There For Tomorrow Stream New Track

There For Tomorrow has always had a special place in my heart. From absolutely adoring Pages, to writing my first atrocious review on their debut album, to seeing them open at one of the best concerts I've ever been at, I really don't think I'll ever grow out of them like I have of many of my other old favorites. The band shows a lot of musical growth in their latest track "Hunt Hunt Hunt", due to be released on their upcoming finished full length. The bass stands out more than any other song the band has ever released, and the multiple guitar parts complement each other very well, with the higher, more ambient part a perfect addition to the band's style. And of course, Maika's vocals are spot on as always. The fact that the song is damn catchy is just a bonus. You can stream the song on the band's Facebook page here.

Manchester Orchestra - Free Song and Album Art Reveal

It's that time again for Manchester Orchestra fans as the viral marketing has finally come to a close, and the band has revealed a lyric video and free download of the title track, "Simple Math" which can be found here.

As Mean Everything To Nothing became a dividing line between those who loved the softer side of I'm Like A Virgin Losing a Child and those who enjoyed the alternative rock leanings of the former, fans will be happy to hear that "Simple Math" takes the most beloved aspects of both albums and presents it as a pretty cohesive piece. If you loved the string work within "I Can Feel A Hot One," but wanted to hear a louder sound coupled with Andy Hull's lyrical prowess, "Simple Math" won't disappoint. Simple Math will be released on May 10th through Favorite Gentleman Recordings.

Artist Spotlight: Grails

Formed in 1999 off a whim to play one show, post-rock project Grails has truly advanced to a high position of respect in the music world, playing with bands such as Neurosis and musician Jandek, and working with Yellow Swans. Their recent album "Doomsdayer's Holiday" of 2008 was met with tremendous praise, and they were featured on Rock-A-Rolla magazine of the UK.

The Grails sound is a blend of hypnotic gypsy music (primarily on the Black Tar Prophecies strain of their discography), soothing acoustic sounds of their earlier releases, and a particular fondness of aggressive electric playing on much of their later records. The variance in their sound leaves much to the imagination for the next record, but should no doubt impress anyone that can appreciate this up and coming voice in post-rock.

The album will be released this March, and further info can be found here.

Album Review: Ben Ottewell - Shapes and Shadows

After touring and recording music with the indie rock band, Gomez, Ben Ottewell released his solo debut Shapes and Shadows on February 7th. With Ottewell having one of the most distinguishable of the three Gomez singers, there's no surprise he decided to showcase his voice on this indie-folk album.

On the title track, "Shapes and Shadows", Ottewell wastes no time belting out beautiful lyrics on top of smooth drumming and what sounds like some kind of percussion instrument. "Lightbulbs" opens with an almost inaudible horn type instrument which leads into more John Mayor-esque vocals and an upbeat guitar, bass and drumming arrangement.

Album Review: Eisley - The Valley

Can you think of any modern families as entrenched in music as the DuPree family is? The four DuPree siblings Chauntelle, Sherri, Weston, and Stacy all are members in the band, as well as their cousin Garron. Additionally, their father Boyd helps manage them. Chauntelle, Sherri, and Stacy have even stuck to dating and marrying well known musicians. So it would make sense that the members of Eisley are all extremely talented at what they do, and have continued to progress with every album. The Valley is full of their best material to date, as they continue expanding their sound both in the instrumental and songwriting aspects of their music.

The Dear Hunter Color Spectrum Announcement

The long awaited Color Spectrum EPs have finally been officially announced. June 7th will be the day that this beautiful series of concept EPs will grace our presence. As stated in many interviews, the songs for each of the different colors will represent what they "feel like" to The Dear Hunter's mastermind Casey Crescenzo. The concept of The Dear Hunter's Act series has already been a beautiful journey, and The Color Spectrum shouldn't be much different. It may even be a pleasant departure from the epic storyline of the band's other releases, and may allow one to more strongly enjoy and inhale each individual track. The series of EPs will be released as a vinyl box set, an absolutely stunning piece to add to anyone's collection. The progress of recording the EPs can be found on the band's special website.

Go Radio - Lucky Street Stream/Initial Impressions

As easily one of my most anticipated records up to this point in the year, I can't help but feel some slight disappointment. Jason Lancaster has always been a superb vocalist and songwriter, but something feels missing from his voice and a couple of the tracks. Opening track "Lucky Street" just seems to bore me, especially in the chorus, and Jason seems to be missing that second gear to his voice. "Any Other Heart" is Jason and Go Radio at their best, with an absolutely killer chorus with an outstanding hook. The album doesn't get back up to the level of "Any Other Heart" until "Swear It Like You Mean It". The song gives the initial impression of a piano ballad, but turns into a huge rocker. Jason returns to give chills during the bridge, which is probably the best point on the album to this point. The redone "Why I'm Home" and "Why I'm Home" put Jason alone with a piano, allowing him to recite some of his best lyrics. The rest of the album features a few changes for Go Radio, including a bouncy acoustic guitar and a somewhat disjointed phrase structure in "Hold On", a Mariachi sounding horn section at the intro of "Fight, Fight (Reach For The Sky), and a guitar solo at the end of that same track. "The Truth Is" ends the album with another piano ballad, though it doesn't stand up to the two redone tracks or "Goodnight Moon". Overall, the album is solid, though I'm not too sure how it will stand up to the test of time. Jason's vocals at time seem very bland, and some of the hooks aren't up to par. However, the album is full of some very solid tracks. Myspace quality may as well take away from some of the song quality, but I guess I'll have to wait and see how it ends up in my collection by the end of the year. Stream the album on the band's Myspace page here.

Johnny Mainstream

Sadness is the origin of folk music. Johnny Mainstream's Shipwrecked is a journey of despair and heartache. Depressing, acoustic sections plus guitar and harmonica solos bring back memories of the 60's and 70's with artists such as Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan. Horn parts and female harmonies only increase the melancholy feel of this emotional album. If you're in an extremely upbeat mood, then Johnny Mainstream may not be the band to listen to. However, on a day where you may be feeling downtrodden and full of heartbreak, Johnny Mainstream can make you realize that you aren't the only one out there. In fact, your story may even seem like practically nothing after a listen. Stream and purchase Shipwrecked on Bandcamp here.

Album Review: Beach Fossils - What A Pleasure

Who exactly are the Beach Fossils? A Brooklyn trio whose eponymous debut released in 2010, Beach Fossils are but a fraction of the numerous beach-pop inspired bands that all seem to share hazily-delivered vocals and  the habit of naming their bands after universally loved geographical landforms. It's certainly not a trend that deserves mocking, as we were delivered fantastic hits like Beach House's Teen Dream and Surfer Blood's Astro Coast, both of which took the critical world by storm in 2010. Other than being loved for its critical darlings, the genre's relaxing nature usually features a gentle balance between sustaining the catchy nature of the songs while keeping the smooth, dreamy qualities in place. It is a balance that Beach Fossils' new EP, What A Pleasure, could sustain if it was not for its struggle to remain interesting in the process.

Stream Live Moving Mountains Performance

It is Moving Mountains day over here at Muzik Dizcovery, and I couldn't be happier about it. If you're as excited as I am about the recent news regarding Moving Mountains' new album Waves, then you'll be as pleased as a button to know that you can stream a high-quality live performance featuring a brand new song and some interesting interviews from the fine folks over at Audiotree.  You can find the performance and interviews here, and the set list below.

Album Review: Defeater - Empty Days & Sleepless Nights

“If this is how it’s going to be/ then I would rather die at the hands of my own family.”
Defeater - "White Oak Doors"


The relationship between heavy music and I has become more strained with every stilted display of aggression that leaves me jaded and unmoved. In a genre that needs honest passion as a backbone to function, where's the solace? With metalcore's sovereignty in recent years, overflowing with breakdowns devoid with emotion, I can remain grateful in being able to trust hardcore bands such as Defeater as my oasis and supplier of heavier music I can get behind. In the same way that 2010 brought me the introspective wildfire that was Pianos Become The Teeth's Old Pride,  2011 has broken down my doors and arrived with Defeater's sophomore double LP, Empty Days & Sleepless Nights.

City and Colour Announce New Album

It's been three years since Dallas Green released a City and Colour album. Which isn't too long, but after a release like Bring Me Your Love, fans are going to want more. Today Green announced he will release is third full length album. little hell will be released June of this year, an exact release date will be announced in weeks to come. Also, look for a track listing and possibly a song. After two solid releases from City and Colour, we can only hope for the same this time around. Check City and Colour's Facebook for updates on the new release.

New Moving Mountains Album

A Deep Elm alum, Moving Mountains is gearing up to release their second full length album, their first on Triple Crown Records. The atmospheric rock band is supposedly changing things up a bit for LP #2, shortening the songs and adding some heavier elements into the tracks. However, I'm sure whatever the band does will be great. From shorter, indie rock tunes such as "Sol Solis" to the ten minute post rock epics such as "Foreword", to the heavier tracks such as "With One's Heart In One's Mouth", Moving Mountains has shown diversity and excellence in every such style. Waves will be released on May 10th.

Unholy Tongues

Instrumental music has seemed to be quite a common occurrence here lately. From many of the Deep Elm reviews, to posts by several of the new writers, vocals have taken the backseat to beautiful instrumentals. Unholy Tongues is another band that deserves plenty of recognition. Jackal In A World Of Reassurance is a beautiful piece of work, combining ambiance with power. Making the album even more impressive is the fact that the band only has three members, including just one guitarist. That fact makes tracks like "White Widow" and "Trim The Edges" seem almost impossible, until you attribute it to the superb production and layering of instruments. The dark and heavy "Dedication" displays the band at a whole different level, bordering almost on being post-metal. Unholy Tongues release is one that came out of the blue to surprise me, and may end up being one of the stronger instrumental releases put out in 2011. Don't sleep on this album. Go stream and purchase it on the band's Bandcamp page here.

Album Review: Mogwai - Hardcore Will Never Die But You Will

In progression from The Hawk Is Howling in 2008, it seems as if post-rock group Mogwai has shifted their musical focus when one first inserts this new record. However, the experimental side of the Glasgow-based project really comes out on Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will. For the traditional fan of the band, the most surprising aspect of the album is a larger emphasis of the spoken word, provided by Luke Sutherland and Domenico Loiacano on “Mexican Grand Prix” and “George Square Thatcher Death Party.” The ambient effect provided from vocals is a new taste from their usual works, but is woven in impeccably with the dramatic buildup and release in each song, working a current of sound that moves the listener at his core.

My Brother The Vulture

A first EP is a perfect time to establish your sound. My Brother, The Vulture goes one step further with "Now's Your Chance", showing talent within two different sounds. The opening track "My Dad Can Beat Up Your Dad" takes much influence from Every Time I Die, with the southern infused riffs and understood shouts. The rest of the EP takes more of a post-hardcore feel not unlike Oceana or Decoder. The very young band already shows excellent skills at each of their instruments, and has plenty of room to progress in the future. However, they need to learn to perfect one of their sounds rather than keeping both in consideration for future albums. That doesn't mean that they should totally trash one of the styles, but infusing them both to create a somewhat unique style could prove very helpful in the band's future success. Stream and pay-what-you-want (including free!) for the EP on their Bandcamp page here.

Salvatore Bossio's Solo Project

Ryan Hunter wasn't the only ex Envy on the Coast member to release his own music; Salvatore Bossio (ex- guitarist, keyboardist and vocalist) released two solo songs under his own name. Both songs were written towards the end of the EOTC demise. "Fix Us" has smooth R&B vocals backed by a synthesized beat and light drumming. With Justin Timberlake on a music making hiatus, Bossio just may be able to fill the void with this R&B powered hit. But, for those who miss EOTC, Bossio gives you "Black Dog". "Black Dog" is a pop-rock track with vocals we're used to hearing from Bossio's EOTC days. To hear both of these new songs visit Sal's website, here.

Album Review: Our Fair City - A Most Clever Disaster

Do you still get misty eyed when you go back and listen to Hidden in Plain View's Life in Dreaming? Are your bedroom’s walls covered in posters of the large flux of bands feeding off of emotionally raging lyrics and semi-similar production from the early 00’s? Well history repeats itself, and Our Fair City's debut A Most Clever Disaster will have those looking at the past decade with a smile pleasantly satiated. If you're looking for something new and attention-grabbing however, Our Fair City's first venture may not be your speed.

Deep Elm Review Of 2010: I Am Sonic Rain - Between Whales And Feverish Lights

The entirety of I Am Sonic Rain revolves around water. The band's name could stand for the combination of sound and water. The album cover is underwater. The album title, Between Whales and Feverish Lights, mentions a marine animal. Even the music sounds like it could take place in the ocean or under falling rain. Opener "Jellyfish Are Murders" (yet another marine reference) features electronics that sound like a bloom of jellyfish are swarming the area, before stinging and destroying their unfortunate prey. "Fog Is Drowning Us" begins with a distorted guitar riff that feels exactly as the title dictates. However, it then clears up and becomes an ambient journey through the band's world. Electronics are abound, at times reminiscent of 65daysofstatic. "As Rain We Fall" is a building storm, from the onset of a drizzle to a raging and destructive flood. "Just To Rise The Day After" is a follow up of the previous storm, as the sun finally comes up and begins restore things back to normal. "Between Whales and Feverish Lights" is the sound of playful whales, moving throughout the open sea, with keys and other electronics expressing their every move and emotion. The band's brand of post-rock takes its influence from the simplest of sources. The behaviors of nature and weather fuel this powerful album, and allow a listener to forget all that's around them and bask in the harmony of the music. You can stream and purchase the whole album on the band's Deep Elm page here.

7 Months Later

The first thing that crossed my mind after seeing a picture of 7 Months Later was “These guys look so young.” And with that initial judgment, I didn’t expect much. But, to my surprise, I was really impressed. This band is putting out songs that you expect from other alternative rock bands that have being doing this for twice as long. After being welcomed by a simple, yet pleasing melody from keyboardist, Adam Sliger, I was interested to hear more. The first track, “Outline”, on 7 Months Later’s upcoming album Time to Decide, graces your speakers with a beautiful mix of keys and rhythmic drumming. This then leads into powerful, clean vocals which are paired with dual backing vocals. There are plenty fast paced guitar solos that soar at times adding to their alternative sound. The band slows things down on some tracks and offers more amazing melodic keys and a soft acoustic guitar. 7 Months Later is definitely a band to keep an eye on, 2011 has a lot in store for these guys and they’re aiming to please. Check out the band here and look for their full length Time to Decide on February 19th. The album can be bought on iTunes here.

Album Review: Water And Bodies - Light Year

It's quite fitting that Water and Bodies' debut full length is titled Light Year. It's felt like that long since Kaddisfly released their final record. Four of the five members of Kaddisfly create what is now Water and Bodies, but the band's sound drastically differs from its predecessor. The guitar tapping and technical riffs that were prevalent in Kaddisfly have been replaced by more straightforward riffs, keys, and stronger hooks to make what can only be called a "rock" record. Although Light Year may not totally fill the void left by Kaddisfly, it should at the very least satiate one's hunger for the band.

Album Review: Sims - Bad Time Zoo

Is there any other label than Doomtree that so successfully exhibits its familial qualities while consistently churning out some of the best individual records in recent memory? If there is, I haven’t found it. Along with being an impressive collection of some of the most talented emcees, the individual efforts of Doomtree’s artists have been consistently fantastic in recent years. From 2009 and P.O.S.’s Never Better to 2010 and Dessa’s A Badly Broken Code, Doomtree has capitalized on having its artists build up the label’s reputation for impressive lyrical depth, crisp production, and superb flow across all of the individuals involved. Sims’ Bad Time Zoo is in many ways a continuation of these things we have come to expect and love about the Doomtree family, and in many others one of the most accessible records from the label yet.

Braveyoung

When it comes to musical scene within my state North Carolina, it's difficult to pick one artist that shines through as the proud spine of talent in the area (other than say the obvious choice, The Annuals). That's not to say we don't have our fair share that try, but it often takes patience and a big magnifying glass to sift through the mess of cookie-cutters to find the gems underneath. Look no further today, because today's North Carolinian jewel is the crowning Braveyoung with their breathtaking upcoming debut We Are Lonely Animals. Beginning their career under the name Giant, Braveyoung have transformed since their name change in 08' and are rapidly approaching the release date of We Are Lonely Animals on March 29, 2011. If the adjectives ethereal, haunting, and beautiful sound great to you when coupled with post-rock a la Mogwai and Explosions In The Sky, you'll find something to love in Braveyoung. If you need more convincing, the entire album is streaming on their website now and is available to pre-order from here.

North Korea

North Korea is a new band formed in the aftermath of the Envy on the Coast breakup last fall. Made up of vocalist Ryan Hunter and guitarist Brian Byrne (both ex- Envy on the Coast) and bassist Michael Sadis and drummer Billy Rymer (both of The Rivalry, with Rymer also in The Dillinger Escape Plan), North Korea have so far released just one song, "Master Plan B". Based on this track, it seems North Korea play a brand of southern-influenced post-hardcore, at times sounding like a mixture of letlive. and Every Time I Die. The drumming is tight and utilizes the snare plentifully resulting in a punk-type vibe, while Hunter's vocals often resemble Jason Butler's of letlive. Byrne and Sadis complement the sound by playing gritty riffs, reminiscent of some of Byrne's work on Envy on the Coast's last album, Lowcountry. Hopefully, future tracks are just as solid and culminate in a full length or EP in the near future. With such talented members, North Korea has the potential to explode in the scene.

Listen to/download "Master Plan B" here

Longwell

Longwell is simply two friends singing about life. Isn't that pretty much the basis of what a band originated as? A folky album based mostly on guitar strums and simple drum patterns, All The Streets Look The Same From The Air may be difficult to enjoy at first, but once the vocals become tolerable, it instantly becomes great. There is quite a bit of Elliott Smith in the band's music, especially stylistically. The album flows smoothly between the styles of songs, as in the pairing of the electric "How Nice To Hear You" and "Self-Defense Mechanism" right into the acoustic "Flares" and "Intentions". Longwell deserves plenty of respect, and as the band matures even further, underground popularity could be in the band's future. Stream and download the album for free on their Bandcamp page here.

Free Run For Cover Sampler

Run For Cover just keeps affirming the fact that they are one of the best pop-punk/emo/indie labels out there. Their latest sampler promotes all of the label's excellent groups, from the recently signed to the recently signed away.    Although Man Overboard and Transit, both of which donated songs to the sampler, recently were signed to Rise, the label still has considerable depth. Fireworks, Daytrader, and Hostage Calm can more than satisfy a hunger for pop-punk, while Seahaven and Koji successfully work a mellower style.  The label even shows their willing to diversify with the rapper GDP. All these bands, plus a few more great ones, can be downloaded from the sampler on Bandcamp here.

Album Review: Sleeping At Last - Yearbook - February EP

Keeping up with Sleeping At Last's monthly EP progress since last October has been an enthralling, if a little exhausting journey. But for every cynical thought that's entered my mind, doubting the consistency of quality in their next release, Sleeping At Last have been able to wash all doubts and misgivings I've had about their eventual span of 36 songs. While Yearbook - November saw the advent of my favorite Sleeping At Last material to date and Yearbook-January saw the birth of beautiful instrumental work, Yearbook-February seems to have reached a stagnant phase within the project.

Patrick Stump Announces New EP

Although Patrick Stump has not announced a release date for his first solo album Soul Punk, he will not keep us waiting for a first proper release. On February 22nd, he will release Truant Wave, a collection of songs that did not fit "within the narrative" of Soul Punk. Half of the tracks on the EP feature friends of Patrick, allowing him to have a bit more fun with this digital only release. Hype for Soul Punk has been growing with every a cappella performance he puts on his site, and this EP will no doubt just ignite the hype even further. The track list can be viewed below.

Sims

Doomtree promises at least one excellent solo release per year from one of the collective. 2008 gave Cecil Otter's Rebel Yellow. 2009 brought P.O.S. and Never Better to stardom. 2010 featured Dessa's A Badly Broken Code. Now, 2011 brings a release as good if not better than the above with Sims' Bad Time Zoo. Sims proves himself as possibly the best overall rapper of the collective, blowing through his lyrics, barely stopping to take a breath between phrases at his best. Lazerbeak shows off his top notch production skills, supporting Sims with schizophrenic beats and a full on horn section, while also sprinkling in drum beats. Doomtree's signature punk infused hip-hop has stayed fairly underground, even though excellent records are released one after another. Sims latest release could become the collective's flagship album, and should finally push the group to stardom. You can stream and purchase the band on Bandcamp here.

Album Review: The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die - Josh Is Dead

Let's welcome Kyle to posting here. He used to run his own site, and will be generously donating his time here.

When thinking back on The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die's debut EP Formlessness, I cannot exactly recall what made the first release of the band so forgettable. The release was by no means uninteresting or a poor introduction to the band's sound, but as soon as Formlessness stopped spinning it was instantly forgotten by me. Regardless of first impressions, Josh Is Dead, the new 7" being released through Topshelf Records and cassette pushed by Ice Age Records, is a small gasp of The World Is A Beautiful Place's unique sound that will truly ingrain itself in your head if you give it the chance to. 

Deep Elm Review Of 2010: Athletics - Why Aren't I Home?

Athletics is reminiscent of the kid in school who talks only when he has something important to say, yet is extremely brilliant. Often only having a few lines of lyrics in a song, Why Aren't I Home? focuses more on the ambient atmosphere of a song, while speaking enough to relay the powerful messages of the song. The title track features the usual post-rock buildup, ambient guitars soaring, the rhythm section feeling like a driving train, before the climax hits with one line of powerful vocals. Vocalist and guitarist Garrett Yaeger launches in to state the powerful message of the title track and maybe the whole album, shouting "Well I'm lost again, as my world finds it's end. No safe place to exist, but to pretend we never did." Flowing seamlessly into the much heavier "See You On The Other Side", as the flowing ambient guitar riffs support the lower, heavier crashes of sound. The surprisingly vocal heavy "Jordan" is a powerful self reflection, while "Lullaby" is anything but one with angry vocals glaring from behind the atmosphere. "It's Night, It's Enough" seems to be one of the more mellow songs on the album, until you reach the halfway point of the song. A large, powerfully emotionally scream of "You haunt my dreams." begins the powerful blast of sound that erupts through one's speakers. "The Cost Of Living" closes the album with depressive lyrics, though powerful, leaving chills as the album quickly fades away. Why Aren't I Home? is an adventure through the powerful distresses of the band. It strays away from usual post-rock, yet keeps the aspects of the genre that makes it all great. The vocals are the last key that makes the record more than just an emotional journey, but a journey in every such way, as it will leave you breathing heavily, sweating, and questioning reality. You can stream the album on the band's Deep Elm page here.

Every Atlas

In 2008, Alex Periera, started Every Atlas as way to express his love, hate and creativity of his own interests. Periera was recently joined by Dustin Andrews. Both Andrews and Periera were in, the now separated band, Waking Constance. Within two years the band released two full length albums and an EP. The dual vocals are harmonious and folk inspired, similar to those of Conor Oberst, with a diverse musical background. The music has a southern influence that can easily be mistaken for an old folk or country song from years ago. The bluesy, folk guitar sound is calming and quite uplifting, making Every Atlas an easy listen. Our generation thrives on fresh, new sounds and Every Atlas offers just that to this genre. The lyrics are something completely different than we’re used to. Forget love, loss and heart break, these lyrics are about life and every day living. “Your eyes hold stories that trapped away the history. Your ears, they’ve heard such things that very few men have heard” from “Brother” suggest that someone has experienced more than one man should. The lyrics are real and are a break from the same old boring love songs. Listen to the band’s latest full length here.

Runaway Brother

It almost seems like bands have been catering to me lately. I've been a fan of the catchy pop-rock with honest, relatable lyrics that bands such as You, Me, And Everyone We Know and Farewell Fighter. Runaway Brother is another band that definitely resembles those other two groups. Though the vocals are a bit gruff, it is easy to hear the passion behind the words. The band's lyrics are definitely a strong point, as they resemble well thought out diary entries or poems. Excellent one liners are spread throughout the songs, including highlights "So I'll skip the foreplay, ask you out today" in "Breakfast!?", "We're on the same page, but I read backwards" in "Stubborn", and "But I don't hold on to the past... wait I lie. This song is proof." in "Get It Started". As a group of only two people, Runaway Brother shows excellent potential that could possibly expand with a larger creative force behind the band. Their debut EP, Mr. Saturn, can be heard and downloaded for free on Bandcamp.

Lady Gaga Releases New Single

Lady Gaga released the title track from her upcoming album, “Born This Way”, two days sooner than planned. Full of catchy hooks and words of encouragement, “Born This Way”, is sure to be a number one single. The lyrics make fans feel accepted and that there’s no reason to question your place in this world. The pop powered beat makes it hard not to dance along or at least bop your head a little. Gaga promised her Little Monsters the best album of the decade and so far there’s no reason to doubt that. The release of this single only makes the wait seem longer. Listen to “Born This Way” here.

Interview With Hellogoodbye

At the Jammin' Java stop of Hellogoodbye's headlining tour, the band agreed to answer a few questions. This is the band's first tour supporting their latest record, Would It Kill You. The band talked about the drastic change in sound, Drive Thru records, fans that don't appreciate the new sound, fans from foreign countries, and more, after the jump.

CityCop - The Hope In Forgiving & Giving Up Hope

Who?

CityCop are a four-piece band based out of Ashtabula, Ohio. Playing a wholly unique concoction of sound, incorporating indie, screamo, punk, and emo influences, CityCop's style might be aptly described as a punkier mixture of Cap'n Jazz and Caravels. Though currently unsigned, guitarist/vocalist Max Adams, vocalist Eddie Gancos, bassist Duncan Treen, and drummer Cody Mikesell tour quite often throughout the Ohio/Pennsylvania area. The Hope In Forgiving & Giving Up Hope is their debut full length and is available on Bandcamp for a mere $5.

New Stay Song Streaming

Pop-rock goodness is something that can usually win me over. Stay is releasing a new album, American Cherry Bomb, this spring which will surely be played to death over the summer. The band is streaming a new track titled "Machine Gun Summer", in which the band shows off their new, edgier direction. Fans of Fall Out Boy will definitely find appeal in this track, and I'm hoping this is the sign of progression from the older, more generic tracks. The song can be streamed here.

Deep Elm Review Of 2010: Ride Your Bike - The Connection

Don't let the album cover of Ride Your Bike's The Connection turn you off. Unlike the food on the cover, this six song EP isn't junk. The band packs  a gritty indie-rock sound in the vein of early The Get Up Kids, but that sound wouldn't be expected after a listen of the title track. Vocalist Mike Getches sounds almost like Leighton from Lydia at times, with backing strings used to squeeze the emotion out of the rest of the music.  However, this mellow track doesn't represent the rest of the album at all. "Coat Rack" is a perfect model of the band's sound, with driving guitar riffs surrounding the nasally, yet powerful vocals. Getches shows off his surprising range, going from low notes to highs in a matter of a couple notes. "Firefly" may not be a Saves The Day cover, but it could easily have been done by the band. Though the vocals may not be as unique as Chris Conley's, but they go much better with the style of music. Closer "Time We Took Those Chances" shows the band at its peak ability of song writing, lyrically honest words surrounded by some of the strongest musical ability on the entire EP. Chants fill the backgrounds of the chorus with life, igniting the song to even higher heights. The band's somewhat silly name, combined with the absolutely outrageous album cover makes the band seem almost like a joke. Through one listen of the band, it's obvious that the band is dead serious about what they do, which is make great music. Check the band out on their Deep Elm page here.

Amia Venera Landscape

Amia Venera Landscape are an Italian progressive metalcore band. Many people often cringe when hearing a band described as 'metalcore' -- the genre has been overflowed with scene bands rocking angular haircuts in the past few years, plagiarizing each other's work. However, Amia Venera Landscape are one of the few modern metalcore bands (Dead and Divine, Oh, Sleeper, Counterparts, August Burns Red) playing solid, interesting music. Tracks such as "Empire" lean on the heavier side, reminiscent of a mixture of August Burns Red and The Dillinger Escape Plan. Others such as "Glances (Parts I and II)" lean towards a more Underoath vibe, albeit a slightly more progressive version. While not bursting with creativity by any means, Amia Venera Landscape have perfected their sound and it's one which is actually distinguishable from other bands. Though this might not seem like much of a feat to most, in a scene inundated with copycats, Amia Venera Landscape are a breath of fresh air.

Moving Mountains To Play Warped Tour

Maybe Warped is branching out?

Show Review - Hellogoodbye Headlining Tour 2/7/11

I was able to go to the Vienna, Virginia show of Hellogoodbye's headlining tour with support from Gold Motel, Now, Now, and You, Me, And Everyone We Know. At a venue that holds no more than 200 people, there was no doubt that I desperately needed to go to this show. Along with the two interviews I conducted with You, Me, And Everyone We Know and Hellogoodbye, the show was an absolute blast. Every band was great in their own way, and the show was definitely one of the best I've been at.

Interview With You, Me, And Everyone We Know

At the Vienna, Virginia stop of You, Me, And Everyone We Know's tour supporting Hellogoodbye, the band very generously allowed for a couple of questions. The band is just beginning what is going to be a jam packed year for the hard working band. The band answered questions about reception to the record, the change in their sound, the "call outs" in "Shock and Awe", an upcoming EP, and many other things. Check it out below. 

Versus Angels

After the breakup of their previous band, Friends for Hire; Tony Morgan, Shaun Freeman and Seth Werts formed Versus Angels. This month, a year after A Friend for Hire broke up; Versus Angels released a teaser made up of 4 song clips. The teaser, which is less than two minutes, leaves listeners wanting more. The clean vocals, that are edgier in some parts, are the first thing that catches your attention. The melodic voice of Tony Morgan offers nothing less than amazing and reminds us of vocals similar to the Spill Canvas. Freeman and Werts back up these vocals with stellar guitar and bass riffs. The lyrics are enough to make any girl swoon, especially when Morgan sings “I promise to fight through, I promise to stay true, to make sure that everyone knows your name” from “Promise”. But don’t mistake them for sappy love songs. These lyrics offer promises that aren’t meant to be broken and a sense of security. As of now, the 4 songs featured in the teaser are just demos and a release date for their EP is still undecided. Check out the band's Facebook for updates and download their song "Wait for You" here

Unsigned Bands Of January (II)

Don't forget, you can always send your music to us at staff@muzikdizcovery.com, and if we think you deserve it, you will be placed here the next edition of the Unsigned Bands of the Month. If you blow us away, you may even get your own feature article!

The Pattern Traced

Upon hearing the lyrics, “Here's how I deal with anxiety/Alcohol, sex and drugs/Just like the wrists and mascara of emo girls, I always cut and run”, you might think this is a new Say Anything song. But there’s something different behind the edgy lyrics. Jon Callender is the voice, the wit and the music behind The Pattern Traced. Callender delivers vocals eerily similar to something you’d find in an indie-acoustic band. Yet, the vocals fall so easily into place on top of the electronic-synth powered background. Some tracks, however, are broken down and Callender sings with nothing except an acoustic guitar. Soon Callender will be “more than just a status update”, like he claims on the track "Do You Want to Know Who I Really am?" The Pattern Traced plan on releasing an album this spring. But until then, you can download his album Lessons in Leaving on his Bandcamp page for free.

Otenki

I'd like to welcome Chelsea as a writer for the site. She's a dear friend of mine, and will be helping me with artist spotlights of unsigned bands, as well as posting stuff for some of her favorite music.

Otenki released their first EP in 2005 and followed it up with a supporting tour. The band played alongside some highly respectable bands on Taste of Chaos and Van’s Warped Tour. Otenki seem to pick up where Armor for Sleep left off but at the same time offering something new. German Hernandez’s vocals deliver and make every lyric sound stronger than the last. Each time Hernandez sings the line “Now I’m calling your name in my sleep”, from ‘Ghosts’, it’s different and the level of emotion and energy rises each time, keeping you hooked from the first time. The sextet from Texas is everything we expect from a pop- punk band but with a little more edge. They take what we’re familiar with in the pop-punk genre and make it new. Hopefully, after their release of their new EP on May 3rd, Otenki becomes a common name and get the recognition they deserve. Check the band out on Myspace here.

Deep Elm Review Of 2010: Down To Earth - Prisms

Thrice is on record for saying that they have progressed past their older melodic post-hardcore sound. Who would have imagined that one of the best replacements for the lovers of older Thrice would be French? Down To Earth channels Thrice, Fugazi, and At The Drive-In in creating a brutal, yet melodic effort. Prisms is centered around the three opening tracks, "Prisms 1", "Prisms 2", and "Prisms 3", that almost seam together perfectly and seem like three parts of one, larger track. The tracks build up until the angry climax of the three songs that is "Prisms 3", which shows off the band's strong talents, showcasing mighty riffs and a driving rhythm section, highlighted by the bass lines. The first two minutes of "Versus" are instrumental, combining atmospheric with some extremely dark riffs, before mellowing out, then busting out with the band's signature heaviness by the end. "Radio Stoned" takes a lot from At The Drive In's Relationship and Command both instrumentally and vocally. Early 2000's post-hardcore has been dying out as bands mature or break up. Down To Earth brings back the good feeling about the genre, and gives hope for its future. Stream the album on their Deep Elm page here.

James Blake Album Stream

Pitchfork favorite James Blake has been a machine in putting out releases. From three critically acclaimed EPs throughout 2010, to his new self-titled LP, he has simply not stopped putting out material. The best part about it is that he just keeps changing things up. Starting as a dubstep artist, he has now infused his old sound with qualities of R&B and Pop to make a record that is definitely the most accessible of his releases. Although he still uses samples, he finally shows off his own singing talent that pretty much nobody knew he had. This album will no doubt be another BNM on Pitchfork, and you can stream the whole thing right here.

Thomas Hunter

It seems like that whole Seattle progressive/pop-punk scene stick together rather often. Thomas Hunter used to be part of Forgive Durden until the mass exodus from the band, and later joined several Gatsby's American Dream members with the psychedelic Wild Orchard Children. Hunter's solo project isn't necessarily done solo, mentioning nine other musicians who contributed to the creation of his first release. White China Gold combines prog, jazz, indie, and classic rock to make a highly orchestrated, slightly chaotic, but always entertaining album. No two songs sound the same, and can appeal to everyone from a 25 year old jazz enthusiast, to a 17 year old pop-punk kid, to a 45 year old that misses seeing Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith. The whole album is up for free download on Bandcamp, so check it out here.

Deep Elm Review Of 2010: Cari Clara - You Better Run

Cari Clara has already been featured once on this site, and definitely deserves another mention as the first Deep Elm record that will be reviewed here. Not many bands can pull off comparing themselves to Radiohead. With vocals only comparable in style to Thom Yorke or Matt Bellamy (Muse), you can only expect the epic sound that the band creates, which is instantly heard on the title track. The dark sound created by the ambient guitars, background hums, and the aggressive string section starts the record off with a bone chilling blast. "Neither Weapon" returns the guitars to the forefront of the music, as the bridge features a distorted guitar solo backed by the band's signature ambient vocals. "Our Famed Escape" finally lightens up the mood of the EP, with high pitched bells and a mature somewhat dancy feel that could easily be heard in a love scene for a movie. EP closer "The Great Departure" is in fact a great departure from the band's usual sound, with every single vocal section echoed instead of the usual vibrato along with what sounds like a demonic sounding choir and percussion that could be found in someone's garage. However, Cari Clara pulls off all these effects to great success. Radiohead and Muse are two of the biggest bands in the world. Cari Clara has both the creative uniqueness and exceptional talent that both of those bands have. If they are huge, why isn't Cari Clara? Stream and purchase the band's album on their Deep Elm page here.