Lights Out

What will it take? What will it take?
Somehow I got to break you out
They're always talking and you're always listening

But do you ever question what they're talking about?

Truth, you choose to push it aside

Reality, you choose to cover your eyes

We've been pushed over, over the edge

But no one's complaining, no one's using their head

Get Out EP with demo
Overload LP

Pissed off and awesome.

Talib Kweli & Madlib - Liberation

I believe this came out in 2007. It's exactly what it says, a collaboration between Talib Kweli and Madlib with the former doing vocals and the latter production. I haven't listened to this in a looong time but I remember thinking it was good but you already know that - Madlib can do no wrong.

Liberation LP

Crown of Thornz - Mentally Vexed

So fucking good.

Mentally Vexed LP

Carry On - A Life Less Plagued

There's a reason why this is often referred to as one of the best straight edge hardcore albums of the past decade. It's really fucking good. Carry On released some other stuff too that I might get up here sometime.

A Life Less Plagued LP

Champion - Time Slips Away

Compilation of the pre-Promises Kept EP's Come Out Swinging and Count Our Numbers. Probably the greatest band of modern day positive straight edge hardcore.

Time Slips Away Comp

Have Heart - Demo '03

It's hard to compare how Have Heart sound today to how this demo sounds, and without taking anything away from Songs to..., I just prefer the rougher and faster sound of the earlier stuff. This demo is my favorite stuff by them with a better version of "Lionheart", a sample from one of my favorite movies (Stand by Me), a Verbal Assault cover and a really great song called "The Worth", one of my favorite songs by them. Enjoy.

Demo '03

Bold

Bold was a band from upstate NY active in the late 80's, though they did reunite in 2005 but kind of broke up in '06 again. Anyway, this is pretty much what they recorded, except for a 7" they put out while they were still called Crippled Youth. The Looking Back EP is their Bold EP re-recorded with two bonus tracks, and Speak Out was their first and only full-length. For youth crew-fans!

Looking Back EP

Speak Out LP

Shipwreck A.D.

I'm not completely sure how much attention these guys get but it can't be enough. Every time I listen to Abyss or read the lyrics, I'm blown away. Every time. It's that good. Here's also their demo before they added the A.D. to the name.

Abyss LP
Self-titled demo

Rise and Fall

Sort of metallic hardcore out of Belgium. When they came around here in December they said they're busy writing new material so won't be doing much touring, but it looks like they've changed their minds because they're all over the place with announced dates everywhere. So see them if you get the chance to because they're great live too.

Hellmouth LP

Into Oblivion LP

xfilesx - Excruciation

SOOO ANGWYYY.

Excruciation LP

Modern Life is War - My Love. My Way.

No words in any language would do this LP justice. Possibly favorite hardcore album of all-time. Remastered version with songs off the self-titled 7" at the end ("Destination: Death or Better Days" and "Farmer's Holiday Association").

My Love. My Way. LP

Blue Monday

Blue Monday was a straight edge band from Vancouver. Rewritten came out on B9 in 2005 and What's Done Is Done on Stab and Kill/Perfect Victim in 2003. For fans of Go It Alone and the like.

Rewritten LP

What's Done Is Done EP

Go It Alone - Hollywood North

This is for my friend Joe It Alone. Ha. Everyone else should get it too.

Hollywood North Demo

Crown of Thornz - Train Yard Blues

JUST IMPROVING THE BLOG'S QUALITY FURTHER WITH SOME NYHC HELP.

Train Yard Blues EP

Youth of Today - Can't Close My Eyes

Yup.

Can't Close My Eyes LP

Breakdown - Blacklisted

IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THIS BLOG IS LACKING NYHC. GET THIS.

Blacklisted EP

Wu-Tang Clan - Legend of the Wu-Tang

It goes without saying that 36 Chambers is the best Wu-Tang's done, but if you were to gather up all their greatest songs off separate albums then you'd get this, The Legend of the Wu-Tang. Along with a few other songs that I don't think are on any other release, one of them being my favorite song by them, "Shaolin Worldwide". Aaaand there's also a Run DMC cover. If I were new to Wu-Tang, I would get this after 36 chambers if I wanted to hear songs from all periods of their career. 

Legend of the Wu-Tang Comp Part 1

Legend of the Wu-Tang Comp Part 2

The Last Emperor - Music. Magic. Myth

Any rapper who references Seinfeld, Star Wars and The Godfather is ok in my book. But there's more to The Last Emperor than badass references: good and underrated music. This is his debut that came out in 2003 and he's since released some more and currently working on an upcoming one. FUN FACT: He's done a song with Zack de la Rocha and KRS-One which can be heard and seen here. TLE does the middle verse.

Music. Magic. Myth

Trial - Are These Our Lives?

Some of the best lyrics I've ever heard. Definitely one of the best late 90's releases.

Are These Our Lives? LP

Bane - Give Blood

My favorite Bane album. 

Give Blood

Blank Stare - EP

ONE OF THE GREATEST OPENING TRACKS EVER. I LOVE THIS EP.

Self-titled 7"

Youth of Today - We're Not In This Alone

THAT'S NOT HOW I CHOOSE TO BE!

We're Not In This Alone LP

Eyedea & Abilities - First Born

This is the debut of Eyedea & Abilities' collaboration. Eyedea vocally, to me, sounds like a blend between early Aesop Rock and early Eminem. Don't let that scare you off though (don't know why it should, they were both pretty good early on) because he's better than both of them. Combined. Abilities' production makes this so good too. 

First Born Part 1

First Born Part 2

Brother Ali - The Undisputed Truth

I was lucky enough to get to see Brother Ali when he came around here last year with Atmosphere. He killed it. Such fucking presence. In retrospect, I'm close to saying he was way better than Atmosphere. Anyway, he's signed to Rhymesayers and he's very, very good. If you can sit completely still to the first track of this, there is something wrong with you.

The Undisputed Truth

The New Amsterdams - Never You Mind

This was an acoustic sideproject of The Get Up Kids' Matt Pryor. It's alright, nothing amazing, but I guess you would want this if you're a Get Up Kid-fanboy or fangirl.

Never You Mind LP