Blog: Can You See the Sunset

Allister @ Reggie’s, Chicago

Mar 6, 11:22pm Can You See the Sunset
ALLISTER | 5 Years
If you're reading this, there's a pretty good chance you are a fan of pop-punk. If you're anywhere near Chicago or even the Midwest, you should head to Chicago this weekend. On March 9th, pop-punk veterans Allister are celebrating the 10 year anniversary of their sophomore full-length Last Stop Suburbia by playing the album in its entirety at Reggie's in Chicago. You know you need to be there. Opening the show are two more great Chicago pop-punk bands, August Premier and The Fold . Get your tickets soon before [...]
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New Sounds: Kinder Words

Feb 13, 10:38pm Can You See the Sunset
Who: Kinder Words Where: Cincinnati, Ohio How: Bandcamp What: Kinder Words is a really good pop punk band that likes to keep a low profile. The two songs on their newest demo remind me of stuff within the genre that's a little more East Coast and indie but there's still a healthy amount of upbeat melody. I can't wait to hear more from these guys. Yes, Zach, that means you. RIYL: Daytrader, Transit, New Found Glory, Sicko, etc... [...]
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Our Favorite Albums of 2002

Jan 3, 10:03pm Can You See the Sunset
Seeing that it's now 2013 this is a little bit late, but better late than never, right? As I've done for the past few years, I again (in 2012) revisited the best albums from ten years before. Here are 20 of them in alphabetical order. If anything, (perhaps) this might spark you to dig out some old CD's and take a trip down memory lane. If by some strange change you haven't heard any of these, go check them out. Against Me! - Reinventing Axl Rose As Friends Rust - A Young Trophy Band In The Parlance [...]
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The Best Live Shows I Saw In 2012

Dec 15, 2012, 11:31am Can You See the Sunset
Grade - A Year In The Past, Forever In The Future (Live at THE FEST 11 in Gainesville)
Aside from some major festivals, I didn't see nearly as much live music in 2012 as I have in years past. With the one kid in school and the demands of my new-ish day job, it just didn't happen. Still, I managed to see a ton of great bands and shows this year. Here's the 10 best sets I saw in chronological order. February 24, 2012 - Promise Ring @ Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI March 29, 2012 - Masked Intruder @ Beat Kitchen, Chicago, IL [...]
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My Favorite Records of 2012 (10-1)

Dec 14, 2012, 11:10pm Can You See the Sunset
Alright fuckers, here it is. Here's my ten favorite records of 2012. Still, like I mentioned before, most of my top 20 is somewhat interchangeable. Really, though, it has been a pretty incredible year for music. Now, by my count, 9 records from my list were self-released. That's a shit ton of bands doing things on their own and I totally support that. The other ridiculous number that jumps out at me is that our pals over at Tiny Engines are responsible for 5 records, a full 10%, on this list. Well done guys. So this is it. You can [...]
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Link Text:Erica Freas - Spider Song
File Name:erica_freas_spider_song.mp3
Bitrate:169 kbps
Genre:255
Year:2012
Artist:Big Awesome
Title:Drawing a Line in the Sand
Link Text:Big Awesome - Drawing A Line In The Sand
File Name:big_awesome_drawing_a_line_in_ the_sand.mp3
Artist:Bill Fay
Title:There Is A Valley
Link Text:Bill Fay - There Is A Valley
File Name:bill_fay_there_is_a_valley.mp3
Bitrate:160 kbps
Genre:General Alternative
Year:2012
Artist:Classics Of Love
Title:Gunshow
Link Text:Classics Of Love - Gunshow
File Name:classics_of_love_gunshow.mp3
Bitrate:128 kbps
Artist:Dikembe
Title:Apology Not Fucking Accepted
Link Text:Dikembe - Apology Not Fucking Accepted
File Name:dikembe_apology_not_fucking_ac cepted.mp3
Year:2012
Artist:Everyone Everywhere
Title:The Future
Link Text:Everyone Everywhere - The Future
File Name:everyone_everywhere_the_future .mp3
Year:2012
Artist:Hop Along
Title:Tibetan Pop Stars
Link Text:Hop Along - Tibetan Pop Stars
File Name:hop_along_tibetan_pop_stars.mp 3
Bitrate:128 kbps
Genre:255
Artist:Luther
Title:Heavy Money
Link Text:Luther - Heavy Money
File Name:luther_heavy_money.mp3
Bitrate:276 kbps
Genre:Punk
Year:2012
Artist:Mixtapes
Title:Something Better
Link Text:Mixtapes - Something Better
File Name:mixtapes_something_better.mp3
Year:2012

My Favorite Records of 2012 (20-11)

Dec 13, 2012, 10:42pm Can You See the Sunset
Here's part 4 of my list detailing my favorite records of 2012. For the first three parts of the list just click here . Many if not all of these could have probably been in my top ten based on the day. Enjoy. 20. Chris Wollard & The Ship Thieves - Canyons (No Idea) Canyons is the second full-length from Hot Water Music co-frontman Chris Wollard and his band The Ship Thieves. It’s a driving record that combines grooving Southern rock and swampy post-punk [...]
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Link Text:J Kutchma & The Five Fifths - I Used To Believe
File Name:j_kutchma_i_used_to_believe.mp 3
Bitrate:180 kbps
Genre:255
Year:2012
Artist:Arms Aloft
Title:Irish Coffee
Link Text:Arms Aloft - Irish Coffee
File Name:arms_aloft_irish_coffee.mp3
Bitrate:256 kbps
Genre:Punk
Year:2012
Artist:Best Practices
Title:Welcome to Erf
Link Text:Best Practices - Welcome To Erf
File Name:best_practices_welcome_to_erf. mp3
Year:2012
Artist:Ceremony
Title:Repeating the Circle
Link Text:Ceremony - Repeating The Circle
File Name:ceremony_repeating_the_circle. mp3
Bitrate:191 kbps
Genre:Metal
Year:2012
Artist:Chris Wollard and The Ship Thieves
Title:Dream in My Head
Link Text:Chris Wollard & The Ship Thieves - Dream In My Head
File Name:chris_wollard_dream_in_my_head .mp3
Year:2012
Artist:Hot Water Music
Title:Drag My Body
Link Text:Hot Water Music - Drag My Body
File Name:hot_water_music_drag_my_body.m p3
Bitrate:251 kbps
Genre:Punk Rock
Year:2012
Artist:Restorations
Title:A
Link Text:Restorations - A
File Name:restorations_a.mp3
Artist:Sundials
Title:Completely Broken
Link Text:Sundials - Completely Broken
File Name:sundials_completely_broken.mp3
Bitrate:261 kbps
Genre:Punk
Year:2012
Artist:The Menzingers
Title:The Obituaries
Link Text:The Menzingers - The Obituaries
File Name:the_menzingers_the_obituaries. mp3
Bitrate:276 kbps
Genre:Punk Rock
Year:2012
Artist:White Lung
Title:Bag
Link Text:White Lung - Bag
File Name:white_lung_bag.mp3
Bitrate:256 kbps
Genre:Punk Rock
Year:2012

My Favorite Records of 2012 (30-21)

Dec 12, 2012, 10:15pm Can You See the Sunset
If you've stuck around this long you might as well pay attention until it's over, right? This is the third part of my five-part list detailing my favorite albums of 2012. If you missed the first two parts of the list, you can check them out right here . Also, I saw three of these bands live at Fest 11 and they were all pretty great. Enough about that, check out the list. Enjoy. 30. Julie Doiron - So Many Days (Aporia) On So Many [...]
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Link Text:Juniper Tar - Canting
File Name:juniper_tar_canting.mp3
Bitrate:180 kbps
Genre:255
Year:2012
Link Text:Old Flings - T.B.C.
File Name:old_flings_tbc.mp3
Bitrate:201 kbps
Genre:255
Year:2012
Artist:Arliss Nancy
Title:Pages
Link Text:Arliss Nancy - Pages
File Name:arliss_nancy_pages.mp3
Bitrate:320 kbps
Genre:Rock
Year:2012
Artist:Hostage Calm
Link Text:Hostage Calm - Woke Up Next To A Body
File Name:hostage_calm_woke_up_next_to_a _body.mp3
Year:2012
Artist:Julie Doiron
Title:Can't Take It No More
Link Text:Julie Doiron - Can’t Take It No More
File Name:julie_doiron_cant_take_it_no_m ore.mp3
Bitrate:320 kbps
Genre:Singer-Songwriter
Year:2012
Artist:Meth Mouth Records
Title:Scumbag Generation
Link Text:Chemical Ache - Scumbag Generation
File Name:chemical_ache_scumbag_generati on.mp3
Artist:Spirit Family Reunion
Title:I Am Following the Sound
Link Text:Spirit Family Reunion - I Am Following The Sound
File Name:spirit_family_reunion_i_am_fol lowing_the_sound.mp3
Bitrate:320 kbps
Genre:Americana
Year:2012
Artist:The Henry Clay People
Title:Everybandweeverloved
Link Text:The Henry Clay People - Everybandweeverloved
File Name:the_henry_clay_people_everyban dweeverloved.mp3
Genre:Alternative
Year:2012
Artist:The Sidekicks
Title:Grace
Link Text:The Sidekicks - Grace
File Name:the_sidekicks_grace.mp3
Year:2012

My Favorite Records of 2012 (40-31)

Dec 11, 2012, 10:41pm Can You See the Sunset
So here's part 2 of my year-end list. If you're so inclined, you can check out part 1 right here . Maybe you'll discover something new that you really like. Finding new music that I've somehow missed during the year is one of the reasons I like reading year-end lists and one of the reasons I keep posting mine. Enjoy. 40. Ma Jolie - ...Compared To Giants (Self-Released) …Compared To Giants is the awesome debut full-length from Philadelphia’s Ma Jolie. On it, they play [...]
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Link Text:Joyce Manor - Bride Of Usher
File Name:joyce_manor_bride_of_usher.mp3
Artist:Bob Mould
Title:The Descent
Link Text:Bob Mould - The Descent
File Name:bob_mould_the_descent.mp3
Bitrate:283 kbps
Genre:Rock
Year:2012
Artist:Dinosaur Jr.
Title:Watch the Corners
Link Text:Dinosaur Jr. - Watch The Corners
File Name:dinosaur_jr_watch_the_corners. mp3
Genre:Alternative
Year:2012
Artist:Downtown Struts
Title:Postcards
Link Text:Downtown Struts - Postcards
File Name:downtown_struts_postcards.mp3
Bitrate:271 kbps
Genre:Punk Rock
Year:2012
Artist:Glocca Morra
Title:Irrevocable, Motherfucker
Link Text:Glocca Morra - Irrevocable, Motherfucker
File Name:glocca_morra_irrevocable_mothe rfucker.mp3
Genre:Emo
Year:2012
Artist:Ma Jolie
Title:88 mph
Link Text:Ma Jolie - 88 MPH
File Name:ma_jolie_88_mph.mp3
Artist:Rocky Votolato
Title:Sparks
Link Text:Rocky Votolato - Sparks
File Name:rocky_votolato_sparks.mp3
Genre:Indie
Year:2012
Artist:The Caskett Lottery
Title:In The Branches
Link Text:The Casket Lottery - In The Branches
File Name:the_casket_lottery_in_the_bran ches.mp3
Bitrate:320 kbps
Artist:The Evening Rig
Title:So Far Gone
Link Text:The Evening Rig - So Far Gone
File Name:the_evening_rig_so_far_gone.mp 3
Bitrate:192 kbps
Genre:Rock
Year:2012

My Favorite Records of 2012 (50-41)

Dec 10, 2012, 11:09pm Can You See the Sunset
There was so much great music released in this year, maybe more than in any other year since I started compiling these lists. Narrowing the list down to just 50 was damn near impossible. In fact, just about everything on the list could be flipped around in some way, but these are what I've decided to go with. I'll be posting 10 of my favorite albums from 2012 each day this week with the top ten on Friday. Much more commentary to come as well. Cheers. 50. The Devil's Own [...]
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Link Text:Alone At 3AM - Weekends At The Cape
File Name:alone_at_3am_weekends_at_the_c ape.mp3
Bitrate:195 kbps
Genre:255
Year:2012
Artist:Basement
Title:Covet
Link Text:Basement - Covet
File Name:basement_covet.mp3
Year:2012
Artist:Cheap Girls
Title:Ruby
Link Text:Cheap Girls - Ruby
File Name:cheap_girls_ruby.mp3
Bitrate:296 kbps
Genre:General Mainstream Rock
Year:2012
Artist:Cut Teeth
Title:Who is Thomas Driscoll?
Link Text:Cut Teeth - Who Is Thomas Driscoll?
File Name:cut_teeth_who_is_thomas_drisco ll.mp3
Bitrate:320 kbps
Year:2012
Artist:Masked Intruder
Title:Heart Shaped Guitar
Link Text:Masked Intruder - Heart Shaped Guitar
File Name:masked_intruder_heart_shaped_g uitar.mp3
Bitrate:192 kbps
Genre:Pop-Punk
Year:2012
Artist:New Bruises
Title:There Was Only One Johnny Cash
Link Text:New Bruises - There Was Only One Johnny Cash
File Name:new_bruises_there_was_only_one _johnny_cash.mp3
Bitrate:279 kbps
Genre:Punk
Year:2012
Artist:Save Ends
Title:Sweet Defeat
Link Text:Save Ends - Sweet Defeat
File Name:save_ends_sweet_defeat.mp3
Artist:State Lines
Title:5's On The Elephant
Link Text:State Lines - 5′s On The Elephant
File Name:state_lines_5s_on_the_elephant .mp3
Bitrate:320 kbps
Genre:Emo
Year:2012
Artist:The Devil's Own
Title:Blues are Comin'
Link Text:The Devil’s Own - Blues Are Comin’
File Name:the_devils_own_blues_are_comin .mp3
Genre:Alt. Rock
Year:2012
Artist:You Blew It!
Title:I'm Bill Paxton
Link Text:You Blew It - I’m Bill Paxton
File Name:you_blew_it_im_bill_paxton.mp3
Genre:Alternative
Year:2012

Updates

Oct 18, 2012, 10:18pm Can You See the Sunset
Hey friends, I'm gonna try to be better about writing a little bit more around here. There are a ton of great records that I just need to find time to write about. I'll also eventually write a bit about Riot Fest and then the quickly approaching Fest itself. Until then, just go check out the Rocket Fuel podcast. Maybe check out some sports betting sites if that's your sort of thing. More later, I promise.
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Best Practices – The EP LP

Sep 9, 2012, 2:30pm Can You See the Sunset
Best Practices is a ridiculously good band from Providence, Rhode Island. Their new album (or whatever the release can be classified as) is called The EP LP and what a perfect title it is. On The EP LP Best Practices charges through 9 songs in a Joyce Manor-ish 12 minutes. It is full of what can best described as infectious and buoyantly fervent melodic punk topped with shouted vocals. The guitars have a post-punk angularity and are noisy but also deliver non-stop slinky garage rock hooks. Just imagine something like a faster, more youthful version of Fucked Up's [...]
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Artist:tinyengines
Title:Welcome to Erf
File Name:SoundCloud

Favorite Albums of 2012 (so far)

Jul 20, 2012, 11:20pm Can You See the Sunset
We're just over halfway through 2012 and there's been loads of great music released so far. Since I love lists, here are 10 of my favorites from the first half of 2012 (in alphabetical order). It's worth noting that both Asian Man Records and Tiny Engines both have multiple records on this list. Best Practices - The EP LP (Tiny Engines) This is quick-paced angular and buoyantly fervent melodic punk topped with shouted vocals. It's infectious! Ceremony - Zoo (Matador) If Joy Division came back in [...]
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Favorite Albums of 2011 Redux

Jul 18, 2012, 9:35pm Can You See the Sunset
Last December I posted a list of my favorite albums of 2011, so here's part 1 and part 2 . But now that I've lived with all those albums a little while longer, I've made some revisions to the list. While it's essentially the same as it was some 7 months ago, there are a few additions and few records that have moved around the list. The numbers in parentheses reflect the original positions and those albums noted with (NR) were not ranked on my original list last year. Oh yeah, there's a new number one. [...]
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Hot Water Music – Exister

Jul 15, 2012, 3:01pm Can You See the Sunset
Like so many other fans, when I first heard that Hot Water Music was making a new album I was extremely excited. With a legacy like theirs and a still-rabid fan base, Hot Water Music could have simply gone through the motions or just farted into a microphone and people would have still loved it. Luckily for all of us, that’s not the case with Exister . Hot Water Music is one of my favorite bands, if not my favorite band ever, and that’s a big reason why I have such mixed feelings about Exister [...]
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OFF! – OFF!

Jul 10, 2012, 9:39pm Can You See the Sunset
OFF! records don't just play in your iTunes or spin on your turntable. They spasmodically jump out of the speakers and shove you into the circle pit that is their sub two-minute, often sub one-minute songs. With only four EP's and two other seven inches under their belt, this full length is proof that these guys can churn out solid material with only the necessary bits intact and still fill up an LP without relegating themselves to being an EP only kind of band. OFF! is a California band and their sound reflects that both in [...]
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Can you hear the podcast from the Southside 08

Jun 23, 2012, 9:48pm Can You See the Sunset
Here's a little music to keep you busy this weekend. This podcast (the first I've done in quite awhile) shows that I actually do remember how to put one of these things together. I've been listening to a lot of Night Birds lately, so... yeah. 01. The Copyrights - Straight To The Office [00:39] 02. Masked Intruder - I Fought The Law [2:09] 03. Night Birds - Paranoid Times [04:49] 04. The Far West - Bitter Drunk & Cold [07:57] 05. City Mouse - Dumb Dumb Dumb [10:27] 06. Royal Headache - Girls [...]
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Artist:canyouseethesunset.com
Title:Episode 8
Link Text:Can You Hear the Podcast Vol. 8
File Name:08canyouhear062312.mp3
Bitrate:128 kbps
Genre:Podcast
Year:2012

Red Collar – Welcome Home

Jun 20, 2012, 11:45pm Can You See the Sunset
With their latest full-length release, Welcome Home , Durham, North Carolina’s Red Collar again delivers a modern amped-up take on Americana. Their 2009 album Pilgrim was among my favorites of that year and even though we’ve got a lot of 2012 left, I’m pretty sure that Welcome Home will find a place on my year-end list this year. It’s an unpretentious and unpolished-yet-uplifting blue-collar record that's as honest as a firm handshake. The jagged and angular post-punk of Pilgrim has been turned down a little, making Welcome Home [...]
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Artist:Red Collar
Title:American Me
Link Text:Red Collar - American Me
File Name:red_collar_american_me.mp3
Bitrate:320 kbps
Year:2012

Mixtapes – Even On The Worst Nights

Jun 19, 2012, 9:46pm Can You See the Sunset
If this album doesn't bring Cincinnati, Ohio's Mixtapes fame and fortune (at least within this tiny little world of punk music) it's just proof that most people have terrible taste. You see, Mixtapes' second album, Even On The Worst Nights , comes out on June 26th (that's next week) via No Sleep Records and it features more of the band's (in my own words) "near-perfect-pop-punk." In the (almost) two years since I reviewed the first Mixtapes album Maps here on Can You See the Sunset the band has [...]
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The Bouincing Souls – Comet

Jun 17, 2012, 11:17am Can You See the Sunset
Comet is a powerful album that rips the curtains off the walls with its crushing palm-muted Les Paul riffs and evokes internal sing-a-longs without even knowing all of its story-like lyrics. But this record also stops to catch its breath amongst the fury. The instrumentation on this release stands out both technically and audibly. Pete Steinkopf’s guitar tones are solid and heavy at times and shimmering and piercing, in a pleasant way, at others. The drums and bass carry the songs and remain connected with the guitar through the whole album. The opening of the [...]
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Say Hello To Derek

Jun 16, 2012, 11:49am Can You See the Sunset
Hi. Guess what? There's a new guy here at Can You See the Sunset now. Really? Yeah. That's right. Say hello to Derek. "Hi Derek!" So I've been talking about adding/allowing someone else to write stuff for this ridiculous blog with me for years, but have never followed through with it... until now. You see, Derek and his wife just moved to the Chicago area and I can confidently say that his musical tastes are almost as good as mine, so (if you ever did before) you can continue to rely on Can [...]
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Location: Chicago, IL