Killing For Friday
Mind Fights Hand

By Ty Trumbull

Okay, so straight out of the gate it has to be said that Killing For Friday aren't reinventing the wheel. In fact, many of the most lauded emo clichés can be found here: lower case letters, long song titles ("Lydia You Can't Die, You're Already Dead"), distorted guitars collapsing into pretty, clean, plucked guitar breakdowns — yup, it's all here. But, that said, there are some redeemable qualities. The song structures, while definitely playing with some of their predecessors' tricks, aren't completely run of the mill and frequently surprise with the infusion of an original idea. The tempo also keeps things interesting, being more intense and driving than often allowed in the genre. The vocals of Peter Johnson wail, bark and break under the weight of the songs, creating a sense of catharsis often aimed for but rarely achieved by others. There's a lot to like about this record, if you can get past the preconceived notions of the genre and actually give the disc a chance. (Independent)
Left Eye - Eye Legacy
Drake - So Far Gone
Birdsongs of the Mesozoic with Oral Moses - Dawn of the Cycads
Hellmouth - Destroy Everything, Worship Nothing
Abacabb - Survivalist
Joanna Chapman-Smith - Contraries
Bibio - Vignetting the Compost
Charles Spearin - The Happiness Project
Woodpigeon - Treasury Library Canada / Houndstooth Europa
Dan Auerbach - Keep It Hid
Drugs of Faith - 2008 Demo
One-76 - ONEdependent and Taki76 Present: Radio Recession
My Epic - I Am Undone
Pianos Become The Teeth - Saltwater
Zu - Carboniferous
Los Difuntos - Los Difuntos
Good Charlotte - Greatest Remixes
Punchline - Just Say Yes
Driver Side Impact - Lion
The Push-Pull Quartet - At the Stroke of Twelve
Reinhold Friedl - Xenakis [A]Live
Cleaver / Parker / Taborn - Farmers By Nature
Tamarama - Wonderland City EP
Broken Spindles - Kiss / Kick
Inward Eye - Inward Eye
Charles Spearin - The Happiness Project
Azita - How Will You?
Christine Bougie and Dafydd Hughes - This is Awesome
The Memories Attack - The Memories Attack
Fol Chen - Part I: John Shade, Your Fortune’s Made
D. Rider - Mother Of Curses
Jon-Rae Fletcher - Oh, Maria
Ben Klock - One
Lamb of God - Wrath
The Whore Moans - Hello From Radio Wasteland
Pan.American - White Bird Release
Lorrie Matheson - In Vein
Shout Out Out Out Out - Reintegration Time
Howie Beck - How To Fall Down In Public
Joe Zawinul & The Zawinul Syndicate - 75
Vangel - Biblio
Potluck - Pipe Dream
The Marked Men - Ghosts
Creeps - These Walls
Metz - Metz
Propagandhi - Supporting Caste
Gun Outfit - Dim Light
Bayonets!!! - To The Point!
The Blankket - Pegatively Nositive
…And You Shall Know Us By The Trail Of The Dead - The Century of Self
Jay Clark And The Jones - Blue Cholera
Beirut - March of the Zapotec and Realpeople Holland
Soundtrack of Our Lives - Communion
Social Deviantz - Spread
Max Prime - Sufferance
K-the-I??? - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow
Vetiver - Tight Knit
Charlie Louvin - Sings Murder Ballads And Disaster Songs
John Lee Hooker - Anthology: 50 Years
Tipsy - Buzz
Pulshar - Brotherhood
Intrusion - The Seduction Of Silence
Intrusion - The Seduction Of Silence
These Are Powers - All Aboard Future
Telepathe - Dance Mother
Swan Lake - Enemy Mine
Charles Spearin - The Happiness Project
Odawas - The Blue Depths
Dance Yourself To Death - Ready For Love
Company Of Thieves - Ordinary Riches
Asobi Seksu - Hush
Abe Vigoda - Reviver
Mouthpiece - Can’t Kill What’s Inside
Circuit For The Blackout - Circuit For The Blackout
Anarbor - The Natural Way
The Academy Is… - Fast Times At Barrington High
Benon & Vamposs - I Know
Zak Riles - Zak Riles
M. Templeton & aA. Munson - Acre Loss
I8U - 10 –33 cm
Deus Ex Machina - Imparis
Bohren & Der Club of Gore - Delores
Astral Social Club - Octuplex
Aethenor - Faking Gold and Murder
Vulcano - Tales from the Black Book
Tombs - Winter Hours
Six Feet Under - Death Rituals
Seizure Crypt - Under The Gun
Scale The Summit - Carving Desert Canyons
Bodychoke - Cold River Songs
The Bakerton Group - El Rojo
Arsonists Get All The Girls - Hits From The Bow
Uigg - To Punish and Enslave
This Ending - Dead Harvest
Sylosis - Conclusion of an Age
Acantha - Eternal Punishment
Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys - Best Of
Jorma Kaukonen - River of Time
LSD March - Under Milk Wood
Gratkowski / Brown / Winant - Wake
From go-go dancing punk rock drummer to a singer-songwriter of compelling artistry, the still-unfolding success story of Neko Case is indeed fascinating, and a heartening reminder that sheer talent and drive can still win the day. The fiercely independent Case has always done things her way, yet the phrase "works well with others" is surely etched into her report card. She gets to tour the world with her Canadian buddies in pure pop heroes the New Pornographers, while simultaneously seducing some of the best musicians and singers around into collaborations on her own albums. Once tagged a country noir diva, Case now simply exists outside any genre straitjackets.... Read More
Four years is a long time, especially in the underground. The tumultuous musical climate buffets acts like frail leafs struggling to hold on. If one looks away, the leaf is long gone and what was once heralded is now forgotten. That said, thanks to their originality and spirit, some acts need not ad... Full Review
A huge part of being a fan is feeling an emotional connection to the band. Fans are drawn to the music first (one hopes), but if they really like you, they will buy in to your whole look and feel. Buying a piece of merchandise gives fans a chance to identify as part of the tribe. As the artist in question, who are you to deny your fans?... Read More
Viewing the October 2007 Issue: Contents PageNewsClick Hear • Articles --> On the Cover  •  Front Five  •  Points  •  Comics  •  Questionnaire  •  Release Dates  •  Research  •  Timeline  •  Videogames  •  Web Exclusives • Music Reviews --> Recently Reviewed  •  Aggressive Tendencies  •  Beats & Rhymes  •  Destination Out  •  Frequencies  •  Groove  •  No Future  •  Pop Rocks  •  Wood, Wires & Whiskey  •  Concert Reviews • Motion Reviews --> Recently Reviewed  •  Dvd Reviews  •  Film Reviews  •  Music DVD Reviews  •  TIFF  •  Videogame Reviews • Music School --> Label Life  •  Meet & Greet  •  Need to Know  •  What I Play Contests • Contact --> About Us  • Advertising  • Distribution  • Getting Reviewed  • Getting Published  • Letters To The Editor  • Partnerships  • Subscriptions • Exclaim! Radio --> Aggressive Tendencies Radio  • Beats & Rhymes Radio  • Frequencies Radio  • Destination Out Radio  • Groove Radio  • No Future Radio  • Pop Rocks Radio  • Wood, Wires & Whiskey Radio Exclaim! TV • Home & Latest Issue Browse Issues