Audio

Old Scratch, The Debut LP by Trophy Wives

Can you believe that this is the debut full length release from Louisville, Kentucky’s Trophy Wives? These boys have been rocking the the pants off anyone within earshot for years, touring relentlessly with their extremely large and loud amps.

Just released on vinyl ($12), limited run cd-digipak ($10), and digital download, Old Scratch is ready for you. Are you ready for it? Check out this write up by the folks at Latest Flame Records, who say way better than I could.

Old Scratch, the debut full-length from Louisville, Kentucky’s Trophy Wives, draws heavily from its place of origin along the banks of the Ohio River, a locale with a rich musical history that includes indie stalwarts Rodan, Slint, and Bonnie “Prince” Billy. Like the city’s favorite son, Muhammad Ali, the band knows its punches from its poetry, and both are on ample display here.

Playing on the loud-soft dynamics of its forebears but never slipping into the trappings of genre, the band lays a thick and heavy groundwork throughout. Bassist Tony Ash and drummer Geoff Paton provide a raw, edgy backbeat (“Bad Tattoos,” “Taste of Your Medicine”) to Billy Bisig and Elliott Turton’s carefully controlled guitar flights, which give every song a different personality but keep it all in the family.

Bisig’s pop sensibilities shine through in his vocals. His grungy delivery is balanced by melodies and harmonies that wouldn’t be out of step on a Kinks record (“Crooked Cross,” “616”). His lyrics are brooding and escapist, and gain from clever wordplay mixed throughout, as on the syrupy chorus of the otherwise riff-heavy “(You’re Like a) Bad Song.” For the most part though, Bisig’s takes on love, sex, loss and alienation in our connected world are refreshingly earnest.

Ultimately, Old Scratch is the document of a band with surprising range. From the assaulting screams of “Bless You All,” to the slinky bass and guitar lines that introduce “Picture Perfect,” to the silky vocal intro of “616,” Old Scratch introduces a band that you’d regret to overlook. Take the punch and you’ll hear the poetry.

Go to Latest Flame Records to order yourself a copy!

Maple Stave Long Player One

Durham, North Carolina’ Maple Stave are an enigmatic bunch. Their instrumentals are filled with lush beauty and melodic overtones, while their vocal tracks are filled with angst, a fierce delivery, and a technical expertise that could out math most bands of their genre.

Maple Stave’s first full length release, Long Player One (Like Rain Freezing And Thawing Between Bricks Year After Year, This House Will Come Down.) was released last year after a series of EP’s that were released in the 2000’s. The album is available as a digital download, and in CD Format is one of the nicest hand printed silk screened packages that I have ever seen. Both are $10, so I heartily recommend ordering one of the 200 limited edition CD’s while you still can.

For more info on the band, please visit them at Maple Stave Bandcamp and Maple Stave Facebook.

She Ripped

Methodist Live at PRFBBQNYC2011

Methodist performs live at the Secret Project Robot in NYC as part of the first NYC BBQ, the PRFBBQNYC2011. Recordings and Live Sound by the impeccable Ryan Denmark Steele, Justin Foley, Evan Rowe, and Boombats.

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MP3 Downloads

  1. Methodist – PRFBBQNYC2011 – 01
  2. Methodist – PRFBBQNYC2011 – 02
  3. Methodist – PRFBBQNYC2011 – 03
  4. Methodist – PRFBBQNYC2011 – 04
  5. Methodist – PRFBBQNYC2011 – 05
  6. Methodist – PRFBBQNYC2011 – 06
  7. Methodist – PRFBBQNYC2011 – 07
  8. Methodist – PRFBBQNYC2011 – 08
  9. Methodist – PRFBBQNYC2011 – 09

For more information on the band, please visit https://methodist.bandcamp.com/.

The United Sons of Toil When The Revolution Comes, Everything Will Be Beautiful

Imagine a dusty old library with floor to ceiling Walnut bookshelves spanning as far as the eye can see. Dimly lit table lamps illuminate the faded words on ancient pages of lesson after lesson of human existence. It’s not your average setting for a rock band, but it’s what comes to mind when I think of The United Sons of Toil.

If your favorite history professors from college were into noise rock, they would be into The United Sons of Toil. With songs like “Alcoholism in the Former Soviet Republics”, “The Forced March of Manifest Destiny”, and “Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act”, these are not your average rockers. USoT’s music is hard, and often brutal, like the subjects they choose to write about. For fans of the Touch and Go, AmRep, and Dischord record labels, you will at home listening to this band.

The band’s latest release, When The Revolution Comes, Everything Will Be Beautiful, is available in digital form (name your price), compact disc ($8), and for a lucky few, on translucent red vinyl ($10 – At the time of posting this article, there were only 35 still available).

Sirs Boo Hoo EP

Chicago rock band Sirs are releasing their first EP tomorrow Saturday, August 20th at the Saki Record Store. Saki is located at 3716 W. Fullerton in the beautiful west side of Chicago, IL. The fun starts at 4 PM with Sidecar Static & Phoenix 68 filling out the bill.

The four song ep is available as a 12″ vinyl record, or a digital download (or both). Here’s the description:

4-Song EP. A disturbed crooner and a loud electric band pile-drive tales of the late capital era into every available earhole. Escape the post-modern refuse pile by burrowing straight down. Don’t dig with your hands; use this slab of 12″ plastic as a tool

Sirs is Tony Jones, and Rob Warmowski, and Andrew Kosinski. Mike Greenlees played drums on the EP.