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I still have not been able to find an actual pressing of this, as I'm pretty sure only 2000 were distributed. After two months of searching various P2P programs and the like, I finally found these two amazing songs by two amazing bands.

Side One: Small Brown Bike - "My Unanswered Whys"

I have been an avid Small Brown Bike fan for the last three years. Over time, I have collected every recording by them that I know about (with the exception of their cover of Thin Lizzy's "Jailbreak"). Of all their albums, all their songs, this one easily is the best. Given the option I would probably listen to "My Unanswered Whys" eleven times in place of any of their other material. Shivers run down my spine at every verse, at every change, at every note.

The opening eight bars contain a guitar picking an F and Gb, in that order. Eight times. The dissonance is pure beauty and completely awful at the exact same time. The chemistry here between Mike, Ben, and Travis' vocals is simply stunning. Abrupt switches to and from double-time in the drums give this song great character. Pre-verses and pre-choruses are beautifully orchestrated. This is a song you will sing with, yell with, and scream with. Even if you don't want to. It's just that infectious and I can't stress enough the simple beauty of this recording.

Side Two: Cursive - "Nostalgia"

I admittedly know far less of Cursive's history and material than Bike's, but I still feel I can provide some helpful insight into this track.

This song opens with some doodling in the guitars that makes me think of a melodic noise set. The beat kicks in and a signature Cursive riff ensues. I believe Ted Stevens sings lead here, with Tim supporting. Released around the time of the Burst And Bloom EP, Gretta provides sweet cello in this strikingly hardcore Cursive song. The rhythm at the end will instantly remind you of the "When I was yours you fled the scene" verse in "Bloody Murderer" and the breakdown in "The Great Decay."

This Cursive track is very interesting in the sense that it incorporates two characteristics not usually seen within their songs. The first is that this song gets noticably more screamy towards the end than in other Cursive songs, and the second would be the homage to the noise scene the guitars offer.

In all, if you are a fan of both Small Brown Bike and Cursive, find these songs for both tracks. They are both great and Cursive's complements Small Brown Bike's very well here. The only problem with this album is that there is not enough of such a good thing.

If you are a Bike fan and have not heard this, do it for yourself. You NEED to hear this track.



People who liked this also liked:
Daniel Striped Tiger - ConditionDaniel Striped Tiger - Capital CitiesSmoke Or Fire - Above The CityAmerican Football - American FootballMinus The Bear - Menos El Oso



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    Posted by skasticks on 2005-09-10 16:10:55
    My Score:

    An update on this review....

    Got it off eBay for $15. a lot better than the $38 for the (and dont forget me) 7".

    This album is still the best.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 at 10:03 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    i bought all four of the makoto realeases off of ebay for $20 a lot of these pressing still exist

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, August 29, 2005 at 5:46 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    first time i heard SBB, they opened for Hot Water Music. I like HWM, but I wasn't ready for the SBB live experience. It was a revelation, in my pants.

    I bought the dvd documentary 'michigan independent' just for their footage, and was teased by 20 seconds of the new material live, which I never got to see before they broke up.

    If a band was ever justified to put out a posthumous live dvd, it would be them.

    In my nerdy ways, I am also aware that they have 1-3 b-sides from the river bed as per their listing of songs during their river bed recording journal which has since been taken down.

    I'm on to you, trav, got em in a little shoebox buried deep somewhere in an unidentified forest east of lansing.

    And as I will say again, this 7 inch was part of a kickass 7 inch club that disappeared, and took my money with it. You know, not to beat a dead horse, in my pants.

    wyzo

    Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-08-29 16:11:50

    i'll give you 2 dollars for it...actually, i'll make it 5 so you dont have to bother checking other places and all that for a better price

    - jones the bones

    - stevejones8770@yahoo.com

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, August 29, 2005 at 3:33 PM (EDT)

    "There is one on ebay right now for $4.00 (not for long I imagine)"

    while on the subject of ebay and split 7"s, i wonder how much i could get for my at the drive-in/murder city devils split?

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, August 29, 2005 at 2:02 PM (EDT)

    There is one on ebay right now for $4.00 (not for long I imagine)

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, August 29, 2005 at 1:33 PM (EDT)

    Wow.....Im a huge SBB fan and would love to hear this song. Anyone have the mp3 I can get?

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, August 29, 2005 at 1:03 PM (EDT)

    "Over time, I have collected every recording by them that I know about (with the exception of their cover of Thin Lizzy's "Jailbreak")."

    if you want that song, it's on a comp from no idea called "redefiling music". it also has a great springsteen cover by hot water music, among other things. not a bad way to spend $4.50.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, August 29, 2005 at 9:51 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I have this junks. Good stuff.

    All SBB is good. For everyone that thinks later SBB is crap, you must have missed those songs played live.

    Posted by Timis on 2005-08-29 09:22:38

    "I know you're all jealous"

    yeah but i own a LESC cd (melodic punk band band before sbb - travis on vox, mike - guitar, backup vox, ben - bass, and dan on drums) - HOT SHIT.

    Posted by VitusTinnitus on 2005-08-29 02:36:46
    My Score:

    Great 7 inch. Superb Small Brown Bike song and an even better Cursive song (and I'm a bigger fan of SBB than Cursive). This is sitting right next to my other precious 7 inch, Hot Water Music's "Eating The Filler." I know you're all jealous...By the way, Our Own Wars is far and away the best SBB release. If you're looking for other good SBB "singles" (for lack of a better word), I would suggest the "Quarters Vol. 1" 7 inch which has the song "Mine of You" on it. That particular 7 inch also has a bad-ass song from Keleton DMD on it. SBB also had a song on their website called "Lantern" that has since been taken down. Leave your AIM name and I'll send it to you. Can't say enough good things about this band. It's a shame they've broken up.

    Posted by REALPUNX4LIFE on 2005-08-28 19:05:43

    Our Own Wars > Dead Reckoning > Collection > Nail Yourself to the Ground > The River Bed

    I have spoken. (And returned! Hooray for you guys! I actually never left, but now I'm going to log in once in a while.)

    PS Fuck yeah, where the fuck is that fucker with my fucking money and/or records? I know that half of the bands from that series are broken up now, but my cash could still be returned to my pocket. Do that shit, Wick!

    Posted by Timis on 2005-08-28 18:43:47

    scotch....

    awhile i would have agreed with you about dead reckoning....but after further listenings to all their albums over the last year or so...the river bed nail yourself to the ground is hands down their best efforts. i have a hard time even listening to our own wars nowadays

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, August 28, 2005 at 4:39 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    see you in hell!

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, August 28, 2005 at 2:20 PM (EDT)

    i would kill for this

    Posted by maverick on 2005-08-28 11:32:35

    Our Own Wars? Collection?!?!? You kids are crazy. Dead Reckoning is, hands down, the best SBB album of their (all too short) career.

    -Scott

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, August 28, 2005 at 9:13 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Michigan Represent!

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, August 28, 2005 at 8:20 AM (EDT)

    More people should listen to this band, they are really powerfull.

    Oh yeah reform?

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, August 28, 2005 at 8:05 AM (EDT)

    The first SBB album you should start with is Our Own Wars. My favorite it Collections.

    Posted by moneenerd on 2005-08-28 05:01:15
    My Score:

    awesome you reviewed this. an old super-rare 7 inch that im very lucky to own myself. keep doing cool shit like this!

    Posted by crossfiyaaa on 2005-08-28 04:29:42

    For introducing yourself to Small Brown Bike, start with Our Own Wars, definitely. Hands down their best album. Then get Dead Reckoning. After that comes everything else.

    Can anybody send me mp3s from this split? I need to hear this SBB track.

    Posted by bobbett on 2005-08-28 02:27:49

    "i've been meaning to listen to some small brown bike since i heard gasoline fight.. how many albums do they have? is there a particular i should start with?"

    jones: listen to dead reckoning first, i think it's their best.

    Posted by maverick on 2005-08-28 01:15:32

    50 dollars to the person who brings me the head of Joel Makoto!

    (Or Joel could just refund my and everyone else's money.)

    (Or he could at least just explain what happened to this series and where our money all went.)

    Just sayin'.

    -Scott

    Posted by Timis on 2005-08-28 00:49:48

    you really cant go wrong with any of SBB releases......

    Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-08-28 00:40:04

    i've been meaning to listen to some small brown bike since i heard gasoline fight.. how many albums do they have? is there a particular i should start with?

    - jones the bones

    - steve

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