I think what makes this such a remarkable record and certainly one of the year’s best and brightest is the fact that its ensemble is so acrobatic; you can’t help but see the players physically (or arduously) shifting themselves between instruments or disciplines, multitasking to achieve what you so seamlessly hear… Their efforts obviously a …
Not to say that it ever stopped being good, but it seems to me like the past few years have seen a considerable surge in the quality of screamo. A lot of the bands grouped with the “second wave” of screamo either broke up and moved on to other projects, or slowed down considerably, so …
We haven’t been shy about our love for Giraffes? Giraffes! in the past; the duo’s previous releases (2005′s SUPERBASS!!!! and 2007′s More Skin With Milk-Mouth) are both ambitious pieces of instrumental math rock that, while not polished, were raw in their display of competent composition and technical skill. More Skin‘s highlight was the epically climactic “When the Catholic …
2009′s self-titled record from the Tosin Abasi-controlled Animals as Leaders was a favourite among some of the Hearwax staff; all fans of his previous metalcore outfit Reflux were not only happy with the record, but stunned by its balance of technical precision and songwriting prowess. With assistance from Periphery‘s Bulb aka Misha Mansoor, Tosin had birthed …
The nature of the Ahab-like quest for a personally infamous white whale is a curious thing to study. It has evolved into a literary trope whose existence and specificity has been transformed into a cliché. Furthermore, it’s hardly complimentary to the person that ascribes this term to themselves. It’s also particularly concerning, for it’s ultimately …
I understand the half-and-half policy behind Coldplay where half of the listeners strongly dislike their brand of music and the other half are die-hard fans. I fall closer to the latter category but before you can say ‘storm of controversy’, my goal is to explain why I like Mylo Xyloto, their fifth album, as …
This week has been a nightmare… At least the past two days have. I had a tooth pulled out yesterday– a big tooth– and that is really quite painful. I would not recommend it. As such I’ve been asked to reduce my diet to mushy, bland foods and water. I’m also not allowed to spit. …
Andrew McMahon is the lead singer for Jack’s Mannequin and his voice never changes. Neither do his songs. Way more than half a decade ago I spent my days and nights in a basement listening to very few bands, all of whom I still listen to. Metric was one (early on); so was HelloGoodbye. …
Well, October is finally here. Unsurprisingly, it’s another month to not get things done while I watch movies, play games, listen to music, and sit around. But at least there’s tons of new music. I thought Mutemath‘s new CD was supposed to be out in late September but it was pushed ahead to this …
