Werchandice - Schoolyard(Club Mix) from Id House Vid. Group on Vimeo.
Dance in anticipation of Colman's sure-to-be-riveting top albums of 2010 list.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Werchandise - Schoolyard(Club Mix) Music Video
We don't normally do posts like these, but Colman is taking forever to finish his top ten of LAST YEAR, so in the meantime, here is the new Merchandise Werchandise video of the A-side of their upcoming 7", Schoolyard [Club Mix]:
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Two-thousand And WHEN? My Favorites Of Last Year
2010 was a pretty good year of musical experiences for me, generally speaking. Concertwise, I saw everyone from Alcest to GZA to Mark Kozelek to Voivod. Albumwise, I think I did an okay job of paying attention to new releases-- if you’ve read my previous year-end favorites list, you know that I’m usually too stuck in looking into old records. In advance, thanks for your patience in reading this...you’ll find that often, my love for a record is directly proportional to how much ramble on about it!
There were a lot of good records last year. Most (but not all) of these are bands showing incredible promise, making me think their next record is when they’ll really hit their stride, or just really killer records I didn’t listen to as much as did my favorites. Here are my notables:
Das Racist - Shut Up, Dude
Only because “Rainbow in the Dark” was my guilty-pleasure jam of the year. I don’t really know shit about modern hip hop. I also can’t listen to DR for more than a few songs. But those few are enjoyable enough. I’m pretty white and I’m gonna get some h8 for this review. But it’s okay. I’ll just go listen to “Rainbow in the Dark” again.
Tears Run Rings - Distance
Despite being in three different cities and two different states, this totally awesome shoegaze/dreampop quartet have made a super-together record. TRR beautifully siphon Ride’s jangliness into Slowdive’s best and most airy atmospheres, but never lose sight of memorable hooks and hummable memories. A band that deserves more. Buy Here.
Sailors With Wax Wings - s/t
Jesus tapdancing all-star lineups! I’m not familiar with R. Loren’s work in Pyramids, but goddamn if dude didn’t assemble his favorite players from a variety of genres-- bands ranging from Swans to Slowdive to My Dying Bride have members involved. Yet inexplicably, the record sounds like on collective’s work. The concept of the record (meeting Stephen Crane’s ghost, blah blah) is sorta pretentious, but the music isn’t -- the words could be about Cam Gigandet and still wouldn’t be able to tarnish these dark, ethereally beautiful pieces.
Lantlos - .neon
A record that has received a slew of praise, .neon takes Neige’s Amesoeurs work a step further and adds jazzy flourishes to the coldwave/post-punk/post-rock/can-we-stop-with the-genre-signifiers-already-influenced blackish metal he’s known for. This is not to say that the Frenchman and his German dudebro Herbst are making a black metal Mingus Ah-Um or even Unquestionable Presence, but rather that between the usual blastbeats/midtempo switchups there’s also some nice cadences and cymbalwork in the rhythms. I think their next record might just completely nail the formula they’re going for. Available here.
Ides of Gemini - The Disruption Wit Demo
Interesting new project featuring the frontlady from Black Math Horseman (a band I have no familiarity with) and J. Bennet, Decibel magazine’s most divisive writer. It’s an interesting mix-- she croons with a beautiful mystique reminiscent of 70s psychedelia and maybe even a little Dead Can Dance. Bennet’s guitar, however, is tonally only a few notches away from black metal-- substantially thin, and often drenched in reverb. The songs are simple, but flow naturally and are a fun listen. I am interested to see where this project heads. The demo can be heard and downloaded from the band’s Bandcamp page.
Autopsy - The Tomb Within
A promising comeback indeed from the Bay Area death metallers. Chris Reifert's caveman drum rolls and and the butcher's block guitars of Danny Corrales and Eric Cutler are completely intact; Joe Allen’s rumbling Rickenbacker bass tones add perfectly to the sonic formula. My sole complaint is the lack of dusty, shambling-zombie groove that made their classic Mental Funeral record so great-- these tracks are pretty fast, and while that’s always fun, Autopsy’s best moments and riffs were always the swinging ones found here only on “Mutant Village.” Buy Here.
Castevet - Mounds of Ash
ICDT pal Andrew Hock-- who met our boy Adam via his black metal patches on a random NYC busride-- beautifully mixes a substantial amount of his favorites in this solid debut. Hock is a disciple of the strange chord, taking after his heroes Piggy D’Amour, Czral and Derek Bailey. Even in odd rhythyms and longer compositions, the hooks stay strong. Perhaps the sole area in which Castevet need to hone their chops is the vocal department; the Neurosis-style roar is now par for the course in metal and sometimes wavers in its matching the songs’ emotional depth. Still, I’d wager the followup will top this one with ease. Buy Here.
StarGazer - A Great Work of Ages
Man, Profound Lore were unstoppable this year. StarGazer seem to get overlooked in lieu of the attention that, say, Ludicra and Agalloch have been getting, but there’s no real reason to. These Aussies focus on strange occult stuff in their interesting take on dark, intricate death metal. Cosmo Lee of Invisible Oranges called them a mix of Absu and Coroner, and he’s pretty on point-- the blackened, thrashing and mythic ferocity of the former with the dynamic, hypercapable musicianship of the latter. Does it sketch me out these dudes did a split with NS death metal douchelords Arghoslent back in the day? Yes, but there’s nothing I can discern that’s remotely of racial/political concern in any of their lyrics, tunes or imagery, so I’ma enjoy this well-executed record worry-free. Buy Here.
Ceremony - Rocket Fire
No, not the California hardcore band, but rather the post-punk/shoegaze band that formed out of two-thirds of Skywave when the other third left to create A Place to Bury Strangers. Skywave had okay songs, but holy shit their distortion was ear-accosting, and not in the good way. It was MBV’s hugeness minus the warmth plus about 100 times the treble. Here, Ceremony have a similar coldness, but their completely washing out the obnoxious noise of their previous outfit makes their catchy songcraft come through exponentially better. Buy Here.
These are the records that kept my stokage levels at steady peaks when I wasn't listening to the BLOOD BROS comps:
Three-Way Tie for Best:
Agalloch - Marrow of the Spirit
Agalloch undoubtedly turned some of its fanbase on its ear with their introduction of black metal double-picking on this record. Most of its fanbase were likely even more intrigued at the suddenly stark production of their analog recording approach, almost a 180 from predecessor record Ashes Against the Grain’s huge, lush guitar textures. But whereas Ashes featured accessible, produced atmospheres, Marrow strips down Agalloch to its core - the moroseness of Pale Folklore, the pedestrian acoustic narratives of The Mantle, and the catchiness of Ashes-- and then pushes forward, going for the throat. Described in its press release as possessing five “time-stretching songs,” Agalloch do exactly that. Despite being long, not a single minute of the record seems out of place. Frankly, the whole thing feels remarkably lean despite being well over an hour long. Moreso than any of their previous work, Marrow of the Spirit is a journey, and its stops are remarkable. Each song is masterfully composed in and of itself, but the work that everyone’s talking about this year is “Black Lake Nidstang,” and not without reason. Just past the seven-minute mark, John Haughm’s shrieks take on a whole new identity: a man so pained and desperate that all he can do is cry out to the skies above. Four albums in, Agalloch are still batting a thousand.
Download Here
Buy Here
Ludicra - The Tenant
For the three albums preceding The Tenant, the San Franciscan quintent proved time and time again how well their crusty influences mixed with that of black metal as they told the listener lurid tales of the suicides, drugs and mental instability so prevalent in the seedier areas of their stomping grounds. On this record, however, it’s quickly clear how capable the band is of mixing all sorts of classic metal vibes in with their honed style. “In Stable” thrashes, rips and grooves like Mental Vortex-era Coroner. “The Undercaste” lurches ominously like Candlemass or the slower parts of Mercyful Fate. All the while, the band is captured perfectly by Justin Weiss’ mix, literally the most organic and well-rounded production job I’ve heard in years. Even when Laurie Shanaman roars the most simple lyrics-- “Does it feel easy? Does it feel free?” on the Golden Gate Bridge suicide hymn “A Larger Silence”-- her conviction and misery tear at your ears. Christie Cather and John Cobbett toss solos and riffs back and forth with ease and confidence; Ross Sewage accents them with a chunky, gritty bass tone and tasteful note choices. And goddamn if Aesop Dekker doesn’t deliver the performance of his career, and no I’m not saying that just because he penned basically the best ICDT post ever. The man is Bill Stevenson, Dale Crover and Keith Moon in one; his catchy, playing-for-the-song style pounds, blasts, frames and perfectly complements his bandmates. His drumming on Agalloch’s newest is fantastic as well, but it’s on The Tenant that he has enough space to breathe and perfectly make his mark in a different context.
Download Here
Buy Here
Whirl - Distressor
I cannot possibly get enough of this perfectly-composed EP. Recorded entirely live to tape with the exception of vocals and a few other touches, Distressor’s dreamy songscapes boast a cinematic feel. The drums are simple, driving and huge; the guitars ebb and flow in, over and around each other and the vocals are simply the ideal of the shoegaze subgenre-- a brilliant carrier of melody and only so intelligible. But Whirl aren’t all floaty atmosphere; they write riffs, too, and this is the key ingredient that makes their My Bloody Valentine- and Slowdive-influenced sound feel so fresh. “Leave” feels like it is indeed carefully detaching, while “Blue” kicks into a beautiful, enchanting melancholy. Finally, like the other two entries in my top 3 records of the year, Distressor feels like one whole entity, not just a collection of songs.
Download Here
Buy Here
And the Rest...
Weed Hounds - Beach Bummed
Weed Hounds just get better with every release. Their demo tape was a great start, but the songs were a little long. As of this fine lil’ 7”, Laura and the boys have gotten a firm grip on quality songwriting. The eponymous A-side is a charming little love dilemma about no fun in the sun, but where the band really shines, I’d say, is the B-side, “Skating Away From The Cops.” This is a song demanding a sweet ‘90s-style video in the vein of “1979,” cutting between the band playing a packed house show and rambunctious scenes of them escaping law enforcement via skateboard and rollerskate. DO IT! I absolutely cannot wait for their full-length.
Download Here
Best Coast - Crazy For You
I’m well aware that this trio is the indie band du jour right now, but I don’t give a good goddamn. A dozen songs with awesome vocals, catchy lo-fi guitars and lyrics about boys, weed and both. Crazy for You is a wonderfully simple pleasure.
Buy Here
Thrushes - Night Falls
I was blessed to do my undergraduate studies in Baltimore, where towards the end of my freshman year I was introduced to the first full-length of this fine noise-pop/shoegaze band, Sun Come Undone. Despite some filler, it was full of catchy, lovelorn songcraft. Night Falls cuts out that filler and adds maturity and darkness. After years of hearing some of these songs live, it’s so awesome to hear them on record: the heartbroken rivalry of “Trees,” the fuzzed-out powerpop of “Crystals,” and my personal favorite, the foreboding “As Much To Lose.” This is a band deserving of great things. Buy their record!
Buy Here
Les Discrets - Septembre Et Ses Dernieres Pensees
Unlike a slew of other people listening to shoegaze-influenced metal stuff this year, Alcest’s new record isn’t on my list. I swear I tried to get into it-- their debut record Souvenirs D’Un Autre Monde is a longtime favorite-- but I just didn’t dig. Their bass player and ever-popular graphic designer, Fursy Teyssier, however, has something really awesome going on with Les Discrets, who also indulge in post-rock and shoegazey stylings. Alcest alternate between light and shade, but Fursy and company seem thoroughly at home in a beautiful sort of grey; through the ten tracks, his voice bears a clear influence from Ulver’s Krystoffer Rygg in its tonality, but his phrasing feels pleasantly fresh. At turns nostalgic and at others melancholic, the entirely French-sung album is promising, pastoral debut.
Buy Here
Nails - Unsilent Death
Fast-ass, angry metallic hardcore fronted by a dude who’s of all things an ex-Terror member? And the cover art references a Hellhammer demo tape? So down. Nails packs plenty of rage, blastbeats and Entombed guitar tone in this nice-and-concise record.
Buy Here
Sun Kil Moon - Admiral Fell Promises
Mark Kozelek has written sad fucking songs for 20 years. Most of them are pretty damned great. But, with certain exceptions (“Summer Dress,” “Floating,” the piano version of “Mistress,”) dude has rarely sounded as intimate as he does on the guitar-and-voice-only Admiral Fell Promises. His fingerpicking chops, already impressive on past recordings, are now the definition of rock-solid, and though there are flamenco-ish interludes here and there, the songs always remain the focal point. His open lyrical style leaves his misery anything but vague, and on songs like the title track we can see his longing gaze heavenward as he whispers “A thousand days have passed/In this house she and I were sharing/And I hate myself for it/But I have stopped caring/The Maryland sky tonight/Is so black and blue and beautiful.”
Buy Here
Hans Zimmer - Inception OST
Inception was all the rage this year on so many levels. A non-franchise/adaption/remake work becoming a success both critically and financially? And the world finally recognized the handsomeness of his hawtness JGL (where were you when he did Brick?). And yeah, the still-awesome internet meme of the vuvuzella -esque musical motif. But aside from all that, there's some damned fine compositional work that contributed to the movie’s best and most intense moments. Lengthwise, it’s a lean soundtrack that never overstays its welcome. In its playtime, however, it does indeed unfold like a dream: serene, peaceful moments that loudly turn for the worse and sometimes back again.
Buy Here
Atheist - Jupiter
Atheist are one of my all-time favorite bands and have been a huge influence on my attempts at musicianship. That said, I was kinda sweating their announcement of recording a new joint-- a fear only increased by the departure of bassist Tony Choy just as they headed into the studio. And while Jupiter was recorded by one Jason Suecof, who pays his bills cutting albums by jokes like Trivium, he keeps the magic intact; the record’s only glaring flaw is the lack of prominent bass in the mix. It’s no And Justice for All, but the bass parts contributed by guitarist JT Thompson can often only be heard fully when he and Chris Baker are playing higher-register riffs. Kelly Shaefer’s vocals are as ragged, charged and snarling as they were 20 years ago on Piece of Time, and Steve Flynn’s drumwork? Dude took a 13-year break after quitting music in the mid-90s and still slaughters the competition not only in inventiveness and technicality, but also restraint. The foursome’s eight catchy songs are in and out in just over half an hour, knocking this concise return to form out of the park. Meanwhile, Pestilence still can’t shake the fixation on becoming “TOTALLY BROOTAL, BRO!” Take a hint from these guys, huh Mameli?
Buy Here
Merchandise - Strange Songs (In The Dark)
I don’t really know shit about post-punk. I’ve heard a little bit of the Smiths and Joy Division, and I do love the Cure. But what I’m trying to say is that I can’t talk about the genre with any degree of expertise. I do, however, really, really like this platter from Florida’s Merchandise, a duo whose approach and production are really enjoyable. There’s just enough of a lo-fi sound to the guitars without making them grating, the drums are so good you’d never guess they were programmed, and whoever’s singing is really quite vocally adept for this sort of music. Nicely done, guys.
Download Here
Buy Here
Maserati - Pyramids of the Sun
Maserati suffered a haymaker last year when drummer extraodinaire Gerry Fuchs fell down an elevator shaft and died. His tightness, finesse and his amazing maintenance of the instrumental quartet’s groove is a critical part of what makes their songs breathe and charge forward. Fortunately, he’d cut all of his drums for this beautiful swansong before his untimely passing. Singerless bands are a dime a dozen these days, but Maserati’s sharp guitars and strong rhythyms keep catchiness and songcraft at the forefront. Buy this goddamned record!
Buy Here
P.S. Eliot - Living In Squalor 7”
While PSE did have this fantastic 7” for sale when I caught them in Baltimore last spring, I couldn’t afford to get it AND a shirt AND the Introverted Romance in Our Troubled Minds LP. My then-collegiate student financial struggles aside, this band’s winning streak continues, dammmmn. 5 really short bangers that seem at once more serious and more catchy than the already-infectious debut LP. The other day, Catherine and I were discussing our profuse love for Living In Squalor and, as she eloquently put it, how Katie’s unfuckwithably honest lyrics are “effortlessly thoughtful.” Why the hell did I wait until like three weeks ago to start jamming this on the regular? Why aren’t you listening to it yet? This is the best damn 10 minutes of music of last year.
Download Here
There were a lot of good records last year. Most (but not all) of these are bands showing incredible promise, making me think their next record is when they’ll really hit their stride, or just really killer records I didn’t listen to as much as did my favorites. Here are my notables:
Das Racist - Shut Up, Dude
Only because “Rainbow in the Dark” was my guilty-pleasure jam of the year. I don’t really know shit about modern hip hop. I also can’t listen to DR for more than a few songs. But those few are enjoyable enough. I’m pretty white and I’m gonna get some h8 for this review. But it’s okay. I’ll just go listen to “Rainbow in the Dark” again.
Tears Run Rings - Distance
Despite being in three different cities and two different states, this totally awesome shoegaze/dreampop quartet have made a super-together record. TRR beautifully siphon Ride’s jangliness into Slowdive’s best and most airy atmospheres, but never lose sight of memorable hooks and hummable memories. A band that deserves more. Buy Here.
Sailors With Wax Wings - s/t
Jesus tapdancing all-star lineups! I’m not familiar with R. Loren’s work in Pyramids, but goddamn if dude didn’t assemble his favorite players from a variety of genres-- bands ranging from Swans to Slowdive to My Dying Bride have members involved. Yet inexplicably, the record sounds like on collective’s work. The concept of the record (meeting Stephen Crane’s ghost, blah blah) is sorta pretentious, but the music isn’t -- the words could be about Cam Gigandet and still wouldn’t be able to tarnish these dark, ethereally beautiful pieces.
Lantlos - .neon
A record that has received a slew of praise, .neon takes Neige’s Amesoeurs work a step further and adds jazzy flourishes to the coldwave/post-punk/post-rock/can-we-stop-with the-genre-signifiers-already-influenced blackish metal he’s known for. This is not to say that the Frenchman and his German dudebro Herbst are making a black metal Mingus Ah-Um or even Unquestionable Presence, but rather that between the usual blastbeats/midtempo switchups there’s also some nice cadences and cymbalwork in the rhythms. I think their next record might just completely nail the formula they’re going for. Available here.
Ides of Gemini - The Disruption Wit Demo
Interesting new project featuring the frontlady from Black Math Horseman (a band I have no familiarity with) and J. Bennet, Decibel magazine’s most divisive writer. It’s an interesting mix-- she croons with a beautiful mystique reminiscent of 70s psychedelia and maybe even a little Dead Can Dance. Bennet’s guitar, however, is tonally only a few notches away from black metal-- substantially thin, and often drenched in reverb. The songs are simple, but flow naturally and are a fun listen. I am interested to see where this project heads. The demo can be heard and downloaded from the band’s Bandcamp page.
Autopsy - The Tomb Within
A promising comeback indeed from the Bay Area death metallers. Chris Reifert's caveman drum rolls and and the butcher's block guitars of Danny Corrales and Eric Cutler are completely intact; Joe Allen’s rumbling Rickenbacker bass tones add perfectly to the sonic formula. My sole complaint is the lack of dusty, shambling-zombie groove that made their classic Mental Funeral record so great-- these tracks are pretty fast, and while that’s always fun, Autopsy’s best moments and riffs were always the swinging ones found here only on “Mutant Village.” Buy Here.
Castevet - Mounds of Ash
ICDT pal Andrew Hock-- who met our boy Adam via his black metal patches on a random NYC busride-- beautifully mixes a substantial amount of his favorites in this solid debut. Hock is a disciple of the strange chord, taking after his heroes Piggy D’Amour, Czral and Derek Bailey. Even in odd rhythyms and longer compositions, the hooks stay strong. Perhaps the sole area in which Castevet need to hone their chops is the vocal department; the Neurosis-style roar is now par for the course in metal and sometimes wavers in its matching the songs’ emotional depth. Still, I’d wager the followup will top this one with ease. Buy Here.
StarGazer - A Great Work of Ages
Man, Profound Lore were unstoppable this year. StarGazer seem to get overlooked in lieu of the attention that, say, Ludicra and Agalloch have been getting, but there’s no real reason to. These Aussies focus on strange occult stuff in their interesting take on dark, intricate death metal. Cosmo Lee of Invisible Oranges called them a mix of Absu and Coroner, and he’s pretty on point-- the blackened, thrashing and mythic ferocity of the former with the dynamic, hypercapable musicianship of the latter. Does it sketch me out these dudes did a split with NS death metal douchelords Arghoslent back in the day? Yes, but there’s nothing I can discern that’s remotely of racial/political concern in any of their lyrics, tunes or imagery, so I’ma enjoy this well-executed record worry-free. Buy Here.
Ceremony - Rocket Fire
No, not the California hardcore band, but rather the post-punk/shoegaze band that formed out of two-thirds of Skywave when the other third left to create A Place to Bury Strangers. Skywave had okay songs, but holy shit their distortion was ear-accosting, and not in the good way. It was MBV’s hugeness minus the warmth plus about 100 times the treble. Here, Ceremony have a similar coldness, but their completely washing out the obnoxious noise of their previous outfit makes their catchy songcraft come through exponentially better. Buy Here.
These are the records that kept my stokage levels at steady peaks when I wasn't listening to the BLOOD BROS comps:
Three-Way Tie for Best:
Agalloch - Marrow of the Spirit
Agalloch undoubtedly turned some of its fanbase on its ear with their introduction of black metal double-picking on this record. Most of its fanbase were likely even more intrigued at the suddenly stark production of their analog recording approach, almost a 180 from predecessor record Ashes Against the Grain’s huge, lush guitar textures. But whereas Ashes featured accessible, produced atmospheres, Marrow strips down Agalloch to its core - the moroseness of Pale Folklore, the pedestrian acoustic narratives of The Mantle, and the catchiness of Ashes-- and then pushes forward, going for the throat. Described in its press release as possessing five “time-stretching songs,” Agalloch do exactly that. Despite being long, not a single minute of the record seems out of place. Frankly, the whole thing feels remarkably lean despite being well over an hour long. Moreso than any of their previous work, Marrow of the Spirit is a journey, and its stops are remarkable. Each song is masterfully composed in and of itself, but the work that everyone’s talking about this year is “Black Lake Nidstang,” and not without reason. Just past the seven-minute mark, John Haughm’s shrieks take on a whole new identity: a man so pained and desperate that all he can do is cry out to the skies above. Four albums in, Agalloch are still batting a thousand.
Download Here
Buy Here
Ludicra - The Tenant
For the three albums preceding The Tenant, the San Franciscan quintent proved time and time again how well their crusty influences mixed with that of black metal as they told the listener lurid tales of the suicides, drugs and mental instability so prevalent in the seedier areas of their stomping grounds. On this record, however, it’s quickly clear how capable the band is of mixing all sorts of classic metal vibes in with their honed style. “In Stable” thrashes, rips and grooves like Mental Vortex-era Coroner. “The Undercaste” lurches ominously like Candlemass or the slower parts of Mercyful Fate. All the while, the band is captured perfectly by Justin Weiss’ mix, literally the most organic and well-rounded production job I’ve heard in years. Even when Laurie Shanaman roars the most simple lyrics-- “Does it feel easy? Does it feel free?” on the Golden Gate Bridge suicide hymn “A Larger Silence”-- her conviction and misery tear at your ears. Christie Cather and John Cobbett toss solos and riffs back and forth with ease and confidence; Ross Sewage accents them with a chunky, gritty bass tone and tasteful note choices. And goddamn if Aesop Dekker doesn’t deliver the performance of his career, and no I’m not saying that just because he penned basically the best ICDT post ever. The man is Bill Stevenson, Dale Crover and Keith Moon in one; his catchy, playing-for-the-song style pounds, blasts, frames and perfectly complements his bandmates. His drumming on Agalloch’s newest is fantastic as well, but it’s on The Tenant that he has enough space to breathe and perfectly make his mark in a different context.
Download Here
Buy Here
Whirl - Distressor
I cannot possibly get enough of this perfectly-composed EP. Recorded entirely live to tape with the exception of vocals and a few other touches, Distressor’s dreamy songscapes boast a cinematic feel. The drums are simple, driving and huge; the guitars ebb and flow in, over and around each other and the vocals are simply the ideal of the shoegaze subgenre-- a brilliant carrier of melody and only so intelligible. But Whirl aren’t all floaty atmosphere; they write riffs, too, and this is the key ingredient that makes their My Bloody Valentine- and Slowdive-influenced sound feel so fresh. “Leave” feels like it is indeed carefully detaching, while “Blue” kicks into a beautiful, enchanting melancholy. Finally, like the other two entries in my top 3 records of the year, Distressor feels like one whole entity, not just a collection of songs.
Download Here
Buy Here
And the Rest...
Weed Hounds - Beach Bummed
Weed Hounds just get better with every release. Their demo tape was a great start, but the songs were a little long. As of this fine lil’ 7”, Laura and the boys have gotten a firm grip on quality songwriting. The eponymous A-side is a charming little love dilemma about no fun in the sun, but where the band really shines, I’d say, is the B-side, “Skating Away From The Cops.” This is a song demanding a sweet ‘90s-style video in the vein of “1979,” cutting between the band playing a packed house show and rambunctious scenes of them escaping law enforcement via skateboard and rollerskate. DO IT! I absolutely cannot wait for their full-length.
Download Here
Best Coast - Crazy For You
I’m well aware that this trio is the indie band du jour right now, but I don’t give a good goddamn. A dozen songs with awesome vocals, catchy lo-fi guitars and lyrics about boys, weed and both. Crazy for You is a wonderfully simple pleasure.
Buy Here
Thrushes - Night Falls
I was blessed to do my undergraduate studies in Baltimore, where towards the end of my freshman year I was introduced to the first full-length of this fine noise-pop/shoegaze band, Sun Come Undone. Despite some filler, it was full of catchy, lovelorn songcraft. Night Falls cuts out that filler and adds maturity and darkness. After years of hearing some of these songs live, it’s so awesome to hear them on record: the heartbroken rivalry of “Trees,” the fuzzed-out powerpop of “Crystals,” and my personal favorite, the foreboding “As Much To Lose.” This is a band deserving of great things. Buy their record!
Buy Here
Les Discrets - Septembre Et Ses Dernieres Pensees
Unlike a slew of other people listening to shoegaze-influenced metal stuff this year, Alcest’s new record isn’t on my list. I swear I tried to get into it-- their debut record Souvenirs D’Un Autre Monde is a longtime favorite-- but I just didn’t dig. Their bass player and ever-popular graphic designer, Fursy Teyssier, however, has something really awesome going on with Les Discrets, who also indulge in post-rock and shoegazey stylings. Alcest alternate between light and shade, but Fursy and company seem thoroughly at home in a beautiful sort of grey; through the ten tracks, his voice bears a clear influence from Ulver’s Krystoffer Rygg in its tonality, but his phrasing feels pleasantly fresh. At turns nostalgic and at others melancholic, the entirely French-sung album is promising, pastoral debut.
Buy Here
Nails - Unsilent Death
Fast-ass, angry metallic hardcore fronted by a dude who’s of all things an ex-Terror member? And the cover art references a Hellhammer demo tape? So down. Nails packs plenty of rage, blastbeats and Entombed guitar tone in this nice-and-concise record.
Buy Here
Sun Kil Moon - Admiral Fell Promises
Mark Kozelek has written sad fucking songs for 20 years. Most of them are pretty damned great. But, with certain exceptions (“Summer Dress,” “Floating,” the piano version of “Mistress,”) dude has rarely sounded as intimate as he does on the guitar-and-voice-only Admiral Fell Promises. His fingerpicking chops, already impressive on past recordings, are now the definition of rock-solid, and though there are flamenco-ish interludes here and there, the songs always remain the focal point. His open lyrical style leaves his misery anything but vague, and on songs like the title track we can see his longing gaze heavenward as he whispers “A thousand days have passed/In this house she and I were sharing/And I hate myself for it/But I have stopped caring/The Maryland sky tonight/Is so black and blue and beautiful.”
Buy Here
Hans Zimmer - Inception OST
Inception was all the rage this year on so many levels. A non-franchise/adaption/remake work becoming a success both critically and financially? And the world finally recognized the handsomeness of his hawtness JGL (where were you when he did Brick?). And yeah, the still-awesome internet meme of the vuvuzella -esque musical motif. But aside from all that, there's some damned fine compositional work that contributed to the movie’s best and most intense moments. Lengthwise, it’s a lean soundtrack that never overstays its welcome. In its playtime, however, it does indeed unfold like a dream: serene, peaceful moments that loudly turn for the worse and sometimes back again.
Buy Here
Atheist - Jupiter
Atheist are one of my all-time favorite bands and have been a huge influence on my attempts at musicianship. That said, I was kinda sweating their announcement of recording a new joint-- a fear only increased by the departure of bassist Tony Choy just as they headed into the studio. And while Jupiter was recorded by one Jason Suecof, who pays his bills cutting albums by jokes like Trivium, he keeps the magic intact; the record’s only glaring flaw is the lack of prominent bass in the mix. It’s no And Justice for All, but the bass parts contributed by guitarist JT Thompson can often only be heard fully when he and Chris Baker are playing higher-register riffs. Kelly Shaefer’s vocals are as ragged, charged and snarling as they were 20 years ago on Piece of Time, and Steve Flynn’s drumwork? Dude took a 13-year break after quitting music in the mid-90s and still slaughters the competition not only in inventiveness and technicality, but also restraint. The foursome’s eight catchy songs are in and out in just over half an hour, knocking this concise return to form out of the park. Meanwhile, Pestilence still can’t shake the fixation on becoming “TOTALLY BROOTAL, BRO!” Take a hint from these guys, huh Mameli?
Buy Here
Merchandise - Strange Songs (In The Dark)
I don’t really know shit about post-punk. I’ve heard a little bit of the Smiths and Joy Division, and I do love the Cure. But what I’m trying to say is that I can’t talk about the genre with any degree of expertise. I do, however, really, really like this platter from Florida’s Merchandise, a duo whose approach and production are really enjoyable. There’s just enough of a lo-fi sound to the guitars without making them grating, the drums are so good you’d never guess they were programmed, and whoever’s singing is really quite vocally adept for this sort of music. Nicely done, guys.
Download Here
Buy Here
Maserati - Pyramids of the Sun
Maserati suffered a haymaker last year when drummer extraodinaire Gerry Fuchs fell down an elevator shaft and died. His tightness, finesse and his amazing maintenance of the instrumental quartet’s groove is a critical part of what makes their songs breathe and charge forward. Fortunately, he’d cut all of his drums for this beautiful swansong before his untimely passing. Singerless bands are a dime a dozen these days, but Maserati’s sharp guitars and strong rhythyms keep catchiness and songcraft at the forefront. Buy this goddamned record!
Buy Here
P.S. Eliot - Living In Squalor 7”
While PSE did have this fantastic 7” for sale when I caught them in Baltimore last spring, I couldn’t afford to get it AND a shirt AND the Introverted Romance in Our Troubled Minds LP. My then-collegiate student financial struggles aside, this band’s winning streak continues, dammmmn. 5 really short bangers that seem at once more serious and more catchy than the already-infectious debut LP. The other day, Catherine and I were discussing our profuse love for Living In Squalor and, as she eloquently put it, how Katie’s unfuckwithably honest lyrics are “effortlessly thoughtful.” Why the hell did I wait until like three weeks ago to start jamming this on the regular? Why aren’t you listening to it yet? This is the best damn 10 minutes of music of last year.
Download Here
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
My Ten Favorite Records Of 2010
In alphabetical order...
Bad Banana - Crushfield
Four Eyes - Self Titled 7"
I needed no convincing to fall in love with P.S. Eliot all over again. "Broken Record" was one of my favorite songs on the demo, and I think this rerecording is better than the songs that carried over from that release to the LP. Songs of relationship confusion and love reign supreme with this release. My favorite new track is definitely "A Bear Named Otis." Secret letters, Katie fucking howls, and when everything drops out my heart just drops with it. I think this is the most cohesive release for P.S. Eliot as a whole and is a great recording balance in terms of reflecting this band's polish and scrappiness. The cover art/design by Kate Wadkins deserves a shout-out as well... love her signature script on the back cover. I got to see P.S. Eliot three awesome times in 2010, witnessing a little preview of their LP Sadie over the summer, which is coming out soon on one of my favorite labels, Salinas Records.
Bad Banana - Crushfield
This not-even-real release has been the most infectiously catchy, stripped-down pop release of the year for me. Despite the fact that my default mode is apathy and my default tone is monotonicity, my dear friends Milli and Jess can tell you that every so often I get really excited about a crush, and Bad Banana was lined up in this company when I inexplicably woke at 5 am one Monday morning in September. Allison captured my heart with the best crush song of the year, "Stand Next to Me," and the long-distance-makes-my-heart-want-to-melt-'cause-it's-so-fucking-cute "Celery." As the Dark Lord said in October, this recording finds its strength in simplicity. Bad Banana find the perfect edge between pop punk and fuzzy indie pop. For all you fans, Bad Banana, along with Sourpatch (see below), are taking the East Coast and Midwest by storm in February. They'll have a few copies of this on cassette with them and will hopefully have a 7" put out by yours truly, as well.
Billy Raygun - Split CS w/ Georgian + Split 7" with Rational Anthem
This band is exactly what pop punk should be-- teenagers singing/playing their fucking hearts out in a perfectly scrappy but never veering on mall-kid punk kinda way. Billy Raygun take equal cues from Jawbreaker, their New Hampshire forefathers, the Queers, and more recent New England pop punk like Witches With Dicks (mostly the "goddamnit" shout out on "Clone" is a total rip-off). Let's talk about feelings and inane shit, sing until our cheeks even rosier than they already are, and have fun with some riffs. I'll add an honorable mention for their Seasick 7" since I foolishly didn't hear it until this year.
Des Ark - Third Radio Demo
If last.fm is any indication, I have listened to Des Ark more than anything else in the past ~ four years. This new demo is no let down... nine songs that break your heart, either because their truly heartbreaking or because you know you're never going to have something so beautiful written for you (or maybe both). I like that Aimee always breaks her seriousness with wit, either with charming stories or song titles like "Which One of You Assholes Ate Christmas" and "Pregnant Motherfucker." I tend to prefer the acoustic version of Des Ark, and while her side of the Battle of the Beards split is one of my favorite sides of a split LP, I think I often prefer the radio demos. Production value doesn't matter so much when you just have a girl and an acoustic guitar, but there's something that's closer, more direct about these simpler recordings. Favorites are "Le Debut de la Fin," "Giving Tree," and the aforementioned "Which One of You Assholes Ate Christmas."
Four Eyes - Self Titled 7"
My favorite not-so-new-anymore Dinosaur Jr. imitators from Somerville, Massachusetts. Emotionally raw (but not really emo) indie rock with just a small twinkle in the riffage. They've got a new 7" coming out any minute now... more shameless self-promotion.
Download Here
To Buy, email foureyestheband@gmail.com, $5 ppd.
Download Here
To Buy, email foureyestheband@gmail.com, $5 ppd.
Lac Labelle - Self Titled
I was somewhat hesitant to include Lac Labelle in my list, simply because I don't really know anything about the country/bluegrass genre. But fuck it- this is one of my favorites of the year! My friend Christa grabbed this CD at the incredible Homegrown Fest in Boston and sent it along to me. This album packs combo female/male vocals and lovely intricacy while remaining simply and distinctly Americana.
Buy Here
Buy Here
Lazy Mary - Crazy Hairy 7"
Totally raw, grungy Heavens to Betsy-esque duo from Long Beach, California. Frantic at times, hollowed out at others, I don't know quite how to explain why I love this release so much, but since the summer I've probably listened to it at least once a week. Perhaps it's the power of simplicity with lines like "mask emotion with addiction" jutting up against loudness.
Download Here
Buy Here
Download Here
Buy Here
Libyans - A Common Place
I've gotten to the point where I've already written about almost all of the releases on this list, and Libyans are the most recent in this category. Without repeating myself too much, I love how snotty this band has become. A Common Place is both a great album as a whole and a good collection of singles, particularly "Paralyzed," one of my favorite straight up punk songs of the year.
Download Here
Buy Here
Download Here
Buy Here
P.S. Eliot - Living In Squalor 7"
I needed no convincing to fall in love with P.S. Eliot all over again. "Broken Record" was one of my favorite songs on the demo, and I think this rerecording is better than the songs that carried over from that release to the LP. Songs of relationship confusion and love reign supreme with this release. My favorite new track is definitely "A Bear Named Otis." Secret letters, Katie fucking howls, and when everything drops out my heart just drops with it. I think this is the most cohesive release for P.S. Eliot as a whole and is a great recording balance in terms of reflecting this band's polish and scrappiness. The cover art/design by Kate Wadkins deserves a shout-out as well... love her signature script on the back cover. I got to see P.S. Eliot three awesome times in 2010, witnessing a little preview of their LP Sadie over the summer, which is coming out soon on one of my favorite labels, Salinas Records.
Sourpatch - Crushin' LP
Perfectly tinny indie pop. I think this might have actually come out in 2009 but at the very end of the year, and I didn't get it until 2010. It's no surprise that I love a band whose primary influence is Tiger Trap and that sings about hopelessly cute crushes: "You like cars and you like stars/You like kites and eating candybars/Warm summer days when the sky is blue/While I like everything about you." Perhaps all the ICDT hardcore kids are gagging right now (more likely they've just skipped over my entire list), but Sourpatch's sweetness doesn't ever seem contrived; it's simply propelled by jangly guitars and girly voices. Occasional boy vocals too, but mostly ones my girls, and it should stay that way. I'm not as fond of "Outerspace." I know it's supposed to be cute, but I wish this didn't have the mega creepy little kid on the first track.
Buy Here
Buy Here
Weed Hounds - Beach Bummed 7" + Split 7" with Dude Japan
If I could go back in time, the Weed Hounds demo would be in my top 10 from last year, but no regrets! Both sides of the Beach Bummed single provide more of the swirly, encompassing pop we all loved on the demo. While I love the more Swirlies/MBV-style pop on the Beach Bummed 7", I love the more driven "Hard Drivin'" even more. The song has probably become my favorite by the Weedies. I enjoy seeing this band live, but I would definitely say that recordings are their strong point. Seeing them play something like "Hard Drivin'" though is more energetic... I like Adam's description of the song as "propulsive." Weed Hounds haven't missed a beat yet, and I'd say there's a good chance their LP will be on my rendition of this list next year.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Blogcore 4 Blogcore: My Favorite Releases of 2010
Hey, it's Valentine's Day! Like most days, I will spend this joyous day filled with regret and loneliness. If you too are feeling the V-Day blues, then let me distract you for a good five minutes with my top ten list of albums for 2010. We thought we were going to have this ready at the end of 2010, but we're later than ever! Oh well. Plenty of new stuff got me really excited and I think next year will be promising, as well. Before we get into my top 10, here is the standard (for me) notable releases of 2010 section:
Confines - Withdrawn 7" - I love this 7"! I was completely taken aback at how good it was. I had heard their demo and was kinda into it and even saw them live, where they were even better, but MAN this 7" rips. Colman brought a bunch of copies back from one of his regular visits to NH and I'm very thankful for that! Copies still available from Side Two and Labour Of Love.
Crazy Spirit 7" - Crazy Spirit's first 7" on Toxic State is one of the catchiest thing I had heard this year and I never really got tired of it. While I am very stoked to hear their new 7", I'm a tad concerned that the band might be a one-trick pony. Still, I don't mean to hate: This record rules and the band is awesome.
Drunkdriver LP - The record no one wants to acknowledge. A lot of people pretend this record doesn't exist or that this band never happened, which is truly a bummer for the music on this LP, which is probably Drunkdriver's strongest material and may have even catapulted them to the big time! Hypotheticals aside, this is a seriously good record, no matter where you stand on the Drunkdriver issue.
h100s - Live In Cleveland 1995 LP - This was advertised to the public as having incredible sound quality for a live record and BOY was that accurate! I actually prefer some versions of these songs to their original 7" versions. On top of getting some of the best Clevocore on here, you also get hilarious stage banter courtesy of the Erbas. Seriously, track this down if you can!
Low Threat Profile - Product #2 LP - Not as good as their perfect 7" from last year, but this LP is still pretty incredible. Andy's voice sounds way more weathered than on the 7", but it's still awesome. The music occasionally retreads older ground, but who fucking cares? The drumming is still insane and this is one of the coolest hardcore records of the year. Copies are still available from Deep Six.
Milk Music - Beyond Living 12" - I slept on this release for awhile, but I finally checked it out towards the last moments of 2010 and was blown away. Sounding like late 80s SST bands, especially Dinosaur Jr., this band has the coolest fucking guitar tone I've heard in forever. Do not sleep on this one. To get a copy, email milk_music[at]hotmail[dot]com.
Nerveskade LP - God, I'll be so happy if I never have to see another crossed-out eighth note. Seriously, what's the beef? Lady GaGa rules. Still, despite a tidal wave of shitty raw punk hitting peoples' ears this year, there are still some real deals and Nerveskade is one of them. I got to see them twice this year and they blew me away both times, so I wasn't surprised that this record was as good as it is. The rerecorded version of "Forced To Live" is my anthem at the moment. I'm sure copies of this are still available. Figure it out!
Nomos - Notes From The Acheron 12" - To be real, I don't even bother listening to their demo anymore because this is so much better. To (mis)quote prominent NYC punk figure Jesse Gasface: just try not destroying your room when "Pharmakon" comes on. You will fail. BOOSH. Copies are still available from Deranged.
Swallowed 7" - My friend CJ showed me this record and it blew my mind. Swallowed plays slower, Autopsy-influenced death metal. Seriously one of the most disgusting records I've heard in awhile. Their demo they released before this is faster and more derivative, but still worth checking out. Be sure to track this down on vinyl, as it's mastered perfectly. I cannot fucking wait for their LP.
Weed Hounds - Beach Bummed 7" - The Reefer Pooches put forth their best material yet with this two-song single. The A-side of "Beach Bummed" is one of their more pleasant and pretty songs, but the B-side of "Skating Away From The Cops" is the real gem on this. It's their best song thus far and is only but a taste of what is to come in 2011 for the band.
And there you have it! Now, for my top ten list for the year:
10. Kriegshög - Self Titled LP
In 2010, everyone in proximity to my friend Vinnie (mad love!) became obsessed with Tonetta, a hidden YouTube sensation. Tonetta's videos are some of the most bizarre yet addicting things I've ever encountered on the site. Apparently, Black Tent Press thought this, as well, and has been pressing many of the tracks to vinyl. Thank god! This particular LP collects material recorded over more than a decade and is seriously the most fucked record of the year. This truly is one of the most depraved things I've ever heard and I still can't tell whether his stabs at conventional music are actually more bizarre than his more recent, hypersexual side. I absolutely love it. Hopefully, you will too.
Pollution! The best punk band in Brooklyn that no one cares about in Brooklyn. Unless playing with a larger band, I go to their shows and see only a handful of people there outside of their significant others and usual friends. Seriously, is everyone stupid? Ranting aside, Pollution is great. While their consistently incredible live show is unfuckwithable by most bands (especially in the area), some have complained their the recorded material doesn't quite capture the magic. I mean, it doesn't, but that would be impossible. Still, this particular LP is some of their best material. Some have complained about the snare sound on this, but they just don't realize it will be considered revolutionary in thirty years. OK, maybe the sound does resemble an obese man self-flagellating with a tennis ball wrapped in a wet tube sock, but I can look past that when the drumming is so insane. SERIOUSLY, I CAN'T SHUT UP ABOUT THIS BAND. Be on the lookout for a split LP with Grids, a new LP, and a tour with Double Negative, all coming in 2011!
Confines - Withdrawn 7" - I love this 7"! I was completely taken aback at how good it was. I had heard their demo and was kinda into it and even saw them live, where they were even better, but MAN this 7" rips. Colman brought a bunch of copies back from one of his regular visits to NH and I'm very thankful for that! Copies still available from Side Two and Labour Of Love.
Crazy Spirit 7" - Crazy Spirit's first 7" on Toxic State is one of the catchiest thing I had heard this year and I never really got tired of it. While I am very stoked to hear their new 7", I'm a tad concerned that the band might be a one-trick pony. Still, I don't mean to hate: This record rules and the band is awesome.
Drunkdriver LP - The record no one wants to acknowledge. A lot of people pretend this record doesn't exist or that this band never happened, which is truly a bummer for the music on this LP, which is probably Drunkdriver's strongest material and may have even catapulted them to the big time! Hypotheticals aside, this is a seriously good record, no matter where you stand on the Drunkdriver issue.
h100s - Live In Cleveland 1995 LP - This was advertised to the public as having incredible sound quality for a live record and BOY was that accurate! I actually prefer some versions of these songs to their original 7" versions. On top of getting some of the best Clevocore on here, you also get hilarious stage banter courtesy of the Erbas. Seriously, track this down if you can!
Low Threat Profile - Product #2 LP - Not as good as their perfect 7" from last year, but this LP is still pretty incredible. Andy's voice sounds way more weathered than on the 7", but it's still awesome. The music occasionally retreads older ground, but who fucking cares? The drumming is still insane and this is one of the coolest hardcore records of the year. Copies are still available from Deep Six.
Milk Music - Beyond Living 12" - I slept on this release for awhile, but I finally checked it out towards the last moments of 2010 and was blown away. Sounding like late 80s SST bands, especially Dinosaur Jr., this band has the coolest fucking guitar tone I've heard in forever. Do not sleep on this one. To get a copy, email milk_music[at]hotmail[dot]com.
Nerveskade LP - God, I'll be so happy if I never have to see another crossed-out eighth note. Seriously, what's the beef? Lady GaGa rules. Still, despite a tidal wave of shitty raw punk hitting peoples' ears this year, there are still some real deals and Nerveskade is one of them. I got to see them twice this year and they blew me away both times, so I wasn't surprised that this record was as good as it is. The rerecorded version of "Forced To Live" is my anthem at the moment. I'm sure copies of this are still available. Figure it out!
Nomos - Notes From The Acheron 12" - To be real, I don't even bother listening to their demo anymore because this is so much better. To (mis)quote prominent NYC punk figure Jesse Gasface: just try not destroying your room when "Pharmakon" comes on. You will fail. BOOSH. Copies are still available from Deranged.
Swallowed 7" - My friend CJ showed me this record and it blew my mind. Swallowed plays slower, Autopsy-influenced death metal. Seriously one of the most disgusting records I've heard in awhile. Their demo they released before this is faster and more derivative, but still worth checking out. Be sure to track this down on vinyl, as it's mastered perfectly. I cannot fucking wait for their LP.
Weed Hounds - Beach Bummed 7" - The Reefer Pooches put forth their best material yet with this two-song single. The A-side of "Beach Bummed" is one of their more pleasant and pretty songs, but the B-side of "Skating Away From The Cops" is the real gem on this. It's their best song thus far and is only but a taste of what is to come in 2011 for the band.
And there you have it! Now, for my top ten list for the year:
10. Kriegshög - Self Titled LP
Crusty hardcore from Japan. I had a few of their 7"s and thought they were pretty neat, but none of it really left a lasting impression on me. Still, I had to check out this LP and I'm super glad I did because I think it's far superior to their previous material. There's something really special about this record. Perhaps in the way in which is actually sounds transgressive and urgent, not unlike Lady GaGa. Seriously, the Kriegshög LP is one of the best hardcore full lengths of the year. Believe the hype, I guess.
9. Urban Blight - Total War 7"
Based on the songs themselves, this could have been in my top three. Unfortunately, the band takes their blown-out sound to a whole new level. It's certainly interesting, but I wish the production was way cleaner. Still, the songs themselves are absolutely amazing. This Toronto band plays fast hardcore with, apparently, Oi! influences. I mean, I see them (especially on my favorite track "Social Order"), but I'm no expert on Oi!. Despite my minor gripes with the production (which some people love), this is still a sick record.
8. Omegas - Sonic Order 7"
Montreal's Omegas are one of the best live bands I saw all last year. This 7" isn't quite as good as their live spectacle, but it's still awesome. This is one of the most fun hardcore punk 7"s I've heard in awhile.They have a new LP coming out soon on Parts Unknown and, based on the quality of the track I heard from it, it should be one of the best records of next year. Taste the street meat.
7. Tonetta - 777 LP
In 2010, everyone in proximity to my friend Vinnie (mad love!) became obsessed with Tonetta, a hidden YouTube sensation. Tonetta's videos are some of the most bizarre yet addicting things I've ever encountered on the site. Apparently, Black Tent Press thought this, as well, and has been pressing many of the tracks to vinyl. Thank god! This particular LP collects material recorded over more than a decade and is seriously the most fucked record of the year. This truly is one of the most depraved things I've ever heard and I still can't tell whether his stabs at conventional music are actually more bizarre than his more recent, hypersexual side. I absolutely love it. Hopefully, you will too.
6. Merchandise - Gone Are The Silk Gardens Of Youth CS
2010 was a big year for the Merch Rockers. Their long-delayed LP finally came out and I guess people liked it or something. This particular tape has material culled from those sessions, as well as a few other goodies. Despite being all over the place, it still makes for a pretty coherent listen. Demos of LP favorites and upcoming releases make up this excellent cassette. Perhaps it's just for the hardcore fans (if they exist), but this tape is loaded with hit after hit. I have my obvious biases, but I love this tape. Get into it!
5. Pollution - ®SMUT LP
Pollution! The best punk band in Brooklyn that no one cares about in Brooklyn. Unless playing with a larger band, I go to their shows and see only a handful of people there outside of their significant others and usual friends. Seriously, is everyone stupid? Ranting aside, Pollution is great. While their consistently incredible live show is unfuckwithable by most bands (especially in the area), some have complained their the recorded material doesn't quite capture the magic. I mean, it doesn't, but that would be impossible. Still, this particular LP is some of their best material. Some have complained about the snare sound on this, but they just don't realize it will be considered revolutionary in thirty years. OK, maybe the sound does resemble an obese man self-flagellating with a tennis ball wrapped in a wet tube sock, but I can look past that when the drumming is so insane. SERIOUSLY, I CAN'T SHUT UP ABOUT THIS BAND. Be on the lookout for a split LP with Grids, a new LP, and a tour with Double Negative, all coming in 2011!
4. Nitberg - Nagelreid CD
I might get shit for including this, but who cares? BlazeBirth Hall veterans Nitberg unleash this 56 minute long CD consisting of just one track! Granted, there are about five or six songs obvious song breaks, but it's technically one piece. Anyway, this is some quality black metal from Russia. As my friend Andrew described it, this record is a total riff party. There is an endless amount of astonishing guitar parts that just never stop. This is definitely my favorite metal record of the year. You can hate the men for obvious reasons, but holy balls the music!
3. Slices - Cruising LP
I was heartbroken to find that my two favorite Pittsburgh bands Brain Handle and Slices would be taking a break, with Brain Handle taking a more permanent one. Still, I can still fall back on all their excellent recorded material, particularly the Slices LP. I loved the 7"s so much and this record met all of my expectations and then some. The B-side of this record is one of the best pieces of hardcore I've heard from this decade. The whole thing is a treat, though. Hopefully they churn out more material, despite being on hiatus due to irresponsible life decisions, like law school or some shit. Dumdums.
2. Bastard Noise - A Culture Of Monsters LP
As a skull servant (lol), this was probably my most anticipated release of the year, especially since I really dug their split LP with the Endless Blockade from last year. As with that split, this record is a return to their Man Is The Bastard-esque sound, as opposed to traditional noise. I love both eras of this band, but I need more MITB, you know? Not everyone will agree, but I actually really enjoy how proggy (and even jazzy) the band has become. Really, though, Eric Wood could do just about anything and I'd love it. I wonder how good this record is from an objective standpoint. I'll never know! Oh, also, I wish the band would return to their more traditional cover style. I'm not entirely sold on the artwork. Still, this record is flawless and Wood is a true bass wizard and this is the most bass fishin' record of the year.
1. The Rival Mob - Hardcore For Hardcore 7"
WHAT THE FUCK ELSE?
This one came as a surprise to me. When I was figuring out how to order my top releases, I thought this would be towards the bottom of the list. It was then pointed out to me that this was all I ever listened to or talked about. I think realized that I had actually listened to this 7" twice as much as everything else on this list COMBINED. Holy moly!
The Rival Mob are the kings of hardcore right now. Seriously, I can't think of any other band that comes close. Taking an NYHC blueprint and modern Boston-ing it, the band has created something truly special. And those divebombs! WYYYOOOOOOOOO. I don't think I've ever bedroom-moshed to a band as much as this. Please, do yourself a favor and see this band live. The stage banter is unstoppable. Really, I will lap up whatever this band does for the rest of their existence. Mob Rules My <3. I heard this band invented hardcore or something.
And that's all I can fart out for you guys. The only thing I have to look forward to in 2011 is the new Lady GaGa album, Born This Way. That's enough of a reason to keep going, I think.
:EDIT: What's the deal with the new GaGa single? It's bumming me out! :(
This one came as a surprise to me. When I was figuring out how to order my top releases, I thought this would be towards the bottom of the list. It was then pointed out to me that this was all I ever listened to or talked about. I think realized that I had actually listened to this 7" twice as much as everything else on this list COMBINED. Holy moly!
The Rival Mob are the kings of hardcore right now. Seriously, I can't think of any other band that comes close. Taking an NYHC blueprint and modern Boston-ing it, the band has created something truly special. And those divebombs! WYYYOOOOOOOOO. I don't think I've ever bedroom-moshed to a band as much as this. Please, do yourself a favor and see this band live. The stage banter is unstoppable. Really, I will lap up whatever this band does for the rest of their existence. Mob Rules My <3. I heard this band invented hardcore or something.
And that's all I can fart out for you guys. The only thing I have to look forward to in 2011 is the new Lady GaGa album, Born This Way. That's enough of a reason to keep going, I think.
:EDIT: What's the deal with the new GaGa single? It's bumming me out! :(
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Natural Law - Coming Of Age CS
Artist: Natural Law
Album: Coming Of Age CS
Release: 2011
Release: 2011
Label: Self-Released
Tracklist:
1. Party Trick
2. Old News
3. The Nail That Sticks Up...
4. [Untitled Track]
5. Spent
Natural Law is back in a big way with their new teaser tape, Coming Of Age. These five songs are four-track demos of songs that will appear on an LP later in the year. It doesn't take long to realize that this material is exponentially better than both their previous demo tape and 7".
Why is this the best Natty Law recording thus far? The four-track recording really lends the tracks a great deal of raw, sexual energy, while the songwriting has improved greatly from their beginnings. One will also notice that the vocals are now just straight-up mean. Look no further than the end of the untitled fourth track ("you've never been hit/but you're about to be") for proof of this. There's even a late-era Minor Threat vibe going on with "The Nail That Sticks Up..." In the end, the stompers stomp harder than ever, the fast songs are more driving with riffs that effortlessly maintain their force, and the breakdowns nearly reach "BUST IT" levels of rumpin'. The bassist of the band even claims the riffs are ten feet tall and made of pure gold. I can't confirm the validity of that statement, but they are certainly excellent.
Seriously, though, this is the crowning achievement for Natty Law at this point in their short existence. I can only imagine how good their forthcoming LP is going to be once they record it properly.
Just try not to smoke PCP when the intro kicks in.
Download Here
Why is this the best Natty Law recording thus far? The four-track recording really lends the tracks a great deal of raw, sexual energy, while the songwriting has improved greatly from their beginnings. One will also notice that the vocals are now just straight-up mean. Look no further than the end of the untitled fourth track ("you've never been hit/but you're about to be") for proof of this. There's even a late-era Minor Threat vibe going on with "The Nail That Sticks Up..." In the end, the stompers stomp harder than ever, the fast songs are more driving with riffs that effortlessly maintain their force, and the breakdowns nearly reach "BUST IT" levels of rumpin'. The bassist of the band even claims the riffs are ten feet tall and made of pure gold. I can't confirm the validity of that statement, but they are certainly excellent.
Seriously, though, this is the crowning achievement for Natty Law at this point in their short existence. I can only imagine how good their forthcoming LP is going to be once they record it properly.
Just try not to smoke PCP when the intro kicks in.
Download Here
Buy Here on March 1st or see them live.
-Adam
Thursday, February 10, 2011
BLOOD BROS
Artist: DSJ and DJA
Album: Blood Bros: First Blood
Release: 2010
Label: Mad Decent/Cool Records
Album: Blood Bros: First Blood
Release: 2010
Label: Mad Decent/Cool Records
Tracklist:
1. First Blood
Artist: DSJ and DJA
Album: Blood Bros: Heaven2Hell
Release: 2010
Label: Mad Decent/Cool Records
Album: Blood Bros: Heaven2Hell
Release: 2010
Label: Mad Decent/Cool Records
Tracklist:
1. Heaven2Hell
It’s 1985, America. Don’t you feel down on your luck sometimes? The Star Wars trilogy has ended. The Berlin Wall has yet to fall and crack cocaine is hitting the streets hard. But that’s why DSJ and DJA are here as BLOOD BROS to train, fight and win with samples, themes, dialogue and every good training montage song from 80s action cinema. Once you feel the pump-up, you’ll see why Gene Siskel called BLOOD BROS: First Blood “a tour-de-force of totally rad action that will send those John Hughes-worshiping sissies running back to their lockers and the real men out to the battlefield!” Rated M for mega-motivation, pull-ups and left hooks.
Then, in BLOOD BROS: Heaven2Hell, our boys return with 45 straight minutes of awesome because the battle never ends for our fine country! The year is 1987 and bumout evil is back with a vengeance. So DSJ and DJA must join forces once again, this time armed with special weapons like Kenny Loggins and Pat Benatar, to destroy bummer forces and reignite the good vibes everywhere in what The City Sun’s Armond White called “an exegesis on the computocratic devilry faced by the American everyman!” Rated S for stokeage, dojo training sessions and the brilliance of “Push It To The Limit” segueing right into “Highway to the Danger Zone.”
Download Here
-Asa
Then, in BLOOD BROS: Heaven2Hell, our boys return with 45 straight minutes of awesome because the battle never ends for our fine country! The year is 1987 and bumout evil is back with a vengeance. So DSJ and DJA must join forces once again, this time armed with special weapons like Kenny Loggins and Pat Benatar, to destroy bummer forces and reignite the good vibes everywhere in what The City Sun’s Armond White called “an exegesis on the computocratic devilry faced by the American everyman!” Rated S for stokeage, dojo training sessions and the brilliance of “Push It To The Limit” segueing right into “Highway to the Danger Zone.”
Download Here
-Asa
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
School Jerks + Cülo California Tour
For the last few months and into the immediate future, I've actually wanted to live on the West Coast for the first time in my life. No, it's not the blissful ignorance or happy-go-lucky attitude of the place, but the fact that so many sick tours have made their way through the area. Time to add another to the list because our friends in Toronto's self-proclaimed "true gods of savage raw HC" School Jerks and Chicago's Discharge-Ramones hybrid of Cülo are tearing through sunny California. Here are the dates:
Feb. 18h - San Francisco - Hemlock Bar (1131 Polk Street) w/ Wild Thing
Feb. 19th - Sacramento - Axewave Manor (2426 33rd) w/ Verraeterisch
Feb. 20th - Los Angeles - South Central Farmers Collective (41st and Long Beach Blvd) w/ Tuberculosis, Destruye Y Huye, Drapetomania
Feb. 21st - LA-area - TBA, hopefully something but email schooljerks@gmail.com if you can help
Feb. 22nd - Phoenix, AZ - Sound Kontrol (25th Street and Chambers) w/ Elders, Otro Mundo, No Bunny
Feb. 23rd - Fullerton - Riff Haus (1150 E. Valencia Dr.) - w/ Bad Antics, Concussion, Timebombs
Feb. 24th - Bakersfield - Munoz Gym (1931 E. California Ave) w/ DADT, Carcinogenz
Feb. 25th - Oakland - The Swamp (35th and Market) w/ Ecoli, Neo-Cons
Feb. 19th - Sacramento - Axewave Manor (2426 33rd) w/ Verraeterisch
Feb. 20th - Los Angeles - South Central Farmers Collective (41st and Long Beach Blvd) w/ Tuberculosis, Destruye Y Huye, Drapetomania
Feb. 21st - LA-area - TBA, hopefully something but email schooljerks@gmail.com if you can help
Feb. 22nd - Phoenix, AZ - Sound Kontrol (25th Street and Chambers) w/ Elders, Otro Mundo, No Bunny
Feb. 23rd - Fullerton - Riff Haus (1150 E. Valencia Dr.) - w/ Bad Antics, Concussion, Timebombs
Feb. 24th - Bakersfield - Munoz Gym (1931 E. California Ave) w/ DADT, Carcinogenz
Feb. 25th - Oakland - The Swamp (35th and Market) w/ Ecoli, Neo-Cons
Be sure to check them out. Both bands will have new 7"s out, Cülo's Toxic Vision and School Jerks' Control 7". I haven't heard Cülo's (it promises to rule), but School Jerks' is probably my favorite material from a band I already adore. If you don't live on the west coast, you can preorder the Cülo 7" at Deranged. While you're there, be sure to pick up their Military Trend 7", as well. It's one of my favorite 7"s from last year. You can pick up the School Jerks record from Cowabunga! here, as well as new records from Slobs and Sweet Tooth.
For the record, I got no hate for you, West Coast! I love you and can't wait to visit you again!
-ICDT
P.S. Our top tens will be posted next Monday!
For the record, I got no hate for you, West Coast! I love you and can't wait to visit you again!
-ICDT
P.S. Our top tens will be posted next Monday!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Waxahatchee - Demo CS
Artist: Waxahatchee
Album: Demo CS
Album: Demo CS
Release: 2011
Label: Plan-It X
Tracklist:
1. Sister Saint
2. Whiskey & Math
3. Home Game
4. Black Candy
5. Clumsy
Birmingham, Alabama’s Crutchfield sisters would be hard-pressed to write anything disappointing. Their recent lo-fi forays as Bad Banana, the articulate energy and angst of PS Eliot, hell, even their high school years in the Ackleys-- all these outfits are full of catchiness, integrity and an impressive pop sensibility that stays level-headed and never too polished.
Katie’s new solo project Waxahatchee is no exception. In this nice set of rawly-recorded songs, which make up one half of a split tape with Chris Clavin, her voice takes on a new sort of warmth. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with her previous work, songs like “Clumsy” seem more vulnerable, more wounded, even, than a given PS Eliot tune. “Sister Saint” should seriously be on the soundtrack to some great, yet-to-be-made movie about adolescence. “Whiskey & Math” reminds me of when ‘90s alternative bands like the Lemonheads or the Asexuals would write awesome acoustic songs. But what sonically ties the five tunes together, to my ears-- aside from the charming lo-finess of the recording quality-- is a feeling of simultaneous nostalgia and longing.
Early entry into my tops of 2011. Just sayin’.
Download Here
Buy Here
-Asa
Katie’s new solo project Waxahatchee is no exception. In this nice set of rawly-recorded songs, which make up one half of a split tape with Chris Clavin, her voice takes on a new sort of warmth. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with her previous work, songs like “Clumsy” seem more vulnerable, more wounded, even, than a given PS Eliot tune. “Sister Saint” should seriously be on the soundtrack to some great, yet-to-be-made movie about adolescence. “Whiskey & Math” reminds me of when ‘90s alternative bands like the Lemonheads or the Asexuals would write awesome acoustic songs. But what sonically ties the five tunes together, to my ears-- aside from the charming lo-finess of the recording quality-- is a feeling of simultaneous nostalgia and longing.
Early entry into my tops of 2011. Just sayin’.
Download Here
Buy Here
-Asa
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Slices - "The Good Years"
Artist: Slices
Album: Do U Like Mud, Live On WRCT
Album: Do U Like Mud, Live On WRCT
Release: 2004
Label: Self-Released
Tracklist:
Do U Like Mud
1. Swamp Thing
1. Swamp Thing
2. Bee Wings
3. Cut
4. Giant Growth
Live On WRCT
1. Limit Break
2. Red Raft
3. Lord Of The Pit
4. Maimed King
5. Fortress
6. Spider Fighter
7. Tusk Control
8. Cave Crawl
Check it. Today we have some older, rare material from Pittsburgh's wild childs Slices. These two releases were both recorded in 2004 with the founding two members of the band, John and Mike Kasunic. As a result, this material, while still containing songs from their 7" and LP material, is drastically different than the Slices you know and love.
Check it. Today we have some older, rare material from Pittsburgh's wild childs Slices. These two releases were both recorded in 2004 with the founding two members of the band, John and Mike Kasunic. As a result, this material, while still containing songs from their 7" and LP material, is drastically different than the Slices you know and love.
The first of the two CD-Rs, Do U Like Mud, sees the brothers Kasunic using mixer feedback and tone generators to create music that is probably closest to noise. The band manages to create tones and textures that even resemble beats on various occasions. It's certainly not my favorite Slices material, but it's certainly interesting to see where their roots lie. The Live On WRCT CD-R is probably better, though the band was forced to perform for almost an entire hour to fill up the space allotted to them. The same materials used from Mud are here, but this time John is on guitar and Mike on drums, as well. As a result, there's obviously some filler on here, but it's awesome to hear such drastically different versions "Red Raft" and "Cave Crawl." Also neat are all of the nerd-ass references the band throws at you, covering Final Fantasy and Magic the Gathering, among others I'm probably not even recognizing. HUGE NERDS.
There are some stinkers here and there, especially since there is over and hour of music collected here, but it's definitely worth your time. Plus, this stuff can whet your appetite enough for when the band finally drops their next LP, Still Cruising, which promises to be the best record of 2015.
-Adam
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