If new
Saves The Day and The Mars Volta were to get together this would be the result.
Not a fan.
Website: http://www.portugaltheman.com/
Monday, December 3, 2012
Cheap Girls – Ruby 7” (black 244/500)
The B-side
is ‘Living Like Hell’.
FFO:
Dinosaur Jr and Lemuria
Cheap Girls – Giant Orange LP (black / 200)
Upon first
listen of ‘Giant Orange’ I wasn’t instantly grabbed like I have been with their
past records, ‘Find Me A Drink Home’ and ‘My Roaring 20’s’. However, I hung in
there and the album grew on me.
Recorded by
Against Me!’s Laura Jane Grace, the sound is a lot more professional and
slick. It doesn’t sound like it was recorded in a hot boxed room. I don’t really
like that. I want these tracks to be covered in a haze of cigarette smoke.
That’s my only real complaint. Be patient with ‘Giant Orange’
and you will be rewarded.
FFO:
Dinosaur Jr and Lemuria
Monday, November 26, 2012
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
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
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 / ???)
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
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
Monday, November 19, 2012
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/
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Basement – I Wish I Could Stay Here LP (black / 500)
I was
flicking through the Midnight Funeral distro at the Australia Day show at The
Tote and stumbled across this LP for a very reasonable price. Basement’s EP ‘Songs
About The Weather’ received some heavy play (thanks Kyle) and I had only herd
good things about this LP so I picked it up.
The songs
on this album are more thought out and written with a little more confidence
than those on the EP, helping to set them apart from the other 90’s emo/punk
revival bands around at the moment. This album slowly worked its way into my
head and has refused to leave.
Basement
are now on hiatus.
FFO:
Daylight, Balance and Composure and Title Fight
Website: http://iwishicouldstayhere.com/
I Killed The Prom Queen – Music For The Recently Deceased
I made a
legitimate attempt to properly listen to this. I was restless and frustrated
the whole way through. I don’t know why I did that to myself. I think I just
wanted to prove that I could.
Also, when
this album came out all the local bands used to cover ‘Sharks In Your Mouth’. It
was horrible. Every damn show there was a band playing that fucking song. It
sucked.
I Killed The Prom Queen – Your Past Comes Back To Haunt You
When you’re
15 you listen to some stupid things.
The Menzingers – Chamberlain Waits
‘Chamberlain
Waits’ is the second album from The Menzingers. This is some of the best punk
rock that came out of 2012. Punk rock n’ roll with the soul of The Clash and a
touch of folk thrown in for good measure. I dare you not to sing along.
Hopefully these guys come back to Australia soon for a proper tour.
FFO: The
Gaslight Anthem, The Riot Before and The Lawrence
Arms
Monday, October 1, 2012
I Hate Myself – 10 Songs
‘10 Songs’ is the 1997 second album by I Hate Myself, and
emo/scremo band from Gainesville,
Florida.
The re-release of this album on CD (which is what I have)
has an bonus song, "To A Husband At War", which originally appeared
on a split 7" with Strikeforce Diablo.
FFO: The Promise Ring and Fugazi
In The Day - Friends, Foes, & Failures
Pop punk with breakdowns. Not into it.
FFO: Four Year Strong, Set Your Goals and A Day To Remember
Website: http://www.facebook.com/intheday
In My Eyes – Nothing To Hide
‘Nothing To Hide’ is the second album by Boston’s In My Eyes. Youth crew straight edge
at its finest. If you are into hardcore you need to listen to this band.
FFO: Floorpunch, Battery
and Ten Yard Fight
In My Eyes – The Difference Between
In My Eyes were a straight edge hardcore band out of Boston that were part of
the revival of youth crew. A truly great album containing everything you would
want in a hardcore album, energy, passion and a message.
FFO: Floorpunch, Battery
and Ten Yard Fight
In Hearts Wake – The Gateway
So damn horrible! Do not bother with this.
FFO: Parkway Drive and I Killed The Prom Queen
In Hearts Wake – Into The Storm
Horrible metalcore from Byron Bay.
Avoid this.
FFO: Parkway Drive and I Killed The Prom Queen
In Bear Country – In Bear Country EP
Hailing from Canada,
In Bear Country play great melodic and gruff punk rock. Unfortunately I only
have a downloaded version of this EP. I need a copy of this.
FFO: Polar Bear Club, Campaign and Iron Chic
Website: http://www.myspace.com/inbearcountry
Avail – Satiate LP (black / ???)
‘Satiate’
is Avail’s 1992 debut album. If you don’t like Avail. I don’t like you.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Alex Sane – Greatest Hits 1988 – 2012 cassette (/ ???)
I walked
into Beatdisc Records one day and found this tape on the counter. Alex was one
of the douche bag geniuses behind that horrible LLAAFF ‘EP’. It was free
and I guess he’s my friend so I picked it up and took it home to listen to.
One stormy night months ago (I really need to post more I’ve
got a lot of posts to make…not that anyone really cares or reads this thing) I
decided to throw on this tape and prepared for the worst. It turns out that
this isn’t that bad! This tape was actually quite enjoyable. This consists of a
bunch of lo-fi bedroom recordings backed with samples, a shit tone of feedback
and I’m guessing a lot of booze and drugs.
Not bad Alex, not bad at all. I did not hate this.
Immortal Technique – The 3rd World
‘The 3rd
World’ is the third album/mixtape by underground rapper Immortal Technique. Apparently
the proceeds from this album were used to fund and construct an
orphanage in Afghanistan.
Immortal Technique – Revolutionary Vol. 2
‘Revolutionary
Vol. 2’ is the second album by rapper Immortal Technique. As with ‘Revolutionary Vol. 1’, Immortal Technique
is raw and aggressive. His storytelling abilities to get across socially and politically
packed messages has developed as with his ability to structure songs which are
clever and complex. Perfect examples of this can be seen in ‘You Never Know’
and ‘Harlem Streets’.
Ignite – Our Darkest Days
Politically
and socially driven melodic hardcore from Orange
County, California. I’ve
listened to ‘Our Darkest Days’ quite a few times and it still doesn’t really
click with me. I’m not sure what it is exactly but I just can’t get into this
album.
FFO: Boy
Sets Fire, Rise Against and Bad Religion
Immortal Technique – Revolutionary Vol. 1
I’m not
going to pretend to have a comprehensive knowledge or understanding of hip hop,
because I don’t. I have no clue. I’m just an occasional listener. So here goes
my short impression of Immortal Technique’s ‘Revolutionary Vol. 1’.
‘Revolutionary Vol. 1’ is the debut album of rapper
Immortal Technique. Originally released in 2001, the raps are raw and aggressive
with an intellectual spin. Politically and socially driven, these underground
and lo-fi tracks carry powerful messages.
Austin Lucas – The Common Cold LP (Black / 500)
I picked
this LP up from the Midnight Funeral distro at an
Australia Day show at The Tote in Melbourne.
I had been meaning to check out Austin Lucas’ material for a while after falling
in love with a few of his tracks that I had found on various compilations.
There is something that puts Austin
Lucas above the other country/folk punk artists which I have listened to.
‘The Common Cold’ is the type of
record that you need to listen to on the porch with a beer on a hot and sticky
night. This record is a true gem.
FFO: Chuck Ragan, Jen Buxton, Ben
Nichols and Revival Tour
Website: http://www.austinlucasmusic.com/
The Jam – 4 Side Affects12” (black / ???)
Four track
EP from English punks/new wavers The Jam, including, on the A-side Start and Eton Rifles and on the B-side That's Entertainment and Going
Underground.
I think this was an Australian only
12” EP released by Polydor.
Headless Death – Headless Death cassette (/ ???)
On a trip
to Melbourne I stopped
into Polyester Records in Flinders St. I picked up this tape as a chance
purchase to see what is happening in Melbourne.
I was
rewarded with 9 tracks of grinding metal, including a Grave cover (‘Hating Life’).
These tracks can be found for free download on the band’s Bandcamp
FFO:
Internal Rot and Trench Sisters
Website: http://headlessdeath.bandcamp.com/
Wild Flag – Wild Flag 12” (black / ???)
Wild Flag
have to be one of my favourite super groups. Consisting of Carrie
Brownstein, Rebecca Cole, Mary Timony, and Janet Weiss, who have played in Sleater-Kinney,
Helium, Quasi, The Minders, amongst others.
Combining the best parts of indie rock, post hardcore, Riot
Grrrl and punk rock, these girls have created something that is fun and catchy
with its own personality and quirk.
FRO: Sleater-Kinney, Helium, Quasi, The Minders and Riot
Grrrl
Website: http://www.facebook.com/WILDFLAG
Rude Awakening – Demo 2011 (62/200)
I picked up
this four track demo from Arrest Records while looking through their distro at
a Blood, Sweat and Beers. Rude Awaking features members from Death Before
Dishonour and Hammer Bros. Hard hitting and faced paced hardcore that incites
mosh.
Arrest
Records have also pressed this demo onto vinyl
FFO:
Backtrack, Hammer Bros and Death Before Dishonour
Grim Fandango – In The Rough 7” (beer / ???)
Grim
Fandango follow up from their great debut album ‘Birthmark Blues’ with a two
song 7” and three extra downloadable tracks. I’m in love with their gruff and
poppy style of alt/punk rock. Jangly guitars, catchy hooks and sing-a-longs.
Released
via Poison City, there are three colour variants
(beer, bone and black) and the artwork has been drawn by Extortion’s Rohan
Harrison.
I’m not a
fan of the idea of adding extra downloadable tracks to the 7”. I would much
prefer a 10”, but I’m guessing the cost of pressing a 10” prevented that from
happing.
Grim
Fandango have a four way split coming out in the coming month(s) with Chiling
Winston, Ten Points For Glenroy and Celebrator through Sewing Circle Records..
Catch Grim
Fandango on tour with QLD’s El Alamein.
You won’t be disappointed.
FFO:
Jawbreaker, Good Luck and The Smith
Street Band
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