This tasty little bit for today’s 7-Inch Corner is from the magnificently-named Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate). Yes, that’s their full name. I know, it’s a mouthful. The Michigan-based  band’s Year Of The Rabbit 7-inch for some reason, reminds me a bit of a lullaby. A lullaby that’s both sweet but incredibly haunting as well, without trying too hard.

The title track is my personal favorite, and I can see this band developing a growing following. They take the best parts of indie, pop, and a touch of folk music to make their own unique sound, even as this sorta sound is getting popular these days. I’m pretty sure Empire! Empire! (no way in hell I’m remembering the whole name) are a name you’ll be seein’ later.

Tags: 7-Inch Corner, 7-Inchs, Album Review, Empire! Empire!, Review, record review by Costa
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And 7-Inch Corner is back, ladies and gentlemen!

Today I got a sweet little three-songer from Kingston, PA’s Title Fight, an outfit taking their cues from the early-90’s East Coast melodic hardcore and pop-punk that personally, I love. They’re not inventing fire or particle physics here, but it still sounds fresh and fun, and all of the songs here kick ass. Which is all you really need I guess…unless you’re a commie spy after nuclear secrets, in which case this isn’t for you. But for the rest of us red-blooded Americans, I’d say check Title Fight out.

Tags: 7-Inch Corner, 7-Inchs, Review, Title Fight, record review by Costa
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Hells yeah! 7-Inch Corner is back, baby! Today I got a tasty treat courtesy of Houston, TX’s The Monocles. I don’t know about you, but I’d definitely give money to an alligator playing guitar on the street, mostly because well, it’s an alligator that could eat my arm. Props to Mitch Clem’s unmistakable style there.

The Monocles play simple, stripped-to-the-skivvies, dirty punk rock ’n roll similar to bands like Modern Machines and the Marked Men. There’s no fringes of death metal, hardcore, folks, electro-dance-bonanza or whatever here. Just bad whiskey, evil women, and good times. Side A’s title track is probably the best of the 3 songs here, “Tonight” is OK, and I really like “Darken Your Door” as well. All in all, it was great way to start my day crankin’ these guys through my headphones as I fought the 15-degree cold to get to work, wishing I was in Houston with these dudes not having to stress over winter gear and my ass freezing to death on a bus seat. Oh well, at least I’ve got the Monocles.

Tags: 7-Inch Corner, record review, the Monocles by Costa
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I finally received my gift-wrapped “David Christmas” 7-inch from the band known to the New York Times as —— –. Yes, Fucked Up. “David Christmas” is a holiday tune that is considerably more rocking, as expected I suppose, than “Jingle Bell Rock.” It will surely be a favorite for Saint Nick-lovin’-hardcore kids every December for years to come.

As for the much hyped Christmas-Hanukkah-Kwanzaa b-side “Stars on 45,” which features James Murphy of LCD Soundsytem, Nelly Furtado, an actress from Degrassi: The Next Generation, The Black Lips, Face to Face, The Faint among many, many others, it is literally just “stars” leaving voicemails wishing people happy holidays while Fucked Up provide the festive musical backdrop, such as “Frosty The Snowman.” Not quite what I think anyone was expecting, but I am sure the band found it entertaining. They also mention in the liner notes that they tried calling comedic genius David Cross 10 times, but received no response. Perhaps he was too busy providing his talents to Alvin and The Chipmunks.

Tags: 7-Inch Corner, Black Lips, David Cross, Face to Face, Fucked Up, LCD Soundsystem by bill
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For this week’s edition of the 7-inch corner, we pay tribute to the late Lance Hann, leader of J-Church who passed away early last week. Being down at the Fest this past weekend, Lance was definitely on the minds of many. Many shows began, ended with or featured some sort of commentry about Lance and the contributions he made to the scene we were all apart of that weekend, along with all the standards he helped maintain. I’ll admit, I was always a casual J-Church fan but the stuff I do have, I really dig. An example of this is the split between J-Church and Off With Their Heads entitled the Grin It And Bear It EP.  The two songs are examples of the type of pop punk that Lance Hann will forever be enshrined for. It also contains one of the best covers I’ve heard with their rendition of Snuff’s “Too Late.”

Everyone says Lance was one of the greatest people you could have possibly met. I may have never had the pleasure but we’ll always have the music to discover his messages. RIP Lance.

Tags: 7-Inch Corner, Album Review, J. Church, Off With Their Heads by Matthew
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