K.C.Milian

K.C. Milian was an Italian instrumental band. They released one demo, a split with La Quiete, and an EP. Their sound is more chilled out, like Explosions In The Sky, but has some pretty sweet buildups. They are not very mathy or rocking, like Tera Melos and By The End Of Tonight, but their song layouts are similar to that of Piglet. Also, some songs have a trumpet, and another has some buried/distant screaming, but I can't really decipher what they are saying, so it may be in Italian, unlike Raein who tend to have English vocals. I read on a blog that the guitarist has tried to start other bands, but none have been as successful. It was really hard to find these albums, especially Season//Repeat. I can't find any videos, but, here are both of their last.fm accounts where you can hear their songs. They have two because their name is commonly misspelled, so heres number 1 and 2. Enjoy!

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Split with La Quiete


Self Titled


Season//Repeat

Oedipus

To say Oedipus is a grindcore band from the Baltimore area would be kind of an understatement, because they're more than that. These dudes play tasteful, heavy music that holds the attention. And they're fairly young - the oldest member is 19. This isn't that grind shit you listened to when you were 15.

To listen to their demo is one thing, but to see them live is another experience entirely. These guys ooze stage presence. Obviously blazed, these guys go absolutely ballistic as soon as their first song starts, with little to no regard for themselves or whoever might get in the way.

They just went on a short tour with Age Sixteen in early January.


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Oedipus 2008 Demo

Fang Island

Originally from Providence, Rhode Island, Fang Island is now chillin up in Brooklyn. Although Nick from Daughters play guitar, their sound is nothing like their bastard stepsister band. They use artsy light shows and shit when they play live, so that's pretty cool. There are three guitarists, a bassist and a drummer. They don't really sing or anything, but sometimes they have whoo's and shit. they play pretty fast at times, aren't really slow and ambient; they are kinda rockin, not noodly or anything. They have two releases, one of which is a short little EP. There are a few sound clips in the first cd (Day of the Great Leap), which all kick ass. The second CD is real short, only three songs, but they are really amazing when you listen to the progression they have made as a band. Plus, the Final Fantasy reference is sweet.

I have two videos because I really feel like everyone who likes this music should see how sweet their shows are. The first is a video recorded live in a kindergarten/ First Grade class in Providence; the sound quality kinda sucks, but watching the little kids is the best thing ever. The second is "Curaga" from the EP Sky Gardens. The sound quality is amazing! You should also go to youtube and search for a video called "Fang Island- SS Fort Jams (LIVE)", and watch the crowd freak out. BUY THEIR SHIT.

1. "FANG ISLAND GO TO KINDERGARDEN"


2. "Fang Island- Curaga (LIVE)"


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Sky Gardens

Day of the Great Leap

Algernon Cadwallader, New EP!

So our buddies Algernon Cadwallader are releasing a new disc in like February, but it leaked onto the rather swell blog Scream Your Lungs Out. We are happy to say WE GOT THAT SHITT. The new jam is called Hot Green. In case the info does not transfer, here are the tracks.

1. Spit Fountain
2. Fun
3. Foggy Mountain

Enjoy


Hot Green (2009)

Antlers

Antlers hails from Richmond, Virginia - a town and area of Virginia well known for churning out great DIY oriented/punk bands for years and years. They are some kind of indie super group. The band features members of Gregor Samsa, Olive Tree, Resonance, and Mass Movement of the Moth.

These songs are mostly instrumental, and the structures are refreshing; the group does a good job of not being too redundant, a trap many instrumental (or mostly instrumental) bands fall into. And when vocals do grace a few tracks, the result is wonderful. Group sing-a-longs that have become notorious at shows harmonize with a female vocal to create beautiful melodies with simple yet powerful lyrics. Twinkling, jangly finger tapped guitar riffs and a tight rhythm section propel the songs forward, while brushes of brass, melodica, and more keep the songs from seeming too bland. A must have for any music fan.

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Antlers (2007)

Pedro The Lion Christmas Singles

In the spirit of Christmas, I thought I would post these. David Bazan aka Pedro the Lion's limited run Christmas releases. I'm pretty sure I have them all except the newest. Thanks to Joey for e-mailing me these!

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I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (2002)



The First Noel (2003)



God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (2005)



Away in a Manger (2006)

Jesse Washington

Jesse Washington was a screamo band from Melbourne, Florida. THAT'S ALL I REALLY KNOW, as far as solid textbook facts are concerned. I can't find shit on these guys. I've only found a few photos, and no videos I'm afraid. All you really need to know is that their music involves sexual references and high pitched yelping. Below is everything they have put out (I think).

Rudo, the mastermind behind Somberlain records was nice enough to hook us up with some information and reviews of Jesse Washington, as well as the Tunes... side of the Jesse Washington/Tunes... split.

Here's a short biography by Rich:

My initial reaction towards jesse washington was one of limited seriousness. Not to say that I thought that they weren't a "real" band, but for some reason, my mind had taken up the idea that they were just some kids being sassy and screaming their heads off (which is rarely a bad thing, mind you). After setting up a few shows for them and recieving a copy of their self released "masscara massacre," I realized that this was so much more than just some kids strutting around being loud - these kids had shit to say, the attitude to back it up and the live show to get you listening closer and, subsequently, addicted. The music, was more super dancy hardcore than I had previously noticed and featured touches of new wave, spats of handclapping, scream-alongs, woo's and other fantastically exciting bits and pieces here and there. Add to all of this a strong diy ethic, a penchant for beautifully handmade packaging (the likes of which most couldn't even imagine, let alone create) and the skills to make friends with damn near everyone in every town of florida. That's jesse washington. They rule."





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Jesse Washington

Mascara Massacre



Tunes For Bears to Dance To/Jesse Washington Split

A review of the split by Rudo:

This is the split that was originally supposed to be put out months ago, and turned out as just a Tunes For Bears To Dance To 7". Unfortunately, things had changed a bit since then. Prior to the final preparations of this record, Jesse Washington called it quits right before a promising USA tour and left us with nothing but four of their most ambitious tracks to date contained on this piece of wax.
Letting go of the more sassy ventures of their earlier days, the tracks on here are fervent and deadly serious. Compared to the likes of Takaru and Reversal Of Man, the songwriting takes upon sharper edge, while still anointed in impassionate screams provided by the two vocalists. While the members continue on in promising bands, the last bit of Jesse washington's legacy is contained on this and it's safe to say it sufficiently let them go out with a bang.
On the other side of this record are two more songs by the ever mutating Tunes For Bears to dance to. Having now completely disposed of the more carefree exhuberations of their demo days, these two tracks deal with deceit - one pertaining to lies through advertisement, and one about George W. Bush. Tunes continue to evolve in the vein of the last record, experimenting with blast beats and unique vocal patterns. Ever dynamic, these two songs serve as a prequel of what's still to come as plans for a full length are composed.
This record was split with my friend Gustavo, who runs Dolores Records. Without him, this record would not have been actualized at all. It's his first release and the covers of his batch of the records are blue.

Snowing (Ex-Street Smart Cyclist, Boy Problems)

Check out what the boys from Street Smart Cyclist and Boy Problems have been up to lately:



While I'm stoked as fuck to see John Galm still making music, I fear that this may mean that the rumored Boy Problems break up has actually taken place. Either way, I can't wait to see what these guys do.

Check out Snowing's myspace here.

Check out our Boy Problems post!

Bear Vs Shark

Bear Vs Shark existed from 2001-2005, based out of Highland, Michigan. Their extremely unique brand of post-hardcore pulled influences from Fugazi and MC5 to Black Sabbath.

Granted, BVS wrote hooky, good music. But what really set them apart from any of their peers was Marc Paffi. When one first hears Paffi's signature howl, Mitch Jayne's description of an early Bob Dylan may come to mind; he sounds like a "a dog with his leg caught in barbed wire." His lyrics also set him apart from the stuff of that new millennium boom of bands - a boom that, fueled by websites like Myspace and Purevolume, often reflected the naivety of the kids who were now discovering punk rock through it's newest medium - social networking. Paffi's words in "MPS" actually make him seem wary of this technologically advanced world surrounding him. Sounding drained and waxing misanthropy he yelps:

I find it hard to believe that the medicine is helping me
At the end of the day the computer screens give blue and silent offerings
At the end of the day view that all the trains are churches

The story is that after hearing their demo an Equal Visions rep flew out to sign them right away. Lucky for us.

I'm missing "June 7th", a track off the vinyl re-issue of Right Now... If anyone has it, I'd appreciate it.

Members of the group are now in some new groups, which don't tour and are fairly inactive. You can check them out below.

Champions of History

Cannons

Here's the music video for "Catamaran", off the album Terrorhawk.



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1653 (2001)



Right Now, You're in the Best of Hands. And If Something Isn't Quite Right, Your Doctor Will Know in a Hurry (2003)



Terrorhawk (2005)

behind trees

No albums here. Just enjoy a video of Loma Prieta covering "Behind Trees" by Sailboats.