1994!/Spires [2009] 12" Split

sound: Punk/Screamo  Indie Rock/Progressive
1994! / Spires
By now you've probably figured out that i've really been digging 1994! lately, but the Spires half of this Split is what gets me every fucking time. Their just so damn impressive right out the gate with the track Leaving For Home. Love the drum intro with the far off guitars coming through like it's a distant radio transmission. Love bands that aren't afraid to establish their sound, it takes balls to hang back vocally  on the intro track, always reminds me of Alexisonfire's S/T intro. These guys don't quit through their next two songs giving you lick after lickpg guitar greatness and fist pumping punk anthems. Also i fucking hate Split's that are jarring when you move from one band to the next, this one no such problem the transitions into 1994!  is so smooth you might not even catch it on digital format. These two bands compliment each other soo beautifully i can see why InkBlot Records had to snatch them both up. Pick this up on blue vinyl from InkBlot while they still got it, i know i will be :)

1994!/Spires 12" Split on Vinyl.

sounds like: Boyfriends, Bear Vs. Shark, Loma Prieta

Bang= vbr.

Chalk Talk [2009] Killing Spree

sound: Screamo/Pop Punk/Math Rock

myspace + merch.
Chalk Talk plays a fun lighthearted brand of pop punk that's infectious in nature, bouncy and energetic, with lyrics that are fucking hilarious. They have this knack for screamed harmonies, which is fucking great if you see their live shows cause it's pretty much out of control. They just put out a split cassette with Black Churches, and an upcoming tour with those bros in the summer.  These guys run with this DIY promotion group called the Cake Life Collective, certainly worth checking out, their first compilation  record is up for downloading there. Chalk Talk have some sweet t-shirts on their myspace, and quiet an underground following of which you can now be apart of. Check these dudes out for sure.
Cake Life Collective

sounds like: Bear Vs. Shark, Algernon Cadwallader, 1994!

Bang = 320 kbps.

Boyfriends [2009] EP

Hey guys, I'm leaving town again [sad face] 

as you read this i am currently trapped on a slow ass ferry with twenty six 12 yr old girls 

for TWELVE MINDBLOWING HOURS!!!

sound: Indie Rock/Progressive
myspace + merch.
Anyway i figured i better hook you all up with this sweet ass [EP] from the band Boyfriends to ease my own pain. If you liked 1994!, and honestly how could you not those dudes fucking rocked then you better take a listen to these dudes since it's two of the same guys and some of their hetero-music-playing life mates. Anyway they put some tapes [look up the term: Walkman if confused] out on [get this shit] Ticklebutt Records. Seriously, i have never wanted to make a record label more. Expect more of the same loud crazy punk indie rock hard hitting jump around your living room goodness.
TickleButt, incase you didn't believe me.

sounds like: Bear Vs. Shark, 1994!

Bang = 128kbps.

1994! [2009] Thank You Arms and Fingers

sound: Indie Rock/ Progressive
myspace

Im really excited to share this record with you guys. Mostly because it's really impressive, but also because it's always nice to get "small" bands more recognition. Also 1994! are genuinely nice dudes, who have built the reputation that they are a damn fun show and they treat their fans well. This record is pretty great, for a Bear Vs. Shark fan, im gonna  go ahead and guarantee you're going to like these guys. A lot of that same fun upbeat indie rock riffage complimented by a talented drummer who can keep the pace high tempo. Anyway Inkblot's a pretty sweet record label  been meaning to show them some love for a while. Be sure to pick this up on vinyl, i know i am. Cheers.
TAaF on vinyl.

sounds like: Bear Vs. Shark, Victor! Fix the Sun

Bang = ?.

Victor! Fix The Sun [2009] Person Place or Thing

sound: Indie Rock/Progressive
myspace
 After a long complicated time of trying to fill the void that Bear Vs. Shark made in my life after they stopped making beautiful music together i happened upon this band. They quickly filled that raucous gaping hole with their self defining fast paced brand of mathy-indie-assault-like rock. Needless to say, Victor! Fix the Sun and i have been going steady ever since. This record is spot on, from the fucking start it doles out track after track of fucking great music.
"Sometimes the most powerful sound comes from being confronted without warning."
Get this shit right now.
Person Place or Thing on Amber Vinyl.

sounds like: Bear Vs. Shark, Kane Hodder

Bang = vbr.

Sparta - (2004) Porcelain

sound: Indie Rock/ Progressive
length: 15 songs, 1.04 minutes
myspace
1. "Guns of Memorial Park" – 3:49
2. "Hiss the Villain" – 3:27
3. "While Oceana Sleeps" – 4:24
4. "La Cerca" – 3:43
5. "Breaking the Broken" – 3:47
6. "Lines in Sand" – 6:02
7. "End Moraine" – 4:26
8. "Death in the Family" – 3:37
9. "Syncope" – 1:19
10. "Tensioning" – 5:59
11. "Travel by Bloodline" – 3:06
12. "P.O.M.E." (drum solo by Tony Hajjar) – 0:47
13. "From Now to Never" – 8:39
14. "Splinters" – 4:23
15. Fairwell Ruins (hidden track)

Ok, Fuck. I forgot how much i love this goddamn band.
The song End Morraine is so epic. Look i'm not going to shit you guys, pretty much every track on this record is like pure fucking gold.
This band was like a golden goose just shitting out song after song of complete awesome.
You know when your listening to something with headphones on in public, but you want to be jumping all over benches and shit pumping your fists in the face of onlookers, pushing over old ladies, high fiving fifteen year old's in the face?
That is the glory of this record.
And no im not gonna "describe" the fucking music to you, its Sparta. It's Indie Rock that kicks ass and takes numbers. You like it, you take a chance, or don't fucking download it. I'm not gonna hold your hand, so get this damn record and go terrorize society and go back to knitting.

sounds like: Pilot to Gunner, At the Drive In, Bear Vs. Shark

Bang.

Faraquet - (2000) the View From This Tower

sound: Indie Rock/Progressive
length: 9 songs, 36.8 minutes
myspace
1. Cut Self Not
2. Carefully Planned
3. The Fourth Introduction
4. Song For Friends To Me
5. Conceptual Separation Of Self
6. Study In Complacency
7. Sea Song
8. The View From This Tower
9. The Missing Piece

Unfortunately between work, sleep, and weddings I haven't listen to much lately that's really stood out as "worthy of writing about". Save this record, which i blundered upon only to find out i actually had already been listening to the band they later formed into, Medications. While neither band's albums feel like my cup of tea all the way through i can certainly appreciate that these fine gentlemen are talented. Gifted with a drummer that can make you head spin, and guitar lines ranging from smooth to heavily intricate, wandering vocals and intelligent lyrics there's a great deal to be appreciated here. Intro track Cut Self Not is epic to say the least. Check it out.

sounds like : Medications, Bear Vs. Shark, Burning Airlines

Crunch.

Bear Vs. Shark - (2003) Right Now You're in The Best Of Hands...

sound: Indie Rock/Progressive
length: 12 songs, 40.42 minutes
myspace
1. "Ma Jolie" – 3:51
2. "Campfire" – 2:12
3. "Buses/No Buses" – 3:14
4. "The Employee Is Not Afraid" – 4:10
5. "We Were Sad But Now We're Rebuilding" – 2:17
6. "Kylie" – 3:56
7. "MPS" – 2:55
8. "Second" – 3:21
9. "Don't Tell the Horses the Stable's on Fire" – 2:50
10. "Bloodgiver" – 4:32
11. "Michigan" – 2:32
12. "Broken Dog Leg" – 4:51

Michigan band, long since dead may BVS rest in peace. This albums whole title is Right Now, You're in the Best of Hands. And If Something Isn't Quite Right, Your Doctor Will Know in a Hurry feel free to put that in your itunes.
However, tough, raspy fast or slow, punk, or rock these guys do it all. This is a great album, We Were Sad But Now.. is fucking fantastic.

sounds like: Burning Airlines, Pilot to Gunner, Riddle of Steel

Roar.

Riddle Of Steel - (2008) 1985

sound: Indie Rock/Progressive
length: 10 songs, 41.13 minutes
myspace
1. John Frum
2. This Van Burns Love
3. Who's The Fella Owns This Shithole
4. Underwater
5. Quiet Now
6. Plenty of Satisfaction
7. It's Called A Turbo
8. Loose Talk
9. Total Cougar
10. Easy Love

Another strong album, start to finish. Who's the Fella Owns This Shithole and Easy Love best songs on the album in my opinion. Different feel to it then Got This Feelin, try it.

sounds like: Able Baker Fox, Q and Not U, Burning Airlines, Bear Vs. Shark

Pow!

Riddle Of Steel - (2005) Got This Feelin

sound: Indie Rock/Progressive
length: 10 songs, 42.31 minutes
myspace
01. THE LOVERS OF NOTHING
02. BABY BIRD
03. DEEPER STILL
04. GOT THIS FEELIN´
05. INVISIBLE HANDS
06. THIS IS A HOUSE OF LIES
07. OUR GUITARS ARE HAUNTED
08. DETROIT FLU
09. THE SUNSHINE STRANGLER
10. AQUILINE

Most of the time i think i enjoy this more then 1985 but then i could be liking it for the sake of argument. Either way, ROS were three guys from St. Louis, kickin some serious ass. If you enjoy the Able Baker Fox press, check these guys out.

sound like: Able Baker Fox, Q and Not U, Burning Airlines, Bear Vs. Shark

Flash!

Able Baker Fox - (2008) Voices

Sound: Indie Rock/Progressive
Length: 11 songs, 31.6 minutes
myspace
1. October (2:58)
2. Stuttering (2:38)
3. What Doesn´t Kill You (3:34)
4. Twenty Centuries (2:54)
5. Face On Fire (2:23)
6. Blind Writer (3:46)
7. Palindramatics (2:29)
8. Folding Pocket Blades (1:56)
9. Dead Spaces (3:01)
10. Brand New Moses (2:46)
11. Whispering (3:20)

Bros from Small Brown Bike and Casket Lottery. In my opinion if you enjoy Casket Lottery even a little you will fucking love this album. Also there is a possibility that Blind Writer is one of the greatest songs of all time. If you do nothing else with your life this year, allow yourself to let this record, cum in your ear pussies.

sounds like: Riddle Of Steel, Casket Lottery, Bear Vs. Shark, Q and Not U, Bridge and Tunnel

Kablam!