TREVOR & DANIEL - s/t 7" EP (Speculation, 1998)

Simply put, TREVOR & DANIEL's one and only EP is my personal apex of what we could so sweepingly describe as "indie rock". This duo, comprised of former Connecticut residents Trevor Healy (guitar; later of Weigh Down) and Daniel Pastrana (drums; later of Anton Bordman) recorded this one, relatively obscure 7" in 1998 before moving on to other musical ventures as well as other geographic locations. We are left with a telling document of two friends that appear so musically in synch with one another, a near-flawless, emotive burst of energy captured in time.

The three tracks themselves generously reflect the time in which they were written. Equal parts San Diego (Gravity Records) and Chicago (Kinsella clan) are very apparent (and also telling, as Anton Bordman would continue such Gravity influence and the Weigh Down would notably reflect aspects of various Kinsella projects in years to come) and tastefully executed. Truth be told, the dominating nature of these influences give the tracks a bit of a dated feel, but that does not mean they don't age well. In fact, the opening track's delicate and refreshing sound intrigues as much as it entertains, taking the listener along on an angular rollercoaster ride before its sudden finish. The delightful voyage through these aural peaks and valleys continue throughout the remaining two songs while never feeling formulaic nor redundant.

While acknowledging my soft spot for fellow Connecticut bands, particularly in a historical context, I must say that this record is simply stunning at face value. Bands that make any present attempt at writing such material seem hackneyed, trying again and again to implement that aforemention formula, but continuously falling short. Sometimes it's immensely rewarding to simply reflect on what was and be satisfied that it ever came to be in the first place.

DOWNLOAD

NUDE BEACH demo cassette (2008)

My band went on tour a few weeks ago, and out of all the great bands with played with, Brooklyn's NUDE BEACH was my favorite new discovery. They had been described to me as "sped up Clash riffs meets Beach Boys through fuzzy amps," and after seeing them I'd augment that description with "The Clash by way of BENT OUTTA SHAPE and Beach Boys by way of EXPLODING HEARTS." Unfortunately, NUDE BEACH had apparently been long sold out of their demo tape.

Thankfully, we got these music piracy boxes. This 7-song, reverby demo is now in constant electronic rotation for me. Maybe it will be for you too? I know your next question was gonna be "do they have cred?" Never fear, they do! The drummer was in DUSTHEADS and BOTTLE ROCKET, and they seem to be in with the ifyoumakeit.com dude, which is where I found this download. A guy who was in GET BENT is putting out their forthcoming LP. Just fucking download it, before summer is over and bouncy punk of this caliber will only serve to depress you!

KILL THE MAN WHO QUESTIONS "SUGAR INDUSTRY" LP (2001, Coalition)

A friend recently expressed to me, prompted by my FAILURE FACE post, a lack of knowledge regarding worthwhile 90's hardcore. While this LP may not technically pass specifications, the majority of KTMW?'s time as a band was logged in that erstwhile decade.

Uncompromising fucking hardcore. A lot of times they come across to me like a crustier, slightly more attention-deficit BORN AGAINST. This comparison also holds up lyrically and vocally - the Y chromosome part of the male/female vocal-tradeoff equation has a very McPheetersy yowl at points. (You can't tell from his record, but he went on to AMATEUR PARTY and ARMALITE).

I don't really know what else to say. This record thankfully helped inform my naive view of hardcore and punk as (ideally) an alternative culture rather than a commodity deigned upon our undeserving heads by Victory Records or an excuse for macho dudes to run into each other very hard. The out-of-press LP is worth seeking out for the 'zine insert. The music was just as formative - make sure you stick around for at least two tracks, because I'd argue that the opener functions almost as an intro.

DOWNLOAD.

THE BUSY SIGNALS - LOVE AND DUST 7" EP (Douchemaster, 2005)

I have a feeling this record will eventually be one of those singles that people dig through boxes to find, stashed away and forgotten in some used record store basement, with the hopes they will stumble upon a copy of The Busy Signals' "Love And Dust" EP. Chicago's The Busy Signals feature some of the tightest, catchiest punk rock being released these days. Taking a heavy dose of influence from edgier power pop bands like The Breakaways (think their single "Walking Out On Love" specifically), The Busy Signals burst out the gate with three undeniably catchy, scathing tracks on their 2005 debut EP. The track 'Love And Dust' is the equivalent of getting hit by a musical Mack truck, with its deliriously quick start, lightning fast tempo throughout, and toe-tapping melody, one would think that this song alone makes the single worth your time.

'Just Wanna Go Out' maintains the impact of the EP's initial track, leaving you ready for the record's closing track, the sneaky 'Do What You Want'. Unlike the previous two songs, 'Do What You Want' shows the band taking the tempo down only slightly as to further reveal the band's ability to write pop gems. The formula is almost overly simplistic. However, that unto itself (at least in the case of The Busy Signals) is its very charm. These songs are not terribly unlike any slew of power pop bands from nearly 30 years ago (see: The Breakaways, etc.), and yet it doesn't matter. Fun songs are simply that and rarely seem to be faced with the often pretentious and frankly overrated "need" to constantly reinvent the wheel or break the mold. If you can do it better than almost anyone else, these things don't seem to matter.

The band has since released another single as well as a full length on Dirtnap Records in 2008. While the Dirtnap release is still widely available, you can check this EP out here (now in convenient zip file format for all you non-rar folk out there!)

DIALLO - DIAGRAM OF A SCAM 7" EP (Yellow Dog, 2001)

Diallo was an incredible hardcore band from Windsor Connecticut. They came together sometime in late 2000/early 2001, quickly recording a demo that would eventually become their first EP, 2001's Diagram Of A Scam. Diallo specialized in producing ear-splitting, politically charged hardcore. They also happened to be some of the nicest people I've had the pleasure of meeting/playing with. For a few years at the beginning of the decade, Diallo were constantly playing, releasing records, and organizing/promoting shows with impeccable consistency in the Hartford area (long before the current configuration of shows/houses/spaces/friendly faces that occupy Hartford's city limits). The impact and influence of their efforts were lost on most of us while they were happening...of course they were mostly taken for granted (I am as guilty as anyone), as most things of this sort are while they are currently happening under our collective nose. However, if you look back on what they did, when they did it, and how they did it, it would be naive to deny their influential stamp on the state of Connecticut's current punk/hardcore community.

If you happened to miss them when they were around, or if you've since misplaced your copy, below is a link for the aforementioned Diagram Of A Scam EP.

Enjoy!

FAILURE FACE "ALL PAIN, NO GAIN" 7" ep (Ebullition/Daybreak, 1995)

Another post, another record I couldn't scrounge the cover of. The only good thing about school beginning in scant few days is the revival of my scanner access.

So, this one's a fucking classic. I checked it out about two years ago based on a random recommendation. For whatever reason, they're positively lining used bins - probably because there are thousands of copies. Whatever, its availability does not detract from its brutality. At times it can be awkwardly dated - the nineties were a very confusing time for backing vocalists in hardcore, but it mostly takes the most compelling elements of DIY hardcore from this period and consolidates them on a single slab. It's ugly but almost catchy in it's strange reliance on traditional song structures.

The title and cover shot of a person in mid-leap off a very tall building about sum up the lyrical content. The musical ugliness and menace is matched only by the vocal venom with which lines like "every day that I don't eat the gun, I won! I won!" are spat. Bob Suren, the man behind the venerable but deceased Burrito Records, is the vocal abuser in this band, and gives it everything he can muster, which is surprisingly versatile.

Even considering the closing epic banger, the entire affairs totals in at seven songs in eight minutes. If you don't like it, I didn't take much of your time. Just download it.

While we're at it, here's an added download of their indispensable compilation track "Pure Entertainment".

THE NILS - THE NILS (Profile, 1987)

Hailing from Montreal, The Nils were an absolute gem of a band that existed throughout the early-to-mid 80's. Led by the brothers Soria, the band is perhaps most known for guitarist/singer Alex Soria's musical exuberance, having started the band while only 12 years old. Unlike their stellar 1985 vinyl debut 'Sell Out Young', their 1987 self-titled effort shows signs of maturity. Additionally, it also provided a glimpse into the development of the younger Soria's inner demons, which would plague him continuously until his suicide in 2004.

What we are left with are 10 fantastic instances of pop perfection. The album's opening track, 'River of Sadness', bears alot of comparison to mid-career Replacements, foreboding in a deeply personal way and yet generalizable enough to have personal impact on any random person listening to the song itself. These comparisons remain throughout the duration of the LP. Their re-do of 'In Betweens' (originally appearing on the 'Sell Out Young' EP) is a certifiable barn-burner (although I would add that the horns on the SOY version does add a little extra something to the track overall). If you aren't humming half of these songs in your head immediately after your first listen, you might need to get your hearing checked out. 'Daylight' reminds me of Bob Mould's better tracks off of Sugar's 'File Under Easy Listening'. While many are quick to pigeon-hole the band as merely "power pop", the obvious influences utilized by the Nils as well as the obvious influence the band has had on others since the album's release, are quite varied and apparent (particularly given the time period in which they released the bulk of their material). For that reason, it boggles the mind that such a group remains off the radar of many.

In making this post any longer, I am denying you the opportunity to be intently listening to this fantastic record. Check it out here.