Superchunk - This Summer b/w Cruel Summer 7''

My new favorite 7'' single is "This Summer b/w Cruel Summer" by Superchunk. It's catchy and it says summer. My copy is number 634/1300. It's on white vinyl that matches the cover. Appropriately enough the b-side is a poppy punk cover of Bananarama's "Cruel Summer." These songs make me happy to be alive.

High Dive: queer-positive pop-punk

High Dive is a queer-positive pop-punk band from Bloomington, Indiana. We are Toby Foster, Nick Romy, and Ryan Woods.

The new High Dive LP out on No Idea Records is my new pop-punk record. It came out last year but only came under my radar this month after seeing that they were playing a rad show in New Brunswick with The Taxpayers, The Wild, Feudalism, and Tiny Teeth. Their song "A Reason" has the positive line, "I am to happy to know you." "Tennessee" is like a song version response to the It Gets Better campaign and is dedicated to any queer folks. Finally, "Thank You" gives thanks to friends "for helping me to breathe when I thought I was sinking and for making this place worth living in." Oh, and they do a sweet cover of "I think we're alone now."

Recommended if you like RVIVR, Little Lungs, and Good Luck. I can't stop listening to this album in the morning. Just gets the day started right, ya know? Enjoy.

http://highdivetheband.bandcamp.com/

Aye Nako: smile inducing pop-punk

Joe, Angie, Mars- Aye Nako

Band: Aye Nako

Location: Brooklyn, NY

Website: www.ayenako.com

Recommended If You Like: The Weakerthans, Discount, Cheap Girls

Demo Download Link: http://ayenako.org/wp-content/music/Aye_Nako-Demo_2010.zip

Good pop-punk doesn't get boring. Brooklyn-based 3-piece Aye Nako achieve this goodness with all of their songs - that's no small feat. Aye Nako is a smile inducing, boppy, poppy-punk band that makes my heart feel good. At their shows you can find me dancing, singing along, air drumming, two-stepping, and some other sort of dorky, improvised movement. How can I not smile when this band reminds me of Cheap Girls and Element 101?

Like Krista Ciminera of Zombie Dogs said in her review of Aye Nako, the bands lyrics are sad, serious, and sweet, all at the same time. In this respect, it's easy to solely think the band is sweet just because the music sounds that way. It's easy to get distracted by the feel good vibe of their music. The band has been playing a few new songs live at their recent shows at Death By Audio, which seem pretty serious. Singer Mars has introduced some of the songs as being about growing up queer, growing up with an abusive brother, and dreaming about being a gay man.  Deep subjects to bring up. It makes me excited to hear their new songs live now, so I can pay better attention to the lyrics.

The band's signature song is “Molasses," from their demo tape. Every time I hear it I can't help but sing along. It's a cute little love song that's super catchy. It's always fun hearing “Molasses” live when the line, “slow like molasses slow,” comes up and a group of us sing along with all the enthusiasm we have, grin on our faces, with our arms huddled around each others shoulders.

Then, there's the standout one-minute long hardcore song called “Good Grief,” with its angry lyrical tone. It seems like a random song for a pop-punk band but it works. The aggressively fast punk styled hardcore tune matches perfectly.

The third song I enjoy from them is an older song called "Curb Appeal," that the band released under the name Fleabag without drummer Angie. I can whistle along to this song, I can dance to this song, and darn it, this is just a good song to put on a mix for a crush. The demo this song is on is worth listening to.

When I saw Aye Nako at the Queers, Beers, and Reers party at Public Assembly in September, the song moved me so much that I started two-stepping. I didn't care if I was the only one doing so (in my work clothes) -  those around me gave me dance room. See, I used to care what people thought when I danced but Aye Nako is one of the few bands I can honestly say makes me feel good when I see them live and takes away any hint of embarrassment I might otherwise have had. It's fun music and it's music that I'll move to in any which way I want. No one can tell me how I can dance and I don't feel like I can't when I see them. In the past people have told me not to headbang to Kimya Dawson or jump during Modern Life is War and I got totally bummed. But no one can tell me how I can express myself at a show and if there's one thing I can say about Aye Nako, it's that their shows are generally filled with folks just like myself who simply love the band and want to have a good time. That's my kind of show and that's partly what has me coming back to their shows. Another reason is because Aye Nako plays with good bands, usually ones I know but also some I don't, which is a good balanced show in my book.

This year I've seen Aye Nako seven times – a number I'm fortunate enough to have made. I've seen them play with Dead Dog, Hot Mess, Songs for Moms, Dead Ringer, Sleepies, Worriers, RVIVR, Claire's Diary and most recently P.S. Eliot and The Two Funerals. It's been fun following the band around in their hometown of Brooklyn.

RVIVR East Coast Tour Dates

Today begin's RVIVR's east coast tour and I couldn't be more stoked. They hold a warm spot in my heart for delivering sing-along pop-punk songs that I can move around to and have meaning to me. They start their month long tour in NYC for three dates with the likes of Bridge & Tunnel, Big Eyes, Aye Nako, and Worriers. RVIVR is highly recommended. They recently released the Joester Sessions, a collection of their Derailer Benefit 7'', Life Moves 7'', and their U.K. only Dirty Water 12'', including a new song. Check out "Cut the Chord" and "Seethin'."

Listen to Joester Sessions here: http://www.rumbletowne.com/rtr/rtr-releases/RTR011

RVIVR's Spring East Coast Tour:

5/17 NY @ Silent Barn, 915 Wyckoff Avenue, Ridgewood, NY – 8p, $5, All Ages
Also playing: Bridge & Tunnel, Big Eyes, Spraynard
Facebook Invite: http://www.facebook.com/laurencontrol#!/event.php?eid=204682272897880

5/18 NY (early show) @ Generation Records, 210 Thompson St, Manhattan, NY – 6-8p, Free, All Ages Also playing: Nude Beach, White Mystery
FB Invite: http://www.facebook.com/laurencontrol#!/event.php?eid=195284397181716

5/18 NY (late show) @ 538 Johnson Ave, Apt. 201, Brooklyn, NY – 1st Band 9pm SHARP, $5, All Ages Also playing: Shellshag, Aye Nako, Worriers
Facebook info for 3 NY shows: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=212997605394742

P.S. Eliot release Sadie, free download

Today P.S. Eliot's second album Sadie is out on Salinas Records. You can listen to a new song "Ashpalt" over at If You Make It, where you can also download the 13-song album for free or buy the physical album. Please support the band and donate if you download.

The band play tonight with Dead Mechanical, Vacation, and Very Okay in Brooklyn. I hear Kate of Big Eyes is filling in on guitar duties. f you're in the know, then I'll see you there.

EP Review: Such Gold- Pedestals

Such Gold- Pedestals

Rochester, NY 

Physical Release: November 2010

6131 Records

for fans of: Daggermouth, A Wilhelm Scream, Hot Water Music, Set Your Goals

Such Gold's new ep Pedestals is one of the best hardcore influenced pop-punk records of this year. The songs are super fun. "Cut Rides" is inspiring ('I know that I'm doing my best, to be as happy as I can)'' "Sycamore" offers advice (hold on to whatever keeps you warm inside), "The Brass Tax" is in your face ('where do you get off telling me who I am when you don't even know yourself?'), "So Close" (featuring Kenny Vasoli of The Starting Line) calls home out (' No matter where I go this place follows me like home'), "Gut Rot" is honest ('I misjudged you'), and "Pedestals" (featuring Karl Buechner of Earth Crisis) closes with 'I won’t be caught dead or seen without my beliefs held high on top of pedestals. Posi, fast, melodic pop-punk with hardcore tendencies.

The band's MySpace says: "Such Gold is about sing-a-longs/gang chants, DIY house shows, pile-ons, rad friends, fast-beats, touring, and having good times with good people." Yeah, that's how I like it! That's what I like to hear. Good times, indeed. This ep owns.

Listen on the band's bandcamp and get a digital download now or pre-order the physical copy via 6163/ Hellfish store on multi-color vinyl and CD here and also SmarkPunk here. Lyrics here.

Album Review: Full of Fancy play bouncy, sweet punk on 'Liquid Nature'

Full of Fancy- Liquid Nature 

Release June 23, 2010

New Jersey

Don Giovanni Records

Full of Fancy's new album Liquid Nature has 22 songs. 11 new songs, 11 singles from previous releases. Together it's a new and old take on Full of Fancy in one shot. The songs range from poppy to punk to sad to groovy. 

The new songs have a summertime vibe of being away from dear ones, wanting love and good weather, and feeling emotional."Basement" is a great representation of the band's sound. Bouncy and bursting with pop-punk flavor.

"Weather" is a somber song that reminds me of the now defunct New York band One True Thing. Here the band tones it down to sing "Tell me that I worry for nothing." After is a song that reminds me of Screaming Females. Heavy. Groovy. Instrumenal. This is the title track "Liquid Nature"-- a killer track. Certaintly unexpected from this band. "Dear Summer" is about anticipating summer. The album concludes with a cute song called "Dumb Is Forever," about being shy when you're in love.

The second part of the album features the quick "Soule Cake," "Gym Class," "Notebook," and "Whoa Theodore Whoa." This album is filled with wonderful songs. 

Liquid Nature is available from Don Giovanni Records store. 

Album Review: I Call Fives get comfy with the status quo on 'Bad Advice'

I Call Fives- Bad Advice
Washington Township, NJ
No Sleep Records
Release Date: May 25, 2010

By: Darryl Norrell

For fans of: New Found Glory, The Starting Line, any pop-punk band ever

On Bad Advice, east coast wall-bouncers I Call Fives don't seem to have any illusions about what they're here to do. They are a self-declared pop-punk band, and (brace yourself) maybe that's the problem on this EP. It plays out like a huge self-fulfilling prophecy. Cloyingly-poppy vocal harmonies duke it out with -- surprise! -- power chords and stock MTV-mo leads to create exactly what you're already thinking of: nothing particularly new.

Alas, silver linings. Good thing they don't keep you waiting - "Elevator Music" brings the hooks, and not a moment too soon, as it's sandwiched in between some seriously forgettable speed-fests. "Two Days or a Lifetime of Failure," easily the best song here, hints at something promising: clever guitar interplay and, perhaps, a propensity to experiment with real ways to push pop-punk past imitation and into the 21st century. They round it out appropriately with somber acoustic number "Take the Fall," neutering their yeoman-like rhythm section until the lukewarm climax. Why do I feel like I've been through this before? The execution is here. Make no mistake; Bad Advice is a solid pop-punk record, but we don't need that anymore. This is a sound that's already been developed, had its fun, and beaten itself into submission.

I Call Fives have turned out an admirable effort much too late, rendering this EP little else besides a capable, caffeinated rock album in an oversaturated scene. Dig deeper, boys -- you don't have to go bland to be fun and unpretentious.

Live Review: Junior Battles @ Knitting Factory 5-10-10 w/ BTMI, O Pioneers, & Thousandaires

 Junior Battles @ Knitting Factory 5-10-10

Photos & Words by M.M

If Junior Battles is any indication of a good Toronto punk scene, then the four members in this band make me want to check out more music from the area. With an old-school New Found Glory tinged pop-punk flavored sound with vocals from all the members, Junior Battles provided a fun performance at their Monday night show at Brooklyn's Knitting Factory -- the band's first NYC show!

Junior Battles U.S. Tour with O Pioneers

Toronto pop-punk band Junior Battles is joining O Pioneers for a May tour beginning today. They will be at Knitting Factory in Brooklyn this Monday, May 10 with Bomb the Music Industry and Asbury Lanes on Tuesday, May 11 with Bomb the Music Industry and Franz Nicolay. They're touring to support their Self-Titled 7'' released on Square Up Records. You can purchase the limited 500 vinyl (available in green with white or Grey marble) here or download it for free from If You Make It. They are also planning a split with O Pioneers on Kiss of Death Records.

Lemuria Tour Dates + Writing New Album

Lemuria have tour dates lined up for the next few months, mostly with Leatherface, which will bring the band to Brooklyn once and New Jersey twice, before the Harvest of Hope Festival and Rad Fest. They'll play a loft show at 538 with The Menzingers and Captain, We're Sinking on March 5, then two dates in NJ after. The first is at Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park on March 6 with Leatherface. Tickets are available for $10 here. After they'll be at Championship Bar in Trenton on March 7 with Static Radio NJ, Tea & The Whiskey, and others for an all ages, matinee benefit show. The band also announced a few details about new material via a MySpace bulletin:

We are currently writing our new album! We are going to be recording it this summer and hopefully it will be released by the end of the year!

We'll be playing a handful of songs from it at all of our upcoming shows.

See you there we hope!
Alex

You can stream the band's latest song, "Expert Herder" from their Ozzy 7-inch on their MySpace.