Weed - With Drug b/w Eighty 7"

I ordered this 7" after seeing a review of it on Weird Canada. To be honest (and no hard feelings) but some of the bands found on Weird Canada are really not my jam, but Weed really stuck with me. It's a perfect mix of fuzzed out 90's style indie rock with a summery tinge. Vancouver channeling Halifax channeling 1996.

Although it's the b-side, Eighty is definitely the stand out jam for me with it's roll-off-the-tongue, slurred vocals chasing the guitars all over track and that chorus hook! Dang! Taking over my brain kind of hookage. The a-side, With Drug, is no slouch either though. Pure pop goodness. Grab your jean shorts and ray bans, you finally got a soundtrack to those lazy, hot Saturday afternoons.

I would also like to say that I ordered this record on a Thursday and had it in hand by Wednesday. Other labels take note! That rules. Nice work Cruisin' USA. This is available for name your price on their Bandcamp, so I'm going to link to that, but while you're there make sure you purchase a physical copy. Well worth it!
~AB

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(From the band's Bandcamp)

What's Wrong Tohei? - s/t

Looking at the long list of bands Joel Tong has been involved in from from the Vancouver scene (Ghost House, Joel and the Neighbours, and especially of note, the quite good Black Rice), it's safe to say Joel is a productive guy. The Tong Dynasty reigns. I loved that scene growing up, one of these bands would inevitably be rollin' through any town that would have them, and they were always on the road putting the country under their feet. What's Wrong Tohei? is Joel's most recent project and, I dare say, the best. You won't find much as far as dynamics go, but that's one of the things I like so much about Tohei. No messing around, no pointless, meandering intros - just undeniable telecaster antics, driving rhythm, and wailing vocals. Doin' it how it should be done. Solid.

This is the first, self-released record by these guys, but there's a new one on the way. AND What's Wrong Tohei? are on tour across Canada right now - so do some research and go see them when they're in your town. (ie. Tonight!!! If you're in Edmonton)
~KS

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Render Useless - The Relationship Between a 1/4 Note and a 1/8 Note

This 7" had a profound affect on me as a lad. I pulled it out of a distro and one of the few legit shows I saw when I was 18 or so (pretty sure it was a Corta Vita/Wolfnote shows if my memory serves) - even the idea of a distro was new to me at the time - but the kid who ran gave me some good advice: "Oh yeah, you like Indian Summer? Man, this is the real stuff right here" and stuck this 7" in my hand. I brought it home it was a revelation. Not just sound, but whole presentation. Enclosed was a zine - and I know now, since collecting hundreds of records like this, that this is common fare - and inside contained lyrics, explanations drawings - and not of it was esoteric or preachy - it all felt so sincere and personal (they included their phone numbers for goodness sake!!). I still feel like "Attention All Shoppers" is a classic.

Render Useless hailed from Victoria. Now at the time, early 90's, Victoria had some of the cream of the emo crop, as we've posted some up earlier (Republic of Freedom Fighters, Wrought: Ironsmile) and listening to all now once again, there definitely was a sound to Victoria. But I have to say Render Useless were the cream of the cream. Somewhat comparable to Shotmaker as far as tone and rhythm goes but every once in a while would delve into slightly more restrained bits (like Amber Inn perhaps?). Even after tracking down everything this band has done, I still find this 7" to be the best representation. Succinct, and every song good. Classic Can-emo jams.

If you dig this, I suggest heading over to Clue#2 and ordering yourself a copy of the discography cd.
~KS

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I Can Put My Arm Back On You Can't - s/t 7"

I uploaded I Can Put My Arm Back On You Can't's (from here on out know as ICPMABOYC) full length album a while back...it's total ripper. I knew this 7" existed but had to be able to find a copy of it anywhere. When Titan came through town last week they had a small distro of mostly various I Spoke records, but sitting off to the side was a nondescript looking 7" in a white paper sleeve in a clear plastic slip. The slip had a small label in the top left corner with song titles and a brief description of the recording process. Printed in silver on the blue label was ICPMABOYC. Distro gold!!

Anyways, I'm not too sure what the story with this 7" is. Whether it was a teaser 7" of material the band was working on before they ultimately disbanded, or old songs that they wanted to release, I'm unsure. Both tracks on this are total bangers, and not far off from the full length tracks. Maybe a bit more raw in sound, but that's more a product of the recording. Regardless, this is definitely worth snagging if you ever come across it, especially if you're a fan of the band. All the web addresses on the 7" are dead, so I really don't know where you'd be able to get one online. If you're ever in Toronto check the bargain bins at your fave record store...I bet there is one or two floating about. (I'm told James Ternovoy has 2 copies of this in his distro. So if you're in Edmonton, make sure you grab this from him. Physical copies are always better than digital.)
~AB

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Wilderness - Vessel States

When I picked up this album, oh say, 5 years ago, I hated it. I found the guy's vocals to be galling. But now... Oh now! I realize my error. Wilderness are awesome. I now find James Johnson's atonal hollers to be so compelling and perfect. It's become the dealmaker, I only just understood it now. It's just the way it has to come out. To sing "normally" would be a disservice to it all. You just got to give in.

If ever I read a review of Wilderness, I find Lungfish continually name dropped - which was the thing that got me to check Wilderness out in the first place. I never quite saw the connection at the time, but it's "the groove" & breath & space that both bands understand so well (and that so few bands do). Knowing when to step back and keep things slow and simple. Take an interesting line, and loop it over and over until it becomes a sort of musical mantra - and thankfully kept free from post-rock self-indulgence. "Beautiful Alarms" is an subtle work of art, the one that perhaps stands out as the track that is most obviously catching - one channeling "Hear the Children Sing" and stuffing it through a reverb tank.

If you don't get it right away, that's alright. Just let it be around. The day it finally takes root, that's a great day.
~KS

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Brief Weeds - A Very Generous Portrait 7"

This one is definitely for the collectors. Before Fugazi and Rites of Spring, Brendan Canty and Guy Picciotto played together in Brief Weeds. If you're expecting that 80's DC punk you'd better start looking elsewhere, because this really sounds nothing like the bands that would make the members of this band so popular in later years.

Brief Weeds plays pop music heavily influenced by the 1960s. Think bands like The Zombies, The Animals or dare I even say, The Monkees. At times it's hard to believe these songs were recorded in the late 80s. They feel 20 years older than they really are. I'm not really sure what else to say about this one. It's an interesting look at some of my favorite musicians favorite work and I'm definitely stoked to have it in the collection. I can guarantee that not everyone is love this, but give it a shot. I Dream To Dream has some definite jam worthy moments. The River Song (odd song out on this 7") actually reminds me of some of the weirder moments on Fugazi's Instrument soundtrack.

Calvin Johnson's label, K Records (See Kev's post on Johnson's mixtape, We Will Bury You) put this out in 1991 and I'm sure is long out of print. Check it out. Listen with an open mind, you might find yourself loving it.
~AB

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Kids Return/Bail - Konsortium split LP

Kids Return hail from the UK - I'm sorry to say I wasn't on the ball with Kids Return right off the bat, since it seems I missed their really great LP when it came out. It has this driving rhythm that is unmistakably influenced but early 90's emo - initially the vocals killed it for me, but after repeated listens, I've come around, I'm maybe a little more forgiving. It's still got that juice, that drive, that in the end, is all that's needed. "This is not a Plastic Bag," for instance, begins as a rolling-plodder and builds into something of a shouted anthem. All the tracks pretty much run together, and this makes sense; thematically, the songs all run a similar vein into one solid side of wax.

On the flip, even though I'd say this split is almost a perfect pairing of bands, Bail nevertheless have this sound that is most certainly "German" - I don't know how quite to articulate it, but it has the same sort of (only-slightly) off-kilter tendencies that are present in bands like Shokei or Solemn League. Indie rock played by dudes who are well versed in hardcore movement. Smart but still playful, intricate but easily palatable. I've been most taken with "Triangle #2" - a super understated track that somehow even the spoken word vocals and drum machine (both normally bad ideas) actually offers a great lead into the controlled feedback of the climax. Even being this style that we've all heard a ton (albeit the sound I obviously love) Bail still come off as super unique.

Thumbs. Thumbs up.

~KS

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