Compound Red/Sidekick Kato 7" (1997)

This record is one I recently described as being a "dollar bin ripper," and I think you will agree even if you don't admit it to anyone. It is a split between two somewhat obscure Midwest emo bands, Sidekick Kato being from Illinois and Compound Red being from Wisconsin. Both tracks are an agreeable blend of heavy and melodic punk music, a sound that was (seemingly) characteristic of the genre at the time. Not much else to say about this, as I think it's been passed around quite a bit; this is just a replacement for the record I was originally going to share, which is too dusty to rip properly.

Compound Red/Sidekick Kato 7" MediaFire

Matsuri - Endship (2010)

Matsuri are a band that never get old for me, despite seeing them play a hundred times over the past few years. I still get just as excited by their energy, positivity and presence in 2010 as I did in 2007. I caught the end of their set last night at their very own DIY space and had a blast. While I was there, I picked up the CD version of their new LP, which has yet to come out. They had to push back the release date due to delayed mixing, so they were still taking pre-orders... at the show. Never before last night had I seen a band take pre-orders in person. But that's okay. It probably happens more often than I am aware. If you checked out any of the music I posted in my previous Matsuri-related post, you're bound to like this as well.

Matsuri - Endship MediaFire
Matsuri - Endship Buy It

The Get Up Kids - Loveteller 7" (1996)

Once upon a time, I stupidly threw a copy of this record across the Pacific Ocean and never saw it again. Now, thanks to a special someone, I got another copy of what is probably one of my favorite singles. There's no doubt in my mind that the Get Up Kids are a household name by now, so I'll spare you the introduction. It's criminal that this song, "A Newfound Interest in Massachusetts," often goes unnoticed when new listeners peruse this band's discography. If you've never heard it or you're looking for a place to start, jump on this opportunity. This band has been and will always, unabashedly, be one of my favorites.

This record saw a lofty series of reissues - six total - and was put out by Contrast Records in 1996. This was the band's first single and, as far as I know, their first recorded output.

I don't know if anyone was alert to it, but my latest entry, Pavement's "Summer Babe" single, was deleted per a DMCA takedown notice from Blogger. I guess Matador doesn't like sharing as much as I do! But anyway, like I said in my last entry, expect a slight lapse in updates for the remainder of the month and into December, as I need to concentrate on end-of-the-semester business.

The Get Up Kids - Loveteller 7" MediaFire

The Candyland Carcrash - S/T 7" (1996)

This has been passed around for years now, you're right. But the reasoning behind this entry is twofold: for one, I don't much feel like talking about my next share right now, and for another, I'm excited to finally get my hands on a copy of this. This is one of my favorite records from the genre and era, and if you're looking at this, you probably know what it is. It's also my chance to rip this for myself and simultaneously rid myself of the rip that's been tossed around the Internet all this time. There are three songs on this record, not two, and the B-side is "The Pain Will Double If You Leave Me Now," which has been incorrectly titled as the first track on the A-side, "Baffled on the Seventh Floor." The second track on the A-side is titled "Mine" I think; the insert's font is so hard to decipher. Some people say the track is titled "Science," but I don't think so. I guess you could say that the B-side also has two tracks, as there's groove split near the end with only the sound of feedback recorded to it, but I don't think that counts... Enjoy.

This is was released on Clay Garden, the same label that released a Channel 7" . On a side note, the copy I got of this record came with an insert from the late Very Distro, advertising the "new" Starkweather record. Thought that was cool...

The Candyland Carcrash - S/T 7" MediaFire

And here are the raw, unedited .WAV files if you prefer. I tried to do the recording justice, but I realize that I could have done a bit better.

Megapost #2: Bay Area/Not Quite Bay Area DIY Emo & Screamo from 2005 - 2010

Of course, this is by no means an exhaustive post. The title should have "that I have copies of" at the end to be a little more accurate, but I thought that would look silly. An ear-to-the-ground screamo geek in the Bay Area that's been conscious for the last few years might recognize some of these. And if not, here's a gift from me to you.

A recent outing to the first screamo-related show I had been to in months prompted me to rip my old demos and EPs by bands that I've met over the years. These bands did, and some still continue to do, DIY punk like it should be, and unless I'm mistaken all of these CDs were handmade, heartfelt jobs that are worth every penny I spent on them when they were new. And these guys always had tables full of stuff, be it music, artwork or whatever. I have so much attached to this music, it's ridiculous; the above picture along brings out a lot. I'm reminded of the last few years, the friends I made, the strange places I went, all the spaces around the Bay Area we discovered - a whole network of kids with enough positivity to power the houses they played in. I digress, though, as I'm speaking as if those memories are a thing of the past - they are as much the present as they were four, five years ago.

This is almost a vanity post, since I consider some of these people friends, and since I am also sharing the latest John Cota tape in this entry, which incidentally is their whole, remastered discography. Even though this may be a little more for me than it is for anyone else, I hope I can provide enjoyment to someone else by sharing this music. That being said, there are still so many more bands whose music I didn't pick up way back when. Some of these bands intertwine and often played with each other, so it's a given that, with a little digging, you're bound to find more. And go buy some of their music! Some of these bands are still together and still tour with other bands. Every person in these bands, that I've personally met and even those I haven't, were genuine, enthusiastic people who made great music free from ego, image, aesthetic, and other bogus stuff.

The following means a lot to me.


John Cota - "2009" Tape/Remastered Discography (these are the MP3 masters - thanks Max)

Home Is Colored Gold - Spring Tour Demo (this didn't come with a tracklisting, and I couldn't find one on the Internet - sorry!) - one member went onto John Cota
I Was The Explosion - Three Songs - one member went onto John Cota
Moldar - Last Five
Matsuri - Demo (this was their first, first demo I believe. I think their later demo had four songs, while this one only has three.)
Nord Mariner - 4 Songs
Nord Mariner - S/T CD - Redwood City emo band, who, unless I'm mistaken, are on hiatus but not broken up.
John Cota - Demo CD
John Cota - Tour CD
Matsuri/Moldar - Summer Tour 09 Live - great live recordings from last year, but I don't know where from
Moldar/Calculator Split

A Company of Heroes - S/T (2006)

Per the previous entry, here is another oldie, and probably the only other instance of screamo discussion on this blog unless I dig up something else notable. A Company of Heroes passed through one fine summer evening in 2006 with (*the*) Kidcrash and Arse Moreira while those bands were on tour together. The notability of that alone is twofold: first, that Kidcrash passed through my tiny insignificant hamlet, and second, that they were at the top of their game back then. But I digress since that was the first and last time I saw/listened to them. I believe that A Company of Heroes opened the show, totally stealing the thunder from the locals' egos by being a remarkably tough act to follow.


I am halfway kidding, but in all seriousness, for being a band that continued to beat the still beaten horse, something I partook in myself for a time (hell, still do), they did a very good job. This was halfway through a decade that saw the rise of bands like Funeral Diner and Orchid, as well as people who were so earnest in their quest to educate the masses by spreading the word about "real screamo"... Wedged between the heaps of monotony and screachings of Half Moon Bayinite heavyweights were this little known quartet that stepped in for a moment then gradually faded away, leaving only this handsome package (pictured above) in their wake.

(Take note any bandanas and gym shorts in this video... mid-2000's, I do not miss you)

I haven't the slightest clue whether or not this band is still active. As far as how the album sounds... even speaking on it now I can say with confidence that it's a very firm work that can still hold its own four years later. The absolutely shrill, desperate vocals of Bryan Goss wrap together these nine standard, though sophisticated screamo compositions tightly; something about his voice alone does it for me, regardless of what he's saying. Besides the music, the CD was put in a hand made package with a taped-on photo, stamped label on the back, professionally printed CDs and a fancy insert on wax paper... all for $7, but I (or was it my brother?) paid $5 because I didn't have enough on me. Also, Final Fantasy-themed track titles.


A Company of Heroes - A Company of Heroes MediaFire
A Company of Heroes - MySpace

Tonka - Calling Waffle House Home

Before the birth of Assfactor 4, half of its members made a pop-punk oriented quartet called Tonka. This record, Calling Waffle House Home, contains four super fast, emo-influenced pop-punk tunes. The similarity between this record and Sometimes I Suck is pretty obvious - both bands have a very similar sound, though Assfactor 4 went down a more hardcore road. This is likely a familiar record to any Assfactor 4 fan, but just in case it's a mystery to anyone else, check it out.

Tonka - Calling Waffle House Home Mediafire

Loma Prieta - Life/Less LP (2010)

Loma Prieta were kind enough to sell test pressings of their newest LP, "Life/Less," to the general public three weeks before its proper release. Needless to say, the record fantastic; it's much harder and more developed than anything else they've put out. It's great to see this band growing and advancing instead of taking a step backwards like some of their peers. I am not at all disappointed with this record, and we're talking about screamo in 2010. Loma Prieta is probably the only Bay Area screamo band that I still enjoy (incidentally, this is the only time that I'll be posting screamo on this blog.)

Here it is if you'd like to hear it early. If you like this record (and you will), please buy it the second it comes out. Go to their upcoming shows and buy some of their merch. Send them money through the post if you're a shut in like me. Lastly, take a cold shower and wash this off your conscience like I am about to.

Loma Prieta - Life/Less 12" Mediafire

Some people have said that the B-side tracks are quieter than the A-side tracks. If you want to hear them louder, click here for a link to another/better rip that isn't mine. And if you don't like vinyl rips, then buy yourself a copy. Problem solved.