Survival Knife - Survivalized 12" - Clear Vinyl

Chunklet (2014)

I'm all out of records for Unwound Wednesday.  Best I can tell, I now have a complete set of Unwound 7"s.  Since the last of the Numero Group box sets will catch me up on all of the full lengths, I'm content stopping there.  Though somehow I managed to buy 2 copies of the Unwound/Versus split.  Don't ask me how I pulled off that one.

So, as a closing to this great day of the week, I'll wrap up with the newest Survival Knife EP.  That seems fitting to me as it is the new band of Justin Trosper of Unwound along with the original Unwound drummer, Brandt Sandeno.  Right off the bat, let me just make clear that although it doesn't rival my dislike of cassettes, I do not like EPs.  I figure if you only have a few songs, put out a 7".  If you have too many songs for a 7", save up a few more and put out a full album.  12" EPs are just too expensive for the amount of music you get.

That being said, this is one hell of an EP.  Last year's full length, Loose Power, was one of my absolute favorites.  This EP shows the band is still firing on all cylinders.  There are 3 new songs along with an alternate version of album track "Gold Widow" and a live version of "Roman Fever."  Honestly, I'd be fine chucking those 2 and just having a 7" of the 3 new amazing songs.

The two A side songs are fast and intense with searing guitar and Justin's trademark soft/scream vocals.  They have the energy of Hot Snakes, but with more left of center guitar work.  In particular, "Tropic Of Chaos" is just outstanding.  The B side's new track, "Lasso or Noose" is more of a sprawling instrumental.  It clocks in at over seven minutes, but explores some pretty interesting paths during that run.  It's probably the main reason this had to be a 12" rather than a 7".  OK, maybe the EP is a format that annoys me, but these Survival Knife songs are worth every penny.  I hope they are already hard at work on a new LP because I want more.

Survival Knife - Survivalized 12":

http://chunklet.bandcamp.com/album/survivalized

The Absolute Best Records Of 2014

2014 was another year where I bought way too many records.  Luckily there was no shortage of fantastic albums released this year.  Everything on my list is a great record and worthy of a listen, but in particular the top 5 records on this list are all essential purchases.

Cloud Nothings and The No Marks dominated my turntable in 2014 as I couldn't even tell you how many times I listened to each.  I'm always extra excited to add bands to my year end list that have never been on before.  Sonic Avenues and Steve Adamyk Band are both longtime stalwarts of my end of the year lists and once again they each delivered a truly fantastic album. So Cow and Stay Clean Jolene couldn't be more different, but they both jumped way up on my list despite the fact that they came out later in the year and I haven't spent nearly the amount of time with them as some of the others.

I also wanted to make sure I specifically point out Minutes, Bear Trade and Freak Wave as I think they are bands that likely didn't get as much attention as some of the bigger name bands in 2014, but all three put out amazing records that really shouldn't be missed.

01 - Cloud Nothings - Here And Nowhere Else - Carpark  (Listen)
02 - The No Marks - Light Of One - Brassneck  (Listen)
03 - Sonic Avenues - Mistakes - Dirtnap  (Listen)
04 - Steve Adamyk Band - Dial Tone - Dirtnap  (Listen)
05 - So Cow - The Long Con - Goner  (Listen)
06 - Survival Knife - Loose Power - Glacial Pace  (Listen)
07 - Minutes - Roland - Self Released  (Listen)
08 - Gold-Bears - Dalliance - Slumberland  (Listen)
09 - Unwelcome Guests - Wavering - Dirtcult / One Percent Press  (Listen)
10 - Stay Clean Jolene - Stay Clean Jolene - Dead Broke / Rad Girlfriend / Drunken Sailor / Eager Beaver  (Listen)

11 - Murmurs - Bound - Dead Broke
12 - Blank Pages - Blank Pages - Dirtcult
13 - The Blind Shake - Breakfast Of Failures - Goner
14 - Herzog - Boys - Exit Stencil
15 - Bear Trade - Blood And Sand - Dead Broke / Everything Sucks
16 - Freak Wave - Don't Let Me Down - Poison City
17 - Dan Sartain - Dudesblood - One Little Indian
18 - Bob Mould - Beauty & Ruin - Merge
19 - Your Pest Band - Time To Go - Snuffy Smiles
20 - Needles//Pins - Shamebirds - Dirtcult

21 - Weezer - Everything Will Be Alright In The End - Republic
22 - The Capitalist Kids - At A Loss - It's Alive / Toxic Pop / Rad Girlfriend
23 - Wringer - Bullfighter - Smellhound
24 - Songs For Snakes - Year Of The Snake - Self Released
25 - The Creeps - Eulogies - It's Alive
26 - Nude Beach - 77 - Don Giovanni
27 - Average Times - Average Times - Hosehead
28 - Mother's Children - Lemon - Taken By Surprise
29 - The Estranged - The Estranged - Dirtnap
30 - Matthew Melton - Outside Of Paradise - Southpaw

Other Records I Bought & Enjoyed This Year:
Against Me! - Transgender Dysphoria Blues - Total Treble
Banner Pilot - Souvenir - Fat Wreck
Beck - Morning Phase - Capitol
The Both - The Both - SuperEgo
Brick Mower - Teenage Graceland - Don Giovanni
The Cry! - Dangerous Game - Taken By Surprise
Failures' Union - Tethering - Dead Broke
Hospital Job - The Believer - It's Alive / Insubordination
Hurry - Everything/Nothing - Hot Green
Jet Black - In Paradox - Self Released
Mapmaker - Critical Path - Salinas / One Percent Press
Masked Intruder - M.I. - Fat Wreck
Martha - Courting Strong - Salinas
The Men - Tomorrow's Hits - Sacred Bones
Missing Monuments - Missing Monuments - Dirtnap
Napalmpom - The Unconditional Love Of - Teenage Rampage
The Pixies - Indie Cindy - Pixies Music
The Raging Nathans - Losing It - Dead Broke / Rad Girlfriend / Recess
The Yolks - Kings Of Awesome - Randy
The Young Leaves - Alive And Well - Baldy Longhair
Warm Soda - Young Reckless Hearts - Castle Face
"Weird Al" Yankovic - Mandatory Fun - RCA

Previously:
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009

Survival Knife - Loose Power LP

Glacial Pace (2014)

This is one of those records that I couldn't have been more ready for.  With Numero Group reissuing the Unwound catalog recently, I've been in that mindset for some rough around the edges 90's style indie rock.  Well, Justin Trosper and Brandy Sandero, both formerly of Unwound, answered the call and have released an absolute beast of an LP.

Survival Knife takes the very best parts of Unwound and combines them with the sort of pop sensibilities and catchy choruses that few people probably thought was possible considering the principal players involved.  I've heard several friends compare aspects of Survival Knife to Hot Snakes, and while I agree that they do both have similar tones, Survival Knife is not a non-stop downstroke explosion like Hot Snakes.  Survival Knife keeps things slightly cleaner, a bit less aggressive and, on more than a few instances. really takes advantage of some long, sprawling songs the way Unwound used to.  

Eight minute plus tracks like "Cut The Quick" give Survival Knife the sort of canvas that allows them to meander a bit and explore some intricate but compelling guitar work.  Yet the band is equally adept at blasting out a fast paced, in your face three and a half minute blasts like album opener "Divine Mob" or the stellar "Fell Runner."  No matter the direction Survival Knife goes, the results are impressive.

Loose Power is absolutely one of the best 2 or 3 records to come out in 2014 so far.  It's pretty much perfect.  I'll even go so far as to say it's even better than most of Unwound's catalog.  That's how fantastic I think this album is.  If you were on the fence about checking this out, you are really missing out on something truly great.

Survival Knife - "Fell Runner":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uXdN0cj7dQ

Survival Knife - "Divine Mob":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXH_jsW_YX4

Survival Knife - Divine Mob 7" - Gold Vinyl (/100)

Survival Knife - Divine Mob 7" - Gold Vinyl (/100), a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Kill Rock Stars (2013)

It's pretty interesting to see members of Unwound with a new project right as their back catalog is in the process of being reissued. It provides an extra excuse to listen to them side by side and really see how things have changed. This is the 2nd Survival Knife 7", the first having come out on Sub Pop a few months ago. The first 100 of these were on gold vinyl direct from Kill Rock Stars.

The 2 songs have to be judged separately in my opinion. the title track "Divine Mob" is just fantastic. Loud, fast-ish, with lots of 90's sounding guitar leads, Justin Trosper's distinct vocals and even a well placed pick slide for good measure. Everything I want to hear from this band.

The B-side, "Snakebit," doesn't strike me the same way. From it's plodding Neon Genesis Evangelion "Angles Attack" guitar riff (now that's a nerdy music comparison for you) to the fact that Justin's not even singing the song, it's the first rack I've heard form this band that I didn't immediately love. I feel like it could work being a one-off within the context of a full album, but as a 50/50 showcase with "Divine Mob," it just pales in comparison.

Still, the A-side is so good I would recommend picking this 7" up without hesitation.

Survival Knife - Divine Mob:
killrockstars.bandcamp.com/album/divine-mob

Survival Knife - Traces Of Me 7"

Survival Knife - Traces Of Me, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Sub Pop (2013)

In the early 90's I was really into the noisy indie rock scene that was kicking around the northwest. You could have checked my collection and found records by bands like Fitz Of Depresiion, Karp & godheadSilo. What you would have also found is a handful of Unwound records. As I got older, I tended to drift towards the poppier side of things and so many of those bands imploded that it was just time to move on. Some of those records I look back at and wonder what was I thinking.

Recently I've be relistening to Unwound; those are records that have held up pretty well. It's a shame I pruned a lot of them from the collection many moons ago. They're going to have their catalog reissued soon, and I will definitely be picking up their early albums again. That brings us to Survival Knife, featuring ex members of Unwound.

Unwound was a band that I liked less as their records progressed. They got less noisy, less edgy and more atmospheric. Not my cup of tea. Survival Knife takes a welcome step backwards and serves up 2 songs of noisy, crunchy indie rock. This is the type of stuff I miss from Unwound. Though there's a darker dissonant vibe, they really manage to sneak a few hidden hooks in there as well. A strong debut and I'm eager to hear more.

Survival Knife - Traces of Me (Live):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iy60k7MwiNo

Survival Knife: Name That Tune:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs4Ahxj1-aI