Communions : s/t Ep

Things are changing for this band from Denmark, one change being The vocals are so androgynous that I had to check to see if they had switched singers.They do have a the tones and touches from the 80s pretty much nailed , though there is a certain indie punk apathy to it.There is the typical 80s beat to "Forget its a Dream". It has a pop streak to it , but it's an 80s pop streak to that is much better and the guitars are pretty solid even when they step on the wah. There is more of a "I'll Stop the World" rock feel to "Where ever" making it a more reluctant anthem.

By the time it gets to "Restless Hours" I'm sure it's a chick singing. They are never as dark as most post-punk, though I would say the label still applies to them. The guitar rings out like a cross between the Cure and the Smiths. There is a more longing tone to "Summer's Oath". The vocals despite being gender fluid try to be neither Siouxsie or Ian Curtis, so these creatures are doing their own thing. This song has movement, but enough restraint to keep it from falling into punk rock. I have notice traces of Sonic Youth cropping up in many new bands lately and it's here to in "Out of My World" it's mainly a guitar tone thing  and not how they play their instruments. I think there are both male and female vocals doubling on parts of "Out of My World". The vocals for seem reason seem more childish on this song and it grates on me a little. I don't mind how the phrase "you're so out of my world " is sung and the guitar melody is pleasing its just not my favorite song on this album. In some ways I might like the earlier work better , though these vocals are a bit more unique. They have really refined their guitar sounds which makes this album really easy on the ears.The vocals when they sound too much like a little girl or what Courtney Love might have sounded like in her high school band take away from what this album could be , but what it is is still impressive and the guitar playing really puts it over the top and sells me on this so I'll round it up to an 8, who knows how many more plays I'll get out of this. If you are tired of the same old same old from the post-punk revival this is what you need.

Catching Up With 2014 - Readership Hostile: s/t Ep

Ok, this came out all the way back in January . This is yet another female fronted post- punk project, that wants to be death-rock, but doesn't feel spooky enough to me to have anything in common with 45 Grave. Their singer Adrienne Pearson, has a decent voice, she projects with power, but stylistically seems a little flat in the first few songs. "Snowflakes on My Tongue" does more for me than the opening track, and if you need a X-mas song , well here is one for you.

On a song like "Ghost Lived Fire" there is a more 80's metal feeling, which combined with Pearson's tone on the opener makes me think these guys might have started off as vest metal, and then gothed it up, which is the kind of bandwagon jumping you can expect from L.A., the heavy handed manner this is gone about here makes "Ghost Lived Fire" a little hard to stomach. This big rock sounds holds strong on "Failing Fools" which reminds me of Rainer Maria. Pearson has a strong voice, but the cock rock guitar leanings spoil what they do have going here. At best it sounds like the Cult.

There is a more fitting punk element to "Damaged Goods' almost Runaways in it's attitude, combined with Missing Persons. The lyrics are pretty decent. "Damaged Goods' sounds like it is trying a little too hard to be a public service announcement, but otherwise lyrics are often their strong suit. The metal is laid on thick right from the opening riff of "Tainted Pale", which is darker , but this could almost be In This Moment. However this might also be one of the albums best tracks, so they are damned if they do and damned if they don't at this point. I'll give this one a 6 despite the indentity crisis, by the end of the last song I found myself thinking she better be hot, as I could see that as a key selling point.