it was just the drug for me

13.7.10

Abe Vigoda - Skeleton

Abe Vigoda emerged from the same L.A. scene that produced the bands No Age and Health (Skeleton was even released on Dean Spunt from No Age's PPM label). Abe Vigoda's sound has been described as arty, noisy and tropical punk music. If you like No Age, Tanlines and Male Bonding then check out this 2008 release.

Neon Neon - Stainless Style

Neon Neon is producer Boom Bip and Super Furry Animals' frontman Gruff Rhys. Stainless Style is a concept album about the life of automaker John De Lorean (maker on the DMC-12, the time machine in Back To The Future). The first half of the album is super catchy 80's style synth-pop, the second half is dark synth-pop (with many guest appearances from hip-hop artists including Fat Lip, Yo Majesty and members of Spank Rock). Every song brings something special to the plate, and the album as a whole is totally fucking rad.

Tame Impala - Innerspeaker

Australian psych-rock band that is creating some serious buzz. Frontman Kevin Parker's voice reminds me of John Lennon in a big way. Musically these guys create dreamy, fuzzy and melodic psychedelic rock that sounds like Peppers-era Beatles mixed with Brian Jonestown Massacre. This beast was recorded by the band in a ramshackle beach-front studio and mixed by frequent Flaming Lips collaborator Dave Fridmann. This band makes me want to eat shrooms again.

12.7.10

The Dodos - Time To Die

The Dodos are a three piece that play intricate and extremely percussive indie rock. Guitarist Meric Long has two of the busiest hands I've ever heard and drummer Logan Kroeber slams the skins like he is Neil Peart's bastard son. Time To Die was produced by Phil Ek and any fan of The Forms, Fleet Foxes and The Shins will find something to like here.

Beatsteaks - Launched

This is the debut full-length album from this German hardcore band. Launched was released by Epitaph records in 2000. After the release of this album they became mega-stars in Germany, selling out arenas and headlining festivals. Their sound on this album was like a cross between Refused and The Foo Fighters: Big rock songs rooted in hardcore.

Off With Their Heads - In Desolation

New album from these Minnesota punks, and their first for Epitaph Records. More of the same gruff and melodic punk with ultra bleak lyrics. This is the best thing Epitaph has released in a long time.

10.7.10

The Drums

The Drums - Summertime! EP

The Drums - S/T

If you enjoy any aspect of 80's dance rock, then you will totally love The Drums. Super catchy indie rock that references New Order, The Cure and The Psychedelic Furs but still somehow manages to sound fresh. This is great, upbeat and fun summertime music. These guys are a big deal in the UK, but don't get talked about much over here which is a shame because in a perfect world these guys would be huge. Are some of the lyrics cheesy? Fuck yeah but who gives a shit, these guys are one of the best 80's throwbacks I've ever heard and last time I checked every aspect of the 80's was fucking cheesy so don't sweat it.

8.7.10

Good Riddance - Capricorn One

This is the latest (and final?) release from one of my boyhood favs. This is a rarities compilation that contains a lot of their out-of-print single and split tracks, my favourites being the two tracks from the split with Ignite, and some never before released tracks. Great melodic hardcore.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - S/T

Debut from this Philadelphia/Brooklyn indie band. They went from being a band nobody had heard of to the most talked about indie band in America, seemingly overnight. This self-released album eventually sold over 100,000 copies in America alone. The sound of this band is Talking Heads mixed with Modest Mouse. You know you've hit the big-time when both Davids (Byrne and Bowie) are spotted at your gigs. The track "The Skin Of My Yellow Country Teeth" is a total banger.

Surfer Blood - Astro Coast

I meant to post this a couple of months ago, but never got around to it until now. The hype machine that was surrounding these guys seems to have totally died down now, but 4-5 months ago every publication known to man was swinging from these dudes' nut sacks. Its a good record, a really amazing debut, but its far from the second coming. The best way to describe Surfer Blood is "Vampire Weekend with fuzz pedals".

5.7.10

Wild Nothing - Gemini

This was released a couple of months ago on the Blank Dogs label Captured Tracks. Wild Nothing is the work of one man, Jack Tatum, who plays everything. If you like The Cure and My Bloody Valentine but wish both bands used more synth then Wild Nothing is for you. Some really sad songs played with lots of melody that will be swimming around in your head for days after you hear them (not unlike the most recent M83 album). This record is owning my life right now, its so fucking good.

Top Surprise - Everything Must Go

Another totally rad Brazilian band. Top Surprise play fuzzy lo-fi indie punk that reminds me of The G, The Pixies and early Dinosaur Jr. mixed together. This was a free download from Transfusão Noise Records (as was the Babe Florida EP) and its totally killer, even if I have no idea what the fuck they are singing about.

Minutemen - Double Nickels On The Dime

43 tracks of jazzy, intricate and original punk rock from the kings of San Pedro. This one famously contains the song "Corona" which would later be used as the theme song for the hit MTV show Jackass. D. Boon was an unbelievable talent that died way too young. Every album by the Minutemen is totally rad, but for the uninitiated, there is no better place to start than right here.

Schleprock - (America's) Dirty Little Secret

This band started out on Dr. Strange records in the early 90's, but released this album in 1996 on a major-label. Great punk rock that any fan of Rancid, The Bouncing Souls and 22 Jacks will surely dig. Since it came out in the mid 90's there are a couple ska-influenced tracks, but other than that this thing is a rad blast of pure punk rock.

Jughead's Revenge - Image Is Everything

Classic west coast melodic punk rock. Some would argue that this is their best album (I prefer Just Joined) and every track on here is real rager. Just listen to "The People's Pal" or "Tearing Down The World" and try not to circle-pit around the room, its impossible.

Silkworm - Developer

Second (and last) album by these dudes to be released on Matador Records. Steve Albini was behind the boards once again for this one. As always Andy Cohen just fucking tears it up on the guitar and his song "Never Met A Man I Didn't Like" (which references borrowing money from Matador boss Gerard Cosloy to procure the company of a lady) ranks among one of the best the band ever wrote/recorded.

Hüsker Dü - Flip Your Wig

This was the bands last album on SST Records, released right after they jumped ship for the greener pastures of the majors (Warner Bros.). This album contains one of the bands best songs in "Makes No Sense At All" and has all the pop-hooks and punk energy that the band will forever be famous for. This was also the bands second full-length released in 1985, coming only a couple months after the release of New Day Rising.

Babe Florida - Vol. 1

I don't know much about this band because everything written about them online is in Portuguese, what I do know is that they play really great laid-back lo-fi punk rock and that they are from Rio De Janeiro. Short fuzzy and fun songs like Sonic Youth, but with a real sun soaked vibe. Eight songs in eight minutes, these guys aren't fucking around.

1.7.10

End of a Year - You Are Beneath Me

Download

I know this album has been on every blog so far, but I am going to explain why it is so good from my point of view. First of all, deathwish has released some pretty sub-par albums in the last while, lots of bands sounding the same. End of a Year has that DC post hardcore vibe and it's very obvious when you see them live. The band I was in at the time played a few shows with them in PA and in their home town Albany (which was a free show and barely anyone came out). The Albany show was a flop and Pat (the singer) gave my band 20 dollars out of his own wallet and a place to stay. Very sincere guy.

Pat loves to express his opinions on certain subjects which take more time up then the music they play. The lyrics are fantastic however, this album isn't for everyone. Give it a few listens and let me know what you think.

Armalite

Armalite - Self Titled

Dan Yemin is one of those guys that everything he touches turns to gold. I don't know how much of a role he actually plays in writing these tunes (he plays bass in this band, instead of guitar), but you can definitely hear his influence in certain tracks. The band also features the 6-year-old soundalike vocals of Atom Goren from Atom and his Package. This record is undeniably catchy and in the five years since it was recorded, it still feels fresh. This self-titled was recorded in a completely analogue domain at Philadelphia's Permanent Hearing Damage studio by Steve Roche. And to my knowledge, it's the only thing this band has released.