#1: Streetlight Manifesto

So you were born and that was a good day. Some day you'll die and that is a shame. But somewhere in the between was the life in which we all dream, and nothing and no one can ever take that away.

At number one to little surprise is Streetlight Manifesto. They have already been mentioned on this with their connections with BOTAR and Catch 22.

Wiki Says: Streetlight Manifesto is an American ska band from East Brunswick, New Jersey fronted by Tomas Kalnoky.

They released their first album, Everything Goes Numb, which was distributed by Victory Records, on August 26, 2003. The band headlined and sold out their first concert at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey on December 9, 2003. Several of Streetlight Manifesto's members were well known in the New Jersey third wave ska community for their roles in past ska punk bands from that area, primarily Kalnoky's Catch 22 and fellow New Jersey band One Cool Guy. As of October 4, 2009, the lineup consists of Mike Brown on alto and baritone sax, Jim Conti on alto and tenor sax, songwriter Tomas Kalnoky on guitar and lead vocals, bass guitarist Peter McCullough, trumpet player Matt Stewart, trombone player Nadav Nirenberg, and Chris Thatcher on drums.

Discovery: Everything Goes Numb (2003) -Favorite album all time #3

Somewhere In the Between (2007) -Favorite album all time #4

99 Songs of Revolution Volume 1 (2010) -#23

Other Releases: Keasbey Nights as performed by Streetlight Manifesto (2006) -#7

Ska is Dead (2007)

Favorite Songs: 30. Birds Flying Away -Mason Jennings cover

29. This One Goes Out Too...*

28. Day In, Day Out*

27. Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard -Paul Simon cover

26. Sick and Sad*

25. They Provide the Paint for the Picture-Perfect Masterpiece That You Will Paint On the Inside of Your Eyelids -BOTAR cover

24. 1234, 1234*

23. A Moment of Silence

22. The Saddest Song

21. Puck Rock Girl -Dead Milkmen cover

20. On & On & On*

19. A Moment of Violence

18. That'll Be The Day

17. We Are the Few

16. What A Wicked Gang Are We

15. The Receiving End Of It All

14. If and When We Rise

13. Somewhere In the Between

12. Watch It Crash - Favorite song all time #97

11. One Foot On the Gas, One Foot In the Grave -Favorite song all time #94

10. The Blonde Lead the Blind -#80

9. Failing, Flailing -#77

8. Point/Counterpoint -#44

7. Keasbey Nights* -#36

6. Everything Went Numb -#32

5. Down, Down, Down to Mephisto's Cafe -#25

4. We Will Fall Together -#20

3. A Better Place, A Better Time -#13

2. The Big Sleep -#9

1. Dear Sergio* -#4

*song originally by Catch 22 on the original Keasbey Nights

Years Active: 2002-Present

Seen Live: 9 Times

May 2005-East Rutherford, NJ

December 2006-Sayerville, NJ

July 2007-Sayerville, NJ

November 2007-Sayerville, NJ

November 2007-Towson, MD

April 2008-Towson, MD

January 2009-Washington, DC

July 2009-Oceanport, NJ

June 2010-Towson, MD

Streetlight became my favorite band in December of 2008 when I became fed of with the direction that Big D was going. But they didn't get this spot by default, they earned it. At that point, I already loved every time I saw Streetlight live and they had put out 3 albums that I couldn't stop listening to. Since then they've only assured their spot as they continue to impress me both live and with what they're putting out recorded. They've had a ton of turnover in members, and suffered many set backs (like getting robbed twice in a year and hating their record label), but despite all this they are still going very strong. It is interesting that in their four records, Streetlight have 49 songs...only 22 of which are original tracks. But if their cover of "Just" by Radiohead can get Romo into them I think they're doing something right.

Up Next: Who knows

99 Songs of Revolution Part 1.

March 16th. 11 Songs by Streetlight Manifesto. Well, cover songs. Here's the track list.

"Birds Flying Away" (originally by Mason Jennings)
"Hell" (originally by Squirrel Nut Zippers)
"Just" (originally by Radiohead)
"Skyscraper" (originally by Bad Religion)
"Punk Rock Girl" (originally by The Dead Milkmen)
"Linoleum" (originally by NOFX)
"Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" (originally by Paul Simon)
"They Provide the Paint" (originally by Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution)
"Red Rubber Ball" (originally by The Cyrkle)
"The Troubador" (originally by Louis Jordan)
"Such Great Heights" (originally by The Postal Service)

I've heard "Linoleum" live, and heard the sample online for that and "Punk Rock Girl". Also heard "They Provide the Paint" live before too. So far so good. Can't wait

Top 21 Albums, 6-2

Almost at the end of the countdown, here are my favorite albums, 6 through 2. Tomorrow's post will be devoted entirely to number one. (21-17) (16-12) (11-7)



6: "The '59 Sound" by The Gaslight Anthem (2008). The second release by New Jersey's The Gaslight Anthem has launched them into the mainstream with performances on Conan, Letterman, and a show in London With Bruce Springsteen. Speaking of Bruce, if you like him you will LOVE this album. Of all the albums on this list, this is probably the one I recommend most. Every song is great. Live they're amazing. The band is getting huge. Really no reason not to try them out. They do an amazing job to combine blues, rock, and punk, and on top of that, the songs are all amazingly written. If punk is what you're into, then I'd say check out their older release, "Sink or Swim" as that has more of a punk sound. However, "The '59 Sound) is just amazing with every listen.
Favorite Song: "Great Expectations"




5: "Progress" by the Rx Bandits (2001). The last ska-heavy album by the Rx Bandits is essentially flawless. Every song is filled with emotions; passion, anger, love. Rx does a great job singing their political voices, spreading their message of peace and love. Even though this sound of Rx doesn't exist much these days, "Progress" songs still get their fair share of live play and still are great. A lot of bands don't properly use their music to speak their minds. "Progress" does nothing but that. Songs about war, violence, dependence on technology, downfall of society, drugs...you name it, Rx addresses it. Even if you don't agree with their politics, you can't deny at least thinking about what the band is talking about, especially in the line, "When was the last time you looked up, gazed upon a shopping mall and said 'how beautiful'?"
Favorite Song: "Analog Boy"



4: "Somewhere in the Between" by Streetlight Manifesto (2007). The long awaited second original release by Streetlight was instantly one of my favorite albums. Hell, I loved it when I got two songs of a sampler split with the Voodoo Glow Skulls, and the other 8 tracks soon joined in on being amazing. Tomas once again writes amazing songs with rocking guitars. The horns are great, perfectly fitting on every track. Nothing on this album rubs me the wrong way. I've always defended Streetlight's excellence by saying that they have to write music for eight parts (vocals, guitar, bass, drums, tenor sax, bari sax, trombone, and trumpet) and get them to blend perfectly....for 10 songs in the case....spanning just under 45 minutes. They do that perfectly, all the songs are just great. They're very energetic, and never disappoint.
Favorite Song: "Down, Down, Down To Mephisto's Cafe"




3: "Everything Goes Numb" by Streetlight Manifesto (2003). Yes, I know that there are two Streetlight albums in a row, something that usually would bother my inner OCD. But here is why: the albums are essentially tied in my mind. The reason I rank their debut album higher is because "Everything Goes Numb" has 12 songs, "Somewhere in the Between" only has 10. That's the only reason, there is more to love. Now time to discuss the album itself. Wow. I'm sure back when it was released people we not sure that Streetlight could compare to what Catch 22 had done but boy do they ever. Great, fast, intense songs, amazing from start to finish. I probably love this album (and Streetlight for that matter) because of how well they play fast music. Its hard to understand many of the lyrics, but once you know what they are boy are they something special. Like I said, this album couldn't be closer in my heart to "Somewhere in the Between", so everything I praised that for I also feel for "Everything Went Numb". From the opening saxes to the closing note, this album is just something very special.
Favorite Song: "The Big Sleep"




2: Destruction by Definition" by The Suicide Machines (1996). I don't think a band can release a better debut album than The Suicide Machines did back 96 with "Destruction by Definition". I won't waste any time saying why I love it: It is the perfect mix of punk, hardcore, and ska...which is what TSM did best in their active years. If you claim you don't like ska, maybe this an album for you. Only two tracks use horns, so it plays more to the guitar beats element of ska rather than through the use of horns. Doing this allows the band to transition the three genres mentioned above so easily. Most people actually know a song from this album and might not even know it. "New Girl", track one, was featured in "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater (one)", and that song does a great job of representing the sound featured throughout the whole album. From "New Girl" to the cover of Minor Threat's "I Don't Want to Hear It", there isn't a bad song. There isn't a boring song. There isn't a slow song. There isn't a quiet song. Most importantly, there isn't a band song. Despite sounding so good, you still get the feeling listening to it that it was written by kids (well, in their early 20's), which makes the album feel so much fun. "Destruction by Definition" was been in the #2 CD slot in my car since I've been driving it, and it doesn't look like it'll get bumped from there any time soon.
Favorite Song: "Hey Ska"

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"

Warped Tour 2009

"These thieves, These thieves, in their flip flops, and bro attitudes
are the very reason we do what we do
When I say 'Fuck The Man', it's what I believe
No matter who that man happens to be"
-The Lawrence Arms in "Warped Summer Extravaganza (Major Excellence)"

The song quoted above is about the Lawrence Arms' banning from the Warped Tour and their feelings of what the Tour has become. Today was the 15th annual (third for me) Vans' Warped Tour, and it was a pretty good time. I went with Tom and Shannon Dillon as always and ran into some familiar faces there. 8 bands I like, 7 and a half hours, and a sore body later, I had a lot of fun...which is never a guarantee for Warped I've found out.

It took a little while too long to get there because of traffic, but not nearly as bad as the 4 hour-50 mile fiasco that was Warped Tour 07. The first band we really watched was Anti-Flag, and despite Justin Sane knowing NOTHING about the economy and the bailouts, they were really good. I'm not a huge fan, but I knew enough songs to have a good time to kick off the day.

Next up was my favorite band, Jersey's own, Streetlight Manifesto. Tomas was in a sling, so Sean from my former favorite band, Big D & the Kids Table (more on them later) filled in on guitar, and did a great job. Their set was pretty short cause of the half hour time slot, but they played "Moment of Violence", "We Will Fall Together", "Failing, Flailing", "Would You Be Impressed?", "Here's to Life", and "Somewhere in the Between". Not the best set list, but its Warped, gotta take what you can get.

Next was another "former favorite band", Less Than Jake. They were my personal highlight of the day. They played songs from 1996-2008, at least 13 songs in the 40 minutes, including 4 off of "Losing Streak" and 0 from "In with the Out Crowd". They were very into it the whole time. Buddy the trombone player had a SuperSoaker and JR the sax player had a T Shirt gun. Great set and they didn't even play 1/4 of their "usual" songs. Plus I was at the barricade at the front for the whole thing.

I stayed up front for NOFX, the most interesting set of the day. Fat Mike was hammered, and without lying flat out said "There are so many other places I'd rather be than here". Their set was sloppy, hammered, and so much fun. They're always funny, and the songs still were great to hear despite no energy coming from the front man. Plus any Fishbone cameo is a good one. Fat Mike got more into it as it went along, so things went well

Then.....sigh......Big D and the Kids Table. They played "Noise Complaint" (fucked it up), "I, I, I" (sounded like shit live), "Shining On" (sounded off), "Not Fucking Around"....and then we left. It was horrible. I heard they didn't even play "Little Bitch". Plus they had 2 of those fucking annoying girls on stage, and they just overall sucked. It was bad....

....BUT GOT BETTER! Cause at the same time, Flogging Molly was on the Main Stage! I watched from the outside, but they were excellent in my first time seeing them finally.

I then travelled over to see the always amazing Westbound Train. And as always, they were amazing. They played a fun set (nothing too old though..kind of a let down), covered "Stand By Me" and "Shout", which were a lot of fun. Plus it wasn't packed, so you could dance without hitting anyone. Afterwards, I caught the second half of the Bad Religion set, who were very good to cap off the night (sorry All Time Low, left before you.....)

But the Lawrence Arms are right, Warped is full of fucking crooks. 40$ tickets? 6$ hot dogs? Oh, and you get upset when I don't tip for my 4$ water bottle? Fuck that. Their song covers it perfectly, how in 15 years its gone from a punk community tour to what the "punk" bands on tour claim to be singing about. Thankfully there are bands like NOFX, seeing 2$ water bottles at their merch booth, helping out those who really matter...the fans as opposed to sponsors like Kia or Monster. I'll leave with more from The Lawrence Arms...

"Well I got my bottled water and my nachos, they came in at under 20 bucks...
This Kevin (Tour founder Kevin Lyman) or that one it all seems the same
Exploit the avenues, fix all the gains
Well maybe they'll buy everything that you sell
But I'm outside the fences, rolling fast down that hill....
.....FUCK YOUR WARPED IDEALS"