Chinook - EP

Repost:
In the time between this post and now I have realized a few interesting things concerning Chinook's EP. This EP has grown on me like a spreading wild fire. The melodies have latched into my brain in such a fashion that has surpassed what I initially gave them credit for. Those guitar's seriously never waste a moment. The drums almost steal the show as well. While not altogether unconventional certainly both convey a sense of fun and serious ass rocking that seems to be lacking in a lot of post rock. I frequently blast this very loudly in my car while air drumming around town a favorite past time of mine. It's pretty much bullshit that more people aren't talking about these guys. Please if you didn't the first time around do yourself the pleasure.
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Now we are in about the same realm of math as far as feeling but this Michigan quartet are far more melodic than my previous post. Some of the breakdowns here are really brilliant for math rock this driving. Its something that really hits a chord emotionally speaking so this is not something anyone should be going out of town for. Extremely well crafted indie rock tinged math. Very nicely produced as well which for intricate rock music gives you that much of a leg up.

Druk - Compostélion (2013)

Here's a promise for you, first five seconds of this and you'll be hooked.

Druk are an instrumental math rock band from Mexico.  Surprisingly a three piece for the amount of amazing noise these guys create. Lots of tight turns to be had here folks. Some honest to god hooky alt/post punk/metal tinged riffing from the the stellar guitar work. We can also talk the jazz/prog elements but theres no need to dissect any further as this will hit all of your pleasure centers. Seriously this one caught me on the jaw..wasn't at all prepared but I am loving every minute. Not to worry because these guys never stay in one place for two long. 

Something sounded cool 15 seconds ago? they bring it back 3 minutes later or mutate it a bit. 

Brilliance. Pure. Brilliance.

Highly Recommended

dedleaves (2012)

There's something incredibly charming about this 4 piece instrumental group from Baltimore...I dont know if I have hit on it just yet but I am really enjoying this first effort. I wouldn't classify this as math rock but there is plenty of rhythmic complexity for any mathnick to nod in satisfaction. Something that is missing from a good amount of progressive group's such as dedleaves is ATMOSPHERE. These guys have zero problem with that aspect and maybe thats what I can appreciate the most that makes them so special. Each song is structured interestingly as well moving seamlessly into new passages. Which pretty much brings us into the very clear post-rock end of this music.  Incredibly solid album. no duds. Grab this up. Loving it

dedleaves

Johnny Foreigner - Names

Apologies fellows and felletes as I have not been so active on the swords but fear not...

Johnny Foreigner are an excellent english band that are high energy rock with lots of interesting twists. No tapping heroic bouts here but there are always a heaping helping of fantastic vocals (boy girl at that). Please check these three tracks out and certainly explore the rest.

JF

Arcing - Doubt (2012)

Tiny Hawks? anyone?
Dont fret Papa Swords is HERE.


Arcing is essentially Tiny Hawks with the addition of a bassist. What does it mean to you? Well it means your face is going to be pounded by awesome on all fronts. No really this stuff is so so so so good it cant be healthy. The music here is an updation of what Tiny Hawks were trying to do. A shout style aggressive math punk with a technical edge and just the right amount of melody from the guitar. It truly is a taste sensation that can't be beat.  I can safely say few bands going right now can match these cats in what is going down. If any of this sounds interesting or if you just want me to listen to something with the promise that it will be awesome...well this is it friends club.

arcing.bandcamp
dwnld

Penguinsmeat - 2 +1 (2012)

Seriously this track off of Penguinsmeat's new release slay's cockatrices and dark mages..

(Authors note: I have noticed eating while reviewing has leaked some food vernacular into print...seems as though anime isn't helping either.)

ANYWAY yes this three piece from Russia is awesome. They are builders songwriting wise, but truly the payoff's are sweet and expertly...executed.  Math Rock ala Post Rock Station with a layover at pedal ville. My musical ADD didn't even cause a fuss at all! (surprising).

Everyone should be paying attention because this is some wicked good biz. Hit them up.

bndcamp

Gastric Band - Party Feel (2012)

Get wise to this serious noise dear fellows and fellettes. Glasgow based group release their first effort and I can say this with some certainty that...wait for it....

THIS IS PRETTY GOD DAMN ORIGINAL.

Why the expletive? well just give me a moment of your time. It may be a bit hasty to call this fantastic group Math Rock. I suppose it fits on the surface , but this is very much a progressive rock affair with some axis shifting rhythms. MORE ABOUT THESE RHYTHMS! yea these cats are clearly in some island nations coping world music vibes. Krautrock is maybe another genre identifier we could throw in as far as the repetitive shifts in the songwriting. Did I mention the awesome rhythms? 

Stop reading
Listen
Smile
Listen some more
Smile Bigger

Bandcamp AWAY!

Denver - Joan Rivers (EP) 2012

Another Flip-tastic math flecked release for you folks so pull your socks up.  Denver is a group that despite their hilariously hair cut malfunctioned cover are an incredibly serious band when it comes to the tunes. With three songs they certainly waste no time getting down to the nitty. This is some chilled out yet musically complex indie rock with a serious crush on math rock (its a reciprocal crush)  What I found with these guys to be a stand out attribute are that these songs are structured very intelligently. Your not dragged along so much as each turn and twist of the sections just make so much sense i actually fist pumped at one point.....ok twice. Also of note THE VOCALS! this is not some last second add on or that their best friends brother wanted to sing on a few songs. Honestly its done tastefully and reminds me of something you'd hear in some really amazing indie pop rock. The fact that the singing is used only when needed yet still remains such a huge presence is more than a couple feathers in their caps. Lastly the instrument choices on display are numerous, AGAIN without clubbing you over the head. I've said this before but a lot of groups will add a "non rock" instrument to "color" their pieces and it ends up sounding forced. It goes without saying but the piano, strings and (marimba?) really flesh out these beautiful pieces. O and by the way this is their first release, pretty surprising with the level of polish on the ground. After all that do I really need to say "hit the link" wait I guess I pretty much just did.


Joan Rivers EP

Tears for Fears-Songs from the Big Couch-1985

On this trip to Newbury Comics, i was chilling with Metaghost and i said i should dig deeper into some 80s action. He was like "dawg.. tears for fears."

Oh yeah.. those guys. The only track i know by these dudes is the classic, Everybody Wants to Rule The World; guys writing that kind of song in 1985 aught to be dropping pretty solid albums, right?. Although I know it is also a single, I do not know Shout. Like Bille Jean, this track just eluded me through my life. It opens the album on a pretty epic synthy pop note. But its really track 3 im all about; such a good song.



Goddamnit they cut that shit short! Its a 4 minute track on the album, just over 3 minutes on youtube. Fuck that. That outro guitar solo is awesome. So there are more 80s classics i need to get into; Duran Duran, The Cure.. damn those are the only 2 names i can think of. I could use some help; please do post comments/ suggestions here on the blog, or on our facebook group. I would much appreciate it.

songs from the big couch

This Music Moment-2011

After a spur-of-the-moment decision to go to a hot yoga class at 6pm, i came out reinvigorated with a fully awake mind and body, and i did not want the night to end. It was about 9pm when i left my house to visit the bar Owen O'Learys, where my pal vincey plays an acoustic gig with an excellent guitarist/singer/bassist/loop master Keith.

Its a great time, and i know a lot of fine folk that all go on Wednesday nights, but the bar is a small 15 minute drive away, and i needed some music to listen to. Before acerola posted The Psychic Paramount, i was talking to him on gmail and he said he damn near shat his pants when her heard it, and before he posted it he gave me a sneak peak. Its great shit; acey, i am damn well digging it. But as we talked about it and i listened, it reminded me of another band acey said he posted near the start of this blog; Maserati.



I remember hearing this track on a review of the album on NPR; it kind of blew me away that they were reviewing this kind of instrumental album, but then it totally clicked that these dudes totally want to buy this music and use it in their broadcasts. Its perfect for them, and most importantly it is the perfect highway driving music. They are a tight group, with solid drums and repetitive bass structures below the 2 guitars, using delay pedals as mini-loop stations and creating dissolving, mathy guitar structures in perfect harmony. Its nuts how tight those two are, with their delay pedals factoring into their performances. Great tunes to bring me somewhere fun for the night. Enjoy it while it lasts, sluts!
pyramid of the sun

Starfucker-Florida

This is just the song of the day. I got out of work, flipped through my iPod looking for something to listen to while i drove around for a few minutes before going home, and i settled on Starfuckers first, self-titled album. Track one starts things off with a great pop bang; just cool instruments, a nice groove and catchy harmonized vocals. It was a nice drive home.

Florida by starfucker_usa

starfucker

Dosh-One Through Seven

Some more dosh for you, heres a neat video someone threw together using track 3 from Lost Take, Um, Circles and Squares. Its got some cool ninja moves and some stop motion ants-carrying-food action.


Awesome album, i have been listening to it nonstop. Thanks again Dre and Dan!

the lost take

Dosh-The Lost Take-2006

I went to a friends house tonight, and connected musically with a few people, two of which were Dre and Brian/ Eric/ Dan, out of Denver Colorado, and the bunch of us got to talking and sharing all kinds of music. They did not have music available, but looking through my iPod they knew a lot of stuff that i had on there, and we started listening together and i branched off a bit into things they hadnt heard. Along the way, the two of them said that their biggest recommendation to me was Dosh, specifically his album The Lost Take. I have just now downloaded it and heard the first few songs and it is hitting home; certainly something i will be digesting heavily soon. Melodic, sweet electro pop so far, with a multi-instrumentalist at front and center, alone, creating sonically great things, as far as production and quality is assumed. Cool stuff so far; heres the first track that comes up on youtube:


This is a track from his 2008 album, Wolves and Witches; its 2 musicians preforming a whole lot of amazing live looping together, just kicking so much ass. More to come; enjoy The Lost Take.

the lost take

Stage Kids

Instrumental Math Rock that flirts with the girl in the back of the class, Electronica

Theres a certain quality in math rock that I feel is that special "magic dust" thats sets a group apart. A lot of the newer groups lack this heart. With my first listenings of Stage Kids I knew this would be another pass and forget.........

PLEASE CHECK THIS OUT EVERYONE, your mom, grandmas, foxes, uncle ricky. 

A lot of people are saying "these guys show a lot of promise for being young" Age has nothing to do with it. Its a first effort teaming with ideas and is a shot better than most of the dreg that I put up with everyday. Ive gotta say if they can incorporate those stellar electronic elements into their math they will be a force like no other. As would be expected instrumentation is king. Never to flighty or for guitars to get a like chuggy when needed. Can't wait to see whats next. 

Stage Kids