Archie Alone - Through The Door 4 Song Cassette

Every now and then I catch myself thinking "If I only had a record label." "This would be the first band I'd sign." Over the last couple of years that thought seems to limit itself to the many times I've listened to or seen a live performance of New Jersey's Archie Alone.
And while the band has been a personal favorite for some time now. Archie Alone's studio and recorded output has been criminally sparse.

Limiting our exposure to their live performances at local clubs such as The Meatlocker,
ABC No Rio and everywhere in between.

On their latest EP
Through the Door, a four song cassette release recorded within the cavernous walls of the bands home away from homes. Archie Alone, with the help of their close friend, producer and wonder kin
Ana Dobrian, carve out on of the most powerfully emotive releases I've heard in ages. Warm, yet crushing guitars meet powerfully emotive vocals that reach heights of strength and vulnerability seldom heard in music today. Vocalist (and as in recent months, second guitar) Nicole Mesce has a unique ability that keeps the listener hanging on every word as if it was the last gasp of a beloved spokesman of our generation. While the bands personnel may have not even been born when bands such as Embrace, 3 and Rites of Spring were leaving their footprints on what was to become known as Emo. Archie Alone immediately remind me of the impact those bands and that sound had on me. I can easily look to the third track Furlough as evidence to the spell this release has put on me. The best way to describe my reaction would be to note the chills that travelled up and down my spine as it's four plus minutes unfolded.

Overall, a vital and absolutely necessary release that has a very intimate and live vibe about it. One that makes you feel as if you're being treated to a living room performance. Through the Door is available on cassette (While they last) which includes a digital download for those of us without access to such ancient technology.
Check their bandcamp page for more info. James Damion

Archie Alone  Bandcamp
Archie Alone  Facebook

Set Your Goals - The Reset Demo 10 Year Anniversary Edition

On the first release of Matthew Wilson (singer Set Your Goals) Calaveras Records.
He successfully turned to the Kickstarter platform to release a limited 10th Anniversary limited 10' vinyl edition of  Set Your Goals 2004 demo.
Though I never really followed the band, listening to a band in their early stages always helps when forming an opinion about a band and where they might be going.
Hearing this made me realize they were so much more than a CIV remake or redo.

Positive and uplifting from the start with a sound that found influenced by everything from Hardcore to Emo to Pop Punk. Each of the six songs from the original demo left a lasting impression on me with
"How 'Bout No, Scott" being a personal favorite.

I was excited to see the cover of Jawbreaker's
"Do you still hate me?", until I realized that despite the largess of anyone's love or appreciation of the band. Any attempt at covering or paying tribute to Jawbreaker is only going to make you sound weak and unworthy. This is the only track I can honestly say I did not like. By now, I'd imagine anyone reading this would, ten years later, be more than familiar with the bands sound and direction.
For those who haven't, Set Your Goals fit nicely somewhere between Gorilla Biscuits and Saves the Day. The vinyl edition comes on green splatter vinyl in a 10' fold out cover that opens up to lyrics, liner notes and a collage of images and flyers. "The Reset Demo" also features a digital down for all you MP3 enthusiasts. I highly recommend this.
James Damion

Calaveras Records Get it Here

Two Strike Mark- Just Like My Friends

Upon hearing the term "Acoustic Punk" in the bands introduction.The temptation to hit the delete key or respectfully reply "Thanks, but no thanks." immediately came to mind. However, in my experience I've found that being open minded and accepting of different things can lead to rewarding experiences. Asbury Park's quartet Two Man Strike proved my instincts right with their debut release
'Just Like My Friends'.
The bands sound draws influence from early Blink 182,
Green Day and even
Saves the Day.
Two Strike Mark manage to deliver a record that blends a sense of warmth and vulnerability with angst perfectly. Produced by former Front Bottoms touring musiician  Drew Villafuerte. The aforementioned bands footprints are especially evident  on 'Good Times, Great Times, Florida' and 'Pigeonhole Principle'. 'Just Like My Friends' just might be the best surprise I've had this year.
James Damion

Bandcamp  Get it Here
ReverbNation

Timeout Jimmy - Yourself EP

I'm a lot younger than I used to be. When I was older I would often muse about how good music used to be and lamented on how completely shitty and lame all these newer bands were sounding, spending all their money on tight jeans and goofy haircuts, yet forgetting the music. Luckily for me, all of that changed when I started writing this blog last year and started paying attention to what the present music scene was offering. It's been a rebirth in every sense of the word. Getting to fully indulge myself in what's transpiring musically in this neck of the woods has been an eye opener to say the very least.

This brings me to Timeout Jimmy and their EP "Yourself". It's a very rare occasion when a random band you've never hear immediately resonates with you on so many levels.
These guys did it in under ten minutes with a mere three songs. Impressive, to say the very least.

The beauty in these songs can be largely traced to Nick Santoro's complex, layered guitar sound and its relationship to Tom Etts soaring vocals. Rounding it all out quite nicely is Trevor Wright on the Bass and Daniel Patrick O'Connor on Drums. The music itself stands on it's own without any real alliance to any genre. For me personally, I got an immediate Saves the Day meets Thursday with some of the musician quality of Incubus thrown in for good measure. Regardless, this one hell of a sampling for this East Brunswick band. I've listened to "Yourself" numerous times, hearing different notes and elements during each sitting. "Explorer" "Nodules" and "Excitement" are all excellent offerings forming a very cohesive air throughout. Be sure to click the link below and download the EP. Book them some shows and throw money at them.
James Damion

Timeout! Jimmy  Bandcamp