Forget The Radio

Bell-hits and odd time signatures.
For more of what I listen to, check last.fm
or Ask Something.

Blue/Green Heart | Self Esteem Through Modern Science Featuring two members of Converge - this was Kurt Ballou’s stab at making early 90’s emo, not far from Fuel, Fugazi, or anything else DC/Dischord related. Released as a 7” on the late-great Iodine Records out of Boston, MA.

Blue/Green Heart | Self Esteem Through Modern Science

Featuring two members of Converge - this was Kurt Ballou’s stab at making early 90’s emo, not far from Fuel, Fugazi, or anything else DC/Dischord related.

Released as a 7” on the late-great Iodine Records out of Boston, MA.

Hidden Hospitals - Swan Dive (by HiddenHospitals)

Members of Damiera and Kiss Kiss, sounding more like early Damiera.

Listen to the full EP via Bandcamp.

Crozet | We’ll Be Gone By Then Ex-Cityscapes doing John Hughes-esque synth pop, not far from M83, Tears for Fears, or Antarctica. They released an EP of covers, along with this full length.

Crozet | We’ll Be Gone By Then

Ex-Cityscapes doing John Hughes-esque synth pop, not far from M83, Tears for Fears, or Antarctica. They released an EP of covers, along with this full length.

Serotonin | Universal Time Constant 3-piece math rock from Murfreesboro, TN. I swear Moneen has lifted a lot of art/riffs from these guys - but who knows.

Serotonin | Universal Time Constant

3-piece math rock from Murfreesboro, TN. I swear Moneen has lifted a lot of art/riffs from these guys - but who knows.

Red Forest Hunter | Demo More times than not, when members of a band I loved from my formative years regroup to make something new, its somewhere in the alt-country, urban-outfitters-neo-folk genre and its generally boring and uninspiring. So when I heard that members of Serotonin and Asschapel had a new band, I was pretty skeptical. But after, maybe, 3 seconds of the first song on their demo I knew they hadn’t given up on what they were trying to accomplish with their prior bands.  Since their two previous efforts weren’t that similar, you can really hear the separate approaches and ideas on each song; almost like they consciously split the demo into ‘more mathy’ and ‘more hardcore’. And it works. Very well. (This is a free download from bandcamp, so you can choose your bitrate!)

Red Forest Hunter | Demo

More times than not, when members of a band I loved from my formative years regroup to make something new, its somewhere in the alt-country, urban-outfitters-neo-folk genre and its generally boring and uninspiring. So when I heard that members of Serotonin and Asschapel had a new band, I was pretty skeptical. But after, maybe, 3 seconds of the first song on their demo I knew they hadn’t given up on what they were trying to accomplish with their prior bands. 

Since their two previous efforts weren’t that similar, you can really hear the separate approaches and ideas on each song; almost like they consciously split the demo into ‘more mathy’ and ‘more hardcore’. And it works. Very well.

(This is a free download from bandcamp, so you can choose your bitrate!)

Plate Six | Battle Hymns For a New Republic Plate Six were from Birmingham, AL and released two full lengths, one EP, and two 7”s. They played without a bass player and the sound reflected that, not too far removed from what Sinaloa was/is doing.

Plate Six | Battle Hymns For a New Republic

Plate Six were from Birmingham, AL and released two full lengths, one EP, and two 7”s. They played without a bass player and the sound reflected that, not too far removed from what Sinaloa was/is doing.

Balloons | Egal Ist 88 New Ballons record - of course it wasn’t really pushed in the states, so its another record under the radar. Regardless, its a perfect record and doesnt stray far from what theyve already laid the groundwork for. Here’s to another chance they tour the US…

Balloons | Egal Ist 88

New Ballons record - of course it wasn’t really pushed in the states, so its another record under the radar. Regardless, its a perfect record and doesnt stray far from what theyve already laid the groundwork for.

Here’s to another chance they tour the US…

Biddy Biddy Biddy | Logic Makes Us Look Good Members of Small Brown Bike, Hawks and Snakes, and other Michigan bands, doing loop/sound-effect heavy math rock; like if Drive Like Jehu had sci-fi movie sound-loops before, during, and after every song.

Biddy Biddy Biddy | Logic Makes Us Look Good

Members of Small Brown Bike, Hawks and Snakes, and other Michigan bands, doing loop/sound-effect heavy math rock; like if Drive Like Jehu had sci-fi movie sound-loops before, during, and after every song.

Miranda Sound | Engaged In Labor How many albums do you have to put out until someone notices you? Sometimes it doesnt matter; youll get lost in the shuffle regardless (even if J. Robbins produces your last record). I’m not sure if I was aware of Miranda Sound because they were from my home state of Ohio or because they were an amazing band - I think it was the latter, because I still listen to this album regularly. For fans of Burning Airlines, Guided By Voices, or Silo The Huskie.

Miranda Sound | Engaged In Labor

How many albums do you have to put out until someone notices you? Sometimes it doesnt matter; youll get lost in the shuffle regardless (even if J. Robbins produces your last record). I’m not sure if I was aware of Miranda Sound because they were from my home state of Ohio or because they were an amazing band - I think it was the latter, because I still listen to this album regularly.

For fans of Burning Airlines, Guided By Voices, or Silo The Huskie.

In Passing | Look Alive I dont know much about this band except theyre from florida, put out this record, moved to pennsylvania, had a member shuffle, moved back to florida, and now sound and look like a mix of all things radio rock.  But this album doesnt; its a perfect mix of jimmy eat world, get up kids, and the weakerthans - basically, everything that everyone is too scared to do these days for fear its too wussy or, to use a term thats now derogatory, emo. Huge bummer this lineup didnt get to put out a follow up.

In Passing | Look Alive

I dont know much about this band except theyre from florida, put out this record, moved to pennsylvania, had a member shuffle, moved back to florida, and now sound and look like a mix of all things radio rock. 

But this album doesnt; its a perfect mix of jimmy eat world, get up kids, and the weakerthans - basically, everything that everyone is too scared to do these days for fear its too wussy or, to use a term thats now derogatory, emo.

Huge bummer this lineup didnt get to put out a follow up.

The Life and Times // Tour & New LP Updates


WARNING : THE FOLLOWING WILL CAUSE BLINDNESS AND RINGING IN EARS

SEPT 
23 Kansas City MO @ Crosstown Station w/ Dirtnap(!), Cowboy Indian Bear, Cherokee Rock Rifle.

OCT 
8 Pittsburgh, PA @ Smiling Moose 
9 Washington DC @ DC9 w/ Deleted Scenes 
10 Baltimore MD @ Golden West Cafe w/ Deleted Scenes 
11 New York  NY @ Mercury Lounge w/ Deleted Scenes and Vs Antelope 
12 New Haven CT @ Bar Night Club w/ Deleted Scenes 
13 Philadelphia PA @ Johnny Brenda’s w/ Maritime and Deleted Scenes 
14 Boston MA @ O’Briens w/ Deleted Scenes 
15 Poughkeepsie NY @ The Loft

Disco:

in the run-up to the now-scuttled kickstarter campaign, (read on) we decided to film and record a live in-studio performance at our home studio, Electronical, here in Chicago, as a reward for donations. we didn’t want such a cool rock-doc to go waste, so we’ve decided to release it as a live film, with interviews and hijinx aplenty. it looks and sounds spectacular and we think it’ll make a lot of folks happy. this, like all our vinyl offerings, is a product of Hawthorne Street Records.

there are 4 old songs and 4 brand new songs and us getting drunk (again. i know) and bullshitting about white castles and dokken. available at shows on the upcoming October tour with our tight bros from way back Deleted Scenes, and online athttp://thelifeandtimes.com and http://hawthornestreetrecords.com.

Stone Cold Kicking It :

you’ll recall a couple of months ago that we had decided to begin a Kickstarter campaign to help cover the recording costs of our new record. they had approved our project and we were about to start when we got an email from some folks at Comedy Central Records with news that they were starting a music-based label on the side and were down with the ‘Times.

the new label is called SlimStyle and we’re beyond pumped to be included. since the new deal with SlimStyle includes recording cost coverage, we’ve decided to forgo the Kickstarter campaign. thanks to everyone who was prepped to throw money at us. there’s time for that yet!

the new album, No One Loves You Like I Do, has a release date of January 17, 2012. Casey DiIorio from Valve Studios recorded us masterfully at Earth Analog, and Jason Livermore is mixing again at the Blasting Room in Ft. Collins CO. can’t explain how much we love this record. much more on this in the coming months.

questions? concerns? congratulations? send them to thelifeandtimeskc@hotmail.com.

let’s get sweaty. 
ae

http://thelifeantimes.com 
http://hawthornestreetrecords.com 
http://slimstyle.com   -under construction

Shipyards | A Dream Is A Town Not gonna get into describing this; amazing musicians, great record. Members of First Aid Kit, Running on Rooftops, and Counterfit.

Shipyards | A Dream Is A Town

Not gonna get into describing this; amazing musicians, great record. Members of First Aid Kit, Running on Rooftops, and Counterfit.

Ballgame | Save Changes

A new band from members of Pennines (CYLS Records) and Super Tennis. 3 demo-videos available via this vimeo account. 

Time Spent Driving | Just Enough Bright I first heard this band, like I heard most bands when I was in high school, after hearing one of their songs on a compilation that I strictly bought for the Pop Unknown content (Sessions Records comp). I remember driving around in my 1992 Nissan Sentra, into the middle of nowhere, just so I could continuously listen to this record. They are considered a part of the northern California group of bands such as Benton Falls, Box The Compass, Wunder Years, and Edaline - and don’t stray too far from that sound.

Time Spent Driving | Just Enough Bright

I first heard this band, like I heard most bands when I was in high school, after hearing one of their songs on a compilation that I strictly bought for the Pop Unknown content (Sessions Records comp). I remember driving around in my 1992 Nissan Sentra, into the middle of nowhere, just so I could continuously listen to this record.

They are considered a part of the northern California group of bands such as Benton Falls, Box The Compass, Wunder Years, and Edaline - and don’t stray too far from that sound.

Cherry Cola Champions | Demo My friend Jesse had been writing these songs for, what seems like, years. In between other bands and getting degrees for various medical things he finally found a drummer and recorded a demo with Tim Gerak (from Six Parts Seven fame). Before I moved to Austin he bought a Fender 2x12 I was trying to get rid of - I’m happy he’s putting it to good use. For fans of the new two-piece-band-revolution, loops, tight drumming, and Colossal.

Cherry Cola Champions | Demo

My friend Jesse had been writing these songs for, what seems like, years. In between other bands and getting degrees for various medical things he finally found a drummer and recorded a demo with Tim Gerak (from Six Parts Seven fame). Before I moved to Austin he bought a Fender 2x12 I was trying to get rid of - I’m happy he’s putting it to good use.

For fans of the new two-piece-band-revolution, loops, tight drumming, and Colossal.