Nothing To Prove

I admit to a bias - they're friends of mine over the past....18 years!? But we only see each other every couple of years these days. [Damn rock stars! ;)] Anyways, having grown up with them in the 80's and 90's immersed in DC, Baltimore, Philly, Boston, and NY hardcore, this record measures up. I'm thrilled that they've combined their love of bands like 7 Seconds, Sick of it All, Descendents, Bad Brains, etc into a fresh sound for us old-timers that still like fast, hard, and relevant (let me repeat that, relevant!) music. My kids love them, I love them, and this is why we're still punk rock and spreading the word. Thanks friends.Okay, a quick overview: 1995 - fast beginning, love it, the message in the slower moshing is meaningful and heart-felt, but not didactic, i.e., it's not just picking up on something done before, it's the right heavy melody at the right time to make the point, musically; nothing to prove - yup, that's what hardcore is supposed to be, it's a great song and kids need to get it, we're here because we want to be and we don't care what others think...right?; sunday - one of my favorites, incredibly catchy (it could easily be a radio song), melodic but meaningful, that's what so many "pop" punk folks forget: you have to have a point; a thin line - same thing as before: a message and a story make a good song (as well as very good instrumentation like here where they combine the harder/softer and slower/faster parts well); unconditional - this is the beginning of my favorite half of the record, it's melodic/meaningful/heartfelt/well-played hardcore with well-written lyrics and interesting instrumentation (maybe this is the radio hit - b.t.w. - making money isn't selling out, if that was the case, no artist would ever survive and no one would ever want to become an artist, now would they?!); still here - easily the best track on the record, it speaks for itself, it's hard, fast, and has a great message, i don't have any analysis except that it stands up to tsol, 7 seconds, ill repute, nofx, and others...geez, what more do you want; fairweather friend - similar to the last but more personal (we've all been there, haven't we?); heart on my sleeve - shows a maturity in song structure and instrumentation with a message that is similar to the personal themes they hit on in all their records; Mitts - wow, i know this song and I love this song..........I'm gonna have to get back to you (i love this song and know all the lyrics.....too bad I didn't follow Toby's X lead and forgot so much!); what happened? - it's sad that they have to keep explaining what hardore is about...maybe if they released albums more often!....anyways - they care and they want everyone to care, no better way to end. Peace. Enjoy.

This album is great. I'll admit that I'm not a huge H2O fan. They're not bad; I'm just not that familiar with them. I started listening with GO!, which was also a great album. I've been back-tracking my way through the H2O catalog. I recently got Thicker Than Water (going backward) and Nothing To Prove (going forward), and they are both great! I like how Nothing To Prove has so many guests from the hardcore and punk world, since I have recently gotten into bands like Madball, too. H2O do an excellent job of promoting good values ranging from family, community, work ethic, and respect. There isn't enough of that in modern music. They aren't preachy, but they are very positive. Check this one out. You won't be sorry.

Ok

Love this album!

Passion over fashion.

I gotta tell you, I never was a big H2O fan, and when I first heard this album, at first I couldn't stand it. The music felt too clean, the melodies too peppy, and the attitude overbearing. Yeah, I know they've always had the posi message, and honestly, I'm sure they're great guys. But something bothered me - maybe it was the soundbites between the songs (like on their first album). Maybe it was the lyrics to songs like "1995" and "What Happened?" that talk about the hardcore scene as if it started when they did and has completely sold out, ignoring bands like Champion, Have Heart, Lion of Judah, and a bajillion other modern hardcore bands.After a few more spins, though, it really grew on me, and now it's permanently stuck in my CD player. Yeah, the music is poppy ... in fact, it's really poppy, with harmony parts on "Heart On My Sleeve" that could make a 15 year-old girl stain her undies. But there's nothing wrong with catchy hardcore and punk, and this stuff is definitely catchy. It's still got the hardcore sound in the guitars and tempo, and Civ and Lou Koller drop by to beef up the vox on a few songs.I love hardcore because it's so passionate, and these guys are still all about the passion, despite their age. In fact, the 1995-Now hardcore timeline they introduce here is not a condemnation of the entire scene - it's a reflection on their lives and the process of aging, a subject they deal with in "Sunday," a profoundly heartfelt look at life and death, complete with a subtle nod to Fugazi to cement their dedication to the scene.Not every hardcore or punk band has to sound like Cro-Mags or Earth Crisis - Bad Religion and the Dropkick Murphys have made a career of melding punk and pop, and Youth of Today eventually gave way to Shelter. If you're up for some pop with your hxc, this is a solid album that shares the soundbites, sound and subject matter of their first album from over a decade ago, and yet takes it all further, creating a cleaner, more soaring sound that's tempered with the wisdom of age. And if you started out with them back in '95 and you're now an aging hardcore guy like me, this is sure to win you over.

Un disco veramente bello. Dalla prima all'ultima traccia una bomba di HC da New York!Consigliatissimo agli amati del genere.

buen disco de una buena banda de hardcore americano, old school hc, a buen precio ademas, y rapidez de envio

NYC Punk　H2Oの5th Albumです。Alkaline TrioのMatt Skiba,Sick of it AllのLou Koller,MadballのFreddy Cricien,AFのRoger Miretという豪華ゲストが参加！個人的には全曲最高で素晴らしいアルバムだと思う!絶対に買って損はしないです。自分たちの地元に誇りを持っているバンドってそこの文化がしっかり詩や音に出ていて素晴いと感じます。これから先H2Oがどんなアルバムを作ってくるか楽しみです!!H2O GO!

ありがとうございました。

Ｈ２０の中でも捨て曲なしの一枚。Skinheadsにも聞きやすい歌詞です。