Last week, NC post-pop trio, Youth League, premiered their newest single "Stay Lame" on New Noise Magazine with the announcement of their second EP, Second EP. "Stay Lame" builds on the sound Youth League established on First EP with lots of interesting winding guitar loops building on each other as the song progresses. As the guitar loops pile up, the drums and bass keep a clear rhythm and drive and the vocals are a very melodic cherry on top of an instrumentally rich ice cream sundae. The post-pop tag is fitting as their songs don't follow a very formulaic structure, rather the song has two sections that are completely linear and build up until they reach a peak and then abruptly end.
You can preorder Second EP from Caridgan Records' website where you can also find a pressing of both First EP and Second EP available for preorder.
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Math-rock. One of my favorite music genres. Filled with crazy time signature changes, nonsensical song structures, and in general just weird shit. Every time I tell someone not familiar about math-rock, they always follow-up with a witty joke about "music about math? Heh heh". Uh no. Also, you're not funny. But regardless math-rock is a mysterious and underground genre of music. So I'm going to attempt to explain the general gist of what math-rock is. Disclaimer: This is just my take on what math-rock is to me. Other math-rock-heads may have different opinions. (Listen to the songs below while you continue reading)
Hella's "Biblical Violence" is one of my go to's when showing someone math-rock when they ask what it sounds like. This track shows many of the features of what math-rock is and what it can be. Full of ridiculous spastic riffs, yet some melodic ideas and of course that classic twangy guitar tone that so many math-rock bands have. Tera Melos is another prime example of math-rock. More spastic non-sensical guitar riffs and alternating rhythms. There's more of an ambience and post-rock feel though with Tera Melos in comparison to Hella and many other bands. The unconventional song structures are another element of many math-rock acts. Over the years, bands have adopted elements of math-rock and blended it with other sounds and genres. Usually math-rock has its roots in punk or hardcore but some examples of bands that have more mainstream roots with math influences are bands such as Minus the Bear and Everything Everything.
Minus the Bear has some mathy influences with tappy guitar riffs and some atypical rhythms flying around. Yet, they blend some of the mathy elements into their indie rock sound. Everything Everything does a similar thing but instead in a pop/electronic setting. This bleed of mathy elements into other genres and sounds is becoming much more popular recently. One very recent popular math-rock group is CHON: CHON's upbeat groovy sound is incredible popular amongst many different types of music fans. Metalheads, emo-heads, instrumental-heads, math-rock-heads, etc. seem to all agree that CHON is pretty freakin' sweet. Their technical and precise playing blended with the vibe of chilling in the California sun is becoming increasingly popular and accessible.
In general, the themes of what makes a piece of music math-rock or mathy comes down to: atypical song structures, odd time signatures and alternating rhythms, and technical playing abilities. Now while this post has been very concise and given a few examples, I hope you have a better understanding of what math-rock is and the main elements and sounds associated with the genre. For anyone interested in reading more about math-rock and the history of math-rock, Fecking Bahamas has many great articles on the subjects.
Filled with mid-west emo vibes and self-reflecting lyrics, About Leaving is Downhaul's new anthem to the upcoming summer season where you think too much about life and relationships. "How Things Worked Out" kicks off the EP with a twinkly upbeat riff perfect for driving around on a beautiful summer day reminiscing on life. Downhaul has showed the maturation of their sound with more clarity in the production and more energy in the performances on About Leaving. "Every Few Weeks" features the grooviest bass line on the chorus making it impossible not to bob your head and jam out. Towards the end, the chant of "I don't know how you feel anymore" is cathartic not only for the band but for the listener. In anticipation for the hot North Carolina summer, Downhaul has come through with an enjoyable and emotional project that's worth checking out if you're any kind of fan of indie rock or emo.
Purchase the album on Bandcamp for $1 and support the band directly, or stream on Spotify.
UK math-rock powerhouse Delta Sleep just released a new version of their song "Strongthany" off of their incredible 2015 LP Twin Galaxies (which if you haven't checked out, please go listen here). This version shows off an acoustic version of this beautiful song featuring the band on electric and acoustic guitars, synth bass, and a cajon playing in the middle of a street in Tokyo, Japan. Delta Sleep recently did a Japan tour in late 2016. Japan is regarded as a pinnacle
Kansas City's Via Luna announced their new record, Wilt, just a couple days ago with this very trippy and spacey promo video. Via Luna shows off their unique post-rock twinkly vibe followed by a cut to some heavier riffage. Keep Via Luna on your radar if you're into bands like Explosions in the Sky, This Will Destroy You, toe, or Russian Circles. Check out their two previous EP's as well on their Bandcamp or Spotify.
Listen while you read:
Japanese math-rockers Tricot have announced their 3rd full length album, 3, along with a new single, "DeDeDe". Filled with noodly clean guitar riffs and unique grooves underneath the powerful and passionate vocals from Ikumi Nakajima make Tricot one of the more interesting and compelling math-rock groups to come out of Japan.
3 comes out on 5/19 via Topshelf Records. Keep it on your radar if you enjoy female fronted noodly tunes. If you preorder now, Topshelf will give half the sale revenue to The Trevor Project, The NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and Planned Parenthood. Thanks Topshelf for being dope. FFO: Battles, toe, Faraquet Prog-metal giants, Tool, have recently announced May and June tour dates throughout the northeast US and Canada. These shows are in tandem with headlining the Governor's Ball Music Festival located in New York. Tour dates: 05-24 Fairfax, VA - Eaglebank Arena 05-27 Bangor, ME - Darling's Waterfront Pavilion 05-28 Boston, MA - Boston Calling 05-30 Rochester, NY - Blue Cross Arena 05-31 Hamilton, Ontario - First Ontario Centre 06-02 Montreal, Quebec - Bell Centre 06-04 New York, NY - Governor's Ball 06-05 Pittsburgh, PA - Petersen Events Center 06-07 Detroit, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre 06-08 Chicago, IL - Allstate Arena
(Click the play button above before reading)
Math-rockers and Rick and Morty enthusiasts, BiRDPERSON, are back with their second EP, The Michael Jordan of Baseball. This 4-track EP takes you on a very pleasant journey filled with sparkly guitar melodies dripping with effects, tasty bass licks that make you want to pick up playing bass, and calculated and precise drumming. BiRDPERSON has upped the production value on this EP from their first, but also matured their own unique sound. "Squid Pro Roe(d)" opens the EP with a very upbeat and hopeful vibe. The following tracks show the band's softer and more downtempo side, then ending on the fast, punk-esque "Cave Kids of the World". Aaron Cooler's vocals are reminiscent of Mark Hoppus singing personal lyrics with catchy hooks on songs like on the title track "The Michael Jordan of Baseball". If you like what you hear, go support the band by downloading this free EP on Bandcamp and shooting them a like on Facebook. FFO: PUP, JANK, Delta Sleep, The Hotelier (just off the top of my head)
"There will be no peace on Earth, without you by my side. We will build a piece of Earth, ours to survive"
Qualms is the second EP from Elon indie rock outfit, Cloud Hands and features a much more defined, refined, and exploratory sound from their debut EP. Qualms will tug on your heart strings with songs that delve into the life cycle of a relationship. "Smithereens" opens up the EP with a forceful, driving drum and bass groove underneath twinkling guitars and soaring vocals flying in over top, reminiscent of a cross between Incubus's A Crow Left of the Murder era and Young the Giant. The end of this track features a very math-rock-esque 7/4 part which definitely shows that "Smithereens" is Cloud Hand's most experimental track so far their tracklist, but also just really sick. While the rest of the EP doesn't sound much too like "Smithereens", this just goes to show Cloud Hands' variability in their sound. From slow and post-rock influenced tracks such as "Still See You" and "Pity Love" to the more upbeat "Smithereens". "Brave the Sea" is also another faster track on the EP that showcases off some of the wet psychedelic guitar effects guitarists Connor Hanson and Jacob Gordner toy with throughout the EP. The guitar work throughout is very tight and complimentary. If you listen close, there are many intricacies that most will miss; guitar-wise and also just layering in general. In the rhythm section, Brian Dylla's drumming and Dylan Malugen's bass lines lock in throughout the entire EP and carry the winding guitar lines and vocals. "Still See You" features Malugen essentially jamming throughout the entire song. Dylla's drumming on "Pity Love" brings the house down and has everyone moving their bodies and jamming out on the chorus with that time change and drum fill. Zane Walsh's vocals do a great job at fitting into whatever direction the band goes in sonically. Walsh follows the more atmospheric tracks "Pity Love" and "Still See You" with beautiful melodies and vocal harmony layers while still moving rhythmically with the rest of the band on the other tracks as well. The blend of indie, psychedelic, emo, post-rock and math-rock elements that Cloud Hands mix into their sound sets them apart from other bands in their realm. From quiet and soft phrases to an explosive chorus on "Pity Love", Cloud Hands has very good dynamics all over this EP. "Still See You" starts off mysterious and reminiscent of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon and gets progressively more intense and louder until the explosive climax ending. Cloud Hands have embraced the concept of following the life cycle of a relationship on Qualms, hence the name, detailing many of the qualms throughout a relationship, from the beginning to the inevitable end. That's exactly what makes this EP sort of sad, as you listen to the first three tracks, you never want it to end, but it always has to. Even after the hopeful and ultimatum track, "Pity Love", it all comes to a close on the title-track "Qualms". Towards the end of said title-track, you can hear the pain in the screams that ride the song and the EP out. FFO: Young the Giant, From Indian Lakes, Incubus Support them here: Bandcamp |
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