Des Ark – which one of you assholes ate christmas!!! from If You Make It on Vimeo.

I happened to find a leak of the new Des-Ark album today (Don’t Rock the Boat, Sink the Fucker, due out next month on Lovitt Records) and it has made this Christmas a bit more introspective and moody than usual.

How did you spend your holiday? I went and saw Tiny Furniture and ate some delicious Chinese food in Berkeley. (Jew!) Tell me about your day.

I hope it was splendid.

Teenage Cool Kids

First up: Teenage Cool Kids! Wait, did you hear that? It sounded like the collective “DUH!” of a thousand indie music bloggers. I guess that as per usual I’m tardy to the party. Oh, well. If you didn’t already do this a year ago, you can download their demo at DFW DIY.

Solanin

Next up: Solanin! Amy Klein of Titus Andronicus wrote me a few weeks ago to share this short, beautiful digital EP, For the Sky, from her solo project, Solanin. It’s quiet and thoughtful; has been compared to Joanna Newsom and Neutral Milk Hotel in terms of scope and sonic epicness. And yet, it’s only about 20 minutes long. You can download it at Solanin’s Bandcamp site.

Lava Lava

Finally: Lava Lava! A now-defunct DC twee/”cuddlecore” duo featuring Amina Althea (better known today as Amina Baird of Layers/Quake) and Spoonboy (of The Max Levine Ensemble). I can’t explain how the acoustic/pop-punk/acapella/drum machine mess that comprises the bulk of their two longest releases, Hey Fragile and Tour Demo, makes such magic in my brain when I listen to it. If I could, I’d definitely rip off their formula and team up with Santi Gold and make a bajillion dollars writing adorable hits for Miley Cyrus or some crap. I think it goes without saying that if you were to look at the “Play Count” on my iTunes for this band, it would read: “∞”. My point? Go download them both: Hey Fragile and Tour Demo. Oh, and to be clear: while my Google-stalking of Spoonboy’s sexuality is inconclusive, Ms. Amina is a BFD/Q. So, there you have it.

Myles of Destruction
Doom Town EP (200?)

A Coffin Fits One
Mourning Sickness
Moth Curiousity
Betta

Sarah writes, “Check out Myles of Destruction, a guitar-less queercore apocalyptic metal punk trio from Philly. This is their self-released EP from early 00′s.”

To which I say, “YES, PLEASE!” and also “GIMMIE MORE!”

[Download]
[Myspace]

Limp Wrist
What’s Up With the Kids? (200?)

01 What’s Up with the Kids
02 Stabbed in the Back
03 Punk Ass Queers
04 Rainbows
05 Recruiting Time
06 Define

Hat tip, Punkabilly!

[Download]
[Myspace]

Limp Wrist
Want Us Dead EP (2006)

1) Just Like You
2) What’s Gone Wrong?
3) Fake Fags
4) Want Us Dead

Hat tip, descargando rabia!

Probably my favorite Limp Wrist recording, short though it is. Some days I read too much of the AfterEllen blogs and I wanna get the lyrics to “Just like you” tattooed on my friggin’ forehead.

Speaking of lyrics, check them out here.

[Download]
[Myspace]

I’ve just been punched in the gut. Jumped in the alley by two punk bitchez who string the guitar that they share with barbed wire, beat out their jams on oil drums. This tape, by Philadelphia two-piece Layers/Quake, is the sonic equivalent of Wendy O. Williams’ role in Reform School Girls. My brain is melting. Thank you, Catherine, for turning me onto Layers/Quake. (Can anyone put me in touch with them? Email and such? I’d like to buy their tape.)

1. karp
2. feel it
3. library
4. white girl
5. kristyn
6. poppys
7. just gazer
8. teeth
9. math
10. ben-t
11. first
12. have it all
13. desert
14. explain it

[Download]

Bonus

(Keep an eye on the drummer and her awesome hat trick.)