Review: La Dispute/Koji - Never Come Undone

As strange as their pairing is, La Dispute and Koji have an incredible chemistry on their recently released split titled Never Come Undone. For every strained and powerful chord struck on the two tracks composed by La Dispute, there is a matching moment to be found on Koji's half of the record. La Dispute start it off with the story told by 'Sunday Morning, at a Funeral' which shows them at a less intense - but equally emotional - composition than what is seen on their previous releases. Lead man Jordan Dreyer holds a fragile tone over the equally breakable instrumentation to create a cold atmosphere layered thick with imagery which is all but second nature for the group. The contrast between this somber track and their immense full-length Somewhere... displays the group's ability to both maintain a certain atmosphere, but not necessarily adhere to a predetermined aesthetic. This remains true on the next track, an acoustic version of one of their earlier hardcore tracks, where they strip away the screams for a slow flowing rhythm to accentuate the emotion contained in the original. While not the most substantial addition to their library, La Dispute's portion of the split is fulfilling at best, if not only for the first track.

Review: The Unthanks - Last

It would be near impossible for a critic to take one glance at The Unthanks' 2011 release, Last, and not use any form of the word 'misery'. To avoid any further tiptoeing, I'll come right out and say it: Last is a truly miserable album. Sisters Rachel and Becky Unthank, who make up the backbone of the group, are self-professed connoisseurs of gloom, and they've rightfully earned that title. The very moment the first note of "Gan to the Kye" strikes your ears, you're immediately immersed in the minds of The Unthanks. They welcome you with a foggy atmosphere constructed of Tim Burton-esque landscapes created by the myriad of instruments and haunting vocalizations that capture a cripplingly somber tone in seconds. Throughout the record there are stories of loss and gain, death and life, and most prominently regret. It may sound all too familiar for anybody with a niche in this brand of music, but it comes with a fresh feeling of inspiration and dedication to story telling.

Max Bemis and the Painful Splits 2 Review

I was always under the impression that Max Bemis was the epicenter of everything that made Say Anything so fantastic. However, since the release of his recent solo albums under the moniker of Max Bemis and the Painful Splits, I've begun to rethink that stance. Instead of these records being a chip off the old block with biting lyricism and energetic cynicism, we're greeted with what appears to be the appearance of Bemis' awkward alter ego. It began with the self-titled LP in 2010 -- an undeniable disappointment, but overall not an entirely terrible effort for Bemis dipping his toes in the water. The music was a lo-fi, acoustic jumble of a record with the overarching theme of 'keep it simple, keep it safe,' with the lyricism never stretching beyond the boundaries of Bemis' latest works. Since then came the sequel with a name as simple as its contents, Max Bemis and the Painful Splits 2.

Song of the Day 45: The Dillinger Escape Plan - Jim Fear

Awesome song, awesome band, Saturday night, too lazy to write.

Song of the Day 44: Touche Amore - Tilde

http://soundcloud.com/deathwishinc/touche-amore-tilde

Ever since their collaboration with La Dispute last summer, I've been super pumped about what's to come next from Touche Amore. They're among the best in the Hardcore genre right now and are worth keeping an eye on for anybody interested in this kind of music. Their music is concise, clever, and addicting and they know how to work an audience like seasoned veterans. Check 'em out.

Song of the Day 43: Tyler, The Creator - Blow

Excuse my laziness but I’m in not feeling too well in the writing mood. Tyler, The Creator is fucking awesome, enjoy.

Song of the Day 42: Say Anything - Yellow Cat (Slash) Red Cat

As much as I've tried, I don't think I'll ever be able to describe what it is that makes me love ...Is A Real Boy so much. It's a strange, disjointed product of insanity and I can't say I'd have it any other way. I've always thought that the best music is made when the writer is fucking crazy - case and point being Max Bemis. During the production of his breakthrough masterpiece, he went through the tried and true method of abusing drugs and alcohol to create some seriously abstract shit. And one of the byproducts of this organized madness is 'Yellow Cat (Slash) Red Cat', which is essentially a microcosm of Bemis' mind. Drugs are wonderful, aren't they?