Matt Adams Seal Of Approval Vol 1.

I’ve decided that every Monday I’m going to list a few records/movies/whatever that will get my seal of approval. These are things that I recommend you hear or see as soon as possible. I’m calling it Matt Adams Seal of Approval…here is Vol 1. Be sure to collect the whole series when it’s released on Criterion.


Pavement Terror Twilight

Today marks the 10-year anniversary of the release of Pavement’s final record Terror Twilight. Although I didn’t get into this band until I was 16 and their music didn’t make much sense to me until I was 19 you can’t really deny them a place among influential 90’s indie acts. Before recording even started tensions were already high within the band, the blame could fall on Stephen Malkmus relationship with guitarist Scott Kannberg beginning to go south or the fact that they though they wouldn’t need a producer to keep things together. At the time half of the band wanted to play scrabble instead of record, what can ya say that’s one addicting board game. Kannberg wrote some songs for the record, but Malkmus refused to include any of them. Nigel Godrich who had worked with REM and Radiohead was brought in to help produce and finish the record. He may have only made things worse though by putting all of his attention on Malkmus and making the rest of the members feel left out. You see the Gwen Stefani jealously idea works both ways. Terror Twilight ends up being the swan song for this band, but it’s not a bad song at all. Spit on a Stranger is probably the best track, but it’s definitely not a bad record to go out on. The band played their last gig near the end of 1999 and then decided to call it quits, well Malkmus said he was done but the rest of the band wasn’t really informed about the end since he only told Kannberg. Drummer Steve West found out about the break up via the Internet. Can’t really blame Malkmus there, it was 1999 we didn’t have twitter or facebook back then!

Recommended Tracks: Spit on a Stranger, Major Leagues, Ann Don’t Cry

Rancid Let The Dominoes Fall

Rancid Myspace

Speaking of the 90’s…break out those studded belts and vest cause Tim Armstrong and the rest of those guys in his band are back. I’m just kidding; I know who Matt Freeman, Lars Frederiksen and Branden Steineckert (he use to be in The Used) are although I do wonder if high school kids these days know too much about Rancid? I guess they do, just that back in 02 you’d see Rancid shirts all over the place, but since their hiatus not much talk from the younger crowd. I have to recommend this record because listening to it brings me back to my high school days and all about nostalgia sometimes. I’m not much of a fan boy for Armstrong and his crew, but I can deal with them from time to time. Besides we all remember where we were when we first heard “Ruby Soho” and we all turned up the volume to 10. If you hated Rancid before this record you’ll continue feeling the same way and if you thought these dudes were punk as whatever you’re defintinely of punk is then you’ll probably really hate this record. I never really looked at this band like some stuck up punk kids who didn’t even want to hang around their own friends because they were accepted by them. Rancid image differs from their sound, their photos say look at this tough bay area dudes! While their music says hey it doesn’t matter who you are we can all get along in this world.

Recommended Tracks: East Bay Night, Last One to Die, You Want it You Got It

Moving Mountains Foreword EP

Moving Mountains Myspace

I actually discovered this band after illustrator Rob Dobi gave them two thumbs up and after listening to them I can not say enough good things about these dudes that hail from Purchase, NY. Word of mouth is really helping these guys out, also it helps that they have a killer sound. Looking forward to them making their way down to the Lone Star state, as I have heard that their live show is very tight. I recommend you check them out if you dig Thrice, Circa Survive and I believe there is a touch of Gatsby’s American Dream thrown in there.

Recommended Tracks: There are only four songs and they’re all recommended.