日志

To start things off I would like to point out that my "true" musical taste, as I call it, didn't start until 2004, so most albums I was into before 2004 I've forgotten. 2004 was the year I was introduced to bands like Opeth, Avenged Sevenfold, and Dimmu Borgir. On top of my new found metal taste I had a huge explosion of progressiveness especially between the years 2006 and 2008 which included bands like Dream Theater, Muse, King Crimson, Anekdoten, Katatonia, The Flower Kings, and Between the Buried and Me. Since 2004 the music I've listened to has influenced me beyond anything else.

I have specific awards that I will also include in this note for those bands and instrumentalists that are best in my opinion in different aspects.

So 2009 was a pretty damn good year for music. Surprisingly, it was not my top favorite bands that put out the best albums but those bands that I still liked a lot but never really considered all time favorites. Without further ado here is my 2009 Top 10!


Best of 2009

1. Between the Buried and Me - The Great Misdirect
2. Katatonia - Night Is The New Day
3. Lamb of God - Wrath
4. The Dear Hunter - Act III: Life and Death
5. Mastodon - Crack The Skye
6. Obscura - Cosmogenesis
7. Porcupine Tree - The Incident
8. The Mars Volta - Octahedron
9. dredg - The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion
10. Dream Theater - Black Clouds & Silver Linings


During 2009 I was fully exposed to bands like The Mars Volta and dredg who I heard a few songs from before but never realized how good they really were! The best additions to my collection of artists were Mastodon and The Dear Hunter. Mastodon's earlier stuff was kinda hard for me to get into but Crack the Skye, like for many others, has blown me away. Now their post 2009 catalogue is easy and fun to listen to. I "get" them now.

Best new band of the year undoubtedly goes to The Dear Hunter. On the same musical page as The Mars Volta, dredg, and Coheed and Cambria, The Dear Hunter are a band that should be on top of EVERYTHING popular right now. Casey Crescenzo is a fucking genius.

Between the Buried and Me takes the top spot because they progressed out of Colors! I wasn't sure how they'd do it but they did it! The Great Misdirect is definitely not Colors Part 2, and that's exactly how I wanted it to be!

The top three bands that I've come to love a lot ended up more progressive and innovative than even my most anticipated releases by Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree, and Muse.

And now for the first Off Beat Award!! The Biggest Disappointment of 2009!!
The Winner is.....

Muse - The Resistance

What the hell. How does one of my favorite bands put out the worst album of the year. I mean Dream Theater and Porcupine Tree were still decent, but this album sucked... hard. Come on Matt, you had three years to write something good. Katatonia did it, and they are on their 10th album!! Sadness was to be had. Muse has fallen in my books a little bit.


Ok now we're on to the hard stuff. This is where we dive into the entire decade. But first some more awards!!


The best years in music this decade!!
Runner up is... 2003!! and the winner is......

2007!

This year was PACKED with new releases from so many bands. Long awaited releases from bands like Type O Negative, Symphony X, and Rush as long as Top Notch releases from bands like Dream Theater, Explosions in the Sky, Anekdoten, Porcupine Tree, and BTBAM.


Best drummers of the decade!!

Martin Lopez, Martin Axenrot, Gavin Harrison, and Blake Richardson! Portnoy would probably be included if LTE and Scenes were 00's releases and not 90's :p


And Now for my decade's Top 20! I made a self rule of only 1 album per band. I did this because there are too many albums that I liked from the same 5 or 6 bands that it wouldn't be fair to many of the newer bands I've discovered over the last few years. And I certainly want to represent them in my list. These ones were both important and favorite. No between talk either. These albums are beyond anymore words other than "BEST"

Without further ado.



20. Explosions in the Sky - The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place (2005)

19. Mastodon - Crack The Skye (2009)

18. Pain of Salvation - Remedy Lane (2002)

17. Meshuggah - obZen (2008)

16. Protest the Hero - Fortress (2008)

15. Gojira - The Way Of All Flesh (2008)

14. Frost* - Milliontown (2006)

13. BeardFish - Sleeping In Traffic: Part Two (2008)

12. The Tangent - The Music That Died Alone (2003)

11. The Flower Kings - Unfold the Future (2002)


The Top Ten Albums Of The Decade


10. The Dear Hunter - Act III: Life and Death (2009)

9. Muse - Absolution (2003)

8. System of a Down - Steal This Album! (2002)

7. Avenged Sevenfold - Waking The Fallen (2003)

6. Lamb of God - Sacrament (2006)

5. Dream Theater - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (2002)

4. Between the Buried and Me - Colors (2007)

3. Katatonia - The Great Cold Distance (2006)

2. Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet (2007)


And finally... My Number One Album Of The Decade....





1. Opeth - Blackwater Park (2001)

Opeth is by far my band of the Decade. It was my gateway drug to other metal, prog, and even jazzier dudes. Watershed or Porcupine Tree's "Fear" would have been the number one album if Blackwater Park didn't come out this decade.



Some last awards!

2008 gets the award for "Deadest musical year but every album that did come out all ended up being masterpieces" lawl

Runner up albums!
Oceansize - Frames
Bloodbath - Nightmares Made Flesh
Anekdoten - A Time Of Day
Spock's Beard - V

And my favorite band right now

Between the Buried and Me!!
-Alaksa, Colors, and The Great Misdirect have all owned me for a while now, and it's safe to say that BTBAM is my favorite band now.


To wrap things up.... I know most of you guys haven't heard all of these albums, but if you ever get the chance to hear any of them I assure you it's worth your while in some way. I live for music, and I hope I end up on some random kid's list in the future. That would be pretty cool.

Breaking Pangaea (2000-2004) was Will Noon, Fred Mascherino, and Clint Stelfox.

Fred Mascherino went on to join Taking Back Sunday, then formed The Color Fred. He’s currently pursuing Initials with Josh Eppard (aka Weerd Science original-3, Coheed and Cambria), Andy Jackson (Hot Rod Circuit, The Escape Frame, Death in the Park, ex- Reggie and the Full Effect, Say Anything, Safety in Numbers… He now owns The Jackalope Studio in Montgomery, Alabama) and Steve Lucarelli (Once Nothing).

Will Noon went on to play drums in Straylight Run and manage Envy on the Coast.

When Coheed and Cambria appeared on MTV’s TRL in January 2006, Michelle Nolan (Straylight Run) performed the female vocals of “The Suffering” with the band. Breaking Pangaea took Coheed and Cambria out on their first few tours. Coheed and Cambria will not be taking Initials out this summer.

Initials will be performing their first show with this line-up on Saturday, January 9th, 2009 supporting Straylight Run’s John Nolan (original Taking Back Sunday) with Gabriel the Marine and Ocean is Theory at The Note in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

It’s all one colossal, constantly churning circle.

1.How did you get into no.29?
高木正勝
Don't even know.

2. What's the first song you ever heard by no.22?
Muse
"New Born"

3. Whats your favorite lyric by no.33?
RENTRER EN SOI
The ending of "PROTOPLASM"

4. How did you get into no.49?
SUICIDE ALI
Heard "Favorite song" and was immediately in love.

5. How many albums by no.13 do you own?
凛として時雨
0 lol

6. What is your favorite song by no.50?
World's End Girlfriend
"Red Red Red"

7. Is there a song by no.39 that makes you sad?
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Not really.

8. What is your favorite song by no.15?
Frank Zappa
"Chunga's Revenge" off of Trance-Fusion

9. What is your favorite song by no.5?
Lotus
"Wooly Mammoth" or "Wax"

10. Is there a song by no.6 that makes you happy?
Ronald Jenkees
Most of them!

11. What is the worst song by no.40?
NOMAK
No real bad output from him :P Probably one of his random collabs.

12. What is your favorite song by no.10?
Dream Theater
"The Glass Prison"

13. What is a good memory you have involving no.30?
MaroMaro
"WTFFFFF?"

14. What is your favorite song by no.38?
Niccolò Paganini
"Caprice No. 24 in A minor: Tema con Variazioni: Quasi Presto"

15. Is there a song by no.19 that makes you happy?
光田康典
EVERY. SONG.

16. Is there a song by no.25 that makes you sad?
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
No song as a whole really. Lots of segments in his compositions are pretty melancholic though.

17. What is the first song you ever heard by 23?
Between the Buried and Me
It was either "Selkies: The Endless Obsession" or "Alaska"

18. What's your favorite lyric by no.11?
Sound Tribe Sector 9
No lyrics man.

19. Who is a favorite member of no.1?
Buckethead

20. Is there a song by no.14 that makes you happy?
柏大輔
More like makes me feel really good.

21. What is a good memory involving no.27?
D'espairsRay
Seeing them fucking live at Megacon 2006. Best concert ever.

22. What is your favorite song by no.16?
Thanatopsis
Hmm, that's really hard. I guess ultimately "Axiology"

23. What is the first song you ever heard by no.47?
Fair to Midland
Don't know what it was at the time. It was live.

24. What is your favorite album by no.18?
ムック
"6"

25. What is your favorite song by no.21?
Amon Amarth
"A Fury Divine"

26. What is the first song you ever heard by no.26?
The Mars Volta
"L'Via L'Viaquez"

27. What is your favorite album by no.3?
the GazettE
"NIL". Forever.

28. What is you favorite song by no.2?
植松伸夫
There is not a question more impossible to answer.

29. What was the first song you ever heard by no.32?
HIM
"Join Me in Death"

30. What is you favorite song by no.8?
Coheed and Cambria
"Delirium Trigger" mmmmmmmmmmm

31. How many times have you seen no.17 live?
John Zorn
Fuck you. =[

32. Is there a song by no.44 that makes you happy?
The Black Mages
Oh yeah.

33. How did you get into no.12?
Opeth
You can't explore metal as a genre without getting into Opeth.

34. What is the worst song by no.45?
Tetrafusion
Their one album has no bad songs, I'm sorry.

35. What was the first song you ever heard by no.34?
Venetian Snares
Either "Második galamb" or "Kétsarkú Mozgalom"

36. What was the first song you ever heard by no.48?
Swallow the Sun
No clue. =/

37. How many times have you seen no.42 live?
Eluveitie
0

38. What is you favorite song by no.36?
-OZ-
"Butterfly"

39. What was the first song you ever heard by no.28?
シド ~汚れた指? Again not sure at all.
Darkspace
"Dark 3.11"

40. What is you favorite album by no.7?
Bulb
He's got no albums yet.

41. Is there a song by no.31 that makes you happy?
Fredrik Thordendal's Special Defects
lol

42. What is your favorite album by no.41?
Kettel
So unfair... but I'm thinking either "Myam James 2" or "Smiling Little Cow"

43. What is your favorite song by no.24?
girugämesh
WTF. Uhhh... "ドミノ," maybe? ... or the rest of their catalogue?

44. What is a good memory you have involving no.46?
Eluvium
Marijuana

45. What is your favorite song by no.35?
Bright Eyes
"Haligh, Haligh, a Lie, Haligh"

46. Is there a song by no.9 that makes you happy?
雅-miyavi-
Unless you know Miyavi, you got no idea :P

47. What is your favorite album by no.4?
Dir en grey
"UROBOROS".... maybekindalmost tied with "Withering to death."

48. Who is your favorite member of no.37?
Enter Shikari
No clue, don't care.

49. What is the first song you ever heard by no.43?
Envy
No idea. Coulda very well been "A Will Remains in the Ashes" though

50. What is your favorite song by no.20?
SikTh
"Can't We All Dream?"

Alien Ant Farm
All Time Low
Attack! Attack!
The Blackout
Boys Like Girls
Bullet For My Valentine
Coheed and Cambria
DRTY LVE
Elliot Minor
Escape the Fate
Every Avenue
Glamour Of The Kill
Go:Audio
Hadouken!
The Higher
Hollywood Undead
Lights And Sounds
Linkin Park
Little Boots
Metro Station (x2)
Mystery Jets
Out of Sight
Paper Route
Paramore
The Pigeon Detectives
Rihanna
Saving Aimee
Snow Patrol
Sylosis
Tinchy Stryder
Tommy Sparks
The Used
Young Guns
You Me At Six (x4)
3OH!3

1. How did you get into 29?
Imogen Heap. speeding cars, tay showed it to me years and years ago, and then like years and years after, i looked up more shit. like five years ago.

2. What was the first song you ever heard by 23?
Landon Pigg. falling in love at a coffee shop?

3. What's your favorite lyric by 33?
Muse. anything from falling away with you. "i can feel my soul crumbling away, falling away, falling away with you"

4. What is your favorite album by 49?
lol i don't technically have a 49, but three ties for 47, so i'll pick one of those. Mew. and frengers.

5. How many albums by 13 do you own?
Kimya Dawson? one. and a few burned once.

6. What is your favorite song by 50?
Sufjan Stevens? sister.

7. Is there a song by 39 that makes you sad?
Yellowcard. yep. sure thing falling.

8. What is your favorite song by 15?
Regina Spektor. "that time" or "the call" maybe.

9. What is your favorite song by 5?
Iron And Wine? easy. each coming night.

10. Is there a song by 6 that makes you happy?
Neutral Milk Hotel. all of it does, especially king of carrot flowers.

11. What is your favorite album by 40?
Coheed and Cambria. good apollo.

12. What is your favorite song by 10?
Motion City Soundtrack. oh shit. everything is alright or time turned fragile or hold me down.

13. What is a good memory you have involving 30?
The Hush Sound. ohh siobhan.

14. What is your favorite song by 38?
Flogging Molly? 7 deadly sins/devil's dance floor.

15. Is there a song by 19 that makes you happy?
Conor Oberst?!?! cape canaveral.

16. How many times have you seen 25 live?
Jeff Mangum? only in my dreams. but i have this thing where if i ever develop terminal cancer and make-a-wish comes to me, i want jeff to play for me.

17. What is the first song you ever heard by 22?
Oasis? wonderwall, duh.

18. What is your favorite album by 11?
Panic at the Disco. ouch. uh. pretty. odd.

19. Who is a favorite member of 1?
Bright Eyes. conor oberst, obviously.

20. Have you ever seen 14 live?
Sigur Ros? i wish!~

21. What is a good memory involving 27?
Placebo. I can't think of one :/

22. What is your favorite song by 16?
Lady GaGa. bad romance. :x

23. What is the first song you ever heard by 47?
Mindless Self Indulgence. i want to say stupid mf.

24. What is your favorite album by 18?
MGMT. uh? oracular spectacular.

25. What is your favorite song by 21?
Architecture in Helsinki <3 souvenirs.

26. What is the first song you ever heard by 26?
3OH!3 is seriously my number 26? ugh. dont trust me.

27. What is your favorite album by 3?
Jem! finally woken.

28. What is you favorite song by 2?
Tegan and Sara. knife going in.

29. What was the first song you ever heard by 32?
Arcade Fire? wake up or neon bible. can't remember.

30. What is you favorite song by 8?
Goo Goo Dolls. i'm still here. honorable mention: acoustic #3

31. How many times have you seen 17 live?
30 Seconds to Mars. none. :|

32. Is there a song by 44 that makes you happy?
Joshua Radin. fear. you. won't. fall. <3

33. What is your favorite album by 12?
Brand New. the devil and god.

34. What is the worst song by 45?
Modest Mouse? to be honest, i dislike just as much of their music as i enjoy.

35. What was the first song you ever heard by 34?
Thursday? god, i have no idea.

36. What is you favorite album by 48?
My Chemical Romance. i'm not even gonna answer this.

37. How many times have you seen 42 live?
Fall Out Boy. LOL.

38. What is your favorite song by 36?
Anthony Green? :/ baby girl.

39. What was the first song you ever heard by 28?
Gregory and the Hawk. boats and birds.

40. What is you favorite album by 7?
Elliott Smith, either either/or or xo. i'm leaning toward the latter.

41. Is there a song by 31 that makes you happy?
Queen. all dead, all dead. but it also makes me ragingly sad.

42. What is your favorite album by 41?
Shakira? haha. oh, i don't know.

43. What is your favorite song by 24?
Maria Taylor. xanax.

44. What is a good memory you have involving 46?
The Flaming Lips. oh.. theo's favorite band, we were going to see their new years show. so it was an almost future memory.

45. What is your favorite song by 35?
The Beatles. hmm. all my loving.

46. Is there a song by 9 that makes you happy?
State Radio. keepsake?

47. What is your favorite album by 4?
Stars. i honestly don't think i can choose one.. i'll go with set yourself on fire.

48. Who is a favorite member of 37?
Eisley. I WONDER.

49. What is the first song you ever heard by 43?
Owl City.. hello seattle.

50. How many albums do you own by 20?
Green Day, three or four.

1. How did you get into 29? Aerosmith
I don't know really, it's one of those bands that I'd always known about and knew a few songs, but finally just decided to listen to. Loved them. Even though that was a couple years ago, and I haven't been listening to them nearly as much as I used to.

2. What was the first song you ever heard by 22? Switchfoot
Meant To Live. Saw the video on Vh1 and had to have more... though that was several years ago.

3. What's your favorite lyric by 33? Chiodos
"You won't be leaving my arms ever, even if you want me to let go, honey- even if you say the things that make me want to lose you."

4. How did you get into 49? Anthony Green
I'm obsessed with Circa Survive, so I obviously had to check out the lead singer's solo project.

5. How many albums by 13 do you own? Gatsby's American Dream
None, unfortunately. I need to fix that, they're really fun.

6. What is your favorite song by 50? Marilyn Manson
Tainted Love. It's a cover, but it's delicious.

7. Is there a song by 39 that makes you sad? Assemblage 23
Not really. It's not exactly a sad-song kind of project.

8. What is your favorite song by 15? The Cure
Just Like Heaven. Cliche, but it's such a good song.

9. What is your favorite song by 5? Anberlin
The Haunting. It's one of those songs that seems to sing your thoughts.

10. Is there a song by 6 that makes you happy? IAMX
Not really, actually... I adore the music, but if anything, it's mildly depressing.

11. What is the worst song by 40? Alkaline Trio
Eh, I don't know them too well to pick a worst, but they're not my favorite.

12. What is your favorite song by 10? Circa Survive
The Most Dangerous Commercials.

13. What is a good memory you have involving 30? Phantom Planet
Driving down the shore, attempting to jam with old friends to the music... good times. Early teens, but good times.

14. What is your favorite song by 38? Innerpartysystem
Structure

15. Is there a song by 19 that makes you happy? The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Errrr... not really, no. They're not the happiest bunch.

16. Is there a song by 25 that makes you sad? Gallows
Not the songs themselves, but when I remember how the lead singer was such a giant douchemuffin the second time I saw AFI, and how I lost my front/center spot because of his rumored pulling of the fire alarm... Oh man. So angry.

17. What is the first song you ever heard by 23? Cinema Bizarre
Lovesongs (They Kill Me). Oh my god, I forgot this band existed. They were such a guilty pleasure.

18. What's your favorite lyric by 11? Rob Thomas
How the hell am I supposed to pick my favorite lyric by my favorite songwriter? My goodness... Though it's not from his solo project, "Now I'm back on my own. I lift my feet, feel like they're made of stone. Can I make you go where I go? It's killing me, can I take you home? Man, I'm coming home on my back. Is it me or did she paint it black?"

19. Who is a favorite member of 1? AFI
Earlier in the year I probably would have said Davey Havok because I had a massive fangirly crush on him, but now that that has passed, I can confidently say Jade Puget. His songwriting is just... guh. Phenomenal.

20. Is there a song by 14 that makes you happy? Enter Shikari
Labyrinth. It's just so strange and lively.

21. What is a good memory involving 27? Tiger Army
I don't really have one, unfortunately.

22. What is your favorite song by 16? Energy
Hunter Red

23. What is the first song you ever heard by 47? Senses Fail
Let It Enfold You. This song was the soundtrack to my sophomore year of high school.

24. What is your favorite album by 18? VNV Nation
Matter + Form

25. What is your favorite song by 21? The Spill Canvas
The Tide

26. What is the first song you ever heard by 26? Good Old War
Coney Island

27. What is your favorite album by 3? Blaqk Audio
Cex Cells

28. What is you favorite song by 2? Patrick Wolf
Overture. The combination of the beauty of the strings and the lyrics just gets me every time.

29. What was the first song you ever heard by 32? Copeland
Don't Slow Down. A friend and I performed it at an open mic early in the year.

30. What is you favorite song by 8? After Midnight Project
Wilted. Next time I see them, I need to yell at them for not putting it on the album. They know it's everyone's favorite.

31. How many times have you seen 17 live? Ivoryline
None yet, unfortunately. That'd be a fun show.

32. Is there a song by 44 that makes you happy? And One
Hell yeah! Military Fashion Show. I have so many memories dancing at the club to this track, driving around with the girls singing it, dancing and singing to it with my special someone... the list goes on.

33. How did you get into 12? Joshua Radin
Last.FM actually recommended him to me. Good call on that one.

34. What is the worst song by 45? 30 Seconds to Mars
The Mission...sorry, just not feeling it.

35. What was the first song you ever heard by 34? Atreyu
Lip Gloss and Black, as played by a cover band at a local gig four years ago in high school.

36. What is the first song you ever heard by 48? Fuel
Hemorrhage (In My Hands). SO good.

37. How many times have you seen 42 live? Green Day
None, and they're not exactly on the top of my to-see list.

38. What is you favorite song by 36? Apoptygma Berzerk
Paranoia

39. What was the first song you ever heard by 28? Envy on the Coast
Temper Temper. Thank you, PureVolume.

40. What is you favorite album by 7? The Honorary Title
Anything Else but the Truth

41. Is there a song by 31 that makes you happy? Val Emmich
Unfortunately no. He's a bit emo, if I do say so myself.

42. What is your favorite album by 41? Three Days Grace
One X

43. What is your favorite song by 24? Fall Out Boy
Nobody Puts Baby In The Corner, acoustic version. Brings back memories.

44. What is a good memory you have involving 46?Coheed and Cambria
Well, I guess when my friends and I performed some of their music at an open mic.

45. What is your favorite song by 35? Lady GaGa
Bad Romance. I don't care what anyone says, she's catchy as hell.

46. Is there a song by 9 that makes you happy? Matchbox Twenty
All of them. Favorite band EVER.

47. What is your favorite album by 4? Muse
Oh wow, that one's difficult... Probably Absolution.

48. Who is a favorite member of 37? Paramore
I don't have one, since I don't like Hayley and I don't know much about the rest of the band.

49. What is the first song you ever heard by 43? Damien Rice
Delicate, when a friend played it at a talent show in high school.

50. What is your favorite song by 20? Elliott Smith
Twilight

digital download- Neeshland Presents: Butterflies and Butcher Knives Vol. 1 (Hudson Valley, NY)



1. Nightmares for a week - Feelin’ Blue | myspace.com/nightmaresforaweek
2. Urban Fetch - The Shots | myspace.com/urbanfetch
3. Dan Blackburn - It Remains to be Seen | myspace.com/blackburned
4. Session 606 - The Great Act of Failure | myspace.com/session606
5. Moving Mountains - With One’s Heart In One’s Mouth | myspace.com/movingmountains
6. Rick Whispers - Case of the Mondays | myspace.com/rickwhispers
7. Animals Like Us - Machines | myspace.com/animalslikeus
8. My Only Escape - Mayor of Party (It’s Hard to Measure When You’re Drinking Straight from the Keg) | myspace.com/myonlyescapex
9. Weerd Science - Dear S.A.M. (UnRapped) | myspace.com/weerdscience
10. Thieves And Villains - Settle New York, Settle | myspace.com/thievesandvillains
11. The Ricochet - Runaway Getaway | myspace.com/thericochetny
12. PUGS - The Last Hope | myspace.com/pugs845
13. Walking Bombs - + Side For Eos | myspace.com/walkingbombs
14. Evazan - Flow | myspace.com/evazan
15. Weerd Science - I Wish I Went to College | myspace.com/weerdscience
16. White Out - Love For Haters | myspace.com/whiteoutlw
17. Spineless Thug - Phineas | myspace.com/codenamemorocco
18. Cosmonaut - Sleepless | myspace.com/cosmonautnyc
19. Mours - Christmas From Hell | myspace.com/theMours

download .zip: http://theneesh.tumblr.com/post/286596690/free-digital-download-neeshland-presents-butterflies

This free digital sampler was compiled to give a glimpse into the diverse musicality that dwells in Hudson Valley, NY. New York is a vast state… there’s so much more to it than just the city. Here’s a bit that goes on from Westchester to Albany. Many many thanks to the musicians for taking part in this project and keeping the music alive!

Being a resident of the Hudson Valley my entire life (I’ve lived in Rockland, Westchester, and Ulster), I’ve always been interested in the thriving music scene (though before I discovered its existence I tinkered deeply in what was going on in New Jersey and on Long Island). The Hudson Valley has most famously birthed The Band, Steely Dan, Soulive, Shabutie / Coheed and Cambria, The Getaway / Matchbook Romance, 3, Jerk Magnet / Anadivine, Cooter / Autopilot Off, Saul Williams, Jeff Klein, Hayden Panettiere, Pete Seeger, Jay Beckenstein, Chris Caffery, Gia Farrell, Matt Flynn and of course- the Woodstock Music Festival. The talent is strong here. Must be in the historically rich soil or something… because it’s ridiculous!

The idea for this sampler was inspired by the combination of the 10 year anniversary of Error 404 - Not Found compilation and the release of the “So Much For Us” book. Both archive the underground rock scene of Kingston/Woodstock in the late 90’s leading me to believe that I’m not alone in or crazy for feeling such passion toward the music to emerge from this area.

Most of these songs are unmastered. Some are rough mixes. Some are personal/basement recordings. One is live.

Remember,

This is just a list I've been adding to (and not taking away from) for ages now, of bands I've decided at the time deserved a place on it. Looking at some of them now, there are a few I hardly like at all any more, so it's not 100% representative of my taste, but neither are my overall charts. Perhaps they balance eachother.


3 Inches of Blood
The 69 Eyes
A Perfect Circle
A Skylit Drive
AC/DC
Acid Bath
After Forever
Agents of Oblivion
Alesana
Alexisonfire
Alice Cooper
Alice in Chains
all:my:faults
Aphex Twin
Apocalyptica
Apoptygma Berzerk
Arcade Fire
Arch Enemy
As I Lay Dying
Avril Lavigne
Bauhaus
The Beatles
Bella Morte
Beto Vázquez Infinity
Billy Idol
The Birthday Massacre
Black Sabbath
Blind Guardian
Bloc Party
Blur
Boards of Canada
Bullet For My Valentine
Cascada
Cathedral
Children of Bodom
Chiodos
Chumbawamba
The Clash
Coheed and Cambria
Coldplay
Corrosion of Conformity
Cradle of Filth
The Crüxshadows
The Cure
Daft Punk
Dark Moor
Deadboy & the Elephantmen
Deathstars
Delain
Demons & Wizards
Derek and the Dominos
Devendra Banhart
Dimmu Borgir
Dir en grey
The Doors
Draconian
DragonForce
Dreadful Shadows
The Dresden Dolls
Electric Light Orchestra
Electric Wizard
Elvenking
Ensiferum
Epica
Escape the Fate
Evanescence
The Fall of Troy
The Feeling
Finntroll
The Flaming Lips
Four Tet
Franz Ferdinand
The Fratellis
Freternia
Funker Vogt
Gackt
Gamma Ray
The Go! Team
Gorillaz
Hard-Fi
Hawthorne Heights
Hellogoodbye
The Holloways
I Am Ghost
IAMX
Iced Earth
In Flames
Infected Mushroom
Inkubus Sukkubus
Iron Maiden
It Dies Today
Jack Off Jill
The Jam
Jason Mraz
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Joss Stone
Katatonia
Keane
Klaxons
The KLF
KOTOKO
Kraftwerk
La Roux
Lacuna Coil
Lady GaGa
Leaves' Eyes
Led Zeppelin
Linkin Park
Little Man Tate
Lostprophets
Lunatica
Madness
MALICE MIZER
Manic Street Preachers
Metallica
Mind.In.A.Box
Mindless Self Indulgence
Misfits
Moonspell
Muse
My Dying Bride
The New Radicals
Nightwish
Nine Inch Nails
Nirvana
Oasis
ohGr
Ozzy Osbourne
P!nk
Panic! At the Disco
Pierce the Veil
Pink Floyd
Placebo
The Police
The Postal Service
Power Quest
Primal Scream
Queen
Queens of the Stone Age
R.E.M.
Rammstein
Rascal Flatts
Razorlight
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Rob Zombie
The Rolling Stones
Rotersand
Röyksopp
Scissor Sisters
Seabound
Silverstein
Sinergy
The Sisters of Mercy
Skillet
Skinny Puppy
The Smiths
Snow Patrol
Sonata Arctica
Squarepusher
Stewart Copeland
The Stone Roses
Stone Sour
The Style Council
Suede
System of a Down
Tarot
Terrorvision
Thirteen Senses
Tool
Tristania
U2
The Upper Room
Vashti Bunyan
The Velvet Underground
The White Stripes
White Zombie
The Who
Wintersun
Within Temptation
:wumpscut:
Xandria
X JAPAN
Yes