(P)Review : The Avett Brothers : I And Love And You

I'm almost ashamed to admit that this album is my first significant exposure to The Avett Brothers. I remember someone mentioning to me a couple of years ago how great they were, so kudos to them for being dead right about them.

NPR.org has posted the entire album up for an exclusive first listen - All I can say is thank you, NPR. What a tremendously satisfying listening experience it is. My first impression, aside from brilliantly subtle, simple, but profound lyricism, is the almost inescapable resemblance to another, sonically similar band, Noah and The Whale. Only this in no way feels contrived - in fact, it seems like this is what NATW had been trying to accomplish with their last album, but never quite reached.

This is a truly great album that I'm definitely looking forward to picking up when it hits stores next Tuesday, September 29th.

Review : Every Time I Die : New Junk Aesthetic

When I hear about a band “maturing” their sound, I sometimes get a little apprehensive. Because, if you think about a band that you truly adore, that you’ve been with since the beginning, maturation usually equals a change in sound, a change in what they are sonically. and you recoil. At least, those are the mental gymnastics that can cause such unwarranted dismissal. (And I won’t lie, my first encounter with them came a few months before The Big Dirty destroyed, with the more guttural, raw Gutter Phenomenon. I still have a relentless attachment to that album).

But sometimes, bands need to grow, need to mature, need to take the ragged, rough edges of what makes them who they are and sand them down a bit. The inherent shape stays the same, but the form is more in focus.

When a band like Every Time I Die decides it’s time to do that, be prepared. For their fifth full-length, and first on new label Epitaph, ETID has crafted a workshop in honestly brutal post hardcore. Working in enough of what made their older material so captivating, New Junk Aesthetic takes what ETID is and brings it in to sharp relief. From straight up bone crushers like “Organ Grinder” and “White Smoke,” to the brooding, walking through a swamp heaviness of “Roman Holiday,” to the circle pit inducing “After One Quarter of a Revolution” and “Buffalo 666,“ New Junk Aesthetic announces, in no uncertain terms, that ETID is Patrick Swayze (RIP) in Roadhouse - they’ve come to lay you out, and rip out your throat if necessary.

A friend of mine described the album like this: “… exactly what Jason Vorhees hears in his head all day every day. It fucks your soul inside and out and I mean that in the best way possible.” And really, that about nails it…

Driving around today, I couldn’t help but get caught up in the tragedy that seems to have taken control of Keith Buckley - the passion and… disappointment evident in his revealing, cathartic delivery. It’s always enlightening, and a bit frightening, to see the world through the eyes and pen of someone so intelligent, literate, and cynical. That’s not to say that the instruments in any way take a back seat. Quite the opposite. Jordan Buckley and Andy Williams absolutely slay babies. Want proof, check out “Organ Grinder.” The Southern sludgery is all over the album, reminiscent of what they brought to their last album, The Big Dirty. For fans of their earlier, more raucous work, check out “Host Disorder” and “The Marvelous Slut.“ I’d be doing the band a great injustice by not mentioning bassist Josh Newton and the agile thickness he brought to the proceedings, as well as the solid drum work performed by drummer Mike “Ratboy” Novak, who recently left the band.

This one sets the bar way, way high, and is going to be a tough one for a majority of the bands doing something similar to compete against. Top to bottom, this is a band and an album devoted to kicking your ass and not really giving a fuck about your name.

New Junk Aesthetic is out now - pick up the deluxe version for further proof of their badassery.

(P)Review : Minus The Bear

Indie Rock face melters Minus The Bear recently wrapped up recording and mixing their new album, which looks to be set for release some time early next year. A 7-inch will be released on October 27th with the album track "Into The Mirror," and a B-side, "Broken China," and will also be made available for download for those without them old timey record players. A slew of headlining dates were just announced for the Fall to support their as-yet-untitled album.

October 30th WOW Hall Eugene, OR
October 31st The Boardwalk Sacramento, CA
November 1st Downtown Brew San Luis Obispo, CA
November 2nd Belly Up Solana Beach, CA
November 3rd Glass House Pomona, CA
November 4th Orpheum Theater Flagstaff, AZ
November 6th The Door Ft. Worth, TX
November 7th Jagz Pharr, TX
November 8th White Rabbit San Antonio, TX
November 10th Workplay Theater Birmingham, AL
November 11th Club Firestone Orlando, FL
November 12th 40 Watt Athens, GA
November 13th Cat's Cradle Carrboro, NC
November 14th The Note West Chester, PA
November 15th The Crazy Donkey Farmingdale, NY
November 17th The Westcott Theater Syracuse, NY
November 18th Port City Music Hall Portland, ME
November 19th Pearl Street Northampton, MA
November 20th Mr. Small's Theatre Pittsburgh, PA
November 21st Otto's Niteclub Dekalb, IL
November 22nd The House of Bricks Des Moines, IA
November 23rd Granada Theatre Lawrence, KS
November 25th The Black Sheep Colorado Springs, CO
November 27th In the Venue Salt Lake City, UT
November 28th Knitting Factory Concert House Boise, ID

(P)Review : Say Anything : Hate Everyone Music Video

The Say Anything promotional machine is kicking in. With the eminent release of their new self-titled album comes the first video for the first single, "Hate Everyone." Will it get played in to death?! Probably. It's still better than anything from the last album...

Please to enjoy!

(P)Review : Every Time I Die : Wanderlust Video

Every Time I Die - "Wanderlust"


Here's the new video for Every Time I Die's newest face melter, "Wanderlust." Their latest opus (and by all accounts an ass-kicking, face-punching display of musical badassery), New Junk Aesthetic is due out September 15th on Epitaph.

New Found Glory : Don't Let Her Pull You Down : The Movie

Whoa. It looks like Supremely Rad Pop-Punk pioneers New Found Glory are throwing their hat in the movie making ring with what sounds like a Zombie-Comedy, or Zom-Com (catchy, right?). Could this be their Thriller!? A boy can dream...

"Some things are better off dead!"

Yes. I agree.

Details are slim right now, but you better believe we'll be following this one closely. If anything, this should make for one super fun video.

Check out the IMDB page for some more info!

(P)Review : Say Anything : Hate Everyone

You can head to the Say Anything website and let your earballs decide whether or not their new album is going to be any good. I was... disappointed with their last effort, so I have my fingers crossed that they're going to turn up the volume and rock a little bit. A (real) boy can hope...

Let me know what you think!

The new album releases October 13th.