I Am Going To Die+Dad by Roof Doctor

I'm Going To Die, by Roof Doctor

1. Ocean City
2. Thanks For The Blankets
3. Mark Dog
4. I Am Going To Die
5. Dishwasher with a Dishwasher
6. Family: Mark Do Better
7. Soda Jerk
I'll apologize in advance for the longish review, I had a lot to say about this release.
I recently did a review on June, Roof Doctor's first release, and I wanted to finish up by doing Roof Doctor's other releases. Now, let's have it known June was a completely acoustic release, and I'll tell you what, I was in for a pleasant surprise when "Ocean City" opened up the song with some nice Saxophone and easy guitar playing. What you have returning in I Am Going To Die is a few aspects seen in June. One is that nasally singing voice from Mark Harper. I'm not saying this is a bad thing at all, however. I was talking with Kasey, who also does reviews for this Blog, and he stated that he for one enjoyed these vocals. I for one did grow accustomed to Mark's singing through June. Anyway, for me it was an acquired taste, but I love it. Another thing brought back would be some of the songs from Roof Doctor's first release, June, such as "Thanks For The Blankets" and "Dishwasher with a Dishwasher".
Maybe it was just me because I heard "Thanks For The Blankets" from June, but the addition of the drums, guitars, bass, and sax just made an already great song, so much better. Plus, "Thanks For The Blankets" is one of those songs with lyrics that go with my life right now.
There is definitely an Emo twist to the music this time around, the simple-yet-well done guitar parts adding so much to the songs. The addition of the Sax brings around a Jazz feel, and the drums seem to roll with that in some songs.
Run times are a little longer on this release, but that's not bad in anyway. I had to download and re-listen to this release multiple times because the sweet Jazz and sad emo put me into a trance-like state, making me space out for half of many of the songs. While June seemed like the kind of album that should be the soundtrack to Juno or some other teen-coming of age movie, this seems to me like the kind of album you put on in the background of taking a bath, taking a nap on a summer day, or kissing your girlfriend in a car or whatever. It's chill.
Just going to point out some favorite part. "I Am Going To Die". Alright, sorry, but if you put Gang vocals into the "I love you song" by Barney, I'll freaking love it. I love the addition of Gang Vocals towards the end of "I Am Going to Die", which seems a little repetitive through the entire song, even though it's the good kind of repetitive, like "Imagine" by John Lennon repetitive.
"Soda Jerk" has a quartet kind of thing going on, and, as a choir student/barber shop quartet lover ,this is awesome for me to see. You've got this sick bass singer and tenors and probably alto or sopranos doesn't matter and then there is clapping and it's good okay.
Just going to point out least favorite parts: "Family: Mark Do Better" I can see this is supposed to be a lyric-heavy song, but clocking in at 6:29, it does get a little repetitive. And not exactly in a good way. In a back of the bar Jazz band playing kind of way, still good, but not really an attention grabber. However they tie the song together in the end with a buildup, even if it is a little too late into the song.
In all, yeah. Make out with your girlfriend to this, or something. It's chill. I dig, recommend.
Favorite Track: "Soda Jerk" "I Am Going To Die"
Bandcamp

Dad, by Roof Doctor

1. Dad. (Dad is off the upcoming full length release Mobile Freedom Home)

"Dad" was released over 2 years after June, Roof Doctor's first release. If you showed me June Roof Doctor, and "Dad" Roof Doctor, I'd have a hard time realizing they are the same band. "Dad" has a chill Emo aspect to the song, and with the lack of Sax, it's almost like they are heading back to the indie-emo sadnesscore aspect as seen in their first release. Which would be totally fine with me, I loved June. There is a spacey-ish feel to "Dad" the kind you get from an indie band trying to be a shoegaze band, if you know what I mean. I for one enjoy "Dad'. Not my favorite of Roof Doctor's, that would have to be either "Roof Doctor" from June, "Soda Jerk", from I Am Going To Die.  

"Dad", however, is a perfect precursor to what is to come for Roof Doctor, and I for one can't wait to see what Roof Doctor has in store. 

June, by Roof Doctor

June, by Roof Doctor

1. Thanks for the Blankets

2. Dishwasher with a Dishwasher

3. When I was really losing it

4. I think it went quite alright

5. Ocean city May 2011

6. Roof Doctor

7. Losing Matt and leaving school

I found Roof Doctor on Bandcamp by searching Emo music, but the review I'm doing now is of Roof Doctor's release, June, which is not Emo in anyway. June is Roof Doctor's first release, entirely acoustic, guitar and vocals. I feel like this entire album should be something on a "growing up teenager" type of movie, like Juno, or something. The guitar is well done, nothing just "Same for chords every song", and the lyrics are personal and deep. The Vocals are a little nasally , but that's fine because it all fits.  One good thing about this release is that the songs aren't all five or so minutes long, like I've usually seen with this genre. The songs are around 2 minutes long on average, the longest song being Losing Matt and Leaving School, clocking in around 3:16.  Everything about this release screams indie acoustic sadness. The kind of music you listen to after a breakup and cry, which, I think may be the point. It made me a little sad to listen to.
Favorite Track for guitar: Losing Matt and Leaving School
Favorite Track overall: Thanks for the Blankets
Bandcamp

Mobile Freedom Home by Roof Doctor

Mobile Freedom Home | Roof Doctor

1. Mobile

2. Bulldog

3. When I Was Really Losing It

4. Way Too Long

5. Every Three Months

6. Dad

7. Freedom

8. She Can't Jump

9. Bottle it Up

10. Home

Mobile Freedom Home by Roof Doctor is a release i've been waiting for for quite a while, so expect a more in-depth rant than my usual “I don't know what I'm doing” reviews. I reviewed Roof Doctor's first two releases a while ago, and fell in love with them. RD's first release was a fully acoustic jam that I listen to to this day. Their second release showed capability as a full band, and was a lighter, art pop folk jazz mixture that sounding amazing. Mobile Freedom Home shows an ambient rock folk pop. Production is just as on the last two releases: very well done and radio worthy. The overall tone of this release is still the same sad that I love, but with a feeling of accomplishment, or of happiness, but then again maybe I'm just searching.

They toned down the use of horns and brass instruments that was seen in I Am Going To Die, which isn't exactly that bad of a thing. Drums are a fun little thing to listen to. As a person who's drumming skills extend to me playing blast beats in a rock/powerviolence band, I can't exactly get too in depth with a drum review, but I really love a lot of the accents that are used, such as in “Bulldog”. Bass is actually heard in this release, and it's melodic grooves help carry the song along. As most bass does, it's just there, and even though it can be heard, it of course doesn't stick out amazingly. Guitar is in the fashion of a mixture between emo/twinkle/indie that just makes me nod my head in happiness.

Cool thing: we get to see another version of “When I Was Really Losing It”, a track from Roof Doctor's first release, June. This was something that I really enjoyed hearing, and something I bet everyone else enjoyed hearing.

The finisher track on the release, “Home”, is a ballad of a sad track. Banjo is definitely heard in this song, along with all of the other stuff seen in the release. I feel like it's the perfect finisher to Mobile Freedom Home. I feel that the entire release really flows well and that the songwriting abilities of this band is something amazing. Mobile Freedom Home Is more than what I was expecting, and I was so happy to see that it was finally released. Check it out, it's free to download.

Favorite track: Home

Bandcamp

My Band by Roof Doctor

Roof Doctor + My Band

1. The Abyssal Plane

2. Wildwood

3.  David Haynes

4. Smotheredly

5. White Gold

6. Trust No One

Roof Doctor is probably the band that has developed me as a person the most emotionally, so seeing that they dropped a new release brought a long overdue smile to my face. Roof Doctor is the kind of band that you just want to lay down and die to, and if you've been around since the beginning of this band, you'll be as excited about this release as about all of the others. Not sure why PA has so many good bands. It seems so many good/great bands just congregate in a few areas. PA, Chicago, all of Texas, etc. 

Anyway.

Mark's vocals/lyrical ability has matured amazingly, and the band is almost completely reinvented from it's last releases. Breaking the trend of redoing an old song, My Band brings to the table 6 amazing new songs. So check these songs out, I can't even stress how amazing they are. This band has just never disappointed me and I'm so happy that they exist. The album is currently up for $4, and I'm going to make sure I get it whenever I get a chance, but as always you can stream the album on their bandcamp. Please check this amazing band out. 

Favorite song: White Gold

Bandcamp  

...After the Fact by Hit Home

Hit Home + ...After the Fact

1. Care

2. worn

3. Picturesque

4. Opaque

5. Augury

6. Someday Find the Words

7. Unsunset

8. Lackluster

9. Vernate

10. To Heart

So I've been praying for a Hit Home full length since I first hit play on Happily Ever... This band is just beyond good. The songwriting ability of these guys is ridiculous. How can an album be so dramatically sad sounding yet so beautiful and inspiring and poetic at the same time? Guitars dance over struggling vocals, dizziness inducing drum patterns, and some of the best bass lines out there. This band just frustrates me beyond belief because they're just so good. If I could name two bands that have made me who I am today, they would be Roof Doctor and this fucking band. 

Also I'll add that it was super freaking cool to hear a new slightly different rendition of "Unsunset" which is from their split with Buttons and Mindy. (Those strumming patterns at 3:05 just make me shiver and smile) 

Check this god damn band out for the love of the god damn band. 

Favorite track: I for once can't say I have a favorite track

Bandcamp

One time I was scheduled to play a show with Hit home in Saint louis and for about a month I was beyond freaked out at the thought that I'd get to play with my favorite band. But sadly they had to drop because of some issue. 

Homesick by Flower face

 //Flower Face||Homesick\\
     1. Bedhead
     2. Blue
     3. Cloud Factory
     4. Quinoa
     5. Linger
     6. Easy
     7. Homesick
     8. Songbird (Sing Me To Sleep)
     9. Bedroom Ghost
     10. Anemia






Available off of Close Quarters Coalition and Ozona Records, Ruby McKinnon's debut release, Homesick, paints a sad, dreamy landscape. Emotion filled, Ruby's voice is set back in the mix, filled with delay, and relaxed. Sweet, soft music accompanies her, leaving behind a mellow feel as each measure passes by. Vocal overlays and differentiating instruments make an interesting feel to the release, taking a step away from the solo act release feel. Song run-times vary and the release as a whole feels like one long release (which normally would be bad, but in this instance seems to fit greatly)  I wouldn't classify this as a lo-fi release, even though that's what it is, because the songs seem to fit the recordings almost better than I've ever heard. And while I'm not the biggest fan of female vocalists, Ruby's voice is like sweet, well, music to my ears.

The songs hold a tinge of innocence to them, yet the lyrics are deep and dark at times, adding an extra layer of thought and feeling to the release. This is the kind of folk/acoustic music that is reminiscent of old fashioned emo music, before everyone decided to mix it with cathartic vocals. Really just sad feeling. I don't know how else to describe it, it's just sad sounding. Something that you should check out, up there with the best acoustic releases I've ever heard (Grady Drugg, June by Roof Doctor).

Get it, without a doubt, get it.

Baby, Make it easy: 

No one's gonna die for you

Favorite song: Cloud Factory

Bandcamp

Close Quarters Coalition 

Ozona Records