Circa Survive - MySpace Transmissions [2010]

Circa Survive recently put up their MySpace Transmissions, which consists of alternate versions of some of the songs off their latest album Blue Sky Noise, and a brilliant cover of Nirvana's Scentless Apprentice. You can download the EP for free, watch videos of performances of all the songs, and videos of interviews with the band about influences on the album, thoughts about their songs, and more. Although you don't necessarily get much "new material" on the EP, this is incredible stuff for anyone who loves Circa as much as I do, and is without a doubt worth checking out (it's one of the best bands out there giving you some awesome music!) Circa's live performances are, as always, entertaining to watch; their talent as musicians is evident and their improvisations on some of the songs are fun to hear.

Genre: Melodic Post-Hardcore, Progressive

For Fans Of: Saosin, In:Aviate, Tides Of Man

Contact: Website

Tracklisting:

1. Glass Arrows

2. Get Out

3. I Felt Free

4. Imaginary Enemy

5. Through The Desert Alone

6. Scentless Apprentice (Nirvana Cover)

-T

Tides of Man - Dreamhouse [2010]

Tides of Man has been on my radar for a while now, but I was never really able to get into the band before now. Sure, Empire Theory was good, but it just didn't catch me like I was hoping. So last night as I was talking to Jack Appleby (editor/writer of Mind Equals Blown) he suggested I check out Tide's new record and I was blown away. The band has taken their sound to the next level and has moved to a more progressive sound, which I love. The guitars are technical and the vocals are excellent (they accent the music much better than I expected). Really this album is a great expansion on what ToM have already created and is now a contender for album of the year.

Genre: Melodic Post-Hardcore
For Fans Of: Closure In Moscow, Circa Survive
Contact: Myspace
Tracklisting:
1. Not My Love 2
2. Statues
3. Home
4. Sunshine
5. Dreamhouse
6. Salamanders and Worms
7. Chemical Fires
8. Echoes
9. A Faint Illusion
10. Only Human



- A

Motions & Miles - Grace EP [2010]

While In:Aviate is on hiatus, some of the members formed the new group Motions & Miles. They recently released the short Grace EP, and even though it is only four songs, it is some of the best music I've heard this year, and I'm very stoked to hear more from this band. They sound a bit like a stripped down version of In:Aviate, with a less complex sound, but just as much power in their music.

The EP kicks things off with the title track, Grace, which isn't as intricate as any of In:Aviate's work, and instead has a straight-forward rock feel similar to The Almost. Grace builds up from a simple beginning into a fun jam perfect for playing loudly in the car with the windows down. Up next is Solipsism, my favorite track on Grace. It sounds quite a lot like In:Aviate, and it has a killer bassline driving it which contrasts nicely with the ambient guitar work. Every Day Between The Facts And Faith brings a nice mixture of the sounds of the first two songs, with some technical sounding elements, great vocal work and a sing-along chorus. The final track, Safe In Sound, has one of the coolest moments on the EP about halfway through the song with the bass and maracas jam (you'll see what I mean when you listen to it.)

The lyrics on this EP show that the band members still have plenty of talent in that area, with lines like "Keep yourself honest, but never too obvious. The only victim is the truth, and sometimes fabrications are win-win situations," and "At night you sit and talk to God, did he ever respond?... I really hope He'd understand or know the struggles of a man." The themes are deep questions about life and dealing with personal struggles, and the lyrics always sound sincere and intelligent. Ryan's eloquent vocals are full of emotion and energy and soar wonderfully over the music, which provides the perfect melodic backdrop.

Genre: Post-Hardcore, Indie Rock

For Fans Of: In:Aviate, The Almost, Closure In Moscow

Contact: Myspace

Tracklisting:

1. Grace

2. Solipsism

3. Every Day Between The Facts And Faith

4. Safe In Sound

-T

Circa Survive - On Letting Go [2007] and On Letting Go B-Sides

Circa Survive's second album is a solid progression from their first. The guitar work is harder and more expansive, Anthony Green's vocals are more impressive and flow with the music, and the sound has just been stepped up. That being said, I'm still not sure whether I like it more than Juturna since both have such well written songs so the title of "Best Circa Survive Record" is still up for grabs. But one thing's for sure, the album has more "hard" songs that Juturna did. It's less "airy" (for lack of a better word) but that doesn't make it any less good. Just give it a listen and let me know which one you think is best (maybe you even like Blue Sky Noise the most, I wanna know!).

Also, I've included the 2 b-sides that were released after the album was put out. I included them in the main download and also put them as a separate download for those who just want those.

Genre: Melodic Post-Hardcore
For Fans Of: Coheed and Cambria, The Dear Hunter, Closure In Moscow
Contact: Myspace
Tracklisting:
1. Living Together
2. In The Morning And Amazing
3. The Greatest Lie
4. The Difference Between Poison And Medicine Is In The Dose
5. Mandala
6. Travel Hymn
7. Semi-Constructive Criticism
8. Kicking Your Crosses Down
9. On Letting Go
10. Carry Us Away
11. Close Your Eyes To See
12. Your Friends Are Gone

B-Sides:
13. 1,000 Witnesses
14. The Most Dangerous Commercials


- A

In:Aviate - 1985 [2008]

Hailing from Saint George, Utah, In:Aviate is a nice tidbit of melodic post hardcore that I love. The album starts off with the instrumental and anthemic In the End before rocketing into Redefining Automation which has a hard hitting intro/chorus and a light, melodic verse. This song, and the album of a whole have a lot of lyrical content that deals with religion, or more correctly, anit-religion. I personally think it's directed at the Mormon church since they're from Utah, but it can be taken any way. The rest of the album mixes it up a lot music wise, keeping it mellow at some points and screaming at others. Admittedly there's not very much screaming, only a few songs but it's REALLY well done at those parts, makes you with there was more. A solid first record and though these boys are on hiatus I'm excited to see where they go next.

Genre: Melodic Post-Harcore
For Fans Of: Circa Survive, Closure In Moscow
Contact: Myspace
Tracklisting:
1. In the End
2. Redefining Automation
3. Question Everything
4. Through the Light Darkly
5. Transcendental Weather
6. Ascension
7. Eulalia
8. Awake
9. We All Seek the Truth
10. Kissing Tigers
11. And the World Will Know
12. In the Beginning



- A