After 5 years the Finnish neo folk duo that is Kings Of Convenience are back with an album that was worth the wait. These guys are like a 21ist century Simon and Garfunkel
25.11.09
Pinhead Gunpowder - Goodbye Ellston Avenue
Collaboration between Billie Joe Armstrong and Aaron Cometbus. Really great pop-punk. Sounds like Green Day (pre-1994) mixed with Crimpshrine.
Various Artists - As A Matter Of Fact
This is the Bad Taste Records version of this release (the US one was put out by Fearless and contained 3 Strung Out tracks...If anyone has that hit me up in the comments). Anyway this is a four-way split between the Satanic Surfers, Trigger Happy, Ill Repute and Good Riddance with each band doing three songs. All the tracks are fast and aggressive punk/hardcore. The Trigger Happy songs are some of the best they ever recorded.
24.11.09
These Arms Are Snakes
These Arms Are Snakes are one of the best bands going right now. I've only seen them live once (when they toured with the Blood Brothers behind This Is Meant To Hurt You) but it was fucking rad. Every release is real good (Tail Swallower was probably my favourite release of last year) but Easter is my personal favourite of theirs.
***Password: dudebro***
23.11.09
Zero Down - With A Lifetime To Pay
Released on Fat in 2001, this is the last recorded works of Jim Cherry (RIP). Jim was a founding member of both Pulley and Strung Out, and in my opinion wrote most of those bands best song (quality dropped way off after he left both groups). Great melodic punk-rock. I saw these guys with Death By Stereo, Rise Against and Sick Of It All on the last Sno-Jam tour here in London and it was a great time. I guess they have an unreleased LP with Shawn Dewey from Lagwagon on second guitar that I would love to hear.
I Against I - Headcleaner
Awesome melodic punk-rock. The sound is similar to the mid-90's Bay Area greats, like if Jawbreaker and Samiam had a Dutch bastard child.
face to face - standards & practices
This was released by the band during that forgettable period where they "matured" as artists, and were no longer content being branded a "punk" band. This release was also intended for foreign markets only (i.e. not the USA), but being that I am Canadian this shit was in every record store. This is a cover album and the song choices are top-notch. They do a pretty good job covering The Smiths, INXS, Fugazi, Jawbreaker, The Psychedelic Furs, The Pixies, The Ramones, The Jam, The Pogues, Sugar, Duran Duran, and Big Country.
22.11.09
Dillinger Four
Fun catchy melodic punk rock from the American midwest. 'Civil War' was one of my favourite releases of last year, but their debut full length, 'Midwestern Songs Of The Americas', is still my favourite. They have a loyal fan-base that includes Frankie Stubbs, Fat Mike and The Hold Steady who actually reference them in the song "Constructive Summer" off their most recent album Stay Positive.
Turbonegro - Apocalypse Dudes
This is the European remastered version of the album that was released in 2007. Sounds even better than ever. This release also contains as bonus tracks the 7" version of "Prince Of The Rodeo", as well as a cover of Bowie's "Suffragette City". Recommended to anyone who likes getting totally rad.
The Dukes Of Statosphear - Chips From The Chocolate Fireball
This is just XTC recording 60's psychedelic music under a pseudonym. If you dig the more experimental side of The Beach Boys, as well as the proto-punk garage rock of The Count Five and The Sonics then you'll love this.
Real Estate - Self Tilted
Breezy indie rock out of New Jersey. Lots of tunes about summer. If you liked the Girls album then you'll probably enjoy this. These dudes are label mates with Meneguar and this reminds me of their "The In Hour" album, with some bits of Pavement thrown in (albeit just a little more lo-fi).
Sunday's Best - Poised To Break
A great release from polyvinyl's early 00's heyday. I feel like this band isn't talked about that much, which is a shame because they're really great. Emotional rock music, executed really well. Lots of melody. After they broke up the members went on to The Bronx, The Little Ones, and The Jealous Sound.
Rival Schools - United By Fate
Walter Schriefels can do no wrong in my books. I celebrate the man's entire career. Rival Schools play great effects driven rock music that definitely should have been a lot more popular than it was. One of the best shows that I've ever seen was Rival Schools with Hot Water Music at the Shelter in Detroit, just thinking about it now puts a smile on my face.
21.11.09
Saves The Day - Through Being Cool
This month marks the 10 year anniversary of this album's release and it still sounds pretty good. After it's release and subsequent success "Through Being Cool" spawned a million imitators, not many of which are still remembered today. Every track on this thing is a banger, there isn't one dud to be found on here.
V/A - Creepy Crawl Live
A great comp from Another Planet Records. Some choice cuts on here from Murphy's Law, Skarhead, Warzone, Merauder and 25 TA Life. All tracks were recorded at Coney Island High (except Killing Time, their track was recorded at CBGB's) in NYC, which was owned by Jimmy G from Murphy's Law.
face to face - Econo Live
I remember buying a couple of these out-of-print records 10 years ago when RevHQ found a box lying around their warehouse. By no means essential but a pretty cool release from one of my favourite punk bands. Here is what the back cover says:
"In the early spring of 1996, we had a whole bunch of material ready for our next record. Since we had never played the songs for anybody, we decided to take them out on the road before going into the studio. We played a week's worth of semi-secret shows at some tiny little clubs from Chicago to New York and points in-between. Then we decided to record it all. You are holding the results in your hand."
20.11.09
Broccoli
Great emotionally charged Scottish punk/indie band from the 90's. Definitely very similar to Leatherface, which is cool because Frankie Stubbs produced a lot of their stuff. The vocals are not quite as gruff as Leatherface, but are definitely not considered clean by anyone's standards. Really good stuff.
Sagittarius
More great psych-pop from Curt Boettcher and Gary Usher. Sagittarius was their group after The Millennium. Present Tense was heavily influenced by the Beach Boys, Bruce Johnston even sings back-ups on a couple tracks. The coolest part of Present Tense is that Glen Campbell (country superstar and alcoholic) sang lead vocals on the "hit" My World Fell Down. The Blue Marble contains a pretty sweet cover of the Beach Boys' "In My Room", and some of the first usage of a moog synthesizer in pop music.
The Millennium
Great psych-pop from Curt Boettcher and Gary Usher. Curt wrote and produced for The Association (including their best song "Along Comes Mary") and Gary wrote with Brian Wilson (In My Room) and produced The Byrds "Sweetheart Of The Rodeo" album (among others). If you at all liked The Zombies album posted last week, then do yourself a favor and grab these albums.
16.11.09
By The Grace Of God
By The Grace Of God- Three Steps To A Better Democracy
By The Grace Of God- Perspective
By The Grace Of God- For The Love Of Indie Rock
Great political hardcore from Louisville, KY members of this went on to do Black Cross
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