T's (the) - Capital T

Name: The T's
Album: Capital T
Year: 2008
Style: Garage Rock, Power Pop
Similar Bands: Electric Six, Replacements, X, Soul Asylum, Urge Overkill, Cheap Trick
"One-Word" Review: Raw, unrefined rock
Based Out Of: Raleigh, NC
Label: Doublenaught Records

Cover & Back

CD, Liner Notes & CD tray

Capital T (2008)

1. Buy My Tape 2:50
2. How It's Done 3:46
3. Come My Way 2:43
4. Big Girl Pants 3:31
5. The Code 2:27
6. Get it Right 2:41
7. The Police 4:00
8. Goin' Nowhere 2:40
9. Make Me Pretty 4:03
10. Mr. Rebel 3:21

Album Rating (1-10): 7.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Andy Kerr - Guitar (Static Minds) 
• Stephen Gardner - Guitar (Reese McHenry & The Fox, Cartridge Family, Camping)
• Lutie Cain - Bass (Maldora, MSRP, Semantics, Snake & Plisskins, Venus Flies)
• Gary Poole - Drums (Shy FX / T-Power, Candi Station)
• Dave Bartholomew - Producer, Engineer, Mixing
• Brent Lambert - Mastering
• Michael Spence - Photos
• Sarah Blackmon - Design

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band. I think a friend gave it to me as part of his discards. Not much to go on with a simple name and play on that name, album title. I'm guessing it will be moderately energetic "Detroit" garage rock that was popularized in the Aughts, and is also based on the 4 band photos.

Album Review: The style is a grungy rock with the gritty Detroit energy. They do mix it up with some female vocals on How It's Done, which gives the band a bit of Riot Grrl attitude. Due to the unfortunate name, there is not much searchable info out there on them. Even the band members' before or since projects don't deliver many hits.

Stand Out Track: Mr. Rebel, How It's Done

Links:

Allmusic

Spotify

Facebook

Reverb Nation

Rate Your Music

Panther - 14 kt. God

Name: Panther
Album: 14 kt. God
Year: 2008
Style: Indie, Alternative, Math Rock
Similar Bands: Man Man, Polyphonic Spree, Walkmen, Battles, Yacht, !!!
"One-Word" Review: Lighthearted Nuanced Kitchen Sink Lo-Fi 
Based Out Of: Portland, OR
Label: Marriage Records

Cover, Liner Insert, Record

Back, Record

14 kt. God (2008)

1. Puerto Rican Jukebox 3:02
2. Her Past Are the Trees 2:25
3. Decisions, Decisions 2:21
4. On The Lam 2:25
5. Violence, Diamonds 2:14
6. These Two Trees 2:47 /
7. Worn Moments 2:03
8. Glamorous War 2:26
9. Take Yr Cane 2:13
10. Beautiful Condo 3:09
11. 14 Kt. God 3:00
12. Total Sexy Church 3:59
13. What You Hear 2:58

Album Rating (1-10): 8.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Charles Byron Salas-Humara - Vox, Cello, Guitar, Recording (Regular Music, Sun Angle, Grapefruit, The Planet The, Escare, The Silos, Walter Salas-Humana )
• Joe Faustin Kelly - Percussion, Drums, Recording (31 Knots, Pseudosix)
• Molly Griffith-Blanchard - Cello (Birch Book)
• Caroline Buchalter - Viola (Spooky Dance Band, Kristin Hersh, Caethua)
• Christina Files - Mixing
• Ben Parrish - Layout

Unknown-ness: Although I may have heard of this band, from actively going to shows in the early 00's, i have no idea what they sound like. From the record label, i know this is an indie release. From the artwork and name, it seems if it will be a little mystical, or organic in nature...perhaps a little tribal.

Album Review: Panther is basically a duo on this record, but was originally just Salas-Humara's project. Adding in permanent drummer, they create layered sounds and songs that feel bigger than the sum of their parts. But still there is a very math rock, lo fi quality about the songs, and they've layered in kitchen-sink effects to support the driving, calculated beats and melodies. "Violence, Diamonds" is by far the most accessible track, and it is a good one & their chosen single. Although he (as Panther)/they have not released anything in 11 years officially, they were set to open for a reunited Gossip in June'20.

Stand Out Track: Puerto Rican Jukebox, Violence, Diamonds

Links:

Bandcamp album page

Discogs

Allmusic

Kill Rock Stars

2020 cancelled show

needle drop

2008 Interview- Stranger

2008 Interview Washington Post

Plushgun - s/t ep

Name: Plushgun

Album: s/t ep

Year: 2008

Style: Electro-Pop, Chip Music

Similar Bands: Steve Burns, Bicycle, Marxy, Lincoln, OMD, Grandaddy

One Word Review: Twee-Rave

Based Out Of: Brooklyn, NY

Label: Tommy Boy

 Plushgun - Front and Back

Plushgun - Centerfold & CD

Plushgun (2008)

1. Just Impolite 3:48
2. 14 Candles 4:14
3. How We Roll 4:02
4. Without a Light 3:37

Album Review (1-10): 9.0

Members & Other Bands:
Daniel Ingala - writer
Beth Newell - Art

Unknown-ness: I've never heard of this band when I got the album. But based on the artwork: Nintendo controller and a bird, I imagine this is some cutesy hipster shit. But when I saw the artwork, I still had to pick it up from the pawn shop I found it in and see what it was like.

Album Review: I remember seeing that this band was playing a bar nearby and even through I had listened to the EP a few times and liked what I heard, I was unable to make it out. They are still active, planning to release their third album sometime this year (2015). Much of their early popularity is attributed to being involved in a popular webseries called We Need Girlfriends, and that was supported by other songs being featured in other shows and commercials.

“Just Impolite” was featured in a Comcast commercial as well as MTV's The City. The song begins with a pulsing synth crystal beat and light heart-thumping drum. The lyrics, set back and distorted with a little polite fuzziness, follow the catchy rollicking beat. The harmless, precious and delicate vocals glide along, and feel organically intuitive.
“14 Candles” fades up with a twinkling Walkmen like synth, and the synth drum beat feels like it is right out of Megaman. As the song reaches the chorus, the drum beat picks up adding the electronic snare. The vocals speed up, but still remain cool and calm. A second female voice is added echoing the lead, giving depth to the song and a male-female paring that supports the lyrical feeling.
“How We Roll” was featured on MTV's Real World Brooklyn series. It starts with a Japanese-anime like zoomy synth, creating an urgent electro dance pop experience. The vocals are rushed, reminding me a little of Tullycraft, but still retain a clear purposeful collectiveness. The urgency in the backing synth drives the song, with other 8-bit effects (promoting the use of the Nintendo controller on the front?) are employed in the song. Immensely danceable, the music could create a genre of entertainment and listeners called Twee-Rave
“Without a Light” fades up as well, with grand synth effects that interweave, and feel right at home having listened to the first three tracks. Then a steady driving beat begins, and OMD like synth hooks take form. The coldness in the vocals mixed with the electro music makes me think of what Grandaddy cold do if they went in a dance direction. The song exhausts itself in segments, reverting to a quiet, ambient section, building up energy to start over again. This song feels more anthemic than the rest of the album by a very small margin.

Stand Out Track: Just Impolite
How We Roll

Links:
Website
Wiki
Facebook
Myspace
Youtube Channel
Twitter
Discogs

Fucking Hell - s/t

Name: Fucking Hell
Album: s/t
Year: 2008
Style: Post Punk / Punk
Similar Bands: Bad Religion, Minor Threat, Social Distortion, punk Velvet Underground, Ed Schrader's Music Beat
"One Word" Review: Velvet Fuzzed Surf Punk
Based Out Of: NYC
Label: self released

Fucking Hell  - Cover & CD

Fucking Hell - Back

Fucking Hell (2008)

1. A Minar  1:13
2. Arabian Knights 1:37
3. Killer of Sheep 2:16
4. Intro 0:24
5. Drum Roll 1:10
6. Pan Tierra Libertad 1:44
7. Eddie Diaz 2:03
8. Pipeline / Sloppy Seconds 3:36

Album Rating (1-10): 8.0

Members & Other Bands:

Joe

Mark Perro - Drums, Vocals (The Men, Everyone, Dream Police)

Nick Chiericozzi (The Men, Everyone, Dream Police)

Anna

James

Unknown-ness: I’ve never heard of this band. I assume they are local, perhaps to the Philly area, since this is a homemade demo (Verbatim printable CD-R) surfaced in a Philly thrift store. I got it because I like the screen printed cover (not sure what it is, though...a nuclear blast, maybe?), the well-made sip cover, the back is explanatory at least to the songs and band members' first names, and the stenciled FH on the CD proved to match to the packaging’s band name. So it was a complete set (a high find in a disorderly thrift store). I am guessing it will be in the complex-hard side of the music relm. Despite the possibility with the name, I don’t project any indie synth stuff here. I think it will be either heavy dark metal, punk or prog.

Album Review: Now this band does not have anything about them on-line. I found a myspage page with one song from this record on it, and two members are currently still together in the somewhat popular, and genre revolving band, The Men. But FH is just a foot note in The Men’s biography, and I don’t know who Joe, Anna or James are aside from members mentioned on the back cover. I don’t even know if the song titles are split up correctly, since there looks like 10 songs, but there are only 8 tracks.

“A Minar” starts with pounding fuzzy guitars, and a Henery Rollins style of spoken punk, and Social Distortion guitars with extra grit.
“Arabian Knights” is another fast pace, chaotic-in-check electric guitar, and somewhat monotone spoken lyrics. Toward the end, emotion comes into play and the vocals change to shouting.
“Killer of Sheep” is the one song I found on line, on their myspace page. It is calmer and more straightforward punk song influenced a little by the Velvet Underground. The echoing guitar feels like it is sloppy and is going to careen out of control at any second. The marching drum instrumental supports the echoing repetitive drone of the guitar until the verse kicks back in one last time.
“Intro” is electronic feedback for a few seconds, like Atari Super Break out effects on a scrambled, static-y TV.

“Drum Roll” brings in a surf punk vibe with a rolling drum and heavy distorted vibrating surf rock chords. The cycle repeats twice, the second time gaining more confidence and melody.
“Pan Tierra Libertad” is a really fun and melodic guitar played in a warbling loop with playful changes and aggressive vocals alongside pounding and crashing drums. The second half of the song loses the fun guitar, but it still makes a powerful statement.
“Eddie Diaz” is a little darker, but still has whining electric guitars and heavy, fuzzy, droning production. The song comes together in the second half of the song, with spoken vocals over a simplified, and clearer guitar structure.
“Pipeline” has all the elements of a 90’s alternative song, including some Velcro-ripping feedback in the bridge and a catchy bass hook that is the backbone of the song. It is fully instrumental, and is a sludgy take on a surf melody. It ends at about the 2 minute mark, and “Sloppy Seconds” starts on the same track. It still follows the 90’s alternative theme, but loses the catchy surf guitar, and is replaced with Op Ivy/Rancid guitars imbedded in the background. 

Stand Out Track: Killer of Sheep

Links:

CODA music: The MEn

Spin: The Men

Myspace

(the) Enemy UK - We'll Live and Die in These Towns

Name: (the) Enemy UK
Album: We'll Live and Die in These Towns
Year: 2008
Style: Indie, Brit-pop
Similar Bands: Oasis, The Jam, Arctic Monkeys, The Rifles, Razorlight,
"One-Word" Review: angsty-Jam-inspired-pop
Based Out Of: Coventy, England
Label: Warner Bros.

We'll Live and Die in These Towns - Tray & Front Stickers (no cover)

We'll Live and Die in These Towns - Back & CD

We'll Live and Die in These Towns (2008)

1. Aggro 3:26
2. Away FromHere 3:03
3. Pressure 3:19
4. Had Enough 2:39
5. We'll Live and Die in These Towns 3:55
6. You're Not Alone 3:44
7. It's Not OK 3:36
8. Technodanceaphobic 2:34
9. 40 Days and 40 Nights 3:37
10. This Song 4:26
11. Happy Birthday Jane 3:01
12. Five Years (bonus track) 4:31
13. Fear Killed the Youth of Our Nation (bonus track) 3:31

Album Rating (1-10): 9.0

Members & Other Bands:
Liam Watts - Drums
Andy Hopkins - Bass
Tom Clarke - Vox, Guitar, Keys, Strings
Matt Terry - Producer
John Davis - Mastering
James Dowdall - A&R
Owen Morris - Producer
Rose Noone - A&R

Unknown-ness: I’ve never heard of them. And from the minimal packaging, I can't say much. This is a cast off CD. All I know is that they are British & have a bunch of accolades from Brit music mags. I'm guessing they are poised to be an arena rock band, just don't know if its gonna be a fun band like Maximo Park or the Futureheads, or a lame duck like Snow Patrol or Coldplay.

Album Review: “Aggro” is a song that I actually have heard before, at least on Guitar Hero. It is a stomp punk number with a definite whiny brit-pop singing style and sense.
“Away From Here” is a driving brit pop song where the lyrics are more spoken than sung in a slightly aggressive fashion. This reminds me of the Rifles, even if this band came before them. This song just asks to be echoed throughout a football arena.
“Pressure” has a fun, bouncy bass line to begin with; slightly dark, and then brit pop wailing guitars are laid over top. The singing style is not unlike The Jam, it’s just a different voice; not quite as pleasant.
“Had Enough” had the vocal rhythm of My Sharona, but that is masked below continuous guitars. The harmonized chorus of the title is quite nice.
“We'll Live and Die in These Towns” begins with a sullen horn section, as if in tribute to the fallen. The vocals are much closer to the Jam here. They are very melodic and continuous over the uplifting music. It reminds me of a slower “Going Underground.”
“You're Not Alone” builds right from the beginning. It is slowly sung, but when it reaches the bridge, it becomes a fun bouncy anthemic pop song.
“It's Not OK” is nasally brit-pop-punk. There is a façade of anger in the vocals, but it just comes off as being whiny, rather than justified. The chorus is driving and a fun, more energetic reprise of the verse melody.

“Technodanceaphobic” is a bouncy, angsty song that is more for a mosh pit than a dance floor. Do people still call them “mosh pits?” It has the familiar Franz Ferdinand dance-drum track, and a three note bass line.
“40 Days and 40 Nights” features a lot of the start stop strumming guitars, a fun, rapid bass line and a steady drum beat. Nothing too unique, here; it’s just another brit pop song inspired by the post punk, low profile Jam-style bands.
“This Song” feels like a traditional, camp fire acoustic song. There is a message behind this song, trying to relate to the mass public in a very generic fashion. This too has a very anthemic quality to it. The vocals are spoken almost smoothly and kind of remind me of the Lightning Seeds a little bit.
“Happy Birthday Jane” is a light ballady song about making some girl, Jane feel better about her life. The birthday seems consequential. On the normal album, this is, apparenly the ending track, and it does nicely as such.
“Five Years” is the first of two bonus tracks. And it is a straight forward cover of Bowie.
“Fear Killed the Youth of Our Nation” is also a bonus track. It is an angular dance brit-pop song. The energy in the vocals is nasally, but angsty. There is a back and forth Blur quality to this final track.

Stand Out Track: We'll Live and Die in These Towns

Links:
Myspace
Wikipedia
Allmusic
Enemy UK site
Enemy site
Fan Blog

The Grand Archives - Grand Archives

Name: The Grand Archives
Album: Grand Archives
Year: 2008
Style: Jammy Indie-Folk Rock
Similar Bands: Beach Boys, New Pornographers, Shins, BC Camplight, Wilco, CSNY
"One-Word" Review: Cloud Nine Friendly Jams
Based Out Of: Seattle, Wa
Label: Sub Pop

Grand Archives - Cover, Back & Back of Sleeve

Grand Archives - Pg2-3 & Back of Sleeve

Grand Archives - Pg4-5 & CD

Grand Archives - Pg 6-7 & CD Tray

Grand Archives - Pg 8-9 & BackGrand Archives - Pg 10-15

Grand Archives (2008)

1. Torn Blue Foam Couch 3:27
2. Miniature Birds 3:33
3. Swan Matches 4:17
4. Index Moon 2:57
5. George Kaminski 4:23
6. A Setting Sun 3:43
7. Breezy No Breezy (Instrumental) 1:59
8. Sleepdriving 5:20
9. Louis Riel 2:29
10. The Crime Window 3:44
11. Orange Juice 1:32

Album Rating (1-10): 8.0

Members & Other Bands:

Mat Brooke - Guitar, Harmonica, Vox (Carissa's Wierd, Band of Horses)

Curtis Hall - Drums, Percussion, Vox (The Jeunes)

Ron Lewis - Guitar, Piano/Organ, Vox (Mines, Joggers, Ghost Stories)

Jeff Montano - Bass, Vox (the New Mexicans)

Thomas Wright - Guitar

Ben Kersten - Producer

Greg Calbi - Mastering

Jackson Long - Asst Engineering

Nick DeWitt - Drum Tech.

Jason McGerr - Coconut Tech

Pat Sample - Asst Engineering

Justin Cronk - Equipt

Scott Blue - Equipt

Jenny Marsh - Equipt

Jeff Dana - Equipt

Marcus Lalario - Management

Jonathan Moore - Management

Lisa O'Hara - Booking

Whitney Etter - Photography

Lisa Jack - Band Collage

Jeff Kleinsmith - Design

Joel Cuplin - Sax

Vincent Labelle - Trombone

Jacob James - French Horn

Jason Parker - Trumpet, Flugelhorn

Jenn Ghetto - Vox (Carissa's Wierd)

Sarah Standord - Violin
Jay Kardong - Pedal Steel

Sera Cahoone - Vox (Carissa's Wierd)

Unknown-ness: I never heard of these guys. This was a free CD my friend sent to me, so I had no choice in getting this record. From the simple design of textures on the cover and back and liner notes, I get the feeling that the music will be sparse, perhaps country tinged as much as, say, Granddaddy is. It even comes off a little Americana, which helps with the alt-country guess. The sleeve around the CD is a nice, if excessive touch, but it gives it a high quality feel.

Album Review: “Torn Blue Foam Couch” begins the album with a slow piano and tambourine. The harmonized vocals immediately bring to mind an echoey Beach Boys number. The music picks up with barrel drums and repetitive guitar work. The light airy vocals harken back to 70’s lite/smooth rock production. It sounds a bit like a lightning seeds song, it is just so smooth. And the melody becomes increasingly energetic and happy as the song progresses. “Miniature Birds” starts off with a harmonica and Beatles style whistling melody, sounding like ‘Hey, Buffalo Bill.’ The song delightfully bounds along, like it’s on an artificial Zoloft high. It could fit into the better half of Wilco’s catalogue. The whistle melody is revisited, but it never really leaves. It is then taken and remixed with brass horns. “Swan Matches” brings the true nature of the music to the table with a meandering, slow trudging lite folk-pop song. I believe this to be the underlying influence of the songs, the faster poppier stuff were just sugar coated CSNY songs. I find this song, as well as this music (different from the first two songs) in general to be dull. “Index Moon” brings out the more alt-country aspect with a chiming guitar and echoey slightly drunk vocals. But there is a hint of A.C. Newman to the voice. This is still a slow treading song, just not as slow as the previous song, or the following song: “George Kaminski.” This one begins with a sleepy xylophone and harmonica. Dreamy vocals (a little like Michael Penn here) accompany the number, creating the feel of a lazy, down home, southern canoe paddle.

“A Setting Sun” gives quite the impression of its namesake, with slide guitar and a light truckin rhythm. The vocals are very familiar if you like all the indie & hipster bands. And they even sound a little like XTC’s Colin Moulding. There is an incredibly catchy break down in the song that is propelled by the vocal melody only. It really grows into a good song and it finishes with a fade out. “Breezy No Breezy” is a theatrical instrumental song, reminding me a bit of a Spoon song if they were conforming to a Mississippi town stereotype. It is lurking, and dark, all the while being keeping the sinisterism in check with an accordion. Sleepdriving” is another slow-motion dream sequenced folk-pop song. It perhaps has a little Elliot Smith in the vocals as well as that Grandaddy-Thrills-Earlimart (et al.) style as well. It trips along with strings, and creates a very comforting atmosphere. Now I’m reminded of Ben Folds’ song “Don’t Change Your Plans” with the way the vocals are layered over the building melody. “Louis Riel” starts off with a nice head bopping piano melody. It is as nice, non-threatening and polite as the rest of the album, but the piano, bass and drums make it a bit catchier. “The Crime Window” puts back on the fully produced rock face, with horns, guitars and a bit of fuzz. The vocals are a chanting conglomerate of voices that make the song very powerful, like an anthemic football (European) fight song written by Belle & Sebastian. “Orange Juice” ends the short CD with a piano and variety of unusual instruments creating a thigh-slap-a-long song. It is very minimal with ukulele (or mandolin perhaps)

Stand Out Track: Minature Birds

Links:

Allmusic

Wikipedia

Myspace

Sub Pop Site

Official Site

Last FM

Daytrotter

On NPR

Tuscon Scene article

2008 Brooklyn Vegan article