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Posts Tagged ‘Small Brown Bike’


23.02.2010

Media: Choke Up

posted by Will

in Best New Music, Media
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(Click on album cover to download)

Who? Choke Up

What? Self-Titled Demo EP

Where are they from? Boston, MA

What do they sound like? Not just another hardcore band, that is for sure. Choke Up play dark and emotional melodic hardcore with several different elements at war. With powerful vocals that will stay with you long after, Choke Up’s thick brand of impassioned hardcore is breath of fresh air. For fans of My Heart To Joy, Hostage Calm and Small Brown Bike.

Where can I buy? The CD will be released on Teenage Disco Bloodbath in April. You can get the tape right now from Brisco Face Tapes and BFT will also have a 7″ of new material to follow in the summer.

Choke Up “Look Up”

Choke Up “Writing”

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09.02.2010

Stereotyperider: Songs In The Key Of F And U

posted by Will

in Music Reviews
1 Comment

It’s hard to believe Stereotyperider have been around for ten+ years now. The band is made up of ex-members of Man Dingo, a band I really loved back in the day. Man Dingo were a great mathy pop/punk band that could run circles around your typical three chord pop/punk band. Outside of the vocal similarities Stereotyperider don’t really have much in common with Man Dingo though. This band is much meatier and more in line with post-hardcore acts like Small Brown Bike perhaps. I remember not ever being able to get into Stereotyperider’s earlier albums but Songs In The Key Of F And U is much better than I was expecting. The album is fairly impressive even if it does run a bit long. But if you’re looking for a post-hardcore fix you could do a lot worse than Stereotyperider. It looks as though the band has called it a day after this release but they have definitely gone out on a high note. How about a Man Dingo reunion now? What, too soon?

Label:  Suburban Home

Stereotyperider “Twon Song”

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23.12.2009

Band Spotlight: Schematics

posted by Will

in Band Spotlight
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Schematics banner

Who? Schematics

Where are they from? Columbia, SC

What do they sound like? I covered Schematics briefly here and the band has finally recorded a couple of songs. Like I said before, the band is for fans of mid to late 90’s indie/emo but with a healthy dose of pop/punk influence thrown in. I find it hard to put comparisons on these guys but I have heard bands like Samiam, The Promise Ring, Iron Chic and Small Brown Bike bantered about (thanks Andy and Eric!). Rumor is more recordings are on there way.

Schematics “The Bus Drove Off”

Schematics “All The Best Years”

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18.12.2009

Albums Of The Decade: Volume Four

posted by Will

in Year End Lists
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Cheap Girls “Find Me A Drink Home” (Bermuda Mohawk – 2008)

cheapgirls

Find Me A Drink Home was 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!

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11.12.2009

SAL’s Best Albums of 1999

posted by Will

in Year End Lists
4 Comments

Last year Jayme had a great idea of making a list of our favorite records of ten years ago…way back to 1998 to be exact. Eric at Can You See The Sunset and I of course followed right along. Well, we are back again and hopefully making this a yearly feature for all of us. This time we explore our favorites of 1999. So, here we go again! This list ended up being 30 albums cause I could not stop thinking of great albums to recognize…1999 was a great year. I did not list any descriptions so if you want more info on a band or an album just ask in the comments and I will be happy to wax nostalgic on some of the lesser knowns.

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10.12.2009

Disappearer: The Clearing

posted by Will

in Music Reviews
1 Comment

disappearer

I swear this sounds like what Small Brown Bike would sound like if they just metaled up a bit more. Originally formed way back in 2003, Disappearer sprang from the demise of the band There Were Wires. I believe I owned some TWW albums back in the day but can not for the life of me really remember much about the band. Disappearer sparingly released a demo and an EP in the following five years and finally the band’s first proper full-length shows up in 2009. The Clearing is a behemoth of a record that follows in the footsteps of bands like Isis and Pelican to a certain extent. But like I said earlier with the Small Brown Bike comparison, Disappearer are much more capable at reaching a different audience than your typical metal/post-rock monsters. The Clearing really is a rare and very well done mix of sounds that post-hardcore diehards should scoop up. The slow paced thoughtful six minute title track closes the album out and ties a nice little bow on a band and an album that deserve more attention than they seem to be getting.

Label: Magic Bullet

Disappearer “A Skull Full Of Bats”

www.myspace.com/disappearerus

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24.06.2009

My Heart To Joy: Seasons In Verse

posted by Will

in Best New Music, Music Reviews
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[Best New Music]

myheartojoylp

Some bands are just not meant to be caged in. If you follow the trajectory of My Heart To Joy’s output, the band’s full-length debut, Seasons In Verse, might come as a surprise at first. But, when studied closer it is in fact the logical culmination of a burning that has noticeably been building up from the band’s core.

The instrumental first song, “Time Spent Breathing” reminds one of the lushness of Trail Of Dead rather than the melodic and screamy hardcore of the band’s past. And really that is a great comparison for My Heart To Joy (formerly My Heart To Joy At The Same Tone). The collision of art, indie and punk rock is quite similar to Trail Of Dead’s earlier material. Thankfully though, My Heart To Joy leave the pretension at the door. The band follows up the opener with the impassioned “Empty Homes” which leads into the album’s mid-paced mid-section. Songs like “Seasons In Verse”, “Worn Out Weather” and “Giving My Hands Away” may not be as in your face but they never lack the power and depth of the band’s more raging material either. “Old Capitals” is the collison of all facets of the band’s songwriting and is breathtaking in its delivery. My Heart To Joy even cover a Guided By Voices song, (ironically also covered by Trail Of Dead), “Goldheart Mountaintop Queen Directory”, with great success as they take the inner beauty of the song and turn it upside down with a healthy dose of vitriol.

When I reviewed the band’s seven-inch in January my RIYL was Hot Water Music, Small Brown Bike and Latterman…certainly good company to keep. But, with Seasons In Verse, My Heart To Joy have moved beyond those influences into more ambitious waters. The challenge with growth is to somehow maintain the signature quality of your songwriting. Even though the band has pushed their creativity into interesting new realms they have still managed to retain the raw and powerful nature of their earlier material. Seasons In Verse is proof of the dynamic and diverse heart that My Heart To Joy possess.

Label: Topshelf/Asbestos

Seasons In Verse
03%20Seasons%20In%20Verse.mp3

www.myspace.com/myhearttojoy

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30.01.2009

Band Spotlight: Castevet

posted by Will

in Band Spotlight
6 Comments

Who? Castevet

Where are they from? Chicago, IL

What do they sound like? Melodic Beard Punk with obvious Illinois influences like Ghosts And Vodka, Colossal, American Football and Braid. I quickly imagined a meatier, mathier version of Small Brown Bike or Bear Vs. Shark. How amazing does that sound? Well, if the first three songs from Castevet are any indication, it sounds pretty damn sweet. The band’s debut full-length, Summer Fences, is recorded and scheduled to be released by Count Your Lucky Stars (Beartrap!) in Summer ‘09. Castevet feature a member of the amazing Oceans!

You can download the band’s three song I Know What A Lion Is demo here.

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15.01.2009

Bridge And Tunnel: East/West

posted by Will

in Music Reviews
1 Comment

Bridge And Tunnel return with their much anticipated debut LP. The band delivered an awesome four song demo that turned into a 7-inch release courtesy of No Idea Records in 2007. The band features former members of Latterman, Each Other’s Mothers and Slingshot Dakota among many others. Bridge And Tunnel’s debut offering, East/West, marks a noticeable shift for the band and is the kind of album that rewards patience from the listener.

Much of the changes can probably be traced back to the band’s choice in recording. Granted the songs eschew any sort of accessibility or pop directness in the first place. The post-hardcore dynamics that the band flashed on their demo are certainly turned up to ten here. But the choice to opt for a more closed in sound with large doses of reverb kind of pushes the band’s sound inward. Not to mention that East/West was recorded by Kevin Ratterman (Elliott) after hours in an active funeral home and you have a recipe for a record that truly builds itself up from within.

What has not changed for Bridge And Tunnel is the smart lyrical nature and the inventive instrumentation of the band. This is the sound of punk rock being played by a group who knows how to play their instruments and not just recycle their influences. This is the sound of youth turning into adulthood. This is the sound of optimism being choked by apathy yet refusing to go down gracefully. Bridge And Tunnel could have taken a much easier route on their debut but the band chose to take the road less traveled. I may not always love East/West but I respect the hell out of it. On “White-Collar Crime Scene” the band asks, So where the fuck is our pride tonight? Are we just blank slates born at the end of an arms race? No doubt, Bridge And Tunnel are still here and they are still pissed. And for that we should be grateful.

Genre: Indie/Punk/Hardcore

RIYL: Fugazi, Cursive, Small Brown Bike

Label: No Idea

Call To The Comptroller’s Office

02%20Call%20To%20The%20Controller%27s%20Office.mp3

Night Owls

03%20Night%20Owls.mp3

www.myspace.com/bridgeandtunnelmusic

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13.01.2009

My Heart To Joy At The Same Tone: Virgin Sails 7″

posted by Will

in Best New Music, Music Reviews, Vinyl Corner
7 Comments

[Best New Music]

Virgin Sails 7″ boasts three powerful and moving songs from Connecticut’s My Heart To Joy At The Same Tone. This is pretty awesome stuff that has left me quite impressed (and kicking myself that it’s basically been sitting on my floor for a few months.) I think a lazy comparison (and the band seems to think so too) would be to Hot Water Music. But really, My Heart To Joy At The Same Tone sound even thicker than HWM which might sound impossible but whatever. Perhaps a better comparison would be early Small Brown Bike which had a pretty dark atmosphere much like the first two songs here possess. My Heart To Joy, which they seem to be calling themselves now, are driving in their approach and pack these songs with subtle melodies, anger and emotion that simply boils over at the seams. The third track, “All Of Life Is Coming” has an almost Latterman-ish feel to it as it dips into quieter parts before exploding with a rapturous sing along ending. Familiar yet completely refreshing at the same time, My Heart To Joy At The Same Tone are on to something special here. The band just finished recording an LP for spring 2009. I’m pumped!

Genre: Punk Rock

RIYL: Hot Water Music, Small Brown Bike, Latterman

Label: Triumph Of Life

Virgin Sails

02VirginSails.mp3

www.myspace.com/myhearttojoyatthesametone

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24.09.2008

Lock And Key: Self-Titled

posted by Will

in Music Reviews
2 Comments

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

02%20Ad%20Infinitum.mp3

www.myspace.com/lockandkey

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17.06.2008

Heads Up! New LaSalle Album!

posted by Will

in Asides, Heads Up
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New LaSalle Album!

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17.04.2008

Polar Bear Club: Sometimes Things Just Disappear

posted by Will

in Music Reviews
1 Comment

Releasing such a promising debut can be a double edged sword for a band. It’s twofold for Polar Bear Club on their second release and first full-length, Sometimes Things Just Disappear. Here, not only does the band have to live up to their debut but they have to do it with a vastly different line-up. In between records, Polar Bear Club added a few new members (most notably from the defunct melodic hardcore outfit, Marathon). So, now you can add on the expectations of Marathon fans as well. So, how does Sometimes Things Just Disappear hold up against the weight?

Sometimes Things Just Disappear comes off sounding like an album in transition. That is a difficult proposition for a band releasing only their first full-length and it is one the band struggles with here. The album is somewhat familiar to the shift that Small Brown Bike made later in their career. Moving away from their screamy tendencies, the band embraced a more melodic approach. Here, Polar Bear Club are stuck somewhere firmly in the middle. It makes for an album that simply lacks cohesion. The album starts off strong with two of its best tracks leading the surge. After that, Sometimes Things Just Disappear struggles to find its way. Seemingly going in a more accessible direction, Polar Bear Club lose some of that passion and aggression that was dripping from the band’s debut. However, the band is able to rebound with some strong material near the back end of the album. When the band is hitting on all cylinders it is a powerful statement to witness. Too often though, Sometimes Things Just Disappear struggles to find a secure footing. For now, Polar Bear Club may have failed to fully capitalize on their enormous promise. I would not give up on them just yet though. The talent is here for something phenomenal in the future.

Genre: Melodic Hardcore/Rock

RIYL: Hot Water Music, Small Brown Bike, Rise Against

Label: Red Leader

Eat Dinner, Bury The Dog, And Run

01EatDinnerBuryTheDogAndRun.mp3

Burned Out In A Jar

05BurnedOutInAJar.mp3

www.myspace.com/polarbearclub

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