28.2.10

The Hold Steady - A Positive Rage




Live album released last April. It was recorded at the tail end of the Boys And Girls In America touring cycle, so it's heavy on songs from that album. There is a rad version of the Stay Positive outtake/bonus track "Ask Her For Adderall" on here as well, and key tracks from Almost Killed Me and Separation Sunday.


As an added bonus here is The Hold Steady's version of the Bruce Springsteen track "Atlantic City" off his Nebraska album. The song was recorded for the War Child Presents: Hereos comp that was released last year.

27.2.10

Good Vibrations Box Set













What can I say here. A nice little 5 disc set from my all-time favourite band. This box set was released in 1993 and chronicles 30 years of the Beach Boys' music. It's all here, everything from the 1963 "Surfin" demo all the way up to 1988's #1 smash hit "Kokomo". Disc 2 contains a bunch of previously unreleased Smile tracks that really illustrate the genius of Brian Wilson. Sure Brian became a drug-crazed maniac, but only after his cousin Mike Love totally crushed his ego by derailing the Smile sessions in 1967. Mike Love robbed the world of one of it's greatest songwriters and voices, and for that he can never be forgiven. Fuck Mike Love.

26.2.10

Sweet Apple - Do You Remember?




This is just one song (from the forthcoming album titled Love & Desperation due April 20th from Tee Pee Records), but man is it ever fucking awesome. It's all I've been listening to this week. John Petrovik (vocals/guitar) and Tim Parnin (guitar) both from Cobra Verde along with Dave Sweetapple (bass) from Witch and J. Mascis (vocals/guitar/drums) playing tight fucking power-pop. If this song is any indication, then this is going to be one of the year's best albums. I can't wait for this album to be released.

25.2.10

In Cold Blood



































Back in the day Victory Style 2 & 3 were pretty much the bible to me and my friends. This is a golden nugget of Clevo hardcore that i was first introduced to on Victory Style 3. You know after hearing "Hell On Earth" again I think I'm going to have to side with Cleveland over New York.

24.2.10

Thin Lizzy
















The best band to ever come out of Dublin, Ireland (fuck U2). The only black man the Irish people love more than Phil Lynott is Jesus Christ. Phil was the fucking man and he wrote some of the 70's most killer jams. The twin guitar assault of Brian Robertson and Phil Gorham (that would become the bands calling card) was in place by 1975's Fighting LP, and the following year the band released their magnum opus Jailbreak. Fuck is that album ever good. The guitar lines are fucking incredible, Phil's bass playing is next-level and drummer Brian Downey holds it all together with his hard-hitting style (and just the right amount of flash). Jailbreak is the perfect slab of 70's hard rock that was often imitated but never duplicated, even by Thin Lizzy. Thats not to say that the albums following Jailbreak sucked, they just struggled in the vast shadow of the album. That said every album (before and after Jailbreak) has it's moment of greatness.

This is by no means a complete discography of the band. They had a couple albums before and after that are worth checking out. Presented here is my favourite era of the band, from 1973 to 1979. From when they started getting good (Vagabonds), to when they started to drop off (after the Live And Dangerous LP).

23.2.10

Leatherface - The Stormy Petrel




If you're at all familiar with Leatherface you'll already know that they are one one the best and most influential punk rock bands. Ever. They've been together since 1988 and have released 8 full lengths, a number of 7"s, and several side projects. This being their newest release (it came out today), I'm still not sure how I feel about this album. It contains one song ("Isn't Life Just Sweet") that was recorded as an instrumental for, I believe, the BYOB Hot Water Music split, but was never included on the actual record.

Knapsack








Dark, dynamic and catchy indie rock. These guys released three amazing albums on Alias Records (home to Archers Of Loaf). Sergie Loobkoff from Samiam joined the band after the release of the Day Three Of My New Life album. After Knapsack called it quits frontman Blair Shehan started The Jealous Sound. I've heard that Blair has become a shut-in in recent years, essentially going bat-shit crazy. I guess that would explain why there hasn't been any activity in the Jealous Sound camp for quite some time. Regardless, these three albums are all classic mid 90's emo/indie that should be heard and loved by everyone.

Solea








Garret Klahn from Texas Is The Reason and Sergie Loobkoff from Samiam/Knapsack (with Scott McPherson from Sense Field on drums) creating huge-sounding guitar rock. I saw these guys opening up for The Exit/Murder By Death in Hamtramck, Michigan before the S/T was released and they were fucking flawless. They sound like what you'd expect them to: Anthemic indie rock with the energy of punk and hooks for fucking days. These guys wrote some seriously catchy jams.

22.2.10

Seam










Indie band formed in 1991 by former Bitch Magnet frontman Sooyoung Park (along with Lexi Mitchell also of Bitch Magnet). The first incarnation of the band had Superchunk leader Mac McCaughan on drums. Over the course of their existence Seam was plagued by line-up changes and internal friction which lead to the their early demise. Seam utilized the quiet/loud formula of the Pixies and mixed it with revolution-summer era D.C. bands. If you dig The Promise Ring, Rites Of Spring and Superchunk then check these guys out, you won't be disappointed.

21.2.10

The Afghan Whigs
















The Afghan Whigs were one of the first non-Seattle bands signed to Sub-Pop Records (after they self-released their debut Big Top Halloween). Frontman Greg Dulli not only has one of the best voices in rock and roll, he is also one of the best lyricists. The bands sound almost defies categorization, they mix post-punk with grunge and soul to create a totally original and unique sound. After the Congregation album the band signed to Elektra Records and released their most popular album Gentlemen, which contained the hit "Debonair". After Gentlemen the band moved into darker and slower territory before breaking up in 2001. They reformed in 2006 to record two new songs for the best-of Unbreakable. During their existence they recorded a number of covers (most of them being classic soul songs from the 60's), my favourite being their version of The Clash's "Lost In The Supermarket".

Giants Chair






Great midwestern emo from the 90's. Both these albums were released by Caulfield Records and are long out-of-print. I first heard of this band after Cave In covered them, and from various Steve Brodsky interviews where he proclaimed his love for them (his side-project band Kid Kilowatt sounds like a carbon copy of Giants Chair). If you dig Indian Summer, Boys Life, and Mineral then you should be all over this stuff.

Engineer






Syracuse, NY metal band signed to Unearth singer Trevor Phipps' Ironclad Recordings label. These guys put on a super intense live show. If you like Botch, The Minor Times or Achilles this is right up your alley.

FAR






Recently reunited mid 90's post-hardcore band. If you dig Hum, Quicksand, and the Deftones than you should be able to appreciate Far. Singer Jonah Matranga went to be in New End Original, Onelinedrawing, and Gratitude while guitarist Shaun Lopez formed the Revolution Smile who released one shitty album on Fred Dursts' label.

The Loved Ones










One of my favourite current punk rock bands. I was a fan of Dave Hause's pre Loved Ones band The Curse (they killed it when they opened for Trial By Fire at CTO), and that was the main reason I checked out their Jade Tree records debut EP. Anthemic and hard charging tunes played by dudes who are true punk rock lifers. This band keeps evolving and getting better with each release. Build And Burn was one the best releases of 2008 and I can't wait for the follow-up to be released.

Vision - Watching The World Burn




This New Jersey punk/hardcore band's Epitaph Records debut. From the second I heard the song "Close Minded" I knew these guys were on to something. Todd Hamilton, formerly of Warzone, played guitar on this album and he blazes wicked solos all over this thing. Lots of catchy tunes.

19.2.10

Doug Martsch - Now You Know




First (and only) solo album from Doug Martsch. With the exception of his distinct voice, this sounds almost nothing like any other project from Mr. Martsch. Great bluesy (mostly) acoustic folk music that really showcases how talented Doug is on the guitar and at songwriting.

School Of Seven Bells - Alpinisms




Debut album. Formed after Ben Curtis (Secret Machines) met the Deheza twins (Alejandra and Claudia formerly of the band On! Air! Library!) while on tour with Interpol. This reminds me of that Frou Frou album.

Dinosaur Jr - Ear-Bleeding Country




I just realized that this wasn't included with the previous Dinosaur Jr post. If you're a fan of the band then you've heard everything on here, but if you've never bothered to check this band out (if you haven't, what's wrong with you?), this best of is a good starting point.

18.2.10

Crooked Fingers

Crooked Fingers - Reservoir Songs EP

Crooked Fingers - Bring On The Snakes

When Archers of Loaf disbanded in 1998, frontman Eric Bachmann went on to a solo career with Crooked Fingers. When he tours, he might play solo or with a full band, sometimes joined by members of Archers of Loaf. Either way, it's always great to hear his voice on anything.