The Pattern Traced - Lessons In Leaving

2011-03-09T12:46:00.000-08:00

Release Date: January 1, 2011
Record Label: Unsigned
Genre: Pop/Punk/Indie
RIYL: Say Anything, Les Sages
Rating: 8.5/10
Album Themes: Finding Yourself, Relationships, Drugs, Being in your 20's
Track Listing:

A Fire At One End, A Fool At The Other
Thanks, Bye
Do You Want To Know Who I Really Am?
Been Hooked (Get Me Off)
The Direction In Which Lost Men Veer
Each The Other's World Entire
Our Marketable Version Of The Truth
Enough
Shoot The Instant Messenger
The Perks Of Being Bob Dylan's Son

"I don't belong in this crowd, and boy, does it stand out, but not in a good way" He definitely stands out, and contrary to the song, it IS in good way.

"The Pattern Traced" sounds like a complete band however, it is only one man, Jon Callander from Orlando, Florida who describes himself as a rapper who doesn't rap (although he does under the name "Jon Is Gone" link below.) This guy is making big moves with his debut, self released album "Lessons In Leaving" which is gaining recognition from sites like absolutepunk.net who showcased them on their weekly blog "Free Music Fridays." His vocals closely resemble Max Bemis from Say Anything however, he brings his own uniqueness and his beats are electronic instead of typical instruments like bass and guitar. Callander's strongest trait would have to be his ability to write interesting and original lyrics like "Here's how I deal with anxiety, Alcohol, sex and drugs, Just like the wrists and mascara of Emo girls, I always cut and run." IMO, he is one of the best up and coming lyricists out there.

The whole album plays out as a cohesive work and the production level is very professional. The album stays consistently mid tempo and never really gets loud, but it does get soft on songs like "Each The Other's World Entire" and "Enough." There are no real stand out tracks, but there are no weak points either, which is impressive for a debut album.

So let's break the album down a bit. The opening track "A Fire at One End, A Fool at the Other" begins with "Goodbye Midwestern life, Hello, who cares... I've been angry and bitter and restless, See? I'm well aware" which sets the mood for the album and tells us he's angry, he knows, and he's about to explain why.

On the second track "Thanks, Bye" Callander sings, "I've spent the last two years of my life, High, High" and talks about growing up, changing habits, and moving on, which anyone in their twenties about to enter the real world can relate to.

"The Direction In Which Lost Men Veer" opens with "Someone please distract me, Preferably with hashish" another example of great lyrics. This song again shows the singer stuck in a place he needs to get out of, but he can't (not until he gets huge.)

"Enough" is one of the slower songs on the album and shows a vulnerable singer who has loved, been loved, and isn't sure if he needs love or not. Callander asks we throw our hands up if we've lost, missed, loved, or needed someone, and I'm sure we all have.

Again the singer is hurt by an ex love in "Shoot the Instant Messenger" where he explains "Now we only talk in text" as a relationship comes to an end.

The Final track on the album "The Perks of Being Bob Dylan's Son" seems to be a song about the passing of a father and dealing with the grief and uncertainty of after life (I could be wrong.) Callander sings, "No more miss you's measured in miles, Just memories and might-have-beens, Optimists say it's only awhile, Atheists say that it is the end, I guess for now it's the end." The singer contemplates whether he will reunite with his father in the afterlife or not, but either way he must move on.

The Pattern Traced may not be known yet, but with another release like "Lesson In Leaving" he may soon be. Either way, he's definitely caught my attention, and I can't wait for more!

http://thepatterntraced.bandcamp.com/album/lessons-in-leaving

http://jonisgone.bandcamp.com/album/cant-afford-a-suit

The Front Bottoms - Slow Dancing To Soft Rock

2011-03-09T10:55:00.000-08:00

Release Date: June 2, 2010
Record Label: Unsigned
Genre: Pop/Punk/Indie/Folk
RIYL: Frightened Rabbit, Titus Andronicus, Seahaven, Brand New's (Your Favorite Weapon)
Rating: 7/10
Album Themes: Hometown NJ, Ending Relationships, Leaving Home
Track Listing:

Swimming Pool
The Beers
Father
Bathtub
Maps
Legit Tattoo Gun

"There is a map in my room on the wall of my room and I've got big, big plans" and believe me they do.

"The Front Bottoms" are a duo from Bergen County, New Jersey, consisting of Brian Sella on vocals/guitar & Matt Uychich on drums. Upon first listen, this band sounds like an American "Frightened Rabbit" with a rawer, punkier feel. The lead singer has a bit of a Scottish twang even though he resides in New Jersey, and the instruments are simple power cords but the combo works beautifully.

The one track on the album titled "Maps"(video below) is the greatest example of the correlation between them and "Frightened Rabbit" and is destined to launch this band into Indie stardom. As Sella sings “You say ‘I hate you,’ and you mean it and ‘I love you,’ sounds fake. It’s taken me so long to figure that out. I used to love the taste, I’d do anything for it. Now I’d do anything to get the taste out of my mouth.” you can tell that this is a man who has been in the same place with the same people for too long. He also speaks of leaving friends he loves in order to make it out, and perhaps stop bagging groceries for a living.

The band also tackles situations like trying to impress girls. In "The Beers" Sella sings "And I will remember that summer, as the summer I was taking steroids, because you like a man with muscles, and I like you.” While "Swimming Pool" is about a relationship that will inevitably end. However, the line from this song that I really liked is "Follow an orange extension cord under a carpet, to a closet door, Feeding the black light that will someday make me very, very, very, very, very rich." which leads me to believe I have at least one thing in common with Sella.

The last song I want to mention is "Father." It's obvious the singer has some daddy issues as he talks about hitting him with a baseball bat, but the line "Cause you were high school, and I was just more like real life" is what you'll be singing in the shower. This band really wants to make it, and they deserve too.

http://thefrontbottoms.bandcamp.com/album/slow-dance-to-soft-rock

FURadio Listen To This!

The Pattern Traced - Lessons In Leaving

The Front Bottoms - Slow Dancing To Soft Rock