Music review #4: No Love Lost, Closure CDEP

No Love Lost: Closure CDEP

1. An Ode To Jack Gaffney
2. Never Look Back
3. 87 Mile Guilt Trip
4. Here It Comes
5. The Pros and Cons of Indoor Plumbing
6. One Life, One Fight

Self Released CDr

This review is especially easy for me, because I had the privilege to see No Love Lost perform at a basement show in Burlington, VT on November 22nd. Like many modern contemporary hardcore acts, their performance was heavy and uncompromising. There's no gimmicks and no bullshit when it comes to No Love Lost. Seeing them play is pure adrenaline, anger and desperation straight from the heart. There's also no tough-guy thuggery or petty drama that plagues so many scenes. Everything this band stands for is finding something positive for yourself and your friends amidst this fucked up world. The singer even spoke out against those in the hardcore scene who poke fun at others for not wearing the "right short" or doing the "right dance moves," stating that this behavior goes against everything hardcore stands for. Hearing that, reminded me why I got into hardcore in the first place. The band was also able to play at their full capacity of energy, despite the limited space in the basement. Because of this show, I think I actually like basement shows better now.

So how is their CD? Nothing short of amazing of course. These six tracks are a chalk full of floor-punching hardcore goodness. The influences are obvious, ranging from Have Heart, Verse, Comeback Kid and Bane, whilst retaining a unique quality that can only exist when it comes straight from the heart. They play what they want unapologetically and have a fun time doing it. Some people might call it generic, but they're not in this to be the cool kids who found something new. The lyrics are uplifting and inspiring, calling out for a positive, communal vibe and yearning to look ahead and let the past be the past. Other topics range from staying true to yourself in a world full of immense social pressures and the struggle of holding onto this throughout life.

From start to end, this CD never gives up. As soon as you think they're slowing down, they either jump into breakneck speed or hit you square in the face with some thick breakdowns. There is also quite a bit of underlying melody that makes the songs memorable, without becoming too cookie cutter. The production is top-notch for a band that is most likely functioning exclusively on their own funds.

The packaging of the disc gets the point across that this is a 6-song CD, but I really wish the CD itself had a label on it or was spray-painted or something. As a matter of fact, it didn't have anything written on it, so I wrote the band name on it when I got back from the show. A lyric sheet would've been cool too. Aside from that, the disc was a great purchase and I really hope my money got some food in their bellies and fuel back in their van for the long ride back to Buffalo, New York.

Check No Love Lost out at:
http://www.myspace.com/nolovelostny

Buy the "Closure" EP here:
http://nolovelost.bigcartel.com

That's What She Said

I'm not really establishing myself as a member of the Burlington community. It's much harder to make friends then you would think. I also think it's harder to make friends when you're not engaged in a social setting like school, where you're constantly meeting people of the same age. Let's face it, most of the people at work are older than me and not interested in going to shows or watching cartoons. I actually feel like I've touched upon this in a previous entry. So where am I left to make friends? The answer seems to be simple; go to local hardcore shows. I've met a few cool people in this community, but its very evident that we live different lives. I'm not in school anymore, I have to work every day of the week. A lot of these kids don't, because well they either never went to school or are just taking forever to finish. But there is another side of the scene that is just as pretentious and vain as everybody else. There is definitely a fashion sense that I don't have.I don't wear super tight pants and plaid button up shirts everyday. I also happen to enjoy my pea coat. At times the hardcore scene is as much of a trend as anything else. If you want to be cool, you have to do the windmill dance at shows and hit people in the face. Well fuck that.

And there's just the simple fact trying to enter a social circle, where everyone has known each other for years is going to be hard no matter where you go. But I feel like I have gone above and beyond to reach out to these kids. Especially the kids in Unrestrained. I feel like I always have to initiate a "hang out time." Nobody ever calls me up and says "hey we thought you'd like to come bowling with us," or something lame like that. Maybe this is an indication that I'm the friend that nobody likes. You know those people. Nobody hates them. They just suck and they're not as fun as all your other friends.

So life is at a standstill. I feel like I've had enough time to make a few meaningful relationships, but I haven't. My best friends still live in Rutland or other towns down south. The atmosphere in Burlington is just so much different. Everybody is so materialistic. I just don't care about cool winter outfits or hippie hats. I just want to put on some pants, a t-shirt and jump into the pit (or jump on the stage). The only thing that is keeping me here is my job and the fact that there are other jobs available in the area and the fact that hardcore/punk shows do happen on a weekly basis. There are no asshole neighbors or arrogant self-righteous cops trying to fuck with kids and their creative urges. Shows happen. People stage dive. I've already seen bands play here from as far away as Germany and British Colombia. There are no venues in Rutland and if you do happen to rent a space out, it doesn't last too long. Usually some rich motherfucker with a loud mouth will put an end to it.

So Burlington is a double-edged sword. I can't stand the artsy fartsy hippies or the colleges douche bags who drink keystone light like water, but I love the shows and I love what happens with them, even if there are a few lame kids who just show up to look cool. I guess there are worse places to show up. For example, a military recruiting office.

So yeah, meeting girls. That doesn't happen at all. If I just happen to bump into somebody and have a good conversation, they usually end up disappearing forever or they just simply ignore me if I suggest we hang out. Either that or they think I'm too weird to begin with. Besides fighting for civil rights isn't very attractive I guess. Maybe everybody is right. You have to be an a badass to get girls to like you. Well I refuse to compromise my identity for anybody, so I'm probably going to be lonely for some time.

Yeah this was a depressing post. Sorry! Hopefully I'll be doing another music review soon.

Why I'm Voting for Cynthia McKinney

Before anybody gets into any debates about me "throwing away" my vote, I'd like to remind people that there are actually six major candidates running for the president of the United States and all of them are on at leas more than 30 ballots across the country. If you don't believe me, then check out this link:

http://www.votesmart.org/election_president.php

Cynthia McKinney represents to me, someone who is through with two-party politics and the incestuous relationship it upholds with corporate America. First, off the Green Party (McKinney's party affiliation), does not accept any corporate donations, as they do not believe that wealthy corporations and their strong interested of profit have the right to influence a political process. I agree with this. Both John McCain and Barak Obama have recieved many donations from coroporations, including but not limited to private health insurance corporations, big oil, credit card companies and cell phone companies.

The biggest problem I have with Barak Obama is his advocation of ending the war in Iraq by only escalalting the war in Afghanistan. His first priorities in foreign policy are militarisitc, not diplomatic. It sends shivers down my spine, when he openly applauds Israel, which has maintained the longest illegal military occupation in history, of the palestinian land and treats the natives as less than human. The U.S. supplies Israel free of charge with a plethora of nuclear weapons and other military infrastructure and weapons. That scares me. Cynthis McKinney advocates a diplomatic, two state solution and withdrawal of Israeli forces from Palestinian land. Barak Obama also openly advocates military aggression in Iran. This baffles me. First off, of course Iran is enriching Uraniam. We are too! It's called nuclear energy. Many countries do it. We just like to use that as an excuse to invade countries that may serve our economic interest. As a matter of fact, the United States has enough nuclear armament to destroy the world several times over. Israel comes in close to 2nd.

Neither Barak Obama nor John McCain support single-payer national healthcare, which helps people in much of the first world to live longer and healthier lives, free of the worry of going in debt just because you fall ill. In the United States, our bodies are treated as commodities, and our health is at the bottom of the private sector's priorities. There are also many "pre-existing" medical conditions that health care companies refuse to fund treatment for, because they are simply to expensive and they wouldn't be reaping enormous profits anymore. In our country, our health is reduced to a corporation. Obama and McCain both recieved massive campaign contributions from these evil, profit mongereing entities that dare to call themselves "healthcare." Cynthia McKinnye supports dissolving the private exploitation of our bodies and creating a government funded program that would cover everybody's medical needs, regardless of income.

Barak Obama and John McCain both supported and voted for the disatrous tax-payer heist known as the Wall Street bailout. $700 million dollars of our tax payer money was simply washed down the drain to bailout those who are responsible for putting us in this dire economic situation that we're in right now. How is that not big government? Which makes me realize that John McCain is not really a conservative and that Obama is simply more interested in maintaing the status quo of the ruling elite. Cynthia McKinney voted against this measure and spoke out eloquently.

Obama and McCain also both voted to not hold the telecom industries who participated in George Bush's illegal wiretapping accountable for their criminal behavior. Both senators gave them a clean slate and everybody got away with it. Cynthia Mckinney voted against this measure.

Obam and McCain both voted for the patriot act, which has dissolved many of our fundamental rights as a citizens for the supposed interest of "national security." Next time you get questioned at the Canadian border about your laptop and the patrol is about to take it without probably cause, think about who voted for the law. Cynthia Mckinney voted against the patriot act.

Neither McCain nor Obama are willing to talk about our country's deep roots in worldwide oppression of democracy and corporate pillaging. There's a reason why we can certain fruits during the winter and it's mainly because our multinational companies cross borders and force indigenous poplulations to work at slave-wage labor for the sake of capital gain. How is this done? It's simple. The U.S. has supperted hundreds of dictatorial and murderous military governments throughout it's history. Whether it's through a proxy war, where we simply provide weapons and train people or through direct intervention, we've constantly oppressed independent nation's will to govern themselves. Just look at how many countries we've invaded since 1890:
http://academic.evergreen.edu/g/grossmaz/interventions.html

Cynthia Mckinney has acknowledged our shameful past and what we can do to fix it. Obama and McCain refuse to even admit the history.

And finally, what's all the talk about the fucking middle class? What about the working class and the poor? Doesn't everybody deserve a decent amount of financial security? When young families have to choose between medical care and food and proper clothing for the winter monts, I could care a less if there was one more colonial house down the street with white picket fences and an SUV. Fuck that.

Cynthia McKinney ackowledges the classist society that we live in and how a majority of our country's wealth is controlled by the smallest percentage of the rich. This is not a democracy. At best, it's a capitalistic monarchy.

I cannot believe the recent accusations of Obama being a socialist. He is SO FAR AWAY from advocating any socialist ideology. I literally fell on the floor laughing the first time I heard this. I can't imagine how the Socialist Party of the United States presidential candidate Brian Moore felt when he heard this. He probably wanted to shoot himself in the face.

Anyways, there are so many other reasons why I disagree with the two-party system, but I'm getting tired and I need to get up and vote tommorrow.

All I want to say, is that our vote should be hard to get. Never let any million dollar coporate news network (especially FOX), tell you your choices of candidates. Do some research. It's called google. You're not throwing away your vote if you feel the person is the most qualified for the job. It really is that simple.

Happy voting.

-Veg