#5: Rise Against

Simply because you can breath doesn't mean you're alive or that you really lived

Kicking off the top 5 is Rise Against. This will feature Romo's last official shout out.

Wiki Says: Rise Against is an American punk rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1999. The band currently consists of Tim McIlrath (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Zach Blair (lead guitar, backing vocals), Joe Principe (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Brandon Barnes (drums, percussion).

Rise Against spent its first five years signed to the independent record label Fat Wreck Chords, on which it released two studio albums, The Unraveling (2001) and Revolutions per Minute (2003). Both the albums met with considerable underground success and in 2003, the band signed onto the major label, Geffen.

The band's major label debut Siren Song of the Counter Culture brought the band mainstream success, producing several successful singles. The band's fourth studio album, The Sufferer & the Witness debuted at number ten on the Billboard 200 chart and received positive reviews from critics. The band's fifth studio album Appeal to Reason was released on October 7, 2008 and debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 chart. All three albums released via Geffen were certified platinum in Canada and gold in the United States. The band actively promotes animal rights and are all straight edge (excluding Barnes), PETA supporters and vegans .

Romo Says: Another band that I have yet to see live that I really must change. Rise Against is a punk band that has received a fairly decent mainstream play, particularly for the genre, and rightfully so.

Discovery: The Unraveling (2001)
Revolutions Per Minute (2003) - Favorite album all time # 16

Siren Song of the Counter Culture (2004)

The Sufferer & the Witness (2006) -Favorite album all time #11

Appeal to Reason (2008)

Other Releases: Live Fat, Die Young (2001)

Uncontrollable Fatulence (2002)

OIL: Chicago Punk Refined (2003)

Rock Against Bush vol. 1 (2004)

Making Christmas (2008)

Little Dimebags (2008)

Favorite Songs: 20. Hero of War

19. The First Drop

18. Collapse (Post Amerika)

17. Heaven Knows

16. Bricks

15. Halfway There

14. Give It All

13. State of the Union

12. Under the Knife

11. Intro/Chamber the Cartridge

10. Black Masks & Gasoline

9. The Approaching Curve

8. Rumors of My Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated

7. Like the Angel

6. Injection - Favorite song all time #89

5. Broken English - Favorite song all time #86

4. Drones - #53

3. The Good Left Undone - #45

2. Survive - #40

1. The Dirt Whispered -#27

Years Active: 1999-Present

Seen Live: Once - November 2008 (Baltimore, MD)

Although I've only seen Rise Against once, I still consider them one of the best bands I've ever seen live. That set was just that powerful, just like the rest of their music. I chose that quote at that top of the post because it is the opening to their second album (the first I bought back in May of 2004), Revolutions Per Minute. I can still remember putting that CD on and hanging out in my room. From the first time I heard those words to this day, I still get a little chill, it is just that powerful of an album. Who cares if they're on a major label, they still play great punk and keep to their roots both musically and politically. I've always loved how Tim can mix soft vocals with hardcore punk screams with ease in theirs songs. A great showcase of that is that "Swing Life Away" and "State of the Union" are on the same album. Listening to them separate you'd never know they were by the same band.

Up Next: Probably the most talented band that I listen to.

Top 21 Albums, 11-7

Time for favorite albums 11-7. (21-17) (16-12)



11: "The Sufferer & the Witness" by Rise Against (2006). Another album that at first I felt didn't quite live up to the band's previous releases, but it grew on me quite well. I don't know if I own a more energetic album, and once again Tim Mcllrath does a fantastic job of balancing the melodic singing with the hardcore screaming. Rise Against once again tackles a variety of issues, and once again raises their political voice to be heard. The album kicks off with perfect sound clip, "This is noise" (anyone know what that is from?), and right away jumps into a fast paced opener. It has thus far been the band's most successful album commercially, and rightfully so. Although it isn't my favorite song, "The Approaching Curve" deserves special mention. The song is sung so beautifully as if its poetry spoken over punk rock, the story told still sends chills over me as it ends.
Favorite Song: "Drones"

10: "Let's Face It" by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones (1997). Another album that was very successful commercially during the late 90's ska fad, "Let's Face It" contains one of the most successful songs of that era. While some people have said to me that this was the Bosstones' "sell out" album, I still love it. Yes, it is a very different sound from their previous albums, but that doesn't fade me. Sure the band is best when playing their share of hardcore, but this album lacking it doesn't phase me. I understand that is much poppier than people would like from the Bosstones, but to me this is a great album start to finish. This album also provides one of my favorite music videos,"The Rascal King".
Favorite Song: "The Impression That I Get"




9: "Three Cheers for Disappointment" by The Arrogant Sons of Bitches (2006). The long awaited first and only complete full album by ASOB was well worth the wait. From beginning to end there are no bad songs in my mind, all of which seem to transition to each other really well. With everything that went wrong with the band recording this, it came out really well. Like the previously mentioned Bomb the Music Industry! albums (in 16-12, linked above), this album is also FREE to download on the Quote Unquote Records website, here, so check it out. While this is the only complete album ever put out by the band, there is also a B-sides album available via iTunes (featuring my favorite ASOB song, "So Let's Go Nowhere!", re-recorded for "Three Cheers") and a live album of Radiohead covers (also on the Quote Unquote Records site). Those are also highly recommended.
Favorite Song: "Piss Off"



8: "And the Battle Begun" by the Rx Bandits (2006). Just an exceptional album, even the intro is worth listening to every time. In their (for arguments sake) fourth album, the Rx Bandits drift further and further away from their older ska sound. But unlike bands who try to hide their ska past and fail (Less Than Jake for example before GNV FLA) Rx seems to get better and better the further they drift from their original sound ("Mandala" kind of contradicts that). The band still uses horns throughout, and none of the songs ever seem to get boring (despite 4 being at least 5 minutes long). Not counting the intro as a full track (but still great), the first three tracks are just phenomenal and never fail to blow me away every time.
Favorite Song: "And the Battle Begun"

7: "Keasbey Nights" by Streetlight Manifesto (2006). The long rumored/long awaited (recording started in 2004) re-recording of Catch-22's 1998 classic is nothing but improved when done by Streetlight. I know that this version doesn't have the instant classic feel that Catch had with theirs, but I argue that this recording has 8 years of maturity and quality improvements going for it. The vocals sound better (except on "Walking Away), music sounds better, the horns sound much better. They incorporate the great third verse of BOTAR's "Dear Sergio" making that song even better. All around, this is just got better over time. With 2 original Catch members on the recording this time, it still feels authentic and not like a tribute album (owed all to Tomas Kalnoky's guitar and vocals). Yes this isn't as classic as Catch's version, but it is without question better. Everything about their feelings of why to do this is explained at the end of "1234, 1234" in an interview over music with Tomas. The interview has three of my favorite quotes associated with the re-recording: "Whatever you want to call it, it'll piss people off. And that at the end of the day is all that really matters", "We're going to keep doing what we do whether or not a single record is sold", and to end the album off, "Peace Out Bitches"
Favorite Song: "Dear Sergio"

Top 21 Albums, 16-12

So to continue the countdown, here are albums 16-12.
(21-17 )




16: "Revolutions Per Minute" by Rise Against (2003). The second album by Rise Against, and one of the first punk albums I ever bought is just great. From start to finish this album pumps you up, just as the band intended to do. This was one of the first albums that after just one listen, I thought nothing but "wow". It blew me away. They do a great job of covering topics from relationships to politics. Tim is flawless at balancing his singing with his screaming, unlike all the other scene-hardcore bands out there. Rise Against gets angry when its appropriate, putting them so far ahead of most bands in terms of ability. "RPM" was a great way for me to get introduced to the band, and I highly recommend this album. It should be noted that I first bought because of "Like the Angel" was featured in "Tony Hawk's Underground", but even from that one song I knew I wanted to get more. Plus, it ends with a great cover of Journey's "Anyway You Want It"
Favorite Song: "Broken English"






15: "Get Warmer" by Bomb the Music Industry! (2007) When I first downloaded (for free from here) I wasn't to fond of the whole thing. I liked a couple songs, but I also got their (his?) previous three albums at the same time, so I had a lot of BTMI! to juggle. After some time, I listened to the whole thing beginning to end and then realized exactly what an amazing CD this is (did I mention its FREE?). I will say its not for everyone, but for an artist who gives out their music for free you can't expect perfect quality. "Get Warmer" is great despite this. You really have to appreciate Jeff Rosenstock and his career to really appreciate his music. But never the less, "Get Warmer" is a lot of fun, and in my mind very easy to enjoy with every listen.
Favorite Song: "No Rest For the Whiny"







14: "Losing Streak" by Less Than Jake (1996). The major label debut for Less Than Jake is far from selling out (Despite what Johnny Quest might think). It might be poppier than "Pez-core" was, but they still do a great job of mixing punk, pop, ska, and their share of metal as well. I don't have much to say about "Losing Streak" besides that it is in every way a great album.
Favorite Song: "Johnny Quest Thinks We're Sellouts"








13: "Scrambles" by Bomb the Music Industry! (2009) Again, I was not overly impressed by BTMI at first, but then i took to time to really listen. I used to think all the piano-heavy tracks were boring, but boy was I wrong. Those songs are some of the band's best, and really do a great job to capture Rosenstock's struggles as a musician in a non-flashy way. Every time i listen to one song, I feel obligated to listen to all the ones that follow since the album flows so well. Again, this album is FREE here, so feel free to listen for yourself guilt-free.
Favorite Song: 25!






12: "Turn the Radio Off" by Reel Big Fish (1996). The second, and most notable release from Reel Big Fish is far from overrated in my mind. It has their most popular songs ("Sell Out", "Beer", "Everything Sucks", "SR", "She has a Girlfriend Now"), and those songs are the most popular for a reason. I always love how so many people claim to not like ska, but say "I love this song!" when "Beer" will come on. Reel Big Fish has survived the late-90's ska craze better than most other bands, and still are great to see live. Why are they still so good live? I don't think its a coincidence they still play most of the tracks off this 13 year old album.
Favorite song: "Beer"