Two posts in one day!? No there ain't no arctic chill down in Hell, I told you a new leaf was being overturned! --This one has been a long time coming and it's a wonder I haven't bestowed its gloriosity (suck it spell-check) upon you sooner. The Polar Bear Club's - 'Chasing Hamburg' is today's adventure brought to you by the publish broadcasting system (and other's like us) and it is truly a saphire in the cart-path. I have found myself lately to be that cliche' of kids who cut their teeth in junior high on punk music a-la Rancid, only to graduate to the seemingly more angsty and musically inclined screamo music of thrice, thursday, and finch; to then grow tired of such trivialities and un necessary vocal antics and graduate to a more folky sound and eventually surrendering to the once taboo evil of pitchfork flavored indie rock. The Polar Bear Club howoever grabbed my 24 year old self and my 17 year old self by the collar, brought us face to face, and said "play nice!". Punknews purists may prefer their debut album 'Sometimes Things Just Dissapear', and while I recommend you check that out aswell (but that's another show) Chasing Hamburg is an amazing progression and display of hard rock. This album has all of the post punk and hardcore chops that everyone after 'The Shape of Punk to Come' have strove for, yet brings energy, power, and punk in a way that is unique unto its own. Catchy chorus'-check, strong emotional vocals that come across gritty and sincere but never whiny-check, intricate guitar leads-check, driving in-your-face drumming-check. This album is everything that punk, post-anything rock should be, and if you don't think "Living Saints" is the best song of 2009, well than I'm not sure I want you reading my blog anymore #justsayin'

Check it then Wreck it

Shop It!
Space It

Young Leaves

I apologize for my lack of posts but I am turning over a new leaf and a plethora of amazing albums will be pouring out faster than you can click 'download'. Today's record comes from the boys in Attack in Black. I know its tough, but we will excuse the fact that the hail from Canada due to the amazing music they produce. Their album 'Marriage' is something I discovered off of several hoity-toity year end lists. I gave the album a once through by the pool at my then university and cast it aside as merely another tolerable folk-influenced punk band cashing in on the latest trend. Yet for some reason this album began to haunt me over the years. It would pop up at the most random time in my i-pod shuffle and I couldn't seem to hit the obligatory "skip song" button. When you hear the one-two opening punch of 'Come What May' and 'Young Leaves' you'll KNOW. This album is nothing short of genius, whether it be daniel and ian's charming yet urgent vocal and lyrical prowess or the solid but never over-done production quality...this album resonates from front to back and strikes that rare balance of feeling important without being pretentious and being infectiously catchy and enjoyable without crossing over into cheesy and forced.

Peep It
Borrow It
Buy It