Pretend: Bones in the Soil, Rust in the Oil

Mostly instrumental twinkles based out of California. Their songs tend to be on the longer side (3 songs pass 10 minutes) but I never feel like they drag on. They use some fairly unconventional chord changes that you don't see much within this type of music. Reminds me a bit of Kickball.

Myspace

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Tooting our own horns: Monument and Deer Friends are recording full length albums

That's right, folks! We're great! Monument is heading up to Philadelphia next weekend to record our first full length with Joe Reinhart of Algernon Cadwallader. We are very excited. Deer Friends (poster Scott's band) is currently in the SAME studio as we speak (type?) recording their first full length album with Kyle Pulley. Both bands have decided to waste bandwidth and update blogs based on their progress. Also, we think we are are very funny.

http://monumentisrecordinganalbumomg.blogspot.com/

http://deerfriendsisrecordinganalbumomg.blogspot.com/

The Jim Yoshii Pile-Up

Halloween weekend and I've got the flu. Excellent timing! I figured I would make the most of my bedridden time and update this here blog. If you haven't heard of these guys you're in for a treat. The Jim Yoshii Pile-Up has the slow-core Northwestern style down completely. In other words, they sound a lot like Death Cab for Cutie before Death Cab for Cutie became this.

They have a handful of releases but these are the only ones that I have. If anyone has something I don't have, please send it my way and I can post it. They have their full discography listed on their website. Their latest/last album "Pick Us Apart" is definitely my favorite and features the song "Silver Sparkler" which is worth the download alone. Enjoy!



Pick Us Apart (2005)





Homemade Drugs (2002)



S/T EP (1999)

Malegoat: Plan Infiltration

Ladies and gentlemen: the Japanese Algernon Cadwallader. I could just leave it at that, but this band is amazing. Apparently these guys became friends with Craig from Be Happy Records over the internet and he was able to convince them to come stateside. They ended up only coming to the east coast for like 4 shows before heading home and I was lucky enough to see them in Baltimore last month. They have this EP and a self-title cassette that can be purchased through Be Happy Records. Enjoy.


Listen Here
Myspace

Penpal: S/T

Here's a cool concept. Two dudes who live far away from each other send musical ideas back and forth until songs form. Sound familiar? The two former guitarists from the band Marquette took the Postal Service formula and applied it to twinkly emo and the results are awesome. Very laid back tunes with minimal vocals and bits of electronic elements which reminds me a bit of Pele/Collection of Colony of Bees. Their album is free for download from their website.


Listen Here
Myspace

Rockets and Blue Light: A Smashed City With Flames and Music in the Air

Here's a fun emo band from New York who I don't believe is active anymore. This 4 song EP is the only thing I could find on them, but it's pretty cool. It reminds me of a less technical/mathy Kidcrash. Sparse vocals low in the mix with dueling guitars twinkling it up front. Dig it.


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No Myspace?

Twain Harte

I love the internet. I don't know much about this band other than the fact that they're from California, they rule, and at some point broke up. They're a little harder than most of the stuff I've posted but I fell in love with this band months ago and felt they needed to be heard. Still plenty of noodles, but they are a bit more mathy in a Faraquet-like way. The link I have uploaded is for two releases; 'A Sunny Place for Shady People' and a self-titled EP. I'm more partial to the latter but give them both a listen. You won't be dissapointed.

Listen Here
Myspace

Dasha: Damned If We Do

Female-fronted noodles out of New York. Dasha balance on the border between emo and indie pop. Lots of really awesome drumming on this album. CHECK IT OUT.



Listen Here
Myspace

Grown Ups: Songs

OK so I've found a bunch of cool bands recently so I figured I should try to put a little momentum back into this here blog. LETS DO THIS!




I can't remember where I stumbled across these 5 twinkly jams but I definitely dig Grown Ups. I think the biggest complaint one can have about this 'genre' is that all the noodlely songs blend together after a while. I mean, can you really tell the difference between one Ghost and Vodka song from another? Grown Ups does a good job of mixing catchy sing-along melodies on top of the noodles to really make their songs distinctive. They're from Indiana and most likely listen to the same music you listen to. Enjoy.

Listen Here
Myspace

Owen - New Leaves

I feel half way bad for doing this, but it's really good and this is the internet. I'm also saying this from the get go, pre-order this now. It's totally worth it, obviously. Nothing else to say except this rules and once again, pre-order this if you're going to download it.

Download Here
BUY HERE