Rockets & Bluelights 10"

The picture above is an aerial view of Albany.

I went to school there, had the most incredible experiences of my life there, still kinda live there, Met the most amazing and influential people there, and learned more about myself than I ever could have possibly done on Staten Island. So I have to post this.

As I'm posting this I'm worrying that I won't be able to express in words how much I really do love this. This is the best band ever to come out of Albany hands down.

I started school fall of 2006, Just when they had stopped playing shows. It's so awesome that almost everyone in Albany, regardless of petty scene affiliation - loves this band. A lot of people I've spoken to describe seeing them live as positively cathartic. They might still have a copy of this 10" at last vestige, if not redder records has copies for sale online. There's a demo with 4 more songs, and a discography with all their songs and additional instrumentally magnificent jams. Both of which are impossible to find.

Sean and I are pretty sure we heard them jamming one night at Scarlet East, and it was fucking breathtaking. The door was closed and they were jamming out for like 15 minutes straight of well-coordinated brilliance. We were too shy to knock on the door 0_o

This band was the catalyst that opened the door to so many avenues of self discovery. This was the reason I picked up a guitar. This was the reason I did a lot of things. I am so glad that these wonderful people decided to make music. I am so glad I own this on vinyl. Perfection.




For fans of enjoying/appreciating life.




This band made me a better person.



buy this





Rockets & Bluelights

Julie Doiron- Will you still love me?

Heartbreaking from start to finish.






Track 4 ruins your life







myspace


buy her music please








Will you still love me?

Jacob and I

Jacob and I consists of two bassists and a drummer.They played like second at the best show I've ever been to hands down. Lucky I got a demo before it rained (show was outside) and all their merch was soaked. This was back in the summer of 07. Good times. Great Band. They should write more stuff.

The last song is divine.

myspace



Jacob and I - Summer 2007 Demo

Mako- S/T 7"

This came in the mail today. Mako is taken from the toxic pollutant in Final Fantasy 7(The best video game ever created by the hands of man) so regardless of the music I already like it. Mako sounds like Capsule. More bands should emulate capsule granted they have the talent to do so. Overall I wished they had wrote a full length and changed a few things. Great potential here. I'm sure their sophomore release will fill in those blanks.

Track 4. More of track 4.


buy it



myspace



Mako S/T 7"

Julie Doiron - Broken Girl (1996)

So I bought this CD on ebay for 30 some odd dollars a couple months back. It's an original release of the CD from 1996 put out on Sappy and Sub Pop records. It's worth 30 dollars easily for Tracks 1 and 5 alone. Her first recordings, raw and beautiful at the same time. The Re-release by Jagjaguwar in 2003 has 6 or so additional tracks/ new cover art and is worth acquiring. Here's a better description.




buy it

myspace


Broken Girl (1996)

Pretend - Bones in the Soil, Rust in the Oil

Think American Football with better drumming. I'm serious. I can't get over how ridiculously good the drummer is. Sparse vocals, time signature changes galore and simply gorgeous melodies collaborate to create a phenomenal album. This album is going to be pressed on shelsmusic soon according to their website. I bought the CD a few months ago. Hopefully Jonny, myself, and Allan will one day play a show with these wonderful people.

Tracks 5 & 6 make life better

myspace

Bones in the soil, Rust in the Oil

Julie Doiron - Heart and Crime

Julie Doiron has an advantage over most female singer/songwriters in the fact that she is in possession of the most(in one word)emotional voice I've ever had the privilege of hearing. This was the first album from her lengthy catalog I investigated. The cover art does a better job of explaining her than I ever could. Her latest album " I can wonder what you did with your day" is alot more upbeat than this one, alot more rock n'roll. She was in Eric's trip - which has it's moments (GRUNGE AS FUCK) but doesn't completely utilize her talent. Compared to her older releases this shows a more mature,confident Julie with the lyrical talent of a seasoned romance novelist. If you choose to be a cynic and point out how melodramatic and ultimately desperate these songs are (lets be fair, these are love songs) then you are missing the point entirely. Whether we admit it or not (both men and women) long to be loved, admired, and most of all belong. Julie is not ashamed of this truth.Heart and Crime was released in 2001 on Jagjaguwar. This won't be the last time I post stuff from her. I can safely say that Julie Doiron changed the way I think about the opposite gender via how much thought some of us (you now who you are) place on love and relationships - More voluminous, intricate levels of thought dedicated to attraction, More observation and analysis of love than the actuality and fruition of it. Love as a dream, not a reality. Love as purpose.

Most of all she lets you know that you're not alone.


If you aren't moved by the first and fourth song, I feel sorry for you.

Myspace

buy it

Heart & Crime

Boys & Sex CD-EP

I'm so glad I bought this when I did. Justin(the drummer) is in like a million other sweet bands - his new label ticklebutt just released a comp. cassette 75:24 - which I also have and may upload soon. Featuring members of make me, boy problems, that whole philadelphia collective. This is better than both make me and boy problems in my humble opinion. More focused and less formulaic. It's also way more accessible than their previous bands' efforts. If you don't like this the first time - then listen to it again. So addictive.


Myspace




Boys & Sex CD EP

Grouper/Pumice Split 7"

Released Last Year. The Grouper track speaks for itself, The Pumice track is more of an acquired taste. Worth a listen.



Grouper Myspace

Pumice Myspace


Grouper/Pumice Split 7"

Scapegoat - Winter Tour Cassette

8 songs I haven't come across yet, plus an anti-cimex cover, and a killer live set. This band is good. This tape is really good.

myspace



Winter Tour Cassette '09-'10

Begin

Beautiful project by Henning of Suis la lune fame. Highly recommended.

myspace

years passing




-JR