Year End Top Ten Lists

It's that time of year where all of us music nerds take a look back at the past twelve months and agonize over what records made our top ten list. This can be difficult for two reasons...for some the difficulty may lie in narrowing it down to just ten releases, but for others it could be simply thinking of ten things they liked that came out this year. Some lists may be in order, some may not. Some may have descriptions, some may not. Heck, some don't even have ten records. But here goes nothing....

Greg Polard (Zine guy / father of the year)

Fall Out Boy "Infinity On High" (Island/Def Jam) - What can I say? When this band first burst onto the scene I absolutely despised them, but in recent times I have to say I've become somewhat obsessed with this band, but especially this record. Fourteen extremely well crafted pop songs. Cameos from Jay-Z, Chad Gilbert (New Found Glory) and Ryan Ross (Panic! At The Disco). Solid drumming. Great lyrics. The soulfullness in Patrick Stump's voice blows me away every time. This is going to be tough to top. Nothing else on this list is in any particular order, but I can safely say that this is my #1 record of 2007.

Jay-Z "American Gangster" (Roc-A-Fella Records) - The rap record that everyone is talking about. You already know the story...Jay-Z saw an advance screening of "American Gangster" and it reminded him so much of his hustling days that he wrote a bunch of songs and put out a record that's so good it almost makes you forget what a bumout "Kingdom Come" was.

Bitter End "Climate Of Fear" (Malfunction / Deathwish Inc.) - I won't write much about this record, since I already review it below, but I will say that this is the best hardcore full length LP of 2007. The more I listen to it, the more I love it. I dare you to listen to the part in "Terrified Eyes" when singer Daniel Rosen says "pretend to be...fearlessssssahhhhhhh" and try not to get siked. You can't.

Blacklisted "Peace On Earth, War On Stage" (Deathwish Inc.) [tied with] Ceremony "Scared People" (Bridge 9) - Ok, so I cheated a bit, but since both of these 7"s combined total probably about twelve minutes, I figured I was allowed to do so. Plus, it's my zine, so I can do whatever I want, right? Anyhow, I think both of these records deserve to go together because they both come from already solid bands who are just now hitting their stride. Both of these bands will have full lengths out in 2008 and I'm positive that both of those records will be on this list next year.

Lifetime "Lifetime" (Fueled By Ramen / Decaydance) - A new Lifetime album in 2007? Get the fuck out of here! But it's true, and it's every bit as great as their last LP was that came out in 1997, if not better.

Type O Negative "Dead Again" (SPV Records) - Their first album after their contract with Roadrunner Records ran out. This thing absolutely rules. Some of the hardest songs they've had since the first LP, and really great lyrics too. Still waiting for them to put out a bad record.

Bayside "The Walking Wounded" (Victory Records) - It's an absolute shame that Bayside are lumped in with all of those shitty Victory Records screamo / emo / garbage bands because they are so much better than that. A triumphant record coming from a band that has gone through so much in the past year that it's incredible that they can still put out great music.

Coheed & Cambria "Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Vol. 2: No World For Tomorrow" (Columbia Records) - Another band who went through a lot of stuff in the past year comes back as strong as ever with this final chapter in their crazy sci-fi saga. I think this album is a little more straight forward than 2005's "Vol. 1" and it makes it a more digestable listen for people who might not be fans of the band's other material.

Bruce Springsteen "Magic" (Columbia Records) - I don't know much about this guy, but I hear he has a fairly decent following in New Jersey? Hopefully he'll play a show at Middlesex soon because this guy is definitely one to watch out for.

Ringworm "The Venomous Grand Design (Victory) - Finally, a Ringworm record that we didn't have to wait half a decade for. This thing absolutely pummels you from start to finish, and I think it's a great way to finish off this list.


John Sharkey III (Clockcleaner)

Lamps "Lamps Lamps"
Homostupids "The Intern"
Psychedelic Horseshit "Magic Flowers Droned"
Blues Control "s/t"
Neil Young "Chrome Dreams II"
Circle Of Ouroborous "Shores"
Madball "Infiltrate The System"
Pink Reason "Cleaning The Mirror"
Teenage Panzer Korps "Harmful Emotions"
Daily Void "LP"


Jon Barthmus (The A-Sides)

Radiohead "In Rainbows"
Jens Lekman "Night Falls Over Kortedala"
The National "Boxer"
Animal Collective "Strawberry Jam"
Of Montreal "Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?"
Panda Bear "Person Pitch"
Battles "Mirrored"
Feist "The Reminder"
The Arcade Fire "Neon Bible"
Dr. Dog "We All Belong"


Tru Pray (Malfunction Records)

Meltdown "Demolition"
Internal Affairs "Deadly Visions"
Bitter End "Climate Of Fear"
Pressure Beasts "EP"
Jay-Z "American Gangster"
Trash Talk / Reign Supreme new EP's
Soul Control "Involution"
Sex Vid
Shipwreck a.d. "Abyss"


Philip Leone (Deep Sleep clothing boutique)

Trapped Under Ice "Demo 7 inch"
The Mongoloids "Time Trials"
The White Stripes "Icky Thump"
Pulling Teeth "Martyr Immortal"
Ryan Adams "Easy Tiger"
Ryan Adams and the Cardinals "Follow The Lights"
Pissed Jeans "Hope For Men"
Wilco "Sky Blue Sky"
Interpol "Our Love To Admire"
Arctic Monkeys "Favorite Worst Nightmare"


Larry Epstein (Crumbler)

Lifetime "Lifetime"
Bruce Springsteen "Magic"
Blacklisted "Peace On Earth, War On Stage"
Dinosaur Jr "Beyond"
Clockcleaner "Babylon Rules"
The Unloveables "Heartsickle"
Invader "Raw Dog"
Cloak/Dagger "We Are"
Pissed Jeans "Hope For Men"
Superbad DVD


Lee McGinnis (Dude in every hardcore live shot from the mid/late 90s)

The Mongoloids "Time Trials" (I see big things for this band)
Tim Armstrong "A Poets Life" (My daughters favorite album this year)
The Porters "Anywhere But Home" (I love to listen to this album on night work, good Irish drinking music)
Bracewar "Juggernaut" (Short songs, but to the point)
Shipwreck a.d. "Abyss" (Sounds like Integrity, never a bad thing)
The Aggrolites "Reggae Hit LA" (Northern Soul at it's finest, amazing musicians)
108 "A New Beat From A Dead Heart" (Very progressive sound from these veterans, still heavy as fuck)
Bitter End "Climate Of Fear" (Some Texas kids doing classic New York hardcore right)
Down To Nothing "The Most" (Richmond VA's heavy hitters)
Lifetime "Lifetime" (It's fucking LIFETIME)


Matt Jimino (former Philadelphia / current New Hampshire resident)

The Cult "Born Into This"
Coheed & Cambria "No World For Tomorrow"
HIM "Venus Doom"
Ween "La Cucaracha"
Neurosis "Given To The Rising"
Smashing Pumpkins "Zeitgest"
69 Eyes "Angels"
Prince "Planet Earth"


Bob (Let Down)

Shipwreck a.d. "Abyss"
War Hungry "Return To Earth"
Bitter End "Climate Of Fear"
Justice "Escapades"
Blacklisted "Peace On Earth, War On Stage"
86 Mentality "Last Exit"
Rival Mob "Demo"
War Pigs "Demo"
New Lows "Demo"
Dead Black "Demo"


Mike Scondotto (Inhuman)

Watain "Sworn to the Dark" - Sweden's Watain are the future of Black Metal. I caught them live in May at BB Kings in NYC and I will never forget it. The smell of DEATH in the air, literally, as the band used real animal blood as part of their stage show. Standing towards the front I got the chills as I was reminded me of some 10+ years earlier seeing another Swedish band making their NYC debut, Dissection. Let's hope Watain’s future is much more positive.

Turnobegro "Retox" - Another winner from Hank and Co.I played this cd 10 times the day I got it and still throw it on. “I took my band way across the land, but too much ass can destroy a man.”

Danzig "The Lost Tracks" - Some of GD's best songs he ever wrote are on this 2 cd set, an absolute must have for fans. Fave tracks include "Cold Cold Rain","Crawl Across Your Killing Floor", "Pain is Like an Animal", "Bound By Blood".

Marduk "Rom 5:12" - Not sure how Sweden's Marduk made one of the best cd's of their career at some 15 years in the game, but they sure did. Looking forward to their return to the USA in 2008!

Type O Negative "Dead Again" - TON finally wrote some fast Carnivore-esque songs for the first time since 1990! They also wrote some of their best songs ever too on this one like "September Sun".

Mayhem "Ordo Ad Chao" - Creepy, disturbing, unpleasant = how I like my Mayhem to sound! Atilla’s voice and these riffs are the stuff nightmares are made of.

Wolves in the Throne Room "Two Hunters" - This cd blew me away on first listen. American Black Metal that sounds nothing like it's peers. WITTR remind me of LYCIA meets early ULVER.

Entombed "Serpent Saints" - Entombed's last 3 cds have all KILLED! Forgive their foray into "Rock" and get back into the Masters of Death! Tons of great riffs and mosh parts on this one.

Villians "Drenched in the Poison" - Awesome debut cd from the best band playing metal in NYC.Dirty, violent Black Metal. Buy this and see them live!

Immolation "Shadows in the Light" - An awesome cd from NY's DM legends. Possibly the best since their debut or best ever, no joke.



I would like to thank everyone who took the time to submit their lists to me. Here's to hoping that 2008 brings just as many great tunes to us all! Happy New Year and keep your eyes open for some new interviews to start off 2008 strong.

Record Reviews 12/03/07

Mother Of Mercy "No Eden" (Self released demo CDR)

This is the debut release from Doylestown, PA's Mother Of Mercy. When I first heard about this band, I was expecting an almost "horror punk" feel to the music, because of the Samhain reference. I was wrong. The band features Bob and Kyle, both from Let Down (see below review) but sounds a good deal different from Let Down. Since the bands share members, comparisons are going to be inevitable. MOM (best abbreviation for a band, possibly ever?) are a lot more mid tempo than Let Down. I would say that musically this demo would have fit perfectly on Victory Records roster, circa 1993. It's definitely heavy, but without being metal, and has some groove as well. Bob still sounds super pissed off, and his vocals compliment the music very well. I'm not sure how serious MOM can be, since Let Down seem to be a pretty active band these days, but I'm curious to see what they have in store.

Get this if you like: Unbroken, Count Me Out, Let Down

For more info: www.myspace.com/motherofmercyhc





Let Down "Sacrifice Me" (Six Feet Under Records)

Mark my words, 2008 will be the year of Let Down. This record is awesome. Four songs of super fast, pissed off straight edge hardcore. It's awesome to me that there are still bands like this. This band has been around for about three years and I've seen them since the beginning and they just keep getting better everytime. Each record is a step up from the next as well. My only complaint about the entire thing is that it's TOO SHORT! It's over before you know it, but apparently they are working on a full length, which I think they will totally be able to pull off. This band needs to be seen live to be fully experienced, however.

Get this if you like: Panic, AN, Negative Approach

For more info: www.myspace.com/letxdown




Inhuman "Last Rites" (I Scream Records)

Inhuman has always been one of those bands whose name I would see on a flier for some crazy awesome CBGB show, yet I'd never actually seen or heard. I think this record is definitely going to change that. I went into this having no idea what to expect and came out extremely satisfied. According to their press bio that came with this record, they've been releasing music in one form or another since 1996. For those who can't count, that's eleven years! In hardcore time, that's extremely impressive. The bands New York roots definitely shine through on this recording...very heavy and lots of breakdowns and singalongs. The recording itself sounds awesome, courtesy of Dean Baltulonis (Madball, Sick Of It All, No Warning) and will be sure to win them new fans as well as please old ones. There is also a more "streetpunk" feel to the record at times, which definitely helps to spice things up. All in all, I would say this is a solid release by a band that's been at it a long time.

Get this if you like: Sick Of It All, Agnostic Front, Madball

For more info: www.myspace.com/inhuman




Shipwreck a.d. "Abyss" (Deathwish Inc.)

I'll admit it, I kinda slept on this band. I had seen them a few times and thought that they were decent, but nothing that made me want to run out and buy any of their stuff. That has changed now that I have heard this full length. This band has truly come into their own. Following up last years 7" on Deathwish, comes "Abyss"...eleven songs of innovative, heavy hardcore. When I saw them at the aforementioned shows, I thought they just sounded like No Warning with guitar solos. I couldn't have been more off the mark. This record has a total mid 90's feel, and owes a thing or two to the Cleveland hardcore style. I haven't had a chance to look at the lyrics yet, but one of the things I notice is that all of the song titles are one word. Weird. Great record though.

Get this if you like: Ringworm, Integrity, 108

For more info: www.myspace.com/shipwreckmv




The Mongoloids "Time Trials" (Six Feet Under Records)

This is definitely a surprise. When I first heard the name "The Mongoloids" I assumed the band was going to be more of a "punk" sounding band, with joke songs. After seeing them about a year ago for the first time, I realised that I was completely off the mark. Coming off of a split EP that was released earlier this year, comes their full length debut "Time Trials". This record is loaded with singalongs, guest spots and breakdowns that will be sure to please any fan of heavy hardcore. The album is fourteen "real" songs and then a bunch of bonus tracks at the end. My only complaint about this record is that, even though there is not neccessarily any bad songs, I feel that it might have benefited from being an 11 or 12 song LP as opposed to 14. But that's just me. This is one of those bands that's awesome on record, but REALLY awesome live too. So get into it. Also, they rep the straight edge, which always gets a thumbs up in my book.

Get this if you like: Biohazard, Cro Mags, Sheer Terror

For more info: www.myspace.com/mongoloidsnj