weekly mlog ♪ #14

zoomers - exist (2005)
genre: garage rock revival
FFO: simply saucer, the busy signals
rating: 9/10

this album contains electric guitars that nod to acts such as simply saucer and other noisy proto-punk bands from the mid to late 70s. the content of their songs is a lot of fun, with elements of true garage rock and otherworldly themes that take a space age turn. the vocalist careens coolly over those noisy guitars and jazzy drum arrangements. the band brings together the best of outer space with this planet we call home. images of 90s videogames come to mind such as Toejam & Earl. can be funky at times like that! this band is sort of an alien/outsider type artist posing as part of  the group with punk at its roots, and they ground themselves firmly there. they really have a distinct sound among garage rock revival artists from this time period. songs I would recommend: from the planet moon, walking, you'll see, party. but definitely check out the whole album.

ethel meserve - spelling the names (recorded 1995-96) (released 2000)
genre: midwest emo, post-hardcore, second wave emo
FFO: braid, frail, clikatat ikatowi
rating: 9.5/10

ethel meserve is a pillar of true midwest emo and stand out among the hordes of bands that may claim that title. they offer harder musicality all around and are a brutal statue in comparison to other bands that were doing similar work at the time of recording such as braid. I am not a huge fan of midwest emo in general nor a historian on the subject but this album leans a little harder and more true to form of pure second wave emo than, say, american football. that's why I would consider it a favorite of post-hardcore and second wave emo in general, for me. ethel meserve gets all the accolades they deserve from their cultish following that remains steadfast to this day. songs I would recommend: gibraltar, h.a.l., onward foster. any true post-hardcore fans should listen to their whole discography, in fact. I will be studying up for sure.

chrome - chrome box (recorded 1977-82)
genre: industrial, space rock, noise
FFO: clock DVA, units, the girls
rating: 9/10

I hadn't found an early industrial band that I was in love with until I revisited chrome earlier this month. I love this comp and will be revisiting more from the era, after experiencing this masterpiece. this compilation is truly the best chrome has to offer from a few of their most popping albums, with cosmonaut themes on songs like electric chair and static gravity. this is a release that I will revisit again over time to get a real solid understanding of just what they were trying to transmit in the form of industrial, early noise, and space rock. I'm not familiar with the timeline of industrial in general as I have not found a lot of early bands that strike my fancy as much as chrome, that being said industrial music from any period along the spectrum holds some of my all-time favorite sounds in music. chrome offers beautiful arrangements that come in the form of "bang, clash". again, some of my favorite sounds in music. songs I would recommend: electric chair, tv as eyes, march of the chrome police, new age, static gravity. I am still making my way through the whole 3 disc set. it's great.

off minor - innominate (2004)
genre: post-hardcore, mathcore
FFO: saetia, jeromes dream, stop it!!
rating: 9.5/10

forgive me for not being well-read on this band, but I missed a lot of quintessential post-hardcore releases when I was perusing the genre a couple years ago. I was told by spacehey user Brian that there are members of saetia before they became saetia, who are a standout in the genre of second wave emo and screamo in general. brian is good at post-hardcore and the like just saying, kind of a buff on the subject! just to say maybe you'd better study up elsewhere if you are looking for cold, hard facts on this group. this album contains everything I love out of mathcore: chaotic, car wreck vocals and a band that follows suit. in true Lizzy! fashion I typically like the harder less melodic songs. this album is discordant enough to get your whole body thrashing around in the pit, and it's very hard and fast. love that! I have a short attention span. for pit-bopping spergs like me. songs I would recommend: killed for less, demolition heuristic, inadequate in absence of you.

I had written another review for this week but it's not currently ringing my bell, so I will exclude it. If you're interested in doo wop and vocal groups check out The Tammys (1964)

and as always if you made it this far thanks for reading and let me know if you liked anything or have something to recommend! I tend to stick to the same genres but I like to be surprised too. <3

Lizzydothedishes