POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT "OUT OF IDEAS" cassette [Nation of Finks, 2005]

I have always tended to favor hardcore that is snotty and chaotic over that which is growling, tight or heavy - that is to say, without even a hint of metal. Even as my tastes have widen over the years, bands of the latter camp are more an exception than a rule. People of similar sentiments are in for a treat. This demo cassette captures the deceased Bostonian ensemble lovingly known to some as POSI FORCE at their rawest, turning in eight songs in six and a half minutes. It captures a band that is simultaneously amateurish yet tends to play on the listener's assumptions of hardcore (see the beginning of "They Took Yer Job", their general tendency to repeat great riffs only once or twice, and the abruptness of the final song). This delivery of playfulness combined with their witty lyrics and full-throttle, barely-coherent approach to musicianship have me immediately hooked. The pure vocal venom displayed in "Study Dates" coupled with its closing riff should be enough to convert anyone. Truth be told, they are easily in my three favorite bands to ever declare themselves straight edge. These folks didn't rest on their laurels after the breakup of this band (in January 2008) either, as you can now track them through groups like FAILURES, SOCIAL CIRCKLE, FOREIGN OBJECTS, CONFINES and BLANK STARE (most of those connections are the result of Ryan, one of the best and busiest drummers in punk). This cassette was followed up with a handful of 7"s and a one-sided 12". However, it is my favorite thing by them, and you can hear it HERE.