Travis Cut - In Transit 7" - Yellow Vinyl & Orange Vinyl

Brassneck / Speedowax (2021)

I am writing about this record a bit later than probably is ideal for those involved in its release, but my copies were hanging out in a pile of records from the UK waiting for the appropriate time to be shipped to take maximum advantage of crazy postage rates.  Even though it came out a year and a half ago, it was worth the wait and I can only say if you haven't already picked this up, you should do so immediately.

Travis Cut were another one of those great melodic punk bands that was kicking around in the UK at the same time as Broccoli, Chopper, Skimmer, Hooton 3 Car, Crocodile God and that crew.  They leaned a bit more on the pop punk and J Church-y side of the spectrum and boy oh boy did they put out a lot of 7"s.  And boy oh boy do I own a lot of Travis Cut 7"s.

The three songs on this 7" were originally recorded in 2002 and were meant to be part of a full length album that never came to be.  Finally released now (with a fourth as part of a compilation 7" that's also in the queue to write about), these songs are a perfect time capsule of a music scene that will always be my very favorite.  All three songs are fast, tight and super energetic, with the trademark Travis Cut knack for big hooks and a catchy chorus.  These songs wouldn't sound out of place at all on their singles comp, Another Day, Another Drummer, which incidentally really needs a proper vinyl release so I can listed to these songs on my turntable without having to flip forty records over.

There are two versions of this record on different color vinyl and with different sleeves.  I still feel that urge for variants on some bands so I had to pick up both, but ultimately the best thing about this release is the songs and getting to hear new Travis Cut for the first time in decades.  A true cause for celebration.

Travis Cut - In Transit 7":
https://brassneckrecords.bandcamp.com/album/in-transit

Quaker Wedding - In Transit LP

Salinas (2020)

I'm pretty sure that when it comes to records I've been sent this year, when the album in question is by a band I had not heard of before, this Quaker Wedding album is the best one I have listened to in 2020.  When this came in the mail, I was intrigued by the artwork and wanted it to be good.  Once the opening chords of "Sinking Ship" blasted out of my speakers, I knew this record was going to be a keeper.

When I listen to this album, I can hear echoes of other bands that I like. There is an Off With Their Heads/Dear Landlord quality in the vocals.  And of course the great grandaddy touchstone certainly sounds like Jawbreaker to me, but none of these comparisons really do Quaker Wedding justice.  They're not a No Idea sound alike band and to me the most obvious difference between Quaker Wedding and the bands I just compared them to is how much of the album is built on slower and more mid tempo songs.  Sure, there are a few fast paced rockers, but where the album really excels is when the band is taking their tame and building their sound.

I'm uncertain if it was written this way on purpose, but sitting here six months into a pandemic that has kept me from seeing friends and living a normal life, I can really latch on to the themes of isolation and melancholy that are prevalent on the record.  But what really grabs me is how these feelings aren't the defining characteristic of the album.  While they are there, to me the end result is much more uplifting and hopeful. This is a band worth checking out.

Quaker Wedding - In Transit:
https://quakerwedding.bandcamp.com/album/in-transit-2