Banner Pilot

If you guys know me, you'd laugh at the thought of me doing Jiu-Jistu. Even I think its ridiculous, especially when I'm deep in someone's guillotine choke hold, gasping for air, futilely trying to squirm my way out of my attackers rock hard death grip. That's usually what I think, when I'm 5 seconds away from black out or a hyper extended elbow, 'This is ridiculous! (substituted with ridonkulous, depending on how saucy I am feeling that day).' It truly is, considering I've got the killer instinct of a buddhist monk in deep meditation. 

....My long winded point, and there is one, is that normally, that's what runs through the anti-fighter's head (yours truly) bout after bout, submission after submission. But tonight was different. Hours before, after stumbling upon (because I am never graceful) Banner Pilot's 2008 release 'Resignation Day', all I could think about was getting back and listening to it some more. It was clearly all I talked about pre fight, and instead of picking up tips from my more experienced younger brother, I got lost in recapturing that feeling I first felt when hearing Banner Pilot. 

I was met with an in your face pop punk record that would not escape my head, just like I couldn't escape my brother's guard position. Infectious melodies and driving bass lines, hit hard (like a knee to the stomach) and coupled with the gruff vocals which make you wonder if the vocalist has any vocal chords left (or what they are made of) that we all know and love from our Minneapolis punk bands. Seriously, do all people sound like this in Minneapolis? The women would be intimidating to say the least (I probably would tap to them too)

I can't imagine how fun it would be to see a Banner Pilot show - the songs just make you want to get up and dance like only a white person could, grabbing unsuspecting neighbors who join in  with your uncoordinated 'dance', doing your best Jackson Pollock impression (inadvertently), the venue floor in a sticky coat of over priced beer. Ah...if only. Way better than getting your ass handed to you in Jiu-Jitsu! By your kid brother no less!

Banner Pilot myspace

Bon Iver Also Rules!

       (Yes, even Justin Vernon can't deal with how awesome he is)

...Even when they cover someone else's song. Here is Justin Vernon and Co. covering a Sarah Siskind song entitled "Lovin's For Fools". It may be old to some of you but it'll definitely be a treat if you haven't peeped this vid yet. There's also a clip of Justin Vernon getting on stage with Ms. Siskind in Nashville, where they perform the song together, which I'm sure is amazing as well, but in this video, Vernon is accompanied by the Bowerbirds, who are a nu-folk band from North Carolina. They released an album last year entitled Hymns For A Dark Horse and are apparently cool enough to share a stage with Justin 'the freakin man' Vernon (ok, I might be the only one in the world lame enough to call him that). Prepare to wipe the drool off your keyboard - Bon Iver: Lovin's For Fools.

Canada Rules!

It really does, and I think all the anti-canuck sentiments we have flying around are really just jealous attempts to counteract the awesomeness that is Northern America. Case in point - Braintoy (you thought I was going to say something cliched like Arcade Fire or maple syrup or Tim Hortons, weren't you?! Ha!)

Braintoy is not some new Nintendo DS game, but a 4 piece hailing from Toronto, Canada. Vehicles, a strong contender for a slot in my top 20 releases of 2008 is a great prog rock record - accessible due in part to its energetic and soaring vocals and solid instrumentation (which you would expect from any prog band worth their pretentious song titles and epic(ly long) songs. The title track is an excellent introduction to the band, one that is sure to keep you interested and get you excited to see what else these Canadians are capable of. 

Listing influences like Porcupine Tree and Tool, one can trace the bands idols to their brand of post rock - the atmospheric stylings of Steven Wilson and the simple yet effective guitar lines of Adam Jones seem to be channeled, but in a way that is uniquely Braintoy - there's no blatant plagiarism here, just a familiarity that will comfort listeners and solidify Braintoy's place among the contemporaries they so revere. 

Check out the title track, Vehicles, on their myspace and check out the next big Canadian export. (a whole post on a Canadian

 band without any jokes about the Canadian accent!) Sounds you'll hear: Tristan Green's awesome vocals, keyboards, some electronics, punchy distorted guitar, a calm number named Banyan Tree and just proggy goodness (but not in the 'Camel' sense mind you - I'd say its more along the lines of a Coheed and Cambria sans the mighty Claudio Sanchez's vocals and sci fi concept story.) Either way, I'm having a hard time describing them, so do me and yourself a favor and check them out!

I...

I've got a handle on the fiction, I'm losing my grip because I'm losing my fingers, I...

You better believe I am fro-banging to this track.

You Think You're Fucking John Lennon

Type in www.glassjaw.com into your browser. Did you do it? Spell it correctly? Ok, good. Now sit back, crank up the volume (not too loud in case you want a heart attack...you'll find out what I mean soon enough) and soak in the sounds of a brand new track from Glassjaw! 'You Think You're Fucking John Lennon',  which is the name of the new track, was first played live around two years ago, but I guess Daryl finally decided to put vocals down with the rest of his band in the studio (and I love him for it). The guitars come crashing in with Daryl's shrieks, almost reminiscent of Stephen Carpenter riffage (a la Engine No 9) and the chorus is just kick ass. Everything you loved about Glassjaw's blend of post hardcore is here, and the 6 year wait for new material is definitely worth it if the rest of the album follows suit. The new song definitely is akin to 'Worship and Tribute' era material, so if you dug that, chances are you'll dig the new song. Ya dig?

           (you'll be greeted by the Puerto Rican flag at the Glassjaw website...?)

If you got too excited reading the words 'new Glassjaw track' here's the recap - go to the official website and it streams automatically. Go!

Glassjaw Official Website

For Emma (A capella)

Big ups to my buddy Jimmy (mah booooiiii! haha) for this link. This is just amazing. Especially if it was a spur of the moment thing to drop an a capella version of 'For Emma' off of Bon Iver's 2008 debut 'For Emma, Forever Ago'. I would've killed to see this! I wanna be Bon Iver! 

Enjoy - the harmonies are nothing short of beautiful.

For Emma (A Capella)

Bon Iver - Blood Bank EP

The man responsible for my favorite album of 2008 is set to release a 4 track EP in January. Entitled 'Blood Bank', Justin Vernon is scheduled to drop his EP on the 20th of January, 2009 and I am beyond stoked. Bon Iver (a play on the french word bon(ne?) hiver, which means good winter) has been playing the title track at recent shows. I've been searching youtube for a quality video and I think I've found a decent one. Enjoy! 

Bon Iver - Blood Bank

(the end is cut off, but this is the best quality I could find!)