Against All Authority is the perfect summertime band (assuming that your summers consist of smashing the state, murdering the patriarchy, and all around being a street urchin). Their first album “Destroy What Destroys You” is a classic ska punk album that keeps up the fury throughout the entire album.

The music is sloppy ska/punk in the veins of Operation Ivy on speed. For those familiar with AAA’s later work, “Destroy What Destroys You” has more of a ska element to it than other releases.

Definitely a must for any fan of furious punk rock.

MP3:
Against All Authority – Lifestyle of Rebellion
Against All Authority – We Won’t Submit

Also Check Out:
Have Nots – Serf City
Against All Authority – 24 Hours Roadside Resistance

Buy:
Against All Authority Myspace

Looks like everyone’s favorite high-pitched rapper is returning to his extreme D.I.Y roots, and posted every album on his website for streaming (it’s pretty high quality as well!)

Check it out here.

Don’t judge a band by it’s name. I avoided listening to Two and a Half White Guys for a while because I was expecting some crappy 3rd wave ska band fronted by a pre-pubescent boy that whines over music that tries everything they it can to sound like Catch-22 while playing Reel Big Fish’s cover of “Take On Me”. Wow, I was wrong… way wrong.

Two and a Half White Guys aren’t even a third wave ska band, and play with a more reggae feel in the veins of Sublime, but keeps true to their roots by pulling from influences such as The Specials. The vocals are clean and smooth, complimenting the chill ska/reggae/dub music.

A great album to welcome the warm weather that is right around the corner.

MP3:
Two and a Half White Guys – Corporate Man
Two and a Half White Guys – Eye For An Eye

More Music to Bust Some Chills To:
The Pietasters – Willis
The Slackers
Jon and Roy
Bedouin Soundclash

Buy:
Megalith Records

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoO9gwqlw0w]

Quirky punks unite! Legendary Philly punks The Dead Milkmen stated in a blog that they plan on releasing some new material:

“We had so much fun last November at the Fun Fun Fun Festival that we’ve decided to keep at it and play some shows to see what might develop as far as new material. We’re rehearsing and will see how it goes – stay tuned…”

I’m usually pretty wary of new material of reunited bands (*cough* Soul Brains *cough*), but it’s the Dead Milkmen, so it’s guaranteed to be fun.

More Off The Wall Music:
Heck Yes! (POSI Dance Party)
Atom and his Package
Housewives World Tour: Philadelphia

Sometimes hype can completely kill a band. Proclaimed to be the next messiahs of hardcore with their all-star lineup consisting of Dave Baker (vocals, Hope Conspiracy), Tim Cossar (guitar, Give Up The Ghost), and members from both Red Chord and Death by Stereo, Bars would never be able to live up to such expectations. Admittedly, I was one of those many people who dismissed Bars after a listen.

It’s a shame, because Bars’ debut “Introducing…” is a damn solid album that mixes blistering hardcore with some classic rock and roll hooks, making for some rather catchy, yet furious music. At times, the tempo could seem a little slow for a hardcore band, but the sluggish tempo often gives it a punk n roll feel to it. People who dig The Bronx, but wish they played a little heavier will eat “Introducing…” up.

If you’re a fan of hardcore, definitely check Bars out… and if you dismissed these guys due to failed expectations, give them another chance with expecting Give Up The Ghost or Hope Conspiracy version 2.0.

MP3:
Bars – Bright Lights For Demise
Bars – Like It Never Was

More Awesome Hardcore Articles:
How To Be Hardcore In 10 Easy Steps
Icepick (Holland Hardcore-Thrash)
Comeback Kid (Canadian Hardcore)
Give Up The Ghost (You shouldn’t need an explanation…)
Kids Like Us

Buy:
Equal Vision Records

Hello fellow slackers and procrastinators! I know a lot of you check this website in the middle of the day when you’re at work or at school, so even though I know it’s not a popular time for web traffic, there’s a reason why I post these at like 11:40 in the morning (because I love you all).

I was reading an article today stating how it is super important to stay on task on the job… so I’m going to call shenanigans on that article and say it was written by some rich CEO of some company who is probably playing golf all day and snorting coke with some hooker while the rest of us toil away in our little cubes or classrooms…

So all of you people completely bored at work or school, keep passive-aggressively fighting the man, and let the rest of us know in the comment section your favorite way to kill time at work!

MP3:
Freygolo – Stupid to Work
Lawrence Arms – Boring Story
Mustard Plug – Your Secret
NOFX – Lazy
The Slackers – Work Song
Verbal Abuse – Boredom
The Virus – Working For The Company

More Mixes For The Bored:
President’s Day Mix
Darwin 200th Birthday Mix
Dumbass Yuppies Thinking I’m Trying To Break Into Their Car (A Mix)
Songs To Piss Off The Personal Trainer Below Me Mix
Fuck The Flu Mix
Intermission (A Short Mix)

Buy:
Interpunk
Smartpunk

NOFX is a band that really does not need any introduction, so I’ll keep this post short.

In their 26 year existence, NOFX released more records than that Hilton girl has STDs (ok, that was too easy), and “So Long and Thanks For All The Shoes” is definitely one of their best. If you haven’t listened to this one in a while… well, that’s what we’re here for, to bring back your past ghosts.

Also, I’m curious: what’s your favorite NOFX album? Let me know in the comment section.

MP3:
NOFX – All His Suits Are Torn
NOFX – Monosyllabic Girl

So Long and Thanks For All The Articles:
SNFU
Bankrupt (Belgium punk rock)
Vandals
Bigwig

Buy:
Epitaph

Finally, a thrash inspired band that gives me a reason to listen to something other than Municipal Waste!

Icepick hails from Holland, and are virtually unknown here in the United States. That’s a shame, because they bring with them an onslaught of old school hardcore/thrash music in the veins of “Crossover” era DRI. While they don’t play as fast as Municipal Waste (in all fairness… does anybody?), Gold Rush is definitely energetic enough, and teeters on the edge of both hardcore and thrash creating genre-confused kids coming out of the closet everywhere drawing X”s on their hand while flipping their baseball cap lid and writing “THRASH” across it with the same sharpie. Although, I have to admit: the dude’s voice took a little for me to get used to, as the vocals are definitely more sluggish than I’m used to seeing in genre of music.

A solid quick album if you’re looking to shred.

MP3:
Icepick – Fellow Man
Icepick – Angels ‘n Demons

More Shredderiffic:
Scenester 101: How to Be Hardcore in 10 Easy Steps!
Alestorm (Randomly Catchy Pirate Metal)
Municipal Waste Kurt Russell Tribute
Cut The Shit
Municipal Waste
Municipal Waste Haiku

Buy:
Not Just Words Records

Today’s post comes from guest blogger Chicago hipster Bro-ntosaurus Hotpants Askance! So read up my bro-zillas.

So I went to this potluck dinner the other day (my roommate and I brought a wonderful oat-apple crisp that she made). And at this potluck, I was talking to this one guy at length about various common interests, most notably bicycles (and biking in the Chicago Winter, ’cause I’m hardcore like that). For a moment, I thought this kid could be my new friend, but there was something off about him—something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. Maybe it had something to do with his hat…

Later on in the party, he was talking to someone on his cell phone, and I heard him call the caller “Broseph.”

“Broseph?” I thought to myself, “I couldn’t possibly be friends with someone who uses the word ‘Broseph,’ or ‘Bro’ or ‘Brah’ (especially ‘Brah’).” I mean, pardon me for being cruel, but that’s just not acceptable. It’s like the thousands of girls who were those ridiculous, ugly Ugg* boots—it just can’t be tolerated.

So, like any good scowler, I went and wrote a blog about it. And here’s a mix, dedicated to all you ‘Brosephs’ out there.

Mp3:
The Winstons – Amen Brother
Royal City – My Brother Is The Meatman
Islands – Kids Don’t Know Shit
Neutral Milk Hotel – Circle of Friends

Read More Hotpants:
A Chicago Weather Mix
Deerhoof
Black Diamond Heavies

*why is everything that comes over from Australia so stupid and leathery? I mean, Uggs, Wallabees, Mel Gibson? C’mon now, Aussies.

I’ll be frank: I used to despise Osker’s “Idle Will Kill”. For nearly 8 years since it was released in 2001, I dismissed it as complete utter crap, showcasing yet another punk band that I loved who played face ripping snotty punk making way for acoustic guitars (it’s really only one song) and slower melodies. It wasn’t until a regular Housewives reader urged me to give it another chance. Thank you, because I was overlooking a really solid album.

For those who don’t know, Osker was a punk band signed straight out of high school, and exploded in the punk world with their snotty-as-fuck album “Treatment 5″. Their follow up “Idle Will Kill” tones down the So-Cal punk rock, and replaces it with a more developed sound.

Devon still gives us his brutally honest, albeit angsty lyrics (‘Hey am I out of touch/the things I do to keep your mouth shut’). Osker’s ability to construct a catchy melody didn’t diminish either with their sophmore (and final release), as proved through songs such as “Patience”.

While I don’t think that “Idle Will Kill” comes anywhere even close to touching “Treatment 5″, “Idle” is still a really solid album if you’re looking for something completely angsty and honest, but in just a slightly more mature delivery.

MP3:
Osker – Patience
Osker – Out Of Touch

Also Check Out:
SNFU
Lawrence Arms
Smoke or Fire – This Sinking Ship
Fifth Hour Hero

Buy:
Epitaph