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)

Interior Palette Toeshoes - Nude (2011)

I was searching for information regarding the still-delayed new Natsumen record and stumbled upon a brief recommendation to check this EP out, bolstered by their description as a Toe/Mouse on Keys hybrid. Nothing is particularly stellar, but they manage to maintain the illusion that every Japanese band is comprised of robots set to "Extreme Technical Proficiency" and there are some hummable melodies here and there. Production is lackluster, doing its best to compress all life out of each performance, but at least they got some claps in the percussion track. Worth a listen if you got that itch.

Nude EP

(Password is "music".)

No More Books?! Don't Worry Zammuto's Here

     If you read this and instantly thought I was going to reference some Bradbury level shit well....your wrong. The great and mighty emotional sample heavy band "The Books" is no more.  This concerns me if only for the fact that these guys really had this singular sound that I have rarely heard done. Every release of theirs has been carefully listened to countless times by myself. The Lemon of Pink being their mastepiece.
    Oldish news I suppose but there happens to be light at the end of the tunnel for the faithful. Nick Zammuto (principle vocalist of said group) has assembled a mighty team with the appropriate title "Zammuto". Their full length is set to drop very soon although an EP has crept in. Truth be told my skepticism level was shall we say "MONUMENTAL". If I may be so bold that this EP will have my utmost attention as any Books release after several listens. Im getting a more cohesive band oriented Book's vibe going on with more pronounced vocals. What's that you say? you're wondering about that superb Books style percussion aren't you? don't worry its slick solid basting sauce. Check it and wait with me for the full length :)

Zammuto - Idiom Wind EP

Apollo's Arrows

If you dont know now you know.

Into it Over it - Proper

Do Not Be Fooled By This Picture.
Now that we have that out of the way I suppose I will keep with the loose theme I've got going this weekend of Indie Rock.

Enter one man Evan Thomas Weiss (ex/ the progress, ex/up up down down left right... ex Damiera bassist) This is Evans joint through and through and if any of the above mentioned bands perk your head then listen up. To be fair this stuff is done by a lot of bands but where it excels is in pure execution. So we've got your indie rock, intricate guitar lines, twisting drums and awesome memorable vox.  This stuff is like a brain worm. None of these songs will ever leave you...ever, you've been warned.  I realize this isn't a lot to go on but this stuff lays it on from the gates and never lets you go. Even when its dialed down with some acoustic its A-OK.  Great driving music as well. So lets take this recent odd weather (at least for the northeast) and take a cruise with this joint.


Proper

Also odd link between this post and last...here me out.  So before Damiera (as mentioned above Evan played bass for) Lead Dave Raymond played in a band called League. League had an obvious love of...Counterfit! Why would I say this? well one of League's songs cribs an entire line from a Counterfit song.
cough cough league cough cough :)

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
____

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

Skeletons - MONEY - 2008

I guess you could say that this highly experimental pop album is loosely based in funk. There are some hot rhythms, choice horn parts, good vocals, strange lyrics, ragged noise, muddiness, and a huge sonic palette. Digs into your ear canal to lay its eggs. Occasionally they'll sound like they're ripping off some more well-known bands, but there's so much bizarre shit going on that its an easily-forgivable offense.

Nail it on their Bandcamp.
 ________________________________
Dont mean to butt in on Frankie's excellent post but I have been a large fan of these guys for years. Sadly I had lost touch with the group and only really gotten a chance to enjoy their 2007 effort "lucas".  Of course I enjoyed them more when they were called "Skeletons and the Kings of All Cities" but whats in a name really?
- Acerola
Lucas (2007)

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

Vasquez - EP

math-ROCK  p A r T Y ROCK pop!

Watch these guys this year. 20$ their full length rocks your face. great pedal work. Nuff said in the words of Stan the man Lee.

EP

Monomer- Ranger Wars (2011)

I just reunited with a childhood friend who I had lost contact with many years ago; in that time he went to Berklee and learned some fucking tricks. Acey, check this shit immediately; It is so completely your thing, and everyone here at the Swords for that matter; legit videogame soundtrack action. Immediate download.

Antoine Dufour - Existence (2008)

A change of pace here for myself but no less awesome. Antoine Dufour is a Canadian "finger-style" acoustic guitar player. Think in the same vein as  Don Ross, Micheal Hedges and more recent contemporary Andy Mckee. Truth be told I am not huge on a lot of the other gents I just mentioned but Dufour's progression choices and playing style almost remind me of some kind of acoustic video game soundtrack...or something. All of his releases are super excellent picking this particular one was not easy. I will keep this short though and let you guys form your own opinions.  Can't think of many that wouldnt find at least something to like about this.

Existence (2008)

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)

X-Ray Press - UVB-76 (2011)

The moment that you stop caring what a group sounds like and give in to the album that the band has presented you with is when everything comes into focus. Most math-rock fails utterly in this respect, throwing a series of exercises in instrumental prowess flecked with heart pulls. That is what we except as a great math album but it doesn't have to be this way. X-Ray Press gives us an alternative. The album as a whole is dangerously brilliant and sequenced better than i've seen a group tackle in a long spell. The obvious question and one I really wanted to distance myself from was tagging this. This is a great rock album updated for 2011 to appeal in an impressive way to those that enjoy unique instrumentation and tasteful vocals. (my answer)  The answer you likely want is that this sounds like progressive post-punk math rock blanketed with a disjointed 90's indie rock bent.  I feel like this tag really cheapens what these guys have going but if you needed that then there it is.  The guitars and keyboards are frequently distorted and from song to song take great joy in never settling for any specific style.  You can tell there is a deep love of prog going down but stripped of straight up technicality and pomp help this go down smooth. The ensuing jagged structures are made tuneful with the help of really great vocals.  In the end its hard exactly to tell who's doing the coolest thing in a song. I strongly urge everyone to take the time and sit with these all the way through. I feel like a lot of times im guilty of blasting through so much music that you really miss those groups that are trying to get you to sit and take in their story.  My ears are all yours X-Ray Press. I suggested you all do some ear lending as well.

UVB-76 (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!!

First Post: Cutting Pink With Knives

Hey all, new contributor on the blog here, I figured I'd kick it off with one of my favorite bands, the UK's own Cutting Pink With Knives. They were around from 2004 until 2008, and did some of the most inventive techno-grind I've ever heard. When I first heard them it reminded me of Genghis Tron but a lot sillier (mostly because both bands use drum machines). They started out as a relatively one-dimensional drum machine grind band, but as time went on they incorporated more synths and major chords/chord patterns into their songwriting. Their third and last album, Populuxxe, is near-perfect; I can't think of an album that mixes the heaviness of grindcore with poppy dance music with over-the-top guitar lead lines better than this.

Oh Wow!

Populuxxe

Live, demo, EP, and unreleased tracks

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.

Fish Tank - Henry

UK MATH POP #@RU(QR#PFJ FA!!! ALL OVER THE FUC......

Excuse my outburst fellows and fellows ettes, in keeping up with my obvious love for UK bred math rock.indie pop hybrid beasts (Tangled Hair, Colour, Pharoahs so on and so forth) is Fish Tank. This three piece have dropped on us an EP that eats like a meal or an LP (your choice). Giant sized rock outs, wonderful breakdowns, sing alongs, awesome vox, tapping, keyboards, horns? check. These boys are not afraid to jam heavy on a great chorus or conversely rip through a couple time signatures with some guitar acrobatics. Make no mistake though this stuff will get caught in your dome. It seems as though a full length is to come rather soon and I can't help but be on my chair about it.  Criminal that they aren't more talked up because they are a sight better than a lot of this "sensitive math with strong guitars".

Pro-tip: Hand claps in a song =  + 5 to crushing brilliance



HENRY

Pensioner - Yearlings (2011)

Pensioner from Scotland certainly have caught my attention and others as well. At the base they are a post-hardcore/math rock hybrid that seems to have more fun jamming as many awesome ideas into a song as they can. Vocals are also deliciously present. Here lies a problem with most bands that do employ vocals they tend to play second fiddle...not so here at all. An Incredibly solid release with nothing too technical but some herky jerk rhythms get thrown in out of left field. It keeps you on your feet and you'll frequently be surprised by some of the structural choices going on. Don't worry no surprise gangster rap outro.

I guess you could say its just a really sweet and inspired rock album that is as vocal centric as guitar led. Which I think more bands should try to follow. Here that other bands?

Yearlings (2011)

Sweep the Leg Johnny - Going Down Swinging

I'm hoping there are those of you out there that are not super familiar with these guys.  Although if your even slightly schooled in the off time arts you should have at least heard mention. Those that do know, as far as mid to late 90's early 2000's math rock, Sweep the Leg Johnny was an important and impressive musical force. What they are most known for is the inclusion of not just vocals but a vocalist that also plays saxophone. Very cool rhythmic ideas at work but not especially frantic. They do get slow and at times resemble a fairly standard early 90's dissonant indie rock band (not a negative thing) Going Down Swinging was to be there last release in 2002 and a great place to start when checking them out. They seem to be at the height of their style playing very intricate extended rock. This is some excellently crafted and very much a classic Math rock group.


Going Down Swinging (2002)