Saturday, May 16, 2009

A Wilhelm Scream- Diver 7"


This is a 2006 ep from Massachusetts punk band A Wilhelm Scream. There are only two songs on the seven inch (one of them only being 40 seconds long) but it is completely worth it. Both of the songs are outtakes from the bands third album Mute Print which means a catchier, more listener-friendly than later albums. Other than that this seven inch is classic AWS: tempo changes, vocal harmonies and badass skate-punk.

Link
Website
Track Listing:
1. Diver
2. They Like Their Turtlenecks Ribbed

The Arrogant Sons of Bitches- Dealing With Having the Stage Presence of a Mid-1980s Emo Band


This is a live bootleg of an Arrogant Sons of Bitches show. It's a pretty good quality bootleg as far as quality goes and it really does a good job capturing how much fun it is to be at an ASOB show. They play a good balance from their three albums ("So Lets Go Nowhere" and "Fuck You" are especially badass live). I think I mentioned this before, but Three Cheers For Disappointment is up for free on Quote Unquote Records' website. I'd take advantage of that because it's an amazing ska album.

Link
Myspace
Track Listing:
1. Everything But the Pizza
2. Where's My Sleeve?
3. Radio Single
4. Royale Fuck Deluxe
5. So Let's Go Nowhere
6. The Pez Song
7. Fuck You
8. JT Kills Time In the Worst Way
9. Go Ska!
10. The Guy From Subway
11. ...And the Flame Dies Down Again
12. Built to Fail Motherfucker

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Bear vs. Shark- 1653


This is the self-released debut from Michigan post-hardcore band Bear vs. Shark. A good majority of this ep ended up redone on their debut album Right Now, You're In the Best Hands.. (I count five of the eight on this ep). As a whole the ep is excellent and it is a little disappointing they didn't re release it because all of the songs are truly great. The musical arrangements are complex but not difficult to listen to, the vocals/lyrics are both raw and thoughtful, and most important it's fun. This band broke up way too early in their career and if you haven't heard their two full lengths, do so immediately because they will blow your mind.

Link
Myspace
Track Listing:
1. Campfire
2. United Tribes Of Pangea
3. Kylie
4. California Hotseat
5. Michigan
6. Remember This Assignment
7. Bloodgiver
8. Ma Jolie

The Early November- An Excellent Attempt at Next to Youism


I've always liked the Early November. I know they're supposedly "just another emo punk band" but they have a certain charm to them that so many bands of the same genre today lack. And they have good lyrics (also something other bands of this genre lack). An Excellent Attempt at Next to Youism is an 11 song full length released before the band signed to Drive Thru Records. A few of the songs from this record were redone for their first ep For All Of This. The cd quality is great and you like this album, you should pick up their other two full lengths and two eps. You should also check out singer Ace Enders' new album. I haven't had a chance to check it out but I'm hearing good things about it.

Link
Myspace
Track Listing:
1. Every Night's Another Story
2. For the Road
3. All We Ever Needed
4. Come Back
5. Just Enough
6. Pretty Pretty
7. Make Believe
8. Nothing
9. Ashala Rock
10. Open Eyes
11. Sunday Drive

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Portugal the Man- The Pines 7"


This is a two song 7 inch from Portugal. the Man, release almost immediately after their debut album, Waiter: You Vultures! , was released. The songs on the 7 inch are a mix between the style they played on Church Mouth and the one they did on W:YV! (but leaning towards the latter). Both songs are great PtM songs and are well worth the download.

Link
Myspace
Track Listing:
1. The Pines
2. The Devil

Motion City Soundtrack- Kids For America


This is the debut EP from synth/pop-punkers Motion City Soundtrack. Kids For America features early versions of two songs from MCS's first full length I AM the Movie ("Cambridge" and "1000 Paper Cranes"). I really like this EP a lot more than their latest album (I could never really get into it). I think it's because the EP has so much less gloss and is so much more raw than Even If It Kills Me. Oh well, maybe I'm just mad because they left behind their Get Up Kids influenced sound and just went for straight up pop. If you don't have I Am the Movie or Commit This To Memory (who doesn't?) you should get a copy of each and even a copy of the new album. If you ever have a chance to see this band live, do it because they're awesome. Seriously.

Link
Myspace
Track Listing:
1. Cambridge
2. Bomb Pops
3. Intersection
4. Sunday Warning
5. 4th of December
6. 1000 Paper Cranes

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Kevin Devine, Jesse Lacey, & Andy Hull- Live At Looney Tunes


So I was going through my old hard-drive and found this gem from a year or so ago. Whose ever idea it was to get these three front men to play together is a fucking genious because the product is fantastic. There is a pretty good balance of songs from each of the artists (5 Kevin Devine songs, 3 Manchester Orchestra songs, and 2 Brand New Songs) as well as 2 covers. There are a lot of bootlegs of Jesse Lacey playing with Kevin Devine but if you only download one of them make it this one. The Manchester Orchestra songs are amazing (Andy Hull in general is amazing).

Link
Kevin Devine Myspace
Track Listing:
1. Brooklyn Boy
2. Jesus Christ
3. Wolves At Night
4. Just Stay
5. Play Crack the Sky
6. I Can Fell Your Pain
7. Tomorrow's Just Too Late
8. Holland 1945 (Neutral Milk Hotel)
9. Where Have You Been
10. Where Have You Been Harmonies
11. Say It Ain't So (Weezer)
12. Cotton Crush
13. It's Only Your Life

The Ergs!- Acoustic LP


Some more Ergs! comin' at ya. This album has acoustic versions of some of the Ergs! classics ("A Very Special Song For A.." "Saturday Night Crap-O-Rama"). In addition it has as few covers. Although I prefer the regular versions of these tracks, the acoustics are good none the less. This is definitely a must have for any Ergs fan.

Link
Myspace
Track Listing:
1. A Very Special Song For A Very Special Young Lady Part 2
2. Warm + Sharp
3. Time With You
4. Saturday Night Crap-O-Rama
5. Ergs Songs Played Similarly
6. It's Never Going To Be The Same Again
7. Trains & Boats & Planes
8. Running, Jumping, Standing Still
9. I'll Call You When You Think Of Me
10. Everything Falls Apart & More
11. Computer Love
12. Ramones Medley

The Ergs!- It's A Celebration, Bitches!


This is a compilation of rare tracks from the Jersey punk band, the Ergs! It features a few covers, the blue ep (that I don't think was ever officially released), the Cotton Pickin Minute 7 inch, and a whole lot of fast-paced punk rock (ya know, the kind where the songs last less than a minute). Overall it's a great listen and if you like this you should definitely check out their other stuff because it's amazing (Jerseys Best Prancers, dorkrockcorkrod). I was really bummed when they broke up and we can only hope for a reunion tour!

Link
Myspace
Track Listing:
1. Things I Could Never Find A Way To Say
2. Under The Influence Of Minutemen (Dork Rock Changed Our Lives)
3. Enough Is Not Enough (Joe Jackson)
4. Johnny Rzeznik Needs His Ass Kicked
5. Sneak Attack
6. Society Hill
7. Love Is Nice
8. Joe Doesn't Like Cell Phones
9. I Shot the Devil's Son
10. Million Perfect Dub
11. Country Skronk
12. Warm + Sharp
13. Out On the Interstate
14. Blue
15. Blew (Nirvana)
16. Steven A Hinckley Has The Following Items A) Devo Energy Dome B) Devo Radiation Suit C) Devo New..
17. What The Hell Was She Thinking? (Egghead)

Jawbox- Demo


This is the 1990 demo from the Washington D.C. post-hardcore/indie rock band Jawbox. The demo is excellent (both the songs and the quality). Though the release as a whole may not be as strong as their full lengths, almost all of the songs are good. Some of the songs on the demo also show up on their fist full length Grippe but are significantly different ("Tools and Chrome," "Bullet Park," "Consolation," "Paint Out the Light" etc). I can't begin to explain how much of an impact this band has had on my life. Every one of their albums, splits, and singles are worth listening to on repeat.

Link
Website
Track Listing:
1. Tools and Chrome
2. Bullet Park
3. Beneath the Wheel
4. Footbinder
5. Consolation
6. Paint Out the Light
7. Motherlode
8. Something Must Break

Polar Bear Club- Demo


This is the 2005 demo from the Rochester post-hardcore band Polar Bear Club. The quality of the demo is really good compared to most demos you'll hear, old or new. The songs on the demo aren't as melodic as STJD and TRTB but the songs are great none the less. PBC is an amazing melodic-hardcore band and if you haven't heard their debut full length Sometimes Things Just Disappear you're missing out.

Link
Myspace
Track Listing:
1. To the Engravers
2. Let My Dry Eyes Play
3. Overflow
4. Adam O
5. Instrumental

Bomb the Music Industry!- Others! Others!


Yay! another excuse to post BtMI! This is a rarities comp of random covers, demos, and songs that didn't make it on any of the records. It includes BtMI!'s side of their split with Rick Johnson Rock and Roll Machine and a few tracks from other comps and 7 inches they've done. Some of these songs have been floating around on the internet for some time now, but this album takes away the hassle of trying to find them. I think Scrambles, their latest album, is going to be made more available on vinyl, with the blue vinyl collective exclusive selling out pretty quickly so go buy it!

Link
Myspace
Track Listing:
1. This Gracless Planet(We Versus the Shark Cover)
2. Tell My Boss, "I Hate You"
3. This Year For Presidents' Day, I'm Giving Up on Rock and Roll
4. 4 Inches! (Rick Johnson Rock and Roll Machine Cover)
5. Come On, This Shit is Getting RIDICULOUS.
6. If Assholes Got Awards, I'd Have a Trophy Case(Infamous Jake and the Pinstripe Mafia Cover)
7. All Alone in My Big Empty Apartment (Demo)
8. This is a Singalong (Original Version)
9. The Soul Crushing Northeast
10. D13 4 YR G0V3RNM3NT(Anti-Flag Megamix)
11. Little Brother(Andrew Jackson Jihad Cover)
12. Pog (Demo)
13. Gold Soundz (Pavement Cover)