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Posted 4 months ago

Right oh. I’ve given up trying to hold this blawg thing together anymore. Seems that putting thought to paper (be it digital or otherwise) is proving to be a bit too much for me, cause you know… not much point to it, and all. But yeah, before I decide what to do with this, here’s my first post for 2012! Yay! This concerns a Baltimore band that goes by the name of Pansori. Coming together from acts such as Army of Kashyyyk and Dawn Treader, they sort of sound like a more build-up oriented Optimus Prime (yeah, it’s the violins) with a dash of Level Plane vibe.  Anyway, their one-track demo “eighthundredyearsofsilence” can be downloaded here. And there’s also this, a 3 song EP they released in… well… summer 2010. Go figure. So yeah, enjoy this and things. Jetblackblues signing out indefinitely. 

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Posted 5 months ago

So Cryonics is still one of my all time favorite albums? Yep, seems to be. So hard. The very first time I heard (of) Hot Cross I was kinda skeptical. I’d heard a few seconds of Requiescat at  friend’s place and I thought they’d a a major letdown for a band “fronted” by none other than Billy Werner of Saetia fame. The whole thing sounded kinda messy but still somehow trying some sort of facechurning technicality… I was all not sure if want. But I went ahead and gave it a listen anyway, and as the good lads at Sputnik Music can attest, 

Of course I was wrong. Hot Cross’ parent bands, Saetia and Off Minor, are two hugely important emo bands; Saetia, the undisputed emotional kings of late 90s hardcore, and Off Minor, one of the most progressive emo bands in recent years, rivaled only by Circle Takes the Square. The merger of technicality and emotion, with vocals coming from three different directions, guitar from two, and the drum and bass doing their own confounding groove, seems like it’d be overwhelming and confusing, but not under the deft control of Hot Cross. Every song on this album is balls out, no apologies. I don’t think I’ve ever been as incited to move around or dance than during the part in “Fortune Teller” when Billy Werner shouts, “Fuck not lest ye be fucked.” I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to take my guitar and shred for hours as much as the main melodic guitar riff 29 seconds into “Pretty Picture of a Broken Face.” This album is absolutely jam packed with the golden moments that would make entire songs for any other band. Hot Cross manages to pack four to five of these sections or mere phrases of genius into each of their songs. It’s unreal to be up in arms about one part of a song, only to have to dismiss it in order to listen to the next amazing part come out of no where. 

Read the rest of their review here. And yeah, will try to be back with newer stuff. I have a few recent releases in mind. In the meantime, hell, listen to the damn thing!

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Posted 6 months ago

So I just watched John Cameron Mitchell’s ‘Rabbit Hole’ and was suddenly reminded of how awesome the man is. Gotta see Hedwig and the Angry Inch again, and soon. And you, yeah, you. You’re going to join me. 

Thank you. I think we have our single! (spits beer into audience) That was a rock and roll gesture. Actually that was a heavy metal gesture. Want to see a punk rock gesture? (fills mouth with beer; a threatening pause; then she spits it all over herself) It’s the direction of the aggression that defines it.

- Hedwig

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Posted 6 months ago

Aaaaages since my last post, I know… but for those of you still with me, I return bearing good things! Scores of good things! Now to begin with, this just happened. Fuck Buttons and Jónsi. I know rite? 

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Posted 8 months ago

Bunch of lads from Derby playing some spazzy math rock. They just released this album, Distal, back in April and it’s free for download at their bandcamp, or at http://www.crashofrhinos.co.uk.  

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Posted 8 months ago

I am. I mean we are. I mean, we should be right now. Yeah. But this will happen.

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Posted 8 months ago
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Comadre – "Living Differently"?!

Kaaay, so here’s a quick one. Not sure if you’re aware, but there’s a certain band out there, goes by the name of Comadre and they manage to kick increasingly more ass with each release they throw out there into the world. Now, these guys have a bunch of new stuff out that are really worth checking out. The track provided is off their 2010 split with this other awesome band called Glasses, which are quite the supergroup if you’re into this breed of post-hardcore (members of Trainwreck, Perth Express, Eaves… cool huh?). Well, that split is available for free here. But wait, there’s more! See, there’s also two mixtapes up for download. Well, the #4 one features re-recorded, reinterpreted or remixed songs in collaboration with some of Comadre’s friends. The #5 consists of unreleased stuff from this post’s namesake, as well as Funeral Diner, the aforementioned Trainwreck, Loma Prieta, Daikon, Ghostlimb, etc. Both releases were part of the band’s effort to raise some cash for the Japan earthquake relief efforts, so kudos to all the collaborators for that. Now go, go. Take a walk, breathe some air and listen to some good music on this very first day of autumn. I’d do the same, if I could spare the time. Promise I’ll update as soon as possible. Laterz.

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Posted 9 months ago

Topshelf Records: The Saddest Landscape & Pianos Become The Teeth weigh in on Pg.99

Actually, the Saddest Landscape is an even closer peer: They started up 10 years ago in Boston. Frontman Andy Maddox recalls catching PG. 99 early on in the decade. “When I first heard them, honestly they kind of seemed like a mess to me, but really kind of entertaining,” he says. “They would show up and there would just be this force, these amps and these people that would take over basements. It didn’t matter to me that they were messy.” But Maddox saw the band grow out of that messiness and into a tighter group, with document #8 as its pinnacle. He says that PG. 99 became something of a Fugazi-like band in its scene.

PG. 99’s also offers a kind of appealing sincerity. “Everyone into this type of punk rock or post-hardcore can definitely see when a band is being honest,” says Pianos Become The Teeth guitarist Mike York. “They meant it 110 percent.” It’s that passion that’s part of the appeal for York. “That’s one of the coolest things of this kind of music,” he says. “It’s an honor to be included in it.”

Pretty good read from the Washington City Paper. Check it out here.

via topshelfrecords
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Posted 9 months ago
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Bombay Bicycle Club – Cancel On Me

koolaidhair:

“Cancel On Me” - Bombay Bicycle Club

Filler. Also, too much effing indie rock! I mean it’s cool and all, but now I feel bad for neglecting all the other stuff used to and/or still listen to. So I dunno, expect a post on black metal or something. Until then, I leave you with the good men of Bombay Bicycle Club.

via formido
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Posted 9 months ago
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Bareface – Heart Shaped Lies

So here’s a little something for you. It’s not much, but it’s all I could find. Believe you me, I’m not one to shy away from getting down and dirty with obscure Ukrainian websites or ptp services in order to find one elusive band or another, but these guys… Well, it’s the best i could do. One song, out of a total of 4 available on their myspace. So there you go, Bareface, playing some self-described tropical grime punk (?). However weird that might sound, I feel it’s strangely accurate. The dark, droning guitar work and shouted vocals are reminiscent of deathrock aesthetics, whereas the synths can indeed be dismissed as grime imprints. Don’t get where the tropical fits into all of that, though. Anyway, here’s a taste of their stuff and if I find any more, I’ll be sure to add a download link.