School Daze
I know that most of you are college kids, so you can understand how straining the last month of classes is. I’m sure that both the Max’s are going through the same thing. I personally don’t have the time or energy to stay on top of new music and instead of giving you folks a bunch of re-posts from other blogs, we’re going to put Shock Mountain on the back burner for the next couple of weeks. We’ll still post some stuff, but it’s going to be sparse. Rest assured that when we return, we will be back with a vengeance.
- James
P.S. Sordo is back?!
Pianos Become The Teeth – “Saltwater” + “Old Pride”
Saltwater
Old Pride
Earlier today, I was notified by a friend on last.fm that Pianos Become The Teeth might be playing a show in Columbus in January. I quickly made my way to their MySpace page where my highest hopes were sort of confirmed. While nothing has been finalized yet, I am incredibly excited for this show, especially since there is a rumored Max Levine Ensemble show planned in Columbus for a few days later.
Pianos Become The Teeth is a band from Maryland who recently signed to Topshelf Records (My Heart To Joy, Defeater). They’re an emo band who tint their sound with a lot of ambiance and beautiful soundscapes, not unlike Suis La Lune or Raein. While comparing a band to Raein might set the bar a little high, I think the energy the two bands put out are comparable. Since I’m seeing both bands live within a few weeks of each other, it’ll be interesting to see how the sounds and energy of both bands translate to live performances. Although both albums are full of excellent songs, one major standout is “Houses We Die In” off of Saltwater. The vocals sound so emotionally strained, mixed in with the mid-tempo, post-rock influenced music, that you can’t help but feel some kind of emotion. As I stated before, I’m incredibly excited to see this band live if their show does happen, and if it doesn’t happen in Columbus, I’ll probably travel to see it.
-McKenna
Converge – Jane Doe
Dear Shock Mountain, I apologize for not posting a lot this week, but my week has been kind of crazy. It’s not like many of you are probably missing your pop punk fix anyway, so whatever. That’ll return soon.
Anyway, the Rock and Metal Forum on Sputnik Music recently voted (overwhelmingly) this album to be the best album of the last decade. While I may not agree with that completely, this is definitely one of the best metal albums of the past decade. Quick, hard-hitting, mathy metal/punk/rock is fused with really non-metal song structures and produces a sound that is 50% ferocious and 50% beautiful. The raw power that Converge throws out on this album is something that gets matched very rarely by contemporary bands. Even if you’re not a big fan of metal or harder music in general, I recommend at least giving this album a shot. I first got it when I wasn’t too into harder music, and I loved it just as much then as I do now.
-McKenna
Want to write for Shock Mountain?
I’m considering adding one of you readers as a contributor to our blog. Being a contributor here would mean that you are expected to maintain a somewhat frequent posting style (2-5 posts a week). We’re looking for someone who has something to offer to our blog that we currently don’t have. If you would like to be considered, simply shoot me an email or comment below with a sample of your writing and a link to your last.fm if possible.
- James
Sun Araw
Since 2007, Cameron Stallones has been crafting elaborate psychedelic drone compositions under the pseudonym Sun Araw. His music is often described as having it’s own essence or aura. Truly, this is an artist who’s work emotes a sense of spirituality and tranquility. It took me far too long to get into this and I’m kicking myself for it now. Located here is everything he has put out to date with the exception of Geneva Hits, which hasn’t yet surface online.
The Phynx (2007)
Boat Trip (2008)
Beach Head (2008)
Predator Vision Split LP (2009)
Leaves Like These (2009)
Heavy Deeds (2009)
In Orbit (2009)
Buy his stuff from Not Not Fun
- James
Touché Amoré at The Tower 2012 [VIDEO]
I had the chance to see Touché Amoré last night at The Tower 2012. Having never been to The Tower for a show before, I was a bit nervous. However, the basement venue in a crappy area of Cleveland was everything I had expected and hoped for. Check out the band ending their set with Adieux and Honest Sleep below.
Artist Submission – Dragon Turtle
I was tipped off to Dragon Turtle by Jessi Hector, of Goldest Egg, who has sent me lots of great Brooklyn based artists that her public relations company promotes. To my personal embarassment and regret, I have sat on some of her submissions for far too long, but Dragon Turtle is a truly captivating act to watch out for. The band describes themselves as “Ambient-Winter-Calypso-Space-Folk” and as contrived as a description as that may be, it’s quite accurate. The band’s sound is quite unique with vocals that are subdued and echoey, acoustics clamoring for your attention at every turn, and a good deal of electronic undertones to keep any listener paying close attention. For your listening pleasure, we have a track off of their new album, Almanac, streaming below. The album is being released by La Société Expéditionnaire in a variety of formats. However, if I had to choose one of the three it would definitely be the black and red vinyl, which is limited to 500 copies.
Buy from La Société Expéditionnaire
Dragon Turtle – Island Of Broken Glass
- James
Parenthetical Girls – (((GRRRLS))) + Safe As Houses + Entanglements
Three albums from Washington-based experimental pop band Parenthetical Girls
(((GRRRLS)))
Safe As Houses
Entanglements
As stated before, Parenthetical Girls is a Washington-based experimental pop band. In all honesty, I really only stated listening to them because one of my favorite groups, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, covered their song “Love Connection” off of the Parenthetical Girls album (((GRRRLS))). Once I actually decided to give the original group a chance, however, my efforts were well rewarded. This album, while definitely not outlandish and borderline unlistenable, is not your typical pop album. Sure, the instrumentation is gorgeous and singer Zac Pennington (while sounding a little androgynous at times) sings beautiful stories in a haunting, quivering voice, this is more Xiu Xiu than Weezer. In fact, the best comparison to the sound of Parenthetical Girls is Xiu Xiu with a little more bells and a lot less freakouts. In fact, the song “I Broke Up (SJ)” off of Knife Play is a very good comparison, minus the parts of the song where Jamie Stewart freaks out and yells. Anyway, I’ve namedropped two really good experimental pop acts in this, and if the sheer weight carried by dropping those names doesn’t convince you to check these albums out, it’s out of my power.
-McKenna
Raein to play The Tower 2012 on Dec. 6
I never thought I would have the opportunity to see Raein live, but in three short weeks I’ll be getting crazy at this show despite it being the sunday before finals week. Not going to this show would definitely be one of the greater music related regrets of my life.
Also, Touche Amore are playing tonight! (This was under my radar until just now.)
-James
Taul – Sex
Since coming to NYU, I havent found a ton of people who like a lot of the same music as myself. One of the first people I became good friends with was Paul Kollmer, who shared a love of Flying Lotus, Boards of Canada and J Dilla.Not only this, he made music with his good friend Trevor, which happened to be phenomenal. Drawing together instrumental hip-hop in the vein of Flying Lotus and J Dilla, electronic music ranging from Boards of Canada to Prefuse 73 and electro-pop like Junior Boys or Hot Chip, Taul has made a sound that will appeal to fans of all mentioned groups. After shitting bricks over the random tracks he’d sample for me over the weeks, he finally hooked me up with his album, which I’m now super excited to share with everyone. There isn’t really a reason not to download this, it’s great and it’s 19 minutes.
This album will be available on iTunes on Friday, November 20.
-Max
Bad Waves link dump
In all honesty, I don’t post nearly as many albums on weekends as I should, normally just ignoring them. I attribute that to all of you being cool and having better things to do on the weekends than read my senseless babble. Anyway, I’m sitting at home and listening to Parenthetical Girls (get ready, Monday!) because I’m lame, and I feel like I should just post all of the links from my old blog, BADWAVES, onto this one. Think of it as my apology. There’s not much, but enjoy.
PS If you’re in Columbus or the surrounding area, make sure to come to the DELAY album release show Sunday night. It’s going to be awesome. Contact me on Facebook/last.fm/email for more info.
Team Robespierre – Everything’s Perfect BKLYN dance-punk
Ninjasonik – All Our Friends Are In Bands BKLYN hip-hop remixes of Matt & Kim, The Death Set, Vivian Girls, and others
Psychedelic Horseshit – Magic Flowers Droned Columbus lo-fi fuzz, shitgaze
The Exploding Ticket – In Flanders Fields Acoustic stuff from a guy I’m friends with on last.fm
Michael Jordan Touchdown Pass – Cash, Money, Etc. Folk punk from Vermont. Plan-It-X type jams.
The Comedians – Moon Colony Bloodbath John Darnielle and John Vanderslice recorded an EP about cannibals on the moon. Awesome.
The Appleseed Cast – Two Conversations Post-rock type stuff with a little more rock
The Appleseed Cast – Sagarmatha Post-rock. Probably my favorite album of 2009.
Sicko – You Can Feel the Love in This Room Punk from the 80s. Sounds like a poppier Jawbreaker.
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone – Twinkle Echo Indietronic. Good. Pop.
Rilo Kiley – The Execution of All Things I really like this album. I don’t care what you think.
Philip James – Hazy Helicopter Fuck Lo-fi noise. Good and experimental.
Afterlives – A Ticking Clock I Couldn’t Stop Lo-fi Enemies List rock. Like everything they put out, incredible.
Arkansas? – Arkansas? One of my favorite DIY punk bands. Really good pop-punk.
Greenhouse Effect – Columbus or Bust Columbus-based hip-hop
Greenhouse Effect – Greenhouse Effect vs. Radiohead Columbus-based hip-hop mashed up with Radiohead
Score One For Safety – Like A Rice Filled Bird, You Explode European screamy post-rock
The Max Levine Ensemble – OK Smartypants Fast, hard-hitting pop-punk. Dance party!
-McKenna
Transistor Transistor – Erase All Name and Likeness
A few weeks ago, I was sitting in Thompson Library when I noticed that a girl sitting a few tables away from me had what I assumed to be a Transistor Transistor sticker on her laptop. After dropping a note off at her desk expressing my affection for Transistor Transistor and notifying her of this blog, I nearly sprinted out of the library, high as a kite on whatever chemical your brain releases after you do gutsy things. Once I was outside and confident any police officers following me would lose me in the crowd, I put my headphones on and turned this album way up.
Erase All Name and Likeness is one of those albums that kind of demands to be listened to at a high volume. Thrashy, technical punk is one of those musical genres that I pretend to profess to be knowledgeable about but in actuality probably know nothing about. I think I know what’s good when I hear it, however, and the song “Power Chord Academy” on this album is definitely a solid track, along with most other songs on this album. The technicality of the instrumentation shouldn’t be a turnoff to people who don’t have much of a background in hardcore, while the sheer power the vocals are delivered with should satisfy even the most devout follower of kvlt underground punx. This is definitely one of my favorite hardcore albums, and since Transistor Transistor keeps company with bands such as Hot Cross, Wolves, Converge, Circle Takes the Square, and Daughters, it’s easy to see that others hold a pretty high opinion of it too. If that doesn’t convince you, be aware that this band is made up of former members of emo legends Orchid and Bucket Full Of Teeth.
-McKenna
Memory Tapes – Seek Magic
By now, most of you have already downloaded Memory Tapes’ Seek Magic, but if you haven’t, you’re really missing out. This album has been in very heavy rotation for me over the past couple of months. It’s an elegant mix of summery dance pop that remains fresh on every listen. If you’re unfamiliar with this whole newly declared glo-fi/chillwave genre, this is a perfect starting point.
- James
Lemuria – The First Collection + Get Better
I’m seeing the Pop-Punk trio Lemuria at The Soggy Dog House in Lakewood tomorrow night, so I’m sharing their two albums in order to entice more Clevelander’s to make it out to the show. As with all shows at the Soggy Dog, there is no charge to go to the show, but donations are encouraged. However, I would happily pay to see Lemuria and I’m hoping they have some vinyl I can pick up. I first saw the Buffalo, NY based band at Berea Fest III and they had every single kid in attendance going fucking nuts. The First Collection is comprised of tracks from various 7″ records that the band put out. Get Better is their first real full length and shows the band branching out into a new and exciting sound. If you’re in Cleveland tomorrow, there is no reason why I shouldn’t see you getting buck in a basement with me.
- James
Eux Autres – Hell is Eux Autres
So, I have received a unanimous, permanent ban from posting Get Up Kids album for the next while, so here’s something different. Seeing the Faux Pas album Max posted a few days ago got me to thinking about this band, Eux Autres. I’ve had their album for a while, and used to listen to it quite regularly, but it kind of fell on the wayside, unfortunately. I’m not really sure how that happened, because this album is actually quite good. 1/3 indie pop, 1/3 being French, and 1/3 handclaps, Hell is Eux Autres is definitely a fun, catchy band. Even though the brother/sister duo is based out of Oregon, a fair amount of the songs are either sung entirely in French or partly in French. The siblings switch vocal duties multiple times over the course of a song, all while keeping the drum beats and guitar riffs tight. The handclaps are also spread everywhere around the album without being overbearing or annoying. Basically, this is a solid indie pop/modern twee album that is definitely worth checking out if you’re into that type of stuff.
-McKenna
