MP3 | Summer People – Storm And Stress Demo

I can only assume that Bloomington, IN’s Pink Houses takes their name from one of my favorite John Cougar Mellencamp songs and on their seven song demo, they dish out lo-fi grunge punk or poppy grunge-core, if you’ll take that as an answer. I’d also be willing to bet that if there was a grunge revival or a Mudhoney cover-band contest, I’d bet these guys would be at the forefront. The guitars sound terrible, it’s full of snotty attitude, and it’s tons of fun. I like it. Get the 7 song demo from If You Make It

MP3 | Pink Houses – When He Left Demo

I’m not sure if the fact that I’m just now getting into Yeasayer’s album All Hour Cymbals will lose me more credibility will the indie kids or the fact that I like it all will lose me more cool points with the punk kids. Either way, I don’t really care what they think of me. All Hour Cymbals is a really good album. I bet they’d be great live.

MP3 | Yeasayer – 2080 All Hour Cymbals

If you like that sorta Crimpshriney poppy punk rock then I’m pretty sure you’ll like Air Raid Barcelona’s 4 Song EP. The band isn’t active but when they were, not only featured David from If You Make It (where you can download this for free) but also members of Latterman, Splurge, Halo Fauna, etc… The band is planning on getting back together in 2009 to record a 7”, but who knows if this will happen. Still, cool stuff from a really short-lived band.

MP3 | Air Raid Barcelona – Biggest Blackout In US History 4 Song EP

What we’ve got here is four songs of straightforward East Coast sounding hardcore from Philadelphia’s Stay Sharp. There’s typical arrangements, typical lead vocals, typical gang vocal backups, and the occasional (but typical) breakdown that’s in the same vein as Kid Dynamite (a little, maybe) or In My Eyes. It is (however) infused with just enough melody to keep it from sinking like a stone. I like this sort of stuff so even though this has been done a hundred times before I can still get down with it.

MP3 | Stay Sharp – Hatfield Of Dreams 4 Songs

MP3 | Amber Pacific – The Good Life Amber Pacific EP

Val Emmich is a singer/songwriter guy whose crafty pop reminds me Brendan Benson, Pete Yorn, and Rick Springfield. You know, that really catchy poppy sorta shit that should be on the radio but ain’t.

MP3 | Val Emmich – The Lucky Ones Little Daggers

If lush indie pop is what you’re looking for then look no further than We Swim You Jump from Groningen, Netherlands. Kinda like a cross between Taking Back Sunday and Tears For Fears. WTF?

MP3 | We Swim You Jump – Sharks We Swim You Jump EP

I found it off-putting at first, but I’ve grown to really like the chaos of this year’s EP from the Southern hemisphere’s This City Sunrise. Imagine ETID, TAAS, Blood Brothers, etc… and you’ll get an idea of what’s in store.

MP3 | This City Sunrise – Duke Nukem Forever This City Sunrise Sings In Unison

Mark Rose was the singer for pop-punkers Spitalfield (a band I liked) before his solo career as a pop/soul singer. Personally, I liked him better before he tried to be get all “smooth” here. It’s not terrible, just not my thing.

MP3 | Mark Rose – How Strong We Are The Greatest Lakes