Sidekicks, 500 Miles to Memphis

Justin: Sadly between a full–time job, writing news, eating and sleeping we don't always get to hear each of the bands we post about in the New Music Roundups that we post. I took the time to check out Sidekicks and was pleasantly surprised. Upbeat, melodic punk rock that's kinda jangly with some pretty obvious singalongs and raspy vocals a'plenty. The first track on their MySpace "Slight Sting" is probably the most standout track they have posted – you can tell where the crowd's going to get into it already. I think they'd fit in great with the current revival of fun punk rock that's not vapid but also isn't entirely depressing. Imagine them on a bill with Nothington, Off With Their Heads and Dead To Me and you'd have an amazing show.

Sidekicks on MySpace Ben: With summer coming to a close, it's almost time to put away those sunshine jams and break out music to me through another Canadian winter. 500 Miles to Memphis, named after the distance from the band's hometown to Graceland is the perfect band to help us through that transition. sunshine in a Shot Glass, released in June through Deep Elm goes just as well with an open window drive through the country as it does with a glass of stout by the wood stove. The band's combination of punk grit and attitude combined with country–staples such as a vocal drawl and tales of remorse make the band appeal to

Deny Everything / Cloak/Dagger

Brian: HOLY SHIT STOP THE PRESSES BRIAN'S RECOMMENDING A BAND THAT SOUNDS LIKE KID DYNAMITE. Really though, say "Hi" to Deny Everything, listen to them and fall in love, and then book your plane tickets to Germany so you can actually see them live.

Aubin: I still miss the Hot Snakes but if anything, Cloak/Dagger does help soften the blow. While it's made up of a lot of bands that would never be confused for that Swami act, including Give Up the Ghost and Striking Distance, Cloak/Dagger plays punk rock in the tradition of those rock'n'roll hooligans and quite well, I might add. They've got a new record coming out on Jade Tree very soon, it's called We Are and is due out September 11, 2007. I suggest you check out some music on their MySpace page and then snap up a copy of the album when it drops.

Halfway to Hell Club / The Sadies

Brian: Here's one of Long Island's freshest faces playing seriously fresh tunes. Halfway to Hell Club takes the best of gruff yet melodic post-hardcore (Hot Water Music, Embrace) to write potent, affecting material. Stream "Kitchen Window" at the band's MySpace page. It's from their debut EP, Knowledge Is a Curse, which should be self-released eventually.

Adam: While I've gotten very good at justifying the inclusion of off-genre bands in our news coverage, I'll concede this time and keep my personal preferences here in the safe confines of the Editors Picks. If you've followed the Canadian independent music scene at all (or spun a recent Neko Case record) then you know all about alt-country / garage / indie / surf / vintage rock act the Sadies. The band's following up last year's incredible double live album and 2004's stellar Favourite Colours with a new record this fall titled New Seasons. It hits on September 18th in Canada via Outside Music and later on October 2nd in the US via Yep Roc. The latter label has the entire new record streaming online now.

The Gusto

The Gusto are an-up-and-coming pop-punk outfit based out of Madison, WI. What separates them from the rest of the pack is the tightness and technical proficiency you'd find in a veteran group, yet these guys have only been together for a little over a year. The band recently cut a demo and has been touring across the midwest and east coast, unquestionably gaining new fans and impressing anyone lucky enough to catch their set. Check out their music online, but if they come anywhere near you, I highly suggest checking out their live show…trust me.

The Gusto - "Carry On"

Resonance, Bob Burns and the Breakups, Dirty Money

Brian: It's probably more Chris' job to tell you about the standout acts littering his hometown of Richmond, VA, but it seems he missed the boat on this one. When recent news broke of RVA 'core kids Permanent coming out with a split 7" with hometown bros Resonance, I checked out the band on the presumed basis they'd be solid as well. Consider those expectations surpassed: Despite taking nods from the Usual Suspects (Kid Dynamite, Hot Water Music, etc.), Resonance is playing some of the more original melodic hardcore these ears have heard in quite some time. The band also has a 12" compilation of their pre-split material on the way from Collapse Records, and some of those songs -- as well as an unmastered track from the split -- are available at their abovelinked MySpace page. I highly recommend "Auctionary Blindness" and "Radiant Chains," though.

Adam: We won't mention the fact that Bob Burns and the Breakups has one of the greatest band names in recent memory, but instead will base this recommendation purely on the speedy punk rock goodness to be found at their MySpace page. On "Terminal Breakdown" the band just tears through the competition like D.O.A. on amphetamines. Since this is a Gearhead release you know there's bound to be an underlying current of New Bomb Turks and Devil Dogs as well. Quite frankly, I'd be disappointed otherwise.

Chris: There's something about Gainesville, FL that turns out some great bands. A friend recently turned me on to one of the town's newest incarnations, Dirty Money. The band sounds exactly how'd you expect; think along the lines of Grabass Charletons, O Pioneers!!!, etc. The song "123 Fest" is quickly becoming one of my favorites of the year. You can check out four songs from their upcoming debut, Far From Home over at the band's MySpace page.

Battles, Stolen Bikes Ride Faster

Aubin: After being denied by Bill Watterson last week, I make my triumphant return to the world of picking MySpace pages and telling you about them. This time, it's the thoroughly peculiar Battles. The group includes former members of Don Caballero, Helmet and performs something that could be described as math rock or dance punk, but neither of those descriptions really does justice to the band's wild fusion of sounds. You can check out the entire album on their MySpace page.

Chris: Yes, the band name is from the title of a Grade song. Moving on, Italy's Stolen Bikes Ride Faster play a brand of melodic hardcore similar to their namesake, yet are hardly a carbon copy. Go check out the tracks "I Result Impatient" and "Eyesblinder" over at the group's MySpace page.

Animated Calvin & Hobbes, Bracewar, Jewdriver

Aubin: Since we renamed this feature from "MP3 of the Week" to "Editor's Picks," this has given me a little creative license with what I can use this space for and this is probably the most out-there example of this flagrant abuse of the rules. An Italian student has assembled a fully animated version of the beloved comic strip, Calvin & Hobbes using Bill Watterson's designs as a reference and despite being voices in Italian (albeit subtitled) it is about the most natural looking animation of Calvin and Hobbes that I have ever seen. It's definitely worth a look:
The Animated Calvin & Hobbes - in Italian with English Subtitles Meg: Despite the song still being pretty rough around the edges (rightfully so), Bracewar's recently posted "Demo 2" is just as frenetic and chaotic as any fan could hope to hear in the months preceeding the release of their debut full-length Juggernaut on 1917 Records. The band's hardcore punk/ powerviolence concoction should satisfy fans of Ceremony and maybe even Mind Eraser. Sometimes it's just nice to listen to music that makes you feel OK about being pissed off.
Bracewar - Demo 2 Chris: I love me some good "munk". Mock-punk, if you will. I first heard of this band via t-shirts I've seen a number of people sporting. I mean come on, how could you not laugh at the name of a band that so blatantly ridicules one of the worst incarnations of "punk" we've ever had to put up with? Go listen to some Jewdriver and realize that the best way to deal with idiots is to laugh at them.
Jewdriver MySpace page

Staring Back

Justin: Staring Back's swan song On is perhaps one of the most criminally ignored records of the last few years. The blend of SoCal punk, Strung Out-influenced metal and slight tinges of hardcore is a unique beast. Nowadays the band is dead, the members are fairly busy in Yellowcard or Sicker Than Others, and chances for another show are doubtful.
Anyways.
However as today is Mother's Day I figured I'd share with you all one of their earlier tracks. "Mom" comes from Many Will Play and is one of the most amusing and enjoyable songs ever. We're not talking a super-serious ballad here, more of a tongue-in-cheek (I hope) ode to someone's "hardcore mom." What else can you say? It's got some immature pop-punk vocals and some beginner's riffs by Ryan Mendez.

Staring Back - "Mom" - Kevin Wade approved!!!

I hope everyone got something for their Moms today.

The Clash vs. The Beatles

Adam: Here's a fairly straight-forward mash-up courtesy of the Who Boys. It mixes the marching guitars from the Clash anthem "London Calling" with the White Album lullaby "Cry Baby Cry." Credit goes to John Sakamoto's column in today's Toronto Star for finding this one. I'm not a huge fan of these sort of things as they're typically the marriage of a band I like with a band I dislike and that usually does little to redeem the latter. Fortunately in this case, both halves sit just fine with me.

The Clash vs. the Beatles - "London Crying"

Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, Heroes Die

Aubin: I've been listening to this odd little track and watching the corresponding odd little video for a few weeks now. It's not so much the music itself that I've been digging, but the amazing lyrics. Just watch it all the way through to get the full effect. The best way I can describe it is to imagine if Rob and Barry from High Fidelity wrote a song for LCD Soundsystem.

Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip 'Thou Shalt Always Kill'. [YouTube video]

Chris: It seems that the dark emo/screamo cloud that lingered over Richmond has finally started to dissipate. This town has a fine tradition in hardcore, and a number of young bands are starting to crank out some great music. Heroes Die play an intense mixture of varying melodies and tempos, chock full of appropriate breakdowns and gang choruses. They've only played a handful of shows, but are starting to build momentum and expect to begin to touring soon. Check out the track "can't afford friends", which is streaming at their MySpace page.

Heroes Die "can't afford friends"