Feature / Music
2006: A Year In Review

Quick links: Top 5 DVDs | Most Anticipated Albums of 2007 | Reasons The Fresh Prince was awesome | Top 5 Singles | Big Comebacks of 2006 | Top 5 Shows | Top 5 Things That Sucked | Top 5 Things That Ruled | Noteworthy Songs | Top Reissues | Reasons the BBC Is Killing UK Music | Top 5 Vinyl-Only Releases | Worst Cover Art | Band Tour Stories

1. Botch - 061502 (Hydra Head)

Botch was underappreciated during their time as a band. They were never as popular as their peers in Converge or The Dillinger Escape Plan. And while they may have never reached the success level of either of those bands, their influence in hardcore is just as, if not more so, influential. This DVD chronicles their final moment as a band. In addition to their final performance, there is the humorous commentary track for the DVD as well as additional live footage and the accompanying audio CD.

2. Isis - Clearing the Eye (Ipecac)

Isis is a great band on CD, but as good as they are on CD, they are even better live. On this DVD, the band's first, we are treated to an entire set from 2005, circa Panopticon, as well as various video footage from throughout the band's career. This DVD is a nice trip down memory lane for longtime fans and a good introduction to their past for the fans the band has drawn with their recent tour alongside Tool.

3. Faith No More - Live at the Brixton Academy / Who Cares a Lot? (Warner Bros.)

I've been holding on to my VHS copies of both of these releases ever since their respective releases. Granted, I could always pop them into my VHS and watch them, but when it comes to quality, DVD is far superior. So when they became available together on DVD, I rushed to the store to pick it up. My only qualm with this release is that there are no additional features, just the footage from the original VHS version.

4. Integrity - Always is Always Forever (Van Hellion)

The DVD features videos and live footage from the band's earliest years up through the band's most recent incarnation. The footage is an excellent chronicle of one of hardcore's most intriguing and mysterious acts to date. In fitting Integrity fashion, the first DVD release for the band features a title taken from a Charles Manson songâ?¦ did you really expect otherwise?

5. Refused - Refused are Fucking Dead (Burning Heart)

Similarly to Botch, Refused did not reach popularity until after their demise as a band. Since their breakup in 1998, the band's influence and popularity has grown exponentially. The Shape of Punk to Come laid the groundwork for exactly that, what was to come in the form of "punk" music. In addition to live footage of the band performing songs from that highly influential album and others, we are also treated to interview clips, allowing us a glimpse into the world that was Refused.

Honorable Mentions: Nirvana - Live! Tonight! Sold Out! (Geffen), Kid Dynamite - Four Years in One Gulp (Jade Tree)

(Michael)