Emotional Listening #41

Show Me the Way to Go Home - Cain Marko (Tapes Not Bombs, 2012)
Cain Marko were an excellent Grand Rapids, MI noodly pop punk band that just recently broke up, unfortunately. 2012's Show Me the Way to Go Home is their only full-length release, and it is on par with the best music that has been coming from this genre over the past few years. They do the shouty Gainesville punk thing with bright, melodic, technical guitars extremely well. It's a shame I discovered them so late in the game and only got to see them live once.
Top jams: "Four Dutchmen Walk Into a Bar...," "...Then Ride Into the Apocalypse," "Promises in Pen," "Show Me the Way to Go Home," "Kitchen Knife," "It's Just You and Me, Hemingway!," "Moonshine Aviation," "Three Word Graveyard"




Uomini d'Onore - Fireside (Startracks/Crank!, 1998)
I recall hearing of Fireside back in the high school beginning stages of my interest in 90s emo, but, never cared quite enough to further investigate. Last fall, a stumbled upon a used vinyl copy of their third LP, Uomini d'Onore, at Vertigo Music in Grand Rapids, and decided it was finally time to check 'em out. Apparently, Fireside were an award winning band that was part of the early 90s hardcore scene in Sweden before heading more toward the more melodic side of things on Uomini d'Onore. I have no idea what they actually sounded like before this record, but, I always assumed they were just another emo band due to their affiliation with Crank! Records and being featured on the (Don't Forget to) Breathe compilation. However, this is not accurate. The best way to describe them, at least on Uomini d'Onore, would be as a heavy, melodic rock band. Sure, there are subtle notes of emo sprinkled throughout, and a good portion of the time, the guitars and bass play with an urgency not unlike that found in hardcore music. But, with all of that combined with the pro production and Kristofer Astrom's quality singing, there are more than a few moments where Fireside sound like Shiner or even Swervedriver. While I could have done without the solo acoustic closing track, this record turned out to rule big time for me. "Sweatbead," "Dos" and "Layer" are especially awesome.
Top jams: "Let Rasputin Do It," "Happy Porno Living," "Sweatbead," "Dos," "Anywhere is a Resort," "Layer"




Nodzzz - Nodzzz (What's Your Rupture?, 2008)
As far as I can tell, Nodzzz are no longer a band. This is a shame because their sound is a fun one, even if there wasn't really anywhere else they could take it. They play super jangly, lo-fi guitar pop to the extreme. The bonus is the hilariously nerdy, child-like singing and lyrics. I probably prefer 2011's sophomore follow-up, Innings, but, their 2008 self-titled debut (which, awesomely is 10 minutes clocking in at barely over 15 minutes) is almost as good. "Is She There?" is the best possible opener, and, well, I legitimately like every song that follows, I am just more partial to "Highway Memorial Shrine," "I Have Bad News," "I Can't Wait" and "City Has No Eyes."
Top jams: "Is She There?," "Highway Memorial Shrine," "In the City (Contact High)," "Controlled Karaoke," "I Have Bad News," "Losing My Accent," "I Can't Wait," "City Has No Eyes"