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.

A.M. Overcast - Shepherd Moon (2011)

It should be noted right off the bat that if someone told me Rob Crow was involved with this that I wouldn't be at all surprised. Thats high praise in my book by the way. Alexander Litinsky takes that style of Math Pop as a framework for his own frenetic solo work and amps up the time changes and catchy vox. Boy Girl harmonies? yes please! Handclaps in multiple songs? MORE SIR MORE! For the style it doesn't get any better for goodness sake. There is just not enough of this kind of jazzed up complex pop going on today (as of writting this I've made it through 4 runs. not counting the album before this one ;) If you need a change up of the same old same old then this will spearmint your music bad breath into next year... or something.

Shepherd Moon (2011)

Bellow Below - EP

Fairly new Scottish 4 piece that plays an interesting mix of vocal led alt. indie mathish pop? Again just one of those things that you've gotta taste and see. The EP covers a lot of ground in a short amount of time and always seems to head in some very interesting directions. Some of the vocal melodies and harmonies are pretty left field but can also be stunningly beautiful in another moment. Sounds a bit like Pharaohs if they were a bit less happy and never stayed in one place for too long in a song? I dont know tough call they are truly their own beast. I have to say though that I was immediately struck by these guys on first listen and it honestly just keeps getting better with each listen. If this isn't on your radar.....lets just say it needs to be.  

BANDCAMP FOR THE DOWNLOAD

Snaarj

Alto and tenor saxophones interweave lines in and out of one another while a (dare I use the term)"funky" bass holds down the festivities. The drummer mixes some devilish poly-rhythms while still keeping it delightfully tasteful. Snaarj claims a number of different genre identifiers in their Bio and would like to be tagged as "sax pop" I however feel this doesn't really do them justice. Sure the indie rock spirit is there but these guys seem more progressive rock driven than maybe they'd say. All genre finger pointing aside this is some wonderfully composed music from four friends how clearly love what they do. There seems to be a growing number of bands latching onto this sort of setup and many die by the sword. Snaarj has one song up on their bandcamp from this year (Husky Plus) that seems to sum up in short order what to expect. The live album also shows that there are others to come that are just as excellent. I wait with eager palms outstretched for whats to come.

SNAAAAARRJJ!!

Riding the Diplodoc - Dilettantes Like Lions / Crystal Fuxx

Updation:

Our beloved Riding the Diplodoc have dropped on us another wonderful gem in the form of the Crystal Fuxx EP. With this release comes a more focused sound and some better production. Intact are the quick changes and nicely written melodies. Have to say that as metaghost so eloquently put it "Sadly no reverse-reverb. Or helicopter sound effects." which I understand is a joke but it does seem that some of that youthful personality is missing, a minor gripe really. snatch and grab.

Crystal Fuxx EP 2012

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O yes this is what I'm talking about 2011! Riding the Diplodoc are a whole mess of fun math rock flip flying through your ear holes. Completely instrumental and you wont mind in the least. They have a lot of really great atonal riffs that come together and truth be told really don't sound like they should work in the least. I believe if im not mistaken these guys are from Russia. I have to say my experience with Russian math rock (yes there is a fairly lively scene) has been spotty at best. This gives them an awesome boost in the best direction. My son actually just woke up and asked what I was doing so he will now be taking over my review:

Maeson "it make me feel really good. I think I'm going to become a drummer like you when I grow up"

There you have it.

dilettantes like lions

Renaissance Sound - Renaissance Sound (2012)

Illinois group made up of former members of Loose Lips Sink Ships. This is a bit of a departure here from the formers math happy tap a thon. Renaissance Sound dish out heaping helping's of instrumental Jazz rock/Math rock with an almost a lounge quality. My favorite portion has to be the vibraphone and violin working together or playing at odds with one another. Its makes for some beautiful moments where all instruments are fighting for their own spotlight. When its hard to pay too close attention to one thing because everyone is doing something amazing you know that you've hit straight gold. Did I forget to mention there's occasional vocals? yep  and they are sweet sauce. Do it for yourself this is a group that will produce a great many wonderful things in the future.

ps. track 2 "dereks journey" at 1:15 I swear that bass line sounds eerily similar to the bass line in  "Penelope" by Pinback.

Band Camp it up!

Jean Jean

French Instrumental Math Rock. Really fantastic stuff. Nothing too technical going on yet certainly not boring by any stretch. Totally out of left field on this one wasn't expecting this style.  Excellent production as well which give this an extra edge.


Jean Jean

POSTMADONNA

http://postmadonna.bandcamp.com/album/introducing-postmadonna


see that link above? click, listen, and love it.

yours
Acerola

Innerty - Tabula Rasa

Ok. So heres the deal. I am kind of back and forth on these guys. Innerty is from France and play a sort of hybrid beast Progressive Death Metal and Math Rock. Yes there are death metal vocals, so if thats not your thing looks elsewhere. Musically these dudes rip the landscape up in fine fashion when they are focusing on their progressive side. Trouble brews when they fall back on tired metal conventions in their songwriting. If this sounds at all delicious in anyway to you then I suggest you snatch it up.

Tabula Rasa (2012)

Yeah Great Fine - Yeah Great Fine (2010)

Portland boys always seem to know how to mix the genre's into a delicious slurry of awesome. Yeah Great Fine continue this general position by angling themselves in a fairly unique way.  Lets cheat and at the fore front say guitar led indie rock. On top of this is a healthy dollop of sweet sweet pop music. This is mostly evident in the vocals and harmonies...kinda summery beach boys type progressions (the simple ones that is)  I can hear you thinking already  "jesus dude this sounds like your describing 100,000 bands" but wait theres more.  This is where the Math Rock steps in. A lot of it is yes the drums being awesome and all over the place but there is certainly some rhythmic complexity weaving in and out with the guitars.  Some of the songs do come off a bit generic when they dont try and stick their head above water to soak in the math rock rays of the sun as much as they should. Thankfully the EP rectifies this issue and injects some seriously saucy rhythmic jaunts. Makes me all the more excited for a full length.   

ps. im catching like a sun shiny maps and atlases with a less tap happy bent.

Yeah Great Fine (2010)
Circadian EP (2011)

Noxious Foxes - Legs (2011)

 Instrumental Math Loopers from Brooklyn NY. Surprising sense of melody with songs that are so rhythmically interesting.  Excellent use of pedals where it doesn't feel like your getting pummeled  over the head with odd noises for heavens sake. Technical without drawing too much attention. Super amazing stuff. 


Legs (2011)

Macho Muchacho

Math Rock from Ecuador.  Fairly new as of last year. Couple solid tracks on the bandcamps. I sense a pretty amazing full length in future.


bandcamp

Carbon Tigers - The Dover Sessions Vol. 1

Wonderfully produced Chicago group that dial down the math element and create some honest indie rock. Surprising moments of riffs pop in sparingly to add that much need tapping element or a time change.  Otherwise this is some solid stuff.  Kinda reminds me of Minus the Bear a bit with some Reign of Kindo (minus the jazz).  Mainstream without falling into all the some pitfalls that similar groups get stuck in.  My favorite part? Vocals. Awesome all around. Dont wait and check their EP out from 2010. Just as great.

The Dover Sessions (2011)

Apollo's Arrows

If you dont know now you know.

Counterfit - Super Amusement Machine/ Helen Earth Band - Our Own Ghost City

Incredibly solid group from the early 2000's. If your looking for something experimental or unique unfortunately you should check out some of the other posts here. What I can say is these guys have an excellent ear for a vocal melody and actually some nice rhythmic guitar work. I'd say a more tech version of your indie rock bands with some chimmy chimey guitars.  This music does get stuck in your head and you will feel super ok about that. 
Counterfit - Super Amusement Machine
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Fun Fact: one of the guitarist's and the drummer are currently in the band Helen Earth Band.  They have a more pop oriented slower kind of sound than Counterfit.  Not 100% sold on these guys yet but I haven't been able to spend enough time on their first release. Let me know what you guys are thinking.
Helen Earth Band - Our own Ghost City

Kit Fisto - II (2011)

Math Rock can be taken in more directions than one would think. Not to say that this particular brand gets snubbed but the straight up party math rock tends to be made to DD the night of the big shindig.  Kit Fisto exist in a realm where metal, alternative rock and tap happy math pump their collective fists in the air. The sense of enjoyment from these guys is just extremely in your face. Did I mention their from Florida? Sounds about right. Whenever I listen to them I half expect them to break into some Chon style riffage and at times they come close however they always reign it back in. If these guys can harness more of whats going on in these three songs, up the very welcome vocals that sneak their way in, possibly kick up BPM's a titch  we will have a dangerously amazing little LP on our hands. Excited to see what a next time bring's.

II

With Eyes Abstract - WEA (2011)

Let me start by saying I have found it impossible to not like an album recorded at "The Thousand Caves" with Colin Marston at the helm (Behold the Arctopus/ Dysrhythmia)  The sound is certainly a throw back and he always knows how to make the guitars sound just right. 

"With Eyes Abstract" have this small release recorded at the end of 2010 and are apparently poised for a full length this year, color me excited.  This is dark/prog jazz metal in a lot of the same fashion that Dysrhythmia is. I would say though that they possibly have more jiggs and jaggs thrown in making it sound super dense and busy (I LOVE THIS). My musical ADD needs constant stimuli and "With Eyes Abstract" never let me down. Surprisingly tuneful as well which I wasn't entirely expecting.  The more I've been playing this as well the more things I find that I enjoy about it. Like I said not without its share of sleeved influences but singular in their own way. Well worth the time if you fancy yourself a lover of that "brutal prog" sound.

WEA (2011)

Valerian Swings - A Sailor Lost Around the Earth (2011)

Sometimes you know instantly when a band is going to fill you with sweet joy.  From the opening few seconds of "Dr. Pengle is There" from Valerian Swings 2011 release, there was no doubt that entered my head that this would be anything less than stunning. The excellently named group are from Italy and you can expect a lot from them over the course of "A Sailor Lost Around the Earth". While a lot of other bands wear their genre's on their sleeves this trio make it a bit trickier. A group with an equal love of progressive rock, psychedelic rock, jazz,  metal, post-rock, and mathcore.  Blend on high.  Throughout the album you just wont care what your hearing because its always so well crafted. Vocals occasionally make a nice appearence as well. This is just an album that begs you to sit down and soak up because it's just that incredible. Wonderful song structures as well that always flow from one great idea to another. Driving to soft and Hard hitting to calm, never missing a beat or your interest.

A Sailor Lost Around the Earth (2011)

Invalids - Eunoia (2012)

Let the math pour over you in the name of the fa.....Oh! Hi how's everyone doing? I was actually just dropping in to post about Invalids (Pete Davis on everything except Nick Shaw on bass) because well its flipping amazing.This is Math Rock, something we never speak about at the Swords but hear me out. The unique part of this whole one man bandish group is that you can tell it is the vision of one person. Meaning that you can up the time bending quotient by about 1200. This is tech as a tiger if your wondering in every manner of instrument. Guitars are known to get a bit tap happy while the drums are jazzing the junk out with the bass. Vocals actually make a prominent spot here too. Think a kind of emo style but not super annoying. Thankfully nothing ever feels like any one element is competing for space which with music like this youd imagine there could be issue.  For an EP and a side project your going to be hard pressed to find something better so far this 2012.

Lastly let me close by saying:


EVERYONE GET THIS IN YOUR EARS!!

Please Join us on the Facebook!

Listen, I wanted to interrupt the normal flow of the blog to urge everyone reading to click below and follow us on the old Facebook:

Plenty of Swords

Why? well its an equal opportunity for everyone to post video's, talk about how much we dont/do like "insert band name", band suggestions, ect. This creates a looser and more fun environment where extra content and sharing come into play.

Also because it wouldn't be fair to have everyone read my 30 seconds of promoting (its for you own good) I have also included a link below in the comments to an extra awesome album.

You can thank me later and thank you for reading.