Fist Benders - S/T

year: 2015

genre: twinkly emo

tracklist:
1. In Dog Years
2. Understanding
3. Run Every Day
4. You'll Be Calm
5. Empathy
6. I Know

physical release:
format: cassette tape
label: Driftwood Records
pressing:
50// light pink with white imprinting
coming soon

listen/download

band's facebook

Fist Benders is a emo band from Lake Elsinore, CA and is almost single handedly responsible for re-sparking my interest in "twinkly" emo. This band brings an atmosphere that is so dreamy yet distressed with all the guitar harmonics and arpeggios you could ever want complimented by a range of soft and coarse vocals that will wrap you up and not let you go. You'll find tracks like "Understanding" and "Run Everyday" stuck in your head all day and you won't be upset about it. This is definitely one of my favorite releases of 2015 so far and i highly recommend you check it out.

James Carroll - Disconnect Yourself From the Machine

genre: emo

year: 2014

tracklist: 

1. Disconnect Yourself From The Machine (part 1)

2. Disconnect Yourself From The Machine (part 2)

3. Disconnect Yourself From The Machine (part 3)

4. Disconnect Yourself From The Machine (part 4)

favorite track: Disconnect Yourself From The Machine (part 2)

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get a physical copy

Acoustic twinkly emo isn't something you here all the time so this is an interesting listen right off the back (thou it doesn't sound like its all acoustic and contains artifical elements in certain songs). Unfortunately interesting doesn't always equal a good listen but i will go into that later, good things first. This album creates a slow dreamy atmosphere ( exception being part 2, but even that is mellow) and the almost ambient sound really creates a calm enviorment that i enjoy including soft vocals. My gripe with this release is it does get a tad bit boring thou after a while, it has my attention for a little bit but i quickly found myself slightly bored. There are changes song to song but not enough to respark my interest (part 2 is a good effort with a more upbeat sound that comes as a good re-energizer but just doesn't quite have enough). Even thou there are negative aspects its not a bad release if you are into something calm and tired of hearing the same old twinkly bands or soft spoken acoustic or ambient acts. There is a physical release through Little League Records if you are interested as well.

-Conner

Flowers Taped To Pens 7"

Flowers Taped To Pens 7" are shipping out now

order from any of these places:

Driftwood Records

Ronald Records

Ozona Records

free download here

Fist Benders - Quárë Cúnamor

genre: Emo

year: 2013

tracklist:

1. Estuaries

2. Aplary

3. Limescale Memento

4. 1st & Virgil

download

Fist Bender is a emo band, now that that is out of the way. Fist Benders are really cool kids and they just released their first release ( not sure if I should consider it a demo or EP) and it is good. The twinklies are in place and the songs are driving and groovy. I just have some issues with the vocals on some songs and on the notes that are held for longer periods, i am fan of off key singing but there can be a limit, I do wish there was a tad bit more screaming as well. I have had the pleasure of a show with these guys and they are all super cool and this is a very good first release.

-Conner Sgarbossa

Make Me - 2004 Demo

genre: twinkly Screamo

year: 2004

tracklist:

1. Rubber Sidewalks

2. Hello Moon

3. Relax and Adapt

4. Lets go Off On A Tangent

get it!

Well it's a new year so I thought I would start off by reviewing one of my favorite releases of all time. "2004 Demo" by Make Me is a amazing 4 song demo by one of the most influential twinkly screamo band ever. Combining amazing driving riffs with groovy instrumental and harsh screams create a beautiful masterpiece. Clean vocals and shrill screams show the duality of this genre that i love. This band gets everything right (even pulling off breakdowns into some of the grooviest riffs i have ever heard), I can't recommend this album and this artist enough. 

-Conner Sgarbossa