Pictures Can Tell

Do You Feel At Home? #05

Pictures Can Tell

    To hold over until I finish my next "big" blog-post, I figured I'd talk about this band real quick, as they're most definitely worth talking about. (Even if it might be a bit redundant.)

    Pictures Can Tell is one of those bands that just about any fan of this genre knows of. Whether it be through Travis' upload, or someone else's, they're one of those underground bands that practically everyone's in love with. Taking their name from the Mineral song "ForIvadell", Pictures Can Tell was a four piece mid-west emo/indie rock band out of Salt Lake City, Utah. They existed for a very brief period between 1998 and 2001, and on that note, broke up way too soon. It seems to be a trend for such amazing bands with equally as amazing potential to call it quits before they get their chance to really shine. It's a damn shame too, because I think we all know that they all had the potential to make something spectacular. Alas, that's just the way it goes, so no use complaining. At the very least, we've got thousands of records to love and enjoy.

    Info on this band is about as sparse as it gets, with not even last names being given (with the exception of their drummer), though that's not too surprising. Members included: a Mike on bass, a Kris on guitar, a Dominic on vocals, and James Senese on the drums. The little information we do have pretty much all came out of the web archive of their old labels website, that being Braeburn Records. A great label run by great people back in the day. The archive pulled out a sick demo song from PCT titled "My Superman", and as of recent (September 2023) "Safety Lines". There was also a cover of Catherine Wheels "Thunderbird" the band was working on for a tribute comp, according to Braeburn, but it seems that never came to fruition. Speaking of tribute comps, Braeburn was working on one for the band A-ha as well, of which PCT was covering "Out of Blue Comes Green". (They also covered "Africa" by Toto during some of their live performances, so take that Weezer.)

    Anyway. During their brief time as a band, these boys put out only two releases; a full-length CD, and a CD EP. Both of these releases are amazing, and down right classic pieces of underground emo music, though their first LP is definitely the more well known one.
    
    The bands aforementioned first full-length, titled "In Time", was released in 1999, and stands to this day as a little pocket of underground greatness. Jam-packed with 8 incredible pieces of mid-west glory, In Time stands out as not only an amazing first offering, but a down right classic. Recorded in the bands infancy, it already shows a near mastery of the sound they try to capture. From the first song to the last, the performances here are stellar, especially Dominics vocals! His versatility enables the record to practically soar with it's unforgettable choruses, with just the first song on here being a great example! "Only Thought", the fourth track, is probably my favorite though, for no other reason than the chorus just really gets me. This album is an underrated classic in this genre, and for being underrated, it's certainly quite popular. Check out the driftingwiththeice blog for scans and downloads!

In Time

1. Wrapped In Tape
2. Watch Or Wear
3. In Time
4. Only Thought
5. If I Said
6. Straight Lines
7. More Than Once A Day
8. How To Wait

    Their next release is arguably their best. Released in 2000, the 5 song EP titled "Everyday", stands as probably the bands greatest achievement. Their songs became longer, denser, and was honing in on borderline perfection. This is one of the genres best EPs, without a doubt. It's sad, though, since not too long after this came out, the band decided to call it quits. The reasons why are unrelated to any inter-band struggles, but because their van broke down while they were on tour in 2001. I guess at that point they decided it would be better to just about call it, and move on, which is a shame. If they had gone one album longer, they'd certainly be a band we talk about more. Sadly, it didn't end up that way, but what they left us with is a gift, and a masterpiece at that. Check it out.

Everyday

1. Everydays Disease
2. More Than That
3. The Best To Bring Me Down
4. Wash Our Hands And Walk Away
5. She Remembers


Though I own the listed releases myself, the links/downloads/cover scans are via the Drifting With The Ice blogspot. I highly recommend it!

Hey Predator!

Do You Feel At Home? #04

Hey Predator!

    Hey Predator! was a five (sometimes six) piece emo/math-rock/"post-whatevercore" band out of Montreal, Quebec (Canada) that existed between 2008 to late 2010. Members included: Mathieu Bernard Ball, Taylor Fredericks, Tristan Matthews, Vincent Richard, and Zakir Jafry. Now, I say the same things pretty often, as I'm not the best at making descriptions sometimes, but these guys we're really good. One of the best bands out of Canada for the brief period that they existed, without a doubt, and one that is wholly underappreciated.

    These boys played a math-y style of post-hardcore/emo with plenty of character, which, after all these years, still holds up really well. It's definitely some of the more creative and somewhat colorful post-hardcore/math/indie/whatever I've heard, with the bands focused execution and musicianship. All the members went on to various different projects, some of which are quite well-known, such as; Worksworksworks (Tristan, Zakir, Vincent (FKA Girl Arm)), Big Brave (Mathieu Ball), and Big Share (Luke Fowlie, their "guest" baritone guitar player). So, they've kept themselves busy all these years.

    Sadly, HPs discography is quite sparse, with only two sole releases, each of which are CD releases; a full-length and EP respectively. Put out via Aribin Sillah Records, both releases are seamlessly crafted pieces of math/indie/emo/post-hardcore. The bands growth between the two releases is quite remarkable also, as they quickly refined their sound after a little over a year, though it wouldn't last long.

    Firstly, there's their 2009 full-length, titled "Spit Smoke, Black Factories". Essentially the bands beginnings, while also nearly their end. A full 12 tracks long, this record is stuffed to the brim with wit and soot, all of which is seamlessly woven together to make for one hell of a debut. This record is loaded with some great arpeggiated guitar leads, and sharp, rhythmic inflection scattered throughout. Instrumentally, the record kills it, and the vocal performances are in the same boat. Plenty of character, and whine galore, it's practically quintessential vox in the genre. Songs like "Pregnancy Pact" and "How I Learned To Stop Worrying..." are most certainly highlights here, as they are great displays of the bands sound, as well as tightness. A great first effort, and one that more people ought to hear. It's was put on Bandcamp way back when, and is still up to this day, I urge you to check it out!

Spit Smoke, Black Factories

1. Pageantry
2. Devastation Works
3. Pregnancy Pact
4. Program And Practice
5. Puncture Wounds
6. Harms
7. How I Learned To Stop Worrying...
8. Voyeurs
9. Martyr Heap
10. Chants
11. Ochre Essence
12. The Things We Carried

    Lastly, and very abruptly, is the EP "Foxholes And Atheists And So Forth", released October 30, 2010. Put out just one month before the band would part ways, this EP is the band fully realized, with their sound completely honed. The bands personality, versatility, and effervescent wit come together to craft tightly woven, angular pieces of math/post-hardcore. Everything displayed in their previous release is now bearing it's full teeth here, pun intended. It's certainly their crowning achievement, for what that's worth. I'm unsure which is my favorite, as I'm not always one to pick, but regardless, they're both incredible releases that definitely stand on their own. It's also up on Bandcamp for anyone to listen to, and I absolutely recommend it. (Shown below is official product images of the CD package (which I am a proud owner of))

Foxholes And Atheists And So Forth

1. This Is Water
2. No Stars, Just Coins
3. These Lines Don't Mean
4. Things They Don't Teach You In Flight School
5. H1NE1

    Now as I've repeatedly foreshadowed, this is the point where the band broke up. No bad blood or anything like that to my knowledge, just adulting and such. I think the band hasn't really gotten their due, however, Tomb Tree put out a discography tape not too long ago, which absolutely rules. It was distributed by Zegema Beach Records, whom you should definitely check out, as they also rule. There's no bonus material on the tape, but it is there for those who are interested. If copies are still around, I recommend picking one up!

Hey Predator!

Tape 1 - Spit Smoke, Black Factories
Tape 2 - Foxholes And Atheists And So Forth

Link to the tape: U.S Store, CAN/International Store

HTML (He Taught Me Lies)

Do You Feel At Home? #03

HTML

    HTML (also known as He Taught Me Lies) was an emo hardcore 4 piece from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that existed between 2001 to somewhere around 2005. Members included: Adam Kuthe, Eric Meisberger, Jim Robinson, and Mike Q Roth. They were definitely a band with a message, at least when they put out their first disc- warning people about the dangers of the internet, freedom, and all that jazz. They were another band on Hope Records roster, and a killer one of course, as is everyone on the label. Many of Hope Records bands were tightly knit, often sharing members in side-projects and such. Unsurprising, as it was a small and relatively local label. They hosted a small few of great bands from Pittsburgh's early 2000s punk scene. The most notable being Pikadori, Io, and HTML.

   

    Their first disc, titled "The Monkey Part Of The Job" is some great emo hardcore, through and through. HTML were a band with plenty of character, witty and focused, yet roaring with energy, and this debut CD is an unfortunately overlooked piece of 2000s emo, that I think deserves more attention. The performances on this disc are killer, seriously, they knocked it out of the park. A song like "Cutter John" and "The Star Is Dead, Long Live The Star" are reason alone to give it some praise. I might be overselling, but I just want more people to check these bands out, because they're amazing. I'm sure you'll dig it.

The Monkey Part Of The Job

1. The New Normalcy
2. Cutter John
3. Ari's Sweater
4. Long Time Listener, First Time Caller
5. Nothing
6. Attention: Race Fans
7. The Star Is Dead, Long Live The Star
8. Breaking News

    Their follow up record "Genealogies and Collaborations" is an interesting piece of experimental hardcore, and it's a collaboration album as hinted in the title. Working alongside Rick Gribenas, they put together a mix of strange, experimental, and sometimes noisy piece of hardcore. It's noticeably different from their first offering, and while I don't think it's as much of a standout comparatively, it's still a decent full length nonetheless. It's not something I'd deem a "must listen" by any means, but if you're curious you can check it out via the Hard Travelin' Bandcamp.

HTML & Rick Gribenas - Genealogies and Collaborations

1. The Ever Growing Coalition Of The Willing
2. The Invitation
3. Stonewall
4. Topography
5. Rosedale
6. Berkman's Dead
7. Frick's Revenge
8. The Responsibility
9. Go Blue
10. Confessions Of An Amatur Vexhillologist
11. The Sound Of Veins Healing