Slingshot Dakota "Paycheck" Track Review

Slingshot Dakota have a new full length coming out on the fantastic Topshelf Records. The record is called Break and will be released on March 11, but the band premiered the first song off the record.

"Paycheck" is a catchy as all hell, fuzzed out jam. The keys have this really great distorted, fuzz infused, effect on them and they rumble through the verses like a muddy riff and are accompanied by some great tom / cymbal work. I love that the band can capture so much and create so much fullness and layers. I'm really digging the direction this song is taking the band in and I hope that the rest of the album will follow suit. I mean just listen to that groove, man!

Slingshot Dakota will be heading out on tour in April.

Julien Baker at the Red Room. Boston, MA 1/23/16

Julien Baker played the Red Room at Cafe 939 last night 1/23/16) in Boston, MA. It was perhaps the most emotional and inspiring show I've ever been to. The snow was coming own hard outside and driving sucked but that didn't stop a packed crowd from filling up the venue.

The pop duo Gracie and Rachel (and Shawn) opened the show. The group plays really nice indie-pop with orchestral elements (violin) and minimal percussion. Definitely worth checking them out.

Baker followed soon after the duo +1 finished their set and moved their instruments.

Before I get into the show itself I just want to point out that Julien Baker is one of the most modest, genuine, artists / performers that I have seen. You can see the honesty pour out of everything she plays and sings. It's a definite breath of fresh air and based on the crowd of people who were digging the show, it's definitely noticed and felt by everyone else.

The set opened with the title track off her album, Sprained Ankle, which unfortunately for me was sold out (the LP) by the time I got to the merch table. Her voice is so good live as it is on the record. So much emotion. I brought my sister along and she couldn't get over her guitar playing. The tone and her playing is so good. She followed up with "Blacktop" and then "Rejoice" which was played due to a fan who had tweeted or Instagramed a comment about how she hoped Baker would play the song to make the night that much better. She played the song and even brought the girl a coffee but she had disappeared before she could give it to her.

The set also included "Vessels" and "Something" which were both super fucking good.

My favorite moments of the night were her performance of "Everybody Does." She got so into the song that they end turned into a full out rock out as she began to yell the vocals. The crowd sang along and everyone was really feeling it. "That was cool... thanks for keeping it real Boston," Baker said as the song ended.

My other favorite moment was when after a quick 30 second break after her set, Baker came back for one more and played my favorite song on the record, "Go Home." I have been watching live videos of her past performances and have not seen that one live. It makes sense due to the piano, but when she hit a pedal and I heard the piano track I almost lost it. Super emotional, super clean, super feels.

A great show from beginning to end. It;s always great to dig an artist and see them live and witness that they are not only extremely talented but genuinely humble and real.

I highly recommend seeing Baker play whenever you can and make sure to grab the record asap!
Read my review of Sprained Ankle.

Check this video of Julien Baker playing "Vessels" from the show.









*Photos taken by Adam W Gerhold (me).

Frameworks "Time Spent" Review

This record is so damn good. Frameworks blasts out two songs of the most kick ass post-hardcore, punk... whatever you want to call it. It's just insane. If you read the piece by The Fader you will also know the the songs are deep as hell too. So not only are they flipping' hard as fuck, but they are heavy as fuck, like meaningful!

"Worn Out" has this great intro part and it's almost like a heavy pop song when the band and vocals kick in. There are some great soaring guitars throughout. I love the tone of the guitar. It's clean and clear while staying hard. There is great tom work in this jam too. The end has some cool synth work going on. It's really intricate and there is this overwhelming feeling of urgency. Put this on repeat.

The title track, "Time Spent," goes so hard. It has such a sweet groove to it in the beginning. The guitars shred so hard and the drums are bombarding. The songs slows den for a bit and there's time to take a short breath of air and then jump back in the pit, kid. The end has this quick punk part and then some twinkly beautiful guitar work with some heavy synth flow.

Shit. I'm a mess. This one got me all wrecked.

Grab this record from the mighty Topshelf Records.
Stream it here.
See them on tour with Donovan Wolfington next month!

Fucko "Demo" Review

Fucko recorded this demo back in 2014, so it's a bit old, but they are releasing a full length early this year on Black Numbers and it will feature re-recorded versions of these three songs. The band is straight out of Boston and features siblings Sarah and Jacob Desmarais and newly added drummer Derek Desharnais of Sneeze-fame. 

Fucko is great grunge-pop, alt-whatever. Shit just rules.

"Buzz" is my favorite song I think. I always do this. I'll say which song is my favorite and then I take it back like two songs later, so whatever. It rules. Great riffs right off the bat and then the guitar fades to some light feedback as Sarah sings the verse. Then it kicks back in so good. I love the recording. It's dirty but clear. The cymbals have that rawness to them but without being way too fucking harsh and overpowering. There's this sweet guitar lead part towards the end of the song where everything stops except this single note part and then the song rolls on until it kicks back in with the chorus part. A little pause and some feedback. Yes!

"Shitty City" is a solid 90's pop rock slayer. The guitar is so sweet in this one. Sarah's vocals kill me too. So nice! That bass as well. A nice solid crunch to it, and it stands out among the other instruments which I really appreciate. Dig the little into part too. "You are perfect."

Look, I'm going to do it again. "Kind Of Mean It," might be my jam. Shit, I need to stop doing that. I won't though. Whatever, this song rules, and I don't kind of mean it, I really do mean it. See what I did there? Yup. This one is really intricate. The drum fills are so fast and smooth. The riffs too. When Sara sings "I could fall in love," I get the feels. Makes me start thinking, you know. Thinking about stuff. Anyways, this is the one. I'm going to day it. My favorite track. There, last words.

Stream the demo on bandcamp.
Get the full length Dealing With The Weird when it comes out on Black Numbers.
Go see them live!

Culture Abuse "Spray Paint The Dog" Review

I posted Culture Abuse's video for "Perfect Light" on my Facebook page because not only is the song super flippin' kick-ass, but the video is wild as hell. I got one comment from someone I used to work with that said, "What the fuck did I just watch?" I responded with a simple, "You're welcome."

Culture Abuse is a monster, drug infused, punk band from the Bay Area.
This two song 7" is too good and too short. Another great record on 6131 Records.

The record starts off with "Nicotine," a real banger. The beginning really sets the scene great. It's creepy, and dirty. The riffs are wicked, and the production of this record is so good. It's clear and clean while keeping it grimey and punk a.f. Towards the end there is this nice sludgy slow part with some overlapping vocals and some real noise. The chaos is so wonderful.

"Perfect Light" is my jam. I've played this song so many times over and over again rocking my face off. It's this great, weird, dance jam. I love the vocals so much and the direction this song takes. It's steady, rocking, and fuzzy. The parts before the verses with that chanty thing they do. I dig that so hard. "Love's not the answer," but Culture Abuse is definitely the answer. Get weird. Do whatever.

Grab the record from 6131.
Stream it here.
Look for a full length in the future!

Peep the video for "Perfect Light." And hey, it's totally NSFW. Bomb!

Kindling "Galaxies" Review

I've been meaning to do this write-up for a while now. I love this record. Kindling is this noisey shoegaze band out of Western MA featuring Andy and Stephen of Ampere fame. The band blends elements of 90's grunge with think and sometimes cosmic shoegaze parts. This baby was released on the legendary No Idea Records, too. So good!

The record opens with probably my favorite track "Blinding Wave." There is this great driving bass / guitar riff that kills. When we get to the chorus part the guitar takes on this cosmic swirl that compliments the vocals so well. I love the vocals. This song moves. It kicks in right away and it's so steady and thumping throughout. I get a heavy 90's influenced grunge thing. Like if Pearl Jam had a female singer and played dirtier, or something. Oh, and towards the end where it sounds like its over with these rad spaced out hits, and it kicks back in to that opening part, yes!

"While Away" is slower and more grungy and fuzzed out. The opening is so nice. Drawn out and then the songs kicks in. Guitars are soaring again. I love that. The riffs are so cool. They are muffled and fuzzy but stand out so well among the murk. This song has some great stand out parts. They are all like small little transition fills or riffs and only happen once. It's like a whole bunch of little surprises. Andy's drumming is on point.

"Painkiller" has that nice feedback opener and then into heavy shoegaze heaven. Such a headbanger. Jamming out in the front row, pushed up against the kick drum just banging away. These songs all feel like they should be played in a film. Maybe Lost In Translation. I can picture this one during the end where Bill Murray is driving away before the credits. The chorus part in this one is so good! I get a Sunny Day Real Estate vibe and I want to watch Pete and Pete. Man, I need to see this band live. This is tied for my favorite track. They lay on that last part for a good while. Perfect amount of time and the end is so rad!

The record closes with the shortest track "Coastal." Straight forward, such great drum fills, and heavy riffs. This one needs a few listens. The vocals here too! Nevermind what I said about favorite tracks, They are all too good. This is a great ender track though and the fact that this is a 4 song 12" ep just means you need to spin it a few times!

See this band when you can.
Grab the record from No Idea!
Stream here.
Look for a full length!

Julien Baker "Sprained Ankle" Review

I remember reading one of the many "best records of..." articles on some website and I was going through and pulling up the links to the ones that sounded most intriguing. Well, Julien Baker's Sprained Ankle was one of them and is my favorite record I looked up on that list. I now because I still have them all written down. I listen to this record at least once a day. It's incredible.

"Blacktop" is is beautiful and haunting. I love the chorus part where Julien's voice and the guitar she plays follows this same run of notes. It's so nice. The simplicity of the recording is wonderful. It's just her and her guitar. The recording has this echo to it like she's in this room and you're chilling and it's so rad!

"Sprained Ankle" is the first song I heard on the record and I did so by watching the music video which is pretty cool. The first line of this song is so heavy and hits hard. There is this elaborate simplicity to these songs. They are so intricate and so so deep but there is this great minimalist quality. They aren't overproduced. Everything rules. Man I am repetitive, haha. Get used to it.

"Brittle Boned" has this great swelling quality where we start with this guitar plucking and then this second guitar comes in with an Explosions In The Sky echo thing going on. Later there is this part where the echo guitar goes away real quick and her voice is almost alone and I get wicked feels. Then there is this double voice thing where she is harmonizing with herself and this simple bass kick or floor tom thumps away followed by some choice cymbal hits and more fast passed strumming in that same EITS vein. This is one of my favorites as you can see by my run on sentences.

"Everybody Does" is more upbeat than most of these songs but that doesn't mean it's not hard hitting and sad. But so beautiful in a tragic way. This whole record gets me right in the feels, man. Julien, you kill me. In a good way. This one is short so play it a few times.

"Good News" is another perfect example of how great her voice is. It's like unsure and painful and so full but at the same time so vulnerable, Fuck commas. Haha. I can relate with this song so much. That feeling where someone's opinion matters when you don't want it to. And it shouldn't anyways. Shit.

"Something" is another one of my favorites. I watched a live video where she played it acoustic in some parking garage and it was so damn good. Another song I relate to, and I;m sure you do. "I can't think of anyone else." Tell me about it. Damn. The feels again. This song is perfection. The guitar and the vocals. "The ringing in my ears taste's like blood." "I thought I meant something." Man, I'm getting goosebumps from this one.

"Rejoice" has so real depth to it. She goes pretty hard in the second half of the song. There is a call to a god and a lot of unanswered questions and non-response. It's vulnerable, honest, and inspiring to say the least. Song writing at the top tier. This record blows me away.

"Vessels" is another really beautiful but haunting song. I've watched some live videos of this too and I fall into a trance. There are these great ambient guitar parts with some great tom work and again I get great EITS vibes. It's swelling, and so real and honest. There is so much depth beneath these songs. So many stories. So much.

"Go Home" is my favorite track and the closer. I really have no other words for this song. You really just need to hear it. Real. Honest. Vulnerable, Deep. Beautiful. The piano though. Oh man. And the last verse. I get full blown chills. I think I shed a tear the first time I heard this one. No shit. Swear. Full blown emotional train wreck. "I know my body is just dirty clothes."

This album is my favorite thing right now.
Thankful.

Get the record from 6131 Records.
Stream it here.
Julien Baker started her East Coast tour yesterday.
I'll be at the Boston show! You need to fucking go!

Into It. Over It. "No EQ" track Review

Evan Weiss' Into It. Over It. just released the first track off his forthcoming record, Standards, titled "No EQ."

Evan and his band-mate Joshua David Sparks wrote the record over the course of a month in an isolated cabin in northern Vermont.

There is something about Weiss' voice that I can't get enough of. It's warm, full, heartfelt, and so damn good. I saw Pet Symmetry in the.. spring? fall? whenever they came through Boston, and not only can the dude kill it live, he seems like one of the most genuine dudes. I remember buying the record, tape, and a shirt and shaking the man's hand and him seeming so genuinely stoked that people dig his shit. Yeah, I'm fan-boying a bit. Eat it!

So the song: Starting off with these rad mathy drums and muffled notes it's already warm, which is a contrast to the frigid Vermont cabin the songs were written in. The great thing about this song is how the instrumentation is one concise unit. You hear everything! It's not like piece put together with the title of "song" on it. It really is a whole unit. Everything is so nice. It's so full too. There are so many layers which is beautiful.

Production is so good too. This thing was recorded by John Vanderslice at Tiny Telephone Studio, which is all analog. Damn. I love it! Into it... not over it. Totally into it.

Into It. Over It. will be hitting the road with The World Is A Beautiful Place And I Am No Longer Afraid To Die, The Sidekicks, and Pinegrove in the spring.
The record is out via Triple Crown Records March 11.
Stream the track over at Noisey.

Tour Dates:
3/22 - St. Louis, MO @ The Firebird
3/23 - Madison, WI @  Majestic Theatre3/24 - Lawrence, KS @ Granada Theatre3/25 - Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater3/26 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court3/28 - Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile3/29 - Portland, OR @ Star Theater3/31 - San Fransisco, CA @ Social Hall4/01 - Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room4/02 - Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour 4/03 - San Diego, CA @ The Irenic4/04 - Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge4/06 - Austin, TX @ The Parish4/07 - Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live4/08 - New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jack’s4/09 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade4/10 - Orlando, FL @ The Social4/12 - Durham, NC @ Motorco4/13 - Richmond, VA @ The Broadberry4/18 - Toronto, ON @ Hard Luck Bar4/19 - Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz4/20 - Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground4/21 - Boston, MA @ Royale4/22 - New York, NY @ Irving Plaza4/23 - Washington, DC @ Black Cat4/24 - Philadelphia, PA @ TLA4/26 - Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups4/27 - Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom4/28 - Detroit, MI @ Majestic Cafe4/30 - Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall5/01 - Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock

Hinds "Leave Me Alone" Record Review

UPDATE*** I got this piece published on the Queen Mob's Teahouse site. Go check it out over there. It's a little condensed and has some videos and song links to accompany it! Or read my drawn out version below!

______________________________________________________________________________

So I hope this doesn't read as weird as it sounds out loud, but I had a dream last night that I was hanging out with Hinds, and it was awesome! So I woke up and knew I had to write this. Plus this is my favorite band right now and I'm totally in love with them.

Leave Me Alone is the debut record for this Spanish quartet formerly known as Deers. It's being released by Lucky Number.

The record starts off with "Garden," which is  a great way to introduce the band and the record. It's fuzzy, warm, and so lovely. It's kind of dreamy and both Carlotta and Ana's voice compliment the vibe and the song so much, as they do in every song on this record. There is this really nice little riff during the verse parts and then the drums kick in with this sweet cymbal play during the chorus. I would love to go dancing, by the way!

"Fat Calmed Kiddos" has this great 60's vibe to it. It's really warm and smooth. I love the production of this album. It has that raw garage value to it, but it's clean and warm. The chorus kicks in and the song picks up. It's still 60's but now we are at like a beach party and everyone is digging so hard. The vocals overlap and harmonize so well, and the drums have a great fuzz to them, and listening in headphones I can hear one guitar in one ear during that surfy part and it's so fuzzed up and awesome.

"Warts" is one of my favorite tracks on the record. I love the guitar and the vocals during the beginning part. They follow that similar groove. And the guitar and bass in the background are so good. I really can't say anything besides "this is so good" and "i dig this" for pretty much all of these songs. Sorry if I get repetitive. Oh, and that "ba-da-ba-da-ba-da-ba-ba" part. Oh man!

For some reason when I listen to "Easy" I picture myself driving. I hate driving, but imagining driving listening to this song makes it seem ok. I love at the end when the drums lay on for a few seconds and they have that echo on them.

"Castigadas En El Granero" is all about the musicianship. These women are so flipping talented. My friend and I always say, in regards to music and playing tunes, that less is more. These gals really know how to nail that idea home. The vocals in this too. I love the back and forth and when they overlap eachother and then come together in harmony. I think it's Carlotta too that gets that bit of a growly scream towards the end. Dig that for sure!

"Solar Gap" is a perfect title for this song. I get a real spacey vibe from this song. It's a nice chill out jam. Sitting outside, it's dark, you have some great company, maybe a drink, maybe it's a date, it's super easy to talk to each other, you lock eyes, there's a moment, you feel it, c'mon, you know. Yeah that's this song.

"Chili Town" is so good. I love that you can really hear their accents in this song. I love that. This is a nice chill down jam too. Really dreamy and hazy. I don't have much to say other than this is a solid jam for sure. Perfect.

"Bamboo" is one of the best songs on the record and it's a bit of a downer but still a great listen. The vocals again are so great on this track. That back and forth between Carlotta and Ana is perfect always. The bass is really great in this song too. It's really solid and steady and filling. I think I hear acoustic guitar at the end too and you can hear the slides and the little imperfections and it's great.

"San Diego" may have been the first song I heard off the record and it remains one of my favorites. Everything about this one rules. The vocals are blown out and when these ladies are giving it their all they really kill it. The fuzzy noodling on the guitar and grungy chords are so good. The vocals are my favorite in this song.

"And I Will Send Your Flowers Back" is more of a heartfelt song. More great vocal work with the single guitar and thumping of the kick drum for the beginning. Then the addition of the bass is so nice. Production is key in this one. The vocals get a little fuzzy and blown out and it adds to the feeling of the song so much. Another one of my favorites.

"I'll Be Your Man" is something I can picture hearing at a party where someone starts playing and then everyone joins in. Don't ask why. "I'll be your man." Really I will. I would love to see Hinds play this one live in a small intimate setting.

The record closes with "Walking Home" which brings us back to the surfy tropical vibe. This song is also the most dynamic on the record. There is a lot going on without being too much. This song also wraps up the entire album as far as feelings go. It' pretty vulnerable and completely fucking honest. I respect the shit out of these ladies. This band rules so much and it's so honest in their approach. From production, musicianship, to vocals and lyrics.

Hinds is playing a record release show tomorrow (1/6/16) in Brooklyn. Let's go!!
They are also setting off on a major tour later this month! Go support the hell out of them. They deserve it all!

Stream the whole record here: http://www.npr.org/2015/12/30/461281114/first-listen-hinds-leave-me-alone?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=nprmusic&utm_term=music&utm_content=2057

ps. This took me so long to write. I spelled so much shit wrong. Nothing to do with the review but I thought it was funny. 

Such Hounds "I've Been Lost" track Review

Such Hounds is about to release their debut full length record, Strangers, in April through SlyVinyl Records, but luckily enough we get this sweet teaser track, "I've Been Lost."

I read somewhere that someone described the band as "jangley," and I think that's perfect. Others say they sound like "Tom Petty snorkeling in bong water." That works too.

No matter what you want to call it, Such Hounds rule, and this track is a banger.

This track kicks so much ass. The vocals remind me of a punkier version of Bob Dylan, and I can't help but think of The Strokes. The riffs, the drums, and there is this sweet little piano slide about halfway through the song before the band kicks into the chorus. So damn good. The song is pretty minimal and sticks to a few core parts but they are so good. This songs gives me wicked perma-smile!

Maybe it's due to getting older and being scared out of my mind, but this song strikes a nerve in me hardcore! There's a line that's like, "I knew I had to do this all along," and, "lately I've been thinking about my life," and I feel that is something I've been telling myself for a while now.

We've all been lost, right. This song embraces that idea of being lost, confused, and not sure of what you're doing. And it's like, fuck it. Just keep doing it, man. It's a vulnerable feeling, being lost, but it's rad to listen to a song like this and think, everybody else is just as lost and fucked up as you. So it's all good.

Go stream this song on Noisey,
Pre-order the album through SlyVinyl.

Explosions In The Sky "Disintegration Anxiety" track review

Explosions In The Sky just announced the release of their first proper album since 2011's Take Care, Take Care, Take Care. The album titled, The Wilderness, will be released on 4/1 by Temporary Residence.

The album's announcement was accompanied by the first single, "Disintegration Anxiety." The song stays consistent with the constant upward motion the band's songs have been known for while taking a step in another more abstract direction.

The beginning of the song is this odd orchestra sounding, robotic, muffled rhythm part which then breaks into to this mathy bass line section. The drums kick in at this weird time and it almost doesn't sound like it fits, but it does, Oh, it does.

From there the tracks flows into to this great groove. It's kind of crunchy and the drums really stand out. The guitars have this flutter and jumbled rhythm to them. Like a constant skipping heart beat. This and some variations of it play out through the rest of the track. There is this sweet surge part with either keys, or a synth, or the guitar acting as one. It's really trance-like, but not in that weird dance, rave way. Not trance like that. It's, well, it's Explosions In The Sky. Do you need more?

Stream the song and watch this cool video below!
Pre-orders for the record are up now!

Raw Blow "Slow Choke" Review

With the recent news of the re-issue of this tape onto wax I figured it would only be right to write about this beast by Boston's powerhouse, Raw Blow. The band is made up of members of other local heroes Luau, Now Denial, and Furnace.

The tape which was first released by Social Cancer is now being pressed to wax by Tor Johnson Records.

The release starts off with the 90's inspired title track, "Slow Choke." The vocals really give me a Nirvana vibe and the song in general has a heavy post rock vibe. This may be my favorite track on the album. I love that riff at the beginning and how it comes back in later on in the song, and that little single note solo thing going on. Real nice.

"Buzzards" kicks in really heavy and reminiscent of Furnace, but with singing which I think rules. This song turns up the rocking and the post-rock vibes are strong here.

"Most Days" is similar to "Buzzards" but I get this weird post-pop-punk vibe in the beginning. It's weird. I can't help but think of a harder, heavier, less shitty New Found Glory. Maybe that doesn't make sense. I'm just giving it to you as I see it, man. The drumming kills me towards the end. There's this constant thumping with that sporadic guitar strumming and it's a cool contrast to the lyrics, "Most days go by so slow."

"All Kinds Of Garbage" is by far the heaviest song on the album, and it kicks so much ass. This one brings me back to the old days. Basement shows, sweating ass, screaming at the top of your lungs. This one is really chaotic too, but it always stays so concise in its mayhem.

The album closes with "Don't Try" which brings the album full circle as this song is similar in style to the opening track. There are these great "whooah" parts. This is the shortest song on the release too and it feels quick but nails it and just makes me want to rock it all a few more times.

Stream / buy / download the album on their bandcamp here.
Make sure you check out the Tor Johnson store and get the 7" bundle with a sweet new T-shirt.