The Stryder- The Hits Just Keep On Comin'... 7"

fun pop-punk with a shade of emo for good measure. elkion records released this in 2000. stronger songs than their full-length debut "masquerade in the key of crime", which has its highs and lows but doesn't hold up much on the whole. this band is from long island, and the vocals are saves the day-esque, though i find them a little bit easier to digest. of the two tracks, onward christian soldier is definitely the better track.

tracklist:

white spiders
onward christian soldier


impolite requests to mind one's etiquette

Belreve- Nothing 7"

fuzzy indiepop. this was released on anyway records in 1993. they went on to put out another 7" on slumberland records and also had a split 7" with guided by voices. hopefully that helps out with what you can expect. if you're looking for something special though, this is not that. good enough to check out though.

tracklist:

nothing

the sky is falling

put on your nice hooker boots, tonight we take the bus

split! King For A Day / Empire State Games

when i first bought this i had already known empire state games had put out some awesome stuff. the king for a day track was a pleasant surprise though. nothing out of the ordinary, just a quality emo tune. the empire state games track is also excellent. old skool records put this out in 1997. 

tracklist:

king for a day- hit or miss you

empire state games- armchair general

frequently selecting the least efficient route

No Reply- Carte Blanche 7"

nice enough emo jams from a band that didn't release too much stuff. this isn't the only band that went by the name no reply. as far as i know, this particular no reply band only released this and a split with the band stillwell. two songs on this 7" but out by streetcar music international in 1998, and they've got your slow, quiet parts with hushed vocals as well as your typical, louder parts with yelps. 

tracklist:

everything to give

sad

the yolk of your heart gets scrambled and fried

Shannon And The Clams- Hunk Hunt 7"

this was originally released by weird hug records in 2009, and it is seriously awesome stuff. really glad that their newly released second album is good, because it would've been pretty easy for a band like this to undergo a sophomore tanking. instead, they've now put out several releases that are all rad. this is their first vinyl release. reverb & feedback galore, they craft really pleasant songs influenced by 60s pop that they mix with their own garage punk feel. the title track is the weakest cut here, but overall a really excellent ep.

tracklist:

blood
would you love me if i was dead?
hunk hunt
heartbreak


intense diary ramblings of your third cousin

The Ropers- Sunbathe 7"

their first release on slumberland records. this came out in 1993. soft vocals, loud guitars. "waiting" is good, and "lost" is awesome. the other one is kind of a dud. melodic indie shoegaze stuff. the oldest slumberland release still available.

tracklist:

waiting
lost
cool self


sad party, no one's invited

split! Pizza / Tideland 7"

i feel like this split sort of flew under the radar. it's really good though. pizza delivers two slices of melodic pop, with their second song ("in your head") obviously being the better, more complete of the two pieces. tideland's track is a little heavier. it's still melodic, but it's got a darker feel to it and the chorus is catchy and urgent. 

tracklist:

pizza- do-do-la-la

pizza- in your head

tideland- the graveyard song

it overflows then drips and dries