Art Is Tough

Sonic Death is an amazing song on the part two of Dirt...

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:00:00 -0700

Sonic Death is an amazing song on the part two of Dirt Dress’ extended play series Perdido En La Suciedad.

Purchase it HERE

It took me a while, but i caught on. Ian Svenonius is a...

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:00:00 -0700

It took me a while, but i caught on. Ian Svenonius is a consistent dude and Chain & The Gang is no exeption. This is a highlight from his debut album out on K Records.

Aside from the LP there is a newer 7” floating around on the International Pop Underground imprint under K Records. It is currently out of print, but is expected for repress soon.

Cloud Nothings Interview __

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:00:00 -0700

Dylan Baldi (Cloud Nothings) did a short/sweat interview with the good people over at Impose.

Check it

Big Troubles __ Bite Your Tongue

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:30:00 -0700

BIG TROUBLES “BITE YR TONGUE” from OLDE ENGLISH SPELLING BEE on Vimeo.

This song is rad, and i think it is amazing that they put video of them eating hot dogs in the video haha.

They have a couple 7”s available right now from Olde English Spelling Bee, get them before they are gone. These songs are hits!

Ancient Crux / Norse Horse split 7 Inch __La Station Radar

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:00:00 -0700

Ancient Crux, fresh off of his new e.p., gives two new hits. The first, Benevolent Void, is good punk song true to form, great precision with an amazing chorus. While the second song, I Pushed Out My Hands, is more reminisent of his early work relying on smooth guitar playing and pretty vocal melodies.

Norse Horse matches Ancient crux only in the way that the two songs show the broad range that both can achieve. The first song, Meat Whale, is a slow imaginative narrative while the second song, Shoodikids, uses amazing guitar work reminiscent of all things carefree to glide alongside beautiful vocal delivery, Shoodikids is an epic that easily sums up what Norse Horse is.

You can preview both Benevolent Void by Ancient Crux and Shoodikids by Norse Horse HERE.

You can Order the 7” split HERE.

Mirror Universe Tapes does it again with another amazing...

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 07:49:00 -0700

Mirror Universe Tapes does it again with another amazing cassette. This time from Savannah’s Magic Places. I am in love with the song In The Conservatory so bad, it has amazing keyboards/synthesizers and a nice steady beat. This makes me think of instrumental OMD without sounding dated. I would love to hear this in a club somewhere, if they only had tape decks…

The release is called Nightlab Lockbox and it comes out today.

Buy It Here

Video DunesHandle

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:42:38 -0700

Dunes - Handle from Christopher Ando on Vimeo.

New Blood: Total Fang

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:00:00 -0700

Girls at Night By Total Fang

Somewhere within the last 5 years this type of music seemed to fall of the planet, art punk lost its heaviness and people forgot about No Wave. With that said Total Fang have picked up where their old bands left off. Not to say that Total Fang is completely devoid of originality or redundant, they are using the tools found in their old bands and using their more developed songwriting abilities to bridge the gap.

Go over to Seancarnage.com to read a good interview with the new LA duo

Abe Vigoda Live in Pamona

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:00:00 -0700

Abe Vigoda live at the Glass House 8-13-10 New Song from Family Time on Vimeo.

Another amazing song from their upcoming album Crush. They had their new 7” single for sale. they should have some at their upcoming shows i have taken the liberty of listing below.

August 16 __ LA The Smell with Dunes, Masters and Johnson & Naomi Punk
August 20 __ NY Cake Shop With Hawnay Troof, Hollerado & Uncle Bad Touch
August 21 __ NY Death by Audio with Purple Rhinestone Eagle, Hollerado & Homewreckers

Their new album Crush is due out in September via Post Present Medium & Bella Union abroad

Photo

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 13:41:10 -0700

Ancient Crux have just released their second extended play,...

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 15:07:00 -0700

Ancient Crux have just released their second extended play, Stage Fright on Bridgetown Records. This is an interview I did with their leader Travis Von Sydow:

AIT: What is the personnel on “Stage Fright”?

TVS: The E.P. portion of the release was basically I, Brent Mitzner and Tyler Haran collaborating throughout. It sort of developed like a jigsaw puzzle. Some portions were recorded by Brent onto an 8 track tape recorder, and other portions were done months later by Tyler at his home studio setup, then the whole release was mixed and mastered digitally there. Brent wrote and performed the bass line on “Alma Reville” and Tyler played bass, synth, backing vocals, and other various extraneous instrumentation throughout the release in addition to helping me develop and write the title track. The live portion was myself on guitar/vocals, Brent Wyman on drums, and Collin Webb on bass.

AIT: So is Ancient Crux a solo project or a group effort?

TVS: Both, really. I definitely consider it my project, and all the songs are primarily written by me, but I would be lying if I said there hasn’t been a tremendous amount of influence from others since the beginning of this project. I definitely plan on continuing to collaborate with outside forces because it helps me defeat my own preconceived notions about what my music is supposed to sound like. Having group influence helps me balance my ideas and keeps me interested in my songs long enough to fully develop them.

AIT: Stage fright is a departure for you, do you feel like this is a preview of what to expect on a full length or do you feel within growth right now?

TVS: I wouldn’t say Stage Fright is a preview of what to expect per se, but I do think there is a lot more going on dynamically with this EP than anything else I’ve done before, and I want that aspect to carry over onto the full length. “Within growth” seems more fitting for where I am right now. I’m trying to focus on making the full length more cohesive and dynamic than everything else Ancient Crux has done thus far.

AIT: the cover art differs from the rest of Bridgetown Record’s releases, who did the artwork?

TVS: The cover is comprised of two separate photos that I took of the neighborhood surrounding this supposedly haunted, abandoned mill in Old Town Murrieta. I basically drove around with an expired disposable film camera and took photos through my open driver’s side window. After developing them, I picked the two pictures I liked best, scanned them into my computer, and superimposed them together digitally. One of the pictures was shot through a translucent orange CD case as a makeshift color filter, and each picture features a different perspective of the abandoned mill, slightly masked by the detail in each’s opposing picture. Bridgetown’s aesthetic is partially centered on where the artists live and reside, so when I started taking pictures for the release, I set out to create something that, in my mind, epitomized the tone of living in Murrieta. The mill was the perfect setting because It’s a landmark of the city and also because the area around it has served as the setting for so many of my own personal memories. In a way, it symbolically captures the essence and tone of my existence and the people I’ve grown up with and learned from. I’m actually really proud of how it came out.

AIT: On past tracks like “Colossal Debt” “In Teen Dreams” and various others you focus on somewhat personal themes, is this consistent in the songs on “Stage Fright”?

TVS: I would say yes, but to a lesser degree. A lot of the lyrics on Stage Fright are sort of hypothetical, and many are based on dreams and abstract ideas so I wouldn’t say it is quite as personal or literal as say, Interracial Coupling was, but there are still some deeply personal lyrics in there, and I think it is definitely still a part of the overall aesthetic and purpose. I make a lot of references to film, lyrically and otherwise, so I wanted it to partially feel like a collection of scenes, and some of the lyrics serve that purpose. I think that there are songs on this release that may seem deeply personal when in fact they are mostly fictional and metaphorical, while others may seem more metaphorical but are actually rooted more deeply in reality. My goal is to try and blur the lines well enough so that there is something for a variety of people to relate to.

AIT: What are some songs you have been listening to a lot lately?

TVS: Top 5 songs lately:
1. David Bowie - Five Years
2. The Monochrome Set - Ici Les Enfants
3. Elliott Smith - The White Lady Loves You More
4. Suicide - Cheree 5. Karl Blau - The Business

AIT: I know a lot of people go through musical phases that don’t last through their adolescence, are there any albums from your teen years that you can still relate to and draw influence from?

TVS:There are literally hundreds of albums I could think of. I honestly don’t even know where to begin. I guess the most recent “re-discovery” I’ve had lately is Beat Happening. That’s a band that really epitomized a good portion of my teen years and I hadn’t really listened to them for quite a while until the song “Noise” popped up on my iPod’s shuffle about a week ago. I was driving and it was a beautiful day and even though I have heard that song a thousand-and-one times, it somehow felt new. It was just the perfect song for that moment and I’ve been mildly obsessed with Jamboree and You Turn Me On since. The recordings on both of those albums are just so pretty and inviting, it makes me really envious.

AIT: Do you think where you live has effected the music you make?

TVS: Definately. I wouldn’t say that my hometown is all that inspiring of a place, but the experiences I’ve had growing up here and the people I’ve met in the process have absolutely influenced everything in my life, including music. I’m constantly amazed by how lucky I am to have met the people I did when I was younger, and to have lived and grown with my small group of friends in such a prime location to discover music, being almost directly in between San Diego and Los Angeles. I’ve seen a lot of amazing shows and met some equally amazing people at 16 and 17 years old that I totally wouldn’t have been to experience had I grown up somewhere outside of Riverside County.

AIT: I know stage fright just came out, but what is the next Ancient Crux release due out?

TVS: I’m currently working on a full length which should be done by late 2k10/early2k11.

Stage Fright is an awesome showcase of what Ancient Crux is and can do, I suggest you get it before it is sold out.

It is available in limited quantities over at Bridgetown Records.

No Age __ Glitter

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 14:13:13 -0700

No Age __ Glitter:

I never thought i would be really excited about another No Age since Nouns came out, but i can’t deny their new song from their upcoming album.

It’s called Glitter and i am genuinely excited for their new album due out on Sub Pop in September.

Follow Art Is Tough on Facebook

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 13:35:35 -0700

Follow Art Is Tough on Facebook

Silk Flowers "September 2008 - September 2009" Zine + Cassette

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:00:00 -0700

Silk Flowers have been laying semi low for the last few months besides this. It is a zine of all of the show fliers from Silk Flowers shows from September 2008 - September 2009. It is accompanied by a cassette compilation of unreleased demos and a comprehensive live set(the date and place are unspecified).

It is self-released and still available from the band. It is available in limited quantities.

It is the perfect release to hold you over until their next offering.

More info about the release and ordering is available here.

Other Silk Flowers releases are available from PPM and Captured Tracks

This is another post in lieu of my Pacific Northwest...

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:00:00 -0700

This is another post in lieu of my Pacific Northwest obsession, now with M. Women. There songs are minimal, with a lot punk creativity in the subtly punk way.

I emailed them to see what they were up to, this is what co-singer and guitarist Andrew had to say…

“(The)band started way back in spring 2008, but we’ve lost a member and shortened our name since. Our only plans for the future are to go on a west coast tour in September, and to have t-shirts, 7-inches and cdr/tapes in time for that. Then hopefully in fall and winter writing and recording a bunch of new songs. Then maybe more tour in spring? Who knows.
We’re always stoked to play w/ other bands from Seattle. Super good friendly, supportive, creative vibe here. Wet Paint, Witch Gardens, Eel-Eater, Solar Master, Love Tan, Spurm. Playing a show in September with Naomi Punk and Masters and Johnson will be just awesome. Aside from that, we’re super excited to see bands we’ve never heard and meet new people on tour.”

This is what their tour is looking like thus far. If your on the West Coast, you should definitely check/help them out.

M. Women / Stephanie West Coast Tour

September 6th - Olympia (Mikrofest)
September 7th - Portland (w/ Magic Johnson)
September 8th - Driving
September 9th - Oakland/SF
September 10th - Oakland/SF
September 11th - LA
September 12th - LA (Smell w/ Dunes)
September 13th - LA

After listening to the entire Bridgetown Sampler a couple of...

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:00:00 -0700

After listening to the entire Bridgetown Sampler a couple of times, my favorite has to be the Kindest Lines track Hazy Haze. A smooth drum beat and patient guitar work allows space for singer Brittany Terry to drape lyrics that sound of longing and heartache.

I love this song and i can’t wait to hear what they do next.

Hazy Haze is on Kindest Lines self titled release and is available on Bridgetown Records in limited Quantities.

This is an Interview I did with Carl from Clan Destine Records

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 18:35:00 -0700

Art Is Tough: Where do you live?

Carl: Plymouth in the Southwest UK.

AIT: Age?

C: Ancient,I”ve been around for a long, long year. Stole many a man’s soul and faith And I was ‘round when Jesus Christ had his moment of doubt and pain.

AIT: Who does clan destine?

C: In the main its just me, with a little help from some friends.

AIT: What is your job?

C: My main job is sound engineering.

AIT: What were your first releases?

C: The Aristides and Sealings tapes were the first things we put out. Then a vinyl compilation. The comp is almost gone now, the tapes are long gone.

AIT: How do you feel about doing an independent record label in a time that popular media says things are going digital?

C: I’m stoked about it. But what we do isn’t really what the popular media picks up on anyway. There’s a whole generation of kids who have the history of music at a click of mouse and a search. I think thats great, especially in the ‘underground’ or DIY scene we are apart of, its broken alot of musical boundries. There are so many great bands around now. And most of these kids like holding the tape or vinyl and digging it, and feeling being apart of something other than the ‘pop’ mainstream or whatever. Okay it may be abit smaller in sales as far as physical stuff, and who knows if it will last, but who cares. Today you can buy so many rad tapes and records by so many great bands, enjoy it.

AIT: who would you like to put out right now that you think or know you can’t for various reasons?

C: Thats a hard question. Haha Darkthrone maybe, I wanna do a black metal tape at some point.

AIT: Are you in any bands?

C: Yeah I’ve played in a couple none atm, and do some noise, chopped and screwed stuff on my own. But I keep that seperate from the label.

AIT: Do you give any of your releases to your mom?

C: I did actaully give a copy of the first vinyl comp to my mom. She liked half of it haha. At least she was honest. I think she digs we do the label though.

AIT: Your mom has a record player?

C: Yeah my Mom used to hang with Crass and Hawkwind and shit, I grew up on the peace convoy haha. Shes hipper than me.

For a current list of Clan Destine releases CLICK HERE.

I highly recomend the compilation 12”, the Ouija 7” and the King Dude 7”. All are legit releases with amazing bands.

Zum Records turns 12

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 13:00:00 -0700

After releases with bands from Nuzzle, !!!, Z’s, Wives, Kit, High Castle, Growing and Abe Vigoda (not to mention a really amazing compilation) Zum Records is turning 12. There is something to say for a label that has survived for 12 years, commitment and determination are definitely there but to continue on that long and to put out amazing bands that Zum has, is an amazing accomplishment.

Celebrate with Zum this upcoming weekend, they have two birthday shows. One in Oakland at 21 Grand, the other at the Smell the following evening. Both Should be amazing, the flier is posted above.

Personal note: my first Zum release was the Kit/Wives split 7” and i still love it.

Women Live on CBC Radio

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:30:00 -0700

This isn’t really that new but since their new record isn’t coming out until September i thought it would be nice for the meantime.

Women - Live on CBC Radio

Public Strain by Women is due out on September 28, on Flemish Eye and Jagjaguar.

In a matter of days LA’s Dunes are leaving on their first...

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:00:00 -0700

In a matter of days LA’s Dunes are leaving on their first tour starting with a 7 day cut through the South West, followed by a full tour of the West Coast.

~~If you haven’t heard their self-titled debut 12” it is still available on Mexican Summer.~~ Scratch that the Dunes S/T e.p. is now sold out. You can get it at their shows or at Insound.

Click here to watch some pretty good live video of them playing Closing In at Synchronicity Space in Los Angeles.

Art Is Tough

Sonic Death is an amazing song on the part two of Dirt...

It took me a while, but i caught on. Ian Svenonius is a...

Cloud Nothings Interview __

Big Troubles __ Bite Your Tongue

Ancient Crux / Norse Horse split 7 Inch __La Station Radar

Mirror Universe Tapes does it again with another amazing...

Video __Dunes__Handle

New Blood: Total Fang

Abe Vigoda Live in Pamona

Photo

Ancient Crux have just released their second extended play,...

No Age __ Glitter

Follow Art Is Tough on Facebook

Silk Flowers "September 2008 - September 2009" Zine + Cassette

This is another post in lieu of my Pacific Northwest...

After listening to the entire Bridgetown Sampler a couple of...

This is an Interview I did with Carl from Clan Destine Records

Zum Records turns 12

Women Live on CBC Radio

In a matter of days LA’s Dunes are leaving on their first...

Video DunesHandle