I Spoke – Autobiography

I picked this CD up on a chance while flicking through the CDs at Beatdisc one day. Despite the horrible cover art, I took it home.

I Spoke are a female fronted emotionally driven post-hardcore/screamo from Canada with a political edge. This CD compiles tracks from their side of splits with Beaumont Hamel and Panserbjorne (neither of which I have herd of before) and unreleased tracks.

Plenty of melody under the chaos and I’m a sucker for female fronted bands like this.

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

Incubus – Fungus Amongus

Nu funk? Fucking horrible.

Ida Maria – Fortress Around My Heart

 ‘Fortress Around My Heart’ is the debut album by Norwegian Ida Maria. When this came out this didn’t leave my CD player for a while.

The opening track ‘Oh My God’ is my pick off the album, but there is plenty indie pop here to enjoy here. 

Chuck Ragan – Covering Ground LP (black / ???)

The list of people contributing on this LP is long! The main performers alongside Chuck are Jon Gaunt and Joe Ginsbery.

For the most part, these songs seem to be love songs for Mrs Ragan, or maybe his beard.  

Another great solo effort that shines above the abundance of punk frontman turned solo acoustic.

In Time – Daily Commute

Youth crew hardcore punk via Juiceboxdotcom. I’ve listened to this album a handful of times and nothing has really stuck with me. Free download.

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

            http://juiceboxdotcom.com/recordingco/jb032/

I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness - I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness 12” (black / ???)

Produced by Britt Daniel of Spoon, I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness play angular indie rock with, at times, gothic and new wave tendencies.

FFO: Joy Division and Spoon

Website: http://www.chosendarkness.com/

I Rise/Soul Control – Split 7” (black / ???)

I found this 7” while digging through the bargain bin at Missing Link and picked it up for the Soul Control side. After hearing a little about them and their name thrown around a bit I thought I should check them out.

Both bands play hardcore with melody and post-hardcore influences. Soul Control is the ‘harder’ of the two, comparable to 108. I Rise take the more heart felt/passionate route to their style of hardcore.

Worth checking out.

FFO: Bane, 108 and Verse

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

            http://www.myspace.com/irisehc

Bomb The Music Industry! – Vacation LP (clear/pink split / 500)

‘Vacation’ is the sixth album from Jeff Rosenstock’s spazzed out project. This time the band has ‘matured’. ‘Vacation’ is BTMI leaving its twenties and entering into its thirties but not letting go of the party.

The album seems a little more thought out, allowing for the song writing to shine while the ‘let’s-see-how-spastic-this-song-can-get’ moments have taken a back seat for the most part. BTMI continue to progress and become a better band/project/collective/whatever.

‘Vacation’ is the first record to be pressed on Really Records, and the label has done a great job. The record is housed in a beautiful gatefold jacket and the artwork and the vinyl looks super sweet. You can find this, as well as all the other BTMI albums and other great music, for a pay what you like (aka free) download at Quote Unquote Records.

FFO: Weezer, Arrogant Sons of Bitches and summer

Website: www.reallyrecords.com/

            http://quoteunquoterecords.com/

            http://www.facebook.com/bombthemusicindustry?fref=ts

            http://bombthemusicindustry.tumblr.com/