THE WRONGMEN'S CASH GIVES TEN RECORDS THAT INSPIRED HIS AND THE BAND'S SOUND:

So I have the task of doing a top 10 albums for the Action Man Website. So many things to take into consideration when making a list like this. I have decided to keep it to just hardcore and punk. Even though that is probably how it would turn our either way I decided to rule out music from other genres for a few reasons. For one I find it hard to rate genres against genres and more so against hardcore and punk which to me is/was or at least should be more than just a genre. So as much as I enjoy the genius laden albums of Entombed, Crowbar, Danzig, Type O Negative, Slayer, KRS One, Public Enemy, Turbonegro etc.. they will not be in the running.

Another thing to consider when doing a list like this is the impact of the music versus the impact of the lyrics. Where to find a balance when choosing the great ones. Many bands have lyrics that really speak to me but the music not so much, also many bands that I thrash the hell out of have lyrics that don’t mean much to me. Lyrics are very important but pushing boundaries and creating an impression with music is also very important. For example I will site the great impact that the lyrics of Chokehold had on me and I did enjoy their albums. Musically the impact is not quite enough to match their undeniable lyrics and in turn they just miss out on being on this list.

One last thing I have decided is to only have one album per band, even though some of these band have many records worthy of the upmost attention.

Dead Kennedys - Plastic Surgery Disasters
To me this is one of, if not the best written album of all time. It is so ahead of its time in its complexity of rhythms and melodies that it must've just blown minds on its release in 1982. The lyrics of course are brilliant in typical Jello Biafra style. These songs really take it to the next level when meshing the lyrical content and vocal delivery. Great stories are told and one need look no further than the roller coaster of a song "Riot" to see what I mean.

Judge - Bringing It Down
One of the first NY hardcore records and still miles ahead of any of its imitators. It has a true grit that really makes you feel that you are there in a dirty club in NYC. The lyrics are pretty straight forward but are from the heart and delivered with a real sense of conviction. I can still put on this record and it transports me back to 1989.

Bad Brains - Rock for Light
Musically this album is as raw and real as it gets. It is the first Bad Brains record I ever heard and although the lyrics never meant much to me the vocal delivery and intensity of playing just stopped me in my tracks. Not much that has come out since this albums arrival in 1983 has matched its furore.

Damnation AD - Kingdom of the Lost Souls
Misericordia is actually my favourite Damnation Ad release but it is not a full length. It was real close between "Kingdom" and their first full length "No More Dreams of Happy Endings". Either is top 10 material but the unfortunate inclusion of the long instrumental Funeral March to the middle of No More Dreams pushes "Kingdom of the Lost Souls" to the top. A truly great heavy album, thick with layers and for lack of a better word groove. Great lyrics and a great voice.

 
Cro Mags - Best Wishes
I go back and fourth between this record and "Age of Quarrel" as to which one I like better. They are both amazing and quite different from one another. Really they both deserve a spot. This time im going with the Harley-fronted Best Wishes. It is a fist pounding record with such a huge sound to it. Surprisingly great lyrics and vocals from Harley, taking over from previous "fan favourite" singer John Joseph. Whereas Age of Quarrel bulldozed the world in 1986, the 1989 release of Best Wishes did not go down as well but built up an appreciation over time. I on the other hand always loved both records from the onset.

 

108 - Threefold Misery
1996 saw a posthumous release from a then defunct 108 and by far their best record. I like all their records but this one raises the bar artistically. I don’t agree with a lot of their ideology or lyrical subject matter but the music is so layered, real and moving. They were a very serious band and delivered everything with the upmost intensity and sensitivity. This record may have been overlooked at the time as it was so next level and still sounds fresh today.