Reflector Recess Theory Split 7" Arise Records 1998

Reflector & Recess Theory Split 7"
In Spite Of  b/w A Small Town in Smalltown, KS
Arise Records
NO CAT# 1998

This first Reflector release I talk about is going to be talked about a lot.

Back when I was a scenster, I was introduced to Jake Cardwell of Reflector through Matt Rubin.  Matt was a highschooler that first put out a 7" split with the Anniversary & Proudentall.  I can't remember how I got in touch with Matt...I think it was because I was writing for an eZine called Signal Drench and we were at a show, he said he was putting out a record on his Paper Brigade Label, I said I'd review it or what have you.  Anyway, Matt's second release was a 5 song EP by Reflector.  So, as I was hanging out with Matt, he introduced me to Reflector and therefore, Jake Cardwell.

Jake Cardwell...if you're into the local scene in Kansas City, you know Jake Cardwell.  He friggin' knows everybody.  Part of it being this band, most of it being that he and has dad run C & C Drums.  At the time of this release, I believe C&C Drums was just a shop (don't quote me, I'm not a drummer).  Now, C&C Drums makes incredible custom drums for worldwide acts.  The list of drummers that use C&C is phenomenal.  Just go to the website and check it out, they are doing KC super-proud.

Anyway, this time period and group of friends--is the local scene I remember most fondly.  I wasn't at  KU at this point and I was trying desperately to find myself or at least a hobby while at community college in Overland Park.  The group of people surrounding Reflector were some of the best people I've ever met.  One guy, Nathan Reusch is doing big things right now with a local labal, The Record Machine.  They've released great local albums by Capybara, the Soft Reeds, and Cowboy, Indian, Bear among others.  Another person I ran into hanging with this crowd was Aaron Pillar of the Appleseed Cast because that band moved to Lawrence right around the same time and were friends with Reflector (I guess both Reflector and Appleseed Cast were in the Christian Rock scene previously before going "emo", I wasn't there for any of that Christian stuff).  Obviously, I met the rest of the Cast guys too, but there's a good story about Aaron when I get to them. There's just so many people to name, but the point is, great people surrounded Reflector.  It's impossible for me not to put on one of these records and not remember that period of my life.

As for the music, Reflector was a decent 3 piece band.  I loved singer/guitarist Jared Scholz's voice on these records.  Jared is currently a preacher at a church in Olathe, KS.  Jake and bassist Harry Anderson backed Jared nicely, but always felt a little heavy when compared to Jared's high register voice.  The music, this song included, is angular indie-rock.  'In Spite Of' is one of their better outings.  Live it was a great number because it's easier to mask the short-comings, studio version feels a bit weighted and lacks energy, perhaps a bit too adventurous for it's own good with all the start-stop dynamics.

The flip side by Recess Theory deserves mention for it's subject matter--Kansas.  But, it should be noted the band was from Florida.  I did meet the band, the singer actually has ties to Kansas, I believe his grandparents lived in the state.  It's a play on Kansas weather, talks the joys of small towns, then just screams, "It's 20 degrees out, 20 below!  I hope it snows!"  I love the idea, and it's a good little indie-rock gem, just wish someone from Kansas had actually wrote it.

The J.T. Cooke Band Bright Blue Eyes b/w Lasting Man 7" 45 RPM

The J.T. Cooke Band 7" 45 RPM
Bright Blue Eyes b/w Lasting Man
Dynasty Records
CAT #1111 (Unknown Year)

I found this 45 at a garage sale tucked away in a copy of Bill Wyman's Monkey Grip LP.  I was honest with the lady running the garage sale and despite that I could have just kept the 45 tucked I asked, "Hey, this was tucked away in this LP, how much you want for it?"  She looked at it and said, "I don't know."  I replied, "Kind of cool, it's local," as I showed her the address for Dynasty Records was on State Line Road in KC, MO.  "Huh" she began, "$2.00?"  I was shocked, really?  $2.00?  I said, "You only want 50 cents for the record, I'll give you a dollar for both."  She agreed and I came home with this.

Looking at the backside of the sleeve, I figured a few things out: A. There is no J.T. Cooke in this band.  The name is possibly reference to the pipe maker?  B. These 6 dudes are too well groomed to be 70s rockers so despite not having a listed year on the sleeve or 45 this has to be from the 80s.  C. This was going to sound very slick, possibly like the band Kansas with keyboards and guitar licks or it was going to be truly awful bar band stuff.

Fortunately, it's neither.  Unfortunately, it's kind of wimpy.  Very polished and watered down power pop.  Admittedly, the vocal harmonies are nice on both sides, but the songs really lack any sort of punch.  The production is dated giving more reason to believe it's from the 80s.  It's a shame there just isn't more here.  A good solid back beat and this band could have had something similar to Titan! Power Pop out of KC or power pop similar the Shoes (not local).  Just too watered down.

Minimal info on-line, some of the members perform still around KC in classic rock tributes and the like. Perhaps someone who was in the group or friends of the group can shed some light on the year this was released and more info on the band itself.

Slackjaw Uncomfortable b/w Menace 7" 45 RPM 1994

Slackjaw 7" 45 RPM (Red Vinyl)
Uncomfortable b/w Menace
Mercy Records
CAT# MRSJ-012-7

Slackjaw were a bit ahead of their time in 94.  Kind of metal, kind of post-punk, if they had a DJ they would've been geniuses, but they didn't.

What I remember of the band is that I enjoyed the song "Release" from a local CD compilation called 'Loaded in Lawrence'.  It was angry and screamed a lot.  Other than that, I remember the early days of social networking (webboards) and Bob Cutler from this band would continually argue with Scott Born of Kill Creek over who the most popular band from Lawrence, KS was on a local music website.

As for this disc.  It's angry and loud.  I hate to say it's not good because looking at the back cover, the members of Slackjaw look like they like to fight...I don't.  To it's benefit, it was recorded by Ed Rose, the go to guy in all of Kansas for recording throughout the 90s and into the present.  So it sounds good.

It's also labeled Sides 7 & 8, there must be a back story there, possibly other 7"s I'm unaware of or something about the numbers themselves.  The music is bruising and loud.   It's metal, thunderous and slow, with guttural vocals.  If I were to compare Slackjaw to someone cool; later era Black Flag for the slow metal aspect of the tunes.  If I am being honest, pretty MOR mid-90s metal with an underground flair.

BUT, here's the f'n awesome thing about Slackjaw, are you ready for this?  Kliph Scurlock was a former drummer (not featured on this release).  Scurlock's first Lawrence band was Slackjaw.  He'd later gig with Kill Creek and the Panel Donors before becoming a roadie for the Flaming Lips.  He's now the Flaming Lips touring drummer (someone once said he's full-time studio guy too, but I find that hard to believe if Stephen Drozd is in your band as well), regardless he's also a member of Drozd's Paris Gun.

Slackjaw Live

Boys Life/Vitreous Humor Split 7" 1994

Vitreous Humor/Boy's Life Split 7"
Why Are You So Mean to Me? b/w Temporary
crank! A Record Company
CAT #CRC002 1994

This is Kansas City/Lawrence scene mid-90s on one disc.  It's fantastic and I cut my hipster teeth on this stuff sneaking into shows.  In fact, the last show I had to sneak into before turning 21 was the final Regrets/Vitreous Humor show in Lawrence, KS at the Replay.  It was awesome and I couldn't even drink (at the risk of being caught).

There's so much to say about these two bands, how important they are to Kansas, KCMO, music, the foundations of what would become "emo" a few years later.  But, I'll save it for later releases.

The Boy's Life track "Temporary" is a speed up version of the same song that would appear on their debut LP.  It's a nice side, but I prefer the album version when the band had developed it's sound completely.

The Vitreous Humor side is a f'n hit.  In fact, Nada Surf tried to do just that with it when they covered it as a single.  The song, which is about smoking pot and getting caught, is perfect.  It explodes sonically in Pixie like dynamics.  The lyrics, albeit a little juvenile, are true and from the heart, "You tell mom I'll break your neck, she's already a nervous wreck, I don't smoke it everyday, it doesn't hurt me anyway."  It's so Midwestern-teenager it makes me sick.

Vitreous Humor
Nada Surf ...Yawn...

Get Up Kids/Anniversary Split 7" 1999

The Get Up Kids/The Anniversary split 7"
Central Standard Time B/W Vasic + Bluey
Vagrant Records Heroes & Villains
CAT# VR341/HV002 1999

For a good chunk of time, the Get Up Kids and the Anniversary were freakin' besties around Lawrence. The bands did everything together, toured, put out records together, married one another.  It was kind of weird.  However, both had similar backgrounds,  both bands were primarily made up of suburban kids, ditching college for the life as a rock n' roll band (thus, they could relate to upset parent syndrome).  Difference though, Get Up Kids did things on their own, it took a lot of work to get to the point they were at at the time of this release.  To an outsider, the Anniversary's success seemed to be that of association.  Hang out with the Get Up Kids enough and they'll find you a spot on a tour and their record label.

You can listen to the Anniversary and know that they're talented and a lot of the admiration from the Get Up Kids came from the band's talent.  Their B-side to this 7" Vasic + Bluey is solid.  At this time they were still young and sounded a lot like the Rentals.  Best, they utilized their secret weapon Adrianne Verhoeven a lot.  Her voice cuts over the chorus, her synth drives the song.  She's the middle of the band and the best part of the song.

The Get Up Kids A-side seems a bit of a throw-a-way in all honesty.  A bit over the top with it's emo-ness. The band was/is at it's best when it's all angry teenager emo and not so f'n adult about stuff.  Keyboards add nice little touch, but the energy just isn't there on this track.  Seems obvious, one member wrote the song, the rest just didn't feel the same way about the song, so it ended up on this 7". No pick slides, mid-tempo, no excitement, blah.

Central Standard Time