Monday, December 22, 2008

Tombs - Split with Planks


I went to the Heart of Winter fest in Richmond last week to check out Tombs and Cough with some friends.  Cough was solid and I enjoyed their set even though I think they were a bit better at Nara with Walls.  Tombs on the other hand blew me away.  This doesn't happen very often for me.  I will walk away from a show and feel like, "yeah, that was good/fun/etc."  Tombs are definitely on "some next level shit."  They were loud, heavy, dark, noisey and no bullshit.  They loaded their equipment fast as shit, played their set, and were done.  For being a only three piece they still manage to bombard with a wall-of-sound.  From what I've been told they have ex-Anodyne vocalist Mike Hill.  Here is their side of their new split with Planks thats only out of like 200 or something.

TOMBS - SPLIT WITH PLANKS

Sunday, December 14, 2008

The First Step - Open Hearts and Clear Minds


Fuck all the controversy surrounding this band, this is a solid 7".  I am finding that my negativity these days is getting in the way of things I want to do and turning some of the people I love off.  My way of dealing right now is by listening to posi-core like TFS.  I have mixed feelings about the way the hardcore climate has shifted to negative, "power-violence" and abandoned youth crew and positivity.  I agree being "posi" can get kinda hokey after awhile, but I'm kinda tired of this forced trend of depressing hardcore.  Listen to more Uniform Choice, please.

THE FIRST STEP - OPEN HEARTS AND CLEAR MINDS

Friday, December 5, 2008

Saves the Day - Through Being Cool


I'm posting this for nostalgia reasons as well as the fact that it is still one of my favorite albums of all time.  It got played hundreds of times when I was younger and is still relevant when I listen to it today.  Saves the Day is by far my favorite band to listen to when I am taking a long drive and only have time to kill.  I feel like if I discovered this band and album today, never having heard it, it wouldn't instantly become my favorite record.  There are somethings that you can only appreciate because it was once really important to you and it reminds you of simpler times.  This is probably why I will never really appreciate AFI, Brand New, or Leftover Crack.  They are probably good but I didn't get into them during the time where it would have been acceptable.  Maybe there is still hope for you to enjoy this at age 19+, which is why it may still be worth posting. 

SAVES THE DAY - THROUGH BEING COOL

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Screaming Females - What If Someone Is Watching Their T.V.?


So after seeing Screaming Females at the Girl Cave, I introduced two of their songs to a friend who subsequently fell in love and bought their cd. Well, I must admit they are quite charming and catchy. What If Someone Is Watching Their TV?  is their second album released by the band.  It has two of my favorite songs by them Fun and Boyfriend which were available on another blog.  So far I haven't been able to find this online anywhere so I could be the first! Check it out and purchase it at www.screamingfemales.com.

SCREAMALES - WHAT IF SOMEONE IS WATCHING THEIR T.V.?

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Wilderness - (K)No(W)Here


Here is the third album from Baltimore's Wilderness.  Their take on shoegazey, dreamy, floaty music is absolutely unique and their live performances are other worldly.   They are playing in Baltimore on Saturday evening and are a must see.  So far I don't think the new album is quite as good overall as their self-titled or Vessel States but we'll see how my opinion changes after their show this weekend.  Vocalist James Johnson really has a memorable performance.

WILDERNESS - (K)NO(W)HERE

Christian Death - Only Theatre of Pain and Deathwish


Deathrock pioneers Christian Death play gothy the Cure like tunes, perfect for cold fall and winter nights. Its probably 30 degrees outside right now and its 4AM so I have the Only Theatre of Pain cassette on while I am procrastinating doing a Biology Lab Report. I listened to this tape a lot more last year but I still put it on from time to time. For fans of 45 Grave, Bauhaus, Sisters of Mercy, and The Birthday Party.

CHRISTIAN DEATH - ONLY THEATRE OF PAIN + DEATHWISH

Fine Lines - Demo

Here is the first release from Tyco/Richmond punks FINE LINES.  This demo is really solid and they are even better live.  Good dudes, good tunes. Definitely taking influence from Gaithersburg bands as well as Dischord related and At the Drive-In.  They are playing TIMBER's last show so study up on the lyrics.  Current and ex-members of BLACK POWDER (fuzz box).

FINE LINES - DEMO