subscribe to RSS Subscribe to RSS

Posts Tagged ‘Salinas’


04.02.2010

Vinyl Corner: P.S. Eliot

posted by Will

in Music Reviews, Vinyl Corner
1 Comment

Introverted Romance In Our Troubled Minds Black Vinyl 12″

PSEliotLP

I think for a long time I didn’t give P.S. Eliot an honest chance cause I was mad that former band The Ackleys, who I absolutely adored, were sadly done. That seems petty I know but what’s a boy with a broken heart supposed to do? While The Ackleys specialized in power pop/punk, P.S. Eliot took a more lo-fi approach on their initial demo which honestly kind of threw me for a loop. While a lo-fi quality can enhance many bands I felt the production hindered lead singer Katie Crutchfield’s songwriting. For the most part, that has been rectified with P.S. Eliot’s debut LP, Introverted Romance In Our Troubled Minds.

The production has been ratcheted up here and that enhances Crutchfield’s infectious delivery and clever lyrical take on all of life’s ambiguities. Of course my favorite songs are the ones where Crutchfield’s vocals/lyrics seem to take center stage above all else. I still have no problem saying that for fans of Discount, Crutchfield’s bands are the closest you will ever get to touching that rare, special quality. My only issue with Introverted Romance In Our Troubled Minds is that at times songs do have a tendency to blend together. But with the majority of the material here being so strong its hard to not give the band the benefit of the doubt.

Label: Salinas

P.S. Eliot “Like How You Are”

Tags: , , , , ,
12.01.2010

Best New Music: Hop Along

posted by Will

in Best New Music, Music Reviews, Vinyl Corner
No Comments

Wretches Black Vinyl 10″

HopAlong10

Hop Along use to be Hop Along, Queen Ansleis which was essentially the project of Miss Frances Quinlan. While I was aware of Quinlan and her moniker I must plead a bit of ignorance to the discography that came before this 10-inch. It seems as though the material that came before Wretches was more solo-oriented whereas Hop Along has seen Quinlan move to a full-band approach as Dominic Angelella and Mark Quinlan were added on guitar and drums respectively.

One can hardly argue with the results of the full-band approach. Before I had a chance to listen to Wretches I had the pleasure of seeing Hop Along open for Look Mexico a few months ago. I was left with my jaw on the floor for the most part and promptly dug the band’s 10-inch out of my vinyl promo stack the next day. Wretches capably captures the band’s live energy and Quinlan’s crazed but endearing stream-of-conscious lyrical style. The eleven minute plus “Second Name” is the breath taker here as Quinlan’s intimately bare lyrics seemingly describe the unspeakable silence between two lovers whose relationship is cracking apart. While the lyrics might come as a shock to the system they are equally exhilarating and thought provoking. Quinlan’s songs are certainly never boring as the arrangements give the band an epic feel. On Wretches, Hop Along prove that there is indeed strength in numbers.

Label: Salinas

Hop Along “Bride and Groom”

Tags: , , , , ,
05.01.2010

Best Of 2009: Volume One

posted by Will

in Year End Lists
11 Comments

I have decided to combine LPs and EPs together into one big end of the year lovefest. No rankings til I get to my Top Ten. Click on the album cover for any more coverage.

Cheap Girls “My Roaring 20’s” (Paper + Plastick)

While it might not live up to the charm of their debut, My Roaring 20’s eschews any real sophomore slump and cements Cheap Girls as one of the brightest young bands around today.

Witches “Self-Titled” 7″ (Salinas/Mandible)

Simply gorgeous and mesmerizing songs and I can’t wait for a full-length.

Wooden Birds “Magnolia” (Barsuk)

Not better than AmAnSet but equal to at least. Welcome back Andrew Kenny. We missed you.

Grown Ups “Songs” EP (Kid Sister)

So many great young bands springing up and Grown Ups are one of the best. Pop punk with noodles!

Sleep Bellum Sonno “Judge Us By How We Lived Our Lives, Not By How We Made A Living” (Self-Released)

I understand that a lot of people probably won’t get these guys but I swear if you give this concept album time it is a moving experience. Proggy, arty hardcore with balls and intelligence. If you miss how mewithoutYou once sounded you should listen to Sleep Bellum Sonno.

Certain People I Know “4 Songs” EP (Self-Released)

I don’t understand why more people don’t talk about this band. Hell, it’s members of Braid and it basically sounds like Hey Mercedes with the addition of female vocals.

Communipaw “Self-Titled” (Self-Released)

The supremely talented Brian Bond and his band play a smooth and confident brand of indie rock laced with alt country and brit pop influences. These kids sound wise beyond their youthful ages.

Teenage Cool Kids “Foreign Lands” (Protagonist)

Built to Spill – The Jammy Parts + More Hooks = Teenage Cool Kids

Latin For Truth “We Are Sick of Not Having The Courage To Be Absolute Nobodies” EP (Pitfall)

I listened to this EP non stop upon first receiving it. Fast paced pop punk with definite hardcore influences throughout.

Dude Japan “Self-Titled” Demo (Self-Released)

Husker Du-ish Lo-fi indie power pop. These songs just have a way of slowly finding traction and before you know it they are on repeat in your head for days.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
14.12.2009

Vinyl Corner: Used Kids

posted by Will

in Music Reviews, Vinyl Corner
2 Comments

Yeah No Black Vinyl 12″

UsedKidsLP

Wow, for some reason, this is nothing like what I was expected. I was totally thinking that Used Kids were geeky power pop. But, actually, Yeah No is some straight up rock n’ roll with punk and Americana influences thrown in. It’s not a bad listen but honestly a lot of it comes off as super cheesy to me. I mean the three bands bantered about in regards to Used Kids are Husker Du, The Jam and Exploding Hearts and quite frankly I don’t hear any of those bands here. If I did I would be singing a different tune most likely. Hell, there’s a few songs here that remind me of John Mellencamp for god sakes. I mean, this ain’t terrible and I bet the band is fun live but I can’t imagine I’ll be listening to Yeah No ever again. Sorry.

Label: Salinas

Used Kids “An Honorable Man”

Tags: , , , , , ,
22.10.2009

Vinyl Corner: Wormburner

posted by Will

in Music Reviews, Vinyl Corner
2 Comments

Self-Titled Black 7″

wormburner7

Hailing from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Wormburner (wārm·bō’ner?) features members of North Lincoln and Traffic & Weather amongst others. Those bands provide a pretty good starting point for what to expect from Wormburner. I guessed gruff pop/punk and for the most part that is what you get on the band’s debut release. That’s not to downplay the band because they play this style of rough and rustic pop/punk really well. It instantly brings to mind the sadly defunct Get Bent. Lyrically, the themes are very reminiscent of Latterman, another sadly defunct band. It is all about accepting change, making sense of your life and pushing through the negativity to see things in a more positive light. The songs, while solid, take a few listens to make their mark. The hooks are subtle but the more spins you give this piece of wax the more you will appreciate it. The band is currently writing for a LP release and I am eager to hear what they do next.

Label: Salinas

Wormburner “If Life Is A Highway, I’m Totally Fucked”

Tags: , , , , , , ,
16.10.2009

Hop Along “Second Name” Live Video

posted by Will

in Music Video
No Comments

hopalong

I saw Hop Along (formerly Hop Along, Queen Ansleis) for the first time last night and they were awesome. Check them out on the road if you get the chance. Here’s a video for their song “Second Name” courtesy of  If You Make It. The song is on the band’s new 10-inch, Wretches, out on Salinas Records. I should have a review coming soon!

Photo Credit: Emily O’Donnell

Tags: , , ,
14.04.2009

Witches: Self-Titled 7″

posted by Will

in Best New Music, Music Reviews, Vinyl Corner
No Comments

[BEST NEW MUSIC]

Witches is the new rock band from singer/songwriter Cara Beth Satalino. Satlino’s earthy vocals have always brought to mind female artists like PJ Harvey or even Chan Marshall but with Witches they are giving a setting that accentuates her pipes even more. Here Satilino’s stunning vocals and powerful songwriting collide with walls of cascading guitar rock. It is a striking combination to behold. The hyper guitars wail behind Satalino as the bass and drums keep up at a steady pace. Mining indie rock circa the mid-nineties, Witches won’t grab you with immediate hooks but they make up for it in the long run with superb songwriting that beckons you to listen closer. What starts out as something ordinary soon turns into an amazing and beautiful display. Oh, and those lyrics…

“When the final stone is cast, we’re gonna end up undefeated – all humming to the car alarm. I guess its never easy. We all are underpaid. Oh, but we love it anyway. I’m looking forward to it.”

I can not wait to hear what Witches do with a full album’s worth of material. Until then these three songs will do just fine.

Label: Salinas/Mandible

Big Rivers

01%20Big%20Rivers.mp3

Tags: , , , , , ,
17.10.2008

The State Lottery: Cities We’re Not From LP

posted by Will

in Best New Music, Music Reviews, Vinyl Corner
No Comments

[Best New Music]

Cities We’re Not From is the debut album from The State Lottery. The band is based out of Detroit and Queens with members of The Gibbons, Dynamite Arrows and Get Bent. As the opening chords of the title track ring out to start the record, you can feel something special in the air. Cities We’re Not From has a lot to do with growing up, growing older, moving around and subsequently moving on.

The title track explores moving from city to city only to realize we can not run from what inherently makes us unhappy. We live in cities we’re not from/Make our beds in neighborhoods that we barely belong/Searching for some sort of community/And it seems alright, but I can’t deny that I’m still so lonely. “Kindgarten Class” is simple in its outright questioning of America’s pursuit of war: We’ve declared endless war armed with the infantile concept of good vs. bad. “Night Of The Johnstown Flood” is straightforward and biting in its lyrical approach. And the America enshrined in my parents’ hearts and minds is a language I don’t speak, no it means nothing to me. It is an unfortunate sentiment of many in our generation whether we want to admit it or not. Cities We’re Not From explores so much of the (American) human condition but at its heart, the album is a restless search and desperate hope to find and build a community for survival.

Cities We’re Not From sounds like such a natural progression from guys who have spent their lives in punk bands. This is punk rock but done so with sense of maturity and humility for all who have passed before. Cities We’re Not From is angry and political, yet eternally hopeful; powerful and aggressive, yet keenly melodic. The instrumental additions of keys, horns and harmonica add a fresh dynamic to the traditional punk band setting. With Cities We’re Not From, The State Lottery have delivered one of best albums of the year. These eight songs are a moving testament to the heart and soul of punk rock. Sing these tired songs. You’re gonna miss ‘em when they’re gone. Indeed.

Buy the vinyl from Salinas! You can download the record for free here.

Genre: Punk/Rock

RIYL: The Lawrence Arms, Constantines, American Steel

Label: Salinas

Cities We’re Not From

01%20Cities%20We%27re%20Not%20From.mp3

Kindergarten Class

04%20Kindergarten%20Class.mp3

www.myspace.com/statelottery

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

  • Search

© sound as language 2009 | Created by: Get a Custom Design.
Powered by: Wordpress