Come Widdit: P.S. Eliot

I'm pretty indifferent about anything that has come out on K Records and anything that sounds like it would have the Calvin Johnson stamp of approval is immediately suspect to me. That being said, I found Alabama-based P.S. Eliot on ICouldDieTomorrow a little while back and the shit blew my mind.

I know that I get on my high horse and bash the fuck out of bands like VersaEmerge, Paramore and Hey Monday (probably), chiefly because women in "punk" (at least as we know it to be) are a minority, so why not have something to say? P.S. Eliot is a (mostly) female punk band and rips harder than any of the other bands that I just listed.

Their lo-fi demo, "The Bike Wreck Demo," reminds me of why I love recording on a 4-track so much. It's gritty, dirty as fuck, but most of all, the songs are really catchy and good. It has all the trappings of something that K would've put out 18 years ago, but I suppose looking at a band like P.S. Eliot now, they're everything I loved about DIY punk kids to begin with.

Fuck big budgets and get with P.S. Eliot.

P.S. Eliot -- MySpace

Come Widdit: A Loss for Words

A Loss for Words
From: Boston
Sounds Like: A campfire singalongs with the hXc crowd

I had the opportunity to see Boston upstarts A Loss for Words last week when they opened for Four Year Strong's current headlining run. Personally, it's difficult to sell me on a pop-punk band these days. They all seem to have some gimmick, which is typically highlighted by disgustingly designed bright t-shirts. For every five bands that seem like they're full of shit, there's a band like A Loss for Words, who thrive off of the kind of honesty and earnest aesthetic that has created longtime careers for third and fourth wave pop-punk bands like New Found Glory, Alkaline Trio and Lawrence Arms.

Taking a cue from likeminded bands such as Fireworks and First to Leave, A Loss for Words have their feet planted in the hardcore-cum-pop-punk, as showcased by former genre stalwarts like Lifetime and Gorilla Biscuits. And this was just their live show.

The EP that I picked up, "Webster Lake," reminded me of stuff that the Ataris used to do when they were good. The five track acoustic EP is just a smattering of the band's potential. To get the full effect, you have to watch them engage with the crowd and you can see that they're feeling what they're singing about.

This is a band that you don't want to miss out on.

[Related Links]
A Loss for Words -- MySpace
A Loss for Words, "Hot Hand in a Dice Game"

Come Widdit: One Small Step for Landmines

One Small Step for Landmines
Location: Florida
Sounds Like: Breaking Pangaea meets Power-Pop (Wait, weren't they a power-pop band to begin with?)

I first heard of this band earlier this year when I was interviewing Jim Ward from Sleepercar/Sparta and I was looking at the band's sparse merch table and there was a smattering of items, including CDs from bands on Ward's Civil Defense League imprint. I thought, "One Small Step for Landmines? That's a pretty cool name." Then I continued to chat up Ward.

I didn't really get around to listening to this band until I was listening to Sleepercar on Myspace and I remember this Landmine band. The image on their Myspace was of this skinny kid who looked like a regular Orgcore dude. What I heard was some pretty well played, peppy power-pop.

As far as the Breaking Pangaea comparison goes, like the Philly-based band, One Small Step for Landmines has some really intricate guitar and bass parts and it's pretty obvious that these guys have a mathematical mind with it comes to writing songs, as opposed to throwing out hooks, breakdowns and choruses everywhichway.

I don't know of too many pop bands like these guys, but they're a real gem and I highly recommend their debut self-titled album to counteract the brooding mood that fall usually brings.

[Related Links]
One Small Step for Landmines on Purevolume

Come Widdit: Empires

Empires
Location: Chicago, IL
Sounds Like: Your new favorite band

I don’t think I did a very good job trying to describe Empires, but they’re really one of those bands that you’ll get into once you listen to them. Having gained an instant fanbase by boasting a former member of the Academy Is…, Empires is not your run-of-mill pop-punk band. Shit, they’re not even a pop-punk band. On their self-released album, “Howl,” they wear their influences all over their collective sleeves: “Modern Love” is equal parts Elvis Costello and the Police, “Believe” sounds like the Beatles redux, “Spit the Dark” is a less frenetic take on Joy Division or Depeche Mode. That being said, Empires is also one of the most refreshing rock bands in some time.

Like Phantom Planet, Empires is really difficult to peg down in terms of appeal. They can play for the hipsters as much as they can play for the Warped Tour set; they could be your brother’s favorite band or your mom’s. I don’t think I’ve heard too many bands like these guys who can have such a wide fanbase. It’s possible that due to Tom Conrad’s role as guitarist, it would be easy for some narrow minded person to say, “Hey I bet that will sound like that other pop-punk band,” and they’ll spend their career dodging the pop-punk bullet (like Brand New). But I don’t see that. Empires have taken a huge risk by not only self-releasing a record, but by creating a record that is so chameleon-like in nature, I doubt people will try to ask them to play Blink 182 covers.

Related Links:

Empires (Official Site)

Empires Myspace

Come Widdit: Colonies

Colonies
Location: Tacoma, WA
Sounds Like: Indie Rock that is more Rock than Indie

I like the Decemberists, who've more or less taken over Death Cab's secure spot as the quintessential indie rock band (excluding the fact that neither band is currently on an independent label). Arty and sometimes bloated, Colin Meloy and his merry band are the archetype for any band that wants their music featured on any prime time television show and/or wants their CD available in Starbucks. My biggest beef with the Decemberists is the pretentious feeling I get whenever I hear them play. Whether its intentional or not is a different story.

What do the Decemberists have to do with a quartet from Tacoma? Very little outside of the fact that they might like that band, otherwise, Colonies is its own force. I only mention the Decemberists because I hope that a band like Colonies will be the new flavor for indie rock. They do, in fact, rock; they are also far less pretentious and, therefore, a far less guilty pleasure than any K Records band. For being a relatively green band, Colonies have a lot of really beautifully arranged songs and it's a shame that these guys aren't signed yet, especially when there are bands like Paramore who are making money hand over fist. It's a damn travesty.

Related Links
Colonies on Myspace
Colonies Official Site

Come Widdit: Fauxliage

Fauxliage
Location: Canada-land
Sounds Like: Leigh Nash Meets DJ Food

Leigh Nash, Sixpence None the Richer's ubiquitous voice, is at it again with her new group, Fauxliage, which also consists of Rhys Fulber and Bill Leeb of Delirium. Their self-titled debut is an atmospheric gem, recalling the haunting sounds of genre mainstays like Portishead and Morcheeba. Whereas her solo album, "Blue On Blue" drew heavily from adult contemporary pop and jazz, "Fauxliage" is a clear juxtaposition, boxing in Nash's vocal range within blips, beeps and beats.

[Related Links]
Fauxliage on Myspace

Come Widdit: Wise and Burn

It's been a little while since I did one of these. I originally thought it was going to be a weekly feature on this site, but whatever, I have a life outside of the Internets, y'know....

Wise and Burn
Location: Springfield, IL
Sounds Like: Random editions of the "Emo Diaries" compilations, but, y'know, good.

As much of a shitstorm as most writers give contemporary pop-punk/emo, you have to admit that from time to time you'll find a band that's raw and is actually able to emote, rather than sound so overproduced that you'll want to throw your Rites of Spring record against the wall in complete defiance of the genre.

Wise and Burn sounds like the early Taking Back Sunday demos from the mp3.com days, except there are no cheesy movie samples and lame MIDI keys. As derivative as Wise and Burn is, it's made up with raw talent and incredible catchy melodies. So yeah, be all cynical and shit about this band if you please, but I'm certain that given the right opportunities, they'll blow up and you'll be left thinking, "Damn, I should've listened to that Ryan guy, but I was too busy eating vegan cupcakes and trying to get on the Cobrasnake site."

[Related Links]
Wise and Burn's Myspace

Come Widdit: Hour of the Wolf

Hour of the Wolf
Location: Arizona
Sounds Like: Rock & Roll Chaos!!!!

I haven't really heard any good hardcore bands in about a year or so. The last hardcore records I really got into were Sinking Ships' "Disconnecting" and Since By Man's "Pictures From the Hotel Apocalypse." Hour of the Wolf is the kind of hardcore band that I'd tell all my friends about so they can get in on the secret.

Their EP, "Waste Makes Waste," leads with this sick Chuck Berry-riff for the opening track "Taking Out the Trash" and continues on to barrel through "Black Blood." It's easy to peg these guys as psychobilly-meets-Kid Dynamite, but I assure you, this is pretty hardcore (in more of the melodic, traditional sense, and less like your typical Mallpunk Hardcore).

Come Widdit: 2*Sweet

2*Sweet
Location: Chicago
Sounds like: 2*Sweet riffs over 2*Sweet Melodies

Immortalized in Chris Gutierrez's Livejournal, 2*Sweet has the best that any contemporary pop-punk band has to offer: impressive riffs, great lyrics, catchy songs; they are what many of these little shitty Starting Line and Fall Out Boy rip off bands aspire to be.

More than anything, however, 2*Sweet lives up to their name on their debut EP, "Burning Alive in the Prairie State," which is probably one of the last CDs I made the effort to go out and buy. The whole fucking thing is pretty good, which is rare these days when most people cherry pick their favorite songs to upload onto their iPods. The band is also continuing on a 20 year run of really great bands from the Midwest (see: 88 Fingers Louie, Screeching Weasel, The Promise Ring, Lawrence Arms, Alkaline Trio, et. al.) Check out this band before you become a Johnny Comelately to the 2*Sweet party.

[Related Links]
2*Sweet - Official Website
"Better in Bed Than Ever as Friends" Music Video

Come Widdit: Suicide Casanova

Suicide Casanova
Location: Bremerton, WA
Sounds Like: Everything I ever liked about '90s rock

Like most people in their mid-to-late twenties, I'm finding that all the bands that I used to love when I was in middle school and high school still resonate; in fact they probably make more sense now than back when I was 14 and didn't quite understand the sexual politics and emotional complexities of a band like Toad the Wet Sprocket or Candlebox. Suicide Casanova is Charley Potter's one man band and listening to the songs presented on his Myspace is like taking a time machine back to 1996.

Though he spends most of his time beating the skins for the pop-hardcore outfit Kane Hodder, Potter's side project is much more earnest and for that one characteristic, it's much easier to listen to.

I imagine that if (God forbid) Kane Hodder ever called it a day, Potter will have a very bright future ahead of him as a strong solo performer. He'd at least have one fan over here.

[Related Links]
Suicide Casanova's MySpace

Come Widdit: Cassino

Cassino
Location: Alabama
Sounds Like: Morose Son Volt Cover Band...in a good way

Nick Torres was once in Northstar, a rock band that was more known for being quoted and championed by Taking Back Sunday. They were also on Triple Crown Records, the label that gave Brand New its start, so it was somewhat inevitable that Northstar was going to get lumped in with the other pop-punk/emo Hot Topic-influenced bands. Years ago, I interviewed Torres and told him that his band had more of an indie rock sensibility which he was glad that I recognized. Eventually Northstar called it quits and almost immediately Torres and fellow Northstar-er Tyler Odom started Cassino, a band that sounds absolutely nothing like Northstar save a few melodies and Torres' captivating vocals.

Cassino probably has more in common with Lucero, Wilco or Whiskeytown. Torres' introspective lyrics are perfectly matched with the band's morose style of music. It's perfect for drinking alone on Sunday afternoons.

[Related Links]
Cassino's Myspace

Come Widdit: Dawhud

Dawhud
Location: Seattle, WA
Sounds Like: Biggidy boom bap backed by dusty hands.

I remember Dawhud (nee: Dave) as this white dude carrying a camera to numerous hip-hop shows back in the day. Now in 2007, he's pushing what I personally think is some of the best beats and rhymes in the U.S. I'm not writing this because I know him, I seriously mean it. Like Large Professor, Diamond D and Lord Finesse, Dawhud is able to deftly execute some slick rhymes over equally slick self-produced beats. Without relying on cheap tricks, sped-up soul samples or a James Brown compilation purchased from Starbucks (yeah, they're actually selling that shit), Dawhud's tracks paint vivid pictures recalling the days of Golden Age superstars like Tribe Called Quest, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince and Brand Nubian.

The standout song for me is "Finger Cramps," a three minute-plus song dedicated to digging. While the topic itself isn't new, having been around someone whose idea of digging is to buy a Bob James "Greatest Hits" CD and using the exact same loop that someone else has already used (and better, I might add), makes me have a whole new appreciation for someone who gets their fingers dirty and is down with the traditional ways of beatmaking.

Anyway go peep Dawhud because if you don't, you'll be kicking yourself in the ass for not finding out about him before he ends up in Urb Magazine.

[Related Links]
Dawhud's MySpace
Dawhud - "Ol School Session (Live)" Video

Come Widdit: Spark is a Diamond

Spark is a Diamond
Location: Philly, PA
Sounds Like: Hardcore with tap shoes.

Spark is a Diamond is fronted by Allison Bellavance, formerly of the massively underrated hardcore outfit, Fall River. On the surface, the band draws comparisons to other bass-less trios such as Yeah Yeah Yeahs or the infinite suckfest that was Mon Frere. Unlike the latter, however, this band is actually pretty good. Rather than relying on poorly executed songs about Orcs and vampires, Spark is a Diamond is heavy on female-male vocal interplay, guitar effects and electronic drums. While it's easy to write them off as another hipster hardcore band, you can't deny how hooky their songs actually are.

[Related Links]
Spark is a Diamond Official Website
Spark is a Diamond - "Check Your Lease, You're In Fuck City" Video

Come Widdit: On Guard

[Come Widdit is a weekly feature in which I spit, nay, type kind words about a band that you herbs need to know about]

On Guard
Location: NY
Sounds Like: Sweet heaven or None More Black-lite

On Guard is the latest project from Jason Shevchuk, he of East Coast hardcore demigods Kid Dynamite and the best pop-punk band of all time None More Black. Recently signed to Suburban Home, the two tracks featured On Guard's myspace -- "Lupe's Fault" and "Benders" -- are stripped down and sonically interesting.

The lyrics are pure Shevchuk: introspective and riot-inducing. It's weird to hear these songs and find that even though they aren't as fast as KD or NMB, they are still punk as hell and, at the very least, as exciting as headwalking on a crowd of straight edge kids.

[Related Links]
On Guard's Myspace