Chino Horde

Chino Horde were a four-piece emo/punk band from Little Rock, Arkansas that began in 1990 and broke up in 1993. They played an early iteration of emo featuring melodic bass lines, vibrant guitars and vocals that ebb from spoken to screamed in an instant. I don't think it'd be a stretch to suggest these guys were big fans of bands like Embrace that preceded them by just a few years. They released a small chunk of material, with only one full-length, a few EPs, and a split with the also-incredible Current. Their discography was later compiled in 2010 for a vinyl release, though I don't have a digital version of that. A quick point of interest with this band is that their bassist, Jason White, would later become known as a long-time touring guitarist with Green Day and a member of Pinhead Gunpowder. Other members of Chino Horde also formed Thumbnail, who were active in the late 90's Enjoy.

Demo Cassette (1990)

1. Twenty Seven

2. Single Question

3. Invalid

4. Velour

5. Too-Edged

6. Too-Edged

7. Prelude

8. Pinned

9. Racket

10. RSON

Chino Horde 7" (1992)

1. Merit

2. Racket

Towncraft: Music And Words From Little Rock, Arkansas (1992)

9. Composite

Chino Horde (1993)

1. Undone And Over

2. Natural

3. Twenty-Seven

4. Paul

5. Arson

6. Silo

7. Composite

8. Donor

Current/Chino Horde (1994)

1. Current - Monument

2. Chino Horde - What You Can't Get Now, I'll Give You Later (Prelude)

3 Chino Horde - Silo

This Is Done (1995)

1. Song 3

2. Song 2

3. Song 1

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The Jazz June

The Jazz June are a four-piece emo/indie band from Kutztown, Pennsyvlania that formed in 1996. They went on an unofficial hiatus in 2003, played a one-off benefit reunion shows in 2007, and reformed again in 2013 for a new LP and tour. Despite not getting much attention during their initial run, they are now regarded as an emo classic, particularly with regards to their seminal full-length The Medicine. The Jazz June managed to themselves apart from the typical sounds of midwest emo and the emerging poppier "mall emo" sound that had begun to rise in popularlity near the end of their first tenure. They directly cite bands such as Cap'n Jazz, Christie Front Drive, Braid, Hoover and Kerosene 454 as influences, alongside jazz greats including Charlie Parker, John Coltrane and Miles Davis, so the name isn't just a creative alliteration. This made for a truly unique approach to genre, integrating jazz and scales into their lead tinkering into their driving, melodic and melancholic sound. Their early material is much more rooted in the aforementioned band's influence, while they took a bit of an experimenal departure on Better Off Without Air. Post-reunion marked a strong return to form with After The Earthquake (released by Topshelf Records). Everything this band was great in its own way, but the essential listening here is undoubtedly The Medicine, and I'm also pretty partial to They Love Those Who Make The Music. It's incredible that this blog has been running for over 10 years with classics like these absent, so here they finally are. If you want a fantastic, detailed history on the band, check out this interview here. Enjoy.

The Necessary Conditions Of Currents And Signal (1996)

1. Antiquated

2. Nothing

3. Signal

Flowers Make Everything Better (1997)

1. Mid Carson July - Lilac Morning

2. The Jazz June - Bleach In Your Eyes

They Love Those Who Make The Music (1997)

1. Low End Automatic

2. Red Light District

3. When in Rome

4. Rich Kid Shakedown

5. Transinstrumentalism

6. La Villanella (Russians, Pt. I)

7. The Oncoming 2600

8. The Possibilities Are Endless

9. Day 7

10. Falling Asleep On Lincoln Drive

The Emo Diaries - Chapter 2: A Million Miles Away (1998)

7. S.E.G.

The Room, The Motion And The Music (1998)

1. When The Drums Kick In

2. Burn In Hell

3. Bullets In The Back Pocket

4. Drop The Bomb

5. His Statue Falls

Breakdance Suburbia (1999)

1. Burned Out Bright

2. Silver Dollar

3. The Teenage Fight Song

4. Russians, Pt. 2

5. Antiquated

6. Nothing

7. Signal

8. Bleach In Your Eyes

9. At The Artist's Leisure

10. D3PO

The Medicine (2000)

1. Viva La Speed Metal

2. The Scars To Prove It

3. Excerpt

4. The Phone Works Both Ways

5. The Medicine

6. At The Artist's Leisure Part 2

7. Motorhead's Roadie

8. Death From Above

9. Fight Like Sinatra

10. Get On The Bus

11. Balance

Better Off Without Air (2002)

1. Drugs And Models

2. Hate & Bass

3. We've Got Your Situation

4. Shots Fired

5. Uptown Explosion

6. Better Off Without Air

7. Dual Symmetry

8. These Pills Won't Calm Your Nerves

9. Stings A Bitch

10. Benny Clarks Can

11. Red Bank Blues

12. Over & Over

13 .The Submarine Song

The Scars To Prove It (2007)

1. Gettin' High In The Ghetto

2. Lower East Side

3. Nicaragua

4. Treading Water

5. Sputnik 1957

6. The Elliptical Path (Live)

7. The Low End Automatic (Live)

8. Viva La Speed Metal (Live)

9. Better Off Without Air (Live)

10. The Possibilities Are Endless (Live)

11. The Medicine (Live)

12. When The Drums Kick In (Live)

13. When In Rome (Live)

14. Rich Kid Shake Down (Live Radio)

15. We've Got Your Situation (Live Radio)

16. At The Artist Leisure Part II (Live)

17. The Scars To Prove It (Acoustic)

18. Antiquated (Acoustic)

Note: Live & unreleased tracks

Dikembe/The Jazz June (2014)

1. Dikembe - Healer Of The Pride

2. The Jazz June - Over Underground

After The Earthquake (2014)

1. Over Underground

2. After The Earthquake

3. With Honors (Honours)

4. It Came Back

5. Edge Of Space

6. Stuck On Repeat

7. Ain't It Strange

8. Nothing To See Here

9. Short Changed

10. Two Floors Down

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Topshelf Records

Phoenix Bodies

Phoenix Bodies were a five-piece screamo/grindcore band from Southport, Indiana that were active from 2001 to 2011. In that time, they were insanely prolific with a plethora of releases coming out, but only one full-length album. 2006's Raise The Bullshit Flag sets the bar for insanity on record. Its panicked, convulsive delivery and lyrical relevance still hold up to this day as one of grind-influenced screamo's finest offerings. It's discordant and downtuned, with chaotic blastbeats and breakneck tempo changes scattered throughout its 16-minute runtime. I think its safe to say that its earn its merit as an "essential" for fans of this sound. They have a ton of other material that's also worth more than your attention, and luckily most of it can be found on 2007's Too Much Information. Alongside 2008's Mutton Dagger, you essentially have their full discography aside from the LP. One quick note, I am missing their split with The Dream Is Dead, though their tracks from that can be found on Too Much Information and 2004's Discography cassette. Enjoy.

Demo (2003)
1. Demo 1
2. Demo 2
3. Demo 3
4. Demo 4
5. Demo 5
6. Demo 6
7. Demo 7

Phoenix Bodies/Enkephalin (2003)

1. Enkephalin - Full Access Bubblegum Machine

2. Enkephalin - Biff Can Take A Beating

3. Enkephalin - Calling To Confirm

4. Enkephalin - The Technician

5. Enkephalin - One Punch Machine Gun

6. Enkephalin - Iceman Vs. The Tiger

7. Phoenix Bodies - Half Billion Ants: A Force

8. Phoenix Bodies - Spin: A Rendezvous

9. Phoenix Bodies - Lawn of Decadence

10. Phoenix Bodies - Get It, Rabbit

11. Phoenix Bodies - Full Frontal Fragrance

12. Phoenix Bodies - Cock Ocean: A Timeless Destination

Shikari/Phoenix Bodies (2004)

1. Shikari - Nieuwe Politiek #1

2. Shikari - Tijd Was Ons Niet Zo Goed Gezind

3. Phoenix Bodies - Old Balls

4. Phoenix Bodies - Pardon My Emoticon

5. Phoenix Bodies - Toxic Shock Value Meal

Phoenix Bodies/Raein (2004)

1. Phoenix Bodies - The Future Is Eating

2. Phoenix Bodies - Sense Is Out Of Style

3. Raein - Endless Tourlife

Tyranny Of Shaw/Phoenix Bodies (2004)

1. Tryanny Of Shaw - Routing Her Convulsions

2. Tyranny Of Shaw - Spinetheft

3. Phoenix Bodies - Goddamn Pyramid Building Aliens

4. Phoenix Bodies - Fix Me (Black Flag cover)

Discography (2004)

1. Sense Is Out Of Style

2. The Future Of Eating

3. Old Balls

4. Pardon My Emoticon

5. Toxic Shock Value Meal

6. Fix Me (Black Flag cover)

7. Enlarge Your Penis

8. Goddamn Pyramid Building Aliens

9. Half A Billion Ants

10. Spin: A Rendez-vous

11. Lawn Of Decadence

12. Get It Rabbit

13. Full Frontal Fragrance

14. Cock Ocean: A Timeless Destination

Raise Your Bullshit Flag (2006)

1. Raise The Bullshit Flag

2. Resonance Of The Strom Thurmond Death Rattle

3. Hard On For A Hummer

4. You've Been Hamburgled

5. Striving For Autism

6. I Guarantee You're A Pile Of Shit

7. Test Of Faith At The Trinity Broadcasting Network

8. If Money Is Power...

9. Intelligent Designer Sunglasses

10. The War On Entropy

Too Much Information (2007)

1. Half-A-Billion Ants

2. Spin: A Rendez-Vous

3. Lawn of Decadence

4. Get It Rabbit

5. Full Frontal Fragrance

6. Cock Ocean: A Timeless Destination

7. Enlarge Your Penis

8. Toxic Shock Value Meal

9. Old Balls

10. Pardon My Emoticon

11. Sense Is Out Of Style

12. Future Of Eating

13. Goddamn Pyramid Building Aliens

14. Fix Me (Black Flag cover)

15. Striving For Autism

16. Hard-On For A Hummer

17. You've Been Hamburgled

18. Does Anyone Have A Boom Stand?

19. Lawn of Decadence (Live)

20. Sense Is Out Of Style (Live)

21. Spin: A Rendez-Vous (Live)

22. Half-A-Billion Ants (Live)

23. Cock Ocean: A Timeless Destination (Live)

24. Striving For Autism (Live)

25. Old Balls (Live)

26. Future Of Eating (Live)

27. Enlarge Your Penis (Live)

28. Toxic Shock Value Meal  (Live)

29. Goddamn Pyramid Building Aliens V.I (Live)

30. Goddamn Pyramid Building Aliens V.II (Live)

31. Demo 1

32. Demo 2

33. Demo 3

34. Demo 4

35. Demo 5

36. Demo 6

37. Demo 7

Phoenix Bodies/La Quiete (2008)

1. Phoenix Bodies - Get A Job

2. La Quiete - Animali De Fede E Di Memoria

Cobra Commander (2008)

1. Apathy Is Chemistry

2. White People Do This

3. Cobra Commander 2008

4. No Need For Earplugs

Mutton Dagger (2008)

1. Get A Job

2. Apathy Is Chemistry

3. White People Do This

4. Cobra Commander 2008

5. No Need For Earplugs

6. Young Dumb And Full Of Guns

7. Surf's Up, Surf City

8. This Place Is A Fucking Dump / Health Control

Hewhocorrupts/Phoenix Bodies (2009)

1. Hewhocorrupts - Mike Muir On Wall Street

2. Hewhocorrupts - Derek Black's Body Karate

3. Hewhocorrupts - Smoke'n In The Boys Room

4. Hewhocorrupts - Jesus Luncheon

5. Hewhocorrupts - Sonofdog

6. Hewhocorrupts - Tommy Camaro's True Story

7. Phoenix Bodies - This Place Is A Fucking Dump

8. Phoenix Bodies - Health Control

9. Phoenix Bodies - Surf's Up, Surf City!

10. Phoenix Bodies - Young, Dumb, And Full Of Guns

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LIES

LIES is the brand new project from emo's very own Mike and Nate Kinsella. This is the latest endeavour to add to the laundry list of Kinsella projects, which include Joan of Arc and American Football together, and Cap'n Jazz, Owen, Owls, Make Believe and Birthmark separately, just to name a few. They just released their debut EP through Polyvinyl. It collects the singles the band had released up until this point, in addition to the title track. Sonically, the bright, delicate guitar work and melancholic vocals we've come to love from their work is still present, but its surrounded by an atmospheric swirling of strings and electronics, giving these songs a gorgeous lush and gloss to them. On top of that, they expand their instrumental palette, incorporating things like saxophone solos. Its a departure from what we've heard from them before, but a very welcome and matured one. Enjoy.

Corbeau (2022)

1. Corbeau

2. Summer Somewhere

3. Blemishes

4. Echoes

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Polyvinyl Records

Engine Down

Engine Down were a four-piece post-hardcore/emo band from Richmond, Virginia that were active from 1996 to 2005. They maintained a fairly prolific career, with four full-lengths and a few other releases coming out in the span of 6 years. Despite this, they remain one of the most underrated bands in their scene/era. They took fairly clear influence from DC/Dischord bands that first championed post-hardcore in the early 90's (Fugazi, Lungfish, Hoover, Shudder To Think, etc.) while exploring their own viscera, making for some dynamic and emotionally impactful songs. They utilized the classic quiet, clean guitar sound  mingling with subdued vocals and slowed drums, alongside distorted, octave-heavy crescendos with angular riffs that built and released tension almost interchangeably. Thanks to their multiple vocalists, harmonies are usually layered and provide a sense of unison despite the often-distraught lyrics. 

Its members are also of note, besides being in the incredible Engine Down, they were active in a few other projects you're most likely familiar with. For starters, vocalist/guitarist Keeley Davis was a member of Sparta who joined just before Threes. He was also a member of At The Drive-In during their reunion back in 2016, and played on In•ter a•li•a. Along with guitarist/vocalist Jonathan Fuller, Davis also formed Denali. Drummer Cornbread Compton was briefly a member of Cursive, and played on Mama, I'm Swollen. Enjoy.

Engine Down 7" (1998)

1. Hold All Applause

2. Castalia

Twelve Hour Turn/Engine Down (1998)

1. Twelve Hour Turn - Wide Awake

2. Engine Down - Flowers For The Dead

Under The Pretense Of Present Tense (1999)

1. Castalia

2. Dead Letter

3. Colorado

4. Nearsighted

5. Slingshot

6. Brushes

7. The Offer Of Something

8. Daredevil

To Bury Within The Sound (2000)

1. Retread

2. Trial Error

3. Somnolent Detachment

4. Intent To Pacify

5. Patent On The Better

6. Worth

7. Depth Perception

8. In Favor

9. Two Tone

10. To Bury Within The Sound

A Sign Of Breath (2001)

1. Second Of February

2. In On The Kill

3. Your Suit

4. Retone

Demure (2002)

1. Songbird

2. Pantomime

3. Far From Now

4. Detour

5. Taken In

6. Demure

7. Overrated

8. Second Of February

9. Closed Call

10. Relief Sketch

Engine Down (2004)

1. Rogue

2. And Done

3. Control Group

4. Cover

5. In Turn

6. Long Time Waiting

7. Too Much Of A Good Thing

8. 101

9. The Walk In

10. Standby

11. Well Read

12. Etcetera

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Lovitt Records

No Knife

No Knife were a four-piece post-hardcore/emo band from San Diego, California that existed from 1993 to 2003. They released four full-lengths, a handful of splits and two singles during their initial run together. The band first reunited in 2009 to play some shows with Jimmy Eat World for the 10th anniversary of Clarity, a band that had close ties to during their tenure. They have since played reunion shows in 2014, 2015, and 2019. Sonically, the band took the sharp guitars and syncopated rhythms of bands such as Gang Of Four and meshed it with the burgeoning sound of emo, with dual vocals often layered over each other and a strong sense of melody even amidst their more off-kilter moments. Not to say that these bands are necessarily similar, but if you're into Fugazi, Unwound, Jawbox, Boys Life or Braid, No Knife should definitely be on your radar. If you're looking for something to start with them, Riot For Romance! or Fire In The City of Automatons are probably your best bets. Enjoy.

Tanner/No Knife (1994)

1. Tanner - Slightly Calculated

2. No Knife - Sweep Away My Shadow

Seven Inches (1994)

1. Habits

2. Oh, I...

Drunk On The Moon (1995)

1. Be Mini

2. Ginger Vitus

3. Habits

4. Punch n Judy

5. At The Heart Of Your Terminal

6. Kiss Your Killer

7. Ephedrine

8. Small Of My Back

9. If I Could Float

10. Titanic

11. Daniels

Jack Boots (1997)

1. Jack Boots

2. Communit China (Japan cover)

Hit Man Dreams (1997)

1. Your Albatross

2. Charades

3. Hit Man Dreams

4. Jackboots

5. Testing The Model

6. Median

7. Rebuilding Jericho

8. Bad Landing

9. Roped In - Lock On

10. Lex Hit Reset

11. Sweep Away My Shadow

Fire In The City Of Automatons (1999)

1. Academy Flight Song

2. Minus 1

3. Secret Headshake

4. Heavy Weather

5. K-214

6. The Spy

7. Charming

8. Angel Bomb

9. Short Term Memory

10. Under The Moon

11. Mission Control

12. If It Moves Kiss It

No Knife/Sunshine (2000)

1. No Knife - Flechette

2. Sunshine - The Doll and The Midnight Sushi Orgy

Lazycain/No Knife (2000)

1. Lazycain - Blue Part

2. No Knife - Permanent For Now

No Knife/Nine Days Wonder (2001)

1. No Knife - The Red Bedroom

2. No Knife - Automatic Writing

3. Nine Days Wonder - What I Need In Me

4. Nine Days Wonder - The Next Realm

5. Nine Days Wonder - Call For A Stranger

 

Riot For Romance! (2002)

1. Riot For Romance!

2. Permanent For Now

3. Swinging Lovers

4. Parting Shot

5. Feathers And Furs

6. The Red Bedroom

7. Brush Off

8. May I Call You Doll?

9. Flechette

10. This Moonlife

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