I Breathe the Underground

The Top 20 Greatest Underground Debuts Pt. 4

And now, the finale of the Top 20 Greatest Underground Debuts! View Part 1 here, Part 2 here, and Part 3 here.

5. Dropkick Murphys - Do or Die - Before Al Barr's grungy vocals entered the picture, DKM was fronted by now Street Dogs front man Mike McColgan. Do or Die was an animal all its own compared to the Murphys of today, riding waves of in-your-face street punk with a regular twinge of the Celtic punk so adamantly displayed in more recent Murphys albums. DKM might have turned out a very different band today had Mike McColgan not joined the Boston Fire Department. Then again, Street Dogs might be a decent representation of a very different DKM.

Download 10 - Barroom Hero

4. Taking Back Sunday - Tell All Your Friends - You haven't heard a record that more desperately requires a sing-along than TBS' Tell All Your Friends. Following the departure of Brand New's Jesse Lacey and preceeding the departure of Straylight Run's John Nolan, TBS was a complete unit, cranking out emo masterpieces filled with a new kind of teenage angst. Unlike today's TBS, Nolan's vocals seemed to stand out just as well as Adam Lazarra's had, creating the most potent and emotional combination I've heard to this day.

Download 06 Ghost Man On Third

3. Further Seems Forever - The Moon Is Down - Hey, remember how Chris Carraba formed Dashboard Confessional and made a bajillion dollars? Yeah, he was in Further Seems Forever before that ever happened. And they were incredible. The Moon Is Down is still one of the most powerful collections of songs I've ever heard, showcasing Carraba's vocals amidst spectacular drums and sentimental melodies. If you've never heard these guys, you better check 'em out. Just don't listen to any of their other albums, because this is the only one worthwhile.

Download 06 New Year's Project

2. Saves the Day - Can't Slow Down - They did slow down. But damn it all if they weren't lightning fast back then, cranking out tune after tune of sexually-frustrated emo-core with Lifetime-esque prowess. Three phrases to describe this album: short, fast, to the point. Much the opposite of my blog posts. Efficient punk rock with honest and violent, yet attractive lyrics that somehow felt comforting amidst the chaos and catchiness of the music. Still one of my favorite spins on my iTunes.

Download 07 Always Ten Feet Tall

1. Alkaline Trio - Goddamnit - What is there to say about Goddamnit that I haven't already written in detail? Not only is this the greatest debut album of all time -- it's simply the greatest album of all time. Disagree? Feel free to put your favorite album up against mine in the comments. As a warning -- I will argue Goddamnit's rightful place in punk history to the death.

Download 03 San Francisco

Two Tongues Are Better Than One

With February 3rd quickly approaching, I'm getting the jitters.

A few months ago, I posted a blog regarding the formation of and imminent debut album drop from Two Tongues. Since that last post, the brainchild of Say Anything's Max Bemis and Saves the Day's Chris Conley has heated up, causing quite a stir on the band's MySpace page. The debut self-titled album on Vagrant Records will hit shelves on February 3rd, and the MySpace gods have generously offered us two new songs from that album, band art, and an insightful EPK -- as well as a shitload of Two Tongues merchandise.

Thank god we can finally put a face on this wonderful musical concoction from heaven. Bemis comments on Two Tongues:

"The Two Tongues record is really an expression of the yin and yang; how two 'opposite' souls stimulate and battle each other in any truly loving relationship."

Don't worry, ladies. Conley and Bemis' relationship doesn't extend beyond the art and the friendship.

If you haven't visited the band's MySpace page in awhile, be sure to head over there and check out the wonderful new music they've posted. Oh yeah, and get psyched for February 3rd. I'm too excited to sleep!

Check out both sides of the coin below.

Download 03 Say Anything - The Writhing South

Download (02) You Vandal - Saves the Day

"Know the parasites burn beneath the lights / For once, for once in your life."
- Two Tongues, "Crawl"