Oh Brother by Joan of Arc (2011)

Genres: Experimental, Shoegaze, Drone

When I saw this I thought, is this the same Joan of Arc that just released Life Like.  It turns out it is, but this certainly isn't your daddy's Joan of Arc.  This is a vinyl/digital release only.  I could see this best suitable for vinyl release for sure because each song takes up one side of a record, so there are four 20 minute songs making up this album.

"Oh Brother (Joyful Noise) is one of the group's wiggiest albums yet. Or maybe that should be "groups'," since each side of this two-LP vinyl-only release contains a 20-minute composition played by a different combination of personnel; mastermind Tim Kinsella is the sole constant linking the four lineups, which include Hella drummer Zach Hill, Lichens drone maker Rob Lowe, and local jazz-percussion monster Frank Rosaly. The individual tracks are as unpredictable as Kinsella himself; they veer from frenetic free jazz to shroomy psych-drone to contemplative fingerpicked guitar interludes. There's even an occasional bit of the angular post-posthardcore commonly associated with his name, though I expect he includes that just to tease anyone still hung up on Cap'n Jazz."
-Chicago Reader

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Zoo Weather by Tera Melos (2011)

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.

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Kerouac/The Long Haul Split (2011)

Kind of Like: Converge, Botch
Genres: Chaotic Hardcore, Hardcore, Punk, Progressive

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.

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Higher Learning 2 by Fashawn

Kind of Like: Jay Electronica, Blu

Genres: Hip-hop

"Fresno rapper Fashawn has just dropped his latest mixtape, Higher Learning 2. It’s an army of new flows featuring beats that sample everything from Queen to Kanye. Fashawn is sounding as confident as ever, and it’s got me even more excited for his forthcoming album, the Ecology, which is yet to see a release date attached to it."
-The Needle Drop


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Underneath The Pine by Toro Y Moi (2011)

Kind of Like: Washed Out, Neon Indian
Genres: Chillwave, Electronica

There seems to be no shortage of chillwave bands emerging.  This guy is definitely part of the upper tier of this movement, although this album he seems to be moving away from that sound.  And he just looks like a fun guy:

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Dance.Pretend.Forget.Defend by Fordirelifesake (2004)

Kind of Like: Rosesdead, Shai Hulud, Poison the Well, Misery Signals

Genres: Post-hardcore, Hardcore, Metal, Emo, Experimental

I know this is an older album, but I feel that a lot of people really don't know this band because they fizzled out shortly after releasing this second LP.  A few of my friends can't stand them, but I grew up going to see this band, and I have too many fond memories relating to them.  I just found out they are opening up for the Suicide Machines in April, and the first time I saw Fordirelifesake was when they opened for the Suicide Machines X-mas show like 8 years ago.  So, this show next month is going to be really nostalgic.  I feel as though they were an underrated band and were pretty obscure outside of Michigan, so hopefully some people can appreciate this.  Very great guitar riffs, their lead guitarist was a beast.  You know what word that everybody uses to describe a band or their musical taste? Eclectic.  It's an overused word, but I'm going to use it because this album is pretty damn eclectic.  The only thing that brings this album down are some of the shittier filler songs, if you avoid those, this was a classic album.  If only they put two or three really good songs on this...

Also, please try to disregard the "Kind of Like" bands, especially if you hate those bands.  I don't even listen to those bands, but I had a hard time thinking of bands that that Fordire was comparable.  Just give the album a listen.

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Gift Raps by Chip Tha Ripper (2011)

Kind of Like: Chuck Inglish, Wiz Khalifa, Curren$y

Genres: Hip-hop

Produced by Michigan's own Chuck Inglish (The Cool Kids), this is an album by Chip tha Ripper, who had been featured on both of  Kid Cudi's albums.  Oh, you also may know him from the Interior Crocodile Alligator internet meme.

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Errors by Until Your Heart Stops (2011)

Kind of Like: Converge, Black Flag
Genres: Hardcore, Punk

This "full-length" from the Bay Area hardcore band only clocks in at nineteen minutes.  It's pretty good, but I think they should've spent some more time on this and made it an actual full-length.  You can listen to it at their bandcamp.

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My Divider by Dinosaur Bones (2011)

Kind of Like: ...Trail of Dead, The Darcys

Genres: Indie, Progressive, Experimental

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.

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Defaults by Hard Mix (2011)

Kind of Like: Washed Out, Baths, Neon Indian

Genres: Electronica, Chillwave

I know I don't categorize all my electronic music on here well, but this is what people call "chillwave", which is like the artists Baths and Washed Out I have put up here in the past.  Basically it is characterized by their heavy use of effects processing, synthesizers, looping, sampling, and heavily filtered vocals.  In layman's terms, it's something you can chill out to or dance to depending on the setting.

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Redeemer by Accidents (2011)

Kind of Like: No Omega, Mountain Man

Genres: Post-Hardcore, Hardcore, Screamo

Just found this band, and turns out they are actually from around here; Lansing, I think.  I think this is their debut EP.  This is some emotional intense hardcore.  I don't know if some people would consider this screamo, but I get hints of it for sure.  They made this EP available for free on their bandcamp, so you can take a listen before you download it.

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Flora by Fredrik (2011)

Kind of Like: Alcoholic Faith Mission, Bibio, DeVotchKa (not as upbeat)

Genres:  Electronica, Indie, Folk, Experimental, Ambient

"Fredrik, a songwriter/sound mangler/concept artist three-piece from southern part of Sweden, embodies some of the most iconic Scandinavian experimental pop aesthetics: captivating melodies, rich layered arrangements and complicated charming instrumentation somewhat in the vein of Sigur Ros and Efterklang, but essentially in the language of trees. Without overloading the compositions, Fredrik builds layer upon layer of atmospheric, melodically overpowering and somewhat mystical soundscapes."
-Last.fm

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Berserkabunga by Pachangacha (2011)

Kind of Like:  Weezer, Chalk Talk, Cloud Nothings

Genres: Indie, Punk, Pop Punk

"A band featuring one of the dudes from Chalk Talk and some other young bucks from the Amherst, MA area playing cool jams about various bummer/cool topics. Good fuzzy bass lines.


They dropped their smash debut Berserkabunga in the early months of 2011 on Sex Cave Records.


Kind of like if Weezer kept playing music from the Blue Album, up’ed the punx, and didn’t suck now."
-Last.fm

On a related note, I'm really starting to get the hang of spelling their name.

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