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hunters // narcissist

With a proclivity for raucous post-punk bedlam the Brooklyn band Hunters brings the noise. The four-piece glistens with heavy handed resonances reeking of the best of 90s alternative alt rock albeit dirtier and hollower of cheeky-er. Both Izzy Almeida and Derek Watson not only cut svelte figures vocally speaking, they’ve also managed to capture an era and strip it bare of pretense, as well as elevate a genre. The band will release their debut self-titled LP October 1st. Get ready because here they come. Peace. Continue reading “hunters // narcissist”

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naomi punk // the spell

“I am the sun/ I am the shooting star…”

sonically speaking our ears crave sound like a man flying into the sun craves sunglasses. and it is no mystery that the melodic and aurally titillating noises of northwest punk thrashers Naomi Punk somehow makes the brain swoon with joy. listening to the recently reissued debut lp ‘The Feeling’ via Captured Tracks is to experience the majesty and thrall of heavy guitar-laden artillery aimed bulls-eye perfect at your rock button (wherever that is). my favorite is track is “The Spell” and with good reason you’ll be listening to it cranked way up. peace. Continue reading “naomi punk // the spell”

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Toy – Left Myself Behind

Most bands are fronted by, or revolve around a vocalist or a badass guitar player, not the case with the five-piece ensemble known as TOY. No, this band comes together around a Korg Delta keyboard/synth. This band is also a mix bag of sorts, grafting sounds from across the musical spectrum: Punk, Electronica, and various visages of rock are all present and accounted for. And it all fleshes out for an overall novel sonic texture which works out, not so surprisingly, well. Check out the bands’ first single release  — Left Myself Behind — and the B-side — Clock Chime. Both sides can be downloaded for free from their Heavenly Recordings website. You can also pre-order the 12″ which drops January 23rd. Peace. Continue reading “Toy – Left Myself Behind”

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la dispute // wildlife

Who says loud agitated music isn’t beautiful or thought provoking? Not I. Although the lyrics of La Dispute aren’t always incendiary political affairs, they feel like it. What’s also readily apparent, is these guys don’t lack, well, rage or talent . However, the good thing about this band is that they channel all the bitterness and beauty of living into deeply emotional fare. Their new album Wildlife (out now via No Sleep Records) is filled with tales of trail and error, longing, love lost, and lots of boiling over angst aplenty. And through it all this five-piece tour de force from Grand Rapids, MI sound like a veritable punk-rock orchestra of sound. Each song is refined chaos, more than anything else, hitting you square in your chest. Leaving your pulse racing, your brow sweaty and your fist clenched. But what do you do after this just under an hour album cranks you up to 11? You thank your lucky stars for every little ounce of joy you can eke out of life. Peace. Continue reading “la dispute // wildlife”