The Dirty Nil-Fuck Art (2021)

 Why I like it:

Some f*cking great rock and roll!!

These lads have outdone themselves with this release. By far their best yet! There's elements of metal, arena rock, classic rock, and pop-punk. 

It's a pure joy to listen to Fuck Art. As the title may indicate, this album is not serious at all. It's lighthearted and fun natured. I know The Dirty Nil spent more time on this album because of quarantine and it really shows. Everything from the song tracking and how each one stands out in it's own way shows the time and attention they put into this project. 

Well worth listening to if you want some good fun loving rock and roll!

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Highlighted song and lyrics:

Doom Boy- "Do you delight in rule breaking? Dancing to thrash and hailing satan?"

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Similar bands to check out:

The Glorious Sons, The Blue Stones, Pkew Pkew Pkew, The Wild!

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Reviews and links to check out:

Distortedsoundmag.com- Review

My First Band Podcast- Interview

Born to Roam Podcast-Luke's very own podcast!

Pod Goes Punk Podcast

White Lung-Paradise (2016)

 

Why I like it:

Paradise is some really fun hard hitting punk rock. The songs are all 2-3 mins and the album clocks at 28 mins. 

These aren't your typical punk tracks however; there are also catchy choruses and sing along moments that keep you engaged as you head bang your way through the album. This LP is a nicely packed album with all the fat cut off.  

Mish Barber-Way is not just a front women, she's also a journalist and some of that translates into the album's lyrics and subjects (which the links below get into better then I could). There's some great content to uncover if you want to dig into her messages, or if you want to rock out there's that too!

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Highlighted song and lyrics:

Below- "I want to take it all down/Burn in the waste you have found"

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Similar bands to check out:

Sleater-Kinney, Terrible Feelings, Mannequin Pussy, Priests

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Reviews and links to check out:

Pitchfork.com-Review

Culture Creature Podcast- Interview

Spectrum Pulse-Review

What's in my bag?- A look some of the bands record picks

Samiam-You Are Freaking Me Out (1997)

 

Why I like it:

A more recent discovery that I've been obsessed with, Samiam's You Are Freaking Me Out encompasses the harsher vocals and instrumentation of punk, while having pop like choruses that stick in your head. It's magical when this formula works well.

Samiam had been in on my radar a long time ago with the single "Sunshine", that's from a later release, and for some reason I never looked that much further into them. It's a real shame because there's a ton here to discover!

The podcast that convinced me to check Samiam out, and specifically this album, was the High Five's Podcast (linked below). One of the hosts is very passionate about this band and it propelled me to dig into them further. I suggest giving this podcast a listen, it's good quality and a fun time! 

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Highlighted song and lyrics:

Factory-"Big man, beer can, back hand, my last stand"

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Similar bands to check out:

Hot Water Music, Knapsack, Sense Field, Face to Face

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Reviews and links to check out:

High Fives Podcast- Love at first listen

Punkworldviews.com- Review

Washed Up Emo Podcast- Interview

YouTube.com- Live footage 

Matthew Good Band-Beautiful Midnight (1999)

 

Why I like it:

Straight off the bat, this is one of my favorite bands period. Well, really anything that Matthew Good does. I found that this was also a very hard summary to write. Good thing I linked posts that will do this album more justice!

Matthew Good Band was one of the pinnacle bands that I listened to growing up and they shaped what music I like now. In addition, this is one of the bands that me and my dad will to sing to, at the top of our lungs whenever a song comes on. So yes, lots of nostalgia packed into this album too but I will like to make a case as to why Beautiful Midnight stands on it's own ground, without my radical tinged glasses.

Beautiful Midnight has the essential Canadian 90s rock sound that follows no basic rock music tropes; for example there's piano ballads, cheerleading choruses, and orchestral solos. Then there are the amazing guitar and bass lines, that sore and crescendo into many memorable moments and makes one (or just me) ooze in adoration. 

I think what Matthew Good Band, and their album Beautiful Midnight, really introduced me to was introspective and emotional music. It also made me value the craft of lyric writing. There are satirical themes of homelessness, materialism, and gun violence (just to name a few) within this album. 

If I have not hyped this album and band enough, Matthew Good (as a solo performer) was part of one of my favorite concerts ever. This, in part, has to do with him performing with my other favorite bands Our Lady Peace. Matt showed up, after having been admitted to the hospital for pneumonia a few days before, to play a shorter set that (understandably) could have been cancelled. Oh man that did not affect the performance one bit though. Later on Our Lady Peace played a few songs of his, to help out, and both lead singers were almost in tears, with half the crowd, because of the mutual respect and support for one another. I was so proud to be a fan of these two legacy bands. Please check these bands out!

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Highlighted song and lyrics:

Strange Days-"Are you crazy to want this, even for a while?"

*I dare you to check this video out and not to get emotional at the end

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Similar bands to check out:

Our Lady Peace, The Odds, The Watchmen, Wide Mouth Mason

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Reviews and links to check out:

Wheelchairhero.com- Review

Ongoing History of New Music Podcast- Interview

3amrevelations.com- Review

10 Albums-The Soundtrack of Your Life- Introspective (start at 20:00)

Live footage from the concert I mentioned

Now, Now-Threads (2012)

 

Why I like it:

Threads was an album that blew me away back when I discovered it in 2012. At the time I have never heard anything quite like it, haunting atmospheric music with a beautiful wispy voice guiding you along, wherever the music takes you.

The first time that I listened to the album as a whole was on a winter day being driven through a mountain pass. It's one of those moments that I can recall the feelings and emotion that the music provoked to this day with clarity. The best description would blissfully enchanted, or at least that's what my experience was. 

I know Threads is supposed to be about a broken relationship but they make the sadness so beautiful that it's hard not to feel more then sadness. I highly recommend listening to this album alone on a fall or winter day someplace outside.

The Emo Trash Podcast, linked below, inspired me to make this post and I would give it a listen for a better introspective then I can give!

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Highlighted song and lyrics:

Prehistoric- "Stuck like those prehistoric mammoths in the ice"

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Similar bands to check out:

Moving Mountains, Tigers Jaw, Pianos Become the Teeth, Prawn

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Reviews and links to check out:

Emo Trash Podcast- Introspective

You Feel Me? Podcast- Interview

Audiotree- Live session

ARTV YouTube- Review