Elliott ‎– If They Do EP (1999)

Just to show there were no hard feelings with its original label Initial Records, and to hold fans over until the release of full-length False Cathedrals in the summer of 2000, Elliott released If They Do (along with the companion single ("Will You" on Revelation) in the spring of 2000. "If They Do" is a 7" single on vinyl, with two new songs, "Waiting While Under Paralysis" and "As Arson." The CD version, however, turns into a 30-minute collection, with two previously unreleased tracks left off of the 1996 EP In Transit. "Lost Instrumental" delves into a lost art in rock, the instrumental, and "Halfway Pretty Acoustic" is, as it sounds, an acoustic version of "Halfway Pretty." The original In Transit version appears alongside another cut from that EP, "Watermark High," which best represents the band's powerful melodic hardcore. 

While the album is a bit disjointed (the songs recorded together don't appear together), and nothing can duplicate Elliott's awesome live presence, If They Do fits nicely into any indie rock collection.

Ron DePasquale

allmusic.com

Elliott ‎– If They Do EP (1999) 320kbps

Elliott ‎– U.S. Songs (1998)

During their brief career, Louisville's Elliott released three albums of original material and a final, posthumously released, live studio album. Although talented and hardworking they never really achieved a huge amount of commercial success, possibly because they refused to fit neatly into any one genre. Their debut, U.S. Songs, is almost melodic emo, but it's also a little alt-rock, and maybe a few other things besides. They also lean toward a more abstract lyrical style, which suits the mature, pleasantly aloof feel of the music, but offers no easy or immediate focal points for the listener. It all fits together perfectly, though, creating a superblytextured sound which reaches from oh-so-easy drifts to crashing waves. Yes, it takes a little effort to fully delve into the record, but the surface alone is so considered, so obviously well arranged, that the process itself is warm and welcoming, new insight born in every repeat listen.

Above all, U.S. Songs is an album about the often ignored, deeply tangible border and relationship between melancholy and bliss. The clarity of Chris Higdon's voice provides an ethereal, introspective quality to the imagery of the words, as they quietly float above the sweetly dulled guitars which bring "The Conversation" to life, or the delicate, calm eye within "Alchemy as a Rhythm". In stark but beautiful contrast to these lulls, Higdon often presses his voice to the very edges of a shout, no more so than amongst the pounding, expansive chords of "Safety Pin Explanation", and it's this constant swell and recede which brilliantly evokes the complexity of human emotion – the secret, unspoken pleasure at the heart of sadness and regret, the taint of anger and frustration in the very fabric of joy. Like all esoteric, abstract art, U.S. Songs is about ideas that can't easily be explored, feelings that defy simple definition; but, crucially, Elliott provide an elegant, dreamily melodic backdrop to their thoughts, making them all the stronger and more meaningful. 

They may have failed to find an extensive audience, but in this way at least, they truly succeeded.

Melvin

sputnikmusic.com

Elliott ‎– U.S. Songs (1998) 320kbps

Various Artist ‎– Bread: The Edible Napkin (1997)

This compilation came with '"No Idea'" fanzine #12.

I'm not sure whether it was necessary to post this compilation here, but anyway - it's a rare compilation, moreover, there is a Christie Front Drive, Braid, Hot Water Music, Still Life, Sideshow, Moonraker and many others.

Listen, drink tea and enjoy.

Tracklist:

1. Hot Water Music - Floor (2:14)

2. Floor - Who Are You? (1:52)

3. No Empathy - Daddy's Got A Problem (1:36)

4. Ash County Sluggers - Achiever 9 (3:42)

5. Brutal Truth - Eggshells (2:42)

6. Christie Front Drive - Bag (4:08)

7. Cavity - Wounded (1:12)

8. Pung - Anthem For The Youth (2:33)

9. V-Card - Strap Me Down (2:41)

10. Floodgate - The Pessimist (1:44)

11. Against All Authority - Corporate Takeover (1:52)

12. Serpico - Double Negative (2:19)

13. Elmer - Let's Get In A Fistfight (2:10)

14. Gus (Canada) - Sinister Acts In Bright Sunshine (3:07)

15. Moonraker - Friendly Fire (3:46)

16. The Bruce Lee Band - Calling For Me (1:55)

17. Horace Pinker - Sloth (1:55)

18. Car Vs. Driver - Generis (1:50)

19. Locust - Inbred America (1:07)

20. Hope Springs Eternal - Loneliness Equals Coldness (3:41)

21. Jack With Killer - Stupid Heavy Metal 2 - Restriction (1:50)

22. King Friday - Lonnie (2:19)

23. Braid - Katy Cat (3:25)

24. The Lisa Killers - No One Gets Through (0:42)

25. Rhythm Collision - Jack (3:03)

26. Sideshow - Soar (5:03)

27. Skankin' Pickle - $13,000 Is A Lot Of Food (Live) (1:56)

28. Crunch - Furioso Zapping (1:00)

29. Threadbare - Sunstroke (3:15)

30. The End Of The Century Party - Doozer La, Doozer Do (1:25)

31. Still Life - Someone Stole My Bike (4:42)

32. Bombs Of Cheese - White People In The Park (0:53)

33. No Idea Fanzine - Nothing (0:04)

Various Artist ‎– Bread: The Edible Napkin (1997) 320kbps

Sense Field ‎– Building (1996)

On Building, Sense Field sound more like an emo band than on the jangly Sense Field; this time around, the tunes are shorter, harder, and more derivative of post-hardcore, featuring less-predictable arrangements. 

The group's calling card is vocalist Jonathan Bunch, who at times sounds like a serious, more sensitive Dexter Holland. The band succeed most when they combine their energy with memorable melodic ideas and arrangements, as they do on the concise "Different Times," the inventive "Shallow Grave," and the driving title track. Andy Wallace's mix adds punch and definition to the proceedings.

Sense Field ‎– Building (1996) 320kbps

password: thelastwordisrejoice

Sense Field ‎– Sense Field (1994)

Sense Field have been pegged as an emo band, and, to their credit, they avoid most of the clichés that plague other bands in the genre; Sense Field's emotionally resonant songs employ the spare, driving urgency of emo bands like Sunny Day Real Estate, but combine it with the tunefulness of more straightforward power pop bands like the Plimsouls. Musically, Sense Field is fairly conventional — a jangly, textured mix of electric and acoustic guitars washing over mid-tempo beats — but Jonathan Bunch's strident and frequently off-key vocals add the raw, keening tension that makes the "emo" tag appropriate.

allmusic.com

Here's your chance to hear the first two, pre "Killed for Less," self-released demos on one record, plus two unreleased tracks.

Sense Field ‎– Sense Field (1994) VBR V0

Sense Field ‎– Killed For Less (1994)

California's Sense Field originally consisted of vocalist Jonathan Bunch, guitarist Chris Evenson, guitarist Rodney Sellars, bassist John Stockberger, and drummer Scott McPherson. They began playing together in 1990, forming from the ashes of Evenson, Stockberger, andBunch's prior group Reason to Believe. The following year the group released their self-titled EP on their own record label, Run H2O. Based on the EP's success and the group's consistent touring, Revelation Records distributed their 1993 mini-album Premonitions and released their full-length debut Killed for Less the following year. The group's first national and international tours preceded their second album, 1996's Building. A shift in bandmembers, however, plagued the band at the height of it all. McPhersonleft to play drums for Elliott Smith's band in 1999, allowing Rob Pfeiffer to step in. Several EPs and 7" singles — the Part of the Deal EP on the Grape OS label and a split release with Onelinedrawing — appeared before the decade's end. The year 2001 began on an up note, though. Tonight and Forever,Sense Field's fourth full-length, was issued on Nettwerk in summer 2001. While touring in support of the album the following summer, guitarist Rodney Sellars' daughter was seriously injured in a car accident and ended up in a coma, forcing Sellars to take a temporary break from the band. The remaining members of the band continued on, recording songs for a fifth effort. Living Outside, which appeared in July 2003, was produced by Brad Wood (Liz Phair, Smashing Pumpkins, Sunny Day Real Estate).

On this album, Sense Field accomplish what few other emo band accomplish: They successfully create an emotional and understandable musical message. The amazing thing about Sense Field is that they truly understand dynamics and don't just thrash around on full-throttle. Using dynamics allows the listener to truly appreciate the impact of the full-on rock. "Found You" and "Heather" are perfect examples of their musical abilities.

allmusic.com

Sense Field ‎– Killed For Less (1994) 320kbps

Boys Life - Singles & Live (1993-1996)

1993 - Lister / Without Doubt 7"

A Lister
B Without Doubt

224kbps

1994 - Boys Life / Vitreous Humor 7"

A Boys Life – Temporary

B Vitreous Humor – Why Are You So Mean To Me?

160kbps

1995 - Boys Life / Giants Chair 7"

A Boys Life – Worn Thin

B Giants Chair – Ever Present

160kbps

1996 - Live

Setlist:

1. Sleeping Off Summer (10:53)
2. Fire Engine Red (3:08)
3. Untitled (5:31)
4. All Of The Negatives (4:42)
5. Radio Towers (6:22)
6. Two Wheeled Train (7:17)

192kbps

password to all: thelastwordisrejoice