Sixto - Sixto

Formed out of the ashes of the brilliant Dis- (see my post on them here) in 1997, singer/guitarist Chris Fuller formed Sixto with former Travis members Matt Scholl and Craig Hutler along with Chris Manfrin who spent time in Seam. The band released one full-length album in 2001 that was Self-Titled on the Milwaukee based Star Star Stereo label before eventually disbanding not long afterward.

Although their existence was brief, their one album is worth tracking down or picking up if you run across it. There are definitely some compelling influences that work with each other successfully in a way I wouldn’t have originally thought until hearing it, combining the styling of early 80’s post-punk/no wave with the more bombast approach of arena rock. Not necessarily the most enticing thing on paper maybe, but Sixto pulls it off quite nicely. Fuller’s near emotionless vocals are a perfect fit for the type of post-punk sound that dominates the record. One of the interesting aspects of it though is that while Fuller’s voice lends itself to the cold and monotonous style that comes with the genres territory, it’s ultimately the dual guitar work that gives it an unexpected liveliness and almost mathy quality. The disc is definitely worth listening to for anyone that were fans of any of the members’ previous bands, if anything it’s an interesting take on a couple different styles of music.

Sixto – The Asphalt Audience [MP3]
Sixto – The Naughty Mime [MP3]

For anyone looking to pick up Sixto’s self-titled album there are still multiple used copies available on Amazon for a pretty good price. Definitely grab a copy if you like the tunes posted above.

This Ain't Vegas...

Around three years ago I remember checking and reading through various online zines that I frequent and reading a review for the album The Night Don Benito Saved My Life by This Ain’t Vegas. At the time I didn’t know it was their second album, but after listening to the aforementioned disc it would compel me to seek out more and thankfully I did. Their debut Black Lung Captain is absolutely worth listening to as well.

After hearing This Ain't Vegas back in ’05 or so it seemed like that was really the last time I heard about them or even read about them. Probably has something to do with the fact that I don’t live in the UK where they call home and formed in 2001 in Sunderland. That and the band has adamantly stuck to their guns when it comes to maintaining their presence in the UK underground indie-rock scene while peers within the scene have since went on to larger labels and larger fanbases. However, as far as I know they are still alive and kicking as they just released a 7 inch through the Longest Mile label at the end of last year.

While they are often mentioned alongside the likes of The Futureheads and Maximo Park due to their locale, This Ain’t Vegas are largely more aggressive than any of those bands and really in my opinion have little to do with each other in terms of sound. The band really draws a good portion of it’s musical style from the mid to late nineties Dischord camp, think Q and Not U and Bluetip and you’ve got a pretty good idea where these guys are coming from and obviously why they grabbed the attention of my ears in the first place. They are tuneful, but hardly restrained with a sound that would likely appeal to anyone that enjoys a solid dose of post-punk/post-hardcore. I just hope they have one more album in them.

Black Lung Captain:
This Ain’t Vegas – Your Name is a Real One [MP3]

The Night Don Benito Saved My Life:
This Ain’t Vegas – Always a Trial [MP3]

For those interested in picking up releases by This Ain’t Vegas, then check out Amazon for The Night Don Benito Saved My Life as they still have copies available. Black Lung Captain can apparently still be had either through Amazon UK or the bands MySpace page.

Double Dagger - Sophisticated Urban Living

I was very excited to see the new Sophisticated Urban Living 7 inch in my mailbox a few days ago from one of Baltimore’s finest trios Double Dagger. Just released this month through Terra Firma Records, the single features a scorching re-recorded version of “Luxury Condos for the Poor” along with two new songs. For those that missed out on their excellent second album Ragged Rubble that was put out last year through Stationary (Heart), I highly suggest checking it out.

Double Dagger only makes use of vocals, bass, and drums to create their noisy post-punk inspired tunes. It’s surprising sometimes when listening to the band at just how forceful it can be. On their newly released single, one of the ideas was to create the energy, force, and sound of their live show. While I’ve sadly never had a chance to see the band in a live setting, the single is undoubtedly a rawer recording than anything featured on their previous full-length. The version of “Luxury Condos for the Poor” featured on the single creates a larger wall of sound than any other recording and it also contains and extended instrumental ending that very much backs up the bands claim that this is indeed the definitive version of the song.

Sophisticated Urban Living 7’’:
Double Dagger – No Allies [MP3]

Ragged Rubble:
Double Dagger – The Psychic [MP3]

Also, be on the look out for another new single from the band currently out on Toxic Pop Records that features a remixed version of “I Was So Bored I Wanted to Hang Myself on the Dancefloor”. For those interested in picking up Sophisticated Urban Living then definitely hit up Terra Firma to pick up the single and for past DD releases head on over to their website and/or Stationary (Heart).

Crystal Antlers - EP

It’s all too rare anymore whenever I check out a band that has some hype building around them that they actually live up to the amount of praise that is being heaped upon them. Sometimes not listening to what my gut feeling tells me to do is a good idea and despite it telling me over and over again not to buy into the things being said about Crystal Antlers, I did anyway. And boy am I glad I did as the band falls into one of those rare cases of actually being really damn good…just like everyone else was making them out to be in the first place. Stupid me, right? Obviously, yeah.

The Long Beach based Crystal Antlers are riding high off the growing success of their recently self-released EP simply dubbed as “EP”. Rightfully so though, as EP absolutely smokes through six songs that somehow blend elements of blues, psych, post-punk, prog, and god only knows what else into this finely crafted 25 minute package. Typically I don’t get too into what comes off as strictly derivative psych, so it’s incredibly refreshing to hear a band like this take it to a completely different level to the point where I don’t even really know what I am listening to at times. Crystal Antlers seem like a band that could go anywhere with their sound, and I think that’s what ultimately makes them the exciting listen that they are. Who knows what their next record could sound like; it’s pretty much a wild card after listening to EP.

Crystal Antlers – A Thousand Eyes [MP3]

For those interested in picking up a copy of the Crystal Antlers EP then just head on over to their MySpace.

Tiger Shower Caps - Self-Titled

The Self-Titled debut from Germany’s Tiger Shower Caps is the latest release from the Radio is Down label. Formed in 2006, the band is made up of formers members from Are We Electric?, Sabet, Bhang Dextro, and Motorambo. While their name alone was almost interesting enough to get me to listen to the record, I was glad to find out that the album also contains a number of good tunes on it as well. Sometimes artist bios aren’t necessarily the most accurate thing whenever I get a chance to read them, but with Tiger Shower Caps I think they were pretty close on theirs. The band does in fact sound like a mixture of 80’s post-punk and the burgeoning 90’s indie-rock set, although I would say more so the Chicago scene more than anything else as the guitars are full of that razor thin and trebly goodness that you would expect. The vocals fit the bill especially, with the singer’s frantic yelps that nicely off set the bands casual hooks and infectious melodies, not allowing the listener to get too comfortable with the record. With a name like Tiger Shower Caps, it’s obvious the band has a bit of a sense of humor as well, that works its way into the record too here and there.

Tiger Shower Caps – Low Budget King [MP3]

For those interested in picking up the debut from Tiger Shower Caps, then head on over to Radio is Down to do so.

Bilge Pump - Rupert the Sky

The Leeds, UK based band Bilge Pump have been going at it for just over ten years now while developing a strong influence and following amongst the UK underground music scene during that time. Their offerings of abrasive, yet oddly tuneful noise-rock/post-punk have made the band one of the genres best kept secrets. Despite being together for over a decade the band has only recently released their second album. Upon formation, the band released some seven inches here and there and also found themselves on a number of compilations before releasing their debut album Let Me Breathe in 2002 through UK based label Gringo Records. Now after another handful of years of waiting the band has unleashed their second full-length Rupert the Sky just this past March, once again through Gringo.

Rupert the Sky should almost certainly please those already fans of the band, as the album reveals itself to be an even more concise and obtuse offering than their previous effort in Let Me Breathe. Yet, the band keeps in line with what has made them so endearing to listeners in the first place, and that is miraculously underneath all the jazzy drum meltdowns and odd time signatures is the playfulness and ear for melody. As a band that features such driving bass lines, it’s often easy to completely abandon any sort of tunefulness in favor of something more monotonous and blatantly powerful. However, Bilge Pump has no troubles keeping it interesting…even after being together for as long as they have. Rupert the Sky is just solid any way you choose to look at it, from instrumentation to songwriting. The band leaves nothing to be desired.

Bilge Pump – Brown Ale for Sister Sarah [MP3]

For those interested in purchasing Rupert the Sky or any other releases by Bilge Pump the head on over to Gringo Records to do so.

Witch Hats - Cellulite Soul

After listening to the Wound of a Little Horse EP from the Melbourne, Australia based Witch Hats back in ’06; I honestly didn’t envision an album like Cellulite Soul being spawned from them two years down the road. Sure, that EP had plenty of promise, but to think they would deliver on it within such a short time just didn't cross my mind. However, here we are and Cellulite Soul is punishing my stereo speakers in the best way possible as I type this.

For Cellulite Soul the band has taken bits and pieces of 60’s pop along with the best elements of the earlier eras of noise-rock/post-punk and has promptly draped it all in a darker grimy image. The bands influence from past brooding rockers The Birthday Party is undeniable on this record, to the point that they even enlisted former member Phill Calvert to share recording duties with Ben Ling. The end result is more than anyone could ask for though, in that they created moody but powerful sounding album.

From the opening track “Before I Way”, the bass line kicks in with a rolling punch that doesn’t back down from the plodding succession throughout the entire album. The bass lines provided by member Ash Buscombe are easily one of the highlights of the album. Adding to overall skin crawling feel of Cellulite Soul is the vocals of Kris Buscombe, who at times slinks around the wavering guitar mess with merely a whisper, as if he’s coaxing the listener that everything is ok and no ones going to hurt you. However, that hand reaching out to grab hold of quickly disappears as Cellulite Soul doesn’t take long to reveal its true intentions of providing a soundtrack to the underbelly of the worlds workings.

Witch Hats – Hellhole [MP3]

Cellulite Soul is definitely one of the best surprises I’ve heard this year. For those digging what they here, then head on over to the bands MySpace to hear a few more songs and to purchase the album. It’s a dandy.

Algebra of Need - Self Improvement

If only I could have heard this album last year. I have a strong feeling that it would have made the year end list. And yet again, I have to thank one of the blogs loyal readers for directing me to the Philadelphia based Algebra of Need. A bit of poking around on the internet really doesn’t turn up much press or anything of the sort for them, which is a shame because their debut record Self Improvement completely smokes and definitely deserves some praise.

While a lot of bands out there struggle with combing through their influences to create something interesting, Algebra of Need has apparently had absolutely no trouble with that once so ever. They are channeling the absolute best of the past two decades of noise-rock while mixing it up a bit with sort of a post-punk groove and bounce that ultimately keeps it from being one giant wash of noise. Not that I would have much of a problem with that either, but on Self Improvement the band manages to create a sound that will likely appeal to quite a few people despite the explosive feedback and tempo changes that come at the listener with reckless abandon. At thirteen songs in just under forty minutes, it really actually feels much shorter than that due to the band not slowing down one ounce throughout it all.

Algebra of Need – Another Skyscraper [MP3]
Algebra of Need – Nothing to Report [MP3]

Definitely check this one out if the samples above are sparking any interest. Self Improvement was self-released by the band as far as I know and can currently be purchased over at their MySpace or it can be had over at CD Baby. Fantastic stuff.

Bitch Magnet...

The Chapel Hill based Bitch Magnet had a pretty good four or so year run in the late eighties, capping off their time together with the excellent album Ben Hur in 1990. The band featured singer/bassist Sooyoung Park, whom most know from his later and more prominent band the excellent Seam. The band released their first EP in 1988 titled Star Booty with a lineup that included Park, Jon Fine (guitar), and Orestes Morfin (drums). The Steve Albini recorded EP got them some attention, however still showed them trying to sort of gather their footing as a band. Star Booty did however layout the foundations of what the band would be known for, and that was a loud brand of post-hardcore/punk laced with plenty of distortion. For the bands second release Umber, they added second guitarist David Galt to the mix and it proved to payoff for the band as Umber sounds full and contains the extra bit of power that the band was sort of missing for Star Booty. I’m not slagging Star Booty either just for the record; it’s still pretty good which says plenty about how great this band was. Both Star Booty and Umber would later be released on one CD in 1995 I think.

Joining the fold not long after the release of Umber was ex-Squirrel Bait and then current Bastro member David Grubbs, who replaced David Galt on guitar just in time for the bands EP Valmead featuring slowcore pioneers Codeine on it as well. Their previous release Umber, along with being a pretty solid album, also served as a decent bridge into what would be in my opinion the bands finest work, Ben Hur. The album, which would be the bands last, was released in 1990 through Communion Records. It featured Bitch Magnet at their absolute best, showing off the excellent guitar work provided by Fine and Grubbs along with the amazing drumming of Morfin. Ben Hur may be one of my favorite records to listen to just for the drums alone, it’s definitely a treat. The actual songs were a bit of an expansive take on some of the things that were featured on Umber, there is a hint of moodiness however plenty of rocking and scorching feedback. The Grubbs and Squirrel Bait connection inevitably landed them some comparisons to Slint, which I suppose I can see at times but for the most part doesn’t really fit them.

Umber & Star Booty:
Bitch Magnet – Navajo Ace [MP3]
Bitch Magnet – Joyless Street [MP3]
Bitch Magnet – Carnation [MP3]

Ben Hur:
Bitch Magnet – Dragoon [MP3]
Bitch Magnet – Lookin’ at the Devil [MP3]

After the breakup, Sooyoung Park went on to do Seam and was then in a band called ee. I am not sure if they are still around or not. David Grubbs continued on with Bastro, which later developed into Gastr del Sol. He’s also released a number of solo albums. Jon Fine spent time in Vineland and then later a short period in Don Caballero. He was in a band called Coptic Light that released an album in ’05. Orestes Morfin would later reemerge playing drums for Walt Mink.

For those interested in picking up material by the band, Ben Hur can still be had over at Amazon. The Umber & Star Booty disc is a bit hard to track down. Regardless, at least pick up their final album, it’s truly worth it.

Die! Die! Die! - Promises, Promises

Finally making its way over to the US after being released in the bands homeland of New Zealand in late ’07, Promises, Promises from post-punk/hardcore outfit Die! Die! Die! has just been released here by the wonderful S.A.F. Records. While the record in most ways isn’t as abrasive as their previous self-titled debut back in ’05, it’s still a wonderfully crafted album that in my opinion out does their debut despite the aforementioned sacrifices. Promises, Promises won’t gather much attention for breaking new ground or anything like that, however it’s a highly refreshing take on the tunefulness of early to mid nineties post-hardcore/indie-rock and the sort of energy that some of those records had back then. It’s amazing what that sort of thing will do for an album and in turn a record like Promises, Promises is the perfect antidote to much of the lifelessness that plagues too much of similarly classified music now. Definitely check this album out for those out there that haven’t already done so.

Die! Die! Die! – Blinding [MP3]
Die! Die! Die! – Echoecho [MP3]

Promises, Promises is, as of yesterday, now officially out so if the tunes above are striking a chord then by all means head on over to Strictly Amateur Films and pick this up. It’s an excellent record.

Thinking Machines - A Complete Record of Urban Archaeology

Well I hope everyone had a good and safe New Years. With all the holiday stuff out of the way for awhile, hopefully I can get back into the swing of things around here. To kick off things for ’08 will be for a record I have been spinning quite a bit over the past week from the Philadelphia based trio of Thinking Machines. The band is prepping to release their third album and first through TMvFM Records. The album, which is called A Complete Record of Urban Archaeology, is set to come out sometime later this January or possibly early February according to the bands MySpace.

Apparently the record was originally due out this past December; however delays in production have caused it to be pushed back. Honestly I am kind of glad it did because otherwise I don’t think it would have gotten a fair shake at the year end list or anything like that. That’s always the worst thing about late December releases; they really stand no chance amongst the clamor to conjure up some sort of favorites list. Anyway, A Complete Record of Urban Archaeology is a fine record that instead of being a forgotten end of ’07 release is in fact a great way to kick of my ’08.

The album continues with the bands thick guitar crunch that manages to work in fair amount of catchy riffs while leaning heavily on a post-punk disjointedness. While their past albums occasionally had some dreamier elements, it would appear on A Complete Record of Urban Archaeology that it’s featured to a lesser degree here. However, the fuzz and distortion is still bound to leave ears ringing on this one. It’s definitely reminiscent of some the better loud guitar driven rock of the past decade.

Thinking Machines – Waste of Time [MP3]
Thinking Machines – Urban Archaeologist [MP3]

For those interested, you can stream the entire album currently at the bands page on Last.fm. And for those looking to purchase the album, that can now be done through iTunes. Enjoy!

The Great Unraveling...

I’m going to be working tonight on the BOAWS top 20 for 07 to be posted tomorrow, and then after that it’s a bit of a Christmas break for the blog for a few days.

In the meantime I upped a couple seven inches from the short lived project The Great Unraveling. The band featured members Anthony Malat (Universal Order of Armageddon), Tonie Joy (Born Against, Convocation Of…, Moss Icon, Universal Order of Armageddon), and Randy Davis (The Uniform). On top of the couple singles featured here, the band did manage to release a full-length record on Kill Rock Stars in 1997, which was self-titled. The full-length is definitely worth picking up if the singles are of interest to anyone out there. It’s more of the same really, which is a nice solid helping of noisy post-punk.

Space Travel 7’’:
The Great Unraveling – Space Travel [MP3]
The Great Unraveling – Left With Only Out [MP3]

The Angel Rang Virtue 7’’:
The Great Unraveling – Burden of Proof [MP3]
The Great Unraveling – Running on Fumes [MP3]

To pick up material from The Great Unraveling head on over to Insound. Now it’s back to work for me. Enjoy!

Replicator - Machines Will Always Let You Down

I look at a song title like “King Shit on Fuck Mountain” (apparently a Mr. Show reference, thanks Sebastian!) and immediately think that this is either going to be really good or really bad. There is no in between with something like that, you know what I mean? It preps me for what is going to be an all or nothing listening experience. However, it’s pretty obvious that if I am writing about it on here then I think it’s pretty damn good. I made the decision when I first started this blog that writing about a bad record is just a waste of time. As if my times really that valuable anyway, because trust me it’s not.

Replicator are from Oakland, CA and Machines Will Always Let You Down is their third album and first for Radio is Down. The Vern Rumsey (Unwound) produced album carries on a theme that is sort of a look see into a world that has gone wrong at the hands of technology. To keep it short, apparently it’s going to be pretty messed up. Although, I am a strong supporter of Replicator’s idea of a sex robot which is mentioned in the lead track “Delicious Fornicake”. I honestly had to listen to this album again as soon as finished it for the first time because I wanted focus completely on the whacked out lyrics, which for many other bands would seem absolutely ridiculous. However, tagged along with Replicator’s own brand of disjointed noise frenzy the lyrics seem completely at home and make what would in most cases be a forgettable theme turn into something that is disturbing and at the same time greatly entertaining.

Musically Replicator is right on the mark as well. Taking cues from the prime days of math-rock and noise-rock, but ultimately sounding as near to a nervous breakdown as singers Conan Neutron and Ben Adrian both do throughout. Machines Will Always Let You Down is a fantastic album that I am very thankful that I heard before the years end. Do check it out.

Replicator – Delicious Fornicake [MP3]
Replicator – Fashionably Latent [MP3]

For those looking to pick this up, please head on over to Radio is Down and do so. It definitely comes recommended.

Bottomless Pit - Hammer of the Gods

After the sad and tragic demise of the great Silkworm, members Tim Midgett and Andy Cohen reconvened to form Bottomless Pit with former Seam drummer Chris Manfrin and .22 bassist Brian Orchard. Over the course of almost two years, the band has been playing shows and writing and recording their debut album Hammer of the Gods, which was recently self-released by the band a little over a month ago on double 12-inch vinyl. The vinyl package also comes with a CD of the music as well, for those lacking a turntable. For many, this album has been greeted with much anticipation and for those that are holding out for a legitimate CD release of the album, recent startup label Comedy Minus One will be taking care of that come November 6th.

Being a fan of Silkworm, and Seam for that matter, I am one of the many that were really looking forward to hearing the album, even though many of the tracks included on it have been available for preview in some form or another for a good while now. Regardless, having them all in one place and hearing them through a proper source (ie: my stereo instead of some cruddy MySpace stream) is magnificent. The wait was by far and away worth it as the songs sound better than I could have ever imagined as they do here on Hammer of the Gods. For those that haven’t heard the band at all to this point, they are a bit less straightforward rock than Silkworm. The songs seem to almost drift along while laying down melodies and hooks that almost make the hair on my arms stand up. Dabbling a bit in the moody/airy qualities of eighties post-punk and combining it with the mid-nineties background that the members of the band played a big part in has created a sure fire winner in Hammer of the Gods. Song’s like “Leave the Light On” and “Human Out of Me” are two in particular that showcase the quality of songwriting that went into making this album. At this point there is no question Hammer of the Gods will somehow find its way into my year end list. It’s simply a great record.

Bottomless Pit – The Cardinal Movements [MP3]

I can’t recommend picking up this album enough. For those looking to order the album, both the vinyl+CD and CD versions can be had over at Comedy Minus One. Keep in mind that the single CD release of the album won’t be available until Nov. 6th; however it’s currently up for preorder at the link that I just provided. So don’t hesitate to pick this up, in whatever format.

Something About Hot Tamales... / The Valley Arena - Sesso.Vita

I always hate not updating this site. In a perfect world I would have the drive to sit down and write something for the blog every day, unfortunately there are just periods where music and writing about it completely becomes stagnant. I don’t know why, I don’t think I really over do it. I remember I over did it on the delicious candy known as Hot Tamales and didn’t eat them for about a year or two after consuming boxes of them since as early as I can remember. That’s a pretty extreme case though and there are some other underlying factors as to why I completely avoided them for so long. But yeah, I guess one could say I’ve been kind of going through what many bloggers eventually go through, and that’s feeling a bit burnt out. So bear with me through the sporadic updating, eventually things will return to a daily to semi-daily routine around here.


I finally got a copy of the new The Valley Arena album Sesso.Vita (Sex/Life) after hearing some tunes online that sounded promising. I wasn’t really familiar with the band beforehand but apparently they have one other album out on Astro Magnetics called Take Comfort in Strangers which came out in ’05, which I’ll admit I haven’t listened to yet. I think I was partly interested in hearing The Valley Arena because Sesso.Vita is coming out on KC based label Anodyne, which is home to the fellow post-punk outfit Roman Numerals and rock vets the Meat Puppets. The Valley Arena aren’t from the Midwest however, they come from the sunny state of California…Long Beach to be exact. Although being from the west coast, it more or less sounds like they grew up on a strong diet of early to mid nineties Dischord. I can see where some might say they that they’ve consumed a bit too much of it, but I can’t say I’ve heard that many records this year that pull it off this nicely. My only complaint is that the album doesn’t sustain itself all the way through as I would have hoped, but all in all it’s a pretty solid record. Their influences reveal themselves fairly easily, but they do well in working into their own sound resulting in some pretty catchy post-punk.

The Valley Arena – Bed [MP3]

For those interested in picking up Sesso.Vita when it comes out on the 23rd of October, be sure to head on over to Anodyne.

SWITCHhiTTER...

Since I’ve pretty much covered both Distorted Pony and Sweet Pea on this blog at some point or another I might as well dedicate a bit of space on here to the project that followed both of those for founder/member David Uskovich in the form of SWITCHhiTTER. The band was comprised of Uskovich, Jason Ward, and Ron Miller. The trio managed to put out one full-length record in ’99 titled Academy, an EP called Fer-de-Lance in 2002, and scattered through there was a single and some compilation tracks. Unfortunately I don’t have the single and the comp tracks, anyone want to hook me up?

As far as SWITCHhiTTER goes, it’s a really close race between Distorted Pony and them to which I like more. It will probably still always be Distorted Pony, as it’s hard to beat out that material However, sometimes SWITCHhiTTER hits me just right to which I begin to think it over a little more and I always end up at that same conclusion, but something that forces that type of decision is obviously doing something right. And that they were, as SWITCHhiTTER ran post-punk through the grinder and tore it to shreds to end up with one nasty sound that essentially made it all the more interesting. The bands music is filled with plenty of out control guitar noise that is driven home with relentlessly pounding deep bass lines that harkens back to the more prominent period of noise/math rock in the early to mid nineties. Some might say it’s dated, oh well. I personally felt like it was a great combination and balance between some of the greater aspects of David U’s previous projects and at that current times musical climate. If anything it’s a lot more reckless and inspired than a lot of the calculated fluff that poses a post-punk today. There is plenty to like here, especially for fans of any of the previous bands. I definitely suggest checking out the tunes below for those that haven’t heard it before.

Academy:
SWITCHhiTTER – Oklahoma! [MP3]
SWITCHhiTTER – Varsity [MP3]

Fer-de-Lance:
SWITCHhiTTER – Empty Mess [MP3]
SWITCHhiTTER – The Story of Eurotrash [MP3]

There are still some used and new copies of both Academy and Fer-de-Lance on Amazon. For the price I definitely recommend picking them up, well worth it. As always enjoy!

Residual Echoes - Firsts

Fresh off the move to Los Angeles, Residual Echoes main man Adam Payne returns with a new lineup once again and the first release since said move. I don’t know why I was expecting something familiar when I first popped in the new EP from Residual Echoes, simply dubbed Firsts. I already knew that anything that comes out on Elevation has the potential to be something completely different than what someone might typically be used hearing, as that’s part of the idea behind it actually for the artists involved. Whether that’s the case or if it was just the move to the west coast, instead of the normal winding psych freakouts and krautrock tendencies, the first couple of songs off the EP greet me with two short cuts that could be best described as heavily influenced by 80’s west coast post-punk/indie-rock. Like I said, pretty different from what I would have expected, however it’s done very well and by the time the bands cover of the Blake Babies “Wipe it Up” comes on, I find am nodding my head, not only in what I guess is some sort of approval but because it’s pretty catchy stuff. The fourth track “Fresh Eyes”, which is probably my favorite of the bunch, reminds me of some of the better jangly and poppy indie-rock to come out the 90’s. The last track on the album steps back into what most fans of the band have come to expect from them, as Payne and the band rip off another 10 minute psych-rock masterpiece. For fans of the band, you won’t be disappointed. However they could be disappointed if they don’t pick this up in time, as this release is limited to just 2000 copies and will not be reprinted in the future. In the meantime, check out the tunes below from the EP.

Residual Echoes – Dosed Clothes [MP3]
Residual Echoes – Fresh Eyes [MP3]

Do pick this up if you’re enjoying the music posted. Firsts can still be had over at Elevation Records.

Start Learning About Roman Numerals...

Being in or around Kansas City, the Roman Numerals and their debut self-titled album for Anodyne Records is one of my most anticipated releases of the year. It’s to be released September 5th, however if you attended the record release party on Aug. 19th, then you probably already have this bad boy.

A little background on Roman Numerals, they are a collection of members who have been in some of KC’s finest bands over the years. Those being Shiner, Season to Risk, and Dirtnap to just name a select few. They were initially brought together when they formed as a Joy Division tribute band named Unknown Pleasures. The success from the group inspired the members to actually begin writing and recording original material, which would in turn end up being Roman Numerals.

The album is pretty much what I was hoping and expecting from the group. Unlike their days as Unknown Pleasures, this doesn’t feature the dark moodiness that comes with being a Joy Division cover band. However, they did indeed keep the overall post-punk influence attached to their music, but breathing new life into it with danceable rhythms and incredibly catchy bass lines. Don’t look to far into that though, as Roman Numerals surely aren’t some feeble stab at disco-punk or entirely rooting themselves in all things retro. No, as would be expected due to many of the members previous outfits, the Roman Numerals bring the rock, however in relatively new and fresh sounding way. Roman Numerals are the classic case of old meets new and this time the end result is something that everyone should be excited about.

Roman Numerals – My Life After Death Pt. 2 [MP3]
Roman Numerals – The Rule of V [MP3]

Be sure to pick this up whenever it is officially released on September 5th through Anodyne Records. For the time being, you can check out more on the band over at their MySpace or their official site. Enjoy!

Our Band Could be Your Life...

While on my way to see the game to big screen adaptation of Silent Hill yesterday, I listened to Mission of Burma's newest album The Obliterati for seemingly the millionth time, which has seriously placed itself among one of my favorite albums of the year thus far by being obscenely catchy. I'll admit, I was never really an avid listener of all things Burma, but this release has me sold as them being a fantastic band and that has me back tracking and listening to their older material all over again. I would have to say the drive to the movie decided it for me as the music was almost entirely perfect for it. I can't say the same for the movie Silent Hill, as it was mediocre...but much like the game. So yeah, The Obliterati > Silent Hill. I highly suggest listening to the album, as I am positive that it will be fighting for the year end top spot, as nerdy as that sounds.

Mission of Burma - Spider's Web [MP3]

Shaping to be another fantastic album, for which I have only recently directed my full on attention to, has been the new Sonic Youth album Rather Ripped. The absence of Jim O'Rourke has changed the overall approach of the band, or maybe not really changed, rather than leaving their sound somewhere in the middle ground of past and what we knew as the present. It's a pleasant album though, with mostly straight forward rock songs, and really is the sort of album that would only be expected from a band that is in its 20th album of pumping out jams. Run out and buy it whenever it's out if you're down with the Youth. If not, you probably should be.

Sonic Youth - Reena [MP3]

Buy Mission of Burma - The Obliterati here!
Buy Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped here!