Posts Tagged ‘Lock And Key’


22.02.2010

Vinyl Corner: The Cold Beat / Movers & Shakers

posted by Will

in Music Reviews, Vinyl Corner

Split Lavender Vinyl 7″

Two Boston bands get together for a split and leave the bullshit at the door. I recently reviewed Dan Webb And The Spiders and some of the players on that album appear in these two bands including Webb himself in The Cold Beat. We’ve also got a former member of Lock And Key and I’m sure numerous other former bands are represented here as well.

The Cold Beat play melodic punk influenced rock. I never got around to reviewing The Cold Beat’s first EP, Dumbwaiter but it was quality just like the band’s two offerings on this piece of wax. The band is catchy and really does have a nice genuine quality to their songs.

I’ve covered Movers & Shakers here before and the band still is solid if unspectacular entry into Americana infused rock. I dig the addition of the organ to the band’s songs as it gives them a bit more weight and distinction.

People who just can’t get enough of The Gaslight Anthem, a band that sort of rides the fence between two bands like The Cold Beat and Movers & Shakers, should find something to enjoy here.

Label: Cigar Box Recordings

The Cold Beat “Absolute Zero”

Movers & Shakers “Movin’ On”

18.01.2010

Heads Up! Wooden Teeth

posted by Will

in Heads Up

Wooden Teeth, featuring former Lock And Key vocalist Ryan Shanahan, now have songs up for free download on their Last Fm page. I spotlighted the band here late last year.

Wooden Teeth “Guilty/Innocent”

25.11.2009

Where The Land Meets The Sea: Listen For The Gulls

posted by Will

in Music Reviews

wheretheland

Where The Land Meets The Sea’s official debut EP, Listen For The Gulls, pulls together five tracks of dynamic new wave indie rock. I covered the band’s demo a while back and all three songs are here plus two others. Based on the demo Where The Land Meets The Sea could have gone one of two ways. The band could have brightened everything up and gone in a more poppy direction or they could choose to darken the atmospheres down. The band, made up of ex-members of Lock And Key and Smoke Or Fire as well as current members of The Cold Beat, chose the latter approach and for the most part it works really well. There is still that punk rock attitude that shines through here and leads to the Pretty Girls Make Graves comparisons maintaining their accuracy. But, as much as I dig the prominent female vocals I wish the interplay between the male/female vocals was more prevalent throughout. That’s only a minor complaint though. Listen For The Gulls is a nice evolution from the band’s demo. Here’s hoping Where The Land Meets The Sea sticks around to sharpen their craft even more.

Label: Self-Released

Where The Land Meets The Sea – Title Bout

13.10.2009

Band Spotlight: Wooden Teeth

posted by Will

in Band Spotlight

woodenteeth

Who? Wooden Teeth

Where are they from? Portland, Oregon

What do they sound like? Beard-core!? Ryan Shanahan, formerly of Boston’s Lock And Key returns with a brand new band that packs the power of his former band with a subtle change in direction. There is less of the over-the-top Hot Water Music influence with Wooden Teeth and more of a darker element at play on the band’s first songs. Hit the band’s Myspace page up to hear the songs. A great start to say the least.

04.05.2009

Arms Aloft: Comfort At Any Cost 7″

posted by Will

in Music Reviews, Vinyl Corner

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

24.09.2008

Lock And Key: Self-Titled

posted by Will

in Music Reviews

The boys from Boston’s Lock And Key are back again but this time it is a bittersweet listen. Unfortunately, this self-titled affair is the band’s swan song. Lock And Key made the decision to call it quits last year but lucky for us that they deemed it necessary to document their final songs. Lock And Key play emotional post-hardcore in the vein of Hot Water Music, Small Brown Bike and Leatherface. Yeah, I know, we have all heard this sound played many times before. However, Lock And Key have always been a cut above the rest in regards to moving beyond their influences. The band’s material can often go toe to toe against those heavyweights. That certainly speaks volumes but it is the band’s sincerity and passion that carries the heavier stick. That continues here on their final release as Lock And Key let it all hang out. You can hear the emotion bleeding out from the speakers. The album is a unique listening experience as it seems as though many of these songs were written with the band’s demise already etched in stone. Much of the album touches on the trials and tribulations of a band simply trying to keep their head above water. Lock And Key are fighting to keep going and stay positive while battling negativity and frustration. It is a rare look into the true heart of a DIY band trying to carry on despite overwhelming odds. In the end, the band decided to hang it up and move on. Take nothing away from Lock And Key. They can walk away with their heads held high. On “Last Song” Lock And Key shout out exactly what I would expect. Never forget, never regret. Always in debt to all of you. Cheers Lock And Key, it was a fantastic ride!

Genre: Post-Hardcore

RIYL: Hot Water Music, Small Brown Bike, Leatherface

Label:Get A Life

Ad Infinitum

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www.myspace.com/lockandkey