Dactyls S/T 7" Blanket Records 2008

Dactyls S/T 7" Blanket Records 2008 NO CAT#

Dig this 7", a lot. The Dactyls are/were a Lawrence band formed in 2001. They sound like mid-90's North Carolina. Just crunchy, guitar driven indie rock, recorded as best they could, probably in a basement. At the time of the release of this 7", the band was still pretty active doing shows in Lawrence and KC. Even did a tour releasing a split 7" for the road. However, I don't think they're around anymore.

The 7" is a pretty homespun package. But, the sleeve is hand numbered indicating the band only pressed 300 copies. The sleeve has screen pressed artwork and the vinyl is quality, don't know the gram weight on a 7", but if it was a 12", it'd be 180 gram vinyl. Also cool, the band provided a CDR of the tunes to you know, listen to in your car or on a CD Walkmen.

The tunes are great. Again, very much a product of the North Carolina in the 90's. But, that's a scene that should still exist. Apparently, Dan Benson formerly of Vitreous Humor once sat behind the drums for these guys, which, yeah, considering what Vitreous Humor sounded like, he fits in perfectly. However, he's not featured on this release.

Bandcamp Page, new stuff up until 2012, except the album was recorded in 2010

The Republic Tigers Keep Color Atlantic/Chop Shop 2008

The Republic Tigers Keep Color Atlantic/Chop Shop 2008 CAT #477884-1

Man, the inner lyric sheet has a photo of these guys looking like true fashion rockers.  They all have coats on and fantastic hairstyles.  They are gazing at you, super-serious; personally, I just want to laugh.  Like it's serious work playing rock n' roll in a pea-coat while a stylist does your hair.

But yeah, these cuties want you to take them serious.  Their hazy dream-pop sounds are very challenging and very indie-rock. This is smarter than anything else you could have on your shelf. Unless of course you've been paying attention, then you can just shelf this in favor of about millions other albums that give you the same effect.

I just get caught up on the "Buzz" that surrounded this band when "Buildings & Mountains" was being played on the radio.  The local station acted like it was hard to believe a band with Kansas City roots was really doing it. Like we just don't have the chops and didn't have anything going on in the 90's or help to define the emo scene in the 2000s.

Admidtly, the swirling keyboards and slow bass lines are "dreamy".  The tunes are catchy and throw in a lot of ideas that stream together well.  It's far better than other alterno-rockers disguised as indie-rockers such as the Killers or We Are Scientists or any band that heard Interpol and decided they could look cuter doing it.  And, it's better than all the garbage that blasted alternative radio in the wake of the Get Up Kids "Something to Write Home About" album.  I'd take this over handsome boy cry-alongs as sung by Fall Out Boy any day.  And, while the dream pop the Republic Tigers push isn't completely their own, its not as overplayed as the previously mentioned alternative scenes, so it makes for an occasional spin or good track on a mix tape.

ROCK VIDEO!!!

The Life And Times The Magician Hawthorne Street Records 2008

The Life And Times The Magician Hawthorne Street Records 2006 CAT# HSR026

This 5 song EP was initially released in 2006 on CD and later released by Hawthorne Street Records in 2008 in this vinyl version.  The band is centered around Allen Epley of Shiner fame, but also features Christ Metcalf on drums who was a part of the same KC post-hardcore scene as Epley.  To round out the three piece, Eric Abert plays bass in the three piece.

To compare the EP to Shiner is obvious, it has certain elements and the obvious player.  The math-i-ness is prevalent, still very challenging and complicated music.  The strained out vocals are there.  The bursts of distorted guitar are there as well.  However, it's much more subdued than Epley's work in Shiner.  It's not as loud and angry, it draws out post-rock soundscapes similar to what Appleseed Cast transformed themselves into after being emo for several years.  There's also a prevalent need to call it shoegazer, but I wouldn't say Epley was diving deep into the British 90's scene, probably just channeling his love for the same bands that influenced the likes of My Bloody Valentine.  However, shoegazer can serve as a valid reference point.

Most importantly, it's really good.  Begging the question, why is this band hanging out in relative obscurity?  The Life and Times recently released a new album and yet, little to no fanfare surrounding it.  Isn't even being done up for a vinyl release.  Granted, I don't keep to up to date with new music that much, however, I have an affinity for the post-rock scene and everybody is all hoped up about the new Whirr LP (it is pretty good), yet, very few of those people even know this band exists.

Hush

TK Webb & The Visions Ancestor Kemado 2008

TK Webb & The Visions Ancestor Kemado 2008 CAT# KEM 079

Years ago, I saw a young TK Webb play a show with Proudentall...and someone else at the Bottleneck.  The performances were taped and simultaneously a CD-R was created to pass out to show goers.  Kind of a cool idea, pretty sure it was Matt Dunehoo's of Proudentall.  Wish I still had that CD somewhere so I could compare it to the more modern-day TK Webb.

Honestly, I don't remember the stuff on the CD being that great, just a bunch of blues riffs with some grumbling on vocals.  The Kansas City guitarist has done a TON of stuff since that show.  Played in the Only Ones, moved to New York, did some proper solo-releases and this project with a band dubbed the Visions.  This a bit more polished and slick.  Still blues-based riffs, but far more entertaining.

My only problem with his work is everybody that reviews it is so quick to call out all old blues legends, like Muddy Waters and Blind Willie Johnson.  Uhm, probably shouldn't being going that far back, the furthest anyone should go back is Eric Clapton, but yeah, that's dumb as well.  And, it's besides the point, because outside of blues based riffs, there's a lot of indie rock in Webb's tunes.  You could argue that the tunes found here are closer to Dinosaur Jr. than they are Muddy Waters.  Wait, there's really no argument, this has nothing to do with Muddy Waters outside of the electric guitar.

You see, when you start comparing dudes to blues legends and that guy is white, people just start thinking Jack White and the White Stripes.  While it'd be cool if all the White Stripes fans bought TK Webb albums, that it isn't going to happen.  Bigger point being, Jack White is lame hack.  Sure, he's a great guitarist and all, but c'mon, it's regurgitated songs, it's regurgitated albums...It's all getting boring and lame.  If you want to listen to an artist or band do the same album over and over, listen to AC/DC, they're better than the White Stripes.  If you want a challenge, then dig deep and discover stuff like TK Webb.

TK WEBB & THE VISIONS - ANGELS