Crocodiles - Summer of Hate

I'm gonna make this one rather quick. I have a ton of shit to do, and this happens to be my current mode of procrastination.

Today's album: Crocodiles - Summer of Hate
Genre: Indie Rock, Shoegaze, Noise Punk
Released: 2009
Running time: 9 tracks, 33:59
In a nutshell: Yet another noise-punk duo captures our attention

Is pop-punk done yet? I'm actually asking you because I honestly don't know. I still listen to pop-punk albums I was in to about 5-7 years ago for the sake of nostalgia, but otherwise I feel like I've grown out of the genre. It was (still is?) cheezy fun, but I'm not 17 anymore.

That being said, I'm beginning to see a new pop-punk trend forming in indie/hipster circles: the lo-fi, noise-punk duo. As far as I can tell this started with No Age, and has gained momentum with bands like Wavves and Japandroids. These bands are freakin' cool, in that unmistakably high school way; that is to say, cool without reason. Cool without money, without football field conquests, without glitz or glam. They are cool with raw charisma, or more specifically, raw hooks. They supplement these hooks with thoughtful, spirited, and often messy sonic soundscapes. This is their way of rebelling against the structures that make them cool; in other words, this is what gives their cool substance.

So, are Crocodiles jumping onto this bandwagon? Maybe. They definitely have the hooks and charisma needed to hang with the cool kids. Their radio hit, I Wanna Kill, is brilliantly catchy, dirty, and yes, probably stolen. Refuse Angels buzzes and screeches with fast-paced feedback, like a JAMC song about to derail.

Other tracks, such as the stompy waltz of Flash of Light, seem to reign the noise in a little more. In fact, I would say that the entire album's use of effects is much more directed than you might expected. The result may not be totally original, but it's incredibly enjoyable. I particularly enjoyed the slow, psychadelic parade of Here Comes the Sky. Overall, there seems to be more of an effort to please here, which ironically makes Summer of Hate less of a sellout than you might think, given the pretentious abrasiveness of current trends.

Yea. Take that pitchfork.

Drag the River - It's Crazy

It's been a shitty week. Nothin' like a whiskey-soaked alt-country album to match my mood. Check it out.

Today's album: Drag the River - It's Crazy

Genre: Alt-Country
Released: June 6, 2006
Running time: 13 tracks, 1:09:15
In a nutshell: Crack open a beer and enjoy the twang

I just listened to this for the first time, and absolutely loved it. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for country, having been raised on country radio. Of course I realize that contemporary country radio has less to do with actual country, and more to do with sugar-coated Americana, but when you're young you'll latch onto just about anything that catchy.

To be fair, Drag the River isn't 100% country either; they definitely belong in the alt-country niche. The band actually has a punk background, which is reflected in the music; a few of the songs have a bit more drive than you'd expect from traditional country. Even the slower drawl of Fire & Flood ends with a shockingly abrasive guitar solo, totally overpowering the otherwise complacent rhythm section. Beatuiful & Damned also adds just a hint of distortion to the slide-guitar for a rather unnerving effect. For the most part, however, the album features all the rollicking twang you'd probably expect.

What really distinguishes this album is the lyrics. These aren't exactly rednecks...or perhaps they are, but they seem to feel a bit out of place nonetheless. The theme of alcohol is fairly consistent, but is often used to convey a deeper sort of emotional turmoil. In other words, there aren't any point-blank narratives here. At the same time, the album avoids gutter-depression with some really fun songs, especially the 3 song suite of Amazing G-Dirty Lips-Cousins.

The final track on the album is a 30 minute reprise of the entire album, but it sounds more or less the same. Some of the songs sound like they have been mixed a bit better, such as album highlight Me & Joe Drove Out to California, but otherwise there isn't much of a difference.

This is definitely recommended. It's 5 o'clock, I'm on my second beer of many, and I'm feeling a lot better. I hope everyone has a great weekend. Hasta luego...

Now, Now Every Children - Cars

I fixed my speakers! It was as easy as opening them up, finding what looked like a loose wire of some sort, reconnecting it, and BAM! I can listen to music again. What a relief! I really didn't want to spend money on new ones.

Today's Album: Now, Now Every Children - Cars

Genre: Indie Rock
Released: due February 10, 2009
Running time: 11 tracks, 38:30
In a nutshell: Dynamic female-fronted indie rock

This band is new to me only in the sense that I haven't listened to them before. Their formula is instantly familiar, and very enjoyable, even if it's not very interesting. Now, Now Every Car is your typical girl-fronted indie rock band; feminine without being effeminate, heavy without weight, light without delicacy. Definitely listen to this if you're into Metric, or maybe Tegan and Sara, and don't mind sacrificing their hooks for a little bit of spirit.

I think I'm onto something there. I couldn't really say why I like this album at first; the crunchy guitars, tight beats, and silky smooth vocals are consistent to the point of being a bit dreary. I think it's a matter of spirit. This kind of stuff will really hit the spot if you're in the mood, and I think there may be a good deal of substance to explore in the lyrics.

The most interesting moments on the album come when the band plays the 'adorable/quirky' card. My favorite track is We Know Martha Webber, a song with heavy keyboards and oddball lyrics; I'll ask my friends on the internet / if twenty-five cents is cause for excitement...
I could picture this band doing a suburban-epic sort of album, like the Arcade Fire's Funeral. Such an undertaking would require a little more BANG! out of them, but I think the format would work.