21 years later

my top 20 of 2007

2007 has been quite a damn good year for independent music. I won't talk about major labels falling down, thanks to illegal peer to peer, but I think this is going to help independent bands to come out, and hopefully, this will make the bad bands disappear.

This is a list of what I liked and listened to the most this year. It's very personal and I am not saying this is going to be a chart, but just a personal list, and it does not feature only new albums but also live reocords, seven inches, mp3's, etc...

A Wilhelm Scream - Career Suicide
"Career Suicide" is the shit. Seriously, this is the best melodic punk record I heard in ages. The lyrics are damn smart, too. Hands down!



Say Anything - In Defense Of The Genre
Max Bemis might be crazy but he is a genius. This double album is a little bit too much tough. I do skip a lot of songs of this record, but the others are all amazing.


Reeve Oliver - Touchstone Inferno
These San Diego guys have been dropped by a major label and released their new record independently. The record is the perfect record of Californian pop rock to be listened to during hot summer days. Too bad it came out in December. Anyway for fans of Beach Boys, fused with punk and rock and roll.

Bad Religion - New Maps Of Hell
I am a huge fan of Bad Religion. I love all of their albums too. "New Maps Of Hell", their third record in their Epitaph comeback, is a great punk record. I listened to this for the first time on the Sunday evening before the release date. I was stocked.

Minus The Bear - Planet Of Ice
This album is really boring compared to the band's older stuff, but hey, I liked it. I did not hear to this a lot anyway.



Saves The Day - Under The Boards
Totally unexpected. I did not like "Sound The Alarm" and I think these guys should have quit after their major label disc, but this new album is ok. Not too bad for Saves The Day, at least.


Lifetime - Self Titled
These guys signed to a shitty record label for money, I know. But ok, this record is good and Lifetime sounds better than ever on this disc.



Look Mexico - This Is Animal Music
Look Mexico play super catchy pop rock music and "This Is Animal Music" is an awesome disc.




Chase Pagan - Oh, Musica!
Chase Pagan is a great folk/pop/rock independent singer. His album "Oh Musica" has got a bad cover artwork but it's what's inside that matters.



NOFX - They've Actually Gotten Worse Live
This is not a new record actually, but I put it on my list because I like how NOFX can play when drunk. The tracklist to this record is pure garbage, but NOFX can make you have fun also while playing their worst songs. Oh, it's ok if you want to throw up while listening to this.

Attica! Attica! - Dead Skin Dried Blood
Got this CD in the mail casually and listened to this casually. I loved this. And I love when you discover a band casually.



Bomb The Music Industry! - Get Warmer
These guys make you download all of their music for free on their website. I did so. They play a lot of influences, from ska to pop electronic stuff, and I think this is the most innovative disc I heard this year.

Against Me! - New Wave
Some people say this is pure shit. I agree. But I like it.




Small Arms Dealer - Patron Saints Of Disappointment
This is how a punk record should sound in 2007. Great job! Too bad they released this only digitally, kind of.


The Weakerthans - Reunion Tour
These Canadians are back, and they are doing a reunion tour. Actually they aren't, but this new disc is spectacular. Everyone should take a listen.



Propagandhi - Live From Occupied Territory
This is the second live album I have on my list. I think I miss good old mid 90's punk records. Propagandhi put up a great show and well, this shit is great. What else can I say? Oh yeah, Chris's a macho.


American Steel - Destroy Their Future
Ok so, these guys are like Against Me!, but better. If that is ever possible. It is.




The Draft - We'll Never Know
This is an awesome seven inch you should pick up. For your own good. The Draft release some great tracks. And the artwork of this is neato.



New Mexican Disaster Squad - Peace With Nothing
It looks like digital releases are getting more popular. This digital EP is a collection of songs that will kick you ass if you ever enjoed Kid Dynamite or Good Riddance.

Jena Berlin - Quo Vadimus
Jena Berlin is the best post hardcore band that released a full album this year. Oh yeah, it looks like no one else noticed it.





Waiting in 2008
Alkaline Trio - Goddamnit (Reissue)
Hot Water Music - Til the Wheels Fall Off
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - Medium Rare
The Loved Ones - Build And Burn
Paint It Black - New Lexicon
Good Riddance - untitled live album
Donots - untitled new album

pictures of the new NOFX live vinyl

Taken from the web, I am still waiting my copy. It looks quite damn awesome, anyway.

Reeve Oliver's Touchstone Inferno

After living their personal Inferno, Reeve Oliver finally found the time to release their new album via iTunes. This album had to be released on a major label but, I don't know how, why and when, they got dropped and so they are releasing it by themselves.

Purchase "Touchstone Inferno" here.

indie bands are the best bands

That's how I feel about indie bands. Not indie rock bands. Independent bands. I just got a package from my friend Chuck at Beartrap PR with the finest CD's of independent bands you may want to hear. And now, I am not referring to Pitchfork-style bands. I am just referring to such bands as Attica! Attica! and One Small Step for Landmines. Their new albums are simply awesome.

Attica! Attica! play some kind of folk rock music filled with punk. They are the new band of Aaron, ex singer of De La Hoya and Marathon (I personally never heard De La Hoya but Marathon had some amazing melodic punk anthems). The new album might sound like early Against Me!, but better. I heard part of the CD last night while doing some work on my computer and as I listened to their songs, I just wanted to scream along, since I knew all the words by heart after only one listen. Really simple, straight and powerful acoustic yet angry punk stuff. I love this album.

One Small Step for Landmines is more of a pop/rock/punk band from Florida, with very catchy melodies and super harmonies made for long drivings. I heard this music while coming home on my scooter and I had the best of times. They have slow parts, louder parts, whispered words and anthemic choruses. Everything I love in perfect doses.

Please do yourself a favour and check both bands out.

the new NOFX live album

I really like how NOFX keep on reinventing themselves and even tough they keep on being one of the best live act I have ever seen, I just cannot not say I was disappointed by the tracklist of their last live album. It's just ... weak. They have so many better songs and choosing to play bad songs on purpose may be punk, but I don't know.

Anyway I just purchased my colored vinyl so, hopefully it will play it better than on the CD. Not really, it was just to let you know I bought a vinyl limited to 521 or so copies.

Buy this album.

it's not just my head

this is a personal blog about my music reviews, thoughts and stuff i want the world to know.
it's a dumb thing, i know.

peace

xoxo