If These Trees Could Talk

If These Trees Could Talk - If These Trees Could Talk (2006)

Many people start off their post rock experience with the one and only masters of the crescendo, Explosions in the Sky (or Godspeed You! Black Emperor if you are different). And well let's face it, Explosions are a gateway drug to wonderful things. EitS were not the first post rock band I discovered though, no, it was If These Could Talk. Not only does ITCT have a much hipper name than Explosions in the Sky, they are also a little heavier I'd say and that's what really excited me about them and kept me coming back for more. Explosions on the other hand kind of just play their feathery riffs until it picks up and they start smashing on their cymbals until you never want to see another football movie again (That's right, I'm talking about you; Friday Night Lights). If These Trees really got me into post rock and if you haven't heard of them, I suggest you check 'em out. They are a nice listen if you listen to post rock and want to just kick back and pretend your flying or something. I won't judge. Honestly though, if I hear or am in the mood for some post rock, I'll pretty much listen to any post rock band. So yeah! Post out!

(Despite my sarcastic remarks about Explosions in the Sky, I do suggest one check out their Travels in Constants tape which I may bring up later as well as their new album. I believe they may have re-earned my respect... That's right Explosions in the Sky, you re-earned my respect!)

Similar acts/sounds: Six Parts Seven, Caspian, Russian Circles, Maybeshewill & you get the picture

Last.fm
Lyrics: N/A

ZACH HILL

Zach Hill is a drummer. He's pretty good. 

Zach Hill - Astrological Straits (2008)

This will not be the last time you hear me ramble about Zach Hill. Hill drums to the beat of his own... well, drum. Spastic and noisy and, broken down, super technical is the way it sounds. Zach Hill has drummed for about a thousand bands and musicians such as Marnie Stern, Tim Kinsella, No Age, Wavves, That guy from Tera Melos, Rob Crow of Pinback, Les Claypool, and even friggin' Joanna Newsom in the straight up noise experiment known as Nervous Cop. But this, this is Astrological Straits, the first thing I ever heard from Zach Hill and even though he doesn't really like the term Math Rock, this is what got me started with the genre. Astrological Straits is probably Hill's most mainstream album as it was not only released by Mike Patton's Ipecac Records but also features artists such as Les Claypool and Marnie Stern (as I mentioned above), Chino Moreno of the Deftones (and Team Sleep which also had Zach Hill on drums), Tyler Pope of !!! and LCD Soundsystem and a key change more of kinda big name cats in the indie world I guess (if you count RX Bandits, The Advantages, The Flying Luttenbachers or No Age as big names). Well, whether or not it's got a big name and acts on the insert, it's still no radio friendly material. I remember finding this album listed in a skateboard magazine that had made a comment about how this isn't your mom's mini van music as she picks up the kids from soccer practice or something. It's lack of 4/4 was also mentioned of course. This album opened up a whole new world for me and got me really interested in Zach Hill's stuff as well as math rock and drumming in general. Hill released another solo album just this year called Face Tat and I am patiently waiting for my copy of the new Hella album Tripper in the mail right now as I write this. I'll talk more about Zach Hill and other projects related to this Sacramento, Californian that I may of missed or forgotten to mention soon enough. Anyways, here's Astrological Straits! Nuff said.

Similar acts/sounds: Hella, Tera Melos, Giraffes? Giraffes!, Marnie Stern, & other Zach Hill projects obviously

 

Bonus points for anyone who count how many times I wrote Zach Hill!

 

I - In The Beginning

To kick off this blog, I'm going to start with some pieces of work that really got me into different types of music.

Black Eyes - Black Eyes (2003)

This s/t of Washington, D.C. Dischord band really blew my brain! I found these gents while on Myspace back in the day after clicking on their page on some bands friend list or whatever. Long story short, I've forgotten the band I was looking for in the first place and ended up finding BLACK EYES! Their blend of post-punk, noise and even no wave just killed it! This band featured two drummers and two bass guitars really adds to the excitement that goes into the noise and frenzy that also includes duel vox. I used to think this band had a girl in it for some reason. hmmm.  Anyways, once I ran out and bought this album from my local compact disc store, I really began to hunt for more sounds like the ones that these men were producing.  Their second album Cough, known for being released just two months before their dimise, is just as spastic and uncontrollable. Cough either gets more attention on blogs or is disregarded because of the crazed horns that bleed through the whole album. I personally love the screaming saxophone sound and believe that every high school jazz band should take note. I once saw Cough in a record store once in the rap section and I still kick myself to this day for not buying it. Daniel McCormick and Jacob Long now play in Mi Ami. This album is a gem and will always be one of my favorite albums!

Similar acts/sounds: Mi Ami, Fugazi, Q and Not U, Teenage Jesus and The Jerks & more.

I'm 16 driving south to Baltimore

The Birth of Nostalgia For Tomorrow

Well, here it is. Another lame ass blog for music that we've seen posted a thousand different times with the same Last.fm description because no one has the time to really care. But seriously, here is a blog that I hope will not die and will show music that really brings someone some sort of joy in their life or lonesome body. I don't care if anyone reads this. IT DOESN'T BOTHER ME. I don't have time to look at everyone else's run of the mill blogs either.