Abe!!

Our boys of Abe Vigoda recently uploaded a demo of their newest jam “Crush” on their MySpace. They’ve been one of my favorite bands since PPM released Skeleton, Abe Vigoda’s deubt full-length, but “Crush” takes my appreciation for their music to a new level. Make sure you give it a listen.

-jstack

So Gay.

Really feeling this.

-jstack

Cerebral

I’ve been really down with Cerebral Ballzy lately. I don’t think they have any actual releases, but hit up their MySpace for some tunes. This video also rules.

Home Blitz

New Jersey’s Home Blitz released their new album, Out of Phase last November. I was turned on to it thanks to the always trustworthy Aquarius Records. In their review they gave the record album of the week honors and proclaimed  the track, “Two Steps” as the pop jam of the year, and even with so many good releases last year the song has easily become one of my favorites as well. Check out the band-approved download below and see for yourself. If you dig “Two Steps,” why not head out to your favorite record store and pick up a copy of Out of Phase, which was just recently released on vinyl as well.

Home Blitz – Two Steps

- Thomas

New M.I.A.

A new from M.I.A. upcoming album surfaced the over day on the Mad Decent blog. A lot of the people I’ve showed this to aren’t too into it, but I’m really feeling it. This atmospheric sound that Animal Collective pioneered keeps growing and growing in popularity, and now it’s really broke into the mainstream music world. So bump this. Prod. by Rusko.

Strip Mall Seizures

On Saturday (1/9) Strip Mall Seizures played at the 5lowershop (the Diamond Dave-owned underground art collective/concert hall/warehouse over in bayview/hunter’s point).  Currently centered in Oakland and self-described as magically diasporic cyber nothing punk, a many tentacled media beast, and a non-tangible information squid carrying your baby, Strip Mall Seizures are one of the most ridiculously creative bands out there, not to mention one of the hardest to pigeonhole.  Crazed, slightly nasal female vocals/rants, two dirty, scuzzy basses, and hardcore drumming with absurdly catchy everything-from-cabaret-to-gypsy-to-new wave-to-all-out-noise keyboards floating above it all, Strip Mall Seizures play their own twisted brand of rambunctious synth-punk that just might contain the answers to all of life’s questions if you listen hard enough.  Having only heard their first album, No English, I knew none of the songs they played Saturday night, which were all either new or from their tape-only affair, The Secret To Financial Freedom.  They brought the house down anyway, turning the at first scattered and bored crowd (thank you, shitty opening bands) into the sweaty party it should have been all along.

On another note, the keyboardist for the band, Brock Bousfield, has an absolutely batshit insane nutcase of an art-techno sideproject called Nero’s Day At Disneyland, which was responsible for 2009’s BEST, and most disgustingly under-appreciated, album From Rotting Fantasylands.

On yet another note, Strip Mall Seizures are the nicest, most personable band I have ever had the good fortune of talking to, and you really should buy their albums.

-Aaron

On-Line Store! (kinda…)

I finally got the Cut Division on-line store up and running. It’s not too legitimate of an on-line store, we’ve just got our shirts and CDs of St. Mawr’s Sweaty Palms up for sale on our MySpace through Pay-Pal. Our merchandise is pretty cheap, and definitely limited. Get out your plastic and buy, buy, buy! No seriously, the most you can spend on our merch. is $14.

-jstack

Rising 5

Probably my favorite song of 2009.

-j stack

It Happened!

Whoa!!! What a night! Cut Division Presents went off! I was glad to see so many people come out and support Cut Division along with Ty Segall, St. Mawr, The Egads, and Slow Loris. It was definitely one of the more stressful nights of my life, but I was so happy to see things end well.

The party got off to a rocky start when Thomas (guitar) and Eli (bass) of Slow Loris were repeatedly shocked by theirs mics. To make matters worse, Thomas broke a string on his guitar, then the fuse that the amps were plugged into blew out! It was like Final Destination or something! This rapid series of disasters was unstoppable.

Next up were The Egads. They got the crowd moving and smashed it as usual. There’s something about their hype, pardy-hardy garage rock that really gets the party going. They play once or twice a month around the Bay Area so be sure to check them out for a good time.

St. Mawr hasn’t been playing out too often, but this show kicked off their string of shows for 2010. They’ll be playing all over California pretty consistently this year. St. Mawr’s been writing a lot of new (and unrecorded) material that their playing live. One of my new favorites of theirs is “Ache.” Keep an eye on their calendar on MySpace to see when they’re playing near you.

Our man Ty Segall closed the night out with a KILLER set. Ty normally plays with a trio, but at Cut Division Presents he played one-man-band style. He originally stepped on scene playing solo, so it was cool to see him retrace his musical roots. He’s got so much energy live, especially when his playing guitar, bass drum, hi-hat, tambourine, and singing simultaneously.

All in all, the show went very well and we were all really pleased to see so many people come out and support local music. Thank you all!

Wildildlife

I really want to thank my buddy Eli Wald for showing me Wildildlife. They produce some super effected, super heavy, sometimes droney, but always catchy music. For a band  to make such heavy music, and for it still to be stuck in my head all the time is something I have not experienced before, and that is why Wildildlife is quickly becoming one my favorite bands. I have put up some of my favorite songs by them below. “Things Will Grow” is from their first full length, Six. “Shining Son” is found on their Peas Feast EP. And finally, “Stormbringer” which is from their split 7” with Harvey Milk. “Stormbringer” was produced by Jennifer Herrema who also happens to be producing their follow-up in January! Wildildlife use to be located right here in SF, but nowadays you will find them in Seattle, but that doesn’t mean us Bay Area residents shouldn’t show them any less love, so listen and download the tracks below and if you dig them, go out and by their recordings!

Wildildlife – Things Will Grow

Wildildlife – Shining Son

Wildildlife – Stormbringer

-Thomas