Taking the Lead - Noise and Rambling

TOP 30 OF 2014, #26

1/6/2015

Fortune Club - The First Three Songs

New project. New music. Another new favorite band. Very nice peak into, The First Three Songs, by Portland, Oregon group (former members of The Days The Nights, jr. Worship, Microtia, and Prize Country), Fortune Club. These songs have that heaviness of punk and hardcore played with a bit of a rock n' roll attitude. It's a nice progression from the previous bands these members once performed in, but you can for sure hear some similarities as well. Looking forward to the next batch of songs.

TOP 30 OF 2014, #27

1/5/2015

Guilt - Harvest/Decay

Guilt, a four-piece hardcore band from New Hampshire, released Harvest/Decay this year, their third EP so far. An eeriness lingers throughout the tracks on top such a powerful sound of thrash and aggressiveness, it can get a bit scary, and maybe a little violent too. By the time you take a second breath, it's all over. More than likely the most intense release on this list.

TOP 30 OF 2014, #28

1/4/2015

Shitty Weekend - Shit Week

No doubt, I was curious to hear what Shitty Weekend sounded like. From Portland, Oregon, Shitty Weekend was recommended to me (rather, I was notified) after a friend on Bandcamp bought the band's music. After listening to Employee of the Month I was all in. That track also acts as the opening to Shit Week, the band's album debut. The song is fifty-six seconds of thrash, the-bass-is-louder-than-the-guitar, punk rock from the North West. In the tracks to follow (twelve tracks total in twenty-two minutes) come with the addition of saxophones to the rhythm section. The album is very energetic, with some folk elements on top of its quick punk numbers and one odd track, Nothing Lasts Forever (was this here just to close Side 1 of the record?). Otherwise, some really good shit here. I hope they release a second album. And I hope they call it, Shit of the Month.

TOP 30 OF 2014, #29

1/3/2015

The Seriouslys - Keepin' it Shrill

The Seriouslys were a three-piece punk band from Las Vegas, Nevada. This band too recently played a final show, but some members have gone on to play in a new project (The Negative Nancys). The band's last release is a six song EP titled, Keepin' It Shrill, featuring new and re-recorded tracks from their debut self-titled album. It's a nice set of simple tunes, keeping fresh their raw, desert garage-punk sound. Too bad it ends here.

TOP 30 OF 2014, #30

1/2/2015

I haven't posted my year end list in a couple years. This year I thought I'd wait until all of December was done with, just in case something sweet was released. And I'd use all of January to talk about my favorite albums of 2014.

Matahari - Shameless

After five years of being a band, Matahari ended its run with one demo, an EP (Never the Same) and one full length in its catalog. And the band ended on a high note with its first album, Shameless. It's an aggressive album, very heavy, spread out through ten tracks. Excellent Boston hardcore.

5 NEW ALBUMS to be released in 2015

1/1/2015

Hope everyone had a safe and wonderful New Years! 2014 was a really good year, for everything really. Work, school, music, friends, family...everything is great!
I'll be sharing my Top 25 favorite releases in 2014 sometime, but for now, I thought I'd share some albums that I'm looking forward to in 2015. I'm sure a lot more is set for release, but these are what I know of at the moment.

Survival Guide – Survival Guide, is Emily Whitehurst, from Peteluma, California. So far two 7” records have been released, Hot Lather Machine and Wild Cat, both on Side With Us Records. The new album is set to be released sometime this year with ten new songs. One single titled, Ugly Side, is currently up for grabs on Bandcamp (check it out HERE). Excellent indie rock and electronica, with big choruses and catchy melodies. And as always, pristine vocal work by Whitehurst.

Karina Denike – Originally funded through a successful Kickstarter campaign back in October 2012, Karina Denike's album will finally be released sometime in February 2015 (next month!). Denike has done vocals for a number of groups including Dance Hall Crashers, Stara Nova and the Cottontails, and I'd say her solo work reflects a mix of those styles (check out her Bandcamp HERE). Very excited to finally hear her new tunes.

Journal – Journal released their last album, Unlorja, four years ago, along with an instrumental copy. That was my favorite album of 2010. It was a pretty fantastic piece of work. Very cool story that went with the album, awesome tech metal and grindcore and the approach to using three different vocalists throughout the album was a brilliant idea. It'd be sick if the band did something similar on the new album.

Codename: Rocky – After getting back together for a reunion show in 2012, Codename: Rocky, released a song, Mile Markers, the band's first newest material since 2001's, Infinity. I haven't heard any other new songs since then, but can only look forward to more new songs.

Inspection 12 – Technically Inspection 12 all ready released a new album in 2014, right before Christmas. I think the album may have been available at their recent shows and possibly upcoming ones. But for the rest of the world, the band is still working on setting up digital distribution and mail orders. They also did release a new track titled, Ole You, earlier in the year which was featured on a compilation titled, Amplified Vol.1. I believe the comp's theme focused on local Jacksonville artists.

INDIEGOGO, the beat dolls

12/1/2014

Campaign for new, debut LP, This Means War!, from The Beat Dolls. Excellent.
Check out the perks and donate HERE.

KICKSTARTER, craig's brother.

9/21/2014

This new Kickstarter campaign just launched recently. New music from Craig's Brother. Hells yes. Let's make this happen.

NEW MUSIC, fea

9/9/2014

This is Fea (FB HERE), a four-piece punk band from San Antonio, TX with members from Girl in a Coma. I was hoping to catch them play in Las Vegas during the summer. Encountered some delays, missed the show. Sample of the the record sounds dope. Won't miss this. Get into it.

LIVE, survival guide

6/2/2014

An entire Survival Guide set! Excellent. She's also working on an album too. EXCELLENT!