Dakota/Dakota

Dakota/Dakota - Shoot In The Dark + (2010)

Believe it or not before there was Russian Circles, there was this band. At first listen one would think these guys would be a Don Caballero project, especially from looking at the obscure song titles, but as it turns out this was the math rock band that Mike Sullivan and Colin DeKuiper of RC were in before taking on a somewhat different and much more metal whack at instrumental music. This is Dakota/Dakota.

Before disbanding in 2004, Dakota/Dakota had released their debut album, Shoot In The Dark out into the underground music world. The album is very reminiscent of Caballero, Piglet, Cinemechanica, and Volta Do Mar music of the early 00's, but without ever sounding too much like a clone of any of those bands in particular. From what it seems, Dakota/Dakota were just playing around with instruments and making them do some pretty off-tempo and cool sounding nonsense and eventually one day someone said, "the hell with this, let's stop fucking with the melody". Thus, Russian Circles was born. I can't say I blame them if any bit of this is true or if I'm completely off, but these folks from Chicago (not Dakota) could produce quite a melody before turning the corner and going off in the opposite direction again.

Along with Shoot In The Dark, Dakota/Dakota released a 7" of the first song on SITD with two b-sides, some loose tracks from a Redline Distribution Sampler in '04, and a split with Riddle in Steel (which was the band Dave Turncrantz drummed for before Russina Circles). All of the material that Dakota/Dakota have since been put on this album, Shoot In The Dark + and even includes a never before released D/D track.


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Monday LXXXXIV Best of 2013 part 1

Just some stuff that's not Yeezus, Reflektor, or Sunbather.

Mylets - Recton (2013)

Mylets is a one-man math rock excursion by Henry Kohen. Using the power of loop pedals and a super catchy vocal arsenal, Mylets is a simple meets complex listening experience. A must for any fan of Tera Melos, Girlfriends, Boyfrndz, Monster Machismo, or Adebisi Shank.

Favorite track: "Hungover Tehran"


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Listener - Time is a Machine (2013)

I was surprised to see that Time is a Machine did not receive much attention after the large praise that Wooden Heart got a few years back. Still, Time is a Machine is not far behind where Wooden Heart left off and will certainly hold up in time for when people really start listening again.

Favorite track: "Eyes to the ground for change"


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The World is a Beautiful Place & I am No Longer Afraid to Die - Whenever, If Ever (2013)

2013 was definitely The World is...'s biggest year to date. From the raise of the shitty "mememo" terms to someone behind Buzzfeed figuring out there's still a genre called emo and it doesn't suck, The World is... seemed to be the front runners of a cool new thing. They have a really long ridiculous name and just as ridiculous lineup, why wouldn't they be the stars of the next "emo revival" generation? Hell, maybe next year The World is... will be on SNL!

Whenever, If Ever really is a solid album though whether you wanna believe the hype or not.

Favorite Track: "Fightboat"



Serengeti - Kenny Dennis LP (2013)

Serengeti's alter ego, Kenny Dennis returned this year with a bang when the Chicago native dropped his LP on the world.  K.D.'s repetitive and sometimes incoherent rap style puts me in a hypnotic trance that makes me want to watch old NBA games and play Sonic on my aunt's Sega Genesis.

Favorite track: "Directions"

Along with Kenny Dennis's LP, Serengeti also released Saal, C.A.B. (a follow-up to C.A.R.), a single featuring a b-side about "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, and his Yoome project's (along with Renee Louise Carafice and Tony Trimm) June album.

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Russian Circles - Memorial (2013)

Russian Circles just being Russian Circles. The groovy post metal lords even throw in a little number featuring vocal duties by Chelsea Wolfe which resembles a True Widow track that never was.

Favorite track: "Memorial (Ft. Chelsea Wolfe)" and "Lebaron" (for the more traditional RC experience)



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Honorable mentions/already talked about:

Foxing - An Albatross
Toasted Plastic - June Highs
A Great Big Pile of Leaves - You're Always On My Mind
Phantom Glue - A War of Light Cones
One Hundred Year Ocean - Where Were You While We Were Getting High?
Rosetta - Anaesthete
The Reptilian - Low Health
Leveret - Infinity

So... what's left?

Monday VII - HALLOWEEEEEEEEN 2011

Happy Monday. Happy Halloween!

Black Eyes & Neckties - Apparition! (2007)

Nothing screams Halloween! like horror punk! Here's the late Black Eyes & Neckties' second album, Apparition. It's drenched in blood and splintering organ cries. They played a much more Murder City Devil's influenced type horror punk rather than the Misfits approach. Apparition and BENt reeks of B movies and sci fi flicks none the less!

RIP

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Official Site

Orchid - Chaos Is Me (1999)

Scare the neighborhood children with the sweet hardcore sounds of Orchid this Halloween. It'll make them feel uncomfortably nervous than stain their teeth.

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O'Death - Broken Hymns, Limbs and Skin (2008)

If folk had a designated season, I'd say right now would be the perfect time. I hope none of you have to crawl through snow still thanks to this lovely Snowtober business.

Hah, Hellsnoween.

O'Death isn't your average folk punk. It's more like gypsy gothic country bluegrass punk. Don't believe me? Just listen to Broken Hymns.

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Russian Circles - Empros (2011)

Not much to say about Russian Circles' new effort other than how obviously good it was going to be and is. I don't think it's a grower at all though... it fits right in.

The last track (Praise Be Man) features vox courtesy of Bassist, Brian Cook!

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Russian Circles - Station (2008)

Russian Circles has got to be one of my favorite post rock bands with a bit of that old post metal ruckus. They play the simple yet complex up and down emotions of instrumental rock roller coasters while keeping it nice and original like a rhythmic tilt-a-whirl. The band spits out much darker colors and shapes than say, Mono or Caspian, but never cruise too far into a sludge patch such as Pelican or Rosetta. Brian Cook of Botch/These Arms Are Snakes fame is also in this band which is cool if you're into name dropping...

Russian Circles - Station (2008)

Station is Russian Circles' second full-lengther and was actually Cook's first act with the band as the new bass guitar player. I honestly think that Enter, Russian Circles' debut, is just as splendid as Station. I just like the album artwork of this one better than their first. 

This is another one of those perfect albums for driving alone at night through a dark neighborhood or countryside. Away from the city. Away from society. Away from your problems...

Just drive your car into the woods, park it under a giant skeleton of an oak tree, clear your head and that gusher-like brain of yours and listen to the music. 

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Suicide Squeeze 

Be sure to check out their new album, Empros coming right around the corner or October 25th!