Title Fight – Floral Green

Here’s what you’re going to do. You’re going to preorder this album. Then listen to it once through. Then sit in awe of how much better this band has gotten. Then, put “Head In The Ceiling Fan” on repeat, and get weird. You can thank me later.

Preorder.

Get Weird.

Teen Demon – A Bunch of 7″s

While killing time on the internet today, I stumbled on this great punk band from Brooklyn. They play a type of fuzzy, melodic punk. Equal parts Dinosaur Jr. and Black Flag, sprinkled with more contemporary peers such as Fucked Up, Hoax, and Titus Andronicus. A few moments on their Clean Dreamin’ 7″ even remind me of some old Level Plane bands. Anyway, they seem to be churning out 7″s faster than the seasons can change; with 4 released in the past year, they appear to be coming out strong from the proverbial gate. Check a few of these 7″s out on their bandcamp and support ’em if they ever roll through your town.

Bandcamp.

Tumblr.

Facebook.

Parquet Courts – Light Up Gold

I’ve been listening to this one consistently for the past few weeks since Andrew sent us a link to the album’s bandcamp page. In regards to the album, he writes:

This record is for the over-socialized victims of the 1990’s ‘you can
be anything you want’, Nickelodeon-induced lethargy that ran away from
home not out of any wide-eyed big city daydream, but just out of a
subconscious return to America’s scandalous origin.

Pretty apt description for the general tone of this album. When listening to the past few albums in Savage’s repertoire (see Denton After Sunset, Unlearn, Foreign Lands, etc.), it would seem he and fellow songwriter, Austin Brown, have a pretty firm grasp on that general pulse.  A grumbling about lack of employment, a word or two about an old girlfriend, the shudder you feel when leaving your hometown. At the surface, these themes may seem very slanted towards a specific demographic; the white, suburban-middle-class raised 20-somethings. However, what generation hasn’t had the same complaints about the society around them? There have always been societal constraints and and the disillusioned to challenge those bounds. That said, I think my mom might like parts of this record.

Sonically, Savage and Brown take heavy krautrock influences and fuse them with punk and 90s guitar rock. The result is a vast improvement on the American Specialties cassette. It would seem that they’ve distilled those mixed and varied influences and created a sound that is unique to Parquet Courts. Both Savage and Brown share writing and vocal duties, but the whole effort is cohesive, yet varied enough to hold your attention throughout. Parquet Courts clearly have a knack for catchy songwriting that they show off uniquely on each of Light Up Gold’s 15 tracks.

Stream/download it at Dull Tools’ bandcamp and preorder a copy at their bigcartel. While you’re there, buy Teenage Cool Kids’ incredible Denton After Sunset!

For Serious This Time – Weird Life

Here’s another great record I picked up for a few bucks at Amoeba. I fell in love with this band after they released When You’re In It a few years back but, for whatever reason, forgot to keep checking to see what these guys were up to. Last year, I stumbled upon their latest, Weird Life and was immediately reminded of how awesome these guys are.

These 6 songs find the band further expanding their catchy punk anthems. If you’d like to hear what the love-child of Glocca Morra, Kite Party, and Algernon Cadwallader would sound like and dig songs about dealing with post-college life with a glass-half-full attitude, you certainly should check this out. Also, be sure to order a copy from FSTT’s own Life on an Island records.

These dudes just got back from a short tour, but if you’re from the north east, be sure to catch one of their shows.

Download.

Buy? (try messaging ’em on FB?)

Sirs – Self Titled

Best band/album since the death of Bear Vs. Shark. This band is seriously hitting their stride, and I’m loving it. Excellent song-writing, better recording quality, phenomenal playing. Please, please don’t let this band go the way of every great emo band and come to an untimely demise.

Buy that shit up!

Try it out!

Avair

Avair is a two piece band born from the same pit that birthed Black With Sap (ahem, Southeastern Idaho). If I had to describe their sound, I would say 1994! meets Ape Up! with some extra emotional edge. It’s some damn good stuff. The band handmade 100 cassettes of their first release, Fathers, which we will be selling in the BWS store very soon. 15 of these are a deluxe version, packaged in a custom shadow box with all sorts of cool shit. Sean and Alex really knocked these out of the park. Check out both versions of the tape here.

Download from Bandcamp.

The band and I are in the process of booking a Northwest Summer Tour. If you can help out in any way with one of the dates below (or think we should change the route up a bit), please email Sean at avairtheband@gmail.com. Here are the days we’re looking at:

June 15 – Idaho Falls, ID (@ The Wax House)

June 16 – Missoula, MT

June 17 – Spokane, WA

June 18 – Seattle, WA

June 19 – Olympia, WA

June 20 – Portland, OR

June 21 – Eugene, OR

June 22 – Boise, ID

June 23 – Salt Lake City, UT (Crucial Fest 2012)

p.s. I love you.

Bad Liar – Yours Truly

Bad Liar was the solo project for the Bay Area’s Jack Brown, guitarist of Until Your Heart Stops. It has since evolved into a full band, who just put out an EP that I fell in love with. Bad Liar expands upon the emo/punk sound that we all love so much with some excellent chord progressions, varied instrumentation, and exceptional tunefulness. The vocals sound like a cross between O Pioneers!!! and Bear Vs. Shark (so you know, basically the whole melodic & gruff thing). This release is coming out eventually on Condition Records. For now, you can pay whatever you want for it on Bad Liar’s bandcamp page.

Download or Buy from Bandcamp.

Mockingbird Wish Me Luck – Living Weakness 7″

This 2 song 7″ was released as part of Run For Cover’s subscription series. MBWML is a Canadian band that makes some gravelly punk rock. It’s moody, it’s melodic, and I think it’s super well rounded. In my opinion, this is the best “under the radar” band making this sort of music right now. If they ever record a full length, I’ll be all over it. These 2 songs are particularly brooding, relying on guitar leads that are kinda low on the register and strong, cathartic choruses. Another great release for a young band with loads of potential. If you like this, check out their last 7″.

Buy.

Download.

Lee Corey Oswald – Moon Songs

I’m going to keep this brief because I’m swamped with projects and finals. If you’re unfamiliar with Lee Corey Oswald, check out Dylan’s old post. This album is damn great. It’s 14 songs –  half electric and half acoustic. They play around in all sorts of genres and sounds and really do them all well. They’re on tour now, check out the dates here. Go see this band and buy this album on cassette while you’re there. This is easily among my top albums of 2011.

Download.

Buy.

New Stuff

I’ve been neglecting the blog and albums that I’ve been meaning to post are piling up. It’s much easier for me to throw all of this shit into one post.

Shark Bait / Adaje – Split Cassette

This is a split for two bands from St. Louis (I think?). Adaje plays technical, fast-paced hardcore with dueling guitars that remind me of Hot Cross. Shark Bait plays upbeat, catchy emo with some great sung vocals. I really enjoy the guitar work and urgency in their songs.  This cassette is only 3 bucks and features 2 songs from each band. Download it for free on the bandcamp page and order it from Carucage Records.

Buy.

Download.

 

Sainthood Reps – Monoculture

When Dylan was first describing this band to me, he said they sounded like a mix between Nirvana, Daisy-era Brand New, and These Arms Are Snakes. Throw in a little Jesus Lizard, and I think that’s a pretty accurate description. This is album is some sort of amalgamation of grunge, shoegaze, punk, and post-hardcore. I think it’s pretty great. This band is from Long Island, NY, and interestingly enough, this album is out on Tooth and Nail. Anyway, I’ll be checking them out at the Fest this year.

Buy.

Download.

 

Deer Leap / The World Is… Split 12″

I know this album is everywhere, but Greg from TWIABP emailed us to ask if we could post it. The band is pushing it, so I have no problem helping to spread good music. Both sides of the split are great. The World Is kills it as always, and I was surprised how much I like the Deer Leap songs. Download it. Buy it up. Go see the bands.

Buy.

Download.

Also, we’ve got 3 cassette releases in the works that we’re very excited for. More info on those soon.