the Pale Pacific / The Demics / Useless ID

Brian: SideCho released the Rules Are Predictable EP, the newest release from the Pale Pacific (formerly the Pale), about a month ago. While this is the first I've heard of the band, their delicate indie pop certainly has its similarities to Death Cab For Cutie, but apparently it's a bit less obvious than the accusations of plagiary plaguing the comments section of the review of their full-length, Gravity Gets Things Done, released under their former name. So had I actually heard the record, I guess I could say things like "they've expanded their sound" and "they seem to be more comfortably fitting into their niche." Here are a few streams from the all-too-short record:
the Pale Pacific - Sucker Punch the Pale Pacific - Identity Theft Adam: It's funny how things fall out of the cultural conversation sometimes. Take the Demics for example. I was pretty much unaware of the band for years until they appeared as part of Jian Ghomeshi's 50 Tracks feature on CBC Radio earlier this year. While it didn't make the final list, the Demics' single "New York City" was an early candidate. It, along with D.O.A.'s 1978 tune "Disco Sucks," were cited during one of Jian's guest appearances on George Stroumboulopoulos' current affairs show The Hour as two of the greatest Canadian punk songs ever. How odd is it then that nearly every friend and colleague I queried knew virtually nothing of the Demics.

The band formed in 1978 in London, Ontario and released a 5 song EP titled Talks Cheap later that year. It included the aforementioned "New York City," the band's only real hit, which later reappeared on their self-titled 1980 full length for the Intercon Records label. After several personnel changes the band's lineup settled with lead vocalist Keith Whittaker, bassist Ian Atkinson, drummer Jimmy Weatherstone and guitarist Steve Koch. Like many bands of that era, the Demics' career was short lived (they split in 1981), but during that time they managed to share the stage with such notables as the Dead Boys and the Ramones.

The Demics - New York City The Demics - The 400 Blows

The Demics' self-titled full length was reissued last year via Linus Entertainment. The whole album is also available online via CHRW's London Music Archive (who I thank for the song links). Demics lead vocalist Keith Whittaker sadly lost a battle with cancer in 1996.

Aubin: I had the opportunity to check out Jericho's Echo last night, and prominently featured in the film was the pride of the Israeli punk scene, Useless ID. The band, which takes its influences from 90s Southern Californian punk, is just one of the remarkable array of bands from the region who manage to maintain a hopeful outlook in a churning sea of distrust and danger. The track selected comes from Bad Story, Happy Ending, and appears in the film as well as taking on a larger meaning then the apolitical lyrics suggest when placed on the backdrop of mandatory military service and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Useless ID - "No Time for Me to Be a Teenager"

John Doe with Neko Case / Bloc Party

Adam: X frontman John Doe released a solo album through Yep Roc Records this past March titled Forever Hasn't Happened Yet. In the album's press he comments "This is not punk rock, but it uses all the same ingredients: sex, drugs, death, loss, longing and alienation." Among the collection of roots oriented tracks is a duet with alt-country darling / New Pornographers' member Neko Case titled "Hwy 5." The song, which was co-written by John's longtime X collaborator Exene Cervenka, can be downloaded below:

John Doe with Neko Case - Hwy 5 (Media Player / MP3 *)

* note you might need to add the ".mp3" extension to the file after download.

Aubin: While the mainstream popularity of a previously ignored subgenre of music often leads to a deluge of inferior, copycat acts, it also has the indirect benefit of bringing attention to truly deserving bands. In this case, the subgenre is the brand of dance punk popularized by Gang of Four and the band in question is South London's Bloc Party. While they certainly take much influence from the aforementioned Gang of Four, the band also handily adds riveting percussion and a satisfying, visceral guitar attack. Their Vice records debut, Silent Alarm is refreshing and punchy with the earnestness of a band that doesn't know or care whether this kind of music is popular right now.

Bloc Party - "Banquet" Stream Silent Alarm

Suicide File

Suicide File was one of the truly underrated gems of recent hardcore. Their stellar full length Twilight foreshadowed future rock'n'roll/hardcore records from the likes of The Bronx and Letters Organize and sadly, they lasted only a scant three years. Indecision recently released their collection of odds and ends titled Some Mistakes You Never Stop Paying For and it is a worthy document of a great band.
Suicide File - "The Somme" (Some Mistakes…)
Suicide File - "Laramie" (Twilight)

I also added a playlist that I made for no particular reason.

Screeching Weasel

In light of the ongoing reissues of much of the back catalog of Screeching Weasel, it seemed apt to select a track from that band. Screeching Weasel had a long history, with dozens of releases and it accompanies that prolific output with an equally high number of breakups and reformations. But in the end, the strength of the band was it's simplicity and allegiance to all the great things about punk rock: simple Ramones-esque melodic punk, whether played slow or breakneck fast, combined with irrepressibly snotty vocals and topped off with alternatingly silly and astute lyrics.

This track comes from the recently remastered Boogadaboogadaboogada.
Screeching Weasel - "Dingbat"

The Glow / Naked Raygun

Adam: The new full length from Boston's the Glow has been rocking my stereo all week long. You can hear the influence of tracks like the Specials' "Ghost Town" throughout the record, and while they're certainly more Stax than 2-Tone the Glow convey that same nervous, haunting energy in their organ driven songs. The band released The Ghosts Are Out… this past week on Bankshot Records. There's a rough, history-conscious charm to their songwriting that fans of recent Swami or Alive releases should dig.

The Glow - Hell in a Vase Aubin: This band broke up more than a decade ago, but their influence is still felt throughout their own Chicago and much of the modern punk scene. Bands like Alkaline Trio and The Lawrence Arms owe a debt to their genre defining melodic hardcore; the kind that appeared on records like the stellar Throb Throb and the flawless Jettison. A few years ago, Quarterstick Records reissued remastered versions of much of Naked Raygun's catalog and they provide this weeks set of tracks.

Naked Raygun - "When the Walls Come Down" Naked Raygun - "Tojo" Naked Raygun - "The Grind"

Wow, Owls!

Brian: I'll probably end up recycling my own comparison when I write the review for the debut full-length from RVA's Wow, Owls!, but the band definitely brings to mind a mixture of a toned down Gravity Records influence and This Day Forward circa In Response. It's quite good. Indeed. You can stream a couple more tracks if you're interested at the band's Myspace page here. Pick Your Patterns obliterates store confines April 11th via The Perpetual Motion Machine.
Wow, Owls! - Your New Favorite Song

Teenage Bottlerocket

Aubin: We need some new terminology. People hear "pop punk" and they think popular punk, when the term traditionally had more to do with "Sheena is a Punk Rocker" and "Blitzkrieg Bop." The Lillingtons played that kind of music and they did it very well. They released three full lengths, including Backchannel Broadcast and Death By Television before breaking up. Members of that band recently formed Teenage Bottlerocket in the same spirit and will be releasing their debut Total on March 29th via Red Scare.

Teenage Bottlerocket - "Bloodbath at Burger King"

The Get Up Kids

Scott: I can still remember the first time I heard every one of the Get Up Kids' albums. From the first mixtape I ever heard them on to my worn copy of Guilt Show, everything the band's ever done can be aligned with a certain time in my life. Not only that, but this was the last band out of the "big three" (the other two being the Promise Ring and Braid) to throw in the towel; it's truly the end of an era. Here's a brief look back at their catalog, which totals more than 75 recorded songs. All MP3s provided by Vagrant Records, unless otherwise noted.

Four Minute Mile (Doghouse, 1997)
Washington Square Park (Courtesy of Lawrence.com)
Stay Gold, Ponyboy (Courtesy of Lawrence.com)

Red Letter Day EP (Doghouse, 1998)
One Year Later (Courtesy of Lawrence.com)
Mass Pike (Courtesy of Lawrence.com)

Something To Write Home About (Vagrant, 1999)
Holiday Ten Minutes Ten Minutes (live) Eudora (Vagrant, 2001)
Up On The Roof I'm A Loner, Dottie… A Rebel (Courtesy of Epitonic.com)

On A Wire (Vagrant; 2002)
Overdue Stay Gone (Courtesy of Lawrence.com)
Wish You Were Here Campfire Kansas (Courtesy of Lawrence.com)

Guilt Show (Vagrant, 2004)
Wouldn't Believe It Martyr Me Sympathy Conversation In Your Sea

While there are some definite gems posted here (make sure you download "I'm A Loner, Dottie… A Rebel" if nothing else), so many of the Get Up Kids' best songs aren't listed here. My advice to you is, take all those Free iTunes pop caps you've been saving and-- eh, instead of taking my recommendations, how about those of you who are fans post your favorite songs below so newcomers can get some idea as to what to get.

Finally, to the Get Up Kids: It was a good run, guys. You'll be missed.

Greg MacPherson Band / Small Brown Bike

Adam: The Greg MacPherson Band's new record Night Flares has spent more time in my stereo than anything else this past week, and for good reason. There's something wonderfully honest about this Winnipeg-based singer/songwriter, and this 11 song collection of dark, working class rock'n'roll is a perfect extension of the style established with 2002's Good Times Coming Back Again and 2004's Maintenance EP. Look for the record in stores on April 5th in Canada and later on the 19th in the US. Here's a few tracks to tide you over until then:
Greg MacPherson Band - Cutting Room Greg MacPherson Band - Hotel Motel Scott: Can you believe it's been over a year since Small Brown Bike broke up? I found myself listening to a lot of this sadly defunct band over the weekend, and I pray they don't fall into the same obscurity their musical forefathers tumbled into. Here's a selection of MP3s from their history:
Small Brown Bike - Safe In Sound (Off 2003's The River Bed)
Small Brown Bike - Trains All Talk (off 2003's Nail Yourself To The Ground EP)
Small Brown Bike - Hideaway (Off 2001's Dead Reckoning)
Small Brown Bike - Mouth Of Madness (Off 1999's Collection)
Small Brown Bike - In Tune (Off 1999's Our Own Wars)
If you dig what you hear, head on over to NoIdeaRecords.com, where you can buy any of these releases on CD or vinyl.

Imperial

Brian: Like screaming? Breakdowns? Double bass? No? Oh, you'll probably hate Imperial then. The band mixes it up well with its gutsplitting guitars and varied forms of throat-wrenching vocals. Check out the track below, which comes from the band's recently released EP, This Grave Is My Poem. You can visit Pluto Records's site for more information.
Imperial - Washed Upon A Nameless Shore