My Favorite Citizen

Okay, so there really isn't any information about this band. They were around from 1996 to 1998 I believe. They only released one 7", some songs on compilations, and a split 7" with a band called Ember. Only 6 songs in total. But they are some of the best songs for their genre that I've ever heard. They are pretty much just like The Get Up Kids, The Promise Ring, and sort of similar to Braid. Very catchy, poppy emo stuff. Here's their entire known discography, the 7", and the four songs they have up on their myspace.

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Punch

from last.fm:
Punch is a female fronted thrashcore band based in San Francisco, California, recognizable by fast, heavy sound with pulverizing breakdowns, intelligent song structures and absolutely plastering vocals. Their debut EP, Eyeless (2008) & their self titled LP (2009) were both joint releases on record labels 625 Thrashcore and Discos Huelga.

So basically really sweet hardcore with super pissed female vocals. They came to my town about a year ago and I missed it, bummer. The new album totally rips.

Eyeless EP (2008)



Punch (self-titled) (2009)

Merchant Ships

Awesome screamo band from Indiana, formed in late 2008 i think, so they're pretty new. Really sweet stuff similar to Age Sixteen and Make Me. Clean guitars, undecipherable yelled vocals, and sometimes they just break down and have really pretty instrumental parts. They've released an ep, a demo, and had a song on a compilation. That has all come out in 2009, pretty impressive! They put this all up for free on their myspace. They're going on tour this summer so try to go see them!

I Want to Forget About Everything Bad that Ever Happened, Ever (EP)
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Old Grey
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Bummer Times demo
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Myspace

Maps & Atlases

Math rock group from Chicago, Illinois. Different from most bands in the genre in that they focus more on actual songwriting than just being technical. Lots of crazy guitar tapping and really cool intricate drums. The singer, Dave Davison has a very unique, high pitched nasally voice that might not be for everyone. He has a solo project called Cast Spells that should be releasing an EP soon. All they have is 3 eps, and but apparently they are working on a full-length. Bird Barnyard is not really what they sound like now, the singing is different and the music isn't as cheerful. Then on Tree, Swallows, Houses, they got really technical and on the latest EP You and Me and The Mountain, they started putting more time into a really cohesive sound with all the instruments working together to make really cool rhythms and riffs. Enjoy:

Bird Barnyard (2005)

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Tree, Swallows, Houses (2006)

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You and Me and the Mountain (2008)

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Boys Life

Boys Life was an indie/emo band from Kansas City, formed in 1993. They totally mastered that whole nostalgic sound, similar to Bells on Trike, Christie Front Drive, and Penfold. I don't have everything by them, any help would be appreciated. My personal favorite album is Departures and Landfalls and the split 10" with Christie Front Drive is also fantastic.

Boys Life/Giants Chair split 7" (1993)
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Boys Life/Vitreous Humor split 7" (1994)

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Boys Life (self-titled) (1995)

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Boys Life/Christie Front Drive split 10" (1996)

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Departures and Landfalls (1996)

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Footnotes

Two super rad teens from New Jersey crankin out the emo jams. Recommended if you like The Promise Ring, Cap'n Jazz, etc. They only have six songs, but they put them all up for free on their myspace which is really cool!

Footnotes on Myspace

Tiny Hawks

Tiny Hawks are a two piece mathy hardcore/screamo band from Providence, Rhode Island. There's drums, guitar, and both of the guys yell. Fantastic lyrics delivered through great vocals. It's not really screamo, but there isn't really a good word to describe them, they have a very unique sound. Sounds similar to Daniel Striped Tiger and 1994!. They formed in 2003 and are on a hiatus right now I believe. They only have two releases, but I really hope they come back soon and release some new material, because I just keep listening to these two over and over again.

Fingers Become Bridges (2005)

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8 Song EP, their debut, one of the most unique albums I've ever heard.

People Without End (2006)

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First full-length, not really any change in style. This took me much longer to get into, but once I did, it was definitely worth it.

Don Caballero

Most of you probably already know about them and have at least one album. They are one of my favorite bands of all time. Probably my biggest musical influence. From Pittsburgh, formed in 1991. Extreme instrumental goodness. The forefathers of every single so called "math rock" band that you pretend to like to get indie cred. They actually do it right, its not overdone, its not technical just for the sake of being technical. They are mostly known for their drummer, Damon Che, who is a maniac on the drums. It seriously sounds like he solos throughout all the songs, hardly ever doing the same thing twice. Guitarist Ian Williams went on to be in Storm and Stress and is now in Battles. They broke up in 2000, but in 2006 Damon Che recruited all new members to write a new record, and then released another one in 2008. I will not post anything from the new version of Don Cab, because it is a disgrace to the great band's name. Oh, and they probably started that whole "hey, we're in an instrumental band, lets have really long song titles that only we find funny" thing.

For Respect (1993)

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Their first full length, not as complex musically, but still very good. Ian Williams joined right before the recording, so he didn't have much creative input into this record. Steve Albini produced.

Don Caballero 2 (1995)

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Still really abrasive and has got hints of For Respect, but they are becoming more mathy and have integrated more riffs and have longer songs on this one.

What Burns Never Returns (1998)

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Ian Williams started experimenting with delay and other effects pedals. This one is my personal favorite. They really started to get into the style that some would say they perfected on their next full length. Also, this record has one of the greatest covers of all time.

Singles Breaking Up (1999)

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Collection of their eps and singles, except for one 7". It has some stuff from before their first album. This is surprisingly cohesive for a compilation album, and it mostly contains really heavy guitar stuff and its in your face all the time. Listening to it right now and its blowing my mind all over again.

American Don (2000)

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Final record. Only three members instead of the usual four, but it sounds like they have at least 6. So many fucking loops on this album its ridiculous. Ian Williams uses almost exclusively double handed tapping here. This would be the best starting point for the band i think if you haven't heard them before. Steve Albini Produced.

Also, for anyone interested, here is their last tour diary, written by their opening act. Its a really good read, and it really describes the tension in the band's final days. http://www.swanfungus.com/2007/04/don-caballero-final-tour-diary.html

And here's some really great videos of a live set in Seattle on the American Don tour. Here's the first one, the rest are on the guys account. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eea-D_jeMQ&feature=channel_page

Well, there you go. If anyone has the "Waltor" / "Shuman Center 91" 7", i would be greatly appreciative if you could hook me up.