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The split featuring Shook Ones and End of a Year came out a somewhat long time ago. Summer 2008-ish. A lot of you guys like both these bands. But none of you submitted a review for it, so now I get to continue my habit of reviewing everything Shooks do...except for their actual albums...and their demo tape, I guess, but that doesn't count.

Unfortunately, none of Shooks' four songs here blow me away as much as the feature jams on those two above-linked reviewed EPs did ("So Grown Up" on Slaughter of the Insole and "Order Form" on the Easel split). Still, Shooks do a damn commendable job here. All four songs are quick, minute-long jabs yet manage to flip the personality switch nearly every time. Opener "Raised by Woofs" is the best song the band's written in the category of "fucking fun as fuck" (as opposed to, I don't know, "depressed as fuck" -- see most of Sixteen). Up next is "It's Not What You Think," which seemingly rails against 20-somethings who let their lives become plagued by high school drama. It's like a goofy `80s hardcore, Descendents-meets-Black-Flag type jam until the absolutely crucial mosh part -- I say that without a touch of irony. There's a sudden riff and break in the "high school! high school!" chants and you just want to shove everything in whatever room you're in to one side. I've never been one to say the word "mosh" in a Shook Ones review positively, but Lord, that part rips everything to tattered shreds, and Scotty Freeman's excessively screamed cackles just give it that extra push. "Asterisk" and "Marked with a Crow's Feet" are competent numbers, too. Just make sure you're paying attention -- these songs really do end in about four minutes. Blink and you'll miss 'em.

End of a Year do the complete opposite. Their one song is slow and methodical, with repeated mini-buildups and collapses. It's pretty awesome, and at 5:24 it's actually a full minute longer than Shook Ones' side. Now that's contrast. It's easily among EOAY's best songs, but I seem to say that about one of the tracks after I review every one of their splits. Maybe that means they're getting better all the time. Overall, "Dan Cooper" sounds like it might've been dug out of the Jawbreaker vault circa Bivouac, but if Blake had his balls in a vice when he recorded it. Trust me, I'm not knocking Patrick Kindlon's voice; his yelp is just a bit higher-pitched than usual. It doesn't really bother me. The lyrics are weird and jaggedly stream-of-consciousness, with a few refrains that don't make entirely much sense to me; "She asked, 'Where do bad ideas come from?' I replied, 'Well, you're no fun.'" Still, this is a nicely wound-up and wind-down cut with a wonderfully reflective vibe about it.

This split is made all the more bizarre by the "as-a-teenager / as-a-young/middle-aged-woman" pictures of random females on both sides. I DON'T GET IT. The artwork inside is cool, though, since it's a picture of all the lyrics legibly written on some poor building's wall. If the bands really did that -- awesome. If not and it's just a bang-up Photoshop job, oh well.

There's a lot of words in this review for something that's over in 11 minutes. I don't think I need to say many more. If you like either band you can't really go wrong here. And if you don't, what's wrong with you?

STREAM
Shook Ones - Raised by Woofs
End of a Year - Dan Cooper [minute-long clip]



People who liked this also liked:
Paint It Black - New LexiconPsyched to Die - Sterile Walls [7 inch]Shook Ones - The Unquotable A.M.H.Shook Ones - Slaughter of the Insole [7 inch]The State Lottery - Cities We're Not From [12 inch]End of a Year - End of a Year [7 inch]Dave House - See That No One Else EscapesEnd of a Year - We Understand Europeans Are a Sexual People [7 inch]Against Me! - As The Eternal CowboyThe Lawrence Arms - The Greatest Story Ever Told



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    Posted by markd248 on 2009-02-08 02:54:00
    My Score:

    lyrics on the wall are real. all the art was done not on computers then photographed.

    overall i love shook ones' side, EOAY's is pretty good too. I really like the artwork. I think its an awesome release from runner up, they have cool releases coming up soon too...

    Posted by aboynamedkelly on 2009-02-07 23:23:45

    album art, that is.

    score is for typos.

    Posted by aboynamedkelly on 2009-02-07 23:23:09
    My Score:

    let it be known that the album is also from the genius that is patrick kindlon.

    score is for patrick kindlon.

    Posted by the_problem_with_fire on 2009-02-06 19:27:14

    what is up with that album art?

    Posted by 24HourPriapism on 2009-02-06 19:07:49

    was anyone else a little disappointed when they found out "Bad Year" off that Shooks/Easel split was just a cover? man, that song ripped and it wasn't even their own.

    Posted by xshoutoutx on 2009-02-06 18:50:32

    that is all i can ask :)

    Posted by mikexdude on 2009-02-06 18:43:43

    I'll listen just for you. I'll get back to you in a few.

    Posted by xshoutoutx on 2009-02-06 18:08:39
    My Score:

    to MikexDude:

    I suggest you relisten to Shook One's either newer split with Easel (some of the best shit I have heard in the last two years hands down), or their deemed magnum opus (perhaps a bit excessive) "Facetious Folly Feat." Both of those releases kick some major ass. Anyway, this split was decent by both bands, not their worst or best, but just good.

    NOW GO LISTEN MICHAEL!

    Posted by ffwoodycock on 2009-02-06 18:03:30
    My Score:

    End of a year and shook ones... never got into them at all. But, /... that's a whole different story. Score is for them.

    Posted by breakout on 2009-02-06 17:54:58
    My Score:

    End of a year... never got into them at all. But Shook Ones... that's a whole different story. Score is for them.

    Posted by mikexdude on 2009-02-06 17:50:59

    Also, I may not be a master of remembering your reviews, but this review was oddly casual for you. Not that it's a bad thing, but it's interesting to read the difference between this and your Verse or Have Heart review.

    Posted by mikexdude on 2009-02-06 17:45:40
    My Score:

    Shook ones... never got into them at all. But End of a Year... that's a whole different story. Score is for them.