Bad Brains - Rise (1993)

This is probably the least liked album by them but it's my my favorite actually. Reason being, it contains there some of there hardest rock stuff(not fastest) by them and doesn't sound like there earlier works. I'm sure there hardcore punk fans hated it but, it was a very good heavy metal record with reggae,ska n funk. I believe this was Israel Joseph's first and only album as singer and that's the primary reason this album gets dissed so much because I assume Bad Brains fans wanted Paul Hudson or you may know him as H.R. back as the frontman. H.R. would return to the helm after Rise and has been the vocalist ever since. There's good variety on the album itself and even though it's not as popular as there stuff from the eighties I still feel it's a worthy recommendation. Songs to check out "Rise Up", "Yes Jah" and "Miss Freedom".


1. Rise
2. Miss Freedom
3. Unidentified
4. Love Is The Answer
5. Free
6. Hair
7. Coming In Numbers
8. Yes Jah
9. Take Your Time
10. Peace Of Mind
11. Without You/Outro

Anthrax - Among The Living (1987)

My favorite Anthrax album of all time and there break through record is undeniably a thrash masterpiece. The third studio album was dedicated to Metallica's bassist Cliff Burton who died in late 1986 in the tragic bus accident. This features my favorite Anthrax line up as well Belladonna-Benante-Ian-Spitz and Bello. In the eighties Anthrax represented the best of what the east had to offer as everybody knows the majority of the best thrash bands came out in the west specifically the bay area. This is probably there catchiest album and I totally adore Among the Living. It's everything I want in a metal album, heavy and fast, clear singing, anthems, headbanging sections and originality. Out of the big four, Anthrax gets the least respect out of the big four and this album was as innovative as any of the other thrash groups released in the eighties except for only Metallica. I think the thing that hurt Anthrax's fan base was they weren't serious guys and it seems like a large majority metal fans only like serious stuff like the complete opposite of Slayer's take on how metal should be. That's one of the things that I don't like how people have perceived motion that metal needs to worshiping Satan but, in all reality I'll stick up for Anthrax over Slayer any day. We'll see next summer when the big four comes and plays in the bay area finally or let's hope so. Mark my words Among the Living over Reign in Blood. Songs to check out "Among the Living" "Indians" and "Caught in a Mosh".

1. "Among the Living" 5:16
2. "Caught in a Mosh" 4:59
3. "I Am the Law" 5:57
4. "Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.)" 4:54
5. "A Skeleton in the Closet" 5:32
1. "Indians" 5:40
2. "One World" 5:56
3. "A.D.I./Horror of It All" 7:49
4. "Imitation of Life" 4:22

Dope - American Apathy (2005)

About a year ago I saw these guys open up for Black Label Society in San Francisco at the Fillmore. I was like hopefully these guys finish up quick but, to my surprise these guys put on a killer live show even though there a nu metal band. The place I remember being on the rail the people were going apeshit behind. They had amazing energy and even the BLS fans were getting into it as my friends Kenny, Raymond and I were. Anyone that's loyal to our Black Label Society were loyal back drunk or sober. No one in that venue was there to even see them but, they won fans over that night for sure. American Apathy is the fourth release and alike some bands after I've seen I started listening to them and I've come to the conclusion that this is my favorite Dope record. Unlike the others before, I believe this one had industrial metal vibe working for it and with the high energy and raw emotion of there songs was the icing on the cake. Listening to the songs don't do the justice if you never see them. Like I say all the time the ones you're least up for every now and then surprise you. It wasn't like Metallica opening for Ozzy in 1986 but, these guys put on a killer live act. Songs to check out "No Way Out", "I'm Back" and "People are People".

1. "I'm Back" - 3:25
2. "Survive" - 3:12
3. "No Way Out" - 3:27
4. "Always" - 3:16
5. "Bastard" - 3:26
6. "Sex Machine" - 2:51
7. "Four More Years" - 0:17
8. "Revolution" - 3:39
9. "Let's Fuck" - 2:39
10. "Fuck the World" - 3:32
11. "I Wish I Was the President" - 4:05
12. "Dream" - 2:56
13. "The Life" - 5:08
14. "People Are People" (Depeche Mode cover) - 3:12
15. "Bitch" (alternative version) - 3:07
16. "Fuck The Police (NWA cover) - 3:49
17. "Burn" - 3:17

Brutal Juice - Mutilation Makes Identification Difficult (1995)

If you've never heard of the acid punk group Brutal Juice I wouldn't be surprised. This was there only full length album and is one of the hidden gems of alternative rock in the nineties in my opinion. They definitely didn't have the big name or the music videos but, perhaps they did have a song entitled "Ugly in the Inside" but, MTV wouldn't let the real track name be known because that song maybe you've seen that was actually the third track "The Vaginals". Yeah, very pleasant album. It sucks bands like them were only signed because Nirvana's Nevermind was such a hit, they would drop all these grunge or alternative rock bands which is why the people growing up in the nineties felt screwed in return in the later nineties. Without a doubt Cobain was the leader of that decade, unfortunate it happened. I guess the hardest part about the album is actually finding this album, the complete opposite of Mudhoney's album post yesterday. I'm sure you can find anyone on the net these days but, I've never seen it in record stores and I eventually found it on Ebay for a decent price used. If you like the older Butthole Surfers material you'll dig this I'm pretty sure. Songs to check out "Cannibal Holocaust", "The Vaginals" and "Lashings of the Ultraviolent".


1. "Kentucky Fuck Daddy" – 3:51
2. "Burpgun" – 3:59
3. "The Vaginals" – 2:13
4. "Nationwide" – 5:14
5. "Lashings of the Ultra-violent" – 2:36
6. "Kathy Rigby" – 4:23
7. "Galaxy" – 4:02
8. "Curbjob" – 2:51
9. "Humus Tahini" – 5:13
10. "Character Assassination Attempt" – 3:22
11. "Cannibal Holocaust" – 4:21
12. "Doorman" – 5:44
13. "Whorehouse of Screams" – 20:01

Mudhoney - My Brother The Cow (1995)

I must say that Mudhoney were one of the most defining acts that grunge had despite there always left in the shadows of the obvious choices. It's highly debatable what my favorite album by them is but, I don't think it's better than there first two releases Superfuzz Bigmuff and Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge. I think this one contends because of it's accessibility since they had been featured in the Chris Farley movie Black Sheep playing in one of the more memorable parts in the movie. For that matter, any cameo with bands is always freaking awesome such as the infamous Cannibal Corpse playing "Hammer Smashed Face" in Jim Carey's Ace Ventura. The mother of all cameo's Singles the movie featured Alice in Chains, Soundgarden and Matt Dillion's band name was Touch Me, I'm Dick was a joke of the Mudhoney song Touch Me, I'm Sick there most popular song. That movie Singles inspired what actually would become the hit sitcom Friends. Back to the album, it comes at a weird time for alternative rock perhaps the fall of grunge. 1996 and beyond post grunge had been hitting the radio and I can't really complain because some of it I like and some of it I don't. Songs to check out "Into Yer Shtik", "Judgement, Rage, Retribution & Thyme" and "In My Finest Suit".


1. "Judgement, Rage, Retribution & Thyme" – 2:34
2. "Generation Spokesmodel" – 2:33
3. "What Moves the Heart?" – 3:12
4. "Today, Is a Good Day" – 3:05
5. "Into Yer Shtik" – 3:48
6. "In My Finest Suit" – 4:57
7. "F.D.K. (Fearless Doctor Killers)" – 2:16
8. "Orange Ball-peen Hammer" – 3:21
9. "Crankcase Blues" – 3:06
10. "Execution Style" – 2:24
11. "Dissolve" – 3:17
12. "1995" – 5:43
13. "woC ehT rehtorB yM" (Hidden Track) - 39:00

Rollins Band - Weight (1994)

Without a shout of a doubt, this is the best Rollins Band album and I would say it's better than the Black Flag stuff as well. On a scale one to ten how intense Mr. Henry Rollins is probably atleast a nine. I like Weight especially since it's not as punk influenced and is more metal influence with even some jazz in the picture. The music video for "Liar" is nearly impossible not to bring up in today's post because it's everything that's missing in music videos today. It's absolute insanity and hilarious. The lyrics to that song are pure genius. I guess it was a sign to come since he got into stand up later on and he's actually really good. Despite that one single there's more brilliance on the record to listen to. Songs to check out "Liar", "Icon" and "Step Back".


1. "Disconnect" – 4:57
2. "Fool" – 4:26
3. "Icon" – 3:41
4. "Civilized" – 3:54
5. "Divine Object of Hatred" – 4:01
6. "Liar" – 6:34
7. "Step Back" – 3:58
8. "Wrong Man" – 4:19
9. "Volume 4" – 4:39
10. "Tired" – 3:47
11. "Alien Blueprint" – 3:45
12. "Shine" – 5:26

Army of Anyone - Army of Anyone (2006)

This was a supergroup attempt when the DeLeo brothers from Stone Temple Pilots teamed with Filter vocalist Richard Patrick and Ray Luzier from David Lee Roth, Korn on drums. This definitely sounds like Stone Temple Pilots minus Scott Weiland, I'd be willing to say it's better than the new self entitled Stone Temple Pilots album. I thought it was strange Weiland didn't even record with his bandmates the entire time in studio or something odd I read in a magazine. Like the last track off the album "This Wasn't Supposed to Happen" it really wasn't. Patrick was preparing new material for Filter but, Dean and Robert jumped in on a guest song and the rest is history. Has a lot of different kinds of feels and it's surprising to hear great alternative rock especially from 2006. I'm sure if things don't work out with Scotty perhaps they'll be a sequel to Army of Anyone. Songs to check out "Goodbye", "Father Figure" and "Generation".

1. "It Doesn't Seem to Matter" - 3:51
2. "Goodbye" - 4:31
3. "Generation" - 3:30
4. "A Better Place" - 4:58
5. "Non Stop" - 3:58
6. "Disappear" - 4:07
7. "Stop Look and Listen" - 3:51
8. "Ain't Enough" - 3:44
9. "Father Figure" - 4:04
10. "Leave It" - 4:27
11. "This Wasn't Supposed to Happen" - 5:22