Ratboys

Ratboys are a four-piece indie rock band from Chicago, Illinois that formed in 2010. Initially comprised of Julia Steiner and David Sagan, they began in South Bend, Indiana before relocating to Chicago and rounding out their line-up as a full band. They've released five full-length albums, all through Topshelf Records. Before we get to the end-of-year stuff, I thought I should finally include this band, who put out one of my favourite albums of last year, and one I continually returned to throughout this year. 

It's criminal that it took so long to get to, especially since they're a Topshelf band whose name continually came up for years. The Window did not disappoint, with its country-tinged, jangly slacker rock sound, fuzzy lead guitars, and impeccable songwriting with monstrous hooks. From the loose jam of "Black Earth, WI", to the racous garage rock of "Crossed That Line", to the soaring vocals of the title track, this album is incredible. Exploring their back catalogue has also been a joy, as they've been incredibly consistent since the get-go, but I'm still mostly partial to The Window. So if you're like me and have been pushing checking this out off, don't. Enjoy.

Ratboy (2011)

1. The Stanza

2. Down The River

3. Intense Judgement

4. Key

5. A 39 Is Annie The Oldest Cat

6. Have A Heart

AOID (2015)

1. AOID

2. Tixis

3. MCMXIV

4. Charles BErnstein

5. Folk Song For JAzz

6. Postman Song

7. Our Mortician's Daughter

8. Bugs!

9. Pivotal Dates

10. And

Dowsing/Ratboys (2016)

1. Dowsing - Hold

2. Dowsing - Pass

3. Ratboys - Not Again

4. Ratboys - Light Pollution

GN (2017)

1. Molly

2. Elvis Is In The Freezer

3. Westside

4. Control

5. Crying About The Planets

6. Dangerous Visions

7. Wandered

8. GM

9. The Record

10. Peter The Wild Boy

GL (2018)

1. GL

2. You've Changed

3. Figure

4. After School

Printer's Devil (2020)
1. Alien With A Sleep Mask On

2. Look To

3. My Hands Grow

4. A Vision

5. Anj

6. I Go Out At Night

7. Victoriam Slumhouse

8. Clever Hans

9. Listening

10. Printer's Devil

Happy Birthday, Ratboy (2021)

1. The Stanza

2. Down The River

3. Intense Judgment

4. Key

5. At 39 Is Annie The Oldest Cat?

6. Space Blows

7. Collected

8. Cacao To Cacao

9. Have A Heart

10. 88 Fingers Edward

11. Go Outside

The Window (2023)

1. Making Noise For The Ones You Love

2. Morning Zoo

3. Crossed That Line

4. It's Alive!

5. No Way

6. The Window

7. Empty

8. Break

9. Black Earth, WI

10. I Want You (Fall 2010)

11. Bad Reaction

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Japandroids

Post #1200 in our 12th year. I was admittedly dragging my feet trying to figure out what band to use to mark this milestone, because I didn't another gargantuan undertaking like The Replacements and Jimmy Eat World were. Down the line both bands I was considering will still get that treatment (Sleater-Kinney and the Descendents, for the two of you wondering), but as soon as this band popped into my head, I knew I had found the perfect gateway back to posting. Like I said earlier, this blog has been running for 12 years, which coincides with the same number of summers Celebration Rock has been the soundtrack to. With the May 24 weekend upon us (hola Canada), Japandroids season is in session.

Japandroids are two-piece rock/alternative/punk band from Vancouver, British Columbia that formed in 2006. Since their inception, their sole two members have been guitarist/vocalist Brian King and drummer/vocalist David Prowse. They self-released two EP's in their earlier years (which were later compiled as No Singles) before self-producing their debut full-length, Post-Nothing. The band almost called it quits, but thanks to the online traction that their debut picked up, they ended up embarking on a world tour following its release. It's unsurprising that their sound caught on so quickly, as their energy is positively infectious. In brief summary, they lay a base of noisy garage rock with pounding drums and huge, Hüsker Dü-esque guitars that shimmer with reverb and high-end melodies, while droning open strings to fill in the bass end. While that covers their exterior, these songs at their core take influence from the blue-collar, bleeding heart, youthful exuberance, and personal storytelling of someone like Bruce Springsteen, which is what elevates these songs to become anthems of fist-pumping hot summer nights.

While I do love their debut (try listening to "Wet Hair" without smiling), it was their sophomore release that put them in the stratosphere. The aptly titled Celebration Rock is 8 cuts of giddy euphoria, from the crackle of fireworks and anything-is-possible introduction of "The Nights Of Wine And Roses" to the hesitantly assured closer of "Continuous Thunder", I've always thought that this thing takes place over the span of that one night everyone wants to re-live forever. I'm not going into it too much, but if you're unfamiliar with this band, please start with this.

Following another huge tour in the wake of their massively successful sophomore album, the band were quiet for a few years until their date (and final to date) album, Near To The Wild Heart Of Life. This one features a lot more studio and production tinkering than anything they had done before, resulting in a cleaner sound compared to their off-the-floor-style recordings of their early years. I prefer the first two albums personally, though still think this is a solid addition to expand the Japandroids canon. During the tour for this album, they recorded their show at Toronto's Massey Hall, which was released back in 2020 as a live album, and unfortunately that's the last we've heard from them. As a quick note to go complete the discography breakdown, they recently a series of singles throughout their tenure, most being album tracks on the A-side and covers on the B-side, which choices shows their wide array of influence. The only non-album single cuts are "Heavenward Grand Prix" and "Art Czars", if you're just looking for their originals. In closing, this is music meant for blaring out the car speakers, windows down on a sunny day. Nothing but an open highway around you, and all the time in the world ahead of you. Enjoy.

Post-Nothing (2009)

1. The Boys Are Leaving Town

2. Young Hearts Spark Fire

3. Wet Hair

4. Rockers East Vancouver

5. Heart Sweats

6. Crazy/Forever

7. Sovereignty

8. I Quit Girls

Art Czars (2010)

1. Art Czars

2. Racer-X (Big Black cover)

No Singles (2010)

1. Darkness On The Edge of Gastown

2. No Allegiance To The Queen

3. Sexual Aerosol

4. Lovers/Strangers

5. Lucifer's Symphony

6. Couture Suicide

7. Avant Sleepwalk

8. Coma Complacency

9. To Hell With Good Intentions (Mclusky cover)

10. Press Corps

Younger Us (2010)

1. Younger Us

2. Sex And Dying In High Society (X cover)

Heavenward Grand Prix (2010)

1. Heavenward Grand Prix

2. Shame (PJ Harvey cover)

The House That Heaven Built (2012)

1. The House That Heaven Built

2. Jack The Ripper (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds cover)

Celebration Rock (2012)

1. The Nights Of Wine And Roses

2. Fire's Highway

3. Evil's Sway

4. For The Love Of Ivy

5. Adrenaline Nightshift

6. Younger Us

7. The House That Heaven Built

8. Continuous Thunder

Near To The Wild Heart Of Life (2017)

1. Near To The Wild Heart Of Life

2. North East South West

3. True Love And A Free Life Of Free Will

4. I'm Sorry (For Not Finding You Sooner)

5. Arc Of Bar

6. Midnight To Morning

7. No Known Drink Or Drug

8. In A Body Like A Grave

Near To The Wild Heart Of Life 7" (2017)

1. Near To The Wild Heart Of Life

2. Love --> Building On Fire (Talking Heads cover)

North East South West (2017)

1. North East South West

2. Fire In The Western World (Dead Moon cover)

Massey Fucking Hall (2020)
1. Intro: Near To The Wild Heart Of Life

2. Near To The Wild Heart Of Life

3. Fire's Highway

4. Heart Sweats

5. Arc Of Bar

6. Intro: Younger Us

7. Younger Us

8. North East South West

9. The Nights OF Wine And Roses

10. Intro: No Known Drink or Drug

11. No Known Drink or Drug

12. Continuous Thunder

13. Young Hearts Spark Fire

14. Sovereignty

15. Intro: The House That Heaven Built

16. The House That Heaven Built

Fate & Alcohol (2024)

1. Eye Contact High

2. D&T

3. Alice

4. Chicago

5. Upon Sober Reflection

6. Fugitive Summer

7. A Gaslight Anthem

8. Positively 34th Street

9. One Without The Other

10. All Bets Are Off

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I Wish I

I Wish I are a four-piece emo/post-hardcore band from San Diego, California that formed in 1995. They took their name from an Embrace song, so it's not too surprising to here a ton of influence from DC bands including Fugazi, Rites of Spring, and Jawbox. Following two full-lengths and a ton of touring, they originally disbanded sometime around 1997. The band reformed in 2012, putting out a brand new full-length on Dim Mak Records back in 2013. Sonically, they definitely maintain their roots, but bring in some more classic rock influence, which is hard to explain but readily apparent when listening to it. Regardless, definitely check this out, especially Drop In Standing if you're a fan of bands like Texas Is The Reason. Enjoy.

Drop In Standing (1996)

1. Summer

2. Overrated

3. Drop In Standing

4. Eight

5. Faster Than dancing

6. Driving The Stake

7. Replay

8. Cardenas

9. Lost

10. Days Past

Backseat Driver / Mourning A Third Day (1997)

1. One Hundred Words For Snow - Backseat Driver

2. I Wish I - Mourning A Third Day

...F° (1997)

1. Social Butterfly

2. Rosemary

3. Let You Know

4. F°

5. Blessed And Delivered

6. Headlong

7. Portrait of Dorian Gray

Convolusions (2013)

1. Sanctified

2. Ideoglossia

3. Ratracer

4. Flower Walls

5. Estrellas

6. Can You Believe

7. My Telepathy

8. Awakening

9. Convolutions

10. Mirror Mirror

11. Hello Sailor (Radio Edit)

12. OREI

13. Hello Sailor

Dead History

Dead History are a five-piece post-hardcore band from Minneapolis, Minnesota that formed in 2017. The band is compromised of members who have been active for years in a multitude of bands, including Reach, Gratitude, and Picturesque, among others. They've put one album thus far, which was a self-titled record released in 2021. Despite its recency, it could easily be mistakened for being 20 years older than it actually is. This band harkens back to the post-hardcore and alt rock of yore, with influences from bands such as Quicksand, Texas Is The Reason and Swervedriver on full display. The guitars sound massive, and are coated in so much distortion and reverb that they border into shoegaze territory when not shimmering in the more melodic parts. Vocally, they're raw and guttural but catchy, keeping the same balance as the instrumental's riff-heavy energy. Enjoy.

Dead History (2021)

1. Pushing Friction

2. High-Wire Act

3. Empty Eyes

4. The Shallow End

5. Back To The Center

6. Sleep Safe

7. Telmex

8. Where Do We Hide?

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Planes Mistaken For Stars

As we bring another year to a close, I've got to give some recognition to a long-awaited band to be featured here (which seems to mostly be this month's theme). Thanks again for a great year, we actually did over 100 posts this year, which hasn't happened in a long time. Admittedly my passion for keeping up with blog does wane from time to time, but I would never abandon it completely. It's been such an integral part of my life for over a decade now that I could never part ways with it, and do still love doing this when the mood strikes. I don't think I'd revisit as many bands I used to listen to or be on the prowl for new projects quite as much if it weren't for this blog, which I ultimately have to give it credit for. It's kept me active in something for a longer period of time than I ever imagined it doing (as one commentator pointed out, it's rare for anyone to stick to something for over 10 years of their life, which still baffles me that it's been this long). It means a lot to me to stay connected to this, so I do have to thank the people who continue to come back here after all these years for that. I'd still be doing this regardless, but to continue reaching an audience to share this with is a major factor in the desire to keep it going. So thank you again, and I will wrap up this long-winded self-import ramble by saying Happy New Year, and enjoy! 

Planes Mistaken For Stars were a four-piece post-hardcore band that formed in Peoria, Illinois in 1997. Shortly after, they relocated to Denver, Colorado in 1999. The band self-released their debut in 1998, which was reissued by Deep Elm Records the next year. This was followed up by an incredible split with The Appleseed Cast and Race Car Riot, also released by Deep Elm, and two EPs put out by Dim Mak Records (Steve Aoki's label, another cool reminder of his involvement in the hardcore scene early on in his career). They released three more albums during their initial run, which ended in early 2008. They quickly reunited, and were back by 2010, which their first new album in 10 years being released in 2016 by Deathwish. Tragically, founding member and vocalist/guitarist Gared O'Donnell passed away in 2021. Prior to his passing, the band did complete another album, which is set to be released at some point in the future, and would also mark the finality of this incredible project.

This band has evolved a ton over the years, managing to exist somewhere in an intersectional sweet spot between hardcore, emo, rock and metal. You'd be hard-pressed to find a band that singularly encompasses such a wide sonic palette with the same level of vigor and finesse as Planes Mistaken For Stars. Just to give you a quick surface-level rundown, their earlier work is rooted in a punk-emo hybrid, sort of akin to bands like Hot Water Music and Small Brown Bike. There's a raw, driving energy to it, but with a vulnerable and often melodic backdrop in play. Though never a band I would describe as "simplistic", their technical prowess did become more prominent as the years went on, with their varied influences piling on alongside of it. They kind of went in the opposite direction that most bands do, become increasingly heavier and more experimental. Having said that, they still weren't shy about bringing in slower, acoustic elements well into their later years, and always wore their love for straight up rock n roll on their sleeve. If you're new to this band, I honestly think the best way to delve into their discography is to go from the start and work your way forward (Planes Mistaken For Stars > Fuck With Fire > Up In Them Guts > Mercy > Prey), though you could easily inverse that order and work your way back as well. My personal favourite album is probably Mercy, though that's a fairly interchangeable stance. Definitely give this band a shot if you haven't heard them before, I think they're right up the alley for people interested in the general niche of music that this blog covers. Again, enjoy!

Planes Mistaken For Stars (1998)

1. Copper And Stars

2. Division

3. The Time It Took

4. The Past Two

5. Somewhere In September

6. Standing Still Fast

7. Knuckle Hungry

8. Where The Arrow Went Out

Planes Mistaken For Stars/The Appleseed Cast/Race Car Riot (1999)

1. Planes Mistaken For Stars - Staggerswallowswell

2. Race Car Riot - Broken

3. Race Car Riot - Raincheck

4. Race Car Riot - Racing California

5. The Appleseed Cast - Tale Of The Aftermath

6. The Appleseed Cast - Remedios The Beautiful

Fucking Fight (1999)

1. Fucking Fight

2. The Part You Left Out

Knife In The Marathon (2000)

1. Scratching Rounds

2. Leaning The Room

3. Pillbox

4. Anthem

5. 66 Crush

Fuck With Fire (2001)

1. Leveless

2. End Me In Richmond

3. Funeral For A Friend

4. Hollowpoint And Whiskey

5. Bloody But Unbowed

6. Fuck With Fire

7. Rhythm Dies

8. Sicilian Smile

9. I'll See You In Hell

10. Get Burned

Black On Black: A Tribtue To Black Flag (2002)

14. Police Story/Wasted

Spearheading The Sin Movement (2002)

1. Thunder In The Night Forever! (We Ride To Fight)

2. Earning Ire

3. Bastards

Up In Them Guts (2004)

1. To All Mothers

2. Belly Full Of Hell

3. Glassing

4. Dying By Degrees

5. Pigs

6. Dancing On The Face Of The Panther

7. Say Not A Word

8. No Prize Fighter

9. Spring Divorce

10. A Six Inch Valley

11. Bastards

12. The Last Winter Dance Party

Mercy (2006)

1. One Fucked Pony

2. Crooked Mile

3. Widow: A Love Song

4. Keep Your Teeth

5. To Spit A Sparrow

6. Never Felt Prettier

7. Killed By Killers Who Kill Each Other

8. Little Death

9. Church Date

10. Mercy

11. Penitience

We Ride To Fight! (The First Four Years) (2007)

1. Copper And Stars

2. Divison

3. The Time It Took

4. The Past Two

5. Somewhere In September

6. Standing Still Fast

7. Knuckle Hungry

8. Where The Arrow Went Out

9. Staggerswallowswell

10. Fucking Fight

11. The Part You Left Out

12. Scratching Rounds

13. Leaning The Room

14. Pillbox

15. Anthem

16. 66 Crush

17. Fall On Proverb

18. Wasted

19. Police Story

20. Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie

21. Depression

22. Thunder In The Night (We Ride To Fight!)

23. Earning Ire

24. Bastards

Prey (2016)

1. Dementia Americana

2. Til' It Clicks

3. Riot Season

4. Fucking Tenderness

5. She Who Steps

6. Clean Up Mean

7. Black Rabbit

8. Pan In Flames

9. Enemy Blinds

10. Alabaster Cello

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Deathwish

Jawbox

Jawbox are a four-piece post-hardcore band from Washington, DC that formed in 1989. The band was started by vocalist/guitarist J. Robbins, bassist Kim Coletta and drummer Adam Wade. Robbins previously played bass in DC hardcore band Government Issue during the final few years of their initial run. They put out their first EP in 1990 and followed it up with their debut full-length Grippe in 1991, both of which were released by Dischord Records. In their early years, the influence from the DC scene they emerged out of is most evident. In particular, the more melodic musings of Revolution Summer bands, alongside the throttling of Naked Raygun, the massive guitars and catchy hooks of Hüsker Dü, and the atmosphere of Joy Divison (who they cover on this album). It's a fantastic debut, and one that brought that stirrings of the punk underground into a more accessible, "alternative" styling. Shortly after it's release, guitarist/vocalist Bill Barbot jointed the band. They followed it up a year later with Novelty a year later, which saw the band experimenting with heavier, darker, and more discordant sounds, while they still keeping up the energy and melody of their debut. Drummer Adam Wade shortly after its release, and was replaced by Zach Barocas. 

They were one of many indie bands that get swept up by major labels in the wake of Nevermind, with For Your Own Special Sweetheart being put in 1994 by Atlantic. It even spawned a (relatively) commercial single in "Savory". This album is a masterclass in post-hardcore, sitting on the precipice of dissonance and melody, being simultaneously heavy and catchy. It's a shuffle of muted strings, octave chords and arpeggios wrapped around a grooving bass line and frantic rhythms. If that sounds familiar, this band (along with others like Fugazi) is where it came from. They carried on this angular and off-kilter sound into their 1996 self-titled album, which ended up being their last as they parted ways in 1997. Members were involved in a number of projects thereafter, most notably Burning Airlines with Robbins and Barbot. Robbins has also worked as a producer with a ton of incredible bands, including Jawbreaker, Texas Is The Reason, The Promise Ring, Against! Me, Paint It Black, mewithoutYou, Coliseum, and a ton more.

They reunited in 2009 for a one-off show of "Savory" on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, and 10 years later reunited full-time in 2019 to play shows again. In 2021, Bill Barbot left the band, with Brooks Harlan taking his place. This year marks their first new studio material in over two decades, with a re-recording of Grippe songs and a Wire cover. Without a doubt Jawbox are one of the greatest and most important (albeit underrated) post-hardcore bands, so if you are new to them I implore you to check them out. Enjoy.

Demo (1989)

 1. Tools And Chrome

2. Bullet Park

3. Beneath The Wheel

4. Footbinder

5. Consolation

6. Paint Out The Light

7. Mother Lode

8. Something Must Break

Tools & Chrome (1990)

1. Tools & Chrome

2. Secret History

3. Ballast

4. Twister

Grippe (1991)

1. Freezerburn

2. Impossible Figure

3. Tools And Chrome

4. Paint Out The Light

5. Consolation Prize

6. Grip

7. Ballast

8. Something Must Break

9. Green-Line Delayed

10. Bullet Park

11. Manatee Bound

Airwaves Dream / With Or Without U2 (1991)

1. Jawbox - Airwaves Dream (Buzzcocks cover)

2. Jawbreaker - With Or Without U2

Tongues / Ones & Zeros (1992)

1. Tongues

2. Ones And Zeros

Novelty (1992)

1. Cutoff

2. Tracking

3. Dreamless

4. Channel 3

5. Spiral Fix

6. Linkwork

7. Chump

8. Static

9. Spit-Bite

10. Send Down

11. Tongues

12. Ones & Zeros

Motorist / Jackpot Plus! (1993)

1. Motorist

2. Jackpot Plus!

September (1993)

1. Jawbox - Falk

2. Crackerbash - Back To School 

Static (1993)

1. Jawbox - Static (Tar cover)

2. Tar - Static (Jawbox cover)

Your Selection (1993)

1. Jawbox - Savory

2. Edsel - Penaluna

Your Choice Live Series 023 (1994)

1. Leatherface - Eagle

2. Leatherface - Not Superstitious

3. Leatherface - Speak In Tongues

4. Leatherface - Books

5. Leatherface - Pale Moonlight

6. Leatherface - Hops And Barley

7. Leatherface - I Can't Help Falling In Love

8. Jawbox - FF=66

9. Jawbox - Green Glass

10. Jawbox - Tongues

11. Jawbox - Chinese Fork Tie

12. Jawbox - Chicago Piano

13. Jawbox - Motorist

For Your Own Special Interest (1994)

1. FF=66

2. Savory

3. Breathe

4. Motorist

5. LS/MFT

6. Cooling Card

7. Green Glass

8. Cruel Swing

9. Jackpot Plus!

10. Chicago Piano

11. Reel

12. U-Trau

13. Whitney Walks

Savory +3 (1994)

1. Savory (LP Version)

2. Lil Shaver

3. 68

4. Sound On Sound

Cooling Card (1994)

1. Cooling Card

2. Thin White Line (Avengers cover)

3. I've Got You Under My Skin (Frank Sinatra cover)

Absenter / Chinese Fork Tie (1995)

1. Absenter

2. Chinese Fork Tie

Jawbox (1996)

1. Mirrorful

2. Livid

3. Iodine

4. His Only Trade

5. Chinese Fork Tie

6. Won't Come Off

7. Excandescent

8. Spoiler

9. Desert Sea

10. Empire Of One

11. Mule/Stall

12. Nickel Nickel Millionare

13. Capillary Life

14. Absenter

15. Cornflake Girl

My Scrapbook Of Fatal Accidents (1998)

1. Static

2. Tongues

3. Chinese Fork Tie

4. Cooling Card

5. 68

6. Apollo Amateur

7. Under Glass

8. Low Strung

9. The Big Shave

10. Dreamless

11. Bullet Park

12. Won't Come Off

13. Mirrorful

14. Desert Sea

15. Savory

16. I've Got You Under My Skin

17. Sound On Sound

18. Static

19. Low

20. It's Expected I'm Gone

21. Meathook

22. Airwaves Dream

Note: Compilation includes Peel session, unreleased studio tracks, live material and covers

Live At Metro Chicago 2019 (2019)

1. Mirrorful

2. 68

3. Desert Sea

4. Grippe

5. Nickel Nickel Millionare

6. Motorist

7. Tongues

8. Livid

9. Iodine

10. Cooling Card

11. Spoiler

12. Static

13. Dreamless

14. FF=66

15. Green Glass

16. LS/MFT

17. Chinese Fork Tie

18. Breathe

19. Cut Off

20. Chicago Piano

21. Savory

22. Cornflake Girl

23. The Robbery

24. Jackpot Plus!

25. Absenter

The Revisionist EP (2022)

1. Grip

2. Consolation Prize

3. Lowdown

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Dischord Records