Stream: Fucked Up - Year of the Tiger

If you haven’t been following them close enough, Toronto hardcore punk band Fucked Up have been releasing a single each year dealing with the Chinese Zodiac. The singles are typically ambitious, heavily orchestrated compositions that show the band pushing their limitations. With the fifth single in the series, Year of the Tiger, they feature contributions from director Jim Jarmusch, electropop group Austra, and Duchess Says leader Annie-Claude Deschênes. The sprawling two song set comes in at just under 40 minutes making it longer than the majority of punk records. Not a second is wasted in the almost 16 minute long title track which unfurls into a swirl of powerful guitar riffs and commanding punk rhythms. “Onno” is a more challenging track that features a 22-minute instrumental palindrome. It has an oddly hypnotizing beat and is much more listenable than it sounds in description. Listen below and also check out the past singles on the featured player.

Album Review: Cloud Nothings - Attack on Memory

Having just been Pitchfork’d, I don’t have to tell you too much about the hype surrounding this album. Cloud Nothings have moved away from the hazy, reverb-drenched sound of their past and made a conscious effort to move into a darker, noisier territory that serves them surprisingly well. It greatly separates them from their peers who are all adapting a sound similar to their former selves. With Attack on Memory, I am reminded of great 90s bands like Silkworm. This is appropriate given the production from Steve Albini, known for his work with the aforementioned band as well as Pixies, Nirvana, and The Smashing Pumpkins. His mark is all over this release and his production techniques give the instruments room to breathe while framing their more abrasive qualities.

New Track Rundown

On the last new track rundown, I led with a track from a Brooklyn band and my favorite song since then has been from another group from the area. There must be something good in the water there. Ever since Mr. Dream had unveiled the title track from their upcoming EP, Fatherland, I can't get enough of it. The song is an aggressive number with searing guitars that dig deep into your eardrums and leave a lasting impression. The Jealous Sound provide good contrast here with a catchy emo tune. This is emo in the classic sense (Sunny Day Real Estate, The Appleseed Cast, Jimmy Eat World) and not the eyeliner emo that people have come to associate with the genre. Catch them live tomorrow at Great Scott. Andrew Bird has finally released a track from his highly anticipated album, Break It Yourself, which is set for release on March 6th. It is a more straightforward and guitar-driven affair than what appeared on his last effort, but no less affecting. Listen to all this and more after the jump and take note of the dates when each artist is coming to the Boston area.

Sandrider - Sandrider

It’s been awhile since I’ve spotlighted a metal band and I can think of no better album to get back into the flow with than Sandrider’s self-titled debut. Sandrider is comprised of Jon Weisnewski (guitars, vocals) and Nat Damm (drums), best known as 2/3 of the excellent hardcore band Akimbo. Along with bassist Jesse Roberts, the trio creates some sludgy and groovy metal. Matt Bayles (Mastodon, ISIS, The Blood Brothers) is the perfect producer to bring out the band’s full potential and keep everything raw yet distinct. Right out of the gate, “Children” is a standout track with guitars that share hints of punk, blues, and metal, which are driven forward by crushing percussion and thunderous bass. The sound is not too far removed from that of Big Business or The Melvins.

Young Fathers - TAPE ONE

Keeping in line with the previous post, I’ve got some more great hip-hop here courtesy of Young Fathers. The group is a trio out of Edinburgh specializing in a very conscious style of hip-hop that relies on heavy electronic beats and African rhythms to create a unique atmosphere on their latest mixtape, TAPE ONE. “Sister” is a great example of their sound. It has a fat, bottom-heavy beat and plenty of buzzing electronics. “Rumbling” stays true to its name with a rhythm that will test the limits of your subwoofer. The rhymes have a laidback flow that compliment the music, which is in debt to funk and soul as much as it is to dub and grime. Combining all these influences, "Remains" is the strongest track within. You can grab a copy of the excellent mix on their bandcamp and see for yourself.

J.Nolan x Reese Jones – The Archetype EP

Hip-hop has become contrived, right? I mean, is this guy even trying? Can you really take this guy seriously? Enter J.Nolan who has restored my faith in in the genre. Nothing sounds lazy on his latest release, The Archetype EP. The 22-year-old rapper pairs with 18-year-old producer Reese Jones for this collaboration of complex beats and captivating rhymes. Nolan doesn’t meander his way around the rich production; he spits fire and does justice to the meticulously crafted beats. The EP displays an affinity for jazz samples that recalls A Tribe Called Quest records. Standouts “U4-ia” and “Tonight’s the Night” are perfect examples of Nolan’s fluid wordplay. What makes this release a keeper is that the music has soul and Nolan has something to say. The EP becomes more impressive when you realize that it was completed in a span of about 9 days. It’s clear these guys have a seriously bright future ahead of them. The whole thing is available for free on bandcamp so get at it!

Graph - EP 3

Maybe it’s the gloomy weather (the sky has been dark grey since I woke up) but I feel like covering some of the bands that are no longer with us. Hopefully, you’ve already listened to Ovlov’s final recordings in my previous post… If not, do so now... Ok, back to this release. The aptly titled EP 3 is the last we are going to hear from spastic math rockers Graph. “Middle” and “Frig” start things out right with short, punchy, and catchy songwriting. “Old” pummels the listener with abrasive bursts before relieving their eardrums with airy guitars reminiscent of American Football. “When We Get to Heaven We’ll Wait for Other People” is the catchiest song on the release and combines pop, punk, and noise elements into a swirling mixture of guitars and spirited rhythms. The final track, “Newest”, is my favorite. It has a disjointed start that slowly builds to a hypnotizing repetition before erupting in a headbanging finale. I have seen many basement shows with these guys that have left the audience spellbound and it saddens me that I won’t have the chance to do so again.

Ovlov - Not The Same Without You

As of writing this, Ovlov are no longer together. The band is leaving fans with this short but sweet two song single entitled Not The Same Without You via their bandcamp. These songs come from the same sessions as What's So Great About The City?, one of my favorite releases of last year. The first track, “Chicken Coop”, starts with a garbled story that has guitars swelling in the background. The tension continually builds until it reaches chants of “I see you / You see me.” The song has a killer chorus and some of the best guitar work that Ovlov has produced. “Small Voices” is a crunchy stomp with much vigor and feeling behind it. I had the pleasure of seeing their final show at Allston Berfest last week and it was a blast to see them go out in fine fashion. They even performed a masterful cover of “Feel the Pain” by Dinosaur Jr., a band that they can’t avoid being compared to. They will be sorely missed.

Stream: Radical Dads - Mega Rama

2011 was the year of 90s revival. For me, nothing could beat Yuck's debut as evident in my year-end report. While I was obsessing over that release, I happened to miss Radical Dads, another great band in the same vein. The trio is comprised of Lindsay Baker, Chris Diken, and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah’s Robbie Guerton, who have all previously played together in the nine-piece collective Uninhabitable Mansions. They sound energetic and bubbling with ambition on their debut, Mega Rama. The guitars provided by Baker and Diken are the driving force behind these tight jams. Guerton holds everything together with precise drumming while also sharing vocal duties with Baker. They display great chemistry throughout and a knack for writing short but memorable songs.

Stream: Unknown Mortal Orchestra + Videos

I'm playing catch up with this release. Unknown Mortal Orchestra were featured on a significant amount of year-end lists for 2011 yet I managed to elude them until now. This is definitely a case of better late than never. To be quite honest, the lo-fi production approach was starting to wear on me until I heard these guys. Unknown Mortal Orchestra utilizes grainy production in a way where it almost seems like a member of the band. On tracks like the irresistible single "Ffunny Ffrends", there is an odd cohesion created by the murky sound that holds all the elements together. The guitar playing is impressive throughout with some solos even poking out in songs like the amusing "Thought Ballune". Perhaps my favorite, "Jello and Juggernauts" stands out from the rest because of it's ability to let the vocals take charge. The melody makes it sound like an R&B song from another planet. "How Can U Luv Me", another highlight, is an upbeat yet confessional 70s style jam that contains clever lyrics like "How can you love me / When you don't like me, baby / How can you look at me / And not see I'm lonely". Elsewhere, the stuttering beat and funky rhythm of "Strangers are Strange" makes you want to stop what your doing and dance awkwardly around the room. They also have some entertaining music videos that fit perfectly with their lighthearted sound. Don't hesitate on this release like I did!