Bad Brains Build A Nation Megaforce Released 6.25.07 Rating: 7 out of 10 It’s 25 years since the release of the Bad Brains ’ ROIR debut, and there still hasn’t been a hardcore/punk band that’s surpassed their might. I know I just pissed off a bunch of people with that statement, but I truly don’t give a shit. A million Warped Tours don’t amount to ANYTHING next to these guys, no matter what Alternative Press would have you believe. Every riff those bands milk for all they’re worth? They didn’t write ‘em. They weren’t blessed them during mind-altering run-ins with Krylon. They got those riffs from the Bad Brains, who have seemingly resigned themselves to be one of the most underrated bands of all time, and have basically watched all the credit due them roll right past and get slapped onto lesser punk rawk acts like they were Simple Plan stickers. Aside from being able to play harder and faster than your crappy band, the Bad Brains have always stood out as a preaching machine.

The White Stripes Icky Thump Warner Bros. Released 6.19.07 Rating: 8 out of 10 I’ll admit I was surprised earlier this year when I discovered that there was a new White Stripes album on the way. After Get Behind Me Satan more or less capitalized on Elephant ’s fairly successful attempts at trying to expand Jack White ’s sing/song worth, (he added a low end), but hadn’t really surpassed its predecessor, one could only assume that Jack had ran out of places to go. Early reception of the album may as well have stated that it was the greatest thing to emerge from a studio since…well, fuck I wasn’t alive that long ago. But, as people ACTUALLY listened, they could tell that Jack was struggling a bit. Meg White hadn’t grown out of that snare/crash/snare/crash K-hole that she’s been stuck in since this group gained any notoriety, and despite expanding a little on the instrument front, the album really didn’t go anywhere. It wasn’t bad, but it was nowhere the masterpiece the sal