All Time Favorites Continued

Exploding Hearts - Guitar Romantic - Dirtnap Records - 2003The Exploding Hearts came out at the right time in my life. I had just had my heart broken, I was in desperate need of a band that was my own and no one elses. Every song on this record hit home and if I had to rank this record, I'd probably drop it in the top five without hesitation. The Hearts blend a very classic punk and power pop sound with tough yet heart felt lyrics, creating what should be acknowledged as by everyone as brilliance.
Pixies - Surfer Rosa - 4AD - 1988The Pixies were a band that had to grow on me. They weren't my favorite right off the bat and in fact, this didn't become my favorite Pixies record until the late 90's. It took a lot of listens for me to "get" this record and more importantly realize just how incredible the Pixies really were. In high school, I was far too busy listening to punk and hardcore to give the Pixies a serious listen. Although I appreciated what they did, it wasn't until I grew tired of Screeching Weasel and had to put those records down for a while that I was able to digest the Pixies. At that point, it made sense entirely and I became obsessed with this band. Surfer Rosa is a testament to everything that was incredible about indie rock in the 80's and early 90's. It was fun while maintaining a serious edge, it wasn't pretentious and most of all it was firmly independent. The Pixies were not an attractive band and in fact are one of the most awkward bands I've ever seen. It's not even a contrived awkwardness like many of today's indie bands. This shit is genuine and I think that's why so many people related to them.

Naked Raygun - Jettison - Caroline - 1988 (re-released on 1/4 Stick)This was one of those bands that I instantly fell in love with. My cousin played them for me and I loved them, but I couldn't remember their name for the life of me, until this skater kid at school was wearing a Raygun shirt. I ran out and bought Throb Throb and Jettison that same day. Throb Throb was a little weird at first, so I didn't click with it the way I did with Jettison. Throb Throb was a little too artsy for me, even though I thought Rat Patrol was a bad ass song. Jettison though, every song was a full frontal assault of awesome.Naked Raygun is probably the definative Chicago band and still one of my all time fav's. This record could arguably be my favorite album of all time, but I couldn't say for sure.
Heads Vs Breakers - Apathy is the New Black - S/R - 2003
Another album that came out at the right time in my life. I was getting back into punk and hardcore and this Long Island five piece happened to fall into my lap. They were on tour and played on the radio show after playing a show in Lake County. I wasn't really expecting much until they showed up. I was staring straight into the face of a hardcore legend. the guitarist was Rich from the 90's hardcore band Silent Majority. He was easily at least fifteen years older than everyone else in the band and was still completely ernest and wide eyed about the music. I got to talking to the drummer Keith, who despite being 22 years old has already done more in his music career than I probably ever will, and came to the conclusion that he is the absolute nicest kid in hardcore today (and one of my top five favorite people of all time). Once the band was plugged in, they ran through the lead off track from their record as a sound check and I was impressed right off the bat. They showed their influences, but managed to make their influences look like chumps. This really shines through on the album. They were like Lifetime, except better. They were like Grey Area, except better. They were like Kid Dynamite, except better. The Bouncing Souls, Vision, Ensign, Judge, etc. They smoked them out of the water. This record is nostalgic without making me feel old. It's timeless in that it could have come out at any point in punk rock history and I would have loved it regardless. It feels like every kid on Long Island is still passionate about music and everything is still very urgent, which is something that hasn't been seen in Chicago for at least ten years. It seems like every band is someone's favorite band and every song is someone's favorite song. The kids that I've met from LINY are all incredible.Unfortunately, Heads Vs Breakers broke up, due to Rich's poor health and everyone elses desire to do music as a living. They've all gone on to do other bands, the most mention worthy being Theives and Assassins.

Jawbreaker - 24 Hour Revenge Thererapy - Tupelo 1993Jawbreaker was a band that I saw a bunch of times and always liked, but when 24 Hour Revenge Therapy came out, they became my favorite band. The next time I would feel this passionate about a band, it would be Against Me! exactly ten years later. From the first note of the Boat House Dreams From the Hill to the last note of In Sadding Around, it is one of the best records to come out of a decade that was saturated with absolutely amazing records.

Cub - Come Out, Come Out - Mint Records 1994I've always been a sucker for a good pop song. My mom raised me on Motown, girl groups, Herman's Hermits and the early Beatles albums, therefore I'm a sucker for a really good pop hook. This is a collection of the best pop hooks ever and I fell in love with ever single song on this record... and Lisa Marr. I saw Cub at the Fireside once and they were incredible. I want to raise my kids on this band.
Jesus and Mary Chain - Psychocandy - Blanco Y Negro 1985I heard this album for the first time in the fall of 1990. I was really depressed, it was raining a lot and I was coming out of a "dressing like Robert Smith" phase. The Jesus and Mary Chain, Psychocandy specifically, was the soundtrack to my depression. Now I put on this record when I need to relax or unwind. I can honestly say that this record has saved my life a time or two.