Monday 106

Monday is back babe-y.

Babe - Bangs (2015)

Babe were an exciting mix of styles and ideas that liked to play shows. Now they don't play shows. Get your girlcore on and listen to what they were all about with this three song sampler about the pains of falling in love, dark and stormies, and being a big ol' nymphomaniac.


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Yo Sbraito - Abbiamo Tutti Perso (2014)

Yo Sbraito are not from around here.. they are, from the name and title of this 6 song release may suggest, from Italy. Ancona, Italy to be exact. They play some pretty tight old(er) school sounding screamo reminiscent of NFT's favorite screamo bands - Daitro, raein, Sed Non Satiata, etc.


Props to these guys and Italy for keeping this whole real screamo thing alive, seriously.

Last.fm

ONSLO - ONSLO (2014)

If Weezer decided to be Tera Melos they might end up sounding like ONSLO from Bolton, Mass. Power pop meets math rock? Maybe if they came to Portland I would be able to figure it out (hint, hint).

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Safari Al - Restless (2014)

Call it art rap... call it conscious rap... whatever it may be don't call it boring. Also referred to as S.Al, Safari Al rapped his way out of Wisconsin and now is trying to make it big in Los Angeles. Keep an eye and, of course, some ears out for S. Al if you are  a fan of Milo, Busdriver, Open Mike Eagle, Atmosphere, and this whole self-awareness rap game.



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Nine of Swords

Nine of Swords - I Can't Stand My Own Face (2014)

New York's Nine of Swords are the opposite of quiet. Noise rock? Screamo? Who knows. Either way Nine of Swords don't hold back on their sophomore release, I Can't Stand My Own Face featuring six distorted and loud under-four-minute punk rock surges.

Check it out:




Be sure to also check out their new single, "Violence" if you are digging what you are hearing... and everything else by them, of course.

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Bandcamp
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Hive Bent - Dyaltov

Hive Bent - Dyaltov (2014)

Hive Bent are two individuals making noisey post hardcore punk stuff from Baltimore. Their new album, Dyatlov is an excellent source of your daily recommended noise with a touch of angst for added healing power. Plus, it's completely organic with none of the filler so its gotta be good, right?

But in all seriousness, this is some damn good noise rock. Maybe this duo will stop by sometime to play with the noisey punks that are all about sticking it to the man in the 207 area. Until then, here's Dyatlov:




Similar acts/sounds: Speedy Ortiz, Ovlov, Roomrunner, Pile, Vulture Shit, Margy Pepper, Multicult, Screaming Females, etc.

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Monday LXXXX

Getting there.

Atalanta - Tainted (2013)

Very passionate and soul-gripping screamo. From the streets of Chicago and beyond.



Almost a little sludgy even.

Last.fm

Future Death - Future Death (2013)

Future Death is my answer to a new Zach Hill project minus Zach Hill. With spastic drums, blazing guitar riffs and  distorted female vocals, Future Death are mashing all sorts of sounds together and making it work. It's awesome!



For fans of Hella, Marnie Stern, Lightning Bolt, Caddywhompus, or Tera Melos.

Last.fm

CUSS - Heavenly (2013)

Incredible new release from Jesus Lizard-like Portland, Maine noise rock outfit, CUSS. Heavenly is a bit more refined than their previous releases recording-wise as well as musically-wise now that they have An Anderson guitarist, Dan Smith on beautiful Slint guitar duty to add a little melody to the madness. Since I'm a better listener than a writer I would definitely recommend checking out the review of Heavenly in the Portland Press Herald with some kind words and an appropriate star rating (pronounced stah ratin', of course) for a local news paper judging a "noise rock" band. Just check it out.


Also, CUSS are playing a show real soon at Matthew's in Portland, but Alex their singer won't be there. They're still going to be playing but ask that if anyone wants to sing their songs step up and sing along with them.

Last.fm

Monday LXXVII

Yep.

Ginger Alford - Into the Void (2013)

Ginger Alford (Good Luck/Traveling/One Reason) recently went on tour in Europe. She brought these tracks with her:



Last.fm

Feuding Fathers - Trust Me I'm a Father (2012)

Dizzy math rock featuring the bassist of Boyfrndz along with members of We the Granada (guitar) and Daytes (drums).



Last.fm

Cayetana - Demo (2012)

Grrrl punx from Philly. Seems like any new music I find is from the Philadelphia/Pennsylvania area these days.



I'm not complaining.

DL it for free via If You Make It, a great site for finding new things from Philly.

Last.fm

Monday LXXVI

La Luna - La Luna (2013)

La Luna are a female fronted hardcore band from Calgary with a burst of violence and despair in every bite.

La Luna are also the band formerly known as Brain Fever, one of the first bands that I ever posted on a Monday post. This self titled album is actually a remixed and remastered version of said band's release from 2012.

Now they have the same name as an Indonesian easy-listening retro pop band.



Last.fm

Snail Party - Toppled Propane Glory (2013)

Snail Party is the full band of Mogli and friends from Halifax. They play all those really fun folk instruments like banjos and saws...



Last.fm

1994! - FUCK IT (2013)

1994!'s new album, FUCK IT is the nosiest noise post hardcore and math rock clusterfest ever to be recorded on an iPhone using a shitty microphone.

Despite being recorded on shit equipment in such low quality as it is, their bandcamp recommends that you not listen to the album using your crappy Macbook speakers...



Bandcamp
Last.fm

Monday 69

Hah.

RAGANA - All's Lost (2012)

This is Olympia, Washington RAGANA's first release, entitled, All's Lost. It features the same intense witchy black metal that their new album, Unbecoming has. Personally though, I just listen to both albums, starting with this one, back to back. Nonstop. Every night.



Last.fm

Billy Carr - Family Planning? (2013)

No album artwork yet!

Billy Carr is the solo project of William B. Carr formerly of The Waldos.

Billy sings and plays guitar in a very different way; a different but cool and refreshingly new way. I recently saw Billy play some of these songs at The Butcher Boy/Speaker for the Dead show at Mayo Street Arts in Portland with Peter McLaughlin accompanying him on drums, and while it seemed a bit overwhelming in the electric setting they were performing at, I really do enjoy these songs the way they are recorded here just with acoustic guitar and vocals. No offence to Peter (who also provides phenomenal percussion on Lady Lamb The Beekeeper's new album, Ripley Pine) what so ever, I just think that these songs make sense acoustically. At least for the time being...



I do wish there was some artwork, though.

Ooh, and I almost forgot: Billy Carr also has a doubling session with Matt Houston (formerly of Red Medicine) which is available both for streaming and downloading. It also comes with artwork! Check it out!

Last.fm

Host - There's nothing up there but heavy clouds (2012)

I'm pretty pumped to announce that Host, the dark and dreary hardcore outfit from New Hampshire who, I might add, released a very fine split with KYOTY last year will be playing in Portland this coming Sunday - which I can go to since it will kick off my spring break.

The show is being put on by the hard-working folks of Dirigimus Cooperative, which means that this show is probably in a semi-secret location somewhere or behind the train tracks somewhere. It's also being put on around 3 o'clock in the afternoon so you will still have time to make it to church!



Because fuck the police.

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Monday XXXXXXVII

That Monday where the pope quit.

Dore Mear Beon - Dore Mear Beon EP (2012)

Here's some Canadian math rock for ya. Apparently it's that sort of one man (Andrew Sagriff) math rock stuff which always makes me wonder if it's naturally done or with the help of fancy technically and newfangled computer magic. However it's created though, it still sounds great and right up my alley.

Track 2 features a sample from Richard Linklater's philosophical talky film, Waking Life. You know, that kind of talky film where you feel really smart afterwards and totally better than anyone else who hasn't seen it before.


Last.fm

Tawny Peaks - Tawny Peaks (2012)

I'm a bit surprised I haven't shared these guys before seeing how long I've been holding on to this self-title and such.

Recently, I rediscovered these guys on Spotify no less and have been getting to know their music a lot more than before. So here they are now!

Tawny Peaks play twinkly, sometimes acoustic - sometimes electric, sometimes male vocals - sometimes female vocals - sometimes both, emotional  music out of New Jersey.



Last.fm


Real Kind - Hard Red Winter (sketches) (2012)

Real Kind is the warm and fuzzy-feel moniker of Marissa Owens from Portland, Maine when she plays warm and fuzzy music.

A good friend of mine suggested I give Real Kind and her album Hard Red Winter a try - I did and it was a perfect accompaniment to my loner weekend stuck in Northern Maine thanks to that little snow storm we had. Ironically however, a folk show that I was invited to in Portland this weekend that was canceled due to Nemo, included... that's right... Marissa Owens!



This version of Hard Red Winter is just a "sketch" of what the real thing will sound like when it is officially released this April. Or maybe this is just an April Fools Day joke because this album is already perfect the way it is.

Whatever happens though, you'll be sure to hear about it right here on NFT.

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NFT's Got You Covered - RSO tackles Flippers' Generic Album!

RSO - Generic (2013)

Filthy blues crust, RSO takes on Flipper's punk rock essential, Album - Generic Flipper or just Generic.

I had the interesting pleasure of seeing RSO play a show in a dirty warehouse behind the train station about a half a year back and was very surprised to find that "RSO" was just one guy who stands on a platform, wails on his guitar, shouts bloody none sense, and stomps all the while wearing a tuxedo. I'm not sure if this is always RSO or the rest of the band just couldn't find the warehouse's coordinates but I thoroughly enjoyed his performance none the less... my girlfriend on the other hand, not so much.

Truthfully, this guy in the tuxedo and the uncontrollable erg to play blues and stomp as hard as he can is actually Ryan Owens, formerly of New Jersey but now residing in good ol' Maine.

RSO (I'm guessing those are his initials?)'s money rendition of Generic also comes with a double take of "Living For The Depression" and a few live renditions as well.



My only question now: where is "Sex Bomb"?

Official site
Dirigimus Cooperative
Facebook
Last.fm

Bonus:

Correspondences - Christmas // Devil Town (2012)

Correspondences of Portland, Maine released this 7 1/2" at their farewell show back in November... Without me knowing, of course.

It's got two tracks, an original number called, "Christmas (Baby, Please Don't Go)" and "Devil Town" - a doom rendition of Daniel Johnston's haunting a capella about the struggles of living in a devil town with vampires as friends that you didn't know were vampires.




So yeah, it's pretty great!

I'm guessing this album is labeled Lee as in the drummer, Lee King. I'm almost positive it's all Correspondences, though.

Anyways, enjoy!

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Monday XXXXXXVI

More boring and less hyped than MBV and the Super Bowl commercials combined, It's Monday #66!

RAGANA - Unbecoming (2013)

RAGANA is a witchy guitar/drums post black metal/doom band from Olympia, Washington.

These ladies should come play a show with Correspondences, Portland's residential all-female cello-driven doom act. 

That'd be fun.

Oh wait, too bad Correspondences broke up...

Anyways, this is RAGANA's new release, Unbecoming. It is followed by another nice album, All's Lost - released last June.

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Mumblr - White Jesus EP (2012)

I'm having a hard time defining what Mumblr from Philly sound like other than funky, fun indie rock.

That sounds totally lame, I know, but it's all I think of when I listen to them and their release from last October, entitled, White Jesus.



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An Anderson - 2 Song Sampler (2013)

Out of the ashes of Red Medicine (super gnarly Portland/Farmington math-y post punk whatever) comes an all new and totally too-good-for-their-own-good band called, An Anderson (Featuring Red Med's Dan Smith) - not to be confused with Arn Anderson, the Four Horseman enforcer who always had the back of Ric Flair and was one hell of a tag team competitor.

I'm not sure where the name of origin An Anderson comes from really but maybe one of the members: Ron Harrity, Dan Smith, Stefan Hanson, or Elijah True can.

It feels just like yesterday Red Medicine called it quits and played their super good last show with CUSS and Captain Hollow. Now all of the sudden Dan Smith's new band, this one right here, is already recording stuff. Granted, it's just a demo, but it's a pretty impressive demo, no doubt. Despite being called a "2 Song Sampler", this sampler actually has 3 tracks. And despite it being called a "rough demo", this demo is actually not that rough. It's good enough for me!



I can't wait to hear more from An Anderson in the future, though.

Stay tuned in for more on these guys right here for sure!

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RVIVR's Erica Freas' New Solo Album, Belly

While I wait patiently for the new RVIVR album, which was originally going to be released last fall but then their shit got stolen and all that, there is still always Erica Freas's new solo release to be listened to:

Erica Freas - Belly (2012)

This snazzy  new solo effort by Erica is filled with material from all over. While most of the tracks are original pieces, some songs like "Gamma" (an adaption of RVIVR's "Grandma") or "Spider Song" (an acoustic version of a song off the new RVIVR album) come from other places. The song "Belly" is also played on Erica's first solo one-take session, 'Help is in the Hair' from 2007 as well.



It's possible there are also some reused tracks from another band that Erica is in called Lightnin' Round. I've only ever heard their 2010 material so I'm pretty much in the dark about which song(s) come from that project.

Bonus:

RVIVR as a whole also have a very interesting music video for the more electrified "Spider Song" which is taken from the puppet-induced green screen short film, Bye Bye Burdy 2... the sequel to the first Bye Bye Burdy, of course...

I don't want to give anything away, but Erica plays the really cool Frost Queen who restores The Joester to his normal size with the help of the Old Spider Woman.

Oops, I gave it away.

Rumbletowne Records
RVIVR's Blog
Bandcamp
Last.fm

Beast 0f 2012 part deux

Long overdue.

My apologies.

Chalk Talk - Bad Influence EP (2012)

Toast you brain 'cause toast tastes good.

Highlights: Every song except for the stupidly named intro. Thanks guys!



Sex Cave Records
Official page
Last.fm

Hop Along - Get Disowned (2012)

There are some parents whose children long for divorce.

Highlights: "Tibetan Pop Stars", Diamond Mine", "Laments", "Trouble Found Me", and "Young and Happy! "

So pretty much every song...



Official page
Last.fm

KYOTY - Undiscovered Country of Old Death and Strange Years in the Frightful Past (2012)

Highlights: "14", "08", "12", and "15"



Tokyo Jupiter Records
Official page
Last.fm

Wreck and Reference - No Youth (2012)

Highlights: "Spectrum", "Nausea", "Cannot", and "Winter"


Flenser Records
Bandcamp
Last.fm

Monday XXXXXVIII

Despite lots of hip places/sites/magazines posting their best-of lists and stuff, I am waiting until after the holidays just as I did last year.

For those who can't wait though, here are some honorary mentions:

Adventures - Adventures 7" (2012)

Adventures is the name of the Reba Meyers-fronted Code Orange Kids side project. It's really good. Like really really good. 

"Like Seed" is currently my favorite track from this four track 7incher. 

Reba has an awesome singing voice that is both rough and smooth. I would have to say, out of the female fronted releases that came out this year i.e. Traveling, Slingshot Dakota, Lemuria, Cerce and Hop Along, Reba and Adventures takes the cake. That's definitely saying something.

Last.fm (scrobbles to "The" Adventues... watch out!)

The Devil and a Penny - C. (2012)

The Devil and a Penny were so impressive when I saw them last spring. So impressive that I can't get over how much different they sounded live than they do on their recordings. That energy and catchiness I heard live is not captured the same way here on 'C.'. It's a gift and a curse that I saw them I guess. None the less, I must give this album an honorary mention and a high recommendation. They deserve it!

Last.fm

The Guru - Go Easy (2012)

I feel bad that I haven't given The Guru's new release, 'Go Easy' a proper review of its own, (it was high up there on my agenda too) but with finals coming up and all that nonesense, I must place it here for now. 

The Guru had a tough task of following up with another album after releasing the super catchy and fun magic-carpet-ride-on-fire, 'Native Sun' just last year, but 'Go Easy' is still a stellar sophomore album. Is it as good as 'Native Sun'? Ehh maybe - maybe not - but that's not really what's important. What's important is that they still have that disco-rock-whatever sound that got me interested in their sound to began with and tried a little less to sound just like Modest Mouse. Don't get me wrong, I'm actually a fan of Modest Mouse... It's just, these guys aren't Modest Mouse... They're The Guru. And I believe this album really shows that they aren't just being a Modest Mouse-sounding band, they are a band making their own catchy music that is very much their own. 

...And fun!

I was also meaning to mention that these guys were giving both 'Native Sun' and 'Go Easy' away for free this weekend but by the time I found out, it was just too late. Sorry about that...

Last.fm (avaliable for scrobbling on Spotify under "Guru"...)


Stay tuned for more honorary mentions coming soon.

Monday XXXXVIII

Oh yeah, for sure.

Dikembe - Broad Shoulders (2012)

New Dikembe is not to be eff'd with. Just really good and honest stuff!

Seriously, dude.

Bandcamp
Last.fm

LEANN GRIMES - I'm Not Too Skinny (2012)

LEANN GRIMES A.K.A. Shane Conerty is back with an all new stack of indie rock jams that have been chopped up and turned into something super catchy and actually fun to listen to again. And while I wasn't all that excited when I saw what was on the cutting room floor for original tracks, I was once again impressed by the way they have been re-arranged in bumpy, sample-happy GRIMES fashion! Notable acts like Beirut, Man Man, St. Vincent, and Destroyer all get the treatment along with many other bands I don't normally listen to or have heard of yet, which is really Conerty's whole point of this project; to get people interested in these bands and support them. I on the other hand, would rather just support him. Keep doing what you're doing, Shane Conerty!

Last.fm

Speedy Ortiz - Sports EP (2012)

Some more new(ish) stuff.

Sports!

Bandcamp
Last.fm

Why? - Sod in the Seeds EP (2012)

Oh, and speaking of new.... Yoni & the gang have a new EP out called, Sod in the Seeds. It's free here but probably only for a limited time so grab it while it's still there! If you like earlier Why? stuff and not so much the last record, Eskimo Snow, I really think you should check it out! Quick! GOOOOOOOO!

Last.fm

Monday XXXVI

Instagramed for more likes.

Hold Tight! - Call The Zoo (2011)

Lego pop punk from Richmond, Virginia. Every song is under a minute and stuff.

Death To False Records
Last.fm

Rainbow Tornado - Fancy Cookies (2007)

Twinkly emo with goofy lyrics/vox. They were originally called Oh My God Elephant but switched to Rainbow Tornado, released Fancy Cookies, and then called it quits. Members went on to form Clarissa Explains It All (the awesome band not the awesome show), tussin, Hawkward, and do dnt spk. If you like this, you'll absolutely like (or love, if that's what you're into) Clarissa Explains It All and/or vice-versa.

Are You For Spiritual?
Last.fm

Weekend Nachos - Worthless (2011)

There's not a lot I can say about this one that other blogs haven't already said.... so I won't. I remember giving these guys a listen a while back before the release of Worthless last year and I distinctively remember them being quite the grindcore outfit. The more I listen to them now though, I can also hear the hardcore and 'powerviolent' sounds that their music displays. Worthless however, is much more on the hardcore driven side of things (not that grindcore isn't a good direction) and even has people saying that it was not only the best hardcore album of the year but also "the most vitriolic hardcore album of the new millenium". I don't know about that, or even what that means, but I would have to admit that it is pretty damn good. Balls-busting good.

Bandcamp
Last.fm

Hop Along - Get Disowned (2012)

Hop Along, formerly 'Hop Along, Queen Ansleis' (the side project of singer/songwriter, Frances Quinlan), just released their first full-fledged album a couple weeks ago after two years of recording and jamming in a warehouse in Philadelphia. I don't want to scare you away by saying it's not as good as 'freshman year' but that was a masterpiece in my eyes (and ears). Get Disowned is still a super sweet treat and has all the tasty bits we heard from Frances Quinlan and her super additive and catchy vocals when it was just her but now it's not just her. AKA it has more instruments playing in the background and occasional back-up vocals, but other than that it is everything I could have asked for, no doubt. Give it a try for yourself though, please!

My favorite track as of right now would have to be, "Tibetan Pop Stars".

I would sure love to see these outstanding musicians come up to my neck of the woods to play sometime...

(sorry no DL)

Last.fm