ClipOfTheDay: The Gaslight Anthem "45"

 

move over Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen! 

New Jersey got a new favorite son and they are called
The Gaslight Anthem

Best of 2011

7. Angles- THE STROKES

"The Strokes invented their own rock"
Choice cuts: 'Machu Picchu', 'Life is Simple in the Moonlight'

6. Heart Beat Pacific- BANNER PILOT

"A really good Midwestern punk record in the mold of Dillinger Four"
Choice Cuts: 'Alchemy', 'Eraser'., 'Spanish Reds'



5. Moscow Penny Ante- DEAD TO ME

 "DTM gone back to the aggression, but they’ve retained the maturity and sharper songwriting"
Choice cuts: 'Undertow', 'Lullabies' 



4. Wasting Light- FOO FIGHTERS

"FF's most memorable set of songs since 1997's The Colour and the Shape"
Choice cuts: 'Rope', 'Walk'



3. Parting the Sea Between Brightness and Me- TOUCHE AMORE

''Hardcore album of the year"
Choice cuts: `~', 'Pathfinder'

Touché Amoré "~" & "Pathfinder" [HD] from Rob August on Vimeo.

2. Self-Titled- JOYCE MANOR

"Plenty of groups have spent years trying to create an album as fully realized as Joyce Manor, and these kids nailed it on their first try"
Choice cuts: 'Derailed' , 'Ashtray Petting Zoo' 



1. The Danger of Standing Still- RED CITY RADIO

"one of the finest acts in punk rock today with their near-perfected mixture of honesty, energy, passion, and good old-fashioned rock and roll. With the grit of real punk lingering in their pop-punk anthems and hooks that would make Chuck Ragan proud, Red City Radio have made a contentious bid for punk album of the year"
Choice cuts: 'Two For Flinching', '50th & Western'

"Spinning in Circles is a Gateway Drug" by Red City Radio | HN Live from Hear Nebraska on Vimeo.

NAPALM DEATH, live in Kuala Lumpur June 2011

the 3rd visit by the grindcore godfathers after previous shows back in 2001 & 2007... all of them attended by yours truly...and this time it was the most enjoyable!

Review courtesy of SPADESMAGAZINE.com

For all the nonsensical talk of communist infiltrators and Masonic plots to overthrow the government, the powers-that-be overlooked the fact that a truly subversive group was in town tonight.

Yes, the titans of grind – Napalm Death – was preaching against oppressive regimes, warmongers, police brutality, religious hypocrites, racial bigots and corrupt politicians with the volume knob fixed at maximum overload.Still angry and fooking pissed off, Barney Greenway, Shane Embury, Mitch Harris and Danny Herera, shook the rafters of this appropriately dank and dingy venue with their incendiary brand of anarcho-protest metal.

pic courtesy of KARISMA mag

Though the venue was much smaller than the Life Centre which hosted the previous two Napalm gigs in KL, this was the sort of setting which suits the band. Small, stuffy and intimate in which the back row could clearly see the stage while the front row punters were covered in cold water which vocalist Barney was regularly dousing himself with as well as his spittle from his enthusiastic singing.

setlist

The band hit the stage like a typhoon of energy and by the time they hit the opening chords to Continuing War On Stupidity, the mosh pit was in full flow. It was amazing to see that many of the punters that turned up were teens who were mere protein in their fathers’ scrotums when seminal album Scum was released in 1987.

Yet, the young fans seem to react best to the oldies as the band thrashed through a selection from Scum to Mentally Murdered. They even surprised everybody by including the Guinness Books of Records entry for shortest single ever – You Suffer while politely declining to do the song again when fans asked for a reprise. (“It wouldn’t be a suprise then,” deadpanned Barney)

read more here

related blogpost:
Sambutan Kemerdekaan Peringkat Kebangsaan: Napalm Death, Live In Kuala Lumpur 2007

jim, raja azhar, jos, tedbundyjr after the show

2010 top release, where jimlucky is concerned

I effin' love music....it consumed too much of my time it becoming borderline unhealthy!..I hope everyone out there loves music too.

and this shitty blog talks lotsa crappy music that makes u wanna throw up n wonder whether this guy got any other subject to write about rite? :]

so here is best music of twenty ten, where i am concerned...read and checkout the clips...maybe you'll dig your new favourite band

5. NONE MORE BLACK- Icons

i cant get enough of Kid Dynamite, Jason Shevchuk's legendary hardcore punk band.  When the group disbanded, i began to quench the thirst by listening to the so-called copycats (eg Shook Ones/No Trigger)

Jay then formed NMB and released the classic This is Satire...It’s been 4 years since and they’ve returned with 'Icons', an album nothing short of amazing...songs that make you want to dance with your fists...sic riffs + thoughtful lyrics...mind blowing

4. MIXTAPES- Maps

Mixtapes were arguably the most prolific band of the year, releasing an LP, a split and 2 EPs...which is even more surprising since they weren’t even a band in 2009. All material they’re pumping out is damn good. Catchy pop-punk goodness with sugar-coated male/female vocals and interesting/intelligent lyrics. And i'm a sucker for girl voice in punkrock (Tsunami Bomb and Lemuria comes to mind)...the fact that Maura Weaver has a cute voice certainly helps. This is sunshine in audio form

3. DOPAMINES- Expect The Worse

Bomb The Music Industry!'s head-honcho Jeff Rosenstock always spot a Dopamines t-shirt...so their music must be good eh?...thats how i discovered Dopamines...and bullseye, i was damn right...'Expect The Worst' is 13 simple but catchy tunes in less than thirty minutes in the mould of the Ramones and perfected by new waver Teenage Bottlerocket/The Copyrights...without a doubt the pop-punk album of the year...I need to checkout their discography

2. THE FLATLINERS- Cavalcade

I remember back in 2005 when i was paying RM80 for the imported CD Destroy to Create , a fiery ska-punk infused debut album by a group of Montreal, Canadian high-school kids.  5 years and one LP later they have completely ditched the ska with Cavalcade, excellently became an exponentially better band with anthemic, emotional and catchy melodic hardcore/skate punk offerings. Chris Cresswell sounds years beyond his age, gruffy vocals firing from all cylinders. Cavalcade is culmination of a sound of a band finding their niche without the growing pains usually associated with such a transition.. The best FatWreck release of the year


1. THE MENZINGERS- Chamberlain Waits

after releasing the massive critically acclaimed brilliant EP Hold on Dodge, the stoked-bar was raised quite high on the anticipation of their full length follow up Chamberlain Waits.  The Scranton, Philly quartet doesn't disappoint, producing such a sweet transitional feeling that sweeps over this whole album.  From one moment to the next, it's gritty and gruff, infectiously poppy, viscerally emotional, and firmly in touch with its punk roots from the Clash to Billy Bragg.
In fact, any of the first 5 songs (Who's Your Partner, I Was Born, Home Outgrown, Deep Sleep, Time Tables) could be the song of the year! Menzingers could be the new Lawrence Arms and Dillinger Four! and for getting the most playtime in my iPod...Chamberlain Waits is the best release of 2010.

btw checkout the band ripping out the stage at this year's Fest here

Honourable mentions

not among the top 5... but these albums are still sick

THE WONDER YEARS - The Upsides

RVIVR - LP
OFF WITH THEIR HEADS- In Desolation
CRIME IN STEREO- I Was Trying To Describe You To Someone
CEREMONY- Rohnert Park
GASLIGHT ANTHEM- The American Slang
IRON CHIC- Not Like this

Related post:
top music of 2009
mixtape 2008
top music of 2007

the menzingers: i was born

Trigger fingers catch your breath
Lay ‘em down slow

from The Menzingers' Chamberlain Waits [contender for (my) album of the year!]

we only need a song to dance to

DOUBLE TROUBLE at Bukit Kiara Equestrian & Country Resort Arena

revisiting one of the earliest education of my rock n roll skool

SEARCH

WINGS

Search&Wings- medley 'Gadisku-Taman Rashidah Utama-Meniti Titian Usang-Misteri Mimpi Syakila' from jimlucky on Vimeo.

QotD: Mix Tape: Song #1

"If you were going to make a mix tape to describe how this week went
for you, what's the first song you'd put on it. Bonus points if you
share the song with us."


from NEW FOUND GLORY's Sticks and Stones

stoked part 11

part 11a of the stoked series

ALKALINE TRIO- This Addiction

< checkout this song 'Dead on the floor'
After expanding their musical boundaries with their last two albums (Crimson and Agony&Irony), ALK3 is returning back to their punkrock roots.

Their seventh studio release takes cues from their dearly loved earlier records, such as the classic Goddammit and From Here To Infirmary.

checkout interview with Alk3's Matt Skiba here
checkout 'This Addiction' music video here

__________________________________________________________

part 11b of the stoked series

Crime In Stereo- i was trying to describe you to someone

The shape of hardcore to come?

Crime In Stereo rewrote the melodic hardcore rulebook with 2007's Is Dead, so it figures they would junk it altogether for 'I was Trying to Describe You To Someone', its equally ambitious, unpredictable follow-up.
Alternative Press already reviewed this release, the verdict is 4.5 out of 5 stars< checkout this song 'Drugwolf'

STRIKE ANYWHERE: "I'm your opposite number"

two zero one zero

parental advisory:
this blog entry will irritate you, reading it while listening to '2009' by The Swellers might certainly help! (click play on the clip above)

___________________________________________________

Barasti, Dubai Marina- 31/12/2009

so I'd like to raise a glass to 2009, which all in all has been a phenomenal year. A lame recap of whats gone through my last 365 1/4 days or so:

CAREER suicide

a vital cog that consumed most of my 24 hours. For the 20th consequtive month, i'm currently based in dubai.

since last january i have been kick-out from the comfy of office spaceship into the hazardous environment of construction site battlefield.

working long hours, 6-days a week, and currently 7-days a week the toughest year yet, profession-wise

(the above might be an attempt to explain why this blog, which i started in 2007, is less frequently updated now...haha)

interest: MOVIE - top 3 of 2009

No 3: The Hurt Locker

plot:Iraq. Forced to play a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse in the chaos of
war, an elite Army bomb squad unit must come together in a city where
everyone is a potential enemy and every object could be a deadly bomb


an edge of the seat stuff from the word go. Gut-wrenching, pulse-pounding, tension, just mere understatement description of the movie.
All aspects of film-making are top-notch, from the brilliantly
subversive screenplay through vivid cinematography, masterful directing
and perfectly paced editing, even the famed film critic Mr Roger Ebert listing it as #2 in his top 10 movie of the decade. go watch it

No 2: 500 Days of Summer

a romantic comedy? wrong.
as the narrator put it: 'u should know upfront that this is not a love story'

the pair of Joseph Gordon-Levitt (as Tom) and Zooey Cutesy-Deshanel (as Summer) were in top form.

i just wonder weather there would be '500 days of Autumn' after Tom bumped into Minka Kelly (the hottie from Friday Nite Lights) in the end

btw this film talk about architecture and The Smits a lot...thats quality!
checkout, first the 'Ikea' scene, and then the bank dance(!). Definitely indie flick of the year

No 1: Inglourious Basterds

everybody is looking for Quentin Tarantino or Brad Pitt goods, but in the end Christoph Waltz aka Colonel Hans 'Jew Hunter' Landa came out with guns blazing.
I wrote about this flick here so i will rest my case
An epic masterpiece, a head above the rest of 2009 release

with jon jamel at AC Milan Training Camp, Dubai January 2009

interest: SPORTS
like most hot blooded male on the universe i am into soccer, F1, NBA etc, and yes...i read from the back pages to front everytime i grab a newspaper.

and last january was a particular highlight for me since a team from the Italian Lombardy province, a team that i supported since hi-skool, the only team that i am willing to die for, came down to Sheikh-land for their winter training and a friendly match. Oh, btw the team name is AC Milan.

il capitano, the living legend Paolo Maldini

maldini,ronaldinho,beckham,pato,senderos,kaladze

star-strucked? i got to rub shoulders with my idol, the italian living legend Il Capitano Paolo Maldini along with fellow Rossoneris Kaka, Ronaldinho, Pato, Shevchenko, Pirlo, Beckham etc (blog entry here)

season 08/09 ended with Milan winning nothing (3rd in Serie A). Paolo retires after 20 years serving the club. Kaka became the second most expansive player in history when he was sold to Real Madrid. Allanatore Carlo Ancellotti has moved on to EPL, currently Chelsea boss.

the return of the master

On another front Jenson Button won the F1 title (i barely follow last season championship, the GP coverage here is almost non-existant), Tiger's Wood ran amok(!), Italy easily qualified for World Cup, and after 20 years Bolehland won the SEA games football, thanx to Rita Rudaini!

For 2010, i'm so pumped up for the World Cup in South Africa... and the comeback of the great Michael Schumacher after 3-year absence to F1 fold is a mouthwatering prospect for 2010 season.. he is now driving for Malaysian-backed Mercedes GP Petronas. I foresee a 4-horse race between him, Fernando Alonso (Ferrari), Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) and Jenson Button (McLaren)...Kimi has now moved on to WRC

checkout this clip:
top ten goals of 2009
NBA: top 10 plays of 2009
indonesia vs oman- crazy indon fan invaded pitch & try to score!

interest: NET- website i stalked most frequently in 2009 (in no particular order)

punknews.org  football-italia youtube acmilan.com star-online strikegently.com absolutepunk vimeo moshcam formula1.com fat wreck chords livescore spin.com adthe.net   rollingstone.com isohunt bridge9 justin.tv alternative2punk goal.com traileraddict  epitaph myspace.com spinner  alternativepress nationalunderground

Siti Nurhaliza fans were stoked! IRON MAIDEN live in Dubai,feb 2009

interest: MUSIC- lets talk about love
I f*cking love music. I love it in the form of punkrock & hardcore music. I listened to a lot

of older favorites this year. I listened to a lot of new stuff. I used to spent a fortune on imported CDs, but like any joe on the planet downloading now is like brushin your teeth.

I hope everyone out there loves music too. Loves it so much it transcends petty bickering and posturing.
Loves it in a way that makes you want to make the world look like all
your favorite songs make it look. And I hope that everyone loves it so much that you
don't take yourselves too seriously.

and this shitty blog talks lotsa crappy music that makes u wanna throw up n wonder whether this guy got any other subject to write about rite? haha
so head here for the best music of 2009, where i am concerned

my mixtape for year 2009
 

For Collards- SHOOK ONES
Dear Coach’s Corner- PROPAGANDHI
X- DEAD TO ME
Light of Local Eyes- POLAR BEAR CLUB
Fatso Goes Nutzoid- TEENAGE BOTTLEROCKET
Skid Rock- A WILHELM SCREAM
One Million Coasters- NOFX
Sacred- PAINT IT BLACK
I’m Your Opposite Number- STRIKE ANYWHERE
Sodom, Gomorrah, Washington D.C- ANTI-FLAG
The Slowest Drink at the Saddest Bar on the Snowiest Day In the Greatest City – THE LAWRENCE ARMS
2009- THE SWELLERS


Personal: lets talk about feeling
this reads like a cheap promotion: i am still straight, single and unfortunately available. So girls...you got the clue...and you've been warned...on the downside i will hit 60 soon..hehe
errr...btw did i tell u earlier that this post would irritate you???

pix snapped in between 2009-2010 intersection at barasti, dub** marina

stoked part 11

part 11 of the stoked series
i woke up to incredible news this new year's morning:

\m/ SOUNDGARDEN is reuniting \m/

Chris cornell, kim thayil, matt cameron, ben shepard

as chris cornell put it via his tweet:
“The 12 year break is over & school is back in session. Knights of the Soundtable ride again!”

i'm spinning back the Superunknown album!

my top pick of 2009

 

#5. Iron Front- STRIKE ANYWHERE

After the mediocre effort of their last release Dead FM, STRIKE ANYWHERE has move on from FatWreckChords to full-fledge hardcore indie Bridge Nine Records.

This new release finds Thomas Barnett & Co combining their trademark socio-political insight with their most infectious hooks yet...'The Crossing' and 'Summerpunks' are goat-damned awesome songs that would bleed the ear

#4. The People or the Gun- ANTI-FLAG
Sincerely i was quite suprised with this release, considering the dud previous effort of over-produced 'Bright Lights of America' (not their fault really, maybe major label RCA try to sell 'em out)

Now at SideOneDummy, ANTI-FLAG has written their best record since 2001's 'Underground Network' for my money... "Sodom, Gomorrah, Washington D.C. (Sheep in Shepherd's Clothing)" ,"The Gre(A)t Depression" and "You're Fired" are gritty, furious, and poppy (in the good way) punkrock tunes

Anti-Flag from Tyler Apocalypse on Vimeo.

#3. They Came From The Shadows- TEENAGE BOTTLEROCKET
Best described by FatWreck on their website:
"The most rocking thing to come out of Wyoming since, well… ever, TEENAGE BOTTLEROCKET has taken pleasure in showing everyone just how potent and exhilarating that fresh, gimmick-free punk rock can be.
The release of their third full-length, They Came From the Shadows, marks their first FatWreckChords release, and easily their most anticipated offering to date. Comprised of 14 straight forward punk rock gems, laced with the unforgettable melodies that have become the calling card of TBR"

 

#2. Supporting Caste- PROPAGANDHI

What more i could say about PROPAGANDHI? the Canucks are among the biggest institution in punkrock since i'm in high skool, and i always respected their views and activsm in anarchist causes, human rights violation. animal liberation etc

With 'Supporting Caste', Chris Hannah & Co has created a hugely significant full-length from a band that have proven, yet again, that they are still the crème de la crème of punkrock, with their usual brash of punk/hardcore/progressive trash all moulded into one...definititely a welcome addition to their already super-impressive discography

Watch Propagandhi and other great gigs on Moshcam.

#1. The Unquotable A.M.H-  SHOOK ONES

Shook Ones's The Unquotable A.M.H is the numero uno of 2009 for me
Yes, the comparison with the legendary Kid Dynamite and Lifetime is inevitable, but on this particular full-length the five-piece from Seattle has created their own brand of melodic hardcore: 

11 catchy, infectious, bouncy, anthemic musical and vocal assault. "For Collards", "Birds On Ice", "Silverfish" and "For Flannel" are among my favourite songs of the year.

Shook deserve respect and recognition, and i look forward for their future release, and certainly wouldn't mind slamming into their moshpit, maybe one day

 

HAVE HEART (2002-2009)

Final Show @ Club Lido, Boston; National Edge Day 17/10

thank you for the beautiful music

one of the most sincere modern hardcore band ever

checkout Have Heart's fine live performance at the legendary 924 Gilman Street here

nirvana : "school (live at reading)"

from their forthcoming live DVD
school is off their 1989 full length debut Bleach (my favourite Nirvana release, recorded for just over $600!)

demmit...No Use for a Name & MxPx live in KL?

<N U F A N, KL-date flyer

MxPx, KL-date flyer>

double-dosage of punkrock remedy in my backyard? smells delicious...but too bad i cant make it :(

first, San Jose, California-based pop-punkers No Use for a Name will hit Ruums next weekend. One of many bands on FatWreck roster that I grew up listening to...'Dumb Reminders'  is literally one of my favourite anthemic song, period

then,come Dec 11, MxPx will perform at No1 cafe, Jln TAR (err..never heard of this venue before). The trio from Bremerton, Washington has been championing skatepunk since 1992.  Their latest album 'Secret Weapon' is a return to form after a series of mediocre effort. But 1996's 'Life in General; is still their classic
wish i was there in the sweaty pit