After an amazing on article on sexism in the modern day punk scene (which you should check out from last week below), today Keith brings us something different. I've seen youtube videos and various other articles about people that wrote a letter to their future selves. These also make me jealous because I wish I had done that. I don't need to set this up much because it is an interesting piece that made me smile and laugh, so check it out!

So I wanted my final article of 2012 to be something really uplifting. Even though this is only my second article for Movers And Shakers, I wanted to share a surreal personal experience I had in the winter of 2008 with all of you! Before I wrote this article, I've only told a handful of close friends about what you'll be reading in just a bit. In the middle of December 2008, I had just returned from a tour over in Europe, and while cleaning my room on a rainy afternoon I found a letter that I had written to myself from 1998. Now I shit you not, I totally forgot I wrote this letter. I found the letter stuffed inside an old Osiris sneaker box that was bombarded with old show flyers, cassettes, patches, stickers, fanzines, and skateboard magazines. I was suprised I even found this box since it was ocean floor deep into my closet. So first thing is first, I want you to read what was said in the letter. I typed it all out since it's hard to read in the pic due to the letter's age, and since I wrote it all out in pencil. Grab a coffee for this one. Now let's dance:

December 12th 1998 at 1:47am

Do not read until after December 12th, 2008! If you're seeing this message before that date, you must put this letter back where you found it! Or I will bash you in the head with the trucks of my Zorlac Skateboard!


Dear Keith of 2008. What's up? This is you from 10 years ago. When this letter was written you were listening to Silent Majority- Life Of A Spectator in your room while wishing your band had a demo out already. I'm writing a letter to you because there are some things I want to promise you for the future. Shall we?

I Keith Sidorowicz, solemnly swear from this moment on, til doomsday, that I will bust my ass day and night to get the most out of playing music. And not only on Long Island, New York City, and the east coast, but the entire United States. And once I cover those areas, I want to take my burning fight to the entire world! I want to meet all different types of people from touring all over the place, and help out anyone that has bent over backwards for me to give a boost with my musical ambitions. I want to experience the most from traveling by playing music so I can return home from tours and teach my tight knit group of friends what I've learned, and what's out there that you can really get a hold of by doing what you do best. I also want to record on as many records as I can, see people singing along and just losing their minds to the music I'm a part of. I also hope they can get something out of the records I'm on, so it can help them get through some shit, or just serve as a year book for that angsty yet fun time in their life. If I do not fulfill any of my mentioned goals through playing punk rock and hardcore music, I will have truly failed myself and will be no better than your average here today, gone tomorrow punk rock musician. 

Another thing that I wanna remain true to is vegetarianism. I recently discovered that the vegetarian diet is the right decision for myself. I haven't told my friends yet, but meat is fucked, I mean it's seriously repulsive. I look at things very differently now that I have read about animal cruelty, and the horror of factory farms. I'll never eat meat again! I would rather lick a pair of Sauconys that have danced all over the floor at a sweaty and smokey Deja One during Indecision than ever eat a living creature again! And I don't want to fast foward things too fast, but if somewhere down the line if it's feeling right, I would love to go vegan! And not just because Earth Crisis has cool shirt designs that will piss off my parents and school mates, but because I know it would have my physical and mental health feeling like the opening season tip off at Madison Square Garden for the New York Knicks.

I hope that when you read this 10 years from now that you will have done me proud. And if so, you must write another letter to your future self 10 years after 2008. And always hang on to this letter. But, if you have let me down, just please throw this letter away, and return to that boring life that you brought upon yourself. I hope that won't be the case. 

Sincerly, 

Keith Sidorowicz 1998

PS- I'm not fucking around!

An award winning masterpiece, wasn't it? Anyways, so when I read this letter a ton of things hit me. They hit me much harder than Dave Wagenschutz's drumsticks on the batter heads of his drum kit. I fucking did it! I had totally accomplished everything I promised myself in that letter! Everything! And even then some! Since December 12th of 1998 I have toured the world through playing music. I have toured the United States and Canada at a very high and satisfying amount. In 2008, I had toured Europe not once, but twice in that same year! And through all of the touring I've done so far, I have met some of the most important and amazing people in my life. There are a great amount of individuals that I remain super tight with to this day that I have shared so many memories, experiences, and never ending inside jokes with on tour.

Since 1998, I have been lucky enough to play for a high number of very creative bands that I've helped track some very unique records with. And upon the releases of those records, I have witnessed some very hyper active individuals pour out their hearts and souls in front of stages that come in all different sizes. And off those stages, I have seen many people pull off some physical acrobatics that I am still puzzled didn't result into any serious injuries (thankfully, you maniacs). Another thing I have experienced through playing for so many bands, is the connection that the music does truly make with the listeners. Over the years I have received a legit amount of letters, e-mails, and even face to face thank yous from people that have taken the music I've had an involvement with to heart. I can't emphasize enough how much it means when someone I have never met before explains how a certain song or record I had a part in making got them to change their life for the better. 

As for the whole vegetarian thing, in 2013 I will be happily entering my 12th year of living the vegan lifestyle. The lifestyle is so easy and passionate, that I can't even believe it's been that long already. And over the years after 1998, I have had a hand in helping out with the greyhound rescue group known as Make Peace With Animals, as well as lending my assistance, knowledge, and charm to the North Shore Vet Practice whenever I'm not on tour. 

After I read that letter I truly realized how fucking cool it was that I did indeed do myself proud. And not only myself from 1998, but I had done myself in 2008 proud, as well as all of the amazing people around me that lend never ending support. So just like I promised myself from 1998, I immediately whipped out a fresh piece of paper and wrote a new letter to my next future self, in 2018. And although right now I know that the next letter exists, I seriously don't remember what promises I included in the next letter. And even better, I don't even recall where I placed it. I mean, a ton of awesome shit has happend since 2008 that has clogged my memory. Seriously. I guess we'll just find out what's up with that next letter in 2018. I can't wait!

   -K*BOT 2012

Ok, today we have more of an older song for you to appreciate from these handsome San Diego boys. This song of course comes from their album "Enema of the State" and when the vocals come in it sounds like a deeper version of when Charlie Brown's parents talk, enjoy!

Mr. Dibbs is a DJ, or a turntablist, or a jack of many trades. He started in the classic DJ crew "1200 hobos" and has since toured with Atmosphere, EL-P, Sage Francis, and many more all while releasing his own successful albums and even being ranked the #6 DJ in the world in Spin Magazine. He recently released his new album DeadWorld Reborn which features everyone from Brother Ali to The Black Keys. I actually sat down with him for our first live interview and I'm still unsure how funny or sarcastic he was being but it was awkward, insightful, and an interesting talk.  

1.  After a long time coming, your new album Dead World is finally out. You had said that the vinyl would consist of two tracks, as in each side would be one long tracks with all of the other tracks flowing into one another. I would imagine some people to enjoy this and some to be frustrated, is that still the plan and why do it like that at all?

First of all, just sitting in this room with you makes me uncomfortable. Your sitting close enough for me to smell that you didn't wash your ass & you probably ate meat & some type of stank cheese right before you walked in this room so, how about realizing i won't make out with you & backing up a few feet stinky...
Thanks.

To answer your question. First off, its called DeadWorld Reborn as its a different version. New track arrangement, new scratches etc. I said the vinyl would be 5 tracks. Track 1-Dead side 2-inter/over 3-World side 4-outro & 5-where pigs fly. Its put together to play like that because that's how i want it heard. Kinda like an old Public Enemy/Bomb Squad production. No pauses during the main tracks. The Dead Side & The World Side both tell a story. If it frustrates you then break it up into individual tracks. DeadWorld Reborn is an APSO record. Advanced Placement Students Only. Deal with it.

2. People began to know you because of your DJ Crew 1200 Hobos, then you gained more and more momentum throughout your solo releases and also touring with the likes of Atmosphere and EL-P amonst many others. Do you prefer to be at home working on albums or do you like to be on tour DJing with a rapper or an artist?

I like then both for different reasons. If i could split the year up i would tour about 4 months a year & 8 months of the year I would be at home working on the next record with Ryan Rockwell. He's the dude i did Deadworld with & he doesn't suck. On a side note f.y.i. I really would prefer if you asked questions that don't get asked every time i do an interview. Unlike Ryan Rockwell you sir Fucking suck...

3. In real life and the internet you have an image as kind of, well I guess a psychopath? From videos of fights, puking on people and even sneaking a razorblade past airport security. Did this behavior come more and more along with the music or is it a way you have always been? Patrick from Dillinger four once told me "Yeah Dibbs... Dibbs is a crazy crazy motherfucker".

Well holy shit! If its on the internet it has to be true doesn't it slathered genital bush? Old videos are just that. Old videos. most of that shit is 15 year old footage. I guess you could call it "the good old days" we all grow up at some point in time but, if you want to see if i can still be a psychopath then say the word & we'll see how that works out for you. It might just be your lucky "blue glove" day. You interested?

Didn't think so wilted sex drive.

As far a Paddy from D4 goes. I love that dude to death. One of the best shows i ever played was Atmosphere & Dillinger Four at The Metro in Chicago. Dillinger played before us and of course none of the "real hip-hop heads" were into D4. They're throwing shit & booing cause that's what you do when you don't understand something. You just act like a Fucking caveman. Anyway Paddy strips butt naked on stage, throws his socks and underwear into the crowd and keeps playing. A girl in the front row picks up the sock & throws it at Paddy. He puts it up his ass (i have a picture). D4 plays 2 more songs then Paddy takes the sock out of his ass. He's holding it & the booing blumpkin girl asks for the sock. Pause...... Paddy sticks it in her mouth. The Butt Sock ! She realizes coughs it out and walks away. Who's the psychopath?

4. Recently you had some health problems and were down for awhile, which I believe delayed the release of Dead World? How bad was it and how did you get better? Did it change the way you look at life and or your music? Are yo happy with Dead World as an overall album?

Again, its DeadWorld Reborn shit farmer. Yea, I was in stage 4 liver failure. Cirrhosis. My body shut down. I slipped into congestive heart failure. I was dead for 53 seconds. You know what is really irritating? People who do interviews without doing the research before they do them. You would be one of those irritating people. I thought you had been doing these for years? fuck your a lazy shit. It didn't delay the release Dickhead, Dead world had already been released a month or so earlier. We pulled it when we knew i was going to the hospital. Deadworld Reborn is what I wish the original had been. I got better through diet. Plant based diet & juicing saved my life. I don't have cirrhosis anymore, I'm not on a transplant list & I'm not sick at all. My liver is completely healed. Did it change me? I'm sure you'd like to know that but I'm not wasting my story on a dude who half assed his research for the interview. Sorry turd paste.Yolt...(you only live twice) pussy. I'm very happy with the way DeadWorld Reborn turned out dumbass, i wasn't happy with the way Deadworld turned out & I'm definitely not happy with the way the person doing this interview turned out. Fuck.

5.Do you think DJ music is in a better place than it was 10-15 years ago or worse? For instance dubstep is insanely huge, do you consider that as part of the same culture?

That depends. Personally it will never be as creative as it was 10-15 years ago. That's when the "turntablist movement" pushed the envelope. You had entire bands made up of just d.j.s. Everybody was innovating & nothing was off limits. There were no rules. Now any kid with a computer can make beats/d.j. Or whatever. It used to be one d.j., two turntables, one mixer. Now its like 3 dudes and one computer. That's not d.j.ing. That's Fucking with a computer. Its a different thing altogether. I don't have a problem with it & i don't dislike the music. Its just not d.j.ing to me. I'm not talking about Serato, I'm talking about cats with just a computer. I like dubstep. if its aggressive I'll like it. Breakdowns are what i like in dubstep. I can listen to the breakdowns all day. It reminds me of the breakdowns in hardcore songs. Also 10-15 years ago a Dick like you wouldn't be aloud to do interviews.

6. What's the best hip hop record of all time, without a doubt or hesitation? 

RUN DMC "Raising Hell"

7. What is the best band you got to see while doing warped tour?

"The Kids of Widney High."

8. Who is the worst band you ever saw while doing warped tour?

"She wipes from back to front."  totally sucked amazing amounts of baby shit, incredibly horrible.

9. Can we have someone who is famous' phone number?

Sure. 1 718-783-6465 that's mobys #. Somebody different answers every time but, its him. Its his home # so he employs people to act like its things other than his house. Like a Chinese delivery place, a cab company etc.

Pop punk seems to have become a serious thing over the last few years, with all of the machine guns, the heart break, and people all of a sudden saying the Movielife is their favorite band when all of these same people didn't go see the Movielife when they came to your city twelve times a year. With this in mind Brandon Pagano has taken the time to write about pop punk this year, who are the movers? Who are the shakers? Read ahead to find out.

2012 was quite the year for pop-punk. The new-wave veterans such as The Wonder Years, Fireworks, Transit, The Story So Far, A Loss For Words etc. spent most of the year on tour, not yet focusing on following up their 2011 releases. This allowed a few new bands to enter the spotlight with their releases, and this article will focus on those come-ups. The underdogs, the "Rocky's", if you will, that are now hogging the spotlight from some of the bands full of old men whom I've mentioned earlier.


I'll break the ice here with Real Friends. This band has single handedly MASTERED the usage of the key of E. The way they oh-so-uniquely hold that B string down on the second, fourth, fifth, seventh, ninth, tenth and twelfth fret as they let that open E ring while pounding away at those E, B, and A power chords is the best way to show how this band is really breaking new ground. I really enjoy their usage of running themes throughout their songs as well, which is something that I've never seen before in this genre. Okay, ball busting aside I really like this band and so do most of the people I talk to. This band has been killing it the past few months with their releases. After a full five song EP and a four song acoustic EP, this band still found time to record 3 more songs for yet another EP all squeezed into the past twelve months. This band fucking hustles, and I can say with one hundred percent sincerity that I think this band deserves every single bit of success that comes their way, no matter how many people complain that they don't deserve it because of their short lifespan as a band. Hard work and cool music with the right team behind you will pay off with success and it doesn't matter if you've been a band for eight years or two.


Forever Came Calling managed to piss out a record called "Contender" that people really seemed to enjoy. The reason you enjoyed this record is probably because the band has spent the last 3 years recording and re-recording and re-re-recording the songs on this record until they didn't smell like Dustin Wallace's asshole (hey gurllll). Eventually, they took the pile of songs they had to pop-punk's own Sam Pura and he made them sound good. Actually, he made them sound great (even though this band totally ripped of Real Friends' usage of the key of E.... C'mon Joe, I hear that fretted B and open E shredding). The melodies on this record are a force to be reckoned with, considering they'll find ways into the deepest crevices of your brain and hook on like a leech. Joe told me the infamous crying scene in the Warped Tour documentary No Room For Rockstars (in which they were featured as little crybabies that ended up getting their way) was taken out of context, but I know how sensitive of a person Joe really is, so I don't buy it. Next time you go see this band live, make fun of them and lick their tears for me. Also, pat them on the back for being extremely talented and hardworking.


Mixtapes' "Even On The Worst Nights" would have been on this list if Ryan didn't so blatantly rip off The Wonder Years' lyrical content. I just didn't get it. You're not Soupy, get over it.


Do you like punk beats in every song? With The Punches is the band for you!!!!! Their record "Seams and Stitches" is really fast. It makes me wish that people still liked circle pitting. I already took a shot at Dustin's asshole in this little article, so I'll skip the part where I make fun of them. Bad Pennies is the song most pop-punk bands wish they could write. I'm getting tired and I just want to get this article sent in an email, so I'll keep this paragraph short. I <3 WTP.


There are a few honorable mentions that I haven't addressed in this article, such as Hostage Calm's "Please Remain Calm", The Menzingers' "On The Impossible Past", and Pentimento's self titled record that I felt should be left out. I did this because, if you listen very closely these aren't pop punk bands. You kind of really have to listen closely and stay off tumblr in order to "get" that though. I want to thank Shaking The Scene for letting me do this silly article for them. Maybe next time I'll write something serious and awesome, such as Keith Sidorowicz's article on sexism that was posted earlier on the site. Until then, always remember that EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU is a mover and a shaker. May the pop punk be with you.

Jim Domenici sings in the Fake boys, who put out a great record this year called "Pig Factory". People that know jim know that he has a very strong personality and is also one of the best and most hilarious guys around. Jim was going to write about the five worst songs of the year, but asked if he could instead "just write about the worst things in general this year"? We said that was fine, so here it is, enjoy!

Someone really needs to hire me to do a music column.
 
Another year in the books and here comes the ever predictable who's who's year end lists. sorry to rain on your shit parade but i absolutely do not give a fuck about people's efforts to show how eclectic they are or to wash the balls of bands they're hoping will take them on tour next year, so when my suck attitude was asked to write about my bottom of 2012, i was fucking down! before you get offended and try and think of a clever retort for my contribution to free art in the modern day, maybe you should relax and try to let go of a little ego and set a new year's resolution to try and develop a sense of humor... and as the brightest of us know, the best humor this world has ever had to offer is and always will be rooted in truth! so do whatever you've got to do to be able to enjoy the reality of things because unless you run in step with one of these dullards i'm about to drop some english on, this year was probably pretty good. all that aside... i'm a jaded, old man with no reason to look down on anyone besides the fact that i'm probably more intelligent, honest, and realistic than most. keep in mind that opinions are subjective and just because i feel this way, doesn't mean that i think you should. i'm not here to save anyone, just to point out that your opinion probably sucks.
 
 DYS:
 
There was a time where i would've put my life on the line to defend 'brotherhood' as the greatest boston hardcore record of all time, i still think it sits right up there behind the classics from the fu's and jerry's kids... but this year brought us new sounds from DYS. "sound of our town" is not only the worst song to come out this year, it is probably the worst song to ever be recorded. i don't want to jump to conclusions and talk like i know what the fuck they were going for but i REALLY hope it was an attempt to cash in on a free trip to europe for a reunion tour or something like that because that's the only thing that could make me think that releasing this garbage was worth it. i long for the days i would drive around the block a few extra times to hear a young dave smalley unleash that menacing howl that drops the second verse of 'insurance risk' over and over, now i'm pissing myself as he gives shout outs to aerosmith and marshall stacks. this comes at a time when i thought the band could do nothing worse than what they've been doing to the classic 'open up' in their live set since their return. they took what could be the most moving, brutal, groove ever written and turned it into a forgettable, soulless, half time bore... just what hardcore needs, right? i honestly hope they're happy and get to enjoy themselves, i love rock and roll and you dudes wrote a legendary record... do whatever you want.
 
refused: 
 
Welcome back refused! well, to be honest i never listened to this band until my facebook news feed started tell me to for a couple months earlier this year... and i'm proud to say that i've still only listened to about 20 seconds of one song. with my backing on the band being what it is, i figured i was more than qualified to lend my share of disgust. for myself, this was definitely the worst 20 seconds of 2012 (musically obv). i could have easily done something productive and loaded the content on my xbox HD or tried to open up a new tab with internet explorer and crash the computer, but instead i've been cursed by apple in the form of my wife's IPAD! while normally i couldn't load youtube if i wanted to, now when i get the itch and just need to know about what all the little pigs in denial are jerking it over... i unfortunately have the means and compulsive disorder to inquire. this band just sucks, it's a fucking stretch to call this music. it's cool if you want to be into hipster limp bizkit but tone is serious business! no matter how hard i try, there is just no forgiveness for a nu metal guitar sound... and the vocals sound like a hot topic sampler.
 
metalcore/mosh pop wants to fuck the 90's:

Not for nothing but i'm pretty tolerant of people being into terrible shit, i try not to hurt anyone's feelings and just do for myself but this is straight bogus. not only do you have your own little world to play god in but you have your own ECONOMY! if your life isn't going to well, start a fucking shitty 'metalcore' band and you will be loaded. insecure guys and girls looking to be popular in some sort of trendy circle will stroke your ego constantly and if i don't read about you taking advantage of those lonely sheep on punknews, you will probably be laughing at me from some sexy promo poster in the store window! you've got it all my friend, you've played the game and played it well! mitt romney would be so impressed by your corporate work ethic that he would probably mosh to your band! WHY DO YOU NEED REALITY? let us poor, depressed, working class fools with too much integrity at least have this little piece of the pie. i've spent the better part of this year getting worked up over your newest crush... the 90's, nirvana especially. there was a solid 3 months where i would get texts every day that started with "dude, you're gonna be so pissed..." or "did you hear the new ___ record? it's alternative." as if that wasn't enough to make me want to jump in front of a bus, now you're all about dinosaur jr! so when you start a new band or you're moving the band in that direction, remember that we can see that you've just added some cleans and a bunch of pedals while your drummers continue to play the same half time bullshit... and you're vocals are awful. it would probably help if you actually understood rock and roll or music for that matter. the thing that made those bands special was soul. you could feel how those bands started out of NEED, not desire. they didn't seem to start with a specific genre or sound in mind either. these were groups of creative humans looking to express themselves in a unique way using music as the vehicle, not groups of bored humans who want to pick a sound that already exists and rip it off so they can go on tour. when bands today release their debut or a change of pace record, it tells me that the band isn't working hard enough and there is usually some ulterior motive for the bands existence (usually laziness, insecurity, etc). the greats have always showed progression and growth, not change. when you bitch out and steal a sound you not only lack the ability to write a great record, you lack the understanding. your perfect picture of a picture is devoid of the things that make a great first record and/or a masterpiece. a beautiful record is not just about the tracks cut for it, it's about the road that lead to it... it's all in how we grow, and you're devolution at it's best.
 
When i look back on the year in music, i guess it could be worse... at least i actually like the shit you're pretending to like.
 
Much love for the legit indie camps keeping real music alive, you're the reason: animal style, kiss of death, arrest records, FDR, bloated cat, and JWB!

Pentimento is a band from Buffalo, NY. they recently were scheduled to put out their debut full length on Paper and Plastick Records when their former label "Panic Records" threatened a lawsuit with the band and went as far as to have their youtube videos taken down. This prompted the band to put the record out for free so people cold hear it anyways, which also cased some drama with the former label. We interviewed front man Mike Hansen to shed some light on the album, and also just the indie punk scene today, it went a little something like this...

1. You guys have recently been the subject of alot of attention and obviously unwanted drama, but maybe people don't know why. Recently you guys put your record out for free because you couldn't seem to come with an agreement with Panic records. You guys signed to Paper & Plastick and it sounded like Panic decided to hold you to a contract basically making it impossible to release your record. Things like this usually don't happen in the punk community because it seems minuscule and the bands and labels I would assume would want to help each other, not hold someone back. How did this come to be from the beginning? 

Essentially, the happenstance is just as complicated as it is simple. There are both long and short answers, but the details on how we found ourselves in this situation aren't important. In the end, we realized that the only thing to do after months of back and fourth hoopla from labels, lawyers, and assholes was to do what was right for Pentimento. Whatever happened in the mean time was simply a product of that decision. Additionally, this situation was something we treated as "the straw that broke the camel's back", so it wasn't some move we made in poor taste to be a rogue band who wanted everyone on their side, or to purposely harm Panic Records. There was a lot of miscommunication involved here, but it wasn't the first nor the last time we'd deal with that from our former label. Moreover, we've done our best to honestly explain what's been going on - which doesn't constitute as "our spin" or whatever was said by Panic Records about our initial statement. What we said was the truth. At the risk of sounding cocky or brash, there are particular individuals that should be thankful we didn't spill the beans on the exacts on how and why things went sour, for their own/their business' sake. We're not running around screaming "FUCK PANIC RECORDS". We're trying to build our band with this release, and not allowing anyone to stifle us. Even still, we're in a very bullshit limbo state where no one really knows if someone's going to pull the trigger on a lawsuit or not, which is keeping us from a proper physical release. But what we do know is that the money that went to the studio for our record came from our pocket, the recorded material is our property, and therefore - we can do whatever we want with it. It just so happens that what we ended up wanting to do with it was give it away for free. 



2. After speaking to some other bands on Panic it seems that many were frustrated and wanted to move labels or did move labels. More than once apparently the label got a bands final album and told the band 'I don't hear the rock" which is possibly one of the most hilarious things you could say to someone. Some of these same records have gone on to other labels and done just fine. Did you feel that the label tried to push itself to be something bigger than it was, and was that a reason you guys wanted to leave?

I can't speak for what the label tried to push itself to be. My guess would be something less than favorable given our circumstances. But I wouldn't dare try to act like every band that's dealt with Panic is/has been in our shoes. I know there are bands on the label who's experience has been great, and I'm stoked to hear that. But there are also bands that we're friends with that have been put in similar situations as us, who chose to speak up when we posted about what was happening surrounding the release of our record. Additionally, we're also good friends with bands that have been given that line you mentioned, when the real reason for losing interest in the release certainly had nothing to do with whether or not "the rock" was present on their record. Let's just say that Panic Records ended up not being the best choice for Pentimento, and that our reasons for leaving were because of our own completely independent thoughts and ideas that have acted as the catalyst for our decisions. 



3. There seems to be a trend of bands doing things as more of a D.I.Y. approach, and a community based more on songwriting than image or fashion. Bands that seem to records songs constantly, put them out for free, tour, and just work hard seem to be getting more recognition than ever before. Do you feel that this is because of the same internet reasons that people said "would kill the music industry", because it was just time for a change from all the watered down things, or a mix or something completely different? 

It's a culmination of a lot of different aspects in my opinion. While I would agree that the internet has made an impact on the hardcore/punk rock scene in a negative way, there are also tangible upsides. Without social media, the internet, and networking online, I can say that I'm sure Pentimento would not be doing what we're doing right now. We have no illusions about how small our band is, but using the internet as a tool has certainly helped put our music in places it may have not been other wise, and get it to people who may not have heard it. Especially with the release of our new record as a free download - without the internet - it wouldn't have meant anything. In that case, we needed it. However, seeing bands push forward and using that DIY ethic is what we were taught as young kids growing up in the punk rock community, before the internet was a big enough deal for bands to worry about. So we make sure to hold those ideals and strategies close. To us, the "grass roots" sense of promotion and growth is just as important as anything else. That's what gets people to shows. The internet is great to have a presence on because it generates interest, the ability to interact, and gain a very specific sense of what's going on. Sites like Absolutepunk.net, PropertyOfZack, etc. are all very important in their own right, where as Alternative Press or Rolling Stone has the music scene covered in a different way. I see a lot of things come and go online that make me shake my head, but as long as social media isn't something you rely on to measure, compensate, or depend on for the progress of your band, using it as a tool can be quite helpful. Especially with things like communicating with people who even bother to give a shit about your band in the first place. 



4. In line with that last question. In different eras of "pop punk" you has the 90's with bands like Blink 182, Goldfinger, the Suicide Machines, Less Than Jake, Rancid etc.. Then you had the early 2000's with bands coming out like A New Found glory, Good Charlotte, All American Rejects, Sum 41 etc.. and now a seemingly whole new generation of bands, do you think the current times live up to the past and either way, why? 

Being a dude who was lucky enough to be around for the late 90's/early 2000's stuff, as well as the later progressions of what I like to think of as punk rock, I feel that the way things are now is a great standard to set with how things should be. There's a lot going on for punk music. Call it a revival, call it whatever you'd like. But the point is that it's happening NOW, and that's all that matters. So many bands are putting out incredible music, trying to promote real ideas, real feelings, real thoughts...it's amazing to be a part of. Maybe I was too young to really 'get' what was happening when I first started going to shows and playing in bands, but that sheer feeling has always been there. That's the thing that reminds me that I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.


5. In closing, you guys have been through alot, is your album still available for free? If so where and where can people hear your songs? 

Our album is still available for free from our website, www.pentimentoNY.com . Thanks a lot for the opportunity to do the interview! We appreciate it.

-Mike/Pentimento 

Nick woods sings and plays guitar in a band called direct Hit from Milwaukee, WI. Direct Hit is a punk band and put out an awesome album last year called Domesplitter which is recommended. People also seem really into their live show although I tend to think it sounds pretty sloppy, and not in the good way, as in they can't play their instruments. Anyhoo, Nick was nice enough to take the time to tell s about the five worst songs to come out in 2012 and why they are, so here you go! Please leave comments below!

1. Train - "50 Ways To Say Goodbye"
Train is the soundtrack of choice for middle-aged white women who want to pretend like they're not (old or white), so making fun of this band in 2012 is basically the same thing as laughing at your 13-year-old brother's ska band but whatever. "Hey, Soul Sister" was for those Cuddl Dud-wearing ladies with just a little bit of the hood in their blood. "50 Ways To Say Goodbye" is the next logical step - An auditory equivalent of the backyard Cinco De Mayo party in Downer's Grove, Illinois, where everyone's dressed in J Crew, everyone has a giant glass of the whitest wine possible in their hand, and everyone is laughing way too hard at jokes about the Muslim 'they' elected president. The bull-fighter horns and flamenco guitar are fucking hilarious, and the melody in the verse is lifted directly from "Phantom Of The Opera" for some reason. Whenever this song comes on the radio when I'm driving, I instantly look in my rearview to make sure Martha Stewart isn't sitting in my back seat, wearing a fake sombrero and moustache and pancho, and dumping a $40 pitcher of ritas down the back of my shirt.

RIYL: Chi-Chi's, Rick Bayless

2. Grimes - "Oblivion"

This song is the kind of song that creepy animated dolls in PG-13 movies sing when Jessica Biel finally figures out that her house is haunted. Like, eight doors slam, all the windows shut, and then the Barbie in the corner's head turns backward and starts singing this song. So I don't get why people are losing their shit over this girl. Plenty of bands that sound exactly the same pay $400 for the Opportunity/pre-sale tickets to open for Evanescence, and yet Pitchfork for some reason picked this particular brand of smoke to blow up my ass for the last year. Am I supposed to be swimming with mermaids when this comes on? Or holding hands with The Crow? Also cool that this shit has bred an entire scene of teenagers who dress up like future-pirates and pretend like Waterworld is going to happen. That's probably its one redeeming factor actually, mainly because I like to think that's why Kevin Costner gets to be in the new Superman - Some anthropomorphic soul patch probably overheard his ex-juggalo daughter talking about 'sea punks' (lol) and pulled strings to make it happen.

RIYL: That episode of South Park with the goth dance, dark souls


3. Rihanna - "Diamonds"

Rihanna has been coasting on "Umbrella" for the last 5 or 6 years, and that's mainly because Jay-Z helped her out on it. The first time I heard "Diamonds" I seriously thought she was doing a stereotyped Chinese guy impression with the way she sings the chorus. Then the radio apparently read my semi-racist mind and spent the next million hours straight playing it on repeat to make sure I understood it was just a stupid, victimized, talentless hack/major label pawn spitting out her 400th C-list single in the past year. I probably wouldn't be so harsh on Rihanna if she'd quit telling teenagers around the world that it's OK her piece of shit, bleach-headed boyfriend beat her into the hospital, but she does. And it pisses me off that she's a millionaire even though she's seemingly incapable of releasing a non-annoying pop song despite having a whole staff of songwriters at her disposal while I spend the better part of my existence thinking of new ways to not kill myself at my office job. The lesson here is fuck this song.

RIYL: Dinemungs


4. Psy - "Gangnam Style"

2012's "Macarena." 1 billion plays on YouTube. Just remember one day you're gonna die, and this song will live on. Why say 'there is no god' when you can just use "Gangnam Style" as a more vivid case study?

RIYL: Los Del Rio, the terrorists


5. Mumford & Sons - "I Will Wait"

Mumford & Sons does to Flogging Molly what Pat Boone did to Slipknot, except not funny. Shit is terrible, and it's made worse by the fact that every heterosexual guy with a significant other has to pretend to like "I Will Wait" because there's no female on the planet immune to its banjo-drenched charm. Next time you listen to this song, just think of the Country Bear Jamboree. When you're done laughing, bring yourself back to earth and think of all the faux-hawked, shawl-collar-sweater-wearing assholes shoveling money into these dudes' pockets while streaming this song on repeat on Spotify between dainty sips of a skim pumpkin spice latté (one pump) at Starbucks while iChatting with their bros. It's like this track was commissioned by Hamilton and Meg Swan. Shit will be Eddie Bauer's theme song by 2015. If it came out in 1984, it'd be playing in the background while Pat Bateman fucked a prostitute with a chainsaw. But all that, for some reason, hasn't stopped the world's 20-somethings from making it "their song," and keeping it at the front of the whole population's brain for the better part of the last year. Shit is the poster child for "lame" going into 2013. Fuck.

RIYL: Linen, whispering, literature

Keith Sidorowicz is a great guy. He has played in many bands but now plays the drum kit full time behind Allison Weiss. We had talked about how so many females have articles about sexism in the punk scene, but not many males that also see it. I think the view from a male who is on tour with a female and constantly seeing and dealing with peoples weirdness and insecurities is a very interesting thing. Keith was awesome enough to wrtie this and i think it applies SO MUCH in the modern day pop punk scene, please read and share it. 

So I'm standing outside a venue in Tulsa, OK slurping on a Vita Coco. This must've been my 3rd box of the evening within a 45 minute span. I mean, what else are you going to do in Tulsa on a rainy weekday evening on tour in the start of october? As I am slugging down my passion fruit, Maura Weaver, Ryan Rockwell, and I are having a heartfelt discussion about "hype men" when all of a sudden some guy attending the show we're all playing approaches us asking who was on stage at the moment. When we answered his question he proceeds to give his friend an update on the show as if he was Kurt Loder giving an MTV News Brief in the 90's. As we all return to our conversation, I could hear wanna be Kurt Loder talking to his friend as he's staring at a typed up band order flyer for the show taped on the venue window while stating "durrr, 2 locals played, then the tour packages started, the order is THAT BAND WITH THE GIRL, State Champs, Forever Came Calling, Handguns, Citizen, Mixtapes, and Aficianado." 

THAT BAND WITH THE GIRL has a name. Her name is Allison Weiss! My name is Keith Sidorowicz (aka K*BOT), and I play drums for Allison Weiss. Allison is my friend, super talented bandmate, and my main source of pointing me into the right direction when it comes to all areas of life. We're reaching 2013 and it exasperates me to no end that there is still a very serious sexist mentality towards the female gender in the music industry. I wanted to start my piece with sharing that interaction from Tulsa because think about what this guy said. THAT GIRL IN THE BAND? Ok genius, which band that has "the girl in it?" are you talking about? Clearly there was more than one band that had a female member on that show since Mixtapes, Aficiando, and Allison Weiss obviously include musicians of the female gender. But what killed me the most was that this guy was reading all of the names on a piece of paper and was looking right at Allison's name when he made that asinine statement. Clearly it just seemed like this random dude was uncomfortable achknowleding a band that is fronted by and named after a musician of the female gender. 

All my life I've just never understood the whole sexism in music attitude. Who the fuck cares what gender someone is as long as they write incredible songs that will make you move! And when I say move, I mean that motion that comes from the mind! That motion that hits you so hard that it will make you create, think, love, cope, heal, rebel, dwell, etc. Obviously men and women have many different opposites when it comes to physical features and characteristics, but we are all human beings that share the ability to create! We all bleed, feel, sweat, cry, open up, and give. I've been exposed to tons of different music made by all types of individuals since I was a tyke, and an enormous majority of them were and still are created by the female gender. I'll never forget in 4th grade the first time I saw the video for "Dirty Boots" by Sonic Youth! Not only was I entrapped by the band's song, but watching the footage of Kim Gordon just digging into the pocket of that Rickenbacker bass just slammed me to my bedroom floor! Kim looked and sounded so fucking awesome at what she did that I was nearly jumping off the walls. If only camera phones were around in the 90's to capture that moment of mine.

But back to the topic of uncalled for sexism still going on in modern day music. There has been something going on lately that has been getting me utterly distressed! There is this horrible trend going on right now in that so called "pop punk" scene where bands write songs about their ex girlfriends using very ignorant terms such as "slut" and "whore" to belittle them (it made me cringe to even type those aweful terms out as an example). But not only are these bands belittling the girl they're writing those "lyrics" about, they're also belittling themselves and their fanbase by using those terms. When you have the power to take the stage and move a significant amount of people in front of you pouring out their all for your music, why the hell would abuse that power by alienating anyone in that room? To me when you're a band using those repulsive terms in your songs you're not letting women feel welcome at your shows. When you're writing songs like that you're no better than the 80's hair metal bands that exploited the hell out of women in their "music" and "imagery". I don't give a fuck if you're wearing torn up 
looking vans, a backwards snapback, cut off shorts, and sporting your XL tuff guy hardcore band tee of choice, you're no better than the hair metal band Ratt! I can't wait til years from now when those "pop punk" bands that make that "music" end up in the same ranks as the bands that appear on those "Monster Ballad" comps you buy on infomercials. 

And this sexist attitude stems outside of that so called "pop punk" scene as well. The first time I saw my favorite current hip hop artist K.Flay perform, some random dude approached Flay after her set and said "when I saw that you were just an average looking girl setting up to play hip hop music, I thought this was going to be the worst thing ever, but you were actually pretty good". Like fucking seriously? How does a look of a girl on stage get you to assume that you're not going to like their music or not?  How about you just wait til they get on the mic, do their thing, and then wait for them to walk off stage when they're done to determine wheter you like their music or not. And basically that guy was immediately shutting her out because he didn't want to see a girl play hip hop. Disgusting mentality! But if you don't mind, I'd like to briefly take a moment to describe K.Flay to anyone who's not familar with her. I feel K.Flay is a great example of pure power from a musician!

K.Flay is a Stanford graduate but started creating hip hop out of her dismay for misogyny and poor song writing in mainstream hip hop. K.Flay creates her own music, releases all of her material on her own, and is just a fucking firecracker with her stage presence live. She's also a "what you see is what you get" kind of artist sporting a baggy t-shirt, skinny jeans, and fresh dunks. No Nikki Minaj nonsense at all to move her crop! K.Flay also embraces her sense of humor and intelligence. She'll do book reviews on the internet that show off her bookworm side, but at the sametime she'll make her reviews fun by adding funny clips and jokes that bask in her sense of humor. K.Flay is a talented and itelligent bad ass!

So what I am getting at is wake the fuck up people! Women have and ALWAYS will create amazing music and are absolutely essential in our lives. And most importantly, women are our mothers, sisters, girlfriends, friends, bandmates, teachers, and so on. To think that anyone still goes out of their way to make women feel inferior to men in any given situation in the world is just utterly unacceptable. Embrace the power of the female gender, especially if you're a male. And what I mean by that is that you should show your utmost pride and happiness towards all the women that have a huge impact in your life and in this world. It's not just boys fun!    

-K*BOT 

It's the end of the year and time for top ten lists, we decided to get peoples top 5 worst songs of 2012. I feel like picking the top 5 worst songs is harder than picking the top ten best albums. What makes you hate a song, and is their a certain song everyone can agree is just terrible? Over the next two weeks we will decide, here is volume 1 from an Ohio native named Sam Banta who plays in an awesome new band called The Worthmores who you can check out at  http://worthmores.com 
So the first of many coming up in the next few days, the 5 worst songs of 2012.

This year was a great year for music. I feel like I have gotten down to more rad stuff this year than in any year in recent memory. When one of the biggest records of the year is a Springsteen record, the world feels like an OK place to be. That said, some of the worst songs I have ever heard also came out this year. If you look at the ancient civilizations of Rome and Greece, you will see that art was cherished and celebrated. When the arts started to suffer, it wasn't long before the societies themselves fell to rubble. I don't want to scare anyone, but if declining quality of art is a sign of end times, we are WAAAY fucked. These five songs are proof that we are destined for a post apocalyptic world, not unlike that of the Terminator movies. The only difference is that instead of a nice and quick nuclear winter, we have Ke$ha on top 10 radio.....

TOP 5 WORST SONGS OF 2012

5.) "We Are Never Getting Back Together"- Taylor Swift

I don't understand why people are fanatical about soccer. It's cool, I just don't get it. I can, however, appreciate why people like it. Taylor Swift, however, I cannot understand in the slightest. I have never liked Taylor Swift. I think she is awful, corporate, pop-country hybrid garbage written for 13 year girls and 40 year old men. Don't ask me why, but who else admits to liking this shit? 13 year olds ask their dads to buy it and they get hooked on it because the last thing they bought for themselves was the live Eddie Money album. But, back to this song. The chorus sounds like a 3 dollar pair of press on nails from Big Lots, scraping against a chalkboard in a half empty classroom on a Saturday afternoon, full of 20 somethings taking a GED test. It's not only one of the worst songs of the year, it just may be one of the worst songs ever.

4.) "Gangnam Style" Psy

Ugh. It isn't funny, or cute, or weird(because he's Korean, he isn't supposed to rap?) It's just bad. The most watched Youtube video of all time and a few years from now Michael Ian Black and Chuck Nice will be on VH1 talking about fucking dumb everyone was for liking it. If you can't see that now, there is no hope for you whatsoever.

3.)"Cruising California-(bumping in my trunk) "- The Offspring

What. The. Fuck. This song makes me yearn for a time when this band made good music. When Americana came out in the 90s, I heard "Pretty Fly" and thought it was the worst thing a band could do. I was wrong. It was a masterpiece compared to Cruising California. For one, this band owes Joey Ramone an apology. Poor guy is probably still turning in his grave after hearing the intro to this vomit. Why is Dexter Holland rapping about women's "cabooses"? He actually says "cabooses" twice in this song. This guy is a rocket scientist and he still can't figure out when a song fucking sucks? I know it has to be hard when Blink 182 steals your thunder and Guy Fieri ganks your look, but that still doesn't give you the right to release this audio WMD on an innocent population. Be happy you wrote Smash and be done with this, ok? Please?

2.) "6 Feet Underground"-Travis Barker and Yelawolf (featuring Tim Armstrong)

My sides still hurt from the laughing at this song. What a joke. Caddies, straight billed hats and insecure douchebags rapping about how they will apparently kill you if you "push them around". Travis Barker is an AMAZING drummer. He survived a fucking plane crash. He was in the Aquabats. He played one tour with a broken leg and another with a broken arm. He is extremely talented. Tim Armstrong wrote some of the most important punk rock songs of all time. He was in Op Ivy(hey, I was in middle school once). Out Come The Wolves is one of the best records ever. How on earth is it that you put these two together and you get a grown man mumbling about his gang buddies over a boring hip hop beat that could have been looped from a Casio keyboard? This is somehow worse than the Transplants. This Yelawolf fella has to be to blame, right? What? These guys haven't released decent music in 13 years? FUCK!

1.) "Nightlife"-Green Day

Wow. Just. I...... Have you heard this? These guys wrote Dookie and now dookie is all they have left. This song makes me embarrassed for them. I can't even say anything else, this may be the worst song of all time. I love Green Day. Part of the 12 year old in me died when I heard this. Let's hope we can blame this on Billy Joe's recent addiction issues. I hope he recovers soon and pretends this whole thing never happened. No, really... DID YOU LISTEN TO THIS SONG? FUUUUUUUUUUCK, seriously, youtube this song! 

Each week we are going to have someone cover a song that we think is either hilarious or terrible, they have one day to learn and record a cover of it for you to hear. This week we picked Maura Weaver from the band Mixtapes and we picked the Ke$ha song "Tik Tok". She agreed to do it and said she hated us for it, so here you go.... DON'T STOP

Real Friends are a band from Chicago who have been making a name for themselves recently by playing songs and touring. They play pop punk and sing about things that no one else ever has before. We got an exclusive interview with Dan, the singer of the band and he was a delight.  The interview is below along with a picture of the band with the famous "Les" from the show "Hardcore Pawn" , with his terrible gold chain and all. 

1. Your booking agent recently said that you have a "good team" behind you. Since this isn't a professional sports team I'm a little confused, so what does your good team do, are they good?
I think he was talking about an Eiffel Tower, but that's weird because that involves people both in front of and behind a person. I think he was trying to go for a Human Centipede kind of thing. That would make more sense because that's how he got the nickname "Peanut."

2. It is rumored that you are on warped tour, although you aren't allowed to talk about it, care to talk about it?
Why would I not be allowed to talk about wraps? I love wraps. Did I win a wrap or something?

3. You guys covered brand new, but not only live, you recorded it, what made that sound like a good idea?
We wanted emo cred and for people to think that we actually listen to Brand New. I was also hoping it would distract people from us ripping off The Wonder Years, but it only made things worse.

4. What is the best band you have ever seen on warped tour?
You avoided my question about the wrap, dude. Why are you mocking me? How am I supposed to know which bands eat wraps or not?

5. Who is the worst band you have ever seen on warped tour?
Dude, quit fucking with me. I just want a wrap. Like Guy from Senses Fail just wanted a Pepsi. They wrote that song for Tony Hawk (I think). But really dude. Cut it out.

6. If you had to give out one of your band members phone numbers right now, which one would people care the least about? Will he be upset when he reads this?
Definitely Dave. One time he took all of his clothes off, hid under his bed and starting kicking his feet and pouting because he lost all of his coins in Mario Party.

7. You guys keep on releasing ep's with cover art that all looks the same, is this to keep a theme or is it laziness? What's going on with a full length?
It's just less work if you think about it. I've been playing a lot of Xbox and hitting up underaged girls on our twitter account, so that takes up most of my time. Being the singer, everybody else has to do all the work. So they want a full length? Write one, along with all of my parts while you're at it. I think we're paying someone to write it though. Some dude named Suppy or something. He's super sad and kids eat up all that sad shit.

8. What are your five favorite albums of all time?
Circa Survive- On Letting Go, City and Colour- Bring Me Your Love, The Cure- Disintegration, Motion City Soundtrack- Commit This to Memory, Person L- Initial

9. What are your top 3 current bands involved in your scene?
Knuckle Puck, Droughts, and Cave Bear.

10. Fill in the blank. I want to make that money so _________________
I can pay that dude to write our music so I can keep playing Assassin's Creed.

Blink 182 are a band that people hold near and dear to their heart, including me. They have made easily some of my favorite songs of all time, and released classic albums. They also are possibly one of the worst actual bands ever, and each week we are going to try to one up ourselves and find a performance to make the previous one look semi-ok. We will start with this fantastic rendition of the classic "Feeling This". Somehow Tom's vocals make Mark's seem ok! Honestly try to make it to the end of this without laughing.

Jim Margle plays drums in a band called We are the Union, they are a great band from Michigan. Jim makes it no secret that he enjoys late 90's, early 2000's music of the fast punk rock variety. One day on a facebook thread started by someone at Epitaph Records Jim simply responded with the phrase "More Pulley, Less Crap".  For those of you not familiar Pulley was a band signed to Epitaph that played fast skate punk music and their singer was also a professional baseball player.  Since that kind of music seems to be found less and less these days we thought it would be cool if he wrote articles based around records from that genre that meant something to him, and maybe someone else could check them out.  there is no way this article will ever be called anything else because it is way too funny of a title, so without further hesitation, Jim Margle! 

"What's your name?" "Fuck you. That's my name."

I'd like to believe that modern day melodic punk rock would not exist
in its current form without a singer/songwriter named Tony Sly. On
July 31, 2012, the world lost a punk rock legend as Tony, lead singer
of NO USE FOR A NAME passed away in his sleep. Gone far too soon,
Tony's music has gone on to inspire countless bands worldwide, ranging
from hardcore-turned-rock superstars RISE AGAINST to pop-punk giants
YELLOWCARD. At the time of his death, Tony had been the lead singer of
NUFAN for nineteen of their twenty-five year career, which leads me to
the purpose of this column - paying homage to great melodic punk rock
albums of yesteryear. I hope that young readers will dive deep into
their favorite labels back-catalogs, while the veterans dust off some
old gems for a repeated listen. What better place to start than right
smack dab in the middle of Tony & NO USE FOR A NAME's career with
'Making Friends'.

In the mid 90's during the punk rock boom, stirred up by bands like
GREEN DAY, THE OFFSPRING, & RANCID, Fat Wreck Chords, an independent
punk rock label founded by Fat Mike of NOFX, had their first taste of
MTV airplay as NO USE FOR A NAME's video for "Soulmate" (off of 1995's
'Leche Con Carne') hit rotation. It remains the only video MTV has
ever played from the label, as the station pulled all Fat Wreck videos
after Fat Mike refused to let them to air a NOFX video - talk about
standing behind your word (that of NOFX, being no commercial airplay,
no major label help, etc.). For the few months the video aired,
NUFAN's popularity quickly skyrocketed nabbing the attention of Chris
Shiflett (now with FOO FIGHTERS & ME FIRST AND THE GIMME GIMMES) and
Matt Riddle (FACE TO FACE, PULLEY) as they joined NUFAN on guitar and
bass for their 1997 studio album 'Making Friends'

As NO USE FOR A NAME's songwriting matured over the years, so did
their sound - evolving from aggressive melodic hardcore to a much
lighter pop punk style, still fueled by fast tempos and intricate
guitar work. The heightened sense of melody in the vocal department
made the bands sound much more approachable as the years went on.
'Making Friends' marks the perfect balance between old and new styles,
with fast driving rhythms from long time drumming beast Rory Koff,
thick riffs showcasing Shiflett's guitar talents, and Tony Sly's
growing vocal range. Before bands like SHOOK ONES and KID DYNAMITE
existed, this sound would be my definition of melodic hardcore, which
essentially gave birth to genre known as "skate punk". Fast,
aggressive, melodic.

There simply is not another NUFAN album that kicks your ass with the
same intensity in the first five tracks as 'Making Friends', as tunes
like "Invincible", "Growing Down" (featuring Dicky Barrett of THE
MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSSTONES), and "On The Outside" became staples in the
band's live set. From the opening film quote and ensuing double time
to more moderately tempted "A Postcard Would Be Nice", NO USE FOR A
NAME sets the tone, making pit friendly bangers and radio singles feel
one in the same.

Tracks like "Secret" and "Sidewalk" give the listener a break with
slower tempos, but the intensity remains. The driving rhythms and
unison guitar work shine through, with Tony's vocals taking the
driver's seat. "Best Regards" and "Revenge" never let up, much like
opening half of the disc. The album comes to a close with the
outrageously catching "Sitting Duck" followed by closer, "Fields Of
Atherny", an old Irish folk ballad often played by THE DROPKICK
MURPHYS. Let's not forget about the hidden track, a cover of KISS's
"Beth" - the only KISS song written by their drummer Peter Criss.

Long time NOFX producer Ryan Greene's work here is top notch; the
guitars thick and beefy, all while keeping the tightly-knit rhythm
section loud and in your face. Sly's vocals have enough edge to please
their older fans, while the increased feel and push of choruses and
vocal harmonies hint at what NUFAN would later go on to do -
essentially create modern day pop punk.

The band would embark on the "Destruction By Definition Tour" of
Europe in support of the album with THE SUICIDE MACHINES, freshly
signed to Hollywood Records (a.k.a. Disney) as well as The Vans Warped
Tour, pushing their popularity even further. While we will never see
another NO USE FOR A NAME tour - the band played their last show in
Quebec City in September 2012 with five former members paying homage
to Tony - his legacy continues to live on in the hearts of punk rock
fans worldwide. If you've never given NO USE FOR A NAME a proper
listen, 'Making Friends', one of the most often overlooked records of
their catalogue, is a great place to start.