I’m listening to “Phoning It In” right now. It’s a compilation from Hydra Head Records, home of Torche and a good number of other bands I like (Pelican’s longtime home as well). I’m about halfway through right now and I’m enjoying most of what I’m hearing. It’s free, so check it out. Even though the label is known for doomy, sludgy, heavy, hairy rock music, there’s a huge range of sounds on here, including an acoustic number (Steve Brodsky) and something that sort of sounds like jazz, I guess. I wouldn’t really know, but I like it (Bohren & Der Club of Gore).

It has me thinking about the old days. I still remember picking up “Punk-O-Rama III” at Hot Topic after my last day of middle school. These Hydra Head bands sound very little like the old Epitaph stuff, but it’s reminding me of that spirit of discovery…

“Punk-O-Rama III” probably changed my life, or at least made it more awesome. Standing there in Hot Topic with a vague notion of what kind of music I liked (Social Distortion and Goldfinger shared time in my CD player with Bush and Soundgarden), I was moments away from buying some random ska compilation (“I like Reel Big Fish, so I like ska. I’ll probably like this!”). As I reached for my chainless wallet — I never felt cool enough to get one — I spotted this other CD with the word “punk” in the name. I weighed my options. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones were ska, and I loved “Let’s Face It,” but I was pretty sure Green Day was punk, and they were my real favorite band. Besides, “Punk-O-Rama” was a dollar cheaper, savings enough for a stop at Cinnabon. The cover also had a lady with four boobs on it.

I bought it, and it was amazing. I spent that whole summer in my room with my PlayStation and that CD. Intermittently, I would head to the record store and buy an album by one of the bands on the compilation. I probably now have about 60 records from the different bands featured. They were the right songs at the right time. Vaguely political, individualistic, thoughtful, and humorous, they embodied everything I wanted to be as I looked toward my future as a high schooler. They were all fast as hell, too, which was obviously sweet. I always say that without “Dookie” I might not be the same dude I am today, but without “Punk-O-Rama III” I’d probably be a lamer version of him.

This doesn’t really have an ending, except that I grew up but never really out of “loud and fast.” Epitaph did, but not in a good way. In fact somewhere in late high school they started to sign some really shitty bands, a trend that continues to this day. Labels like Fat and No Idea picked up much of the slack though — no big deal. Of late, Epitaph has made a seemingly earnest attempt at redemption, signing a few cool bands and releasing the latest Off With Their Heads record (which I may be in love with). They’re scheduled to release the next Social D album, too, which I guess brings this to some kind of nice resolution. (Another great memory from around this time period: the simple pleasure of driving alone and listening to “Mommy’s Little Monster” with the windows down in my dad’s car.)

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It’s true that I still love and listen to the old records from bands like Pulley and NOFX, but it’s sort of a mix between brand loyalty and nostalgia that drives me to consume any new things they make. It’s weird to think that ten years ago I would buy anything that sounded like it came from a skateboarding video. If it was fast and clad in Dickies shorts, I was all over it. Now, that style doesn’t appeal to me very much when new bands do it — A Wilhelm Scream and The Flatliners are very good at what they do, but I just don’t care. I’d rather listen to something noisy and disturbing. See, now, in grad school, I’m still vaguely political, individualistic, thoughtful, and humorous, but I’m also totally avant-garde and ironic.

Okay, that was kind of a joke. What I really meant is that in 1998, Pennywise was something totally new to me. They blew my mind. If I was still getting my mind blown by songs about, you know, The System, well, I’d probably be bored/boring. Which is why I like all these Hydra Head bands when they sing songs about being bored and boring (and dead). Sometimes the music even borders on being boring, but it’s just so much more exciting… yeah.

As the last note of the new Torche song closes “Phoning It In,” I’m sure you can guess which CD I’ve reached for.

Yep, “Frampton Comes Alive!”

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NEXT TIME: Why compilations are better than the internet!

Dr. Katz Professional Therapist. I really enjoyed this show as a kid, and lately I’ve been watching scattered clips on YouTube. They’ve reminded me that this is easily the best show ever to run on Comedy Central. Its being a cartoon, your first impulse is probably to say “What about South Park?” Quite simply, don’t be stupid! For those who may not remember,  it was a very simple premise: comedian Jonathan Katz plays a therapist who sees stand-up comics and certain funny actors. Their problems are funny. Meanwhile, normal stuff happens to Dr. Katz and his son, Ben. Visitors to Katz’s couch included Conan O’Brien, David Cross, Dave Chappelle, and David Duchovny. Hmm, three exemplary Davids. I wonder if Larry David was ever on the show, because sometimes it feels like he’s behind the whole thing.

It’s been a while since my 2003 masterpiece, Skate or Die, has been available to the public. Click the image to be taken back to a simpler time, when cops were cops and skaters skated and/or died.

Update! Two copies of the Limited Edition print package will be sprinkled with the blood of the artist, which probably has some paint dust in it.  I’m on the cusp of finishing everything related to this part of the project, so I can start focusing on the feature-length film and its soundtrack. (That’s what I’ll be working on this coming academic year.) I’m also almost done with the Motherwell layouts, so that’s good news too.

The mark on the wrapping in the above photo was made by a custom rubber stamp from rubberstamps.net. Quick service and quality products as far as I can tell. Stamps are fun.

Tonight: Another Off With Their Heads / Dear Landlord show. This will be the third time I’ve seen these two bands together (they share a member), and probably close to my tenth time seeing OWTH. If they didn’t always kick ass, I might consider skipping one of their shows one of these days. The new album is sitting in a box on my coffee table; Mike’s coming for band practice before the show and we’ll check it out. I’ve already heard it, of course. Still waiting for my new Ceremony LP, and I’m particularly excited for it to arrive. Listen to the two songs here and try to contain yourself.

I realize this has become a most mundane little blog entry. I suppose I could go into detail about all the blood that came out of my finger when I sliced it the other day, but between my daredevil bicycle riding and this, I don’t want anyone to worry about me.  I assure you I take good care of myself. For example, I had pizza for dinner last night and will be doing the same this evening.