I don’t ever think a lot about the state of art of hardcore and the hardcore-scene. Not like other people do, but that is everyone to himself. Nevertheless, sometimes I come upon a few points where I observe something, or a thought hits me, or I come upon something that I find worthwhile to notice.

Luckily, this time these thoughts coincided with three tiny slabs-o-vinyl, or better: were inspired by three singles, and so I will now beat upon a few flies with just on mighty slab. These are my three messages for todays sermon:

1. As long as there are kids fed up with their situation, hardcore will be a worthwhile alternative.

I always imagine bored suburban kids in well-to-do neighbourhoods, who are definitely pissed with their surroundings. They find no meaning in life, because in the lifes their parents show them, there is actually no meaning. There is no life. So they look for something else, the rebel-phase starts, and whatever psychologists might have to say all that. Hardcore is good for these kids. Even if it is “just a phase”, even if they are only spoilt brats with enormous pocket-money and too much free time from school. Amongst them, there will always be the one kid, who likes the lifestyle not because of the style, but because of the life. This one kid will embrace something stronger and better than the rest, who are only there for the fun of it. And this kid will start a zine, organise a show or start a record-label. This kid has realised what the acronym DIY stands for. And this is definitely an empowering step in everybody’s life. One that will change the person.

Right here, the kid’s name is Scott McFarland, he is from Atlanta, Georgia and he wanted to do a single-compilation. That is nice. It features Prevail, order of importance, reversal of men and inkwell, which is even better. He also wanted to add a fanzine, but that came about a little small, but that is still very good. This little seveninch is not in itself remarkable, but it is also at least as good as many other comps. Which proves a few points: Everyone can do it. There has to be a large network of kids working on this, otherwise this single would never have made it to me. And Scott learnt a lot about trading, about economy and about people, who promise contributions.

2. Hardcore is multinational

Actually its all over the world. You all know Profane Existence South Asia, or whatever that is called. You have all seen scene reports from wastelands like Turkmenistan, Cambodia or Vienna. And it all works, because people working together are trying to communicate with each other. Usually, they use english, and they don’t care about grammar or spelling. Still, usually there is no need to sing in english, since translations of lyrics are usually delivered. Moreover, you can’t understand the words most of the times anyway. With most hardcore-bands, they could be singing in klingonian.

Not so Dawncore on their “we are young…so we scream..just to feel alive”-7” out on Capeet Records, which is a fine release, as long as you don’t look at the lyrics. The music is trashy, wild, fast and energetic, but the lyrics add a bad impression on the rest. Dawncore don’t speak english very well. As far as I am concerned, they should be singing in Polish (nothing to be ashamed about that) and look for someone to translate their lyrics properly. Jan from Capeet could have done it, I know. Why didn’t you?

My argument is, that the bad spelling and worse grammar draw attention of the content of the lyrics, thus make the band and the songs object of ridicule and so destroy the whole meaning and idea behind it. Whatever you do, it should be worth doing well.

3. It’s all a bunch of stupid assholes anyway.

There are a lot of stupid fuckers everywhere, that’s not new. And if you think that it’s any different just because everyone wears anarchist-badges your are more than a tiny bit naïve. Not everyone, who listens to them same music as you, is your friend.

Anyway, in the 7” by Point-of-Few on Coalition-Records I found a paper, which is nothing more than a bitter rant about somebody who is opposed towards Coalition. I don’t care about the details and I don’t take sides, but the fact that people in hardcore fight each other or try to cash in on bands or records. Thanks to that paper, I now know a few tricks of how to cheat bands if you are doing a label, that I would never have learned. I was once arrested by the police for something that I didn’t do nor did I knew how to do it. But when I left the police station a few hours later, I knew how to do it, if I ever wanted to. I learned a few more realities of life. But that reality, I ain’t interested in.

If the hardcore-scene is just as fucked up as the rest of the world, and it’s only advantage is a better soundtrack, then I’ll have none of it. I’ll turn to Britney Spears instantly, and dream about having sex with her. That’s more real than this, obviously.

But again: Point of few are a good band and their single will hit you like a train. Did they know about the paper? Will the add a few words in the second pressing? Hell, you won’t believe how little I care.