Police & Thieves — Fracturing

Alright, it's that time when we ring in our silly Western notion of the new year (10 days after the solstice? Cause we're astronomically incompetent?) and I'm not really one for long lists. But I can give you a Top One list, so with no further adieu: the year's best album for me is by DC's hardest rockers, Police & Thieves. They've refined the style they had been building in their earlier efforts into something faster, but also more thought-out, more musically varied, even more intelligent. It sort of reminds me of the changes that created In My Eyes' Nothing To Hide LP, although P&T still draw heavily on influences like Dag Nasty. Carlos even get's a little melodic on the vocals a couple times, and I really dig it. Lyrics follow the same trends as before, mixing the personal and political with ease. The guitar work is crunch and precise with cool song structures, and the songs flow one to the next almost perfectly. My personal favorite is "Crusades," but every track on here is a banger. For real, give these dudes a listen.

Police & Thieves — Fracturing LP (2011)

Track Listing:

1. Thieves Intro
2. All Saints
3. Urgency Of Now
4. Suburban Life Decay
5. Doubt Crusades
6. Campaigns
7. Race To The End

Police & Thieves hail from the hallowed grounds of Washington DC, the intellectual inheritors to a musical tradition decades old. Basically, they sound awesome, mixing energy and passion with impressive songwriting and effort. They are, of course, named after the Junior Murvin song, although most people are probably more familiar with the cover the Clash released on their debut album. They've been around for almost 5 years now, with a couple EPs, a new demo, and now this LP. Go see them live.

Get merch and find show dates athttp://www.myspace.com/policethieves, or http://www.facebook.com/pages/Police-Thieves/22668852750

Volver — Santa Cruz

Volver is a crucial hardcore/Rev Summer style band from Guatemala City. They recorded these songs with the legendary Don Fury last year. This EP is some of the most solid, thought out post-hardcore I've heard in recent years. I'm reminded of bands like Give, Cloak/Dagger, or the more straightforward moments of Lion of Judah, with a delivery at times reminiscent of Peligro Social (though that might just be that language; Spanish is anything but unpoetic). Some really cool moments interspersed with frenetic, intriguing structure changes. Most solid.

Volver — Santa Cruz EP (2010)

Track Listing:

1. Miel
2. Me Hundo
3. Guatemala Está Muerta
4. Reprogramar, Activar

Volver is a 5 piece band from Guatemala. They have released a demo tape, a 7” called Guatemala Está Muerta and the Santa Cruz EP.  They are currently recording a new EP due out real soon. You can buy all their stuff on our bandcamp site or get the 7” and Santa Cruz tape from Bajo Presión Records.

http://volver.bandcamp.com/
http://www.facebook.com/VolverCC
http://guatemalaestamuerta.wordpress.com/
http://www.bajopresionrecords.com/

Plant — Friendship. Love. Truth.

Plant's debut demo, a type of arty stoner metal or hardcore rock that's fast and raw and intricate. Members of Swamp Thing and Snuff Daddy. It's complex enough to come out as really high intensity, with a wall of sound made by everything being a little blown out, but still sounds approachable and simple on a superficial level. Real talk, listen to these dudes.

Plant — Friendship. Love. Truth. (2011)

Track Listing:

1. Without A Heart
2. Spilling Sand
3. Alone, Alone
4. Yeshi Dhonden

Plant is a real time band, just getting started.

http://plantnyc.bandcamp.com/