In my opinion, Anchors has too much punk rock on his list.

wow, you guys are all acting like bitches, all anyone ever does is bitch about everyone else's taste in music, fuck its just a list of the dudes favourite cds, you dont need to be bitching about it unless you have to put up with it, and 99.9% of you probably dont have to sit beside him and listen to music with him. And all the bitching about rap music and shit, this is a punk review site that covers punk music and music thats directly related to it like hardcore and poppunk and emo and that, he can put the cds on his list if he wants to, but why bother fucking bitching about "masta killa" and "jay-z", the only thing you are doing is making yourselves look like bitches. Maybe you guys arent the type to go into forums and shit just to start pathetic little internet fights, but thats what your making yourselves look like. This is directed at the majority of the people who have posted a comment on this list.

Yeah, you liking J.T. is hipster predictable. Try saying something like JoJo or something for sick cred, man.

I cannot belive how in Gods fucking name Justin Fucking Timberlake made it onto this list.? He's gotta be the most shitfaced douchebag maker of music the world has ever seen. And dont get me started on that manwhore producer sellout cockmaster Timbaland.. I mean, what an overrated asskissing piece of shit. Is there a wommitworthy, MTV ass sucking record out there he hasnt got his filthy hands on? A part from that the list is quite alright..

oh shit, you really do live in a frat? haha no wonder you love biggie so much ya frathead bitch, it makes sense now.

That doesn't even make sense. "You live in a frat." Do you actually think this garbage out before typing it?

And I bought my own car, thanks for your concern though.

You live in a frat... And your parents bought you a car.

No reason to care about?

Oh, okay, that makes sense. Nobody should care about The Beatles, John Coltrane, Chuck Berry, Led Zeppelin, or Metallica any more either. I mean, they're obviously older than any mid 90's hip-hop. Music is only good during the era it comes out. It all makes sense now.

When it comes to arguing about mid 90's hip hop that no one has any reason to care about anymore, look no further than the local frat house.

First off, a lot of being 'raw' is the lyrical matter. And if you're going to say Biggies lyrics weren't raw, that they didn't tell of the streets city life, you're an idiot.

And just as Adam pointed out, you absolutely can be raw in sound and smooth in delivery in the very same song. "Dead Wrong" and "Gimme The Loot" are absolutely perfect examples.

And how can you like the Wu and not understand that point? Those guys were all extremely raw, but did GZA and Inspectah Deck not have incredibly smooth flows? All you've done here is prove you don't have the faintest clue as to what you're talking about.

you just proved my point. you can't be raw and smooth.

biggie appeals to the average music fans because he was so smooth and had such extravagent, overproduced beats. but i like music thats real and raw.

wu tang clan ain't nothin to fuck wit!

"biggie is overproduced bullshit. its not raw."

The fuck is wrong with you?

Listen to Dead Wrong and tell me that's not the hardest shit ever. Or Gimme The Loot. That's not raw?

"Nas has bitten a few beats here and there, but what rapper hasn't? The amount of lines he's stolen from Biggie is absolutely fucking mindblowing. I could see using the chorus from Juicy as an homage, but he stole lyric upon lyric. You can't deny that."

I can and will deny that, but I have gotten in very long arguments over this before. I'm just going to post this:

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/features/id.398/title.the-vindi cation-of-jay-z

And say that accusations of biting are always ridiculous. A major example of this is XXL calling out MJG for "biting" Biggie, on a Biggie song.

Please, enlighten me as to your copious knowledge in "the book of hip-hop."

This ought to be a fucking riot.

Dude, when you step to Justin Timberlake, Earth Crisis, or the Notorious B.I.G. with Anchors, you GO THERE.

Calling someone a "kid" whilst engaging in the most played out, irrelevant argument in the book of hip hop is funny.

-Will

Raw =/= Angry.

Tupac was a tremendously talented rapper, no doubt. Extremely intelligent and extremely versatile. If you're going to cite an example of how angry he could be though, I'd say "Can't See Me" serves that point better.

Irrelevant, though, Biggie came from a different environment and had a different style completely. First and foremost, Biggie had the smoothest flow of any MC in the history of hip hop. Smoother than KRS, Reverend Run, Q-Tip, Common, Nas, GZA, Rakim, anyone. Completely untouchable in that category. He didn't need to yell. He had a calm and a cool that projected the kind of confidence you need to be that big an MC. And what he rhymed about was just as raw as what Tupac did. He grew up a crack dealer, he was on the streets. Go listen to "Ten Crack Commandments," "Suicidal Thoughts," "Niggas Bleed," or "Machine Gun Funk" and tell me that's not raw.

A poser? Kid do you know what you're talking about? Get back to me when you do.

biggie is overproduced bullshit. its not raw.

now tupac, that shit is raw. have you ever heard 'hit em up'? ever hear the end of that song? thats some of the rawest shit in all of music. his vocals at the end of that song rivals damaged-era henry rollins in terms of intensity and anger.

biggie is a poser, tupac thug for life!

I don't know what's funnier, when people who know shit about hip-hop pretend that they do, or the fact that your profile includes detailed lists of posters on here you do and don't like.

biggie sucks balls. you don't know shit.

'He' in that second paragraph = Jay-Z.

Alright, I'll start with Jay-Z.

"Oh My God" and "Beach Chair" are solid, but that's it -- solid. Those are the only two tracks where both Jay's flow and the beat he's rapping over are good. Either he's got a good beat and completely uninspired flow/awkward rhymes or good rhymes and a beat that's completely unflattering. I find it hard to believe this is the man that recorded Reasonable Doubt and The Black album. Where's the hunger of 'Cashmere Thoughts' and the bombast of 'The Takeover.' It's gone man. In three years time he went from the top of his game to a hollow shell of what was. I feel like this new album was made just so he could say "there, I made another one, you happy?"

Nas has bitten a few beats here and there, but what rapper hasn't? The amount of lines he's stolen from Biggie is absolutely fucking mindblowing. I could see using the chorus from Juicy as an homage, but he stole lyric upon lyric. You can't deny that.

RZA's delivery is very polarizing, so I can understand you not liking that.

-------------------------------------------------------- -----------------

Now, on with the Wu.

The fact that you honestly just compared Ghostface to 50 Cent made my fucking head explode. Jesus Christ, are you listening to the same guy I am? He's only gotten better. Supreme Clientele, Bulletproof Wallets, and Fishscale are absolute fucking classics. Ghostface is 100 times more raw and gritty than that hack 50 Cent could ever be on his best fucking day. He's a consummate storyteller, and his beats are top notch. See "Three Bricks" and "Clipse Of Doom" for proof of such. There's no cheesy chorus' or 4th grade lyrics on Ghostface records. And so what if he worked with P. Diddy. You know who else did? Biggie. So there goes your credibility on that point.

Bling vids and amateur club beats? What in God's name are you talking about. You are hopelessly delusional.

And you want to talk about bad reviews, we'll use Metacritic, since that compiles tons of reviews to make an average.

Masta Killa's most recent effort, "Made In Brooklyn" received an average of 66;

http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/mastakilla/madeinb rooklyn?q=masta killa

Now let's look at Fishscale -- an average of 88;
http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/ghostface/fishscale? q=ghostface killah

Pretty Toney -- average of 84;

http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/ghostface/prettyto neyalbum?q=ghostface killah

His lowest scored album, More Fish -- average of 77;

http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/ghostface/morefish ?q=ghostface killah

Masta Killa's No Said Date did well, but not as well as Fishscale with an average of 86;

http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/mastakilla/nosaidd ate?q=masta killa

So I ask you, where the hell are these bad reviews for Ghostface you're talking about? I sure as hell don't see any. Look dude, if you're going to try and prove me wrong in regards to rap, especially Wu-Tang, you're going to have to do a fuck of a lot better than that.

one last thing, anchors....leave your frat brothers out of this....i know you pay a lot of money for those friendships, but i'm only one man!

Find me one bad Masta Killa review, and I'll show you 100 bad Ghostface reviews.

This is the single most blasphemous thing ever posted on the internet. Ghostface was and is clearly the most talented member of the Wu-Tang, Masta Killa isn't even close. Do not argue with me about the Wu, you will lose. The levels of talent in solo albums is ranked as such;

Umm right. Obviously you havent heard any of the High Priest's solo records have you? Please see "School", "Old Man", "No Said Date", "Pass The Bone Remix" and "Digi Warfare". for references.

The last REAL good Ghostface tracks I remember hearing was DAYTONA 500 and CHERCHEZ LA GHOST, and after that, hes been just rtying to hard to keep up with the likes of MTV Rap Crap like 50 Cent and Snoop. You wanna talk about blasphemy, then you should listen to "Back Like That" with Ne-Yo (lame!) or that weak shit he did with P Diddy and his fuckwads.

I feel that if you're a TRUE Wu fan, you'd stay away from any member gone solo that is releasing bubblegum and bling vids with amateur club beats. And that DOES go for that cartoon character Method Man.

But hey, we're all entitled to our own opinions, and you are the only guy i've heard say seriously that he liked Justin Timberlake.

Cursive = bad. Timberlake = good.

Talk about a loss of all credibility.

This is the last thing I'm going to say on Justin Timberlake -- forget your self-imposed restrictions, hang ups, "punk cred" or whatever else is keeping you from appreciating the album for how good it really is. Trust me, I couldn't have cared less about Justin Timberlake before this album, but it's legitimately amazing. That said, I swear on all that is good and holy that next person saying something to the effect of "JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, OMGWTFBBQ R U SERIOUS" is going to get their ass kicked. I will look you up somehow, I will mapquest your house, drive there, and beat the ever loving shit out of you. - Anchors

bring it on

I've seriously got to disagree as hard as possible. When Oh My God, Kingdom Come, Beach Chair, Trouble come on, there is no rapper I'd rather listen to, My Chemical Romance references or not.

And come the fuck on with the swagger jacker shit. Any serious rap fan could catch and appreciate those lines. I might as well call Nas a biter for using the same samples on HHID as Big Daddy Kane and Eric B and Rakim.

Maybe RZA's cool to some, but I can't stand him past 94. I have no interest in listening to someone that sounds like they're eating while they rap off beat.

And Deck definitely is criminally underrated, though I think a lot of his style has shown up in a lot of terrible "backpack" rappers of recent years.

I honestly wanted the new Jay-Z record to be good, but it's so lifeless it's ridiculous. Dude did nothing but go through the motions to make that record. The flows, the beats, the rhymes, he didn't try with any of it. There's two songs max on that entire thing I'd go out of my way to listen to.

I lost a ton of respect for him anyhow after hearing Cam'ron's "Swagger Jacker." I mean, I knew he had stolen some stuff, but Christ. There's at least 3 minutes worth of stuff he's stolen just from Biggie, and then another 4 minutes worth of stuff he stole from various other rappers.

As far as Masta Killa, he was 100 times better as a part of the Wu. Because there he could do his 30 second piece and it moved on to the next guy, he doesn't have a compelling enough style to make good solo records. That's exactly the problem with U-God and Cappadonna too. Everyone is great on a song like Triumph, but when it comes down to making solo records, only half of them really did/do it well.

I like the RZA. He's got a very unique flow, and a couple of his records were real solid. You can't knock Bobby Digital. I acknowledge he's nowhere near as talented as GZA, Inspectah, Raekwon, or Ghostface, but he does his thing well.

And I'd like to state for the record how criminally under appreciated Inspectah Deck is. Incredible as part of the Wu, and solid solo records. I mean, everyone knows he's talented, but he never gets the credit or notariety of some of the other guys.

"Adam, did you actually listen to the new Jay-Z? And if so, do you normally listen to hip hop? If you answered yes to both those questions I don't see how in the fuck you could have enjoyed that garbage."

I bought it the week it came out. Rap is half of what I listen to. It's a great record, with three bad songs.

I'm more interested in how you thought HHID wasn't a complete pile of suck. You didn't actually like Who Killed It or Where Are They Now, did you?

"Masta Killa's solo records > Ghostface's"

That's the wrongest shit ever.

"Do not argue with me about the Wu, you will lose."

RZA is a terrible rapper and has been for years. Masta Killa is definitely much better, but I fully support your low placement of U-God and ODB.

Wow Anchors, nice attempt at discrediting me. For one, I already made clear what I was trying to say. For two, you said nothing to defend yourself, just made another cheap attack at me.

Holier than thou?

I'm not the one telling people they aren't worthy of reading my opinions just because they disagree with them. The real comedy is in an Earth Crisis fan calling somebody else a joke.

-Will

Hey Will, how about you tell us more stories about your friends. And by stories about your friends, I mean stories that took place when you were 8 years old that you lied about and altered to fit your ill-conceived holier than thou dissertations about how nobody knows "true hardcore."

You're the biggest joke on the internet.

you really should check out the new hold steady album, anchors. it really is deserving of the hype surrounding it, easily a top 10 on the year for me.

P.O.M.E? It's hard to respect that. Not the best hip-hop album of the week it was released, and We Fly High isn't worth shit either.

Looks like no more punk rockers are reviewing anymore.

"And honestly, if this list, or Justin Timberlake, or whatever is going to keep you from valuing my opinion in the future, you didn't deserve to hear it in the first place"

Wow, talk about being a big baby.

Of course the opinions you present are going to stick with you. Of course this will effect how people view your criticisms. The fact that Justin Timberlake ranked into your top 20 proves that your "taste" in music (I put the word in quotations to indicate my inner debate over its existance) is at direct odds with most of the community here. You keep defending your own opinion with press sheet hyperbole for Timbaland, but why should anyone take you seriously when it comes to reviewing hardcore? Because you're from Syracuse (ahaha)?

-Will

Haha as far as I'm concerned, Chris Berman is irreplaceable. I know he still does The Blitz, but it's not the same. And fuuuuck the Senators. Buffalo only has 7 regulation losses, and three of those are from Ottawa.

And I hate Toronto too, but I'll give them credit, they're playing very well this year. Definitely a playoff team at very least.

Actually I just don't like Justin Timerlake. No punkcreds needed, it's just how I feel. Thanks for responding in full coverage though, it's cool to see a reviewer actually reading and thinking about the questions asked. I guess our musical tastes are differing more now than they did in the past, hence my comments. But I must say, I enjoy Deion and Rich and Mooch as much (if not more) than the Berman/Jackson duo. And believe me, those men are gods, and I was the first to say that post football coverage was going to collapse. But I was wrong. Oh and another thing, I witnessed the Ottawa Senators beat the Sabres on home ice for my first NHL experience ever on Nov 15th. I know they're not as good, but that's kinda funny that you mentioned the Sabres. Go Leafs! We suck!!!

Dave Norman

Envy - Good, but it didn't stick with me throughout the year. I love listening to it when I'm driving or late at night, but it's honestly not an album I go out of my way to listen to compared to anything on this list.

Isis - Completely underwhelming. After how good Panopticon was, I had high hopes, and those hopes were dashed with this most recent record.

Phoenix Bodies - Not my style. Good guys, fun live, not anything I want to listen to on record.

Cave In - That was '05.

Back When - I unfortunately didn't hear that record until my list was finalized. It'd have only been an honorable mention though, anyhow.

Blood Brothers - Terrific album, but not top 20 material.

As far as screamo, there's not much left coming out in the genre. New Comadre was great, and just missed the top 20, but what else even came out? La Quiete didn't have a proper full length this year and everyone else broke up. I think my only mistake on this list is forgetting Pyramids, their album was the As The Roots Undo of 2006.

This is the last thing I'm going to say on Justin Timberlake -- forget your self-imposed restrictions, hang ups, "punk cred" or whatever else is keeping you from appreciating the album for how good it really is. Trust me, I couldn't have cared less about Justin Timberlake before this album, but it's legitimately amazing. That said, I swear on all that is good and holy that next person saying something to the effect of "JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, OMGWTFBBQ R U SERIOUS" is going to get their ass kicked. I will look you up somehow, I will mapquest your house, drive there, and beat the ever loving shit out of you.

What bothers me most about the people giving me shit for it is that I'm surprised about who it's coming from. I expected to catch a ton of flack, but from the usual short-sighted fools who listen to nothing but punknewscore.

And honestly, if this list, or Justin Timberlake, or whatever is going to keep you from valuing my opinion in the future, you didn't deserve to hear it in the first place.

Wow. I am always interested in reviews by Anchors, but I thought this list was kinda crappy. No Envy? No Isis? No Back When? No Phoenix Bodies? No Cave In? No Blood Brothers. No ... wait that's my list. But yeah I was very surprised with this list. Music is subjective and all so I can't hate on Anchors, but I certainly will not be as excited to read his reviews as I was last year. Justin fucking Timberlake? Are you kidding me? At least he included Sparowes, Ultra Dolphins and Converge. I hope you keep reviewing the 'real' screamo genre though, you always review good bands in that category. Thanks for introducing me to Bravo Fucking Bravo this year - holla.

Posted by moneenerd on 2007-01-01 22:23:50
Masta Killa's solo records > Ghostface's

This is the single most blasphemous thing ever posted on the internet. Ghostface was and is clearly the most talented member of the Wu-Tang, Masta Killa isn't even close. Do not argue with me about the Wu, you will lose. The levels of talent in solo albums is ranked as such;

1) Ghostface Killah
2) Raekwon
3) GZA
4) Inspectah Deck
5) RZA
6) Method Man
7) O.D.B
8) Masta Killa

9) Cappadonna
10) U-God

nas is the most overrated hip hop artist not named jay-z

dude fuckin rhymes like he's reading off a piece of paper, bored to tears

but this is a good list

Masta Killa's solo records > Ghostface's

Adam, did you actually listen to the new Jay-Z? And if so, do you normally listen to hip hop? If you answered yes to both those questions I don't see how in the fuck you could have enjoyed that garbage.

Thank fuck someone else agrees that Set Your Goals are terrible. All I have to do now is convince my best friend.

Nuke the frats.

You're all on crack. The best albums were NOFX, Strike Anywhere, and The Street Dogs.

"Biggest Disappointments
5. Jay-Z - Kingdom Come
Roc-A-Fella
Hova should have just stayed retired. This bland, unimpressive return from retirement could very well tarnish the legacy established with records like Reasonable Doubt. Pitiful."

Fuck you.

The new Sugarcult album is definitely an "Album That If I Ever Have to Listen to Again, I Will Throw Myself into a Pit Full of Black Mambas." I had high hopes for those guys after Start Static, but their last two have just been terrible.

I was really surprised (in a good way) to see Gregor Samsa's 55:12 in your honorable mentions. I didn't think anyone else listened to them...

"Do It Alone" from Sugarcult's new record was actually bought or stolen or something from a local band around here called "Lights Out Irvine" which might be the reason the album was named "Lights Out".

There's your useless pop rock trivia for the day. And props to Anchors for making his list while clearly not giving a fuck what anyone would think about it. Good work.

Thank you so much for shitting on that Set Your Goals record.

alright dude, let me get this straight, you put that shitfest new sugarcult album as pleasant, but ripped the SYG record?

i'm a pretty big fan of sugarcult's previous records, they're a guilty pleasure, but their new record is easily the worst thing to come out this year that isn't nu-screamo-avenged-sevenfold-wannabe-core a la escape the fate. i can understand differing opinions, but damn man, that record is just flat out bad. totally lifeless, there's a reason not even mtv is playing sugarcult. i've tried so many times to like that album, but i find every time i put it on, i want to write a scathing review blasting it for everything. there is maybe two tracks i kind of liked on it... and jesus christ, what were they thinking with that gi joe esque intro...?

he is the face of a money-making organization, he is another ambassador of vanity, unlike many, if not any other band that you could have put on your list, which could just be the very reason a single kid decides to go to school that day, which in my eyes commands infinitely more respect. sorry! i just hate trendy shit. hate it.

I encountered some snags, and i said to myself, i said, i said, i wasn't going to say anything, but - "Upon further reading I have deduced that you're gay" - seconded... in a purely constructive and objective way.

"These dude don't know me from Adam and Eve
That's why they can't mess up my flow
And when this beat drops, your heart stops
You feel it from your head to your toes."

(the first lyric i could find)

JT didn't write the music, he didn't play the music, he probably didn't write the lyrics, but if he did, his little contribution to the album was truely plebistoric, and the 'singing' comes from a machine in an office somewhere. so why is this album on your list? firstly it's not punk, or even a respectable or meaningful art-form, and secondly if it has to be then surely little to no credit should be given to this talentless muff, and rather to the producers (clever chaps - lots of money). dopey *&@#!!!! in a purely constructive and objective way... of course.

i WILL check out those sparrowy tarts though... sound reet posh. cheers.

i enjoy the tuneage on most of aof's 'crisis', but don't you think the lyrics are a little, say .... wank?

Nas has been real spotty since Illmatic, but he's had some great tracks here and there. His problem is consistency. God's Son, Stillmatic, Street's Disciple, Nastradamus, all had too much filler.

This new one is nowhere near Illmatic, but it's sure as fuck the best once since. Only one or two throwaway tracks, the rest is awesome.

And as far as Justin Timberlake, you shouldn't be concerned about not liking him because it's "hip," because he's on MTV, or because he was in N*Sync, that record straight up rules.

I'm stuck in a quandry, I don't want to like Justin Timberlake b/c of who he is nor do I want to look trendy and ironic by digging him all of a sudden. But it looks like eventually succumb to the one who brought sexy back.

nas's flow fell off so badly after illmatic that it's paniful to even listen to anything he's put out since.

Usually stuff that Anchors likes, I like (besides the hip hop and timberlake) so I'll check out the bands I haven't heard of. Good list.

Good call on the Knapsack. I need to listen to Helios and I need that Mercury Program album.

Editing errors:

You're missing #3 in your biggest dissapointments, and in worst albums there's two #2 slots.

Otherwise, good job.

You spelled Chuck Ragan's last name wrong.

Can you send me the mercury program, because it's out of print

Hmmm, I liked that Appleseed Cast record a lot; and Knapsack's Day Three of My New Life is slightly better in my opinion. Both great albums though.

Boy this was a bad year for punk. Even Anchors' list is weak.

Oh wait a minute, that Ataris album isn't actually out yet? My mistake, I honestly thought that came out at the end of November.

Just because every 16-21 year old girl in the world has that as her away message doesn't mean the album as a whole wasn't great -- because it was.

Who's had the better career? Converge, easily.
Who put out the better record this year? Justin Timberlake.

Usually I like what Anchors reviews and highly rates, but are you fucking seriously trying to say that "I'm bringing sexy back" is better than anything Converge touched?

It somehow got left out, but the #3 biggest disappointment was supposed to be The Ataris Welcome The Night. Here's what I wrote up for it;

"An album that isn’t bad persay, just one that doesn’t play to the bands strengths. They don‘t ever really sound comfortable in their new shoegazer style. Good background music, but nothing that will engage you."

Immortal Technique >>>> Nas

NHL Stanley Cup Final Prediction: Sabres vs. Oilers (not jumping off my pre-season predictions)

Score is for the list..

Eh.

Upon further reading I have deduced that you're gay.

mmmmmmm, pretty decent.