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Musical trends go in cycles. One band (or more) will make a genre popular by either creating music that is incredibly original or adding a few unique elements to an existing genre, which is followed by thousands of faceless clones (this may be more common now than 20 years ago), who ultimately are responsible for the genre becoming a joke, until a few years later when the recycling process is resserected. Hardcore is a genre that may dip from the public eye from time to time, but it will never become a musical punchline. And the great thing about hardcore is that the music is so energetic and heartfelt that the basic stripped down hardcore style doesn't need a facelift to stay relevent, though it will never be as groundbreaking as it once was.
Everyone into punk music should be familiar with the origins of hardcore (as the two are so close together, especially in America). Bands like Bad Brains and Black Flag influenced bands to try and play as fast as possible, including a young kid named Ian Mackaye (who I consider to be one of, if the THE, most important people when it comes to punk and hardcore music). After becoming the vocalist for Minor Threat, he ended up influencing tons of people and musicians everywhere with their harDCore style. I know that there is more to the origin of hardcore, but there are plenty of books to read on the subject (I'm not able enough to give a proper history lesson).
A few years after Minor Threat disbanded, a young kid from Connecticut named Ray Cappo successfully brought hardcore and straight edge (mostly straight edge, as New York already had some incredible hardcore bands such as Cro Mags, Warzone and Agnostic Front) back to New York City, bringing about a second wave straight edge movement. Cappo and Jordan Burns started a label called Revelation Records to serve as a means of getting this new wave of bands into the ears of the public. Revelation Records put out albums from Warzone (though unfortunately out of print as, according to a Hardcore Fun Fact, were used as skeet because people didn't think they would sell), Youth of Today and Gorilla Biscuits, among others. They also released NYHC Compilation, which is a great look at the music from that era.
Flash forward almost two decades later. Green Day and the Offspring brought punk music to the MTV masses, a feat repeated by Blink 182 years later. The internet and corporate America have made "punk" so sugar coated and marketable that it has not only become accepted (though I still get made fun of for the music I listen to somehow), but embraced by anybody who looks at this once form of rebellion and sees suburban dollar signs. The bands from the past have either become legends or been forgotten, like a person who no longer means anything to you. Some of the only "artifacts" that remained from that time are Revelation, Dischord and Epitaph Records (I know there's more, and a lot of the bands are still relevent, but there's no use dwelling on something that I'm not making a point about).
In the past few years, a new breed of hardcore bands have risen, some to become relevent while others are swept away in the ocean of competition; all of them trying to make their influences proud while adding their own spin to the genre. This seems as good a time as any for Revelation to give these bands some recognition by releasing an 18 song, 16 band compilation called Generations. While this will serve as good exposure for these bands, I can't help but wonder if this will have the same impact NYHC had on people.
"I honestly don't have a clue. My immediate reaction is to say no, because we can say in hindsight how relevant and important that compilation was - it really set the tone for that time period as well as for hardcore/punk from then on. That was one of the first records I ever bought, and is in my mind a necessity for any and all collections. I can only hope that even just one person looks back on the Generations Compilation as fondly as almost everyone I know looks at "The Way It Is"- that would exceed my wildest expectations. ," says Bob Shedd, an A/R rep at Revelation who also was one of the people who put this comp together.
While there are some well known bands on here like Blacklisted, Mental and Righteous Jams, this compilation mostly contains bands just starting to make their mark in the scene,, and this comp is full of great bands (Lights Out, ) that put forth a commendable effort. The songs mostly stick to the old school hardcore style that is so well known and loved, with all of the bands adding their own twist to the genre.
Music has changed so much since the days of CBGBs matinees that it doesn't seem like any band can have that type of relevence anymore. Maybe its because I didn't live through previous waves of hardcore and I can't quite grasp what type of impact today's music will have on "the world of tomorrow" (if you read the above quotation in the voice of the guy at the Cyrogenics lab from Futurama, it will add some extra entertainment to this piece), which gives those past bands an untouchable view in my eyes. Maybe its because our fast food, I want it now society won't give bands time to develop themselves enough to create something great in the music scene (no matter what genre it is). Either way, this compilation is a great look at the bands of today, but I'd be very surprised if many of these bands have a major influence on the music of tomorrow (though it may not be so surprising since it seems like kids today don't take the time to research the pioneers of the genre).
FULL INTERVIEW WITH BOB SHEDD of REVELATION RECORDS:
1. State one interesting fact about yourself.
Interesting fact - I'm not that interesting, but I guess something people are amused by are my food habits. I hate when food comes in plastic bags, I am really disgusted by it. I refuse to eat at fast food restaurants in California (chains such as Carl's Jr., Del Taco, etc.) - not that I eat fast food that often, but I have zero interest in eating from these places. I also think milk mixed with water is one of the grossest things in the world.
2. How did the Generations Comp come about?
The Generations Comp. came about as an idea that Joey Cahill and Greg Bacon as well as myself thought up, just the idea of a cool hardcore compilation of some of the best bands today. We all were talking about how many great bands were around, on a national level, and how it really feels like this is just a great era for hardcore as a whole, nevermind the barriers and subgenre distinctions - whatever you are most into, there is a lot of really great music going on.
3. Was it difficult finding (or narrowing down) bands to be on the comp?
It wasn't too difficult finding or narrowing down bands - we literally made up a list of our favorite bands, or like a "wish list" of who we'd like to be on the comp. - and from there it was just getting in touch. A couple of bands who were initially going to be on the comp. ended up having other stuff conflict (new record, long tour) - but we ended up putting on a couple of bands right at the end whose tracks ended up being amongst my favorites on the record.
4. Do you think this comp will have the same impact on hardcore as the N.Y.C. Hardcore: The Way it Was comp did?
I honestly don't have a clue. My immediate reaction is to say no, because we can say in hindsight how relevant and important that compilation was - it really set the tone for that time period as well as for hardcore/punk from then on. That was one of the first records I ever bought, and is in my mind a necessity for any and all collections. I can only hope that even just 1 person looks back on the Generations Compilation as fondly as almost everyone I know looks at "The Way It Is"- that would exceed my wildest expectations.
5. It seems to me that there is so much music, especially in the underground, that the music has lost a little something along the way. Can bands still be meaningful or have the sort of impact that the early hardcore bands had?
A good question - because it's one of those things I think anyone worth their weight asks themselves, are we just involved in a "subculture" intent on regurgitating music and style from 20 years ago? I honestly believe that the beauty of hardcore is that it isn't necessarily about being new and innovative, but rather in being a support structure for people who have trouble conforming to the shit system that is normal life - be it the day to day of a high school kid or the 9 to 5 of someone in their late 20s. Hardcore can be a reprieve and relief and give people something outside of the predetermined 'go to school, go to work, go to college, get married' ideology that is so pervasive in our society. Hardcore is infinitely meaningful because it is STRIVING to be outside that norm, and though it falls into some of the same pitfalls that you come across anywhere, it at the very essence is attempting to be different. And saying, being different isn't only ok, it's cool. So, yes. Bands are still meaningful, as much.
6. Is music based too much on trends now a days?
Yes, but hasn't this always been the case? Someone comes up with something interesting, a new twist or take on something, and all of a sudden people are lining up at the copy machine, each copy becoming less and less original? So, music as a whole is based too much on trends, but it has been that way for a long time. Hopefully its apparent to people and they can tell the 'setters from the followers.
7. Whats the best thing about being an A/R guy for Revelation?
There's a lot of great things. I honestly am a very lucky guy to have even gotten the chance to work here, and it's a wonderful and exciting environment to work in. The best thing, however, is being able to see projects through from idea stage to completion - there's nothing cooler than that, being able to dream something up and have a hand in making it happen. Also, I found out about a lot of great pizza places from working here, which is a major bonus for any east coast transplants to this nearly pizza-barren desert that is California. (PS - they do have a lot of pizza here, it's just that most of it isn't very good.)
8. Give one piece of advice for people who are interested in that profession.
Music should never be a job. If you clue into it and love music so much that you MUST work with it, then proceed with caution. Make sure that you are able to have a fallback, and that you are doing it for the right reasons. If you are involving yourself with music to make money, especially at the indie music level, you should turn around and get back to school. Investing in lottery tickets is as sound of an idea to make money as getting involved with the music industry. Outside of that, just have fun.
9. Name one album that you feel all kids should have in their collection.
Easy - Cro-Mags, "Age Of Quarrel". This is the greatest hardcore record ever created, hands down. The most intense listening experience in the world. Outside of that, I'd suggest Led Zeppelin "Houses Of The Holy", Quicksand "Slip", and the Breakdown demo.
10. Final comments...
Live by your own rules.
Written by: RF