Assassins 88 / TV Colours – Split 7” (black)

I was beyond excited to pick up this 7” from the record store! As soon as I was shown these bands I was hooked (thanks Max). To find them together on wax is great. 

Assassins 88 are a two-piece from  Canberra playing fun, danceable and upbeat indie rock (I have no clue how to explain what this is). They are extremely raw and stripped back.

TV Colours is a one man band who is just as raw as Assassins 88 but almost shoegaze at times.  

I highly recommend this split!

Assassins 88: http://www.facebook.com/assassassins?sk=app_178091127385

TV Colours: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/tvcolours

The Wonder Years / Fallen From The Sky – Under The Influence #13 Split 7” (clear blue)

I picked this up for my girlfriend from the record store. She crazy for anything Wonder Years related.
 

The Wonder Years cover ‘Zip Lock’ by Lit. I’ve never herd of Lif before so I’m not sure if this cover is pulled off well but this song is from their album ‘A Place In The Sun’. I’m going to have to try and find this album and give it a listen. 

Fallen From The Sky cover ‘This Is A Call’ by Foo Fighters. I’ve never herd of Fallen From The Sky before, but their name is horrible. This cover is almost like the original song. It would’ve been nice to hear Fallen From The Sky put their own spin on it (whatever that is).

Each band also gives an explanation for their choice of song.    

Comadre/Glasses – Split

Comadre posted this split for free download which you can find here.

Comadre play hardcore punk rock and hail from the USA. Glasses come from Germany and play mental, female fronted hardcore. This is definitely worth checking out!

Comadre FFO: Dangers

Website: http://www.myspace.com/comadre

Glasses FFO: Punch, Rise and Fall

Website: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/glasseshc

Comadre are also playing in my state (NSW) this weekend which I am siked about. Hopefully they brought a hardcopy of this split with them to sell.

Give Up The Ghost – We’re Down Til We’re Underground

This is such a great record! Passionate and honest hardcore. There is a lot of branching out in sound here and that has turned a lot of people off this record, but I guess that’s one of the reasons why I like this record so much.

Give Up The Ghost – Year One

Give Up The Ghost (or American Nightmare) are one of those classic hardcore bands of more recent times. This compilation album documents the first year of the band (duh!) and EPs and rarities from that time. This album is full of reasons why you need to listen to this band.

FFO: Refused, Go It Alone

Giving Chase – A Cheap Print Of A Masterpiece

Like the EP I posted about before this is more of the same melodic hardcore with a technical edge to it. Still with a Boy Sets Fire vibe to the sound. But I’m not complaining, I like Boy Sets Fire.

Giving Chase – Nothing Ever Changes

Melodic hardcore that is very much in the vein of ‘After The Eulogy’.

Website: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/givingchase

FFO: Boy Sets Fire, Avail

The Glass Menagerie – EP

This is messy sounding pop punk with synth from Boston. I downloaded this and would rather have used those downloads somewhere else. 

Website: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Glass-Menagerie/68537397150

Abraxis – Demo

I received a download of this demo along with a few other tracks when I ordered Abraxis’ self-titled LP from Midnight Funeral.

Abraxis is a one man (Andy Wounds) Holy Terror band from the Sunshine Coast. This sounds pure evil.

Website: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/ABRAXIS-HOLY-TERROR/119219044782450?sk=info

FFO: Integrity, Ringworm and Mindsnare

Blonde Redhead – 23

I picked this up a free promo version of this album from the record store. Its just a cardboard jacket and the disc.

This is a pretty and beautiful sounding album, but I feel it is abit lost on me. At times I thought it became boring and dragging. 

Website: http://blonde-redhead.com/

FFO: Flaming Lips

The Gifthorse / The Phoenix Foundation – Split 7” (green)

This is a split with Queensland’s The Gifthorse and Finland’s The Phoenix Foundation. Each band has 2 songs each to offer.

After seeing The Phoenix Foundation’s name around and hearing a song on a Poison City Records comp this was my first real introduction to the band. Think 90’s melodic punk rock and Hot Water Music. These songs are really good and catchy but come off second best to The Gifthorse. I am alittle bias when it comes to The Gifthorse but their songs just seem to get better and better.

The Gifthorse’s song ‘Awake and Waiting is probably the best song on this piece of green wax.

The Gifthorse – From The Floor Up EP

This would have to be my favourite Gifthorse release and has gotten countless spins. These songs are so catchy and get stuck in my head for days on end. There is a great cover of Spy vs Spy’s ‘Don’t Tear It Down’ as well. You need this band in your life.

I also did an interview with The Gifthorse and Polar Bear Club for a zine that fell through. I might chuck that up here when I get round to it and can be fucked.

They are playing some Brissy shows at the moment as well that I wish I had enough money and time off work to go to.

Website: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Gifthorse/26573057487

The Gifthorse – The Gifthorse

The Gifthorse are one of my favourite Australian bands. They play melodic punk rock. Unfortunately these guys have broken up now but members now play in Headaches and Fires of Waco. They are reforming to play The Poison City Weekender this year which I am extremely excited about!

FFO: Hot Water Music, Jawbreaker and Samiam

Girls – Album

Dreamy power pop.  I slept on this album for a while before borrowing it from a friend and then I fell hard for this band. The lead singer/songwriter, Christopher Owen also grew up in the Children of God cult which sounds pretty intense.

FFO: Elvis Costello, Beach Boys, pizza and red wine

Billy Wallace and the Virginia Blues - Lesser Lights

Good and honest alt-folk/country from Cincinnati, OH. These songs are pretty darn good. I’ve spun this about 3 times tonight and I’m getting pretty into it.

Another reason to listen to this EP is Billy Wallace plays in Tim Barry’s backing band, which automatically gets my stamp of approval.

Find this up for download on Death To False Hope Records.

Website: http://www.facebook.com/thevirginiablues

FFO: Tim Barry, Bright Eyes, The Wading Girl

gates – The Sun Will Rise and Lead Me Home

Another great album up for free download from Death To False Hope Records. gates play emotionally driven and delicate emo-rock. There is a really good flow between songs on this EP and I’m craving more!

Check this band out!

Website: http://gatesnj.com/

FFO: American Football, Elliott, Mineral

Ghosts of Television - Furthest Village From The Sun

Experimental post rock from Sydney. The songs are eerie and haunting with a punk edge.

I only have a burnt CD that one of the member’s sisters gave me years ago. Check this band out if you are looking for something arty and different.

Ghost Town – The Way The World Ends

This is a pretty solid EP from this band from the Gold Coast. Frantic, chaotic and dark metallic hardcore. I’m out of touch with what this band has done lately, but they have an album out called ‘Calamities’ which I have yet to get my hands on.

The Get Up Kids – There Are Rules

I put off buying this CD for a while until I found it for dirt cheap second hand. The Get Up Kids began to shift their sound with ‘Simple Science’ and this album is along the same lines. I don’t mind this record or their direction, I mean they aren’t teenagers from Kansas anymore. There are some good hooks and ideas here, but I found myself getting a bit bored at times and zoning out.

The Get Up Kids – Simple Science 12” (pink 1912/2000)

After a long break between releases The Get Up Kids released this EP this year. I put off pre-ordering this because I didn’t know what to expect and I didn’t want to be disappointed.

This record is different from previous Get Up Kids releases. They are progressing into more of an indie rock band. There are some pretty good hooks in here but it did take a while for these four songs to grow on me.

I’m glad that The Get Up Kids released this EP before their album ‘There Are Rules’. It acts as a taste of what’s to come.