pull me in and push the moments aside

Desert City Soundtrack
"Funeral Car"

When I first heard this cd, it just clicked. I can't describe exactly what it is about this cd that made it stand out, but even after that first listen i knew that it was different, that this band was special. Desert City Soundtrack is best described as a combination of sounds established by several bands that will be familiar to many. The comparisons to cursive are no doubt the most obvious, but that comparison only begins to describe the musical sounds and influences present on this release. With harder yelling parts that remind one of more minimal hardcore, and acoustic piano parts, Desert City Soundtrack defies being placed in one specific genre or another. The overall melancholy and somber tone might lead some to pigeonhole DCS as emo, but really they are more "emotional post hardcore". With songs about death, love, and the loss of love, the songs are interesting if not unique. Be ready to find something new on every track.


Sounds Like: Cursive, Socratic,

i just sell my body but you have gone and sold your mind

Outsmarting Simon
"silent sober and sound"

Aptly fusing instrumental elements similar to American Football and Mono, with distorted, emotion filled verses, Outsmarting Simon are able to craft a release that will appeal to fans of may different styles of music. Released in 2003 this cd holds more appeal and has hidden within it more depth, than most of the cd's released in the almost four years since its release. From a casual listen to deep inspection this album refuses to let you down. As best i can describe its Guitar driven indie rock. As if Armor for sleep, Death Cab for Cutie, and American Football were to combine forces. Whenever I cant decide on what to listen to, its common for me to put on this cd. With everything from hard to soft, and instrumental, it doesn't disappoint, no matter what your into. That said the production value leaves some to be desired, i find my self wondering how bands like this would sound if produced on the level of so many vastly inferior bands.

sing me to sleep at night you'll fill me with thoughts of you and him you'll burn my insides blow me that goodnite kiss
let me know how much you don't love me you'll burn my insides when you said "it's over" you broke our hearts together

Sounds like: Armor For Sleep (old), Stars, And You will know us by the trail of dead


Buy This shit...

I Choose Bottles To Solve Mine

Driving In Silence

It is rare that unsigned bands hold my attention, they just lack the "it" factor that so many other bands have, thats why they are unsigned. This is what i told my self before i heard this band. Without a doubt top 10 on my all time favorite bands list, all without a true label and a proper full length. Sounding, as near as i can compare, like a harder, rougher Jimmy eat world, this Baltimore based band manages to craft catchy songs, with lyrics that run the emotional gamut. I have found my self after a particular breakup reading along to the lyrics wishing I was clever enough or poetic enough to have written them first. With songs about loss,death, insomnia, alcoholism and sex... i find that no matter where i am in my life.. i cant help but be in love with these songs. Lacking a proper full length i will post two ep's in one. They are recording now and i for one cant wait to see what they have in store for us.

please visit www.drivinginsilence.com they have all the song lyrics posted, along with the meanings of songs, which is one of the coolest things a band has ever done. Screw bonus videos and making of, i want to know the heartache that went into the songs


Sounds Like:
Jimmy eat world, Brand New, Park

This is a bad night for walking, even the hallway is spinning as I feel my way to the door in the back all alone, and very much awake. And I'll watch the wall that I stared at, that I needed when you opened up. When you didn't. And I never cared, I'm all about me.

Smoke This...

If ever there was a band that the current crop of pop punk, emotastic (or what ever label is treandy now) bands owe their success to its this group right here. While listening to this cd i found myself conflicted. I was struck by two things. How glaringly obvious this bands influence is on todays most popular bands ranging from pop punk titans Green Day and Blink 182, to more recent up and comers Bayside, who are basically the Smoking Popes with a coat of polish and a name change (Bayside actually covers the song Megan on their acoustic dvd). Secondly, how much better they pull it off when compared to many of todays more popular bands.

As is the case of about any groundbreaking band thats ahead of their time, The Smoking Popes never materialized into the runaway commercial success stories like current bands that cite them as direct influences. Despite being on a major (Capitol) and touring with big names like Green Day and Jimmy Eat world, even rock icon Morrissey, their mainstream appeal was never what Capitol was looking for despite calling in the veritable hit guaranteeing producer Jerry Finn to produce Destination Failure.

This compounded with the fact that the singer/founder Josh Carter began to become deeply involved with Christianity, the band decided to call it quits..


Pros:

Everything... must own cd
Great guitar driven rock with that perfect amount of punk flair, and a dose of pop sensibility

Cons:

none


Sounds Like:
Bayside, Fall Out Boy, Jimmy Eat World

Million Dead

Million Dead
"Harmony No Harmony" (2005)

Hailing from London, this now disbanded melodic punk band released two l.p.'s before calling it quits in September of 2005. This album would be familiar to fans of U.S. melodic punk powerhouses Rise Against. Aptly mixing faster power chord infused yelling parts with melodic sung verses Million Dead was able to differentiate themselves as standouts in a genre that is more than full of below average Scream/Sing bands. This album sees more of their soft side than their previous effort, which is similar to the progression seen in other bands across the pond (eg. Afi, Funeral For a Friend, Rise Against). While not the outspoken political activists as many of their punk bretheran, their lyrics are leagues ahead of about every comparable band one might find being played stateside by way of your local corporate radio station. Overall its nice to see a band so successfully merge powerful melodies and still not loose their post hardcore edge.

Pros:
Sing along verses, yet still maintains a rough side
better than most scream/sing crap around today

Cons:
not around any more
noticeable British accent sometimes out of place


For Fans of:
Rise Against
Senses Fail
Funeral For a Friend


Stand out tracks for your listening pleasure...

6. To Whom It may Concern
A melodic track with a chorus I can truly identify with

"my letter to the human resources department says “You started a war so you’ll get what you started.” I’m only working here because I need the fucking money."

10. Achilles Lung
A powerfully melodic song about smoking that sounds similar to the guitar rock of the Smoking Popes.

"Stop trying to pretend that you are going to stop – you’re either a smoker or you’re not. You will keep on smoking for the rest of your life, and then you’ll get cancer and then you’ll die. I can stop whenever I please and anyway, I’m immune to emphysema and heart disease. My diary says tomorrow is the day I quit and I’m going to stick with that. I’ll work my way down to the end of this pack, and then I’m leaving this place and I’m never coming back again. Little itches need no stitches but they bury you"

14. Harmony No Harmony
Title track of the album, and one of my favorites. detailing the touring life, and the many conflicts inherent in such a chaotic lifestyle. Really highlights the singers voice

"And after all the struggle and the strain, and after all the loss for little gain, the harmonies have faded away, but the melody remains."

Welcome...

Hello there,
If you are reading this you have happened upon my music blog.. I am still debating over posting entire cd's or not... so hit me up with your vote if you feel strongly one way or another..

I will be posting full reviews with all my uploads so you know what your getting into before you download it, i don't find it helpful when your trying to discover new music simply by the album art.. so everything posted here will have full reviews and list similar bands...

That said lets get this party started