The Night Divided-Unspoken Word

A stripped down version of Unspoken Word was a welcomed gem received H2H (hand to hand) from guitarist Mike Fair (Slow Blind Corners/Crambone) at the second Northside Record Fair. Used in promotion of an appearence at Rakes End, Unspoken Word quickly won me over during initial listens. The Night Divided are a newish Greater Cincinnati based three-piece that, as I said before, features longtime contributor to the local scene Mike Fair (guitar/backing vocals) as well as Jamie Taylor (drums) and Carla Cherry (bass & vocals) .I have always been a fan of Mike as a guitarist and singer and on Unspoken Word you get a refocused guitar action-figure version of Mike (with Kung-fu battle grip) who absolutely rages and propels the five tracks on Unspoken Word track after track, into a perfect crescendo of spite. Verily-berrily good stuff. Unspoken Word  lays down a bed of angular neoteric rhythms reminding me of something that I would have reviewed in the early 00's. The fresh angular-jerk sound of Unspoken Word serves to couple and accent the forward snide fem vox directly linked with  precise bass rumblings and drumming dynamics. The result is a scathing, sheer-punk fuck-off attitude in ample proportions. Unspoken Word has purpose and focus-- an emerging manifestos soundtrack. Abruptly released in December 2013, if you order a Limited Edition physical copy it's delivered in a folded case with hand-stamped artwork. The Limited Edition version also ties into the bandcamp application someway or other. Unspoken Word is a solid debut that affirms their place in the modern 2014 Greater Cincinnati scene and is definitely a band to watch in this next year. A little momentum goes a long way. You just wait and see.

Bandcamp: http://thenightdivided.bandcamp.com
fB: https://www.facebook.com/TheNightDivided?ref=ts&fref=ts

RIYL: Pretty Girls Make Graves, The Sounds, Metric, Selby Tigers
MFJD: "The Blood Between Us" http://thenightdivided.bandcamp.com/track/the-blood-between-us

Video from The Northside Tavern with great duo-vox

http://youtu.be/41qL85gIsCQ

The Tigerlilies- In The Dark (CD, 2013/14)

The Tigerlilies are one band in the  Cincinnati underground scene has that has seemed to live on the edge of something bigger--a little bit out of their reach (like many other bands) for quite sometime. That also means that they have  been not only under-acknowledged and under-appreciated on a greater scale (or is that just me and my errors) but they are still hammering away and playing shows on a regular basis. On their own terms. That is admirble.

It seems like ever since I wasn't old enough to be getting into 21+ vnues, that The Tigerlilies were always here... There... Around... One of those bands on the periphery--not only poised and ready but active and determined, In The Dark represents yet another step in the right direction. No one said it was gonna be easy so maybe a redefining of what 'success' actually is would yield what a success could be? Hammering out shows and releases on a continual basis--despite what obstacles or feats of endurance 'the industry' or life throw at you, is quite the success right? In The Dark is another stab-back against the brooding enemy AND ally called rock and/or roll. Mama told you not to come... Sometimes, it dosent matter how hard you fight that is a measure of your ability, worth or standing, but how hard 'they', 'it' or whatever fights against you.

The Tigerlilies past cataloge exhibits one great jam after another and on In The Dark, it's the same success story. It's a collection of attacks with keen well placed energy bringing upbeat bouncy rock-rhythms to the forefront as-if  from another time when Indie-pop was called Alternative or college rock, modern rock or however it's remembered. The Tigerlilies pull from bands like The Shoes or Material Issues  power-pop sound as a base augmenting itself with T.Rex-like glam sources equally and masterfully.  (i.e. "20th Century Boy"). These songs are catchy and infective hum-a-longers. Nods all around to the total release as a whole. Expertly produced, designed and packaged, In The Dark is another album of songs that deserve attention still, again and now.

RIYL: Material Issue, Power-pop, The Shoes, Early. 90's 'College' Radio (Alternative), Glam Rock, 97X

MFJD (My fuckin' jam(s) Dude): Green Eyes

Tigerlillies:

https://www.facebook.com/TheTigerliliesUSA?ref=ts&fref=ts

Lethargic Defense of Extended Battles

                   

                                               Lethargic Defense of Extended Battles

HUNGRY EARS EAT... Love Triangles, Mardou and MORE

I dont remember initially how THE LOVE TRIANGLES came into my sights but it proly has something to do with Josh Rutledge (Faster and Louder Blog) so blame him.

                                                                                                                                     RIYL: The Fuses, Undertones, Sham 69, Power-Pop.

  

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Cincinnati post-punk dah-lings MARDOU continually impress with each performance. Never a Let down... "Pills" may be their best song yet. These songs have serrated edges. Great burst and kicks throughout.                                 RIYL Joy Division, Post-punk, Colossal Youth, Iceage, Crystal Stilts

 

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Hailing from the Tidewater region, THE GREAT DISMAL SWAMIS are a band that I'm still looking forward to hearing more from.                                                  RIYL: Garage-Punk, The Stitches

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I officially reviewed this a bit ago but don't forget to download this. Tomorrows peripheral punk moving inward. Get on board.

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