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



- A

Rufio - Anybody Out There [2010] [Leak]

Much to my excitement, the pop-punk band Rufio reunited (kinda) back in 2009 after a 2 year break up. Their last album was released in 2005 and I felt a void when I discovered I wasn't getting a new one until now. In the 5 years they've been gone, the band has grown up and their sound has grown with them. The most notable difference is singer Scott Seller's deeper voice. Gone are the days of his unique, nasaly vocals, something that I suppose I will miss but hopefully it'll grow on me. The music has somewhat backtracked to the 1985 or Perhaps era though it still sounds different (as different as pop-punk can be). It feels less sophisticated than The Comfort of Home and more generic than most of their material. Halfway through my first listen I'm gonna say it's my least favorite album by then, but I won't give up on the record that easily. This band deserves more plays than one.

Genre: Pop-Punk
For Fans Of: Bayside, Sum 41, Yellowcard
Contact: Myspace
Tracklisting:
1. Little World
2. Drunk in Love
3. Under 18.
4. What You Wanna Here
5. Deep End
6. Gold and Silver
7. Anybody Out There
8. All That Lasts
9. This I Swear
10. The Loneliest
11. Run
12. Moonshine



- 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

The Black Keys - Next Girl

Funny video for one of The Black Keys' songs off their latest album. It's got a dinosaur puppet singing a really catchy song to girls by the pool. So yeah, it's that good.

Seriously, this song's so catchy; makes me want to sing along with that dinosaur.

-T

Medications - 5 Song EP [2004]

When I think of mathcore, I think of Botch; when I think of indie math-rock, I think of This Town Needs Guns; and when I think of normal math-rock, I think of Medications (and Faraquet, for that matter). This 3-piece from DC has technical guitars that jump fret boards and time signatures. The entire band is able to work together to make a really cohesive sound. Each song hits almost 4 minutes and over so it's a pretty nice and lengthy piece of work and cool background music.

Genre: Math-Rock
For Fans Of: Faraquet, Deleted Scenes, Tubelord
Contact: Myspace
Tracklisting:
1. Safe And Sorry
2. Excercise Your Futility
3. Domestic Animals
4. Reconcile Awake
5. The Perfect Target



- A

Coheed and Cambria - Neverender [2009]

In 2008, Coheed and Cambria announced that they would be doing a series of concerts known as Neverender. The 4-night event would take place in 4 different cites around the world; New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and London. The group played 1 of their first 4 expansive albums each night with a total of 16 concerts. I, unfortunately, was not able to make it but I know many people who had life changing experiences when they went, I guess that's just how this band is. Generally speaking, the songs are the same, some (such as Delirium Trigger) were actually dumbed down from what they normally play so that it would be album-accurate. Keyboardist Wes Styles joined them during the shows in order to make it a more full sound. Though I prefer it key-less, it definitely adds a new layer to the sound which a lot of people like more. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Genre: Progressive Rock
For Fans Of: Circa Survive, At The Drive In, The Dear Hunter
Contact: Myspace
Tracklisting:
I'm not putting the whole list here because it's about 50 songs.


- A

Minus the Bear - The Myspace Transmissions [2010]

I know, I know, Minus the Bear overload. But what can I say? I love the band. This little diddly was released a little while after OMNI and consists of 5 live tracks played for, you guessed it, Myspace. 3 are off the band's newest album while the other 2 come from previous releases. The band performs amazingly live and it shows in this EP. No new material, just a collector's item of sorts.

Genre: Indie
For Fans Of: As Tall As Lions, Portugal. the Man, Everest(?)
Contact: Myspace
Tracklisting:
1. Hold Me Down
2. My Time
3. Knights
4. Pachuca Sunrise
5. Into the Mirror



-A

Inception [2010]

Just saw Inception, and it is without a doubt the best movie I've ever seen. It was an enthralling, dreamy, adventure unlike anything else I've seen. Christopher Nolan has created another mind-blowing masterpiece of film to add to his already commendable filmography. Top-notch acting, effects, script, soundtrack and story. The way the story is told is so engaging, and intrigues you from the first moments. It is a surreal, thrilling, story that questions what is real and what is only what we want to be real. Inception is deep without being pretentious, and keeps you thinking for the entire movie, and for hours after. Really thought provoking, psychologically stimulating story and beautiful special effects make this a must-see. I won't ruin the plot by saying much about it, other than that it is spectacular, and combines some elements of James Bond and some of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind while still being completely original. If you haven't already seen it, definitely go watch it ASAP. It more than lives up to all the hype.

Peace,

-T

Minus the Bear Concert

This weekend has been amazing. Alek and I got to see Minus the Bear and they were very enjoyable. The opening bands were also both great. First was Mini Mansions, a three part band (drums, keyboard, and bass) who put on a very energetic live performance playing unique, groovy jams. Everest played next, with classic rock tinged style, and an awesome drum battle that really got the crowd involved.
Finally it was time for Minus the Bear to play. They put on an engaging show that had us all dancing, singing along, and pumping our fists to the choruses. Minus the Bear played a long set with a satisfying variety of old and new, mellow and dancey songs, and then came back onstage for a three song encore of The Fix, Into The Mirror, and Absinthe Party. Definitely a fun and memorable concert.

-T

Minus the Bear - OMNI Bonus Tracks [2009-2010]

Bonus tracks, b-sides, cut songs; whatever you want to call them, Minus the Bear's latest album has them. The 3 tunes have just recently come to my attention and so I had to grab them. Broken China originally was used as the B-side (ha!) to the Into the Mirror 7" which was released last winter (or late fall). I tried to grab a copy but they were sold out on tour. Anyways, I'm kinda kicking myself because Broken China is actually really good and for some reason I just neglected listening to it. The other 2 tracks are just as solid and work well at the end of the normal album.

Genre: Indie Rock
For Fans Of: Sharks Keep Moving, Portugal. the Man, As Tall As Lions
Contact: Myspace
Tracklisting:
1. Broken China
2. Your Private Sky
3. South Side Life



- A