tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65671838975210592942024-02-07T04:48:45.557-08:00The Auditory CortexYour tonal online examinerTheBartelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287705733518268070noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567183897521059294.post-17060619564107759032012-07-06T16:24:00.000-07:002012-07-06T16:28:01.371-07:00Sunrise<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkNgnHWQb7K313_Uub5KI7cVTUVJxHOv9khf-oD0xzhsqrs__1so-Jy_7VEtlM_cwrHW600Z6ysQl1U3Ehz8y2JoaGPRwMwX1eN2ZKq0sFZaeMA5emdrtrcXhL5HUH8MBjeYPX6VMGY2H/s1600/300311_188687851198955_3041789_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkNgnHWQb7K313_Uub5KI7cVTUVJxHOv9khf-oD0xzhsqrs__1so-Jy_7VEtlM_cwrHW600Z6ysQl1U3Ehz8y2JoaGPRwMwX1eN2ZKq0sFZaeMA5emdrtrcXhL5HUH8MBjeYPX6VMGY2H/s320/300311_188687851198955_3041789_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Debuting off of San Francisco based Owl Paw’s newest six song EP, <i>Carry On, </i>the first single “Sunrise” is a swirling mix of harmonious vocal rhythm's, upbeat guitar licks and soothing hums. The step into the sunlight begins with the head bobbing movement of lead singer/songwriter Derek Schultz’s hand over the his acoustic guitar. Soon joined by the rest of the band as an electric note rings out over the sonic landscape. The band bops up and down as the song progresses. A lonely violin enters the mix, morosely leading the song up to its climax and continuing on throughout the peppy chorus.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“But if the sun won’t rise/The body can’t die again” is chanted in a glorious three way harmony. Highs, lows and mids are all there and executed in perfect unison. A trailing voice echoes the group, yet it lacks the muster to properly accent the line. Leaving a slightly sour tone in the listeners ear. Continuing on in basic pop structure, “Sunrise” ends on a delicate note. In a desirous, desperate cry for happiness the band sings, “When all I want to see is the sunrise/I’m already running late.” Soothingly tugging at the strings of any listener. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The folk/indie musings of Owl Paws have long been in motion since their inception into folk world. Their 2011<i> </i>self titled release captivated listeners with its acoustic ballads and smooth vocal melodies. With the release of <i>Carry On,</i> out in August from Urban Scandal Records, the band continues this legacy with a more full bodied and polished sound. “Sunrise” is the culmination of this hard work and proves to be some of their catchiest and most polished tunes yet. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Rating: 4/5</span></div>TheBartelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287705733518268070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567183897521059294.post-63473031808979721502012-07-05T15:54:00.000-07:002012-07-05T19:34:48.648-07:00Rad Summer 2012<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Straight out of Florida, land of retirement homes and vacation destinations, comes one of the most brutal, straight forward hardcore compilations seen on this side of the internet in many years. Featuring the likes of Code X Red, Clockwork, Losin’ It and more, the Rad Summer 2012 compilation brings some the best of the hardcore reality to the world. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Released by Life to Live Records, this compilation clocks in at a rad 29 and a half minutes and unrelentingly brings the listener to their knees as each song progresses. Chock full of obscure and hungry hardcore champions, this comp spans the whole spectrum of the genre. Fast, aggressive, heavy, brutal, melodic, chugging, driving, dizzying, its all here. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>One of the more outstanding tracks on the record is Code X Red’s song “Never Again.” Straining, high pitch screams release over the ensuing wrath of the guitar and drum attack that backs it up. Circling around the listeners ears until one is dizzy, Code X Red brings the hate effectively in the style of Terror, Alpha and Omega, and American Nightmare. On the opposite side of the lens lies Clockwork. Bringing to the table a melodic style similar to Sinking Ships, Shook Ones and older Crime In Stereo, the bands submission “Ad and Subtract” shows great promise. A speedy intro breaks way into a pounding, toe tapping outro that brings to mind Polar Bear Club in its thickness and heart tugging movements. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Other mentions within Rad Summer’s walls are Losin’ It and their song “No Apology.” A dragging bass lines calls for stage dives right off your bedside as the drums smack your ears. Releasing into a pounding, mosh heavy riff that brings to mind the aggressive days of More To Pride and Rivalry Records. Even more aggressive is the enormous open ended breakdown at the end of Modern Pain’s “Let Down” that is only countered by the melodic sounds of Tiebreaker’s “Take It Back” two tracks later. The later bringing to mind Verse and Shipwreck, at their more melodic moments. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>All in all their is something for every hardcore enthusiast within the sonic layers of Life To Live’s Rad Summer 2012 compilation. Make the summer even radder than it already has been by picking it up over at their <a href="http://lifetoliverecords.bandcamp.com/">bandcamp</a> for a cheap dollar.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Rating: 3/5</span></div>TheBartelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287705733518268070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567183897521059294.post-66475563527349319032012-06-29T16:25:00.002-07:002012-07-01T10:39:11.417-07:00Carry On<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> Owl Paws, the band that has captivated the hearts and minds of the San Francisco Folk/Indie scene, continues their enigmatic growth with the release of their newest album. A six song EP full of upbeat indie-folk musings detailing the intricacies of life and love, <i>Carry On </i>showcases the development of the band from a purely acoustic based movement, as seen on their self titled debut EP, to the finely tuned troupe heard on this record. From the ethereal atmospheric layers of “Hoot” to the eerie downward movement that is “The Seed,” Owl Paws demonstrates their improvement as a band and the scope of their song writing abilities. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"> The long time standby for the band entitled “Singing Strong,” is a sobering consortium of airy guitars and vocal melodies meeting in a solemn bliss. Featured at the end of <i>Carry On,</i> “Singing Strong” is an old classic reworked for a new audience. Singer/songwriter Derek Schultz’s booming yet tame vocals expand across the track with seamless execution as a calming guitar intro begins the track, soon accented by the light touches of an acoustic guitar. As Schultz coons and pores out his soul about the woes of searching for love, the beautiful and calming touches of Brooke </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">Dabalos</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> can be heard rising above him. While soft and endearing, they do seem to be a tad overdone. A slide guitar precisely cuts into the tune at the halfway mark, slicing its way through the airy sonic layers of the band as the acoustic guitar carries the song along. The drums make their entry into the song a tad too late with an awkward snare roll that almost eliminates the warmth of the song. An upbeat bouncy outro accompanied by a light piano proves to be a solid finish to the song. However, nostalgia for the acoustic version of old burns deep. <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"> The single of the album “Sunrise” rises above the rest and with its bubble gum guitar lines, bright vocal melodies and delicate chord changes. Transitioning from the downtrodden minor verses to the infectiously upbeat major choruses with simplistic ease, Owl Paws demonstrates their innate song writing abilities perfectly on this track. “But if the sun won’t rise/the body can’t die again” hum Schultz and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">Dabalos </span><span class="Apple-style-span">over the thumping bass lines of bassist Tim Vickers, while a soothing violin massages the surface of the sonic landscape. Bound to be on stuck in your head on those bright sunny days, “Sunrise” and its strong pop structuring deserves to be at the top of any playlist. On top of this the driving velocity of “The Field” pumps up the listener, as it beats down on you like the friendly rays of the sun on a hot summer day. “The Seed” however does quite the opposite, as the dripping piano of Deballos and trickling guitar lines of guitarist/vocalist Colin Hayes brings to mind those introverted rainy days of winter. While the musicianship of the song proves to be impressive, the song is erratic and it is not until the halfway mark that a steady structure can be heard. The band breaks out into a depressing downward spiral, filled with cavernous harmonies and cooing ohs, breaking down the emotional integrity of any listener. A very dark piece from a naturally bright band. <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span>This natural feel is sadly brought down, through no fault of the band, by the mechanized production of the drums. Despite this, the clarity in the record brings its potential to the forefront. A stepping stone from their folky debut EP, <i>Carry On</i>, shows a vast improvement in the bands dynamics and song writing ability. Potential revealed and medium's expanded, it is obvious that Owl Paws has much to prepare for in the future. To be released in late August by Urban Scandal Records, it calls for the prospective ears of the masses and the critical ears of the obsessive. </div>
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Rating: 3.6/5</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitHXErKUd4VJqkFJQvyrMjoFWnk3CojrRpicoFpnai8tG7tLDfZCCkU72juTEAr_qEMwh1tIIsnxwy5H9NyXeEu42qqIiCZCWgUt7KYXAaFTFkk8TulbrseuSqprYSrwVOvsD6SvfZTwRr/s1600/Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitHXErKUd4VJqkFJQvyrMjoFWnk3CojrRpicoFpnai8tG7tLDfZCCkU72juTEAr_qEMwh1tIIsnxwy5H9NyXeEu42qqIiCZCWgUt7KYXAaFTFkk8TulbrseuSqprYSrwVOvsD6SvfZTwRr/s320/Front.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> New York hardcore, perhaps the toughest sub-genre within the already extremely hot headed hardcore community, proudly provides a long standing track record of influential bands. (Cro-mags, Biohazard, Judge, just to name a few) New York never fails to eject pure brutality into an already intense genre. Provider continues that tradition with their latest seven inch release, <i>Wasteland,</i> now out on Life to Live records. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Following the the footsteps of the aforementioned bands, while providing a strengthened modern twist similar to their contemporaries, Provider quickly slaps listeners in the face with <i>Wastelands </i>eleven minutes of pure aggression. Coming off as a mix of thrash infused hardcore, think Alpha and Omega, and “hardstyle” hardcore such as Trapped Under Ice, Provider stomps out all who oppose them on<i>.</i> Transitioning from quick breakbeat rhythms to enormous back bending breakdowns with simplistic ease and quietly returning as if nothing happened, proves to be the bands strong point. The opening track “Bonekeeper” forcefully demonstrates their prowess as its shoved down the listeners ear. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>A ferocious NYHC, hip-hop influenced guitar riff opens the song, leading up to an explosive entrance from the rest of the band complemented by a skillful dance on the hi-hat. The breakbeat continues full force, trampling all in its path. Soon, as if the the pure energy of the movement could no longer be contained, the band releases into a pounding movement, guitars slowly dripping down the listeners spine, like a knife being pushed in deeper. The lines “Count the ways I live in regret/Forever I pay this unending debt” are painstakingly stretched out over the section, seething of anger and angst. With an assertive “UH” as if signaling an attack, the song ends with a series of powerful chugs, complimented by a driving bass and creeping high hat/snare combo. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The rest of the album continues in much of the same manner. Throat scratching, strained vocals litter the sonic landscape while the band swings to and fro in full force. Another highlight is the thrash filled “Losing Ground.” Brining to mind the best of Alpha and Omega as the band tears through the listeners ear drums. The album ends on a strong note with the quick chaotic explosion that is ”Curse.” Clocking in just under two minutes it is one of the most straight forward songs on <i>Wasteland</i>. A simple power violence/NYHC riff repetitively dominates, speeding up and slowing down in rhythm until the final moments when powerful chugs and a series of creeping floor tom hits take center stage. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>What Provider essentially provides, no pun intended, is the ability to showcase the best of NYHC. The metallic chugs, the painfully hardened vocals, the hip-hop inspired beats. It is all there. What is essential for the band now is to make their own niche within the genre. In a sea of fish only the strong survive, wether it be through pure aggression, originality or something more. <i>Wasteland </i>is a product of the school, and a pristine one at that. All Provider needs now is to break free. </span></div>
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Rating: 3/5</div>TheBartelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287705733518268070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567183897521059294.post-54449185251917402342012-05-28T19:14:00.000-07:002012-05-28T19:32:09.842-07:00Slave to the Mind<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75aa6WYEJZjYXSQxcUWfPArwlYy-r4hKXOiADwrLb_gx4wWQbSnzjpLA9cdy4VmwUlBkIggOBlpgcWzk9N_dsv8rHcot9FeitzCiC-6CH7G3VgqmZkJjj4YiEFuzTu1Za7MVstokgQLfQ/s1600/MXCXslave1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75aa6WYEJZjYXSQxcUWfPArwlYy-r4hKXOiADwrLb_gx4wWQbSnzjpLA9cdy4VmwUlBkIggOBlpgcWzk9N_dsv8rHcot9FeitzCiC-6CH7G3VgqmZkJjj4YiEFuzTu1Za7MVstokgQLfQ/s320/MXCXslave1.jpg" width="320" /></a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Straight out of Zanesville, Ohio, Mind Crimes brings hope to all who stand oppressed. Their debut EP </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><i>Slave to the Mind</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"> brings forth an aggressive outburst of disoriented youth through a potent mixture of melodic hooks and abrasive pummelings. Self-released April 30th, 2012 Mind Crimes impressively stakes their claim as a powerful force within the hardcore mentality. </span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Focusing in on some of the basic mundanity of society; stress, work, religion and compassion, Mind Crimes tackle these issues in an easily accessible manner. Through straight forward lyrics and powerful vocals executed in true modern-hardcore fashion, these messages are delivered by the band with a great and powerful ease. This can be seen on one of the more impressive tracks on the record, the closer, “Echoes.” A slow drudgingly painful riff eases the listener into the song, Blacklisted comes to mind, soon to be quickly cut out by a powerful burst of guitar and drum noise. When this explosion of energy ends vocalist Drew Stoits emerges in the forefront. “Afraid to lose the love that he’ll give/If she doesn’t give herself to him.” Stoits vengefully declares, claiming victory for the downtrodden women of the world. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sex is a powerful tool, too often it is abused and turned into tool of power. Mind Crimes and Stoits forcefully use their awareness and the gift of the hardcore community to fight against these societal wrongs. The song comes to a powerful end in another Blacklisted-esque manner. Clashing guitars crash over and through the ears of the listener as the drums forcefully build up into a head bobbing, head banger outro of sorts. Thrash metal solo included.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Beginning at the end leaves much open space for investigation and Mind Crimes does not disappoint. From the Comeback Kid-esque melodic speedster “Mountains” with its turbulent circle pit ragers that cumulate into overpowering sing-alongs, to the standard hardcore fuck work jam “Managerial Slime,” (complete with an outstanding C3PO/Solo introduction and Kids Like Us influenced outro) <i>Slave to the Mind</i> provides a wide sampler platter of hardcore tastes. Sounding like Comeback Kid at one moment and Blacklisted the next, it is apparent that Mind Crimes are no newcomers to the modern-hardcore scene.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> Perhaps what remains now is solidifying these influence into one cohesive unit. It comes with time, but for Mind Crimes it may not take long.Varying the songs leaves the listener with a certain level of excitement as to what will come next, however it is tough to distinguish Mind Crimes from their predecessors. What they do have is pure anger and enthusiasm, it practically oozes from the pores of my macbook. This is crucial for any band, especially playing hardcore. Only originality and song structure leave something to be desired. The variance within certain songs takes away from the groove of the EP, melody abruptly transitioning to discordant can leave a sour taste in the mouths of many unless properly executed. All criticism set aside however, <i>Slave to the Mind</i> works as a great jumping point for Mind Crimes and is a solid example of the modern-hardcore’s influence on the scene today.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">FFO: Terror, Comeback Kid, Blacklisted, Kids Like Us</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Rating: 2.3/5</span></div>TheBartelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287705733518268070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567183897521059294.post-19602598332128174562012-05-08T11:24:00.004-07:002012-05-08T11:24:49.256-07:00ResurrectionSchool is quickly coming to an end for me, at least till I'm old and bored with my life and decide to become a sophisticated student of graduate school. Regardless though finals are right around the corner and for the few of those who follow me here I would like to clue you into what that means. I will be experiencing a academic dull in my writings as the large portion of my free time will no longer be taken up my school work. No more historical essays need to be written. No more 6 page papers on the implications of SEATO in the 60s. No more 8 hour days spent in the library.<br />
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So in turn this gap will need be filled and will properly be so in the form of this blog. I plan on giving it a full reworking, perhaps even a new name. Expanding my focus from simply music reviews to all that is around me, and compared to my middle school self who did much of the same thing, this will be more inclusive than my pathetic excuse of a love life. I want to include my musings on life's aspects, socially, politically, culturally, whatever it may be. My journalistic work won't be put to an end however, as I already have two reviews lined up to be worked on and many more are planned. I also plan on including any restaurants I may go to in the future, after I finally manage to hold down a job again, any movies I see, books I read, articles etc... This will be a space for my criticisms and thoughts on the world around me. For those of you who know me, this is probably much needed. If my enthusiasm proves correct, which for my sake I hope stays at this level, this will all be occurring within the next few weeks.<br />
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It's all very exciting.TheBartelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287705733518268070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567183897521059294.post-47341438888611040912012-01-06T23:03:00.000-08:002012-01-06T23:09:08.195-08:00Top Ten of 2011<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">1. Joyce Manor-Joyce Manor</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The light, energetic full length from Torrance, CA’s Joyce Manor speeds by you very quickly, clocking in at only 18 minutes, none the less this power-punk four piece hit something special with this release. This album took a long time to grow on me, and now that it has I constantly feel that its duration is its only disadvantage. This release brings a constant sigh of relief and despite its formally structured songs remains fresh and invigorating throughout each listen. The pains of adolescence are cleverly disguised amongst simple yet elegantly and nasally sung melodies, jumping from morose disdain to agonizing pain. All the while the crunchy brightness of the guitars jump between the playful hits of the drums. Muddied enough to sustain depth, but bright enough to saturate the listener in the bright Southern California sunlight seen through shades of grey. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">For fans of: Weezer, Koloacaust, Big Kids, Tigers Jaw</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">2. Young Love-All Teeth</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>All Teeth’s brooding tales of heartache and despair began my year with a tremendous wallop of sadness complemented with scorching guitar tones and violent bass licks. The high energy, cameo filled, despairingly neurotic Young Love has remained a stand by throughout the year amongst many more positive records. Displaying the unruly power pain can produce when dispersed through art and especially through hardcore. Ghostly marching numbers, vicious circle pits measures and unrelenting breakdowns litter the album with each piece adding to the looming cloud of darkness that is All Teeth. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">For fans of: American Nightmare, Black Flag, Converge, Suicide File<br />
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</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">3. Major/Minor-Thrice</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>How does a band that naturally pushes the boundary of not only their own sound, but of their contemporaries as well, follow up such a momentous projects like <i>The Alchemy Index </i>and 2009’s rock spectacular <i>Beggars</i>. <i>Major/Minor </i>is how and it is perhaps the grittiest yet precise material Thrice has released to date. A demented brother of <i>Beggars, </i>mixing the post-hardcore remnants of their past with the matured groove rock of their present, <i>Major/Minor </i>establishes the band’s dominance in modern heavy music. Raw tones are combined with crystal clear quality to produce a contrast of purity and power, brilliant simplicity and melodious decadence as their words display themes of faith, relationships and depression. The sheer heaviness of this record is almost overshadowed by its cleaner moments, as a soft-loud dynamic is implemented on almost every song and furthermore is pulled off incredibly. Lead by Dustin Kensure’s slightly rough around the edges but still angelically clean vocals the band would make The Pixies proud. Baritone guitars in tow, Thrice managed to yet again wow their fans and the world. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">4. Separation-Balance and Composure</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>At times chillingly melodramatic, Balance and Composure’s debut full length solidifies what the band has been attempting with their handful of EP’s and splits. Produced by Brian McTernan, <i>Separation</i> displays the bands maturity, musically and emotionally and with McTernan’s experienced touch this maturity resonates beautifully. B&C’s transitions in the past have left many as lost and confused as their lyrics suggest. But with <i>Separation’s</i> explosive post-rock entrances and exits, textured alt/rock sequences and thunderous sonic landscapes they powerfully cemented their sound into the ears of 2011.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">For fans of: Brand New, Seahaven, Neutral Milk Hotel, Nirvana</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">5. Winter Forever-Seahaven</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>A late release in 2011, yet perhaps one of the most anticipated. Seahaven’s second release and first full length took a large leap of faith with its refined sound. Swarming with a darker under current, the soul searching jaded innocence and reassuring warmth of their monumental EP, <i>Ghost, </i>is lost to the chilling matured winter winds. In reality, the only reason this record lands so low on my list is because I slept on it and have yet to receive the actual album. For now bandcamp streams have sufficed and provided me with the ground shaking, Your Favorite Weaponesque, pseudo-goth moments of heartbreak that only Seahaven can provide. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">For Fans of: Brand New, Balance and Composure, Crime In Stereo, As Cities Burn</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">6. Shed-Title Fight</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Kingston, PA’s favorite hardcore/pop-punk group takes a refined step towards punk greatness with the release of <i>Shed.</i> An emotional swirl of home sick anthems, guitar bending good times and personal tales of woe and despair kept post-hardcore fanatics on their toes. Despite a slower tempo and tighter recordings their original style is more or less kept in tact on this release. Warm crunchy guitars flowing up and down the spectrum cushion the borderline yells of the dual vocalists, while clouds of darkness are felt throughout the album between mid tempo jams and high energy spurts. Societal norms are dissected, teenage heartbreak is recollected and introverts rejoiced as this album made a strong connection between ourselves and the world around us in the weary times of 2011.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">For Fans of: Jawbreaker, Saves The Day, Polar Bear Club</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">7. Parallax Hypersleep Dialogues-Between The Buried and Me</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Enter a world where boundaries are non-existent, genres seamlessly melt together in rhythmic cohesion creating a euphoric sense of confusion leaving listeners dazed and rubbing their necks. This world is the fantasy realm created by BTBAM and their 6th studio release, <i>The Parallax Hypersleep Dialogues. </i>Constantly expanding their trademarked brand of progressive metal, the Dream Theatre disciples take one step further towards metal’s valhalla. Parallax is less of a continuation of past releases as it is a new step forward. While 2009’s <i>The Great Disconnect</i> seemed to be a continuation of 2007’s epic masterpiece <i>Colors, Parallax</i> finds the band stepping into a new state of being, tapping into the unconsciousness of of vocalist Tommy Rogers while a soundscape of brutality and sensibility supports his nightmarish dialogues. Signature BTBAM elements; ferocious blast beats, huge drum tones, scale shredding movements, mind and genre bending sequences and paradoxical clean/rough vocals are all there, yet with a new sense of foundation and experimentation. An electrified sense of enlightenment surrounds the release, lush keyboards frequent the tonal soundscape and ethereal moments of despair and serene peace alike tease the ears. Very much looking forward to the finale to this. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">For fans of: Dream Theatre, The Human Abstract, Protest The Hero, \M/</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">8.Under Soil and Dirt- The Story So Far</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Pop-punk. The word makes many shutter in fear. Envisioning hoards of hot topic fitted teenagers, parents credit cards in town, over flowing malls to get their hands on the latest NFG release brings a tear to ones eye. Maybe i’m just stuck in the early 2000’s, but regardless The Story So Far’s debut full length <i>Under Soil and Dirt</i> brought redemption to an otherwise xeroxed genre. Many eyes turned green with envy when observing the bands imminent explosion this year, but with a formula of straight forward heartfelt lyrics, hardcore influenced song structures, infectious pop punk vocal melodies and a strong sense of youthful angst, TSSF created a widely received expression of frustration and energy. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">For fans of: New Found Glory, Set Your Goals</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">9. Take Care, Take Care, Take Care-Explosions in the Sky:</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The post-rock pioneers took a great leap forward with their follow up to 2006’s <i>All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone.</i> While continuing the expansive, minimalist experimentations found on the bands previous records, Explosions also implemented new techniques previously missing from their catalogue. The layered, flowing movements that have been cherished by fans and contemporaries alike are continued on this record but along with them are breakbeat rampages and vocal experimentation, bold steps for a band so cemented in their own roots. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">For fans of: Radiohead, Pelican, This Will Destroy You</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">10. In The Pit of the Stomach- We Were Promised Jetpacks</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Providing a strong sense of garage rock urgency, along with goth undertones of bands such as Interpol and The Cure, We Were Promised Jetpacks’s <i>In The Pit of the Stomach</i> quickly became the go to record for all my over the pond needs. Channeling the erratic energy of garage indie rock acts such as The Arctic Monkeys and The Killers and infusing it with post-rock ambience proved to be a match made in heaven for the band. Clouded visions of mourning and loss, internal struggle and and regret surround the listener while toe tapping rhythms cover up the sadness. Catchiness and depression, how could a band go wrong?</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">For fans of: Interpol, Arctic Monkeys, Explosions in the Sky</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Honorable Mentions: Letters-Troubled Coast, Dig Up The Dead-Mansions, Little Hell-City and Colour, Monoculture-Sainthood Reps, Daybreak-Saves The Day, Parting The Sea Between Brightness and Me-Touche Amore, Rin Tin Tiger-Rin Tin Tiger, King of Limbs-Radiohead, Part and Parcel-Make Do and Mend, Digital Veil-The Human Abstract, Last Days of Rome-Daytrader</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">In review I feel there was a lot of good music I missed out on in 2011 due to financial issues, however what I did hear proved to me that 2011 was one of the better years in recent musical history. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">On that note....</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">I'm excited for a quite a few bands and their releases in the coming year, those being: Rise and Fall, Troubled Coast, Owl Paws, Converge, Ceremony, Rancid, Make Do and Mend, All Teeth, The American Scene, Deadhorse,Young Turks, Black Breath. And of course the supergroups Plebeians and Distances will continue to sell out arenas across the nation as well as put out respective releases this year. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Feeling a good year for heavy music. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Hope whoever read this enjoyed it as much as I did writing it. I know I haven't posted anything in a while but I'm looking to change that real soon, in fact a few new reviews are in the works. Also graduation is fast approaching and once I'm released from the organized institution of higher learning that is SFSU I feel my itch for writing will only be cured by nothing other than these posts and my other various projects.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">2012 should be a good one. </div>TheBartelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287705733518268070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567183897521059294.post-55747380722187159192011-07-06T15:11:00.000-07:002011-07-06T15:12:42.321-07:00Call The Zoo<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Qbb0PJbqNqc5J8nbKVWCbvqPxRp0R86VrA5say2tKmgYmQmp5rP2yH_TnVVLDdGL6oIQ7Wgep2zGTFadfjV9vx-qvydGa0s1tykTuJe4TNYqu0ML_32skqnJZ5CCDwy-bASsSCgBG51G/s1600/call-the-zoo-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Qbb0PJbqNqc5J8nbKVWCbvqPxRp0R86VrA5say2tKmgYmQmp5rP2yH_TnVVLDdGL6oIQ7Wgep2zGTFadfjV9vx-qvydGa0s1tykTuJe4TNYqu0ML_32skqnJZ5CCDwy-bASsSCgBG51G/s1600/call-the-zoo-300x300.jpg" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Clocking in at a whopping 6 minutes, Richmond, VA’s Hold Tight! combines teenage angst, melody and aggression to concoct a delicious blend of melodic punk with their newest release, <i>Call The Zoo</i>. This tasty melodic morsel is reminiscent of many of the classics in the genre; Saves The Day, Lifetime, Kid Dynamite, Hot Water Music, yet it still stamps an individual style onto the listeners forehead. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The parties out and the authorities have been informed, scouring the streets for this rager of a release. Filled with vicious and speedy songs, all clocking in at just under a minute, “Meade Skeleton Birthday Party” the shortest at 59 seconds, <i>Call The Zoo</i> promises you will wake up passed out naked in your neighbors yard, wondering what happened and reaching for that morning hangover beer. Rapturous in their portrayal of youth and energy, Hold Tight! captures what it means to be young, punk and having fun. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> A troubled mind bursting with confusion is conveyed in Hold Tight!’s words as they expresses their woes against growing up, society and the changing faces around them. “I'd call myself an artist, but truth is I just need to complain. Cause I hate growing up, and I just can't handle change. Please don't change,” rant the two vocalists of the band in a call and response style, showing the importance and skilled use of dynamics in the band. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The song “Power Converter” strongly juts out from the rest as its tom heavy filled intro forcefully takes hold of the listener, like a bully on the school yard, then lets go as the band goes into top speed. As if escaping this monstrous beast of a riff, then sadly falling back into its clutches, the band revisits the intro but with a more fluid cymbal based backbeat. Bratty, childlike, yet clever, lyrics are tauntingly sang at the beginning and end of the song, “ Teacher said I'm wasting my potential, but I can only potentially be me,” as a giant middle finger slowly goes up in the middle of class.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>If you are growing up, have a short attention span and have a love for catchy melodies, then this release is for you. If you are looking for something groundbreaking, earth shattering and life changing, this might not be for you. However, it is a solid melodic punk release that shows potential in a very young band.</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Rating: 3/5</span></div>TheBartelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287705733518268070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567183897521059294.post-46969769548365047842011-06-30T17:14:00.000-07:002011-06-30T19:06:38.282-07:00Change Never Lasts<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABrd1H4-Dd-xVSlR8BWHpJ9whx_X-Iy6WYmF2wJ7g784sNtn-JutOioyrRly2ey-Y6NBEAZCyCy9l3Bit0fHHtMdsgPxvVDhdLlpuv_Z-bYhWWuutrwO_dSz3aD_WewUw6P0ASoIsi8sZ/s1600/F2L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABrd1H4-Dd-xVSlR8BWHpJ9whx_X-Iy6WYmF2wJ7g784sNtn-JutOioyrRly2ey-Y6NBEAZCyCy9l3Bit0fHHtMdsgPxvVDhdLlpuv_Z-bYhWWuutrwO_dSz3aD_WewUw6P0ASoIsi8sZ/s320/F2L.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Recently a wave of melodic pop-punk has swept the punk scene off it’s feet, as many hardcore bands have begun to lighten up and unashamedly show their softer sides, I.E <a href="http://www.myspace.com/titlefight">Title Fight</a>, <a href="http://www.thefirstannual.com/">The First Annual</a>. Riding this wave can be dangerous however as it is quite easy to be sucked under by the immense pressure of mediocrity found within this sub genre. Before this tide of emotionally tinged music reemerged from the depths of punk’s abyss to torture the good people of “enter obscure island here” with its undeniably catchy hooks and feel good anthems, there were hints of its arrival. One of these hints being <a href="http://www.myspace.com/first2leave">First To Leave</a>’s 2005 release <i>Change Never Lasts.</i></span><br />
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</i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></i>Taking some of the best elements from bands such as <a href="http://savestheday.com/">Saves The Day</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jawbreaker_(band)">Jawbreaker</a>, <a href="http://www.descendentsonline.com/">The Descendants</a> and <a href="http://www.myspace.com/themovielife">The Movielife</a>, the Bay Area’s First To Leave did not falter on their efforts to create an album filled with hook laden mid tempo grooves and songs about your ex girlfriend. Singer/guitarist Matt Foster’s soothing, yet harsh, voice carries the band along as memories of good times and cordial smiles wash over the listeners mind. The opening track “Making Waves” starts the party with a booming tom heavy fill by drummer Murtaza Sajjad that creates a chasm like opening, allowing rich and crunchy guitar sounds and a chant heavy countdown to flood through this void, taking the listener along with them. </span><br />
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</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The stand out track on this album is by far “Operation” a heartfelt, well written, high energy tune about wasted time and missed opportunities. Beginning with a short solo effort by Foster it quickly breaks away into a high speed melodic chase heading straight for the rocks. Upon reaching the cliffside it takes a plunge into the unknown with a pounding build up and a weak pitch harmonic leading into a groovy mid tempo bridge. As the song slowly flies to the depths Foster says his last goodbyes with the lines “A world away, we’ll be envy,” backed by the lines “you and I are overrated/please don’t let me overstate it,” “while guitarist Michael Sterns slowly hypnotizes the listener into a peaceful sleep.</span><br />
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</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mostly sticking to what they know, mid tempo melodic pop-punk, First To Leave seems to have comfortably snuggled into their niche. However there are two tracks where the band decided, why not? Lets stick a limb out. One of these being the acoustic ballad “Amber Sunlight” a song that brings to mind high school sweet hearts, summer nights and open windows. The soothing vocals compiled in the background really tie together the sweet and bright sounds of Foster’s guitar with the overall warm feeling of the song. The influence of earlier Saves The Day surfaces with this song and the other breakaway track “Under Arms.” This song showcases the bands heaver side with a racing Can’t Slow Down era stampede that burns out into a toe tapping floater, closing the song with a quick burst of energy. Branching out can be a good thing, however this track seems slightly out of place and a little too hard for the rest of the album, although a good tribute to STD.</span><br />
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</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>First To Leave effectively cemented their core sound with this album and would continue to as the years went by. The light yet crunchy sounds of their guitars, backed by the thunder of the bass and drums and Foster’s nasally well executed voice bring together a sound that has been copied by many, especially in the Bay Area. As a burgeoning pop-punk scene grows in the area all should be paying thanks to a band that made so many waves, pun intended, within the scene. I for one am glad to hear that the guys in First To Leave are still at it and look forward to more great times from them. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Rating: 3.8/5</span></div>TheBartelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287705733518268070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567183897521059294.post-33230772194344064702011-06-13T13:17:00.000-07:002011-06-13T13:36:14.611-07:00Rin Tin Tiger<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8TcEjJrkHwOtgP0SYNp7nomN0rxP-Bb7BxeaDyEGRk-OTRszfEBRT5qylgSm_NedwpXsiB_jkKdTlYXZhMUGnF79h1329B-qrDid0oA0A9rG4Bbr55ezsqJK_GnVrsTF_ENW4pX1ZYDJ8/s1600/Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8TcEjJrkHwOtgP0SYNp7nomN0rxP-Bb7BxeaDyEGRk-OTRszfEBRT5qylgSm_NedwpXsiB_jkKdTlYXZhMUGnF79h1329B-qrDid0oA0A9rG4Bbr55ezsqJK_GnVrsTF_ENW4pX1ZYDJ8/s320/Cover.jpg" width="320" /></a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Many may credit the harmonica as being an outdated instrument in modern music, lying in the musical graveyard between the lap guitar and the oboe. However, San Francisco’s <a href="http://www.rintintiger.com/">Rin Tin Tiger</a> has triumphantly resurrected the ol’ pocket piano for their 2011 self titled release and the results are nothing short of sublime. Recorded live at The Thrasher Warehouse with additional vocal overdubs provided by Kyle Lesley and mastered by Aaron Hellam (At Our Hells, Troubled Coast) at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/castleultimate">Castle Ultimate</a> this folk rock EP is chock full of delicate guitar work and harmonious vocals beautifully meshed and intertwined through great musicianship. </span><br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The winding cry of a lonely harmonica kicks off the album in style as it’s wake up call alerts the rest of the instruments and following suit, they form a joyous melodious march in<i> </i>“Ghost Door.” As the song picks up one begins to grasp the alt-folk stylings of Rin Tin Tiger, a semi-conventional mix between <a href="http://www.myspace.com/brighteyes">Bright Eyes</a>, <a href="http://www.bobdylan.com/">Bob Dylan</a> and<a href="http://www.neutralmilkhotel.net/"> Neutral Milk Hotel</a>, garnished with marvelous song writing and retrospective lyrics. The down home guitar work and vocals tinged with a slight drawl are sure to make any fan of folk-rock, modern or otherwise, tap their toes.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Musically Rin Tin Tiger represents the purity of a midsummers day and the emptiness of a cold winters night, minor and major and up and down are all given out on this album. Peeling away at their musical onion reveals themes of heartbreak, yearning and loss. The insidious tale of an empty soul searching for excitement and dalliance unravels in the mid-tempo floater “Spooky Spider.” As the guitar transitions from a cheerful Zeppelinesque finger plucking melody; backed by the simple thwack of the snare and haunting angelic vocals, to a melancholic mix of rolling drums, scrambled samples and agonizing vocals, the listener can hear and feel this listless lovers passion and want. A simple beat slowly builds up to an extended sequence of “Woahs” and concludes with guitar work borrowed from Mr. Page himself.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The previous songs eclectic variances represents Rin Tin Tiger’s self titled as a full. From the upbeat, dynamically charged “Greedy Traveler” to the morose “Sweetest Fruit” Rin Tin Tiger is like that cheese and cracker platter so desired at your company’s Christmas party, so many choices and you just want them all. This choice is made exceptionally easier for you as each song is just a savory as the last. While some songs may drag on slightly too long, their is enough action and change occurring to keep a listeners interest peaking for the whole 22 minutes of this semi-traditional indie folk-rock album.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Rating: 3.4/5</div>TheBartelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287705733518268070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567183897521059294.post-38481745008929776382011-06-06T15:18:00.000-07:002011-06-07T00:28:25.435-07:00Carry The Torch/Signs Of Hope<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4vh4hgbI4IxlzImghsRmcIHfL3t-6CNs4oyZE128EvNycNpkh9Z9I2ty7f3N7jhHgKxEbNacyRdVILMCnp45-UZHOLmG62CkL-1cBR08Kr3whV6t12eRe3BPjK8pBFcoyV8Lvcdn2eBKR/s1600/CTT-SOH-split-webstore.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4vh4hgbI4IxlzImghsRmcIHfL3t-6CNs4oyZE128EvNycNpkh9Z9I2ty7f3N7jhHgKxEbNacyRdVILMCnp45-UZHOLmG62CkL-1cBR08Kr3whV6t12eRe3BPjK8pBFcoyV8Lvcdn2eBKR/s320/CTT-SOH-split-webstore.gif" width="317" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Like a ray of light triumphantly blasting through your bedroom window in the morning, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/carrythetorchmusic">Carry The Torch</a>’s erratic and soaring guitar licks accompany a scratchy, powerful roar as you are awoken from some horrible dream with a stark new reality of the world. But don’t worry, CTT is here to help you pull through and with their counterparts in <a href="http://www.myspace.com/signsofhope">Signs Of Hope</a> you will soon be empowered. Filled with messages of resisting social oppression and fighting personal depression, their new split 7 inch will raise the dragging mind of any listener.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Released on <a href="http://www.goodwillrecords.net/">Goodwill Records</a> earlier this year, CTT and SOH bring contrasting sounds to the table. CTT combine the melodic and technical sensibility of bands such as<a href="http://www.myspace.com/miserysignals"> Misery Signals</a>, <a href="http://www.hulud.com/">Shai Hulud</a>, <a href="http://comeback-kid.com/site/index.html">Comeback Kid</a> and <a href="http://www.myspace.com/verse">Verse</a> into a sporadic barrage of sounds. SOH stay on the simplistic side, while emphasizing the raging and overflowing aggression pumping through their veins, similar to ex-communicated hardcore acts like <a href="http://www.myspace.com/bluemondayhardcore">Blue Monday</a> and veteran road warriors<a href="http://www.myspace.com/banecentral"> Bane</a>. With two very different sounds originating from the opposite sides of the country; Sacramento, CA and Bridgeport, CN, this split showcases the sounds of two promising young bands.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Each band offers up two prime cuts of their home cooked style of hardcore. On the CTT side of the tracks the song “Color Wash The Devil Gold” propels pass the listener as it heads east. Upon arrival SOH welcomes friendly ears with their standout track “Life Everyday.” Technically speaking “Arches and Angles” spits on “Color Wash” unsympathetically, structurally however the latter track shines. While still being hyper-active and turbulent in nature “Color Wash” is strongly held together through shifting guitars that lead into flowing, anthemic rhythms. Auspicious lyrics such as “I have to learn to finally breathe/I have to learn to fully live” are projected through the harsh beating and pleading sound of their lead vocalist, while the band holds him up in his effort. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This release is a somewhat departure from their last effort, 2008’s <i>Dead Weather</i>, being speedier and more chaotic, while retaining their core sound. Through this process many of their mid tempo, groove based metalcore elements have been lost, replaced by an updated and faster version. While speed may be more impressive technically, it takes away from the songs as a whole, as these songs don’t seem to live up to their former partners. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Signs Of Hope bring the listener back with their old school sound and posi filled messages. The beginning of “Life Everyday” sucks the listener in before giving way to a ferocious combination of circle pit based guitar work and rolling drums. Sing alongs are scattered throughout the song and help to enforce the positive messages nakedly exposed and waiting for consumption. “You gotta pick yourself up man and turn it around,” words that carry much meaning in their simplistic formations. To cap off this fuming hardcore speech SOH implies an age old hardcore tactic, the butchering breakdown, guaranteeing that massive amounts of loose change will soon be picked up by all listening. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Not straying too far from their previous release 2009's, <i>Choices Made, </i>worked in SOH’s favor as they continue to perfect their brand of strengthening melodic hardcore. Although similar to their split mates their featured songs don’t seem to compare to older efforts. Overall the split seems a bit rushed but still a solid effort from both bands.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Rating: 3.2/5</span></div>TheBartelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287705733518268070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567183897521059294.post-49016758333610015202011-05-24T15:21:00.000-07:002011-05-24T15:59:25.767-07:00Owl Paws<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wuV-0IPQhpFKpJHIFViOO4T9adZ3Av41ARpQu7066OEbbhfbcM3h15UiIjN8FAbi8ANqjKcNQDhpcq0egiizjI_x_zQ3SlFtfyUQZI9g30-1ggjsZhnV14FQMEaYDh6DOcy7kngHKCbt/s1600/200591_142940545773686_102618493139225_254804_6245497_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wuV-0IPQhpFKpJHIFViOO4T9adZ3Av41ARpQu7066OEbbhfbcM3h15UiIjN8FAbi8ANqjKcNQDhpcq0egiizjI_x_zQ3SlFtfyUQZI9g30-1ggjsZhnV14FQMEaYDh6DOcy7kngHKCbt/s320/200591_142940545773686_102618493139225_254804_6245497_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span> The youthful lamb within the flock, curled up and afraid, waiting to be found. In a dark scene filled with the unrelenting sounds of screeching guitars and maniacal yells, this is Owl Paws. Their pristine twangy guitars laid over rich acoustic progressions, steady backbeats, and angelic vocal harmonies are the warm hug waiting for you after the show by said maniac. Their folk indie musings bring to mind great acoustic acts such as <a href="http://www.cityandcolour.ca/">City and Colour</a>, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/brighteyes">Bright Eyes</a>, early <a href="http://www.thespillcanvas.com/">Spill Canvas </a>and <a href="http://www.neutralmilkhotel.net/">Neutral Milk Hotel</a>. With their new self titled release, Owl Paws chips away at a local scene sculpted by toughness to reveal the soft and warm underbelly.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>While Owl Paws stick with the more traditional rock instruments throughout the album, sparse helloes of less traditional instruments weave in and out, appearing at precise moments as if their number had just been called in the waiting room. Xylophone’s tip toe on top of steel strings in “Party Johnson”, horns keep the melancholy party going in the outro of “Reluctant” and violins drop tears in the ballad “Eyes Of The Prey.” What’s even better is they rock the upright bass, a little used instrument outside of certain genres, generally not this one. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Themes of love, life meaning and the hardships of being a musician in an increasingly relentless world conduct the beautiful symphony of melodies heard on the album. Love is a multi dimensional thing and Singer/songwriter Derek Schultz covers almost all bases; fear, heartbreak, late nights and the unspoken feelings we all encounter as we make eye contact with that special someone. In “Sleepless and Hollow” Schultz desperately moans “Both hands on my sides/the chalk lines are still white/I’m the kind of liar you want to listen to/I’ll never be the one to break the bad news,” showing his warm heartedness that breaks through on many of the tracks. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Schultz and lead guitarist/back up vocalist Colin Hayes match vocal harmonies to a key and sound much like a fusion of a clearer higher pitched Conner Oberst and a weaker Dallas Green. Where Hayes really shines is on his shimmering lead progressions, more specifically the beginning of “Vultures” which invites the listener into a poppy dance number that embeds itself in the listeners mind, returning to you as you conduct your day. Backed by the steady movement of drummer Tyler Akers dancing around his cymbals like a bobble head on the top of your cars dashboard and bassist Tim Vickers revving the songs engine, “Vultures” draws listeners from their chair and onto the dance floor. Akers and Vickers provide a strong rhythm section, steadily swaying throughout the album providing nothing too flashy, but constant, creating excellent dynamics. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Recorded at Schultz’s home, <a href="http://www.thecomplex-sf.com/">The Complex SF</a> and mixed by Sam Pura of <a href="http://blog.thepandastudios.com/">Panda Studios</a> the quality of the album comes out well for a semi DIY recording. My only complaint is the drums sound a bit flat, possibly to accompany the fat, low tones of the upright bass, but nevertheless could have been raised a bit. A more varied song structure wouldn’t hurt either, the soothing, swaying sounds heard on the album are great but a step outside of these borders would really be saying something for the band. Other than these minor flaws Owl Paws delivers a very solid debut EP, leaving listeners entranced and craving more.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Rating: 3.7/5</span></div>TheBartelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287705733518268070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567183897521059294.post-81773147614430375682011-05-10T16:36:00.000-07:002011-05-10T22:59:19.767-07:00Young Love<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mIo86BlCKlF7WbjQOejTq1O0op5kB-t7aOeFYjsLEp2AKRxJFKjiUtrf_pvuZfnMRNCVUgbAPjlu0zj8jeAaR66BdjJ6PlvMGjD9sp8uPfUArtBXLfWUDOuNSTPI7fxHDMlnIQDymYQ/s1600/PR034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mIo86BlCKlF7WbjQOejTq1O0op5kB-t7aOeFYjsLEp2AKRxJFKjiUtrf_pvuZfnMRNCVUgbAPjlu0zj8jeAaR66BdjJ6PlvMGjD9sp8uPfUArtBXLfWUDOuNSTPI7fxHDMlnIQDymYQ/s320/PR034.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" width="320" /></a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Hailing from the town of Ukiah, CA , a small speck of about 14,000 off of the 101, <a href="http://www.allteethca.com/">All Teeth</a> brings the sounds of the boonies to hardcore with their newest release, “Young Love.” This dark culmination of everything gone wrong, released on <a href="http://www.panicrecords.net/">Panic records</a>, runs rampant with themes of loss, anxiety and depression. Recorded by Scott Goodrich at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Imperial-Recording-Studio/134178249988237?ref=ts&sk=wall">Imperial Studios</a> and mastered by Jay Maas, this release shows All Teeth’s musicianship and originality as it shines through a prism of despair that shoots off into the listeners mind, invoking the darkest of emotions inside all of us.</span><br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Chock full of local cameos such as Juan Gabe (<a href="http://www.comadreblog.com/">Comadre</a>), Sammy Winston (<a href="http://www.facebook.com/gracealley">Grace Alley</a>), Cody Sullivan (<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sabertooth-Zombie-official/115203128499396">Sabertooth Zombie</a>) and Ross Farrar( <a href="http://www.ceremonyhc.com/">Ceremony</a>) and even Jay Maas of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Defeater/88761367118">Defeater</a> fame, All Teeth shows that they are an integral part of the local sce</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">ne and are quickly rising to the top. One of the best thing about these cameos is the fact that complete creative control was lef</span>t up to the guest vocalist on all tracks but the last two, “Long Nights” and “Disposable Me.” Spoken word recitals performed by Winston can be heard throughout the album and act as preludes to certain songs, enforcing the feeling of despair and loneliness in the listeners mind. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It seems as if since the departure of ex-vocalist Jake Cash, the band has done some major streamlining. Cash’s vocals often were unoriginal, abrasive in contrast to current vocalist David Kellings throaty rasp of a scream and frankly would be better suited in a band geared more toward the metallic side of hardcore. Compared to <i>I Am Losing</i>, their 2009 release put out through <a href="http://www.highfidelityrecords.com/">High Fidelity records</a>, the band has managed to strip away unneeded components of the machine and readjust the remaining gears to produce a borderline hardcore masterpiece. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Musically All Teeth comes off as a culmination of American Nightmare, Suicide File, Blacklisted, Bane and even evoke elements of the almighty Converge. Creating chaotic riffs and pounding rhythms that are as dangerous and reckless as a runaway train full of ex-cons. In between these moments of chaos and destruction are progressions that focus heavily on dynamics, stop-start rhythms and slow groovy marches. At the conclusion of “Oh Disposable Me” the band ends the album by cutting away from a chaotic headbanger into a section that brings to mind a death march of lost souls. With drummer James Rogers dancing on the ride symbol, he conducts the rest of the band into a symphony of woahs, floating guitars, and borderline suicidal vocals leaving the listener to wonder, “Who’s this man I’ve grown to be?”</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>A major stand out on the album is the second track “Caller I.D” with its infectious rhythms kicking in after the conclusion of an intro that coerces the listener to eagerly anticipate the rest of the song. A series of softly accented floor toms slowly build up to their heaviest moments, then cease and repeat as an open ended guitar riff is continuously played in the distance. Once the song begins the listener is entranced as Kelling's vocals dance between the drums and guitars. Halfway through the song the guitars cut in and out as bass player Mike Fenton keeps the the party going by encouraging every kid in the crowd to stage dive simultaneously through his downbeat bass line. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>All Teeth brings something truly fresh and new to the hardcore round table and all the knights are listening. It is one of the few albums that a listener can quite literally feel the intensity and energy of the bands live show flow through their ears. If you don’t believe me simply listen to the quasi-reggae jam at the end of “Goodbye Faye Dolan.” Combine this with an outstanding show of musicianship and artistic sensibility and you have one of the best hardcore albums released this year. In the words of Kelling “I’ve never heard a sad song I didn’t like.” Too true Dave. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">Rating: 4.3/5</div>TheBartelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287705733518268070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567183897521059294.post-91923025616353433812011-05-08T22:54:00.000-07:002011-05-10T22:49:45.380-07:00Halfhearted<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierKMvkz-DVGePsEyuV8RhZuaCoP9I0AKxMbFUU-XEFQbDA4xJMgGBrO2NGCLO_sRw7RkyMGNDkpA_ZIsNsyY0M6Y8H9pty9bYDyp7ENWYmb_mHwQuPIcKxRr1h2lpMWsK5-o7TvWEaI0Z/s1600/Young+Turks+-+Halfhearted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierKMvkz-DVGePsEyuV8RhZuaCoP9I0AKxMbFUU-XEFQbDA4xJMgGBrO2NGCLO_sRw7RkyMGNDkpA_ZIsNsyY0M6Y8H9pty9bYDyp7ENWYmb_mHwQuPIcKxRr1h2lpMWsK5-o7TvWEaI0Z/s320/Young+Turks+-+Halfhearted.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“On the inside/On the outside/I’m totally lost” the young band from Portland Oregon, <a href="http://youngheartsbefreetonight.com/">Young Turk</a>s, distortedly proclaims in a confused conclusion of “Lost” the second track of their debut EP “Half Hearted.” Young Turks seems to have found the perfect formula for crafting their quasi unique brand of hardcore. Taking one part high energy intensity in the veins of American Nightmare, melodic structures and emotive lyrics via Go It Alone, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Defeater/88761367118">Defeater</a> and Modern Life Is War and the punishing back breaking power of Cruel Hand. Throw all this into a giant pot full of angst, anger and confusion, season it with highly personal lyrics and you have “Halfhearted”. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Featuring ex members of <a href="http://broadwaycalls.tumblr.com/">Broadway Calls</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/hellandreason">Hell and Reason</a>, Young Turks keeps the spirit of Portland alive with a enlightening take on a genre that can easily be rehashed as much as the next R&B auto tune radio hit. Mixing the best elements from each section of hardcore, as if picking from an orchestra of heavy music, they manage to harness each aspect to their advantage. For a first release this is quite impressive. While it is nothing groundbreaking they are definitely headed in the right direction. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Pounding drums give footing to seemingly fluid guitars that go from hardcore circle pit insanity to swirling melodic progression, aiming to pluck at even the coldest of hardcore kids heart. The end of “Control”, the final song on the album hits this mark dead on through a despairing progression. A delayed guitar gives way to a rising palm muted riff that slowly builds up so much tension, that when it’s released it’s as if an emotional dam has been broken and the pain being held back flows through the listeners ears and chills the mind. Follow this up with the spacey and cutting lead that enters as the outro reaches its peak and you have one of the best parts on Halfhearted. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Be sure to keep an eye out for this band as they have the potential to do some great things. Half Hearted is semi-original and nothing earth shattering but is a small step towards jumping over a very large musical gap. The abyssal chasm that hardcore tends to lead itself into. If Young Turks can fine tune there sound enough to find that perfect mixture of melodic, fast and heavy, then soon they will be climbing their way to the top of that metaphorical hardcore canyon. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">Rating: 3/5<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">Be on the look out for the tape release of Halfhearted on Heart In Hand Records.</div>TheBartelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287705733518268070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567183897521059294.post-30257019525455156262011-04-10T12:01:00.000-07:002011-05-10T22:53:17.752-07:00Letters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHObS5c6C59UiM5OICQeNlOVNOH_VYssH_21DlNQZmxooDUCa3-cew0lu2mywIXPei4uNMxmhDpykmEgy5bJPMy5aBP8eU8e4Iy7qU7DjmZzYc_yp-O__S8kPxouhdzGLp8fDBO8wETT6/s1600/180254_10150133425491563_125546696562_7809863_91173_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHObS5c6C59UiM5OICQeNlOVNOH_VYssH_21DlNQZmxooDUCa3-cew0lu2mywIXPei4uNMxmhDpykmEgy5bJPMy5aBP8eU8e4Iy7qU7DjmZzYc_yp-O__S8kPxouhdzGLp8fDBO8wETT6/s320/180254_10150133425491563_125546696562_7809863_91173_n.jpg" width="310" /></a></div><div style="font: 12px Helvetica; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">To the swaying beat of a hardened drum line is how the Bay Area’s T<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Troubled-Coast/125546696562">roubled Coast </a>lets the music world know that they are here to stay. This message is slowly cemented throughout their pulse pounding and toe tapping debut full length “Letters.” Released by <a href="http://www.creator-destructor.com/">Creator Destructor Records</a> and recorded by <a href="http://www.myspace.com/castleultimate">Aaron Hellam</a> (<a href="http://www.facebook.com/atourheels">At Our Heels</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/hopeforam">Hope For A.M</a>) this record further expands TC’s progressive brand of melodic post-hardcore into a mixture of sounds that spans the spectrum of emotions we as humans encounter and conquer in our daily lives. </span></div><div style="font: 12px Helvetica; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This album is a far cry from their original 10”<i>100 Miles From Home </i>and the following EP <i>Vagabonds. </i>While the latter is closer to their current polished sound, no listener would ever had guessed what would lay in store for this band based on their first release. Expanding past the basic fast melodic hardcore sound heard on <i>100 Miles</i>, the band has drawn influences from post-hardcore heroes such as Thrice and Alexisonfire along with bands such as Verse, Have Heart and Crime In Stereo too create a truly unique and powerful sound. </span></div><div style="font: 12px Helvetica; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The opening track “Amends” welcomes the listener to the rough but beautiful aesthetics of TC. Drummer Tahm Aletmus drills a pounding drum line straight into the listeners ear while guitarists Cory Bardwell and Brandon Wark accompany him with a delay heavy, Crime In Stereoesque guitar attack. After this calming introduction TC heads straight on into the exciting melodic sound that they are known for with “Wolf Republic.” Around 45 seconds into the song, vocalist Mike Scornaienchi shows his versatility within the band. Over bassist Randy Staat’s flowing bass line, he transitions from a rough yell to a desperate poetic plea. </span></div><div style="font: 12px Helvetica; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Breathing” is the next track on the album and is the melodic single on Letters. Beginning with an extremely catchy hook this song keeps a steady head bob throughout its entirety. Scornaienchi bravely chants “If Breathings not for you/Then breathings not me” as a delicate piano accompanies the listener out of the song. In the same sense that “Breathing” is the melodic stand out, the album closer “Love” is the heavy hitter of the album. Reminiscent of Thrice via their Fire EP, this song perfectly expresses a feelings of pain and anguish with its stinging guitars and thumping drums. </span></div><div style="font: 12px Helvetica; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Filling the void between these two tunes are songs such as “It’s Not Good For You” and “Drug Halo” while meld perfectly into each other. Another stand out is “Absent Father, Holy Ghost” which slowly gains speed through a guitar duet that exemplifies the pristine sounds of Wark and Bardwell’s guitar playing through elements of post-rock. The combination of a slightly crunchy overdrive and a clean lead makes this intro one of my favorites. It then picks up into a breakneck speed, post hardcore rager. The song then takes another turn and fades out with a beautiful acoustic outro accompanied by harmonica, reverbed drums and group chanting. Heading straight into “Me and My Shadow” a song reminiscent of Thrice during their Vehissu era, this song gives the feeling of being lost at sea or swirling though some lost portal of space.</span></div><div style="font: 12px Helvetica; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This band is just emerging onto the larger music scene but is sure to make some waves with this debut. Truly great bands evolve and that is exactly what Troubled Coast has managed to do in such a short time. We should all be excited for what they have in store. </span></div><div style="font: 12px Helvetica; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div><div style="font: 12px Helvetica; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;">R</span>ating: 4.1/5 </span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Note: This is the most biased review I will ever write</span></div>TheBartelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287705733518268070noreply@blogger.com0