Cementing The Seams

I'm not sure exactly what I'm about to write about this record, although I can pretty much assure you that no matter what it is, it will fall short of the praise I think it really deserves.  Sleepies are a 3 piece pop-punk band from Brooklyn who just released their first full length LP in an edition of 200 copies.   Let me begin by saying that it is a crime that only 200 copies of this album exist.  Though I suppose at this day in age, the amount of physical copies of an album has relatively little to do with it's exposure in the right conditions.  But I digress, Sleepies mash together some of the catchiest pop-punk with some of the most well-placed post-hardcore influenced guitar riffs I can recall hearing, ever.  That probably doesn't make any sense, but whatever.   Basically they sound like if Drive Like Jehu and Pavement had a baby that moved to Detroit and released an album on In The Red Records.  This record will absolutely be my go-to jam all summer long, and most likely for a long time after that. It is incredible.  Here Come The Sleepies.

Lastly here is a mission statement from the band

"We endorse:

- House shows

- John Madden

- Imaginary band feuds

We have no time for:

- Machismo

- The last episode of Battlestar Galactica (Seriously, [SPOILER ALERT] Starbuck is an angel??? What the frak...)"

Sorry about the BSG spoilers

For Fans of:  Drive Like Jehu, Scared Of Chaka, Pavement

Sleepies on Myspace

Buy The LP 

If you're like me, you have a weird aversion to musical acts that are just a dude's (or lady's) name.  Somehow, I'm more willing to listen to a solo act if the project has some unnecessary moniker.  Strangely, bands that use a person's name don't evoke the same distaste (i.e. Ethel Meserve, Doris Henson, Amanda Woodward, Jackie Carol etc).  Basically I'm writing about this to illustrate how stupid I am, because this guy Ajay Malghan sent me an email with a link to his new album "...In The Future Everything Is Perfect", and I will now listen to it all the time.  "Future" (as it will be called to the remainder of this review) is a swell example of non-pretentious indie rock that isn't as popular as it should be.  No flash or pomp, just really solid traditional song-writing and catchy melodies, mixed in with a bluesy feel that makes me want to play it loudly.  Also, I suppose I should mention that "Future" was written, performed, and engineered by Malghan alone, which is no small feat.  So check this out.  It's free to stream and free to download, so you have everything to gain.

For fans of:  The Black Keys, Colour Revolt, Constantines

Ajay Malghan at Bandcamp (stream + download)

This came in the mail last week.  I bit the int'l-shipping bullet and pre-ordered it because I really liked Battle of Wolf's LP from last year, and they were offering a special version if you pre-ordered it (and I'm a nerd), and I felt like spending money.  It was impulsive, that's what I'm saying.  Anyhow, I'm really glad I did because especially impressed with this release.  Battle of Wolf delivers huge on their side with 3 of the best songs they've recorded.  Not much is new but this band does keep getting better and better as time goes on.  If you're familiar with BoW you should probably know what you're getting.  If you're not, expect some hardcore mixed with screamo mixed with d-beat... really these guys are prolific style-blenders, and do it while maintaining ferocious melody and their own unique sonic stamp.  No matter what their influence you pretty much can't mistake Battle Of Wolf 359, and no matter what it will pretty much kick ass.  Resurrectionists' side of the split actually came as a surprise to me.  Not because I didn't know what I was getting into, but because I was so into it.  I'd heard their demo a while back and tried to enjoy it a few times but it always seemed to fall a little flat.  Now though, they have carved out their sound and honed their frantic musical engery in such a way that is quite enjoyable and compliments the other side of the record very well indeed.  Resurrectionists just released their first LP, which I am retroactively kicking myself for not ordering because I'm certain it's not available in the US right now.  Anyway, on their side they offer up a little faster paced mix of grind and power violence that might knock you out.  This album sounds really great (in the recording/fidelity sort of way) and is packaged really well.  It pretty much rules all around.

For fans of:  Dolcim, Graf Orlock, Hammers


Battle Of Wolf 359 & Resurrectionists on Myspace

Get it.

Buy it from Moment Of Collapse Records

Yeah, so I've posted about this band a few times, talking about how they are the next big thing and all that jazz.  This probably isn't true, but it pretty much should be.  They have all the right elements: catchy songs, hip tour-mates, an aire of sincere non-suckiness and occasional gang vocals.  Seriously though, these are some of the best punk songs I've heard in sequence in I don't know how long, and if the world is a fair place (it isn't) these guys will be huge (they might).  Punk-huge anyway.  So, I'm posting this because you can now purchase the cassette version (read: only version) of Hoop Dreams from Mountain Man Records.  If tapes aren't your thing, evidently Protagonist Music is handling a vinyl release before the summer, but I don't really know anything specific.

For fans of: Spires, The Sidekicks, Get Bent

Big Kids on Myspace

Get it.

Buy it from Mountain Man Records

One of my most highly anticipated releases of this year has finally been released and I am thrilled not to be disappointed.  If that sounded sorta tongue-in-cheek it wasn't meant to be, it was merely a comment on my track record of "most highly anticipated releases" lately.  "Completely Removed" is the new album by DC math-rock group Medications, who, if you don't know, is made up of former members of Faraquet.  Medications had previously extrapolated on the Faraquet sound, refining it albeit roughening the edges a bit.  Now, if you had been following this release (like me) you probably got the hint that the new record would be a significant departure sonically from their first 2 releases.   This turned out to be so true that I'm surprised it didn't elicit a name change, what with the band losing a drummer and functioning/recording largely as a two-piece.  Normally I'm not always on board when bands try to reinvent themselves (I say 'try' but it may have been an accident), but it's pretty hard to stay mad at these guys.  "Completely Removed" showcases the range of skill and songwriting Devin Ocampo and Chad Molter are really capable of, and they are seriously capable.  Most of the songs on "Completely Removed" exude a poppy/catchiness that have never really strove for but just happen to be really good at.  Of course their instrumental chops are not to be ignored and while their math-rock roots are still ever-present (if subdued a little) they do a lot of experimenting that seems to jump around from song to song.  There are as many Pink Floyd as Faraquet moments, though this is in no way a bad thing.  Suffice to say, however different "Completely Removed" is from the rest of the Medications catalog, it's a worthwhile addition and one of the best records I've heard in quite a while.

For Fans of:  Faraquet, Karate, Beauty Pill

Medications on Myspace

Get it.

Buy it now from Dischord Records

So this has been playing on my computer/ipod/brainwaves for probably 5 months now and I've yet to post it for reasons I can't really think of.  The Ambulars are a pop punk act from DC (jesus, I swear I don't do this on purpose) who play some of the only pop-punk I've been able to tolerate.  I blame this partially due to the begrudging winter season here.  So now that spring has arrived I'm getting back into the genre (because pop-punk is the genre for spring you know) and this record just keeps getting better and better.  It's an appropriate mix of sweet, catchy, and original that is just long enough not to get boring.  It should be noted that I have probably listened to the song "Bookmarked" a number of times that would require scientific notation to write out.  So, if there is still snow melting wherever you are, listen to this and celebrate.

For fans of:  Good Luck, The Ergs!, Lemuria

The Ambulars on Myspace

Get it.

Firstly, let me apologize in regards to the lack of updates around here lately.  To be honest, I've been listening to old music a lot lately and haven't heard anything new that has really caught my attention.  I intend to change this pretty much immediately.  So check back, and if you want, recommend something.

That said, I did get some mail worth listening to recently.  The Gifted Children's first release of 2010 is "Please Freeze Me", a full-length cd that strives to capture the mood of winter, and though it's pretty much spring now, I can still get into this.  Their description is pretty right on: "Please Freeze Me" definitely has a wintery feel, and sounds pretty much like you might expect.  Lots of minor chords, piano, slow meter, melancholy, and general solemness that one would associate with 4 hours of daylight and 300 inches of snow (I'm from Alaska).  But it's not all sad, it seems they couldn't resist including some signature pop jams, including (but not limited too) probably one of my favorite TGC songs "Unlimited February".   Check it out.

For fans of: The New Pornographers, Neutral Milk Hotel, The Capstan Shafts, Guided By Voices

The Gifted Children on Myspace

Big Kids are a punk band from Oakland who plan to embark on a west coast tour this summer with fellow Bay Area punk rockers Dead To Me and emo mathletes 1994!.  It shouldn't surprise you that these dudes are awesome, what with all the top tier punk/hardcore music coming out of the Bay Area as of late.  If you are familiar with what I'm talking about then you shouldn't need any convincing.  If you're not, then trust me, you reaaaallllyyy should be.

Big Kids on Myspace

Fine Lines were a DC post-hardcore band that weren't around for very long.  Their only releases were this demo and split cassette with Maryland emo revivalists Boost, who are pretty damn good as well.  They don't really typify what you'd expect a DC band found on this blog to sound like, but they do claim to sound like "if Rites of Spring wore mittens while playing their songs" which seems pretty fair.  Though technically I suppose they are on par with Rites of Spring from a musicianship standpoint.  They do showcase some seriously awesome angular guitar noise with an ear for that melodious middle-ground that a lot of bands fall just short of.  It's a real shame that this band didn't go places because everything the recorded is way good.  So check them out.  You can also follow a link on their myspace page to download their split cassette with Boost.  I recommend it (and Boost too).

For fans of:  Drive Like Jehu, Ampere, Challenger

Fine Lines on Myspace

Get it.

Hey everybody.  In the mood for some screamo? Me neither!  Actually though, this band is pretty good.  Reminds of early Cease Upon The Capitol, which is why I like it.  Anyway, these dudes are from Malaysia, so of course "Tin Kosong" was released by Utarid Tapes (cause, you know, they are from Malaysia too), who pump out some really good shit.  It also has some really awesome packaging.  I totally want one, but like most things, nobody carries it in the states.


For fans of:  Cease Upon The Capitol, La Quiete, Funeral Diner

Dramacoma on Myspace

Get it.