it was just the drug for me

20.9.10

Samiam - Orphan Works

This is a compilation of rare songs, radio sessions and live tracks from one of my favourite punk bands. I love everything this band has done, and this is no exception, but this is really a fan-only type release. If you never cared for this band before, then this release certainly won't win you over.

Hayden - Everything I Long For

Hayden is an indie singer/songwriter that I'm pretty sure never gained much recognition outside of Canada. After this album was released he became a pretty big deal here, the video for the song "Bad As They Seem" even got tons of airplay on Much Music. I never payed much attention to his work after this (although I did catch him opening for Feist a couple years ago), but this right here is the perfect mix of folk and alternative and it still sounds great.

Envy - Recitation

This is their new one and its pretty rad. My friend Matt turned me on to these guys many years ago and they continue to floor me with each new release. For those of you who've never heard an Envy song, they occupy the grey area between the sounds of Explosions In The Sky and Isis. Go see them on their current tour with Touche Amore, And So I Watched You From Afar and Trash Talk (October 2nd in Toronto).

16.9.10

Tera Melos - Patagonian Rats

Holy fucking shit is this album ever rad. Tera Melos are still as punky, jazzy, mathy and technical as all hell, but now they've added some serious fucking pop hooks to their music and it works. Its like Fang Island, Don Caballero, Battles and The Joggers all rolled into one band. You're gonna want to stop doing whatever the fuck you were doing and jam this album on repeat, it's just so good. I enjoyed the hell out of their Idioms EP from last year, but that barely hinted at the greatness that was to come. I know I probably say this a lot on here, but this is actually the best thing I've heard in a while, it may even end up being the best thing I'll hear this year.

Hot Water Music - Live In Chicago

Hot Water Music - Live In Chicago 1

Hot Water Music - Live In Chicago 2

Hot Water Music - Live In Chicago 3

These are a series of live 7" the band has released on No Idea Records this year. Hot Water Music are one of my favourite bands of all time, and their influence is all over the current landscape of punk. I missed seeing them play Toronto a couple summers back and I really hope they play Ontario again, I know when I saw Chuck perform solo in London he said he'd be back around with Hot Water, so here's to hoping (fingers crossed) because they put on one hell of a show.

Wild Nothing - Evertide EP

New three song offering from Wild Nothing. The lead-off track "Your Rabbitt Feet" is a fucking banger, and is as good or better than anything off the Gemini full-length. 80's pop influenced shoegaze from one of the most exciting acts going.

14.9.10

Torche - Songs for Singles

Torche - Songs for Singles

After releasing one of the best lp's in 2008, Torche are back at it with this little number. Im not sure how I feel about this, being a huge Torche fan with their past 2 albums and EP (wasn't the biggest fan of that split with boris or the other most recent EP they did) Songs aren't as pummeling as their past but they do carry over that pop-sensibility. 3/4 of the songs are under the 2:30 mark but the last 2 jams seem more of a forward progression than a complete turn off. It might take a few listens, it might not.

12.9.10

Crocodiles - Sleep Forever EP

Noisy and catchy rock music from this L.A. duo. These songs have a definite 60's feel to them but filtered through 80's shoegaze and 90's noise rock. Like if MGMT grew some balls and owned a couple Jesus And Mary Chain albums. Their Summer Of Hate album was one of the best of last year, and this EP is pretty fucking great. I bet these guys are big fans of Jason "Spaceman" Pierce. In a perfect world the track "Sleep Forever" would be burning up the charts right now.

The Soft Pack

The Soft Pack - The Muslims

The Soft Pack - S/T

The Soft Pack are a Los Angeles garage rock band that totally fucking slays. They used to play under the name The Muslims but caught a lot of flack for the name and changed to The Soft Pack. The Muslims album is a collection of the bands work under the name The Muslims, and the self titled album was released this year by Kemado Records (The Sword, Saviours, Diamond Nights) and it is ten tracks of extremely tight garage rock jams. If you like Obits, Walking Concert and Jaill then The Soft Pack should make you cream your jeans.

Fu Manchu - (Godzilla's) Eatin' Dust

Released on Man's Ruin Records in the mid 90's this was two EP's combined into one LP. Godzilla is a Blue Öyster Cult cover, and it fucking rules (Josh Homme also provides some additional percussion on the track). The rest of the album is classic desert rock that any fan of stoner metal should dig.

Guided By Voices - Under The Bushes Under The Stars

This was the first GBV record to be recorded in a professional studio. Huge and catchy rock numbers sit right next to tender ballads and it all flows perfectly. Robert Pollard is one of greatest songwriters that the 90's produced, especially when you take into consideration that he was over 30 at this point, and only doing this part-time (he was a school-teacher 9 months of the year). This album was produced in a couple studios with Kim Deal handling production duties on some tracks and Steve Albini the rest. This may not be their best album up to this point, but it sounds the best.

Wives - Erect The Youth Problen

Wives - Erect The Youth Problem

Before they formed No Age, Dean Spunt and Randy Randall were in a little hardcore band called Wives. This is their only full length release as the band was only able to keep it together for a couple years. Erect The Youth Problem was released on Sam James Velde's Cold Sweat Records in 2004 and it is a total blast of noisy and furious hardcore.

The Humpers - Plastique Valentine

Punk rock with a serious rock and roll jones. This came out in the mid 90's on Epitaph Records and it is an absolutely killer album. This contains the song "Mutate With Me" which was one of the stand out tracks on the Punk-O-Rama 2 compilation, and the reason that I picked this up. Lead singer Scott "Deluxe" Drake has the perfect rock and roll snarl, and guitarist Mark "Anarchy" Lee wails all over this thing. Garage punk at it's best.

Iron Chic - Not Like This

Of all the post-Latterman bands I think Iron Chic may be my favourite. Anthemic and fast punk rock with strained and gruff vocals ala Hot Water Music. Seriously catchy jams that any self-respecting punk rocker should be shouting along to while also pumping their fists more furiously than a New Jersey guido. Any fan of Latterman, D4 and HWM should be all over this.

Antidote - Thou Shall Not Kill

The classic NYHC EP fully remastered and re-released by Bridge Nine Records. Originally released in 1983 this EP is one of the best an purest examples of early hardcore music, eight songs in nine minutes and every single one of them rules. If you dig Murphy's Law and the Cro-Mags then you're gonna freak for Antidote.

5.9.10

Enemies - We've Been Talking

Enemies - We've Been Talking

I know I haven't been keeping up with the music game as I should be since moving all my stuff into a spot at Adam's place (Thanks Adam!) and going to live at my girlfriends place for the time being, but what a better time to play catch up than a cold long weekend. Enemies kinda reminds me of Battles with a touch of Maserati. Some serious rocking bass riffs in this and catchy guitar hooks. Most instrumental stuff can be pretty bland, but I cant only imagine ENEMIES being a really awesome live band.

Tweak Bird - S/T

If you liked the psychedelic stoner jams found on their debut Reservations, then expect more of the same here but with a few more twists. This thing is really catchy and poppy, almost as sugary as Torche and Floor, but not quite as doomy, if that makes any sense. Dale Crover (Melvins) and Toshi Kasai (Big Business) produced this and the drums and baritone guitar sound absolutely massive.

Howl - Full Of Hell

Great sludgy metal from this Providence Rhode Island four piece. Full Of Hell is a very impressive debut packed with some seriously pummeling jams. Slow, heavy, and corrosive riffs are all over this beast. If you dig High On Fire, Mastodon, and Kylesa then check out Howl.

Kvelertak - S/T

This album is a fucking rager. Kvelertak are a band out of Oslo who take elements of punk, rock, hardcore, and black metal and seamlessly blend them together. Unlike a lot of Scandinavian metal bands, Kvelertak's songs aren't sung in english, but in their native tongue. This was recorded by Kurt Ballou and like everything else he's done it sounds fucking incredible. Extra credit must be given to Kurt because Kvelertak has three guitarists and each one of their parts is distinguishable, which is no easy feat. I can't say enough good things about this album, it's one of the best I've heard all year.

4.9.10

Chromeo- Business Casual

Here yah go Tom