Bigger they are they think they have more power

Today's post is dedicated to everybody that "gets it". Friday is a good day but you gotta make everyday a positive day. Tuesdays can be beautiful. Today we talk about one of the greatest human beings alive today. DAN YEMIN. This man is pure truth in the shell of a mortal man. He is in my favorite band ever, my 6th favorite band ever and 2 of my favorite bands touring today. I have met him twice and have been a loser fanboy both times. Both those times though the guy treated me with the most class and respect i have ever encounteredwhile talking to semi big touring HC bands.

Ok let's do this in non chronological order. Go with his work in KID DYNAMITE one of the bands that rose out of the ashes of Lifetime and almost as amazing (which is still better than 99% of bands). My blog is named after this song CHEAP SHOT YOUTH ANTHEM. It's about the importance of all ages shows. So many kids turn 19 and 21 and turn their backs on AA which is fucking ridiculous. If it wasn't for all ages shows I honnestly think I might have never finished high school. This video was made by a random dude on youtube and it makes me think of my psycho scottish cousins that were in town this summer.



Next up we have LIFETIME. Already featured on the blog. Essentially my favorite group of all time. I would kill a man with a swiss army knife if they asked. No joke. Their songs speak so much to me and I have so many memories associated to their music. The perfect combination of aggression and melody. They were together from 1990 to 1997 but they are most remembered for their last 2 albums of this era (HELLO BASTARDS and JERSEYS BEST DANCERS). Both those albums are perfect and you should listen to them A.S.A.P. They reunited in 2005 (i had the opportunity to see them at this time) and came out with a new self titled album. Which believe it or not got a POSITIVE review in pitchfork. To me it's not as good as HB and JBD but it is growing on me like HPV in paris hilton's uterus. Some of the songs on it are on par with their classic shit. They are signed on Fueled by Ramen aka Fallout Boy's label and I think that's alright cause every single mainstream "emo" or pop punk band owes them half their profits. We have a double pack of songs. YOUNG LOUD AND SCOTTY live from a breakup show and AIRPORT MONDAY MORNING the video from their new album. Let it percolate.





Finally we have PAINT IT BLACK with Dan Yemin singing. I like them less than his other bands cause to me he's a genius guitar player. The song is called MEMORIAL DAY it's from a house show, the quality sucks but during the sing along you can really see what I'm talking about when I'm trying to communicate the feeling i get in my heart when I listen to these bands.



BONUS ALERT

Yemin is in another band ARMALITE which features Atom Goren of Atom and his Package and other dudes from bands. They pretty much only play philly but dear lord are they amazing.

i: there's fuckin beauty in life zach, never forget that. z: word, god.

This post is influenced by some douchebag on a message board bashing my birthplace. The city (or former city) of Vanier a working class/poor and predominately French neighborhood. People bash it a lot and it pisses me off. These asshole kids are far removed from the areas they bash and forget or don't care that people live there, people with stories! My point is that a very significant portion of the world's best art comes from areas like Vanier. Shit, another place that gets a similar bad a rap is the state of NEW JERSEY. We've all heard the jokes. One thing though is that the state of New Jersey alone probably produced more awesome/important music than all of English Canada. Woops.

Now let's start with the most obvious of Jersey's glorious sons. Everybody loves him too no question about it. The beautiful stories he conveys could have very well taken place in Vanier. This is the type of inspiration you just can't get in the Glebe yo! Giving you one of his most popular songs which is ironically about yearning to leave Asbury Park.

Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run
Uploaded by jpdc11

Next up we have another one of the most critically acclaimed and universally loved artists of recent times in Lauryn Hill. Although I'm going to put up a Fugees song cause I feel like it. Praz and Wyclef were Haitian immigrants (HAÏTI!) and hooked up with jersey native Hill to create one of the most important hip hop groups of the 90's. One thing I love about this era was that every hip hop video had the artists in a secret agent mission type scenario. Vanier 2 - Westboro 0.



Finally we have what can be considered as my favorite band of all time, Lifetime. A seminal melodic hardcore band who's influence can be heard across a lot today's mainstream music. Not really working class and more crappy suburb influenced but 10000% jersey. This song is called Theme Song for a New Brunswick Basement Show. Much like Springsteen, Lifetime makes an ordinary event happening to ordinary people into an epic story. In this case just sitting down next to a girl at a shitty punk show. I saw them live at a reunion show in 2005 and I wish I had a clip from that show but this is pretty close they are playing the Stone Pony (a legendary Jersey venue). K.O. Vanier wins.



BONUS FEATURE!

And we have a bonus! The dark lords of suburban jersey the danzig era MISFITS! Unfortunately like so many awesome groups they inspired a lot of shit (any band that wears makeup that is not them). Whatever. This is a video from what I believe to be is a Detroit area public access show. Quality sucks but the interview is awesome.