Vaya - (pre-release) 2013

Chicago math pop by way of indie rock. The windy city seems like a hot bed for progressive fair these days. Vaya instrumentally seems like they are pushing that pop to its very limit at all times. really technical work for sure. Its an odd yet enjoyable pairing to have almost lounge like singing (think a more capable David Longstreth from Dirty Projectors) with this great math back drop. This for sure will be a release to watch as the riffs are surely insteresting enough to hold your attention and pretty memorable to boot.

VAYA

An Aesthetic Anaesthetic - Names (2012)

This Chicago group has some riffs to share. What kind? some post-metal for sure with

progressive rock structures and our very favorite math rock veneer over top. It makes for some really nice distorted instrumental rock with that right amount of attitude. I have to say that if a passages is moving a bit slow for ya just relax because these guys move through influences in the span of a song. Your always bound to come out on the other end with at least a couple awesome things. Will be very interested to see what they have in store next for our ears.

names (2012)

Ittō - Ittō

This is massive.  This is punk. This is Ittō from Chicago. They play screamo

Screamo? yea like when you mix emo music and screaming. Hmm that doesnt sound much better. Rest assured however that this is not what you may be thinking. This is some technical hardcore punk with screamed/shouted vocals intermixed with some spoken word.  The starts and stops are very welcome to hear but you'd be a little hard pressed to claim this fully under the math rock banner. These songs are just completely unhinged rock music with a dynamic punk spirit. If anything that I just quickly typed out sounded even marginally interesting then I suggest you make a visit. Very Very Good.  


http://ittochicago.bandcamp.com/

Tortoise - TNT

When this album dropped in front of my lap many years ago I remember the sort music mode I was in.  Just starting to realize the potential of genre's that I once thought "dead".  If there is one thing I have learned from listening to so much music through my life is that no genre is "dead".  But there was Jazz laid in front of me.  I could never break in no matter how hard I tried, that was until Tortoise.  Granted they do not travel specifically in straight Jazz it is certainly....... Jazzed up a bit with Electronic, dub and post rock elements.  This Chicago mega group had such a crazy streak of releases and then they drop TNT.  In my approximation they are at the height of the powers here, perfectly blending elements into something emotional, complex and most importantly fun.  A lot of Tortoise's miss hits as far as from an album stand point is missing the fun. I have Tortoise to thank for opening my eyes to the potential of jazz.

TNT