Young Ginns

Young Ginns - Anthology

Members of Nation Of Ulysses and Unwound playing Black Flag worship. Their one and only 7" was released by the venerable San Diego punk label Gravity Records (Heroin, Clikatat Ikatowi and Angel Hair). This is their Anthology release which contains the 7" along with various comp and demo tracks. Chaotic fucking hardcore.

Capsule - No Ghost

Capsule - No Ghost

Capsule are a hardcore band from Miami, FL who occupy the perfect middle-ground between Brainworms and Converge with some southern sludge thrown in (i.e. Torche and Kylsea). Heavy as fuck, spastic, melodic and totally fucking rad. This has been getting tons of love all over the place, so if you've been sleeping on this don't as it is the best heavy releases of 2011 so far (and definitely a top ten contender right now). No Ghost will be released this spring by Rorschach Records so pick up a copy, crank it to eleven and bum out all your square neighbours. I can't stress enough how rad this album is, and if you didn't love their last album Blue, fear not, as this one is a little more straight forward (but still fucking heavy as hell).

Mister Dream - Trash Hit

Mr. Dream - Trash Hit

These dudes are Harvard grads who moved to Brooklyn and started a punk band. Trash Hits sound like The Pixies, Jesus Lizard and early Nirvana mixed with modern bands like Male Bonding, Wavves and No Age. Trash Hits is jagged, fuzzy and catchy punk rock that you need to be listening to right now. You'd be doing yourself a huge disservice if you slept on this album. This is your new favourite band.

Dress Like Yer Idles

BOAT - Dress Like Your Idols

BOAT play really great indie rock that gives a tip of the cap to all your favourite alternative bands from the 80's, 90's and the oughts. Do you dig The Cure, Pavement, The Shins and Built To Spill? Because they've got songs that sound like all those bands. Their last LP, Setting The Paces, was one of my favourites of 2009 and this one ain't half bad either. Even if the music was shit (it isn't) you'd have to admit that that is one fucking cool album cover.

Daniel Romano - Sleep Beneath The Willow

Daniel Romano - Sleep Beneath The Willow

Daniel is the lead singer/main songwriter for Canadian indie band Attack In Black. This is his second solo album to see a wide release, and it is a doozy. Daniel plays country and folk with a confidence you don't usually find in a man his age. If you dig the work of Gram Parsons you'll be blown away by how good this album is. I can't wait to get this home and drop the needle on the first track, to hear that crackle and those gorgeous harmonies and Daniel's weathered baritone. Fucking great album.

Lifeguards - Waving At The Astronauts

Lifeguards - Waving At Astronauts

Robert Pollard and Doug Gillard doing what they do best together, writing catchy hook-filled fucking rock and roll. This has a real 80's sort of Wire sound to it. Spiky indie rock from some rad Ohio cats.

Buy Supplies

By Surprise - Mountain Smashers

I have been listening to this album on the way to and from work everyday for the past couple weeks and I still haven't gotten tired of it. These songs will seriously be stuck in your head for weeks. Great melodies, a tight rhythm section, noodley guitars and fun lyrics have insured that this will be one of the years best albums. If you dig Everyone Everywhere, Algernon Cadwallader, Monument and bands of that ilk then this should be right up your alley. I can't recommend this album enough. Go buy ten copies from Topshelf Records and give them to your friends (assuming you have ten friends, that number may be lower for some of you) this album is that good.

Fang Rouge - Assassiner Les Montagnes

R F - M T M

If you are looking to find another banger like "Prehistoric Dog" you'll have to look elsewhere, because it isn't on here. This reminds me of early 90's groove-metal, which is fucking totally rad. This sounds like the album Blind by C.O.C., only mixed with a dash Mastodon and a pinch of Soundgarden. Catchy and interesting sludge-rock that was produced by Chris Funk from the Decemberists (weird I know).

Kicking Spit - Psychrockbullshit

Kicking Spit - Psychrockbullshit

Former members of the New Jersey band Seasick playing rad 80's influence hardcore punk. This three-piece sounds a lot like Dinosaur Jr. and Hüsker Dü, and I mean a lot. Tons of fuzzed out guitar solos, great melodies and a killer rhythm section make this EP one of the best I've heard in a while. Tankcrimes Records released this on LP and CD, so go grab it from them (they also have this as a free download right now on the label's bandcamp).

Miniscule Brown Bicycle

SBB - F & F

I always felt a kinship with these dudes, probably due to their geographical proximity to me (Michigan/Ontario). I have been waiting eight years for these dudes to release something new and this album does not disappoint. After this long of a wait they could have released recordings of their bowel movements and I'd be here telling you how rad it sounded and how their "mic placement for track ten was especially amazing". Thankfully Fell & Found is eleven tracks of smart and gruff indie punk that is as much of a progression from The River Bed as that album was from Dead Reckoning. You need this album in your life. Lets cross our fingers that these guys keep writing and recording. Now if we can only get Hot Water Music back in the studio.