(myspace.com/empireempireiwasalonelyestate)Empire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate) – Year of the Rabbit 7-inch (Myspace.com/countyourluckystarsrecords)Count Your Lucky Stars Records/(http://sncl.collective-zine.co.uk/)Strictly No Capital Letters Records Melodic, twinkly ‘90s indie-emo that will appease fans of the genre. Empire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate) plays melodic, twinkly ‘90s indie-emo. This is their second release, with their first full...
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Definite Hiatus This month marks five and a half years since I started Independent Clauses. I started it under a different name, but it’s always been the same organization. Five and a half years is a long, long time. In fact, the only thing in my life that has lasted longer than the magazine...
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(www.denelianmusic.com) Denelian – Gossip with the Devil EP Self-released Artsy, interesting dance-punk songs that continue the evolution of a band. Denelian’s dance-punk songs have evolved from ‘80s mimicry in the band’s early days to blazing, angular vendettas in their last few releases. In Gossip with the Devil, Denelian straddles both worlds and produces some...
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(www.desotojones.com)Desoto Jones – Aurora (www.deepelm.com) Deep Elm Records This blend of alternative rock and post-hardcore is a wonderfully accessible album built with an independent spirit and musical training. I’ve been always been a little hit and miss with Deep Elm releases. While some of my favorite bands have been on DER (The Appleseed Cast,...
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From Mosh to Rush: A Musical Metamorphosis By Megan Morgan Black Sabbath, Metallica, Kiss and Slayer have more in common that just their heavy-metal-band status. All of these groups stayed metal throughout their careers. But, as one New England band recently proved, a metal band does not necessarily have to stay that way forever....
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- (http://www.myspace.com/leonardmynx) Leonard Mynx – Pumpkin Self-released Thoughtful, mature Americana/folk with indie leanings. It is an absolute travesty that Leonard Mynx’s Pumpkin was self-released, because that means the amount of people who will hear this album will not be as many as it would be on a label. Channeling troubadours like Tom Waits and...
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Lords of the North – Lords of the North Self-released Heavy, low, old-school metal that’s impressive in its songwriting power. I’m not much for modern metal. The mentality that states, “The faster and louder we play, the better we are,” just doesn’t click with me. I don’t feel that it’s true. Lords of the...
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New Grenada – Model Citizen EP (http://www.asaurus.org/records/main.html)Asaurus Records Vintage grunge in a modern world. What? I have nothing against grunge. I like Nirvana, I enjoy “Yellow Ledbetter” by Pearl Jam and I’ve been known to hum Soundgarden songs from time to time. So trust me; when I say this next phrase, I say it...
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The Scene is Actually Surviving? Usually I use this column to complain about something that is wrong with the indie music scene. But this month I don’t have anything bad to complain about (well, actually, I could complain about a lot of things, but I’ll spare you for once). This month I’m actually happy...
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(Myspace.com/patrickportermusic)Patrick Porter – A Swan at Smiley’s (http://www.asaurus.org)Asaurus Records Fuzzy indie with a DIY/folk spin, perfect for summer. You know that feeling you get in the middle of a long, sizzling summer? You’re lazy and slow-moving like a three-toed sloth conserving his energy, but somehow things still happen. That’s a bit what Patrick Porter’s...
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