NYC

From the album submissions: Corrupt Autopilot

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Take a listen to Corrupt Autopilot and you’ll wonder why the band hasn’t been invited over to your house yet. Or maybe they have… perhaps yours is the ‘Quiet House’ they’re referring to in the album opener (streaming below) of trash rock anthems ‘Oh No!’

In a clear ode to grungey 90s bands like Mudhoney and old, old Weezer (the Blue record of course), the trio have recreated the decade in all its garage rock majesty. Through eight tracks of messy awesomeness, the NY group transcends the past two decades and even finds time to discuss Panda blood along the way (nice!). I’d say… if you can’t invite them over to your place, the least you can do is power this record through your speakers, and maybe break out the flannel again while you’re at it.- Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

This band submitted their music for review here

NYC

Album review: The Slowdown – A

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(Photo by Todd Zimmer)

As a reviewer who had not been aware of The Slowdown, its debut album did not disappoint. The sixteen-track, hour-long album A solidly sold the band.
 
Tearing in with the first track, “Acting Strange Of Late,” the band holds nothing back as to what the rest of the album will sound like. A promiscuous mess of guitars, synths, drums, and words rises up to bear a fantastic modern rock-inspired, heavy indie sound. With the combination of distorted riffs, clean and plucky bass, and smooth percussion overtones, this six-piece band definitely knows how to write a song.  
           
The album, collectively, is full of highs and lows of all kinds: the tempo, the lyrics, the emotions—all of it. Songs like “A Mirror, A Touch” appear soft and mellow at first, and quickly build up into a prog-rock epic. This specific song is a thriving example of how the band can lead you on a rollercoaster ride. Despite these ups and downs, The Slowdown will still stick in your head. Catchy hooks from “Runaway” and “Wardance” will repeat themselves endlessly in your head.
 
It’s refreshing to know that a band with six members can coherently compose songs that display the talents of each member. There isn’t a time in A that I felt as though talents were being lost. Every guy in the band appears in tune with his part of the song and showcases it brilliantly. The music is intricate and mastered beautifully. The vocals seem low at times, but the sound of guitars carries the song forward.
 
Some of the best songs on this album come from the formidably experimental tracks. My personal favorite, closing track “Whispering Lights,” combines an acoustic diddy with a bluesy electric lead, and pseudo-hip-hop drumming to create an absolutely wonderful song. Soft lyrics with corresponding harmonies complete the track. In other cases, such as “Unable To” and “Tears From the Compound,” the tracks keep the slow tempo with the experimental sound.
 
Out of everything this album is, dull is not one of them. There is guaranteed to be at least one song from A that will resonate with any rock fan. Some songs are clearly rock, some indie, some indefinitely experimental—it’s simply a great album. Not every song will stick with every listener, but surely several tracks will be taken away. 
 
The Slowdown celebrated the release of A at The Riot Room this past Friday evening. The official release of the album is Tuesday, December 11. See more photos below from Todd Zimmer, from the band’s recent show at recordBar on November 24.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
–Steven Ervay
 
Steven is the intern of Midwest Music Foundation and The Deli – Kansas City. He can’t go to 21+ shows yet and that bums him out.  

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Philadelphia

R5’s Punk Rock Flea Market & Philadelphia Record Riot at The Punk Rock Flea Market-Dome Dec. 9

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Do you have some shopping to do for the holidays? Well, get it all done today at R5’s Punk Rock Flea Market! There will be over 300 tables of vendors with clothes, art, prints, food, bicycles, stereo equipment, instruments, automobiles, tools, posters, furniture, computers, skateboards and unusual knick knacks as well as The Philadelphia Record Riot, a giant record fair with 55+ dealers. Don’t miss out on possibly getting a one-of-a-kind gift for your loved ones and a little something for yourself. You deserve it. The Punk Rock Flea Market-Dome, 461 N. 9th St., 10am – 5pm, $3, All Ages – H.M. Kauffman

Philadelphia

Y-Not Radio’s Early Xmas Present at KFN Dec. 9

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In honor of the holidays, Y-Not Radio has decided to break out their festivities a little early by hosting tonight’s showcase at Kung Fu Necktie that’s headlined by upbeat Brooklyn indie popsters Eytan and the Embassy. And if you’ve logged onto the station’s website at all this week, then you should have your free ticket ready to go for the shindig which also features Los Angeles rockers Thick as Thieves. Rounding out the lineup will be locals the Panic Years who have been playing out in support of their first full-length album The Month’s Mind. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St, 8pm, FREE w/Ticket printed from Y-Rock Website/$12 w/o, 21+ – Bill McThrill

Philadelphia

Joey Sweeney Your Life Is Calling at JB’s Dec. 8

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Whether you consider it to be an insightful and entertaining perspective on all things Philly or a hipster douche blog that has a little too much of a snarky side, one does have to give Philebrity credit for providing plenty of amusing reads and flame wars throughout the years. But long before Joey Sweeney helmed the infamous blog, he was a highly acclaimed musician who has played with such acts like The Barnabys, The Trouble with Sweeney (which also featured his longtime friend Heyward Howkins and Miner Street Recording mastermind Brian McTear), and most recently Arctic Splash. In honor of Sweeney’s 40th birthday, Johnny Brenda’s will be hosting a retrospective on Sweeney’s life tonight, and a lot of special guests from his past will be on hand to give him a proper roast of sorts, including McTear who will also be performing as Bitter Bitter Weeks. While you probably don’t want to miss Sweeney reuniting The Barnabys and The Trouble with Sweeney for the first time in several years, it will also be a good chance to catch Arctic Splash before they drop their debut album. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford St, 9pm, $10, 21+ – Bill McThrill

Chicago

Wild Belle @ Metro

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What an incredible year it has been for Natalie & Elliot Bergman, better known as Wild Belle. They released two successful and seductive singles, toured all over the country, and signed to Columbia Records. 2013 will kick out with a tour with Tori Y Moi and the release of their debut full-length, Isles. The duo appeared on Conan last week and performed "It’s Not Too Late".

You can catch Wild Belle at Metro on Dec. 9th with Of Montreal.

NYC

Weekly Feature: Anya Skidan plays Pinebox RockShop on 12.15

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Anya Skidan is a young Brooklynite unafraid to throw herself decidedly at life’s shadows, attempting to illuminate some psychedelic light over her settings. We enjoyed her performance at our flagship CMJ show at Pianos, and recommend you go see her live since you’ll have three opportunity in December: she’s playing Pinebox Rockshop on 12.15, Pete’s Candy Store on 10.18 and Goodbye Blue Monday on 12.29. Read Mike Levine’s interview here.

NYC

Weekly Feature: Cuddle Magic

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Cuddle Magic may have a weird name, but it somehow makes sense. Their music inspires hugs (sophisticated ones though) and is achieved through instrumental wizardry involving a large list of unusual instruments. They played our CMJ show last October at The Living Room and charmed us inside out. That’s why we interviewed them here. 

Philadelphia

Weekend Warrior, December 7 – 9

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Creepoid austere soundscapes are so pleasing that it’s hard to focus on anything else while taking in their songs. The band is currently working on the follow-up to their impressive first LP Horse Heaven, which gave birth to beauties like opener “Wishing Well,” a slow-building Americana ballad in the vein of Low whose woozy lyrics take on an incantatory quality by the song’s midpoint. They’ll be supporting at Union Transfer tonight Pittsburghers Black Moth Super Rainbow, whose bizarrely entrancing “Windshield Smasher” incorporates a stadium-sized effects palette and breathes new life into what sounds a whole lot like Gary Glitter, and Casket Girls, a similar project from BMSR members. Union Transfer, 1024 Spring Garden St., 8pm, $14 – $15, All Ages – Alyssa Greenberg.

 
Other places to hide out from the rain this weekend…
 
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Frog Holler, La Overtoner, Manatawny Creek Ramblers Frog Holler, La Overtoner, Manatawny Creek Ramblers, SAT The Barnabys, The Trouble With Sweeney, Artic Splash, Bitter, Bitter Weeks & More
 
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI (Upstairs) Heavy Medical, Xanax, SAT Workhorse III, Kingsnake, Brain Candle, (Upstairs) Ruby the Hatchet, SUN Y-Not Radio’s Early Xmas Present w/Panic Years
 
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI Lushlife
 
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St. Philadelphia) SAT Cheap Dinosaurs, SKGB
 
First Unitarian Church (2125 Chestnut St.) SAT Far-Out Fangtooth
 
Voyeur (1221 St. James St.) Making Time w/Nothing
 
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Hurricane Relief Benefit w/Thee, Idea Men; ILL Doots, Lucy Stone, OhBree, SUN Ronniepalooza w/The Better Half, The Jackson Rider, The Brett Talley Band, Ray Ward
 
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI Clashing Plaid, Mercury Radio Theater, SAT The Shark Skins, Gas Money
 
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Attic Dancers, Mike Stone & The Movies, SAT Disco Machine Gun, Thee Nosebleeds, +Church+, Drugstore, Human Shield, SUN Midnight Blues
 
Ortlieb’s (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI G. Calvin Westons, SAT Work Drugs, Shark Tape, Ellis Island, SUN Julie Charnet and Her Quartet, Tony Williams
 
Tin Angel (20 S. 2nd St.) SAT Sonoma Sound, Smash Palace
 
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI Common Enemy, The Noid, Rough Jusitce, SAT United Kingdom, These Polar Opposites, Electric Tribes
 
TLA (334 South St.) FRI Anthony Green
 
The Blockley (3801 Chestnut St.) SAT Voss, Mic Stew, Reef The Lost Cauze
 
Elena’s Soul (4912 Baltimore Ave.) FRI Point Breeze, Window Liquor
 
The Rotunda (4014 Walnut St.) FRI Chuck van Zyl & Terry Furber
 
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) FRI Hired Guns Blues Band, SAT Dave Steel Blues Band, SUN Rusty Cadillac
 
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI The York Street Hustle, SAT Transistor Rodeo, Quincy Mumford and The Reason Why
 
The Legendary Dobbs (304 South St.) FRI Penn Glee Club Band, Modern Colour, Frank Cervantes, The Lux, Michael Constantino, DJ Freez, SAT Boogieman DeLa
 
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) SAT The Naked Sun
 
Triumph Brewery (117 Chestnut St.) SAT Natural Selection, SUN Edward Watkins Jazz Trio
 
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI I Am Lightning, Yeah Son, Give Me Gravity
 
Maggot House (Please contact one of the acts or the venue for more details.) FRI Alex G., Pill Friends, Kiddo Marink, Traffic Nightmare
 
The Farm (Please contact one of the acts or the venue for more details.) FRI Gash (Record Release)
 
Snyder House (Please contact one of the acts or the venue for more details.) SAT Glocca Morra, Joint Chiefs of Math, Amanda X, Facts!
 
Moonbase Nix (Please contact one of the acts or the venue for more details.) SAT W.C. Lindsay, Modern Baseball, Steady Hands, Marietta
 
Philadelphia

Free Work Drugs In-store Performance at AKA Music Dec. 7

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Work Drugs are holding a free in-store performance at AKA Music this evening to celebrate their first “official” release Delta. The album features remastered/remixed singles from previous self-released CD-Rs as well as a few new singles. The group connects a combination of wispy male/female vocals, with a percussive backbone that provides a framework for a continuously on the move synth pop-rock combination meant for one-on-one action in the dark (or with multiple partners and the lights on if that’s what you are into). It’s quite easy to get sucked in by this street-lit seductively smooth operation. You can also get a second dose of the addictive outfit tomorrow at Ortlieb’s with Shark Tape and Ellis Islands, a project from Work Drugs bassist Nero Catalano. AKA Music, 27 N. 2nd St., 7pm, Free, All Ages – Michael Colavita