State $5
DRAGNET - s/t (Black) Deadalive $3
EARLY MAN/RAMMER - Speed and Spikes: Vol. III (1st Press; /1000 Gold w/ Green Splatter) Relapse $5
FUCKED UP - Year of the Pig (1st Press; Black) Matador $5
FUCKED UP - Year of the Pig (1st Press; Black) Matador $5
GOOD CLEAN FUN - Who Shares Wins (Black) Phyte $2
GUILT TRIP – s/t (1st Press; Black) Absent
INK & DAGGER/LE SHOK – Split 7” (Initial) $5
INK & DAGGER – Experiments in Nocturnal Sound & Energy (Revelation) $5
HATRED SURGE/INSECT WARFARE – Split 7” (4th Press; /500 Minty Green Clear) RSR $6
HATRED SURGE/INSECT WARFARE – Split 7” (4th Press; /500 Minty Green Clear) RSR $6
INTEGRITY – Walpurgisnacht 7” (Black) A389 $6
THE LOCUST - s/t (5th Press; Clear Red/Black /1000) GSL $5
LOGIC PROBLEM – No Center 7” (Black) Grave Mistake $5
NEWGENICS - Every Girl in the World (Black) Level Plane (ex-In/Humanity/Guyana Punchline, Anakrid) $2
NEWGENICS - Eraser/Symbionistas (Black) Shock Value (ex-In/Humanity/Guyana Punchline, Anakrid) $2
NOTHING PERSONAL - s/t (1st Press; /300 Clear) Nightstick (MAKE AN OFFER)
OBLITERATION – This Is Tomorrow (N.I.T.A.) $5
OBLITERATION – This Is Tomorrow (N.I.T.A.) $5
PELLINORE - Memento Mori (1st Press; /325 Grey) Free Cake $5
POLAR BEAR CLUB – The Summer of George 7” (Bridge 9) $6
Q AND NOT U – Hot and Informed (Black) Dischord $5
RAMBO/CRUCIAL UNIT – “Sea of Steel, Vol. I” Split (Ed Walters) $5
THE RIVAL MOB – “Bitter Rivals” Demo 2007 (1st Press; 440 Black) Triple B/Troubled Mind $5
SEQUIOA - s/t (Black) $3
SPLITTING HEADACHE - s/t (1st Press; /500 Black) Collapse $4
STREETCLEANER - Mother Curse EP (Black) Give Praise $5
THIS FLOOD COVERS THE EARTH - Drawing a Line, Building a Wall (1st Press; /500 Lime/Black) Dood $4
UNBROKEN – Absentee Debate b/w Crushed On You 7” (Black) New Age $5
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? - Brutiful Fearing 6” (1st Press; /1200 on Black) Six Weeks $5
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? - Ahora Mas Que Nunca (1st Press; Black w/ Pop-Up Insert) Lengua Armada $5
WOLF WHISTLE – Demo 2007 (1st Press; /500 Black Ft, Sticker, Patch, & Button) Troubled Mind $7
WOLF WHISTLE – Demo 2007 (1st Press; /500 Black Ft, Sticker, Patch, & Button) Troubled Mind $7
V/A – No Bullshit, Vol. III 7” (Black) No Way $4.00 [ft. Life Trap, Socialcide, Double Negative, Out Cold, Acid Reflux, Chronic Seizure] $4
V/A – No Bullshit, Vol. IV 7” (Black) No Way $4.00 [ft. Citizens Patrol, Anti-You, Born Bad, Civic Progress, Logic Problem, Violent Arrest, Insomnio] $4
V/A - “People Don’t Take Photographs of Things They Want to Forget” (Clear Blue) Broken Press [TRANSISTOR TRANSISTOR, BACKSTABBERS INC, PURITY’S FAILURE, TRAP THEM & KILL THEM, ADVOCATE] $3
V/A – The South Will Rise Again 7” (Black) Cowabunga [ft. Bomber, HRT, Reason of Insanity, The PMRC, Cult Ritual, High Life, Ugly Law, Socialcide, Archaic] $5
V/A – The South Will Rise Again 7” (Black) Cowabunga [ft. Bomber, HRT, Reason of Insanity, The PMRC, Cult Ritual, High Life, Ugly Law, Socialcide, Archaic] $5

10”
GRAY GHOST - s/t (1st Press; /200 Green) Copper Lung $10
OIL – Electric Tongue EP (US Tour Press; #74/77 on Pink) Coalition $8
SEASICK - s/t (1st Press; /250 Yellow/Black Splatter) Brain Drain $10
THANK GOD/TIGERSHARK - Split (1st Press; /495 Black) Perpetual Motion Machine/Mol Sook/Tick Tock


12”
108 - A New Beat from a Dead Heart (2nd Press; Sealed) Deathwish Inc $12
ANTISCHISM - Still Life (Black) Prank $9
BARONESS/UNPERSONS – “A Grey Sigh in a Flower Husk” Split LP (At a Loss; Comes w/ Download Card) $20
BLACK BREATH – Razor to Oblivion (Black) Hot Mass $11
BLACK EYES – Cough (1st Press; Black) Dischord $6
BLANK STARE - s/t (US Press; Black) No Label $11
THE CATALYST - Marianas Trench (1st Press; /350 Blue w/ Silk-Screened B-Side) Perpetual Motion Machine $8
CAVE IN – Planets of Old 12” (Hydra Head) $19
COLISEUM - No Salvation (1st Press; Silver w/ White Splatter) Auxiliary/Relapse $16
DEAD NATION - Passing Phase (1st Press; /650 Black) Six Feet Under $10
DEATHCYCLE - s/t (1st press; /700 Clear) Lifeline/Chainsaw Safety/17cm $10
DFA - Defy False Authority (Black) Deep Six $8
DFA - Destined for Assimilation (Black) Ugly Pop $8
FU MANCHU - Return to Earth ’91-’93 (Sealed) Elastic $15
FUCKED UP – The Chemistry of Common Life 2xLP (1st Press; Sealed, 180g Black) Matador $23
FUCKED UP – Year of the Rat (1st Press; Black) What’s Your Rupture $12
GHOSTLIMB - s/t (1st press; /500 Black w/ B-Side Etching & Silk-Screened Cover) Vendetta/Adagio 830 $9
GHOSTLIMB - Bearing & Distance (1st Press; /800 Red) Adagio 830 $12
GRAF ORLOCK/GREYSKULL - Split (3rd Press; Clear w/ “Metal” Backpack) $10
INSECT WARFARE – One-Sided LP (1st Press; /1100 Black) 625 Thrashcore $12
IRON AGE – The Sleeping Eye 2xLP (Tee Pee) $19
ISIS – Wavering Radiant 2xLP (1st Press; Black) Ipecac $25
LORDS OF LIGHT - Electric Sun 12” (1st Press; Black) Studio Geordie $12
THE MINOR TIMES - Making Enemies (1st Press: /300 White or Red, Sealed) Level Plane $10
PAINT IT BLACK - New Lexicon (1st Press; /1180 White) Jade Tree/Rivalry $10
PANIC - Strength in Solitude (1st Press; /500 Black/Green Swirl) Bridge 9 $10
PIG DESTROYER – Terrifyer 2xLP (1st Press; /600 Black, 180g) Relapse $24
PUNCH – s/t LP (Six Two Five) $13
RAMMER - Suffer (1st Press; /1000 Black) Slasher [Ex-Chokeholdm Union of Uranus]
RUINER - I Heard These Dudes Are Assholes (1st Press; Sealed) Bridge 9 $10
SEASICK - Ouroboros (1st Press; /500 Black w/ Etched B-Side) Soul Rebel
SEX VID – Communal Living (1st Press; Black) Dom America $12
SOCIALCIDE - Unnapproachable (1st Press; Black) Kangaroo/Even Worse $11
SOME GIRLS - All My Friends Are Going Death (1st Press; Colored Vinyl, Sealed) Three One G $20
SOUL CONTROL - Involution (1st Press; /600 Red) Rivalry $10
SPLITTING HEADACHE – Night Terrors (1st Press; /300 Red) Collapse
TEAR IT UP - Just Can’t Stand It (Blue) Deranged $12
TOMBS - s/t (1st Press; /400 Black w/ CD) Level Plane/Black Box $14
TOMBS - Winter Hours (1st Press; /400 Brown) Relapse $17
TRAP THEM - Sleepwell Deconstructor (1st Press; /750 Black 180g) Trash Art $13
V/A - A Tribute to ANTI-CIMEX (1st Press; Black) Dead City / Pelea [ft. DRILLER KILLER, WOLFBRIGADE, DOOM, INEPSY, RATOS DE PORAO, NAILBITER, DISCLOSE, AVSKUM, SINERGIA, LOS REZIOS, WARCOLLAPSE, SCUM NOISE,DISKONTO, AUTONOMIA, BOXED IN, O ANJO EXTERMINADOR, CROSSING CHAOS, DETESTATION, DRASTIKA, VIIMEINEN KOLONNA, STRAIGHT TO HELL (Ex-Dropdead)] $6

CD
BELPHEGOR – Bondage Goat Zombie – Nuclear Blast $2
BEOWOLF - Lost My Head - I Scream $3
THE BLACK HAND – War Monger – Chainsaw Safety $5
COHEN, LEONARD – I’m Your Man (Soundtrack) Verve $3
CHAMPION/BETRAYED - Split - Rivalry $3
DAUGHTERS – Canada Songs – Robotic Empire $6
DAUGHTERS – Hell Songs – Hydra Head $2
DEATHCYCLE - Prelude to Tyranny - Lifeline $5
DOWN TO NOTHING - The Most - Revelation $6
THE ERGS - Hindsight is 20/20, My Friend - Dirtnap $11
FEIST – Let It Die – Polydor $5
FUCKED UP - The Chemistry of Common Life - Matador $12
GO IT ALONE/BLUE MONDAy - Split - Rivalry $3
GO IT ALONE - Histories - Rivalry $3
HOT CROSS - Fair Trades and Farewells - Level Plane $2
LAST LIGHTS – No Past. No Present. No Future. – Think Fast! $5
LIFE LONG TRAGEDY - Runaways - Deathwish Inc $5
MAXAMILLIAN COLBY – Discography – Lovitt $5
MENTAL – Get an Oxygen Tank – Bridge 9 $6
PART CHIMP – I Am Come – Monitor $2
PULLING TEETH – Paranoid Delusions/Paradise Illusions – Deathwish Inc. $8
Q AND NOT U – On Play Patterns – Dischord $2
RAMMING SPEED - Brainwreck - Teenage Disco Bloodbath $10
VERSE - From Anger and Rage - Rivalry $5
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? – Standfast Armageddon Justice Fighter – Sound Pollution $5
WITCHCRAFT BY A PICTURE - CD + Ouija Board (Magic Bullet) $5
YOU AND I - You & I - Alone $2
YOU AND I – The Curtain Falls – Level Plane $5
YOUNG WIDOWS - Old Wounds - Temporary Residence $14

DVD
GRAILS – Acid Rain – Temporary Residence Ltd. $17
SUCH HAWKS, SUCH HOUNDS: Scenes from the American Hard Rock Underground – Long Song Pictures $20 [ft. EARTHLESS, OM, SUNNO))), DEAD MEADOW, PENTAGRAM, THRONES, KYUSS, SLEEP, COMETS ON FIRE, etc.]

Feel free to repost..

Top 100 Albums of the '00s.

After much scrutiny, here is the list - which I'm sure will be amendec more over time.

Some of these aren't nexessarily my "favorite" effort by the artists, but the most important or best representative of that time period (i.e. "Death Knows Your Name" is totally the best Hope Con album.) Some aren;t so much "my thing," but are jst too damn important or were too damn big to ignore; but i legitimately enjoy every album on here.

Aesop Rock – Labor Days (Def Jux, September, 2001)
American Nightmare – Background Music (Equal Vision, 2001)
And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead (Interscope, February 2002)
Andrew W.K. – I Get Wet (Island, November 2001)
Arcade Fire – Funeral (Merge, September 2004)
At the Drive In – Relationship of Command (Grand Royal, 2000)
Atmosphere – Godlovesugly (Def Jux, November 2002)
Battles – Mirrored (Warp, May 2007)
Boris – Heavy Rocks (2002)
Boris – Akuma No Uta (Diwphalanx, 2003)
Boris – Pink (Diwphalanx, 2005)
Boris w/ Michio Kurihara – Rainbow (Pedal, 2006)
Botch – We Are the Romans (Hydra Head, January 2000)
Breach – Kollapse (2001)
Cannibal Ox – The Cold Vein (Def Jux, 2001)
Carry On – A Life Less Plagued (Bridge 9, 2001)
Celebrity Murders - A Time to Kill Space (Chainsaw Saftey, 2005)
Celtic Frost - Monotheist (2006)
City of Caterpillar – City of Caterpillar (Level Plane, 2001)
Converge – Jane Doe (Equal Vision, September 2001)
Converge – You Fail Me (Epitaph)
Converge – No Heroes (Epitaph)
Converge – Axe to Fall (Epitaph)
Cursed – One (Deathwish, 2003)
Cursed – Two (Goodfellow, 2005)
Cursive – The Ugly Organ (Saddle Creek, March 2003)
Damien Rice, O (Vector, February 2002)
Dangerdoom – The Mouse and The Mask (Epitaph, 2005)
Dinosaur Jr. – Beyond (Fat Possum, 2007)
Discordance Axis – Inalienable Dreamless (Hydra Head, August 2000)
Earth – Hex: or Printing in the Infernal Method (Southern Lord, 2005)
Envy – Dead Sinking Story (Level Plane, August 2003)
Fucked Up – Hidden World (Jade Tree, 2006)
Fucked Up – The Chemistry of Common Life (Matador, 2008)
Godspeed You Black Emperor – Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heavan (Kranky, 2000)
Have Heart – Songs to Scream at the Sun (Bridge 9, 2008)
High on Fire – Blessed Black Wings (Relapse, February 2005)
The Hope Conspiracy – Coldblue (Equal Vision, 2000)
The Hope Consipracy – Endnote (Equal Vision, 2002)
In My Eyes – Nothing to Hide (Revelation, 2000)
Insect Warfare – World Extermination (Six Two Five, 2007)
Integrity – To Die For (Deathwish, 2003)
Interpol – Turn on the Bright Lights (Matador, 2002)
Iron Lung – Life. Iron Lung. Death. (Six Two Five, 2005)
Iron Lung – Sexless//No Sex (Prank, 2008)
Isis – Oceanic (Ipecac, September 2002)
J Dilla - Donuts (Stone’s Throw, February 2006)
Jay Z – The Blueprint (Def Jam, September 2001)
Jesu – Jesu (Hydra Head, 2005)
Johnny Cash – American IV: The Man Comes Around (American, 2002)
Kid Dynamite – Shorter, Faster, Louder (Jade Tree, 2000)
Leviathan – Massive Conspiracy Against All Life (Moribound Cult)
Madlib – Shades of Blue (Blue Not, July 2003)
Madvillian – Madvilliany (Stones Throw, March 2004)
Mars Volta – Frances the Mute (GSL, 2003)
Mastadon – Remission (Relapse, 2002)
Melvins – A Senile Animal (Ipecac, July 2006)
Mind Eraser – Cave (Painkiller/Collapse, 2005)
Mind Eraser – Conscious/Unconscious (Clean Plate, 2008)
Modern Life Is War – My Love. My Way. (Martyr, 2003)
Modern Life Is War – Witness (Deathwish Inc, 2005)
Modest Mouse – The Moon and Antarctica (Epic, June 2000)
Mogwai – Rock Action (Matador, 2001)
Morrissey – You Are the Quarry (Sanctuary/Attack, May 2004)
Municipal Waste – Waste ‘Em All (Six Weeks, 2003)
Muse – Absolution (A&E, September 2003)
Napalm Death – Enemy of the Music Business (Spitfire, 2000)
Nas – Stillmatic (Ill Will/Columbia, December 2001)
Nasum – Helvete (Relapse, 2003)
Neurosis – A Sun That Never Sets (Relapse, 2001)
No Warning – Ill Blood (Bridge Nine, November 2002)
Om – Pilgrimage (Southern Lord, 2008)
Outkast – Stankonia (LaFace, October 2000)
Outkast – Speakerboxx/The Love Below (Laface, September 2003)
pg. 99 – Document #07 (Magic Bullet/Happy Couples Never last, 2001)
Paint It Black – Paradise (Jade Tree, 2005)
Pig Destroyer – Prowler In the Yard (Relapse, July 2001)
Prurient – And Still, Wanting (No Fun, 2008)
Q and Not U – No Kill, No Beep Beep (Dischord, 2000)
Queens of the Stone Age – Songs for the Deaf (Interscope, 2002)
Radiohead – Kid A (EMI, October, 2000)
Radiohead – In Rainbows (Xendless Xurbia, November 2007)
Scott Walker – The Drift (4AD, 2006)
The Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra-la-la band with Choir – “This Is Our Punk Rock,” Thee Rusted Satellits Gather + Sing (Constellation, 2003)
Sleep – Dopesmoker (Tee Pee, April 2003)
The Suicide File – Twilight (2003)
SunnO))) – OO Void (*Hydra Head, 2000)
SunnO))) – Black One (Southern Lord, 2005)
SunnO))) & Boris – Altar (Southern Lord, 2006)
Think I Care – Think I Care (Deadalive, 2003)
Tragedy – Tragedy (Tragedy, 2000)
The Twilight Singers – Blackberry Belle (One Little Indian, October 2003)
Verse – Rebuild (Rivarly, 2004)
Walls – s/t (Painkiller, 2008)
Walls – s/t 12” (Iron Lung, 2008)
Weakling – Dead as Dreams (tUMULt, 2000)
Wolves In the Throne Room – Two Hunters (Southern Lord, September 2007)
Xasthur – Subliminal Genocide (Hydra Head, September 2006)
The Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs – Fever to Tell (Interscope, April 2003)
Zeni Geva – 10,000 Light Years (Neurot, May 2001)

Feel like I should maybe put the Cult Ritual LP, Made Out of Baby's "Coward," or one of the Storm of Light albums on there... but what to cut? Oh shit! And Nihill?

Son of a bitch...

Saturday, October 31st

Yesterday my "team" at work was supposed to go to Busch Gardens as a group. Through various circumstances every single person (including my wife) bailed, which I wasn't aware of until I was already at the park. In the end, I drove up to walk around by myself for about two hours and then headed back home.

Wife had to work last night (which is why I came home as early as I did), and I found out that there was actually a Halloween party at the comic shop where she works (as she was getting ready.) Bit of a drag, as I would have liked to have gone.

A lightbulb, hanging over my bed.

"Humbly patient or docile, as under provocation from others."

Saturday, September 5th

The Swag Swap was last week and it was modestly successful. I had a few crates of records, some old band shirts, buttons, posters, stickers, etc, but we had other vendors with art, jewelry, homemade crafts, clothes, and other cool stuff for sale.

At this point, The Return of The Swag Swap is slated for Saturday, November 7th, and we're hoping to have more vendors, more visitors, and more donations. Where the first Swap was a benefit for The Foodbank of Southeastern VA, we are discussing the beneficiary of the second event.

In less important news, I went to Busch Gardens last week and they're closing The Big Bad Wolf on Labor Day. Crazy.

I Scored Death's "Scream Bloody Gore" and Napalm Death's "Noise for Music's Sake" for about $13 last night. Pretty amped on that. At the Swap I picked up some cool stuff too:

Cipher - Burnt Halos 6" (Red/Black) Double Down
Crooked Ways - How to Break Hearts EP 7" (Purple) Self-Released
Shiner - Semper Fi 7" (Black) DeSoto
Swing Kids - s/t (Black) Three One G
Cut the Shit - Marked for Life 10" (1st Press; /70 Purple w/ Blank Red Labels) Gloom
Annihilation Time - s/t LP (Black) Deadalive
Bob Willis - The Bob Willis Anthology 2xLP (Black) CBS

Been listening to Swans and Hatred Surge a lot lately. Also, saw Inglourious Basterds last night. Good stuff.

The Week of July 5, 2009

Went to Fantasy yesterday and got some cool stuff.

Boris with Michio Kurihara - Rainbow (US Version)
Henry Rollins (Band) - Hot Animal Machine
Rollins Band - Life Time
Unseen Terror - Human Error
U2 - Boy
Wolfmangler - Dwelling In a Dead Raven for the Glory of Crucified Wolves
O))) Presents... "Pentemple"

Not the best week, but the world keeps turning. I wonder when my Moutheater and Wolf Whistle pre-orders are going to show up.

The Week of Sunday, May 24th, 2009

Went to see Wolves in the Throne Room, Krallice, A Storm of Light, and Forensics last night. Two of the bands were boring and dissappointing, but two played excellent sets. Overall, it's been a pretty excellent week and I'm looking forward to summer continuing at this pace. I'm finding myself feeling a lot more comortable and happy every day. It should be mentioned that I went to the pool beforehand, which was fun as hell.

Also, we got a new rat today. His name is Wagner.