5 Songs I Am Into Right Now (actually 7, American Hardcore Edition)

Minor Threat- Straight Edge
From the EP Minor Threat (1981)
The first time I ever heard the term "Straight Edge" was from this song. When I learned it meant to abstain from drugs and alcohol, it didn't even occur to me that this was the same exact idea in this song (which came out the year I was born). I then learned that Ian MacKaye was credited as having invented the term. Though this is not a lifestyle I live, the song is pretty damn rocking.

Suicidal Tendencies- I Want More
From the album Suicidal Tendencies (1983)
A song that always made me think of being bored in my hometown. Pretty much every angry teenager can relate with this song. Musically the coolest part about this is song is that is a prime example of the changes in tempo and sound that Suicidal Tendencies usually like in one album but not as often in one song.


Social Distortion- All The Answers
From the album Mommy's Little Monster (1983)
Before Social Distortion was a punk/rockabilly outfit, they were a hardcore punk band from Orange County, CA. Mike Ness wrote this song about the kids that he hung with as a teenager and saw at his shows every night. The kids who were the misfits and didn't mind being that way.

Dead Kennedys-Police Truck
From the B Side of the single of "Holiday in Cambodia" (1980), also on the album Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death (1987)
A lovely quick melody about people getting drunk, driving into San Francisco, beating up the homeless and kidnapping prostitutes. Jello Biafra's vocals are unmistakable in this one. This was the first song I ever heard by the Dead Kennedys as it is the lead song on Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death. I struggled choosing this song over "To Drunk To Fuck" another lovely DK classic.

Misfits- Hybrid Moments
From the album Static Age (recorded in 1978 fully released in 1997)
Probably my favorite Misfits song ever. Its classic Danzig led Misfits. Distorted guitars with Danzig's almost Elvis-esque vocals singing of hiding scars, crying and something about creatures raping someones face yet, somehow almost keeps a semi romantic edge.

Adolescents- Kids of the Black Hole
From the album The Adolescents (1981)
The subjects of this song are a whole bunch kids in the OC punk scene and the black hole refers to Mike Ness's apartment where everyone would go to drink or just flop for a little. It was considered a place for homeless punk kids to go. This is by far the longest song on the list at nearly five and half minutes long (very long for a hardcore song). I had trouble choosing between this and "Amoeba."

Bad Brains- I Against I
From the album I Against I (1986)
Probably the most unlikely of all pioneers for any musical genre. They prefer not to be called hardcore (though every elements would tell you they are). They also, play tracks are undoubtedly reggae with songs about "Jah." In a genre of music that has often has been tied to white supremecy (this is a fair claim in some cases and with several bands is unfounded) here is a band of all African Americans teaching all the white kids how to do it and do it loud.

Bands That Should Reunite

Guns ‘N Roses
So I went to see Axel and friends 4 times this past year. The first three of those shows were at Hammerstein so that the band can get its legs back under them. Axel sounded surprisingly good. The band sounded good to but there is something weird about the guitar player not having a top hat on when you see Guns ‘N Roses.

The Smiths
The band is so far superior to Morrissey’s solo work. That’s not saying I don’t like his solo work… its just not the same. This is highly unlikely as I read he once said, “I’d sooner eat my own testicles than reunite with the Smiths.” Yikes…

Soundgarden
Audioslave made the same song on repeat. Matt Cameron is drumming for Pearl Jam again. Chris Cornell did another solo record. I saw these guys in ’95 at the Aragon Ballroom and will never forget that show. I liked the long hair era, however, the Superunknown and Down On The Upside era will remain one of my all time favorites.

Led Zeppelin
Ok ok… I know you can’t reunite a band when someone has passed away. Don’t make records… just do shows!

Pink Floyd
I don’t have to explain this one. I went to see Roger Waters and it was in my top 3 shows I have ever seen in my life. It was amazing. He sounded amazing. The show was amazing. The crowd was amazing. I can’t even fathom how much better it would be with David Gilmour but I would love to see what it would be like.

Oraganized Konfusion
Pharoahe Monch is still kicking… where is Prince Po? “Fudge Pudge” is a perfect example… just verse after verse no hook no chorus. It was hip hop!

Black Star
My two favorite rappers (Mos Def & Talib Kweli) were in a group together… they still should be. This was the smartest duo hip hop ever saw.

Fugazi
I was never a big Minor Threat fan. I am not much of a fan of the Evens. However, 13 Songs was one of my favorite albums ever. “Waiting Room” is a classic. I would love to see this band live. You know Ian MacKaye is powerful… he coined the term straight edge!

Stone Roses
Clearly I was way to young to remember this band doing anything. I love their record, but everything I have read has said they were supposed to be the big thing and they just disappeared. “I Wanna Be Adored” is one of my favorite songs of all time. Where are they now?

Misfits
Not any incarnation of them. I want Danzig to get up there and put his hair into a single spike in front of his head. “Last Caress”, “Static Age”, “Hybrid Moments”, “Bullet”, “London Dungeon”, “We Are 138”, “Teenagers From Mars”, “Where Eagles Dare”…

Sly and The Family Stone
I love this band. To hear the correct voices singing “Everybody Is A Star” would be unreal.