Carpenter - October 21st 2009 @ L'Absynthe

Carpenter

The Sober Dawn

Winslow

Bar L'Absynthe, Montreal

October 21st 2009

Apparently, most people don't feel the need to see the same band more than once in a short period. Carpenter played in Montreal earlier this summer at L'Esco, yet I somehow felt the need to attend the show, alone, on a cold and rainy October Wednesday night. My initial plan was to show up right on time for Carpenter and skip the opening bands, but since I was already downtown, I decided to kill time and arrive on time for the opening bands.

I had seen Winslow play before last summer. Twice actually. The first one was at a sweaty skatepark off De L'Église, the second time was at Warped Tour (unless I'm mistaking them for another band, but I think I've got this right). I wasn't particularly impressed with their sets those few times, and I'd even say that I was slightly turned off by their performances and music altogether. Last night was not much different. But I'd replace my feeling of dislike by one of indifference. They were ok, that's it.

The good and the bad: They had a cool stage move at the end. Doesn't change the fact that all their songs sounded alike.

I totally thought The Sober Dawn were another band... I remember meeting some guys in a band last summer through a mutual friend and I'm pretty sure they said their band was called The Sober Dawn. They were kind of screamo if I'm not mistaken, but I don't think that was any of them...Anyways!

They were a great, great surprise. I was definitely not expecting this kind of band: think Hot Water Music, clearly one of their influences. I thoroughly enjoyed their set and also picked up their EP at the merch table. One my new favourite locals! Yay!

The good and the bad: Awesome songwriting, they can all play their instruments well. The bad: it took me this long to find out about them.

Carpenter is now a guaranteed good time for me. Most of their set is off their Law of the Land album, which sort of gave me the feeling of having seen the exact same set not that long ago (oh wait...I did...). The new songs are pretty rocking, especially one with a faster tempo, but still keeping a Carpenter feel to it. One thing for sure: it's always fun singing along with you, Carpenter

The good and the bad: Good energy! I wish I could kick that high without falling flat on my ass! I kind of wished they found a way to play the harmonica parts though!

Bottomline: check out The Sober Dawn and Carpenter if you're not familiar with them yet

This is a Standoff - Be Disappointed

This Is A Standoff - Be Disappointed

Blue Marble Vinyl

Released on Animal Style Records (ASR-006), March 2009

This Is A Standoff on Myspace

Well well well, what have we here! The second TIAS record, that's what! For starters I should mention that I'm biased in this review (then again this is just my opinion and the few that read this should have figured it out by now) because with This Is A Standoff, it's personal. I say this because guitarist John Meloche and I (well... mostly my band) go back a few years in the Ottawa local punk scene; him in FortyCentFix and myself in Contrabandit. So when John made me listen to the first TIAS demo, I have to say I was very stoked!

Now about this record: we can tell there has been an evolution from Be Excited, TIAS's first full length. My theory is that John plays an increasingly bigger role in the songwriting process. I find some ressemblances to FCF in these songs! Maybe it's just me being nostalgic...

What I particularly liked about this record: Knowing all the work that goes behind it! The band lives hundreds of KM apart during the songwriting process then takes the plane to jam and record. Then the band goes back home and works on getting it released through a handful of labels and distros. John and Steve's efforts go far beyond that in the fact that they design all their album art/merch, they book their own tours, etc. A+ for work ethic. Fuck, I'd even give them a scratch-and-sniff sticker for their work ethic. I also liked the shoutout to my band Contrabandit: I'm sure they've played with bigger, better-looking, harder-working bands, but they remember their roots; we remember their roots too.

What I did not really like: Uhm... I'm really trying hard to find something bad to talk about so that this review doesn't seem so one-sided, but you're shit out of luck.

The best songs: (in tracklisting order): Everything We Take, Can't Take Them All and Sunrise/Face The Sun

Daggermouth - Turf Wars

Daggermouth - Turf Wars

Red Clear Vinyl

Released on Animal Style Records (ASR-01), March 2007

Daggermouth on Myspace

Short and sweet is the best way to describe this record. I'll do the same in going over it.

What I particularly liked about this record: Production seems like it was recorded to purposely be listened to on vinyl. Also my favourite looking record so far.

What I did not really like: Although it is short, it also gets repetitive kind of fast. It's a record that you listen to once in a while, keyword "once".

The best songs: (in tracklisting order): Abracadabra Holmes, Hawt Lixx and Frisky Business

We Are The Union - Who We Are

We Are The Union - Who We Are

Green Marble Vinyl

Released on Animal Style Records (ASR-005)

We Are The Union on Myspace

Ok so I'm being kind of cheap with this review; the reason for this is that I haven't really updated this blog in a while and I'd like to get back into it, but by adding more records rather than talking about some that I've had for a while. Don't get me wrong though: this is a good record by a good band!

What I particularly liked about this record: It was a good surprise! I had only heard a song or two and was expecting more of a ska-punk combo than a punk-ska album (if that makes any sense... I understand myself!)

What I did not really like: It's somewhat repetitive. A lot of the songs feel like they were written on the same pattern and chord progression.

The best songs: (in tracklisting order): "Your allowance exceeds my rent", War on Everything and Ourcore

Transit - This Will Not Define Us

Transit - This Will Not Define Us

Blue Marble Vinyl

Released on Animal Style Records (ASR-004)

Transit on Myspace

What I particularly liked about this record: To be honest, not so much...

What I did not really like: I bought this record because I liked the cover art. Yes, I judged a record by its cover. I guess it's just not my thing!

The best songs: (in tracklisting order): I'm going to skip out on naming songs because it's been forever since I listened to this record, and I don't feel like forcing myself through the whole thing just to find my 3 favourite.