An Apology from John (With bonus download recommendations!)

Happy October, Everyone.
I apologize for the lack of posts in the past two months. I have been busy with school, and also, there just haven't been too many albums released worth listening to.
However, there are a long list of albums to be released before the end of the year that I will definitely be reviewing. Some of the artists include: Bad Books, Protest The Hero, A Day To Remember, The Chariot, Underoath, Right Away Great Captain (hopefully), and many more.

So, as I said, I'm sorry to the few of you that regularly visit the blog, I swear I'll pick back up on the reviews soon, and I may throw in some reviews of non-new releases from lesser-known bands, just to give you all some new tunes to listen to.

In the meantime, head over to
http://www.daytrotter.com/al/artists/alphabetical.html
to download some spectacular live sets from up and coming indie bands. My current favorite is the Circa Survive session on Daytrotter, featuring live acoustic renditions of some of their hits from their 2010 album Blue Sky Noise.

Have a good night!
-John

Aaron Smith - Love Stoned

Aaron Smith, aka Shwayze, recently released a solo mixtape titled "Love Stoned" for free on his website www.aaronsmithmusic.com. Now, I'm a huge fan of Shwayze - he has great flow, creative lyrics, and a really laid back vibe to his music. Aaron's solo music, however, seems to be more electronic influenced and misses the smooth vocals added by Cisco Adler in Shwayze. That being said, it's not a bad mixtape at all; Many songs have been stuck in my head for the past few days and I've been enjoying it very much. Aaron's creativity does show through on tracks like Love Letter, Pretty Girl, and If That's What You Want which alone are enough of an excuse to download this free album. Lyrically, this album focuses less on "weed and women" and more on the complex emotions associated with love, which is an interesting turn for Aaron that some people may not enjoy, but is ultimately not a big deal in any way.

All in all, Love Stoned is a pretty average album with a few very good songs - worth the download for sure.
www.aaronsmithmusic.com

I apologize for the short review, I'm just trying to get one in before my next class starts.

Oh, and go read movie reviews. Christian knows his way around some movies. http://indiescream.wordpress.com/


-John

Sleigh Bells - Treats

I was only very recently introduced to Sleigh Bells by a friend within the last two weeks, but since then, they have slowly become one of the only bands I've been listening to. They are categorized as a "noise-pop" duo, which basically means that their music is full of catchy vocal melodies over loud, danceable drum beats, eclectic synth parts, and dissonant guitar lines. Sleigh Bells is composed of two very unlikely people - one of which is guitarist/producer Derek Miller, whom some of you may recognize as the ex-guitarist from post-hardcore band Poison The Well. The other side of the duo is female vocalist Alexis Krauss, whom most of you will not recognize at all...but trust me, she deserves recognition. To date, the duo has only made one release, entitled "Treats", but it has a unique and destructive power that very few albums have these days. Each song on "Treats" is an adventure in its own right, and when played back to back, the album will sweep up the listener and force you to love everything about "Treats". I have found that the ideal way to listen to this album is with good headphones while taking a walk in the city around dusk...I dunno if that helps you understand the mood of Sleigh Bells' music, but I can tell you that it is an enjoyable scenario.

Also, for those of you wondering...Yes, they do actually use sleigh bells in some of their songs. Often, actually.

My personal favorite songs off of "Treats" are Infinity Guitars, Rill Rill, and Rachel.
Enjoy!

Unfortunately, I can not seem to find a download link for "Treats" but I highly recommend paying the money for it. If you can't, I still recommend that you give their music a listen on Grooveshark or over at their myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/sleighbellsmusic



Also, head on over to http://indiescream.wordpress.com/ to get some knowledge dropped on you about some great movies!

It Won't Be Quiet Anymore - Asherel

Asherel is a young band based out of Suwannee, Georgia who play a unique style of indie-garage rock that I have a feeling will take the country by storm, given the appropriate methods of distribution and advertisement. In just a few short years, Asherel has already gained a fairly significant fan base in the metro-Atlanta area and released a spectacular five song EP - It Won't Be Quiet Anymore
; Not bad for a band who has members still attending high school. I recently purchased this EP and can honestly say that it is one of the only things I have listened to for the past three days. To put it simply, singer/songwriter Trey Rosenkampff knows what he's doing. Lyrically, the EP is deep, questioning, and really makes the listener think. With subject matter discussing and questioning religion, you'd be hard pressed to simply listen to any of Asherel's songs and idly hear sounds, rather than truly experience their music.

The best way that I can describe Asherel's sound is that it is largely reminiscent of Manchester Orchestra mixed with Weezer's Pinkerton, if it was then kicked by an angry southerner. They have a certain sense of confidence in their sound that allows them to write haunting songs like "92 Years Old And Blind" as well as upbeat garage rock anthems such as "Losing Sleep" and "Now That You Know". Every song is well-written, perfectly orchestrated, and seamlessly performed so that It Won't Be Quiet Anymore is definitely one of the most enjoyable EPs that I have ever heard, and easily the best I have heard by an unsigned band.

Anyone reading this should immediately purchase Asherel's EP It Won't Be Quiet Anymore on itunes, or go see them playing numerous shows around the southeast and buy a hard copy from them. I promise you will not be let down, but check their music out yourself at

www.myspace.com/asherelmusic

If there's one thing I'm certain of, it is that Asherel is a band that has the potential to make it in the modern music world; They really are the "next big thing".

-John

"If This Is The State Of My Art, Then I Secede"

This is not a review.

The modern underground scene is a disgrace. What the hell happened? In a matter of just five short years, the hardcore scene has mutated from an inviting and innovative corner of musical culture to a region of the musical world where every band sounds and looks the same. Again I ask...What the hell? Who is to blame for this?

Unfortunately, we, the listeners, are. The music business is a horribly corrupt machine these days that, like most other aspects of culture (movies, fashion, etc.), figures out what "the kids" are into and then creates a veritable mold and reproduces the same exact musical traits in different forms. How is this our fault? Because we settle. As listeners, we hook into styles that we love and we become okay with bands that fit in that genre, even if they bring nothing new to the proverbial table! Exhibit A: Years ago (in 2001...), there was a band known as From Autumn To Ashes. The members of this band, as well as the original line up of Underoath and Every Time I Die, could be considered the some of the pioneers of modern hardcore; they popularized the use of screaming in music and were one of the first well-known bands to incorporate breakdowns into their music (I said popularized, not originated, okay?). The fans loved it. These traits were passed on to bands like The Used, who continued to command a large fan-base due to the intense emotions conveyed through their screaming and musical intensity.

Fast forward.

Now it is 2010. There are still some good bands around making genuinely good music...Protest The Hero, The Acacia Strain, Every Time I Die (still going strong), Norma Jean, The Chariot, and more. However, outside of that very small window lies the disgusting mass of shitty cookie-cutter hardcore bands who all sound alike (horrifically autotuned vocals, 3 breakdowns per song, key of d minor or c minor). Attack Attack!. In Fear and Faith. Of Mice and Men. I See Stars. And then there's the "electrocore" shit. BrokenCyde. Breathe Carolina. Absolute trash.
What happened, people? When did we stop demanding the most out of the musicians that surround us and start being okay with being fed the same thing over and over?

It's not okay.

By not responding to this mockery of sound, we are letting the record labels know that we're okay with the same garbage, and that originality and innovation isn't a quality that we care about in modern music.
So what happens?
Listeners: Stop it. Just stop. Have respect for yourself and stop being okay with music just being okay. Demand greatness. Rage against the onslaught of tight pants, black sweep haircuts, guyliner, autotune, and "comical" synchronized stage movements. It was funny when Sum 41 did it to make fun of Nsync and the Backstreet Boys, but now you've taken it too far. You've made it serious. I'm calling you out Attack Attack. Get talent or piss off.
and Musicians: Don't settle for what gets you a record deal. What's worth more, money or dignity? I challenge you to force yourself to create new music, not rearrange what's been done.

So who is going to be the start of the revolt against what the underground has turned into? Those of us who don't get dressed up to go to shows...stand up, and unite...Everyone around you at every single show is why the scene has declined. Just remember that.

Oh, and don't get me started on current Top 40 hits.
Ke$ha is a drunk. Lady Gaga wants attention. Justin Bieber needs to grow a pair.

Food for thought.
-John


Also, head over to http://indiescream.wordpress.com to read/learn about some spectacular movies, as reviewed by the very talented, Christian Perez!

Ice Nine Kills - Safe Is Just A Shadow

I am highly resistant to change, especially when I am completely in love with a certain style of music that a band has, and then they go in another direction. In my experience, this usually results in a pretty crappy album and a lot of hipsters chanting "The first album was better!!!11!11!!!1" That being said...Ice Nine Kills.
Ice Nine Kills have once again redirected their musical intentions and, as usual, do not disappoint. Their previous progressive/hardcore style was something that caught my attention the first time I heard their ep, The Burning. On Safe Is Just A Shadow, Ice Nine Kills have started over with a new lineup and a new direction. Their new style is slightly more predictable and typical of the hardcore scene these days, but it still throws listeners for a loop on occasion with reminders that they aren't just any screamo band who can chug like beasts and bend their knees like crabs during all nine breakdowns in each of their songs. Sorry, I went on a tangent there...Attack Attack! sucks.
Anyway, Ice Nine Kills are not your typical verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-breakdown-chorus-breakdown band. The few breakdowns that do exist on Safe Is Just A Shadow consist largely of complex polyrhythms that will trip up even the most hardened trendy-two-steppers. The guitarists in Ice Nine Kills showcase their multifaceted talent over and over on this album, and the drummer doesn't fail to impress with his knowledge of, and ability to play, some vary obscure and arhythmic passages, while still allowing them to fit with the music. The two vocalists in Ice Nine Kills perform well together, melding clean vocals with harsh screams and, I hate to say, brutal growls that combat each other as if both singers are trying to see who can cause the highest scale of destruction with just their voices.
Overall, I'd give Safe Is Just A Shadow an 86/100...definitely an album to add to your collection if you're into hardcore music, but its just missing a little something - the Ice Nine Kills signature "progressive weirdness" that makes them who they are.
In all honesty, if this album was released under a different band name, I would probably give it a 92/100...I just miss Ice Nine Kills.

Download: http://www.mediafire.com/?zhkzioiwzmd
Enjoy!
-John

EDIT: Yes, I know this wasn't a Throwback Thursday. I apologize. I will resume next week with Throwback Thursdays.

Movie Fans?!

So, if you're reading this blog it's safe to assume that you like music...but how many of you like movies?
I mean, who DOESN'T like movies, right?
That being said, head over to http://indiescream.wordpress.com/ and read some excellent film reviews by a talented writer, musician, and all around good-guy who goes by the name of Christian Perez.
The man knows his film...I highly recommend you check out his blog.
F'real.

-John-

Throwback Thursdays #1! - Glassjaw

Droppin' Knowledge On Fools!
I'm starting a new segment to this blog called "Throwback Thursdays" in which I will be reviewing a non-new release and giving some background to an older band or developments since releasing the album being reviewed...dig?

Anyway, I thought that a good band/album to kick off Throwback Thursdays would be Glassjaw and their groundbreaking 1999 album Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Silence. Many of you may already own this album, but there is a surprising number of modern hardcore kids who don't know about Glassjaw, which, quite frankly, is a sin in the world of hardcore music.
Glassjaw is the sonic representation of the term "acquired taste".
Daryl Palumbo has fronted Glassjaw since they were formed in 1993. To put it simply, Daryl Palumbo is the reason that hardcore music is what it is to day. Prior to Glassjaw's development, many underground punk bands from the 1980s and 1990s had utilized yelling in their music, largely because many of them simply couldn't sing, and for emotional emphasis. Daryl Palumbo, however, took the yell and made it into a scream. Guttural, raspy screams abound on Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence intertwined with Daryl's pseudo-drunken singing. This combination became the foundation for many hardcore punk bands that followed Glassjaw, and eventually translated into the screams that we now hear on albums such as The Devil Wears Prada's Plagues or even Bring Me The Horizon's Count Your Blessings.
Glassjaw is musically unrelenting...heavy yet melodic - structured chaos. Glassjaw and Botch pretty much created what some people have come to call "chaoscore" but that's a terrible label. Think about The Chariot and Norma Jean...they were influenced by Glassjaw and Botch.
Lyrical content on Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence is fairly vulgar, and heavily focused on Daryl's ex-girlfriend who, apparently, was a bit of a slut. When he isn't singing/screaming about her, most of his lyrics focus on his constant battle with Crohn's disease. All of Palumbo's lyrics are heavily emotional and based on personal experience...often to the point of him being overwhelmed and unable to finish a line (Listen to "Pretty Lush"...you'll know) which is one of the main reasons that Glassjaw's music is so captivating - it simply overwhelms the listener and even the performers.
All-in-all, Glassjaw's Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence isn't exactly the type of album you'd just sit in your room and listen to. However, in a live setting, or played really loud in a car, where you can truly embrace the art beneath the chaos...I challenge you to find something better.

But like I said...It's an acquired taste.
Songs To Check Out: All of them. But mostly Pretty Lush, Lovebites and Razorlines, Her Middle Name Was Boom, Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence.

Drownload Link! : http://www.mediafire.com/?znt5aznuzjj#1

-John-


Edit: I have decided against continuing Throwback Thursdays.
They're no fun.

Unzipping .rar Downloads

For those of you who don't know how to access the files you download from mediafire, simply download "winrar" (or something of the sort) and unzip the folder. Then you can move them onto your C drive and ultimately into your Itunes library, or Mymusic folder or wherever you keep your music.
Enjoy!

-John

Norma Jean - Meridional

Atlanta-based metalcore kings Norma Jean are releasing an album this month. Luckily, I happened upon a copy of their fifth-and-newest album Meridional recently and I must say that I am a fan. This comes as good news to me after the hot mess that was The Anti-Mother. Many fans, myself included, have been wishing for years that Norma Jean would return to their roots and write more in the vein of their first album Bless The Martyr And Kiss The Child. This, however, doesn't seem to be happening any time soon...though I finally feel as though that is a good thing. On Meridional, it seems as though every member of the band has stepped up their game. Now, that's not to say that it doesn't sound like they're still ripping of Botch's We Are The Romans, but they're most certainly doing it well. Norma Jean's distinctly southern-influenced riffage is prevalent throughout the entirety of Meridional with both Chris Day and Scottie Henry adding technical fills to Norma Jean's signature chugging-and-breakdown style. Speaking of which, there are some gorgeously intense breakdowns on this album, most notably in their songs "The Anthem of Angry Blades" "Bastardizer" and "Blood Burner". In addition to the instrumental aspects of this album, Corey Brandan has certainly moved up as a front man. His signature screams and emotional yells still abound on Meridional, giving hints back to Norma Jean's older material, but his clean vocals shine through on particular tracks such as "Falling From The Sky: Day Seven" showcasing his Brandan's well-rounded talent. All in all, Meridional is a much better album than The Anti-Mother, and is on par with, if not better than, both Redeemer and O God The Aftermath. From the looks of things, Norma Jean won't be going anywhere soon...living on to punish metro-Atlanta, and the rest of the world, through their unique style of hardcore.

Download: http://www.mediafire.com/?tmjmezmujzd

-John

Eminem - Recovery

Eminem is nothing short of brilliant. If you don't believe me, listen to his new album Recovery. Mr. Mathers consistently displays his unmatchable talent and ingenuity on every single track of his 2010 release, even in the smallest details. For instance, everyone pretty much knows about the Chris Brown and Rhianna fiasco a couple years back, which is why it is an incredibly moving choice for Em to feature Rhianna on his track "Love The Way You Lie" - a song about domestic violence. More than that, Eminem has become more and more creative in his presentation and vocal inflection, moving from his early years of monotonous nasaly vocals to his more modern sound of changing the voice he uses to emphasize his emotions, whether its anger, sadness, remorse, etc. All in all, he's become less of just a "rapper" and more of an all around musician.
More than that, with Recovery, Eminem has recreated his image as a serious rapper, rather than living in the shadow of his "Slim Shady" persona that has gained him his fame. He made this change through the different subject matter on Recovery versus Relapse. Recovery showcases Eminem's more emotional and serious side, while Relapse was composed almost entirely of joke songs and crude humor. Relapse also was not well received by critics or the public, or even Eminem himself, as evidenced from his lyrics on Recovery in which he actually states that he realizes he made a bad album.
He did it on purpose.
Eminem intentionally produced a flop album of humor in order to recreate his image by then releasing a spectacular album of serious and emotional songs.

In any light, regardless of comparison to past albums, in Recovery Eminem has crafted a harsh, emotionally-driven, catchy, and moving album that is sure to top the Hip-Hop charts in the coming weeks.
Especially good songs: Space Bound, You're Never Over, Love The Way You Lie, No Love (Feat. Lil' Wayne)

Download: http://www.mediafire.com/?achtmfdqmt1

Foxy Shazam

"Cool shoes, bro" Two years after releasing their sophomore effort Introducing..., Foxy Shazam have returned in a big way. In April of 2010, Foxy Shazam released their first album on a major label, and successfully reinvented the blend of modern soul and rock 'n' roll. Upon first listen, the songs on Foxy Shazam can really only be described as anthemic. All of them are heavily driven by Eric Sean Nally's vocals which carry a swagger that can be likened to the late Freddie Mercury, and Sky White's broadway influenced piano playing. In fact, the entire album has a feel that is strikingly reminiscent of Queen's more memorable tunes. In fact, Foxy Shazam's single "Unstoppable" was featured in the 2010 Superbowl...how's that for something? Overall, the album is bouncy and anthemic, begging to be choreographed, and deserving of being performed in arenas around the world rather than the dive bars and small clubs that Foxy Shazam have been confined to for the past six years. Time will only tell if Foxy Shazam is going to be "the next big thing", but with this album, it's hard to believe they won't be chart-toppers soon enough.
Songs to check out: Teenage Demon Baby, Bombs Away, Oh Lord.

Download: http://www.mediafire.com/?enhfxiddynj

Ben Presley - "Wait For Me"

Ben Presley is an up-and-coming indie/folk/pop singer-songwriter out of the metro-Atlanta area, and he shows more promise than any other young artist I have heard in recent years. Given his background in musical theater, it comes as no surprise that Ben has one of the more unique and powerful set of pipes on the scene today. His voice is emotional and passionate, carrying the melody his first song released (as of yet) and seamlessly crafting beautifully heart-wrenching harmonies that are reminiscent of a southern/western flare without having the twang of typical country artists. Lyrically, Ben writes with wisdom beyond his years and flawlessly emphasizes the soulful and sensitive topics associated with his songs. In addition to his unmistakable vocal talent, Ben's guitar work effectively communicates the depth of his songs while not being overpowering - a feat not mastered by many artists in modern alternative/pop. Simply put, if you like folk music or any type of indie/acoustic...you will love Ben Presley's music. I encourage you to listen to the song posted below, and enjoy it! I sure am; I've been showing this song to all of my friends and it's actually been on repeat on my computer the entire time I've been writing this article. Listen and love.

"Wait For Me"




-John-


EDIT!!!
Ben Presley has released the official final version of "Wait For Me"
you can listen to it at www.reverbnation.com/benpresley

Graduation Day

Thank god...it's finally over.
New post tomorrow or something.

Top 8 Essential Bands/Albums for Summer

These are in no particular order, except for the order I thought of them in. Anyway, summer is pretty much finally here. Thank God. That means it's time for swimming, lake trips, going to the beach, chillin' out, maxin', relaxin' all cool, and other non-school-related things of that nature. Now, no summer drive or day of relaxation by the pool is complete without music...sure, you can listen to the wind and the people around you talking, but sometimes the new developments in the lives of soccer moms just aren't that compelling. So for that reason, I give you my list of the Top 8 Summer Bands. And albums.
Also, free download links!

Streetlight Manifesto - Streetlight is one of my favorite bands, and, in my opinion, the single best ska band on the scene today. They are one of the ultimate summer bands for sure. Ska is strategically designed to provide all the relaxation of reggae with all the fun of punk music, and all 3 of Streetlight Manifesto's original releases do just that: provide songs to be the background to a good day. They also just released a new album of covers entitled "99 Songs Of Revolution: Volume 1" which includes the single greatest cover of NoFX's hit "Linoleum" that has ever been recorded. Streetlight Manifesto is the perfect band for summer, whether you're relaxing, driving, partying or whatever.
Albums to get: "99 Songs of Revolution" "Everything Goes Numb"
Download "Everything Goes Numb": http://www.mediafire.com/?zjvyjgyxywh

Rebelution - A good friend of mine recently showed me Rebelution and I fell in love with them the first time I heard their song "Safe And Sound". Rebelution is a rock/reggae band...sort of like 311, except 311 sucks and Rebelution is great. They sing about typical topics in reggae music: God, Drugs, Love, etc. but they do it in a wonderfully poetic fashion. Overall, they're really just a very talented and extra catchy reggae band that perfectly accompanies a day at the beach or pool.
Albums to get: "Courage To Grow"

Rancid - Ahh, Rancid. Classic punk music taken from ska roots. Tim Armstrong still can't sing, but he mumbles like a champ. Rancid simply makes good music for a fun day, and many of their songs like "Journey To The End Of East Bay" are almost too fitting for a road trip soundtrack. Despite their lack of technical prowess, Rancid do what all great punk bands do: Have fun.
Albums to get: "And Out Come The Wolves"
Download "And Out Come The Wolves": http://www.mediafire.com/?zgwytnmm0ko

NOFX - Fat Mike is probably Top 100 for "Most Ridiculous People In The World" but that's what makes him so fun. NOFX have been around since 1983 and have been consistently releasing albums of fast, driven, humorous punk songs ever since. Their most recent release "Cokie The Clown" is one of the better punk ep's released in recent years, though Fat Mike's appearance as Cokie at SXSW didn't go over too well this past year. But that's because he's an idiot sometimes. Regardless of his intelligence, Fat Mike and the rest of NOFX have been releasing great albums which will fit in perfectly at your summer party/bbq.
Albums to get: "Coaster" "So Long and Thanks For All The Shoes"

All Time Low - All Time Low makes pop punk music about partying. I'm pretty sure that's enough of a description as to why they would be on this list.
Albums to get: "Nothing Personal"


Blink 182 - Blink 182 are the classic summer band. They were on some of the first Warped Tours and almost all of their music advocates some kind of partying or romance or something of the sort, all of which are topics frequently associated with summer. Also, as I'm sure you can tell by now, I really like pop/punk music in summer time. Deal with it.
Albums to get (though you probably already have them): "Cheshire Cat" "Dude Ranch" "The Mark, Tom, and Travis Show"
Download "Cheshire Cat": http://www.mediafire.com/?msxbeugt5dv

Shwayze - Hey, here's a change of pace. Shwayze is a hip-hop artist who frequently works with Cisco Adler to make some really smooth hip-hop over a caribbean/reggae influenced instrumental section. Honestly, if you can't listen to Shwayze's songs "Buzzin'" and "Corona and Lime" and be relaxed, you need to be in therapy right now.
Albums to get: "Shwayze"
Download "Shwayze": http://www.filestube.com/77a78c885022f4e103e9/go.html

Travie McCoy - Travie is the singer from Gym Class Heroes, and is actually set to release his first solo album "Lazarus" this June. Only one track has been released so far ("Billionaire" featuring Bruno Mars), but if it's any indication of how the rest of the album will sound, then I have a feeling that "Lazarus" will be on constant rotation for the next few months.
Albums to get: "Lazarus" (Or the "Billionaire" single)
Download Travie's single "Billionaire": http://www.mediafire.com/?m1lmwwjmmow


Well there you go. Enjoy, and have a good summer!

-John-

Jeremy Schwartz

Now, this entry is not about the Jeremy Schwartz that was on that one episode of "Rescue Me" (Great show, by the way) so if you were looking for him, you're going to be sorely disappointed. Though I can not imagine you looking for THAT Jeremy Schwartz...I mean, come on; I IMDB'd that guy and he's done nothing. But if you really want me to then I'll write about him at some point.
Anyway, this particular entry is about Jeremy Schwartz, ex-guitarist/songwriter for Massachusetts based Hardcore/Metalcore band Ice Nine Kills. Those of you who know me know that I am a huge Ice Nine Kills fan, however after hearing their newest songs on their myspace (new album out this summer), I must say that they have declined since the unexplained departure of Mr. J Schwartz.

So that sucks.

On the other hand, after some research, I discovered that Jeremy has recently been doing some solo recording of his own. It's not old Ice Nine Kills...in fact, there's very little that could even resemble or be compared to hardcore music. But, Jeremy proves that he is an amazing songwriter by experimenting with an indie/classic metal feel as well as some of his trademark emo acoustic songs.

Oh, also, almost all of his songs are about sex or heartbreak. Or both. So I guess if you're into that...yeah.

Unfortunately, he hasn't released a solo album (yet) but I can only hope that he is in the process of creating one for all of us. In the meantime, I will provide you with the link to his myspace, which is the only place that you can listen to his songs so far (well, two of the newest ones at least).

http://www.myspace.com/jeremyink

Enjoy Everyone!

-John-

As Per Request

Okay, so this isn't so much a review as a simple advertisement/download link. If you have not yet heard of melodic hardcore band Batten Down Your Heart...you will very soon. Each member is great at what they do, and their music comes together so smoothly that, even though the individual parts aren't technically challenging, it sounds as though each musician is a virtuoso in their own right. Watch out, 'cause this band is going to blow up on the scene very soon.
Here's a download link for their appeal to the masses: A cover of "Replay" by Iyaz.

I confess, I actually love this song.

http://www.mediafire.com/?zyj3nzvjhmn


Good day!

Short Post...

So, I love Manchester Orchestra. I really want to be able to do a review of them...but they haven't put out anything new in almost a year. Therefore, I will leave you with the video that made me fall in love with them: Manchester Orchestra with Brand New and Kevin Devine playing "Where Have You Been" live...One of the best performances ever.

Minus The Bear - Omni

Minus The Bear has been a regular part of my listening rotation since my brother showed me their music back when they released "Menos El Oso" five years ago, and since then they have been a band that seems determined to break all genre boundaries. Minus The Bear seamlessly have been encompassing all that the indie-experimental/pop/dance genre has to offer for years now, so I had very high expectations leading up to their most recent release Omni. I will tell you right now, Omni does not disappoint in the least. Vocalist Jake Snider brings his A-game throughout all ten tracks on Omni, and both he and lead guitarist Dave Knudson (Ex-Botch...I know right?) keep the spacy-yet-catchy vibe flowing nonstop. Knudson impresses as always with his use of two-handed tapping, but also embraces the listener with his ability to create melody out of obscurity. Erin Tate provides a solid beat on every track, flawlessly commanding control over some of Minus The Bear's most syncopated melodies yet, constantly aware of where the time is and never slipping up once. Not to mention, he's pretty creative at what he does. Overall, every musician has their moment to shine on Omni, and none of them disappoint.

I won't go in depth over every song this time, but I'll highlight some of my favorite tracks within the full track list.

1. My Time - an amazing opening to the album...full of energy and creativity. Vocals melodies will be stuck in your head for days, I promise.
2. Summer Angel
3. Secret Country - One of the funkiest songs Minus The Bear has ever released...Great arrangement and very interesting beat driving the entire song.
4. Hold Me Down
5. Excuses - Simply flawless.
6. The Thief
7. Into The Mirror
8. Animal Backwards - Really their first time experimenting with an entirely electronic style...Almost reminiscent of modern House music.
9. Dayglow Vista Road
10. Fooled By The Night


Download Minus The Bear's 2010 release Omni right now!
http://www.mediafire.com/?njhjnzzzioo

Not sure what I will review next! Consider the suggestion box open.

Top 8 Hardcore Bands You Haven't Heard (But Need To)

8. Miss May I: Now, some of you may have actually heard of Ohio's own Miss May I before, which is why I decided to start the list with them...Also, they're sort of more "metalcore" than "hardcore" if you get what I'm saying. Anyway, Miss May I's claim to underground fame is their spectacular cover of "Swing" by Savage. They successfully manage to take a fairly awful club tune and turn it into something that even the most seasoned metal vets would call heavy (not sludge metal heavy, but heavy). That same idea, creating undeniably heavy music and having a good time has translated into their 2009 release "Apologies Are For The Weak", a very satisfying metalcore album to say the least. Pick it up. I dare you. You may not know about Miss May I now, but since they begin a nationwide United States tour with The Devil Wears Prada on June 28, 2010, something is telling me you'll be hearing a lot about them soon.

7. Ice Nine Kills: Ice Nine Kills has been around for quite awhile now in various forms. They began as a pop/punk/ska band back when all of the members were still in high school, then moved upward and onward and released the post-hardcore album "Last Chance To Make Amends" which gained them a bit of recognition on the underground emo circuit. However, their latest release "The Burning" is what got me hooked. "The Burning" was released a couple years ago and really documents the growth of INK and showcases each musician for the talents they possess. The guitarist's riffs are extraordinarily melodic while simultaneously highlighting the technical prowess of the young band's writing style, the drummer provides flawless time keeping abilities even through very odd syncopated rhythms and time signature changes, and the two vocalists in Ice Nine Kills seem to be locked in a constant battle for supremacy as both constantly compete for who has the better scream or growl and who's clean vocals can provide the soaring melodies that give them their unique edge over many bands on the scene today. The amazing thing to me is also that this album, "The Burning", is so heavy yet does not contain a single breakdown like the other cookie-cutter hardcore bands wearing extreme v-neck shirts. Also, Ice Nine Kills have recently finished recording their follow up to "The Burning" to be released sometime this summer; I will be reviewing it once it's released, so keep an eye out for that.

6. A Hero A Fake: A Hero A Fake is the next Between The Buried And Me. On their debut album "Volatile" A Hero A Fake showed the underground world (or at least the ones who searched for them) exactly what the definition of "heavy" is. They paired immense breakdowns with extraordinarily technical fretwork by all three guitarists, as well as some of the more well-thought-out lyrics present in any hardcore band today. Not to mention, they actually showcased their gifted bassist instead of forcing him to hide behind the guitarists, unlike most metalcore/hardcore bands. They followed up "Volatile" with this year's "Let Oceans Lie" which only raised the bar for this group. The musical aspects of AHAF remained mostly untouched from "Volatile", but the main difference is in the vocals. On "Volatile" there is very little clean singing, and to be honest, their screamer is quite abrasive and monotonous at times - bad combo. However, on "Let Oceans Lie" A Hero A Fake have reinvented their vocal style to create some of the most spectacular contrasts between clean vocals that would have Puccini crying at their beauty (Puccini was an Italian opera composer, look him up), and punishing growls/screams that force the listener to feel the emotions that the vocalist wants them to feel. Great band, hopefully going to blow up soon.

5. Psyopus: I am hesitant to even put Psyopus on this list because Psyopus is a genre in itself. They can not be called hardcore, but they can't be called anything else. I will call them Avant-Garde Metal for the purposes of this article, and I will include them regardless of your opposition, thank you very much. Psyopus is crazy. They change time signatures roughly every measure, switch between metal and jazz, start and stop at random intervals, and seem to speed up and slow down at will. That being said, Chris "Arpmandude" Arp is certainly the most technically-gifted guitarist on the (read: any) scene today. I simply can not describe Psyopus' sound, because their sound is indescribable. All I can do is tell you to listen to them. Which I will do. Listen to them.

4. The Color Morale: I first heard of The Color Morale this past March when I heard they were touring in support of The Chariot. I checked out their music prior to the show and quite frankly, I was blown away. They have the potential to become huge in the hardcore world. Their vocalists are nothing short of amazing with one providing highly emotional screams while the other provides soulful clean vocals akin to "Emarosa"'s Jonny Craig. Their release "We All Have Demons" is not as technical as the other bands I have described in this article, but it is one of the most powerfully unrelenting albums I have heard in a long time. The guitarists rarely steal the spotlight and are mostly used for texture while the vocals take the foreground. Another amazing staple of this band is their drummer, Steve Carey. Since I play drums myself, I am keen to listen to what the drums are doing in any given song, and Steve blew me away with his complex rhythms and undeniable ability being presented throughout the album, while never overplaying and forcing himself to be the center of attention. Brilliant band, that's for sure.

3. The Chariot: Josh Scogin is sort of the hometown hero in Atlanta, having created both Norma Jean and The Chariot. Yet, I'm always surprised when I mention The Chariot to people, even some from the area, and they stare at me dumbfounded or ask "Isn't that a Gavin DeGraw song?" The Chariot are the single most intense band on the scene...and they're Christian. No clean vocals at any time. Stop/Start breakdowns and riffs. "Noise Experimentation." Giant beards. Simply put, structured chaos. The Chariot have been described as being "an acquired taste...like red wine" and I couldn't agree with anything more. When I first heard their music, I laughed. I didn't really fall in love with The Chariot until I saw them live. It was in the middle of their set (opening for Norma Jean and Horse: The Band) that I realized that their music isn't about the presence of melody and harmony. It is about conveying an experience to the listener. The reasoning behind their structural obscurity is that they want to force their fans to feel what it is like to have their lives cast into chaos and then brought back to a stable state. And The Chariot succeeds.

2. Asking Alexandria: I only very recently discovered Asking Alexandria and I really wish I had known about them earlier. Asking Alexandria is definitely one of the best underground hardcore bands, hands down. Their music features heavy breakdowns, intricate guitars, and emotionally-driven vocals, the combination of which results in a whole lot of fun. At times, their music may become slightly predictable, but it's in a way that makes you laugh and go "ah, damn I'm glad they did that there!" One of the more unique features in Asking Alexandria is their incorporation of electronic music in their songs, which creates a very interesting contrast in the sudden shift from hardcore to house music, only to have the listener caught in a swirling crescendo that forcefully throws them back into a punishing breakdown. Each song is beautifully orchestrated and tends to feature not only the standard hardcore regimen (guitars, bass, drums, vocals) but the occasional synthesizer, piano, violin, marching snares, and more. To put it simply, Asking Alexandria's debut album "Stand Up And Scream" is a must have for any hardcore fan.

1. We Came As Romans: Ahh, We Came As Romans. Every single member of We Came As Romans is flawless at what they do. Kyle Pavone's clean vocals sweep the listener away and carry them on a ride as he presents WCAR's "non-christian" positive messages of love...through brutality. The screams are emotional, the growls guttural, the music technical, the hooks memorable. This album will have you singing (or screaming) along for weeks after you hear it. I wish I could say more about We Came As Romans and their first full-length album "To Plant A Seed" but I think it's safer to just let their music do the talking for them. A good pair of noise canceling headphones is recommended upon first listen. Enjoy, everyone!

AAAANNNNDDDDDD for all of you who read this, I am not yet including download links (unfortunately) but I will provide some links to a few youtube videos or sites where you can hear these bands.

Miss May I, "Forgive and Forget" : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X0046oaHfQ
Ice Nine Kills, "The Greatest Story Ever Told" : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QB2bQJBXX6o
A Hero A Fake, "Let Oceans Lie" : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPmbBurFiWA
Psyopus, "Whore Meet Liar" : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLT6IdX1rhw
The Color Morale, "Humannequin" : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP7MZuOCOwc
The Chariot, "Daggers" : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K05weZYExPU&a=dmZprWuGUDI&playnext_from=ML
also The Chariot *Live*, "The Deaf Policeman" : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5gsD30l47w
Asking Alexandria, "The Final Episode (Let's Change The Channel)" : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLQBebfEXpc
We Came As Romans, "Roads That Don't End And Views That Never Cease" : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNkvaTy7JLI


Enjoy everyone. New review sometime soon.

-Edit!- DOWNLOAD LINK YAYAYAYAYA!

Asking Alexandria "Stand Up And Scream"
http://www.mediafire.com/?fnoyjhz5nmy

Sorry

Wow, I have been very busy as of late...and even though no one reads this, if there is one person who has ever checked back to see if I've updated and I haven't, I'm very sorry. But I'm getting back on the ball, okay? Soon enough, more reviews and columns.

Up next: The Top 10 Hardcore Bands You Haven't Heard (But Need To)

Envy On The Coast - Lowcountry

Finally.

After many long months of waiting, Long Island based Envy On The Coast released their sophomore effort Lowcountry, originally slated for release in August 2009. Upon first listen, I must say to all other bands: This is what a sophomore album should sound like. I am blown away by the progress this band has made in the years between Lucy Gray and Lowcountry. Now, I have been a huge fan of Lucy Gray since I first listened to it in 2007, but Lowcountry has taken what EOTC established three years ago and expanded on it monumentally. Ryan Hunter's emotionally charged vocals have been improved on tenfold in the past years, and backup vocalist/guitarist/keyboardist Sal Bossio lays down some very creative guitar work on this album while still remaining a stone wall in the realm of backing vocals and harmony.

The first track on the album, "Death March On Two, Ready?" sets the precedent for the rest of Lowcountry; clean guitars with a southern twang that suddenly explode into a beautiful wall of sonic pleasure. Ryan Hunter's vocals on this song are frightfully reminiscent of Brand New's Jesse Lacey, circa The Devil and God Are Raging Inside of Me, and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible.

Next, the band gets straight up dirty on the song "The Devil's Tongue" featuring distorted bass lines, and Hunter's ever-present and soulful vocals pounding the listener into obedience with all that he preaches. This song actually showcases one of EOTC's most interesting steps forward - the interesting use of screaming in conjunction with clean vocals, but not in the modern metalcore sense; they manage to keep the mix unique to their own style.

Subsequently, the album keeps the listener on edge with the single "Head First Into The Water" in which Hunter investigates his own life as a touring musician and his metaphorical rebirth and baptism that he's experienced in recent years. Unbelievably catchy song, ambient guitar work, clean vocals, and EOTC's ever-present rhythmic section showing off just what they can do.

Following the single, EOTC slows things down a bit with their old-western-town standoff song "Puritan Dirt Song" which, I can honestly say, is the only song that makes me want to be called to a shootout at high noon, following a lengthy bar fight. Beautifully crafted song. Also, the chorus features an electric organ synth, typical of reggae, which adds very interesting depth to the instrumentation.

The next track, "Laugh Ourselves To Death" has one of the more interesting rhythm section intros/features of any song I've heard in a few years. Great vocals as always; very memorable, very catchy.

"The Great American T-Shirt Racket" is a very interesting song and one of the more lyrically critical-of-society-and-materialism on the entire album, featuring lines such as "Now I have a t-shirt to go with my scars." The band experiments with a slower, more relaxed, very chill tempo on this song, which gives the verses a pretty cool feel and provides the song with some individuality.

"Southern Comfort" is one of my favorite songs on the album. Listen to it and you'll know why. Very interesting sampling to start the song, brilliant instrumental introduction, perfection all around. Great lyrics as well.

"*" is a pretty useless track that subjects the listener to about 40 seconds of listening to someone's answering machine. For the life of me, I can't figure out why they put it on the album.

"Like I Do" follows "*" and has some of the most incredible lyrics on the album. One of the most emotional songs on the album, largely due to the incredible vocal contrast between Ryan and Sal and the harmonies between them as well.

"Numb" is up next, and is reminiscent of the first few tracks on the album. Another one of my favorite tracks on the album...spectacular vocal work once again, but I imagine you're getting tired of hearing that, aren't you? Oh well, suck it up.

"Made of Stone" is essentially the album's "acoustic-song-by-a-heavier-band" as is common on many released these days. It stands out from the crowd, however, with it's southern twang and seamless performance quality that really showcases how well-rounded all of the musicians in Envy On The Coast are.

"Clean of You" has one of the most abrasive, yet spectacularly captivating choruses of any song that I've heard lately, which is an awesome quality for songs to have. Or maybe that's just my opinion, whatever. Either way, it's a great song, with a pretty sweet hidden track at the end (titled "Just South of Heaven") which ends the album on a high note and leaves the listener thoroughly satisfied.

Overall: 8.7/10

So there you go, that's my review of Envy On The Coast's new release Lowcountry, in stores and online now. Go buy it, you won't regret it! (I'd recommend the Deluxe Version, seeing as it comes with 4 bonus tracks that are all pretty good)
New review coming in the next few days, hopefully, but I'm headed to the beach on Saturday, so we'll see how that goes I guess.

-John

EDIT: Wow, okay, so I'm never going to do a song-by-song analysis of an album again unless people really want one, because that ended up being such a long review. I applaud you if you made it to the end.

Oh, I'm Blogging?

Who wants some album and concert reviews, as well as humorous rants and my own opinions on things? I think a better question is...who doesn't?

Mind you, the main focus will be album and concert reviews, just sayin'.


-John