Does It Float - Every Words In Your PS CD

Urban Sleep (2009)

This CD was sent to me by Urban Sleep Discs along with a few others.  I'm trying my best to get all of the Japanese CDs I've acquired in the past year reviewed for this site, so if there seems to be more of them than usual, this is one of the reasons why (Another reason being that very few new albums tend to get released in January, so it's a good time to play catch up with some others).

Does It Float is playing an extremely catchy variant of melodic, emo tinged punk rock.  The thing that stands out to me more than anything else is the impressively complex lead guitar noodling in each song.  It adds a level of depth and musicianship that you don't hear just anywhere, but the band never dives too far into self indulgent guitar wanking.  Every note means something and serves the incessantly catchy hooks that the band manage to sneak into every song.

It actually reminds me a lot of the first few Three Minute Movie songs I heard from their split with Braid and that 3" CD that came out around the same time.  Mix in some Scaries style pop hooks and that's a pretty decent road map to the sounds that Does It Float are working with.  It may not be a brand new release, having come out in 2009.  But it's definitely work backtracking to check out.  

Unfortunately, I'm not able to find any of their songs online to link to, But the band also has a split 7" with Stay Clean Jolene that came out on All In Vinyl some time back that's easier to hear online.  I'm just happy to add more song by these guys to the collection.  

Kerbivore - All Dressed CDEP

Urban Sleep (2016)

Allow me to describe the complete ass backwards way I discovered this band.  Kerbivore is from Staten Island, NY.  As recently as last month, they played in Asbury Park, NJ - only 45 minutes or so away from where I live.  Did I discover this band while I was out at a local show?  Did word of mouth sperad of a local band that I had to check out?  Nope.  When I was in Japan the singer of the band 2 Sick Worry told me about the record label he was doing in Japan and then he sent me a handful of CDs he released.  Kerbivore was in that stack.  I had to go to Japan to hear about a band that's playing in my own backyard.  Sure seems weird.

Anyway, this Kerbivore CD is pretty great.  I'm reminded a lot of the band Golden City, one of the post-Christie Front Drive bands that was around for five minutes or so.  Mix that knack for pop with a hint of Dinosaur Jr. style fuzzed out guitar pyrotechnics and blend in some of the ramshackle energy of Demolition Theater era New Sweet Breath and I think that's starts to paint a decent picture of what you can expect from Kerbivore.  On of my favorite things is when a band is writing pop songs, but is skillful enough to complicate things a bit, but not lose that inherent hook and catchiness. Kerbivore pulls that off pretty flawlessly.

All five songs are hits, but the closer of the EP, "My Apartment's a Mess," really drives things home and makes me hungry for more.  The fact that these guys were just playing locally a few weeks ago is hopefully a sign that they're working on so new tunes.  I'd sure like to hear a full length from them.  Thanks for the CD Yu!

Kerbivore - All Dressed Up (It was released on cassette in the US as well, this is the US label's Bandcamp page):

https://unblinkingearrecords.bandcamp.com/album/all-dressed

Jetpilot - Seven Songs EP CD

Urban Sleep Discs (2008)

I've mentioned before that I met a bunch of wonderful people at the Waterslide/PopKid show that happened while I was in Tokyo.  One of the people I met was one of the guys in the band 2 Sick Worry (they played the show).  He was also in the band Plum and on top of that, does a record label called Urban Sleep Discs.  In addition to playing a great show with his band, he also gave me a few CDs from his label.  One of the CDs I got was this Jetpilot EP.

Jetpilot being from Sweden immediately got my attention.  There were so many amazing Swedish popcore bands in the late 90's, but it's a scene I haven't stayed as in touch with as I wish I did.  Had I stayed alert, I probably would have heard Jetpilot long before now as they are right up my alley.  They're more straightforward than a band like Starmarket, but they inhabit the same space.  Big on warm, distorted guitar and strained, but earnest vocals.  Some may call it emotional, but to me it's just another unique strain of pop music.

In particular, the opening song "Worst Reminder" bursts out of the gate and really sets the pace for the duration of the EP.  The guitars start off explosive, fade back a bit into some lead work for the verse and then come charging back in full force for the chorus.  It's a formula that's tried and true because when it's done right, there's no better sound to my ears.  Digging around the internet, it doesn't appear that Jetpilot is still together, but between this and a split CD I was also given (review of that coming soon), I've been made a huge fan of the band.  It again makes me wonder if there are other amazing bands in Sweden that I'm missing.  If you know of any, send them my way.

Jetpilot - Seven Songs EP (Full EP on YouTube.  I couldn't find any other songs online)

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