Brand New

I think perhaps they are the best band from LI of new all time. No joke. The music is like the Cursive of Long Island or something. I really enjoy much of the lyrics too. They have that knack of saying plain things fairly poetically and then a few times are just shy of being great, maybe that’s the LI in. I especially like the album creative as I felt like I was in space the whole time I grew up there. Then there is the song that you here everywhere that sounds like the Cure and holy shit doesn’t everything all of a sudden? (triple crown/razor &tie)

I got really excited when I was able to download Relentless at the Bridge 9 site. It tears it apart and states in music what we all know about SOIA. SOIA is the core of my NYHC. They were one of the first bands I saw and got me into it along with Rest In Pieces, Straight Ahead, Raw Deal, Breakdown, Cro-Mags, Leeway and the Icemen. I must admit after Scratch the Surface I missed a record or 2, but it will never change what I lived and experienced with Sick Of It All. People need to recognize and appreciate what they mean to hardcore and to NY. Who is going to do the documentary on this band? Sick Of It All is Relentless in their will, attack and approach; undoubtedly SOIA on Life On The Ropes and Paper Tiger features John Joseph. (fat wreck chords)

Grand Champ

Does anyone else get the feeling that DMX has a strange obsession with dogs? Grand Champ is no different than the last 12 DMX records (Ok, so I lost count). Chock full of the prerequisite barking background vocals, the “WHAT!” the “Get at me Dogz,” the growls, and the tales of growing up on the streets and keeping it real. And as a special treat, for all of you devout Christian hip-hop fans out there, you get the ever-popular prayer at the end. I guess he feels comfortable with this formula he’s created. Personally, I’m bored of it. (def jam)

Permission to Land

So in this world of done and re-done and everyone trying to take it a step further, combining and stealing everything we loved from the greats, it was only a matter of time before someone took it this far and it ended up going so far its greatness. I bring you The Darkness. This record is ridiculously awesome. You will hear all sorts of asses telling you what its a combination of; I will not play that game. The Darkness brings some theatrics to some dope 70’s cheese rock. Finally something from England that is not called Radiohead. (atlantic)