Hits From The Box #42 - Macey Road

Seriously, Lieutenant Pike is the biggest douche. It's Kenny Powers, without a redeemable bone, for real. Yet we can laugh can't we? Ah, 21st century, I love you.

Here's a new band from UK's Brighton to kick today's Hits From The Box off, and they aren't mucking about. The UK has a penchant of producing some brilliant left of field instrumental rock bands that flutter along many, mostly noisy, genres, and Cousin is no exception. Their debut four track EP And Other Relations is a crackers. The trio have claimed Pavement, Polvo and Enablers as overt influences, and their warm, intricate math rockers more than adeptly hold true to such inspirations. Much like Avalanche Ammo before them, this EP is inherently exciting, and proves without a doubt that you can noodle away on a guitar with math rock leanings and be the polar opposite of a wanker. Grab the EP here - its a corker.

Cousin - Super Toight
Cousin - Tensions At The Lido


Next up is Spy Island outta Portland, a self-proclaimed ragtag troupe of caffeinated cellar dwellers. Aren't we all? They have finalised their 3rd LP New Milesian Kings, an album the ebbs and flows between languid slapstick drunken shambolism and languid homemade singalong shanties. Its solid, and whilst not without its filler, bookends its entrails with two great little tracks, both of which you can sample below. New Milesian Kings will be out early next year.

Spy Island - The Punchline
Spy Island - Geisha On The Beach


On a previous edition of Hits From The Box, I mentioned a little act by the marbles-in-mouth moniker of Dovie Beams Love Child. The brain behind the act, Juan Torregoza, has more than one feather to his bow, as The Climbing Rose attests. A solo project that lends itself to the flourishes of the flamenco school - an interesting option. It's out on Cactus Killer Records - well worth a listen.

Juan Torregoza - Romance


Philly's Bridge Underwater began in August 2005 as the recording project/one-man band of Patrick Mellon. Since then Bridge Underwater has released more than one hundred songs ranging from simple lo-fi tunes to experimental “noise delights.” At the moment Mellon is working with drummer John Basile and bassist Danny Click. The trio plans on releasing an EP of new music in early 2012. Here's a tasty slice of what to expect.

Bridge Underwater - Be Loved


If you are going to reference the creator of some of the most iconic 60s British pop music, you'd better do it right. Influenced by early electronic music and experimental pop, and has been described as ‘Bizzaro Pop’, Narrow Sparrow are a new band that hail from Chicago, Illinois, are dropping their Synthworks EP on us (the 4-song ep will also be released on 7” vinyl on December 21st - pre-order is here), and the opener, 'Joe Meek's Dream' definitely tickles the excitement bone.

Narrow Sparrow - Joe Meek's Dream


I know very little about Violet Hour outta San Fran's Bay Area, and sometimes that's the way it ought to be. They have released an EP, Cowardly Loins, but I have only heard the below track. Obviously I see the allure. Good times indeed!

Violet Hour - Least I Could Love You

HAPPY WEEKEND!

Shell Shocked On Battle Ave

I mentioned on the weekend that a few albums had slipped through the cracks as far as me covering them - the first two I wanted to bring to the attention being from Mittenfields and Avalanche Ammo (check em both out here). Now I'd say Ive been even more slack when its come to New York band Battle Avenue - I think they sent me their debut full length War Paint some three months ago, with change. Its a great album too, put together by Kevin McMahon (who has also worked with Titus Andronicus, The Walkmen, Swans, and Frightened Rabbit) There is a heady sense of deja vu here - like putting elements from The Hold Steady, Modest Mouse and Titus Andronicus into a decrepit crucible - the result of which sees molecules from each mutating and conjoining into a dirty, dishevelled whole. The vocals are stripped bare, as if stripped from vocalist Jesse Alexander forcibly, and its this honest delivery that underpins the band's sound. Its all quite verbose and grandiose (and a whole lot of other -oses Im sure), therefore McMahon's involvement at Ground Zero of War Paint makes perfect sense.

War Paint is currently available as a free download here - indulge in a great little indie release that will hopefully boost these guys into the stratosphere.

Battle Avenue - " "
Battle Avenue - Oh Other, You Brother

Two EPs That Slipped Through The Net - Avalanche Ammo/Mittenfields

It has been a hectic few weeks for me, juggling a myriad jobs and responsibilities with varying degrees of success. Sometimes I kept all the balls up in the air, but occasionally I grass a couple. So today, Im embarking on making amends to a few parties who have waited patiently for me to get my act together - starting with the next two acts.

First up is Anthony Boland, or as he'd preferably be known, Avalanche Ammo. The Irish maestro has, in his 4 track EP Animals, showcased a wild flourish of math-rock instrumental prowess that is incredible considering that the breadth and strength of sound coming out of the speakers could be a fully-blown band with years of innate experience. Boland realises that sometimes the strength in these tracks is not length but brevity, delivered in frenetic, incisive stabs at the eardrums. Its all well realised and, when you consider other bands such as And So I Watch You From Afar, bodes well for the future of exciting and groundbreaking instrumental rock from the Emerald Isle.

Avalanche Ammo - Pony Up
Avalanche Ammo - Owl Speak


Mittenfields have been on my radar even longer than Avalanche Ammo, seeing as I received their debut EP The Fresh Sum before its release date back in July. The Washington indie act scratch at the surface of paranoiac rock a la Modest Mouse, yet with broader, more grandiose brush strokes. They have piqued the interest of others such as The Dismemberment Plan, which is always a nice leg up, yet if the strength of opening track 'Mixed Signals (On The Rocks)' is any indication, they are doing enough on their own to do well.

Mittenfields - Mixed Signals (On The Rocks)

There will be a few more posts this week (Im looking at you, Battle Avenue, Psych Tigers and Silver Wren) - I hope these make amends. And for the rest of you - what are you waiting for? Have at it!