The downstroke master returns after a mere 8 months since his last burner.  This latest effort leans more into the straight ahead rock of The Sultans and late-era Rocket From The Crypt.  If you’re a fan of the man, you’re gonna love this.

This record is a compilation of, you guessed it, their first 3 EP’s. Amusement is the kind of band that bridges generations. Husker Du influence with modern tones and themes.  Pure punk rock.

If you don’t know the Testors by now, you wouldn’t even be reading any of this. Essential late-70’s NYC punk that was under-documented until this century. This is similar to the out of print Swami anthology, but includes plenty of different tracks and bonus ephemera that makes it a must-have for any Sonny Vincent fan.

This was a short-run LP of two Denver bands featuring the late, great and incredibly incendiary vocalist, Luke Fairchild. The Git Some session is from 2006 and the Quits session is from 2017. The tracks are either previously unreleased or rarities that hadn’t appeared on vinyl. As of now, there is no digital version. Vinyl is better and Luke would have preferred it this way.  FID.

The world recently discovered their 2023 s/t debut album earlier this year thanks to the band’s tours with bands such as Pearl Jam and Pennywise. They’re sophomore album has come at the perfect time. They’re unique unto themselves and a force to be reckoned with, both socially and sonically.

Once upon a time I listened to a split record because of Acid Deathtrip and Hangman's Chair. I really liked one side of the record and was not really impressed by the other band. So I never really followed Hangman's Chair after that. I am now slowly working backwards in their impressive discography, as Saddiction is one hell of an album. It got me properly hooked with it's sad grunge doom sound with amazingly good vocals. It's funny to see a band I hardly ever gave a spin grow to a band who released an album that might just end up as my record of the year. 

I had never heard of this band before, but their brand of post-hardcore blew me away instantly. There is so much going on on this album it is impossible to be bored with it. When writing these folks must have said to each other: there are no boundaries, everything is possible! And the great thing is: they make it work!

This debut full length delivers what their demo and tapes promised. Unrelenting old-school hardcore in the vein of Hoax is the name of the game. And boy, this band is good at that game. The production is nice and rough, like this type of music needs. It is violent and cathartic and just the kind of musical grenade I need to help me deal with the world and being alive.

After reading the really nice interview on this very site I decided to check out to check out the new record on Iron Lung Records. Well, the fact that they are on this label helped with giving them a chance, because this label has just the nose for excellent brutal noise. Retirement fits on this labels roster like a glove. This record is punishing. Like Slon they have a production that is fittingly rough around the edges. Another cathartic record in my most listened albums so far. What a year, huh?

This band continues to wow me with the amount of swag a hardcore band can have. It is what got me into them on their debut, they still had it on their sophomore record and well, here we are for their third album. This band is a bit more clean than Slon and Retirement, but energy-wise as unrelenting. A different, cleaner vibe, but again a record that I play a lot. This band is working hard to become my favorite hardcore band of the last ten years.

I don't like to pick favourites so I’m not going to say this is number one but it was the first new album that I fell for this year. I listened to the shit out of it when writing the review of it, maybe too much? It’s cool tho to rediscover a band that’s been around as long as these dudes have. If you like the Stooges (and sax! Who doesn’t?) you should check out this album as well as Bad Vibes OST by SexFaces and the latest release by Pdx’s Perfect Buzz!

It’s no coincidence that two writers I follow have compared Dauber to my band Night Court. We’re label mates and I’m gonna throw it out there, both obvious fans of Cincinnati’s Vacation (RIP?) Scrappy, energetic and heartfelt, this is Mike from Screaming Females (RIP) recorded by John from Vacation, what’s not to like?

This song was released as a single ahead of the release of Bug Club’s new album Very Human Features BUT IT’S NOT ON THE ALBUM!?? That’s insane because it’s probably my favourite song of theirs. Great harmonies for the indie crowd and funny lyrics for the punks. The album’s also good tho maybe their best album so far. I like to proudly remind myself that I was into this band before they got signed to Sub Pop. Admittedly also gives me some vague albeit probably unrealistic hope that if Sub Pop signs bands like Bug Club maybe they’ll sign my band some day too.. (hint hint Sub Pop;)

The first song, which is also the namesake for this EP, is five minutes long and it’s still great! How is that even possible? If I wanted to listen to the same song for that long I’d just put it on repeat but somehow when I listen to this one, I don't even notice how insanely long it is.. more awesome Australian bedroom synth punk (is that what we’re calling it again?) Don’t worry tho the other 5 songs on this EP are also 5 minutes long. Not each, like each one is exactly one minute. Oh I see because 5 minutes is the max length per side so there’s no wasteage, smart. 

Like Dark Thougths or maybe Metalleg with a drum machine. I guess that makes them Egg Punk but we don’t use that term anymore since Paperface Zine ruined it for everyone then promptly (mysteriously?) disappeared. Also not unlike Golden Pissers and Real Sickies who are less Egg-y but also put out great albums this year and are rad dudes. Oh hold up, I just looked at Sex Mex’s instagram and it looks like it’s ONLY a drummer what the hell now I’m totally confused!

I liked their debut, but it didn’t really click with me like their live set did. This record, well, it clicks. I call it blue-collar guitar rock from the punk world. It’s down to earth, but it also knows how to steal the spotlight at the same time, if that makes any sense. Heavy, loud, meaningful and memorable.

Just like their beer namesake, sometimes you want something basic and to the point, free of all the embellishments. Working class punk that hits all the right notes.

Hardcore through an LA meets East Bay melodic punk filter, this is angry and anxious at the same time. Plus, it covers a lot of sonic ground in just a few songs.

I view this as a companion piece to Integrated Tech Solutions, both in mood and subject matter (somewhat). Another contemplative, observational record from one of hip-hop’s most verbose wordsmiths.

If I made this arbitrary ranking based on singles that stick with me, Dauber would be on this list ahead of Dead Bars. But something about the energy and vibe of a full listen to this short record just hits the right mood -- every single time I play it.

Okay, okay, half of the band has been dead for decades. I realise that a band solely comprising the rhythm section is only interesting to fans of Death from Above 1979, but I think there's something we can do here.

George Harrison, for example, went to his grave as a believer in transcendental meditation. What if—unbeknownst to Beatles fans—he was able to reincarnate himself at will, ideally into the body of someone who was really good at playing heartfelt slide guitar licks and singing in a nasal Liverpool accent? We have to at least consider the possibility.

As for John Lennon: surely Peter Jackson, with all his Tolkien-inspired wizardry, is able to reconstitute John, Gollum-like, from the hours of footage still locked in the vault from the ill-fated Let It Be sessions? They could probably rope in a lookalike to crawl around a soundstage in a onesie while the cameras convert their movement into the rhythm guitar and yowls of Lennon at his prime?

Once those minor spiritual/technical hurdles are overcome, it's simply a matter of persuading Paul McCartney to stop performing Hey Jude for minor celebrations of the British aristocracy, and for someone to tell Ringo that if holds up a quick peace sign and pretends to drum for 20 minutes, he'll make a billion dollars. And me? I'll be on the front of the barriers, loving every stupid minute of it.

On the other hand: we could just persuade some of their sons (pictured) to get together and play a tribute concert, which would in no way insult the memories of their more talented/handsome fathers.

I'm bold enough to have asked Ian MacKaye himself about the possibility of a Fugazi reunion, so don't tell me the odds (or the Evens): I already know it's basically never going to happen.

And yet: maybe it could? There's almost no evidence to support this except for the fact that all four band members are still around and making art/music of some kind. And there's an argument that the state of politics, society, technology and the environment are all factors that are crying out for an informed, barbed criticism by the DC pioneers. But again... it's a pipe dream.

Nobody is going to be dumb enough to offer Ian, Guy, Joe and Brendan money to reunite, because that would be gross. But maybe circumstance could lead to a one-off tribute performance, perhaps for some important fundraising goal or other landmark event? A punk can hope. 

I love Weezer. The Blue album is on constant rotation and some of the later albums occasionally make the cut too. But this is a band who do not know when to quit. So let me tell them: now.

Take Black Sabbath's recent example: do a final show, ideally soon, and then... stop making new music. We've got it from here, guys. There's more than enough out there, including a Toto tribute album, probably, some kind of guest spot with Lil Wayne and—I imagine—a version of Pinkerton where every song is played on a kazoo or something. Always leave 'em wanting less, right?