Unborn, by Glasir

//Glasir||Unborn\\

1. Precipice

2. Until We Dissolve

3. Into the Void

Crashing drums, flowing guitar, and dark basslines make up Unborn, by Glasir. This three song release clocks in at over 22 minutes, and the band throws repetitive, mind-dulling song structure, into what could quite possibly be the most melancholy sound a group of people can make. These instrumental tracks give a feeling of finality to the listener, and the dark and growing song songs are
definitely something anyone who is a fan of the genre could get into. The final track, "Into the Void" is the paramount of the release, giving a good sense of a closing that makes you want to start the entire trip over again. While usually I would get bored of a release that seems to never end, what is going for works so well, and is so listenable, I would recommend this to anyone looking for new music. Being able to display amazing emotions without words has always been what can make or break an instrumental band, and Glasir 100% knows how to make it. You can download this release for Free of their bandcamp, but if you like it, I would throw some $$$ their way. I can't wait to hear more from this band.
Glasir


Favorite Track: Into the Void.
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Bandcamp

When Skies Are Gray by When Skies Are Gray

/when skies are gray by when skies are gray\

1. Her face in the grass

2. We passed each other quietly 

3. Wayfarer

4. Bloodletting

5. The widows walk

6. The things I once cherished, now indiferrent

7. Subdue and consume 

8. The tundra of my heart, my tired frozen heart

9. It's certain that I'm dying

10. Renoir, 1920

Dark emo violence// melodic emo pop punk outfit, When Skies Are Gray, shows off it's gritty, teeth grinding emotion that brings your blood to a depressing boil. The cathartic yelling over catchy emo Pop punk instruments smash your face while the melodic, soothing instrumentals make your head away back and fourth. I can see this as something I can come back to over and over again.

Everything beautiful is gone

Woah there grab your sing along pen and write in your diaries, because this shit makes you wanna think about how shitty things are while at the same time thinking about how much you don't care when really maybe things aren't 100% bad but you don't think about that because you're listening to this guy say everything you're thinking but because you aren't good at putting into words what you're thinking the way you want to, you can't say, you'll go post these lyrics on Twitter and tumblr and others will feel what you're saying  but will have no idea what you're talking about//referencing so people will think you're deep and you'll get that cool girl/guy you've had a crush on forever to think maybe you aren't just another SnapBack wearing fuck boy so you guys will date and things will be great at first but after a few months things will go south and you'll start listening to that basement album but you feel so much about her and also hate being alone so you'll stay together and be in a toxic relationship that doesn't help either of you so you'll get with some of your friend and make a band when you guys break up and try to make it sound like this album but you'll realize when skies are gray is too good of a band to recreate and also your drummer probably sucks a lot so rinse and repeat. 

Anyway, this album is really really great and it was released through mayfly records so check that out, good label and I would love to see these guys live and you should get this album. 

Favorite track: we passed each other quietly 

Bandcamp

Me when I put this album on

eunoia by Invalids

Eunoia \\ Invalids

Sherman is connector

It's a pipe bomb jobriath

diastole

J Whiting From Our Hearts We Send Thee

School Social

Ursine Valor

Far Away Cranes

Steinborgium

I'd Rather be Driving; Skyscrapers

And Was it Worth it in the end?

Hey guys it's been a while seems like just yesterday it was winter and I paid more attention to music in the scene so lets try our hand at this here we go:

2012 release from the math rock band Invalids is chock full of guitar tapping, time signature changes, and other cool things that will make fans of the genre ooze with ridiculous tunings. Production is hella tight and song length is long enough to make this release the time length of about 420 emo releases or 666 youth crew 2011 demos. Here is a playbook replay of each and every single song without me leaving out any of them:

Sherman is connector:

x(9x+/- (-)3^4) / 5x

You've got all of the dum dum dum dum dum dum doo doo's that you could ever want, with the guitars sounding like slappy basses and the basses sounding like another guitar probably idk.

KISSED HER IN HTE CARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

It's a pipe bomb jobriath:

2+2=5

O K so take a slow song that is on the radio nowadays and then throw it away and then you've got this song and you're happy about it because it's cool and look there is some twinkly parts and did he just say faculties who knows and who cares listen to that snare work.

And that's all of the songs no questions asked or else.

Favorite Songs: Sherman Is Connector but Diastole is real good too so just listen to this ok

Bandcamp

Farmhouse Sessions by Those Dirty Eyes

1. Delta Queen

2. My Baby

3. Old Alabama

4. Black Lung

5. Tree Swinger

Grab a beer and ruffle your beard, delta blues boys Those Dirty Eyes just released Farmhouse Sessions, which was in fact, recorded in a farmhouse. Listening to these five songs makes me think of the title sequence to some B-rate tv show about detectives in the swamplands. A two piece band, guitars are filled with slides, bends, and heavy distortion. Drums are heavy and hard-hitting, and vocals (Both members) are cathartic; not yelling but strained, raspy singing. Exactly the kind of vocals delta blues music should have.
There is a lo-fi aspect to the music, and that's okay because it fits the band perfectly. I don't think they would sound the same if they went and recorded in some high-quality studio. It's a quick release, and
just something to pop in and listen to, so check it out.

Favorite track: Black Lung
Bandcamp

Still by Nouns

NOUNS---------STILL

1. Fourteen

2. I feel as though I've failed

3. Soccer ball

4. fox wound

5. closer

6. wreck

7. ghost legs

8. little slugger

9. ski mask

10. daydream

11. I still want to make you proud

12. but I can't stay here

Arkansas band Nouns released Still a while back, and this is a quick look at what is one of the more notable releases of 2014. After Still Bummed, their first major release, the band had a lot to live up to, and they met the bar and just raised it higher. With personal lyrics, wonderful sound through hi end lo-fi recordings, and great vocal types, this band throws a wide variety of indie space-rock/emo music into the world. The twelve songs each hold a personal feeling, meaning that there is not a dull moment on this release that incorporates so much sound. In all 12 of the songs, the overall vibe is a more spacey/withdrawn/ghost like vibe that really sounds amazing. Vocals are removed in the release in most parts, and I think that the recording style fits the music so well. This is a release that you need to check out, it's one everyone needs to listen to.

Favorite track: daydream

bandcamp

Interview with Joshua Milligan of Waybridge Records

A long time ago I sat down with Joshua Milligan of the Saint Louis Missouri record Label, Waybridge Records ( Brazil, american merlin, something stranger, etc.), and he gave me this interview that I then lost in the confines of my computer. Well I found it and here it is, in all of it's glory minus a question or two that wouldn't make sense any more based on time. 
Waybridge is one of those labels that I listen to a lot, and that puts out quality music because they put in quality time and effort. So check them out.

What inspired you to start Waybridge Records, and why the name?
I wouldn't say one single event helped start Waybridge Records, but a collection of three things happening in my life at around the same time. The first one was my exposure into the DIY scene through my work with the Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center. For those of you unfamiliar, the Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center is a DIY venue down here in St. Louis that just celebrated its’ 20th anniversary. 20 god damn years, most all ages venues shut down after a year or so, but the LNAC has not only survived but thrived in the scene and given me a great background to see how bands have been somewhat successful in this scene through what they do and how they act. At around
the same time before Waybridge started there was a demise of a relationship that left me in a pretty bad place. If you’ve listened to the J Michael Straczynski piece that La Dispute did on their Here Hear stuff, this was ultimately where I was in life. Broke, alone and ultimately self destructive,
I needed a project to help bring me out of the depths of what I was wallowing in, so I set my mind more and more into the DIY scene. The catalyst however was definitely an album I got to release called 2303 by a great friend of mine Jimmie (American Merlin.) I am not lying when I say “Holy Sung” is simply magnificent and a lot of the reason Waybridge started. I listened to this album
and thought about how no one really gave a shit about it, and I just thought “hey, all these bands are doing this, I’m going to give it my shot” and low and behold I got to release American Merlin’s 2303 as my third “official release.” As far as the actual name goes, Waybridge is the street Jimmie Atchley of American Merlin and I grew up together on. We fell distant for a while through our teen years but after seeing him perform at LNAC, we got to be closer and it seemed appropriate.


What was the first release you ever put out?


The first “official” release under the Waybridge name was a demo album called Stranger Demos. It was a friend of mine named Aaron’s demo that just so happened to time up with when I wanted to start releasing things on Feb. 7th 2014. We also released a free CDR with any purchase of the band Dog Brain’s two EPs., followed soon by American Merlin’s album. As far as the first release I was ever a part of, I had helped Beau Diamond release his solo EP after having a falling out with a band he was the bassist for. He had all this acoustic music written, we just needed a way to release it. This was before I started Waybridge, but it did help me figure out what to do and what not to do.
(Fun fact: Some of the copies of the Beau Diamond EP accidentally have Tim McGraw’s “When the Stars Go Blue” as the final track. Yeah, I messed that one up. Also, if you have one of those EPs, I will pay you $5 to get one back.)


You work really hard with what you do at Waybridge, no one can ever argue against that, are there any achievements that you're super proud of? That you can just think of and be like "Hey cool I did that."
I guess as far as “achievements” go, hell, still being around is an achievement. We celebrated our 7 month not too terribly long ago, and there was a time where I was “oh shit, this may be the end” right after The 92s release. I was in a horrible spot mentally, and those who trusted me most I ended up breaking. I still can’t forgive myself for what I have done to that person. Not to go into detail and try to get a “oh woe is me, feel sorry for me” reaction, but depression is all too real, there were times where I just wouldn't get up and shower or just lay in my bed for days without doing anything, thinking what is the point. Luckily I have a ridiculously supportive mother who helped get
me the help I needed, and I am doing better everyday, this is my purpose. So, getting through that, and being able to not only have 12 releases under my belt so far, but having an extensive list of upcoming future releases is an achievement to me. As far as a “hey cool, I did that” release, I’m coining a phrase called ‘Proud Dad Syndrome’ where I just go on and on about how good every release goes. I guess I get that way the most with the band called CUTTERS release
called We Are The Quarry, first, they rip easily one of the best bands I've had submitted to me, along with Pierce (Lightning of Cutters) being one of the best dudes I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. He had contacted me and a friend of mine named Trey (Hanawalt, of Lost State Records) about both of us releasing WATQ on cassette, and a third label doing it on CD. I was more than down, unfortunately I ended up having to fall through due to the equipment problems/ health problems so Trey did the release alone, and kicked its’ ass. If you aren’t checking out Lost State Records, go do it now. Solid dudes. A month or so later, I was chatting with Pierce about a different NYC band or something and just randomly asked “hey, so what happened with the CD release” and the third label had also fallen through. This was around the same time I was picking things back up, so I offered to do it and they said yes. I was super proud to be a part of that, and pick myself up after stumbling and falling. I was so proud of this release that I traded some with a guy I had met named Kyle (McCoy, of Close Quarters Collation) who traded me some of his first release. I was thinking “FINALLY MY RELEASE IS GOING TO LOOK BETTER!!!” Nope, Kyle fucking blew me out of the water, that’s another great label that you need to be checking out.

Do other people work at Waybridge, or do you do it all by yourself?

I guess I am technically the only one who “works” at Waybridge all the time, certain releases have had certain help though. Matt Washausen of WH Studios has done a lot of artwork for us, along with Mischa from Galactic Fish, and we just reached an agreement with another artist by the name of Jake Hunn. David Fernandez (of Old State) is my designated “quality control” he’s pretty much the deciding vote on a band if I am on the fence about something Beau Diamond (of Collective Dream Band) and Ben Johnson (of Old State) have also helped do a lot of the physical labor involved in the releases, but as far as being there 24/7/365, it is only me. Would you consider it a full time job?
Very much so. Honestly, I don’t want to factor in how many hours I've put into a release compared to the amount of money I get because I know it can't be more than $1 an hour. I would easily make a lot more money working  full time at McDonalds or some other minimum wage job. It is about the intrinsic (is that the word? idk man it’s 2 am) value and knowing that even though I am constantly broke through this project, at the end of the day I would not be doing anything else and I'm giving it my all.

What's your favorite part of running a label?

Too many to count really. This may sound dumb but my Instagram bio literally reads “I get to hang out with my friends for living”. This is true, whenever I say I’m doing work, I’m going to a show or setting up a show or releasing a new band, it’s what I would be doing anyway, but I actually am trying to survive off of it. Also, Kasey and I were discussing this not too long ago just about making the friends you make when touring as compared to making friends in school or through “normal” means. Some of my best friends I’ve met online, they either are in a fantastic band or run a fantastic label.

What is some criteria that a band needs to meet in order for it to get onto Waybridge?

There are many factors, the first one being “do they follow our mission statement?” Which was a document I drafted in August once we started really going balls to the wall with releases after I got through the time when we almost shut down. To give the Readers Digest version, I will just say that what it does is talks about who we are and what we do, along with why we do it. Everything you do as a band/label/artist/human being in general, produces an effect, what effect are you trying to achieve through your actions? At Waybridge we are all about bringing about positive change. Again, this is just a synopsis, and I highly recommend you read it on our Facebook page, or he'll contact me personally and I will give you it. The second being a separate motto called “make it so you’re missed”. This motto came from a conversation with Tom (Hill, of LNAC) talking about a band I don’t even remember the name of, and said something to the tone of “if that band played its’ last show, two other bands would come up and there would be no loss to the music scene.”
This conversation put into words things I had been thinking but just could not phrase right. Whenever I listen to a band I think “what if they weren’t here? Would this be easily replicated?” I am glad to say that the releases I’ve put out, I believe couldn’t be replicated. Does that make it true? Probably not, but as Homer Simpson once said about art, “we can all have an opinion on why something is terrible and still be completely right.”

You go around on tour a lot with the bands that you've signed bands that you play in, is there one memory of a tour stop/ a show in general that you love most of all?

Well first there’s an important distinction, I do not “sign” any bands. I tried for our like first release, but all the contract and law terms were a) flying way over my head, and b) just took the fun out of it. I want to run the label on trust, and being able to back out if need be. I do not want any band forced down to work with me, I want them to be able to go on to bigger and better things if need be.
I now know why pretty much every lifelong musician has written a book or two about their lives, because when you asked this question so many things came to mind. I’ll just mention a few, the first one being the first tour I ever did with my project Death Cab for Ukulele, and Beau Diamond. We had 4 days planned, and on our way to the first stop in Springfield at the OBEC (rip) two of our middle dates cancelled, and after the Springfield show the last day cancelled. Beau and I were homeless in Springfield living off the kindness of strangers, and a band playing at the OBEC cancelled last minute, so we ended up playing two shows at the same venue on tour, that was so nice of
the venue. Being broke and homeless in Springfield for a while, I met great friends (hey, that’s you guys) and now make Springfield, MO a stop on every west tour. I wish I had more interesting stories about blow and hookers, but most of the downtime on tour I just want to play and then sleep.

What does DIY mean to you, and what should it mean to other people?

DIY is a weird term for to describe, I’ve only been in the “scene” for maybe a year tops, I still feel like a baby here and have no authority to define what DIY is by any means. Personally, I do not like the term “DIY” because it stands for Do It Yourself, while that is true, you can pretty much do anything yourself. I prefer the term that came from friends of mine in the band Lion House, where they talk about “DIRT” or Do It Right Together. Just doing it yourself is not enough, I would be nothing without the people I am friends with doing it right, and doing it together. If you have to take a meaning from this interview, DIRT to me just means, whatever you would want done for your
band, do for that band. Last week a band called Temple unfortunately had a show cancellation on them almost resulting in their tour getting cut a little short. Luckily though my friend Dan (Bunetic, of Arsenals) and the band Old State, I was able to get them a last minute show. I’m not a huge believer of karma, but do what you would want someone to do for you, and just give a shit.

How do you think people can get involved in their local music scene?

Again, just give a shit. The band Derive that I had the opportunity to meet on our last tour with Dr. Karate (who blow us out of the water, holy hell those guys are good) regularly publishes a zine called Derive Speaks. Before our show in Springfield I was reading a piece by I think it was their drummer talking about people who go to shows but really just don't give a shit about the bands. Im not saying Im perfect by any means, hell I've slipped up many times and just made a band expendable to me, but at the end of the day, if you are going to a local show, do what you would want other people to do for your bands show.

Do you think anyone can start up and run a record label?

I don’t know about “anyone” but if you have the drive, yes I believe you can. I am no more talented than the next guy but there is a reason that there is a cliche of hard work always gets you somewhere. If you want to start a label, do it or help out your friends’ label, just don’t half ass it and keep going with it.

Anything else you'd like to add

For sure! Again, even if you don’t like my label, there are a ton of other labels doing great things. Our friends in
Close Quarters Collation
Little League Records
Lost State Records
Ronald Records
Driftwood Records
Ozona Records 
Say10 Records
Funeral Sounds,
And
Not Punk Records  consistently put out great material, and even if
you don’t like any of my bands you will find something you like there. Thanks again for the opportunity to do this interview!

Check out Waybridge Records at the following links:

Facebook
Bandcamp
Store

Acoustic Demos, August 16th, 2014 by Grady Philip Drugg

//Acoustic Demos, August 16th, 2014||Grady Philip Drugg\\

1. Sleepwalking Child

2. Cliche

3. Sophia

4. Hydrocodone

5. Why I let My Hair Down

One of the local greats (originally from texas), Grady Drugg released this five track ep. Not one of those usually prosaic acoustic releases with a mono-tone voice and the same four chords used in every pop song, Grady sings with a silky voice over wonderful instrumentals, and the simple but well done lo-fi recordings give a soothing feel to the listeners. Harmonica sails through the last track, giving one of those Dylan feels that everyone knows too well. Lyrics of angst and life, disorders, truthful feelings, and much much more, move with the listener, and the way that the tracks meld together fits with the atmosphere entirely.
Essentially everything that's come out of Grady Drugg has been great. His last release, Untitled, is one of my favorite releases to listen to from a solo-artist. This is an artist that you're going to want to check out, so download this and put it in your ears.

Favorite track(s): Sleepwalking Child // Why I let my Hair Down

Bandcamp

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

Learning not to Care by Secret Stuff

//Learning not to Care|Secret Stuff\\

1. Maybe You Love Me, Maybe You Floridon't

2. You Make Me Touch Your Hands For Stupid Reasons

3. Senior Superlatives

4. Mila Kunis Seems Like A Lot Of Work To Date...

5. Are You Cullan Me A Liar? I Ain't Cullan You A Truther

6. My Life Is A Steinbeck Novel

Super duper emo band Secret Stuff''s super duper emo release, Learning Not To Care, is a super duper six song emo release. Filled with long song titles, twinkly guitar parts, sad lyrics, and at least one audio clip, with this you've got your normal everyday stock twinkle stuff, but with higher production quality. 

Not that being a generic emo band(emo/twinkle((Emo/indie pop))) is a bad thing however. Every band ever has something they can bring to the table. And besides this is a really nice release. Catchy riffs and choruses and super sad stuff makes me keep on coming back to listen to it. Runs times are shorter than your average song, (Or you can look at them as average to the normal 'underground-band' esq song). 

Overall with everything about it being put into account, it's a release you should check out. If you aren't really into emo music because you haven't been exposed to it, this is a great release to start with. If you do like emo music, hey, here's another one. If you hate emo music for no logical reason that you can back up: That's your choice but just so you know you're a dumb.

But I don't hate you, 

I just really wish I did

I would have married you,

Who am I kidding? We're just kids

Favorite Song: "Are You Cullan Me A Liar? I Ain't Cullan You A Truther"

Super Duper Sad Bandcamp

Half of a Good Plan by GIN WAR

//Half of a Good Plan||GIN WAR\\

1. In A Box

2. Honest

3. Wink

4. Disconnected

5. BONER TRACK

and i won't sleep a wink 

till you're in my lungs 

and on my breath 

i won't feel alive 

till you're in my life 

i'll be dying

Out through American Scream Records,  New Jersey alternative rock band GIN WAR's four song release, Half of A Good Plan showcases what these guys can do. Radio ready with catchy choruses and instrumentation, GIN WAR plays four solid tracks that you'll have stuck in your head for a while.
Reminds me of a lighter Darker Things by Choir Vandals. 
This band is a lot of fun in my opinion, instrumentation (Four Piece) (Guitar/guitar/drums/bass/vocals/vocals) is well done and relaxing, simple, but good; each person playing off one another and forming a really solid sound. As far as vocals go, Brandon and Mike's vocals are silky smooth, blanketing the top of each song.
There is certainly a pop aspect to this release, the catchy-ness and just the way the singing and guitars sound. Some super catchy riffs guys.  Time wise, this is a shorter release, and when you download it, you get a BONUS TRACK!)!)!?!@!@!@#!!!! wow coool bonus track

BONUS TRAKC!!!

BONURS!

BONERS!

BONE!

BONUS TRAK!

Bonus track guys. It's a catchy cool acoustic song so if you like what you hear, download the release and get the BONUS(!!!!!) track while you can. 

Favorite Song: Honest

Bandcamp

Growing Pains by Storyteller

//Growing Pains||Storyteller\\

1. Never Was

2. Never Will Be

3. Scars

4. Dead Sleep

5. Heavy Hearts (ft. Osacar Bamaca)

6. Fool's Gold (ft. Mackenzie Colvin)

7. Stand Up, Stand Tall

8. Passive Progression

On Distro from Driftwood Records CDs, Storyteller's 8 song release, Growing Pains, has a lot to be said about. The songs are quick, melodic, and filled with emotion. Combining spoken word vocals with Skramzy-esq/emo vocals, the lyrics take hold of the listener, combining with the emotional and well thought out music to swell and create some actually all around great music. Production is high quality, and instrumentation is mixed perfectly. While the songs meld together, almost seeming to form an entirely new song, there isn't a dull moment. The first song lulls you into a false sense of tranquility, yet immediately casts you into the raw emotion of the rest of the release. The songs rise and fall like a wave, cresting to peaks at certain sections and landing at lows at others. The songs keep moving, driving forward with emotion and head bobbing instrumentation. I'm not usually into bands like this, with the spoken word parts and the melodic hardcore vocals and such, but Storyteller does something amazing with it, making me come back to this release and start it over after every time I finish listening to it. This is a band everyone should check out. 

Favorite Song: "Passive Progression"

Get it here

Storyteller's facebook

Oh Just A Few Boys Horsin Around By Dirt Nap

//Oh Just A Few Boys Horsin Around||Dirt Nap\\

1. Jvngle Boys

2. Drunk Snake

3. Tar Pit

4. Birds of Paradise

5. RDMT

6. Le Bushes

7. Kiss My Bones

8. Chocolate Covered Ants

THE River Punk cute fvck bois are back with a brand new 8 song release. Recorded on 4/20, released on 9/11, Dirt Nap is a band full of fun. Their first release, Jvst Ask the Boys, is one I still listen to on a regular basis so this second release coming out means a lot. Dirt Nap reminds me of some 1970's garage band (if I listened to 1970's garage band music). Surf rock but with that midwest lovin. As far as production go, this has to be classified as Lo-fi, but it's the professional kinda lo-fi, if you think that's an actual thing.  This release makes me want to get drunk and go to a basement show and do some weird handstands and skank and cut off my right hand and kiss a boy. (If you go to one of their shows you WILL end up kissing a boy). 

Vocals are lethargic and fun, guitars are filled with wacky reverb and distortion, and the drums (Alex Harris) are fun to listen to and as chaotic as the rest of the release.

                                             "Uragggahhhhhhhhhhh ooooohhhhhhh"

Cool sp00ky riffs are filled throughout, and a western rock aspect is definitely seen throughout (Songs like "Chocolate Covered Ants")

Real picture of Dirt Nap coming back

Not sure if Dirt Nap is still a band, I for one thought they were gone for good, their guitarist/vocal man got a cool job at Nickelodeon in California doing something involving snakes and little boys. The release is put out through Rough Beast Records and Frenchkiss Label Group, and they've got 100 really cool tapes. (I overdrew my account buying one). Right now the release costs $420 to download but if you're lucky it will go up. Get it, so worth it. 10/10 would buy.

"This cum tastes like toothpaste"

Favorite Song: "Kiss My Bones!!!"

Bandcamp

Facebook

Alex Harris

Drancy by Lion House

Drancy {Lion House}

1. Support the Army; Not the Assholes

2. Come Back With All of Your Faculties

3. Dooty Pooty

4. "I'm All out of HP"

5. Please return my Daniel Johnston Record

6. AGAPE? Fuck that, PHILOS

Is it just me, ruining everything?

Kansas city band Lion House is a twinkle/screamo band off of Work Ethic Records. Six songs, all on the longer side of run times, each with it's own special sound. I guess you could classify Lion House as a skramz/screamo band, but that's up to your own discretion. The songs rise and fall, soaring with beautiful dynamic changes over the kind, relaxing twinkle guitars. Vocals are interchanged between remnants of Title Fight, and the sound of the singing vocals in Malon. For Lion House, every instrument is important in the mix, Bass lines carrying the song as the guitars dance around, and the complicated drum patterns filling the mix. Usually what I see off of Work Ethic are bands that are more towards the hardcore spectrum of music, but I 100% see why Lion House is on WER. They're really good. The entire release is really relaxing, but even through that, they keep the songs intense and strong, pushing forward so that there isn't a moment that seems repeated or dull. Each song carries it's own strength and brings it's own aspect to the release, so I can't exactly say I enjoy any one song more than the other. This is the kind of release where you need to just put it on and listen to it all the way through. I'd love to see these guys live. If you like good music or music in general check em' out. Free to download, free to enjoy. 

Bandcamp

Willing in Woe by Threading

Willing in Woe {Threading}

1. Heat

2. Urchin

3. Gloom Wild

Another short release off of Known Pleasure Records, Michigan Shoegaze band's 3 song release, Willing In Woe, is full of emotion and sad shoegazy things that make shoegaze shoegaze. Shoegaze is some weird sub-genre of alternative rock that got called shoegaze because a bunch of emo musicians probably started using peddles and looked at their feet a lot. Or maybe not idk it's shoegaze it's awesome. Shoegaze is really spacy music, all sorts of guitar effects and vocals are nice and calming. Literally just walls of sound. Anyway, these three songs are on the longer sides of songs, run times around 3-5 minutes. As far as shoegaze bands go, Threading does a really good job. All of the songs have essentially the same type of feels and sound to them so they all run together and sound like one big song and it's a little hard to tell them all apart but that's not really a bad thing. Tempos are slow and relaxing, vocals are set back and not really important, and production is on the highest end of all of the lo-fi stuff. This is a release I'd check out if I didn't know what shoegaze was and wanted to get into it, and also if you did know what shoegaze was and wanted to hear a good shoegaze band, or if you don't like shoegaze and don't want to hear this, you should listen anyway. Essentially listen to this. 

Favorite track: Urchin

Bandcamp

Threading's Facebook

**I said Shoegaze 13 times in this post
***14

Peter Crisis/Until by Myrrh Myrrh

Peter Crisis/Until {Myrrh myrrh}

1. Peter Crisis

2. Until

Known Pleasure Records's latest release from three-piece Myrrh myrrh is a quick one, the two emo/punk/shoegaze-esq songs lasting a little over 7 minutes. I'm really digging the feel to the entire thing, it's got this weird grungy feel to it, the kind of stuff I'd love to see live. Grainy, yet well done production quality. Vocals are set farther back, and everything is so spacy, like if I was Afraid met the first half of "darker things" by Choir Vandals  or some other horrible comparison like that I guess. It's a really chill release yet at the same time it's also something to listen to and actually get interested in. Drumming is great, like most emo drumming, and guitar and drums are so grungy distorted that half of the time you can't even understand what they're playing. Vocals are great, everything's great this is something I'm going to listen to a lot and fall asleep to and I'm really glad I found this. Definitely something you should check out. So yeah check it out.



Bandcamp

Band Bandcamp

Band Facebook

We Are the Quarry by Cutters

We Are The Quarry {Cutters}

1.  We Are The Quarry

2. Good Morning Boys

3. Savage Nights

4. X-Cutioner's Song

5. Excitable Liefeld

6. Young Gods

7. Batman 666

8. I Just Wanted To Walk On The Surface Again

"Is this all that I have to offer a world in which I'm insignificant?"

We Are The Quarry by Cutters is an 8 song art rock release from the New York, New York band. 

Catchy choruses, easy to listen to vocals, well used instruments, and good recordings make this a release I can listen to over and over again. Bass and Guitar dance around one another, and mixing for the entire thing is really more laid back. This for sure isn't a Golden Noose, in terms of loudness. 

Main vocals are smooth and folk-like in some parts, and backing vocals that are scattered intermittently add a wonderful spin to the songs. Song times are on the shorter to mid-range side, and the release isn't exactly a Dream Theater release. 

I'm not exactly the biggest fan of Art rock music, not exactly sure why, it all sounds good. But anyway, I can really get into this, because it also has like an ambient// "Post Punk" feel to it. Song wise, all four tracks are something to enjoy, and something of their own yet to me I enjoy the last two tracks most of all. The entire release, having built up, releases the last of it's energy in the final two emotion driven songs, melodic, simple, easy, fun to listen to. Check this release out, I really dig it and you will too. I'd love to see these guys live and I hope they go on some kind of midwest tour. 

Favorite Song: I Just Wanted To Walk On The Surface Again

Bandcamp

They have an actual website

Facebook

Learn to Speak EP by Search/Party

Grade: 8.3

1. We've Got Dodson Here (Nobody Cares)

2. You're Likely to be Eaten by a Grue

3. Better is Always Better

4. Grigsby to Secret Mountain Base

Listen Here!

I like this EP a lot, which may surprise a lot of you because I'm so critical of homegrown music. Search/Party is your quintessential punk-pop band and they've fully honed their skills in the genre. The guitars are precise and timed perfectly, the drums are damn solid (I hear too many shitty drummers on Bandcamp), and Joss Rose's vocals are both adolescent and aged simultaneously. Also, the production is great, really great! They did a good job. All this makes for a fucking great band. They lack a bit of originality in my opinion. They proclaim themselves to be alternative ("Pulling influences from every genre"), but I do feel like I've heard music like this a million times. It reminds me of my adolescence, aimless time spent listening to bands like Blink 182, Green Day, Simple Plan, Yellowcard, The Japandroids, etc.. Perhaps since I'm not exactly a punk connoisseur, I have trouble noticing differences amongst punk bands. Regardless, the sound that Search/Party has adopted is strong, and they do anthemic punk-pop quite well.

Track one (We've Got Dodson Here [Nobody Cares]) is quick and smart, mixing metaphors and evoking deep emotions like it's child's play. It tells a story of a forlorn lover who misses his ex-girlfriend. If this isn't cliche enough, the hook uses the ubiquitous Nietzsche quote "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger". Now, if I were a musician, I'd be slow to use any sort of philosophy that was repackaged in a Kelly Clarkson song, but I'm a pretentious dick and there's plenty of room for bromides in punk. The song is also very optimistic, which is cool to see on a punk album. I've often been frustrated by punk albums that are excessively pissy. I like this song a lot, but my biggest critique of it is that it is hook-heavy. Now, this is another prominent feature of punk-pop so my criticism isn't a big deal, but the second song is also really hook-heavy. Two hook-heavy songs in succession seems excessive to me. Lastly, the track name is based on Jurassic Park I think. They name is wrong, which could be an accident or intentional and too esoteric for me to decode. This is funny as fuck BTW.

Track two (You're Likely to be Eaten by a Grue) is slower and sadder than track one. It solemnly takes stock of pains and offers consolation. Though, in my opinion, the consolation feels half-hearted, almost empty. It's an interesting effect. The song is a good change of pace for the record, though it is just as anthemic and hook-heavy as track one. A grue is a mythical monster that has appeared in several works of literature and more recently in myriad internet memes.  

Track three (Better is Always Better) flows seamlessly from track two and eradicates the emotional turmoil purported in that track. It replaces it with a sort of hedonistic whimsy, founded upon softer guitars and soaring vocals. Rose croons about happy memories and is hopeful for those to come. I truly do love this angst-free punk-pop. Track three is definitely my favorite track on this album. It isn't quite as hook-heavy as the first two tracks. Instead, its power is founded on expert vocal layering, that sounds damn perfect. They did a really good job mixing all of this. 

Track four (Grigsby to Secret Mountain Base) takes the emotions back to sadness and introspection. The layering is great on this song as well. These guys are really talented musicians. One can tell that they worked hard on this EP. Nothing is smudged. The lyrics are smart and quick. I think that the title refers to the band's base of operations in Colton, Oregon, but if anyone has any more insight on this (or any other reference), comment below.

This is a really great EP. It's a damn solid punk-pop entry. You should all listen to it.

Cyber Smokes by B K Club

Grade: 4.2

1. A vs A

2. 3 for 5

3. Farting in Church

4. Burning Roses

Listen Here!

I deliberated on whether or not to give this a grade for awhile, but I ultimately decided that it was necessary lest good music loose its value. For if we consider everything to be great, then what is greatness? 

Anyway, B K Club's Cyber Smokes is really strange, good in some regards, ludicrous in others. They adopt a bluesy, approach to teen angst music (very much like some of Okkervil River's older albums). They are fairly good at this. The guitars and rattles are precise and provide a good, minimalist tempo. The instrumentals remind me of Bon Iver which is very cool. Probably the coolest thing about this record is the use of harmonicas (very Bob Dylan) and horns (very Neutral Milk Hotel). 

Track one (A vs A) is probably the strongest offering on this record. It is repetitive and a bit hypnotic. It is somber and serious, admonishing something closely resembling peace (though this theme is later undermined by track 4). It is kind of hook-heavy though.

Track two (3 for 5) is alright. It feels much like a transition between songs. Drew Lane murmurs almost incomprehensible shit while horns and guitars play over him. It really doesn't go anywhere though because the next track is equally absurd. 

Track three (Farting in Church) begins with idiotic scatting for the first minute or so. This would be forgivable if the record was longer than 4 tracks, but it isn't. Only half of the album is actually music, which brings on this aghast sense of incredulity. After the scatting, Drew Lane tells dumb, cutesy jokes for the remainder of the track, which is sort of endearing and not entirely taboo, but the jokes don't really go anywhere. I saw a close resemblance to Radiohead's Fitter Happier, where the vocalist mutters various phrases while music plays over. The entire body of the album is wasted by tracks 2 and 3, which aren't really music in my opinion.

Track four (Burning Roses) gets serious again with dark, antithetical lyrics about murdering someone in a particularly vile, cold-blooded way. This reminds me of Okkervil River's Westfall and For Real. I think that the bluesy, folksy sound is a great medium to explore violence and darkness which are most prominently featured in genres like Metal, Grunge, and Rap. 

Ultimately, Cyber Smokes fails. I don't think that this is a testament to their lack of artistic talent. Rather, I think it's a testament to their laziness. This EP is the inkling of a good idea. It could have been developed far better. Rather than coming up with a few good songs and throwing them out into cyberspace, they should have spent more time honing their songs and adding more. As far as I'm concerned, tracks 2 and 3 should be thrown out altogether or perhaps synthesized into shorter offerings that serve as relevant transitions between songs. I only hope that this inkling of a good idea will eventually become something far better.

Slobber by Mason Mercer

Slobber {Mason Mercer}

1. Circumcision

2. Hunger

3. Scrappy-Doo

4. Slime

5. The Water Helps

Hailing from Ozark Missouri (hey that's where i live), New York resident Mason Mercer just released his five track release, Slobber. There has been a lot of build up to this release, and now that it's finally out, everyone gets to see what all the hype is about for themselves. Mason's music mixes electronic/tribal beats, guitars, and awesome melodies to make five songs that are really enjoyable to listen to. It's not an instrumental release though, Mason's vocals are relaxed and soothing. The music has just enough swing to it to move to, and all the tracks deviate from one another so it's not like it's boring. Tribal music really interests me because there is so much sound to it. What I really love about it all is that the music goes from the heavy drum/bass/jungle noises to acoustic guitar picking a lead and Mason does a really good job at making this an enjoyable listen. So many different noises being made at once, I love it. Slobber is a great listen and is one that I think you should check out. 

Favorite track: The Water Helps

bandcamp

MISSOURI ACOUSTIC ACTS BEAU DIAMOND AND D.C.F.U. ANNOUNCE TOUR

Beau Diamond and Death Cab For Ukulele announce tour

June 23rd - Kansas City @ Art Closet Studios

June 24th -Des Moines @ Witmer Park

June 26th- Springfield @ Nathan P. Murphy's

June 27th - Witchita @ The Donut Whole

Missouri acoustic acts Beau Diamond and Death Cab For Ukulele are heading out on the road for their second tour this summer, and one of the stops is going to be in good ole' Springfield Missouri. Actually my own band, Kaptain Krunch Cidz is going to play the springfield date so that'll be awesome. I met these two when Beau came and played at the OBEC a while ago, and I really digged his acoustic folk jams. He's coming out with a new release soon and I put on an interview with Joshua Milligan, (Death Cab For Ukelele), owner of Waybridge Records, to which both artists are signed. 

Here comes my super professional interview that I did:

This is your second tour? what do you have to offer differently from your first?
Beau has a new album coming up, and I've also been planning my ep (possibly) and a lot of new Waybridge releases

Are you going to be selling other releases from waybridge on the tour?

Yeah dude for sure. Going to just try and spread the Waybridge name / see kick ass people we miss that are in Springfield. (Also we got kick ass stickers)

What stop are you most excited for?

We are definitely pumped about our Springfield date. We have a lot of solid locals on that bill. Kaptain Krunch Cidz was a fun as hell band I did a review for and Charlie was life changing good. But all the dates are going to be rad as hell. The Des Moines show we have Lesbian Poetry playing with us, who is a stud. Along with seeing a shit ton of new land

Is Death Cab Going as just you or are you bringing Kaitlin Rose Evans with you?

Unfortunately it will only be me for right now, and I'll be doing shorter sets still. Kaitlin is the true beauty and talent of DCFU, so hopefully I'll be able to steal her away for our July tour in Illinois.

Oh and Beau is bringing along part of Space Wolf Infinity, CJ Wagner who is an insane percussionist, and just an all around great person. We're really excited to spend five days altogether because he's been working his tail off in the studio and at a new side job he got to help support him/ the band. 
We're really excited for the dynamics a three piece drumset adds as opposed to just beau on the guitar. They actually have a new project called The Collective Dream Band, which once they get a bassist will sound really awesome

Who would win in a fight between you and Beau?

I've got squirrel-like instincts, but Beau has an obscene amount of finger strength. Any other opponent I would demolish, but I'll give it to beau, he'd win

Final Question: If you could have any superpower in the world, what would it be?

I would just want anything that could help change the music industry That's what Waybridge is about honestly.  Like every release I've ever done, I'm a lucky enough guy to get to say "this person is a FRIEND of mine. Not just another product" most of these labels now are like a McDonalds worker with just a "hey, it's just another order up" kind of mentality. I want every release to be a great tune from a great dude (or dudette) that brings something new or cool.  So I guess, wealth? Is that a superpower? Hahah

Well I mean that's batman's superpower, but hey, that's an awesome response. Can't wait to play with you guys again, and to just see you two, You're both great guys!

Beau Diamond's Bandcamp

Beau Diamond's Facebook

Death Cab For Ukelele's Bandcamp

Death Cab For Ukelele's Facebook

Well that wraps that up.