Face the Rail

San-Francisco surf-punk, featuring members of Ecoli. Released their self-titled LP on Tankcrimes in March of last year, and followed with an equally awesome 7". Fast, fun, hardcore punk, with that great mid-eighties punk (i.e. Adolescents/if Dischord records were based in California) sound, that is really hard not to get into. They're also a little Suicidal Tendencies-esque with the skate references. I think the best moments I've heard are "Violence" from their LP, and also a little more than halfway through "Problems" - with the seagulls clip, which really just reinforces the great surf sound that's a blast to listen to. Also, "No Hope", the last track on Fractures, their 7" is a 7 minute song that certainly succeeds at keeping my attention, and I think making a punk song that long, without becoming repetitive, is not an easy feat. They're playing a show in D.C. on November 12th that I am going to try to attend. I imagine a band like this is probably at their best live! So, if you're in the area or whatever, check that out.

Buy the Digital Album and/or Cassette of the LP

Buy Fractures

Download LP

Download Fractures

Myspace

Facebook

American Sun

Another female-fronted band from Brooklyn? Why not! I love this demo so much, it's ridiculous. An amazing combination of psychedelic/garage-rock/pop-punk. The band formed in October of 2010 and consists of Jess Poplawski (Cool Intentions), Holly Overton (Feather and Folly), and Diana Potakh (Big Fun). This debut cassette was released in December. With influences like T-Rex, Cock Sparrer, Motorhead, CCR, and the Kinks, how could you go wrong? My favorite tracks from this are definitely "Daughters and Sons" and their cover of "Fortunate Son". I have been a John Fogerty/CCR fan since my dad introduced me to them as a kid, and I don't like CCR covers easily! However, the rough and raw instrumentals and the girls' awesome voices really give the song a new sound. It bothers me when bands just cover songs to cover them, and because they aren't lyrically creative enough to be original - this is not the case with American Sun, it's clear that they are only attempting to pay homage to a band that I am sure they also grew up listening to, and they really do make it their own.

Get a solid copy of the demo cassette for five dollars by e-mailing Jess at jess.poplawski@gmail.com, and/or download it from the link below.

They also remind me a little of an all-female noise/punk Brian Jonestown Massacre. So, if you like the sound of that, or any of the bands aforementioned, definitely give these girls a listen, I highly doubt that you'll regret it.

Sneak Peek of what's to come. Practice recording of "Little Devil". 

Download

Tumblr

Facebook

Myspace

Aye Nako

Great female-fronted pop/garage punk from Brooklyn. Vocals remind me a little of Busy Signals, with slightly more serious content. Came across their demo from 2010 recently and can't stop listening to it. I, personally, love the up-beat vocals (albeit with pretty melancholy lyrics, which comes off as a really great contrast). However, my favorite song off the demo is "Good Grief", which features some faster-paced screaming and yelling, which I seriously appreciate! I think it's great when a band is versatile enough to put out slower, pop-y songs ("The Rind", "Slump") and then more intense hardcore/punk sounding ones like "Good Grief" with all of them sounding great, and being on the same EP, while not sounding disconnected or strange being played one after the other. Definitely check it out, the instrumentals don't disappoint either.  They talk on their website about working towards putting out a full-length soon, so let's all hope that happens before long. I am definitely dying to hear it!

"Molasses" and "Good Grief"

Aye Nako has a download link for their demo on their website, but for a solid copy, send 3 dollars to: 

PO BOX 50055
Brooklyn NY
11205

Download

Website