Born Against "The Rebel Sound of Shit and Failure"

Born against career began and ended with their live show: starting at New York City's Pyramid Club on April 29, 1989, and finishing at the Nile Cafe in Richmond, Virginia (July 12, 1993). "The Rebel Sounds of Shit and Failure" is a furious attack of anger and diatribe that will make most other hardcore/punk CDs sound like one of those kids now collections. You know those commercials where a bunch of brats are jumping up and down while singing along to Top 40 acts including Greenday and Sum 41? It's almost enough to make me give up on the human race and gouge my own eyes out. How much more proof does one need that punk has long kicked the bucket? Anyway, this album is a reissued collection (released by Kill Rock Stars in '03; originally released by Vermiform Records in '95) of Born Againsts seven inch and compilation material. Everything about the 24 tracks on "Rebel Sound" is straight forward, no frills, angry, and raw. The dudes in this band must have a had a fucked up child hood or something because they're the angriest band of skinny white kids that I know of. Sam, the lead singer, vomits out a blistering attack of cynical humor and radical politics. The guy sounds like he had to cough up blood after every show. Adam Woodrow (also see The Young Pioneers) played guitar, sang back up, and wrote most of the music for Born Against. "The Rebel Sound..." song list includes a sweet cover of X's "Riding With Mary". Some of my favorite tracks include the fierce "The Good Father", and the slower (dare I say melodic) songs "I Am A Idiot" and "My Favorite Housing Project". The latter two songs hint at a musical progression that may have veered from their take no prisoners hardcore sound if they had continued to play as a band. There are more songs on this CD that'll make you want to smash things up, slam around, and think at the same time. Well maybe not at the same time, but hopefully you get the idea... Isn't that what punk rock was all about? I don't know. I could be wrong, but all that dudes who wear black mascara, and look like they just walked out of a Hot Topic inspire me to do is hit the off button.

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