Lav's Music Corner

For the people who can tell the difference between all these genres, I'm sorry, and I promise I can to. But this was the best way to quickly talk about a bunch of records I wanted to comment on regardless in a rapid fire fashion. Enjoy <3 THE FUTURE IS HERE AND EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE DESTROYED - The Armed When The Armed broke through to a massive new audience on their 2021 album ULTRAPOP  they seemed to hit on something unique. They mixed the sounds and compositional styles from the indie rock umbrella into the pure ferocity of their screamo and hardcore demeanor. While I appreciated what the band did, I had an issue with the actual sound of the record. The production and mixing seemingly robbed the band of their most intense elements, with screams and churning guitars that felt like they never sounded as heavy as they were supposed to. Unfortunately, the EXACT same issue plagues this record.  The trio of singles for the album are the main reason I decided to cover it at al...

Review by Lav: Crush Fund are a New York punk trio who have become a fixture of the East Coast queer and trans scene in the past few years. If you haven't heard of them yet, start asking around and I promise it won't take long. After a three-track EP in 2022 flashed what they were capable of and they built up a reputation for pummeling live performances, I've been incredibly excited for their next move. Now the trio's next move is here, a 5-track EP whose ferocity is capable of turning them from a curiosity into a full-on obsession.  New Fixation  was led off by the release of its final track W.W.Y.D  as a single and I absolutely loved it. The song shifts its speed faster and slower constantly while the vocals are passed back and forth making for a chaotic sonic experience of cognitive dissonance. That combined with the vicious repetition of "what would you do" feels like every member of Crush Fund is interrogating you all at once, and they're all three pl...

Review by Lav: Mannequin Pussy is a Philly punk rock band that has long interested me for their combination of ferocity and sonic versatility. For many it was their 2019 album Patience  that served as their breakthrough, but where they really clicked with me was on the 2021 follow-up Perfect EP. Across just a few tracks the band showed off their full range with infectious dreamy space and speedy punk intensity coming back to back on songs throughout. But with the singles for this record, the band seemed to take a different approach, why not combine them? For the best example look no further than the title track, lead single, and opener I Got Heaven . It's an absolutely ripping opener that I loved last year and it wastes no time kicking the album off with a bang. I love that it hits right away with this literally animalistic ferocity to the lyrics. It's also a great example of how the album can transition seamlessly between its punk angst and a sweeter, dreamier sincerity. I als...

While there are always a million allegedly great local hardcore records that I get recommended every year, I only really have the time to cover the ones I'm most excited for. That informs this decision which features three albums I went into anticipating being VERY good. These are the results. Enjoy <3 God's Country  - Chat Pila This is the highly anticipated debut album from Oklahoma hardcore act Chat Pile who have released some successful EPs in the past few years to generate a lot of hype going into the album. While I was a bit of a late comer to those EPs I did hear the record's singles as they were released which also helped immensely to get me excited for it. Now that the record is here I can say that it's one of the darkest and most versatile hardcore records you'll hear this year. In fact even just saying "hardcore" feels like a catch-all for a band that interpolates numerous styles of experimental rock and metal into their songs. The record beg...

IDLES are a British punk and post-punk band who spent the back half of the 2010's establishing themselves as one of the hardest hitters in the genre. The combination of their pounding percussion, fist pumping riffs, arena chanting refrains and frontman Joe Talbot's gnarly singing vocals they created a blend of chugging politically charged punk rock all their own. They leaned into this heavily on their third album last years Ultra Mono  which was the simplest and most commercial IDLES project to date. Review By Lav: I love this band. From the first time I heard Joe's snarling vitriol on Stendhal Syndrome  I was hooked and they expanded their themes and sound even further on their excellent sophomore record. On top of this I saw the band live recently and they absolutely killed, even if my shoes got pretty roughed up by the experience. While I was one of those people who wasn't crazy about the bands third album I still think it had it's highlights from a songwriting...

Normally with these weekly-ish segments I look for a few records that have something in common with each other that I can cover together because its cute and congruent. Once we get into the last few months of the year however, there becomes a point where I just have some records that I need to talk about before the curtain closes on 2021. These are three records that I really only put together because I originally went into them anticipating they would be good, didn't quite have the time to fully review them, but still wanted to talk about them in some capacity. So without further meaningless delay here are those concise reviews.  Texis  - Sleigh Bells Sleigh Bells are one of those groups that kind of disappear in between album cycles and don't get the same level of press they once did as early 2010's indie darlings. But every time they emerge I see fans come out in mass to praise the duo for their infectious noise pop fusions. I've always had a soft spot for the band a...

PUP is a Toronto based punk band who first received recognition on the back of their 2013 self-titled debut album. Since then the band has released two more records each of which received more attention than the last culminating in last years Morbid Stuff .  Review By Lavender: While straight up punk rock isn't necessarily my go to genre for great music these days I have enjoyed each PUP album more than the last. Leading up to Morbid Stuff  I still wasn't fully convinced of the bands merits but after hearing that record I have to say they are capable of rocking as hard as anybody around right now. After a single from this EP really impressed me I was pretty excited for the project, and while I think every song here is at least decent it is also clear that these are effectively Morbid Stuff  B-Sides. Rot  was a great single and by far my favorite song of the bunch. It's a fiery pop punk rager from start to finish with a melodramatic chorus and short hooky guitar riffs...

Idles is a British punk rock band who first began to attract major critical attention with their 2017 debut album Brutalism  which introduced the world to their socially charged song themes and snarling lead vocalist Joe Talbot. They pushed their sound and societal critiques even higher on a critically acclaimed follow-up in 2018 before adjusting their style to fit a more conventional rock sound on their 3rd record. Review By Lavender: While I don't think either of the first two Idles records are masterpieces I did thoroughly enjoy them both and what the band offers is in short supply right now. Given the jump they made from album 1 to album to I was hoping that the band would take an even bigger step and drop one of the best albums of the year on Ultra Mono  but after a few singles I didn't have much hope left. The record isn't bad but it is seeped in awkwardness with awkward lyrics and chunky fist-pumping riffs that feel below the band after their first two records avoide...

X is a California punk and alternative rock band who released some of the genre's most essential and acclaimed work in the early 80's. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of their seminal 1980 debut album Los Angeles  the original line-up of the band reunited for the first time since 1985's Ain't Love Grand .  Review By Lavender: I would say that X is among my favorites of the original punk bands of the 1980's and 95% of that is due to my huge admiration for their debut Los Angeles . While I do enjoy pieces of their next few records the most essential moment of the bands catalog is their consistently underrated first record. When this record was surprised dropped out of the blue I was certainly caught off guard given how long it has been since we last heard anything from the band, and even more excited once I heard that the original line-up was writing and recording together for the first time in a long time. I had hoped that the band came back because they had someth...

Refused are a Swedish punk band legendary for their third record 1998's The Shape Of Punk To Come . The record was an influential and universally acclaimed approach to hardcore punk music in the late 90's. After dropping this classic the groups disbanded and after a long wait re-united to release a fourth record Freedom  in 2015. Review By Lavender: If you like punk, hardcore punk and post-hardcore there's a good chance you're familiar with Refused and The Shape Of Punk To Come  but if you somehow aren't you should get familiar quickly because it is an excellent record for the genre that was considered a classic the moment it was released. The bands comeback record 2015's Freedom  wasn't amazing but it was far from the disaster many comeback records turned out to be and saw the band sounding surprisingly energetic for their veteran status. I was excited for this record because they seem to still be pretty in tact with the modern hardcore punk music sc...

!!! are a California dance punk band that have been going for nearly 20 years and while some of their albums have been much more acclaimed and popular than others the band has been a consistent presence within their musical realm. After dropping what many saw as their best record in years in 2017 they released a number of singles to steadily build up hype for the release of their 8th studio album Wallop . Review By Lavender: I have always enjoyed the music of !!!, their unique blend of the manic energy of punk and the groovy, tight tempo of electronica and dance music. While their discograpy is far from perfect, albums like Thr!!!er , Louden Up Now  and Shake The Shudder  are solid records full of interesting tracks that I return to whenever I'm in the mood for the groups one of a kind sound. After hearing a number of these songs as singles my expectations for the record were mixed, and while there are plenty of sounds I enjoy across the record they end up being rehashe...

Titus Andronicus is a New Jersey folk punk band who made waves with their breakout sophomore record The Monitor  in 2010. The album was a true to form punk record that interpolated longer song lengths and themes revolving around Civil War era United States. The record was out of character for its genre but gained universal critical acclaim for its energetic performances and brilliant songwriting. Since then the band has released three records to mixed critical reception including the often maligned and long winded The Most Lamentable Tragedy  in 2015. The band has taken a shorter and more succint approach on An Obelisk  releasing just 38 minutes of material spread over ten tracks.  Review By Lavender: While I have been disappointed by Titus Andronicus on their past two records A Productive Cough  and The Most Lamentable Tragedy  I seem to have more patience and anticipation for the group than many. A lot of people probably don't remember just how...

$uicideboy$ are a New Orleans based rap duo who released their debut album last year after years of many, MANY mixtapes and EPs. The group recruited Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and screamo vocalist MUNKY for this six track EP which featured two singles.  Review By Lavender: Jesus christ.  $uicideboy$ have been an act I have followed for a few years now taking in whatever of their releases and solo material and collaborations that I can, but on Live Fast Die Whenever  they have chosen to clash their styles with some absolutely abysmal results.  The two singles for this EP we're strange but honestly the only highlights it has to offer. nothingleftnothingleft  is a pretty fiery and true to form punk tune.  Unfortunately it clashes directly with the style of the two very uncompelling rap verses delivered on the song and contains one of the most underwhelming choruses I've heard all year. There is some decent material here but the strange ...