Making A List: November, Movember

While most people are already attempting to figure out their year end lists with two months still to go in what has seemingly been a short 2010, let us not forget the number of releases still slated to drop within the next eight weeks and some odd days. Let's take a look at a few of the things dropping next month and what many of us will presumably be listening to. If I miss anything or feel like there's something I should include, tell me!

A Day To Remember - What Separates Me From You
November 16, 2010
Victory Records

Though we've already heard two tracks from the Florida pop-mosh group's fourth full-length album, the success of Homesick will make this album truly a make or break for these guys. I felt Homesick was an awesome record, one that took a step forward from their previous effort For Those Who Have Heart. The two tracks heard so far sound even more polarizing than anything before, so it will be interesting to see how the rest of the album pushes ADTR's sound to the next level.

Koji - Some Small Way
November 9 , 2010
Run For Cover Records

You really can't say enough about the amazing things Andrew "Koji" Shiraki has done as a part of his music career. Between advocating for organizations such as Invisible Children, Resolve and Humility Now, it is surprising to see someone who is so positive even with all of the in-and-out rigors of touring. Koji recently signed to Run For Cover Records and is releasing things like crazy, including splits with La Dispute and Into It. Over It., between now and presumably whenever the La Dispute split drops next year. Koji isn't just another run of the mill singer/songwriter though. His songs are filled with incredible passion and cleverly penned lyricism, something that most guys toting around guitars just simply don't have. In all honesty though, this man gives his everything for what he stands for, and this music reflects that.

My Chemical Romance - Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys
November 22, 2010
Reprise Records

I will admit that I have been listening to quite a bit of My Chemical Romance lately, though it was I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love and not The Black Parade. Though I wasn't really a fan of The Black Parade, I've secretly been waiting for these guys to release another record due to my interest in the first two full-lengths they released. Strangely enough, they went and made a concept album based around a comic book (not original, but intriguing in any case) and throughout the time of writing and recording said a good number of things about old punk bands and such. Color me interested.

Underoath - Ø (Disambiguation)
November 9, 2010
Tooth & Nail Records

Besides being the first record for a number of things, Underoath has been shifting their sound since their breakout after releasing They're Only Chasing Safety – a record slews of bands have attempted to ape and recreate with little to no avail. What will define this release is how the shift of vocals will change the approach in sound of this band. Our first listens have certainly shown promise in what this band has been concocting since the departure of drummer/vocalist Aaron Gillespie, and we can only hope that these teases are just the tip of the iceberg for what this record holds.

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Living Like Ghosts - Treading Water

Not really falling into one fully labeled category through the four songs contained on Treading Water, Living Like Ghosts keep an impressive amount of energy sustained through said tracks while gracefully moving from section to section without much of a snag. Sometimes they boast crunching, yet tight punk rock, while other times their buzzing guitars teeter on the edge of powerpop – all without sounding like a complete mess.

When opener "Disconnect" kicks into gear, it shows an uncharacteristic songwriting flaw, as the jagged rhythms punch a bit too awkwardly to really hit us in the jaw. However, the track picks up with pulsing guitars and solid kit work, all playing a great backdrop to the smooth vocal lines of the chorus. "Catacomb" follows this with a slow start that leads to the catchy, yet buzzing chord concoctions of the chorus, showing LLG's ability to stay flexible without sounding completely out of place. Think powerpop with more bite than bark, but minus the neon clothes and unneeded band members.

The relentless nature of "Lighthouse" is apparent from the moment we hear any vocals on this track. Keeping the pace with a fast backbeat on the drums, this song doesn't just hum along on a simple punk beat with grinding powerchords as we get plenty of well-placed twists and turns along the way. It mellows out for a moment near the end though, killing most of the built up energy in the process. Closing the collection is "Accolade", which features an approvable amount of chunky guitar work and some impressive vocal melodies throughout the track. It follows an on/off pattern in terms of how much instrumentation is used and how aggresive the guitars and drums are, which seems a bit out of place compared to the quirks placed throughout the other tracks. Still, it is a fitting closer to a quite pleasing EP.

Besides showing promise from a band still in their younger years, Treading Water is also absolutely free. So even if you are unsure about what you'll think about these tracks, you really don't have an excuse but to give it a try. If they can work out the kinks, I think you'll be seeing plenty more of Living Like Ghosts in the future – in Detroit and beyond.

Living Like Ghosts
Treading Water
Self-released
B

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Single Serving: A Day To Remember - "2nd Sucks"

I did a terrible thing today. I feel disgusting for doing it. I liked Victory Records on Facebook to hear the new A Day To Remember song. Then I found out it had been posted all over YouTube already. FAIL.

It might take some time for me to get over the initial guilt of clicking that stupid link, but anyone afraid of what this record is going to sound like after the first single was a bit too far on the poppy side can be rest assured there is at least ONE heavy song on What Separates Me From You. "2nd Sucks" opens with some feedback and a quick Mortal Kombat-like 'FIGHT!' before bursting into a delicious breakdown. Vocalist Jeremy McKinnon said on Twitter recently that this was the first ADTR song to not feature any singing, and besides being the truth, it makes the staccatoed blasts throughout this song even more impactful than if there was singing behind it. Not to mention McKinnon gets pretty snarky with his lyrics, presumably calling out to all of the bands they've spawned since starting ADTR.

In any case, this makes me even more pumped for this record and to (hopefully) see these guys alongside Underoath next month.

Rating: Fatality!

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Making A List: Albums I need to hear on vinyl

I am one of those people. You know, the ones who are slowing creeping into the already 'hip' trend of buying and collecting vinyl. I own a few records on vinyl (including one I just bought a few hours ago), and I'm actually really picky about what I buy on vinyl.

That being said, everything I own I feel would sound amazing on vinyl. I'm in search of certain things still, but here is a list of things I'll be jamming once I finally get the record player I am wanting:

Brand New - The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me

I've only owned this for a few hours, but I want to open it and bask in its glory so bad right now. The usually most argued (and my personal) favorite of those pesky Brand New fans, I can just imagine how the somber melodies of "Jesus" or the thundering drums in "Millstone" sound spinning against the needle.

PS I just realized it is a first pressing version of the album, probably in all white.

Coheed and Cambria - In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth 3

Epic is the only word to describe this album. While it was arguably the first to truly garner them the praise and attention they got for the next few albums, it is without a doubt in my mind the finest album they've ever penned. I remember catching them open for Thursday and Thrice back when I was a teenager and hearing the title track as the first bit of music I'd ever hear from them. Fell hook, line and sinker for it. Thanks for giving it to me that one christmas ex-girlfriend who probably doesn't need to be named here. She knows who she is.

La Dispute - Somewhere At The Bottom Of The River Between Vega And Altair

During what has quickly become one of my favorite albums, La Dispute twists and turns melodies every which way in their see-saw battle between often abrasive, yet smartly penned compositions and Jordan Dreyer's unorthodox, yet passionate vocal delivery. I picked this up at Bledfest and am proud to support this band in buying their album in two different formats.

Thursday - Full Collapse

My favorite album would burst to even more life if I could hear it on vinyl. Haven't looked that hard, but haven't found it either way. While the members in this band might feel like they've moved past the movement they helped push when they released this album, I will certainly never forget hearing "Cross Out The Eyes" for the first time.

This Town Needs Guns - Animals

This is a message to a certain person I know who owns this record on vinyl: Bring it next time you get up here. I'll be ready.

What are some albums you enjoy listening to on vinyl? Any albums you have that are rare that you refuse to open? Tell me your vinyl stories!

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The cost of fee-free ticketing

I don't know how many of you out there are from Michigan and know of Nate and the folks over at Fusion Shows. But if you don't, they run a promotion company for venues around this grand state and sell tickets without ridiculous service fees you'd normally see from Ticketmaster, Livenation or other ticket brokers.

Don't take this as a hit against them though. I love everything that Nate and everyone at Fusion have done and continue to do – not only for my wallet, but for the Michigan music scene. But when you are used to purchasing tickets through them and then try to get tickets to something you know they won't be promoting, the service fee hits you a little harder. It almost makes me not want to go to these shows unless I can find a way to purchase tickets at the door, which is still cheaper than the usual hit you take from more ticket brokers.

But by creating such a gap between themselves and 'the man', Fusion Shows will not only be a reminder to everyone else how important the D.I.Y. movement is to the bands on the stage, but a reminder to the people coming to the shows. Sure, you can't keep a band in your back pocket forever. Bands have grown out of the independent market into huge behemoths requiring tour packaging and extensive riders that would make us shake our heads in dismay. But by giving us the opportunity to save a little money, we have to be willing to give it back in another way. Maybe that extra five bucks will help a band get another few miles down the highway to a gas station instead of having to walk to get gas after they run out on the three hour drive they made to play to a small group of people passionate about real music.

So next time you save a shit-ton of money going to a show put on by a local promoter who isn't out to take all your money, do them and the bands they promote a favor and put the cash towards what you and everyone else their should love – the music.

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Touche Amore/La Dispute - Searching For A Pulse/The Weight Of The World

It should be considered a pinnacle point for the screamo scene (yes, real screamo) for two bands considered to be at the forefront of their scene to end up on a split together. However, the split between Touche Amore and La Dispute is not just your run of the mill project between two bands wanting to share a release together. It is in fact a testament to the idea of the split that the members of both of these bands pulled out all of the stops to create a cohesive experience that blended the sounds, vocals and artwork of each half into one solid whole. In the four songs pressed into this seven inches of vinyl, Touche Amore and La Dispute stake their claims as not only two of the most passionate bands in music today, but as two of the strongest songwriting collectives in the re-emerging screamo scene.

Everything inside of this split has to do with continuity and weaving together two sets of ideas. Each band's vocalist guest spots on the other bands songs. Each band had a member contribute to the artwork of the split. Each band pushed themselves to write outside of their normal timbre of sound. This pursuit of oneness shines through each track, as the experience feels unfamiliar if not completed as a whole.

Touche Amore's two cuts ("I'll Get My Just Deserve","I'll Deserve Just That") move towards a somewhat unfamiliar understanding of flowing melodies without losing the grit that makes a usual TA track. The blasting drums are still there. The abrasive vocals still ring out with sincerity. Yet, "I'll Deserve Just That" is one of the softest Touche tracks you'll probably ever hear – and that isn't too say it sounds out of place. Still, these tracks are very much Touche Amore, including their short running time of less than two minutes a piece.

Likewise, La Dispute’s two tracks sound like a bridge between their two full-lengths, combining the overall abrasive nature of Vancouver with spurts of melodic passages as heard throughout Somewhere At The Bottom Of The River Between Vega And Altair. Both wrap themselves around a similar lyrical idea of the innermost feelings about life and what happens after, making Jordan’s usually passionate delivery hit even harder than usual. Both “How I Feel” and “Why It Scares Me” show the band at the top of their game both lyrically and musically. It is difficult to pick a “winner” for this split, but La Dispute might be my pick if only by a hair.

In this end, this is arguably the best split to come out in quite some time - not only for its musical contents but also for the way in which these two bands went about presenting their combined efforts. These two bands have shown us again why friendship between bands should not just be stopped at touring and partying together.

Touche Amore/La Dispute
Searching For A Pulse/The Weight Of The World
No Sleep Records
A

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Single Serving: Stay Ahead Of The Weather - "Get Old Or Die Tryin'"

If members of Into It. Over It., Castevet and Native formed a band, what would you think it would sound like? Some sort of mathy, poppy, abrasive goodness maybe? Well, I have come here to confess I had any preconceived notions about this band blown away after listening to the leadoff track for their upcoming EP We Better Get Goin' If We're Gonna.

Stay Ahead Of The Weather makes fucking amazing punk rock. Kind of poppy, incredibly catchy, infinitely awesome. Almost borderline pop-punk, if I dare say so myself. I'm almost so amazed by this song that I can't figure out how to describe it. This song instantly reminds me of driving around in the fall, with driving guitar melodies and soaring vocal lines back by a punching, sometimes quirky drum beat. It hooks so well that I have a feeling I'm going to be humming this for at least the rest of tonight.

Be sure to give it a few listens over at Alternative Press and let me know how you feel about it!
http://tiny.cc/i05ph0pvqr

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Single Serving: In Division - Underoath

With their new album dropping less than a month from now, Underoath decided to drop another song on us in the form of "In Division", which is the opening track to Ø (Disambiguation).

But before I get into my thoughts, just a small tangent on Underoath and their first album without former drummer Aaron Gillespie. I am not going to lie. I was glad to see Aaron move on to other things. Super nice dude, but Underoath was starting to use less and less of him anyways. His drumming was still there of course, but his singing was starting to sound more and more out of place in my opinion. The guy had other things on his plate, and regardless of what people say, being in more than one band is more difficult and stressful than musicians try to say it is/isn't. I certainly wouldn't want to be in a full-time band and have members off doing a bunch of other things that would prohibit the band from continuing on at full steam.

That being said, "In Division" slays. I find it balances nicely between a huge, yet brooding sound and the manic, drum-driven choruses. The clean vocals, whether it is Spencer or whoever, sound really nice and fit the vibe of this sound much nicer than Aaron's would have. New kit master Daniel Davidson (ex-Norma Jean) also makes his presence felt throughout the song, as most of us familiar with his work in Norma Jean would hope for. All in all, it is a nice progression from not only the last album, but from everything this band has done in the past, original members or not.

After hearing two tracks from this album, I can safely say November is going to be a stellar month for releases. I already know I'm not going to be disappointed by this release.

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Of Mice & Men - Of Mice & Men

Of Mice & Men
Of Mice & Men
Rise Records
C+





These days, Rise Records and post-hardcore bands still go hand and hand much like spaghetti and meatballs. Now I may be a vegetarian, but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy a bit of the breakdown littered fare of Of Mice & Men while eating noodles and marinara. Sure, we very well may see something completely different from this band if and when they decide to write another record after having almost the most member swaps this year (that award sadly goes to Dance Gavin Dance, sorry boys). But this self-titled, debut effort from (then) vocalist Austin Carlile and company is a guilty pleasure of breakdowns and somewhat memorable melodies that will more than satisfy your urge for post-hardcore.

Carlile wastes no time proving his worth as a vocalist, as “YDG” opens with a segue from a barrage of drums and guitars into Austin’s meaty screams. He might not stand out by much in this scene, but he is more than ample in his craft. Weaving this throughout the album with an occasional clean vocal line from guitarist/vocalist Shayley Bourget makes for a more palatable experience despite most of the shifts from scream to clean (or vice versa) are seen coming a mile away.

Musically, this band really isn’t doing anything to charter new territory. This is primarily a breakdown band, and you’ll hear it regardless of what track you listen to. However, you can’t deny that they are able to do it well enough and without much of a problem as they shift from breakdown to breakdown (and sometimes to another breakdown). Tracks like “Those In Glass Houses” and “They Don’t Call It The South For Nothing” showcase the ability for the band to somehow keep your interest even if they are over-recycling parts within songs. Toss in the occasional angular guitar lick, and it makes for enough to get by, even if it isn’t blowing your mind.

For what it's worth, even the fact this album doesn't jump right out at you won't stop it from being addicting. Carlile's punching vocals shine in spots where there isn't a whole lot going on musically, as many times the songwriting relies on him to keep the proceedings going. It also says something about simplicity in that the better breakdowns on this album (near the end of "They Don't Call It The South For Nothing" for example) are not overly rhythmic or complex, but just get the job done instead of trying to be fancy. These guys know what they are going for, and whether you want to admit it or not, it is just what people want to hear.

Of Mice & Men might just be another band in an oversaturated genre, but at the very least you can’t say they are doing something terrible to outright say they make terrible music. This is a band that proves ‘just well enough’ is something that is very provable when it comes to making music, and with the changes in band personnel we could very much see something totally different next time around. It could be worse though. They could be Attack Attack!

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The Great Explainer - The Way Things Swell

The Great Explainer
The Way Things Swell
Chunksaah Records
B+





Only four songs in length and produced by The Bouncing Souls’ Pete Steinkopf, The Way Things Swell is a doozy of an EP by punk rockers The Great Explainer. Anchored by ridiculously infectious melodies and raspy, yet demanding vocals, The Way Things Swell is a by-the-book reflection of bands like Hot Water Music and Small Brown Bike while keeping true to a sense of heightened realization in terms of how mature their sound already is when compared to the bands they are emulating throughout these four songs. This EP is a strong start with enough promise to almost guarantee this band has great things in their future.

Where many new bands, regardless of genre, seem to do their utmost to cater to the staples of their own genres in terms of structures and arrangements, The Great Explainer proves an ample ability to cater to a particular genre’s crowd without forcing things into place. This leaves us with plenty of smooth songwriting without losing the things that make punk rock of this nature great - huge sounds and great singalongs. “Quotas” features flowing fretwork underneath pleading vocals and a wall of sound created by the rest of the quartet, giving us plenty to fill our heads with even if the vocals are at a rest. The infectious buzzing during “I Finally Found My Dreamboat” makes a great foundation for the whirling melodies and driving drums, making it nearly impossible not to tap or toe or bob your head. Even the slower starting “Michael Jordan 666” doesn’t waiver in its use of melodies in the guitar tracks, as a solid, yet strong drum part helps drive this track forward.

The ying and yang effect of raspy and clean vocals between guitarists/vocalists Sean Bystrzycki and Matt Vaneekhoven creates a huge dynamic that will help distance this band from anyone else trying to drop themselves into the punk rock circuit. As “Quotas” shows us, Bystrzycki and Vaneekhoven can coexist on any passage this band can pen. And each sets the bar at an even level, eliminating the pesky problem of one vocalist in a set out-singing the other and leaving a weakness in the chain. You can really appreciate the balance of vocals between the two, as only having one of these vocalists in the mix would certainly cause a change in how this sound is carried out.

The Great Explainer certainly has a great start to their career with this release. It is hard to fathom that they have only this release under their belts, but believe me when I say I really think this band will be going upwards in the near future.

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