Reverend Horton Heat - Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em

Rockabilly is the purest form of rock and roll music there is. It didn't remain popular past the late'50's and early `60's, but it can hardly be considered a fad. It is the basis for which all forms of rock and roll emerged.

The Reverend Horton Heat is not just simply copying the rockabilly of the past, but he's giving it the freedom wasn't allowed in the 1950's. He puts the energy and rebellion right out in front, something the rockabilly artists of the past were forced to be much more subtle about.

"Smoke`Em If You Got`Em" is sleazy, trashy, fun listen from beginning to end. "Bullet" is an instrumental that effectively builds the anticipation to hear the Rev burst in with his potent voice and crazy lyrics. "I'm Mad" follows up perfectly as the hardest rocking song on the album.
From there on, it's one catchy song after another. "Bad Reputation" swings like no other song and is entirely too much fun. "Psychobilly Freakout" is the twisted cousin of "Surfin' Bird" and "Eat Steak" has to one the funniest, yet demented song ever recorded.

If it's untamed rock and roll you're after, this will not fail to satisfy. (Year of Release: 1991)

Track List:
1. Bullet
2. I'm Mad
3. Bad Reputation
4. It's A Dark Day
5. Big Dwarf Rodeo
6. Psychobilly Freakout
7. Put It To Me Straight
8. Marijuana
9. Baby, You Know Who
10. Eat Steak
11. 'D' For Dangerous
12. Love Whip

Download: Reverend Horton Heat - Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em (44.7MB)

The Hellacopters - Rock & Roll Is Dead

Just why would an album be titled Rock & Roll Is Dead when the contents within are good, old-fashioned rock & roll? Undoubtedly, it's because one of Sweden's most popular rock acts, the Hellacopters, are displeased with the state of rock music. So it would be a highly logical guess that the title is aimed at all the homogenized rock acts running amok on the charts. While most "retro rockers" have no problem replicating the sonics of yesteryear, it's when it comes to penning memorable tracks like their heroes that they usually run into a stumbling block. But the Hellacopters are one of the exceptions -- as evidenced here by such standouts as "Monkeyboy," the very Stones-y "Leave It Alone," and "Murder on My Mind." And as with most modern-day garage revivalists, the Hellacopters can't resist slipping in a few "bash and wail" numbers as well ("Bring It on Home," "Put Out the Fire," etc.). For those seeking garage rock patterned after late-'60s rock & roll (MC5, the Stooges, a dash of the Stones and the Amboy Dukes), Rock & Roll Is Dead is worthy of a listen. (Year of Release: 2005)

Track List:
1. Before the Fall
2. Everything's on T.V.
3. Monkey Boy
4. No Angel to Lay Me Away
5. Bring It on Home
6. Leave It Alone
7. Murder on My Mind
8. I'm in the Band
9. Put out the Fire
10. I Might Come See You Tonight
11. Nothing Terribly New
12. Make It Tonight
13. Time Got No Time to Wait for Me

Download: The Hellacopters - Rock & Roll Is Dead (36.9MB)

The Cramps - Songs The Lord Taught Us

Continuing the spooked-out and raging snarls of Gravest Hits, the Cramps once again worked with Alex Chilton on the group's full-album debut, Songs the Lord Taught Us. The jacket reads "file under: sacred music," but only if one's definition includes the holy love of rockabilly sex-stomp, something which the Cramps fulfill in spades. Having spent Gravest Hits mostly doing revamps of older material, the foursome tackled a slew of originals like "The Mad Daddy" and "TV Set" this time around, creating one of the few neo-rockabilly records worthy of the name. Years later Songs still drips with threat and desire both, testament to both the band's worth and Chilton's just-right production. "Garbageman" surfaced as a single in some areas, a wise choice given the at-once catchy roll of the song and downright frightening guitar snarls, especially on the solo. The covers of the Sonics' "Strychnine" and Billy Burnette's "Tear It Up" -- not to mention the concluding riff on "Fever" -- all challenge the originals. Interior has the wailing, hiccuping, and more down pat, but transformed into his own breathless howl, while Ivy and Gregory keep up the electric fuzz through more layers of echo than legality should allow. Knox helms the drums relentlessly; instead of punching through arena rock style, Chilton keeps him the rushed rhythm running along in the back, increasing the sheer psychosis of it all. (Year of Release: 1980)

Track List:
1. TV Set
2. Rock On The Moon
3. Garbageman
4. I Was A Teenage Werewolf
5. Sunglasses After Dark
6. The Mad Daddy
7. Mystery Plane
8. Zombie Dance
9. What's Behind The Mask
10. Strychnine
11. I'm Cramped
12. Tear It Up
13. Fever

Download: The Cramps - Songs the Lord Taught Us (56.1MB)

U.K. Subs - Brand New Age

For their second album, Brand New Age, the U.K. Subs built on the frenzied, melodic assault of their debut by developing their songwriting skills. Brand New Age contains tracks that are more ambitious than those on the debut, with more variety and lyrical depth. Rather than the amusing teen angst rants of the debut, this album shows the Subs embracing a more political point of view. "Warhead" is a seething diatribe on nuclear war, delivered with the venom and ferocity such a topic deserves. "Organised Crime" rants about government oppression, and "Brand New Age" delivers a less than optimistic slant on the forthcoming privacy intrusions of the 1980s. There's no shortage of droll humor, though, with the hilarious "Teenage" and "Emotional Blackmail," the closest the Subs have come to a song about relationships. Musically, the band have grown as well. "Warhead" has a more complex song structure than anything they did before, and "You Can't Take It Anymore" proves the band doesn't have to rely on simple velocity to get their point across. Far from falling prey to the sophomore slump, the U.K. Subs came of age on this album and proved they were one of the best, most promising punk rock acts of their era. (Year of Release: 1980)

Track List:
1. You Can't Take It Anymore
2. Brand New Age
3. Public Servant
4. Warhead
5. Barbie's Dead
6. Organised Crime
7. Rat Race
8. Emotional Blackmail
9. Kicks
10. Teenage
11. Dirty Girls
12. 500 CC
13. Bomb Factory
14. Emotional Blackmail II

Download: UK Subs - Brand New Age (27.4MB)

Exploding Hearts - Guitar Romantic

The Exploding Hearts were a bunch of young kids playing a musical style twice their age but you wouldn't know that from their flawless recreation of the sounds of the classic rock n' roll/garage movement of the late 60's. Despite their youth, there's a timeless feel to their modern take on this genre as they belt through a series of rock n' roll originals that surely would have been chart toppers in that era. Helping this out is the absolutely retro straight out of the amp, fuzzy around the edges guitars and a strict adherence to blues based rock songwriting but with a superb flair for writing memorable songs that stick out from the considerable amount of bands playing this style past and present. They also incorporate some of the energy of the early British punk movement, keeping things moving at a brisk pace that keeps the interest level high from start to finish.

Beyond a couple almost ballads (they still rock!), most of the album is packed with upbeat numbers driven by raw, jangly guitars and almost non-stop lead guitar riffs. The lead work is especially good on this album, ranging from classic straight 50's greaser type solos to bold, anthemic solos that dominate tracks like "Modern Kicks" and "Rumors In Town". At times this comes across as a more poppy version of the New York Dolls but flush with the vibe and feel of a more straight rock version of The Undertones or The Vibrators. It has that same crazy punk energy but not the angry power chords, instead going with a more bubblegum rock style full of a ton of solos.

Sadly this first record is also the last as three fourths of the band died in a car accident coming back from a gig. Truly a tragedy as this was one of the best new bands I've heard in quite some time but at least they left this one gem of a record for us to remember them by. (Year of Release: 2003)

Track List:
1. Modern Kicks
2. I'm A Pretender
3. Thorns In Roses
4. You're Black & Blue
5. Sleeping Aides & Razor Blades
6. Rumours in Town
7. Throwaway Style
8. Boulevard Trash
9. Jailbird
10. Still Crazy

Download: Exploding Hearts - Guitar Romantic (38.1MB)

Radio Birdman - Radios Appear

Although the best-known band of the early Australian punk scene of the late '70s was the Saints, the first band to wave the punk rock flag in the land down under was Radio Birdman. Formed by Australian émigré Deniz Tek (originally from Ann Arbor, MI) and Aussie surfer-turned-vocalist Rob Younger in 1974, Radio Birdman's approach to rock & roll was rooted in the high-energy, apocalyptic guitar rant of the Stooges and MC5, sprinkled liberally with a little East Coast underground hard rock courtesy of Blue Öyster Cult. Their first EP, Burn My Eye, released in 1976, was a great record and still remains a seminal chunk of Aussie punk. Loud and snotty, with Younger bellowing his guts out and Tek on a search and destroy mission with his guitar, this was a great debut that set the stage for the impending deluge of Aussie punk bands waiting in the wings. After the release of their debut LP, Radios Appear (the title comes from a lyric in the Blue Öyster Cult song "Dominance and Submission"), in Australia a year later, Radio Birdman seemed poised to break Aussie punk worldwide. And although the American label Sire (then the home of the Ramones) was quick to sign them and distribute Radios Appear internationally in 1978, there was a gap of three years before they released a second album, Living Eyes. During that time, dozens of other Aussie punk bands stole their thunder, and Radio Birdman split up almost immediately after Living Eyes was released. Sire never released the record outside of Australia, and Radio Birdman, who should have been the biggest band in Aussie punk, were now highly regarded punk forefathers. (Year of Release: 1978)

Tracklist:
1. What Gives?
2. Non-Stop Girls
3. Do the Pop
4. Man With Golden Helmet
5. Descent Into the Maelstrom
6. New Race
7. Aloha Steve & Danno
8. Anglo Girl Desire
9. Murder City Nights
10. Your Gonna Miss Me
11. Hand of Law
12. Hit Them Again

Download: Radio Birdman - Radios Appear (38.6MB)

MC5 - Kick Out The Jams

Rather than try to capture their legendary on-stage energy in a studio, MC5 opted to record their first album during a live concert at their home base, Detroit's Grande Ballroom, and while some folks who were there have quibbled that Kick Out the Jams isn't the most accurate representation of the band's sound, it's certainly the best of the band's three original albums, and easily beats the many semiauthorized live recordings of MC5 that have emerged in recent years, if only for the clarity of Bruce Botnick's recording. From Brother J.C. Crawford's rabble-rousing introduction to the final wash on feedback on "Starship," Kick Out the Jams is one of the most powerfully energetic live albums ever made; Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith were a lethal combination on tightly interlocked guitars, bassist Michael Davis and drummer Dennis Thompson were as strong a rhythm section as Detroit ever produced, and Rob Tyner's vocals could actually match the soulful firepower of the musicians, no small accomplishment. Even on the relatively subdued numbers (such as the blues workout "Motor City Is Burning"), the band sound like they're locked in tight and cooking with gas, while the full-blown rockers (pretty much all of side one) are as gloriously thunderous as anything ever committed to tape; this is an album that refuses to be played quietly. For many years, Detroit was considered the High Energy Rock & Roll Capital of the World, and Kick Out the Jams provided all the evidence anyone might need for the city to hold onto the title.

Track List:
1. Ramblin' Rose
2. Kick Out The Jams
3. Come Together
4. Rocket Reducer No. 62 (Rama Lama Fa Fa Fa)
5. Borderline
6. Motor City Is Burning
7. I Want You Right Now
8. Starship

Download: MC5 - Kick Out The Jams (36.9MB)

Buckethead - Population Override

I was planning on posting this next week, but since someone on a forum I frequent requested it, and the Giant Robot album by him got downloaded more than any other album on this blog, here's Population Override...

Population Override shows off still another side of the enigmatic virtuoso Buckethead. In the past, he seemed to sway between seriously heavy metal (like Cuckoo Clocks of Hell), more contemplative works (like Electric Tears), and drum'n'bass or electronica-influenced albums (like Day of the Robot and Bermuda Triangle). Featuring Travis Dickerson on keys and Pinchface on drums (and Buckethead on guitars and basses), Population Override is as close to an instrumental early Funkadelic album as almost anyone has gotten (think "Maggot Brain). These are actually tunes, not just riffing showcases, and Buckethead plays with an astonishing sense of depth and feeling; there are very few of his trademark hyperspeed licks. "Unrestrained Growth" uses a riff close to "Cosmic Slop," and "Too Many Humans" evokes the same melancholy that Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing" does. "A Day Will Come" adds a bit more crunch to the guitar, while "Humans Vanish" is a delicate solo guitar piece, and he finishes with a pretty straight blues on "...." All in all, this is Buckethead's most consistent, enjoyable work, with great playing and almost none of the flash he has displayed on previous releases. (Year of Release: 2004)

Track List:
1. Unrestrained Growth
2. Too Many Humans
3. Population Override
4. Humans Vanish
5. Cruel Reality Of Nature
6. A Day Will Come
7. Earth Heals Herself
8. Clones
9. Super Human
10. ...

Download: Buckethead - Population Override (76.2MB)

The Dictators - New York, New York

I can't say enough about this album. It has quickly become one of the favorites in my collection. It's hard to define exactly the type of music the Dictators played. At times they sound punk, at others metal, and sometimes they just churn out good old classic rock. One thing you can be certain of is the Dictators definitely rocked, and rocked hard.

Liner Notes by Richard Meltzer (1981) and Andy Shernoff (1998). All songs recorded live to a two track Dokorder on February 11, 1981 at a night club performance, except bonus tracks, which are from a board tape from a live concert at the Ritz in early '80's. Bonus tracks mastered by Andy Shernoff at Sterling Sound 1998.

On February 11, 1981, John Hanti and I (we were booking the Club 80's on the Upper East Side) traveled with a two track Dokorder to a live Dictators reunion to record the band. Neither of us really knew what we were doing - but the results were fabulous, the band cooked and ROIR cassette A102, The Dictators Live - Fuck 'Em If They Can't Take a Joke was born - and quickly released. It was a big success and helped launch the young ROIR cassette label in the small (then) indie community and, according to Cashbox Magazine (June 1990), helped "elevate the Dictators to mythical status."

So, now we have the original cassette remastered for CD, plus three live bonus tracks selected and mastered by Andy Shernoff from an early '80's performance at the Ritz in NYC.

Track List:
1. Next Big Thing
2. Science Gone Too Far
3. Weekend
4. Rock And Roll Made A Man Out Of Me
5. Two-Tub Man
6. Moon Upstairs
7. Loyola
8. What Goes On
9. New York New York
10. Search And Destroy
11. Borneo Jimmy
12. Minnesota Strip
13. Master Race Rock
14. Baby Let's Twist
15. Faster And Louder

Download: Dictators - New York, New York (81.5MB)

Lost Goat - Equator

Allow me to introduce you to Lost Goat, as I'm sure many of you have never heard of them. They are a virtually unheard of band, yet they are extremely talented and unique.

Lost Goat is a power trio featuring Erica Stoltz on bass/vocals, Eric Peterson on guitar, and Tina Gordon on drums. If you could somehow mesh the sound of Black Sabbath, Megadeth, and Joan Jett, the result might sound something like Lost Goat.

I'm very apprehensive when it comes to female lead singers in rock because I feel that many of them try too hard to sing melodic, instead of cutting loose and letting a bit of soul out. Fortunately that's not the case here. Erica Stoltz is an amazing vocalist and serves up just the kind of dirty rock and roll that I love. Oh, and did I mention that she's an amazing songwriter and bass player as well?

Eric Peterson and Tina Gordon are amazing musicians in their own right. Peterson executes every note and riff on this album flawlessly. He mixes up his sounds well, going from fuzzy, to whining, to straight up pulse pounding riffs at the drop of a hat. Gordon's drumming is excellent and a perfect compliment to the heavy guitar riffs of Peterson, and vocals of Stoltz.

Equator is nothing less than an amazing album in my opinion and is definitely worth checking out if you're not familiar with the band.

Track List:
1. Doin' Time
2. Bitter Pill
3. Downbound Train
4. White Dog/Purple Pussy
5. The Dirty Ones
6. Poison
7. Hell In Ruin


Download: Lost Goat - Equator (107.8MB)

Bauhaus - In the Flat Field

Few debut albums ever arrived so nearly perfectly formed; that In the Flat Field practically single-handedly invented what remains for many as the stereotype of goth music -- wracked, at times spindly vocals about despair and desolation of many kinds, sung over mysterious and moody music -- demonstrates the sui generis power of both the band and its work. This said, perhaps the best thing about the album isn't what it's supposed to sound like, but what it actually does sound like -- an awesomely powerful, glam-inspired rock band firing on all fours, capable of restraint and complete overdrive both, fronted by a charismatic, storming frontman. Starting with the challenging angst of "Double Dare," with shattering guitar over a curious but fierce stop-start rhythm while Peter Murphy rages ever more strongly over the top, In the Flat Field contains a wide variety of inspirations and ideas. The astonishingly precise rhythm section of David J and Kevin Haskins pulls off a variety of jaw-dropping performances, including the high-paced tension of the title track and the brooding crawl from "Spy in the Cab." Daniel Ash, much like his longtime hero Mick Ronson, turns out to be a master of turning relatively simple guitar parts into apocalyptic explosions, from the background fills on "St. Vitus Dance" to the brutal descending chords of "Stigmata Martyr." Murphy, meanwhile, channels as much Iggy Pop as he does David Bowie, proving to be no simple copyist of either, able to both maniacally sing-shout and take a somewhat lighter touch throughout. Concluding with the seven-minute "Nerves," an aptly titled piece that alternates between understated energy and unleashed power toward a dramatic ending, In the Flat Field started off Bauhaus' album career with a near-perfect bang.

Track List:
1. Dark Entries
2. Double Dare
3. In The Flat Field
4. God In An Alcove
5. Dive
6. Spy In The Cab
7. Small Talk Stinks
8. St. Vitus Dance
9. Stigmata Martyr
10. Nerves
11. Telegram Sam
12. Rosegarden Funeral Of Sores
13. Terror Couple Kill Colonel
14. Scopes
15. Untitled

Download: Bauhaus - In The Flat Field (51.3MB)

Buckethead - Giant Robot

This is my favorite album by the guitar god who wears a white mask and a KFC chicken bucket on his head. Buckethead also happens to be my favorite guitar player currently alive, and one of the most original artists out there. I have listened to the majority of his albums and I feel that this one best displays Buckethead's musical range. Most of the songs on the album are primarily instrumental, and it is dotted with songs containing lyrics that are both fun and morbid at the same time. Some of the songs on this album are hit and miss for me. There are those that I don't care for too much, but there are those that stand out which I absolutely love. My favorite songs on the album are the instrumentals, Welcome to Bucketheadland and Binge & Grab, which are both straight forward rock and roll with blistering solos. I Come In Peace is another great song with crazy lyrics and incredible music. Any Star Wars fan will love his rendition of the various songs from the movie. I Love My Parents is perhaps one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard and a complete change of pace from the rest of the songs on the album. This album comes highly recommended for those of you who like experimental music or just fantastic guitar players, and would be a great starting point for anyone who's not familiar with Buckethead.

Track List
1. Doomride
2. Welcome To Bucketheadland
3. I Come In Peace
4. Buckethead's Toy Store
5. Want Some Slaw?
6. Warweb
7. Aquabot
8. Binge And Grab (Instrumental Version)
9. Pure Imagination
10. Buckethead's Chamber Of Horrors
11. Onions Unleashed
12. Chicken
13. I Love My Parents
14. Buckethead's TV Show
15. Robot Transmission
16. Pirate's Life For Me
17. Post Office Buddy
18. Star Wars
19. Last Train To Bucketheadland

Download: Buckethead - Giant Robot (100.8MB)

The Vibrators - Pure Mania

The Vibrators were a little older and wiser than their brit-punk brethren in the late 70's. They were already veterans of the pub rock scene in Britain when they recorded this. None of that prevents Pure Mania from taking it's rightful place alongside landmark British Punk albums like Never Mind the Bullocks it's the Sex Pistols, Damned, Damned, Damned, The Clash, Singles Going Steady (Buzzcocks), Crossing the Red Sea with the Adverts, and Pink Flag (Wire).

In fact, this album is superior to many of those albums in some respects. It's as melodic and consistent as the Buzzcocks, as terse and minimal as Wire, (almost) as demented as the Sex Pistols. It also has an element of fun you might find in the Damned or Adverts. They didn't try to communicate a message like the Clash did but they were connected to roots music in a similar way. (Year of Release 1977)

Track List:
1. Into The Future...
2. Yeah Yeah Yeah
3. Sweet Sweet Heart
4. Keep It Clean
5. Baby Baby
6. No Heart
7. She's Bringing You Down
8. Petrol
9. London Girls
10. You Broke My Heart
11. Whips & Furs
12. Stiff Little Fingers
13. Wrecked On You
14. I Need A Slave
15. Bad Time

Download: The Vibrators - Pure Mania (47.9MB)

The Damned - Damned, Damned, Damned

Released in early 1977, Damned, Damned, Damned was one of the first punk albums issued and it remains a certified punk classic. Unlike the work of such contemporaries as the Adverts and Slaughter and the Dogs, this stunning debut sounds as fresh and vital today as it did in 1977. The album blasts off with the searing "Neat Neat Neat," a raging slab of buzzsaw guitars, crashing drums, and the sneering vocals of Dave Vanian that ranks among the 20 best punk songs of the era. Never as political as the Sex Pistols or the Clash, the Damned were the original cartoon punks, merrily ripping through such cheerful songs as "Born to Kill," "Stab Your Back," and "Fish" with reckless abandon, playing punk rock for the simple joy of making loud, aggressive music. Other highlights include the group's anthemic hit single, "New Rose," a pounding track that's powered by a monster riff from guitarist Brian James, and a swell rendition of the Stooges' "I Feel Alright." Produced by Nick Lowe (who allegedly sped up the original tapes to give the Damned a "punkier" sound), Damned Damned Damned is essential for any fan of UK or West Coast punk. (Year of Release: 1977)

Track List:
1. Neat Neat Neat
2. Fan Club
3. I Fall
4. Born To Kill
5. Stab Your Back
6. Feel The Pain
7. New Rose
8. Fish
9. See Her Tonite
10. 1 Of The 2
11. So Messed Up
12. I Feel Alright

Download: The Damned - Damned, Damned, Damned (28.9MB)

Miscellaneous Blog News and other Random Ramblings

Thank You Everyone
I wanted to take a break from posting albums to say thank you to all of you who have visited this blog, and especially those of you who have taken the time to show your appreciation. It's nice to know that there are other people out there with a deeper appreciation for music, who's taste extends beyond that of bands such as Nickelback and Staind.

This blog has already exceeded my expectations. There have been over 600 downloads since I started this blog six days ago. I've also had a few people contact me about linking to this blog. It's a nice feeling to know that this blog already has a small following. The comments I have received so far have been much appreciated, and are very encouraging. I hope that the albums I post in the future are met with such enthusiasm. If you like this blog and download anything from it please take the time to leave a comment sometime. I do this because I love music and want to introduce people to music that I feel deserves more recognition, and the only thing that I ask in return is for you to leave a comment. It is a lot more encouraging to see actual people respond and show their appreciation, rather than to just look at download statistics. A few more things and I'll shut up and get back to posting albums...

My Contact Info Added
I have updated my profile to include information so that you can contact me. Please contact me if you would like to request music for me to post, recommend me music, or would just like to discuss the duality of man.

Digital Meltd0wn last.fm Group
The Digital Meltd0wn last.fm Group (link is in the sidebar and in my first post) has six members now. We need 9 more members in order for last.fm to generate charts based on the group's listening habits. If you're a member of last.fm and would like to join the group, I would be very greatful.

Gigasize
I hope that you all have found the host (gigasize) that I've been using to be satisfactory. I think the download speeds are fairly good in comparison to other such hosts. My goal is to eventually be able to get a lifetime premium account, which requires 500,000 points (1 point per download). If I'm able to do that then the download links to the albums I post would never expire. Please feel free to share the content I post on other sites, blogs, or forums. That would help me with my mission to get a premium account. If you want to link back to the blog I would appreciate it, but it's not absolutely necessary.

Two Albums Re-Added
There were two entries for albums that I accidently saved as drafts instead of publishing them, which weren't showing up on the index. Those entries were Fugazi's 13 Songs and the Ramone's Rocket to Russia, which both come highly recommended, so don't forget to check those out.

Roll Call - Please Respond
I would like to do a roll call to get an idea of how many people are visiting this blog. So if you're reading this please just leave a comment. You don't have to write anything too long unless you just want to.

Till Next Time...
Once again I would just like to say thanks to everyone. Don't forget to leave a comment sometime if you like the job I'm doing so far. Till next time...

Minor Threat- Complete Discography

Complete Discography compiles Minor Threat's entire body of recordings on a single compact disc. Hardcore, as a rule, wasn't particularly musically diverse, but Minor Threat were one of the genre's groundbreaking acts and their music has held up better than most of their contemporaries. As the de facto leaders of the Washington, D.C., hardcore scene, the band pioneered the straight-edge mentality by emphasizing impossibly fast tempos, brief songs, political lyrics, and a drug- and alcohol-free lifestyle. Besides setting the precedent for several generations of punk rockers with their music and ideals, Minor Threat were simply a better band than most hardcore groups. They had a tight, distinctive sound that wasn't as heavy as their Californian counterparts and, therefore, were often more bracing and effective. Although some of the music on Complete Discography, like much of hardcore in general, hasn't aged particularly well -- with its cheap production, rigid song structures, and political concerns, it is very much a piece of the early '80s -- the sound remains invigorating; the band possessed a visceral energy matched by only a handful of their peers. Complete Discography, in fact, is not only one of the cornerstones of any hardcore collection, it's not a bad way to become acquainted with hardcore (Year of Release: 1988)

Track List:
1. Filler
2. I Don't Wanna Hear It
3. Seeing Red
4. Straight Edge
5. Small Man, Big Mouth
6. Screaming At A Wall
7. Bottled Violence
8. Minor Threat
9. Stand Up
10. 12XU
11. In My Eyes
12. Out Of Step (With The World)
13. Guilty Of Being White
14. Steppin' Stone
15. Betray
16. It Follows
17. Think Again
18. Look Back And Laugh
19. Sob Story
20. No Reason
21. Little Friend
22. Out Of Step
23. Cashing In
24. Stumped
25. Good Guys (Don't Wear White)
26. Salad Days

Download Minor Threat - Complete Discography (43.9MB)

Buckcherry - Buckcherry

From the get-go of "Lit Up" right on through to "Drink the Water," Buckcherry doesn't let up on their self-titled disc -- it's like a blast of fresh air clearing out a stale room. Buckcherry returns to the raucous edge of rock while avoiding the pitfalls of veering headlong into metal land. Melodic and concise, these guys keep your attention much like Guns N' Roses did on their first disc. Helped out by Terry Date and ex-Sex Pistol Steve Jones in the production department, Buckcherry is quite a stunning debut. (Year of Release: 1999)

Track List:
1. Dead Again
2. Lit Up
3. Crushed
4. Check Your Head
5. Lawless And Lulu
6. For The Movies
7. Related
8. Borderline
9. Get Back
10. Baby
11. Drink The Water

Download Buckcherry - Buckcherry (44.7MB)

TSOL - Dance With Me

A significant group in L.A.'s late-'70s to early-'80s punk scene, Long Beach's T.S.O.L. (True Sound of Liberty) briefly flirted with pseudo radical politics on their exceptional self-titled debut EP, which included songs like "Abolish Government/Silent Majority" and "Property Is Theft." But that phase of the band didn't last long, as they cast away the politics in favor of horror-movie-inspired, gothy, Misfits-style shtick on their first full-length, Dance With Me. This album contains their most famous song, "Code Blue," an extremely catchy number about necrophilia, ever popular with young fans who scream for them to play it at every show. No mere footnote in punk rock history, T.S.O.L.'s early records are slam pit-inducing, infectious stuff. Dance With Me is loaded with fine numbers, including "Sounds of Laughter," "I'm Tired of Life," and "Die for Me." Other than the Misfits, no band has combined gothy subject matter and punk rock barre chords as well as T.S.O.L., who hit the nail on the head with this classic 1981 recording. (Year of Release: 1981)

Track List:
1. Sounds Of Laughter
2. Code Blue
3. The Triangle
4. 80 Times
5. I'm Tired Of Life
6. Love Story
7. Silent Scream
8. Funeral March
9. Die For Me
10. Peace Thru Power
11. Dance With Me

Download TSOL - Dance With Me (35.3MB)

The Ramones - Rocket to Russia

The Ramones provided the blueprint and Leave Home duplicated it with lesser results, but the Ramones' third album, Rocket to Russia, perfected it. Rocket to Russia boasts a cleaner production than its predecessors, which only gives the Ramones' music more force. It helps that the group wrote its finest set of songs for the album. From the mindless, bopping opening of "Cretin Hop" and "Rockaway Beach" to the urban surf rock of "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" and the ridiculous anthem "Teenage Lobotomy," the songs are teeming with irresistibly catchy hooks; even their choice of covers, "Do You Want to Dance?" and "Surfin' Bird," provide more hooks than usual. The Ramones also branch out slightly, adding ballads to the mix. Even with these (relatively) slower songs, the speed of the album never decreases. However, the abundance of hooks and slight variety in tempos makes Rocket to Russia the Ramones' most listenable and enjoyable album -- it doesn't have the revolutionary impact of The Ramones, but it's a better album and one of the finest records of the late '70s. (Year of Release: 1977)

Track List:
1. Cretin Hop
2. Rockaway Beach
3. Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
4. Locket Love
5. I Don't Care
6. Sheena Is A Punk Rocker
7. We're A Happy Family
8. Teenage Lobotomy
9. Do You Wanna Dance?
10. I Wanna Be Well
11. I Can't Give You Anything
12. Ramona
13. Surfin' Bird
14. Why Is It Always This Way?

Download The Ramones - Rocket to Russia (47.4MB)

Misfits - Walk Among Us

"Walk Among Us" indeed features the best material to come from the Misfits, but it's also one of the finest American punk rock albums of all time. Glenn Danzig's ungodly howl fuels fan favorite, classic tracks like "20 Eyes", "I Turned Into a Martian", "All Hell Breaks Loose", "Vampira", "Night of the Living Dead", "Skulls", and of course, "Violent World" and "Astro Zombies". This is the best the Danzig-era Misfits have ever sounded, and even the live take of "Mommy Can I Go Out & Kill Tonight" sounds great here. For classic punk enthusiasts, "Walk Among Us" ranks up there with Black Flag's "Damaged", the Dead Kennedys' "Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables", and Minor Threat's "Complete Discography"; real punk rock that wasn't fashioned or produced for radio play. If you are looking to get into the Misfits or just classic punk in general, you can't go wrong with "Walk Among Us". (Year of Release: 1982)

Track List:
1. 20 Eyes
2. I Turned Into A Martian
3. All Hell Breaks Loose
4. Vampira
5. Nike-A-Go-Go
6. Hatebreeders
7. Mommy Can I Go Out And Kill Tonight [Live]
8. Night Of The Living Dead
9. Skulls
10. Violent World
11. Devils Whorehouse
12. Astro Zombies
13. Braineaters

Download Misfits - Walk Among Us (58.4MB)

Electric Prunes - Stockholm 67 (Live)

Stockholm 67 is some kind of a miracle. This is a previously unreleased performance from a nearly unknown US band 37 years ago, back when live recordings barely existed. Well, the sound is astonishing. It could have been recorded in the nineties, you wouldn't tell the difference. And when it comes to music, it's even more amazing. It's raw rock'n'roll, with a light garage touch, strong vocal performance and incredible guitar sound. The band fully captures the essence of British sound and adds to it a bit of American roughness. The Electric Prunes even outperform the Yardbirds on the cover version of Smokestack Lightning. Second only to The Who's Live At Leeds for what regards live albums. (Year of Release: 1967)

Track List:
1. You Never Had It Better
2. I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)
3. Try Me On For Size
4. I Happen To Love You
5. I Got My Mojo Workin'
6. Long Day's Flight (Til' Tomorrow)
7. Smokestack Lightning
8. Get Me To The World On Time

Download Electric Prunes - Stockholm 67 (64.3MB)

New Race - The First And The Last

An interesting one-time-only band, New Race was proof that good music can occur when "teachers" and "students" get together. In this instance, the "teachers" were ex-Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton and ex-MC5 drummer Dennis Thompson, who joined forces with "students" Deniz Tek, Rob Younger, and Warwick Gilbert, the latter three members of the seminal Australian punk band Radio Birdman. Tek was a Michigan native who'd emigrated to Australia in the early '70s, bringing his love of high-energy Detroit proto-punk with him. After Birdman's demise, he contacted Asheton and Thompson to come to Australia and form this ad-hoc touring outfit. New Race toured Australia once in 1981, playing mostly small halls and releasing one legit live LP and a few lo-fi bootlegs. While the resulting record, The First and the Last, benefits from a significant amount of in-studio sweetening (backing vocals are added, guitar solos overdubbed), it's still an exciting, guitar-fueled rave-up. Fans of the early-'70s Motor City sound or early Aussie punk wouldn't want to be without it. (Year of Release: 1981)

Track List:
1. Crying Sun
2. Haunted Road
3. Gotta Keep Movin'
4. Breaks My Heart
5. Sad TV
6. Loose
7. November 22, 1963
8. Love Kills
9. Alone In The Endzone
10. Looking At You
11. Columbia


Download The New Race - The First and the Last (78.7MB)

Fugazi - 13 Songs

13 Songs (a combination of the Fugazi and Margin Walker EPs) is usually among the first records that spring to mind when defining alternative rock. Furious, intelligent, artful, and entirely musical, it's a baker's dozen of cannon shots to the gut -- not just a batch of emotionally visceral and defiant songs recorded by angry young men, but something greater. Nearly every song here reaches an anthemic level without falling prey to pomposity. Most of these songs are anthems of the self rather than a rallying cry of accusation or unification, with "Waiting Room" and "Suggestion" serving as two examples. The attention-getting drop into silence that occurs at the 22-second mark of the former is instantly memorable. The relentless ska/reggae-inflected drive of the song is equally effective, as Ian MacKaye tells everyone listening to get off their behinds and do what they want. During the Meters-meets-Ruts thrust of "Suggestion," MacKaye switches genders for an entirely convincing rant on the objectification of women. Guy Picciotto takes on the persona of an addict on "Glue Man," whose blurred sense of reality is also conveyed in the warped, psychedelic guitars. Picciotto threatens to set himself on fire during "Margin Walker"; given the spirited play of the remaining members, it sounds like the same could be said for the rest of them. Foreshadowing the band's knack for introspective and mid-tempo concluding tracks, the disc ends with MacKaye's "Promises," examining the pitfalls of trust in relationships of any nature. A landmark record. (Year of Release: 1990)


Download Fugazi - 13 Songs (36.5MB)

Welcome

I've decided to finally put this blog to use and use it as a place to share the music that I love. I plan on posting a variety of music, rather than focusing on any one particular genre of music. I also have a few surprises in store for this blog that will help to set it apart from similar blogs. In the process I hope to meet others who share a love and appreciation for music. If there is anything in particular that you would like to see posted here, feel free to make a request and I will do my best to fill it. Please contact me if you would be interested in helping to upload content for this blog or would like to discuss music or anything else. Here are a few relevant links also...


My last.fm Page
Digital Meltd0wn last.fm Group

Guidelines for Guest-Bloggers & Regular Contributors

If you are reading this, that means that you were chosen to be a regular contributor or guest blogger here because I believe that you have exceptional musical taste which would appeal to those who regularly visit this blog. I realize that some of you may not be familiar with posting on blogs, so I felt that it was important to post a few guidelines and words of wisdom. If you have any questions concerning these guidelines, or anything else for that matter, please feel free to contact me via e-mail: shockw4ve_x at hotmail.com

1. Please keep in mind that the Digital Meltd0wn blog receives roughly 1,000 visitors a day. These visitors come from almost every country imaginable, so you are truly catering to a diverse global audience. Please express yourself in a mature manner, and also be respectful of other cultures, ethnic origins, etc. Do not post material that could be considered intolerant of other cultures or ethnicity.

2. The purpose of this blog is to share music that isn't easily obtainable, and to pay respect to artists that don't always receive the recognition that they deserve. Please do not post albums that are in print or commercially available. The only exception to this rule would be if you have been given permission from the artist to share the album in question.

3. At the very minimum I would like you to include a description or personal feelings about the material you are sharing, a track listing (if available), and the album cover (if available) for the material that you post. If you decide to include more information, such as year of release, label, etc., please follow the format that I have used for previous posts on my blog.

4. If you are familiar with tagging audio files, please tag the audio files before you upload them and try to include as much information as possible.

5. Have fun and impress the visitors to this blog with your exceptional musical taste.

That's all for now. If you have any questions, suggestions, or criticism, please e-mail me at the aformentioned e-mail address, and I will respond as quickly as possible. Thank you very much for accepting my invitation. Below you will find a tutorial on the custom CSS and HTML codes used within the posts here to give them a unique look.

---

I hope this tutorial will serve as a simple and easy to understand guide to the custom CSS I use to make the posts on Digital Meltd0wn unique. The CSS is actually included with the html that makes up the webpage. All you need to do is simply reference the codes using a division tag, along with a class identifier. Below you will find a list of all the custom codes I regularly use in the posts on Digital Meltd0wn, along with an example of how it will actually be displayed in the browser. Please keep in mind that you are not obligated to use these codes. If you would prefer to use your own unique style, or simply opt for a plain appearance, that is fine by me. Feel free to contact me at the e-mail address listed above if you have any questions or suggestions.

I begin and end every post with a tag to style the links in my posts. Here is the code:

Code:
<div class="custom-link">
Body of post
</div>

Example:
This is what the links will look like: http://www.google.com

I commonly use magazine style lettering to enlarge the first letter in my post. This is the only time I use the span tag instead of the div tag. I'm honestly not sure if there is a difference, but I was taught to use the span tag, so it has become habit.

CODE:
<span class="caps">W</span>elcome to Digital Meltd0wn

EXAMPLE:
Welcome to Digital Meltd0wn

I have recently started using boxes to contain the track lists and miscellaneous info in my posts. "box1" is not in use at the moment, leaving "box2" as the only option:


CODE:
<div class="box2"><b>Track List:
1. Example
2. Track
3. List
</div>

EXAMPLE:

Track List:
1. Example
2. Track
3. List

I use a seperate box for the download link, which contains a download icon, or a seperate icon for posts pertaining to a specific subject. At the moment I have three different download boxes to choose from:

CODE:
<div class="download">
<b>Download:</b> <a href="http://www.example.com">http://www.example.com</a>
<b>Download Size:</b> 100MB
</div>

EXAMPLE:

Download: http://www.example.com
Download Size: 100MB

Here is the custom download box for "Library Music" posts, which has a vinyl record icon:

CODE:
<div class="librarydownload">
<b>Download:</b> <a href="http://www.example.com">http://www.example.com</a>
<b>Download Size:</b> 100MB
</div>

EXAMPLE:

Download: http://www.example.com
Download Size: 100MB

Here is the custom download box used for items related to H.P. Lovecraft:

CODE:
<div class="lovecraftdownload">
<b>Download:</b> <a href="http://www.example.com">http://www.example.com</a>
<b>Download Size:</b> 100MB
</div>

EXAMPLE:

Download: http://www.example.com
Download Size: 100MB

That's all for now. While this tutorial doesn't contain every single custom code in use on the blog, it does cover the basics. I'll update this tutorial in the near future to include the tags that I use less frequently. Again, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

- Zer0_II