In Flight Radio The Sound Inside Last Broadcast Records 2008
Written by stefan
Friday, 28 March 2008
In Flight Radio come to us this week from Brooklyn, as place you would not normally associate with an alt-rock band like IFR. I might as well just get this out in the open; the entire time I was listening to this I could only think one thing – Coldplay + The Cranberries . That’s what In Flight Radio sound like, with gentle instrumentation with a solid rock beat and sincere vocals belted out over the entire length of the record. In Flight Radio will fit perfectly between any alternative records in the past few years and is incredibly radio-friendly that can appeal to many people. It has virtually no grit of the NYC streets though, it’s quite polished the band sticks to their guns and stays within the boundaries of alternative music.
If alternative is your thing and you just love the simplicity and easy-listening that In Flight Radio provides, then I can only suggest you buy their record when it comes out next month!
Check it - http://www.myspace.com/INFLIGHTRADIONYC
What better way to review 3 bands at the same time then on an Engineer Records split. We are greeted with 3 songs each by the aforementioned bands, all with a similar enough sound to be put on the same disc, but different enough to give it some variety.
First we have Elemae, who are from New Jersey (a state that surprisingly, puts out good music). Their style is if you took the long, drawn out elements of a band like Isis but placed an indie rock twist to the vocals and playing style you would have a band like Elemae. That is to say that Elemae offer up a new genre of indie – epic-indie. The larger than life sound and smart, political lyrics make these 3 songs sound like a full length album.
Second up, Memorial. A bit harder then Elemae and more on the rock/alternative side of things hailing from Virginia, they are making their debut on Revelation with these 3 songs. They have a more 90’s deep elm sound that incorporates slick vocals with a rock backing and current, relevant lyrics. Keep an eye out for these guys, sure to make a huge hit with their upcoming full-length.
Lastly, we get Belgium’s Soon that hail from the Funtime Records family (who we really enjoy here at lucky13). The less aggressive of the 3 bands features on this split, they play a more relaxed, but more energetic style of indie. The band sounds big, like they recorded this in a giant concert hall, using echoes on the vocals and guitars to create the feeling you are watching them perform at the biggest concert ever.
What a great chance to check out 3 bands you will surely love.
Team Building Upon St Lawrence Self Released- 2008
Written by stefan
Friday, 28 March 2008
From the cold winter’s of Edmonton, Alberta home to the beloved Oilers hockey team and of treasured but now defunct punk band Choke (I am sure there is a connection between these two bands) comes Team Building.
The EP comes with 5 buttery smooth spatial tracks that are expansive and as rich as Canada’s landscape – The 5 songs cover the coasts in depth and the mood is dark and poetic. Bradley Amundson’s vocals stretch across the tracks while being lifted on the wings of the band members abilities to incorporate seamless musicianship.
Usually I have a problem with bands squeaking out 5 song ep’s – it always leaves me with wanting more. Once you start to get into the groove of the record, it’s over and leave you unsatisfied. It seems Team Building had thought this through and made sure no song clocked in under four and a half minutes, the longest being a whopping 10 in length. Making this 5 song ep last a whole 34 minutes, which is amazing.
If you enjoy slow-paced indie straight from the heart – give Team Building a shot.
On My side come from Texas with a message, a straight-edge message and play a similar style to many of your favorite posi-core bands – in that it is generally good-hearted and fun. It may not be the best recording nor does it have many melodic qualities to the structure of their songs but they do have a good overlaying message that re-enforces what most modern music lacks – a sense of accomplishment or pride in relaying not just music for entertainment, but music for knowledge and learning and helping spread a cause, not just collecting pay checks.
Carlos sings I don’t understand all that I see/ Always filled with so much negativity/ with all your anger and all your hate/ Shame to see your energy go to waste. And it’s true, we can’t live our lives hating on other things because we may not understand what they are about or don’t feel the same towards something – And On My Side are here to remind us to love and to stand up for your beliefs, no matter what they are.
Harder The Fight Bent on Destruction 2007 Words of War
Written by stefan
Monday, 10 March 2008
This 5 song gem comes to us from the east-coast and bent on destruction is an apt title for this explosive EP.
Harder The Fight explore their sound more so then other hardcore bands in the area – mixing elements of metal with their traditional fast-paced hardcore sound and heavy heavy guitars with raspy vocals that create quite a pleasant sound. If you take all your favorite things about heavy music – the speed, the drive, wailing guitars, double bass, the tough-as-nails attitude you get Harder The Fight – and they stop at nothing packing in only 5 songs in 10 minutes, this little shit-disturbing menace is worth the trip through the snow or the click of a mouse to buy this ep.
Just don’t look them in the eye.
Send them n00ds @ http://www.myspace.com/harderthefight
