Rock for Light
Virtually everyone agrees that this group--made up of four Washington, D.C.-bred African American jazzbos--single-handedly invented hardcore. They radically quickened punk's tempos, added virtuoso instrumentation, and topped it all off with the mystic squeals of shaman-like frontman Paul "H.R." Hudson.  This disc, produced (oddly enough) by ex-Cars leader Ric Ocasek, gives voice to the band's scathing sociopolitical judgment (see "Big Takeover") as well as its ability to simply put the hammer down and rock ("At the Movies"). It also allows the rhythm section of Darryl Jenifer and Earl Hudson to flex their muscle on a smattering of dub reggae interludes that help lull the unsuspecting into the right frame of mind for the next HC sucker punch.--David Sprague