show is this saturday, 9pm, at club underground. heres my annual review, i guess.
Avenpitch – Soon Enough. Great production. As usual, fun sounding track from AP. I think Todd’s vocals have improved, or else sound extra good on this track. As usual, he uses the DI guitar sound, which I am still not sure I dig…
Thosquanta – alstas. I still don’t like my vocals on this, but it’s pretty funny. And jen sounds 12. my guitar sounds awesome. (tone, not playing...its just power chords)
St. Anthony Falls – Nihali’s Song. Again, pretty good production, kinda indy rock-lite, which isn’t quite my thing, but its well done, and the tongue-in-cheek lyrics match the vocals quite well.
Pop Inc – Disenchanted. I’m not real sure why Brooke changed the band name from Lolly Pop, because this is damned close. Still doing the talk-sing thing a bit, but ditched the valley-girl cadence. The guitar in there just confuses me. I don’t think the male vocals are strong enough for this type of tune.
OBCT – Rampage When You Die. Well, this sounds like OBCT. Hard, heavy, and layered. The production is good enough to make all the myriad elements stick out, but I think there are just too damned many of them, especially later in the track.
MSRP – Control Freak. That lead synth line is a little thin for my liking, which I know hes doing so the guitar can fill more space, but, fuckit, I like synth. Maybe its my headphones, but the vocals sound a little buried, too. Which is weird, coz nic knows his shit with mixing.
One Two Three Dead – My First Communion. I like that simple lead line and the way the vocals match up with it. Production is super lo-fi and bit-crunched, but it works as a dark, DIY synthrock track.
The Eighth – Wasted Heartbeats (Battling Dirigibles Mix). This is a pretty good mix of Shawno and Geoffy. Shawno’s song structure and odd, SP-derived stutter beats work well with Geoffy’s slap bass noodlin'. I think those two work well together, as Geoffy streamlines Shawno’s song structures, and Shawno downplays Geoffy’s layering. Although this song seems like it ends, and then it doesn’t? plus, there's no hook, you jerks!
Mach Fox – Dr Night. I see Mark is back in WaxTrax! Form… this sounds like a Thrill Kill track. Punchy slap bass, slurry, strange lyrics and vocals. Cool shit!
Milkbar – Echo. Ok, where the hell is that synthline ripped off from? Is that a cure riff? Coz I’ve heard this before. I thought this was a cover at first. Bass tone is way too buried. Bit crushing is too overdone on some of the drums. Lyrics are a bit on the silly side, but totes well sung. Again, tho, wheres the hook?
Thought Thieves – All I Pretend. Huh, I think I’ve heard like 4 mixes of this track. This isn’t the best one, I don’t think. Cool synth line, but the drums sound…clipped and flat at the same time. how does one even DO that? I like his vocals well enough, but those are again some silly lyrics. Theres almost a hook, tho!
GNP – Tickle Me Panzer. Well, it sounds like GNP. I always preferred these guys better live than on disc. This shit was made for volume and subwoofers. A lot bouncier than previous tracks I’ve heard.
IKKI – We Can Fly. I don’t know what the hell Jesse is thinking. This is some straight up gay ass 80s synthpop. Yes, I like it… unno about the vocoding tho. VERY silly lyrics. Jesus Christ on a crutch, silly lyrics. he went from pop to POP!
Circa A.M. – The Up Aboves. Terrible production. The guitar sounds like DI noise and the drums are just a shitty drum machine din. Vocals are, eh, ok, tho. All mid range, all the time, I guess. not a fan.
The Trapezoids – Basic 20 GOTO 10. yay, minimal synth! Very simple repetitive patterns and funny, monotone vocals. I dig, I dig.
Rabidine – Shablestown. Another minimal synth track. I think hes using presets tho, coz I recognize some of these as Roland SH-201 patches. A bit repetitive sans vox, tho. add vocals, and i'd buy it.
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