Rx Bandits - The Resignation [2003]

I don't know why I originally looked up Rx Bandits (probably because of The Sound of Animals Fighting) but when I did, the first song I heard by them was Prophetic off of 2003's The Resignation. For anyone who's heard this song, they know it's a great jumping-off point from a great album. The record in general is another step away from the 3rd wave ska that the band started. It's more experimental, more intricate guitar work, and more powerful than what they'd released before. The use of horns was slowly being phased out, eventually having ...And The Battle Begun be the least record using them but on The Resignation they accent the music beautifully. The songs flow excellently from one to the other, using instrumental transitions and ambient sounds, the whole album feels connected rather than just a collection of tracks. This album is another reason 2003 was an amazing year in music and is one of my personal favorites of all time.

Genre: Experimental, Progressive ska
For Fans Of: The Sound Of Animals Fighting, The Mars Volta,
Contact: Myspace
Tracklisting:
1. Sell You Beautiful
2. Prophetic
3. Newstand Rock (Exposition)
4. Overcome (The Recapitulation)
5. Never Slept So Soundly
6. Taking Chase As The Serpent Slithers
7. Republic
8. Mastering The List
9. Falling Down The Mountain
10. Dinna-Dawg (And The Inevitable Onset Of Lunacy)
11. Pal-Treaux
12. Decrescendo



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Just Like Vinyl - Just Like Vinyl [2010] [Leak]

After The Fall of Troy broke up earlier this year, I've been highly anticipating new material from Thomas and his new band Just Like Vinyl. I'll unfortunately be missing them on both of the SLC stops on their tour but on the bright side the album just leaked. I haven't had much time to listen to it, but I'm really stoked to. Going through the tracklisting there's a few things I noticed. 1. Kite is originally a Tribune song (Thomas and Jay's old band) and 2. D.R.U.M.S. is probably making fun of Craig Owen's new band D.R.U.G.S. Again, I haven't listened much but I just wanted to get this up, so have fun.

Genre: Experimental/Mathcore
For Fans Of: The Fall of Troy, The Thirty Years War, Tribune (yes, I did just list Thomas's old bands)
Contact: Myspace
Tracklisting:
1. Wisdom Teeth
2. Cardiac Harassment
3. The Circulatory System
4. Big Words
5. Death of the Sheep
6. D.R.U.M.S.
7. Kite
8. Epiphany
9. No Friend of Mine
10. Pulled Apart
11. It's Over



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The Sound of Animals Fighting - The Tiger And The Duke [2004]

I was talking with my buddy Alex about these guys today and he told me that he's only heard The Ocean And The Sun (my review can be found here) which surprised me, I'd figured most people had heard Tiger, especially those who have already listened to Ocean. But hey, there's always an exception. Well Alex (and anyone who has yet to listen to this gem), Tiger is this super group's first album and it kicks seven different types of ass. The music is basically Ocean minus the Lover influences (Lover, The Lord Has Left Us is the band's second album, which I do not care for), so it's a lot of experimental guitar work ala The Mars Volta or more appropriately, RX Bandits. Anthony Green is the main vocalist with some appearances by Rich Balling and Alexander William Bentley (thanks to Wikipedia for that one). While Anthony usually just sings, he does scream at some points and it's siiiiick. His screaming is unique, awesome, and perfectly accentuates the rest of the ensemble. This group combines some of the best talent in the scene and the result is amazing. Since this is actually the re-release it contains longer interludes and 7 remixes of songs from Lover as well as a live version of Horses In The Sky. Not a big fan of the remixes but I included them anyways because I enjoy full albums.

Genre: Experimental, Post-Hardcore
For Fans Of: RX Bandits, The Mars Volta, Circa Survive
Contact: Myspace
Tracklisting:
1. Overture
2. Act 1: Chasing Suns
3. Interlude
4. Act 2: All Is Ash Or The Light Shining Through It
5. Interlude
6. Act 3: Modulate Back To The Tonic
7. Interlude
8. Act 4: You Don't Need A Witness
9. Un'aria Elettronica (Technology)
10. My Horse Must Lose (Portugal. The Man)
11. De-Ceit (Portugal. The Man)
12. This Heat In Dub (Technology)
13. Skullflower: Sorcerer's Mix (Portugal. The Man)
14. Horses In The Sky (Live Version)
15. St. Broadrick, His Mistress, And The Blacksmith (The Optomist)
16. The Heretic (Evol Intent)


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The Dear Hunter - Vinyl Sessions

Recently, The Dear Hunter put out Act I and II on vinyl (finally!!) and along with the 3xLP goodness that's already provided the group threw in a download card that enabled the buyer to get 4 alternate versions of a few songs online. It's really cool to hear the different styles that these songs can be played in and the different instrumentation that can be used (I'm looking at you, banjo). I've actually seen this version of Oracles live twice before, they have a lot of fun playing it and it sounds great. There were some other songs in this style that were cut from the final mix (His Hand Matches His Tongue and Red Hands, if I remember correctly) so that sucks, but 4 is better than none, eh?

By the way, that thumbnail is totally the real artwork... <.< >.> Ok I lied, but I couldn't/didn't care to find the actual art so that's what you get. The full size image can be found here.

Genre: Experimental
For Fans Of: Circa Survive, Coheed and Cambria, As Tall As Lions
Contact: Myspace
Tracklisting:
1. The Oracles Of The Delphi Express
2. The Pimp And The Priest
3. What It Means To Be Alone
4. Where The Road Parts



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Zechs Marquise - Our Delicate Stranded Nightmare [2008]

Formed by the younger brothers of Omar Rodriguez-Lopez in 2003 (though don't think of it as musical name-dropping), Zechs Marquise began playing energetic shows and creating a unique sound which is exciting and eccentric. The group's musical style is not unlike that of Omar's The Mars Volta, with heavy Latin and jazz roots that take the funky sound to a new level. Even though the group is instrumental, they have a huge amount of power that exerts itself in some key songs, namely Sirenum Scopuli. The record is made up of ambient tracks, jazzy jam sessions, and vast sound-scapes that flaunt the group's talent. The record, while containing some stand-alone tracks, (namely, Sirenum Scopuli) should be played straight through to get the full effect. Like many groups, the live shows are much better than the group on record so if you can catch them then do so, you won't regret it.

Genre: Experimental
For Fans Of: The Mars Volta, The RX Bandits, The Sound of Animals Fighting
Contact: Myspace
Tracklisting:
1. In Strange Love
2. MagMar
3. Mistress Abyss
4. The High Anxiety Arkestra
5. Chase Scene
6. Rotten Candy
7. Attack of the 40ft. Wave
8. Pigeon Shit
9. Lady Endless
10. Strapped to the Mast
11. Sirenum Scopuli
12. The Sounds of El Morro
13. Wahaka Chop
14. Black Ark Dub
15. Our Delicate Midnight Opera


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The Mars Volta - Amputechture [2006]

The Mars Volta's 3rd album is just a basic progression of the band. The songs became longer (see 16 minutes) but there seems to be more music per minute than Frances the Mute. Rodriguez-Lopez (guitarist/songwriter) has called it their "autistic" album, which can either be taken as a compliment or an insult. Regardless, it has my favorite TMV song on it, Meccamputechure which clocks in at around 11 minutes and is basically just a solo jam session with a sick back riff and some cool lyrics which are interspersed throughout the song.
Some weird tunes, some awesome ones, and some ambiance. A standard The Mars Volta album and I love it.

Genre: Experimental
For Fans Of: Zechs Marquis, The RX Bandits, The Sound of Animals Fighting
Contact: Myspace
Tracklisting:
1. Vicarious Atonment
2. Tetragrammaton
3. Vermicide
4. Meccamputechture
5. Asilos Magdalena
6. Viscera Eyes
7. Day of the Baphomets
8. El Ciervo Vulnerado



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The Mars Volta - Deloused in the Comatorium [2003]

The first LP release by The Mars Volta, Deloused was a musical slap to the scene in 2003. Led by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Cedric Bixler-Zavala, the band's sound is a mixture of prog-rock, experimental, jazz, and Latin American. The guitars are crazy and create epic musical landscapes which are accented by the equally eccentric lyrics and vocals. Deloused is a concept album that follows a character named Cerpin Taxt (based off a friend of the bands') who fell into a coma and after waking up, killed himself. Though grim, the lyrics are very obscure and exciting as well, making Bixler-Zavala one of the more intriguing wordsmiths of the era. Well worth a listen, especially if you're into experimental music.

Genre: Experimental
For Fans Of: De Facto, Zechs Marquis, RX Bandits
Contact: Myspace
Tracklisting:
1. Son Et Lumiere
2. Inertiatic ESP
3. Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of)
4. Tira Me A Las Arañas
5. Drunkship Of Lanterns
6. Eriatarka
7. Cicatriz ESP
8. This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed
9. Televators
10. Take The Veil Cerpin Taxt
11. Ambuletz
12. A Plague Upon Your Hissing



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The Sound of Animals Fighting - The Ocean and The Sun [2008]

The Sound of Animals Fighting is, for all of those living under a rock for the past 6 or so years, a super-group made up of some of the biggest names in the post-hardcore (and ska?) scene. Formed by Rich Balling of ex-RX Bandits fame, the group really never actually got together but was emailed their part which they then recorded and sent back to Rich, who put it all together. From what I understand, all of the music is actually written by Rich himself (it's difficult to write a song when you only know what you're supposed to play) so it's technically a Balling project with a lot of guests. But super group is a much cooler thing to call it. The band features Anthony Green, Craig Owens, Rich Balling, and members of many other bands including Finch, The RX Bandits, and Good Old War. The Ocean and The Sun is the band's third release and it hits that sweet spot between the 2 previous efforts. It has hard parts, it has weird parts, but overall it's a really solid record. Really chill music a lot of the time (title track, I, The Swan) and also really upbeat at other times (The Heraldic Beak of the Manufacturer's Medallion, Uzbekistan). Just a good all around mix feature some of my favorite artists of this day.

Genre: Post-Hardcore
For Fans Of: RX Bandits, The Mars Volta, Circa Survive
Contact: Myspace
Tracklisting:
1. Intro
2. The Ocean and The Sun
3. I, The Swan
4. Another Leather Lung
5. Lude
6. Cellophane
7. The Heraldic Beak of the Manufacturer's Medallion
8. Chinese New Year
9. Uzbekistan
10. Blessing Be Yours Mister V
11. Ahab
12. On The Occasion of Wet Snow


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The Mars Volta - Frances The Mute (Abridged Version) [2005]

Now I love The Mars Volta as much as the next guy (assuming said "next guy" listens to them every now and again, enough to say he loves them but not enough to get tattoo), but they are arguably the most pretentious band in the musical scene right now. I'm happy for Cedric, he can like 5 minute gaps where there is little to no sound (and even that sound is ambiance, like crickets or random beeping) but when most people decide to listen to an album, they want to hear music, not blank space added to sound "mysterious." So because of that, a member of Cobalt (Cobalt and Calcium, the Coheed fan forum I frequent) decided to make an abridged version with all the bullshit taken out, leaving only the music. I love it much more than the actual version because I get the same effect without the waiting.

Genre: Experimental Progressive Rock
For Fans Of: Coheed and Cambria, At The Drive In, The Fall of Troy
Contact: Myspace
Tracklisting:
1. Cygnus... Vismund Cygnus
2. The Widow
3. L'Via L'Viaquez
4. Miranda That Ghost Just Isn't Holy Anymore
5. Cassandra Gemini

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Tera Melos - Untitled [2005]

Also known as Tera Melos, Self Titled, or The Melodies, Tera Melos bursted into the underground music scene with this interesting, innovative, and very different album. Take post-hardcore, get rid of any understandable vocals, throw in a heaping helping of math rock, let it soak in experimentation for an hour, then garnish it with jazz. Voila! You have Tera Melos. Technical guitar work rockets over intricate drumming from start to finish. The only break you get is Melody 3, a more toned down song which greatly accentuates the heaviness of Melody 2. Catchy riffs are afoot in Melody 4 and Melody 7, playful pianos and obscure samples line the ending of Melody 5, and Melody 8 (a 29-minute experimental noise improvisation song) closes the record off in a very Tera Melos-esque way. There's no structure in Melody 8, so it's difficult to follow, and makes it the low point of the album, but is still an interesting listen. Tera Melos is helping make new genre, and I totally love it.

Genre: Post-Math
For Fans Of: By The End Of Tonight, The Fall of Troy, Melt-Banana
Contact: Myspace
Tracklisting:
1. Melody 1
2. Melody 2
3. Melody 3
4. Melody 4
5. Melody 5
6. Melody 6
7. Melody 7
8. Melody 8



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The Dear Hunter - Act II: The Meaning Of, And All Things Regarding Ms. Leading [2007]

After the first The Receiving End of Sirens album, Between The Heart And The Synapse, guitarist and vocalist Casey Crescenzo left the band and started his own project, The Dear Hunter. I found out about these guys about a year ago and I love them. This CD is part 2 of a 6 CD series covering the birth, life, and death of a boy known only as The Dear Hunter. TDH is hard to describe, they sound so different, yet so familiar at the same time. The music matches the feeling they're trying to portray, and it's done extremely well. The story is based in the late 1800's and early 1900's, so it has a feel of that era, but songs like Dear Ms. Leading and The Procession show that it's still very modern.

Genre: Experimental/Experiential
For Fans Of: Coheed and Cambria, Circa Survive, The Receiving End of Sirens
Contact: Myspace
Tracklisting:
1.The Death and the Berth
2. The Procession
3. The Lake and the River
4. The Oracles on the Delphi Express
5. The Church and The Dime
6. The Bitter Suite 1 and 2: Meeting Ms. Leading and Through the Dime
7. The Bitter Suite 3: Embrace
8. Smiling Swine
9. Evicted
10. Blood of the Rose
11. Red Hands
12. Where the Road Parts
13. Dear Ms. Leading
14. Black Sandy Beaches
16. Vital Vessle Vindicates

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