Against Me!, Rancid, Bouncing Souls, Metallica, Wu-Tang Clan, Bane, Have Heart, Blind Melon, The Distillers, Ben Folds, Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Sublime, R.E.M, The Misfits, The Ramones, Fear Factory, Slayer, Minor Threat, Operation Ivy, Leftover Crack, The Weakerthans...you know - things like that.
Sounds Like
...a warm room on a cold day.
...maybe Tim knows?
In recent years, there have been a number of bands who have returned to punk's old loose hooks and gritty melodies. Against Me is at the top of that pile with bands like Gaslight Anthem quickly climbing up behind them. Many voices are screaming to be heard behind these front runners. Not all are worth hearing, but among those that are is Landing Project. Their "three chords and the truth" approach is attempted by many. The three chords part is easy. Rock and roll has a long tradition of simplicity and even turning simplicity into great hooks isn't terribly unusual, but it's the truth part that stumps so many.
Landing Project turns out to be everyman poets (or more appropriately every-misfit/misplaced/misunderstood-man poets) to whose truth anyone with a beating heart should be able to relate. The album opens with the words, "I remember how I felt in my teens..." Don't we all remember? But this song, as the title "Keep Going" suggests, looks forward. It's this combination of examination and expectation that gives these songs the roots with which to connect and the open future into which to fly. Without that, their three chords would just add up to a handful of catchy tunes. With this truth, this honesty, they're a handful of catchy tunes that mean something.
If that's not enough (though it should be plenty), check out the packaging. Rather than package the CD in a jewel case, digipak or cardboard sleeve, the guys in Landing Project made unique sleeves out of old 5 1/4 inch floppy disks. In an age when the CD is dying off in the face of digital releases, packaging is more important than ever and this is one band who found a great way to make the hardcopy worthwhile. It even steals a bit from the digital age for irony's sake (or was it a happy accident?). Get yours quick, because the "floppy disk sleeve" edition is limited to the number of old floppies they can dig up. Once the floppies are gone, so is this great package.
Another ep i picked up was from a band called landing project, honestly, i dont know what i more can say about this band other than theyre the best unnoticed band long island has to offer and it is a crying shame that my generation blast shitty music in there car such as "shake shake shake shake it!" as opposed to "i remember how i felt in my teens full anger, full of rage, ready to put whole world in its place" this ep is like just like classic anthem for teens alike, almost like a jersey's best dancers that i never got to experience, and has been playing nonstop on my ipod since friday
(with a few hot rod circuit breaks)
i recommend it to anyone thats would enjoy a mix of early saves the day with some early against me!
Do you know what a sleeper is? It's a person, a movie, or in this case a CD that comes along and makes you think nothing of it, and then all of a sudden it up and kicks your ass. Here Goes Everything creeped into my P.O. box with a DIY press sheet, a home-brew B&W sleeve, and a disc that looks like the band actually spray painted it. The first few seconds sound like an old Bouncing Souls demo - raw, raucous, off key. BUT IT'S SO DAMN GOOD. Imperfections are usually deemed unprofessional or ghetto, but all the imperfections here are punk and charming. Remember how Blink 182 used to sound? Cheshire Cat was cool album, this album is cool like that. I want you to hear this CD. Click on the album cover to find them on myspace.
Interesting packaging is neat. An album coupled with good artwork and brought together in a unique way can really make the record stand out. Landing Project put their CD in one of those old-school floppy disc folders so, while it may be a bitch to fit in with the rest of your collection, it certainly stands out. Luckily for everyone involved the music within lives up to its accommodations. Jangly guitars mix with gruff vocals to give a surface-level Florida/No Idea vibe before the band start piling on layers of guitars and quick changes, making it clear this is more than your average post-whatever outfit. The country tinge to "I've Gotta Do" shows the band aren't devoid of a sense of humour, while the homage to Op Ivy and Minor Threat in "Turn Up Your Stereo," while a little corny, works as one of the best straight-up rockers on here. The production is a little flat but still manages to capture the live essence that's essential to this type of band. (Independent)
Every time I listen to the joy of life, I think about that time you guys played that for me at practice that time I requested it after you already practiced it. YAY favorite song!
Hey Fellow NY MetalHeads. Come Rock With Us At Don Hill's On June 5th And At Ace Of Clubs On July 18th. Thanks For The Add.Thanks For Listening And Keep It Metal!
Well, she always plays there & last time she got her ex-bf's band to play as her opening act. So maybe I can talk her into making you guys an opening band. Most bands outside of Jersey can't play their themselfs, but if you have someone in Jersey it can help you guys a lot. (:
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