BRAINOIL

Brainoil are finally back with a new album (after an eight year recording hiatus), and it's easily my favourite album of 2011 so far. Since getting Death Of This Dry Season it's been on an infinite loop around here, only interrupted by the occasional dose of cleansing power violence.



Obviously I'm not posting the new album (you can buy it here), so here's their 2003 self titled for anyone who still hasn't heard it. It's the same lineup as on the new record, and the same destructive mix of addictive sludgy riffs, up-tempo doom and buzzing crusty hardcore. Great stuff and absolutely essential.



If you're new to the band you should also check out their killer split with Cruevo that Shelbro posted waaaay back in January '09.

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(click me!)

The Hanson Brothers - Gross Misconduct

No, this is not another post of shame about these douches:



The Hanson Brothers (taking their name from the 1977 Paul Newman flick Slap Shot, right) are basically Vancouver's mighty NoMeansNo (with one or two members of D.O.A. on this album) in their jock, hockey-punk alter ego role. They differ from NMN in about every possible way, replacing their poetic, opaquely obscure lyrics and complex, jazzy hardcore/rock with lyrics that are 100% ice hockey and music that is 110% Ramones worship.

Did I just hear you yawn? Oh no, another band emulating the Ramones, you say? WRONG! Granted, waaaay to many bands have aped the seminal NY punkers sound, but nobody, NOBODY, has done it as well as Rob and John et al. They've taken the Ramones' basic punk rock and infused it with a steroid dose of tight precision and technicality that elevates the style to another level. The real skill in what they do though, is that they've managed to do so without it being obvious or distracting.


If you're familiar with NoMeansNo's pulverising music you'll know they've been doing this covertly for years. Just listen to choice cuts like "Dad" (Sex Mad), "Oh no! Bruno!" (Wrong), "Bad" (The Sky Is Falling And I Want My Mommy) and "Tuck It Away" (The Worldhood Of The World (As Such)).

The music on this, the Hanson's first album Gross Misconduct, is so infectiously catchy that you'll find yourself humming it for days. This CD includes the three song 7" that came with the 1992 LP.

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Guilty Pleasures Week - Aylmer

Despite sitting in hospital and feeling like death, I couldn't resist wanting to be a part of this... so priceless.

Kate Bush is so close to my heart, I can't even feel like she's a real guilty pleasure. She just rules, plain and simple.

The first lyrics I ever memorised were to 1978's "Wuthering Heights", the hit from Kate's first album The Kick Inside. I think I was in 4th grade, and me and my buddy would sing along to it together endlessly.

After all this time, it's still one of my faves.

I love you Kate...

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