Hira Hira - We​.​Are​.​All​.​Xray​.​Pricks​.​No​.​Talent​.​Fuck​.​Off. [2008]

For Fans Of: I Am The Agent, The Cast of Cheers, Bare Arms

Genres: Punk, Post-Hardcore, Post-Punk

Websites: Bandcamp, Last.fm, Tenzenmen

Preview:

Hira Hira is a hardcore/indie/punk band from Sydney, Australia, and just the title of the album should intrigue you enough to want to take a listen. They've been writing a new album for the last 12 months after a small line up change. They played some gigs, wrote 10 songs, then went out on an isolated property on the far south coast of New South Wales, where they spent a week recording and getting sucked on...by leeches. 

Listen here:

P.S. Here's a preview of their upcoming album, Bugs:

Brand New - Your Favorite Weapon Vinyl Re-Issue [2011]

For Fans Of: Emo of the last decade.
Preview: Seventy Times 7 by VinylQEight

For me this album has stood the test of time, time and time again. I can go months without listening to it, play it randomly one day, and wonder why the hell I haven't listened to it in so long. Any time I hear it I am immediately transported back to high school, sitting in my friend's cars and jamming the fuck out on the way to/from class/parties/hangouts. Out of so many albums composed of songs filled with teenage angst and the torment of lost love, this was always included in the list that stood out. It's the one that made you want to stay at that age forever. The one that spoke to you when that girl fucked you over, and made you realize how much you appreciated reminiscing with friends while sitting on an overpass.

Fast-paced, pounding electric guitars are coupled with lyrics both of the emotional pain and scathingly vindictive anger varieties - lyrics which are still quoted on a regular basis a decade after being written. There are also some good acoustic parts mixed in there. Overall it reeks of emo cliche, but in a way that is fun to hear and look back on. Although the band's sound has changed since this release [whether that's a good or a bad thing depends on who you ask], it will always hold a place near and dear to my heart, not just because it's a good album, but also for nostalgic purposes. Of course, Deja Entendu is probably their most memorable, but Your Favorite Weapon provided a solid start to a band that would go on to make even better music with Deja, as well as The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me [which despite it's so-so reviews will actually impress you if you give it a chance, see Jesus].

You can celebrate the ten-year release with this re-issue, which features a different cover than the original and comes in black, clear [out of 500], baby blue [out of 500], and white [out of 1000]. It also includes seven demos and quick takes. The cheapest I was able to find it was via Insound, which is selling the black version for $15.98. If you're new to Brand New, I recommend listening to their older albums first and then coming back to this one. It will help you to laugh more at how immature it really is in comparison. Stay eighteen forever, folks.

Prophet, Said I - Demo (2010)

Prophet, Said I - (2010) Demo

Kind of Like: Defeater, Pianos Become the Teeth

Genre: Screamo, Hardcore

Where to Listen: Mediafire

Not just the vocalist, but the band has that rasp and strain through every note that leave ghosts. This band has everything going for them, and I pretty well accept the fact now that I most of all enjoy this sub-genre of genres. If I had to pinpoint what that was cl

assified under, I'd type some crud like relentless and indulgent shouting, but I think that'd be just ridiculous.

You'll Live - Things Would Change if You Heard This (2011)

Kind of Like: Featherweight, Ravachol

Genre: Post-Punk, Screamo, Hardcore, emo

Where to listen: Bandcamp

Death by Whiskey put this in the top rank of his EP list of 2011 thus far. I would have to agree. I came across this EP months ago, and my re-ignited passion for hardcore has been utterly shook into life since. Its admittedly been tough keeping up with my music downloads, with so many quality vinyl readily available to me, this album has satisfied me most when I craved scramz, which we most desperately lack. I'd like to describe it simply as a clean screamo, in the sense of having displays of wickedly performed vocals and a punk driven backdrop that feels like conveying its message in melodic fashion.

Dads - Brush Your Teeth, Again ;) (2011)

Kind of Like: Pizza and Regrets, Dowsing, You Blew It!

Genre: Post-rock, emo

Where to listen: Bandcamp

The basement video for the original release of Brush Your Teeth is what really hooked me to these two tapes. Especially, Dan's Christopher Walken Impression, its just a great song, warming and tickling. Their music has a unique energy that isn't quite summed in either of their vocals, or the sometimes frantic, post-rock guitar. I guess, its the feeling of remembering that 35 year old dude leading his little kid holding half-a-watermelon hes stoked on to the sidelines of the big brother's soccer game-and just then you want to say, ya, mad nice fold-chair little dude, loud enough for his dad to hear-and just when he has to turn around to see what punk talked to his kid so he trips on the dog's leash but only a little. ha dads in reality are so awesome

Daniel Striped Tiger, No Difference LP (2011)

Kind of Like: Ampere, Loma Prieta

Genre: Post-Punk, Hardcore, Ambient, math rock

Where to Listen: Mediafire

This is solid-punk with more than a little edge and dissonance to swing around in. At moments it may sound, 'like garbage cans falling down stairs, with distortion and feedback." I had to agree. The vocals ground everything nicely, though, frequent rests and guitar hammerings make the bulk of their songs a bit jarring, and yet they show an appeal for instrumental speed and urgency. This couples with a traditional punk vocal delivery and with repetition to avoid what might seemingly become a definitively metallic feel.

The Joys of Living 2008-2010 by Sharks (2011)

Kind of Like: Dave Hause, The Gaslight Anthem

Genre: Punk, UK psychobilly

Where to Listen: Mediafire
The Joys of Living. I couldn't help myself from not posting this any longer, despite my feelings of utter redundancy. Sharks' album incorporates so many elements of the timeless punk I love I'm alone somewhere familiar, or with a group of new people I don't much enjoy, and the familiarity of old EPs comforts me such life's bearable; like now ancient drum patterns, and great catchy jams that are irresistible to not sing to; to add a modern feel to the music giving a subtly progressive sounds to the punk, is as easy as harmonicas, an extensive drum kit, and most importantly, the un-stripped, and unaccompanied vocals, strained and executed purposefully, like that french figurehead Robespierre.

Thursday - No Devolucion (2011)

FFO: United Nations, Glassjaw

Genre: Post-hardcore, indie, emo

Where to listen: Follow this link (sorry)

6th Thursday studio album. I'll edit after I give this more time.

Taking Back Sunday - Self Titled EP (Faith [When I Let You Down]) (2011)

FFO: The Wonder Years, Thursday

Genre: Indie, Emo

Where to Listen: Mediafire

I got super stoked for this album when I heard the first single and noted the energy--the overall attitude that I really loved about their first EP and album revived for this release.

Amesoeurs : Swallowed By the Hive... LP (2009)

Like: its like stepping into a past that hardly happens and no one ever sings about....i got nothin

Genre: Black Metal, experimental, lore, post punk

Proceed to: Listen Here , Download Here

Something about a self titled album cleverly opens that avenue towards classic beyond a description that might perish. in ease it may remind me of my college days. at moments you feel that each note is fresh and often also that you're watching a really awesome movie scene. I think its the fact that this three piece is absolutely crazy, that with talent at that level, musicians can became unappreciative of everything but their own art. Be it as it may, they kicked it.

"Amesoeurs is a spit, the only way we have to spew out the anxiety and frustration tied to the difficulties of existence and the pursuit of happiness in our modern society. "

Mountain Smashers by By Surprise (2011)

Kind of Like: Hightide Hotel, Streetsmart Cyclist, Superchunk
Genres: Emo, Indie, Post-punk, Math Rock
Preview: 

Update: Here is the high quality version

Been eagerly awaiting this to leak.  Thanks to the guys from Banana Approved Music for ripping the stream initially for me because some reason my computer can't.  I have a vinyl version coming in the mail soon, so excited. Great release from one of the better indiemo bands out there at the moment.  I will update this with a link to the higher quality full album in the next couple days.

Listen Here
Buy It Here (Support Good Music!)

The Big Roar by The Joy Formidable (2011)

Kind Of Like: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Rainer Maria, The Pixies, The Arcade Fire

Genres: Indie, Ambient, Post-Punk

To be up front, I never had a big thing for female vocals.  I don't know why, probably for the same reason I don't like female comedians (comediennes, whatever the fuck).  Just kidding, that's kinda chauvinistic.  Honestly, it's hard to find good female vocalist/comediannezzase.  Anywho, as you would guess, this band has a female vocalist, and she won me over.  People are calling this album "shit-gaze".  Apparently shit-gaze is a mix of grunge and shoegaze.  Pretty fucked up, huh?  I didn't think shoegaze could even be expanded.  Either way, I had a hard time pinpointing who this band sounded like, so I asked Lori what they sounded like as I played them on my laptop, and that's who she came up with.  I encourage you to critique her severely.  I like this band though.

Download Here

Ritual by White Lies (2011)

Kind Of Like: Editors, Klaxons
Genres: Indie, Post-Punk, Electronica

My buddy just showed me this band the other day.  They are pretty catchy.  This is going to be the shortest, vaguest review ever.  Honestly, I hate music reviewers; the ones that get paid to review music anyways.  They spew bullshit for ten paragraphs and use a thesaurus a lot.  I think this music is good, here's what they sound like, maybe a story about them and where you can download it.  The end.

Download Here