tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62083956233809588152024-03-12T23:38:03.775-07:00Cementing The SeamsThe Plot SickensCollinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08115825167640521774noreply@blogger.comBlogger166125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208395623380958815.post-13877725821718437732013-01-19T21:31:00.000-08:002013-01-19T21:32:18.440-08:00Town Portal - Chronopoly (2012)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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* Important: it should be noted that I began writing this post something like 4 months ago. I'm not quite sure what happened. What follows is largely unabridged.</div>
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It may be obvious to you that I haven't been too excited about much new music lately. That, or you think I'm just lazy as shit. You'd be right on both counts but the first thing is relative to the point I am trying to make. I haven't been taken by anything new for a long time (Sleepies being the exception that proves the rule), until recently. This post should be the start of a series of interrelated band-incest posts that is sure to impress even the most apathetic and conspicuous hipster scrooges!</div>
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Town (fucking) Portal are so good it hurts. The follow up full length to last year's "Vacuum Horror", "Chronopoly" has the Danish math-rock trio treading some new water and then chugging said water and pissing it into your ears (I'm trying I guess). Everything you (read: I) loved about "Vacuum Horror" is still readily apparent with the and coated in thick, shiny sludge. Town Portal expands on their signature sound (if such a thing is possible after one EP), informed by 90's midwestern math-rock and emo, to include even more complexity and punch. Nothing about "Chronopoly" is ethereal or spacious like you might expect of some instrumental post-rock. Like the title implies (I think), they use every bit of time afforded to them to do something astounding.</div>
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For Fans Of: The Life And Times, Torche, idiotic descriptors like "thick, shiny sludge"</div>
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Stream, Download and Buy via <a href="http://townportal.bandcamp.com/album/chronopoly">Bandcamp</a></div>
Collinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08115825167640521774noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208395623380958815.post-80843943452880480942012-10-05T23:05:00.001-07:002012-10-05T23:05:39.508-07:00Sleepies - Weird Wild World (2012)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cache0.bigcartel.com/product_images/68420931/278150_10150908298072717_953234976_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://cache0.bigcartel.com/product_images/68420931/278150_10150908298072717_953234976_o.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
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I'm back! But more importantly, so is the best band in the world: (no, not The Fray silly) Sleepies! After <i>some</i> hype and a <i>moderate amount</i> of waiting, this Brooklyn trio have released Weird Wild World, the follow up to one of 2010's crowning achievements "Sleepies". I wish I could accurately describe how good I think this band is, or how they manage to sound like Dinosaur Jr. and Drive Like Jehu and also nothing like them. I wish I could quantify how much more clever, relevant and rejuvenating this band is in comparison to most acts people will lump them in with. I wish more bands were as good as this one and that the ones who are would live up to the same standard of quality. Sleepies are setting the bar guys.</div>
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FFO: Drive Like Jehu, Vacation, Les Savy Fav</div>
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<a href="http://noisey.vice.com/blog/sleepies-weird-wild-world-album-premiere">Stream it.</a></div>
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<a href="http://16oh.bigcartel.com/">Buy it.</a></div>
Collinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08115825167640521774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208395623380958815.post-53473754272966636742012-05-10T19:03:00.002-07:002012-05-10T19:03:39.712-07:00Giant Peach - Callous & Strange (2012)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I wrote a bit about Giant Peach in my 2011 EP roundup post, mentioning how they are totally rad. It's 2012 now and they are still rad, and still delivering excellent short-length releases that sortof make me irritated that they don't release an LP. I'll settle though as long as they can keep killing it on 4-5 tracks every 6 months. I just checked and it turns out I like this band so much I've written about them twice. So, if you haven't followed my advice the last two times, get with the program.</div>
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FFO: Pavement, Mary Timony, Livin' Dude</div>
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Buy from the always excellent <a href="http://www.roklokrecords.com%20/">Rok Lok Records</a></div>
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<a href="http://roklokrecords.bandcamp.com/album/callous-strange">Stream it</a></div>Collinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08115825167640521774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208395623380958815.post-34637738647925230882012-03-15T23:40:00.002-07:002012-03-15T23:40:58.826-07:00Two Inch Astronaut - Red Pancake and Dark Energy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This band should be huge. I mean, they shouldn't be winning Grammies like truly amazing musicians e.g. Bon Iver and Skrillex, but by every taste-making measure Two Inch Astronaut have it where it counts. All joking aside, this is my favorite band right now. Every once in a while I listen to something that kinda stupifies me. It always happens the same way, in well explored genres, where I ask myself this question: Why haven't songs this good already been written? Red Pancake and Dark Energy is affirmation that good music will stay good forever, even if the future is paved with Iron & Wine by Mumford & Sons.<br />
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FFO: Les Savy Fav, Tera Melos, Shipyards</div>
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Stream and download at <a href="http://twoinchastronaut.bandcamp.com/album/red-pancake-and-the-dark-energy">Bandcamp</a></div>
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Buy from <a href="http://largefather.webs.com/">Large Father LTD</a> </div>Collinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08115825167640521774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208395623380958815.post-15502539289112740302012-03-01T20:07:00.000-08:002012-03-01T20:07:22.082-08:00Gills - Gills Is Dead<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This post has been way too long coming, so let me apologize for that. It makes me so happy that I get to listen to music like this. Gills play muddy, lo-fi, instrumental garage punk with serious balls and variation to spare. Gills Is Dead sounds like it was recorded with 2 microphones in an empty room, which, sonically and aesthetically, really pays dividends. Like if you listen hard enough you might be able to hear these dudes breathing, sweating and spastically flinging their limbs about. Of course it's impossible to hear those last two things, but you get my drift right?</div>
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FFO: Sleepies, Ex Wife</div>
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Stream and Download at <a href="http://gillsat.bandcamp.com/">Bandcamp</a></div>
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Buy it from <a href="http://anthillconglomerate.bigcartel.com/product/gills-gills-is-dead">Ant Hill Conglomerate</a></div>Collinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08115825167640521774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208395623380958815.post-89058995361608375382012-01-13T17:08:00.000-08:002012-01-13T17:08:24.008-08:00The Best Thing About 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Is, I think I can safely say: The Strungs.</div>
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For a band to release 3 EP's (technically Volume 1 came out in December but who's keeping track?) and a full length and completely kill it on every single one is reason enough to give them the honor of record(s) of the year. Some bands impress you with their virtuosity, some blow your mind doing something you've never heard before. I do a lot of comparing bands by nature, but I find that the best bands make you forget that anybody else makes music like them. I know The Strungs aren't the only lo-fi indie pop band in existence, but when I listen to them, they don't make me think about Guided By Voices or Superchunk. In fact, mostly I just think; "How can songs so simple be so good, and how can they write so many?". Which brings me back to the point. The Strungs made the best music of the year because they made it essentially devoid of instrumental masturbation or any elements intended to impress you. To me, this band represents what's fundamentally great about music, and that's why they're probably the only band I've listened to regularly all year long.</div>
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Stream and Download at <a href="http://thestrungs.bandcamp.com/">Bandcamp</a> and <a href="http://www.tinhornplanet.com/music/">Tinhorn Planet</a></div>
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<br /></div>Collinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08115825167640521774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208395623380958815.post-51401777688968141032011-12-22T12:16:00.000-08:002011-12-31T13:05:47.951-08:002011 Roundup: The LPsTenement - <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?drn320rsem0xocl">Napalm Dream</a><br />
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<li>2011 was a pretty excellent year for pop-punk, and Napalm Dream is camped atop a mountain of great music from the genre this year. I've heard a few people mention not getting what the fuss is all about. I don't get them.</li>
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House Boat - <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?qlj9k0os7pfj987">The Thorns Of Life</a><br />
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<li> Like I said, great year for pop punk. House Boat is what you get when you put together over-the-top catchy pop-punk acts like The Steinways, The Ergs, and Dear Landlord. Sometimes it's ridiculous, sometimes it's perfect.</li>
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Ghoul - <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?s49wlsr6iixs1r9">Transmission Zero</a><br />
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<li> When I was 14 I bought an Exhumed CD because the concept of gore metal seemed hilarious and ironic to me. Ghoul doesn't really sound like what I remember of Exhumed, but 12 years later I had to wonder if maybe that CD might be really good. Transmission Zero is absolutely one of my favorite records of the year despite the inherent cheesiness (in fact, it works heavily in it's favor). I don't really know what metal music is supposed to sound like, but if it was all like this, the world would be a perfect place.</li>
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Office Of Future Plans - <a href="http://www.filesonic.com/file/4082888415/Office_Of_Future_Plans-Office_Of_Future_Plans-2011-FNT.rar">Office Of Future Plans</a><br />
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<li> I'm kinda surprised I never got around to posting this to be honest. It was probably my most anticipated record of the year. I suppose it was because it would have gone something like this: "If you're like me and basically love everything J Robbins touches, then this record is for you". I suppose it didn't grab me as much as the Channels full length, but OFP still hits on all cylinders, and sounds like only this group of dudes can. Pretty brilliant.</li>
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Bridge & Tunnel - <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?hkv0pdlba5z2b2w">Rebuilding Year</a><br />
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<li>When it comes to socially conscious, next-level, reluctant adult punk, pretty much nobody can hold a candle to Bridge & Tunnel. Rebuilding Year is absolutely their best material and most certainly one of the best punk records of the year.</li>
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Beau Navire - <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?gtj2e362t9kct4k">Hours</a><br />
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<li> I think I made it the whole year without posting a screamo record. Primarily because it all sucked. This however, is pretty fucking good. So there you have it. 2011's good screamo record.</li>
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Night Birds - <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?yhhjnrtnrr14r0a">The Other Side Of Darkness</a> <br />
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<li>Pretty much unilaterally considered on of the best punk albums of 2011 and with good reason. Perfect mix of throwback hardcore, surf punk and the occasional pop-punk; a formula for greatness.</li>
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<li>The always killer Trainwreck madetheir mark on 2011 with this 5 song 12". The consensus on this record seemed to be "good but doesn't really sound much like earlier material" Is that good? Bad? Depends on who you ask. Either way, compared to other Trainwreck or any record in this genre, it was one of the biggest successes of the year. Conceptually.</li>
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Punch - <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?67mzf7152xzz6s3">Nothing Lasts</a><br />
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<li>It was a big year for Punch; signing to Deathwish, touring the entire universe, and (if Tumblr is any indication) becoming the most popular band in said universe. You would think their recorded resume would have been a bit more prolific. Considering how good Nothing Lasts was though, you'll get it.</li>
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Impalers - <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?0z0kl90i0m19d6k">S/T</a><br />
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<li>Members of Mammoth Grinder and Hatred Surge (more on these guys in the near future). This sounds like what you assume these two bands getting together and writing a punk record would sound like: fucking awesome. </li>
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Damp Hay - <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?4sy5jllnwfnqrgs">Middlewestern</a><br />
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<li>This is what my life is missing right now. Midwestern math-rock, fuzzed out bluesy riffs. Everything about this is good. In fact, listening to it now, it's even better than I remember.</li>
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Thou - <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?74ju6ve1t5qbp0c">The Archer & The Owle</a><br />
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<li>This hit me like a ton of bricks. I always thought Thou was a little boring, and I mean, I guess they still are, but The Archer & The Owle cannot be ignored. It was a little difficult to put here because A) It can hardly be called an EP, and B) The best material on it is recylced from 2010's "Summit". Everything is so well put together, though (the songs, the packaging) that I had to include this. Had it not already been released, the opening track "Voices In The Wilderness" would have probably been the best song of the year.</li>
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Kidcrash - <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?ylelj7zo31twd3d">Naps</a><br />
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<li>I might be the only person who thinks Snacks is without question Kidcrash's best record. At least it seems that way. So imagine how pleased I was when these 4 songs sounded like outtakes from one a my favorite records from last year. I still probably haven't listened to this enough, which is probably because it doesn't quite have the hook of Snacks. But you know, can't go wrong.</li>
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Four Eyes - <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?r1ksec1v2t0b19k">Towards the End of Cosmic Loneliness</a><br />
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<li>This was absolutely the best impulse buy I made all year. Perfect mix of punk, pop and 90's indie rock. I dare you not to like this. </li>
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Giant Peach - <a href="http://giantpeachsongs.bandcamp.com/album/people-dont-believe-me">People Don't Believe Me</a><br />
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<li>Looking back now, 2011 was a pretty killer year for indie rock. It just kills me that people are so into Bon Iver and Sufjan Stevens and not Giant Peach. Shit. Top notch driving-into-the-sunset music from these New York dudes/dudettes. I don't understand the world. </li>
</ul>Collinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08115825167640521774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208395623380958815.post-57980224923453753062011-12-07T16:37:00.001-08:002011-12-07T18:12:43.995-08:00A note on end of year listsYou may be aware that it's been a while since I've made one of those "best records of 20XX" lists. I usually don't do this for 2 reasons. 1) I've pretty much already posted about the best things I've listened to in a year so rehashing all the same records you've already read about doesn't seem to serve much purpose. 2) I know by June of next year the list will be completely outdated and obsolete.<br />
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This year though, I've neglected posting enough that I can probably make a pretty decent list of shit that I didn't post. Although I may include some shit I did anyway. I don't know what's gonna happen, but it IS going to happen. So, you know, be prepared to be underwhelmed by everything I listened to too much in 2011.Collinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08115825167640521774noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208395623380958815.post-76249333901604731442011-10-21T19:36:00.000-07:002011-10-21T19:36:41.287-07:00Regents - S/T 7" (2011)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Not much else needs to be said about this other than Regents is made up of members of Frodus and Max Colby who play like-minded post hardcore. One of the essential EPs of 2011.</div>
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FFO: Frodus, Max Colby, Challenger, Drive Like Jehu</div>
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Stream and download at <a href="http://lovitt.bandcamp.com/album/regents">Bandcamp</a></div>
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<a href="http://store.lovitt.com/products/148-4-song-7-lov068">Buy it.</a></div>Collinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08115825167640521774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208395623380958815.post-41482815236678822482011-10-21T00:21:00.000-07:002011-10-21T00:21:20.230-07:00Two Inch Astronaut - Vimana (2011)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://f0.bcbits.com/z/38/73/3873693653-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://f0.bcbits.com/z/38/73/3873693653-1.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Once again I am way behind schedule with this place, and I'm going to try to post more here pretty soon. That being said this definitely needs to be at the top of the queue. "Vimana" is definitely one of my favorite releases of the entire year and I think it's because Two Inch Astronaut sorta reminds me a little of every band I like. Honestly anything good about 90's/2000's indie rock found it's way into the makeup on "Vimana" but it manages to not sound recycled at all. From what I gather the Maryland trio do this as a sort of side project, but I'm praying to sweet Spaghetti Jesus that Two Inch Astronaut will keep at it for several releases.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">FFO: Les Savy Fav, Karate, Faraquet </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Stream and Download at <a href="http://twoinchastronaut.bandcamp.com/album/vimana">Bandcamp</a></div>Collinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08115825167640521774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208395623380958815.post-54224439427140891132011-09-29T19:08:00.000-07:002011-09-29T19:08:33.789-07:00Pine Barrens - Demo (2010)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://f.bandcamp.com/z/35/53/3553649590-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://f.bandcamp.com/z/35/53/3553649590-1.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've been listening to this for a few months now, and every time I do it just gets better. Pine Barrens are from Manchester, UK (there is evidently a Pine Barrens from Philadelphia) and play a mix of dark hardcore and black metal. A bit like Tempest meets Bone Awl. Anyway I finally found the tape for sale in the US a few weeks ago so I picked it up and remembered how good this demo is. I'm surprised this shit isn't more hyped to be honest.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">FFO: Drainland, Bone Awl, Darkthrone</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Stream, Download and Buy via <a href="http://pinebarrens.bandcamp.com/">Bandcamp</a></div>Collinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08115825167640521774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208395623380958815.post-75574301423721326402011-09-28T19:45:00.000-07:002011-09-28T19:45:03.565-07:00Bacchus - Self Titled LP (2011)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://f.bandcamp.com/z/85/03/850327301-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://f.bandcamp.com/z/85/03/850327301-1.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I was certain that the Masakari/Alpinist split LP was going to be the best thing to be released in this genre this year. I was wrong. This is better.</div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Stream a track at <a href="http://bacchusband.bandcamp.com/album/bacchus">Bandcamp </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pre-order the US version from <a href="http://www.cavityrecords.com/site/">Cavity</a> (when it happens) or Buy Euro from <a href="http://www.distroyrecords.com/prestashop/21-bacchus-s-t-lp.html">Distroy</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?f94ktd9zu8rdt56">Get it.</a></div>Collinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08115825167640521774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208395623380958815.post-5563939903309873362011-09-27T15:51:00.000-07:002011-09-27T15:51:27.319-07:00Vacation - S/T LP (2011)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.therecordinglabel.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/vacationcoverart1-1024x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://www.therecordinglabel.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/vacationcoverart1-1024x1024.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Vacation are hard to peg. Aesthetically I think we're supposed to assume that they are a pop-punk band. Musically, describing them that way would be horribly innacurate. On their self titled LP, Vacation draw from a lot of diverse decks. Sometimes it's undeniably pop-punk. At others their lo-fi garage pop sound dominates. Some parts even sound like big ticket indie rock, but somehow, every song sounds like all this shit at the same time. I don't know how they do it, and I really don't know how to describe it, but I can tell you that you're gonna like it. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Stream and Download from <a href="http://www.therecordinglabel.com/">The Recording Label </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Buy it from <a href="http://mandiblerecords.com/">Mandible Records</a></div>Collinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08115825167640521774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208395623380958815.post-31897578288297334322011-09-20T20:36:00.000-07:002011-09-20T22:25:55.643-07:00LVL UP - Space Brothers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://f.bandcamp.com/z/17/76/1776320666-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://f.bandcamp.com/z/17/76/1776320666-1.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">LVL UP comprises members of the NY emo band SIRS and lo-fi acts like Weird Korea and Morrison Brook. They play throwback indie rock that sounds like Pavement (I'm sorry I compare everybody to Pavement), or a baby wrought from Modest Mouse and Superchunk. "None of these bands sound the same" you might say. OK then. "Space Brothers" is a jangly jamfest that will make your inner angsty teen grin like a nostalgic idiot. Or maybe that will only happen to me.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">FFO: Modest Mouse, Superchunk, The Wrens, The Gifted Children </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Stream at <a href="http://lvlup.bandcamp.com/">Bandcamp</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?56bj7k33dn98xve#1">Get it. </a></div>Collinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08115825167640521774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208395623380958815.post-23638004036917081542011-09-18T12:39:00.000-07:002011-09-18T12:39:41.747-07:00Town Portal - Vacuum Horror (2011)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://f.bandcamp.com/z/40/25/4025517723-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://f.bandcamp.com/z/40/25/4025517723-1.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Remember in the last post when I talked about what made this all worth it? Here is another shining example. Town Portal are a math-rock band from Denmark with 2 members of <a href="http://cementingtheseams.blogspot.com/2009/03/shelflife-shelflife-2009.html">Shelflife</a>. The essence of Shelflife seeps through but Town Portal opens new doors. The elements are pretty much all the same: dual guitars, thick basslines, shades of midwestern math-rock a la Shiner, Chavez, and Rodan, and precise mastering. On Vacuum Horror though, the band significantly ups the heaviness quotient and basically rocks the fuck out. Everything about this release is so good (the music, the art, the name) you have no excuse not to listen to it.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Stream and Download at <a href="http://townportal.bandcamp.com/">Bandcamp</a> </div>Collinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08115825167640521774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208395623380958815.post-31474650739214825632011-08-31T00:10:00.000-07:002011-08-31T00:10:00.838-07:00Sloths - Transit EP (2011)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://f.bandcamp.com/z/28/33/2833752312-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://f.bandcamp.com/z/28/33/2833752312-1.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Completely awesome hardcore/punk/experimental stuff from Portland, OR. I always try to write something significant that reflects how I feel about music I "review", or gives some reliable indication of what to expect from a release. Mostly I completely miss this mark so I ask myself pretty much every time I think about writing something: why the hell do I do this? Sloths is the answer. I do it because occasionally somebody says 'listen to THIS' (see: Sleepies, Armada, Shat Shorts).</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">For Fans of: Self-Actualization</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Stream and Download at <a href="http://sloths.bandcamp.com/">Bandcamp</a></div>Collinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08115825167640521774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208395623380958815.post-56950006025562574992011-08-30T23:47:00.000-07:002011-08-30T23:47:21.517-07:00Sorry!Now that summer is over and I'm on back on land permanently I WILL be updating a lot more. First I gotta catch up on some rad stuff from my inbox, then I will post some other crucial jams from this summer. Collinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08115825167640521774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208395623380958815.post-14373915197771459642011-06-14T22:05:00.000-07:002011-06-14T22:05:33.850-07:00Sound Check: Giant Peach<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://f.bandcamp.com/z/35/07/3507479956-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://f.bandcamp.com/z/35/07/3507479956-1.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Giant Peach are an indie pop/rock band from Long Island who are currently on tour with For Serious This Time. I've been listening to these guys for a while but I just noticed they put up some new tracks bound for a split tape with FSTT. Anywho, Giant Peach play pop/rock in the vein of bands like Pavement and Helium (in a sort of broad, reductionist way) with dueling male/female vocals. I think this will be extra great around September.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://giantpeachsongs.bandcamp.com/">Bandcamp </a></div>Collinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08115825167640521774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208395623380958815.post-82306161469203133132011-06-08T23:05:00.000-07:002011-06-08T23:06:33.410-07:00Gasmask Terror - Like Daggers EP (2011)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGOtu4lnq5-sLSnks99Qg8CqZ_mf9pSGWGonBHLDWxaqz8VI_y_LUlqwsU9insJ_B15LvpHBfboZ_ZGNhlsW7t5mq_Cz9guw_fuj2eDiLPe9aMmZsDDw0UOGPhhj4cQb436r4zi2YeR44/s1600/gasmaskterrrorlikedaggers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGOtu4lnq5-sLSnks99Qg8CqZ_mf9pSGWGonBHLDWxaqz8VI_y_LUlqwsU9insJ_B15LvpHBfboZ_ZGNhlsW7t5mq_Cz9guw_fuj2eDiLPe9aMmZsDDw0UOGPhhj4cQb436r4zi2YeR44/s200/gasmaskterrrorlikedaggers.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I don't feel the need to justify this to anybody. Suffice to say that it is the perfect follow up to "Black Sun/Fake Gold" and Gasmask Terror are unfuckwithable. Get on it!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">FFO: Skitkids, Ripping, Wailing, Shredding</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.solar-funeral.org/7inches.html">Buy it.</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?ybq33uykx9azqat">Get it. </a></div>Collinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08115825167640521774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208395623380958815.post-21782327447975303732011-06-02T22:11:00.000-07:002011-06-02T22:11:27.810-07:00Billy Raygun / Lipstick Homicide - Split LP (2011)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1KbGgTqe_1laVNWj_HVn8ee9IvWROGNvDHFg_PwjdVShCJImw9nByQMpKNKcQJfeYWtSMJ5bWshhmGNre5tHTEezwBaEA80ORN2eysrL1x-f-Fne0FZ3Dl4XAKUsdVSzeFc4hSkvGqRs/s1600/lhbrg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1KbGgTqe_1laVNWj_HVn8ee9IvWROGNvDHFg_PwjdVShCJImw9nByQMpKNKcQJfeYWtSMJ5bWshhmGNre5tHTEezwBaEA80ORN2eysrL1x-f-Fne0FZ3Dl4XAKUsdVSzeFc4hSkvGqRs/s200/lhbrg.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Man this is awesome. No frills, just all around fantastic pop-punk from two little known-bands who have got their shit correct. Lipstick Homicide is a female-fronted band from Iowa that offers up some feel-good bike riding jams for hot summer days. Pretty kitschy, straight forward jingles, but catchy as all hell. Billy Raygun... I don't even know, their side is so god damn good. Dillinger Who? </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">FFO: Bad Banana, Dillinger Four, Lemuria, Ambulars,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://johnwilkesboothrecords.com/index.php?/store/">Buy it </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?f89xm43vhk7maav">Get it.</a></div>Collinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08115825167640521774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208395623380958815.post-7671506727670143402011-06-02T19:21:00.000-07:002011-06-02T19:21:10.056-07:00Daria - Open Fire (2009)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://bandcamp.com/files/28/08/280806479-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://bandcamp.com/files/28/08/280806479-1.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> I'm posting this for finality, for closure. A while back (a year or more, I guess) I ran across french alt-rock group Daria because their most recent LP "Open Fire" had been mixed by J Robbins, who had posted one of the tracks on his studio's myspace page. I couldn't find more than a couple other songs, nor the album to download, so this record became somewhat of an elusive snipe to me. I could have bought the cd but paying the exchange rate on top of international shipping for a cd, well you get the picture. Anyway, I would occasionally look for this on google, blogs, and make requests for people to upload it on torrent sites and the like. My attempts were all for not and my feelers eventually retracted. Today though, I decided to do what I was sure would be a fruitless search, but much to my surprise, Daria had built a bandcamp site, AND put the whole album up for free download! So here I am, still listening to it for the first time and I'm pretty jazzed, but having a hard time staying excited about this. It's good, but a bit more 90's post-metal than I expected. It sounds like it was mixed by J Robbins (bonus) and really the songs are all pretty fucking catchy. Mostly it reminds of riff heavy alt-rock bands like Clutch and Hundred Reasons. Screw it this rules. Today is awesome</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">FFO: Helmet, Clutch, Traindodge, Hundred Reasons</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Stream and Download at <a href="http://dariarock.bandcamp.com/album/open-fire">Bandcamp</a></div>Collinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08115825167640521774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208395623380958815.post-87855790184475120552011-05-21T14:43:00.000-07:002011-05-26T19:44:52.052-07:00Sneeze - Grandma In The Trenches 7" (2011)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://dyinghorse.com/distro/images/sneeze-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://dyinghorse.com/distro/images/sneeze-small.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Sneeze are a relatively new band from Boston who play a poppy sort of grunge/pop-punk amalgam. They are embarking on a nation wide summer tour with The Clippers in July so be on the lookout for that. Sneeze comprises members of L'antietam and Ape Up and they sound nothing like either of those bands which is pretty awesome. "Grandma In The Trenches" is 8 songs worth of excellent 90's riff rock with a heavy post-punk feel that totally reminds me of Slowride. Albeit a little rougher around the edges. This needs to be in your rotation this summer.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Stream and Download at <a href="http://sneezeus.bandcamp.com/album/grandma-in-the-trenches">Bandcamp</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Buy it from <a href="http://dyinghorse.com/distro/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7&products_id=656">Bear Records</a></div>Collinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08115825167640521774noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208395623380958815.post-8078536367490916732011-05-06T18:20:00.000-07:002011-05-06T18:20:35.582-07:00Iron Chic - Split N' Shit EP (2011)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIO3Vh-ZlctkQBzCZCTbqOa8vmQ7U40yi0w2d1UGv6eHOrlNfVPabkOIK5GrhbpTzZ1HjOyHd31wDeMHY9_IIMomaCV0vchTnOPa5ZD2z9WoGWqfH1GcBUvtMvOooK2dJjxZ20nZMlc0Q/s1600/ironchicsplitnshit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIO3Vh-ZlctkQBzCZCTbqOa8vmQ7U40yi0w2d1UGv6eHOrlNfVPabkOIK5GrhbpTzZ1HjOyHd31wDeMHY9_IIMomaCV0vchTnOPa5ZD2z9WoGWqfH1GcBUvtMvOooK2dJjxZ20nZMlc0Q/s200/ironchicsplitnshit.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br />
On their European tour, Iron Chic will be releasing 2 seperate 7"s (one a split with Pacer) but for those of us who don't live in Europe they have posted the songs from both as one digital EP for download via their bandcamp. For those of you not in the know, Iron Chic are one of the best Jawbreaker/Lifetime/Latterman progeny bands going right now (particularly because they were Latterman). Anyway, this is fantastic pop/beard/orgcore punk rock, and a hell of a way to follow up their 2010 LP "Not Like This". Check this out.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">FFO: Get Bent, Bridge & Tunnel, The Sidekicks </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Stream and Buy (or get it free) at <a href="http://ironchic.bandcamp.com/album/split-n-shit">Bandcamp</a></div>Collinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08115825167640521774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208395623380958815.post-92100565398433021042011-05-05T19:03:00.000-07:002011-05-05T19:03:59.431-07:00Ghostlimb - Infrastructure (2011)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cache1.bigcartel.com/product_images/31837439/300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://cache1.bigcartel.com/product_images/31837439/300.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So this finally came in the mail, which I suppose means it's about time to say a few words about it. "Infrastructure" is the latest LP by California hardcore 3-piece Ghostlimb, and it is one of the stand-out records of the year. Ferocious hardcore punk with an abundance of great riffs, subtle melody and a train load of pure energy, "Infrastructure" is far and away Ghostlimb's most realized, well-rounded effort to date. Honestly this album caught me by surprise, as I suspected it to be merely good. A lot of hardcore bands that get way more attention are trying pretty hard to write a record like this. Ghostlimb rip through 11 tracks and leave everything else in the dust with a final song aping hip folk punk bands like Against Me. And they do that better too. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">FFO: Graf Orlock, Punch, Unless, the bay area</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ghostlimb at <a href="http://vitriolrecords.bandcamp.com/album/ghostlimb-infrastructure">Bandcamp</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://vitriolrecords.bigcartel.com/product/vit016-ghostlimb-infrastructure-lp-dd-preorder-march-19">Buy it</a> from Vitriol</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?2rca22c8r72evba">Get it.</a></div>Collinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08115825167640521774noreply@blogger.com1