I saw One Small Step For Landmines earlier in the week as they opened for the fine boys in Look Mexico. The band played a short but impressive set that was full of energy. As I stated earlier, the band gives off an early Get Up Kids vibe and I got that from the live show as well. However, the band’s sound flexes a great deal of instrumental muscle as well. OSSFL just released their first full-length earlier this week. You can download their debut offering, The Whale EP here.
Thanks to Corey at Pastepunk for the heads up on these guys. I went out and bought Facing New York’s self-titled debut and have been thoroughly impressed ever since. Taking cues from bands like The Dismemberment Plan and Minus The Bear, Facing New York create a diverse and rewarding listening experience. The band’s eclectic mixture of styles is put together so well. Facing New York’s much anticipated second album is scheduled for an early 2008 release.
Living Daylights are yet another great Canadian band. The band takes its cues from the likes of Jawbreaker, Leatherface and Avail. Their debut 7″ is five songs of rough and tumble punk rock. Beneath the grizzly suface lies a great deal of melody though. Watch out for these guys.
Attica! Attica! is the new project from Aaron Scott who formerly fronted the awesome melodic hardcore band, Marathon. Except for Scott’s familiar operatic vocal stylings, Attica! Attica! is nothing like the hard-hitting Marathon. Scott’s new project is much more organic. Drawing from a wide range of influences, Scott’s new songs are wildly different from his past and quite impressive in their scope. Give a listen. The debut album, Dead Skin/Dried Blood, comes out next week.
Oceans are an instrumental juggernaut from the Chicago area that I recently discovered. The band can lull you to sleep with a post-rock swagger but then clobber you over the head with a vicious math rock swing all in the same song. I like this a lot and I must get my sweaty hands on a copy of the band’s demo!
Mandy and Nathan who make up Ghost In The Water, have performed in a band called Fitzgerald for years now. When the Minneapolis duo began to write songs that did not fit into that mold, they formed Ghost In The Water. I just so happened to stumble upon the duo’s myspace page recently and was stunned to hear such gorgeous, angelic music. If I must describe the duo, the music is in the electro-indie pop realm. However, that would seem to simplify the elements at play here. The male/female vocals play off each other with remarkable results. The musical backdrops are playful while still adding great detail to the songs. The duo just completed their debut album. Frankly, I can not wait to hear the finished product.
Attack In Black are a band on the rise from Welland, Canada. The group just released their new album, Marriage. If the album is any indication, you will be hearing a lot from these guys soon. Attack In Black have a grand combination of sounds that touch anywhere from the roots pop/punk of a band like The Loved Ones to the earthy rock of the Constantines. I have a feeling Attack In Black are poised for the big time.
Falling Off A Building is yet another local band here in Columbia, SC that I have been meaning to write about. I saw the band open up for Brother, Sister a while back and was pleasantly surprised. The band revolves around singer/songwriter Adam Callum. His energetic style and unique lyrical take on life was addicting to watch in a live setting. I picked up the band’s five song EP and it stands up quite nicely to the live show. Falling Off A Building brings to mind people like Ben Folds, Counting Crows and even The Weakerthans perhaps. Nicely done.
Damezumari hail from Tulsa, Oklahoma and play melodic and screamy hardcore. I am digging these guys a lot. Perhaps it is because they remind me so much of the amazing Sinaloa. The band just released a fantastic split LP with a great band from Houston, Texas called Fire Team Charlie. I definitely recommend picking it up. Good stuff!
Auto! Automatic!! is a cool instrumental band from Tampa, FL. I am a newcomer to the band but their 2006 album, Another Round Won’t Get Us Down, is an intriguing and smooth brand of melodic instrumental music. Recalling bands like El Ten Eleven and The Mercury Program, Auto! Automatic!! are certainly impresive. At times the band is even reminiscent of the guitar tapping theatrics of Minus The Bear as well. See, instrumental music can be fun…Auto! Automatic!! are proof positive of that.
Frontier Folk Nebraska hail from Covington, Kentucky and play sparse Americana/Folk music. Touching on the dark acoustic sounds of Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen, Frontier Folk Nebraska create a rich journey through the trials of the common man. Their debut EP, The Devil’s Tree shows a great deal of promise for such a young outfit. Frontier Folk Nebraska are definitely one to watch.
Oddly enough, I found out about The Skies We Built while looking at the amazing commercial artwork of Nigel Dennis/Electric Heat. Dennis had taken some photos of the band so I quickly looked them up and I am certainly glad I did. The band hails from Chicago and plays indie rock that is impressive in its scope. Three of the songs have vocals and one is a fabulous instrumental. The music has a definite somber post-rock feel but the band picks the tempos up on several occasions which certainly works to their advantage. It seems as though The Skies We Built are much farther along than most bands their age. Let’s hope this is only the beginning. The four songs from the band’s 2006 debut EP are up on their Myspace.
Black Swan is a local (Columbia, SC) band who I had the pleasure of seeing this weekend. As I watched the band I could tell they were still trying to adapt in a live setting. Still, I was shocked to learn after the show that it was only the band’s second performance together. That fact left me even more impressed with the band’s expansive and engaging sound. Black Swan may only be in their infancy but the sky is the limit. The band has already recorded a five song EP which they were graciously giving away for free this weekend. I will have a short review up for that soon.
Awake And Alert are an impressive female-fronted indie rock band from Mesa, AZ. The band is set to release their debut album, Devil In A Lambskin Suit, on September 11th. Awake And Alert’s atmospheric music recalls the depth and power of the great Denali. Maya Peart’s strong vocal presence is backed by an impressive musical display on Devil In A Lamskin Suit’s twelve tracks. Awake And Alert are certainly a band to watch for. Review coming soon.
The Redneck Manifesto hit on a genre that has been high on my playlist over the last few months. The band hails from Ireland and plays experimental instrumental indie rock. While the band might come off as a bit too mathy to some, with further listens there is a great deal of melody being thrown around by these guys. The band also delves into quiet and moody material as well. I definitely recommend The Redneck Manifesto to fans of the many different shades of instrumental music.
