Kind of Like: Adebisi Shank, Enemies, &U&I Genres: Math Rock, Post-hardcore, Experimental, Progressive Preview:
This is sadly the last release for the Richter Collective, which was home to greats like And So I Watch You From Afar, Enemies and Adebisi Shank. BATS brings music to the table that is something of a mixture of the three previous listed band. These guys write tunes that aren't just catchy, but smart. Lots of alternating time signatures and riffs. Fun stuff.
For Fans of: Radiohead, U2 Genres: Alternative, Post-Rock, Progressive-Post Metal Website:BANDCAMPFacebook
Poplar Street is an emerging band of young artists hailing from the lively city of Halifax, NS that came into formation in 2010. Poplar Street released their second album, Leave It All Behind in September 2011: both of their EPs may be downloaded at the link above. Emphatically ambitious and easily atmospheric are the two ways I enjoy describing this band and their live shows. The band describes their sound in a bio on Bandcamp as a combination of "musical elements of introspective post-rock and the intensely enjoyable energy of contemporary Canadian rock." Without disagreeing, I would posit the notion that greater emotion and beautiful harmony has hardly met with a more subtle song-smith than the great innovators in the Canadian music scene, Poplar Street. The talented Mr. Mike Fong has asked me on behalf of the band to extend their music and goodwill to the readers of SIGD, and the world as they have a big summer planned. So stay tuned with Poplar Street. as insider sources relay they are in the process of releasing two singles and recording a third album.in anticipation of previously unrecorded post-hardcore influences. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS BAND!
Kind of Like: Maps & Atlases (old), Bulletproof Tiger, This Town Needs Guns Genres: Math Rock, Emo, Progressive Spotify: Here Preview:
I talked about Maps & Atlases on the radio show last night, and I brought up how I still enjoy their new sound. Their first EP was what initially blew me away, and it is still my favorite though.
When I heard this album by Invalids, I felt the same way I did when I heard Trees, Swallows, Houses. It's as if a band kept going with the sound that Maps did in Trees and maturing it more instead of diverging towards a more indie, arguably safer sound. Actually, it literally is exactly that.
It's even cooler that the two guys in this band met completely randomly and just decided to send music back and forth to each other. Kenny says that there is no excuse why you shouldn't record your own music if you play, and this is another reason why. With the amount of resources available for a fairly low cost, it is not really that hard to get an audio interface for a computer and a decent recording progran. Then you just go with that, with the kind of drum programs you can get, you no longer have to pay for really expensive recording without the drums sounding obviously synthetic.
I am foreseeing heavy, heavy rotation and hopefully these guys will eventually meet in real life to do shows or something.
I managed to find a link for this, but the digital album on their bandcamp is 8 bucks. I hope they keep making music and possibly put this on wax, so I hope you use this as a promotional tool only and then delete it and then buy their sheet.
For Fans Of: Maps and Atlases, Minus the Bear, Joggers
Genres: Math Rock, Indie, Progressive
Spotify: Nada
Preview:
Portland, OR-based Holy Tentacles attempts to concoct a homebrew of genres by mixing math rock with pop and progressive rock. You can definitely hear the trio's influence of of Maps and Atlases, as well as Minus the Bear, but that is not a bad thing, as they have created their own sound. Typically I would include a link to download this album for free, but because these guys e-mailed us directly, I feel a tad shady doing that. Instead, I am going to suggest that you head over to their Bandcamp to listen to the whole thing, and purchase it for $5 if you so choose.
They are currently touring in support of this self-released 7-song EP. Check out an acoustic performance of the song featured in the preview, "Backpack":
One thing I thought was particularly neat about this band: they just released their own beer! It's called Divine Ink, and it's a hand-crafted, hand-picked blackberry weizen. It would be awesome to visit Portland and try it!
Kind of Like: Owen, Russian Circles, El Ten Eleven Genres: Post-rock, Ambient, Math Rock, Metal, Progressive Preview/Buy: Bandcamp
"Cloudkicker is one man progressive metal project from the artist B.M. Sharp, heavily influenced by math metal and post-metal. Sharp utilizes drum machines and custom tuned guitars in his recordings. progressive and instrumental influences are also obvious in his music."
-Last.fm
I didn't think of a progressive metal album when "Welcome Back" started. In fact, the first thing that came into mind was Owen. For the most part this is an acoustic/clean album that has various elements of metal/progressive music incorporated into it. The result is a pretty...pretty album, that feels perfect for the last throws of the fall. It's quite cozy.
Kind of like: Mansions, Say Anything, Person L, Great Big Pile of Leaves Genres: Math Rock, Indie, Progressive, Emo Preview: Bandcamp Buy Here: So many colors!
"Exploring themes of alienation, white privilege and the general insanity of our times, Follow The Rattle Of The Afghan Guitar is esoteric, challenging and thought-provoking, while still remaining hook-driven, innovative and exciting. The band hurls itself from a neutral space between pop and progressive, between vague and specific, ultimately leaving it up to the listeners to figure it out for themselves."
-Last.fm
This was another amazing band we saw at Fest that we hadn't heard of until we walked into the venue. It seemed to be a trend that every band we saw on accident left a great impression on us. These guys are from San Diego, and I believe they open for Boris and Tera Melos tomorrow in San Diego. Wish I lived in Cali.
Genres: Progressive, Psychedelic, Stoner rock, Death Metal Preview:
Swedish death metal icons, Opeth, Return with their 10th studio album in 14 years. Heritage employs a very progressive and psychedelic feel and far less of the death metal influence they are typically known for. For those that aren't familiar with Opeth, traditionally they are known for 8-12 min epics that create a story with acts and a plot arc musically more so than "standard" songwriting would dictate. For fans of Opeth, Heritage brings back the dynamics and feel from Damnation and improve on it tenfold. This is a very unique record by a hugely influential and amazing band. Highly recommended.
I noticed to my surprise that there is only one post containing the music of La Dispute. I'm near certain everyone should listen to this band, perhaps more that everyone reading this blog has before, however, La Dispute is one of those few rocks, and I can happily write about them in nearly any mood. This probably goes hand in hand with my ability to listen to this same band at any given, inappropriate moment to be listening to hardcore, and not give a single fuck. The bastards probably think I'm mad, because I listen to La Dispute in public. I've been telling myself "fuck'em" the lyrics are poetic and conversational, the music finds artistically drawn out patterns, and each band member is talented enough to push a segment of each song in his own manner. Besides, so what if they're right, they're goddam dirty bastards and it helps me get in the mood to write, and now I feel like writing a tome of a review about this group so bear with finding the links strewn about the post, please.
J'adore their two LPs (I hate speaking french, since I can only kind of, but I'm trying to be romantic here). But more about them later: first their 7 inch [Untitled] (2008), and their (2010) split with Touche Amore, titled Searching For A Pulse/The Worth Of The World are. These too, along with their full lengths, are the essentially noble pieces of the dissonance which I love as hardcore music. The 7inch feels typical heavier than other releases, Shall Never Lose Its Power is my midday jam when I've just started drinking. The split with Touche Amore is just incredible, I think I might like Touche's side better, but the contributions are perfectly traded, as little as they may be and I just pray La Dispute is as visibly influenced by this collaboration as Touche was on their latest release Parting the Seas Between Brightness and Me. As I said, they are subtle additions, but to me it makes a world of difference.
One great thing about Somewhere at the Bottom of the River between Vega and Altair (2008) is that it has one of the best post-hardcore intro ever, Such Small Hands, and the outro, Nobody Not Even The Rain works as its delicate balance, if played on repeat (or track 13 then 1) they recreate the title of an EE Cummings poem. The concept of this album isn't mind boggling, but it follows the general concept of EE's poem, and thank christ I have yet to marry, let alone divorce, I sing to every single track as if it were my heart-ache's anthem. My favourite part of the album might be in the bass flows of Bury Your Flame, but quite honestly I just deleted a 4 segment sentence justifying why other songs are the best. This album, more than the rest, can really capture a moment/emotion and sustain it through the entire segment of their song. Though lead singer Jordan may want his exes dead, this is undoubtedly the most romantic and lost-love-lust-driven lyrics in hardcore I've ever listened to, that wasn't complete wailing. Call that enough wanking.
There is much I'd like to say of their first album that is only realized when in contrast between the two LPs, and minds make this easiest when we are looking back, through Somewhere... into Vancouver (2006). First we can say it is perhaps the least produced of La Dispute's releases. Every song is just as incredibly poetic and instrumentally built as any one off Vega and Altair, I just feel they really matured as a band while making the second albums which shows through the more complete and closed feeling in those 13 tracks. Their first album, I think possesses the direction, feelings for the same woman maybe, but it all feels less refined. Their guitar riffs don't feel quite as wholesome, but this roughness adds to the emotional builds behind songs like See You In Vancouver and Fairmount. The track titled He Is Here He Is Not Afraid kills me--it may be the sickest track they've ever recorded. Once I missed them play in my hometown in Ontario, and I think ever since they remind me with this hollowing intro riff, and that piano in the Untitled track. Its so good, does anyone know if they ever confessed to composing or sampling it because it seems mad familiar.
See this post for the Koji split, titled Never Come Undone (2011). and get stoked for their new LP dropping this winter.
Kind of Like: The Mars Volta, Crime in Choir, RX Bandits Genres: Experimental, Progressive, Psychedelic, Math Rock Preview: Bandcamp
I briefly mentioned this band a week or so ago because they opened for RX Bandits and Maps & Atlases. They also are the "sibling band" of the Mars Volta (Omar's brother is part of Zechs Marquise). Here is their album, and hopefully I will be able to get my hands on Getting Paid, their new album, which comes out this fall. Here is the album cover for that and a teaser. After that is a link for their previous album (really digging the dark, surrealist album art for that).
Kind of Like: At the Drive-In, the Sound of Animals Fighting, Fall of Troy Genres: Progressive, Rock, Experimental Preview:Myspace
Many people ask the question of who do you like more, At the Drive-In or the Mars Volta? If you asked me which of their body of work was better as a whole, I would say At the Drive-In. If you asked for a specific album, I would say this album trumps just about all the material that the core of this band has put out in their different projects. Unlike all their newer releases that the Mars Volta insists on releasing every year, there was a lot of time and work put into this album. The result is a debut album that became a classic. At the Rx Bandits show, I missed the opener, Zechs Marquise, which features family members of the Mars Volta/At the Drive In. From the people who I asked, they said that they had a great set.
Kind of Like: The Sound of Animals Fighting, Mars Volta, Streetlight Manifesto, Portugal. The Man Genres: Progressive, Rock, Indie, Experimental, Ska/Reggae Preview: Bandcamp
I'll never forget the first time I was exposed to the RX Bandits. I was in the car with two friends and my girlfriend at the time, and we had just smoked. We were sitting in the parking structure in downtown Plymouth, and my friend put in ...And The Battle Begun. I was instantly blown away. I found The Resignation and I was blown away further.
These are two albums that I still listen to to this day. I am also including the albums Progress and Mandala. Progress was the album before Resignation, and it was their first material that began to drift away from the ska/punk band they used to be. They were becoming progressive, rockier, and somewhat mathier. Mandala was their most recently released album, and although it is a pretty good album (it has a few really good songs on it), it really doesn't compare to the two albums before that. I have seen them several times live, and one of their shows was where I got to see Maps & Atlases for the first time. I have been meaning to make a classic post for them awhile, but I especially did it now because I am going to their final show in Detroit this week. If you have never heard of or seen them before, I recommend you see them on their farewell tour. Download the albums, get hooked on them, and experience them live. They are certainly a jam band; they tend to mix their songs together. They will jump from one song to another then back to the first, and it makes for a very entertaining and pleasurable experience.
For fans of: The Receiving End Of Sirens (Casey Crescenzo is the main songwriting force in TDH and was one of the members of TREOS's first album, which is pretty "...meh", but TDH rules), As Tall As Lions, Coheed And Cambria (in a progressive sense, not vocally or even structurally, so not really "like" Coheed, but if you are a fan of them, you will like this.) Genres: Alternative, Experimental, Indie, Progressive, Rock Preview: (this is the track "My Body" (track 3) from the Black EP (note: NOT on the abridged ver.))
So The Dear Hunter has been a favorite band of mine for a while. Casey is a very original and talented songwriter and pretty underrated IMO. Indeed, they are signed to Triple Crown Records and have a not-exactly-underground following. Regardless, TDH make amazing music and deserve the recognition they receive. The story behind The Color Spectrum is they intended to do something unique that demands an attention apan. The Color Spectrum consists of 9 x 10" EPs each housing 4 tracks defined by the visible color spectrum: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Inidigo, and Violet with Black and White as the "book ends", with each EP embodying a different style (for those who recall the "Alchemy Index" from Thrice this is that to the fullest extent, and executed with perfect precision). I have included both the "Abridged" (11 track) version as well as "The Complete Collection" (36 tracks and 2+hrs). I WILL MAKE THIS KNOWN THAT I DID NOT UPLOAD THESE FILES! I found these links from Mediafire/Depositfiles and they will probably be taken down soon (Poo, if you get shit for this, I apologize profusely...). I first heard about this project over a year ago and have been looking forward to it since then, and it does NOT disappoint! I may be biased, but this is by far the best album i have heard all year mainly due to it's depth and scope. For those who wish to explore The Complete Collection", I recommend listening to it in entirety through quality headphones and enjoying every nuance at least once uninterrupted. I have also included a link to purchase the vinyl box set (again, 9 x 10" records all on colored vinyl). I plan on seeing them during their headlining tour this summer and purchasing the box set and cherishing every moment of this release for months (years?) to come. Honestly, one of the coolest ideas I've ever heard of and executed so incredibly well it becomes truly inspiring.
Kind of Like: Cast of Cheers, So Many Dynamos, Foals, Adebisi Shank Genres: Post-Hardcore, Math Rock, Progressive Preview: Bandcamp
Kenny put this on when we were going out to see our friend Justin play in Detroit. I have been meaning to listen to this band because they always seem to be brought up/recommended alongisde Adebisi Shank and Cast of Cheers. There are definitely aspects of those bands that I like involved here (noodly math rock/dancy beats) and also some influences that aren't as prominent with those bands that I still really enjoy (post-hardcore). Give this album a listen, you'll dig it. Here's a tip though, skip the first song, it doesn't really do the album a whole lot of opening justice until the very end. On a sidenote, all bands need to set up a bandcamp account and finally put the nail in the coffin for myspace.
Kind of Like: Radiohead, Mars Volta, Margot and the Nuclear So & Sos, Portugal. The Man Genres: Ambient, Experimental, Progressive, Indie Preview: Bandcamp
"Red Bellows combines jazzy and progressive tendencies with smooth indie rock, adding keys and electronics to morph their sound even more. Vocalist Marc Pellegrino's grimy voice works to the band's strength, working well with the psychedelic moments of tracks such as the harmonica supported chorus of opener "L.S. Blues" or the Radiohead-like "Maps". The band is offering the EP Epone for free, and it is a must download." -Muzik Discovery
Definitely agree with this reviewer. They are a highly accessible, nice catchy psychedelic band. The band is offering it for free, but make sure you check out further stuff by them.
Remember how I said Trap Them will rip you a new asshole? Well have you ever wanted three assholes? Because this band will probably rip you another one. The album starts with a piercing blood-curdling scream and then all hell breaks loose. I'm not a big fan of the metal-esque vox in the first song, but the songs seem to alternate between those vocals and skramz. Either way, the music absolutely rips, which anybody can appreciate no matter what the vocals are. You know you are a bad ass metal band when you have songs like "Kiddie Pool of Baby Blood", "Fetal Attraction" and "Chaotic Obliteration". I mean, just look at how metal they are:
Handle bar moustache, coming soon to a Poo near you. Or at least the chops back again. Why did I ever shave?
Kind of Like: At the Drive-In, I Am Alaska, Fall of Troy Genres: Post-Hardcore, Screamo, Progressive
Wow, some great EPs coming out. Haven't heard of these guys until today, but I guess they released two other EPs before going on hiatus and then releasing this. I am very interested in a full length by them, but this EP will suffice for now. Great guitar work that I would expect from any deserving band that considers themselves to be progressive post-hardcore. There EP is name-your-price on their bandcamp where you can preview it or use the mediafire link below.
Kind of Like: Bygones, Piglet, Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower, Giraffes? Giraffes!
Genres: Experimental, Post-Hardcore, Math Rock, Progressive
Sacramento’s Tera Melos's "Zoo Weather" EP, the follow-up to last year’s full-length Patagonian Rats (both released on Sargent House). The six-track EP features three new songs and three remixes, including one by Melt-Banana.
I've been checking regularly for this split to leak after listening to Kerouac's "Cold and Distant, Not Loving". This is a split between what seem to be two of the UK's more promising hardcore bands. They complement each other extremely well. This is the first major release for The Long Haul, I think, because all of their previous stuff has been demos. The Long Haul is a bit more progressive, their time changes are pretty clever. And does anybody think the singing in the first track "A Bastard Behind the Eyes" sounds just like Portugal. The Man's singer? Wait, is that a girl? Anyways, Kerouac is definitely not overshadowed, they are clever as well. Actually they are pretty damn even. Strongest (cleverest) split that's been put out thus far this year. I'll commit to that.
This is quite the debut from the Toronto based stoner indie band, it is extremely promising on first listen. This band makes me very excited to see Trail Of Dead soon, in a good way. There are a lot of good things going on with this album. By all means, it is very impressive for a debut, I can only imagine the sophomore will be even better.
Kind of Like: Animals as Leaders, Russian Circles, Between the Buried and Me Genres: Metal, Progressive, Experimental, Post-rock
This is an instrumental metal band from Texas. They look really young, but you wouldn't be able to tell that from their music. But don't just take my word for it:
"Articulate, intelligent and profound, 'The Collective' is a beautifully composed, fifty-minute example of how to tackle music in a clear and precise manner."
-Killyourstereo.com
You got some jazzy sections, post-rock, metal, there is a bunch of stuff to enjoy on this album. People are already buzzing over this quietly-released album.
Kind of like: Touche Amore, Victor! Fix the Sun, Saetia
