If you haven't checked out the Bad Brains, I strongly recommend you do.

i have, don't really like them that much. i don't they they placed much of an emphasis on good songwriting though. i mean, at least not in comparison to stuff like Meat Puppets II

I haven't heard Meat Puppets myself, but from what I'm reading, the only album that they did that was really hardcore was their debut. Of course, this is Wikipedia. What's Meat Puppets II sound like?

I'm not sure that LS is necessarily looking for hardcore since he mentioned X.

a delicate blend of country & hardcore. not to mention a few other things that surprise you from time to time. the influence on Nirvana is palpable throughout the album. it's really wonderful, actually. they've got a few other works worth listening to but none so perfectly executed.

when i say "hardcore" i'm referring to the alternative scene that grew out of it. i'd be bored to tears listening to stuff like Bad Brains.

I assume you're already pretty familiar with Husker Du.

i haven't listened to Zen Arcade in a while but yes.

I'm with you there. I have a ****ty recording of the Commendatore scene but it's still on my 25 most played tracks on iTunes at the moment.

Do you listen to early REM at all (meaning like Murmur and Chronic Town)? If you've never given the early stuff a listen you might find it's kind of along the lines of what you're looking for.

The Replacements are right up your alley :D