Gadget - Spreading the Love (Life & Death Brigade)
Usually Joe is the one who covers the heavy end of things, but I also partake in the loud and crushing on occasion. Spreading the Love is the sweltering debut from Minneapolis straight-edge hardcore band Gadget and it rules!
The quintet edges into the realm of thrash on many (if not all) of the record's brief seven tracks. The pleasant ruination of my expectations is something I will gladly report — this is more than mere by-the-numbers hardcore. From the first seconds of opener "Profound Will," the intensity exponentially grows. Every time it seems like you've reached the limit, Gadget pushes it further to glorious effect.
The first 25 seconds of "Burned from the Branches" is the musical equivalent of a free fall (plus it has one of the sickest bass riffs on the album). "Running Wild" makes me want to recreate this video as soon as humanly possible. The track's second half is the heaviest on the album and features ethereal guest vocals from Abby Rhine. Closer "The Seen" tricks you with a 4-minute run time; it's actually 2.5 minutes of death-defying hardcore, 1.5 minutes of absurdist twang. I have absolutely no idea why this was done. Suddenly, you're just listening to some Ye Olde West country stomp when approximately ten seconds ago you were listening to gnarly riffs and throat-shredding.
Baffling as the outro may be, the rest of Spreading the Love is mind-melting melodic noise from a band in perfect unity. No second is wasted because there's no time to spare.
Black Tiger Bay - January Fire (self-released)
If one is going to mine a decade for musical inspiration, there are worse decades than the 90s. I'll actually go ahead and say that it's a pretty good one, especially for popular guitar rock. Cole Hooey, the sole member of Black Tiger Bay, successfully uncovers some diamonds in the rough from thirty years ago on his debut record, January Fire.
Whether it's the chugging Weezer-esque "Clarity," unconquerable chorus and all, almost pop-punk riffs of "Buried," up-front emotional potency of "Back and Forth," or the haunting duality of the two versions of "Peace and Quiet," Hooey understands the craft of songwriting. I'm sure I've said this before (and other, better critics have said it as well), but there is a certain testament, a particular credibility in the ability to bring touchstone influences into one's musical orbit and adopt them, instead of being overwhelmed by them. January Fire is familiar, even from the start, but presents itself in a sublime new way.
If one is going to mine a decade for musical inspiration, there are worse decades than the 90s. I'll actually go ahead and say that it's a pretty good one, especially for popular guitar rock. Cole Hooey, the sole member of Black Tiger Bay, successfully uncovers some diamonds in the rough from thirty years ago on his debut record, January Fire.
Whether it's the chugging Weezer-esque "Clarity," unconquerable chorus and all, almost pop-punk riffs of "Buried," up-front emotional potency of "Back and Forth," or the haunting duality of the two versions of "Peace and Quiet," Hooey understands the craft of songwriting. I'm sure I've said this before (and other, better critics have said it as well), but there is a certain testament, a particular credibility in the ability to bring touchstone influences into one's musical orbit and adopt them, instead of being overwhelmed by them. January Fire is familiar, even from the start, but presents itself in a sublime new way.
Poolboy - "Facelift" (self-released)
Poolboy may have been City Pages' Best New Band in 2017, but we're only just now covering them, so they've finally made it in the ~big leagues~.
After staying quiet since 2018's Double Goer EP, the quintet is back with a slow-burn of a new song. "Facelift" slinks about, hiding behind curtains and peeking out with pointed eyes. Listening is like drifting down a river on an empty, calm evening; a synth line wafts by with little fanfare, maybe you'll see it again if you're lucky; vocals and guitars reverberate through you and leave a gentle, electric hum behind. The harmonies of Seth Conover and Becky Shaw come through a cloud formation that's reflected in the pale, translucent water and captivate you, unsure of from where they came and wanting them to last forever.
All of this has been a very pretentious and poetic way to say that "Facelift" is a beautiful, almost seven-minute song that you simply have to submerge yourself in. Listen below.
After staying quiet since 2018's Double Goer EP, the quintet is back with a slow-burn of a new song. "Facelift" slinks about, hiding behind curtains and peeking out with pointed eyes. Listening is like drifting down a river on an empty, calm evening; a synth line wafts by with little fanfare, maybe you'll see it again if you're lucky; vocals and guitars reverberate through you and leave a gentle, electric hum behind. The harmonies of Seth Conover and Becky Shaw come through a cloud formation that's reflected in the pale, translucent water and captivate you, unsure of from where they came and wanting them to last forever.
All of this has been a very pretentious and poetic way to say that "Facelift" is a beautiful, almost seven-minute song that you simply have to submerge yourself in. Listen below.
Breathe and Repeat - "Dizzy" (self-released)
We here at Ear Coffee love a good debut single. Especially when it's as spellbinding as this one from Breathe and Repeat.
"Dizzy" is what one might call "tone city." The trio absolutely nails the loose, vibe-y tone of classic shoegaze. Atmosphere over all, y'know? Well, I would say that, if there wasn't also a very deliberately-structured song underneath all that reverb. It's not clear exactly what the song is about, except that it's anti-fake friends. Vocalist/guitarist Josiah Shipp absolutely wails the hell out of the lead melody - the roar at the song's end is absolutely *chef's kiss.*
It might be a danger to share amps with these three at a show, because they might just blow them out. We're excited to see/hear more from Breathe and Repeat going forward.
"Dizzy" is what one might call "tone city." The trio absolutely nails the loose, vibe-y tone of classic shoegaze. Atmosphere over all, y'know? Well, I would say that, if there wasn't also a very deliberately-structured song underneath all that reverb. It's not clear exactly what the song is about, except that it's anti-fake friends. Vocalist/guitarist Josiah Shipp absolutely wails the hell out of the lead melody - the roar at the song's end is absolutely *chef's kiss.*
It might be a danger to share amps with these three at a show, because they might just blow them out. We're excited to see/hear more from Breathe and Repeat going forward.
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