November 2012

I took a break from my endless hours of homework to walk over to Phonoselect to pick up my records for November earlier today, and I'm really into what I picked up. Smoking Popes - This Is Only A Test LP, Cops and Robbers - Execution Style 7", and probably my favorite LP that I've picked up this year, Poison The Well - Tear From The Red. The Smoking Popes LP was on special which is why I picked it up. Definitely not my favorite record of theirs, but it does have some really good songs and I'm glad to have it in my collection. Cops and Robbers was always an underrated band in my mind, and I've never owned any physical copies of their records. It was also on special so I had to grab it. Poison The Well has always been, and always will be one of my absolute favorite heavy bands. I hesitate to use the term "Metalcore" because of what that genre has turned into over the last few years (makeup, autotune, and general douche baggery). Modern bands are still trying to catch up to what this band did over a decade ago. Opposite Of December was one of the records that really opened my mind to heavy music, and that one will always be special for me, but I think Tear From The Red is even better and more intense. I'm super excited to own this.

October 2012

My friend Mike runs a record label called Escapist Records. He put out TTNY's first record in 2007 and has been a great friend ever since. He was nice enough to send me a sweet care package with some shirts and records. He hooked me up with Territory - Sic Semper Tyrannis LP and Light Years - Just Between Us 7". Both are rad and I'm glad that he's doing both of these bands. Territory is one of the best new heavy bands that I've heard in awhile. Definitely reminds me of Integrity which I love. I saw a review the other that said "Territory: for fans of Satan at 1000 miles per hour". That pretty much sums it up. Heavy, fast, and fucking pissed off. Light Years is the exact opposite, catchy and fun. I dig this 7" and I think they're gonna do a lot of big things. Check out www.escapist-records.com and support this label. Good dude putting out cool bands

September 2012

September was a great month. I was lucky enough to visit Maui for the first time with my wife, watched the Giants clinch a playoff spot, and I bought some cool records. Creem - LP and Give - Heaven Is Waiting 7". Alot of times when I walk into a record store, I have a certain mood or vibe driving what I pick. This month I walked in with really no idea what direction I was going in. A few months ago I downloaded Creem's four song demo and really dug it. Fast, pissed off punk that reminded me why I was drawn to aggressive music in the first place. I'm totally out of the loop and had no idea that their LP was released about a month ago. I was psyched when I saw it and wasn't let down.Also, the Give 7". Give is a band I've heard a lot about but hadn't heard until I picked this up. I'm glad I got it. Punk/hardcore with awesome stoney riffs. I'm really into the artwork on both records too, which is sweet. 2 for 2 in September.

August 2012

This month I ended up with some really cool picks. I had a coupon from my favorite record shop so I picked up and extra LP. Strike Anywhere - Dead FM LP, Guided By Voices - Let's Go Eat The Factory LP, and Shutdown - Something To Prove 7". Dead FM is probably Strike Anywhere's catchiest records, and they are one of the bands that I'd like to own everything from so that was an easy choice. Let's Go Eat The Factory is the latest Guided By Voices release, and I've yet to hear it so I'm excited to spin this one. Shutdown was one of the first hardcore/punk bands that I ever heard due to a snowboarding video that I watched when I was around 13 years old. They're one of the bands that opened my mind to aggressive music and I'm really psyched to have this in my collection.

July 2012

This month I picked up another LP for my never ending quest to own all things The Smiths/Morrissey. Your Arsenal LP. Every song is a hit. I also ended up with Fugazi - 3 Songs 7". Fugazi is such a great band, and I'm glad to have this in my collection.

June 2012

My picks for June ended up being a couple impulse buys. I'm psyched on both of them. Coliseum - No Salvation LP and Hüsker Dü - Eight Miles High 7". It's been awhile since I've listened to Coliseum, so this was a great refresher. No Salvation is definitely my favorite release by them. Just straight up punishment front to back. Eight Miles High just kind of jumped out at me in the record store. Bob Mould never ceases to amaze me with whatever it is that he records. This 7" is no different even being nearly 30 years old. What a band Hüsker Dü is.

May 2012

This has been a wild month, but I found some time yesterday to walk down to Phonoselect in midtown to pick up a couple records. Hands down my favorite record shop that I've ever been to and it happens to be a few blocks from my apartment. My picks for the month are Strike Anywhere - Exit English and American Nightmare - 4 Song Demo 7". Strike Anywhere is one of my favorite punk bands of all time and I love every release of theirs, but Exit English is definitely my favorite. Probably because it's the first one I ever heard. As for American Nightmare, I pretty much try to pick up everything I see from them so that was an easy choice. Also, not a new record but I wanted to mention The Beach Boys - Surfer Girl LP. I played this earlier this morning in honor of my sister Catie that passed away on the 13th. The Beach Boys is a band that we both love and always had in common. In My Room is the first track on side B and is not only my favorite Beach Boys jams but also one of my favorite songs and probably one of the best songs ever written. Rest in peace Catie, hearing a Beach Boys song at any time or place will be a different experience now and for the rest of my life.

March/April 7"'s

I'm pretty stoked on my 7" selections for March and April. Minor Threat - Salad Days and Creatures - S/T. Minor Threat is a pretty obvious choice, and Creatures is a band that I really like and the price was right.

April 2012

My birthday is in April, so I went over my usual one record per month. Thanks to my wife and sister, I ended up with some of my favorites that I don't already own. Neutral Milk Hotel - In An Aeroplane Over The Sea, Nirvana - Bleach, and Foo Fighters - The Colour And The Shape. In An Aeroplane Over The Sea is easily in my top ten records of all time, and has been on my want list for years. Bleach is pretty self explanatory. One of the best and most important bands to ever exist. I'm really excited to spin this one. last but certainly not least, The Colour And The Shape. Another all-time favorite of mine that I'm really happy to finally own.

March 2012

Run For Cover Records released one of my favorite EP's of the last few years on vinyl for the first time this month, which made it an easy pick for this month. Fireworks - We Are Everywhere. Great songs, and a great way to revisit this EP. It also came with bonus acoustic songs which is awesome.