So just to start off, I've got quite the heavy course-load up ahead of me this semester, so this blog is likely going to become something I do when I'm bored. Which means you're likely only going to be getting about one or two entries per month. So with that let's move onto this weeks playlist.If you have been getting bored with the playlists up until now, this may be the turning point for you because this is the disc where we start to get into bands that not only draw heavily from punk but also draw from various other genres to give their interpretation of punk that unique little twist. This playlist will essentially look at bands that push punk to the point where it almost becomes something else, but is still noticably rooted in punk.
The Rocky Fortune - So to kick things off here is a band that clearly draws heavily from the classic rock scene. From their short licks in between chorus and verse to their blues esque solos classic rock can be heard beneath almost all of what they do. Their skill is also superb for a punk band (not saying all punk bands are mediocre instrumentalists, but I've been in a number of punk bands and have had friends in punk bands... 9 times out of 10 people play punk because they can't play enything else.) If you don't believe me just listen to the song "Tonight we Pray for Rain". They way in which they make the guitar sound like rain drops and the drums sound like thunder all while they are constantly building towards this climax that is makes you feel like you have been dropped into the middle of a raging thunder storm. It's simply stunning.
A.F.I. (a.k.a. A Fire Inside) - These guys started out pretty punk and now are... I don't even know where they stand in the punk spectrum anymore... but "Sing The Sorrow" was a spectacular album that gave so much to punk. Lyrically and instrumentally this album had lots going for it (but this is not a site where I review albums so I'm going to leave it at that. If you like the two songs from Sing the Sorrow I put on the playlist you can go judge the album for yourself). Also, again, I'm a sucker for a unique voice which A.F.I. has in abundance.
The Matches - There are two reasons I really like these guys. 1) their guitar work is beautiful for punk. They actually try to not pump their songs full of power chords (not saying they aren't there, but these guys actually know enough about music to know how to use actual chords within their punk style.) The second reason is because these guys truly care about the end product, to the point where they match their songs to procuders that they feel can do the song justice. On their album Decomposer they had; Matt Radosevich, Mike Green, John Feldmann, Miles Hurwitz, Mark Hoppus, Divine Genius, Nick Hexum, Tim Armstrong and Brett Gurewitz all producing songs on the album. When you consider that most bands just get one or two procuders per album that is a pretty big number.
Tsunami Bomb - So this band isn't really pushing the envelope as far as some of the other bands on the list, I just thought I should have a punk band with a chick vocalist on the list so here you go... Enjoy.
Pulley - These guys are really only on this list because he doesn not have a traditional punk voice... his voice sounds like it would be more at home in a hard rock or metal band... which is pretty much why I like them.
The Epoxies - Synth-pop + Punk + Chick Vocalist = Pure Awesome
Vandals - Fun Fast Punk. That's all you need to know about these guys... They love punk and they love having fun and it really comes out in their music. They are probably one of the more enjoyable punk bands out there today in my mind. While they may not be pushing the boundaries of punk musically, their attitude towards playing music for ones self as appose to playing music in an attempt to change the world is quite refreshing in the punk genre.
Social Code - these guys are hard to describe, it's as it these guys are having this internal battle as to whether they want to be screamo or punk... and punk always comes out just slightly ahead because none of them really know how to be screamo even though they kind of want to be.
Monty Are I/Monty's Fan Club/Monty/Whatever kind of Monty they're going to call themselves next album - Here's another band that got their start as a ska band, but you can't really hear that influence anymore. They have taken to calling their genre action rock, but really It's just energetic punk with a horn section and heavy rock influences. Hard to explain... just listen.
Crowned King - Sorry if you're not as big of a fan as Ska gone punk but here we have yet another band that started ska but became something else. Just like "Monty Are I" you probably wouldn't know they used to be ska just by listening to them. These guys essentially dropped the ska but kept the horn section making them essentially a punk band with horns. The only thing with these guys is they have since lost their trumpet saxophonist and lead guitarist and really aren't the same band they once were (Which is why they have changed their name to "The Envy" because they too have come to realize this)... but for this one CD (Break the silence) they really had an excellent brand of punk going for them. I highly recommend you check out the album if you like the songs on this playlist.
Hot Live Guys - Imagine, if you will, a dingy old bar on the outskirts of town. The lighting is dim and there's virtually nothing on tap. Rock has been getting sauced up since 2 in the afternoon when Punk walks into the bar and sits right next to Rock. The two begin to talk and get onto a topic of clear importance to one of them. Punk says something that rock clearly doesn't like so with a quick crack he smashes his bottle on the counter and demands Punk take back what he had just said. The soundtrack you have in your head for this ensueing bar fight is the best way I can explain Hot Live Guys.
If you're wondering what you have to look forward to next playlist, It's primarily Folk-Punk and bands drawing on various acoustic genres to flavor their punk. Although there will be the odd band that I just have to mention even though it draws off something slightly different being my last Disc in the Punk Series and all.
Download the Playlist Here ---> Mediafire
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