I want to apologize for this photo. I was jokingly putting post-hardcore ahead of hardcore, in the spirit of some kid butting in line at the water fountain after recess. Looking back, I’m aghast at thinking that it was posted on my band’s Myspace. I just plain old didn’t know what Hardcore was at that time. (Worst of all, now that I am older, I recognize Hardcore to be vastly superior to Post-Hardcore.)
But this post isn’t about Hardcore.
Quoth Bill Maher: “You’re tolerating things right now that will make you cringe in 25 years.”
This post, presented as a token of acceptance and self-forgiveness, is in keeping with that maxim. Before the above photo resurfaces out of context and costs me my bid for the Senate, I want to save my brand by doubling down on this matter.
I drove this spinnaker blue ’89 Ford Escort 3-door with a sunroof while the following ten albums were released, and I really, really enjoyed zipping around in that coffin, as the old folks would call it. I knew all the words to all these songs, and would go out with my friends every other weekend to Upstate New York venues like Winners, The Chance, New Age Cabaret, Valentines, Northern Lights or the occasional basement to see these bands and a hundred other adjacent acts live. These shows were so much fun and, depending on your taste in music, you may consider the selected albums herein as flowers or mushrooms, springing forth from the foundational Hardcore.
But this is not Hardcore, no; it isn’t Hardcore one bit. It’s………… POST HARDCORE!
Presenting: My top 10 POST-HARDCORE albums!!!
10. Underoath – They’re Only Chasing Safety
An amazing album, period. This Top 10 list doesn’t include “Screamo” excepting this prime example of that related genre. I had it on Vinyl with a bonus track, a cover of The Police’s “Wrapped Around Your Finger.” Favorite Track: “Reinventing your Exit”
9. The Used – Self-Titled
I feel they did not mature enough over the two or three albums following this one, so I lost interest before they saw most of their fame. Still, I maintain that this first album on its own is “Top 10” material. Favorite Track: “A Box Full of Sharp Objects”
8. At The Drive In – Relationship of Command
This album stretched Post-Hardcore lyricism away from its predictable angst in some very unique directions. Later spinoff bands Sparta and The Mars Volta are also great. Favorite Track: “Arcarsenal”
7. Fear before the March of Flames – Art Damage
They played Winners, and MFs were swinging from the chandeliers. Ask anyone. Favorite Track: “Absolutely Fabulous and Me”
6. Finch – What It Is To Burn
One of the best shows of all time @ Asbury Park in May ’05. Tracks from this were on lots of great comps. Favorite Track: “Post-Script”
5. The Receiving End Of Sirens – Between The Heart And The Synapse
They played Valentines and my college radio station sponsored the show, so I got to take the stage to amp the crowd up by asking them how they liked all the other opening bands: And, to please welcome to the stage: THE RECEIVING END OF SIRENS! That was a lot of fun. Favorite Track: “Planning a Prison Break”
4. Thursday – Full Collapse
This was another show my station put on at Winners. Promotion started 3 months before the show, and Thursday “broke” during that short period, so the promoter on the day of the show quietly put on another more major radio station as the official sponsor and I didn’t get to address the crowd and thank everyone for coming out and to please welcome to the stage: THURSDAY! Favorite Track: “Cross Out the Eyes”
3. Brand New – Deja Entendu
I had a hernia and missed them at Winners in 2003. They came close to playing live near me over the following 3 or 4 years, but it never happened. By the time they released later LP “The Devil & God” I was over Post-Hardcore. I understood they began playing out again but I never ended up seeing them. They ended up being one of the biggest bands of this genre and it’s all well deserved, but personal taste is an interesting thing: I have hundreds of hours logged on their first two albums, but am absolutely numb to anything they put out after that. Favorite Track: “Guernica”
2. Glassjaw – Worship and Tribute
My parents had a HS graduation party for me and hired a DJ to entertain everyone. I gave him this CD out of my sun visor sleeve and told him to play Tip Your Bartender because I was an idiot and I thought it would be funny. This album rocks and I love every project Daryl Palumbo has been a part of ever since. Favorite Track: “Cosmopolitan Bloodloss”
- Dear Diary… by From First to Last
The essence, the encapsulation, the [insert precocious french term here] of everything we loved about Post-Hardcore. The peak song of the Post-Hardcore genre is “Emily” off this. Favorite Track: “Emily”
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Alexisonfire, Senses Fail, AFI, The Fall of Troy, Escape the Fate, Boys Night Out, Emery, Refused
Here’s one more of me ca. 2003.
Enjoy,
Leon
Leon Ferri 