Nostalgia part 1

This is a little thing that I hate. I don’t know why, but ever since I was real little, to be honest as far back as I can remember, I hated getting older. I have no idea why but when some kids were afraid of the dark, I was afraid of getting old. So with that comes a real hate of looking back.

I don’t keep pictures. Never have and doubt I ever will. All they can do is help you remember. Remembrance for me is far more bitter than sweet. I could try to be poetic, but it basically comes down to this: When I think of the good old days, I feel like shit.

For no reason at all when I think of old friends, songs that I used to love, or games I used to play, I start to feel down.

Anyway, I’ll try to keep this segment going just to share the things that I used to, and still do love. And the first thing that I would like to share is an album by Taking Back Sunday.

It all started in about 2004. TBS had been around for a few years, but I found them to be whiney, dull, and girly. Their videos would come on Fuse (which I thought was the best music channel ever, but needless to say the feeling is no longer the same.) and BAM, channel changed. That summer was the one that my parents split up. I was down, but the realization of how fucked up things were wouldn’t hit me for a few more years.

The band that I though was the shit happened to be Story of the Year, and they happened to be playing at the warped tour. My dad, in an effort to bond or something took me to Florida to see them, and a bunch of other bands. One of the headlining bands just happened to be Taking Back Sunday. I wanted to ignore them but they were ‘underground heroes’ at the time and everyone, and I mean everyone, was at their stage so I figured why not give them a chance.

They played set phasers to stun, your so last summer, and a few other songs. Kids were moshing, which was not appropriate (believe me) but I found that the songs were catchy. It was something different to me, I mean I was all about what ever was on the radio and they just were not it.

As soon as I could I went out and bought Tell All Your Friends, and fell in love with it. In my opinion there is no comparison to any other album out there. It’s poppy, poetic, intense, and all around great.

That year brought changes like a new school, new friends, a new house, but through it Tell All Your Friends was there. I’m not trying to be melodramatic and make my life look like it was so hard, but I don't know how else to put it.

Not three days after my parents split my mom was dating some guy that I knew I would hate(She had been talking to him for only a few weeks. She met him when she and a few friends went to Florida for a convention or something.) Three months later he was living with us, and I knew that I hated him. Not to go into great detail, he is an ass.

Anyway, TBS made me smile in the fall, and gave me something to sing along to in the winter. I would take long walks and just listen to it over and over again. It changed my outlook on music and led me to better music, and better bands, but it will always be my favorite album.



Nowadays, they are not as… well let’s say good. Now it’s more for the money and airtime on the radio. The lyrics are nonsense, and they have a more generic sound. Maybe you could say it’s because of the ‘emo kids’, possibly you like them more than ever, you may never had heard of them, or you could blame so many bands for copying them, or possibly like one of my friends you blame the ‘Thursday curse.’ (A dumb conspiracy theory that every good band that tours with Thursday will split up, or turn to shit.) Whatever you do, remember them. Hate ‘em or love ‘em, Tell All Your Friends will always be classic.

Taking Back Sunday - Tell All Your Friends

Planes Mistaken For Stars - Self-titled

Good stuff. They say that they are emo, but to me they sound like an indie rock band with a frontman that smoked a few too many ciggerets. But the smoking things prbbly wrong since they're only kids. They've put out a coupla more albums, but I think this is the best. Angsty, tough, youthful, and awesome. (FYI they are known as a stoner band nowadays, but I've heard the latest album goes back to their roots)

8/10(The singer's voice takes me out of it)
Planes Mistaken For Stars - Planes Mistaken For Stars

Selma Lawd -LAWD- Selma! (This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb)

Let it be know that I dont like this band.

Now let it be know that because I dont like them doesnt mean I cannot recognize that they are pretty good. Some stuff is infectiously catchy, annoyingly so, and well thought out. I dont like how they talk about the Vietnam war, I mean c'mon! They were'nt even alive then, or how they sound just a little too much like Ghost Mice. If this whole folk rock stuff is your bag then check these guys out. You might be like me and find them to be good, but hate them, or you may be like some people and love 'em. I'll leave the choice up to you. At any rate, if you like it, delete it and order the album off of this amazing intraweb.

So to summerize:
Stupid name
Annoyingly catchy songs
Folk you!
I think Bob Dylan would be proud, but I never met the guy...

7/10(I dont like them...)
this bike is a pipe bomb - front seat solidarity

The Red Nation OF EROGJORJ!!! (Russian Circles)

This is possibly the only post-rock band that doesnt bore me. (These guys and Your Dad Vs. My Dad) Their stuff is kinda like death cab minus lyrics, plus some melodic metal stuff. It rises and falls, builds and collapses, and it keeps you wanting. Fun to listen to while reading, writting (if your into that), ridding in a car, or just something to brush your teeth to and wake up with. This 7" only has 2 tracks, but you find yourself listening to them over and over again.

BTW, if you've got anything else by this band plz upload it.

10/10(Post-rock that doesnt make me sleepy or bored.)
Russian Circles - Upper Ninety

I doubt Dante would approve of this new level. (Hell Is For Heroes)

Dispite the boss album cover the music is really middle of the road. Nothing will blow you away, and nothing will catch you by suprise. It is'nt bad per say, but nothing more than a radio rock album. To Be honest I was so dissapointed. The title and band name made me hope for something a bit harder, and maybe even original. While it does have a few stand out tracks, its all just to be expected.

I may not love them, but they must have some following. Their third cd recently came out, and I've heard nothing about it. Maybe they have grown and changed, maybe not.

6/10(Great for a couple of listens and then forget it)
Hell Is For Heroes - The Neon Handshake

Racebannon - Satan's Kickin Yr Dick In

If the name of the album doesnt catch your eye, then the wierd "thing" on the cover will. Hardcore + Sound effects + electro-ishness + kinda artsey crap (that you will prbly like if IWSMOFFY's last album is your definition of an art type record) + 7 titleless tracks + and awesome sound = RACEBANNON... No, not the guy from Johnny Quest!

9/10
Racebannon - Satan's Kickin Yr Dick In (E.P.)

I, Robot is so much more than a collection of short stories and a Will Smith movie. (I, Robot)

The opening riff or line (Whatever one you prefer) on the very first track, the answer, will have you hooked. If not, the crazy amount of energy this band has will. The lyrics are pretty good, and these guys definatly know how to play some music. Mostly screaming, but a little singing on "Call me 'Killer'" and a couple of other tracks mixes it up a bit. Kinda reminds me of city of caterpillar, but dont get all pissed when it does not sound exactaly the same. Add in a few live tracks and the word Mullet and in my opinion it's worth a download if nothing else.

7/10 (Been here and heard this, but really worth a listen.)
I, Robot - Et Cetera

Ohio is for lovers... and folk punk. (Defiance, Ohio.)

FOLK PUNK! Ya know you love it, and if you dont this band will make you. Political like punk, peaceful like folk, and just enough harmonica and banjo for you want to put on some overalls. (Okay, maybe not overalls, but you may walk barefooted in the grass.) Fiddel, (or maybe it's a violen, or maybe I cannot spell) acoustic guitars, 4 or 3 (I cant tell if yelly and lispy are the same guy. Oh, and once you DL this you'll find out who yelly and lispy are, along with rough and girly) vocalists, a banjo!, some drums, and claping, and yelling, and poetic almost rap like song structure, (not on all songs) will make this guys well known. If you like Ghost Mice, a band they did a split with, and This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb, then you'll like Defiance, Ohio. more.

The first Album is minus girly, (I actually think she was the chick from Ghost Mice) but she takes a major role in The Great Depression. Also, Share What Ya Got is a bit rough for a coupla tracks, but overall both great albums.

BTW if you do like them, they have a new album comming out.

17/20 (Double review!!! Blame the -3 on Share What You Got's annoying recordings.)
Share What Ya Got
The Great Depression

Ordination of Aaron - Colmplete Works

First things first, it has been a while since I posted, so FYI I got a bunch more stuff to upload.


Let me put it this way, if you like The Get Up Kids then Ordination of Aaron is for you. Youthful, sorrowful, quiet,and beautiful. While a few tracks will get a bit loud, most are on the quiet side. Kinda reminds me of mineral, but these guys where most deffinatly infulenced by the deeper side of The Get Up Kids. Less pop and more rock. I've heard a few people (I dont know many ppl that have ever heard of these guys) call them post-emo, but that would imply that they were once members of emo bands. I'm to lazy to look that up, but they do have that type of sound. Anyway, if you like SDRE or the Get Up Kids then OOA wont be breaking new ground with you (But this is deffinetly worth a download if nothing else). Enjoyable and it has the feel of better times.

8/10 (Good, but not something that you will find yourself listening to daily, maybe once or twice a week, but no more.)
Ordination of Aaron - Completed Works

My Favorite Citizen - Discogrophy

While it seems it will still be a while before the official "My Favorite Citizen Dicog" comes out you can get it now. (Of course you will delete it later and buy the real deal... right?)

This has to be one of my favorite bands. They may have only recorded 4 songs through their whole existance, but bands with quite a few full lengths under their belt can't rival the greatness of these 4 tracks. Beautiful indie pop/rock that will have you feeling like a kid again, and if you're a kid have you feeling... well just plain good I guess. All the songs are positive, and very catchy. Even the tough guy that loves powerviolence and black metal may just find himself singing along.
(If you didnt get all the subtle hints, download this and LOVE it.)

12/10 (impossible I know...)
My Favorite Citizen - Discogrophy

Support.

Like Silverstien but with less talent. (The Chiodos Bros.)

(From the title of this post you may have caught that I like the "scene" band Silverstien, and if you like 'em but only have When Broken Is Easily Fixed have no fear because uploads for them are coming soon enough.)

The Chiodos Bros, now well known as just plain old Chiodos, have some pretty good stuff, so I guess I may as well show you some. This album is insainly poppy for a "hardcore" album. (Hardcore is in quotes because while thats the genre they are known to be in I disagree.) If you've ever heard their music before than you should know what to expect. Poppy, metal-ish, some screaming, and cliche lyrics. While you may be thinking,
"Heard one band like that, you've heard 'em all..."
but these guys actually try, even if just a little. Not the best but definatly not the worst. So now here you go, the original release that got them signed to Equalvision, and in turn has now -even if this is'nt the one that is in the top 5 on the charts- made them famous.

6/10 (Infectious poppy melodies and singing get to you, but after awhile it's just annoying)
The Chiodos Bros. - The Heartless Control Everything

Mindless Screaming. (Army Of Flying Robots)

While kickass art is one thing this album has, it cannot make up for how awful the band is. This is just primal screaming that is damn near unbearble. YOU WILL LOVE THIS BAND IS YOU LIKE ASSFACTOR 4. IMO very similar to AF4 and I like neither of them.

4/10 (Some songs are bearable but not enough for me. Just not my thing)
Army Of Flying Robots - S/T 7"

I'm a liar that hates itunes. (Nation of Ulysses)

In a previous post for The Nation Of Ulysses I said that Plays Pretty For Baby was their final release. I lied. I checked iTunes and found The Embassy tapes. (BTW I hate iTunes because I no longer have an iPod to listen to my iTunes music on. I cant change the format of the songs to put on my Zune, Rep’in Microsoft, and I’m really pissed about it…) Recorded before the split up, put out on Discord Records, and it may just be their best album ever. They had one guitarist as opposed to the two they usually had, and the quality is pretty crappy. Even though that’s enough to kill most albums NOU has put out a punk masterpiece. A couple of reworks of old songs, and some new songs, all with that jazzy, rebellious, angry, energetic feel of The Nation Of Ulysses. Great stuff that as before mentioned is a must is you like Swing Kids, Dead Kennedys, and oh-so many punk rock bands.


9/10 (I just got this recently but its growing on me fast.)
The Nation Of Ulysses - The Embassy Tapes Apparently this is not Dl able, so I'll figure out how to make it so it is in the near future.

Support.

Khayembii Comunique/VidaBlue split

I dont feel like writing another review for KC, or a first for VidaBlue. So check it out or dont.

7/10 (VidaBlue is lacking on here, and thats a shame since it was there last recordings with that name.)
Khayembii Communique/VidaBlue - Split

Maybe it's all pointless...

Well I've uploaded and no one has veiwed...Well I have'nt spread word around yet but I was getting to it! Anyway I've been wondering if it's even worth it to up this stuff. Most of it can be found if you look hard enough... I guess I'll up some more, spread the word, and see if it floats or sinks! (Had to throw in a boat reference)

The Nation of Ulysses spits in the eye of Rock'n Roll. Smashed the light, Smashed cameras, smashed instruments,smashed faces. (Nation of Ulysses)

THE NATION OF ULYSESS!! Defiantly one of my favorite punk bands, their 1991 debut, 13-Point Program To Destroy America, was an amazing record with some jazz punk, crazy (but not stupid) lyrics, freak-outs (Ya know, where everything is all cool then everyone goes apeshit!), and a TON OF ENERGY. The recordings sound their age, 16 years old now, but are still boss and will get you pumped.

9/10




The second, and as far as I know final installment in the book known as The Nation Of Ulysses, an amazing sophomore follow up, that in my opinion is slightly better than 13-pt. Program. More freak-outs, more jazzy sounding, more punk, more screams, some spoken word, and did I mentions more freak-outs? A must if you’re a fan of Swing Kids, Dead Boys, Cap’n Jazz, Dead Kennedys, and just about any old school punk rock band.

10/10
Nation Of Ulysses - 13-point Program + Plays Pretty For Baby

Is it really a discog or just a jumble?(Khayembii Communique)

Khayembii Communique - 7" cover art

It has been awhile since I last checked up on these guys, and there myspace page has changed a bit and interpunk has some stuff on 'em, but I have'nt seen any new stuff. About two years, maybe only a year and a half ago, I found out about these guys and fell in love...Or at least as close as you can get with music. Throaty screams that make you wince, emotional lyrics, and from what I've heard, they are killer live.

I got this jumble of recordings being passed off as a discography(could'nt find real art so I put the pic from their 7") from a friend, only to find out the band is'nt dead,or maybe it is, their myspace is no help, so technically it's a "Sofargraphy?" Anyway it's great stuff and they seem to have grown in popularity since I've last google'd their name. (I also saw a guy on interpunk say their 1st LP is selling for $30 on ebay!)

I'll be up-ing thier split with Vidablue sometime this week.

8/10 (Lots of repeats, but maybe thats just beacuse it's all they have done and they want to show how they've changed...?)
Khayembii Communique - sofargrapy?

Kodan Armada - Collections Vol. 1

(BTW dont hold your breath for a Vol. 2)
I honestly can't do this album justice with this little review/description, but I'm going to try to at least explain why Kodan Armada may just be the best screamo band ever. If you're a screamo fan then you should know about Kodan Armada...If not let me enlighten you.

This little band coming from Louisville, Kentucky of all places has left a huge mark on the genre. From "soft-ish" songs to mind blowing thrash punk anthems this band delivers in eveyway you could possibly want! Lyrics? Got 'em, and deep subject matter for a few songs. Like the song Cops deals with not only police brutality, but also rascism. But I'm going to fast.

From the the first 12 seconds of the intro they will have your attention.
"This song is about my dad raping my sister..."
Hearing that for the first time will get you asking yourself what the fuck you just got yourself into, but they blend the pain, and shame that the lead singer (and not to mention his sister) felt into a beautiful song full of melody and purpose.

Some of there more notable songs will get a intro recorded at a live show, songs like bullshit Buffet that will get you hardcore dancing no matter where you are, in the car, sitting at your computer, walking down the street, or in the middle of a class. While unfortunatly not every song will give you that "mind just got blown" feeling most will, and of course the lyrics for every song are not amazing, but even there most cliche song, IwishIdidnthatemyself.com, is more boss than many band's most dice song. (Hope you like my "lingo" or slang or w/e you want to call it)

Anyway, I could go on for hours about how good their songs are, how awesome they were live, and how IMO they are in the top 3 of all emo/screamo bands, but I dont have all day so I'll just stop hear and let you hear for yourself...

10/10 (perfect in most every way)
Kodan Armada - Collections Vol. 1

Come on Kylie, now you get what you deserve.(Bear vs Shark)

TERRORHAWK



RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE IN THE BEST OF HANDS

Well I have to say I love this band so much that the name of this blog actually comes from the lyrics of a song by them. That being said I have to say Terrorhawk is better than Right now, You're in the best of hands. Right now, has more slow long drawn out songs, and you may like that, while Terrorhawk is more about screaming and jumping. Terrorhawk hits its climax at Seven Stop Hold Restart, a screamy, melodic song about a town being destroyed, and golden tongues....Dont know how that fits, but they made it fit. Right now, hits climax at Buses, no buses. A fast-to-slow-to-fast pace song that will have you screaming and jumping...That is if you like their "harder" side. If it's "soft" that you like, then Terrorhawk gets it Right with a couple of tracks while Right now, hits hard with... Well most everything.

8/10-Terrorhawk (Great stuff, but a lot of the songs sound similar.)
6/10-Right Now, You're In The Best Of Hands (To much air, and not enough substance for me)
Terrorhawk
Right now, you're in the best of hands

After School Knife Fight

"After School Knife Fight was a band that started in a basement with an acoustic guitar and some lyric's on a piece of notebook paper. Kevin and Jacen met through a shared love of loud music and decided to start a band. Kevin played guitar and Jacen decided to do vocals. They met a bass player named Jenn and a drummer named Conor and started writing songs. We wrote three songs with Jenn and played two shows and then she left the band. Conor invited two members from another band he was in to take over and ASKF now had two guitars. Brandon and John filled the new slots. Together they played some shows a had some fun and recorded 3 songs and self released a 5 song EP. They broke up shortly after recording and playing their last show in January of 2002.

Where they are now:

Jenn has kids and nobody knows where she vanished to.

Jacen and Kevin live together in Calgary and started a band recently. They were in a short lived project together called Our Last Days As Children who recorded a split 7" with Droom. Kevin is currently doing vocals in a band called Cold Dead Hands and he plays guitar in a metal band called Aim For The Head.

Conor and Brandon and John started playing in Harbor again after ASKF broke up and released an EP together that was recorded in Vancouver with Jesse Gander. It was pretty sweet. Now they are in Vancouver and I don't know if they are in any bands."

(NOTE: this post has recently been edited with info from the bands myspace page.)
(8/10)
After school knife fight-Jousting with the intent of hurting people

(BTW this band is dead and gone, but its remains can be found with Our Last Days As Chideren)

Maiden Voyage (Adonis Battlefied - 7")

Yeah, I know the whole ship thing is a bit lame but stick with me for a bit and the coupla seconds of lameness will be well worth it.

For the first upload (of many!) I give you Adonis Battlefield! Borderline grind, this screamo band delivers lyrics rivaling Saetia and singing, (cant always scream, it hurts your throat!) that reminds me of Antioch Arrow. I could'nt find the albums real art so I got this crappy pic of the band playing.

7/10 (-3 because the production value is well...godawful)
Adonis Battlefield-7"