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Crime In Stereo

Explosives, And The Will To Use Them (2004)
Blackout! Records

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Contributed by: Pastepunk
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Published on February 20th 2004

There's two thoughts constantly running through my head when listening to this debut full-length from CRIME IN STEREO: 1) Everything that I love about hardcore can be found within the 29 minutes of music on here; and 2) This band needs to tour the world and never look back.

"Explosives, And The Will To Use Them" feels almost like it was made explicitly to fit my personal tastes in music. CRIME IN STEREO feature the melodic empathy of Long Island legends, SILENT MAJORITY; the sing-along hysteria of BANE, and the relentless, methodical intensity of STRIKE ANYWHERE and KILL YOUR IDOLS. In the end though, CRIME IN STEREO dish out a sound that's pretty unique in these times, as it never panders particularly hard to a specific genre, nor postures itself in the mold of a band that lives and dies by contemporary associations. At 24, I'm still a sucker for anything that I can sing-along and finger-point at while in my bedroom, and this gets the job done. CRIME IN STEREO's lyrics have a stunning clarity to them, taking on targets with laser sight. CRIME IN STEREO mix it up from posicore vibes ("Amsterdammed!") to more critical vocal assaults ("If You Think We're Talking About You, We Are"), all while retaining a certain "soundtrack of my youth" character.

Another sweet thing about this release is that the production style is entirely unique for this day and age where just about every hardcore band wants something bigger and crunchier than the rest. "Explosives..." has an intentionally stripped down, flippant sound to it, one that's more obnoxiously gritty than underproduced or neglected. However one can describe it, I think it works perfectly.

Without a shred of doubt, I'm calling "Explosives, And The Will to Use Them," the first essential piece of music from 2004.

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tapemarks_and_brakelights (May 29, 2006)

tied with "the troubled statestide" as best album of all time.

sen (March 13, 2006)

one of the most replayable cds i've ever heard

Anonymous (November 24, 2005)

I don't know where someone would say this band is tough guy, but either way i'm in love with this cd and i'm not going to attempt to define a genre cause it doesn't matter.

get into it.

Anonymous (May 20, 2005)

jesse, that has got to be the dumbest thing uve ever said.

kenjamin (December 15, 2004)

seemed like pretty generic tough guy hardcore when i saw them.

Anonymous (June 2, 2004)

this band is great, pastepunk needs to stop shitting them up and step off their cocks.

Anonymous (May 14, 2004)

To the guy below me, you're right. This is a great band. Somehow, they remind me of Gorilla Biscuits, mostly in the vocals.

Anonymous (April 14, 2004)

ok .... this band fucking rules .. there is no Thursday or Pennywise in this ... this is for fans of Reach The Sky , Lifetime , Kid Dynamite......

Anonymous (March 6, 2004)

amazing CD

Anonymous (March 1, 2004)

"I almost bought the KYI split with these guys, but it was $10, and a regular KYI album "No Gimmicks Neccessary" was only $11."

Where the hell did you go to buy it?
$10 is quite the mark-up.

Anonymous (February 24, 2004)

"What we have here is cookie-cutter hardcore punk. Sometimes the guitar riffs are Thursday rip-offs, sometimes they're Pennywise rip-offs. Either way, this music is not good."

You know someones a fucking idiot when they consider Pennywise and Thursday "cookie-cutter hardcore punk". You're hipster scum. Die. -Stuaz

Anonymous (February 22, 2004)

Good band, I'm loving the song "Heres To Things Gone Wrong"

-c22

Anonymous (February 22, 2004)

They don't sound a lot like pennywise, but I can't say I love them from the mp3s I've heard.

inagreendase (February 22, 2004)

"Can anyone tell me how the new Get Up Kids cd is"

Uptempo, very happy, you could even it call fun. Good/solid album.

Anonymous (February 21, 2004)

seems good, and animal farm is a good book.

Anonymous (February 21, 2004)

"Thursday and Pennywise as influences? Are you insane? Have you ever heard of lifetime? dag nasty? Gorilla Biscuits?"

Amen, brother. Even though I like PW, but anyway. This guys, Scraps And Heart Attacks, and Paint It Black are bringing hardcore back to what it should be. I'm fucking impressed.

Anonymous (February 21, 2004)

Can anyone tell me how the new Get Up Kids cd is

dazed (February 21, 2004)

I just ordered both that KYI full length, the split with CIS, and this album. Hooray for spending scholarship money on stuff that makes me focus less on school.

The mp3s from this sounded great.

TheOneTrueBill (February 21, 2004)

Well... yes, yes I am a cheap ass.

Anonymous (February 21, 2004)

if yout too much of a cheap ass, go but there split with kill your idols. along with kyi. these dudes are putting out some of the best hardcore punk riht now. brings me back to a day whemn music and punk actually meant something, not all this manuafcuctued bandwagon emo crap that has infested our scence for for the last few years. im glad there are still bands like these dudes.

TheOneTrueBill (February 21, 2004)

I almost bought the KYI split with these guys, but it was $10, and a regular KYI album "No Gimmicks Neccessary" was only $11.