Today on playthisrecord.com: I have a problem and that problem is saying “no” to Tigers Jaw. Don’t judge me.

(Source: brianstowell)

Tigers Jaw | Two Worlds | Run For Cover Records | Light Yellow | /300

I’m a member of a large group of people who discovered Tigers Jaw last year when they pressed their self-titled full length on vinyl and began advertising it at large all around the internet. Their blend of Jawbreaker meets Brand New pop punk is earnest, accessible, and catchier than almost anything else I’ve listened to in the last year. Which is why it’s been a bit of an task for me to really get into their new record, Two Worlds.

Two Worlds is a little more grown up. A little rougher and maybe a little more punk. Tigers Jaw saw some small success since their self-titled came out. They were finally able to tour outside of the Pennsylvania/New Jersey/New York area. I’m willing to bet their time on their first tour West shaped some of this sound. I think the hooks aren’t as obvious in Two Worlds, they’re a little hidden. But then you play tracks like “Test Pattern” which is heavy with the same longing meets upbeat pop punk that their self-titled was riddled with. Or “I Saw The Wolf”, a slower, more sorrow song which begs

Am I invisible now?
I became the dust as it settled.
I saw the wolf in the storm
A native son
A warm home
Am I alone?
Hello?

It’s a heavy record, though you might not think so at first. And the hooks aren’t as obvious as you’d expect. I’m growing to love Two Worlds as much as I do the self-titled with every listen. Go grab their albums from Run For Cover Records.

As promised: photos of Transit & Man Overboard at the Satyricon last night in Portland, OR. Click to check em out.

Went to this show tonight. Only stayed for Transit Tran$it and Man Overboard because wife has to be up super early tomorrow. It was still worth the $12. More photos in the morning. Check back.

Man Overboard | Real Talk | Run For Cover Records | Yellow marble | /200

Yes! Finally! Real Talk was supposed to come out at the same time as the Tigers Jaw S/T reissue but a production delay set it back a couple of weeks. I pretend to be a patient person, but when it comes to super infections summer records dropping at the end of the season I get antsy. Though the pop punk genre is plenty played out at this point and I’ve been distancing myself further and further from the scene, this is one of the rare ones that throws me way back into high school when I first heard The Early November and New Found Glory. “World Favorite” is a great track. And if “She’s Got Her Own Man Now” ever comes on, especially when I’m driving, it normally warrants 4-5 instant repeats at least. My only complaint with the record is there’s too much auto-tune to my liking at the end of “Fantasy Girl”, which is a cheesy track but still hooky as hell.

Props to Man Overboard and Run For Cover Records for handling the leak of this record so well. When the album made it’s way onto the internerds last month they embraced the situation and immediately threw it up on Bandcamp for download/purchase. They won over a lot of fans with their decision and it’s great to know not everyone has their head up their ass and think they’re invincible or the exception to the rule these days /runonsentence Though Run For Cover Records have had some mail order issues in the past, I’ll happily keep supporting them for not only putting out sweet jams, but handling their bands right.

I’ll definitely be playing this as long the sun keeps burning through my blinds and it’s warm enough to drive with the windows down on the highway.

CALL ME OUT! CALL ME OUT! SHE’S CALLING ME OUT!

Fun Fact: Jeff Kummer, formerly of The Early November, played drums for Man Overboard for a hot minute. I’m easily influenced. :D