In Rotation: 2Minute Minor - Lockdown & Extended Lockdown EPs

Chicago old school hardcore band 2Minute Minor recently released two EPs - Lockdown and Extended Lockdown. Get the idea? Money raised from these two EPs go to local favorite dive bar and show space, Liars Club. They're both available for free on Bandcamp, but donate to support a fun venue if you can. Many area venues have organized fundraisers for their employees. See a (not exhaustive) list of those fundraising pages here.

Lockdown EP begins with a disclaimer that this was recorded in the bathroom. And it doesn't sound especially polished, but that's part of the point of this exercise. We're all at home doing what we can. These are four solid new songs from a band practicing in a corner of hardcore you don't hear too much these days. They're taking thoughtful lyrics on serious subject matter and delivering them with these goofy vocal hooks and interspersed sound clips. It sticks out and I'm into it.

Extended Lockdown is full of covers both standard ("Hard Times" by the Cro-Mags) and surprising ("Remember You're a Womble" - a song from the 70's by a British group dressed as childrens' television characters). Slapshot, Chain Of Strength and Operation Ivy are also covered here. Much of the EP sings the praises of the band's chosen genre: old school hardcore.