Outcast Tape Infirmary - Hope For Spring (Charity Compilation 2022)

 

GENRE : alternative, indie rock, punk rock, punk, emo, experimental, charity,

RECORD LABEL : Outcast Tape Infirmary

There was a lot of charity compilations released on yesterday's Bandcamp Friday, in support of various different causes. I had a super busy day, so I couldn't keep up with it all myself, unfortunately, but I was able to check out a couple of them and donate. 

Here's an awesome charity compilation from new-ish DIY tape label Outcast Tape Infirmary. See below for info...

(I'm going to do a separate blog post for compilation albums in support of Ukraine)

---

100% of all purchases will be donated to Hope For The Day - an organization that provides important resources for mental health issues and suicide prevention. It's no secret that we're all struggling right now, and we all know somebody else who is struggling. There is always hope. There is always someone out there who cares. It's Ok Not To Be Ok. For more info, check out HFTD.org

---

The artists who have contributed to this compilation are of no specific genre or style, which makes the whole thing unpredictable and chaotic, and brilliant. It bounces from lo-fi indie folk to emo to abstract electronica to dark ambient to ear-splitting punk rock. It's a great compilation of songs, and it's for a very worthy cause. Give it a blast and please consider donating.

A few personal highlights :

Ali Murray - Dear Evelyn - a stunning electro-acoustic dark atmospheric pop song by sinfully unrecognized Scottish songwriter Ali Murray. I'll be reviewing his new album when it comes out on 17/04/22, which is now available for pre-order.

Jonny Fallout - Dark Space - a breathtaking ethereal electronic pop song by Boston synthwave artist Jonny Fallout. Awesome stuff. Check out his Bandcamp page here.

Frick. - Bike - a cool fun simple lo-fi punk song by a band called .frick that would be right at home on any of the wonderful 90's Epitaph or Fat Wreck Chords compilations. I love it.

---

Stream/Download the compilation here :

https://outcasttapes.bandcamp.com/album/hope-for-spring-compilation-22

Fall Town - After The Crash (2021)

 

GENRE : alternative punk, power pop, alternative rock, dream pop, shoegaze, post-punk

RECORD LABEL : Dead Forest Records

Fall Town are a band you've almost definitely never heard of. They're an alternative punk band from Scotland, and this is their phenomenal (yet sinfully ignored) debut album, 'After The Crash'. It's a dark, powerful, introspective journey. One of these albums that's all over before you know it, and you're left wanting more...

Fall Town's sound is a unique amalgamation of dark post-punk, power pop, alt-rock and shoegaze. A perfect soundtrack to driving down dark highways, or running away from home. There's a real sadness to this album, yet at the same time it's fun and energetic, and catchy as hell. This band needs a lot more love than they're getting. You should give this one a blast. 

Here's the album blurb taken from their Bandcamp page, which totally nails it...

Fall Town comes roaring from bare, rocky, isolated islands to unleash a debut album overflowing with passion, rage, sweetness and melancholy. Huge riffs collide with soaring melodies like storm-raised waves battering cliffs in a push and pull that mirrors the anger, joy and loss of the human condition.

Somehow Fall Town has managed to create a debut that sounds as fresh as these energies did when they were first unleashed somewhere in the history of rock music. 'After The Crash' is a must-listen for lovers of meaningful music that evokes profound emotions. It also kicks ass.

Stream/Download the album here :

https://falltown.bandcamp.com/album/after-the-crash

Kids On A Crime Spree - Fall In Love Not In Line (2022)

GENRE : power pop, indie rock, pop punk, post-punk, noise pop

RECORD LABEL : Slumberland Records

Here's a high-octane blistering noise pop album from Oakland trio Kids On A Crime Spree. I'm personally not familiar with their previous work, but from what I've read they kept their fans waiting a looong time for this release. 11 years, to be precise!

Anyway, this is a fantastic album. I hear infectious 60's pop melodies, 70's Spector-esque echo chamber production, 80's post-punk instrumentation, and 90's noisy shoegaze in their sound. It's a joyous collision of many things that I love from different decades of music. The guitars are simultaneously jangly and fuzzy, the basslines are fierce yet melodic, the drums are thunderous and mean, and the vocals cut through the noisy reverb-soaked mix quite beautifully. 

I think this band would appeal to fans of The Feelies, My Bloody Valentine, The Ramones, Joy Division and 60's pop music. Give it a listen. And while you're at it, you should have a browse through the Slumberland Records Bandcamp page. There's great stuff on there.

Stream/Download the album here :

https://slumberlandrecs.bandcamp.com/album/fall-in-love-not-in-line

Slumberland Records :

https://slumberlandrecs.bandcamp.com/music

Lola Pistola - Lizard EP (2020)

 

GENRE : alternative grunge, alternative rock, punk, rock n roll

RECORD LABEL : self-released

Crushing is the word that instantly came into my head when I heard this, and the same word that remained in my head after the four songs were over. This is heavy, ballsy, thunderous rock n' roll that not only shakes the walls - it destroys the walls.

Lola Pistola is a two-person alt-grunge rock n roll band, consisting Brooklyn-based songwriter/musician Lola Pistola on vocals/guitars, and Robert Preston Collum on drums. I'd personally like to hear some bass in this band, but it's certainly awesome as is. The vocals are fierce yet melodic, and the instrumentation is intensely heavy. I love it. 

I think that fans of Torche, Kyuss and P.J Harvey will dig this EP. 

Stream/Download the EP here :

https://lolapistola.bandcamp.com/album/lizard-ep

The Knee-His - Action! (2021)

 

GENRE : power pop, pop punk, punk, rock n roll, vintage rock

RECORD LABEL : self-released

I'm a sucker for good power-pop bands, especially female power-pop bands. The Knee-His are a cool 4-piece band from Chicago, and whilst I don't think they're going to win any prizes for originality, they should win all the prizes for awesomeness. They write simple, infectious rock n roll power-pop goodness.

I loved the two individual songs they've released on Bandcamp so far, and I can see on their social media pages that their debut full-length album is on its way! The world needs more bands like The Knee-His.

Stream/Download here :

https://thekneehis.bandcamp.com/

The Tacks - s/t EP (2020)

 

GENRE : post-punk, death rock, alternative rock, punk, goth rock

RECORD LABEL : Dust Up! Records

I can't remember exactly how I stumbled upon this band. It was definitely a Bandcamp recommendation...but I can't remember the specifics. Regardless, this was an awesome find. The Tacks are a post-punk/goth rock band from New Zealand. They're dark, raw, noisy and lo-fi, perfect for cassette. I hear blatant 80's new wave influences on their sound (Siouxie & The Banshees, Joy Division, The Cure, All About Eve, etc...) along with more modern punk rock influences. It's a unique take on a very familiar sound. I love it, and I'm looking forward to hearing more.

Stream/Download the EP here :

https://thetacksband.bandcamp.com/album/s-t