State Route 522

State Route 522 were a five-piece post-hardcore/emo band from Seattle, Washington that were active from 1995 to 1997. They released two EP's, a split, and appeared on a handful of compilations during that time, and are notable for being Jake Snider's first band, who later went on to form Sharks Keep Moving and Minus The Bear. Sonically, this scratches a few itches, as they bridge the gap between the tremolo-picked octaves and dynamic angularity of post-hardcore a la Lync or Fugazi with the melodic, noodley arpeggios that would come to define midwest emo, making them also reminiscent of early pioneers like Gauge, Dahlia Seed, and Braid. They've kind of flown under the radar, but this is some really solid stuff that is absolutely worth your time to check out.

This is one of those instances where your best bet is to just get the anthology release (Retrospective), as that contains all their recorded material with better audio quality than the individual releases (which are only useful if you want smaller doses or completionism). Everything below is included on it with the exception of the four tracks on the Forecast compilation. I'm also missing another compilation-exclusive song "Worse For The Wear" and a demo they apparently recorded in 1995, so if anyone has those let me know! Enjoy.

State Route 552 (1995)

1. Find

2. Ten Years

3. Waste Of Skin

4. Hit

State Route 552/Lying On Loot (1996)

1. State Route 552 - Toy Cow

2. Lying On Loot - Skies Of Stars

3. Lying On Loot - Defeatist

Forecast (1996)

9. Standards

10. Sorry

11. Sunday

12. Away Game

Note: Compilation release, State Route 522 tracks only

Samson Is Apollo (1997)

1. I.V.

2. 1910

3. Solid State

4. Avenue Of Giants

All About Friends (1997)

10. Jumpin' Someone Else's Train

Note: Compilation release, State Route 522 track only

Retrospective (2001)

1. I.V.

2. 1910

3. Solid State

4. Avenue Of The Giants

5. Jumping Someone Else's Train (The Cure cover)

6. Toy Cow

7. Find

8. 10 Years

9. Waste Of Skin

10. Unlisted

Beefeater

Beefeater were a four-piece post-hardcore band from Washington, DC that were active between 1984 and 1986. As such, they were a vital part of the "Revolution Summer" movement that saw DC punk bands move into more innovative and melodic territory, with an emphasis on pointedly political and introspective lyricism. As such, it (unintentionally) became the birthplace of "emo" with bands like Rites Of Spring and Embrace. I don't think Beefeater are quite in the same sonic category as them, but this boundary-pushing ideology is certainly shared, as they injected a variety of genre influences from funk, dub, and jazz into the raw attack of a hardcore band heavily inspired by Bad Brains and Minutemen. Their riffs are windingly discordant, their rhythms frenetically off-kilter, and Squip's vocal delivery is as manically dynamic as they come. They released one EP and two albums, with the two LP's both put out by Dischord and later compiled onto one release (along with bonus compilation songs). I say this a lot but it is astounding that I missed putting here until now; they're one of the most under-appreciated and radical bands to come out of the 80's DC scene, and returning to them now after so many years has been joyous to say the least. Enjoy.

Plays For Lovers (1985)

1. Trash Funk

2. Reagonomix

3. Song For Lucky

4. 4 3 2 1

5. Mr. Silverbird

6. Manic D.

7. Mourning

8. Satyagraha

9. A Dog Day

10. Red Carpet

11. Assholes Among Us

12. Beefeater

13. Fred's Song (Slam Dancing)

14. I Miss You

15. Out Of The Woods

Need A Job (1986)

1. In America

2. Need A Job

3. Laurel Grove

4. Apartheid

5. Gov't Worker

6. Better'n Me

House Burning Down (1987)

1. Introlude

2. Just Things

3. Bedlam Rainforest

4. Interlude

5. Move Me Strong

6. Interlude

7. One Soul Down

8. Ain't Got No Time (Kenny's Piece)

9. Interlude

10. Sinking Me

11. Dover Beach (Tomas' Piece)

12. Insurrection Chant

13. 40 Sonnets On Plants (Dug's Piece)

14. With You Always

15. Fredittude (Fred's Piece)

16. Live The Life

Plays For Lovers & House Burning Down (1992)

1. Trash Funk

2. Reagonomix

3. Song For Lucky

4. 4 3 2 1

5. Mr. Silverbird

6. Manic D.

7. Mourning

8. Satyagraha

9. A Dog Day

10. Red Carpet

11. Assholes Among Us

12. Beefeater

13. Fred's Song (Slam Dancing)

14. I Miss You

15. Out Of The Woods

16. Wars In Space

17. Just Things

18. Bedlam Rainforest

19. Move Me Strong

20. One Soul Down

21. Ain't Got No Time

22. Sinking Me

23. Dover Beach

24. Insurrection Chant

25. 40 Sonnets On Plants

26. With You Always

27. Freditude

28. Live The Life

29. Blind Leads Blind

Note: Compilation including both LPs and compilation tracks "Wars In Space" and "Blind Leads Blind"

Dischord Records

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Osceola

Osceola were a four-piece screamo/hardcore band from Washington, DC and Baltimore, Maryland,  that were around from approximately 2007 to 2009. This name might be slightly familiar because they put out a fantastic split with Suis La Lune in 2009 and were part of a great four-way split including Lautrec, Boy Problems, and The Reptilian the year prior. They released a few other splits and an EP in their brief few years, but it wasn't until now that I've really given their full body of work a proper listen with this discography release that dropped in 2023. It's got all their recorded material in one convenient place, and thus makes the best starting point if you're new to them. They're pretty raw, with a chaotic attack that blends melody, dissonance and syncopation behind shouted/screamed vocals, like a weepier At The Drive-In. If you're into L'Antietam or Age Sixteen, this will be up your alley for sure. Enjoy.

Discography (2023)

1. Smile

2. A Place To Die

3. Dendrophilia

4. Overlooked

5. Untitled

6. Intro

7. Drone

8. Don't Taste Me Bro

9. Malax

10. Experiencing

11. Human Frustration

12. Translucent

13. Temporary

14. Deadbeat

15. Final Attempt

16. Unfinished

Bandcamp

Lync

Lync were a three-piece post-hardcore band from Olympia, Washington that were active from 1992 to 1994. In their short duration, they released a few single 7"'s on one full-length on the now-legendary K Records. Those singles and a few other unreleased tracks would later compromise the posthumous compilation Remembering The Fireballs (Part 8), thus creating the short, simple and absolutely essential discography you find here. Sonically, the band crafted winding songs that implemented prominent, driving bass lines and drums, with off-kilter guitar interplay blurring the line between melody and dissonance. Their sole LP is an absolute essential for fans of bands like Fugazi, Drive Like Jehu, Unwound or Sunny Day Real Estate. Highly recommended, enjoy!

These Are Not Fall Colors (1994)

1. B

2. Perfect Shot

3. Silver Spoon Glasses

4. Pennies To Save

5. Clay Fighter

6. Cue Cards

7. Angelfodder And Vitamins

8. Heroes And Heroines

9. Turtle

10. Uberrima Fides

Remembering The Fireballs (Part 8) (1997)

1. Pigeons

2. Friends

3. Hands And Knees

4. Electricity

5. Pathetic

6. Two Feet In Front

7. Mhz

8. Pan

9. Pennies To Save

10. Firestarter

11. Turtle

12. Lightbulb Switch

13. Can't Tie Yet

14. The Last Song

Bandcamp

Tears Of Joy

Tears Of Joy are a five-piece hardcore band from Tacoma, Washington that formed in 2022. Earlier this year, they released their debut self-titled demo EP. At its core, this thing is noisy and abrasive, with maximized distortion, dissonant metalcore riffage, and a furious vocal delivery. They really change things up with moments like "Annie Interlude", an incredibly noisy, electronic-and-percussion driven track with an insane interpolation of "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)" that they somehow make work. It's one of the most unique things you'll probably hear this year, and its perfectly bookended by the EP's other pulverizing tracks.  If you're a fan of bands including, Trapped Under Ice, Trash Talk, Candy, or Converge, this band is not to be missed. Enjoy.

Tears Of Joy (2023)

1. Tears Of Joy

2. Bastard

3. Annie Interlude

4. S.A.P.

5. Hole In My Head

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The Fire Theft

The Fire Theft were a three-piece indie rock band from Seattle, Washington that formed in 2001 and have been on indefinite hiatus since 2004. Notably, this band was formed by three-quarters of the quintessential Sunny Day Real Estate line-up, including guitarist/vocalist Jeremy Enigk, bassist Nate Mendel, and drummer William Goldsmith. The Fire Theft was formed immediately after SDRE split for the second time, with Mendel rejoining his former bandmates after having joined the Foo Fighters following SDRE's first split. Under this moniker, they released one full-length in 2003, alongside one single. Since the reformation of SDRE in 2009, it's doubtful this project will be ever picked up again, though no definite word has been given on the matter. 

Sonically, this is a pretty notable departure from the sound we've come to know these guys for. There's plenty of lush, arpeggiated melodic guitars, and Enigk's distinct vocal falsetto but with some added instrumentation coming in to the fold (synths, xylophones, strings, etc.) and some odd time signatures being utilized. There's also multiple atmospheric, ambient interludes throughout the album, breaking up some of the heavier-hitting moments. Bands like Gensis and Yes have been pointed to as influences, as though it's definitely noticeable, it's a little overblown to make any direct comparisons. It's a solid album, though admittedly not one I really check in on, and I would take any SDRE album over this. Having said that, it's still worth sharing and checking out if you're a massive fan of theirs and want to hear what they were up during on of their multiple interims. Enjoy.

Hands On You (2003)

1. Chain

2. Sinatra

3. Hands On You

The Fire Theft (2003)

1. Uncle Mountain

2. Wast Time Segue

3. Oceans Apart

4. Chain

5. Backwards Blues

6. Summertime

7. Houses

8. Waste Time

9. Heaven

10. Rubber Bands

11. It's Over

12. Carry You

13. Sinatra

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No Trend

No Trend were a noise rock/post-punk band from Ashton, Maryland that were around from 1982 to 1988. The first incarnation of the band was a four-piece, comprised of members who came into the band with a punk/hardcore background. Despite this, they were intentionally antagonistic towards the DC scene they existed in the periphery of, wanting to eschew the subculture that had grown out of it. They set out to make music that they wanted to make, with no creed or agenda, and it shows. For their early material, Flipper and Saccharine Trust are often cited as loose comparisons, though No Trend really did occupy a space of their own. Teen Love was their debut, a 7" they self-released (as they would for the majority of their material). This was followed up by a full-length, Too Many Humans. These are the best introductions to the band, as they immediately throw you into the misanthropic, nihilistic world they created. Through driving bass lines, pummelling drums, and trebly feedback-laden guitars, vocalist Jeff Mentges delivered shrieks, screams, and the occasional spoken word. It makes for an impactful listen, and highly recommended to anyone looking for raw, unbridled negativity. 

Following these early years, the band experienced a line-up overhaul, with Mentges being the only original member left for by their second album. 1985's A Dozen Dead Roses was a major shift from the overt, noisy and hardcore-adjacent sound they were founded on. Though there are still flashes of that, they expanded their sonic palette to include elements of funk and jazz, while keeping the bass as the driving force behind these songs. Instrumentally, their palette is widened to include synths and saxophones, and the guitars are laden with chorus, taking on a more traditional lead role with a litany of classic rock-esque solos. A handful of tracks were also done as collabs with Lydia Lunch, which were also released on a separate EP. Overall, I absolutely love this album, as much as their early work, because it maintains that desperate, pessimistic aggression while exploring a new, genuinely unique avenue.

By 1986, the band had now rounded out as 12-piece to include strings, horns, and synths as mainstays of their sound. They continued on this wave of hybrid experimentation into their next full-length, with more layers of instrumentation and a cleaner sound. This record was put out by Touch And Go, their first to not be self-released. It was followed by another album slated to be released in 1989, but was shelved until 2001. More, as it became, completed their full heel-turn into deconstructionist jazz-funk, with their cleanest sound to date, but too Beefheartian avant-garde to ever come close to a traditional rock outfit. 

No Trend were a one-of-a-kind band with an equally intriguing legacy. There's a few great articles that came out around the reissue of Too Many Humans / Teen Love, which I suggest checking from Bandcamp, The Washington Post and Tidal for more information. If you're new to this band, the aforementioned reissue is probably your best bet for a starting point. Enjoy.

Teen Love 7" (1983)

1. Mass Sterilization Caused By Venereal Disease

2. Cancer

3. Teen Love

Too Many Humans (1983)

1. Family Style

2. Blow Dry

3. Reality Breakdown

4. Kiss Ass To Your Peer Group

5. Fashion Tips For The 80's

6. Do As You're Told

7. Too Many Humans

8. For The Fun Of It All

9. Mindless Little Insects

10. Happiness Is...

Teen Love 12" (1984)

1. Mass Sterilization Caused By Venereal Disease

2. Cancer

3. Die

4. Teen Love

5. Untitled

When Death Won't Solve Your Problem (1985)

1. Two Seconds Til Non Existance

2. Die

3. Cancer

4. Mass Sterilization Caused By Venereal Disease

5. Too Many Humans

6. Fun Of It All

7. One Last Dream

8. Killing Me

9. Heartache

10. Mindless Little Insects

11. Blow

12. Teenlove

Heart Of Darkness (1985)

1. Your Love

2. Tear You Apart

3. The Curse

4. Who's To Say

A Dozen Dead Roses (1985)

1. Karma Nights

2. Your Love

3. Tear You Apart

4. Never Again

5. All Of Nothing

6. Good Day Mrs. Hamm

7. For The Fun Of It All

8. The Curse

9. Heartache

10. Who's To Say

Tritonian Nash-Vegas Polyester Complex (1987)

1. One Under Parr

2. Copperhead

3. Without Me

4. Fred Reality

5. Space Disco

6. Cry Of The Dirtballs

7. Angel Angel Down We Go

8. Overweight Baby Boom Critter

9. Choc-O-Jet

10. Freak

11. Bel-Pre Rising

The Early Months (1995)

1. Cancer

2. Hanging Out In Georgetown

3. Kiss Ass

4. Family Style

5. Reality Breakdown

6. Human Garbage

7. Purple Paisleys Make Me Happy

8. Mass Sterilization

9. Teen Love

10. Turn Away

11. Cancer

12. Blow Dry

13. Polyester Man

14. Kiss Ass

15. Teen Love

16. Mass Sterilization

17. Hanging Out In Georgetown

18. Death

19. Punker

More (2001)

1. Intro

2. Fuzzy Dice

3. Sorry I Asked

4. Spank Me (With Your Love Monkey, Baby)

5. Last On Right, Second Row

6. Bel-Pre Declining

7. No Hopus Opus

You Deserve Your Life (2018)

1. Cancer

2. Hanging Out In Georgetown

3. Kiss Ass

4. Family Style

5. Reality Breakdown

6. Human Garbage

7. Purple Paisleys Make Me Happy

8. Mass Sterilization

9. Teen Love

10. Death (Live)

11. Punker (Live)

Too Many Humans / Teen Love (2020)

1. Family Style

2. Blow Dry

3. Reality Breakdown

4. Kiss Ass To Your Peer Group

5. Fashion Tips For The 80's

6. Do As You're Told

7. Too Many Humans

8. For The Fun Of It All

9. Mindless Insects

10. Happiness Is...

11. Mass Sterilization Caused By Venereal Disease

12. Cancer

13. Die

14. Teen Love

15. Untitled

16. Cancer (demo)

17. Mass Sterilization Caused By Venereal Disease (demo)

18. Teen Love (demo)

19. Hanging Out In Georgetown (demo)

20. Kiss Ass To Your Peer Group (demo)

21. Family Style (demo)

22. Reality Breakdown (demo)

23. Human Garbage (demo)

24. Purple Paisleys Make Me Happy (demo)

25. Do As You're Told (live at Mabuhay Gardens, San Francisco, 1983)

26. Fashion Tips For The 80's (live at Mabuhay Gardens, San Francisco, 1983)

27. Mindless Little Insects (live at Mabuhay Gardens, San Francisco, 1983)

28. Reality Breakdown (live at Mabuhay Gardens, San Francisco, 1983)

29. Teen Love (live at Mabuhay Gardens, San Francisco, 1983)

30. Cancer (live at Mabuhay Gardens, San Francisco, 1983)

31. Family Style (live at Mabuhay Gardens, San Francisco, 1983)

32. Blow Dry (live at Mabuhay Gardens, San Francisco, 1983)

33. Kiss Ass To Your Peer Group (live at Mabuhay Gardens, San Francisco, 1983)

34. Mass Sterilization Caused By Venereal Disease (live at Mabuhay Gardens, San Francisco, 1983)

35. Do As You're Told (live at Cathay de Grande, Hollywood, 1983)

36. Fashion Tips For The 80's (live at Cathay de Grande, Hollywood, 1983)

37. Mindless Little Insects (live at Cathay de Grande, Hollywood, 1983)

38. Reality Breakdown (live at Cathay de Grande, Hollywood, 1983)

39. Cancer (live at Cathay de Grande, Hollywood, 1983)

40. Family Style (live at Cathay de Grande, Hollywood, 1983)

41. Kiss Ass To Your Peer Group (live at Cathay de Grande, Hollywood, 1983)

42. Teen Love (live at Cathay de Grande, Hollywood, 1983)

43. Mass Sterilization Caused By Venereal Disease (live at Cathay de Grande, Hollywood, 1983)

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Jawbox

Jawbox are a four-piece post-hardcore band from Washington, DC that formed in 1989. The band was started by vocalist/guitarist J. Robbins, bassist Kim Coletta and drummer Adam Wade. Robbins previously played bass in DC hardcore band Government Issue during the final few years of their initial run. They put out their first EP in 1990 and followed it up with their debut full-length Grippe in 1991, both of which were released by Dischord Records. In their early years, the influence from the DC scene they emerged out of is most evident. In particular, the more melodic musings of Revolution Summer bands, alongside the throttling of Naked Raygun, the massive guitars and catchy hooks of Hüsker Dü, and the atmosphere of Joy Divison (who they cover on this album). It's a fantastic debut, and one that brought that stirrings of the punk underground into a more accessible, "alternative" styling. Shortly after it's release, guitarist/vocalist Bill Barbot jointed the band. They followed it up a year later with Novelty a year later, which saw the band experimenting with heavier, darker, and more discordant sounds, while they still keeping up the energy and melody of their debut. Drummer Adam Wade shortly after its release, and was replaced by Zach Barocas. 

They were one of many indie bands that get swept up by major labels in the wake of Nevermind, with For Your Own Special Sweetheart being put in 1994 by Atlantic. It even spawned a (relatively) commercial single in "Savory". This album is a masterclass in post-hardcore, sitting on the precipice of dissonance and melody, being simultaneously heavy and catchy. It's a shuffle of muted strings, octave chords and arpeggios wrapped around a grooving bass line and frantic rhythms. If that sounds familiar, this band (along with others like Fugazi) is where it came from. They carried on this angular and off-kilter sound into their 1996 self-titled album, which ended up being their last as they parted ways in 1997. Members were involved in a number of projects thereafter, most notably Burning Airlines with Robbins and Barbot. Robbins has also worked as a producer with a ton of incredible bands, including Jawbreaker, Texas Is The Reason, The Promise Ring, Against! Me, Paint It Black, mewithoutYou, Coliseum, and a ton more.

They reunited in 2009 for a one-off show of "Savory" on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, and 10 years later reunited full-time in 2019 to play shows again. In 2021, Bill Barbot left the band, with Brooks Harlan taking his place. This year marks their first new studio material in over two decades, with a re-recording of Grippe songs and a Wire cover. Without a doubt Jawbox are one of the greatest and most important (albeit underrated) post-hardcore bands, so if you are new to them I implore you to check them out. Enjoy.

Demo (1989)

 1. Tools And Chrome

2. Bullet Park

3. Beneath The Wheel

4. Footbinder

5. Consolation

6. Paint Out The Light

7. Mother Lode

8. Something Must Break

Tools & Chrome (1990)

1. Tools & Chrome

2. Secret History

3. Ballast

4. Twister

Grippe (1991)

1. Freezerburn

2. Impossible Figure

3. Tools And Chrome

4. Paint Out The Light

5. Consolation Prize

6. Grip

7. Ballast

8. Something Must Break

9. Green-Line Delayed

10. Bullet Park

11. Manatee Bound

Airwaves Dream / With Or Without U2 (1991)

1. Jawbox - Airwaves Dream (Buzzcocks cover)

2. Jawbreaker - With Or Without U2

Tongues / Ones & Zeros (1992)

1. Tongues

2. Ones And Zeros

Novelty (1992)

1. Cutoff

2. Tracking

3. Dreamless

4. Channel 3

5. Spiral Fix

6. Linkwork

7. Chump

8. Static

9. Spit-Bite

10. Send Down

11. Tongues

12. Ones & Zeros

Motorist / Jackpot Plus! (1993)

1. Motorist

2. Jackpot Plus!

September (1993)

1. Jawbox - Falk

2. Crackerbash - Back To School 

Static (1993)

1. Jawbox - Static (Tar cover)

2. Tar - Static (Jawbox cover)

Your Selection (1993)

1. Jawbox - Savory

2. Edsel - Penaluna

Your Choice Live Series 023 (1994)

1. Leatherface - Eagle

2. Leatherface - Not Superstitious

3. Leatherface - Speak In Tongues

4. Leatherface - Books

5. Leatherface - Pale Moonlight

6. Leatherface - Hops And Barley

7. Leatherface - I Can't Help Falling In Love

8. Jawbox - FF=66

9. Jawbox - Green Glass

10. Jawbox - Tongues

11. Jawbox - Chinese Fork Tie

12. Jawbox - Chicago Piano

13. Jawbox - Motorist

For Your Own Special Interest (1994)

1. FF=66

2. Savory

3. Breathe

4. Motorist

5. LS/MFT

6. Cooling Card

7. Green Glass

8. Cruel Swing

9. Jackpot Plus!

10. Chicago Piano

11. Reel

12. U-Trau

13. Whitney Walks

Savory +3 (1994)

1. Savory (LP Version)

2. Lil Shaver

3. 68

4. Sound On Sound

Cooling Card (1994)

1. Cooling Card

2. Thin White Line (Avengers cover)

3. I've Got You Under My Skin (Frank Sinatra cover)

Absenter / Chinese Fork Tie (1995)

1. Absenter

2. Chinese Fork Tie

Jawbox (1996)

1. Mirrorful

2. Livid

3. Iodine

4. His Only Trade

5. Chinese Fork Tie

6. Won't Come Off

7. Excandescent

8. Spoiler

9. Desert Sea

10. Empire Of One

11. Mule/Stall

12. Nickel Nickel Millionare

13. Capillary Life

14. Absenter

15. Cornflake Girl

My Scrapbook Of Fatal Accidents (1998)

1. Static

2. Tongues

3. Chinese Fork Tie

4. Cooling Card

5. 68

6. Apollo Amateur

7. Under Glass

8. Low Strung

9. The Big Shave

10. Dreamless

11. Bullet Park

12. Won't Come Off

13. Mirrorful

14. Desert Sea

15. Savory

16. I've Got You Under My Skin

17. Sound On Sound

18. Static

19. Low

20. It's Expected I'm Gone

21. Meathook

22. Airwaves Dream

Note: Compilation includes Peel session, unreleased studio tracks, live material and covers

Live At Metro Chicago 2019 (2019)

1. Mirrorful

2. 68

3. Desert Sea

4. Grippe

5. Nickel Nickel Millionare

6. Motorist

7. Tongues

8. Livid

9. Iodine

10. Cooling Card

11. Spoiler

12. Static

13. Dreamless

14. FF=66

15. Green Glass

16. LS/MFT

17. Chinese Fork Tie

18. Breathe

19. Cut Off

20. Chicago Piano

21. Savory

22. Cornflake Girl

23. The Robbery

24. Jackpot Plus!

25. Absenter

The Revisionist EP (2022)

1. Grip

2. Consolation Prize

3. Lowdown

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