Rick Jimenez (This Is Hell)
What are your top five albums that were released in 2010? (In order 1-5)
1.This is Hell "Weight of the World"
1a.Ice Age "Dead Kings"
2.Madball "Empire"
3.Comeback Kid "Symptoms & Cures"
4.First Blood "Silence is Betrayal"
5.Bring Me The Horizon "there is a heaven..."
What band did you discover in 2010 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
Bsmooov. I now have an R&B record that i can sing along too when i'm trying to get down with some hot chick. I finally was able to find a copy of The Middle Class "Out of Vogue" from 1978. Not really life changing but regarded as possibly the first hardcore record ever and I was never able to find it or even hear it. I've had the Adolescents album for about 8 years but just recently realized it was awesome. It never did it for me until about 2 weeks ago. I love when that happens.
How will you remember 2010? (In terms of music)
A mix of boundless and pretentiously segregated. I saw both sides of this so much throughout the year. My mind was blown by how open some people and bands were with what they were doing and willing to try... and my mind was equally blown by how "think inside this small box" and "follow the leader mentality" was embraced. i stopped caring so much about what other people are doing and how they are living so long ago but this year, i stopped caring so much more that i barely even noticed. when i look back at 2010 in hindsight i'll probably think mostly about weight of the world and i'll be happy with that because its my favorite this is hell record.
With more and more bands switching to digital methods of releasing music and communicating with audiences in 2010, do you think there's still a place for physical CDs and word-of-mouth shows in the future?
Almost every show I went to this year that I didn't play, I heard about through word of mouth first and not the internet somehow, so real life still plays a big role in music. Physical CDs and vinyl, also still very important. Bands I know that tried to switch to download 100% got asked "where's the cd?!" so much at shows they quickly went back. I actually sold 95% of my cd collection this year but thats because I needed to make room for my wrestling dvd's. Our vinyl sold just as well as our cd so physical copy music is still important, just not booming like it used to... lets be honest though, people don't want to spend money on anything anymore. I know I don't. If i could illegally download gas into my car, i'd do that too.
What can we look forward to from you in 2011?
The steady decline of my bank account and sanity due to my decision to travel around the world to play with my wah pedal. Maybe a new This is Hell record and definitely a new Soldiers 7".
What three records are you looking forward to most in 2011?
Incendiary's new record, Soldiers new 7", Agnostic Front record
