After about a month of deliberating with myself, this is my final word on top 10 CD/vinyl releases for this year. I know you were just dying to find out what I liked. Thanks again for the support in 2008, we’ll be getting back to the regularly scheduled programing next week and we’ll be introducing some new features as the year unfolds. Enjoy your sparkling apple cider tonight.
Top Ten 12″/CD releases”
1. Breathing Fire - Years Of Lead (Painkiller)
Yes, this is on my label, but I still think it’s the best album of the year. One of the clearest misanthropic visions I’ve ever been party to. The busted sounding Traynors and tape hiss and shredded vocal chords are as dank and real as it can get.2. Running For Cover - Dark Well(625/Art of the Underground)
This took 3 or 4 years to come out but it was worth the wait. Some of the wildest bass shit I’ve heard on a hardcore record and with much feeling. Almost on a No Comment level here.
3. Harvey Milk - Life Is The Best Game In Town (Hydra Head)
I am not a Harvey Milk O.G., but this album is great. Probably the best “white blues” lp this year. Just stinkin’ sludged out booze soaked shit kickers here. Def. better than the new Melvins.4. Motorhead - Motorizer (Steamhammer/SPV)
Their 2nd best this decade, but a very good lp on its own. If you don’t like Motorhead, you’re dead to me.5. Outlaw Order - Dragging Down The Enforcer (Season Of Mist)
Out of nowhere this one comes. 4/5ths of Eyehategod doing an album pretty similar to Confederacy Of Ruined Lives era EHG. Mike Williams hate-screams are still pure catharisis.6. Sex/Vid - Communal Living (Dom America)
Couldn’t get away from these dudes this year if you follow hardcore, but they deserve the attention. Tearing apart at the seams, thrashing punked out HC tunes. Get your Deep Wound, Aspirin Feast, Neos, type fix, and thankfully they aren’t slowing down yet.7. Extortion - Sick (Deep 6)
Absolutely 100% the best band on the planet for Ripcord/Voorhees/CapCas(early) skull in a vice style hardcore. Each proper release has improved on the previous for these guys and this is a fucking great hardcore lp. One of the best blast-beat heavy bands you can hear these days.8. Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Primary Colours (Goner)
I guess this is my curve ball pick. Enjoyed this band’s other recs, but I can’t stop playing this one. Totally foot-tappin’ UK DIY vibe. Kinda pubby and kinda twee, but the tunes stick in your head and that’s what counts.9. Midnight - Farewell To Hell + bonus 7″ (Nuclear War Now)
Even though Midnight is kind of punk, they’re my favorite current metal band. Perfect Venom/Fingernails/Warfare type stuff.10. Walls - 1-sided 12″ (Iron Lung)
Kinda regressing for these guys, bringing some more speed and hardcore parts, but I think it sounds good, definitely more intense than their album from last year. Some Rorschach shit, some Unsane shit, the right amount of angular moments and pure HC fury IMO.
That Running For Cover LP is hands down my favorite record to come out this year. Seems like it hasn’t really gotten the attention it deserves but maybe I’m just not paying close enough attention.
Thanks for these lists, some stuff I definitely need to check out. I loved the Breathing Fire LP. Need to check out that new Outlaw Order record. Recently heard Sex Vid, finally,…really liking it.