Album Reviews :: Tyler Daniel Bean :: Football, etc / Plaids :: The Black Clouds :: UK Decay

Written by: Andrea Janov, CC2K Music Editor

Tyler Daniel Bean :: Everything You Do Scares Me :: Tor Johnson / Kat Kat

Everything You Do Scares Me is a two track 7” by alternative/indie/folk artist Tyler Daniel Bean. A few months ago I reviewed his debut album, Longing for CC2K, which I totally dug and man, this EP goes so much deeper than any of those tracks. On this EP you can feel the deepness of loss and the naked intimacy in which he writes his songs. This 7” is sad, beautiful, introspective, honest, elegant, and profound.

Football, etc / Plaids :: Split :: Count Your Lucky Stars

This is an unusual split because Football, etc and Plaids have very different sounds. Football, etc is a female fronted emo/indie band while Plaids is loud fast in your face punk rock. The pairing of these sounds is pretty cool and Football, etc will be touring with Plaids over in England.

Emo bands and female singers aren’t really my wheelhouse but Football, ect’s Down the Field is a pretty solid track with understated music and strong vocals. Plaids’ eleven and twelve are classic punk rock tracks full of piss and fury that will get you riled up and drive any pit into a frenzy.

The Black Clouds :: Better Days 

Every now and then an alternative album comes along and reminds me of those years when I really started to love music and define myself by it. It was the early to mid 90s, grunge and alternative were everywhere and through bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam. Alice In Chains I discovered the Melvins, The Meat Puppets, Flipper, The Butthole Surfers, and so on. The Black Clouds’ Better Days is gritty, distorted, gravely rock and roll. Each track has its own nuance yet there is a cohesive sound to the album. Stand out track for me is Rid of Me.

UK Decay :: New Hope For the Dead :: Metropolis Records

UK Decay have been around the block for a while, while only releasing one full length and six EPs /7inches  in the 80s the band has never lost its fan base. In 2013 they have released a 7inch and their first full length since 1981. 

What I totally loved about this New Hope For the Dead is the feeling of menace and utter chaos that it presents. There are elements of the album that are 80s new wave electronic, elements that are harmonic, elements that are catchy, and lyrics that are super political, while the whole time you feel like the band is flipping you off, à la the Circle Jerks, Sex Pistols, and the Dead Kennedys.