Monday 104

Back to school math edition.

 Unicorn Harvest - Alan's Tutorials (2013)

Some math math from New York, New York. Check out there music video for "Alex & Tiffany" featuring the illustrious Sin Cara mask:

...and the rest of Alan's Tutorials:



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Nnamdi Ogbonnaya - Despondent (2013)

Some solid solo math stuff from Nnamdi Ogbonnaya of Illinois. When Ogbonnaya is not doing solo stuff or swag/meme-rapping he has been known to drum, do vocals or even play bass for The Para-Medics, Water Houses, Pisces at The Animal Fair, Nervous Passenger. He's even been in My Dads, Itto, and was the mastermind behind Richard Def & the Mos Pryors.

This dude's everywhere.



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Lucas Brode - prixvyou (2014)

Lucas Brode is a guitarist/composer from New York who has also played bass and many other instruments for cool New York bands such as Jerkagram and Hannibal Montana. Brode's completely solo release, prixvyou is filled with amazing guitar work ranging from math rock to jazz and worldly music. Very minimal but still quite interesting to listen to not only as a student of music.


Lucas Brode also makes meditation music which can be found on his bandcamp as well as prixvyou above.

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Monday XCVIII

It's Monday again in America.

Zefs Chasing Cara - Ultra Gown (2013)

Ultra Gown is Zefs Chasing Cara's latest release. It's a little more on the electronic side of math rock but it's noodly nevertheless. I can't say I'm a big fan of Zefs' stuff with the vocals, so this is easily my favorite release by these guys.


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Idiot Genes - Lousy (2013)

If I haven't already said that Boston is on fire right now in the music department, I'M SAYING IT RIGHT NOW; BOSTON IS ON FIRE IN ALL CAPS. I love you Maine, but man am I jonesing to see some Boston music right now. Anyways, Idiot Genes play some of that good ol' garage punk rock that kids have and will always be craving. Gotta have it.




Thought the album artwork would be pretty appropriate for Presidents' Day.

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Jerkagram - Let's Talk About Us (2014)

Jerkagram, a band I threw up here during Monday's very first weeks, have a new album of experimental instrumental and almost modern-day non-German krautrock music. There's also some singing in it, too. Check it out:



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Bonus:

Handful of Romance - a funny film by Sean Martin

My friend, Sean Martin, known by many as "John Coffee", is a freelance film guy. He's been making films of all sorts since I've known him and I've known him for pretty long. His most recent project (that I know of at least) is called Handful of Romance, a humorous sock puppet induced short that took second place at the 'Local Love Muscle Film Festival' this weekend at the Space Gallery in Portland. If you like sock puppets, bros being bros, making out, or just some good old fashion awkward humor, I think you'll get a real kick out of this video. Apparently if there's enough views it will be on the front page of Funny or Die, the website you can currently view the video at, which is pretty cool stuff!

Link: http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/3848e600a0/handful-of-romance

On a music related note, Handful of Romance was scored by another buddy of mine, no stranger to this blog either, Jesse Gertz of Leveret.

Watch, listen, and enjoy!

Monday LXXXV

Mondeep. 

Radiator Hospital - Something Wild (2013)

Radiator Hospital play quirky lo-fi indie pop for the young people... whether you're young or you're not. It's the kind of music that you listen to and remember that not everything needs to be taken seriously or make sense.

This is their summer release, Something Wild.



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Soft Skills - A Future to Remember (2013)

Soft Skills (always thought they were called "Soft Skulls") are an emo/math rock band from Portland, Oregon.

Very reminiscent of early emo bands mixed with the driving instrumentation of another Portland band, Duck. Little Brother, Duck! But I guess that shouldn't be such a surprise considering Kyle and Phil from DLBD! are also keeping time in this band. So yeah, that's pretty sweet as well.



These guys should not be confused with the Indiana band of the same name.

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So Stressed - Attracted To Open Mouths (2012)

Stomping noise rock one minute, emo punk the next. Sacramento's own, So Stressed and their indecisiveness for what kind of music to make might actually be their greatest strong point. Whatever they play next, it will probably be loud, noisy, and totally new.

Attracted To Open Mouth is one of the freshest and most interesting albums I've come across in some time. Every song takes you on its own little journey through unknown landscapes and bizarre realms without ever explaining itself or bringing you back to where you started; it's a wonderful mess.

The only problem is it leaves you wanting more...


Definitely check this out. Trust me.

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TTNG - 13.0.0.0.0.

This Town Needs Guns - 13.0.0.0.0. (2013)

TTNG have a new album.

I'm late to the game, but here it is.

Although this album features the new line-up of Henry Tremain from Pennines as Stuart Smith's replacement, Tim Collis not trying to play every note at once on the guitar, and Chris Collis playing dem drums really really god-like, 13.0.0.0.0. doesn't sound that much different from the solid albums previously released by the pioneers of math pop from Oxford, England.

And while this is very good news for TTNG fans, I'm actually kind of surprised at just how similar it sounds to Animals and their self-title. Honestly, I was expecting a shockingly new style and format from these guys now that Stuart is gone. Then again, I always complain when my favorite "math" related acts go off and try to change up their style (Tera Melos), so maybe the fact that Henry Tremain has completely nailed his role as Stuart down to a science is actually just what I wanted and should be satisfied with what I have. Right?

Why mess with perfection, anyway?

Highlights: "Cat Fantastic", "Havoc in the Forum", "I'll Take the Minute Snake", "Nice Riff, Clichard" (I love me some sea sounds), "+3 Awesomeness Repels Water", and "A Different Kind of Tall (small)"



13.0.0.0.0. still has a different sound to it now that Stuart is gone and I recommend anyone who hasn't listened yet to definitely do so. And if anyone hasn't listened to This Town Needs Guns before... listen to everything you can by them - immediately!

Well, maybe not everything. Original This Town Needs Guns (first demo) is kind of ugly step-child material that nobody really wants to talk about. You can give it a try if you want; it's really not that bad. It's just kind of, well, awkward.

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Sargent House
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Legs Like Tree Trunks

Legs Like Tree Trunks are a band out of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia that incorporate the subtle sounds of folk music with the twinkly integrity of math rock. In the little time Legs Like Tree Trunks have been formed and ready as a band, they have released two EPs, 'Future Reference' being the new one, and a demonstration tape filled with outtakes, remixes and live cuts. LLTT also recently recorded a set for Daytrotter. But you can only listen to if you are a member; a paying member.

I bet it sounds great though!

Future Reference (2012)

Favorite track: "Anchorage"

Fun fact: Guitarist and vox man, Matt Holden is the older brother to Jake Holden of Little Kingdoms and Little Pirouettes. 

Legs Like Tree Trunks EP (2011)

Favorite track: "Winter"


Also, I wasn't going to mention it but it's unavoidable -so sorry if I'm beating a dead horse here - but if you miss the old math-y side of Maps & Atlases, you'll most likely love Legs Like Tree Trunks.

Legs Like Tree Trunks definitely have the earthy and organic math-folk-technical-pop qualities that Maps & Atlases had on their 2007 EP, 'Tree, Swallows, House'. But LLTT also have a little more of an emo influence that sounds like it's staying with them... I don't think these guys will be watering their sound down anytime soon.

Similar acts/sounds: Little Kingdoms, Little Pirouettes, (early but not really really old) Maps & Atlases, A Great Big Pile of Leaves, Cage Match, Two Knights, Shapes Like Dinosaurs, Girlfriends, Watchworld, Diving, and other smooth (twinkly-ish) criminals.

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Monday XXXXIII

Home Alone and not doing anything about it.

Birds In Row - Collected (2012)

French crusty hardcore. Something about the French... They always have a way of making such a used up genre sound just that much interesting again. America buddy, take note.

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This Town Needs Guns - Adventure, Stamina & Anger (2011)

UK's number one poppy math rock act, This Town Needs Guns' little teaser from last year. It is probably also the last TTNG record/EP/single featuring the signature singing of Stuart Smith as he has since left the band to further focus on his family and become a dad. Henry Tremain of another "math pop" act, Pennines is now on vocal duties as well as bass duties after the departure of Jamie Cooper. The line-up may now be a little different but I am still very much looking forward to hearing what these guys have got for us ahead recording/album wise. Just as long as they keep that noodly, upbeat math rock sound going, unlike many other math rock acts who have decided to tone down their technical sounding skills, *cough*Maps & Atlases/Tera Melos/Minus The Bear/screw Minus The Bear*cough*, I will still be a big fan and listener. 


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Cower - Land Before Time (2010)

Heavy and powerful rock from Portland, Oregon. I have this weird feeling I've posting these guys before but I haven't... It's important I do though because I also forget about them until I go back to Duck. Little Brother, Duck!'s bandcamp and look at their recommandations. That being said, this is a really awesome recommandation on those guys' part and I'm pretty pumped to see 'em again tomorrow night!

I just can't help myself when it comes to shameless plugs for other bands while trying to persuade  people to listen to the real band in question. Guess it's okay when both bands are totally gnarly, though... right?

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