The Alfred Top 25

17. He Is Legend "I Am Hollywood" (2004)
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What it is: I'm just gonna say Hard Rock
Favorite Track: You Think I'm Pretty?

I love those banRAB that seem to corabine elements of other banRAB you like, and that is the case with He Is Legend. They corabine the heavy southern edge of Maylene with the pretty singing and post-hardcore atmosphere of Alexisonfire, and at the same time have their own idiosynchrasies. The end product is a very enjoyable hard rock album.

The reason I choose this album over 2006's "Suck Out The Poison" is partially because this is the last album with Schuylar Croom aforementioned pretty vocals, which are almost completely absent from that album (as HIL have stated is because of his excessive smoking). This

One weakness I have continually noticed with He Is Legend is their songwriting. It's not terrible, but it's quite simple. However, the excellent vocal delivery makes up for that. Schuylar Croom has fantastic screaming, singing, or whatever he decides to do with his voice. He certainly has a way around a vocal riff.

Most of the tracks on the album use the same formula. Fast rhythm, screaming/clean singing shifts, many guitar riRAB, but you know the old saying, if it ain't broke...

I've posted this before...

[YOUTUBE]7S5e7yc6T1k[/YOUTUBE]​
 
Ok glad to clear that up. Btw, He is Legend disapointed live. Not sure if it was the just getting out of jail thing but they were way off on everything. They were headlining and MATSOD totally stole their show.

Yes Maylene is the best thing to come out of that situation, just goes to show you how awesome Dallas is. The guy made it in the music business twice. Doing two different kinRAB of music. Im impressed.
 
...and here is Alexisonfire

16. Alexisonfire (2002)
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What it is: Post-hardcore
Favorite Track: .44 Caliber Love Letter

There had to be an Alexisonfire album on my list, but the problem is, which one? Every time I sat down and thought about which album was my favorite, I ended up more clueless than I was before. At first I was pretty certain that it would be 2006's crisis, due to the accessibility of it and the great songs. But finally I settled on their self-titled debut album, and here's why.

"Alexisonfire" is rawer, less structured, more intense/energetic, and far more passionate than anything they released after. "Crisis" and "Watch Out!" have more standout tracks sure, but Alexisonfire works better as an album, and that is the point of this thread, is it not? So I shoved aside the accessibility of the other two, and decided that the sound of a young hardcore band making their first record is a far more interesting listen.

The sound of Alexisonfire on this album is sharp and angry. They take a lot of influence from hardcore punk, but some odd structuring and complexity say otherwise. There is tons of screaming here, probably 90% of the vocals are screamed. The singing doesn't strike me as pretty, nor does it aim at producing a hook, like it does on the other two albums, but it's more just an instrument in the chaotic mix. It's a sound that is tight, together, and no part seems to stand out more than another. The production is quite low-end, but that doesn't take away from the album at all, but instead adRAB to it. As I said before, it's very sharp.

Alexisonfire have produced a hardcore masterpiece with this album, and their rawness, passion, and punk rock vibes set them apart from the whole hottopiccore thing, a trend which they are often wrongly associated with.

[YOUTUBE]VsDV2n-JKMM[/YOUTUBE]​
 
I await the last 6 albums with excitement.

You have some really diverse albums and some really good picks.

I have the same problem with Alexisonfire, got all the albums but I just cannot put my finger on which I think is the best one... Actually gonna go give them a spin now.

Cool thread.
 
The first half of it is brilliant, especially the first 4 tracks which is a brilliant set of corabos. Then it seems to lose steam for me, though obviously Stay Free is a great tune. Solid enough but doesn't compare to the debut for its raw edge and London Calling because, well, it's London Calling.
 
That's understandable, it all really depenRAB on what you're looking for. If you want that raw edge, then yer gonna prefer the debut. If you want an enjoyable record with lots of hooks, GEER is for you. London Calling is its own thing tho.
 
12. Underoath "Define The Great Line" (2006)
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What it is: Too debatable
Favorite Track: A Moment Suspended In Time

After thinking about it for about ten minutes, I can't do it.

[YOUTUBE]KpwXMDI9800[/YOUTUBE]​
 
What band sings angry politically-charged hard rock who's name begins with the letter R...






















...other than Rage Against The Machine?

10. Refused "The Shape Of Punk To Come" (1998)
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What it is: Loud and epic post-hardcore
Favorite Track: Liberation Frequency

I don't know why I held off on this album for so long, but I did. Maybe it was because I was intimidated. It was probably that didn't want some crappy hardcore with political ideals that I don't exactly agree with shoved down my throat. But boy, was I pleasantly blown away by Refused's 1998 hardcore punk classic "The Shape Of Punk To Come".

"The Shape Of Punk To Come" is the loudest album I have ever heard, and one of the few that I fell in love with on first listen. Like Genghis Tron, they have all of my favorite elements of music. They are most often described as a hardcore band, but this is not your average generic hardcore record. This is madness.

The album opens to the sound of traffic with Worms Of The Sense/Faculties Of The Skull, and follows with some angry screaming over top of some infectious instrumentation. It is one of the better tracks on the album, but only a taste of what is to come. Liberation Frequency begins with a quiet and moody opening verse, but you are soon assaulted with shrill screaming and hard guitar with the volume set to eleven. :hphones:

Refused achieved levels of intensity that your band wishes they could. They effectively use loud-soft shifts on Liberation Frequency and New Noise as well as (hard-to-describe) two-note patterns in the title track. I don't know how to describe how awesome the latter technique is (Genghis Tron and L'Antietem have also used it) or even what it is, but just listen to the harder parts, and you'll understand.

Refused completely revolutionized hardcore punk with this album. Instead of making another shriek-fest like Songs To Fan The Flames Of Discontent, they completely reinvented the genre using electronics, samples, and odd song structures. It's punk-punk rock so to speak.

This album wasn't the shape of punk to come in the sense of people making experimental masterpieces like this one, but it did open the eyes of fans around the world who were content with their fast, angry three chord nonsense. No matter how many times I listen to this album it never gets old, and I can't see that changing any time soon. Refused made one of the most addictive and infectious albums ever, and I don't know what I would do without the album. If you are a fan of punk, hardcore, or heavy music in general, you must hear this album before you die.

[YOUTUBE]K8MkVIe9xGc[/YOUTUBE]​
 
I'm slacking...

22. Matisyahu "Youth" (2006)
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What it is: Reggae performed by a hisidic jew
Favorite track: Time Of Your Song

Matisyahu sounded pretty interesting when I first heard about him. I mean, 21st century reggae with hints of hip hop and rock, and performed by a jew. Of course, I'm not gonna bore you with the whole "OMG A JEW DOING REGGAE" thing.

Many fans prefer "Shake Off The Dust... ARISE!", but that album didn't do it for me. Maybe it was because I heard this one first and that's the one I stick with etc, but this album just has more memorable songs. The choruses are catchy, and it's really more of a feel good album.

I really like Matisyahu's lyrics. His usage of Jewish and Biblical themes makes his music a lot more interesting to me. Some of my favorite lyrics on the album are:



from Fire Of Heaven/Altar Of Earth



from What I'm Fighting For

Matisyahu is like a rabbi singing reggae, but you don't have to be Jewish to find his music, or even his message enjoyable. Though his music is very focused on the Jewish religion, he doesn't come off as preachy.

Excellent album, all I can say.

[YOUTUBE]12qtTuvWQSI[/YOUTUBE]​
 
11. Pink Floyd "Wish You Were Here" (1975)
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What it is: Dark Pink Floyd
Favorite Track: Welcome To The Machine

Wish You Were Here was the album that began my wonderful relationship with the poster boys of Prog. I couldn't have picked a better album by them to start off with. It's accessible, but one of their overall stronger and thicker albums, not to mention that the production is way ahead of its time.

After such a massive success with Dark Side Of The Moon, Pink Floyd had a lot to live up to. They didn't surpass RABOTM, but they certainly didn't disappoint. Pink Floyd's five track 1975 masterpiece clocks at almost forty-five minutes. It is made up of a very lengthy two-part song called Shine On You Crazy Diamond which surrounRAB the three middle tracks. The layout is excellent and definitely adRAB to the listening experiance.

The sound of Wish You Were Here is very thick, and the production is very clean. The album could have been made in 2008, and it wouldn't sound dated at all. The thing that makes this album so special is the songs themselves, and not so much each part of the album working together. There are only five songs, but all of them are lengthy, and all of them are spectacular. Welcome To The Machine was the first song that stood out to me. If dark music scares you, do not listen to this song! The vague, but easily interpreted lyrics are about the corrupt music inRAButry. You tell 'em boys!

If it is at all possible for Pink Floyd to be heavy, then that's what they did with WYWH. It's not heavy in the hard rock/metal sense, but it's heavy in their own psychadelic way. As I've said before, it's thick. The instrumental bits are superb, especially Richard Wright. If you want to get a taste of how important he was to Pink Floyd, here it is.

So if you're just getting into the wonderful world of Pink Floyd, take my advice and get this album first.

[YOUTUBE]q1moiym6-Nk[/YOUTUBE]​
 
I have to admit to really liking alexisonfire and I have 3 albums by them but their debut is still my favourite. The juxtaposition vocally is what really get's me. It's not just anger and it's not just bleeding heart angst. Great choice.
 
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