Zilele trecute au fost alegerile. Desi sunt total dezinteresat de politica din Romania [They're all the same!], am fost la vot. Mai mult pentru referendum. Cu aceasta ocazia am avut minunata oportunitate de a mai sta la o coada. Si nu orice fel de coada, ci o coada de dimensiui epice!

Deoarece locuiesc fara forme legale, a trebuie sa ma duc la gara ca sa votez. Nu ma asteptam sa duraze mai mult de 15 minute, dar a durat peste o ora jumatate! [Am ascultat toata discografia de la Anti-Flag stand la coada!] Cand m-am asezat la rand era ziua si erau peste 50 de persoane in fata mea, iar cand am intrat in sectia de votare era noaptea si in urma mea erau peste 100 de  persoane. Oficial e cea mai mare coada la care am stat [Nici cand am stat la coada pentru permis nu era atat de multa lume!] A venit si o televiziune sa filmeze si ceea ce mi s-a parut deosebil de grotesc e ca la un moment dat, un tip de origine asiatiaca isi facea poze cu Coada! [Mi-l si imaginez, povestind rudelor... "Am fost in Iasi. Uite aici: Eu cu cainii comunitari, iar aici eu cu Coada de la sectia de votare de la gara!"]

In incheiere te las sa te delectezi cu un reportaj filmat in Gara de Nord din Bucuresti, la coada de la sectia de votare. Din motive necunoscute, nu pot incarca materialul video pe blog, asa ca pentru a urmari reportajul, intra aici

Poti spune pe litere f-r-a-u-d-a? Si te mai intrebi de ce naiba nu se schimba nimic in tara asta! Daca acestia sunt oamenii care decid viitorul Romaniei prin vot, atunci Romania nu are viitor! Rest in peace!

This is about a week of catch up or so, so this is one fucking long list!

2009 – The Future Is Soon
Aggrolites, The – IV
Andrew W.K. – Close Calls With Brick Walls
Anti-Flag – The People or The Gun
As Tall As Lions – You Can’t Take It With You
Ataris, The – …Anywhere But Here
Ataris, The – Welcome The Night
Avail – Front Porch Stories
Avail – One Wrench
Bad Brains – Bad Brains
Barry, Tim – Manchester
Big D and the Kids Table, Brian Failure – Beijing to Boston
Black Keys, The – The Big Come Up
Black Sabbath – Paranoid
Briggs, The – Back To Higher Ground
Cloak Dagger – Lost Art
Common Enemy – Living The Dream
Converge – Axe To Fall
Death By Stereo – Into The Valley Of Death
Dost, Andrew – Columbus
Drive Like Jehu – Drive Like Jehu
Drive Like Jehu – Yank Crime
Flaming Lips, The – Silent Night
Full of Fancy – Sweet Baby Jesus
Gabel, Tom – Anna is a Stool Pigeon
Ghostlimb, Fischer – Split
Guns N’ Roses – Chinese Democracy
Hatebreed – For The Lions
Hot Chip – The Warning
Jizz Kids, Guts – A Safe Return To The Forest
Judas Priest – Hero, Hero
Lawrence Arms, The – The Greatest Story Ever Told
Longfellow – And So On
Lucero – 1372 Overton Park
Mad Caddies – Just One More
Mars Volta, The – Is Anybody There
Mars Volta, The – Live At The Electric Ballroom
Max Levine Ensemble, The – Ok Smarty Pants
Monikers – Wake Up
Morrissey – Years of Refusal
Motley Crue – Girls Girls Girls
MxPx – Secret Weapon
Naked Raygun – Jettison
Naked Raygun – Understand
Nerf Herder – American Cheese
Nine Pound Hammer – Sex, Drugs and Bill Monroe
No Use For A Name – Hard Rock Bottom
No Use For A Name – Keep Them Confused
No Use For a Name – More Bitterness
Only Crime – To The Nines
P.O.D. – Payable On Death
Protest the Hero – Kezia
Prozacs, The – Playing The Chords We Love
Real McKenzies, The – 10,000 Shots
Real McKenzies, The – Oot and Aboot
Rehasher – High Speed Access to My Brain
R.E.M. – Automatic for the People
Revolutionary Youth – Bleed Decay
Scorch, Al – This Lonesome World…
Sick Of It All – Call To Arms
Sick Of It All – Life on the Ropes
Sick Of It All – Yours Truly
Skatalites – Stretching Out Vol. 1
Skeletonwitch – Breathing The Fire
Smashing Pumpkins – Gish
Snow Patrol – A Hundred Million Suns
Star Fucking Hipsters – Never Rest In Peace
Strung Out – An American Paradox
Swellers, The – My Everest
Tool – 10,000 Days
Used Kids – Yeah No
Vandals, The – Play Really Bad Original Country Tunes
Vandals, The – Sweatin’ To The Oldies
Various Artists – Glory Daze
Various Artists – Mallrats
Various Artists – New Tales To Tell
Wrister, North Trolls – Split

© Martin Juen

Wer in den letzten Tagen @unibrennt auf Twitter gefolgt ist, hat ungefähr einen Eindruck davon, wie kreativ und wie gut organisiert der Protest der Wiener Studierenden in den medialen Äther geblasen wird. Beeindruckend, eine ziemliche aktuelle und optisch ansprechende Website unter wahrscheinlich nicht allzu günstigen Bedingungen mit Input zu versorgen, mal ganz abgesehen von dem anhaltenden und hoffentlich effektiven Protest für richtige Ziele (Verhinderung von Studiengebühren, bessere finanzielle Ausstattung von Lehrenden u.v.m.). Mehr zu den Hintergründen gibt es u.a. hier.

Und weil die Ami-Punks von ANTI-FLAG ohnehin gerade in Europa mit der Eastpak Antidote Tour unterwegs sind, schauen sie auch heute um 19.00 Uhr im Audimax der Uni Wien vorbei, das seit einigen Tagen besetzt ist. Dass sie ein paar Songs spielen werden, scheint doch recht wahrscheinlich. Vielleicht streuen sie auch The Clash Covers ein. Schon für den Nachmittag war ein Cover-Unplugged-Set – wie vor einer Woche auch in Berlin – angekündigt. Heute Abend geht’s dann ins Gasometer mit Alexisonfire, Four Year Strong and The Ghost of a Thousand.

Songvorschlag für’s Audimax: Career Opportunities.

Live-Stream aus dem Hörsaal via USTREAM

Edit: Ganz vergessen zu erwähnen! Die Studis streamen das Programm aus vielen Hörsälen Österreichs – und zwar auch aus dem Wiener Audimax. Es wird demnach sehr wahrscheinlich auch das kleine Konzert zu sehen geben! Den Stream gibt es unter diesem Link.

Quelle

1 de noviembre (domingo) – Simone White + Victoria Williams @ Kafe Antzokia (20.30h) [Metro: Abando]

4 de noviembre (miércoles) – Do Make Say Think + Years + Happiness Project @ Kafe Antzokia (20.30h) [Metro: Abando]

6 de noviembre (viernes) – Los Planetas + El Veloz Murciélago Hindú @ Santana 27 (21h) [Metro Bolueta]

6 de noviembre (viernes) – The Pepper Pots @ Santana 27 (24h) [Metro Bolueta]

7 de noviembre (sábado) – The Eastpak Antidote Tour: Anti-Flag + Alexisonfire + Four Year Strong + The Ghost of a Thousand @ Kafe Antzokia (21.30h) [Metro: Abando]

7 de noviembre (sábado) – Nick Oliveri @ Balcón de la Lola (21h) [Metro: Abando]

8 de noviembre (domingo) – Richie Kotzen @ Rock Star Live (19h) [Metro: Ansio / Barakaldo]

13 de noviembre (viernes) – Nueva Vulcano + Ya Te Digo @ Balcón de la Lola (21h) [Metro: Abando]

13 de noviembre (viernes) – The Quireboys @ Kafe Antzokia (21.30h) [Metro: Abando]

19 de noviembre (jueves) – Heineken Greenspace: Micah P. Hinson + The Duke and the King + Black Joe Lewis and the Honey Bears @ Santana 27 (20.30h) [Metro: Bolueta]

20 de noviembre (viernes) – Heineken Greenspace: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart + Atlas Sound @ Santana 27 (20.30h) [Metro: Bolueta]

21 de noviembre (sábado) – The Lemonheads + Thee Brandy Hips @ Kafe Antzokia (21.30h) [Metro: Abando]

27 de noviembre (viernes) – L.A. + Elastic Band + Alex Ferreira @ Azkena (20.30h) [Metro: Abando]

28 de noviembre (sábado) – The Nu Niles + Juke Box Racket @ Crazy Horse (22h) [Metro: Deusto]

“Anatomy of your enemy” – Anti-Flag

10 easy steps to create an enemy and start a war:

Listen closely because we will all see this weapon used in our lives.

It can be used on a society of the most ignorant to the most highly educated.

We need to see their tactics as a weapon against humanity and not as truth.

First step: create the enemy. Sometimes this will be done for you.

Second step: be sure the enemy you have chosen is nothing like you.

Find obvious differences like race, language, religion, dietary habits

fashion. Emphasize that their soldiers are not doing a job,

they are heartless murderers who enjoy killing!

Third step: Once these differences are established continue to reinforce them

with all disseminated information.

Fourth step: Have the media broadcast only the ruling party’s information

this can be done through state run media.

Remember, in times of conflict all for-profit media repeats the ruling party’s information.

Therefore all for-profit media becomes state-run.

Fifth step: show this enemy in actions that seem strange, militant, or different.

Always portray the enemy as non-human, evil, a killing machine.

Sixth step: Eliminate opposition to the ruling party.

Create an “Us versus Them” mentality. Leave no room for opinions in between.

One that does not support all actions of the ruling party should be considered a traitor.

Seventh step: Use nationalistic and/or religious symbols and rhetoric to define all actions.

This can be achieved by slogans such as “freedom loving people versus those who hate freedom.”

This can also be achieved by the use of flags.

Eighth step: Align all actions with the dominant deity.

It is very effective to use terms like, “It is god’s will” or “god bless our nation.”

Ninth step: Design propaganda to show that your soldiers

have feelings, hopes, families, and loved ones.

Make it clear that your soldiers are doing a duty; they do not want or like to kill.

Tenth step: Create and atmosphere of fear, and instability

and then offer the ruling party as the only solutions to comfort the public’s fears.

Remembering the fear of the unknown is always the strongest fear.

Fat Wreck Chords estará editando un boxset de 3 cds, esto por motivo de celebrar sus 20 años de creación. La label empezo en 1990 pero edito su primer material dos años despues. El pimer disco incluria exitos del pasado, el segundo canciones raras o “lados B”, el tercero será el 7″ Club del 2001 en un solo cd.

El release incluira 88 canciones de Against Me!, American Steel, Anti-Flag, Avail, Bracket, Chixdiggit!, Consumed, Dead To Me, Descendents, The Dickies, Dillinger Four, Enemy You, Epoxies, Face to Face, The Flatliners, Frenzal Rhomb, Goober Patrol, Good Riddance, Hi-Standard, Lagwagon, The Lawrence Arms, Less Than Jake, The Loved Ones, MxPx, Mad Caddies, Me First and The Gimme Gimmes, NOFX, Nerf Herder, No Use For A Name, None More Black, One Man Army, Only Crime, Propagandhi, Randy, The Real McKenzies, Rise Against, The Sainte Catherines, Screeching Weasel, Sick Of It All, Smoke Or Fire, Snuff, The Soviettes, Star Fucking Hipsters, Strike Anywhere, Strung Out, Swingin’ Utters, Tilt, The Vandals, Western Addiction, Wizo y Zero Down.

Sträflich vernachlässigt wird akkordarbeit momentan von mir. Kein Wort darüber, dass Robbie Williams – und ich mag seine Musik nicht wirklich – heute in Berlin gespielt hat. Kein Geld hat’s gekostet, über ne halbe Stunde ging’s. Aber der YouTube-Mitschnitt ist immer dann, wenn nicht gerade die Radio-Musik läuft, ganz unterhaltsam. Der hat sein Publikum unter Kontrolle. Und eine gute Live-Band. Der Schluss ist sogar ganz cool. Ach scheiße, der ist schon ganz okay.

Aber das ist ja gar nichts gegen die Nachricht, die mir gestern fast einen Herzinfarkt eingebracht hat, als ich gelesen habe, dass Paul McCartney im Dezember in Hamburg, Berlin und Köln Konz…. Warte mal… MACCA KOMMT NACH BERLIN?! So in etwa war das. Und ja, ich werde morgen alles daran setzen, ein Ticket für den 3. Dezember in Berlin zu bekommen. Der Haken: Am gleichen Tag spielen Muff Potter ihr Abschiedskonzert im Lido. Shit. Aber wer weiß, ob morgen nicht wieder nach 3 Minuten Telefonwarteschleife alles ausverkauft ist.

Ich komme zum Beispiel auch nicht dazu, morgen um 16.00 Uhr ins Ramones Museum zu gehen, um mir den Akustik-Auftritt von Anti-Flag anzuschauen. René vom Useless Fanzine hat sogar herausgefunden, dass sie morgen ein Cover-Set aus The Clash Songs spielen. Ich beiße mir in den Arsch, während ich diese Zeilen tippe, muss ich mal kurz dazuschreiben. Also unbedingt hingehen. Der Eintritt ist frei und der Platz recht begrenzt.

Außerdem gibt’s endlich – und schon seit einigen Tagen – einen Release-Termin für das Them Crooked Vultures Album: Die Scheibe erscheint am 17. November in den USA und dem Ahornstaat Kanada. Also wird sie auch in diesem Dreh auf dem alten Kontinent zu haben sein.

Und dann gibt es noch etwas aus der Klatschspalte der Musikbranche. Die Worte von Matt Tong, seines Zeiches Bloc (Blog?) Party Drummer, klingen nicht sehr optimistisch, was die Zukunft seiner Band angeht. Eine Trennung steht ins Haus. Auch wenn mir das letzte Material nicht gefallen hat, hätte ich ihnen noch zwei Jahre mehr gewünscht. Aua, den konnt ich mir nicht verkneifen.

Tonight, the annual and month-long Eastpak Tour hits the capital, presenting the strong line-up of Alexisonfire, Anti-Flag, Four Year Strong and The Ghost of a Thousand to a sold-out HMV Forum.

Brighton’s The Ghost of a Thousand take to the stage, donning all-white outfits, but their music is far from any gimmicks – it’s honest, brute and will hit you harder than any freight train. From start-to-finish, they make the most of their time as they relentlessly smash through their 30-minute set with songs such as Bright Lights and new single Knees, Toes, Teeth. A rather unorthodoxly large setting for the melodic hardcore mob who are usually confined to cramped venues, but their sound is far from lost  and they play with just as much ballsy energy, as vocalist Tom Lacey demonstrates his disregard for the barrier, spending just as much time off the stage and in the crowd than on; TGOAT have most definitely made a statement tonight.

It’s been 11-months since the Massachusetts 5-piece Four Year Strong hit these shores and, surprisingly, for a band that used to have such huge hype, it appears that the almost-standstill London crowd haven’t particularly missed them. To the band’s credit, the stage presence is certainly still there, with synthesist Josh Lyford enthusiastically engaging with the few of those who actually care down at the front for those obligatory mic-grabs, and the mammoth guitarist/vocalist of Dan O’Connor amusingly bouncing around on stage. Unfortunately, the boppy vocals of O’Connor and Alan Day aren’t particularly shown well tonight with the venue’s poor sound, as they kick off their fairly predictable set, jam-packed with tunes from Rise or Die Trying, with favourite Bada Bing! Wit’ A Pipe! and, astoundingly, play no new material. A good effort, feeling somewhat lacklustre in places.

The politically-charged punk-rockers Anti-Flag are up next and certainly deliver, as they provide a whole lot of anthemic sing-a-longs from a mix of tunes from their back catalogue, with songs such as Die For Your Government, as well as a Clash cover of Should I Stay or Should I Go? going down an absolute storm, even inspiring a huge circle pit from the masses – a charm and response that was certainly missing from their predecessor’s set. Thankfully, to some, the band keep their preaching of leftist ideology  to a minimum tonight, as they focus on firing through their set of brilliant generic punk rock. Some say Anti-Flag are a ‘hit-and-miss’ band, however, they’ve never failed to impress yours truly.

As the lights dim for tonight’s headliners, it’s almost as if a magnet has drawn everyone to the stage, as there is a mass flurry to get as close to the stage as possible – it’s clear that the London crowd is gagging for a taste of post-hardcore kings Alexisonfire.  A meaty set lasting for a decent hour-and-a-quarter is bestowed upon the loyal and excitable contingent, with newer songs such as the Old Crows, Young Cardinals, and Accept Crime gaining just as much of a rapturous response, from a set predominantly full of Crisis material. For the few who are not particular familiar or into the band, it tends to drag, but the majority can’t seem to get enough of Dallas and co. tonight, and it’s evident that the band love London, just as much as London loves them, as they perform with just as much youthfulness and zest as if it was 2001.

- Faye Turnbull.

We’ll be posting an interview with Four Year Strong very soon!

There’s always something unsettling about corporate sponsored tours. You can’t help but feel a degree of cynicism that it’s just a big brand trying to cash in on the young market. However with a strong line up – despite the loss of The Fall Of Troy, let’s cast all negativity aside.

First on, Brighton quintet The Ghost Of A Thousand gave a fiery performance despite an unusual 6:30pm start – mixing material from debut album ‘This Is Where The Fight Begins’ and latest effort, ‘New Hopes, New Demonstrations’. Highlights came from ‘Black Art Number One’ and ‘Left For Dead’, whilst the set also brought the day’s first and biggest circle pit, spanning all the way to the sound desk.

As late additions to the tour it’s understandable that Four Year Strong look a little out of place. Despite trying their best to emphasise the hardcore elements of their unique blend of pop punk, the Refectory crowd really wasn’t feeling it. Equally surprising was the minimal material from the recently released ‘Explains It All’, the band instead focusing on tracks from their debut including, ‘Prepare To Be Digitally Manipulated’, ‘Catastrophe’, and favourite ‘Heroes Get Remembered, Legends Never Die’. Not a complete disaster, but by no means as good as it should have been.

After a successful stint on this summer’s Warped Tour you’d be forgiven for expecting a lot from Anti Flag. Whilst it’s clear their summer antics, as well as numerous years on the road, have been of great benefit – the band clearly comfortable and capable of giving the audience all the right prompts, it’s just a shame musically there’s been no progression. Still preaching to the disillusioned youth of the Bush era, their message now seems void of any meaning. ‘Turncoat’ and ‘Die For Your Government’ do offer a little nostalgic enjoyment for some, but are quickly quashed by a far too clichéd mid set rant about equality and diversity, followed by a simply awful cover of The Clash’s ‘Should l Stay Or Should I Go’. A dangerous question to ask, and for a sizable portion of the crowd, the answer is the latter.

Thankfully you can always count Alexisonfire to deliver a sweaty and adrenaline fueled headline performance. Despite showcasing a fair amount of material from latest effort ‘Old Crows / Young Cardinals’ – although tracks such as ‘The Northern’ and ‘Sons Of Liberty’ are dearly missed, there’s a generous helping of oldies as well; from the more predictable ‘Boiled Frogs’, to the surprise treat of ‘Waterwings’. Frontman George Petit was on typical crazed form whilst Dallas Green’s more melodic contributions gloriously soared. Closing the set with ‘Happiness By The Kilowatt’ is always a nice touch, as was Dallas’ particularly passionate introduction for ‘Accept Crime’ – encouraging the audience to be their own moral compasses. They may have had to put in the years for their success, but make no mistake, behind Alexis’ adolescent thrills, deep down, both live and on record, there’s all the trademark’s of a truly great band.

4/5

Justin Sane – Tommy gun

Time Again – Do you wanna change

Rancid – Old friend

The Economy Sucks, Let’s Party tour: Anti-Flag, Aiden, Cancer Bats, and Fireworks

Jan 12 Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
Jan 13 Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
Jan 14 St. Paul, MN @ Sstation 4
Jan 15 Omaha, NE @ Sokol Underfround
Jan 16 Denver, CO @ Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom
Jan 19 Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
Jan 20 Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
Jan 21 San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s
Jan 22 Los Angeles, CA @ Henry Fonda
Jan 23 San Diego, CA @ Soma
Jan 24 Anaheim, CA @ House Of Blues – Anaheim
Jan 25 Tempe, AZ @ Clubhouse
Jan 27 Austin, TX @ Red 7
Jan 29 Covington, KY @ Mad Hatter
Jan 30 Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom
Jan 31 Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom
Feb 1 Clifton Park, NY @ Northern Lights
Feb 2 Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
Feb 3 Philadelphia, PA, US @ Trocadero
Feb 4 New York, NY @ Highline Ballroom
Feb 5 Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
Feb 6 Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls

The tour is also hosting an e-card for fans to get involved! By clicking the “share” link on the E-Card/widget and sending to friends, points will be awarded. The person who shares the widget with the most friends will win Innes gear and swag from each band on the tour.

View the E-Card here: http://www.clearspring.com/widgets/4adc23ce1d57b1b1?p=4adcb1defd7c20e0

It’s been a while, and i can only apologize, to no one.

In the time i’ve been away I’ve seen the ineffable Tim Minchin, who was great as per usual, vaguely seen Alexisonfire, Anti-Flag and Four Year Strong who were good, i cant say anything beyond that, as, well i don’t remember any more than that. i was rather drunk though i do remember seeing Ross From Twin Atlantic, oh i need to apologize next tie i see him =/

Sooo other than that i’ve decided on the palm pre for my next phone so only 20 odd days till i have that in my grasp, its like Christmas, speaking of which i’ve pre-ordered an Amazon Kindle, yes i know how to waste my money.

i really have nothing much to say I’ve not had any time to listen to any albums, i’ve been exploring the world of photoshop, and trying in vain to become accustomed to illustrator. Which isn’t going to plan i can tell you =/

A few things have been annoying me recently and its not becoming easier but thats a story for a different day. we’ll go through it, sometime.

Álbum de maior sucesso da banda, de 2006, que gerou muita polêmica por ter sido assinado com uma grande gravadora, a RCA, coisa que nunca imaginavam que a banda ia fazer. Porém sua sonoridade conservou o mesmo punk rock enérgico e contestador de antes, para alívio dos fãs.

1. I’d Tell You But…
2. The Press Corpse
3. Emigre
4. The Project For A New American Century
5. Hymn For The Dead
6. This Is The End (For You My Friend)
7. 1 Trillion Dollar$
8. State Funeral
9. Confessions of an Economic Hit Man
10.War Sucks, Let’s Party!
11.The W.T.O. Kills Farmers
12.Cities Burn
13.Depleted Uranium Is A War Crime

DOWNLOAD

Såg precis att Sony snart släpper en ny netbook. Det kan nog vara den snyggast datorn som kommer i år men den dras med en saftiga prislapp på 15000 kr. Det är väldigt mycket för en slö banannetbook men det kan man leva med.  Länk

För er som gillar konserter så är det snart både Joshua Radin och Eastpak antidote tour (Alexisonfire, anti-flag och Four year strong!).  Eastpak Antidote Tour är  den 17:e november och Joshua Radin den 14:e oktober på Brewhouse i Göteborg.  Tycker jag inte ni ska missa.

I DN kan vi läsa att polisers “vanligaste brott utanför jobbet är kvinnomisshandel”, vilket förstås är allvarligt i sig men inte säger så mycket utan information om hur vanligt det är i jämförelse med den övriga befolkningen. Däremot är ju informationen om att bara ca “1 procent av alla anmälningar mot poliser leder till åtal”, och att det “är precis tvärtemot anmälningar mot allmänheten” uppseendeväckande.

Polisbrutalitet är ju ett vanligt tema inom punken, klicka på spelaren nedan för ett exempel.

Anti-Flags hemsida, med länkar till MySpace mm, finns här.

Länkar till andra bloggar om: musik, punk, Anti-Flag, kvinnomisshandel, övergrepp, polisen,

First part of the update today. Baby needs a nap, which means it’s time we take one as well!

B Real – Smoke and Mirrors
Bomb the Music Industry – Album Minus Band
Bouncing Souls, Anti-Flag – BYO Split Series Volume 4
Boys Nigh Out – Broken Bones and Bloody Kisses (180 Gram)
Boys Night Out – Make Yourself Sick
Briefs, The – Sex Objects
Briefs, The – Steal Yer Heart
Brother Ali – Shadows on the Sun
Brother Ali – Truth is Here
Brother Ali – Undisputed Truth
Busta Rhymes – Back on My B.S.
Caleb Lionheart – Think Hardcore, Play Pop Punk

And one giant bomb of a record who’s existence was leaked recently:

Blink 182 – Enema of the State

Oooh this is a hot one! First up in this weeks auditory mind assault is a full album download of down and dirty, psytrance from Xamanist…

Xamanist is 31 year old Sérgio Ribeiro from Portugal and he’s been messin’ about on guitar and bass and tweakin’ synths since diaper days. Then came what the man himself describes as a “life changing moment” - Boom Festival 2000 – and the next thing ya’ know Sergio is creating his own psytrance compositions. Together with Syul, the twosome formed Swan X-1, who performed live across Portugal until disbanding in 2007. Sérgio wasn’t quite done yet though, and hence, his solo project, Xamanist, was born. But, and I love this part, Xamanist still performs live on guitar and synths, at every show. This is not your average bot-a-track electronica. Rather, Xamanist is  like all good scotch, wine, coffee and smoothies an exercise in the perfection of the blend. Xaminist is old and new, darkness and light, melody and rhythm. This fusion philosophy is breathtakingly executed on Sérgio’s debut album, Initiation, mastered by Akhentek @ Ilum Studios. Sure, it’s laced with that good ‘ol Goa, but its also an amalgamation forged in the fires of a full-on, progressive style that provides an epic backdrop for creative storytelling. Personal favorite has gotta be the banging “White Magick”, but hey, I loved this whole album and it gets better with every listen. Oh and I almost forgot yo, that psychedelic cover art is from the delightfully curious mind of Adam Scott Miller – another interesting cat to say the least.

Download and enjoy all 9 tracks from Initiation by Xamanist here. FREE!

And now, in the immortal words of Monty Python, for something completely different.

modern day classic

You know Fat Wreck Chords and yes, by that I do mean precisely the independent punk label started by NOFX lead singer and bassist Fat Mike. The very same label we have to thank for the Punkvoter movement, which helped the U.S. rid itself of Bush Jr. by encouraging the youth to vote. The label that released material for Against Me, American Steel, Anti-Flag, Avail, Bad Astronaut, Banner Pilot, Chixdiggit!, Citizen Fish, Consumed, Dead To Me, Descendants, The Dickies, Dillinger Four, The Epoxies, The Flatliners, Frenzal Rhomb, Goober Patrol, Good Riddance, Hi-Standard, Lagwagon, The Lawrence Arms, Leftover Crack, Less Than Jake, The Loved Ones, Love Equals Death, The Mad Caddies, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, NOFX, None More Black, No Use For A Name, Only Crime, Pour Habit, Propaghandi, Randy, The Real McKenzies, Rise Against, The Sainte Catherines, Screeching Weasel, Sick of it All, Smoke Or Fire, Snuff, The Soviettes, Star Fucking Hipsters, Strike Anywhere, Strung Out, Subhumans, Swingin’ Utters, Teenage Bottlerocket, Tilt, Western Addiction and Wizo.  Oh you did! Splendid! But yeah did ya know you can download a whole pile of tracks from all those acts for FREE right now? No you didn’t. HA! Now, now.. Hush. Its o.k. Thats why I’m here.

Click to get Fat Wreck-ed!

Have a wicked weekend y’all. Peace!

Author’s Note: This is the second story written for a college course in Creative Writing. Hope you enjoy! Comments are encouraged.

The radio was on. Loud guitars and the piercing screams against humanity, known to distinguish those three minute masterpieces known to him as punk rock, were blaring out of the speakers. Going 70 miles on the 496, Dev tapped his fingers rapidly on the stirring wheel, suppressing the urge to roll down his window and yell at the car that cut him off on the expressway. “It’s midnight for all of those of you who are partying the night away at some sleazy club, smoking a joint or, for those of you unlucky enough to be heading to work. You suck. What you just heard was “Death of a Nation” by Anti-Flag, urging you not to sell out to those corporate bastards that already own your ass anyway. This is your host, Mickey Rotten and don’t forget you’re listening to KRXP 88.9”. Suddenly realizing the flashing lights in front of him, Dev burned rubber and made a sudden and loud stop in front of a row of orange cones and flare lights. There was a construction road block he hadn’t heard of and, having been trying to sober up for the last 45 minutes, Dev had overslept and was late.

“Fuck, Mickey is going to kill me. Fuck!” said Dev. He waited in line impatiently for the traffic dictators in phosphorescent jackets to let him through. There was something odd in the way they were stopping everyone and, apparently, asking for directions. Maybe he was hallucinating…they all looked like their hands were made of strobe lights. “What? Nope, they’re just flashlights. I have to get off this crap like now,” he said rubbing his hands across his eyes. The car made a sudden jerk as the tire ran over something hard and metallic, Dev rolled down the window and was momentarily blinded by a construction worker.

“It’s local traffic only. Where are you headed?” said the man. “I’m going to the radio station. It’s about a mile after the bridge, Steeltown Industrial Park. What happened?” asked Dev suddenly realizing the huge cranes lifting chunks of cement off the expressway. “Have you been under a rock, kid? A diesel tanker exploded three days ago, blew off the whole overpass northbound. Only one lane open. You’re lucky there’s not much thru traffic or else you still would’ve been waiting in line back at your house”, he laughed. “Well, what time is it?” asked Dev. “12:15”, answered the construction worker.

Panic made a run down Dev’s spine to his legs, making a pit stop at his stomach. He pressed on the accelerator and found the speedometer at the 70 mile mark once again. It wouldn’t be that bad if he made it in about two minutes, he thought. His plan was off to a great start until a loud boom and a sudden clash of metal and cement interrupted his train of thought. The car was running lopsided. He managed to stop and align himself at the shoulder. He turned on his emergency lights, opened his door and quickly smelled of burnt tire. “Crap man, I just bought this tire. What the hell!” thought Dev. Looking closely he saw a single wide and rusty nail sticking out of the rubber. Also, the hubcap was bent. His second thought was to flip open his cell phone.

“Perverts Anonymous, how can I help you?” said the voice. “Mickey? It’s me you dumbass. Can you cover for me for like half an hour? Is Resnick watching you?” asked Dev. “No, Resnick decided to stay home with his wife. Two, this is like the third time this month that I’ve covered for you, what the hell?” yawned Mickey. “It’s a real emergency this time, I ran over a nail and I have to change the tire. I’m like an exit away from the station. Please? My punk brother?” pleaded Dev. “Aw, don’t throw your comrade bullshit on me. Half an hour and don’t forget you’re on the air at 2:30am,” said Mickey. “I owe you one.” “You owe me your life Dev. Half an hour,” said Mickey.

As soon as he hung up he spotted the blue lights of a police siren a couple of meters away. “This has got to be the stupidest thing I’ve ever done,” thought Dev, and he flagged the cop car. It stopped cold a couple of feet away from Dev’s beat up Ford Explorer and backed up. A prototypical Hollywood cop stepped out of the car. Handcuffs hung from his belt, standard issue Smith and Wesson revolver, badge, nightstick, black hair, blue eyes…black flashlight. He was odd. “What seems to be the problem?” said the cop in a false, tough bass. “Umm, I have a flat tire and I need to get work. Can you help me? I mean…I have a spare in my trunk, I think,” wondered Dev. The cop looked Dev up and down, saw his torn jeans, the cut off Bad Religion t-shirt, the Mohawk and the Doc Marten boots, and thought he was going to give this lowlife a hard time. He must have something on him; his kind always does, thought the officer.

His badge said his name was Rodríguez. “Sergeant Rodríguez? Are you gonna help me?” said Dev, wondering why the sergeant was staring insistently at the crotch of his jeans. “Yeah…just pop the trunk and get me the tools”, he said. All the while, the silhouette of a woman was staring at them from the backseat of the police car. Handcuffs and all, she discreetly blew kisses at Rodríguez. He shooed her off with a stern face and a wave of his hand. To Dev, who was watching the scene as he put the key in the keyhole to open his trunk, again, this seemed very odd.

The door lamps of his car had gone out long ago. He opened the trunk and felt for the spare but instead grabbed a handful of sticky wet hair. Yet again, he panicked, and this time he stumbled back and fell flat on the pavement. Out of Dev’s throat came a cracked out high pitched sound that the cop recognized as: “Holy crap I swear there’s something in there.”

“I swear to God if this is some prank of yours I’m gonna take you down to the station and book you for possession of illegal substances. I’m pretty sure I’ll find something in there…you look like you’ve been binging on crack for the last five days.” Dev scrambled back up and sneered at Rodríguez and mimicked his last sentence in a weird voice. “Do I look like I’m joking? You go check.”

Rodríguez turned on his flashlight and looked in the trunk. Back at him stared a pair of clouded black eyes and a wide open mouth with cracked lips. There was blood on her hair and a deep gash on her head that appeared to be made by a blunt object. The body suddenly jerked, as dead bodies sometimes do when they are full of pressurized air. The cop panicked and proceeded to strike the body repeatedly with his nightstick. “DIE YOU ZOMBIE FREAK!”

Dev jumped on the cop and tried to stop him by grabbing his arms. “What are you doing you moron? She’s not a zombie, she’s dead. Dead!” he said. “SHE MOVED! Wait, what is she doing in the trunk of your car? I think I have to arrest you under the suspicion of murder…” said Rodríguez, looking quite perplexed but relieved now that he did not have to deal with a flesh eating zombie. “Hell no, I didn’t kill that girl. And, and…you beat her up. How do you know she wasn’t alive before you bashed her head in with your”, Dev stuttered, “your club?”

They both stared at the body and wondered. The cop assessed the situation and realized that, even if he had killed her with his nightstick, he couldn’t be held responsible. He acted under the suspicion that he was in danger, just like in the movies. Dev just stared blankly at the body and thought about the ways he could pin the murder on the cop. None of them ever questioned who was the woman laying in a bloody pool of death in the trunk of the Explorer.

“I swear I didn’t kill her. I mean, I’ve never even seen this woman, ever…in my life!” said Dev. “Do I look like a killer? I mean, come on, I’m scared shitless and I’m pretty sure my boss is going to fire me tonight for being late…again.” Dev banged his head helplessly on the side of the car and a single tear came out of his left green eye. Rodríguez looked horrified at Dev’s weakness, but felt sorry for him. He too had been in a jam many times. Not like this one, though.

“How did you not smell her?” asked Rodríguez. “I haven’t used my car. It spent a month at the body shop. The owner said he had a hard time and couldn’t fix it quickly because somebody had broken into his shop and had messed up the place,” said Dev. Yet again, they both stared at the body and wondered some more. It was one in the morning and there was little traffic, except the delivery trucks that came out of the pier full of merchandise.

“I’ll tell you what,” said Rodríguez, “we have to make this body disappear or else we are both going to be up shit’s creek without a paddle, kid. I don’t want to go to jail, you don’t want to go to jail, we can agree on that. Now, what would a real criminal do?” Dev looked at him, then looked at the car and realized the whole scene was retarded. This cop was retarded, and now that he really looked at him, and the handcuffed woman in the car, he thought he looked like a male stripper in a uniform. He thought out loud: “Are you sure you are a cop?” Rodríguez looked at Dev in disbelief. “How dare you question an officer of the law?”

An eighteen wheeler sped by them. They both looked at the body and the blanket on top of it, and then looked at the truck. In a quick reaction each of the men grabbed an end of the blanket, lifted the body and looked both ways before crossing the four lanes to the middle of the expressway with the bundle. They looked at each other and dropped it on the pavement and ran back to the shoulder. “Let’s just forget this ever happened, okay?” said Rodríguez. Dev nodded. “Oh, and clean up your car. They say Coca Cola makes blood untraceable under black light.”

Quickly, they both ran back to the shoulder. Dev and Rodríguez fixed the tire as quickly and as badly as they could and fled the scene in their respective cars. Minutes later, a distracted produce truck driver was speeding on the expressway. It was 1:30 in the morning and he was doing 80 miles per hour. Under the truck, he heard a loud thud and came to a sudden stop that almost made the sandwich in his stomach come back out and decorate the window. He thought, “Jesus Christ, I think I just killed someone”.