Steve O's Bracket Leftovers

So you’ve seen the Bracket results by now, which have crowned Leftöver Crack’s Constructs of the State the record of the year. Have you ever wondered how we pick the records that end up on there? Well, I’m about to let you in on some Change the Rotation secrets here, so listen up.

Each November, Phil, Davey, and myself come up with a list of records from the year that we deem bracket-worthy. When we each have our initial list, we compare what we’ve got. Records that show up more than once get automatic spots on the bracket. The leftover spots get divvied out and we fill them up with records we individually thought were fantastic, even if they didn’t get wide approval. What follows are the records that I had on my long list that were unable to grab one of the coveted 32 spots on out bracket.

Gallows – Desolation Sounds (Bridge 9)

Dark hardcore is a good descriptor for the U.K.’s Gallows. But it goes so much further than that. There’s a weird and esoteric approach to their brand of hardcore. There’s some moments that seem simply like dark rock and roll songs. Other times there’s a metallic vibe to their hardcore. It’s a biting, angry record, with lines like “Even bad dreams are too good for you” from opener “Mystic Death” or “If desolation were a sound, I’ve heard it” from “Desolation Sounds.” Other times it is slow and atmospheric, almost plodding, as in “Cease to Exist.” In a way, Gallows kind of reminds me of Fucked Up. Both are based in hardcore, but stretch the boundaries so far it almost doesn’t sound like hardcore anymore. It’s just dark and angry music. Indulge in the desolation over here:

Great Collapse – Holy War (End Hits Records)

Super group alert! And this is a good one. Great Collapse are fronted by Strike Anywhere’s Thomas Barnett, and feature members who have played in Rise Against, Death By Stereo, Love Equals Death, and Set Your Goals. Given Barnett’s voice and lyrics, it sounds like a Strike Anywhere record, though maybe a little more melodic and a little less hardcore. The lyrics are Barnett’s familiar scathing and thoughtful social and political critiques. Basically, if you wish Strike Anywhere have been more active lately, this is the record you have been looking for. No surprises here with the cast, just fantastic punk rock. You know you want to go over here and give it a listen.

The Max Levine Ensemble – Backlash, Baby (Rumbletowne Records)

So it had been a while since we’ve seen anything from the Max Levine Ensemble. This is their first full length in almost 8 years,(!) a pattern similar to many bands on the bracket. But with David Combs retiring the Spoonboy name, maybe we’ll see a bit more activity from his full band. The Max Levine Ensemble play a politically conscious pop punk, similar to bands like RVIVR. The songs are fast, but they are in no rush to finish, instead taking their time to build something, both musically and lyrically, with Combs’ fantastic story telling ability. They’ve been releasing some intriguing videos off the record, so watch those to get a scope of the storytelling ability they possess. If your imagination needs some help imagine Spoonboy as a full band. There’s a lot of the same elements, most notably Combs’ recognizable voice. If this was released over the summer instead of late November, it’s probably on the bracket. Give it a listen, or a name-your-price-download, over here:

Red City Radio – Red City Radio (Staple Records)

Red City Radio’s last record, Titles, made the bracket and did quite well, winning two rounds before falling to eventual champion RVIVR. Red City Radio is definitely a different sounding record. Guitarist/vocalist Paul Pendley left the band, so the new record feels more like the Garret Dale show. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Dale is a fantastic songwriter and he’s got a great voice; that drawl that is absolutely perfect for a band from Oklahoma. But this record seems less punk and more rock and roll than previous efforts, like they’ve been listening to their Springsteen records. Compared to Titles, this was a harder record for me to get into. But it kept growing on me. If we had the 2015 bracket at the end of this year, Red City Radio would probably be on it. Listen here:

Spraynard – Mable (Jade Tree)

So Spraynard almost made the bracket. I went back and forth between them and Not on Tour for the final spot. Ultimately, Spraynard lost that spot, but that should not be a strike against them, nor a reason for you to avoid giving Mable a listen. The near-Philly band’s first release since a short hiatus, sees them playing that upbeat, heartfelt, and extremely catchy pop-punk that made up their earlier releases. The lyrics are introspective, but everything’s played to make you want to sing-along. I saw them early last year with Iron Chic, a perfect match, and they put on a fantastic show. Nothing but fast, fun, sing-alongs. Be sure to check out their hilarious video for the song “Buried” here. And give Mable a listen over here:

Stick to Your Guns – Disobedient (Sumerian Records)

File this one under total Steve O band. Awesome, straight-up, fast, uplifting, and thoughtful hardcore. Stick to Your Guns mix a shout-in-your-face hardcore with a bit more melodic singing style of talented vocalist Jesse Barnett. He can switch from a melodic singing to a guttural shout, as in “What Choice did you Give us?” There’s a catchy element, similar to 90s punk too. And there’s the everybody-mosh style hardcore, as in “I Choose Nothing”. Perhaps the greatest way to illustrate Stick to Your Guns is they can feature Toby Morse of H2O (who also put out a great record this year) and Scott Vogel of Terror as guest vocalists on their record. Two totally different styles of hardcore, but both are great fits here. Stick to Your Guns blend both styles of hardcore perfectly. Fun stuff from a band that seems like they’re just having fun, as evidenced in the video for “Nothing You Can Do To Me,” where they play with dogs. Give Disobedient a listen:

Strung Out – Transmission.Alpha.Delta (Fat Wreck Chords)

Strung Out might be one of the most technically proficient bands that has been on or almost made the bracket. They’re a 90s Fat Wreck band, so you know what you’re getting into. But they can absolutely shred. There’s a speed here that’s different from others on this list, like the Max Levine Ensemble, for instance. Both are fast, but Strung Out have a heaviness to their speed. Just look at a song like “Rebellion of the Snakes.” It’s like a punk-metal mixture, taking elements of each and crafting it into that unique Strung Out sound. The guitars almost veer into metal territory with some of the leads, and mix wonderfully with Jason Cruz’s gruff, and yet still melodic, voice. The opening riffs of “The Animal and the Machine” sound like they’d be perfectly at home in either a speedy, gruff pop-punk band or a straight-up metal band. If Change the Rotation were a metal blog instead of a punk one, this is a record that has a foot close enough in that field to make me comfortable bringing it to the bracket. Give it a listen over here:

Sweet Jesus – You Destroy Yourself (Atomic Action)

So Sweet Jesus hail from Massachusetts, are on the fantastic roster of Providence’s Atomic Action, and feature members of Dropdead, Fucking Invincible, Verse, and Have Heart. But they sound like they should be an early 90s, D.C., Dischord band. It’s hardcore that doesn’t fit in either the tough guy or youth crew veins. Patrick Flynn, who was the vocalist for Have Heart, uses the same shout familiar on Have Heart’s too short discography, but he talk/yells (does that make sense?) here, making an interesting dynamic to the songs. None break the three-minute mark, but they don’t maintain the same frenetic pace as some of the members other bands (I’m looking at you, Fucking Invincible.) Solid stuff that’s hardcore without sounding extremely predictable. Listen here: