Self Defense Family

Self Defense Family: End of a Year [7 inch]End of a Year [7 inch] (2009)
Deathwish Inc.

Reviewer Rating: 3.5

User Rating:

Contributed by: InaGreendaseBrian
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on July 10th 2009I doubt End of a Year ever try to make "statements" with their albums, per se, but maybe it just felt right self-titling their label debut on the bigger stage. Their Deathwish debut, indeed titled End of a Year, both harkens back to their clear mid-`80s Dischord roots while marching forward with the.

I doubt End of a Year ever try to make "statements" with their albums, per se, but maybe it just felt right self-titling their label debut on the bigger stage. Their Deathwish debut, indeed titled End of a Year, both harkens back to their clear mid-`80s Dischord roots while marching forward with their own quirky, unique touch in some of their best ways yet.

"Robert E. Howard" involves post-marital argument shrugs (maybe?) -- "no sex tonight!" -- in between crunchy, mid-tempo stop-starts. Any longer than a minute and change of this and it would probably get old, but as is, it's a sneaky, interesting way to open a 7". But "Gray Morrow" picks it up, as it's more urgent and frantic with ripping guitar lines resonating under Patrick Kindlon's spastic yelp. "Walter M. Miller Jr." deviates further from the other two, a warm, upbeat closer that stretches out beyond five minutes, guitars playfully coy and wistful and invoking wheat fields and old Neil Young songs despite Kindlon continuing to stutter and spew his points across the table.

End of a Year's label debut gets about as stylistically disparate as can be for only three songs -- maybe a bit too much, even. But if like an economical mixtape, so be it. We can check out the "bands" here further on the full-length followup.

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Walter M. Miller Jr.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

inagreendase (July 13, 2009)

this band is the furthest thing away from Mewithoutyou..not similar at all. This band has way more in common with, like the person below me said, early 80's dischord stuff such as Embrace (which the band got their name from)

Yeah, but mewithoutYou probably had their fair share of Fugazi comparisons when [A-->B] Life came out, and it's not like there's a huge degree of separation there.

conduit (July 12, 2009)

this band is the furthest thing away from Mewithoutyou..not similar at all. This band has way more in common with, like the person below me said, early 80's dischord stuff such as Embrace (which the band got their name from)

Either way, one of the best bands around right now in my opinion..especially great live.

onegirlarmy (July 12, 2009)

I can see where Mewithoutyou comes from, sort of, but End Of A Year more so come from an 80's Dischord emo sort of place for me rather than that.

Great band, good record.

tenwestchaser (July 12, 2009)

"it's hard to make it through many of them in one sitting for some reason"

Part of the reason I said what I said. The guy delivers his lines in a way that reminds me of Mewithout you but in such a lackluster way. It sounds so uninspired and comes across in a way thats just grating to me. The spoken word/indie rock/slight post-hardcore thing they are trying to do was done much better by Mewithout you already. I guess I don't understand why I'm the only one who can see the comparisson. Seemed obvious to me. Meh.

name (July 12, 2009)

though, not too. fuck beta.

name (July 12, 2009)

to the dude (or lady) who quoted my folk punk comment: yeah, you're right, it was a dicky way of phrasing it, i actually agree with you on your displeasure there. all is forgiven on account of your mention of dear tonight, too. those guys fucking slayed.

Blackjaw_x (July 11, 2009)

I also prefer Dear Tonight, though they're not the most similar band to this one. I think End of a Year writes good songs, but it's hard to make it through many of them in one sitting for some reason. I think it's the vocals.

24hourpriapism (July 11, 2009)

"emo revival is starting to look like the next folkpunk as far as trends go.."

no offense dude, but i motherfucking hate statements like this. saying things like "_____ is the next/new _____" makes you look like a trendchasing douche who just listens to something because it's "hot," or derides something simply because it's popular.

not ripping on you, just your choice of words.

which......i suppose is a rip on you in a way :( sorry.

this makes me miss dear tonight, who did this kind of post-hardcore better.

name (July 10, 2009)

"Am I the only one that really doesn't like these guys? They sound like a poor man's Mewithoutyou. Very bland and annoying, too."

i disagree completely. i like these guys way more than mewithoutYou or any of the other loosely defined "emo rehash" bands out there. in fact emo revival is starting to look like the next folkpunk as far as trends go...then again, what the fuck do i know, right?

mikexdude (July 10, 2009)

They sound like a poor man's Mewithoutyou. Very bland and annoying, too.

Really?

tenwestchaser (July 10, 2009)

Am I the only one that really doesn't like these guys? They sound like a poor man's Mewithoutyou. Very bland and annoying, too.

bryne (July 10, 2009)

Yeah, this is really good.

ffwoodycooks (July 10, 2009)

shit rips

Dayspring (July 10, 2009)

Yes, I agree; It is a four.

RedElephant (July 10, 2009)

Beleaders from their last album is a fuckin awesome song.