Birdmonster / Exit the King / Modern Machines

Justin: Birdmonster are a local band to San Francisco that recently came my way via a friend at Launch:Commit after they posted an interview with them . It's some dancy, jangly indie-rock that's just enjoyable enough without feeling like it's going to annoy your face off. I'd liken it to a less electronic From Monument to Masses or an angrier, less jazzy Colossal. The band is preparing to release their new album A New Midnight and has tracks from it streaming at their Myspace page. "Cause You Can" combines that dancy rhythm that is making the tight-pantsed crowd swoon these days with a bit of raw energy that is infectious, while "Bar In The Back" has this weird galloping pace that has been stuck in my head for days.

Birdmonster at Myspace Birdmonster - The Resurrection Song Brian: I don't know why I let myself work 12 hours on some Fridays, but I do, and I could probably pass out comfortably on a pile of bloody syringes right now as a result. Austin, TX's Exit the King is basically the aural equivalent of the opposite of that feeling: complex math metal that takes from the Fall of Troy and early Dillinger Escape Plan for a nutty brand of go-get-'em rock. If you like this, there's another song streaming on their myspace page. Both are from a self-titled CD-R EP put out last year.

Exit the King - Carthorse Adam: I'm not remarkably informed about Milwaukee's Modern Machines, but they seem like a band whose name has been popping up here and there on the site for years now. Thankfully Dirtnap Records is on my radar and the more I hear about their new record Take It, Somebody the more I'm looking forward to it. Of course there's more than a heavy dose of Replacements / Hüsker Dü influence in the band's sound, but that's quite alright with me. There's something remarkably comforting about songs like "Flash Infatuation."

Modern Machines - Flash Infatuation

Sinking Ships / Mono / Billy Bragg

Brian: Sinking Ships' brand of melodic, positive hardcore is certainly starting to turn heads. Revelation picked up the band in December, and then California-based 6131 Records helped release the band's Meridian album within U.S. shores this past month (Run for Cover handled the initial release in Europe last year). The band frequently receives comparisons to recently defunct Seattle brethren Champion, and while these may be well-grounded, it seems as though Sinking Ships also take the Turning Point influence of Stay Gold's Pills and Advice and run with it full throttle. Meridian combines six newer tracks with the band's 2004 self-titled demo, and while the former surely stands out, the whole thing is worth more than a listen, as should the forthcoming full-length on Rev due in the summer. The band is currently out on the road with labelmates Shook Ones.

Sinking Ships - The Sound Aubin: In sharp contrast to the economical, short bursts of Brian's choice comes mine; one of my favorite bands and probably not something you'd expect. Japan's Mono is a band which manages to infuse the walls of sound of noise rock pioneers like Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine with the depth and orchestrations of classical music. It sounds weird, but the result is some truly beautiful and absolutely crushingly powerful music. They will be releasing You Are There soon and fans of Pelican, Isis, Mogwai, Explosions in the Sky or Envy should check them out.

Mono - The Flames Beyond the Cold Mountain Justin: Billy Bragg is an institution in my eyes. His fire and rage was stoked by the Clash in 1977 and molded by the man he calls "the first punk," Woody Guthrie. I was wandering around Archive.org's audio library searching for Joe Strummer bootlegs (hey, I am a music dork after all) and stumbled across this live set from 2003. The event was a Joe Strummer tribute and features Mr. Bragg performing fourteen tracks, including a few Clash covers. He also pauses the set to give a ten minute explanation of the what he feels the roots of Punk music are and tells his story of first seeing the Clash and working on the Mermaid Avenue project. The crowd participation, Bragg's unmistakable voice and the passion that comes through it have kept this in my rotation for quite a bit now. The files are in .Flac format, but there are converters available for Windows and OS X.

Billy Bragg - February 22nd, 2003, Joe Strummer Tribute in Southampton, England

Scarlet / Foot Foot

Brian: Finally, proof that you can play metalcore in the post-Botch vein and not write a lame record! Yes, we may've made the band an MP3 of the Week back in 2004, but their new effort bears mentioning as well. Scarlet's recent full-length on Ferret, This Was Always Meant to Fall Apart. is tightly played and certainly in that aformentioned's genre's area, but with gigantic-sounding, powerful drums, and when the band sings their choruses, it's not at all cheesy, but rather eerie and haunting, similar to Cave In or Worship-era Glassjaw. Here's a track from the album:

Scarlet - The Separation Of Justin: Described as a "tiny folk orchestra" Foot Foot are a surprise for sure. What sometimes sounds like atonal melodies and harmonies are half spoken and half sung over a mixture of traditional instruments and large amounts of bass guitar. The melodica makes appearances as do banjo and accordion to fill the small gaps that may appear. The band melds this all together into a cohesive offering that delivers in variety and substance. Their new album Snaggle and Buck will be released on Oedipus Records on April 4th. I wouldn't miss it if you're a fan of acts like Neko Case, Jolie Holland or just enjoy a strong vocal performance over inventive, relaxing folk backdrops.

Foot Foot - "Criminal Wealth" Foot Foot - "Out of the Sand"