Music Reviews of Punk, Indie Rock, Emo, Ska
Band Spotlight
Chiodos
Perhaps no one can explain the sheer ferocity and timid quietness it is better than when vocalist Craig Owens says “we don’t want to let the kids down” when discussing the group’s intense vocals live at shows. Well they never let a single kid down with their vicious assault on the ears and grip on the jugular...
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03.09.2007 by J-Sin
Music Reviews of Punk, Indie Rock, Emo, Ska
Irepress — Samus Octology Buy it at Amazon
Odd experimental guitar rock is the recipe with hard edges just around each corner. More mathematical in their eclectic fanning of song structure with its odd time signatures, Irepress punches everything out with guitars fit for a hardcore or metal outfit. The discordant harmonies soar high with thumping percussion filling the space with their incredible melodies. Their songs are breathtaking and highly original further proving that great bands are still in the making and not everything has already been done.
- J-Sin
Marah-Mar — Marah-Mar Buy it at Amazon
Marah-Mar forgets all the hubris and delivers one of the most amazing albums of the year. The depth of their mixes fills spaces but doesn’t ever rely on filler, allowing instead their textures some breathing room. While occasionally sounding like math rock or even tantalizing experimental jazz, Marah-Mar maintains a focus that’s enlightened with notions to counter the sounds of Godspeed, You Black Emperor! and Explosions in the Sky. But unlike those two aforementioned bands they also glisten their music with electronica forming melodies with cello, guitar, and creative percussion. Each song is emotional and blends in together sounding as if it’s the score to one man’s life travels rather than just a mere album.
- J-Sin
Kind of Like Spitting — Learn: The Songs of Phil Ochs Buy it at Amazon
Having shared the stage with a bevy of great musicians including some of emo’s most treasured like Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie) and Robert Nanna (Braid and Hey Mercedes), Kind of Like Spitting is a coffeehouse folk rock act to be reckoned with. Hoping to educate their fans about the great music of Phil Ochs who killed himself in ’76 after influencing a wide array of acoustic musicians and other artists like Kind of Like Spitting. While so many are concentrating on the likes of Bright Eyes who has broken out of the underground into some seminal amount of mainstream appeal, they’re missing out on artists like Kind of Like Spitting—something that mirrors what happened with Ochs while other musicians like Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell were slowly becoming superstars. Phil Ochs songs were just as dynamic and groundbreaking with his catalog being perfectly cherry-picked for his best songs here. Get this album now!
- J-Sin
The Reach — Lift Buy it at Amazon
The Reach recently had been podcasting new bits and sounds from their follow-up to this album and enlisting fans help in helping drive their direction. With as critically acclaimed an album as “Lift”, it’s no wonder that there’s been so much hype directed towards this band though they’ve really had a rabid fanbase almost since their inception back in ’94. Their sound could still be compared to R.E.M. but with a harder edge. The guitars just coax their way into your ears via their dynamic tone while the bass reminds me of what you’d hear on a U2 album. This is a classic folks, be sure you get it.
- J-Sin
Violet Grey — April Buy it at Amazon
This quick indie rock EP by Violet Grey is a specimen in what can and can’t go right with independent recording projects. As a singer/songwriter project it does boast talented and original songs. The problem however is that the vocals lack volume and depth but fortunately you can hear that his voice does have good range. Given some more time and money I’m certain that “April” could be a ridiculously great album. His influences are varied and include Smashing Pumpkins, Hum, My Bloody Valentine, and Cocteau Twins and that speaks to his sound though it’s most certainly wrapped in the riddle of the more individualistic singer/songwriter format. I’m looking forward to his next recording project.
- J-Sin
Reel Big Fish — We're Not Happy 'Til You're Not Happy Buy it at Amazon
Mission accomplished.
- Jimmy
Socratic — Lunch For the Sky Buy it at Amazon
Socratic’s debut full-length to be released on Drive-Thru Records is a groove-oriented indie rock masterpiece. While extremely eclectic and some may say even eccentric or avant garde in delivery, “Lunch For the Sky” promises to win over the masses with its liberal use of melodies and delightful harmonies all arranged as promising rock operas. Not since “Bittersweet Symphony” have songs had that operatic and orchestrated feel with symphonic rock bliss straightly distributed inside the bubble of pop-rock. Vinny D’Amico’s piano and vocals lend Socratic its unique voice of which producer John Goodmanson (Hot Hot Heat, Sleater-Kinney, The Blood Brothers) has already made his mark in delivering. Dramatic rock with haunting visions of lyrical excesses and impressive songwriting is befitting their philosophic moniker. Besides any band that calls out the screamo kids as they do on “Alexandria As Our Lens” with a bellowing of “Hey all you screamo. What’s the deal when any talent that you lack is covered up by the fact that you can scream out really loud? Say things that were said before. Every lyric that you sing it sounds the same.” Brilliant!
- J-Sin
The Living Things — Ahead of the Lions Buy it at Amazon
Steve Albini records Living Things and continues to build on his reputation for finding new and stylish bands. While comprised of three brothers, Living Things is certainly no Hansen; their sound is abrasive and Albini harnesses it well, capturing the moods as well as the energetic guitar frenzies. But don’t think for a second that this is the next “Nevermind” album; this is far too straight-forward for that and comes during the crossroads of post-punk and garage rock with “The” band brazen attitude. What does separate it from the rest of those neo-punks is that it’s a thoughtful album filled with social rage and political crazed lyrics. And that is worth its salt.
- J-Sin
Renee Heartfelt — Death of the Ghost Buy it at Amazon
Produced by Matt Squire (Hot Water Music, Northstar), “Death of the Ghost” is a massive step up for a band whose already been taking the post-hardcore and indie rock world by storm. After I heard their amazing work on their debut album “Magdalene” I knew that I was in for a great atmospheric rock album but little prepared me for the incredible songs contained within. Featuring ex-members of Give Up the Ghost, Count Me Out, and Striking Distance, Renee Heartfelt is no stranger to great expectations but unlike most of their predecessors they never fail to deliver. Upping the ante ten-fold, the band worked hard to ensure that the guitars provide a huge sonic backdrop for their vocalist to penetrate with a sort of Failure-esque wall of sound. Matt Squire again did a fantastic job of pulling ever note out and individually petting it until it took a life all of its own. This might very well be one of the most important albums to date this year. Post-hardcore, my friend, will never be the same.
- J-Sin
Chimp Simple — Ready For Anything Buy it at Amazon
A new indie-pop band for all the kids to analyze and obsess over has a rather silly name in Chimp Simple. Their songs are fun, light, and happy-go-lucky with an ability to keep your toes tapping and your head nodding. Vocally at times it can be a tad rough but that’s rare and more often than not this band who jumps from surf rock influences to punk, country, and indie rock ala Weezer and Nada Surf is very impressive.
- J-Sin
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