Posts Tagged ‘Dillinger Four’

29.12.2009

Banner Pilot: Collapser

posted by Will

in Music Reviews

2 Comments

OK, does this record really need a review? I mean, it’s on Fat Wreck Chords. The band is from Minneapolis. It’s pop/punk. You should know from just those facts whether you will love this or you will be bored to death by it all. As you can probably guess if you have followed SAL, Banner Pilot is right up our alley. And if you thought the band was doing some good things on their last album, Resignation Day, well, Collapser just takes it to a completely different level. It’s nice to see Fat signing some good bands for a change (see Teenage Bottlerocket). Fans of Dillinger Four and The Lawrence Arms you may have just found your new favorite band.

Label: Fat Wreck Chords

Banner Pilot “Greenwood”

Banner Pilot “Skeleton Key”

Tags: Banner Pilot, Dillinger Four, Fat Wreck Chords, Music Reviews, Teenage Bottlerocket, The Lawrence Arms

02.12.2009

The Gateway District: Some Days You Get The Thunder

posted by Will

in Music Reviews

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On Some Days You Get The Thunder, The Gateway District provide some snotty (and I do mean snotty!) female-fronted pop/punk with a bit of Americana thrown in for good measure. This is yet another solid band from the inbred (and I mean that in the most positive way) Minneapolis scene. The Gateway District includes members from Off With Their Heads, Banner Pilot, Dear Landlord and The Soviettes just to name a few. This reminds me of the old Fat Wreck band Tilt at times but with a lot more Midwestern flavor to it. The Gateway District are also reminiscent of the ramshackle East Bay meets Minneapolis sound of the old D4 side band, Cleveland Bound Death Sentence as well. Good stuff.

Label: It’s Alive

The Gateway District “Lake Street Is For Suckers”

Tags: Banner Pilot, Cleveland Bound Death Sentence, Dear Landlord, Dillinger Four, Fat Wreck Chords, Music Reviews, Off With Their Heads, The Gateway District, The Soviettes, Tilt

29.10.2009

Vinyl Corner: Above Them & The Amistad

posted by Will

in Music Reviews, Vinyl Corner

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Split Blue Vinyl 7″

The vinyl keeps flowing here at SAL. Here’s another split this time between two UK bands. The Amistad take on Side A and the band play that gruff brand of pop/punk. I covered the band last year and not much has changed. But that’s a good thing. Granted this style has been done to death so it’s difficult to make a lasting impression. But, The Amistad do it as well as anybody else these days and still bring to mind bands like Dillinger Four and Latterman. You can’t ask for much more than that.

On the B Side we have Above Them who I covered briefly in the past. Above Them show a bit more diversity. You can tell these guys are coming from indie/punk background but they don’t let that hinder their songwriting in the least bit. These two songs sound a bit less emo(tional) in their tone than past stuff I’ve heard. Both songs are great and seem more rooted in rustic type punk rock even sounding like The Gaslight Anthem a bit. The band has an interesting and rather large palette that they are working with and I’m curious to hear what’s next.

All in all…a winner of a 7″ if you ask me!

Label: Disillusioned

Tags: Above Them, Dillinger Four, Latterman, Music Reviews, The Amistad, The Gaslight Anthem, Vinyl Corner

04.06.2009

Sound Off: Monument

posted by Will

in Band Interviews, Sound Off

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Indie/emo heart throbs Monument have decided to interview themselves for SAL’s Sound Off feature. These guys are really long-winded and name drop a lot of bands. It sucked doing the Tags for this post. Warning: this is the longest interview ever in the history of band interviews…but oh so entertaining! You can check out my review of the band’s most recent release, a 3 song 7-inch here. Monujamz!!

04.05.2009

Arms Aloft: Comfort At Any Cost 7″

posted by Will

in Music Reviews, Vinyl Corner

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If you are a fan of melodic hardcore and all its sub-genres, than you need to hear Eau Claire, Wisconsin’s Arms Aloft. How this band has flown under the radar is beyond me. These four songs conjure up so many touchstones and a few of those are openly listed in the band’s influences…Hot Water Music, Kid Dynamite and Dillinger Four to name a few. Arms Aloft flex an undeniable midwestern take on Americana tinged punk rock. I am reminded most specifically of a band that I love that a lot of people might not know about, Boston’s underrated (and sadly defunct) Lock And Key. But to list all these bands that Arms Aloft remind me of seems to sell them entirely too short. These guys aren’t ripping anybody off, in fact their hammering out this style better than 99% of the bands before them. Arms Aloft are so good at what they do it is almost unfair to their peers. The band bottles up so much angst and aggression in their songs and then unleash it with such poise and precision. Arms Aloft know how to write big, catchy and powerful punk rock tunes that leave the listener begging for more. Let’s hope these boys are hatching big plans for the future cause I am ready for more.

Label: Dead Format

Dreams Are Dogs That Die In Their Kennels

02-arms_aloft-dreams_are_dogs_that_die_in_their_kennels.mp3

www.myspace.com/armsaloftforever

Tags: Arms Aloft, Dillinger Four, Hot Water Music, Kid Dynamite, Lock And Key, Music Reviews, Vinyl Corner

02.02.2009

Monikers: Wake Up

posted by Will

in Music Reviews

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Boy, they sure don’t make them like they once did. It takes a band like Monikers to come along and reminds you just how good we had it back in the day. The band echoes such phenomenal pop/punk fore bearers like Leatherface, Jawbreaker and Crimpshrine. Monikers are fronted by Ryan Seagrist, former member of one of my all time favorite bands, pop punk legends Discount. Wake Up is the band’s debut full-length and is unabashedly chock full of ’90s East Bay-styled pop punk. This is pop/punk the way it was meant to be…no sheen and no bullshit. The band also has a modern feel that is reminiscent of Lawrence Arms and Dillinger Four. But where their debut EP sounded more like a collection of their influences, Wake Up is a solid and often thrilling jumping off point for kids who may be discovering this sound for the first time. The acoustic album closer “Black” is a great song and draws the album to an appropriate ending. Monikers are gritty, catchy and completely honest and Wake Up is a refreshing listen to say the least.

Genre: Pop/Punk

RIYL: Leatherface, The Lawrence Arms, Jawbreaker

Label: Kiss Of Death

Absentees

02%20Absentees.mp3

Them And Us

07%20Them%20and%20Us.mp3

www.myspace.com/monikers

Tags: Crimpshrine, Dillinger Four, Discount, Jawbreaker, Kiss Of Death, Leatherface, Monikers, Music Reviews, The Lawrence Arms

24.12.2008

Top 20 Albums of 2008 (1-10)

posted by Will

in Year End Lists

7 Comments

I have gone back and forth about my #1. It really should be a 1a. and a 1b. scenario. Just saying.

OK, the year in review is done. I’m out. I will see you guys and gals next year. Yolo!

#10 – The Daylight Hours “How To Make A Mess Of Things” (Self-Released)

- For as much as I ended up listening to this album I thought it deserved to be in my top ten. Local singer/songwriter David Adedokun writes beautiful tales.

#9 – The Gaslight Anthem “The ‘59 Sound” (Side One Dummy)

- While not as instantly gratifying or commanding as their debut, The ‘59 Sound expands The Gaslight Anthem’s sound leaps and bounds. These guys could end up being really big before it’s over.

#8 – Dillinger Four “C I V I L W A R” (Fat Wreck Chords)

- Maturity is a bitch. Instead of Dillinger Four returning to their roots on their first album in six years, D4 made their most polished record yet. Career suicide? Perhaps if the songs weren’t so fucking good!

#7 – Pomegranates “Everything Is Alive” (Lujo)

- I had begun to hate anything labeled as “indie pop” but Pomegranates reaffirm my belief in the genre. Everything Is Alive is the sound of a band discovering who they are and therein lies its brilliance.

#6 – Algernon Cadwallader “Some Kind Of Cadwallader” (Be Happy)

- The little band that could keeps on going with a killer debut that delivered on the promises of the band’s demo.

#5 – Antlers “Self-Titled” (Rorschach)

- Amazing debut from this Richmond band. Mathy, eclectic, melodic and intricate…Antlers got it all.

#4 – Tigers Jaw “Self-Titled” (Prison Jazz)

- Insanely catchy pop/punk with addictive vocals. Try playing this album only once. I dare you.

#3 – The State Lottery “Cities We’re Not From” (Salinas)

- The music is powerful but it is The State Lottery’s lyrics that will slice you wide open.

#2 – Cheap Girls “Find Me A Drink Home” (Bermuda Mohawk)

- By far my most played album of 2008. Poetically frustrated lyrics set to power pop…fans of Lemonheads and Smoking Popes should fall in love just as I did many times over. Definitely honored to have worked with the band for Beartrap. Watch out for these guys. Bigger and brighter things are on the horizon!

#1 – Sun Kil Moon “April” (Caldo Verde)

- Perhaps the best album of Mark Kozelek’s career and that is an incredible statement. If April doesn’t deserve top spot, I’m not sure what does.

Tags: Algernon Cadwallader, Antlers, Cheap Girls, Dillinger Four, Pomegranates, Sun Kil Moon, The Daylight Hours, The Gaslight Anthem, The State Lottery, Tigers Jaw, Year End Lists

20.12.2008

SAL Reader Year End List

posted by Will

in Year End Lists

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Dillinger Four “C I V I L W A R” – 8 votes

Bridge And Tunnel “East/West” – 6 votes
Constantines “Kensington Heights” – 6 votes

Death Cab For Cutie “Narrow Stairs” – 5 votes
Fleet Foxes “Self-Titled” – 5 votes
The Gaslight Anthem “The ‘59 Sound” – 5 votes

Able Baker Fox “Voices” – 4 votes
Algernon Cadwallader “Some Kind Of Cadwallader” – 4 votes
Polar Bear Club “Sometimes Things Just Disappear” – 4 votes
Torche “Meanderthal” – 4 votes

Beach House “Devotion” – 3 votes
Cheap Girls “Find Me A Drink Home” – 3 votes
Drive-By Truckers “Brighter Than Creation’s Dark” – 3 votes
Foals “Antidotes” – 3 votes
Fucked Up “The Chemistry of Common Life” – 3 votes
Good Luck “Into Lake Griffy” – 3 votes
Scream Hello “Everything is Always Still Happening” – 3 votes

Tags: Able Baker Fox, Algernon Cadwallader, Beach House, Bridge And Tunnel, Cheap Girls, Constantines, Death Cab For Cutie, Dillinger Four, Drive-By Truckers, Fleet Foxes, Foals, Fucked Up, Good Luck, Polar Bear Club, Scream Hello, The Gaslight Anthem, Torche, Year End Lists

19.12.2008

Chuck Beartrap’s Top Ten

posted by Will

in Year End Lists

3 Comments

Look Mexico – Gasp Asp 7″
Dustheads – Collected Sounds
Sinaloa – Oceans of Islands
Tigers Jaw – S/T
1994 – Thank You Arms and Fingers
Good Luck – Into Lake Griffy
This Will Destroy You – S/T
Algernon Cadwallader – Some Kind of Cadwallader
Fucked Up – The Chemistry of Common Life
Dillinger Four – Civil War

- I heard you can order that Look Mexico 7″ at Tiny Engines…just saying. – Will.

Tags: 1994, Algernon Cadwallader, Beartrap, Dillinger Four, Dustheads, Fucked Up, Good Luck, Look Mexico, Sinaloa, This Will Destroy You, Tigers Jaw, Year End Lists

19.12.2008

Andy’s Top Ten

posted by Will

in Year End Lists

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Andy Thomas – Only Thunder / Label Manager for Suburban Home Records/Vinyl Collective – Denver, CO

* Ten Bad Ass Albums of ‘08 in no particular order

Torche – Meanderthal
Russian Circles – Station
Tim Barry – Manchester
The Gaslight Anthem – ‘59 Sound
Bridge and Tunnel – East/West
Jessica Lea Mayfield – With Blasphemy So Heartfelt
Dillinger Four – CIVIL WAR
Cheap Girls – Find Me a Drink Home
Man Man – Rabbit Habits
Olehole – Holemole

Tags: Beartrap, Bridge And Tunnel, Cheap Girls, Dillinger Four, Jessica Lea Mayfield, Man Man, Olehole, Only Thunder, Russian Circles, Suburban Home, The Gaslight Anthem, Tim Barry, Torche, Vinyl Collective, Year End Lists

18.12.2008

Matti’s Top Whatever

posted by Will

in Year End Lists

1 Comment

Mattison – Cable Theft – Columbia, SC

Although it took forever to come about, the Dillinger Four album was actually pretty good. It got a lot of “meh” from the kids, but I dig it. The only other album I can think of that I actually enjoyed this year was the new Less Than Jake. Some good shows were the Gaslight Anthem, Look Mexico, and the Chuck Ragan/Tim Barry/et.al. show which made me sort-of like Tom Gabel, but still not enough to deal with AM! I think the new Metallica sucks and ‘Chinese Democracy’ is the best comedy album of the year. I do a lot of listening to XM, and from there I say the new Beck album, the Stars EP, and Sam Roberts are really good. On other things: the Gamecocks are going to a bowl game, which is better than last year, but hell if I’m going to Tampa. Gas prices went from $4.00 to $1.42 a gallon in about 2 months, which is scary. I voted Barr, but I’m sick of 13% of the U.S. population claiming they were responsible for getting Obama into office. We’ll see. Finally, I’m quite pleased that my fantasy football team “#7 Ron Mexico” has just secured a spot in the finals.

Tags: Beck, Cable Theft, Chuck Ragan, Dillinger Four, Guns N' Roses, Less Than Jake, Look Mexico, Metallica, Sam Roberts, Stars, The Gaslight Anthem, Tim Barry, Tom Gabel, Year End Lists

17.12.2008

Yamil’s Top Ten

posted by Will

in Year End Lists

1 Comment

Yamil Velez – Lipona – Tallahassee, FL

1. A Wilhelm Scream – Career Suicide
2. The Gaslight Anthem – The 59 Sound
3. Dillinger Four – Civil War
4. Fucked Up – The Chemistry of Common Life
5. Polar Bear Club – Sometimes Things Just Disappear
6. H2O – Nothing to Prove
7. Death Cab for Cutie – Narrow Stairs
8. Tokyo Police Club – Elephant Shell
9. Shai Hulud – Misanthropy Pure
10. Underoath – Lost in the Sound of Separation

Tags: A Wilhelm Scream, Beartrap, Death Cab For Cutie, Dillinger Four, Fucked Up, H2O, Lipona, Polar Bear Club, Shai Hulud, The Gaslight Anthem, Tokyo Police Club, Underoath, Year End Lists

17.12.2008

Chris C’s Top Ten

posted by Will

in Year End Lists

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Chris Connallon – Scream Hello – New Brunswick, NJ

1. Drive-By Truckers – Brighter Than Creation’s Dark
2. Beck – Modern Guilt
3. Portishead – Third
4. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!
5. The Gaslight Anthem – The ‘59 Sound
6. Guns n’ Roses – Chinese Democracy
7. Bridge & Tunnel – East/West
8. Dillinger Four – C I V I L W A R
9. Polar Bear Club – Sometimes Things Just Disappear
10. Death Cab For Cutie – Narrow Stairs

Tags: Beartrap, Beck, Bridge And Tunnel, Death Cab For Cutie, Dillinger Four, Drive-By Truckers, Guns N' Roses, Nick Cave, Polar Bear Club, Portishead, Scream Hello, The Gaslight Anthem, Year End Lists

16.12.2008

Evan’s Top Ten

posted by Will

in Year End Lists

2 Comments

Evan Weiss – Into It. Over It. – Chicago, IL

1. 52 Songs
2. Steph Bomb
3. Damiera
4. Chicago, IL
5. Dillinger Four – Civil War
6. Weighing 175 Pounds Again
7. It’s A King Thing – Proper Nouns
8. The Dark Knight
9. Pattern Is Movement – All Together
10. $1.75 Gas

Into It. Over It. interview on SAL

www.myspace.com/intoitoverit

Tags: Beartrap, Damiera, Dillinger Four, Evan Weiss, Into It Over It, It's A King Thing, Pattern Is Movement, Year End Lists

04.12.2008

SAL’s Best Albums of 1998

posted by Will

in Year End Lists

11 Comments

James at Get Over Yourself had a great idea of making a list of our top records of ten years ago…way back in 1998. Eric at Can You See The Sunset and I of course fell right in line. Probably cause we’re a bunch of music dorks who will end up liking a lot of the same records anyway. Yay for grown men entertaining themselves with nonsense and irrelevant list making! Thanks Twitter! On that note, here are SAL’s favorite albums of 1998.

Alkaline Trio “Goddamnit” (Asian Man)