Off Shores

Off-Shores.net is a blog ran from the great state of Kansas, dedicated to exposing the scene to all the best music. Setting Sails. Est. 2013

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REVIEW: Whirr & Nothing - Split

Let me preface this by saying I have next to no knowledge about shoegaze music. Evidently, there is a bit of a ‘shoegaze revival’ going on and it has fallen completely underneath my nose. In 2013, I listened to Sunbather from Deafheaven and really enjoyed it. It was a shoegaze record and I didn’t even realize it! Most recently, I acquired the new LP’s from Whirr and Nothing through my university’s radio station. I had no expectations other than the fact I knew that Whirr is a band on the Run For Cover roster which is all the go-ahead I really need before checking out an artist.

All that was before winter break, and now I’ve fallen down somewhat of a rabbit hole. This dreamy and ethereal drudge rock offers an atmospheric and fuzzy sound that I didn’t even know I had been wanting to hear and it’s starting to dominate my rotation. If you’re looking for a place to start to become better acquainted with the genre, I recommend checking out the new split from Whirr and Nothing. Both bands are coming off recent releases of excellent full-lengths, but this short collection of tracks feels like fresh material rather than afterthoughts or rejects. It’s an accessibly pleasant offering that gives you a taste for two bands that have put out fantastic nugaze releases.

Whirr’s portion starts with the aptly-titled “Ease”, it’s a driven yet cloudy track kept grounded by a driving bassline while the guitars float and the vocals are more of an afterthought at times remaining very relaxed and never forced. “Lean” is a brooding, dreamy track with a bit more of a heavy and focused sound. It’s a bit more structured, and has an ethereal outro. I can say that Whirr’s style of music is a very relaxing one that constantly teeters on the edge of soft and loud, light and heavy. It’s a fantastic combination, and I would say that this is definitely a cut above what they offered on their most recent LP, Sway.

Nothing’s side of the split is a bit more heavy and maybe a better place to start with a sound falling somewhere in the between of Pity Sex’s poppier tendencies while maintaining a bit of distinct, heavier prog-emo sound similar to Balance and Composure’s The Things We Think We’re Missing.  It’s my favorite style of shoegaze that I’ve heard. “Chloroform” is a fuzz-heavy track with loud choruses and a taste of the band’s roots in the Philly hardcore scene. “July the Fourth” is doesn’t stray from the formula too much, but I admire Nothing’s ability to merge outside influences into their own unique music that still falls into the confines of what is shoegaze.

If you are looking for an opportunity to become better acquainted with shoegaze, this is an excellent starting point. While Nothing’s side of the split is comes across as a little better and more purposeful, Whirr is another band that is sure to rise to the top of any alternative rock charts. These four songs offer just a glimpse into the future of what is some very exciting things to come from these bands.

8/10

[off-shoresnet]

Review: KNUCKLE PUCK - While I Stay Secluded

Pop-punk is in a really weird place right now, and so am I. Music, like everything else, tends to come and go in cycles. Throughout the early portions of the decade pop-punk made surging return fueled by nostalgia, independent labels, and the Internet. The fervor that was initially felt for this pop-punk revitalisation has died down, and I attribute part of that to the aging of the fan bases that made some of that early wave of ‘Defenders’ so popular in the scene. It’s not entirely inaccurate to say that pop-punk is in the same derivative state similar to what metalcore was going through back in 2009. Every time I listen to a new pop-punk album I almost feel like I’m stuck in a rut.

Maybe Knuckle Puck has it all figured out. In “Home Alone” vocalist Joe Taylor sings “I am expendable / but I guess that’s just the way things go.” While I highly doubt he was singing about the future of his own band, it’s relevant. I’m not the same 17 year old kid anymore. I’m almost 22, and while I wouldn’t say that I’m any less angry or frustrated than I was back in 2010, I would say that my life has significantly changed and I would like to hear music more akin as to what I’m feeling.

 That’s where Knuckle Puck comes in. Their latest EP, While I Stay Secluded, is not perfect by any means but it doesn’t have to be. It’s 20 engaging and personal moments of aggressive yet melodic pop-punk, and it deserves just a few minutes of your time.

On their 2013 release entitled The Weight That You Buried, Knuckle Puck already established themselves as a no-holds-barred group with tight instrumentation, direct vocal delivery, and “shots fired” lyricism. While I Stay Secluded isn’t a whole lot different. The opening track, “Transparency”, is probably one of my favorite pop-punk jams in recent memory. It’s hard to write music about happenings on social media, and it’s also hard to listen to it without cringing just a little bit. I think Knuckle Puck handled this song really well because we can all relate to that one person that over-shares on social media, and probably portrays themselves rather falsely. “All I want is for everyone to be aware of their own transparency” is nothing short of a mouthful, but it is also a very honest lyric and one of the most relatable lines from the group. The catchy and melodic “Oak Street” makes all the proper geographical references necessary for true ‘pop-punk’ cred - ie: your favorite street, hangout spot, pizza establishment. “I hope the thought of me keeps you away from the beach / Don’t think I care if you can’t sleep” leads into “Alexander Pl.” which is arguably my second favorite song from the EP with a 6/8 pulse very similar to The Story So Far’s “Mt. Diablo”. 

My biggest complaint about Knuckle Puck and While I Stay Secluded is that they delivered their knock-out punches early. The back three tracks are alright, but they’re also nothing to write home about. I feel like while “In My Room” is heavy-hitting instrumentally speaking - I really like the arrangement and the syncopated guitar punches but I also found myself questioning the lyrical content. And I’m not sure whether that is Knuckle Puck’s fault, or my fault. Songs about “absence” and “ignorance” feel so young and naive. If they don’t take a little bit of time to grow and reflect before their debut releases on Rise Records in Summer 2015, I won’t be able to take it very seriously.

All things aside, While I Stay Secluded is worth your attention. Knuckle Puck is a group that has worked hard for everything they have achieved, and although it may come across as derivative at some points, it is an enjoyable listen and who knows - maybe by the end of this year Knuckle Puck will be the biggest thing in music.

 7/10

Buy It Here

[off-shoresnet]

REVIEW: Foxing - "The Albatross"

To me, what separates a good album from something truly special is the ability transport you. I love albums that are able to convey an atmosphere through their sound. An example would be Balance and Composure’s Separation and the way it makes me feel like I’m driving through a desolate, desert wasteland. Or maybe Lydia’s Illuminate and how the whole tone of the record feels very cold - almost an Arctic chill to the sound. Even Brand New’s Daisy makes me feel like I’m on a mountainous adventure in the Pacific Northwest. Foxing’s The Albatross is something truly special and exotic that is an interesting record time after time again.

Rather than opting for the usual half-assed “tin can sad boy drinking beers in a garage” sound we have come to expect from an “emo” album during this time of “revival”, The Albatross is a soundscape that draws from a bunch of different influences and beautifully blends emo music with electronic sampling, post-rock guitar swells, and mathy guitars ripped straight from the pages of your states standardized tests. The Albatross sounds even better than at the time of its’ original self-release by Foxing, after being remastered and re-released by Triple Crown Records in 2014. It is totally clear that this band is out to forge a path of their own. It is never stagnant and you always know that there is a purpose for what is going on. The music is lilting like waves on a beach, while the lyrics on this record are beautifully poetry that is fully of great imagery that could even stand well on their own. I can see the lost, lonely, defeated lover standing on a beach and watching the sea. That is how well this is done.

The whole record blends together so magnificently and its’ hard to identify just one or two as a “standout” track when each song has its’ own admirable quality whether its’ “Inuit” and with Conor’s shrill trumpet crescendo, “The Medic” and its’ mid-tempo indie dance beat, or “Rory” and the woodwind and brass interjections that mark Conor’s wonderful and gentle falsetto belting sorrowful lines out like  “Why don’t you love me back?”

“Bit By a Dead Bee Part I and Part II” blend together perfectly and show off a different side of the band with mathy guitar tapping a little bit of a shouting. It almost feels like something you would hear on an early album from Minus the Bear.

If I were to draw a direct comparison, I would have to say Foxing is very similar to their peers  The World is a Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid to Die, because I feel like Foxing draws quite a bit off of their sound while being able to improve on the places where TWIABP falls just a bit short. Foxing’s music has more forward-direction and driving song structures, while still offering the atmospheric sounds.

If you have not listened to Foxing yet, you should be ashamed. Everyone and their bloodhound is starting to take notice and for a very good reason. If you are looking for something a band in the genre that is emotional while pushing some boundaries and being creative, then look no further.

8/10

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REVIEW: Sorority Noise - "Forgettable"

Happy, normal, and successful are all words some people just cannot seem to wrap their heads around, yet something that society places so much emphasis on. Simple tasks such as learning how to find your place in the world or feeling comfortable in your own skin are not simple for some people. As a younger person in their early or mid-20’s, it’s pretty easy to feel disconnected from the world when the plans that everyone else have set for themselves just don’t quite work for you. If you happen to be one of these people that just doesn’t have their shit together, then Forgettable from Connecticut’s Sorority Noise is a record you need to hear.

While Cam Boucher may be best known for his work in the screamo/post-hardcore band Old Gray,  Forgettable is full of painful self-realizations packaged with fun and raucous emo-punk rock jams. Sorority Noise gives Boucher a chance to express himself in a totally different way, with less poetic lyrics, simpler songwriting, and overall a stronger sense of honesty and transparency that feels more like writings he tore from a blog post or journal entry than sometime he set out to write. It’s frantic, self-empowering at times, and all around one of the funnest releases I have heard in 2014.

Clocking at just over 20 minutes, Forgettable gets things started off with the memorable opening bassline on “Rory Shield” then moves into “Mediocre at Best” which is one of the easiest songs to sing along to (as if they all weren’t catchy enough already) with lyrics like “Nobody likes me / And that's all I hear /I spent a lot of time last year / Learning that I don't like me too / That I don't like me too / I don't like me too” just begging you to lose your mind and shout along.

“Dirty Ickes” is an obligatory tongue-in-cheek break-up song with a dirty bite that further enforces this overarching thought that Boucher has a lot of trouble finding people he relates to, and that includes his previous girlfriends. While the short albums starts off fast and romping, I really like the variety of the back half. The softer, mid-tempo songs “Queen Anne’s Lace,” “Smooth Jazz”, and “Smoke” in my mind solidify the idea that Sorority Noise is more than a side project for fun “emo pity party” songs and a serious outlet that we can expect bigger and better things out of.

My favorite songs on the record are “Still Shrill” and “Blonde Hair, Black Lungs” because Boucher really lays his heart out to see here and it’s a very vulnerable moment. “Still Shrill’ is a song that I think almost anyone can relate to because it’s about comparing yourself to others and feeling like you don’t quite measure up - even to your friends and family. “Blonde Hair, Black Lungs” toys with the idea of suicide out of loneliness and a disdain for being alive any longer.

I draw a lot of comparisons between Sorority Noise and Snowing. in particular. Bouchers’ lyrics are every bit as self-loathing as John Galms’ while never being too cheesy and rarely pandering. At times this record also reminds me quite a bit of Joyce Manor with the short songs and overall sense of apathy and anxiety. Sorority Noise may not be a band we remember in five years, and Forgettable might be the most apt title for this album. However, I admire such a short record being able to capture some fun and notable songs without sacrificing true substance.

7/10

Buy it on Bandcamp.

[off-shoresnet]

REVIEW: Code Orange - I Am King

With I Am King, Code Orange made a piece of music that in a few words is absolutely frightening. Humans do this really weird thing where we enjoy to be scared for our own entertainment every once in awhile. I Am King is both an assault and a statement. I’m a pretty casual fan of this genre of music, and maybe some people who are more involved in this niche would argue “Well, Code Orange is really overdone. There are bands who do the same thing, but better. Code Orange is nothing new. Blah blah blah I’m a pretentious dick.”

All of those things may be absolutely true. That being said, Code Orange are not a gimmick. They are a breath of fresh air in a world of metal and hardcore that is becoming increasingly stale and more about staying in the tried-and-true fold rather than breaking boundaries. With ties to Topshelf Records, current backing from Deathwish, Inc., and help in the studio from none other than Kurt Ballou (Converge), Code Orange is a group geared towards success, and a I firmly believe this is just another stepping stone in what will be a very successful career for these Pennsylvanian ‘kids’.

This album is a more cohesive effort than their freshman release, Love Is Love // Return to Dust. It offers a lot more musical variety while maintaining the same ferocity offered up on all prior releases, allowing them to show off their musicianship and songwriting talent, while being a more interesting piece to listen to front-to-back.

Rather than being stale and offering track after track laden with breakdowns, a lot of the songs set up an ambient and eerie feeling to the album such as “Slowburn”, “Alone in a Room”, and “Thinners of the Herd” - songs that give me the impression that maybe less is more, adding a layer of suspense and build up to the moment when they finally reward you with a skull-crushing barrage of double bass, shouting, and crunchy, dissonant guitars. It feels like they have taken more artistic liberty with this album because I hear a bunch of different influences and really enjoy the syncopated rhythms and tracks that are more “groovy” than they are “brutal.”

My favorite song on the album has to be the closer, “Mercy.” It is a classic Code Orange throwdown track with a fresh coat of paint. It is the culmination of a whole album of pent up anger and rage, and it feels like a reward for someone who sat through a half-hour of being metaphorically slapped across the face. It gives you the breakdown you have been expecting the whole time, and you cannot help but feel the depraved desperation as Eric shouts “KILL, KILL, KILL”. The instrumentals at the end referencing the “I Am King” motif from the beginning, and the end of the album feels like the tightening of a noose around someones neck.

Lyrically, I Am King falls a bit flat compared to the excellent and provocative instrumentals. As far as I can tell, its’ a bit of a concept record about a person stuck between self-worshipping and sadistic tendencies, and wanting to be human. Not incredibly ground-breaking, but I feel like a more deliberate vocal delivery would benefit Code Orange in the future. The vocals here act as more of another instrument rather than a way of telling a story. That’s not such a bad thing, because while many critics have not been too fond of some of the techniques (muttering, shrieking, vomiting?) that they have utilized, I find them to be rather interesting but would also be happy to hear Reba, Jami, and Eric take a more direct approach with their vocals and lyrics. While these themes of being a “monster” may be a bit trite at this point, I can appreciate the lack of hooks and lines that would look good in written in Varsity font on a Tumblr post.

I remember the first time I heard Code Orange in 2012. It was a lot like the intrigue I experienced all those years ago when I heard songs like “Vermillion” or “Freak On A Leash” for the first time - it was just a little scary, and it stirred something in me. It made me legitimately question why I enjoyed something like this.  I still do not know the answer to these question, but I can appreciate an album like I Am King that takes me out of my comfort zone and moves me to a different place and mindset.

 8/10

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I'm not sure why, but "Pleasant Living" from Tiny Moving Parts is now streaming on Red Bull's website

I honestly didn't realize that the Red Bull brand - as in the heart-attack beverage commonly consumed with Jägermeister - considered themselves any sort of official source of music news - but, they're now streaming Pleasant Living from Tiny Moving Parts a full week before it releases, and they also have a really fantastic interview up with Matt, Dylan, and Billy. 

I love this band so much and I'm really digging what I'm hearing so far! It doesn't seem like it's quite as abrasive as This Couch was, but I'm really digging the lyricism and technicality. No sophomore slump for these guys. 

Head on over and give it a listen, read the interview, and check out some more of the content on the Red Bull page. It's actually pretty cool stuff.

[off-shoresnet]

Off-Shores Exclusive: An Interview With Karen Pagano, Pop-Punk Mother

A lot of things go on behind the scenes in the music industry. Sure, the musicians themselves are bearing the brunt - being the performers and all. Then further down the line, you have managers and lawyers and merch guys. It's undeniable that music brings people together. Sometimes, you don't have to be a staffed member of a band or record label or promoter to make a difference - sometimes, all it takes is a lot of drive and kindness.

I was fortunate enough to catch up with the infamous Karen Pagano, and she was nice enough to answer a few questions for me. An incredibly driven and compassionate woman, her and a her family have made a name for themselves. She's a wife, mother, and avid supporter of music and musicians. In a sense, they are the Kardashians of pop-punk. That's not giving them enough credit, though. They're some of the kindest and most compassionate people in this scene. Hosting a few house shows, letting bands crash in their basement, and even just offering some good old fashioned support on social media. It's charming and refreshing - they're proof that being a good person never goes out of fashion. For every bad apple or jerk in our scene - there is a Pagano there to counter them. (Literally, there's like 6 of them. You've been warned.) Anyways, check out the interview below and give Karen a follow on the Twitter.

We all know that your son, Brandon, plays guitar in the band Handguns. Along with him, you and your husband have risen to notoriety within our corner of the music industry under the moniker "Team Pagano. What exactly is Team Pagano? How did the idea come about? Karen: Team Pagano is simply a name for my family.  We have a large family, 4 children and Vito and I.  We are all extremely active on the internet and, in the past, have hosted house shows.  We gave our family a name and our home is known by many as Team Pagano HQ.  It was simply a way of clustering us together.

What is the hardest part of balancing your management life with your family life? Have the two completely intermeshed, or is there still a difference between the two?

  My life is simply one of a domestic engineer (stay-at-home mom).  My children are my life and that's how it remains.  We often have bands stay at the house.  It is never a disturbance in any way.  We have a basement they are able to stay in so they have some privacy.  Once you're at my house, be prepared to live a day in the life of me.  Kids have to be brought to school, picked up from school, hauled to their friends house.  Cleaning has to be done, laundry has to be done, cooking has to be done.  Some members of bands even participate in family activities.  I enjoy cooking for large groups of people, so if you're here for the day, I will definitely cook dinner for you.  You will sit with my family at the dinner table and we will eat together like one big family.  

  One thing for sure is that there will always be a fresh pot of coffee made and ready for you to drink and after dinner is done and the kitchen is cleaned up, we have plenty of time to sit down and enjoy your company.  We can drink some wine/beer if you'd like or just drink some more coffee.  I always enjoy listening to the bands that are staying with us tell their stories and play some of their music for us.   

A little look at what goes on when you chill with the Pagano family.

What is your favorite part about being involved in the music industry?

  My favorite part about being involved in the music industry is, of course, being able to enjoy all the talent that people have to offer.  

  The BEST part about being involved in the music industry is how much my "family" has grown.  It never fails that when a band comes through here, a lot of the time I shed a tear when they leave.  I have met some amazing people through these experiences that will be in my life forever.  They have won a place in my heart forever.  They are some amazing people.  I am thankful for every one of them that have come through my home and continue to come back.  I look forward to seeing them again and most often than none, keep in close contact with most of them.  

This is something very special that my family gets to share and I would never change a thing about it.

If you could change one thing about the current state of our scene, what would it be?

I would like to see more people going out to shows.  I would like to see more people trying to accommodate bands.  The scene in our area has very much slowed down.  Not too many places are doing shows and that makes me very sad.  I wish I had a place to put shows on.  It would be nice to give these bands a place to play when they come through here.  

[off-shoresnet]

Feature: 9 Music Documentaries That Need to Hurry Up Already!

Another fantastic guest article by Josh Henderson. I love the dude's taste in music and what he's able to bring to Off-Shores. Be sure to check out his band, This is Whispering. He was also nice enough to make an accompanying Spotify playlist! Check out this dude, uppin' da punx all over the place.

9 Music Documentaries That Need to Hurry Up Already

Filmage:  The Story of Descendents/ ALL

Release Date - Mid-2014

The story of the iconic punk band(s) has been rockin’ the festival circuit and doing select screenings since June 2013 but a home video release has yet to be announced.   Why has it been showing in theatres for over a year but you still can’t purchase a copy yourself, you ask?  The FAQ section of Filmage’s official site explains that they ‘are finishing up the licensing for all the material in the film‘, which is ‘time consuming and costly’.  Do whatever you have to; I’m on board.

Trailer // Official Page

No New Kinda Story:  The Real Story of Tooth & Nail

Release Date:  ‘Coming Soon’

The skinny on the biggest Christian indie label that launched successful bands like MxPx, Underoath, The OC Supertones, Further Seems Forever, The Juliana Theory and more.  T&N played a HUGE role in my life in the late 90s/ early 2000s and I am dying to see this finally come out.  According to a post from May on the film’s Twitter page, pre-orders will be available ‘before you know it’. 

Trailer // Official Page 

  Hi, How Are You:  A Short Film

Release Date:  Est. Mar 2015

This Kickstarter funded film about America’s most under-rated and misunderstood singer/songwriter has so many eager fans (including Lana Del Rey & Mac Miller) that it more than doubled its original goal.  ‘Hi, How Are You’ recreates and reenacts Daniel’s life during the same time he self-recorded the album of the same name as well as includes footage of the man himself, Daniel Johnston.  ETA on HHAY? isn’t until Spring of 2015, so to satisfy your Daniel cravings just rewatch 2005’s Sundance Film Festival award winning documentary ‘The Devil & Daniel Johnston’ which covers life of Dan until the film’s release.

Trailer:  N/A, a pitch film can be found on the Kickstarter page

Official Page

  A Fat Wreck:  The Punk-u-mentary

Release Date:  TBD

This Indiegogo-funded doc about Fat Wreck Chords, one of the most successful labels during punk’s 1990s popularity boom, quadrupled its goal and is currently still in production.  They have been filming interviews at Punk Rock Bowling and working on neat perks like skate decks and compilation CDs, which you probably won’t get because the campaign is closed!  :S

Trailer // Official Page

  Salad Days:  The DC Punk Revolution

Release Date: ‘Q4 2013 Release’ (Yes, I’m aware that has passed already.)

This doc about the Washington DC harDCore scene throughout the 1980s is one of the biggest offenders in the ‘come out already’ category of music docs.  Started in 2011, slated for a late 2013 release but still no updates or explanations as why to its not out.  Just a lot of facebook posts about other stuff.

Trailer // Official Page

  The Cog

Release Date:  ????

A trailer for a documentary about the Cog Factory, a DIY venue in Omaha surfaced on youtube in June of 2011.  An excerpt and an article in Hear Nebraska appeared a year later but no news since.  Looks like a great film; what’s the hold up?

Trailer

  Avail - Documentary

Release Date:  ????

Avail was one of the most influential bands on the aforementioned Fat Wreck Chords label and a trailer for a documentary film was posted on youtube EIGHT YEARS AGO and nothing has been seen since.  Other people are worried about this as well, read all about it here.  

Trailer

Jawbreaker:  Welcome To Our Band

Release Date:  ????

A project originally announced in 2005, ‘The Minutemen: We Jam Econo’ film-makers Keith Schiron and Tim Irwin have been working on ‘Welcome to Our Band’ since 2007, when they filmed the band reuniting to perform 3 songs, with updates on news sites being seen online in 2011 and 2013.  It’s almost been 10 years since the first announcement, but this is something worth the wait.

Trailer

  Snapcase

Release Date:  ????

For those of you unfamiliar with Snapcase let me give you the basics.  Buffalo, NY’s Snapcase was a one of the biggest band on Victory Records during their hardcore heyday.  This is definitely the longest away from being made.  My guess is that it has been 86ed.  When I first heard about Snapcase’s original break up in 2005 I read they were making a band documentary about the band’s story.  I waited and waited and nothing came to fruition.  Now a Google search yields no information except for a dead link from 2000.  I was really hoping for something like the Earth Crisis doc but… better. 

Trailer:  N/A, but check this out for kicks.

[off-shoresnet]

"The Pizza Party, Episode 1"

Hey guys, in case you missed it - I debuted a new vlog associated with Off-Shores.net last week entitled "The Pizza Party." It's not perfect by any means, however, I'd like to keep doing more of these on a weekly basis. I'm still trying to work out kinks in formatting, what to discuss, and limitations of my current hardware. Any feedback would be appreciated!

[off-shoresnet]

A Look Back at Senses Fail's "Let It Enfold You"

2004 was a really interesting year for music. I was only 11 years old and was far more concerned with blink-182, Green Day, and Good Charlotte at that point. However, that year we saw the release of a slew of iconic releases both in and out of our scene. New Found Glory, Green Day, My Chemical Romance, The Used, and even bigger acts like Kanye West and Arcade Fire saw releases that year. Senses Fail wouldn’t enter my radar for another year and a half.

Recently, us old fuddy-duddies have been looking back at the albums we enjoyed in our younger years, and it's not a fault by any means. Everyone does it. Maybe your dad is still listening to Motley Crue or your Mom still has a thing for Michael Jackson before he had a tiny nose. We all want to take a moment to feel young, whether that is listening to an album or going to a show. When we stop and talk about “10 Year Anniversary Tours” and who should or should not do them, I can think of a 2004 album that I’d really like to see played from end to end - Let It Enfold You from Senses Fail. Thankfully, this album is getting it's share this September.

If you were anywhere near as psuedo-angsty (or as we said way back in the day, "emo"- before it was just another word for “pretentious asshole”) as I was in my pubescent years, you were listening to this record while you were quoting it’s morbid, pathetic, and sappy lyrics on your WordPress or Xanga. It offered us anecdotes of wisdom such as “So love me gently with a chainsaw, I'll leave you like your father did” and tear-jerking tales of anguish like “Coming straight from off the water, Sunburned face and drunken father, Crying as she's carving in her flesh.” You know the drill, songs that any over-entitled and somewhat bratty 14-year old could really enjoy and relate to. We were such a misunderstood generation.

In all honesty, this album was terrible. For some reason, I still enjoy it without shame. It holds a special place in my heart for an inexplicable reason. However, I fully realize that we would eat this band alive in 2014 with their really cliché lines about self-mutilation, suicide, and misogynist themes. Maybe this is how kids will feel in 10 years when they reminisce about old releases from Shitting in Reverse or Black Veil Brides or Issues. I actually prefer to think this band is a still a cut above those.

It sounds like I'm totally tearing this album down, and in a way I am. It wasn't anything great, but I love it. As pleasantly terrible as it may be, I honestly owe a “thank you” to Let It Enfold You, because without this album I may not have been introduced to heavier, more aggressive, and emotionally dense* music. To a kid, the screaming and distorted guitars were offputting, and I'm astonished that I ever liked it in the first place. I was such a meek little guy, but Senses Fail crafted an album (named after a Bukowski poem of the same name) that spoke to me. I moved on after Senses Fail to better releases from heavier (and better) bands, such as Underoath’s Define the Great Line and eventually stuff from the likes of The Devil Wears Prada, before I discovered “tr00 emo” or hardcore. While it may have been a twisted journey, I’m glad I got the chance to listen to this album, because without it I may have been doing something totally different at this moment.

I honestly cannot tell if this record accomplished anything great for anyone else or not. So far, it hasn’t been hip for music bloggers like myself to jock Senses Fail as it is to namedrop their contemporaries from 2004 or to pretend I was obsessed with Lifetime and having a wet dream about Deja Entendu (spoiler alert: I wasn't. I was too busy listening to this). Alas, this record will always hold a special place in my heart regardless of what anyone says. No, it’s nothing special and it might be a bit cringeworthy in it's most unappealing moments. I may still be listening to it through nostalgia-filtered eardrums, but it’s still an album that I will always listen to and smile. To me, this is Senses Fail's best work and I'm glad they're getting their recognition 10 years later. Buddy Neilsen describes his own album better than any critic could - “I’m just a bad actor with a shitty script, my lines are cheap and the cast is weak.” Sometimes those kinds of movies are our favorites, and that's alright.

*with a grain of salt.

[off-shoresnet]

DIY Feature: The Perfect Pursuit - "Extraordinary"

Just a quick note - I've covered a few unsigned bands during my tenure here on Off-Shores. From here on out they'll be labelled as a "DIY Feature." Stoked to keep bringing you more on smaller bands!

A lot of words probably come to mind when you think about local bands, and "ambitious" usually is usually not one of them. Let's face it - a lot of underground and DIY music is shallow and severely uninspired. Luckily, The Perfect Pursuit is not your ordinary local band. The Lawrence, Kansas post-hardcore outfit recently self-released their first album, Extraordinary. Through thoughtfully penned lyrics and blistering music, The Perfect Pursuit has set out to send a message. Extraordinary is a piece of art that deserves your attention.

I first met Quincy (guitar) and Cole (drums) back in 2008 at a local show in Goodland, Kansas. They didn't play, but had heard about the show and decided to come check it out. They told me about their band, The Perfect Pursuit, and ever since then I have watched this band progress from a distance. A move to Lawrence reoriented the band and brought about new members and new drive. The result is some of the most creative and inspired music from the genre that I've heard in quite awhile.

Footage by Matt Isley, Courtesy of TPP

The Perfect Pursuit is best defined by their unique musical compositions combined with hauntingly gorgeous vocal harmonies between Lori Muilenburg and Daniel Rhoads. Songs like "Oh, Sleeper" and "For Too Long" deliver an accented punch while "Listen Close" is something softer and more melodic, as well as the closing piano ballad, "Alright". The contrasts throughout the album are excellent, it never gets stale as you listen to the whole thing. They set their standard really high for Extraordinary, and while no music will ever be perfect, this band has came such a long way from being two kids from western Kansas with a MySpace page.  Although the rhythm section is constantly showing it's skill, the blistering guitar, bass, and solid drumming never get in the way of what is being communicated to us - a message that we all should hear. It's not perfect by any means, but it is a fantastic effort from a band that will only keep pursuing what they're looking for. When asked about the concept of the album, Quincy wanted to say that

The whole idea behind the album is that everyone goes through dark times. But we all have it in us to change, to persevere, to stay alive and live extraordinarily. If there's one thing I'd like listeners to get from listening to the album, it would be just any sort of hope they didn't have before; whether that just be relating to the dark parts and realizing they're not alone to feeling inspired by the lighter side and feeling like they can move mountains.

<a href="http://theperfectpursuit.bandcamp.com/album/extraordinary" data-mce-href="http://theperfectpursuit.bandcamp.com/album/extraordinary">Extraordinary by The Perfect Pursuit</a>

Recommended if you like: Earlier releases from Thursday and Thrice, Dustin Kensrue, Emery

Stream or purchase Extraordinary on Bandcamp.

Follow The Perfect Pursuit on their Facebook page.

[off-shoresnet]

Off-Shores Weekly Round-Up

Have Mercy to re-release My Oldest Friend EP

Baltimore sad boys Have Mercy have announced that they plan to re-release their 2012 EP entitled My Oldest Friend on August 5th through Soft Speak Records.

Review: GRANDVIEW - Everything Between Paint and a Wall

This is nothing short of a fantastic debut - I want you to listen to this record. I NEED you to listen to this record, because it has been quite awhile since I have been able to say that an album has truly reflected my thoughts and deepest fears. Grandview delivers a message that is timeless, and one that I will gladly keep on repeat for the coming months. 

Video: NO TIDE - "Where We Went Wrong"

No Tide, the brash young pop-punk band from Nebraska might actually be the definition of prolific. In only a couple years they were able to release 3 EP’s, a split 7” and managed to tour around the US a handful of times. “We play music because we love doing what we do, it’s that simple” says singer/guitarist Will Conner. He continues, “We just want to be a band on the road, playing shows and creating music that speaks to us and anyone that wants to listen.”

Review: THE FRONT BOTTOMS - Rose

So, The Front Bottoms obviously didn’t set out to reinvent themselves here.  That’s not the point of Rose, though. It’s fun, disheveled, chaotic, and dare I say brilliant music that will tide us all over until their next big release. These six songs just make me want to hear more from one of my favorite bands. If you liked Talon of the Hawk, or any of their other releases, you will love Rose and learn to love all of these songs and their snarky proverbs and nuances.If you weren’t sold on this band before, then nothing here will change your mind. However, you’re missing out on one helluva ride.

[off-shoresnet]

Have Mercy to re-release "My Oldest Friend" EP

"I literally woke up one morning and decided to write the My Oldest Friend EP" says Brian Swindle. "I was going through a break up, a move across the city, and had a lot to write about. We didn't think about structure and we didn't think about what people would like. We just wrote until the song felt like it said what it needed to. It was incredibly organic. I think that's what we always we loved about these songs. When we play them we feel them".

The vinyl press will be limited to 500 on some really cool variants, so you should head on over to the Soft Speak Records webstore and snag one up. Check out "My Oldest Friend" below and try not to cry. I dare you.

This announcement comes nearly two months after the emo quartet signed to Hopeless Records after a successful rise to fame on Topshelf Records. The band is touring this summer with Pentimento and Gates.

[off-shoresnet]

REVIEW: Grandview - "Everything Between Paint and a Wall"

Grandview is an indie rock/alternative band from Burlington, Massachusetts. Their debut album, Everything Between Paint and a Wall, was independently released in December of 2013. The album officially released on July 8th, 2014 on Six Pine Records. I was poking around on Bandcamp about a month ago and came across this release. I fell in love, and hope you do the same. Check out the review after the jump.

Support Grandview on Bandcamp and follow them on Twitter.

Grandview has accomplished in their so-far short lifespan what many bands never do - authenticity. These are the songs about the things that keep you up at night, they are songs about the reason why you never quite feel at ease. So many bands just never "get" it. Grandview isn't one of them. Everything Between Paint and Wall is an ambitious record, and it is a cathartic masterpiece in it's own right. It wastes little time dwelling on the vapid or superficial, and gets right to the point.

Everything is something refreshing and beautiful. It is music for the thoughtful soul. It is self aware, and sometimes painfully so. Speaking your true emotions is hard enough, and Grandview is willing to put all their flaws on display. It's an album about learning to accept things for what they are and learning to agree with the changes in life. While there are moments that are lovesick, sappy, and fearful of growing old (actually, that's probably the gist of the whole damned thing but don't let that deter you.), it remains very down-to-Earth, regardless of that red balloon floating above the ground.

"The hardest habits to break are the ones that we know are keeping us in place."

"Paint" is a pensive introduction to the album that leads into "Seeking Out Gold (The Former)". One thing you will notice right from the first few minutes is the dynamic contrast that Grandview offers, which is a refreshing change from many of their contemporaries in the genre. "Seeking Out Gold" offers up lyrics about how we should be looking to find satisfaction in smaller things and stop being so pessimistic. The message is a breath of fresh air, although "The Only Constant" goes back to the way of typical twenty-somethings - "we are creatures of habit" - questioning change. "I was built to break, I was made to feel afraid for the sake of feeling something". I relate way more to these lyrics than I would like to admit, which is part of what makes this album so great.  

The musicianship is stellar throughout. It would be easy to say, "Oh, they sound a lot like Pentimento or Seahaven", but that would not be offering this young band enough credit for what they're doing. It's emo/indie/whatever you want to call it, but it breaks away from the norm with beautiful song structures mixed with creative arrangements. As I mentioned prior, the dynamic changes are wonderful, paired with the great singing. Whether or not you're interested in what Grandview offers, at least stick around for the great musicianship.

"In Good Company" and "To the Sun" make up the story of a failed relationship, and rather than being lashing outward, it's more or less a story of apology and pointing out the fault in their own actions.

"I used to run to feel the air rushing through my lungs, without a purpose or need or a care and a back to the sun. Now it’s just a getaway in a maze that I can’t escape."

None of the songs on Everything Between Paint and a Wall fall flat, but "7" and "Saw the Sky" feel like they were the ones that received the least amount of thought and effort. They are not bad songs by any mean, but they stick out. Maybe it's just a matter of the youthfulness of a young band showing, but "7" feels like it would go well on Citizen's Youth, an album which I personally did not like all that much. The lyrics are not up to quality, in particular. The whole "soft-grunge" sound is so overdone, and I feel like Grandview can do better. "Saw the Sky" has some really cool musical moments, and that redeems itself in my book. I really enjoy the syncopation and contrast.

"Sitting On Gold" is my favorite song from Grandview, because it provides a mentality of hope and closure on a record that is so unsure of itself. It is that moment where the story of Everything Between Paint and a Wall ties together, and it feels like a load is falling off of your shoulders just as you listen. Maybe there are lessons to be learned from all times of trial. Maybe we can learn to cope with the things that scare or hurt us. Maybe we can coexist with the things that hold us down. Grandview is ready to stop worrying about everything, and maybe you should be, too.

I still have all your old songs stuck in my head, and I swear to God, I’ll get around to listening to you and to them again. I’m learning what it’s like to see the colors for what they are, not what I want from them.

 This is nothing short of a fantastic debut - I want you to listen to this record. I NEED you to listen to this record, because it has been quite awhile since I have been able to say that an album has truly reflected my thoughts and deepest fears. Grandview delivers a message that is timeless, and one that I will gladly keep on repeat for the coming months. 

[propertyofzack]

Jimmy Eat World Expand ‘Futures’ Tour

You asked, so they answered. Jimmy Eat World have expanded the routing for their Futures tour. Check out the full routing below after the jump.

Related Stories: Jimmy Eat World Announce ‘Futures’ Ten Year Tour 

Read More

[off-shoresnet]

VIDEO: No Tide - "Where We Went Wrong"

"No Tide, the brash young pop-punk band from Nebraska might actually be the definition of prolific. In only a couple years they were able to release 3 EP’s, a split 7” and managed to tour around the US a handful of times. “We play music because we love doing what we do, it’s that simple” says singer/guitarist Will Conner. He continues, “We just want to be a band on the road, playing shows and creating music that speaks to us and anyone that wants to listen.”

Their new EP entitled “Daydream” does exactly that. It speaks volumes to what No Tide has achieved in only a couple years of existence. Honest, straight-forward songwriting that lies deep in the roots of punk rock and brings to mind such bands as The Descendents, Hot Water Music or a younger Saves The Day." - Press Release and Materials Courtesy of Joe Urban/Zing Management

AbsolutePunk.net was fortunate enough to get to stream No Tide's hit single "Where We Went Wrong" from Daydreamer. Be sure to listen to the track, watch the video, and support the dudes. This band just keeps getting better and better! Stream or purchase "Daydreamer" right here. A huge thanks to Joe from Take This To Heart Records for always keeping Off-Shores in the loop.

[off-shoresnet]

Off-Shores Review: The Front Bottoms - "Rose"

If you have never listen to The Front Bottoms, there is only one word that can adequately describe their blend of folky acoustic pop with pop-punk: infectious. The catchy melodies, Brandon Sella's endearing off-key singing, the whimsical instrumentation and the lyrics that made very little sense in the grand scheme of things truly will overcome your senses, because their songs are so simple yet scatterbrained, whether you are in a state of mania, ecstasy, or rage, you can always have a smile on your face as you listen to a strange man sing about sad things to happy-sounding music. After rising to fame from 2 full-lengths and some extensive touring with scene heroes Say Anything, Mansions, You Blew It!, and Modern Baseball (to name a few), this folky bunch of pop-punks have graced our ears once again with a collection of tunes entitled Rose.

No, that's not David Bowie's portrait on the cover art. Rose is named after drummer Mathew Uchyich's grandmother Rosemary. And as quirky as The Front Bottoms are, they plan to release more EPs named after more member's grandmothers. Five of the six songs featured have been performed or recorded before at some point, but never officially released. I had never heard any of these before the release of Rose, so to me it is all new material. And as much as I love this band, I couldn't be happier.

Without delving too deep, The Front Bottoms have released exactly what we all want from them - nothing more, and nothing less. That is mostly a really good thing. "Flying Model Rockets" kicks off things first with a taste of dose of upbeat pop music and large choruses as Sella sings with dignified uncertainty:

"But there's nothing in California that you could not learn to hate here The questions will all still be waiting for you, the answers will only be less clear It's hard to say what I would do if I was back a year or two Look at our plans, try to understand what could have happened to all of them."

Lyrics like that make me wonder exactly what the context of them is, but regardless their tongues are as sharp as ever. Throughout the EP you hear them throw around brilliant lines like punches in a bar fight. "Jim Bogart" is uncharted territory for the band and probably shines the brightest with it's smooth jazzy trumpet and the guest female vocals to mirror Sella. "Awkward Conversations" is the only "new" song on Rose, and it's a fitting ending to a short collection of songs about pretty negative experiences and adds a nice conclusion to the EP, like the last glimmer from a warm summer's campfire. Nothing from Rose takes itself very seriously, and that's more than okay.

My only concern is how long and how far this "fresh out of bed" approach will sustain The Front Bottoms, because while it's all fun and games, lyrics from "12 Feet Deep" such as "we are so cool, we're so punk" or verses about how his college roommate was passed out make the song itself feel sophomoric, which makes it the weakest on the album. Albeit, it's the weakest link on a TFB record, which means it's still better than a lot of songs from a lot of other bands.

So, The Front Bottoms obviously didn't set out to reinvent themselves here.  That's not the point of Rose, though. It's fun, disheveled, chaotic, and dare I say brilliant music that will tide us all over until their next big release. These six songs just make me want to hear more from one of my favorite bands. If you liked Talon of the Hawk, or any of their other releases, you will love Rose and learn to love all of these songs and their snarky proverbs and nuances. If you weren't sold on this band before, then nothing here will change your mind. However, you're missing out on one helluva ride.