Second Greatest Dad Ever - Joy Ride (2013)

It's one thing to have two guitar players in your band and something else entirely to have two guitarists in your band that can play off one another while consistently tearing into awesome riffs. Math rock to be sure, but with that yearning quality that indie emo brings to the table (the vocals contribute greatly to that feeling). Like I'm always looking for, this has the mark of a band having lots of fun with their own material. Nice to see the Lone Star state being repped, as I don't really see too much like this from that southern realm. Excited to hear what a full length could bring from this four piece.

Stereo Type - Tokyo Blue (2012)

Incredibly solid Japanese instrumental post-rock math. What you can always count on with anything in this vein is that it's never boring. Awesome bass lines, intricate drumming, and memorable guitar lines. Regrettably I seemed to have glossed over this from last year... sad face. If it doesn't grab you immediately, stick with it — it has surprises buried just beneath the surface. You have my personal assurance as a man of the math.

SuperPK - Sweet Dreams

One track by newcomer SuperPK from the state of Pennsylvania.  Mega-chilled out guitars (nicely restrained tapping) with some hushed vocals. If you're looking for that razzle dazzle you may need to look elsewhere, but this has a solid honesty and rich vocal harmony I keep coming back to. Interested to see what else these guys may have up their sleeves.

The Most Americans, now only $3?!

I'm going to level with you right now: if you missed this perfect slice of  indie math throw back goodness then you truly owe it to yourself to snatch this up. It's on sale for a limited time for like 3 bucks, at least that's what some dead presidents whispered to me.

Also they've got a new video up on the youtubes for you to watch and enjoy, so yea there's that as well.

LORD - III (2013)

Improving by superhuman leaps and bounds between releases, Portland's LORD is proving themselves to be a heavy contender in the realm of math rock.

I'm finally getting a chance to sit with it and man it's a damn beast — monster riffs and fleet-limbed drumming for the main course, but that's not all. The key here is the composition, keeping things driving forward while not being afraid to revisit ideas that worked earlier in spots.

These guys have made some serious headway and in my estimation it's because some of the extraneous prog-flam-jam has been toned down a titch, resulting in a greater focus on the deadly metal-influenced riff work. And for those that are truly interested in a burner of a song, sink your fangs into the last track. (I want them as the soundtrack for the next Castlevania game, hope you're reading Konami scouts.)

All of Them Witches

    This is a long overdue post for me.  All of Them Witches are a duo hailing from Buffalo NY, which as it happens isn't too too far from my general living zone. Soundwise we are talking some tap-heavy guitar work that twists and turns, with complementary drumming that supports the guitars with just the right amount of technicality.
    
    Math duos are always tricky for me to evaluate, since a lot of progressive music banks on how busy or full a composition can be, so obviously fewer performers can be detrimental. That said, Witches have a few things in their flavor to avoid being stale. Compositionally, there's great flow between sections in each song, avoiding the stunted transitions that trap many similiar groups. Overall, their sound smacks of a minimal nature while still sounding incredibly full. That might not make much sense on paper, but give it a listen and maybe it'll hit you.
   
   I will be having the distinct pleasure of seeing them this Friday and have been looking forward to finally catching a show by them. Also looking forward to some possible new tunage? A boy can hope.

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All of Them Witches

8/10/13 Ithaca NY : Del Paxton, Vasudeva, Gulfer, Cattle Drums

It's difficult for me to put into words the feeling that you get by being constantly blown away by incredibly talented and passionate bands, ones seen before and anticipated; high-fives, hugs, jumping, and dancing were pouring out of the wood work in Ithaca last night.

Buffalo's very own Del Paxton (ex-Beach Parade) opened the proceedings with their precision take on 90's emo with some math rock flirtations. For them being such a new group you'd be hard pressed to tell at all. Great use of vocals and occasional harmonies, which I'm always a sucker for. While not normally my genre of choice, it's a testament to the excellent songwriting and powerfully inspired kit work of these lovely gentleman that have me excited for their bright future. (video from the show)

Vasudeva (NJ) — in some sort of mind reading tactic — played my FAVORITE song of their's off  2011's Roots of the Tree, "Back to the Feeding Ground". It honest-to-christmas-christ took me a full 45 seconds to recover after being blasted by such a lush and full sound in that wonderful basement. Huge amount of energy and tons of fun to watch. If you're not familiar, soundwise we're talking busy instrumental post-math with lots of glorious tapping. Wasn't super familiar with their new material, but just like their last release there are a large amount of  melodic leads and impossible tapping passages with powerful drums. (video from the show)

Hailing from Montreal came Gulfer, who have been on my radar since their split with the lovely Fago Sepia. Hugely excited to finally see them in action and there was no disappointment at all — faaaaar from it. Math rock at its finest to be frank. Tight turns were navigated deftly by bass and drums, while the guitar seemed split between clean strumming and knotty tap workouts. It's in the variety of their songwriting that I have always loved Gulfer. They show their strengths well, moving from jazz influence to indie rock to harder breakdowns, but always with a grounding sense that never brings you too far from them. It's technical for sure, but never makes you feel weighted down. (video from the show)

And lastly... Cattle Drums. Third time seeing them, and each and every time I am even more blown away than the last. It is no exaggeration: they are the band to beat in any genre right now. The level of emotional connection they bring is second to none. Why, you may be ask? Well, lyrically there is no comparison. Think spoken word stream of consciousness that is a mix of philosophical musings crossed with bathroom scrawlings that can be profound and anthemic in the same moment (sometimes tragically inane). While this is happening, guitarist Gulab Singh is laying down some of the rawest riffage I can think of in twenty-thirteen.  Stopping and starting when needed and holding on to an especially awesome lick for exactly the right amount of time, followed closely by relentlessly busy drumming. A mutant mix of dirty punk, metal, math rock and indie rock. Either aspect by itself would be more than enough for two bands but smashed into one is like watching the opposite of a train wreck. It was a burner of a set for sure. (video from the show)

A large thank you to my good friend Bubba from Ithaca Underground who was instrumental in this coming together as well.

The Speed of Sound in Seawater - First Contact (2013)

Alright, we've seen this pretty much everywhere by now, but as fans that have collected all their discography in physical CD form we feel it’s our obligation to at least say something about this.

             If you are familiar with Damien Verrett's work you probably realize that his storytelling skills are some of the best, and that is what really shines through here in this new LP. ("Speedwater" as we like to refer to them as) proves that they can set a mood and tone with their music and imagery that can put you into almost any setting. That said, for what it exceeds in lyrical content and story it pays in technicality. This is most likely the least technical out of all their work, an especially great step down from their previous release, "Underwater Tell Each Other Secrets". But, honestly, we can say that technicality won’t be missed too much here. You'll be way too wrapped up into the stories, catchy melodies, and trade-off vocals to care. We will say that this is much more leaning towards pop and we're unsure if we can really call it math in our sense of the word, but even so there is still a lot to fall in love with here. Whether it’s a quirky story about a man who wants to build a girlfriend, a boy with a childhood friend that’s a ghost, or a story about a young man and his shipmates scouting the high seas, there is something here for everyone.

"Written by your favorite math-rock review duo, Umbra and Jacuzzi"

Ditch Tiger - Old Growth (2013)

Dang Boise Idaho!

You guys are really bringing it hard this month. First with Fox Alive and now we have Ditch Tiger. This has the familiar feel of a lot of your favorite groups that play that earnest throwback emo with the great mathy guitars and angsty vocals. BUT — there always has to be a but — this comes at you like a tumbling boulder, way faster than any of those other namby pambies. (Is there such a thing as a "pamby" that isn't namby? - meta) Not too mention those drums are nothing to be joking around about either. The band fancies themselves "hardcore punk" and I suppose I could see in that spirit but beyond that not too much. Extremely cohesive stuff for sure and one that I'm sure will resonate with a lot of people. I know this album has very much captured my attention these days.

Slender Loris - World Tour (2013)

I have to say that I usually enjoy my lorises "slow", but after meeting this here Slender Loris my tune has changed. A three piece that employs speak/shout vox and some dirty punky guitars doesn't exactly smack of the math we love, but give this release a second and there is a lot to love, not too mention a couple twists. Jagged is the word I would use for these riffs for sure. In a lot of ways this reminds me of the fabulous No Means No and shoot, that's some high flying compliments. Early 90's vibes but not heavy to the point where I need a Crystal Pepsi. It took me a moment to grab hold of what these guys are doing, but thats my own fault truly and once you do I can promise that you'll be on board the ship.

Supernormal Prophets - Right up, Word on (2013)

Some mixed meter and shifting times from this solo electro post-hardcore math project — sounds interesting right? Well, that's prolly cause it is. This comes to us from Ireland and is actually a lot funkier than I would have guessed. Something a little different than the standard "r o c k" based biz I bring, so drink up.

Fox Alive - These Trees Don't Sink (2013)

You describe yourselves as "ambient jazz math rock from Idaho" and you have a wonderful female singer? I suppose my question to you is "WHERE ARE ALL OF THE OTHER SONGS I NEED TO LIVE?!" But seriously this is some incredibly well thought math rock with the vocal one two punch that'll have you reaching for that dern play button again and again. I will be waiting for new stuff from these guys (and gal) thats for sure.

Hank - Pinched (2013)

Lately the cram-jamming of punk aesthetics with math rock structures seems to be a "thing" that is gaining steam. However not all cats sleep the same on the window sill and that's why it's refreshing to hear Illinois' very own Hank taking a different angle. Yes, the aggressive guitars (and vocals) are there for your fist-pumping delight, but there is a "fun" angle that I am always looking for in the mood and playing of this type of music. Let's also not forget that we stay for the twists and turns via the prog/math elements. Besides conveying fun, the second important component that I'm always looking for is an honesty in the composition. Both are vague concepts, I understand that, but they remain extremely important for me in describing why I enjoy a group. This is an incredibly strong and diverse first effort for Hank and it's telling seeing them talked about in more than a few other math-centric publications.

North End - Cognoscere (2013)

Philadelphia high energy mathy post rock — exactly how I need my post rock (i.e. not a high E string workout). This here is one track off of an upcoming full album and it is certainly busy and interesting enough for me to want more and by extension you too will be wanting more.

metaghostin' Vol. XVIII — Misunderstood Onomatopoeia

Misunderstood Onomatopoeia - 31'37"

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1. Tom, cruise the sea back to the Himalayas / See you in Sherwood / Picnic (2012)
2. Grim Collections / Kidcrash / Snacks (2010)
3. h / Kawri's Whisper / S/T EP (2012)
4. Or So He Sphinx / The Speed of Sound in Seawater / Underwater... (2011)
5. Desert Cathedral / The Root and the Basilisk / EFG (2013)
6. Patches / Hikes / Friends (2013)
7. The Thinking Man / The Jezebel Spirit / I Hate It Here (2011)
8. Looming / Toasted Plastic / June Highs (2013)

///
 

—    It was a gruesome war, very graphic. None of that ambiguous bullshit like, “did he die, did he die?” “Dude fuckin’ died, man, didn’t you see his gaping headhole like a goddamn blood fountain? Brains all over the place; the dunes and temple walls; the clouds; the moon; the sun and stars; like fuckin’: ba-blow, kaplooey, splat, pish, no they fuckin’ didn’t!”—very masculine.

atrabillions - demo (2013)

Whoosh badoosh forgive my absence, I have been in the middle of some very heavy family medical stuff.  I am here to present you guys with a band that I actually just stumbled on not too long ago but have already very much been enjoying. atrabillions are an instrumental jazz prog-math three piece from Sydney Australia. What immediately caught my ears were the piano that finishes the drum and guitar triad....yep no bass. Which is fine and isn't lacking as the piano seems to at times fill that roll other times not.  The surprising bit is this is just a three song demo for these cats and they already sound like incredibly polished works. If you peak their influences its actually a farily decent smashing of these groups. Take a more structural driven "Tangled Thoughts of Leaving" a side of  "Mouse on the Keys" and a sprinkling of guitar business from Tera Melos..not much but just a smidge for flavor. It should be said that these guys are flying their own plane and that everyone here should get a great big kick out of this. Looking forward to hearing more.

Toasted Plastic - June Highs (2013)

I do feel a bit bad about this because New Jersey's Toasted Plastic are a group that is talked about a fair amount between the staff here at Plenty of Swords. However no official post has come (insert sad face) Well this three piece is certainly more than deserving of the praise. A high energon mix of pop punk/ punk, math rock twists and turns and newer emo. There is a lot of complexity crammed in here and that would mean next to nothing if it wasn't coupled with a heaping helping of emotion. Thankfully thats demonstrated in spades especially with the vox. There's more than a little obvious attention payed to crafting some memorable melodies which is more than I can say for a lot of groups. This is the largest element that have kept me coming back to their newest album again and again. If you're looking for a contemporary comparison our very own "black clouds" stated that they remind him of early Sirs. I would have to agree a bit with that but so so so much more. This is one to listen to all the way through. Lots to love here.

Unicorn Harvest - Alan's Tutorials (2013)

Hey guys I am back to posting our regularly scheduled awesome math and not my constant gushing of all the sweet math rock I've seen in the last week :) However a large thank you has to be made to Ithaca Underground for setting up some killer shows as of late.
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Unicorn Harvest are a math rock duo that are former Ithaca fella's as well but now find themselves in NYC. Its hard to listen to these cats without getting smacked in the face with the Tera Melos love but honestly thats one of the things I enjoy most about them. They've got that under lying pop sensibility with the muffled vox and some pretty hook riddled ax handling.  Compositionally it all flows incredibly well with some not too over the top drumming. Really been enjoying this the last couple days and I'm sure most of you peeps will too.

Ithaca NY 7/10/13: MTMTM, Cameron Wisch, Perhaps, Our Daily Fix, Nicknames, Sovereignties

Ithaca NY 7/10/13:

Tour season has been in full swing for a bit now and it has been no exception for one of my favorite local bands (Mouth to Mouth to Mouth) that are currently on tour with Cameron Wisch as both their touring guitarist and as a solo act. 

Sadly I happened to miss most of Sovereignties set which happened to sound pretty killer walking into. Really wished I could have caught more of it as it seemed a pretty fair blend of spot on drums and mathy emo guitar. Nicknames (sans new bassist) did a highly energetic run through of their set which was a decent take on more classic 90's emo sounds with the very in scream/sing vox. 

Perhaps came on next and was certainly a group that I was excited to experience live. Their blend of psychedelic prog I knew would be perfect for an in your face performance.  An unimaginable amount of endurance must go into practices with these guys as it was about a 30 minute non stop straight assault to my brain. Extremely impressive as the lines between rehearsed portions and improv were blended seamlessly. In talking with the bassist after the show composition falls squarely on his shoulders and that was perfectly clear watching him play almost in a trance of bass runs.

Our Daily Fix next as always puts on an amazing show and it was great to hear the newer songs on their tour single again. What is great about these guys is the balance of that emo "skramz" sound and some highly technical jazz prog math. Not too mention any horns in a math rock band get automatic extra points. No band does it as good as ODF and they prove it each and every time I see them. Ending with "Two Cats" put a big old smile on my face for sure. Wonderful stuff. 

It was a bit hard to guess what Cameron Wisch was going to pull out for the night as he has seemed pretty focused on his modern comp pieces. Which for the most part is exactly what we were treated to albeit with pre-recorded strings (obviously) and guitar and vocals from Cameron. Doing things in that way is incredibly difficult but was pulled off with near flawless accuracy. It was a great change of pace for the show thus far slowing things down a bit. For the last two songs Cameron had stolen Gabe (MTMTM's) drummer for two songs that were more in the style of fast alt math that we are used to from him. With the short amount of time Gabe had to pull this off (as you could guess Mr. Wisch's drum parts are never straight forward) Gabe did a superb job.

Last but certainly not least was Mouth to Mouth to Mouth minus Corey (stuck in Chicago) plus Cameron Wisch on second guitar. With four practices under their belts together it was a disgustingly amazing performance and a show stealer in my opinion. These guys have synthesized a large amount of influences into an incredibly engaging blend of punk rock energy and technical prowess via the maths. Great emotional breakdowns and pleasing mid range tap fests all are mashed into a pie that is as fun to eat as it is to watch.  It may seem like I am playing favorites but they certainly should be getting some heavy cred with all the wokr they've been pouring in. Having just finished playing Rochester and Buffalo the boys are currently in Canada about to rip it up in Toronto and then Montreal:

7/13: Toronto (house show) w/ Junior Bob

7/14: Montreal at Casa del Popol w/ Golden Python, tba

7/15: Ithaca w/ GIRAFFES? GIRAFFES! // Goddard

Yes you see that correctly ill be back soon with another review after Monday's show with the boys in double G's. All is right in the world. 

Thousand Mile Channel - TAPS (2013)

Ambient tap math seemingly from some non existent movie soundtrack. Incredibly relaxing and rewarding if your up for something a bit left of center but won't hurt your brain dome :) A lot of times stuff like this screams for more and its a true testament to the compositions that it remains so perfect in its minimalism.




..also James Lambrecht's other project Gladius the Fertile is a pretty interesting take on post rock. for sure a check or two is needed.