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Various

(coles) Notes From Underground (2002)
Underground Operations

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Contributed by: Adam
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Published on January 7th 2003

“(coles) Notes From Underground” is much like an audio-scene report from Ajax, Ontario and the surrounding areas. While just a sampler from the young Underground Operations label, this compilation is an incredibly well developed and thoughtfully packaged album. There are four bands on here, each contributing a studio track and an unreleased song.

Bombs Over Providence have a post-punk “screamo” sound that thankfully packs enough muscle to be closer to Hot Water Music than… say… Thursday. Protest The Hero is a speedy melodic hardcore band with snotty vocals resembling earlier Propaganhdi. Marilyn’s Vitamins are a similar styled band who broke up a few years ago. I’ve heard those with knowledge of the Ontario scene talk about with admiration. They sound the most confident out of the four groups here. Rounding out the quartet is Closet Monster, a band with dual-vocals that sounds a bit like the bastard lovechild of Dillinger Four and Anti-Flag. They’ve probably got the most public name recognition on here thanks to their Much Music play.

A lot of these bands share members, so it’s not surprising that the songs on “Notes From Underground” fit together well musically as well as thematically (standard leftist-punk fare, not that I’m complaining). Furthermore, all the tracks were recorded at the same studio and in a relatively close time period, giving this sampler the feel of a fully developed album. While none of the bands here are particularly groundbreaking, this just may become one of those later appreciated “artifact” compilations that quite accurately defines a place-in-time for an entire scene.

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Anonymous (June 28, 2004)

i'm a fan of the U.O. bands, mainly because of how damn good they are live. i mean so what if the bassist from closet monster played for avril lavigne, he's sure as hell making up for it now. smart bands, catchy music, overall some really good sounds. loved it.

Anonymous (February 11, 2003)

All of the bands on this label have new eps or albums coming out in the next 3 months and all of those release will be even better than what you heard on this comp. I suggest you get this first, to warm yourself up.

Anonymous (January 11, 2003)

The bass player from closet monster played for avril lavigne. It's true

Anonymous (January 7, 2003)

A fairly decent comp considering a got it for free. Bombs Over Providence are pretty money, but I don't quite like Marilyn's Vitamins. Closet Monster has a sick live show. But just you wait until Protest the Hero release their full length...or dear lord they'll tip the world upside down. Honestly the upcoming full length is gonna be a breakthrough. Break the Chains is their old shit, but Asperity of Sin is more characteristic of their style. But I don't have sex with the band...I swear...maybe.

layawayplan (January 7, 2003)

Bombs over Providence has one of the best song titles i've seen: "All the good guys are dead and I'm twisting my moustache". It's a pretty good song, they posted free on mp3.com in case anyone's interested.
Kinda remind me of a harder moneen (a good thing) more than anything.

The other song posted there isn't quite as good.

Anonymous (January 7, 2003)

im just dissapointed this had nothing to do with the rapture