Jan 14, 2005 00:47
So assuming that my paycheck tomorrow permits me a little bit of extra money, I might be getting a new tattoo on Saturday. It wont be anything really big. It'll be a small 1 1/2 inch by 1 1/2 inch filler piece of the black wooled sheep off of Minor Threat's 'Out of Step' LP. It's not too big of a deal and it should only cost 50 bucks since it'll take less then half an hour to do...but it's a space that's needed to be filled since I've wrapped up the forearm sleeve back in May. So it'll actually make a good bit of difference in how the sleeve is seen visually. That one little bit of space will solidify the whole thing.
So lately...I've really been getting into alot of the hardcore that I listened to back in my highschool days.
Do you remember the days when you first discovered it? For me it was when I was a 14 year old kid in the eighth grade. I was fully consumed in the whole Third Wave Ska thing. Five Iron Frenzy dominated my stereo. Then I had stumbled onto Squad Five-O and the world of punk rock was opened to me. But a few months later, I happened upon the first compilation that Solid State Records had put out (you know...back when they were GOOD). Alot of it didnt really catch my attention. But there was one track on there by a band called Stretch Armstrong called 'Outside Looking In' and man..that just did it for me. Caught my attention and never let go. From then on, I was in love with this raw form of music known as Hardcore. From there I got my hands on everything I could...now obviously this led me down the road to Minor Threat, Dischord Records and so on and so forth. But back in those old days, I was really into all of the bands that were associated with what's now called the Spirit Filled Hardcore movement. The way they praised God with such fervor and passion with music that wasn't cheesy or youth group friendly. It was raw, abrasive and damaging to the ears.
I miss those days...when hardcore bands weren't ashamed of their beliefs. When they stood up for their God and didn't shy down when God Free Youth spat in their face. Where did that integrity and honesty go? I miss the days of being into hardcore and not knowing that there was a dress code for it. I miss feeling like it was mine and not something that everyone in my school got in on because it was a trend. I miss walking down the halls with Focal Point blaring in my headphones while everyone else was rockin' the Linkin Park. Now all of those same kids are claiming they're into grind because they own a Daughters record. I'm not being exclusionary...I just wish it were back to the days where the outcasts were welcome and had something of their own. Now the 'beautiful' people so to speak have come in and taken over yet another thing for themselves. I didnt even know the phrase "sick mosh" until a year ago. I'm no old guy by any means...but I've been in this for nearly seven years now. Can we go back to a time before Norma Jean and combovers? I can only hope so...
Anyway...here's a mix I made. Enjoy it. Go down memory lane. If your highschool years were like mine...you'll totally be into this. Most of the tracks are easy to find since they were released on compilations. I have the full recordings but since these were the tracks that led me to the bands, they're the most memorable. I threw some more recent stuff on here too to tie everything together.
Stretch Arm Strong: For The Record
Hanover Saints: Salutations
Jesus Wept: Father, Forgive Me
Zao: Repressed
Eso Charis: Once Upon A Fashionable
Unashamed: I Surrender
Focal Point: Neglected
Anguish Unsaid: Confession In Times of Tribulation
Innermeans: Dischord
Overcome: New Life
Comeback Kid: All In A Year
Hit The Deck: Heads You Lose
One 21: Morality
Born Blind: Nothing More, Nothing Less
No Innocent Victim: Reunion
Day of Reckoning: As Truth Rings Out
Unashamed: Meet Us Here
StrongArm: Council of Perfection
Dodgin' Bullets: Black and Blue Ego
The Deal: Fight Town
Officer Negative: J.C.H.C.
StrongArm: Stand Together
No Innocent Victim: Strength In Christ