NEW NOISE: Carpathian, Two Tongues, Cymbals
By Tim ConnorsSaturday, February 7th, 2009
Carpathian
Isolation
Deathwish Inc.
In its relatively short existence, Deathwish Inc. has fast become a hardcore institution, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Revelation, Dischord and other luminaries of hardcore and punk labels. There is a certain sound and demeanor to a DW release, and Australia’s Carpathian are like a proverbial Deathwish melting pot, blending styles of its label brethren like Modern Life Is War, Blacklisted & Integrity. Carpathian have the uncanny ability to infuse emotion into their music without being tagged with that dreaded “E” word- much like Verse has been able to do. The riffs even remind me of Leeway now and then, and that is NOT a bad thing. Isolation begs a complete listen, front to back. Hardcore is still very much alive and well in 2009; with a release like Isolation, Carpathian secure themselves within the hardcore landscape.
Two TonguesTwo Tongues
Vagrant
Say Anything frontman Max Bemis reached out to Chris Conley of Saves The Day to try to write some songs, and the result is the Two Tongues record. Something of a Voltron of emo rock, TT mashes Bemis’ rock-opera vocals and Weezer-like guitar licks over Conley’s patented, nasally quips and slack-rock axe-play. As a fan of both Say Anything and Saves The Day, I was more than curious to hear the fruits of these dudes’ labors. And while they certainly don’t make the wheel any rounder, Two Tongues capture the fun of making music for both of them (the musicians) and us (the listeners); it largely sounds like a blend of STD’s Stay What You Are and SA’s …Is A Real Boy. Say Anything drummer Coby Linder and STD bassist David Soloway of Saves The Day fill out the rest of the lineup, making an even split between the two camps. It’s endearing that the album ends with an obscure Ween cover, “Even If You Don’t”. Two Tongues is a fun record that makes me wish for warmer weather. It’s meant to be played with the windows down.
Cymbals Eat GuitarsWhy There Are Mountains
Self Released
I was more than a little thrilled when I discovered Cymbals Eat Guitars. There are few bands doing anything that can hold a candle to something like Modest Mouse or Pavement, including Stephen Malkmus himself. Why There Are Mountains is like a time capsule from the mid 90s, when music was fun and memorable. Granted, the argument can be made that since CEG play 90s-styled indie rock, they’re not really doing anything new. But CEG demonstrate distinctive charms and elements throughout these nine songs. There are strains of Built to Spill, 764-Hero, and plenty of Pixies for good measure. Singer Joseph Ferocious yelps out those big hooks and choruses, securing himself as a future famous frontman. The dreamy keys trickle in some elements of shoegaze now and then, and then phase into dirge-like swells. Everything about this record is completely intentional and utterly perfect. These guys will be hob-nobbing with Thurston Moore and the rest of the indie elite in no time. Take heed, 2009 is the year of Cymbals Eat Guitars.
