The American Scene
By Way Of Introduction
The American Scene reminds me a lot of Hot Rod Circuit and those are big shoes to fill for a new band. By Way Of Introduction is an incredibly tight and convincing release. This being their debut album, and being really good, they definitely have an advantage over other new bands. (Pure Noise Records)
Bangers
Small Pleasures
It may have taken me a little bit to get into UK’s Bangers, but I’m glad I stuck with them. They have a similar approach to music like many American punk bands and I could see them playing along side bands like Off With Their Heads and VRGNS. (Kiss of Death)
Banquets
Top Button, Bottom Shelf
I’m sure the people who heard Banquets previous release, This Is Our Concern, Dude, had some idea that their debut full-length would be good, but I bet they didn’t know it was going to be this good. Top Button, Bottom Shelf is classic East Coast punk rock that reminds me of The Loved Ones, but much better. (Black Numbers)
Bomb The Music Industry!
Vacation
I’ve been an off and on Bomb The Music Industry! fan for a while. While none of their music has really struck a chord with me, I really appreciate what they do. That said, Vacation is another really good album from this collective that is certainly growing on me. The opening track has a nice build up and pay off that entices you to stick around for a while and listen to the whole album. (Quote Unquote)
Braid
Closer to Closed
It was a surprise to everyone when Braid announced that they would be recording new material, their first since 1998’s Frame and Canvas. Even more surprising was the lead off single, “The Right Time”, was sung by Chris Broach. Throughout Braid’s career, Broach has mostly been second vocalist to Bob Nanna, but this song really shows that he can actually sing really well. Plus it’s one of the catchiest songs on this EP. The other two original songs are in the same vein and are classic Braid with some Hey Mercedes seeping in through the cracks. They round out this EP with a good cover of Jeff Hanson’s “You Are The Reason”. (Polyvinyl Records)
Broadcaster
Joyride
Bringing back a much needed 90’s alternative revival, Broadcaster sure knows how to write a catchy tune while not repeating what others have done in the past. These four songs are simply not enough and will leave listeners demanding more music from this band. (Self-Released)
Build Us Airplanes
The Pale Ale EP
Build Us Airplanes has a certain 90’s alternative/grunge charm that’s missing form a lot of music these days. They mix it up a little bit on these five songs, but ultimately they are memorable songs that will stick with you. (Sell the Heart Records)
Canon Blue
Rumspringa
There is a certain energy exuding from Canon Blue’s Rumspringa. Maybe it’s the fact that part of this album was made in Copenhagen with Danish orchestral pop ensemble Efterklang and part in Iceland with Amiina. Either way, Canon Blue ringleader Daniel James has a cunning ability to construct these wonderfully quirky and eccentric pop songs. (Temporary Residence)
Collections of Colonies of Bees
GIVING
I’m always excited to hear new Collections of Colonies of Bees material. They have a way of holding the listeners attention that goes as far back as when some of these guys were playing as Pele. GIVING is probably their most “rock” sounding album. “Lawn” starts off the album with a repetitive drum fill and the sound builds from there. The rest of the album is equally as good, if not better. I wish of only two things from CoCoBees releases, that they’d have more material on each release, and that the releases would come out quicker. Everything else is perfect. (Hometapes)
Dan Andriano In The Emergency Room
Hurricane Season
Before listening to this, I thought it was going to be more similar to Alkaline Trio’s music than what it actually is. Hurricane Season is incredibly intimate and gives the feeling that Dan is singing the songs directly to you. This album shows that Dan could probably have a just as successful career as a solo artist as he is having with the Alkaline Trio. (Asian Man Records)
Diamond Dancer
Will You?
Hailing from Vancouver, BC, Diamond Dancer is leading the way in terms of Canadian emo revival bands. Their debut release Will You?, steps beyond the emo boundaries with some post rock inclinations à la The Appleseed Cast. The occasional female vocals also add a nice touch to the music. Considering that this genre is mostly male led, the dual vocals gives Diamond Dancer a step up from most bands. (Self-Released)
Direct Hit!
Domesplitter
Direct Hit! has been quietly releasing EPs of songs for a while now and recently caught the attention of Kind of Like Records. Domesplitter is a collection of the best songs from those early EPs, re-recorded to sound awesome. There is a hidden party inside of Direct Hit’s music that is chugging beers, causing a ruckus, and pissing off the neighbors. Domesplitter is probably the best album of songs taken from previous releases and re-recorded and released this year. Maybe. (Kind Of Like Records)
Early & Often
Present No Fiction, Fear No Tense
If you can get past the opening three and a half minutes of recorded audio of general blabbing from someone on the street, Present No Fiction, Fear No Tense may have something to offer. Unfortunately, there was nothing on this album that really interested me, though I’m sure some people will find the value in it. (Sell The Heart)
Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate)
Home After Three Months Away
With as busy as Empire! Empire! is outside of their band, working jobs & running labels, it amazes me that they still have the time to write and release their own amazing music. Home After Three Months Away shows Empire! Empire! hitting their songwriting stride with no signs of slowing down anytime soon. (Stiff Slack Records)
Go Rydell/Grey Area
Split 7”
Go Rydell sounds an awful lot alike Polar Bear Club, but with shorter songs and Grey Area has a familiar sound as well. Both bands songs are good and I like that the bands don’t sound like each other. It shows two sides of punk to keep things fresh. (Black Numbers)
Grown Ups
Hand Holder EP
Grown Ups are really out doing themselves these days. Their latest release, Hand Holder, is really great and it shows them experimenting a little bit with their instruments. Anything from this band is worth putting into your collection. (Doghouse Records)
Half Hearted Hero
Running Water
Half Hearted Hero’s Running Water is a really great glimpse into the pop punk workings of this Massachusetts band. The music is infectious and they throw in some squealing guitar riffs for good measure. (Animal Style Records)
Halloween, Alaska
All Night the Calls Came In
All Night the Calls Came In, the latest from Minneapolis’s Halloween, Alaska, sounds like mix of Death Cab For Cutie, American Analog Set, Field Music and this old band from MN called Valet. Though not in the way you’d think a group like that would sound. There are very small elements of each band at work here combined with some atmospheric flourishes that give this album a decent quality. (Amble Down)
Handguns
Don’t Bite Your Tongue
The reason I like Don’t Bite Your Tongue is that is sounds like Dude Ranch era Blink-182, just with less dick and fart jokes. Handguns has the potential to be on the same level as other pop punk bands like The Wonder Years and New Found Glory. (Pure Noise Records )
Hold Tight
Can’t Take This Away
One listen and it’s easy to see why Can’t Take This Away was picked up by a label for a re-release. Hold Tight sounds like if Blue Album era Weezer were a punk band today, with the singer from The Suicide Machines. Can’t Take This Away is an outstanding album full of promise. (Animal Style Records)
The Holy Mess
The Holy Mess
This self-titled album is a re-release of their material from the Dismount EP and Benefit Sesh 7”, plus two new songs. If you’re familiar with their past releases, then you know what you’re getting. The two new songs are top notch and some of the best they’ve written. (Red Scare)
Junior Battles
Idle Ages
Junior Battles killed it on their last EP and on their debut full-length, Idle Ages, they kill it, reanimate it, then kill it again. There is something about this band that sets them apart from the rest, but I just can’t put my finger on it. Maybe it’s because they’re Canadian? (Paper + Plastick)
LKN/Knife The Symphony
Split 12”
The LKN (Lauren Kathryn Newman) side of this split is a sometimes sung/screamed/spoken angular noodlely free-for-all, while the Knife the Symphony side is distorted and rough with an At The Drive-In/Young Widows vibe and finishes with a cover of fIREHOSE’s “On Your Knees”. (Phratry Records )
Love of Everything
Sooner I Wish
Bobby Burg is hitting a turning point in his career where he is now making Love of Everything songs a bit more accessible to the masses. Where his early work may have been a bit tough to listen to, his last couple releases including Sooner I Wish have been lo-fi pop gems. (Polyvinyl Records)
Memory Map
Holiday Band
As soon as the first few seconds of Holiday Band tick away, your ears will perk up and you will be caught off guard by the quick guitar picking and catchy beat. On practically every song I heard, I’d giggle a little to myself, because everything coming out of the speakers was unexpected and awesome. (Joyful Noise Recordings)
The New Trust & Friends
Battle to the Death
Battle to the Death is a collection of new and old songs from Get Vulnerable and Dark Is The Path Which Lies Before Us done acoustically. The Friends part of this album is a bunch of New Trust covers done by artists like Hanalei, Oddbird, Themes and others. The acoustic versions of these songs are quite good and give them new life. This album is a must for any New Trust fan. (Saint Rose Records)
Pygmy Lush
Old Friends
I remember being kind of neutral on Pygmy Lush’s last album, Mount Hope, so I was a little weary going into Old Friends. That weariness soon faded as the first couple songs on the album were heard. Old Friends is as delicate as it is rigid and is a beautiful album throughout. (Lovitt)
The Reveling
Tributaries
Tributaries, the debut full-length from The Reveling, is a blue collar worker’s punk album. You can almost feel the gritty East Coast industries rooted in the Reveling’s brand of punk rock. Tributaries is the album bands like AFI and Anti-Flag wish they could make. (Black Numbers)
The Rutabega
Cursed
You probably remember The Rutabega from the split with Owen back in 2004. Since then, Joshua Wayne Hensley, The Rutabega, has been releasing music and his latest, Cursed, is being self-released with the hopes of a future vinyl release. The music on Cursed is fairly minimal, with just a guitar and some background distortions and is well written and personal. As one of those people that paid more attention to the Owen songs on that split way back when, I’m glad The Rutabega is still making music. (Self-Released)
Sleeping Bag
Sleeping Bag
The upbeatness of the power-pop combined with the straight-faced vocal delivery create a very interesting listen on this self-titled album. Sleeping Bag has a nostalgic 90’s slacker feel to it with some off-beat rhythms that make it worth while. (Joyful Noise Recordings)
State Lines
Hoffman Manor
I came across State Lines while searching through Bandcamp and was floored by the maturity and overall quality of this album. It was hard to believe that an album this good wasn’t being plastered around the web. State Lines has a Tigers Jaw/Saves the Day like quality to them, but with a lot passion behind their vocals. Hoffman Manor will easily be on my top ten list for album of the year. (Meadowbrook Records)
State Song
Dear Hearts and Gentle People
Featuring ex-members of The Dopamines and The Invitational, State Song has a singer that is one part Jim Ward, one part Julian Casablancas and a small part Jordan Jeffares of Snowden. Their music is similar to early Sparta mixed with 90’s college rock. Dear Hearts and Gentle People is a pretty good record and quite solid throughout. It is definitely one of those albums that you would probably pass over, and then regret doing so once you find out everyone is into them. (Phratry Records)
Swear Jar
Cuss
Swear Jar definitely reminds me a bit of The STNNNG from Minneapolis. Both bands use a variety of vocal deliveries, and each band’s music is sometimes difficult to digest. Cuss is a welcome change a pace from more straight forward bands. (Phratry Records)
The United Sons of Toil
When The Revolution Comes Everything Will Be Beautiful
The United Sons of Toil, from Madison,WI, will knock you down with their heaviness, but will lend a hand to help you up. The music is politically motivated to a point of over doing it, they even include a manifesto with the album that details the roots and explanations of each song. This album is great for people who are interested in and will talk in-depth about the sort of political stuff that The United Sons of Toil sing about. Not so great if you’re looking for something entertaining to listen to while you shake your ass and pump your fist. (Phratry Records)
You Are Plural
Hand It Over
You Are Plural are a two piece boy/girl band from the West Coast. The interesting thing about this band is that the only instruments they use are cellos, wurlitzers and their lovely voices. Hand It Over is a wonderful album of classical sounding harmonies, similar to what Georgie James was doing, but coming from a different time period. (Self-Released)
