Monday XXXVII

Happy Memorial Day, America!

Always keeping it real!

Japandroids - Post-Nothing (2009)

Canadian lol-fi garage rock about getting a ride to Bikini Island to kiss some french girls, worrying about dying, girls being as cold as the North Pole (they know because they've been there), and then quitting girls all together.

The hype ship has pretty much set sail on this album since its blog-talkative release in 2009, but I still like to listen to it. It surely hasn't lost any relevancy with me yet.

Oh, and I guess they have a new album... I don't know.

Bandcamp
Last.fm

Halfway to Holland - Discography

Halfway to Holland is pre-Algernon Cadwallader, a band I was fortunate enough to see the other night. If you know Algernon Cadwallader then this is a little more emo and with a bit more Blink 182 pop punk flare. If you don't know Algernon Cadwallader, you should check them out first. I'm not saying the prequel isn't as good as the sequel, it's just, you will get a good kick out of this a little more if you heard what they became. If that makes any sense.

My favorite track has to be, "It Comes With the Territory" which features the voice of Bill Murray from the almost perfect movie for this time of year, Meatballs (and Sexual Awareness Week). Give it a go!

By the way, Algernon were totally awesome and played up a storm as much as they could for how late it got when they finally were on. That also meant they couldn't play as many songs as I hoped they would. Plus, Pachangacha just had to show up and steal the whole show. Also, I felt a little bad afterwards about not grabbing up any of Algernon Cadwallader's merch or meeting them after the show but I had only just learned Chalk Talk's side project (that's Pachangacha) would be playing with them the night before. So yeah, I got a little overzealous about that. Algernon was still great though, don't get me wrong. The show actually went so well that I would have to say it was better than Men in Black 3. Yep, you heard it here first; Algernon Cadwallader live is better than Men in Black 3 at the drive-ins. Men in Black 1 and 2 would be different story of course.

Last.fm

The Devil and a Penny - Roots. (2011)

Along with Algernon Cadwallader, Pachangacha, and the local pop punk rarity Laces Out, there was also a band on the bill called The Devil and a Penny and when I asked around about them no one seemed to know who they were, not even the other musicians that were playing last night. So when I went down to see them (since it was a house show at a punk house), I was kind of surprised to find five pretty diverse looking people with instruments at hand. The singer in particular reminded me of Hardy Morris of Dead Confederate though when he began to sing it sounded almost like he was going for a Bradford Cox of Deerhunter (and Atlas Sound) impression. But the music going on behind him did not just sound like drowned out indie rock with reverb to go along with reverb. No, actually the accompaniment of the four other normal looking characters were actually playing some groovy beats and noodly riffage. All in all, these mysterious guys (and gal on the bass), where quite the surprise and definitely kept me entertained. I was always interested in hearing what that had to play next.

"Roots." is not necessarily a good example of what I had seen of The Devil and a Penny but more of the blueprints of probably what started as one of the musician's little hobby and now is a full-fledged band with full-fledged sound. The recordings that I've heard so far jump around from indie rock to folk to ambient and back again just to prove that The Devil and a Penny are as diverse in sound as the people in the band.

Members of this band are also in the band Flesh Forest and The Elephant Only Zoo. I say members but I think it may just be the lead singer. Please don't quote me on that though. I do know however, that they release their music on the indie record label, New Neighbor. Check it all out!

Last.fm

Dead Confederate - Dead Confederate EP

And speaking of Hardy Morris, Dead Confederate, and even Memorial Day, Dead Confederate's 2007 debut self-titled EP features all of the above.

It also features a less polished than the LP version of "The Rat", dusty psychedelic/miserable southern rocker jams like "Get Out" and "Shadow The Walls", a straight-up psychedelic epic in "Tortured-Artist Saint" and one of the saddest songs I have ever heard called, "Memorial Day Night".

Even though I may have since grown out of my Dead Confederate days, I still come back to this EP once and a while to remind me of how much of an impact it has had on my life. And every Memorial Day I listen to "Memorial Day Night" to remind me just how somber and emotionally gripping it is. Along with being on my personal saddest songs of all time list, I would have to say it also has a spot on my top 20 favorite songs of all time along with "The Rat" and "Goner".

Be sure to also check out Hardy Morris in the super group of the year, Diamond Rugs and their new self-titled debut. Diamond Rugs is Dead Confederate + Deer Tick + Black Lips + Los Lobos.

Kinda fun fact: The cover is of their mascot, the 'Spider Bomb'. It has 10 legs.

Last.fm

Clarissa Explains It All

Clarissa Explains It All was an early 90's hit TV series on Nickelodeon starring Melissa Joan Hart (probably better known by the kids now a days as Sabrina, The Teenage Witch) as the sassy Clarissa Darling, who yes, explains it all. Every fucking thing. Along with Clarissa, is Sam Anders, a young man who sneaks in to her room late at night with his trusty ladder, a dastardly tool into a woman's heart as well as her panties and the parents never once catch him with it or in the act. Sam is everything I have ever wanted to be. Clarissa is everything I have ever wanted. What is there more to like? The show lasted for 5 whole seasons - which in kids show numbers is really only like 65 episodes.

Clarissa Explains It All was/is also the name of a band from San Francisco that sound just like they were from the goofy time historians cleverly named the 90's due to it occurring just after the 80's. Though these gentlemen did not release the small amount of work they had recorded in the time before the 2000's, it definitely seems like these guys took some notes from the 90's emo/indie rock scene at their rock 'n' roll high school. Others though could argue that they may have skipped all their classes there and just made up something totally new and completely out there all on their own. They didn't even attend the part of the class were the teacher taught you how to make up cool bands, maybe like 'word followed by numbers' or 'color + cool word', so they just stole one from a 90's Nick flick that they watched like once at their cousin's house after his bar mitzvah or something. You're guess is as good as mine.

Anyways, here's the band Clarissa Explains It All and their first demo... also known as the Jonathan Lipnicki demo... and their extended play (yeah, that's what that stands for), IDK 3D EP


Clarissa Explains It All - Demo (2009)

If there's one thing for sure, it's that these guys sound a lot like Rainbow Tornado (posted them yesterday). That's no coincidence however, seeing as they both feature the vocal stylings of Ray. I don't think I really have any way of explaining what his vox sound like and neither could Clarissa for that matter.

Clarissa Explains It All - IDK 3D EP (2010)

I'd have to say that the demo stuff is my favorite. Especially with the random lyrics and catchy as all get out repeated lines that Chalk Talk is big on and totally sweet. Their EP still has a lot of moving parts and all that but lacks the memorabilia that the demo has. Every song asks a very important question like "who put the drugs in my drink/do I owe you money or was that for free?" or "what pet should I get?" or "why would you eat sunflower seeds?". There's even songs about being kidnappers and being thrifty. Everyday problems since the 90's for sure.

Whether these guys are still playing together is a mystery to me. It would be awesome if they were though!

Similar acts/sounds: Rainbow Tornado, Oh My God Elephant, Chalk Talk, Adam & Naive, Palmkite, Footnotes, Mane Horse, tussin, Hawkward, Girlfriends, Pachangacha, Kickball, and... look it how cool all those bands are.... damn...

Myspace
Last.fm

Bonus for the LOL's: here's Clarissa Explains It All them for 13 minutes:

I listened to it all. I'm sorry.

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

WICKED RIPPER! TONIGHT!

You wanna party?

Tonight!

KYOTY - Loud walls-of-sound post metal from NH. Necks will break.

WARANIMAL - More like PartyAnimal; Thrashed out metal from P-town. Bodies will break.

The Coalsack in Crux - Former members of the late Conifer. Recently nominated for 'best new act' in the Portland Phoenix music poll thing; voting ended yesterday.

ATHABASKA - Members of Swaath and WARANIMAL.... Portland Hardcore.

Facebook
WARANIMAL interview

GET BUSY!

Bonus:

My friend, just the other day, sent me a nice little link to KYOTY's demo! It's much more post rock than the previous stuff I've posted here but still totally awesome. I'd suggest that you use the bathroom before listening because 1) It's totally awesome and 2) every song starts with water splashing up on the shore and may cause a sudden need to piss your pants. Maybe the latter only affects me, I don't know, just a warning.

KYOTY - Demo

Last.fm

Now let's party!

Wolfgasm

Wolfgasm - Wolfgasm (2012)

While I never gave too much thought about anything by the short-lived Wolfgasm project of mid-late 2010 ever seeing the light of day, I had always hoped to at least post something about them since it was made of some of my closest friends and comrades. I guess I should have known better though, since this band was lead by local legend and runner of his own music archive, meaning he has probably kept every song he has ever recorded with every band he has ever been in, Jesse Gertz (known 'round these parts of town as the Total Babe of Babies, Glass Fingers). And while some members of this now super defunct indie rock slam jam are either MIA, not with us anymore, (the late Martin Smith, whose music has also been archived and saved by Gertz and released posthumously after his death with little extra goodies and what-have-you) or mad... There is still the song that featured them all, and that would be the first and only completely 'Wolfgasmic' song, "Courting". It's not for nothing that this one song exists it's just that sometimes somethings just don't work out quite like the way you want it to. For the rest of this four song teaser, it is mostly just the Jesse Gertz indie rock show, not that there is anything wrong with that, it's just not the full band of goof balls and degenerates that sported the good name of Wolfgasm.

Fun fact: I stepped in to the studio (Gertz's basement) and sat done behind the kit for one of the last (to my understanding) Wolfgasm practices. Ever.

The artwork by the way is by the world famous artist, Sean Terrence Best. Check him out and like him on the facebooks!

Similar acts/sounds: Glass Fingers, Jesse Gertz, Martin Smith, Twisted Truth, Saint Monday, Airplane Robert, Pecan Sandies, The Modest Proposal, The Fuse, Airway Robbery, Eyes Like Fire, Wulfgasm, Sugar Ray, Grunt, Captain Hollow, Tony Smokes and the Ladykillers, Sawtopsy, If and It, Dead Man's Clothes, Unexpected92, CJ the Kid, The Hot Dogs, Metal Feathers, Chingy, Sisqo, ODB, and none of the above.

PS: Borelli is mad.

Myspace

Monday XXXV

I honestly don't know how much that is.

Michael Jordan Touchdown Pass - Baby Steps (2011)

Michael Jordan Touchdown Pass is a pop/folk punk band from VT. Definitely for fans of Nana Grizol, Spoonboy, The Max Levine Ensemble, Toby Foster, and Defiance, Ohio. This is their latest release to date, "Baby Steps".

Last.fm

Kvelertak - Kvelertak (2011)

"Black 'n' Roll" from Norway. One of the best albums last year, if not best metal album. Lots of heaviness and aggression oozing with hardcore/black metal/rock 'n' roll influences. If I knew what they were shouting about, it would probably be about bad ass norse gods and the bad assery that they ensue. Thought I'd post these guys after seeing The Avengers this weekend... I'm not a big Thor fan but I got to say that that guy can kick some major Loki ass. The other guys were cool too, I guess.  EXCEPT, WHERE THE FUCK WAS ANT MAN! It's like they replaced him with this stupid "walk on you like an ant" theme One-Eyed Willy L. Jackson kept pushing. I don't give a flying-Stan-Lee-cameo-fuck about Black Widow and her "I have red hair and it's a metaphor for Russia" and "I dare you to not look at my ass" bull crap... There was already that lady from How I Met Your Mother standing in as eye candy for us all, anyways. They could have replaced her (Black Widow) and the DJ Marky Mark look-a-like with a bow and arrow (Hawkeye) with Ant Man and I think they could have really had something going for them and the minor superhero storyline(s) they were subtly trying to quickly-as-possible shove done our throat. I just wanted to see a little man turn into a big man, one that didn't talk about his bigger self or "other guy" like it was his penis (The new Incredible Hulk). Is that too hard to ask? 

Kvelertak's name means chokehold and the art-work is by the demigod of metal art, John Dyer Baizley. Nuff said. 

Bandcamp

Last.fm

Locktender - Collected (2012)

Emotionally charged Hardcore and post-whatever. Essentially just Men As Trees but two years removed and now from Cleveland, Ohio. That being said though, "Collected" and their new project as Locktender is totally happening and lightyears better than being broken up or on hiatus.

Soundcloud

Last.fm

The Earth is a Man - The Earth is a Man (2010)

Lately here on NFT's weekly "Monday" series, it seems I've been throwing up any math rock band I can't find a place for anywhere else and calling it a day without having anything to say about them, and while this may be true a couple of times now, this band right here surely has something to talk about. Not only has The Earth is a Man found a nice little sound they can call their own but may have earned themselves a top contenders spot as one of thee coolest unknown bands as they were the band to lend their instruments, studio, and virtuosity to the Tim in Tim & Eric's Awesome Show Great Job! and Billion Dollar Movie, Tim Heidecker who decided he wanted to cover a Bob Dylan song for no reason one day.

The Earth is a Man + Tim Heidecker - All the Tired Horses (2012)

Yep, this really happened. Tim Heidecker had some time off last February and decided that he would try to submit a Dylan cover for Amnesty International's new Dylan tribute album, "Chimes of Freedom". Heidecker put out a twitter thingy (not sure what it's called, sorry) in hopes of using a local Chicago band's studio and the boys of The Earth is a Man answered his call (or tweet, I guess). Unfortunately the cover didn't make the cut onto the CD, which is a big boomer to a former Amnesty Club-er like myself.. But hey, at least it exists and is for free on The Earth is a Man's bandcamp! 

Amnesty International 
Tim Heidecker's Tumblr

Last.fm

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day. Hope everyone has a cool mom like me. If not... get a new one!

Songs for Moms - I Used To Believe In The West (2009)

Not really Mother's Day related but I don't think they would mind me plugging them here for their name. But hey, nothing really says Mother's Day more than female melodic/pop punk anyways. Am I right or am I right? Fun, fun stuff.

Bandcamp
Last.fm

Elsewhere:

Nothing says Mother's Day like whistling about it, either:

Thank yo mamas.