Mouthpiece “Can’t Kill What’s Inside: The Complete Discography” CD

As the title suggests, this absolutely awesome collection (released a few weeks ago by Revelation Records) contains everything ever recorded by highly regarded New Jersey straightedge act Mouthpiece. This includes 1995's "Face Tomorrow" EP, 1994's "What Was Said" full-length, the self-titled 7" from 1991; and tracks from the "Anti-Matter", "It's for Life", and "Words to Live by, Words to Die For" compilations—in addition to three previously unreleased tracks that were recorded live way back in 1991. As a bonus, the disc also contains mp3's of a 13-song, surprisingly clear-sounding live set recorded at CBGB's in 1996 (and it appears this material's available as part of the album on iTunes as well, which is awesome) and the video for "Cinder"—all of this wrapped up in a slick looking package with brief liner notes, all of the lyrics, shitloads of photos, recording credits, and a ridiculously detailed list of every single show the band has ever played.

Aside from the three unreleased live tracks (and the bonus live set, of course), I already had all of this material from "back in the day", but I was still super psyched to see this disc show up in the mail, 'cause I'm just a huge, huge supporter of discography releases like this, as there's just too much incredible music out there that still deserves to be heard today—either by new generations or by those who somehow missed out the first time around. Plus, you can actually pick up on some improvements in the sound here, as the remixing and remastering have thickened things up with more low-end while working in a hint more crispness and clarity as well. It's no secret that I'm all about the more metallic side of the 90's hardcore scene, but for my money Mouthpiece was always one of the best bands out there at the time in terms of sticking heavily to "old school" influences, because they did so in a manner that held onto its roots without being a completely boring rehash of the "youth crew" style, or whatever you want to call it. Their songs are heavy and in your face, with sincere lyrics, pulsing midpaced to moderately fast tempos, pounding basslines, traditional hardcore breaks, and vague hints at subtle melody or lightly metallic crunch—all without straying from a core that's basically straight up hardcore. Tracks like "What Remains", "Strip the Threads", "Can We Win", and "Cinder" still hit just as hard and with as much feeling today as they did more than a decade ago, which is why Mouthpiece has remained in my listening rotation ever since, and will continuing forward...

Mouthpiece "What Remains"
Mouthpiece "With This Regret"
Mouthpiece "Still"

For those unaware, Mouthpiece frontman Tim McMahon is now also one of the founders of the absolutely incredible Double Cross blog, which should be an essential daily visit for any hardcore fan. You can read a little more about this particular release here, but that's just scratching the surface of the gold this site is constantly churning out. If for some insane reason you've never visited their site before, I highly recommend doing so... now!

Get It

RevHQ (CD)
Interpunk (CD)
Very Distribution (CD)
iTunes (mp3)