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Ok. First off, I'm now in the writing mood, so deal with it. Secondly, if you don't know of this band...I'm sorry. Louisville, Kentucky has and always will be one of my favorite music scenes in this country. They have forever taken the music we love, whether its hardcore (By The Grace Of God, Endpoint, The National Acrobat, Coliseum and more recently Xerxes and Mountain Asleep) or folk music (the amazing and brilliant Will Oldham of Bonnie "Prince" Billy fame) and have put their own flavor into it. Just a little off the beaten path.
Young Widows is no different. The underground music world was shaken greatly when Breather Resist called it quits, but out of the ashes of that we were given these remarkable young men. I like to think of Young Widows as Breather Resist, but something more. It's got the same vibe but the artistic aspects are pushed to the limit. Distorted, crunchy guitar tones and reverb soaked vocals and almost tribal like heavy drumming. Much like Torche but without the pop aspects. If you aren't already a fan of Young Widows, jump on board, you are in for one hell of a ride.
I'm usually the one that writes a lot when it comes to these things, but tonight I'm not feeling it. Maybe I just want to get back to the book I'm writing, or maybe I just want to go to sleep, but no matter what it is, it doesn't matter because all that matters is this record is two things. It is 1) another absolutely amazing record released by Top Shelf Records this year and 2) another very very underrated record.
Pennsylvania's We Were Skeletons play that noodely style of music we all love but add elements of chaotic hardcore reminiscent of early 2000's into the mix. Thank of a "harder" 1994! or Spires. It's pretty great stuff and I would highly advise you to do something about the lack of this band on your iPod. Hey look-y there! This wasn't as short as I thought.
Oakland’s Big Kids from the ever growing Top Shelf Records, first off, have written one of the year's most underrated albums. Secondly, let be heard here, I usually (and by usually, I mean 99% of the time) don’t enjoy too much music from west of the Mississippi, but this band I can get behind 100%.
Anyone who knows me knows that two of my all time favorite styles of music are jaunty and angular guitar riddled mid 90’s emo/screamo and Gainesville “The Fest” styled, drunken anthem punk rock, and this band somehow finds a way to meld those two signature sounds together in a accessible, not to abrasive or pretentious way.
Some songs are faster and louder and will invite you to sing along, drive 90 MPH, or just smile, and the slower ones are more calming without making you fall asleep. There are two small things thrown in this album that give it that more personal and intimate feeling that I love so much from bands. The first being between a couple of tracks, its obvious they just recorded chatter between songs at a show or maybe a restaurant. This background noise blends two songs together flawlessly, and almost gives it the feeling of a live show in your bedroom, car, office cubicle, or whatever you are listening.
Miami, Florida's very own Capsule. They're touring Europe right now with Massachusetts band Furnace, who they're also releasing a 7" with soon. This is their second release on Robotic Empire.
If you aren't listening to Grown Ups then you're doing it wrong. I'm sure most of you have heard them; but if you haven't they are a must. For fans of Algernon Cadwallader, 1994!, Native, Castevet, and even Tigers Jaw, etc.
I won't waste my time writing about how awesome they are (homework is more important). Look out for them at the Fest this year, they're definitely in the top 5 of must see sets.
Tidemouth is a band based out of LA (Santa Clarita), playing DIY shows in basements and garages. They're spazzy/ noise/ high pitched. Thanks to the band for sending it in.
Anyone who knows me knows that Matt Canino is my absolute favorite punk rock singer song writer. He was the frontman of Latterman, Shorebirds, the short lived Life Moves and currently of RVIVR. Everything recorded by these bands are in top 10 favorite records I own. His ability to write perfectly catchy, singalongable punk rocks songs never ceases to amaze me.
Dirty Water is the newest EP by RVIVR and if I'm not mistake all the proceeds of it go to a bike co-op in Denver. Their previous material is all available on their record labels website. This EP is without a doubt the most mature material Canino has ever written but it hasn't lost its edge by any means.
As I type this I'm listening to it for the first time and I can tell it's going to be on heavy rotation for the next few weeks. Get any and everything you can by this band and Matt's other bands. Damn, I love this band.
Daytrader is a new "pop punk" band based out of Brooklyn featuring members of Crime in Stereo and Bridge and Tunnel, and this can be heard from the first guitar strum. It's as if Crime in Stereo's older material and Bridge and Tunnel were put in an atom splitter and collided head on and made this band.
The vocal style might not be for everyone as it can tend to be a little on the whiney side, but the dual vocals and guitar hooks reek of New York styled drunk punk a la Latterman, Iron Chic, The Agent, etc. They will be releasing their debut 7 inch on Run For Cover in January.
File this band under "incredible bands that for some reason or another I still have yet to see live." Russian Circles is a simply incredible three piece from Chicago, Illinois and I'm pretty sure most of you have heard of them. I just have been listening to them again lately on these cloudy days and wanted to post in the left field possibility someone hadn't heard them.
Meticulous drumming, intricate guitar loops and crushing riffs are all you need to know about this band. I posted "Station" because it's my favorite record by them but its arguable which is their best. Each is different in its own way while sounding the same. Station starts with one of their simpler more beautiful songs followed by the crushingly heavy "Harper Lewis." If you are a fan of heavy music and don't own this bands entire catalog I suggest you do something about it.
Dangers from California is one of the most impressive hardcore/punk bands I've heard in a long time. Fast, pissed, intelligent, and witty. This is their second full length entitled Messy, Isn't It?.
My good friend Donnie got me listening to this band. They've often been described as stone-gaze or like walking down a country road on an early morning. Whatever. I can not stop listening to this album.
So, during a trip to Moe's, Kyle and I spotted the Fest schedule and I got WAY too excited. So here it is for anyone not updated via Facebook. Looks like Saturday is the most promising day for us. Anyone with previous experience want to give me a heads up on how I.D.s / Age for venues works? Thanks.
Greensboro, North Carolina's Low Sky features 3 members from epic drone/metal band Youngbrave and one from Advent. They combine these two bands pretty much on point. They feature Braveyoung's drowny and sludgy sound whilel remaining brutally heavy much like Advent.
"Pigeon Handler" is the standout track from this tape but the entire tape is flawless.
Emerging from France, I bring you General Lee. This is their debut album entitled Hannibal Ad Portas, released on Basement Ape Industries. For fans of Neurosis and Cult Of Luna. Also, be on the look out for their sophomore album ROADS out on November 18th.
It's that time of the year again. The amount of day time is growing shorter, the air is getting cleaner and crisper, the sky is growing less hazy and if you live in a more civilized part of the country than we down in Florida do, then your leaves are changing and your temperatures are falling. To me, this is the time of year that I plan music around, and this is a gem just for this time of a year.
In short, The State Lottery's (with members hailing from literally coast to coast) newest record "When the Night Comes" sounds like Blake Schwarzenbach (of Jawbreaker and Jets to Brazil fame) wrote a heavily southern influenced punk rock record. There is no other or better way to describe the sound of it, and it all meshes together perfectly and soundly.
The album's weakest song, unfortunately, is it's opener. It seems just drag it's heels until the it really comes alive with the records strongest song, track two entitled "Stories." So put this album on, crack open a cold one or roll down your windows or whatever you do when you enjoy an album like this.
Senders is an openly stoner, four piece from Gainesville, Florida. Both their latest albums (Recovery and a split with Wavelets) are available on bandcamp for free! I would encourage everyone to donate on it, but it's free and only free. For fans of Torche (only a bit more watered down). Thanks Brent.
Cower is a four piece from Portland, Oregon. Punk/stoner influenced combined with a clever variety of vocal styles, guitars, and great progression. The big leaps work in this bands favor. Towards the last few tracks you get a bit of southern vibes, and a pretty tight acoustic track. Thanks to the band for sending it over our way.
"Darkness on the Edge of Town" is obviously one of the best records every written by one of the best artist ever to grace this Earth, Mr. Bruce Springsteen, and this post comes in honor of his 61st birthday today.
This is a cover album by Paul Baribeau and his good friend Ginger Alford of Bloomington, Indiana's Good Luck. If you are a fan of either of their work you will enjoy this record, but if you listen to it expecting it to sound EXACTLY like a Springsteen album you might be disapointed. While the passion is still there, it for sure has that raw quality that makes Paul Baribeau so endearing.
Either way, today is The Boss's birthday, so listen to this and all his records. If you don't, you're doing it wrong. Also, if you have never listened to Paul Baribeau or Good Luck then now is good time to start doing so.
Finally, we post an album from this year! Joyce Manor are a "pop" punk band hailing from Long Beach, California, but don't assume they sound like all other pop punk bands from The Golden State, the term "pop" should be used very loosely with this band. Their vocals and abrasive approach have a Long Island, New York sense to them and their raw and gruff sound have a mid west swagger about it, all while maintaing the speed and snottiness of a California punk band. Also, their vocalist sounds like Paul Baribeau would if he fronted a punk band.
The production is a bit raw, but what you do expect from a demo. Easily one of the top three demos I have heard all year. Download and/or buy immediately, so you can be into this band before everyone else is.
Jesu is the experimental/shoegaze act from the brain of former Godflesh member Justin K. Broadrick. Broadrick formed the band first as a solo act after Godflesh's breakup but over the years he has instilled other members to play his own brand of what the mind knows as a pop song.
Much like Torche is credited for creating a genre known as "stoner pop", Jesu has somewhat formed it's own sub-category of music. Broadrick takes what could easily be a simple, stripped down, emotional pop song and adds layer after layer to it resulting in a combination of sludgy, drone-filled, heavy ambient songs. You can always hear traces of the original song lingering in the background, and while all these songs have a hopeful sound they still reverberate sadness off the walls of the distorted chords, amplified vocals and long, drawn out drum beats.
Opiate Sun is a four song EP released last year on Mark Kozelek's label Caldo Verde Records. When listening to these four songs, you can really hear the influence Kozelek had on Broadrick's writing, and the result is nothing short of a personal and beautiful listening experience.
Songs of Green Pheasant is the moniker of Sheffield, England artist and teacher Duncan Sumpner. I honestly don't know too much about his personal life and have only seen a couple of pictures from any kind of live show, but all that is important is that Mr. Sumpner creates some beautiful music.
Although his records are leaning towards more of a folk style, they are richly layered in atmospheric tones and drones, and through all this it still somehow manages to still have that trademark British sound. Some tracks feature soft reverb soaked vocals while other tracks remain instrumental. He first released a self titled LP, followed by Aerial Days and then lastly Gyllyng Street, all of which are in included in this post. Great music for reading, studying, night drives or your life.
"Brody Jacket" is a stand out track. I apologize for two megaupload links.
Grouper is Portland, Oregon solo act Liz Harris. Grouper's first two records, like this one, are slow, droning and dark. The reason this one stands out more than the others its intimacy. Harris's first two records flirted with electronic pads and melodies, whereas "Dragging a Dead Deer Uphill" strays from said previous path. This record is much more striped down, toned down and more drowning. It's absolutely beautiful. If there were ever a female companion to Mark Kozelek it would be Liz Harris.
Take the technicality of Don Caballero, add the ambient soundscapes of God Speed You! Black Emperor, mix in the intensity of Fugazi and leave it void of vocals leaving in it's place various sound clips and segments from political speeches, protests and revolutionaries and you get From Monument to Masses.
From Monument to Masses left us this year, but left behind two full lengths, two EPs and a remix album. The Impossible Leap in One Hundred Simple Steps is their first full length. It will forever remain in my top ten records of all time. Enjoy.
It's finally happened, and we couldn't be more ecstatic. The great mid/late 90's emo/screamo revival is upon us and in full swing. With bands like Grown Ups, Castevet, My Heart To Joy, Touche Amore and Algernon Cadwallader leading the pack we are reminded of the pioneers of this wonderful genre like a lingering smell we haven't experienced since our childhoods. We remember Cap'n Jazz, American Football, Mineral, Saetia, Eny, Evergreen and bands of the like but there are many overlooked bands. Bands that were once in the forefront. Bands that were easily forgotten. Colossal is one of those bands.
The Chicago area has been a hotbed of emo, screamo, indie and punk music since it's beginnings gathering an almost cult like following over the years. Colossal reigns from the Chicago suburb of Elgin. Musically, they are like many bands of the time; mixing jaunty and jagged pop like melodies with jazz elements with the occasional trumpet and "noodily" guitars. The thing that struck me originally about this band, that I still love, is Pat Ford's vocals. They are rich and deeper than anyone else's at the time. They have that haunting quality but remain inviting.
Welcome The Problems is the bands only LP to date, releasing only an EP prior. Colossal has never broken up, but have been on a dormant hibernation since 2004, and with members now in The Lawrence Arms and Smoking Popes it doesn't appear they will grace us with their presence anytime soon. Until they do, we have this full length (and their EP) to remind us of where this current phase of bands came from, where they get their inspiration from, and it makes me excited about the changing of seasons around the corner.
