18.03.2010

Band Spotlight: Juvenescent Beat!

posted by Will

in Band Spotlight

Who? Juvenescent Beat!

Where are they from? Hanover, PA

What do they sound like? This is another end of the year list discovery that I got from combing other peoples’ lists. Not sure how I never even heard of Juvenescent Beat but I certainly missed them on the first go round. The band plays really great old school emo and not the whiny shit either. This is emotional hardcore that harkens back to Rites of Spring and stands tall next to modern bands like Sinaloa and Life At These Speeds. They even kind of remind me of a less screamy Grade. You would be well-advised to pick up the band’s debut LP, One Day We’re Gonna Fall Through This Roof.

Juvenescent Beat! “Bridge”

17.03.2010

Media: …for science!

posted by Will

in Media


(Click on album cover to download)

Who? …for science!

What? Song One EP

Where are they from? Columbia, SC

What do they sound like? This is for those who like a little more metal in their post rock. …for science! put forth a staggering 20 minute piece called “Song One” which is broken into four separate movements. This is instrumental metal that unfolds slowly and could almost be classified as sludge at times though this is not sloppy in the least bit. The band is precise as they navigate through their self-created peaks and valleys. If you can make it through the maelstrom of guitars you will be rewarded for embarking on the journey.

RIYL: Isis, Mono, Russian Circles

Where Can I Buy? No physical copies available.

…for science “There Are Secrets Where Fairies Don’t Live.”
(movement three from “Song One”)

For you local peeps the band is playing at New Brookland Tavern tomorrow night – Thursday, March 18th!

16.03.2010

Pink Razors: Leave Alive

posted by Will

in Music Reviews

pinkrazors

Pop/punk? Check. Short attention span? Check. Is there anything better than a 9 song 22 minutes album to review when you don’t feel like reviewing anything? That was sorta rhetorical but you get the point. Anyway, I’ve enjoyed Pink Razors through the years and Leave Alive is no different. Perhaps I’m just a bit deaf though, I swear the band has turned the Superchunk influence up to ten here. And did this band always have female vocals? Whatever, I dig it! If you like pop/punk you can’t really go wrong with Leave Alive. And this is on No Idea. What more do you need to know? Oh and after further investigation the band did add Erin Tobey on guitar and vocals which would explain those sweet female vocals!

Label: No Idea

Pink Razors “Back Home”

15.03.2010

It’s A King Thing “Kira” Video

posted by Will

in Music Video

It’s a King Thing – Kira from It’s a King Thing on Vimeo.

“Kira” is from It’s A King Thing’s amazingly great Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo album which of course is still available for Free Download! The band is doing a video for each song on the record. Stay tuned.

12.03.2010

Heads Up! The Restoration

posted by Will

in Heads Up

Went to a rock show last night and out of the four bands that I had never seen before, the best was the least “rock” of them all. The Restoration from Lexington, SC stole the show in my eyes. Led by beautiful vocals that remind one of Damien Rice or Andrew Bird, the band can lay down intricate arrangements as well as ratchet up the noise when they want to. The Restoration give off a cool Murder By Death-vibe at times as well. In exchange for your email address you can visit the band’s Bandcamp page and get some free songs. Check out “Constance” and “Reverend Samuel Harper” especially…well worth your time!

11.03.2010

Musings: Ninja Gun

posted by Will

in Music Musings

I had the pleasure of seeing Valdosta, GA’s Ninja Gun last week when they opened up for Tim Barry. I was already a huge fan of the band’s Restless Rubes (Suburban Home) album and the live show did nothing to deter me. The band that I’m constantly reminded of when listening to Ninja Gun are Old 97’s. Both bands have a way of melding alt-country/power pop to perfection. On Restless Rubes you can hear The Shins, Drive-By Truckers and just about everything in between. Ninja Gun’s live performance was surprisingly tight and the band definitely has a certain southern charm to say the least. I can’t help but humorously wonder how the band is perceived outside the south though. Regardless, more people should be listening to Ninji Gun as I like to call them! The band has a new EP coming out on Sabot this Summer.

Ninja Gun “Red State Blues”

Ninga Gun “Eight Miles Out”

10.03.2010

Media: Fever Sleeves

posted by Will

in Media


(Click on album cover to download)

Who? Fever Sleeves

What? Soft Pipes, Play On LP

Where are they from? San Diego, CA

What do they sound like? Fever Sleeves continue San Diego’s indie rock legacy. The band plays angular indie rock that fans of Q And Not U and Les Savy Fav will definitely pick up on.

Check out SAL’s review of Soft Pipes, Play On here.

Check out the band’s awesome “Futuristic Killings” Video here.

Where can I buy: No physical copies of Soft Pipes, Play On were printed but you can hit the band’s Myspace to buy other merch.

Fever Sleeves “Cusack”

09.03.2010

Band Spotlight: The Holy Mess

posted by Will

in Band Spotlight

Who? The Holy Mess

Where are they from? Philadelphia, PA

What do they sound like? Snotty pop/punk that reminds one of the best the genre has to offer. We are talking cream of the crop type stuff here. For fans of The Lawrence Arms or Smoke Or Fire you need this…NOW!

You can download the band’s EP Dismount from If You Make It. The Holy Mess will be releasing their next 7″ on the illustrious Evil Weevil.

The Holy Mess “It All Happened In a Ford Winstar”

08.03.2010

Review: Yesterday’s Ring/The Takers

posted by Will

in Music Reviews

Dear Suburban Home,

I’m writing to you today to ask you a favor. Will you please stop putting out these folk/country/Americana albums!? I mean, Yesterday’s Ring aren’t that bad but The Takers, well, I just don’t know. This stuff is getting kind of redundant. Maybe you can go back to putting out pop/punk again? At least for a little while perhaps? That would be killer! Or at least more bands like Look Mexico might do the trick. Thanks!

Still your friend,

Will.

P.S. Tim Barry is acceptable.

Yesterday’s Ring “Moving Out (To Florida)”

The Takers “Taker Easy”

05.03.2010

Mixtapes: Maps

posted by Will

in Music Reviews


(Click on album cover to download)

One listen to Cincinnati, Ohio’s MixtapesMaps and you might think you’ve stumbled upon some lost gem from the dustbins of 90’s alternative rock. You oldies know what I’m talking about. Mixtapes could have easily been one of those bands that got inked during the major label signing spree of the early 90’s only to get no push, dropped and break up instead. While that might not sound like the best stamp of approval I mean it in the most flattering way possible. Mixtapes might be a little “guilty pleasure” at first but after numerous listens you come to the conclusion that these are just finely written pop songs with some punky tendencies to boot. Regardless of whether they came out in the 90’s or 2010 bands like Mixtapes still sound perfectly right to me. Wrapping up 10 songs in 18 minutes, Mixtapes’ debut might just be that next addiction for your pop sweet tooth. Let’s just hope they don’t go the way of their ancestors and end up collecting cobwebs in the back of some record store.

You can download Maps for FREE via digital label Death To False Hope Records. Click HERE for the zip.

Mixtapes “Nothing Can Kill the Grimace”

Mixtapes “Hope Springs Eternal”

04.03.2010

Band You Should Have Known: Lack

posted by Will

in BYSK

I always forget about Lack but then they will pop up on my shuffle and I remember just how much this band ruled. When writing this piece it started out as a Band You Should Know but unfortunately changed to a Band You Should Have Known cause Lack have officially broken up. Hailing from Denmark the band evolved from your solid but somewhat typical screamo band into a full rock solid behemoth. Lyrically the band pulled no punches and their sharp tongue went hand in hand with their powerful musical assault. All three of the band’s albums stand tall on their own merit but my personal favorite is Be There Pulse. You can’t go wrong with any of them though.

Saturate Every Atom (2008)
Be There Pulse (2005)
Blues Moderne: Danois Explosifs (2001)

Lack “5 O’Clock In The Evening” (from Be There Pulse)

Tags: ,
03.03.2010

Musings: Paper The Operator

posted by Will

in Music Musings

So, I didn’t really know how to handle Goodbye God, the new release from Paper The Operator. Mainly because I reviewed virtually the same album when it came out (with very limited release) as Jon Sebastian’s solo affair two years ago. The new version of Goodbye God is a bit different as it does add two additional tracks and new artwork to boot. Sebastian plays in The Color Wheels as well and both bands live off his knack for writing memorable pop hooks. While I do miss the rockness of the band’s previous release, Solemn Boyz, Goodbye God perhaps showcases Sebastian’s talents a bit more as it tones down the guitars and ups the intimacy. And if you want a taste of Paper The Operator and Sebastian’s songwriting prowess you can download Mount Bounty, which is a collection of demos, studio recordings, covers, and unreleased tracks recorded between 2000 and 2005. You can get that for free from the fine folks at Viper Bite Records who have released all of Sebastian’s endeavors to date.

Paper The Operator “Rock Dreams”

02.03.2010

Media: Museum Mouth

posted by Will

in Media


(Click on album cover to download)

Who? Museum Mouth

What? I Am The Idiot Of The Jungle EP

Where are they from? Southport, NC

What do they sound like? If you dig that thin line where indie rock and pop/punk meet you might really fall for Museum Mouth. Dual male/female vocals might echo pop/punk of the past but the band sets itself apart by incorporating more noisy tendencies. The raw recording adds to the separation but is still completely flattering to the band’s sound. Museum Mouth make a noisy beautiful mess of these four songs that clock in under an all-too-brief 8 minutes. For fans of early material from Superchunk and Lemuria you should really love this.

Where can I buy: You can pick up a physical copy of the EP and other swag here.

Museum Mouth “Worry Wart”

01.03.2010

Metavari: Be One Of Us And Hear No Noise

posted by Will

in Music Reviews

To call Metavari post-rock is a slight disservice to the band. While musically the band might fall under that broad and ever so boring term, this trio is doing something different from the masses. Mixing instrumental rock with spoken word pieces and fragments, the band is reminiscent of The Books moreso than most post-rock bands.

Metavari’s songs are immaculately arranged and always interesting as they unfold ever so slightly. Be One Of Us And Hear No Noise includes ten songs clocking at less than 45 minutes and completely free of any useless meandering. When is the last post-rock record that gave you that kind of brevity? If you dig bands like From Monument To Masses (minus the political angle), Lymbyc Systym or the aforementioned Books, I highly suggest picking up Be One Of Us And Hear No Noise.

Label: Crossroads Of America

Metavari “Shimmer Marina”

01.03.2010

Band Spotlight: Rooftops

posted by Will

in Band Spotlight, Best New Music

Who? Rooftops

Where are they from? Bellingham, WA

What do they sound like? Mathy instrumental goodness. I covered the band’s split with Noumenon a while back but I would have never guessed the band’s debut full-length, A Forest Of Polarity, would be this good. Rooftops are predominantly instrumental but the songs that add vocals are just downright heavenly. It’s like some amped up version of This Is Animal Music-era Look Mexico almost. But the band keeps the vocals to a minimum and in reality they just aren’t needed when the songs are consistently this good. At the end of the day you can’t ask for more than this if you are a fan of atmospheric math rock. CD out on Clickpop and Vinyl soon to be out on Topshelf. And yes, I am working this for Beartrap. Life is good.

Rooftops “Raft Easily”