Sophie's Floorboard: November 2023

Thursday, 30 November 2023

Jivebomb

Jivebomb are a five-piece hardcore band from Baltimore, Maryland that formed in 2021. They put out a demo that same year, which was followed by their debut EP in 2022 via Flatspot Records. Jiveomb continue Flatspot's unparalled run of hardcore releases in recent years, coming out the gate with their sample-laden demo. Their sound is fast and ferocious, with bursts of noise occassionally coming through their raw, power chord heavy attack. It's hardcore in its purest form, that scratches the same itch that something like Negative Approach does. Highly recommended, enjoy!

JVBM (2021)

1. Cereja

2. Ironclad

3. Wise Choice

4. Cidade Charme

5. Burning Question

6. Jivebomb

Primitive Desires (2022)

1. 86

2. Primitive Desires

3. Steel

4. Illusion Of Choice

5. Ditz

The Extermination Vol. 4 (2023)

6. Jivebomb - American Rule

Wednesday, 29 November 2023

Feverchild

Feverchild are a five-piece emo/post-hardcore band from Ghent, Belgium that have been active since 2021. Following their self-titled debut EP, they put out their first full-length earlier this year. Had I heard this band without knowing that, I'd guess that this came out 20 years earlier. The band wears their influences on their sleeves, taking notes from all the great emo acts of the 90's, including Sunny Day Real Estate, Texas Is The Reason, Christie Front Drive, Elliott, the usual suspects. That's not to say they're purely derivative, as they do blend the varied array of sounds from that era into one seamless sound. Heavier riffs breaking up the clean, meandering arpeggios, which gives them a viscera not always found in modern iterations of the genre. Add in an acoustic cut for variety, and Altering A Memory is one of the most solid albums from this corner of the genre to come out this year. Enjoy.

Feverchild (2021)

1. Stargazing

2. Turn Away From The Sun

3. Fever Dream

4. 04.01.16

5. Be My Epilogue

Altering A Memory (2023)

1. Intro

2. City Of Flowers

3. Altering A Memory

4. Coming

5. See Through Wedding Gown

6. Eva

7. Witching Hour

8. You Know I Can't

Monday, 27 November 2023

Annabel

Annabel are a four-piece emo/indie/punk band from Akron, Ohio that formed in 2005. Since then, they've released three full-lengths, two EP's, and two fantastic splits with other essential emo revival bands. Speaking of which, this post is insanely overdue, as Annabel were one of the many noteworthy bands from that era. They put out albums with both Count Your Lucky Stars and Tiny Engines, if that's any indication of where they're coming from sonically. The band utilized bright, clean guitars kicking out chords and noodles over a pounding rhythm section and soaring vocals. If you're a fan of bands like You Blew It!, Dowsing, or Everyone Everywhere, you either already know them or absolutely need to. Enjoy.

Each And Everyone (2009)

1. Sleeping Lions

2. People And Places

3. Castles In The Air

4. Bouquet Mines

5. As It Happened

6. In Droves

7. Adventures

8. Parade Rest

9. You Started Thinking Again, Didn't You?

10. Widow Party

11. (As Yet) Untold Stories

Here We Are Tomorrow (2010)

1. The Forgetting Of Names And Faces

2. Repitition, etc.

3. We Came As Today

4. Summer Health

5. The Secrets Of Learning

Annabel/Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate)/Joie De Vivre/The Reptilian - Count Your Lucky Stars 4-Way Split (2011)

1. Annabel - Decisions, Decisions

2. Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate) - The Horror of Riovanes

3. Joie De Vivre - Vicodin Lite

4. The Reptilian - Eddie's Lane

Youth In Youth (2012)

1. Young American

2. The Age Of Possibilities

3. Anti-Decisions

4. Risk/Reward

5. Theme From "Home"

6. Home

7. The Dept. Of Mutual Attraction

8. At Least For Now

9. Rapids

10. You Could Be Living Better

11. Our Days Were Numbered

Now That We're Alive (2012)

1. Parade Rest

2. Castles In The Air

3. Bouquet Mines

4. ...And Elsewhere

5. If The Accident Will

Note: Reissue of 2007 self-released EP

Annabel/Dowsing (2014)

1. Annabel - Always

2. Annabel - Forever

3. Dowsing - Fistful of Hot Wheels

4. Dowsing - World’s Finest Chocolate (How Ya Doin’ Today)

Having It All (2015)

1. Another Day, Another Vitamin

2. The Fortunate Ones

3. If Only

4. Days In Between

5. Having It All

6. On The Importance Of Disappointment

7. Everything

8. Ex-Introvert

9. How To: A Self-Help Guide

10. For Years And Years

11. Nothing Goods Gets Away

Spirit Desire

Spirit Desire are a four-piece indie/emo/punk band from Toronto, Ontario that formed in 2015. They released a demo that same year, which was followed by two full-lengths, the latest of which came out in 2022. I don't really know what else to say, besides No One Makes Me Laugh As Hard As You is one of the most brilliantly ecclectic and versatile albums in recent memory, with strong performances and incredibly memorable songs across its entire track list. Virtually every song shifts gears, but in a way that still somehow flows together, as they approach each song in a unique yet effortless fashion. Whether it be the the blown-out self-deprecating "Lovelines (Bug Song)", the acoustic noodling and sing-along of "Pelmo Crescent", the screamy climax of "Adventures" or the jittery energy of "The Sweater Song, Part 2: Even Sweatier". this album is chalk full of highlights. There's nothing concrete to even compare it to, its that varied. My suggestion is to just check it out for yourself, it scratches so many of the itches that this blog usually covers. Highly recommended, enjoy!

Demo (2015)

1. Going To Taco Bell

2. I H8 My Job

3. Hollow

4. Donut Run

5. Tom Cruise

6. Guy Fieri

7. Don't Live Like Me

8. Life Blows

Adrian (2017)

1. (Theme To "Adrian")

2. Going To Denny's

3. My Fieri

4. Surfy Turfy

5. Side By Side

6. IDC

7. Donut Run 2: Still Runnin'

8. Terry Crews

9. Drop It Like It's Hot

10. Game of Pricks

11. Life Blows (And Then You Die)

Promo 2020 (2020)

1. Bro! We Did It! (Demo)

2. Bat Song (Demo)

3. May 30th, 2018

Live 2020 (2021)

1. Tape Dub Intro + Bro! We Did It! (Live)

2. Bug Song (Live)

3. Adventures (Live)

4. Tombstoned (Live)

5. Drop It Like It's Hot (Live)

6. Tape Dub Outro + Extra Jam

7. IDC + My Fieri (Live At Houndstooth)

Houndstooth Promo (2021)

1. It Is What It Is (Demo)

2. Tiny Jam

3. Bobby

No One Makes Me Laugh As Hard As You (2022)

1. The Sweater Song, Part 2: Even Sweatier

2. A Streetcar Named Spirit Desire

3. Pelmo Crescent

4. Lovelines (Bug Song)

5. Shy Guy

6. Grange Park Lawn Darts

7. Bro! We Did It!

8. Good Riddance!!!

9. Adventures

10. Tombstoned

Saturday, 25 November 2023

Last Days Of August

Last Days Of August were a five-piece emo from Long Island, New York that were around from 1997 to 2000. They put out a demo, split with The Remington, a self-titled 7" and self-titled full-length . Their entire output was compiled and released by Beginners Tapes in 2022. They played incredibly melancholic songs with a driving energy, with melancholic guitar noodling indebted to both midwest emo and post-hardcore. As far as "2nd wave emo" goes, they leaned into the poppier side of things, with great distinct songwriting and strong vocal melodies, despite their forlorn delivery. The self-titled LP is essential, though worth digging into their rawer back catalogue found on the discography. If you're a fan of bands including The Get Up Kids, Braid, Jimmy Eat World, Texas Is The Reason, and The Promise Ring, check this out. Enjoy.

Last Days Of August 7" (1998)

1. Written In White Ink

2. Baltimore Again

Last Days Of August (1999)

1. Wishful Thinking

2. Braille

3. In Heaven Everything's Fine

4. A Sailor's Dream

5. Marathon

6. First Light, False Down

7. The Art Of Breathing

8. Carousel

9. Cheating Distance

10. Paper Hearts & Broken Glass

Complete Recordings (1997-2000) (2021)

1. Wishful Thinking

2. Braille

3. In Heaven Everything's Fine

4. A Sailor's Dream

5. Marathon

6. First Light, False Down

7. The Art Of Breathing

8. Carousel

9. Cheating Distance

10. Paper Hearts & Broken Glass

11. Written In White Ink

12. Baltimore Again

13. Six Ways From Sunday

14. Words I Wish Were Mine

15. Dead Boys Club

16. Carousels ("Carousel" Demo)

17. Holy Thursday ("The Art Of Breathing" Demo)

18. My Sky (Demo)

19. Fay (Demo)

Bandcamp

Spotify

Apple Music

Watership Down

Watership Down were a five-piece emo/screamo band from New York (not sure exactly where) that were active in the late 90's (possibly from 1997 to 2003). There's really not a ton info out there on this band, so I can't say much for certain. They put out a three-song release in 1997 and a compilation track in 1998. Apparently there is more material out there from them (particularly a handful of tracks on a sampler), but I've yet to track them down. The band Atomship also used the moniker Watership Down for a while, so it's even here to try and search for anything on them. If anybody has any info or more tracks, please send them my away! Sonically, they incorporated the melancholic arpeggios of midwest emo with cathartic, distorted crescendos, often with dual vocals screaming and singing. If you're into bands including Split Lip, Texas Is The Reason, Midvale, Amber Inn, or Maggat, be sure check this out! Enjoy.

Watership Down (1997)

1. Second Step Still

2. Spoken Silence

3. If Tomorrow Ever Gets There

Blood, Sweat & Tears: A Compilation (1998)

9. Watership Down - Tme Bandit

Dispensing Of False Halos

Dispensing Of False Halos were a five-piece screamo band from Des Moines, Iowa that were active from 2001 to 2003. This project was formed by members of In Loving Memory and Eclipse Of Eden. They released one full-length, alongside a demo, EP and split with Calling Gina Clark. Most of their output not included on their sole album was compiled a year after they broke up and released as Growing Up, Giving In (which is what's included here). The band's dynamic fold incorporats heavy, dissonant, metallic riffs, shrill screams and noodling clean arpeggios. Though not necessarily comparable, if you're into Textbook Traitors, Forcefedglasss, or The Apoplexy Twist Orchestra, this might be up your alley. Enjoy.

With Prayers And A Scalpel (2003)

1. With Prayers And A Scalpel

2. Here's A Noose

3. All It Would Take

4. Choking Back Your Future Regrets

5. Now Repeat

6. Detesting Your Lies

7. Snap Shot Memories

8. It Was Always Said

9. Teeth On Asphalt

Growing Up, Giving In (2004)

1. If I Was Erased

2. Most Fragile Days

3. The Final Day

4. Saving Me, From Me

5. It Does Not Not Hurt

6. Which Way To Transparent Blue

7. Dale Earnhardt Song

8. It Does Not Not Hurt (demo)

Spotify

Apple Music

Chemical Fix

Chemical Fix are a five-piece hardcore band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that formed in 2016. They put out their debut EP in 2018, which was followed up by a full-length back in 2021. Our Shade Casts Far consists of 9 tracks that the band rips through in 15 minutes, never ceasing their fast-paced, unrelenting delivery. the vocals in particular sound incredibly manic and desperate. If you're a fan of bands including American Nightmare, Carry On, or Dead Swans, this is not to be missed. with a few singles and one great Ink & Dagger cover from earlier this year, hopefully 2024 will see them back again with another full-length. Enjoy.