Meet Me In St. Louis

Meet Me In St. Louis were a five-piece post-hardcore/emo/math rock band from Guildford, Surrey that were active from 2005 to 2009 before reuniting for a tour in 2023. If you're interested in doing a deep dive on the band's history, they conducted a retrospective interview you can read here. In terms of sound, imagine trebly guitars, syncopated rhythms, odd time signatures, robust bass lines, and impassioned vocals that create this cacophony of sound that's as beautiful as it is blistering, just as melodic as it is technical. Their sole LP Variations On Swing is incredible, but if you're looking for just one release a compilation of all their recorded material was put out by Big Scary Monsters, so that's probably your best bet to start with. Enjoy.

Promise me that we'll never be like them. I don't want to wind up like that. Relax, baby. We're going to wind up like us. (2005)

1. I am Champagne and You are Shit

2. Why Thank You, Suzie

3. Corey Feldman

...And With The Right Kind OF Eyes You Can Almost See The High Water Mark That Place Where The Wave Finally Broke And Rolled Back (2006)

1. We Need To Act Like We Don't Need This Shit, Then you Give Us Shit For Free

2. The Kid Who Had His Ear Slapped By The Druggiest

3. Why Thank You, Suzie

4. What Happened To You Dylan? You Used To Be Someone I Could Trust

5. You Said Your Finger Was A Gun

Variations On Swing (2007)

1. The Torso Was Severed In Mid Thorax

2. Well You Damn Well Should

3. Right This Way, You Maverick Renegade

4. I Am Champagne, You Are Shit

5. I Beat Up The Bathroom, I'm Sorry

6. Ein Zwei Drei Hasslehoff

7. All We Need Is A Little Energon, And A Lot Of Luck

8. Come To New York, There Were Fewer Murders Last Year

9. I've Got Knives In My Eyes I'm Going Home Sick

10. You're Doomed

MMVI - MMIX (2015)

1. The Torso Was Severed In Mid Thorax

2. Well You Damn Well Should

3. Right This Way, You Maverick Renegade

4. I Am Champagne, You Are Shit

5. I Beat Up The Bathroom, I'm Sorry

6. Ein Zwei Drei Hasslehoff

7. All We Need Is A Little Energon, And A Lot Of Luck

8. Come To New York, There Were Fewer Murders Last Year

9. I've Got Knives In My Eyes I'm Going Home Sick

10. You're Doomed

11. I am Champagne and You are Shit

12. Why Thank You, Suzie

13. Corey Feldman

14. 1. We Need To Act Like We Don't Need This Shit, Then you Give Us Shit For Free

15. The Kid Who Had His Ear Slapped By The Druggiest

16. Why Thank You, Suzie

17. What Happened To You Dylan? You Used To Be Someone I Could Trust

18. You Said Your Finger Was A Gun

Note: Compilation including their LP and both EP's

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To The North

To The North Brisbane are a four-piece math rock/post-hardcore band from Brisbane, Australia that formed around 2007. They released a handful of EP's and one LP between 2007 and 2015. Members also play in Apparitions, though To The North is still technically active, continuing to play the occasional shows including a festival appearance this month with Blind Girls. Sonically, this band plays noodling, mathy, and angular riffs with clean (or semi-clean guitars) with midwest emo inflections in the vein of Braid or Minus The Bear, with an intense spoken-shouted vocal delivery that recalls Bear vs Shark. If you're new to this band, I'd suggest either Landscapes for something more emo-y or their full-length Lustre for something a little more unique and tightly refined, but ultimately everything here is solid. Enjoy.

Landscapes (2007)

1. Intro

2. Matinees And Make Believe

3. Nights Like These

4. Behind The Paranoia

5. Drift Away

6. Trapdoors

Ohana/To The North (2008)

1. Ohana - Bleed Ideals

2. To The North - Harms Way

Note: To The North track only

To Work And Not Feed (2009)

1. We Are Not Ashamed

2. Cells

3. If Knowledge Was A Rite Of Passage You Would Be A Fucking Genius

4. Pistol Kids

Indiscretion (2010)

1. Indiscretion

2. No Alibi

3. Lustre

4. This City

5. Pistol Kids (live)

Lustre (2011)

1. Release The Brakes

2. No Alibi

3. Doubt The Shadow, Not The Sun

4. Clear Signal

5. Soft Light Through Plain Glass

6. Rescue And Return

7. Indiscretion

8. Progress Broke The Saddle

9. To Question The Moment

Departure (2015)

1. Departure

2. Escape Artist

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Pennines

 Pennines are a four-piece emo/math rock band from Norwich, England that were initially active from 2006 to 2009, with a reunion occurring in 2023 that's still on-going. They recorded a handful of songs during their initial tenure, though didn't reach a wider audience until years later thanks to the virality of tracks such as "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? Lima Oscar Lima!?" and their overall sound only starting to gain traction after their initial tenure. If you're interested in their history, there's a fantastic, in-depth retrospective interview conducted by the band here. Notably, one of their members is Henry Tremain, TTNG's vocalist/guitarist post-Animals. That's actually a good point of reference for what they sound like, as they employ similarly clean, mathy melodic guitars with reposeful vocals. You guys will undoubtedly love this if you've never heard it, so enjoy.

Demo (2008)

1. whiskey tango foxtrot? lima oscar lima!

2. open closed open

Fair D'os (2009)

1. billie jeans

2. collapsing new buildings

3. does not want

TTNG/Pennines (2009)

1. Pennines - Pilot Holes

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key vs. locket

I haven't been coming up with new releases this year as much as I'd like to, but this is one of the few that have really stood out to me. key vs. locket is a new solo project created by twikipedia (I don't know her actual name I apologize), who recorded, performed, and released this fantastic new album titled i felt like a sketch. Pulling the mathy, midwest emo guitars into tracks that both punch and shimmer, what really sets this apart is in the indelible songwriting, with fantastic hooks and melodies (some of which are in Portuguese) across its entirety. These tracks are dynamic, with the lo-fi only adding to its scrappy charm. The instrumentation is even varied, with acoustic guitars, pianos, and what sounds like digital percussion/synths, all of which comes together beautifully at the end of "symptom". It's 50 minutes but there's a plethora of variety amongst most of these tracks, with frenetic guitar work and unique hooks, tones, and structures within each that make it the whole album a breezy listen. If you're into Car Seat Headrest, Parannoul, Marietta, or Oso Oso, maybe give this a listen. And if there are any other albums from this year that have stuck with you, please let me know as I need to catch up! Enjoy.

i felt like a sketch (2025)

1. tackle

2. half enough

3. mundo

4. rifle

5. hourglass memory

6. symptom

7. conjoined (interlude)

8. nothing for a moment

9. only human / anywhere at all

10. snowman, snowman

11. a play

12. medicine

13. promise

14. carpe diem avem

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The Cabs

The Cabs were a three-piece emo/math rock band from Saitama, Japan that formed in 2006 and disbanded in 2013. They released two EP's/mini-albums and one album, the three of which is what you primarily see as their discography. Apparently there are some demos and live material out there, so if anyone's got anything more than this, please let me know. Also as a quick note, depending on where you go on the internet, their album and song titles will differ slightly (presumably as a result of varying English translations). Sonically, you guys are going to love this if you're unfamiliar with them. They've got these soaring, ultra-melodic vocals, shimmering, athletic guitars, and bring this raw, near-frenzied cathartic energy to an otherwise very smooth, very clean work. If you need a frame of reference, fans of bands such as TTNG, toe, Maps & Atlases, Owls, or Ghosts And Vodka will certainly fall in love with this. Enjoy.

The First Action [First Incident] (2011)

1. For Charles Bronson

2. Nigastu No Heitai

3. No Future For Us

4. Haiku About Kdyla

5. Nicol Kills Nicolas For Nicola

6. Kugatu Ha sannbikaniyoru

Kaiki Suru Kokyu [Recur Breath] (2011)

1. Kilche No Rasen

2. Camn Aven

3. Gedoku Sareru Jukai

4. Kakko No Suno Ue De

5. skor

6. Dai Hachi Byoto

Saisei No Hukei [Regenerative Landscape] (2013)

1. Leland

2. Hana No Youni

3. Anschluss

4. Our Fail

5. Map

6. Sarasa

7. Smile Lazuro

8. Purusha

9. Your Eyes Have All The Answer

10. All Crying

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Shellac

Here's the delayed post that was meant to close out 2023. This is one of one of the most consistent and influential acts in underground rock, with a legacy that often feels understated. Of course it's none other than the one and only Shellac. They came together in 1992, with members all already established in their native Chicago scene. This included vocalist/guitarist Steve Albini, who previously helmed the foundational post-hardcore/noise rock outfit Big Black. He's also widely known for his production work with the likes of Nirvana, The Pixies, PJ Harvey, The Jesus Lizard, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and so many more. Shellac also consists of bassist/vocalist Bob Weston, formerly of Volcano Suns and a noteworthy producer in his own right, working with the likes of June of 44, Sebadoh and Archers of Loaf. Finally, to complete the single unit known as Shellac is drummer/vocalist Todd Trainer, who was previously in Breaking Circus and Rifle Sport.

Moving on from their individual résumés, their collective body of work starts in 1993 with a series of 7"'s released in quick succession, which culminated in a fully-realized sound by the time their landmark debut LP dropped in late 1994. At Action Park is the perfect introduction to a sound that is distinctly theirs. They eschew any semblance of traditional song structure, opting to lock into these hypnotic and dissonant yet dynamic grooves, with metallic string clangs and pulsating rhythms. Through each subsequent release always displayed a gradual evolution, their M.O. has always been to turn traditional rock sounds on their heads. Their output has also been very consistent, with five studio releases under their belt over a 20-year period, all via Touch And Go Records. If you have yet to give them a proper listen, now is the time. Enjoy.

The Rude Gesture: A Pictorial History (1993)

1. The Guy Who Invented Fire

2. Rambler Song

3. Billiard Player Song

Uranus (1993)

1. Doris

2. Wingwalker

The Bird Is The Most Popular Finger (1994)

1. The Admiral

2. XVI

At Action Park (1994)

1. My Black Ass

2. Pull The Cup

3. The Admiral

4. Crow

5. Song Of The Minerals

6. A Minute

7. The Idea Of North

8. Dog And Pony Show

9. Boche's Dick

10. Il Porno Star

Live In Tokyo (1994)

1. The Guy Who Invented Fire

2. Ramvler Song

3. The Admiral

4. My Black Ass

5. Song Of The Minerals

6. Billiard Player Song

7. Dog And Pony Show

8. Il Porno Star

9. Doris

10. Wingwalker

11. Boche's Dick

12. Crow

Billardspielerlied / Mantel (1995)

1. Billardspielerlied

2. Mantel

Sides 1-4 (1995)

1. Shellac - '95 Jailbreak

2. Big'n - T.N.T.

3. Brise-Glace - Angus Dei Aus Licht

4. U.S. Maple - Sin City

Soul Sound (1995)

1. Shellac - The Rambler Song

2. Mule - Beauteous

The Futurist (1997)

1. Movement 1

2. Movement 2

3. Movement 3

4. Movement 4

5. Movement 5

6. Movement 6

Terraform (1998)

1. Didn't We Deserve A Look At You The Way You Really Are

2. This Is A Picture

3. Disgrace

4. Mouhtpiece

5. Canada

6. Rush Job

7. House Full Of Garbage

8. Copper

1000 Hurts (2000)

1. Prayer To God

2. Squirrel Song

3. Mama Gina

4. Qrj

5. Ghosts

6. Song Against Itself

7. Canaveral

8. New Number Order

9. Shoe Song

10. Watch Song

Agostino / The Safeword (2000)

1. Shellac - Agostino

2. Caesar - The Safeword

Excellent Italian Greyhound (2007)

1. The End Of Radio

2. Steady As She Goes

3. Be Prepared

4. Elephant

5. Genuine Lulabelle

6. Kittypants

7. Protocal

8. Paco

9. Spoke

Dude Incredible (2014)

1. Dude Incredible

2. Compliant

3. You Came In Me

4. Riding Bikes

5. All The Surveyors

6. The People's Microphone

7. Gary

8. Mayor/Surveyor

9. Surveyor

The End Of Radio (2019)

1. Spoke

2. Canada

3. Crow

4. Disgrace

5. Ghosts

6. The End Of Radio

7. Canda

8. Paco

9. Steady As She Goes

10. Billiard Player Song

11. Dog And Pony Show

12. Il Porno Star

Note: Contains two Peel sessions, tracks 1-4 recorded in 1994 and tracks 5-12 recorded in 2004

To All Trains (2024)

1. WSOD

2. Girl From Outside

3. Chick New Wave

4. Tattoos

5. Wednesday

6. Scrappers

7. Days Are Dogs

8. How I Wrote How I Wrote Elastic Man (cock & bull)

9. Scabby The Rat

10. I Don't Fear Hell

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Flight Patterns

Flight Patterns are a six-piece emo/indie band from Ann Arbor, Michigan that formed in 2017. They released their self-titled debut full-length back in August, which has been a standout release in a year of fantastic albums. Its 11 tracks consist of punchy midwest emo, with flashes of math rock noodling, gang vocals, and screams. Melancholic nostalgia is the thematic glue, a familiar subject for the genre but hit home on this album by its stellar songwriting, relatable lyrics and its old soul/problems of youth dichotomy. Fans of bands such as Dowsing, Dikembe, Glocca Morra, Hightide Hotel, and Everyone Everywhere absolutely have to check this out, its reminiscent of a recently by-gone era while still carving its own niche in modernity. Pretension aside, this is a fun time with sad jams. Enjoy.

Vapetrails (2017)

1. Vapetrails

There Is No Montauk (2017)

1. thank god for brollinger

2. if ur leffen then i'm chillen dude

3. crab with knife

4. i would throw my vape in a cornfield for you

Spaceshow/Flight Patterns/Harvey Waters (2018)

1. Spaceshow - Lookalike Wannabe

2. Spaceshow - Coin Operated Yes Man

3. Flight Patterns - Matt youre a flake but i still love you

4. Flight Patterns - Disney World Parking Lot

5. Harvey Waters - The Crunch Of Leaves

6. Harvey Waters - Beth

Note: Harvey Waters tracks missing

Flight Patterns (2022)

1. you can't be siruis

2. march comes in like a lion

3. dormitory coffee stains

4. letters taped to pens

5. cadence

6. beach town

7. tiny frames

8. infinitely deep lake

9. faces that we used to make

10. if you look hard enough you can see chicago from here

11. spectral energy

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The Jesus Years

The Jesus Years were a four-piece math rock/emo band from Derby, England. They were around from 2004 to 2006, and in 2009 all four members (with the addition of one more) reunited to form the incredible Crash Of Rhinos. The band played an instrumental and technically intricate version of midwest emo, with clean guitars and some very athletic drumming. They only put out one EP and one split, not that there[s anything wrong with keeping a discography short and sweet. Enjoy.

Are Matthew, Mark, Luke And John (2004)

1. Say Hello to Pink Floyd

2. Throwing Beers At Rick Parfitt

3. My Dancing? What The Fuck Are You On About?

4. I'd Wrestle A Crab For A Cooker

5. I'd Steal A Horse For A Bottle Of Bacardi

Billy Mahonie/The Jesus Years (2006)

1. Billy Mahonie - New Year's Eve Song

2. The Jesus Years - Tom Seabourne Ph.D

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These Arms Are Snakes

These Arms Are Snakes are a four-piece post-hardcore/alternative metal band from Seattle, Washington that were initially around from 2002 to 2009. Since then, they played a single reunion show in 2016 and 2021 respectively, and briefly toured this year (2022). They put out three full-lengths, an EP, and a few splits. A lot of their non-LP/EP material was included on a compilation released earlier this year. Right out the gate, I have to admit that I have never really given this band a proper listen, which is insane considering the fact that they've been heavily requested for years. Even crazier than that, they were formed out of the ashes of two of my favourite bands. Vocalist Steve Snere and original drummer Erin Tate were both members of Kill Sadie, while bassist Brian Cook was a member of the metalcore titans Botch. Tate left These Arms Are Snakes after their first album to become the long-time drummer for Minus The Bear, while Cook has been the bassist for post-metal band Russian Circles since 2007. Guitarist Ryan Fredriksen later played in the mathcore band Narrows alongside Botch vocalist Dave Verellen, who put out a few fantastic releases through Deathwish about a decade ago. Despite all of these highly-regarded affiliations, I've never given this band its proper due. I've liked what I've heard so far, so figured I'd share it now for anyone like me, who's put this on the backburner for far too long. Enjoy.

This Is Meant To Hurt You (2003)

1. Riding The Grape Dragon

2. Run It Through The Dog

3. Diggers Of Ditches Everywhere

4. The Blue Rose

5. Drinking From The Necks Of The Ones You Love

Oxeneers Or The Lion Sleeps When Its Antelope Go Home (2004)

1. The Shit Sisters

2. Angela's Secret

3. Big News

4. Tracing

5. Your Pearly Whites

6. Gadget Arms

7. Greetings From The Great North Woods

8. La Stanza Bianca

9. Darlings Of New Midnight

10. Oxeneer

11. Idaho

12. (silence)

13. Untitled

Like A Virgin (2005)

1. These Arms Are Snakes - Payday Loans

2. Harkonen - Standing On Holey Soles

3. These Arms Are Snakes - Hook On This

4. Harkonen - Neverlanders

5. Harkonen & These Arms Are Snakes - Touched For The Very First Time

Good Friday (2006)

1. Horse Girl

2. Old Paradise

Easter (2006)

1. Mescaline Eyes

2. Horse Girl

3. Subtle Body

4. Desert Ghost

5. Child Chicken Play

6. Hell's Bank Notes

7. Abracadabra

8. Deer Lodge

9. Lady North

10. Perpetual Bris

11. Corporeal

12. Crazy Woman Dirty Train

Tail Swallower And Dove (2008)

1. Woolen Heirs

2. Prince Squid

3. Red Line Season

4. Lucifer

5. Ethric Double

6. Seven Curtains

7. Long And Lonely Step

8. Lead Beater

9. Cavity Carousel

10. Briggs

These Arms Are Snakes/Tropics (2008)

1. These Arms Are Snakes - Meet Your Mayor

2. Tropics - Future Gets Tense

These Arms Are Snakes/Russian Circles (2008)

1. These Arms Are Snakes - Camera Shy

2. These Arms Are Snakes - Trix

3. Russian Circles - Philios

These Arms Are Snakes/Pelican (2008)

1. These Arms Are Snakes - Pink Mammoth

2. Pelican - Gold Diggers

All The Saints/These Arms Are Snakes (2009)

1. All The Saints - Host

2. These Arms Are Snakes - Washburn

In Utero, in Tribute, in Entirety (2014)

3. Heart-Shaped Box (Nirvana cover)

The Coathangers/These Arms Are Snakes (2014)

1. The Coathangers - Sex Beat (The Gun Club cover)

2. These Arms Are Snakes - Energy Drink And The Long Walk Home (The Lost Sounds cover)

Duct Tape & Shivering Crows (2022)

1. Meet Your Mayor

2. Camera Shy

3. Trix

3. Energy Drnk And The Long Walk Home

4. Heart-Shaped Box

5. Washburn

6. Old Paradise

7. Payday Loans

8. Hook On This

9. Riding the Grape Dragon (Demo)

10. Run It Through The Dog (Demo)

11. Diggers Of Ditches Everywhere (Demo)

12. The Blue Rose (Demo)

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