[Note: this is a revised list... after reconsideration, I decided to have Retox top my list so I've flipped it with Criaturas]
Another year with plenty of good and near-great records although I think 2011 and 2012 were a little better. When putting together a top ten list for any year, I want albums that will stand the “test of time,” so to speak. There have been some definite go-to albums in the last few years—Crazy Spirit, Hank Wood & The Hammerheads, Foreign Objects, Rank/Xerox, The Energy and Joint D≠ immediately come to mind as albums I’ve yet to tire of. That said, all of the 12”s, 7”s and demos on this list are worthy of your attention, at least in my humble opinion.
Boston definitely had an up and down year and I’m not just
talking about music—there was the Marathon bombings on Patriots Day this past
April where three people were killed and over 250 injured. That’s why it was a
feel-good moment for the city when the Red Sox unexpectedly won the World
Series. I know many of my readers hate sports and can’t understand why so many
punks around here are huge sports fans (mostly for the Red Sox and Bruins) but
I think it’s ingrained into Boston’s social fabric. And even if it’s “only a
game” and the players are paid obscene amounts, what’s wrong with something
that lifts people’s spirits? I think David Ortiz summed it up perfectly in this clip:
Also, let’s have a moment of silence for a pair of
great local bands who called it quits this year—Bloodkrow Butcher and Brain
Killer.
On to the lists—more or less in order of preference (and
some of these reviews have been condensed from previous reviews, in case you
missed ‘em). One side note--if you happen to see my list in Maximum Rocknroll and wonder why Retox isn't listed there, it's because it's distributed by Epitaph and they're blacklisted by MRR. Whattya gonna do?
LP/12”
THE TOP 10:
1. RETOX-YPLL (Three.One.G)
1. RETOX-YPLL (Three.One.G)
A friend of mine referred to another band we saw this year as “math-core.” It seems like a cheesy rock critic crutch term (and he didn’t mean it as a compliment, either) but if that means a band that shows instrumental dexterity and dynamism, Retox fill the bill. Justin Pearson (ex-LOCUST, etc) fronts this band and it’s what you’d expect--dizzying, chaotic hardcore that also allows for some breathing room and it doesn’t come across as one-dimensional.
2. CRIATURAS-Espirítu De Libertad (Residue)
Charging and aggressive hardcore but there’s also a strong
melodic element, as well. Dru Molina’s vocals are a wonder to behold, as she
goes from full-on rail to something more soothing. Crack musicianship, especially
from Victor Gutierrez, who is one of the best guitarists in punk. The title
track is catchy as hell while simultaneously bowling you over. D-beat inspired
hardcore doesn’t have to be just noise.
3. OUT COLD-A Heated Display (Painkiller)
A posthumous album of sorts—the basic guitar and drum tracks
were recorded in 2005 by Mark Sheehan and John Evicci before Out Cold quietly
split in 2009. Sadly, Mark passed away in 2010 and the tracks remained
unfinished until now. John brought in Mikey and Deuce from the last lineup of
the band to contribute bass and extra guitar and the vocals were done by the
band’s original singer Kevin Mertens. And Kevin NAILS it and the music is as
lethal as ever—razor-sharp thrash and mid-tempo hardcore played with clockwork precision.
A band who never compromised their sound to fit trends, who unjustifiably
seemed to fly under the radar and this is a more-than-fitting epitaph. And
there are 14 more songs that will come out on a subsequent release.
4. JOINT D≠-Satan Is Real Again, Again (Sorry State)
The follow-up to my favorite
album in 2012 and, while not on that level (and I don’t think they’ll ever top
“(I’m) Haunted”), this is still better than a lot of what I heard this year.
Frenetic hardcore with a dense, cloud-like atmosphere hanging in the air and
some memorable riffs/arrangements, especially for “False Flag” and “ERV.”
Guitarist/vocalist Bobby Michaud’s other band BRAIN F≠ will be back with a new album this year and that’s
definitely something I’m looking forward to hearing.
5. TV FREAKS-Two (Schizophrenic)
The only other band besides Joint
D≠ to find its way onto this list two years in a
row. TV Freaks mettle continues to be jabbing, jittery punk with garage and
post-punk elements. Definitely some Eddy Current moves here and there but
there’s more aggression, even a whiff of early Nirvana at times—and that
shouldn’t be viewed as a negative. Nervy and hard-hitting.
6. STOIC VIOLENCE-s/t (Video Disease)
Bile-filled, no-nonsense old-school
hardcore punk from these chip-on-shoulder Californians. Nothing complex, just a
tough and bruising sound to get the pit started. Hits the same way a band like Wasted
Time did a few years back. 8 songs, over in less than 10 minutes and I don’t
really feel cheated.
7. MANIPULATION-s/t (Sorry State)
Pure burn, pure rage on this
Chicago band’s long-overdue 12” debut. A havoc-wreaking hardcore punk sound
driven by a two guitar attack, piledriving bass and drums and Jordan’s
anguished vocals. Swedish hardcore meets mid-period Poison Idea blaze and the
end result is relentless and punishing from start to finish.
8. HOAX-s/t (self-released)
This is an impressive package,
with six fold-out posters and an impressive hardcore album, period. Jesse’s
vocals have a psychotic nature and the dark, stomping mid-to-fast paced music
is a fitting accompaniment. Churning and heavy, a near nervous-breakdown on
wax. Dark stuff.
9. CÜLO-My Life Sucks and I Could Care Less (Deranged)
These button-pushing Chicago
miscreants finally deliver a full-length album after a bunch of 7”s. I STILL
think they’d benefit from a bass-player but this is a fun smorgasbord of
thrashy hardcore and more tuneful punk stylings (the title track in particular)
that will hammer its way into your heart. Bonus points for not only pilfering
from DEVO’s “Mechanical Man” but leading off the album with it. Haven’t heard
anything that brazen since John Browns Army started their album with the intro
to The Who’s “Baba O’Riley.”
10. RUNNING-Vaguely Ethnic (Castle Face)
A last-minute entry. I only
checked out this album a few weeks before putting this list together, after
seeing it on Gerard Cosloy’s year-end round-up. For those of you who don’t know
who the hell Gerard is, he used to do Conflict
zine back in the day, put out the legendary Bands
That Could Be God comp and was running Homestead Records and working with
bands like Naked Raygun, Big Black and Sonic Youth when he was in his early
20s. I consider Running punk in the same way I considered those bands punk. I
already had their 2012 Asshole Savant 12”
in the digital format but this somehow escaped my notice. Edgy rock with a
buzzing spaciness in the guitar playing (there’s some inspiration from Helios
Creed from Chrome, methinks) and underpinned by an anvil-sturdy bass/drums
tandem and echo-laden vocals that are buried into the mix a bit. Music to mess
with your head.
TEN MORE ALBUMS/12”S I LIKED IN 2013
11. BROKEN PRAYER-s/t (Sorry
State)
12. SOCIETY NURSE-s/t (Iron Lung)
13. RULETA RUSA-Aqui No Es (Sorry
State)
14 BANQUE ALLEMANDE-Willst du
Chinese... (S-S)
15. THEE MIGHTY FEVERS-Fuck'in Great R' n 'R (Dead Beat)
16. KROMOSOM-Nuclear Reich (Distort Reality)
16. KROMOSOM-Nuclear Reich (Distort Reality)
17. RASPBERRY BULBS-Deformed
Worship (Blackest Ever Black)
18. CONCRETE CROSS-s/t (Man In
Decline)
19. MELT-BANANA-Fetch (A-Zap)
20. WORMS-s/t (Last
Watt/Darkworld)
7”s
VAGINORS-Total Nonsense EP (No Patience/Video Disease)
CREEM-Curator (Static Shock)
MERCY KILLINGS-s/t (Beach
Impediment)
GAS RAG-6 Track EP (Even
Worse)/Human Rights EP (Beach Impediment)
NEO CONS-Idiot Circus (Deranged)
NEIGHBORHOOD BRATS-Birth Right
(Deranged)
DIE-s/t (Sonic Terror)
BAD DADDIES-Bad Year EP (Central
District)
GAG-40 Oz. Rule (Warthog Speak)
SAD BOYS-s/t (Toxic State)
DEMOS
The Deformity demo was one of my
most-played releases of the year. Head-rattling garage/hardcore/punk with an
ear-grabbing rawness. That pretty-much applies to just about all of the demos
here. The ear-grabbing rawness, that is...
DEFORMITY
MISSIONARY
SAVAGEHEADS
NUKE CULT
TERMINAL CRISIS
LIVE (in no particular order)
RUIDOSA INMUNDICIA
Infest, Vaginors, Bloodkrow Butcher, Brain Killer, Green Beret, Missionary, Warthog, Gas Rag, Glue, Gag, Impalers, Society Nurse, Neo Cons, Crazy Spirit, S.H.I.T., Gasmask Terror, Kromosom, Ruidosa Inmundicia, Savageheads, Combat Zone
