Monday 2 July 2012

Age Sixteen


Age Sixteen were a screamo/emo band from Baltimore, Maryland who were active from 2008-2010. Despite their somewhat brief tenure, they managed to put out a slew of solid material, most notably their sole LP, Open Up Finders, Please, which I highly recommend you check out, if you haven't already. Besides that, they put out one split, a handful of demos and a tour sampler.

Age Sixteen's music is characterized by the use of two distinct dynamics. You guessed it soft/quiet and harsh/loud. This band goes from frantic, chaotic spasms (but still retaining a sense of melody) to beautifully serene and light passages. All the while featuring this amazing, shimmering guitar tone playing noodle-y parts. This is an obvious nod to bands such as Suis La Lune, of whom they are often compared to. Rightfully so, since they do sound similar.  . The vocals, on the other hand, warrant a comparison to Bear vs. Shark (in addition to Suis La Lune, La Quiete, etc.). Though the similarities aren't quite as clear-cut as the band's similarities to their influences, there is still a trace of BvS, especially in the more aggressive parts. Age Sixteen, like Bear vs. Shark, also implement some softly spoken passages as a contrast to the abrasive screaming. There are obvious differences, of course. AS tends to be a bit more visceral, and more high-pitched than BvS (and 'cuz you know, Mark Paffi is inimitable). They also occassionally utilize gang vocals, an emo/hardcore essential.

Here's everything this awesome band has put out. Enjoy.

1. In Lieu Of

Note: This song would later be re-recorded for their LP with the new name "Two Seconds".

1. Peter Pan Complex
2. Everything Is A Tide
3. Fabric

1. Fabric
2. As Personal As A Greeting Card
3. The Lion And The Gazelle

1. Peter Pan Complex
2. As Personal As A Greeting Card
3. Everything Is A Tide
4. Fabric
5. Two Seconds
6. Dear Judas
7. Empty Nest
8. Seasick
9. The Lion And The Gazelle

1. The Emperor/Why Relive A Closed Chapter?/From The Top Of My Heart

1. Wren Lloyd - Ergotism
2. Wren Lloyd - Radical Edward's Dream
3. Wren Lloyd - Purple Skeleton
4. Wren Lloyd - Clump Spirit
5. Age Sixteen - Why Relive A Closed Chapter?
6. Age Sixteen - The Emperor
7. Age Sixteen - From The Top Of My Heart
 8. Age Sixteen -  Seven (Sunny Day Real Estate cover) 

Note: I don't know which cover is the proper one. I prefer the first one, but to each their own, I suppose.

1. Peter Pan Complex
2. As Personal As A Greeting Card
3. Everything Is A Tide
4. Fabric
5. Two Seconds
6. Dear Judas
7. Empty Nest
8. Seasick
9. The Lion And The Gazelle
10. The Emperor
11. Why Relive A Closed Chapter?
12. From The Top Of My Heart

Note: This is a discography LP Age Sixteen just self-released, there isn't much information out there surrounding it, so who knows if they reunited or anything

1. Peter Pan Complex
2. As Personal As A Greeting Card
3. Everything Is A Tide
4. Fabric
5. Two Seconds
6. Dear Judas
7. Empty Nest
8. Seasick
9. The Lion And The Gazelle
10. The Emperor
11. Why Relive A Closed Chapter?
12. From The Top Of My Heart

5 comments:

  1. This is amazing, one of my new fave bands for sure. Thank you for posting.

    ReplyDelete
  2. very late on this, but thank you. so good.

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  3. is it possible to reupload the LP ? seems like the link is dead.. thanks a alot !

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  4. The LP is not released yet and it is not self released. It will be released by a Italian label called Couchpunx while the U.S label under Poison hemlock which there is zero information and it will be that labels first release. I am having a few doubts of this record ever coming out. It was stated it was coming out in 2015 but there hasn't been much detail of it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. The LP is not released yet and it is not self released. It will be released by a Italian label called Couchpunx while the U.S label under Poison hemlock which there is zero information and it will be that labels first release. I am having a few doubts of this record ever coming out. It was stated it was coming out in 2015 but there hasn't been much detail of it.

    ReplyDelete