In Your Honor... (May 2012)

Side A

01. Angel in the Snow by Elliott Smith

02. Judy is a Punk by Ramones

03. Political Song for Michael Jackson to Sing by Minutemen

04. Don't Lie to Me by Big Star

05. Twenty Four Hours by Joy Division

06. Sky Diver by Eyedea & Abilities

07. Free Form Guitar by Chicago

08. Cosmic Slop by Funkadelic

09. The Update by Beastie Boys

10. How Can You Fix a Broken Heart? by The Bee Gees

Side B

01. Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy by Queen

02. Eazy-er Said than Dunn by Eazy-E

03. Brooklyn Zoo by Ol' Dirty Bastard

04. Rain When I Die by Alice in Chains

05. Man of Golden Words by Mother Love Bone

06. Parasite by Nick Drake

07. (Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth by Metallica

08. The Mob Rules by Black Sabbath

09. KRS-One by Sublime

10. Jet Boy by New York Dolls

Two Minutes of OFF! Live at the Whiskey a Go Go

One of the highlights of the last few years has been the emergence of OFF!, the Californian hardcore quartet lead by former Black Flag/Circle Jerks frontman, Keith Morris. The band's debut, First Four EP's, was a more than welcomed injection into the arm of what the kids call punk and hardcore these days. The pop hooks and emo styled hair of modern bands has been replaced with guitar solos and short 1-2 minute bursts of pure American 80's hardcore.

Mayer Hawthorne Debuts Henny & Gingerale

It was Humpty Hump who once sang "I'll drink all the Hennessey you got on the shelf" but it is Mayer Hawthorne that wants to take the same drink, fill your cup with it and throw a party as he does in the video for "Henny & Gingerale." In the clip, Hawthorne becomes a younger, modern Hugh Hefner as he sings about his favorite drink before proceeding to fill the cups of any of the attractive partygoers, If there was ever song built to sell Hennessey and the bachelor life, this is it. After this video, if Hennessey should be sending Hawthorne free bottles or hiring him as a spokesman. It is the perfect combination of baby making music and a baby making drink. (Note: if this happens, can I have my 10%?)

Adam Yauch aka MCA of Beastie Boys (1964-2012)

It is with great regret and great remembrance that H & J honors the life and art of Adam Yauch, better known as MCA of Beastie Boys, who passed away earlier today at the age of 47 after a three year battle with cancer.

Soundgarden Living To Rise

Soundgarden's first song of new material since 1996's Down on the Upside is a track for the upcoming film, The Avengers. "Live to Rise" is their contribution to the soundtrack and its video features the band performing with clips of the film thrown in (so...a standard action film theme song video). While I expected something darker and heavier ("Birth Ritual" from Singles), I can be excited that a new Soundgarden song means that there will be a new Soundgarden album in the near future which is a very exciting thing in itself. Enjoy the video for "Live to Rise" below and the soundtrack to The Avengers entitled Avengers Assemble: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture is in stores now.

May You Enjoy These New Releases

May, I bow before thee as this month's new releases among some of the best and highly anticipated releases for the year. This month features new albums from Norah Jones, Joey Ramone, Tenacious D, Best Coast, Beach House, El-P, OFF!, Garbage, Regina Spektor and so, so many more. There are reissues and additions to the catalog of Thin Lizzy, George Harrison and Pantera. Whatever you are into, there are plenty of new releases to enjoy and break the bank on.

Kevin Shields Talks About My Bloody Valentine Reissues

Twenty-one years later and Loveless is still a musical masterpiece of lo-fi lush sounds and distortion. It is the album by which romantic empires are created and a perennial favorite of critics and fans of shoegaze. If you have never heard the album or any of My Bloody Valentine's brilliant albums (say, for example, 1988's Isn't Anything), then you owe it to yourself to purchase the MBV's remastered reissues on May 7.