Small Circle "Spinning" and "Mornings" Track Review

Maybe you remember reading my review of Melatonin by Small Circle, the beautiful first ep from this Philadelphia 4-piece, and maybe you don't, but either way the band is releasing their debut full length, Cyclical, on Flower Girl Records on September 8 and we are lucky enough to already have two tracks to taste before the record drops.

"Spinning" is technical, stacked, ballad of a song about putting in non-reciprocated effort into a relationship but sticking it out anyways. Cam Boucher and Marissa D'elia share dual vocal duties and the contrast between the monotone style of Boucher and the beautiful tone of D'elia during the chorus line, "I'll be just fine," is really emotional. The instrumentation does a great job raising the atmosphere and creating this hopeful feel around this awful experience. This song alone makes me very excited for this record.

"Mornings" for one reason or another reminds me of the closing credit song from the HBO series, The Wire, and I love it. The song has a sad 60's vibe to it. It's filled with that feeling of staying up until early mornings, or pulling an all-nighter for no reason, alone in our room with the lights bright, a mess on the floor, creating something or waiting for nothing, unaware of the time or fully aware and not caring. It's somber and it's wanting and it's wonderful.

Cyclical comes out on September 8 on Flower Girl records. Preorder it now!

Small Circle hit the road with Remo Drive and McCafferty this September.

09/05 - Philadelphia, PA @ PhilaMOCA
09/06 - Asbury Park, PA @ Asbury Park Brewery
09/07 - Brooklyn, NY @ The Knitting Factory
09/08 - Kingston, NY @ BSP
09/09 - Boston, MA @ Sonia's

Cataldo 'Keepers' Review

Brian Anderson’s new record Keepers under the name Cataldo seems like something we’ve heard before only this time it’s different. Like listening to someone else read a book you’ve already read. It’s familiar but it’s also completely redone and original. Sitting somewhere between 80’s pop, Deathcab For Cutie, and the nostalgia of Jr. High dances, Keepers is all at once full of sadness, bright pop, and awkward slow dances with pretty people, and sweat palms on hips and shoulders.

Ben Gibbard of Deathcab fame sings on the album’s opener “Room Without A Flame” and the chord that connects both Anderson and the indie rock staple is both connected and severed. Yes there are great similarities between the two smart-indie rockers, but where Gibbard is subtle, shy, and soft, Anderson breaks through with a soft grit in the vein of Kristian Matsson’s The Tallest Man On Earth.

On the personal “Person You’d Be Proud Of” Anderson creates a beautiful and hopeful atmosphere drenched in teen movie, pop movements. Similar nostalgia stems from my personal favorite track, “Little Heartbeat.” The song is fun, playful, and it’s a time machine in song. A nervous fumbling of hands and lips in the school gymnasium, standing shy against the wall, moving closer in a crowd of friends, popular girls, sad lonely boys, and drunk chaperones. Fast pecks, a quick glance, a giggle, noticeable and unrecognizable. We are having fun here. 

That’s what makes Keepers so great. On “Your Love Has Got me Running Home (To You)” Anderson is restless but also on the line and settling down with love, and on “A Short Goodbye To No One In Particular” Anderson relives past memories and letting go among string arrangements and heartfelt vocals. Even through the heavier parts, Anderson keeps the record moving and it makes the darker parts feel like a passing breeze. It’s the small quirks and pieces that make the record. It’s the fun nostalgia. It’s the subtle build-ups. It’s the memories built and remembered. It’s the keepers.

Metz "Cellophane" Track review

The first single off Metz’s forthcoming album, Strange Peace, is an absolute headbanger. The band never shy’s away from the noise and on “Cellophane” they bring it in by the truck full. 

Singer / guitarist Alex Edkins creates a bleak and helpless picture of being buried alive, wrapped in plastic. “How will I know it’s real,” sings Edkins within explosive drum hits and noise drenched, sharp guitar riffs. It’s complete and utter despair while remaining as defiant as ever. 

“Cellophane” is face melting, large, and noisy while managing to stay melodic at times, and more structured than some of the bands older works.

Strange Peace was recorded live to tape by Steve Albini at Electrical Audio Studios in Chicago and it will be out September 22 on Sub Pop.

Check out the track below!

Sorority Noise "No Halo" Track review and cover of Brand New's "Me vs. Maradona vs. Elvis"

Sorority Noise will be releasing their newest record, You're Not As ___ As You Think, on March 17 via Triple Crown Records. The band's first single, "No Halo" is an intimate and heart wrenching song about dealing with the passing of a friend, something I can personally relate to all too much and too often. The song starts off with an upbeat guitar line reminiscent of some of the best early 2000's emo acts like Taking Back Sunday and Brand New. Cam Boucher finds himself set in the emotional turmoil of dealing with loss of a friend and not being able to be there and battling the urge to leave himself as he sings, "When God called you to fulfill a vacancy I tried to see why it wasn't me."
In my opinion this is the strongest and most vulnerable I have seen the band thus far and I thank you for that , Cam.
Keep on!



I mentioned Brand New earlier and it fits perfectly as Sorority Noise just released a cover of "Me vs. Maradona vs. Elvis" for the purpose of getting people involved and to donate to the ACLU. The cover is a beautifully haunting stripped down version that Cam is so good at producing, and it just so happens to be one of my favorite Brand New tracks.



Both of Cam's bands, Sorority Noise and Old Gray will be donating all proceeds from sales on their bandcamp to the ACLU. Please make sure to donate and buy yourself some great music from great humans in this critical time in our existence. Also make sure to go see Cam perform with Jeff Rosenstock, Ben Hopkins of PWR BTTM, and Eskimeaux in Brooklyn on February 3 to benefit CAIR-NY (Council on American-Islamic Relations).