New Release Tuesday - March 16, 2010

This week's unrated notables:

• Envy on the Coast - 'LowCountry'
• The White Stripes - 'Under Great White Northern Lights'

[03.]

The Audition - 'Great Danger'

tf: ehhh.

It's all been downhill for me since 'Controversy Loves Company'... It seems like they've been focusing harder on making records than music, and it's honestly getting pretty old.

[02.]

Streetlight Manifesto - '99 Songs of a Revolution Vol. I'

tf: ehhh.

A good attempt at a cover album... but it's still a cover album. They're fun and I might listen to a track here and there, but the album as a whole doesn't really do it for me... and I don't see how anyone would be super excited to listen to a double-digit amount of covers at once. They're an awesome band - they just need to write some new stuff.

[01.]

From First to Last - 'Throne to the Wolves'

tf: aight.

Besides the fact that the quality of the recordings that I listened to were a little lacking, this is a pretty decent album. People used to love to hate Sonny, and will probably continue to hate this band - but I'm not into politicizing... I like how it sounds.

Next Week:

• The Dillinger Escape Plan - 'Option Paralysis'
• I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business - 'The World We Know'
• Look Mexico - 'To Bed to Battle'
• She & Him - 'Volume Two'

New Release Tuesday - March 9, 2010

So many musics.

This week's unrated notables:

• Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - 'The Brutalist Bricks'
• Daughters - 'Daughters'
• Gorillaz - 'Plastic Beach'

[06.]

Before Their Eyes - 'Untouchable'

tf: nope.

Alright this is way, way poppier than I was expecting, but they earn points for the good production value, and it's actually pretty memorable even if you don't like it. I never listened to their 2008 release 'The Dawn of Their Death', and I guess I must have missed their contraction of the infamous scenester-pop disease that seems to be infecting the masses lately as well. This isn't doing it for me at all.

[05.]

The Bled - 'Heat Fetish'

tf: nahhh.

I didn't get very far into this release before I had already figured out I didn't like it. It's definitely not terrible, but I know I'll never get the urge to listen to it... Wasn't disappointed. Wasn't impressed. It's just not for me.

[04.]

Isles and Glaciers - 'The Hearts of Lonely People' EP

tf: aight.

I don't know what it is... but ever since Jonny left DGD, he hasn't sounded the same to me. He's obviously still probably technically one of the greatest vocalists in the business - he has the range of an R&B singer, it's a bit ridiculous... but I don't get the same intensity or passion from him that I used to, and it's disappointing. I don't really like the whole "super-group" idea either... unless it's The Sound of Animals Fighting, I guess... but nevertheless this EP is pretty solid and I'll definitely give it a few listens from time to time.

[03.]

House Vs. Hurricane - 'Perspectives'

tf: fasho.

I really, really wanted to like their 2008 EP 'Forfeiture', but I just never really got into it. I've listened to it a bunch of times, but it never really grabbed my attention entirely. When I listen to these guys, I can't help but compare them in my head to being a half a step below Sky Eats Airplane... and it's annoying to me that I can't like them as much as I want to. I have a sinking suspicion that 'Perspectives' will have the same effect. As of now, I' definitely like it, but I can't tell if it'll be enough to continue to spark my interest. I hope I can find the time to give it a few more listens... but I guess what I'm saying is I won't be surprised if I don't.

[02.]

We Were Promised Jetpacks - 'The Last Place You'll Look' EP

tf: fasho.

Keeping in mind that I'm a bit of a sucker for accents... this EP has a lot of potential to be a grower. Nothing too crazy to get overly excited about... short, simple, sweet and the first I've ever heard from these dudes... this could be my sleeper pick for this year's list.

[01.]

Four Year Strong - 'Enemy of the World'

tf: yaysh.

Yes. I've been waiting for this for what seems to have been forever. Since I first heard 'Rise Or Die Trying' I suppose, but mostly since there was talk that they were working on new material... which turned out to be 'Explains It All' instead of something actually worth listening to. Ouch? But now it's time. To listen to this until my eardrums can no longer handle the hardcore-infused pop-punk mastery. They can seriously own the genre in my opinion... Listen to "What the Hell is a Gigawatt?" You'll shit. I suggest you be prepared.

Next Week:

The Audition - 'Great Danger'

Envy on the Coast - 'LowCountry'

From First to Last - 'Throne to the Wolves'

Nas & Damian Marley - 'Distant Relatives'

Streetlight Manifesto - '99 Songs of a Revolution: Vol. I'

The White Stripes - 'Under Great White Northern Lights'

New Release Tuesday - March 2

Nothing really too crazy this week, AMERICAN GHETTO! AMERICAN GHETTO! AMERICAN GHETTO!, but stay tuned next week for Before Their Eyes, Broken Bells, Four Year Strong, Gorillaz, Ted Leo and more?

[02.]

Jaguar Love - 'Hologram Jams'

tf: unrated.

Another band I've been told to give a chance on multiple occasions that I have literally never heard... Listen to it? Apparently for fans of The Blood Brothers.

[01.]

Portugal. The Man - 'American Ghetto'

tf: unrated.

Remember when they put out 'Satanic Satanist' last July? One of my favorite bands ever, this is the 6th full-length they've released in 4 years and they've put out 3 EP's in between. Get on their level. Quick.

New Release Tuesday - February 23

[01.]

Electric President - 'The Violent Blue'

tf: fasho.

What's new to me may not be new to you... this is their third full-length release, but the first that I've had the pleasure of listening to. Down-tempo beautiful melodies. Acoustic strings covered by ambient tones, piano keys and harmonies. An addicting vocal style like some sort of combination between Ben Gibbard and Andy Hull (atleast that's what I'm getting). Point is, get this album. Like now.

[02.]

Alkaline Trio - 'This Addiction'

tf: aight.

These guys are getting old. This is their 7th full-length album in a little more than a decade, but unlike most bands - they keep writing good stuff. If you're a die-hard fan of the band, you've had this album for months since it leaked... and if you're not that big a fan, you probably won't really think it's anything that great. It's probably my favorite album they've put out since 'From Here to the Infirmary' in 2001... the band's gone through some really tough shit and they're finally getting it out in this release.

[03.]

Fang Island - 'Fang Island'

tf: ehhh.

Don't really have too much to say about this album... they have some pretty cool, weird instrumentation that's fun for a few tracks, but I don't really see myself listening to the entire thing any time soon.

New Release Tuesday - February 16, 2010

Here's the ridiculously good list of releases you need to check out this week:

[05.]

A Silver Mt. Zion - 'Kollaps Tradixionales'

tf: not yet rated.

I know virtually nothing about this band... I've literally never heard a song, so this post is solely due to hype and friendly recommendations. It's currently listed on my friend Ray's [AMOTA] 2010 list at #12 so I'm curious to give it a listen.

[04.]

Angels & Airwaves - 'Love'

tf:

I generally hate it when I hear people say "all the songs sound the same"... but in this case I won't really be able to disagree. I'll never be the biggest fan of Angels & Airwaves, but they've put out a couple good records in the past and 'Love' doesn't seem to be advancing their sound any further... bring me some Blink, already.

[03.]

The Forecast - 'The Forecast'

tf: fasho.

Myspace | Facebook | YouTube | purevolume

It seems like today's music market is being consistently flooded with more and more indie/pop bands lacking any real substance. Luckily for The Forecast, they've still got it. It's been four years since their last LP release 'In The Shadow of Two Gunmen', and I don't mind that they've taken the time to release something worth listening to. I have a feeling that as the happier spring and summer months approach, I'll find myself blasting this record through my headphones on a daily basis.

[02.]

Jamie's Elsewhere - 'They Said A Storm Was Coming'

tf: yaysh.

One of my new favorite bands on Victory Records, I was initially a big fan of their debut EP 'Goodbye Rocketman, St. George Is Under Fire' but Aaron Pauley and the boys have completely redefined their sound. Taking on an edge much like you would expect to find in Sky Eats Airplane, Attack Attack! or I Set My Friends On Fire, Jamie's Elsewhere has stepped it up.

[01.]

Local Natives - 'Gorilla Manor'

tf: absolutely.

Myspace | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube

Easily the best thing I've heard this year... I've been all about this band since I was first introduced. Amazing from start to finish, you won't be disappointed - it's a promise. "Airplanes" is going to be the title track of my upcoming Spring Mixtape, so be on the lookout for that and just do whatever you need to do to get your hands on the album (I bought the vinyl HERE.)

New Release Tuesday - January 26th

I skipped out on last week's releases because I could hardly get out of bed... so I apologize - but look at all the craziness you have to look forward to this week!

Never Shout Never - 'What Is Love?'

tf: hahaha.

This dude's songs are so disappointing every time he comes out with anything new... I'm kind of sick of wasting my time. He's got undeniable potential to lay down well-tracked songs but he sounds like a 10 year old girl playing princess when you listen to the lyrics. I can't stand it.

Alesana - 'The Emptiness'

tf: nope.

The actual instrumentation on this album is pretty good to say the least - I was fairly impressed... but this brand of emocore vocals just isn't really my thing... I couldn't get into it at all and probably didn't give it a fair chance, but it's just not for me.

The Wonder Years - 'The Upsides'

tf: ehhh.

I don't have a whole lot to say about 'The Upsides'... just that I was expecting something a little more memorable. I didn't really hear anything I haven't heard from your average pop-punk band. However, the thing I do like about these guys is that they're completely fucking around... They don't seem to particularly love the genre of music they're in, but damn it they're going to have fun doing it.

Spoon - 'Transference'

tf: ehhh.

I'm still not really sure what I think about this album... and I'm even less sure what I want to think about it, if that makes sense. It seems kind of hard NOT to like Spoon's simplistic, buzzy song structures and rhythms... but it's also pretty hard to find myself getting really into them too... maybe it'll catch on more with listens? And maybe I won't listen to it much at all...

Greeley Estates - 'No Rain, No Rainbow'

tf: fasho.

Boom. The first album I've listened to this year that's got me completely jacked. It doesn't seem to be getting the greatest of reviews early on... and I'm hoping that's just because a lot of people won't understand their "transition" to a more metalcore genre in this release... these songs are HARD, so be ready.

The Felix Culpa - 'Sever Your Roots'

tf: yaysh.

Easily the most complete album thus far in 2010... The Felix Culpa kicked a four year hiatus in the ass with 'Sever Your Roots'. Nearly every song is meticulously and perfectly crafted into the next... you can't stop at any one point, which is what I like to see sometimes. I've always been a believer in records, not singles... and The Felix Culpa know what's up.

Native - 'Wrestling Moves'

tf: yaysh.

Raw, gritty and full of emotion, this is everything I could ever want in a post-hardcore/indie album. I fell in love before I even finished the first listen... it'll be interesting to see how long this hangs on at the top of my list for 2010, being that it's only January... damn this month was packed.

Manchester Orchestra / Kevin Devine

'I Could Be the Only One' split EP

Download (right-click and save!)

Manchester Orchestra - "I Could Be With Anyone"

Kevin Devine - "The Only One"

I'm not going to waste my time critiquing these two songs or placing a rating on them - they're more of a nice little bonus from last year's respective releases of 'Mean Everything to Nothing' and 'Brother's Blood'. So if you haven't checked those albums out... DO IT. Oh, and anticipate a new album from Manchester Orchestra in June. Yeah I know! You're thinking, "Already?" Yes. Already.