I got the chance to take an Amtrak train to Chicago this past weekend. Whenever I can, I always try to check out the local record stores in my hometown.

I was fortunate enough to find some free time to take the CTA down to Belmont and Broadway and go to Reckless Records, which is easily one of my favorite record stores that I’ve ever been to.

They have three locations across the city, each having a multitude of Vinyl, CD, and any other item relating to music that you can think of (I once bought a book from Reckless, consisting entirely of band logos, a book which I haven’t seen at any other store). Somehow I always find myself walking away with a selection of their wares.

This past weekend was no different. Walking out the doors of their location at 3126 N. Broadway on Saturday, I restrained and limited myself to only purchasing two CDs, both of which I will be reviewing this week.

First up is the debut album from the Suicide Machines' "Destruction By Definition." The punk rock band from Detroit got their start with this album in the early summer of 1996 and hit the ground running, permanently cementing a place in the punk rock genre.

I’ve known of this CD since my early high school days (I’m almost positive I heard every song on this album before even knowing the names of the tracks) but have never found it being sold anywhere as a pre-purchased album. There was a sticker on the familiar plastic holsters at Reckless showcasing the CD booklet from the front cover of the jewel case. The sticker proclaimed the greatness that "Destruction By Definition" had in store for me. Reckless wanted $6 for the album and I was more than happy to snatch it up.

There’s a reason this album is often regarded as remarkable, and, well, that’s because it is. Being released in the mid-90s, I find myself in the midst of another ska punk album, showing through most noticeably on the fifth track, Hey with the blaring, dirty trumpet strolling hand in hand with the heavily distorted guitar. This song has one of my favorite lyrics in it as well, going something along the lines of:

Well no one ever told me I was gonna get older
Turned twenty-one and I thought my life was over
Took a long time to get where I am now
And I’m not gonna sit around wondering how, no

Sure it’s simple but for whatever reason it really speaks to me. The initial grittiness wears off in time for the verses and choruses to kick in and perhaps that’s why this song always gets me in a particular mood that I have a hard time putting into words.

I didn’t intend on highlighting Hey alone and putting in on a pedestal by itself. It may be my favorite song off of "Destruction By Definition" because there isn’t a bad track on the album. If you’re going to listen to the album, be sure to listen to it from start to finish but if I had to point out a few more noteworthy tracks I’d have to lead you towards, New Girl, No Face, Islands, Punk Out, Vans Song (a song all about the shoes known as Vans, shunning Doc Martens all the while), and the closing track, So Long. After listening to "Destruction By Definition," I find myself inspired to start up a punk rock band and I can’t really explain why. I’d be surprised if any fan of punk music was unfamiliar with the music of the Suicide Machines, but if this does happen to be the case, I advise you to purchase "Destruction By Definition" if you ever find it. You’ll know you made a worthwhile purchase as soon as you put the disc into your CD player.