i've always been a huge fan of music. i am constantly listening, buying, burning, reading about new stuff all the time. i'm pretty clear on what i like, and i tend to be way more visceral when it comes to tunes. music has to move me to keep it on heavy rotation. on a whole i am not a fan of noise, as in noise bands. 
they make me
feel like a trapped chipmunk...like i need to scale the walls to get
away. it's not a dislike per se, i'm just not inclined to listen. i
was punk rock as a teenager. i started w/ just plain junk then ended up moving more into hardcore
bands like dag nasty, minor threat, 7 seconds...sort of a softer version
of hardcore. i've gotten that noisey angtsy bit out of my system.
however that may be changing. as i soon realized when i stumbled upon the brooklyn based band parts & labor. i was looking through photos on my contact page on flickr and i always check out sucka pantses photos (is that even correct? oh the joy of being a blogger you can write what ever you frickin' well feel like.). his photography is pretty magical in the sense that he captures the mood so well. i know that may sound sort of cliche, but it's true. when ever i look at his blog or his photos i always leave feeling like i want to hop on a bus and go find him in brooklyn and hang out w/ him. he just seems to lead a charmed life. anyway, off track...i spotted the colorful photo of parts & labor. i was really captured by it. i always like sucka's music so i looked them up. i'm sold.
parts & labor are a bit noisy for my taste normally, but as i stated above my tastes seem to be shifting. i love them. parts & labor just pull off all of their sounds. it just works, and i love them. in fact i may heart them. they are moving and intense and just pretty awesome. all traits i look for in a band. i hate to make the comparison but they remind me a bit of husker du way back when i was 14. which just makes me happy. a way better husker du, actually. way more melodic. the drumming is so amazing on fractured skies. i've probably listend to it 17 times or so. i wish i had it on my ipod cause it makes me want to get on the old cruiser i just found in the trash and ride for miles! i've been listening to their 4 songs on myspace excessively and any prolonged stay on myspace and i want to die. i just ordered their latest album, mapmaker from their website. i can't wait til it comes in the mail, til then my bike ride will have to wait.
also, bj warshaw the total cutie w/ the beard, does the art work for the band and has a side project called shooting spires which i was equally taken w/ if not more. this has nothing to do w/ him having a beard, i swear.
check out their latest video. it's so colorful, frenetic and just pretty all around great.
* the gold we're digging by parts & labor.
** all photos taken by tod seelie and used w/ permission.
