Archipiélagos

From: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Genre: Emo, Math Rock, Instrumental

For Fans Of: American Football, Sharks Keep Moving, The Mercury Program

I know what you're thinking, "How can an instrumental band ever be tr00 emo? Without those puberty ridden, voice cracking, whiny vocals, how can I get sad to this?!?!" Well, rest assured, because Archipiélagos prove that you can convey emotion as powerfully only using instruments just as well as a vocalist can. And oh boy, do they ever pull it off. Each track makes me want to ride a bike or take a long drive on one of those movie-esque windy, sunny days and stare dramatically at things, rethinking every life decision I've ever made. I'm positive that movie would be a sad movie, or at least one of those weird happy-sad indie movies that causes you to wonder whether you're supposed to smile or cry. Basically, tangent aside, this record is really, really good at what it sets out to do. The lack of lyrics actually works better for me on some emotional level due to the fact that it leaves a lot of the emotion generated up to listener interpretation, making this a record that everybody should be able to connect with in one way or another. I was also blown away by Archipiélagos's ability to transition from more crowded, math rock oriented sections, to much more cut back, minimalist sections akin to American Football (There's even some horn on track 2!). Overall this record is one small emotional trip for those who wish to avoid lyrics and just vibe with the music a bit.

Free Tunes: https://archipielagos.bandcamp.com/

Remo Drive

From: Minnesota

Genre: Emo, Alternative, Post Punk

For Fans Of: Balance and Composure (they just remind me of them a bit, I don't know why), I can't really think of anything else, they're pretty unique.

Are you ready to get sad? If your answer is yes, then good, because with Remo Drive, it's time to get sad. Placing these guys, as mentioned above, is difficult for me (which I mean in the best way possible). They obviously have sort of an emo backbone, but fail to fully meet the standard of what I think of when I think of emo bands. Instead they mix some very loud to soft post punk/post hardcore-ish type sections, and even have a few sections of songs that sound they like belong on a Matador Records release. Now is any of this a bad thing? Absolutely not. This unique blend of styles shows that Remo Drive is a band that refuses to be pinned down and is more than happy to explore their influences a little bit and move a bit out of their comfort zone, and that totally rules. I've stated before that for me, I personally get sick of the millions of bands within emo nowadays who seem to just want to be as close to Algernon Cadwallader as possible. That's why Remo Drive's willingness to transcend genre boundaries and really explore multiple genres is so refreshing. I definitely believe these guys are a band that everyone should be following closely, Also what the hell is what up with Lost State records? Those guys have just been knocking it out of the park with their releases. Seriously an absolutely killer label at this point that I can really trust to put out solid releases. Final thing, but I feel like an Oddities/Remo Drive split would be insanely awesome, but that's just me. Anyways, after all the rambling, just check these guys out. You'll love it.

Free(!!!!) Tunes: https://remodrive.bandcamp.com/

Not Half Bad

From: Fort Worth, Texas

Genre: Folk Punk, Punk, Orgcore

For Fans Of: Andrew Jackson Jihad (Knife Man type stuff), Against Me!, O! Pioneers!!!

Ah, how refreshing. A folk punk band who doesn't want to just rip off Andrew Jackson Jihad or Days n' Daze. It soothes me in a way that I can't quite explain to hear a vocalist that isn't trying to do that weird nasal screech thing Days N' Daze does (no offense love that band) or simply try as hard as possible to sound like Sean Bonnette of Andrew Jackson Jihad. Maybe, though, that is because, while this band does carry many "folk punk" qualities, they're for the most part a folk punk band. Instead of the folk punk goal of sounding exactly like Ramshackle Glory and calling it a day, Not Half Bad is significantly more driven by the punk stylings of "orgcore" bands such as Hot Water Music and O!!! Pioneers!!!. This isn't at all a bad thing, however. It definitely separates them from the millions of other bands playing folk punk now, while their large folk punk influence separates them from all the bands trying to play orgcore. Not Half Bad truly exists in some beautiful middle ground between two genres where I increasingly find many bands to stomach, and in doing so, really present some totally banging punk tunes. If you want to sing along and be pretty out of time while doing it, but be ok with it, Not Half Bad is probably the band for you. (Side Note: I still listen to their song "Punk rock is a full time job" pretty much daily. Check it out.)

Free Tunes: https://nothalfbad.bandcamp.com/album/sorry-dudes-ep

Beds

From: Sterling, Virginia

Genre: Emo, Twinkle

For Fans Of: Texas is the Reason, Algernon Cadwallader, Snowing

Let me start by saying that I do enjoy a significant amount of emo, and twinkly emo a very large amount. However, like many bands in many genres, a lot of bands within the "twinkly emo" style of emo fall into a rut where they don't strike their own path, but rather, follow the formula of other bands that are already successful within the style. Essentially, far too many of the bands get lost in a crowd of other bands that sound exactly like Snowing. Luckily, Beds is not one of those bands, and consistently delivers some grade A, top notch emo. This band understands that their guitar parts have to be damn noodly, but also carry a level of melody that retains the listeners attention and makes the songs instantly memorable and a bit more connectable, as the emotion isn't hidden behind layers of "Oh look what I can do" noodle-ieness. This is where Beds is similar to bands that helped to sort of pioneer and expand the style, such as Snowing and Algernon Cadwallader, as they never get too caught up in being a "twinkle" band. If you're looking for some mega rad emo to get sad to, don't look much farther than Beds, as they're your guys.

(P.S. They just put out a super rad split with Flowers Taped to Pens/Bread Club/Skull kid, a few of my other favorite bands going right now.)

Michael Jordan EP: https://bedz.bandcamp.com/album/michael-jordan-ep

Flowers Taped to Pens/Bread Club/Skull Kid split: h
ttps://bedz.bandcamp.com/album/7-split-w-flowers-taped-to-pens-skull-kid-and-bread-club

Grim Luck!

From:  San Diego, California

Genre: Ska Punk, Roma-Jazz punk

For Fans Of: Gogol Bordello, The Arrogant Sons of Bitches, Butcher Knives

First of all, before you begin to get your hopes up after hearing this totally amazing, mind numbingly energetic, fun, and all around fantastic band, it does NOT seem if they have any plans to tour extensively outside of California or record new material at this time. Now let me explain why that is the biggest bummer in the entire world and why it's such a tragedy. Grim Luck! doesn't just provide some enjoyable ska punk. They provide ska punk that is so distinctly it's hard to think of a truly fair comparison for them. They borrow from a vast multitude of genres, including, but not limited to Roma "gypsy" jazz (many people within the "gypsy" culture consider the word to be a slur), hardcore, and ska punk to create one totally massive pummeling sound. Every song is a flurry of horns, pounding drums, and vocals that beg to be shouted along to. The energy never truly drops with Grim Luck! and it's just infectious. These songs make you want to dance, punch the air, and sing along. I challenge anyone to try and find at least one song on this release, or any of their releases, that they don't absolutely fall in love with. Oh yeah, and they have a song about the Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, "Going to Candied Island!!". I also love their use of exclamation points.

Free Tunes: https://grimluck.bandcamp.com/album/alexandra-volume-2-the-dread

Kill Lincoln (RIP RIP RIP)

From: Moshington, D.C.
Genre: Ska Punk, Pop punk, Joy for ska kids everywhere.
For Fans Of: Survay Says!, Less than Jake, I voted for Kodos, Skacore

Oh, how bittersweet this post is. On one hand, it is important, and necessary, to celebrate one of the greatest young ska bands of our generation, but, on the other hand, it is cruel that they would go on hiatus after such a stellar ep. But alas, that is how life is, and it is better to have loved and lost Kill Lincoln then to have never had Kill Lincoln at all. I first had the good fortune of stumbling upon Kill Lincoln while looking into attending a Big D and the kids table show, where they were opening. Naturally, as I do with all openers, I looked for a bandcamp and jammed out a bit. Upon first fatefully clicking on one song (that song was "Dad fight" due to the amazing title), I was blown away. The band showed a mastery over hardcore that surprised me since I was supposed to be listening to a ska punk band. Upon listening to the rest of the album (the album is "That's cool....in a totally negative and destructive way", by the way), however, I was pleasantly surprised by a band who carried the pop punk/ska blend of Less than Jake, but with much more of a hardcore punk undertone. This was skacore that wasn't about trying to sound as much like Leftover Crack as possible, but
instead forging a sound all their own and powering through with it. With this most recent ep, Kill Lincoln continues on with that sound, plowing through catchy ska/pop punk tunes on songs like "8$ Beer Night" and "Good Riddance to Good Advice" while keeping their hardcore energy on songs "I'm getting too old for this shit". Overall, this is yet another truly stellar release from a ska punk band gone much too soon. Hopefully this break really is just a hiatus, and Kill Lincoln will be back in the future with more songs that I can bob my head and sing along to while getting awkward looks in public. I will miss this band dearly, and highly recommend that anyone who hasn't listened to them yet stops screwing around and gets on it so that they can share in my time of pain/mourning. Also I heard something about a split with the Best of the Worst and Still Alive awhile ago, but haven't seen anything about it in awhile. I really need that split guys, please, for me. And finally, fuck you Alan.

Tunes (Ranked in order of my favorite release by them):
1.) That's Cool...In a Totally Negative and Destructive Way
https://killlincolndc.bandcamp.com/album/thats-cool-in-a-totally-negative-and-destructive-way

2.) Good Riddance to Good Advice
https://killlincolndc.bandcamp.com/album/good-riddance-to-good-advice

3.) You Were There
https://killlincolndc.bandcamp.com/album/you-were-there

Black Wine

From: New Jersey
Genre: Psych rock, Punk, Indie, Grunge
For Fans Of: Mudhoney, Jesus Lizard, Dinosaur Jr., Pale Angels (just look at that tie in!)

Seeing as I just posted about a Mikey Erg band, I felt that it was only fair to post another band from a different Erg, Jeff Erg (I'd post Joey's band, but Joey is in The Night Birds, and I'm pretty sure everybody knows them at this point). Black Wine is a unique mix of a lot of different styles, with their truly only consistent quality being a little bit of crunch and fuzz on the guitars. They take influence from the grunge and indie movements in the 90's, and kind of flucuate between those two sounds, often blending them. There is definitely a strong underlying pop punk influence similar to Ergs songs where Jeff did vocals instead of Mikey. Personally, I always loved Jeff's vocals and was really stoked hearing him take much larger of a vocal role in this band. You can't really download any of their stuff off of bandcamp for whatever reason, but they're definitely worth a listen. No idea if they're active or inactive at this point, but let's really hope for active. ("Pushing through the foam" is a fantastic song, and the video for it is highly recommended as a starting point for this band).

Tunes: https://blackwine.bandcamp.com/album/summer-of-indifference