Dent, the latest effort from Cleveland’s Signals Midwest, feels, to me, like an urgent, hand-to-heart ode to easier days, and as a tribute to midwest emo and punk. The first LP by them in a surprising six years, Dent is earnest, full of heart and fire and catchy tunes. This is maybe best exemplified by this post’s Most Important: “Gold in The Grey” but there are plenty of tracks to choose from, should you want to take a little listen back to a simpler, more energetic time. (And, yes, I may be projecting a bit here, deal with it.)
Oliver Houston - Tom Quad
I don't know much about Grand Rapid's Oliver Houston, but their debut album Whatever Works, which came out towards the start of last year, is terrific; it's straight-forward midwest emo/punk and I've been enjoying it quite a bit lately.
RIYL: Sinai Vessel, Prawn, LVL UP, Signals Midwest
Upcoming Shows
Prawn - North Lynx
I've been distracted and distant
And I'm all out of ideas
The bees keep swarming around me
The sun starts running on empty
I guess you'd call New Jersey band Prawn emo. They've got all the hallmarks of that classic 90's emo sound; weeping guitars, slow melodic progression, confessional lyrics, etc. Where they differ a bit, in a great way, is the application of complicated sonic arrangements, strings, horns and an occasional Midwestern garage aesthetic that somehow offers a bit of edge, character, and polish to their music. I loved their 2014 release Kingfisher and I'm looking forward to their new album, Run, which is out in a couple weeks.
RIYL: Buffalo Tom, Signals Midwest, Pity Sex, Saves The Day
Upcoming Shows
Strange Relations - Say You
Say you want
Say you want
To cut me down
To cut me down
To size now
Here's another nice find from Tiny Engines: Minneapolis group Strange Relations. "Say You" is the lead single from their upcoming album Editorial You and it's dreamy, ethereal and catchy. The follow up "LIN" leans a bit more of the shoegaze side, and they both remind me a lot of that 4AD sound; Cranes, Cocteau Twins, Lush, Slowdive and the like.
RIYL: Slowdive, Cranes, Strange Ranger, Land of Talk
Upcoming Shows
Strange Ranger - House Show
Portland post-punk band Strange Ranger (formerly Sioux Falls) sound very throwback to me. All the way back to the 90's and the best thing going on for that era outside of hip-hop: Pacific Northwest style emo. If you were into Sunny Day Real Estate, Seaweed, Modest Mouse, Treepeople and Built to Spill, you'll like Strange Ranger. They had a solid EP out last year, Sunbeams Through Your Head and have an upcoming release, Daymoon on Tiny Engines. Yeah, another one on that awesome label.
RIYL: Sunny Day Real Estate, Pinback, Build To Spill, Braid, Modest Mouse