Has Been Defeated by Foxwarren (2011)

Kind of Like: Summer People, Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver
Genres: Folk, Indie, Emo, Pop
Preview: Bandcamp

"It's hard enough to write songs that truly have atmosphere, much less maintain such a thing over the course of a whole record, however Foxwarren have achieved this with 'Has Been Defeated,' a style seldom debut record.

Even though it runs short of 25 minutes, 'Has Ben Defeated' has an impact greater than its footprint suggests. It’s a record drenched in nostalgia and suffused with sense deep-set sense of regretful longing, tugging away at the strings binding together its particular brand of melancholic folk pop. Though it sometimes skates close to indulgent melodrama, its honesty and sense of battered worldliness carries it though."
-Alter the Press

This band is a self-proclaimed folk band, but I think there are definitely hints of classic midwest indiemo also in play here.  And the ending to the second song, "Leave but Stay the Same" is borderline screamo.  There certainly is a lot incorporated in this album: folk, indie, pop, horns, emo, screams, banjos, piano...It's a wonder how a band had the resources to burst in with a well-produced, instrument-varied debut like this.  I was skeptical that this would just be another Fleet Foxes/Mumford and Sons type folk band, but they actually have a sound that is quite different.  This could really be an example of a bridge between emo and folk fans.

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Passage Through Purgatory by Black Tusk (Remastered) (2011)

Kind of Like: Zoroaster, Howl, Bison B.C.
Genres: Sludge, Hardcore, Metal
Preview: Bandcamp


This a remaster of Black Tusk's 2008 effort, Passage Through Purgatory that includes two bonus tracks as well.  This album is an absolute stoner rock/metal beast with hints of post-hardcore, punk and southern rock.  This image will show you why you should give this album a listen:

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Legs Like Tree Trunks EP by Legs Like Tree Trunks

Kind of like: Rooftops, Maps & Atlases, Twinkly math rock shit
Genres: Mathy Folk meets Indie Rock
Preview: http://legsliketreetrunks.bandcamp.com

Props to oh no i'm late for school for posting this. This is going to be a pretty succinct review. Great music to have in the background while reading, gaming, cleaning, browsing your favorite blogs, or you can listen to it critically with a pair a great headphones. If you like Mathy grooves, Indie Rock, then check this out. It's available for free through their Bandcamp page.

Get, listen, repeat.

Wavves/Trash Talk Split (2011)

Kind of Like: Wavves: Smith Westerns, Vivian Girls, bygones| Trash Talk: Lewd Acts, Ceremony, Swamp Thing
Genres: Wavves: Noise Rock, Indie | Trash Talk: Hardcore Punk
Preview: Wavves Myspace | Trash Talk Myspace

Nice split featuring two bands on different parts of the spectrum.  Wavves is a noise rock/pop outfit run by Nathan Williams out of San Diego that sounds like a mix of Smith Westerns and bygones mixed with some lo-fi-ness.  Trash Talk is a hardcore punk band from Sacramento.  They have one song each and they are a little under two minutes long.

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(Classic) Journey to Love by Stanley Clarke (1975)

Kind of Like: Earth Wind and Fire, Return to Forever, Miles Davis
Genres: Funk, Jazz, Rock
Preview: 

It may not seem it, but I am actually a fan of funk and jazz music as well as all the noodly hipster shit.  I even have a whole plethora of classical vinyl that I put on from time to time (Holst's Planets really can pump a guy up).  Anyways, I found this album when I was first going through my dad's record collection trying to separate shit from THE shit. I popped this...on, and I was greeted with a low rumbling bass line that burst into porno-esque funk music.  I had been hooked on the song "Silly Putty" by Stanley Clarke.  This record would become a mainstay for the ladies, it is the perfect music for that sort of activity anyways.  I would find out that Stanley Clarke is a renowned jazz funk fusion bass player.  I also found out that this album featured Jeff Beck on "Hello Jeff" and the guitar solo for Journey to Love.  Also featured on this album is George Duke on the keys (organ, synth, bells, piano) who also did work with Frank Zappa.  I am going to try and put more funk, jazz, and classical from time to time, those genres have a lot to offer even if you mainly like math rock, emo, and other more popular genres.

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Hogz by Logs (2011)

Kind of Like: We Were Skeletons, Kidcrash, Caravels
Genres: Post-Hardcore, Screamo
Preview: Bandcamp

A three piece screamo band from Olympia that features a member from Kidcrash.  Not quite sure if they are still kickin' it, but this is a solid release nonetheless.

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(Classic) Miss Machine by The Dillinger Escape Plan (2004)

Kind of Like: Converge, Botch, The Chariot, The Number 12 Looks Like You

Genres: Chaotic Hardcore, Hardcore, Mathcore, Experimental, Metal

Preview: Myspace

For the most part, I try to put new released up on this site, but I decided every now and then it would be good to put up a classic album every now and then.  I bought this compact disc when I was first getting into the hardcore genre.  I actually didn't like it, but I ended up revisiting it years later after I had acquired the many different tastes of metal/hardcore.  I realized I had made a huge mistake.  I ended up listening to their other albums, but in my opinion this is their strongest release.  This is mathcore and some of it's finest; it will take awhile to learn all the rhythms of this album (I still can't act out poly-rhythms for the life of me), but when you do you will be rocking out to this album in your car like no other.  This also was the last album Chris Pennie was featured on and even though he is with Coheed now, I think he is one of the best drummers out there still.  This showcases a lot of talent from him, not to mention all of the other members.

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Starkweather/Overmars Split (2011)

Kind of Like: Rorschach, Deadguy, Amenra, Icos
Genres: Sludge, Doom, Metal, Post-hardcore, Hardcore
Preview: Website

Overmars is a 7 piece sludge band from Lyon, France. Starkweather is a metal/hardcore group that formed in 1989 and would go onto influence such bands as Converge, Dillinger Escape Plan, and Mastodon by pioneering the cross-over between metal and hardcore music.  They wrote two long songs each to make a pretty brutal split that was released by, you guessed it: Deathwish.

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Parrot Flies by Algernon Cadwallader (2011)

Kind of Like: Snowing, Hightide Hotel, Grown Ups
Genres: Emo, Math rock, Indie
Preview: Band Blog

I was recently reading Algernon's blog, and they said they had embarked on their tour and they have their new album in tow.  So, I was wondering how soon this was gonna leak.  Sure enough, I leave the internet for a couple days and it's already everywhere.  This is already featured on Circling the Drain and Chug Life, but I think this really deserves a spot on here as well.

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Converge/Dropdead Split (2011)

Kind of Like: Botch, Trap Them, Infest, Crossed Out
Genres: Hardcore, Punk, Chaotic Hardcore
Preview:


Tits! I've been eagerly awaiting this since I first caught wind of it a month or two ago.  If you like Converge then you like Converge basically.  Their song is very fast, and intricate per usual but it has a great rough/raw feel to it not similar to their new album, Axe to Fall.  This is could be considered either good or bad, but I enjoy both sounds really and appreciate the variety.  Dropdead's song is a solid hardcore/punk song.  It's only two songs, so I'm sure you have the 2 minutes it will take to obtain it.

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The Gorgon Tongue: Impale Golden Horn & Forbidden Planet by Horseback (2011)

Kind of Like:  Merzbow, Stars of the Lid, Jodis
Genres: Sludge, Ambient, Metal, Drone, Doom
Preview: Bandcamp

"HORSEBACK’s ‘The Gorgon Tongue: Impale Golden Hom and Forbidden Planet’ brings together a reissue of Jenks Miller’s 2007 offering, ‘Impale Golden Hom’ with the new work of the ‘Forbidden Planet’ Lp. ‘Impale Golden Hom’ is a work of lush, blessed out drone a la Flying Saucer Attack and Loop. It’s beauty is in stark contrast to ‘Forbidden Planet’; a decidedly harsh record with its sinister tones and abrasive, distorted black-metal vocals."
-rlslog

Get ready to zone out.

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Cubist Reggae by Venetian Snares (2011)

Kind of Like: The Flashbulb, Aphex Twin

Genres: Breakcore, Electronica

Preview: Website

"On this EP Venetian Snares significantly breaks the mould with four tracks that he calls 'Cubist Reggae'. As a descriptor, it's apt, as these are basic loops and ideas taken from reggae but bent into strange angular sounds.

'Ever Apparent All Being Shoulder' cuts and chops an upbeat reggae rhythm into dramatic shapes, from which tentacled effects and melodies evolve, whilst all the time a sinister voice whispers dark intentions.


'Where You Stopped The Heaviest' brings downcast, shimmering orchestral chords over cavernous dub spaces, which are occasionally fractured with violent effects or sad melodies.


'The Identification Circles Levitate' starts by folding down a reggae melody into ever decreasing sharp shards, while a foggy melody builds over the top, the track then develops a burst of rave energy, before it closes down with the melody again.


'You Discovered The Secret And Juiced It For All It's Majesty' consumes the reggae and just leaves the cubes behind. Whats left of the loops are turned into rhythm, as drums are chopped up into neurotic dissonant patterns, dissolving into space before firing off at angles, as a seasick melody keeps the track centred."
-Planet Mu Records

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Life's a Beach EP by Von Wolfe (2011)

Kind of Like: Old Every Time I Die, the Armed, Seizures
Genres: Mathcore, Chaotic Hardcore, Punk
Preview: Bandcamp

Hot Damn! by Every Time I Die was such a good album, and this band is dripping with influence from it.  From the southern style guitar riffs to the occasional section where the lead sings just like how Keith Buckley from ETID did in that album and Last Night in Town.  So, they are doing stuff that has been done before, but this intense kind of music really is something I can never get enough of at times. Not to mention, they naturally bring a slightly different sound to that genre just like any band.

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Les Doux EP by Les Doux (2010)

Kind of Like: Caravels, We Were Skeletons, La Dispute
Genres: Screamo, Post-Hardcore, Rock
Preview: Bandcamp

Kind of a different take on the screamo genre.  They focus a lot more on rockin' guitar riffs, but they still have that screamo/post-hardcore foundation, not to mention the La Dispute-esque spoken-word-over-the music sections.  This album came out last year, and I'm curious if these guys have any plans in the near future.  Oh, what do you think of the new background?  Honestly I wanted to find a picture of puke close up and just use that, but surprisingly I couldn't find a picture I was satisfied with.  So, I found a picture of a guy puking on his friend and threw some filters on it.  Lori says it looks too angry and she liked the old one.  We'll see how long until I change it again.

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Total Clarity by Against Me! (2011)

Kind of Like: The Lawrence Arms, The Gaslight Anthem, Fake Problems, The State Lottery
Genres: Punk, Folk, Indie
Preview: Myspace


"Against Me! has detailed their next release. Total Clarity will compile unreleased demos and other tracks (as well as some of the leaked/stolen demos) that were eventually recorded for the group's 2005 effort, Searching For A Former Clarity. It's due out May 24, 2011 via Fat Wreck Chords; click below for the cover art and track listing."
-Punknews.org

I enjoyed Searching For A Former Clarity, and if you like the old gritty watered-down Against Me!, then you will really like these rough demos of songs that eventually made it to said album.  What do you say?  Do you want to listen to some Against Me!!?  Sorry, I really wanted to use that punctuation.

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Hold Me Down EP by Minus the Bear (2011)

Kind of Like: Sharks Keep Moving, Look Mexico, Circa Survive
Genres: Indie, Experimental, Math Rock
Preview: 


"Minus The Bear has posted their new EP Hold Me Down for free download. It features the title track (originally found on 2010's OMNI, a b-side entitled "Broken China," a remix of "My Time" and three tracks recorded live at the Dangerbird Records studios."
-Punknews.org

I think the general consensus was that Omni was a disappointment, and I would be part of that consensus.  However, I did find some songs enjoyable.  I liked Hold Me Down mainly because I liked the little 80's feel bridge in  the middle (Givin' you up...I'm givin' you up...again...yea...).  The Mitchmix remix of my time is better than the original, which isn't saying much because the original wasn't that great of a song.  The b-side song "Broken Song" is actually better than a lot of songs on Omni.  But I also liked their b-side "Electric Rainbow" from Planet of Ice (how did that song not make the cut?).

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If Wolves by Kokomo

Kind of like: Exilym, Cecelia::Eyes, Explosions In The Sky
Genres: Post-rock
Preview:

"kokomo is an instrumental rock band from Germany. We like to play as much as possible to present our own massive sound mixed with lovely melodies and indie-music influenced dance parts. We are young and strongly motivated. We try to do everything by ourselves, but we also love to work with our friends all over the world. We know that we didn’t reinvent the wheel, but hey we just wanne have a good time and hope that we sometimes could be different and that some people like our stuff."
-Last.fm

Nothing really new or groundbreaking here, but don't let that deter you from checking out this quality band. I found them through a random link that popped up on google reader. These guys have some really heavy build-ups almost approaching doom but pulling up (or out depending on how you want to take this metaphor) just before hitting that barrier.

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Summer Singles by 1994!/Snowing/Boys and Sex/Algernon Cadwallader (2011)

Kind of Like: Oh come on now...uh...Grown Ups, Hightide Hotel, Streetsmart cyclist
Genres: Emo, Math Rock, Indie, Twinkle Daddies (I'm hip!), Screamo
Preview: Bandcamp

Wanna hear some new material from some of your favorite bands?  Well, here is a split that you'll prolly like, if you like these bands anywho.  I really hope they will be selling this at the 1994!/Snowing/Algernon show next month, but if you want to purchase it online you can do so here.  I am venturing to say this is one of Snowing's best songs, and Algernon's is also really good.

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Chicago Cassette EP by Into It. Over it. (2011)

Kind of Like:  Stay Ahead of the Weather, Koji, Mansions
Genres: Indie, Emo, Acoustic
Preview: Myspace

This is a cassette featuring the 5 Into It. Over It. songs that were part of his split with Koji.

"I've most recently recorded 5 new songs which were released on a split LP with my best friend KOJI. These 5 songs are about 5 stories taking place in 5 Chicago neighborhoods."
-Into It. Over It.

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Parting the Sea between Brightness and Me by Touche Amore (2011)

Kind of Like: Pianos Become the Teeth, La Dispute, Defeater
Genres: Hardcore, Screamo, Post-hardcore

Preview:

"Touché Amoré have become of vibrant part of the flourishing West Coast hardcore punk scene, successfully bridging gaps between subgenres. By playing their explosive and sincere music in every basement, VFW hall, club and space up and down the West coast, along side hardcore torchbearers Killing the Dream, Trash Talk and This Is Hell as well as like-minded, discordant bands Ampere, Comadre and La Quiete, they have brought a feeling of togetherness and positivity to a scene they love. Unafraid to play their emotionally charged fury in front of uninitiated crowds, Touché Amoré has even shared the stage with upbeat pop-punk bands such as Broadway Calls and folk-punk heroes Fake Problems making close friends along the way."
-Last.fm

Make sure you pick up the record for this at Deathwish.  They've been putting out some good records lately.

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Two for Tuesday: Heavy Rocks and Attention, Please by Boris (2011)

Kind of Like: Sun O))), Earth, The xx
Genres: Sludge, Doom, Pop, Experimental
Preview: NPR

When I first put the new Heavy Rocks on my itunes, it immediately started causing problems.  The songs intertwined with the old Heavy Rocks album they put out so it looked like one giant album, so now  I have an album called Heavy Rocks and this one called Heavy Rocks 2.  Honestly, I don't know why they felt so compelled to call this Heavy Rocks again.  Trust me, it has some heavy ass songs, but it also has a bunch of poppy ones that were on the New Album.  I am still listening to Heavy Rocks and haven't listened to Attention, Please yet, but that album apparently is their "least metal" album they have put out and is instead focusing on "icy rhythms" and "smoky moods" that pull closer to being similar with bands like the xx.  Guitarist Wata is doing her first lead performance for that album.

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Double Visions by Munch Munch

Kind of like: Russian Apartments,
Genres: Experimental, Indie Pop, Noise Pop
Preview:

"MUNCH MUNCH are a kaleidoscopic pop group from Bristol who write ecstatic, elliptical songs that burst with creativity and restless energy. The band are four friends: Tom, Richard, Jack and Sarah Louise. Their songs swim deep only to breach the waves in spectacular style. Concerned with shivering eternity, rusting history and touching upon the many vistas and dead-ends of love, Munch Munch are constantly trying to catch up with the uncertain moments which most validate our lives."
-Last.fm

Catchy and unique pop songs. Solid and interesting album all the way through, in fact, just when you start to get weary of a part or think they might take the arrangement to a all you can eat cheeseball buffet, they introduce something totally freaking awesome and change it up. Feeling lazy enough to not complete the sounds like section but if you like indie pop and lo fi synths, check this out. Also, if you get the chance to see Werner Herzog's latest film "The Cave of Forgotten Dreams 3D" do so. It is incredible and worth the 3D experience.

Listen here.

Soft For Sight EP by Shut Eye (2011)

Kind of Like: Young Widows, Mogwai, These Arms Are Snakes, Sonic Youth
Genres: Noise Rock, Shoegaze, Punk
Preview: Bandcamp

"The album that lies before you is the debut release from amplifier-worshiping, world-weary riff rats Shut Eye. Born of the barren, southern california womb that is the Inland Empire (san bernardino, colton, calimesa and other such shitholes), Soft for Sight is a 5 song tribute to boredom, substance abuse, and unattractive-yet-refreshingly-attainable women. So download, listen, and drop out of life with beer in hand."
-Shut Eye via e-mail

I have a hard time finding reader requested bands in my inbox that I immediately like.  I just saw Young Widows along with a couple other stoner rock bands last night, and this instantly took me back to the intensity from last night.  This is a solid debut EP from a new band, and I look forward to what they put out in the future and hopefully seeing them live because noise rock/garage rock bands always seem to be way more impressionable live.

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Future Self by The Globes (2011)

Kind of Like: Deerhunter, Trail of Dead, Deathcab
Genres: Indie, Rock, Experimental
Preview: Website

I saw these guys open for Tera Melos and Maps and Atlases in Toledo last year.  And another time before that possibly opening for Fang Island, but I'm not positive.  Either way, I was impressed by their live performance and their music, but they had yet to release an LP.  Well, here it is, and it is a really strong debut.

"‘Future Self’ is unafraid of movement, not just within a song but throughout an entire album. It is done effectively enough to never allow Bowlegs to be deterred by its sporadic fluctuations. Each song grows, mutates and blossoms into a new minor chord or mood swing that is echoed in the compelling voice of Erik Walters. The final product is captivatingly experimental and purposeful music."
-Bowlegs

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Slowriter Halloween Vacation Party Pack by Slowriter (2011)

Kind of Like: Robot Science (music), Beck (maybe), Postal Service (maybe)
Genres: Electronica, Pop, Indie, Experimental
Preview: Bandcamp

"slowriter is the music of Bryan Taylor. Bryan toured and played guitar in The Chariot (2008-2010) and wrote/recorded for their album 'Wars and Rumors of Wars'.


slowriter recordings are recorded and produced by Ryan Boesch (Foo Fighters, Andrew WK, Eels, etc.).


slowriter recordings are mixed by Ryan Boesch, Miles Walker (Ludacris, Beyonce, Rihanna, etc.), and Ralph Cacciurri (Outkast, Alicia Keys, Ludacris, etc.).


slowriter live is Bryan Taylor (vocals/guitar), Phil Hawkins (keys/samples), Nick Taft (bass), Dan Nelson (guitar), and Matt Karoglou (drums).."
-Official Website


I don't know how much of that to believe, but the production quality is pretty impeccable and extremely psychedelic.  You would not think that somebody from the Chariot would make music like this, but a lot of people don't realize that many musicians are interested in more than one genre.  Crazy, right?  It's hard to name other bands he sounds like, I would just say to go to his bandcamp and give him a listen and maybe check this video.

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Echo On The Hills Of Knebworth by Tera Melos (2011)

Kind of Like: bygones, By the End of Tonight, Hella, Zach Hill
Genres: Math Rock, Experimental, Post-hardcore, Post-rock
Preview: Bandcamp

When I first saw this I realized it looked very similar to Zoo Weather so I knew it must be another B-side from their ambitious Patagonian Rats album.  However, when it started downloading it was over 100 MB, which seemed like a whole album plus some.  Then, while extracting the file, it said it was only one track.  So, I thought, oh lord, what have you done now?  Well, it explains everything perfectly on their bandcamp.

"when we completed tracking for Patagonian Rats we had some additional studio time. so we decided to record a live, improvised piece for fun. the following 51 minutes was a concentrated blur and will hopefully be the same for you. we're asking for a minimum of $5, but feel free to "pay what you want," as your generosity is much appreciated and contributes to the life blood of Tera Melos."
-Bandcamp

If this was recorded in one take, then that is pretty impressive.  To just keep playing for almost an hour straight is not easy to do, especially with the drumming that gets put down.  This is something for fans of Tera Melos, but I would not recommend this to someone not familiar with them.  An hour long noisy improv session is not for everybody.

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T.A.W.F.A.W.W. by Take A Worm For A Walk Week (2011)

Kind of Like: The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower, Foxy Shazam (old), Kerouac, &U&I
Genres: Punk, Mathcore, Experimental
Preview: Bandcamp

"Take A Worm For A Walk Week is a four-piece band from Glasgow Scotland. Starting out in 2005 as a visceral hardcore band, they have evolved over time into what is best described as “experimental progressive punk rock.”


They have toured countless times around the U.K. and have released two albums: Take a Worm For a Walk Week (Midmarch Records) and The Monroe Transfer (Undergroove Records.) and two EPs: 7” Split with Desalvo (Dizzy Storm Records/Midmarch Records) and a split with Orion Arm and With Scissors (Smalltown Records.) All are UK based labels.


Through the aid of the Scottish Arts Council and numerous local shows, Take A Worm For A Walk Week have recently recorded their most ambitious album to date. Spanning influences from seventies prog rock to modern alternative music, TAWFAWW’s sound has metamorphosed from the relentless brutality of their first album to a much more experimental and innovative piece of work."
-Last.fm

This album is just plain cool.  The vocalist is fuckin' out there like Eric from Foxy Shazam, so just imagine Eric with scottish accent.  The music is not like Foxy Shazam though really, it's experimental mathy stuff, or "experimental progressive punk rock" as they put it themselves.

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3 Way Split by Sorry, Honey, You Are Fiasco!/Bears in Ushanka/The Penguin Collector (2011)

Kind of Like: Kidcrash, The Locust, Ed Gein, Genghis Tron
Genres: Post-hardcore, Mathcore, Grindcore, Chaotic Hardcore, Breakcore

This split is nuts.  You are fiasco remind me a little of Kidcrash/La Quiete, and are pretty good.  They throw in a little variation for the storm that this split is about to throw you into.  The two bands after them are hectic as hell.  Bears in Ushanka and The Penguin Collector are more like grindcore bands.  Bears in Ushanka remind me of Ed Gein, and are pretty violent and technically cool sounding.  Meanwhile, I was pleasantly surprised with the Penguin Collector because the vocalist reminds me of the Locust, but the cool thing about them is that they throw in Breakcore aspect to them, they sound like they throw in fruity loops electronics into the grindcore mix to put together a mix of electronica and grindcore.  I think some people are calling that cybergrind now?  Whatevers.  I wanna say these guys are from Russia because whenever I try to find stufff about them I keep seeing that weird language that looks like a bunch of pi symbols and variations of it.

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Holy Shit by Living with Lions (2011)

Kind of Like: Transit, Daggermouth, Such Gold
Genres: Pop punk, Punk, Emo

Preview: 

I am not one for pop punk like Fireworks and New Found Glory and all that (melodic hardcore, bleh), but I saw these guys with CSTVT a month or so ago and they put on a good show.  Then I watched this video for "Honestly, Honestly" off their new album Holy Shit, and I enjoyed the Tim and Eric style humor.  Also, I read their last.fm and they seem like people I would get along with.  If you're a fan of pop punk you'll probably enjoy this.  Hell, I think this album is pretty damn catchy, and I don't normally like this kind of music.

"A decent apartment is not an easy thing to find when moving to Vancouver, so when the soon to be members of Living with Lions moved in to their first Vancouver house, they never expected it would be so pivotal in the shaping of their next year. Having similar interests in music, beverages and fun, the boys and their house soon became known for their ruckus get-togethers and parties. A popular spot for any east Vancouver youth to let loose and have a good time, a title was soon given to the house so many had become familiar with: Dude Manor. Before long, the house-mates turned the basement into a jam space and studio, and the friends quickly found themselves with a solid line-up of songs and deemed themselves Living with Lions."
-Last.fm

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The Aftermath of Your Bright Beings by Battle of Britain Memorial (2011)

Kind of Like: Envy, Neurosis, Mogwai
Genres: Screamo, Post-hardcore, Post-rock
Preview: Bandcamp

A screamo band from Europe?  From France?  No way, bro.  That don't make no sense.  These guys are fairly new to a saturated european screamo scene.  They throw in some things that don't sound like all the others though, I almost want to say they have a drone aspect to them.  I know that kinda comes with post-rock, but not all the time.  I also want to say this isn't nearly as chaotic as other european screamo bands.  So yea, they just released this last week, and I want to say this is their debut album because their last.fm doesn't even have a description yet or anything and like only 11 listeners.  How many hipsters does it take to screw in a lightbulb?  It's a pretty obscure number, you've probably never heard of it.  That joke is actually too mainstream now, I saw it on tumblr.  I refuse to use it ever again.

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4 Way Split Series Vol. One by Brendan Kelly/Jeff Rowe/Mike Hale/Chris Cresswell(2011)

Kind of Like: The Flatliners, The Lawrence Arms, Gunmoll, In the Red
Genres: Acoustic, Punk, Indie
Preview: Bandcamp


Pretty excited when I first saw this. A four way split that features Brendan Kelly (The Lawrence Arms) playing an acoustic version of March of the Elephants.  That is one of my favorite songs from my favorite Larry Arms album, The Greatest Story Ever Told.  This also features Liver Alone performed by Chris Cresswell (The Flatliners) from their album that I considered the best punk album of last year, Cavalcade.  Then there is Mike Hale from Gunmoll/In the Red and Jeff Rowe.  This is a must have for any fans of those artists.  You can buy the seven inch from Anchorless Records here.

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Tunnel Blanket by This WIll Destroy You (2011)

Kind of Like: Caspian, Explosions in the Sky, Mogwai, Godspeed
Genres: Ambient, Post-Rock, Drone
Preview: Myspace

"This Will Destroy You was formed by guitarists Chris King and Jeremy Galindo, bassist Raymond Brown and drummer Andrew Miller in San Marcos, Texas, in 2005. They had met through mutual friends, and played together in various different bands throughout high school, before the line-up was finalised by around 2002. Early iterations of the band experimented with vocals, sung by Galindo, but after recording some tracks they decided the results were “awful” and didn’t fit in with the rest of their music. The band then tried writing different tracks, one of which was instrumental. Chris King said in an interview with BBC Northern Ireland, “we were … writing different kinds of songs and we wrote one [instrumental] song, and we were like, that works, lets go for it!” The band took it’s name from an early song that they were originally going to call “This Will Destroy You”, but this was rejected for being too pretentious. The band found the name “hilarious”. When asked whether he wished the band had chosen a different name, King said to Rock Sound, “It’s supposed to be a little bit obnoxious. There’s something about people automatically hating you before you play that’s kind of endearing. It gets to the point where it’s over-the-top obnoxious. It’s an attention-grabber and people will check it out I guess. Even if they hate it.”
-Last.fm

This is borderline doom, but not enough for me to say it is.  Definitely drone and post-rock.  I am not reviewing shit today, just wanted to throw some stuff up here.

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Separation by Balance and Composure (2011)

Kind of Like: Tigers Jaw, Title Fight, Such Gold, Make Do and Mend
Genres: Emo, Indie, Post-hardcore
Preview: Website

"Balance and Composure is an indie/emo band from Doylestown, PA. The band formed in the winter of 2007 and has released a 6 song EP entitled ‘I Just Want To Be Pure’, a 12’/CD EP entitled ‘Only Boundaries’ and most recently a self-titled split with Scranton, PA’s Tigers Jaw. The bands debut full length titled ‘Separation’ will be released on May 10, 2011 via No Sleep Records."
-Last.fm

Not really in the mood for reviews today; I think the "Kind of Like" and "Preview" will suffice.  I would recommend getting at least past the first song, I didn't like it as much as the songs I am into now.

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Gold Rush by I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business (2011)

Kind of Like: Mansions, Early November, Copeland
Genres: Indie, Emo, Acoustic
Preview: Bandcamp

"I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody’s Business is a side project started by Arthur “Ace” Enders, the lead singer, lyricist and guitarist for The Early November. The songs are alternatively acoustic. His self-titled debut was released in 2004. He is currently signed to Drive-Thru Records."
-Last.fm

Sounds a lot like Mansions, but a little poppier in my opinion.

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We Get Along Like A House On Fire by Like Rats From a Sinking Ship (2011)

Kind of Like: The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower, Daughters, european screamo
Genres: Experimental, Post-Hardcore, Screamo, Punk, Post-rock
Preview: Myspace

It's really hard to nail down this band's sound, let me just give you a quick background first.

"Like Rats From A Sinking Ship are a Norwegian experimental hardcore trio based in Trondheim, Norway.


Formed in 2007, they quickly became one of the Norway’s most talked about underground bands, with their unique blend of hardcore punk, electro and drone rock. The bands debut EP, entitled “SXY SXY GSW EP”, saw the light of day in early 2008 on their own label The Perfect Hoax."
-Last.fm

This album was produced and engineered by Alex Newport.  To get an idea of other albums this guy has worked on click here, and just scroll and skim.  An impressive body of work and that's just recent stuff.

Alright, now for the hard part.  This band reminds me a bit of Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower, but they still sound quite a bit different.  The first song is 9 minutes long, and is a slow drone/doom song.  After that it turns into chaotic punk/screamo/hardcore with little dashes of drone/doom/post-rock at times.  This truly transcends many genres, but the cool part about it is that for me it flows seamlessly.  There are some parts I don't like, but I really like what is going on more often than not.

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Beileid by Bohren & Der Club of Gore (2011)

Kind of Like: Earth, The Kiliminjaro Darkjazz Ensemble, Heroin and Your Veins
Genres: Jazz, Doom, Drone, Ambient
Preview: Myspace

Ready for something pretty different?  How about a fusion of doom and jazz to put you in a state of catharsis?  Three songs, one is 7 minutes the next 13 and the last is 14.  These guys are from Germany, as you may have guessed.This album is a trip, enjoy the ride.

"They play a crossover of jazz and ambient, which they self described as an “unholy ambient mixture of slow jazz ballads, Black Sabbath doom and down tuned Autopsy sounds”. Over the years they have continously reduced and compressed their music to extremes. Originally, the members of Bohren, who were school friends, started out playing in various hardcore bands such as 7 Inch Boots and Chronical Diarrhoea in 1988. Driven by the idea of a more unique style of music, they formed Bohren (German word for drilling) in 1992 to play, as they called it, “doom ridden jazz music”.  "
-Last.fm

Trip Out Here

Waves by Moving Mountains (2011)

Kind of Like: Prawn, The Appleseed Cast, Empire! Empire!
Genres: Post-rock, Emo, Post-Hardcore
Preview: Warped Tour Website

I have been pretty excited to hear this album.  It's the follow-up to 2007's Pneuma which was a really powerful album.  I am into the first song and I am already really grooving to it, they are heading in a direction that seems natural.  They still have that power, but there is definitely more of an edginess to this that wasn't present on Pneuma.  I'm also doubting they won't have a trombone in this album.  I really liked it in Pneuma; it was pretty epic sounding..  I am eager to listen to this whole album, but as I said before I need to get out the door, I'll just throw this up here for now.  Maybe I'll get back to it for a better review, but I usually never do that.

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Turtleneck and Chain by The Lonely Island (2011)

Genres: Comedy, Hip-hop, Pop
Preview: Youtube

If you don't know who this group is, they are a comedic group that started by doing digital shorts that got picked up by SNL.  You may recognize Andy Sandberg.  This album is a bunch of catchy, funny songs, that guest star people like Nicki Minaj, Akon, Rihanna, Beck, Snoop Dogg, and..Michael Bolton.  I don't really have time to write a review for this, we are about to go out to eat and get drinks for our last night in Chicago.  I have no idea how I will pull this off with little money left, but we will see what happens.

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All I Could Find Was You by Dowsing (2011)

Kind of Like: By Surprise, Glucca Morra, Dikembe, Pswingset
Genres: Emo, Indie
Preview: Bandcamp

I'm laying in a bed in a hotel room in the great (but ridiculously-expensive) city of Chicago.  I'm a little hungover, and a little moody about watching the Wings going down 3-0 in their series with the Sharks for the second year in a row.  But this band is making things a little bit better.   It turns out they are from Chicago too.  AND, this was recorded by Joie De Vivre's Chris French.  First Crash of Rhinos and now this band; I found two solid newer emo bands in the past week.  Seeing that my bus ride to Chicago was fueled by Crash of Rhinos, the trip back looking out the window is probably going to be filled with this band.

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Quiet Geist by Herra Terra

Kind of link: Starfucker (with more rock added), ANR (a more somber version), Thrice (newer, with synths), ___________ (add what you will here)
Genres: Post-electro-alternative-indie-rock-dance-tronica,
Preview:

"With enough electronics to overthrow Skynet, Herra Terra’s form of synth rock is infectiously melodic, even avant-garde at times, but never quirky or different for the sake of being different. Underneath all the gadgets, an educated appreciation for the fundamentals of rock acts as the driving force behind their compositions"
-LastFM

This is a super janky post, but the band is not. Give them a few listens as their sound explores quite a few themes and styles. This debut LP was recorded completely by the band in a basement in true DIY style and produced by two guys that worked with Death Cab For Cutie, Brand New, Coheed and Cambria, and Cobra Starship.

Listen here *couldn't find a mediafire link so here is the fileserve link :(*

Distal by Crash of Rhinos (2011)

Kind of Like: Snowing, Restorations, American Football, Baton Rouge, Pennines
Genres: Emo, Indie, Post-Hardcore, Post-rock
Preview: Bandcamp

Holy moly, how have I not seen this spreading across the blogosphere?  I actually found this through Sputnik.  If you like any of the bands listed above, you really have to give these guys a try.  They are immediately likeable, I knew I was in for a treat early into the first song.  This band is from Derby, UK and I can see a lot of similarities with their british mates, Pennines.  However, they also have a bit of post-hardcore thrown into the mix that isn't really present with Pennines; they seem a bit grittier at times.  Pick this up on double LP (I think) by e-mailing the band for paypal details: acrashofrhinos@gmail.com

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The Quiet Divide by Black Swan (2011)

Kind of Like: Eluvium, Stars of the Lid, Demdike Stare
Genres: Ambient, Drone
Preview:  Bandcamp

This album is....ambient.  Very ambient.  This is not gonna be something you rock out in your car to, but it would be excellent for a cozy evening/day.  The cover says a symphony of misery and sorrow, but I think at times it expresses hope.  However, there is a dark side to this album that reminds me of Demdike Stare, so maybe it isn't so cozy after all.  Hell, just listen to the preview, I'm only into the third song.  I heard there is a hot lesbian scene in this though with Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis.  Wait a minute...

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Gangs by And So I Watch You From Afar (2011)

Kind of Like: You Slut!, Adebisi Shank, Maybeshewill
Genres: Post-rock, Math Rock, Experimental
Preview: Bandcamp


Prepare to bob your head and get your hair blown back to another Irish instrumental math rock band.  These guys are like Adebisi Shank, but with more post-rock elements and unpredictability thrown into the mix.  It's powerful and catchy, per usual for these kind of bands.  Damn you, Ireland.  Hey, did you hear about Osama Bin Laden dying?

"Gangs contains all the elements which made their self-titled debut album such an enthralling listen. Every one of the eight songs is arranged in an incredibly compelling manner, fusing together numerous ideas and rhythm changes to create 44 minutes of unpredictable discord, but at no point does the album feel disjointed or patched together. The intricacies of the four musicians on the album ensure that it has an incredibly solid foundation from which to build –and build they do. As the many who’ve seen this band on their extensive tours over the past 18 months can testify, ASIWYFA are masters of building their songs to a frenzied climax. Like a hand-grenade, you don’t know exactly when it’s going to go off, just that it will."
-Beautifull Noise

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Relief Demo/EP by Frandy (2011)

Kind of Like: Botch, Converge, Trap Them
Genres: Chaotic Hardcore, Mathcore, Sludge
Preview:  Bandcamp

Just stumbled on these guys and turns out they are from Michigan as well.  For a "demo" this sounds pretty great.  It's nice to see another good technical hardcore band coming from out of this state, there is so many shit bands that dilute any sort of good hardcore scene.  Kenny, maybe play a show with them?  I could see that working out pretty well.  These guys call themselves hardcore and/or sludge.  I guess I can see the sludge, but I would associate them more with the bands up top.

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