I remember back in the early ‘90s when the term “emo” was not the province of pasty crybabies with angular hair and smeared mascara. Band names like Rites Of Spring and Leatherface defined it for me. Pure expression. Nothing held back. Although this disc was recorded in 2010, it feels to me like the bands I heard when I first moved to Victoria. Render Useless, Hudson Mack, Gus, Benchwarmer... I could keep listing rad bands that you’ve probably never heard but Rations really bring out the same feeling that I got in that amazing time and place. Raw and melodic, this disc forced me to feel something! It made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. That only happens with my favorite bands. One last analogy since I can’t seem to stop myself. Davey Tiltwheel writing songs for Hickey. Best disc this month, hands down!
–ty (86’d)