McG's current top 10 CDs

I hate it when people say things like, "You know, there isn't any good new music out there!"

I just give them a look that says, what the !*$#? are you talking about?!

I think the problem is just the opposite; there's too much good new music out there, and try as I might, I can't keep track of it all.

Anyway, here are my current picks for top 10 CDs.

10. Bad Religion - The Empire Strikes First - Business as usual with the catchy melodies and oohs and aahs, but played with impeccable precision. The drumming on this record is sick. I downloaded this and was so impressed, I bought my own copy.
Bad Religion MP3s

9. The Lovekill - The Lovekill EP - Kinda has the urgency of mid-'80s Dischord bands such as Scream and Rites of Spring. Songwriting is interesting and rocking and singer sounds like Guy Picciotto at times and like Mick Collins at others. The kind of band Touch & Go would put out - if they were still a rock label.
The Lovekill MP3s

8. Floor - Floor - They just released their lost album from 1994, but its this 2002 self-titled CD that is must-have. Heavy in the vein of Karp, Melvins and Sabbath. Easily one of the most dense recordings I've ever heard.
MP3: Floor - "Scimitar"

7. The Paybacks - Harder and Harder - What a rockin' record! Brash, confident swagger with cut-to-the-chase riffs. Reminds me a little of Joan Jett, but much harder and grittier.
MP3: The Paybacks - "Scotch Love"

6. Sahara Hotnights - Kiss & Tell - Slicker and more cleaned up and produced than "Jennie Bomb," but still some good songs here.
Listen to clips at saharahotnights.com

5. Career Suicide - Career Suicide LP - Raw and crude hardcore punk. Short songs, fired up singer and good ol' fashioned punk rock vibe circa MRR 1984. This is supposed to come out on a Career Suicide comp CD. Can't wait for that.
MP3s at careersuicide.com

4. Henry Fiat's Open Sore - The Parallel Universe of - Really kicks ass. Fast-as-hell thrash rockers who spew out 25 songs in 35 minutes. Swedish dudes who just unleash everything and give it their all. Rock and roll in its most primitive and accelerated state.
MP3: Henry Fiat's Open Sore - "Hey Ju"

3. The Knockout Pills - 1 + 1 = Ate - New LP on Estrus is a ripper. A polished 4-track recording (i.e., it's raw and alive!) with some killer cuts. Fans of Clorox Girls and Marked Men take note.
MP3: The Knockout Pills - "Target H"
MP3: The Knockout Pills - "Do the Skin Crawl"

2. The Soviettes - II - Every record store I've been to in the past month hasn't stocked any Soviettes CDs. I can't understand why, since this is primo punk-rock-and-roll and is rife with killer melodies and well written songs.
MP3: The Soviettes - "#1 is Number Two"

1. Mastodon - Leviathan - Over-the-top metal infused punk with jazzy drumming, pummeling rhythms and intense guitar work. This band just slays it on every song and is one of my favorite new discoveries (even though they have an EP and two LPs to their credit.) Out at the end of August, I downloaded this recording, but you can bet your ass I'll be buying a copy when it comes out.
Mastodon official site