Deep Elm Review Of 2010: Athletics - Why Aren't I Home?

Athletics is reminiscent of the kid in school who talks only when he has something important to say, yet is extremely brilliant. Often only having a few lines of lyrics in a song, Why Aren't I Home? focuses more on the ambient atmosphere of a song, while speaking enough to relay the powerful messages of the song. The title track features the usual post-rock buildup, ambient guitars soaring, the rhythm section feeling like a driving train, before the climax hits with one line of powerful vocals. Vocalist and guitarist Garrett Yaeger launches in to state the powerful message of the title track and maybe the whole album, shouting "Well I'm lost again, as my world finds it's end. No safe place to exist, but to pretend we never did." Flowing seamlessly into the much heavier "See You On The Other Side", as the flowing ambient guitar riffs support the lower, heavier crashes of sound. The surprisingly vocal heavy "Jordan" is a powerful self reflection, while "Lullaby" is anything but one with angry vocals glaring from behind the atmosphere. "It's Night, It's Enough" seems to be one of the more mellow songs on the album, until you reach the halfway point of the song. A large, powerfully emotionally scream of "You haunt my dreams." begins the powerful blast of sound that erupts through one's speakers. "The Cost Of Living" closes the album with depressive lyrics, though powerful, leaving chills as the album quickly fades away. Why Aren't I Home? is an adventure through the powerful distresses of the band. It strays away from usual post-rock, yet keeps the aspects of the genre that makes it all great. The vocals are the last key that makes the record more than just an emotional journey, but a journey in every such way, as it will leave you breathing heavily, sweating, and questioning reality. You can stream the album on the band's Deep Elm page here.

Every Atlas

In 2008, Alex Periera, started Every Atlas as way to express his love, hate and creativity of his own interests. Periera was recently joined by Dustin Andrews. Both Andrews and Periera were in, the now separated band, Waking Constance. Within two years the band released two full length albums and an EP. The dual vocals are harmonious and folk inspired, similar to those of Conor Oberst, with a diverse musical background. The music has a southern influence that can easily be mistaken for an old folk or country song from years ago. The bluesy, folk guitar sound is calming and quite uplifting, making Every Atlas an easy listen. Our generation thrives on fresh, new sounds and Every Atlas offers just that to this genre. The lyrics are something completely different than we’re used to. Forget love, loss and heart break, these lyrics are about life and every day living. “Your eyes hold stories that trapped away the history. Your ears, they’ve heard such things that very few men have heard” from “Brother” suggest that someone has experienced more than one man should. The lyrics are real and are a break from the same old boring love songs. Listen to the band’s latest full length here.

Runaway Brother

It almost seems like bands have been catering to me lately. I've been a fan of the catchy pop-rock with honest, relatable lyrics that bands such as You, Me, And Everyone We Know and Farewell Fighter. Runaway Brother is another band that definitely resembles those other two groups. Though the vocals are a bit gruff, it is easy to hear the passion behind the words. The band's lyrics are definitely a strong point, as they resemble well thought out diary entries or poems. Excellent one liners are spread throughout the songs, including highlights "So I'll skip the foreplay, ask you out today" in "Breakfast!?", "We're on the same page, but I read backwards" in "Stubborn", and "But I don't hold on to the past... wait I lie. This song is proof." in "Get It Started". As a group of only two people, Runaway Brother shows excellent potential that could possibly expand with a larger creative force behind the band. Their debut EP, Mr. Saturn, can be heard and downloaded for free on Bandcamp.

Lady Gaga Releases New Single

Lady Gaga released the title track from her upcoming album, “Born This Way”, two days sooner than planned. Full of catchy hooks and words of encouragement, “Born This Way”, is sure to be a number one single. The lyrics make fans feel accepted and that there’s no reason to question your place in this world. The pop powered beat makes it hard not to dance along or at least bop your head a little. Gaga promised her Little Monsters the best album of the decade and so far there’s no reason to doubt that. The release of this single only makes the wait seem longer. Listen to “Born This Way” here.

Interview With Hellogoodbye

At the Jammin' Java stop of Hellogoodbye's headlining tour, the band agreed to answer a few questions. This is the band's first tour supporting their latest record, Would It Kill You. The band talked about the drastic change in sound, Drive Thru records, fans that don't appreciate the new sound, fans from foreign countries, and more, after the jump.

CityCop - The Hope In Forgiving & Giving Up Hope

Who?

CityCop are a four-piece band based out of Ashtabula, Ohio. Playing a wholly unique concoction of sound, incorporating indie, screamo, punk, and emo influences, CityCop's style might be aptly described as a punkier mixture of Cap'n Jazz and Caravels. Though currently unsigned, guitarist/vocalist Max Adams, vocalist Eddie Gancos, bassist Duncan Treen, and drummer Cody Mikesell tour quite often throughout the Ohio/Pennsylvania area. The Hope In Forgiving & Giving Up Hope is their debut full length and is available on Bandcamp for a mere $5.

New Stay Song Streaming

Pop-rock goodness is something that can usually win me over. Stay is releasing a new album, American Cherry Bomb, this spring which will surely be played to death over the summer. The band is streaming a new track titled "Machine Gun Summer", in which the band shows off their new, edgier direction. Fans of Fall Out Boy will definitely find appeal in this track, and I'm hoping this is the sign of progression from the older, more generic tracks. The song can be streamed here.

Deep Elm Review Of 2010: Ride Your Bike - The Connection

Don't let the album cover of Ride Your Bike's The Connection turn you off. Unlike the food on the cover, this six song EP isn't junk. The band packs  a gritty indie-rock sound in the vein of early The Get Up Kids, but that sound wouldn't be expected after a listen of the title track. Vocalist Mike Getches sounds almost like Leighton from Lydia at times, with backing strings used to squeeze the emotion out of the rest of the music.  However, this mellow track doesn't represent the rest of the album at all. "Coat Rack" is a perfect model of the band's sound, with driving guitar riffs surrounding the nasally, yet powerful vocals. Getches shows off his surprising range, going from low notes to highs in a matter of a couple notes. "Firefly" may not be a Saves The Day cover, but it could easily have been done by the band. Though the vocals may not be as unique as Chris Conley's, but they go much better with the style of music. Closer "Time We Took Those Chances" shows the band at its peak ability of song writing, lyrically honest words surrounded by some of the strongest musical ability on the entire EP. Chants fill the backgrounds of the chorus with life, igniting the song to even higher heights. The band's somewhat silly name, combined with the absolutely outrageous album cover makes the band seem almost like a joke. Through one listen of the band, it's obvious that the band is dead serious about what they do, which is make great music. Check the band out on their Deep Elm page here.

Amia Venera Landscape

Amia Venera Landscape are an Italian progressive metalcore band. Many people often cringe when hearing a band described as 'metalcore' -- the genre has been overflowed with scene bands rocking angular haircuts in the past few years, plagiarizing each other's work. However, Amia Venera Landscape are one of the few modern metalcore bands (Dead and Divine, Oh, Sleeper, Counterparts, August Burns Red) playing solid, interesting music. Tracks such as "Empire" lean on the heavier side, reminiscent of a mixture of August Burns Red and The Dillinger Escape Plan. Others such as "Glances (Parts I and II)" lean towards a more Underoath vibe, albeit a slightly more progressive version. While not bursting with creativity by any means, Amia Venera Landscape have perfected their sound and it's one which is actually distinguishable from other bands. Though this might not seem like much of a feat to most, in a scene inundated with copycats, Amia Venera Landscape are a breath of fresh air.

Moving Mountains To Play Warped Tour

Maybe Warped is branching out?

Show Review - Hellogoodbye Headlining Tour 2/7/11

I was able to go to the Vienna, Virginia show of Hellogoodbye's headlining tour with support from Gold Motel, Now, Now, and You, Me, And Everyone We Know. At a venue that holds no more than 200 people, there was no doubt that I desperately needed to go to this show. Along with the two interviews I conducted with You, Me, And Everyone We Know and Hellogoodbye, the show was an absolute blast. Every band was great in their own way, and the show was definitely one of the best I've been at.

Interview With You, Me, And Everyone We Know

At the Vienna, Virginia stop of You, Me, And Everyone We Know's tour supporting Hellogoodbye, the band very generously allowed for a couple of questions. The band is just beginning what is going to be a jam packed year for the hard working band. The band answered questions about reception to the record, the change in their sound, the "call outs" in "Shock and Awe", an upcoming EP, and many other things. Check it out below. 

Versus Angels

After the breakup of their previous band, Friends for Hire; Tony Morgan, Shaun Freeman and Seth Werts formed Versus Angels. This month, a year after A Friend for Hire broke up; Versus Angels released a teaser made up of 4 song clips. The teaser, which is less than two minutes, leaves listeners wanting more. The clean vocals, that are edgier in some parts, are the first thing that catches your attention. The melodic voice of Tony Morgan offers nothing less than amazing and reminds us of vocals similar to the Spill Canvas. Freeman and Werts back up these vocals with stellar guitar and bass riffs. The lyrics are enough to make any girl swoon, especially when Morgan sings “I promise to fight through, I promise to stay true, to make sure that everyone knows your name” from “Promise”. But don’t mistake them for sappy love songs. These lyrics offer promises that aren’t meant to be broken and a sense of security. As of now, the 4 songs featured in the teaser are just demos and a release date for their EP is still undecided. Check out the band's Facebook for updates and download their song "Wait for You" here

Unsigned Bands Of January (II)

Don't forget, you can always send your music to us at staff@muzikdizcovery.com, and if we think you deserve it, you will be placed here the next edition of the Unsigned Bands of the Month. If you blow us away, you may even get your own feature article!

The Pattern Traced

Upon hearing the lyrics, “Here's how I deal with anxiety/Alcohol, sex and drugs/Just like the wrists and mascara of emo girls, I always cut and run”, you might think this is a new Say Anything song. But there’s something different behind the edgy lyrics. Jon Callender is the voice, the wit and the music behind The Pattern Traced. Callender delivers vocals eerily similar to something you’d find in an indie-acoustic band. Yet, the vocals fall so easily into place on top of the electronic-synth powered background. Some tracks, however, are broken down and Callender sings with nothing except an acoustic guitar. Soon Callender will be “more than just a status update”, like he claims on the track "Do You Want to Know Who I Really am?" The Pattern Traced plan on releasing an album this spring. But until then, you can download his album Lessons in Leaving on his Bandcamp page for free.

Otenki

I'd like to welcome Chelsea as a writer for the site. She's a dear friend of mine, and will be helping me with artist spotlights of unsigned bands, as well as posting stuff for some of her favorite music.

Otenki released their first EP in 2005 and followed it up with a supporting tour. The band played alongside some highly respectable bands on Taste of Chaos and Van’s Warped Tour. Otenki seem to pick up where Armor for Sleep left off but at the same time offering something new. German Hernandez’s vocals deliver and make every lyric sound stronger than the last. Each time Hernandez sings the line “Now I’m calling your name in my sleep”, from ‘Ghosts’, it’s different and the level of emotion and energy rises each time, keeping you hooked from the first time. The sextet from Texas is everything we expect from a pop- punk band but with a little more edge. They take what we’re familiar with in the pop-punk genre and make it new. Hopefully, after their release of their new EP on May 3rd, Otenki becomes a common name and get the recognition they deserve. Check the band out on Myspace here.

Deep Elm Review Of 2010: Down To Earth - Prisms

Thrice is on record for saying that they have progressed past their older melodic post-hardcore sound. Who would have imagined that one of the best replacements for the lovers of older Thrice would be French? Down To Earth channels Thrice, Fugazi, and At The Drive-In in creating a brutal, yet melodic effort. Prisms is centered around the three opening tracks, "Prisms 1", "Prisms 2", and "Prisms 3", that almost seam together perfectly and seem like three parts of one, larger track. The tracks build up until the angry climax of the three songs that is "Prisms 3", which shows off the band's strong talents, showcasing mighty riffs and a driving rhythm section, highlighted by the bass lines. The first two minutes of "Versus" are instrumental, combining atmospheric with some extremely dark riffs, before mellowing out, then busting out with the band's signature heaviness by the end. "Radio Stoned" takes a lot from At The Drive In's Relationship and Command both instrumentally and vocally. Early 2000's post-hardcore has been dying out as bands mature or break up. Down To Earth brings back the good feeling about the genre, and gives hope for its future. Stream the album on their Deep Elm page here.

James Blake Album Stream

Pitchfork favorite James Blake has been a machine in putting out releases. From three critically acclaimed EPs throughout 2010, to his new self-titled LP, he has simply not stopped putting out material. The best part about it is that he just keeps changing things up. Starting as a dubstep artist, he has now infused his old sound with qualities of R&B and Pop to make a record that is definitely the most accessible of his releases. Although he still uses samples, he finally shows off his own singing talent that pretty much nobody knew he had. This album will no doubt be another BNM on Pitchfork, and you can stream the whole thing right here.

Thomas Hunter

It seems like that whole Seattle progressive/pop-punk scene stick together rather often. Thomas Hunter used to be part of Forgive Durden until the mass exodus from the band, and later joined several Gatsby's American Dream members with the psychedelic Wild Orchard Children. Hunter's solo project isn't necessarily done solo, mentioning nine other musicians who contributed to the creation of his first release. White China Gold combines prog, jazz, indie, and classic rock to make a highly orchestrated, slightly chaotic, but always entertaining album. No two songs sound the same, and can appeal to everyone from a 25 year old jazz enthusiast, to a 17 year old pop-punk kid, to a 45 year old that misses seeing Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith. The whole album is up for free download on Bandcamp, so check it out here.

Deep Elm Review Of 2010: Cari Clara - You Better Run

Cari Clara has already been featured once on this site, and definitely deserves another mention as the first Deep Elm record that will be reviewed here. Not many bands can pull off comparing themselves to Radiohead. With vocals only comparable in style to Thom Yorke or Matt Bellamy (Muse), you can only expect the epic sound that the band creates, which is instantly heard on the title track. The dark sound created by the ambient guitars, background hums, and the aggressive string section starts the record off with a bone chilling blast. "Neither Weapon" returns the guitars to the forefront of the music, as the bridge features a distorted guitar solo backed by the band's signature ambient vocals. "Our Famed Escape" finally lightens up the mood of the EP, with high pitched bells and a mature somewhat dancy feel that could easily be heard in a love scene for a movie. EP closer "The Great Departure" is in fact a great departure from the band's usual sound, with every single vocal section echoed instead of the usual vibrato along with what sounds like a demonic sounding choir and percussion that could be found in someone's garage. However, Cari Clara pulls off all these effects to great success. Radiohead and Muse are two of the biggest bands in the world. Cari Clara has both the creative uniqueness and exceptional talent that both of those bands have. If they are huge, why isn't Cari Clara? Stream and purchase the band's album on their Deep Elm page here.