So Many Dynamos - [2003] Are We Not Drawn Onward To New Era?

sound: Indie/Funk/Progressive
myspace + merch.
Think im more in love with this band on every listen,  and this record is no exception. Maybe im  a sucker for the razor sharp drumming, or the wild guitar arrangements,  or it could  the intelligent lyrics with just the right delivery. Yes. Yes. A Thousand Times Yes.   is probably hands down my favorite track  "It takes a lot of courage to be a coward, it takes a lot of pills to make you feel alright..." Not quite as upbeat as the jams you'll find on Flashlights  but certainly one of their best. Wouldn't mind seeing this one on vinyl, also if you like these guys check them out at their touring blog here. 

Bang = 192kbps.

sounds like: The Plastic Constellations, City in Fiction, Dr. Manhattan, We are the Scientists

Dr. Manhattan (2009) - Jam Dreams

sound:indie/funk/rock
length: 12 songs, 13.5 minutes
myspace
1. "Electraumatized" - 2:02
2. "Texas" - 3:06
3. "After All" - 4:09
4. "Mailman" - 4:03
5. "I'm High" - 2:44
6. "Cowgirl" - 2:38
7. "Misses Stewart" - 2:44
8. "Biscuits and Groovy" - 3:22
9. "Listen Up" - 0:41
10. "Man With a Woman's Chest" - 3:02
11. "Hard Time" - 2:53
12. "Camping Ground" - 3:34

Im not really sure how to describe this record,  besides saying it's a great fucking time. Pretty much everything you can think of you'll find on it, steady dance beats, odd cheering, tambourine, random yelling, people singing in strange voices, electro, breaking glass, etc... This might seem like the last thing you want to listen to, but i'm telling you even though it's completely random at times, it manages to have a coherent undertone of foot tappin' indie rock goodness. Honestly if you can listen to the track Biscuits and Groovy and not smile, you might want to see a  fucking therapist. + they got's a sweet comic book name :) and if you didn't know that before last year YOU SUCK.
LET THE WILD RUMPUS BEGIN!!!!

sounds like: So Many Dynamos, Tokyo Police Club, The Grates

boink.

City in Fiction - (2009) Laughing in the Dark EP

sound: Indie/Funk/Progressive
length: 5 songs 15.2 minutes
myspace

1. Send'em to the 'Lectric Chair
2. Shave Damage
3. I Liked it Better When You Didn''t Speak
4. Dark Holes and Moonlight
5. The Vizzerdrix

I've been meaning to get to this record for almost a year now, cause i think its fantastic. It's an EP so you can power through it in 15 minutes but This Is Fiction packs enough style, groove, and definitive musicality for you to get a real feel for this band. These guys are like So Many Dynamos meets Minus the Bear, with that upbeat Progressive tempo while also being super chill. Love Shave Damage  because it is a gem, but  i think Dark Holes and Moonlight really showcases what this band is capable of. Honestly all five tracks are great, Vizzerdrix is a trip down the rabbit hole. Check 'em out.

sounds like: So Many Dynamos, A City Safe From Sea, Minus the Bear

*bang.

A City Safe From Sea - (2009) Throw Me Through Walls

sound:Indie/Funk/Progressive

length: 9 songs, 37.6 minutes

myspace

1. you and all your friends

2. understudies

3. well dressed at the hospital

4. french architecture

5. worcester cinema north

6. little white shelves

7. soft duels

8. two twin telephones

9. we can turn around, but i can't take you back

What i gathered from this record was a handful of catchy tracks filled with fast high hat hits and continual wandering guitars.  Lots of overdrive and pedal effects stopping just seconds before your eardrum starts spewing blood all over your skull candies. Think the Dartz only slightly heavier. Who doesn't want to hear songs about dead friends, and shitty girlfriends?

sounds like: So Many Dynamos, Dartz, White Denim

bump.

Foals - (2008) Antidotes

sound: Indie/Funk/Poolhall
length: 11 songs, 46.44 minutes
myspace
1. The French Open (3:48)
2. Cassius (3:52)
3. Red Sock Pugie (5:11)
4. Olympic Airways (4:21)
5. Electric Bloom (4:57)
6. Balloons (3:03)
7. Heavy Water (4:34)
8. Two Steps, Twice (4:42)
9. Big Big Love (Fig. 2) (5:50)
10. Like Swimming (2:01)
11. Tron (4:53)

So this is why people create labels like "DancePunk", if the French Open doesn't have you bouncing around your living room then what will? This record is catchy as all hell, with some damn clever guitar lines. It is reminiscent of what used to be mathrock/ mathcore etc... For Vampire Weekend enthusiasts or possible We Are Scientists fans.

sounds like: We are Scientists, So Many Dynamos, Joggers, Post War Years

Banged.

The Joggers - (2005) With a Cape and a Cane

sound: Indie/Funk/Poolhall
length: 10 songs, 40.51 minutes
myspace
ziggurat traffic
we've been talked down
wicked light sleeper
era prison
since you're already up
yawning brahmins
white madam
night of the horsepills
horny ghosts
apache figurines

Portland guys making records with all the oddities of a truly bohemian sound laced with a dance punk vibe. This record is exceptionally hip, every song is it's own gem boasting their own quirks. From the outlandish Night of the Horsepills to the catchy funk of Wicked Light Sleeper. Very So Many Dynamos meets We are Scientists. Try it out.

sounds like: We are Scientists, So Many Dynamos, Post War Years

Bang.

So Many Dynamos - (2009) The Loud Wars

sound: Indie/Funk/Progressive
length: 10 songs, 39.9 minutes
myspace
1 Artifacts of Sound
2 Glaciers
3 The Novelty of Haunting
4 New Bones
5 If You Didn’t Want To Know
6 Oh, The Devastation
7 Keep It Simple
8 Friendarmy
9 It’s Gonna Rain
10 The Formula

After discovering this band a couple months back i was instantly hooked. While the musical techniques are not necessarily something completely original to the mathrock or progressive genre, i still feel their delivery is 100% heartfelt, catchy, and completely fascinating. This record is far more electronic, phazers, pedals, so on and so forth then i was expecting. And while half the time on first listen it seemed as though they were trying to emulate the excellence of their previous album Flashlights (which fucking rules by the way and is also on this site) there's gems like the strangely exciting almost progrock of New Bones. I'd say give it a listen though if you like listening to drummers or you enjoyed We Are Scientists latest press Brain Thrust Mastery.



sounds like: the Plastic Constellations, Blood Red Shoes, Fugazi, For the Mathematics

Boom!

At The Drive-In - (2000) Relationship of Command

sound: Indie/Funk/Progressive
length: 11 songs, 45.3 minutes
myspace
1. Arc Arsenal
2. Pattern Against User
3. One Armed Scissor
4. Sleepwalk Capsules
5. Invalid Litter Dept.
6. Mannequin Republic
7. Enfilade
8. Rolodex Propaganda
9. Quarantined
10. Cosmonaut
11. Non-Zero Possibility
12. Catacombs

So a few weeks ago I said if you didn't know this band/album by name you needed to walk yourself back to Music Knowledge 101 immediately, and i stand by that. If you don't know this album it's because you have unfortunate taste in music, or someone doesn't love you enough to steer you down the holy and righteous path.
Very strong progressive rock band that folded sometime around 2001, and became Sparta and the Mars Volta. Relationship Of Command was a divulge into electronics that caught some short-lived mainstream attention. First three songs on this album, best songs in ATDI history in my honest opinion. I will say, you might not listen to this album every day but you should appreciate the musicianship, if you have such an ear. With this album listened to:
Now, we accept you one of us.

sounds like: Fugazi, The Plastic Constellation, So Many Dynamos

Zoom.

So Many Dynamos - (2006) Flashlights

sound:Indie/Funk/Progressive
length: 11 songs, 38.03 minutes
myspace
1.) Saturday Night, Sunday Morning
2.) Search Party
3.) Progress
4.) Home Is Where The Box Wine Is
5.) How High The Moon
6.) In Every Direction
7.) Inventing Gears
8.) This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things
9.) We Vibrate, We Do
10.) In Our Sleep
11.) Let's Move Mountains

I stumbled over this record about two days ago, it's been on repeat ever since. Their sound is really unique, and damn catchy. It's like a weird cross of Deloused in the Comatorium, Catch For Us the Foxes, and Relationship of Command. Also if you don't know those albums by name, you should probably fucking kill yourself, cus you've been listening to absolute shit for 5 years.

sounds like: Medications, The Mars Volta, At the Drive In, The Plastic Constellations

Zing!