OFF! + Cerebral Ballzy

Fronted by original Black Flag vocalist and Circle Jerks cofounder Keith Morris—currently operating at his nervous-brokedown best—and featuring members of Burning Brides, Hot Snakes and Redd Kross, Off! boasts a pretty damn respectable hardcore pedigree, which it honors with gusto on a new third album of raw, skate-punky tracks, Wasted Years. We're experiencing a minor hardcore renaissance. Speed demons Cerebral Ballzy have signed to Julian Casablancas's Cult Record for their new Jaded & Faded, produced by Dave Sitek. The leather-and-rotten-denim results sound like the sleazy '80s Ramones stuff sung by Dee Dee. We need it.