I can’t say I am the biggest fan of Acollective as their music is not typically the style I get into, but they’ve totally captured my attention with their recently released video for “Breakapart”.
The video is a clever and humorous homage being paid to the only way music should ever be listened to. The track itself is pretty catchy too.
Check it out:
I loved the quick Pantera shot. That was hilarious and unexpected.
For those of you who checked out the interview I did with Joey Cape months back, you may have learned about One Week Records. For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about, I suggest you take a moment and read that awesome interview.
Chris Cresswell of The Flatliners was one of the first artists to hole up in Cape’s abode and record an album. In one week, the two recorded 10 amazing songs and skipped out on any type of over-producing. The result was just an amazing release that I was not expecting.
Cresswell is typically known for his gruff vocals in The Flatliners but he’s completely cleared his throat for his One Week Record. In fact, I was set back for a moment on how different and appealing his singing style was. Having known he’s stripped down his style before, I suppose I just did not know what to expect prior to checking out this release.
Listening to “Meet Me in the Shade” was just so heavy on the heart. I could almost relate in my past to the feelings Cresswell transformed into song. Full of lyrics of dismay and solitude, Cresswell seemingly dumped heavy emotion into this track. I really fond myself enjoying the song even more so when the piano playing snuck in.
Picking things up was “Little Bones”, a track what sounds like some serious swooning until the moment you realize that the lyrics on this track were pretty much Cresswell tearing a certain someone apart for being a cold, heartless human being. The lyrics were amazing on this album.
“Stitches” really collaborated Cresswell and Cape’s talent in a great way in a song about healing and moving on. Perhaps the best part of this track is when Cresswell belted out “I fall in love again with the silence in this song” over and over at the end. Hands down, this was best track on this album.
Hearing the cover of Dead To Me’s “Arrhythmic Palpitations” was a nice bonus on this album. Cresswell recorded a damn fine version that I may seriously now prefer over the original. Everyone needs to hear this track.
“On the Day That You Died” was beyond somber and yet so beautiful. This is the kind of song that brings tears to eyes while saying goodbye to a loved one. Seriously, this track should be in the next Zach Braff movie he releases. So sad…
Overall, this album far exceeded my expectations and I am going to be pre-ordering the vinyl release soon as I know this will be an album I will listen to quite frequently.
I think the thing I like best about this album is knowing that Cresswell and Cape recorded all of the songs in 7 days in Cape’s home. I also love knowing that at the end, Cape handed Cresswell a Sharpie marker and told him to draw up the album cover.
The album is available digitally now on One Week Records for just 5 bucks. The album is also going to be pressed on vinyl (as previously mentioned) thanks to Fat Wreck Chords and will be dropping soon.
It’s pretty safe to say that 2014 has been the year of amazing releases by artists old and new.
Honestly I think I say that every year, but you know what? I mean it every single time I say it.
I have a new favorite band to listen to as of late and they are called Beach Slang. Featuring members of Weston, Ex Friends & Crybaby, this Philadelphia threesome is seriously one of the best new acts I have heard in a while.
If I had to compare them to someone out there in the music world, I would say an easy-going Jawbreaker. This indie pop-punk act defines themselves as: “Guitar, bass, and drums. Played loudly.” I could not agree more.
Recently, Beach Slang debuted their EP Who Would Want Anything So Broken? and I can not stop listening to it. Check out “Punk or Lust” and “Filthy Luck” to see why exactly I am all about these guys.
I seriously can not wait until Beach Slang drops a full length. I have the feeling it is going to be an incredible listen. Until then, good luck finding this EP on a 7″. I think it’s sold the hell out right now on Dead Broke Rekerds, but with good reason of course.
I am always stoked to hear when bands I’ve befriended are getting ready to go on their first European tour.
Signals Midwest recently announced that they will be taking their talents overseas in September. The band will be playing 24 shows in 24 days. There is no doubt in my mind that this will be one of the coolest experiences for them boys.
As if it is not hard enough to tour the states in a used and abused mini-van while crashing on couches, imagine flying your gear over the pond and playing shows in an all new environment.
This will not be cheap by any means and is going to be self-funded by the band who have already admitted paying $5,000 alone for the flights. This of course does not even include any of the souvenirs they will be buying me.
In an attempt to help them pay off some of those expensive flight tickets and passport fees, the band threw together an acoustic EP on Bandcamp titled Wherever I Might Land.
For a mere $5, you can not only help out the band make their debut overseas tour a tad more comfortable, but you can also snag a great EP full of slowed down versions of their material and a brilliant cover of Iron Chic’s “Time Keeps On Slipping Into The (Cosmic) Future.”
The money earned from this release will help offset any costs for the band. I think this is an excellent approach at recovering some of the costs incurred rather than jumping on a Go Fund Me campaign and begging for some extra cheese.
I have already chipped in and downloaded the EP. The Iron Chic cover is worth $5 alone…
SIGNALS MIDWEST EU/UK SEPT 2014 TOUR DATES:
05.09.2014 – Volkach (GER) @ Festival
06.09.2014 – Bielefeld (GER) @ Uberseecontainer
07.09.2014 – Copenhagen (DK) @ Underwerket
08.09.2014 – Hannover (GER) @ Monster Records (acoustic)
09.09.2014 – Iserlohn (GER) @ Rad Room Rehearsals
10.09.2014 – Dendermonde (BEL) @ JH Zenith
11.09.2014 – Paris (F) @ La Mecanique Ondulatoire
12.09.2014 – London (UK) @ Old Blue Last
13.09.2014 – Manchester (UK) @ Wahlbar
14.09.2014 – Glasgow (SCO) @ 13th Note
15.09.2014 – Leeds (UK) @ Santiago Bar
16.09.2014 – Nottingham (UK) @ The Chameleon Arts Cafe
17.09.2014 – Birmingham (UK) @ Scruffy Murphys
18.09.2014 – Cambridge (UK) @ The Portland Arms
19.09.2014 – Lille (F) @ El Diablo
20.09.2014 – Diest (BEL) @ Jeugdhuis Tijl
21.09.2014 – Trier (GER) @ Ex-Haus
22.09.2014 – Bad Neustadt/Saale (GER) @ Juze
23.09.2014 – Landshut (GER) @ Wintergarten
24.09.2014 – Wiener Neustadt (AT) @ Triebwerk
25.09.2014 – Graz (AT) @ Sub
26.09.2014 – Micheldorf (AT) @ Baraka
27.09.2014 – St. Gallen (CH) @ Grabenhalle
28.09.2014 – Mainz (GER) @ Haus Mainusch
Mr. Joshua Voland promised me a pizza if I reviewed his band on my site, so here we go…
I am kidding about the pizza of course. I don’t take bribes, even if in the form of delicious pizza.
All jokes aside, Voland did ask me to check out what his band recently dropped on Bandcamp and man, I am stoked I did.
Shibuya Crossing is the debut EP by Cleveland’s very own The Public. Lasting just under 20 minutes, this release is impressive as hell. Not sure why they named the EP after the busiest intersection in Japan, but I am sure stranger things have happened.
Featuring members from Ultra Ultra, Heart Attack Man, and Let’em Run, I already knew in advance that I would be into The Public.
“Liquor Store” was such a powerhouse of a song to start off the EP with. This will win fans automatically with sing along qualities. Damn shame it wrapped up so quickly. I liked that track.
“The Breaks” reminded me of a certain little band from Scranton, PA that people might have heard about. I loved the lyrics “I was just too set in my old ways. Trying to pry my way out of your ribcage.” I seriously could not get enough of this song.
“No Bother” had enough breakdowns and group vocals to make this my favorite cut on the release. Maybe it was the fact that it reminded me of a Seahaven track for a moment or probably because it was just catchy as hell. “The Dogs” might have been even catchier though.
As much as I hate to have a negative comment about any song I hear, there was a part in “Mexico” that just did not sit right with me and it was mostly due to a brief group vocal harmony that lasted not even a second. Voland asked me to be honest on how I felt…
Fans of the Lawrence Arms, Menzingers, The Tim Version, Banner Pilot, and even Cleveland sweethearts Worship This! need to check out The Public.
This band just kicks so much ass. I am really looking forward to hearing their full length debut which should be out in 2015.
Check it out and pay what you will on the band’s BandCamp page.
