Tag: vinylmag
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REVIEW: Versus the World’s Drink.Sing.Live.Love.
Hailing from Santa Barbara, Californ-I-A, pop punk rock band Versus the World has dropped their much-anticipated second album Drink.Sing.Live.Love. in early 2012 after a seven-year hiatus. Their first self-titled album was the more aggressive of the two; Drink.Sing.Live.Love. is calmer and more mellowed out. The first album made me think of Bayside and The Almost, while Drink.Sing.Live.Love. is more like Fall Out Boy, All Time Low, and Taking Back Sunday. Versus the World formed in the back of the Ataris-owned record store called Down On Haley in Santa Barbara, and they released their self-titled album on Kung Fu Records. They then toured with Suicide Machines, Bouncing Souls, The Lawrence Arms, Social Distortion, No Use For A Name, The Vandals, I Am The Avalanche, and the Vans Warped Tour while building up a fan base at the same time.
Drink.Sing.Live.Love. was produced by Thom Flowers (The Ataris) and mixed by Ian MacGregor (All American Rejects, Katy Perry), and soon after they were signed to Viking Funeral Records, a label started by Fletcher Dragge of Pennywise.
The album pulls from a couple of genres, mainly hardcore and punk. By far my favorite on the album is their hit, “A Fond Farewell” (the video can be found below). This particular song makes me think of Fall Out Boy, especially in the repetition of “Hallelujah, I ain’t young but I ain’t dead yet, I’ve got more promise than regret, so I sing, Hallelujah” towards the end. “The Kids are F*cked” is another one with high resemblance to FOB. The guitar riffs and drums are similar, and the vocals hold a resemblance to Patrick Stump, FOB’s front man. “Donner Pass” is yet another one of my favorites on the album- I love the tempo change in the middle, how angsty the vocals are at the end of the song, and how well it goes with classic punk drum beat. Following “Donner Pass”, “Angry February” goes into a slow, bluesy, rockabilly ballad, which is an excellent switch-up from the latter and compliments the album beautifully.
I am honestly in love with this album, even after listening to it on repeat while writing this review. I’d say that’s a good sign to all you readers, and I definitely recommend to give both this and their prior album a listen, (I love “Medillin” off the self titled album). They are on tour this fall with MxPx and Unwritten Law; check out some of the dates below and hit them up!
Tour Dates:
Versus The World Tour Dates (w/MXPX, Unwritten Law):
Oct 29 – Columbia, SC – New Brookland Tavern
Oct 31 – Charlotte, NC – The Milestone
Nov 1 – Baltimore, MD – Ottobar
Nov 2 – Allentown, PA – Crocodile Rock
Nov 3 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium
Nov 4 – Rochester, NY – Water Street Music Hall
Nov 6 – Cleveland Heights, OH – Grog Shop
Nov 7 – Detroit, MI – Shelter
Nov 8 – Chicago, IL – The Bottom Lounge
Nov 9 – St. Louis, MO – Firebird
Members:
Donald Spence- Vocals & Guitar
Chris Flippin- Guitar
Mike Davenport- Bass
Bryan Charlson- Drums
Interview with MONKEY from The Adicts!
The Adicts have FINALLY released their new album, All the Young Droogs today. ATYD is their 10th studio album, and it has arrived just in time for the band’s 35th anniversary.
For any droog newbies out there, The Adicts are an extremely influential upbeat punk rock band who got their start in the 70s (which you should be able to deduce, since I’ve just told you this is their 35th anniversary). By some accident of fate, I got the chance to have some quick words with Adicts singer Keith “Monkey” Warren, Continue reading “Interview with MONKEY from The Adicts!”
REVIEW: Adventures self-titled EP
Upon my first listen of Adventures self-titled EP, I realized that No Sleep Records had done it again. The album, which will drop September 11, instantly blew me away and surpassed any expectation I may have had.
The line-up of Adventures seems to go something like this:
-Three parts former Code Orange Kids members
-Two parts friends of previously mentioned members
What became of this five-piece collaboration was simplicity at its finest, ultimately birthing an indie masterpiece.
Adventures oozes heartfelt emotion throughout its entirety, starting with the first track titled “I Feel So Sure”. Reba Meyers takes control of the track from start to finish, effortlessly striking chords that ring all the way down to your insides.
The second track, “Walking”, starts off slow yet again and is a pleasant follow-up to “I Feel So Sure”. In “Walking”, Reba subtly introduces a vocal twist of melodic screams (and owns it, at that) that would be echoed in full force on the last track of the EP.
Once “Like Seed” came on, though I was saddened by the knowledge that I was three fourths of the way through the EP, I was delightfully met with a male vocal/female vocal match up that made it impossible to sulk. “I’m watching time age before me as my biggest fears face reality, I’ve never had as much confidence in anyone, and I have never been so scared” is a powerful line that Meyers sings in harmony before being met again with the male vocals and, simultaneously, ending the song out together with a perfect display of lyrical repetition. Out of the four tracks, this one hit the hardest with me. The band released the song to viewers online and can be heard here.
The last track off Adventures, “Reach Out To You”, would be considered the heaviest of the four tracks. The subtle melodic screams mentioned in “Walking” are predominant in this track, giving it a sound of its own and validating its need to be premiered as the first released track of the EP.
The anticipation of their self-titled EP has been mounting all over (and for good reason. Adventures was featured in in Absolutepunk.net’s top 100 of 2012, who spoke of the EP as a “fabricated blanket of harmonies and heartbreak, worthy of anyone’s sweater and Hemingway collection”.
Adventures’ sound could easily be related to fellow indie rockers, Tigers Jaw, or Lemuria. But, with a sound like theirs, you really don’t need to compare. When something works so well on its own it is best to take it for what it is and enjoy.
Don’t just take my word for it! Head on over to the band’s Facebook page and see for yourself.
Versus the World Q&A
SoCal rock band Versus The World have announced that will join MxPx Allstars and Unwritten Law on a fall U.S. tour in support of their new album, Drink. Sing. Live. Love., which was released on July 31 from Viking Funeral Records.
I got the chance to throw a couple of questions at vocalist/guitarist Donald Spence, and now you get the chance to read his answers. Congratulations, no need to thank me, and enjoy. Continue reading “Versus the World Q&A”
REVIEW: Lowtalker Marathon EP
Lowtalker is the combined effort of former Living With Lions, Misery Signals, and Comeback Kid members who will be releasing their debut EP, The Marathon, under No Sleep Records on September 18th.
Stu Ross, Matt Keil, and Casey Hjelmberg formed the band in 2008, naming themselves after a reference to the “Puffy Shirt” episode of Seinfield.
Ross, who was born in Canada, essentially fronts the band as the singer, while also playing the guitar and contributing as one of the songwriters. What he brings musically is matched by what he brings visually, having done the artwork for the first EP, People Worry About Everything. Keil plays bass, sings, and assumes the role of the mathematical brain in relation to the business. Hjelmberg plays the guitar (and takes credit for coming up with the band’s name).
Upon first listen to The Marathon, I realized that pinpointing a particular band to compare their sound to wouldn’t be an easy task. Their post-hardcore/punk roots definitely flare through, but each member brings something unique to create a fresh sound.
The EP kicks off with the song “Like Minnows”, a fast-paced, personal recount of seemingly personal experiences with life’s relationships, making it easy to relate to.
“Tensions” is the second track and has a sound of its own. If I were to choose, I would claim it as my favorite of them all. Repetitive hooks and catchy melodies get me every time.
Self-medicating seems to be an underlying theme throughout the EP, sounding loud and clear in the third track, “Prescriptions”. In our interview conducted earlier this month, Ross revealed that the song is based on a family member of his that has dealt with prescription drug abuse for the last 20+ years.
The EP ends with the appropriately-titled track “Chances” that sings of hopefully looking forward, letting go of your past, and the ghosts that can haunt you if you let them.
Lowtalker will be the hitting the road in October for a short stint of touring which includes a show in their hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Personally, this was a great listen from start to finish and will be on repeat for awhile in my musical library. What I find nice about this EP is that it can be enjoyed as a morning starter, a musical night-cap, and anything in between.
Be sure to check out Lowtalker. Catch a show and snag a copy of the EP once released later this month.
Dead Ellington’s Refuse EP proves punk is still alive
Alright, kids- we are taking it back a little bit and proving punk is not dead but still alive and kicking just as much as Henry Rollins. I present to you as evidence a punk band on the rise called Dead Ellington out of Boston, MA. Their EP entitled Refuse dropped this past May and was recorded in Asbury Park, NJ with Pete Steinkopf of The Bouncing Souls. The Refuse EP is Dead Ellington’s third release (the first of a three-part series). The group has the classic feel of 80s and 90s skate-punk complete with poppy snare, super toned distorted bass, great guitar riffs, and angsty vocals. Their first song, “The Question,” is reminiscent of older Rise Against. The next song, “College Credit,” is extremely catchy, with the chorus chanting “Are you like your friends, are you like your friends?” It’s definitely my favorite song off of the EP. Another great song is “Miracle,” with its slightly calmer tune and chorus of “I wish I was a f*cking miracle, a shooting star, I wish I was, I wish I was”.
A little background on the band- Dead Ellington recorded their first full-length album in 2011 titled Refuse Rethink Rebuild. It was recorded/produced by Big D and the Kid’s Table’s Steve Foote and mastered by Stephen Egerton of Descendents fame. The album hit number 19 on the CMJ Top 200 Chart. DE have played alongside Big D and the Kid’s Table, The Lawrence Arms, and The Loved Ones. Twice they have been a part of Vans Warped Tour and played many of Boston’s premiere rock clubs. Dead Ellington is here to put the message back in music, to raise awareness, and to question. They are Refusers. They are Rethinkers. They are Rebuilders.
Give them a listen, and be sure to check out our interview with them! I recommend this band to anyone that likes skate punk, or older pioneer punk in general. They are worth it!
Members:
Sal Ellington – Vocals, Acoustic, Samples
Jason Caira – Vocals, Lead Guitar
James Sullivan – Rhythm Guitar
Brandon Phillips – Bass Guitar
Craig Stanton – Drums
Quickfire Questions with Lowtalker
Lowtalker is made up of Stu Ross (vocalist/guitarist), Matt Keil (vocalist/bassist), Casey Hjelmberg (guitarist), and Branden Morgan (drummer). The band is made up of former members of such bands as Misery Signals, Living with Lions, and Comeback Kid (but if you’re assuming you know what they sound like from their resume, think again my friends).
I got the chance to catch up with bandmember Stu Ross, who was kind enough to answer my questions. Enjoy, and be sure to check out their upcoming release, Marathon EP, out September 18.
Vinyl Mag: First off, how old is everyone?
Stu Ross: I am 30 years old; Casey and Matt are both 27 and Brian, well, I’m not exactly sure. Judging by his moustache I’d say somewhere in his mid 40’s.
VM: Can I get a brief history of the band? How did you come together after your previous projects?
SR: Lowtalker started in 2008 with Casey and I trading “pop punk” demos. We both love the sound of bands like Saves The Day, Face To Face, and Lifetime. The first few demos that were traded were much poppier than the current sound of the band.
Misery Signals and Comeback Kid were on tour together when I was first introduced to Matt. He and I instantly got along really well; he and Casey were already great friends. So we had the three of us on board. We asked Branden from Misery Signals to drum for us; he accepted the position. From there we recorded People Worry About Everything and did some scattered touring in 2010.
When I left Misery Signals in 2010, I joined Vancouver punk band Living With Lions. My time in LWL put Lowtalker on the back burner. In late 2011 I left LWL. It opened up a lot more time for us all to work on Lowtalker. Later in 2011, Casey left CBK, then in 2012, oddly enough, I took on Casey’s old position playing guitar in CBK.
When it came time to start writing new Lowtalker material, we were up in the air about who we wanted to drum in the band. Casey and Matt’s good friend Brian Moen- who had played drums in their old band, Regret, and is currently drums for indie rockers, Peter Wolf Crier- jumped on board for the Marathon EP. Brian played a huge part in the project, not only playing drums, but also engineering the EP.
VM: Your music as Lowtalker is a big break away from that of each of your previous bands. Was that intentional/how did you end up with this sound?
SR: We wanted Lowtalker to be an outlet for us to play a style of music we all grew up on and still love to this day. Punk/pop punk/post hardcore- whatever you want to call it. We all listen to a wide array of music. Our influences are pretty obvious- all the 90’s punk and alternative bands you’d expect.
VM: I read that you do a lot of the artwork for the band, as well as a lot of songwriting (along with Matt). What other creative outlets/contributions does each member have/make?
SR: I do my best to do all the art-related things for the band. We all share a pretty similar idea of how we want the band to be aesthetically represented, so it’s pretty easy to agree on most things. Brian Moen, our new drummer, did the layout for the new EP. Everyone has a pretty equal hand in writing the music for the band. Matt also writes a good majority of the lyrics. All around, we all contribute pretty equally.
VM: What is your favorite song off of the Marathon EP? Why?
SR: My favorite song on the EP would either be “Tension” or “Barstow”. I say “Tension” because, in the demo version, Matt was the main vocalist; when we recorded it for the EP, I ended up singing the lead for the song. I was super stoked to do it, because I love the song, and I like it even more because I get to sing it [laughs].
My other choice is “Barstow”. It’s a really cool song. It’s much darker than any other material on the EP. Matt wrote the music and the lyrics. I think it has a really cool vibe to it. Definitely stands out from the rest of the songs in a cool way.
VM: Is there an overall theme for this album? If so, what is it? What is the song Prescriptions about?
SR: There isn’t really a re-occurring theme on the EP. 100% of the lyrics stem from personal experience. So I guess that would be it. The song “Prescriptions” is written about a family member of mine who has dealt with prescription drug abuse for the better part of the last 20 years. It’s a struggle to watch someone you love miss out on regular day-to-day experiences because of drug abuse. I feel like they have given up and fallen into a routine that will continue ‘til the end of their life. It’s a bummer. However, I feel like it’s something a lot of people can relate to these days.
VM: If you were a salesman, how would you sell your EP to someone who hasn’t heard you?
SR: Hmm, I guess I could say, ‘if you like rocking tunes, you’ll like this EP’ [laughs]. That’s all I got.
VM: What can people expect from your live shows?
SR: Well, you can expect to hear the majority of the songs from our two EPs. You can expect me to talk too much and for Matt to do his best to stop me from talking too much. You can also expect Casey to rock hard and look good, and also Brian will play the drums- he’s the drummer.
VM: What is next for the band?
SR: Ideally we’d like to do more touring in 2013. We’d also like to record our first full-length record in 2013. A lot of our productivity depends on our other band’s schedule. So, fingers crossed we’ll reach those goals next year.
Josiah Wolf of WHY? exclusive interview
Just got off the phone with Josiah Wolf, drummer from alternative (not to mention damn awesome) hip hop band WHY?. For those of you who are living under a rock, WHY? just released their Sod in the Seed EP on August 14, and they are set to release a full-length entitled Mumps, Etc. on October 8/9th. In the meantime, while you’re sitting around crossing days off of your calendar for Mumps, be sure to a) check out this loverly interview with Josiah below and b) head out to see the gents on their tour. And…go!
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Vinyl Mag: What has everyone been up to since Eskimo Snow?
Josiah Wolf: Liz [Hodson] and I have been working on music ourselves, so we did a bunch of touring. Yoni [Wolf] and I were working on putting together the new record and recording the new demos, and then recording this record. Basically just music- the business and the pleasure side.
VM: What is your favorite song on the Sod in the Seed EP?
JW: Personally, [“Sod in the Seed”] is not my favorite song. On the EP, I would say I like “The Plan” and “Twenty Seven.” But the EP songs are all kind of B-sides- they are whatever songs didn’t make it on the full-length.
VM: So would you say that Sod in the Seed is a pretty good taste of what to expect on Mumps, Etc.?
JW: I mean, yeah. We were originally going release the EP later, but then the album release date got pushed back, so we released Sod to have something to tour on. Mumps is the same style and everything, but – in my opinion – just better songs.
VM: How did you decide on “Jonathan’s Hope” as the single? Is it a good representation of Mumps, Etc.?
JW: I actually didn’t know that “Jonathan’s Hope” was going to be the single, but I’m glad it is. I originally thought that it was going to be “Strawberries.” Sean and Anthony made that decision. I was doing so much other stuff with the tour, etc. that it was a surprise to me. My personal favorite on Mumps is “Waterlines.”
VM: Are you planning on releasing more solo material?
JW: Yeah, eventually. This year, Liz and I have been working on some stuff. Liz has [also been working] by herself. It might be awhile, but as long as I get inspired I’ll keep doing it. I obviously identify more with my solo stuff because it is myself. As for which one I enjoy more? It varies.
VM: This is just something that I have always wondered- as an artist, are you able to listen to your own music recreationally, without critiquing it?
JW: When there is something new, I listen to it a lot. I can’t remove myself from it, no. Sometimes I go back and listen to an older [WHY?] record, because I’m not listening critically anymore. I don’t do that very often. But I always enjoy it. I listen to my record all the time.
VM: What is next for you and for WHY? What can we expect from this tour?
JW: A lot of touring the new record, through next year. We now have 6 people on stage, which is the most we have ever had. It’s a different sound than we had before…This is our best live set yet- people have responded really well.
Shut Up and Replay the Hits
How do you determine the size of a bang?
Do you judge it by its initial strike? By its immediate attention?
The size of a bang isn’t decided by the bang itself. It is decided by its echo.
LCD Soundsystem has created one of the biggest echoes in worthwhile, cult-followed contemporary music. As if mirroring the sequence of their individual songs, with each album, LCD Soundsystem’s impact built up and triggered a complete need in their fans. There’s the start; anticipation emphasized by foot tapping and bouncing; the hit of climax.. and POW POW instantaneous loss of control. As happens with every LCD song, listeners went full on I-don’t-care-what-you-think crazy by the explosion: this was happening.
But LCD Soundsystem did not lose control. They respectably chose to give it away while they were ahead— to the kids with impeccable taste trading in guitars for turntables. LCD Soundsystem’s climax was their end, marked by “the best funeral ever.”
Madison Square Garden.
Lasting three and a half hours, the show I wish I had the pleasure of attending most is being released with LCD Soundsystem’s biggest echo— their obituary documentary, “Shut Up and Play the Hits.”
It’s a chance for us all to relive their death and, respectively, their big bang. The documentary itself will cause you to fall in love with James Murphy and the small moments that represent the love buried in LCD Soundsystem. The film primarily focuses on James, but watching his connections with the band, I could see exactly why each member was so important. It isn’t all about James (even though directly, it is).
The sound in the movie is crisp and clean; it consumes you, thanks to James who mixed and edited it for the film. It was confusing- sitting quiet in a theater surrounded by a crowd, the sound, and the visuals of LCD Soundsystem. I almost felt rude- and definitely inhibited- by not singing and dancing. James almost made me believe I was there. Almost. I was there…but really, I wasn’t.
It’s a great gravestone. But their overall obituary is still being written, and the crying boy is probably still crying (on the inside, at least). The fans haven’t shut up, and the hits are still being played through nostalgic speakers.
It’s all flickers after fire. After their final concert came the one-night-only showing of “Shut Up and Play the Hits,” came the countless articles, came the gifs and fan-made posters, came the iTunes release earlier this week (thank God), will come the DVD release and bonus material October 9th. Like a musician storming off and throwing down the mic, the echo is far from silent— even though it’s been two years since the final show.
The scenes in “Shut Up and Play the Hits” weave in and out of their absolute party at Madison Square Garden, James Murphy’s interview with the equally pretentious yet brilliant Chuck Klosterman (hey, it makes for great footage), and moments of James’ new life— taking out his French bulldog whilst in a dress shirt and pajama pants… making coffee…shaving his face…looking bewildered by the sudden insanity of being normal.
But James Murphy will never truly be normal.
What makes an artist great isn’t simply their product. And once a product is completed, their work is not finished. Instead it lingers on with its effects, and that is the only true way to analyze its importance.
And even though LCD Soundsystem’s musical career has ceased, the embers still flicker.
The effects of LCD Soundsystem go past their music, or their documentary, or their story— though these things are all imperative to their worth. Their relevance will never die because their sound was modernly reminiscent, their lyrics were timelessly significant with wit and wisdom, and their works never trailed off into destruction. They were good throughout their existence, and then they stopped. So they will always be good. The world of pop culture and music is always being trumped by newer ideas from younger generations. James recognized this, but refused to let his ideas or work become dated.
Instead, he chose to sit back with his French bulldog and live on in glorified remembrance.
LCD Soundsystem fans are saved for the moment— “Shut Up And Play The Hits” is still sounding its echo, and we’re still lingering in awe of the bang’s aftermath. But someone great is gone, and the world somehow keeps spinning with lovely weather, coffee that isn’t bitter, and new ideas.
It’s a strange ending, but the echo keeps on.
…And it keeps coming till the day it stops.
REVIEW: Christian Bitto’s “The September Call-Up” EP
Christian Bitto, a self-named musician from Philadelphia, PA, is a new artist to watch in the indie/rock scene.
While mainly acoustic-driven, he is accompanied in his live shows by bandmates Niall Hood on bass and Jesse Gimbel on drums to create an intimate trio that can range from quiet, soft, finger-picked melodies to emotional rock.
After giving Bitto’s EP, The September Call-Up, a listen, his voice instantly reminded me of Oliver Sim from London’s indie band The XX, while the instrumentals made me think of softer Brand New and Jimmy Eat World, as well as the clean reverb affect given by Chris Isaak’s Gretsch 6120.
The opening song, “Next to You”, has great vocals- pure and in its simplest form- guitar with slight distortion and simple chords, and a great bass and drums to back and compliment it. I love songs like these. It reminds me of a great CD I got as a kid called Sweet Lowland by Dodd Ferrelle, so in a way it evokes a bittersweet nostalgia for me. The next is called “Daylight”, and it’s just Bitto himself and a guitar. It’s a lovely, soft fingerpicked acoustic song… “the glimmer of light that shines in the dark, is that your beating heart, your beating heart? “ is saddening in a way. The final song in the EP, “Mickey’s Song”, is another fingerpicked song which seems to be about him traveling and away from a loved one. Beautiful song.
It was a perfect mix in my opinion- very clean, calming, and simple. Listening to this EP for the first time during a docile summer thunderstorm in a local coffee shop made the atmosphere that much more enjoyable and relaxed.
I definitely recommend to VM readers and music lovers to keep up with him and his band and see what these guys have to offer.
To check out the EP right now, visit Bitto’s Bandcamp page. Also be sure to follow him on Facebook!