Civ Talks Hardcore on 'Good Day Fox' circa 1990

This video is great for a lot of reasons, but my favorite aspect is how the adults act so virtuous while having little to no understanding of their topic. The best person you can find to debate a hardcore frontman is a father of seven kids? That fact alone makes him worthy to discuss this topic? Wow, no wonder kids get so bummed on adults.

And how's that backhanded jab at the end? "Thank you for a sensible discussion on a nonsensical subject..."

In Defense Of Reality? Really?

Yes, in 1990 I was a fan a Shelter. In listening to Quest For Certainty (the CD collection of their first 7"s) I can't imagine why. The music is HARDLY hardcore, the songs are poorly written and those vocals...awful. I mean, beyond awful. Maybe we were all hearing Ray scream like in Youth Of Today in our heads. Add the crummy, bullshit religious garbage...OK, you get the idea.

But in really thinking about it, there were two things. First, there were very few hardcore bands out there at that time that would play so consistently. We were hungry for anything and back then there weren't thousands of My Space pages filled with hardcore. Second, the live shows were incredible. Any one who saw one would have to agree. Ray still had it, throwing himself across the stage, going nuts. Vic on guitar? Unreal. The early shows were amazing. And yes, they would play with all types of bands from Rorschach to Worlds Collide to Born Against (OK, this show was canceled, but still) and all the other heavies of the period.

It's hard listen now and picture those shows, but damn it, they were solid...even with the worst material possible. And that says something. Not sure what...but something.

And just for the hell of it, check out Ray's current website (Krishna yoga! How's that pose?) and Vic's Vedic astrology
readings you can order online (from $9 to $252!) Yikes.

Download Quest For Certainty

The First Judge 7"

Dobek over at Crucial Times has posted a number of MP3 rips from each version of the first Judge 7", New York Crew. Yes, the very first Schism very is posted. An yes, it rules. Dobek has a killer record collection so poke around over there. His site is one of the reasons I got so into The Jam.

Inside Out, Sacrifice

For my first post I feel I have to highlight one of my favorite hardcore songs of all time...Sacrifice by Inside Out. If you are unfamiliar with the powerhouse that is Zack de la Rocha (pre-Rage) and Vic DiCara (pre Shelter and 108) you have no business listening to hardcore. Their 'No Spiritual Surrender' EP is all-time. An incredible mix of passion, spirit and fury.

If you want a detailed overview, check out this Double Cross post. The one thing I disagree with is their relative dismissal of the song 'Sacrifice'. Yes, it's not on the 7" and just on the tape and CD...but it was my favorite track by a MILE. I didn't, and still don't, relate to a lot of the Krishna and spiritual lyrics on many of the other songs, but 'Sacrifice'? Giving your self to someone and having them bail on you? Perfect. The vocal work? Perfect. The sound? Yup.

This live performance really captures Inside Out at their best and I WISH I had the luck of seeing them live back then. I missed them. But I'll always have 'Sacrifice' and the power of those lyrics and guitars.

Download Inside Out, No Spiritual Surrender.