from reflecting screamo to light-hearted emo. Grown Ups are somewhere between Small Brown Bike, Latterman, The Get Up Kids, Street Smart Cyclist, Algernon Cadwallader and Castevet. this is upbeat and pleasant emo, probably best enjoyed on fairly high volume, a hot summer night. with clean and nice guitar riffs, raspy vocals and quick drumming, Grown Ups sound far from grown up with their approach to catchy tunes and their youthful tales of reaching for happiness. you’ll want this. I think this was a pure digital release, so I don’t know of anywhere to buy it in physical format. you can however get their new album, More Songs. buy links on their MySpace – http://www.myspace.com/ihategrownups – so check that out as well.
archive for May, 2010
Grown Ups – Songs
Monday, May 31st, 2010calculator – these roots grow deep…
Monday, May 31st, 2010the 200th artist (I think) to be introduced here on that’s punk is calculator, an American diy band formed in 2007, who just recently released this collection LP. it collects every release up until now, and adds a few songs extra. they play modern American screamo in the vein of Age Sixteen and Merchant Ships. that means very emotionally charged and intense vocals over (usually) clean guitars that build up, explode and come crashing down along with insanely precise drumming, followed by a soft and melodic bass guitar. the philosophical and melancholic atmosphere is helped greatly by lyrics that are always seeking and thinking. this is a mature and reflected screamo band that are well worth checking out. download this! and buy from their bigcartel at http://calc.bigcartel.com/ – if you can. they definitely need the cash to support touring etc.
Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate) & Football, etc. split
Sunday, May 30th, 2010four songs by Football, etc. not enough for you? I feel the same way. so here’s another one! and with it, have a new Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate) track as well! could life possibly be any better than this? that’s punk users should be familiar with both of these bands, but if you aren’t – I guess this is a great place to start, because you’ll get a taste of both. the sadly soothing melodies and heartbroken vocals that makes Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate) one of the most miserable bands to ever record and put out music, and the depressing musical apprehension that is Football, etc. both bands are ’90s emo revivalists, and a sure bet if you’re into bands like Mineral, Jejune, Evergreen, Crash and Britany, and anything in between those. if you aren’t (you should!), you might still want to check this out, because both bands bring their own new and completely original flavour to the table. I can safely recommend this as a first stop to someone who has never heard emo before, and I can safely recommend this to someone who is into emo as well. get it! and buy it from http://www.cylsrecords.com (US) – or from http://sncl.collective-zine.co.uk (EU) – , it’s worth it.
Football, etc. – First Down
Sunday, May 30th, 2010often compared to Rainer Maria, Jejune, Evergreen and Lumber, this is one of the finest of the new proud-to-be-emo bands. now signed to the equally eager emo revivalists over at Count Your Lucky Stars, Football, etc. is a damn fine band. despite their name, they do not sound much like American Football or other Kinsella-bands. and despite their numerous football referencing titles – they are definitely about football. this is something significantly less complicated. it’s sad, frustrated and angst-ridden emo music with nonchalant vocals. this melancholic trio is a must hear! download this! then it can be purchased at shows, or via PayPaling $5 to lindsaym.minton@gmail.com. for international prices and questions, check their MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/footballetc – and they’ll probably help you out.
The Third Memory – The Third Memory
Sunday, May 30th, 2010a fairly long time ago I posted a split between the Norwegian screamo band, Dominic, and the French screamo band, The Third Memory. this is the latter’s self titled album (which includes one of the tracks from the split). active for four-five years before breaking up, The Third Memory are nothing short of screamo legends. “everyone” knows these guys, their DIY ethics and their heartfelt music. this record surfaced last year, and probably should have been uploaded to that’s punk ages ago. why? because it’s really good. *really* good. their last.fm biography says it all. this is nothing short of a «french screamo band that will tear your face off». while they weren’t all that heavy on the Dominic split, things are a little more heavy on their full length album. but The Third Memory is still not a *heavy* band. they are aggressive, intense and direct – but not heavy. while they have a fairly stereotypical mix and general sound, for a French screamo band, it’s noteworthy that the comforting soft spots often do not crescendo into a progressive rock climax, like so many newer emo/screamo bands try to achieve. The Third Memory do not crescendo; they explode. download this French screamo explosion. then you can buy it from this: http://www.desormaisrec.blogspot.com/ French distro, if you like it (you will!).
Teleport me, Johny – EP
Saturday, May 29th, 2010Eastern European hardcore has establish itself here on that’s punk, but Estonian screamo is a first. and a welcome one at that! this four song/fifteen minute EP introduces these diverse and eager débutants, that sometimes thrash their riffs at blistering speeds, and sometimes let their guitars weep with bleeding intensity… and sometimes both at once. this is yummy dynamic crescendo screamo perfection with plenty of wimpy emo guitars yielding tons of glorious feedback and sugar sweet octaves, while the drums circle and the vocal chords get torn. get this!
In Regret – Demo
Saturday, May 29th, 2010if you took a liking to In Regret, posted in the previous post, you’re in luck. because here’s a little collection of their songs. if I understand correctly, the first four tracks are from a demo, and the next two are from a split. either way it’s six songs. very variable bitrate (some of the tracks are in a m4a container), but all of the songs are more than euphonious. the music is the same melodic somewhat screamo-tinged hardcore punk introduced in the previous post. something like a sped up Some Mistakes. they are – as mentioned – a very “correct” modern hardcore band. on last.fm they have Defeater and Touche Amore in their similar artists, which are two other bands that are a part of a new trend where melodic hooks and heavy riffs come together (and music journalists label it post-hardcore). I’m not a music journalist, so I’m just going to call it hardcore, if that’s alright. and while I’m not very up to date on trends, I can guarantee you that In Regret are a band that’s worthy of your listen, regardless of any trends. they play dazzling music at high speeds, while allowing themselves to experiment outside of their usual formula – best illustrated on the fantastic closer, “Provenance” – a true masterpiece that you need to hear. get this!
Blacklines & In Regret split
Friday, May 28th, 2010Blacklines are a five piece hardcore band from South Carolina. In Regret are a five piece hardcore band from South Carolina. they play hardcore, and are definitely more alike than they are different. but at the same time there definitely are unique qualities to both of them. the first half of the split consists of three tracks by Blacklines, that have a Verse/Ruiner thing going on. they are a little bit melodic, but not soft. at all. Blacklines are definitely a very heavy band, with screamed vocals, noisy crashing cymbals and loud and hard as fuck riffs. on the other half is In Regret, with their more screamo-like sound. something like a highly upbeat Some Mistakes. their vocals vary between screamed, and the whole all-at-once-now-boys shout thing (I fucking love that). extremely melodic and very fast, but not poppy. In Regret are simply a really cool modern hardcore band that does everything right. the download link also has buy links, and I recommend you buy it if you like it!
Pump the Brakes – EP
Friday, May 28th, 2010all you longtimers no doubt remember Nothing’s Forgotten’s lovely demo, Vestfold HC. (all you newcomers might want to check that out. it rules.) they later changed their name to Pump the Brakes. while they are sadly broken up by now, these are the previously unreleased recordings that were made for an EP that was supposed to surface in 2009. five highly melodic hardcore tracks that are reminiscent of both ’80s punk rock (Descendents, Screeching Weasel), as well as ’90s punk rock (Propagandhi, Pulley), and the delicious poppy riffs of alternative bands such as blink-182 and T.O.E. with pleasant-on-the-ears guitar solos, catchy riffs, upbeat drumming, raspy vocals and melodic bass lines – this is the anthem rock of punk rock. get it!
Stavros – Contemporary Dictionary
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010in the winter of 2002, the secretive affair known as Stavros recorded their album Contemporary Dictionary. with a sound perhaps best described as acoustic emo. this is the emo cousin of Mom & Johnson Loneliness missed the 12th loveboat. it has a more immediate and desperate sound, occasionally similar to that of The Loneliest Cowgirls’ self titled début, but with better recording quality and a less abrasive approach. the instrumentation vary between a sole acoustic guitar, and a more vivid sound with multiple guitars and percussion – even a violin makes its appearance.. some times it’s dreamy and pretty, with Sigur Rós moments. other times it’s anxious and painful – almost comparable to Catena Collapse, but with a more laid back atmosphere. summa summarum it’s something between Mom & Johnson Loneliness missed the 12th Loveboat, The Loneliest Cowgirls, Catena Collapse and maybe Daniel Johnston. this is not for everyone, but it’s definitely for someone. maybe you?