Masscrastination

As a New Yorker, the mere mention of Massachusetts boils my blood. The cooperation between players on the Red Sox is enough to send me into a hissy fit and Tom Brady is too damn good looking for football or Gisele.

But, if there is one thing the state is good at it’s making some quality rock bands. You guys are good at it, not as good as starting the punk movement in NYC or making noise rock interesting (ironic big ups to the Bowery’s own Sonic Youth), but you’re pretty damn good at it.

So without further adieu, the top 5 rock bands to come out of Massachusetts after the cut.

5. Street Dogs

The Street Dogs are led by former Dropkick Murphy’s lead singer Mike McColgan. Representing the working folk of Boston’s Southside, with ballads like “Modern Day Labor Anthem” and “Unions and the Law,” The Street Dogs  take the anger of the working class and mold it into rough head smashing anthems. Their 2008 release, State of Grace, cemented the band in Boston’s rock scene.

Selected Tracks:

“Two Angry Kids”

“State of Grace”

“The General’s Boombox”

4. Big D and the Kids Table

Making their own New England inspired Punk-Ska tunes, Big D and the Kids Table have been a Boston staple since 1995. Fronted by lead singer Dave McWane who originally founded the band at The Berklee College of Music, their newest release Fluent in Stroll will come out on July 7 and the boys will be on the Warped Tour to support the album.

Selected Tracks:

“Little Bitch” (Cover)

“Shining On”

“Strictly Rude”

3. The Dresden Dolls

Amanda Palmer and Brian Vigilone have rocked as the punk-cabaret duo, The Dresden Dolls, since 2001. Releasing two critically acclaimed albums and basically making it cool to dress like a fan of The Cure once again, The Dresden Dolls are not only musically gifted but ooze alternative sex appeal on stage. Their newest release, Yes Virginia is packed with upbeat memoirs of abortion clinics, alcoholism and more missed connections than Cragislist and Newark combined.

On hiatus at the moment, Amanda Palmer has released Who Killed Amanda Palmer? The album features the likes of East Bay Ray, Ben Folds and liner notes by Neil Gaiman.

(Please forgive the shitty montage that goes along with the song, the real video wasn’t available on youtube, I know right?)

Selected Tracks:

“Backstabber”

“Mandy Goes to Med School”

“Girl Anachronism”

2. Dropkick Murphy’s

No list about the best rock Boston has to offer is complete without The Dropkick Murphy’s. Since their inception in the mid-90′s this Irish Punk outfit has honored barroom heroes, the heroes of our past and bagpipe players with a perchance for larger women across the country and around the world. Their newest release, The Meanest of Times, has built upon an already impressive library of works including the theme song to The Departed, “Shipping off to Boston.” St. Patty’s day hasn’t been the same since their inception and a concert with them is not without drinking, laughing and broken glasses (pint or spectacles, both happened, not my proudest hour).

Selected Tracks:

“Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya” (Cover)

“Barroom Hero”

“Good Rats”

1. Pixies

No band has had more influence on alt-rock before or since the Pixies. In the late 80′s the Pixies would form and die leaving albums that would go on to inspire the likes of Kurt Cobain, Weezer, Reel Big Fish (Really!), and a slew of others. Mixing the guitars of Surfer Rock, the lyrical genius of Frank Black, the simple yet effective bass lines of Kim Deal and imagery ranging from incestuous couplings to UFO’s- Pixies had it all.

Selected Tracks:

“Debaser”

“Dig For Fire”

“Planet of Sound”

Sean Ahern is an unemployed bum with too much time on his hands. Check  out his blog, Single/White/Geek, where he bitches about life, liberty and video games.