At The Drive-In "This Station is Non-Operational"

Angry suburban teens around the USA were into At The Drive-In. Not quite screamo or emo with influences from The Smiths and Black Flagg there's was nothing in the late 90s to compare them to.
When there is nothing to do in a small town like El Paso, Texas were ATDI was based respectfully before they disbanded and went on to create other successful bands (The Mars Volta and Sparta) one can see why they're angry. Teenagers are naturally angry because NO ONE understands or at least this is what one would be led to believe after listening to This Station is Non-Operational. Loud and fast paced. Singer/screamer, Cedric Bixler-Zavala, wails about things that no longer seem that important. The only time there seems to be true sadness of a man that has lived an actual hard life is when they cover The Smiths "This Night has Opened My Eyes" were Zavala coos , "You did a bad thing and I'm not happy and I'm not sad." When one listen to This Station is Non-Operational on a nostalgic binge they will feel the same way.

Toro y Moi - Causers Of This

When one comes from South Carolina, well-known for its hot, humid summers and beautiful beaches, it's easy to see why musician Chazwick Bundick ,who goes by the stage name Toro y Moi, would create chill-wave music.
Unfortunately Bundick released his LP, Causers of This, in January 2010. Maybe Bundick decided to release his LP in winter to get listeners prepared for the beautiful summer ahead or maybe he didn’t but the breeziness of Causers of This anticipates for late nights with friends, summer romances, abrupt break ups, and being young during a hot summer.
Like the first day of summer, Bundick’s first song “Blessa” welcomes the listener in with airy vocals and guitar beautifully intertwining with electronica. Bundick must have been sashaying during the process of Causers of This like he does infamously on stage because by the third track, Imprint After, he brings in one of his biggest inspirations, 80s pop music, with tenor vocals and texturized synthesizers. “You Hid” is the slow jam where he takes his sad lyrics, with his pop melodies and mellowed instrumentals while he howls to the girl of his dreams, You might as well waste your time with me/if you're gonna be here. By the next and second to last song, “Low Shoulder” Bundick picks up the beat from a sad romantic to a romantic that has a girl! His last song ,also titled Causer of This, ends like an elaborate end of summer dance party with a bass lines that comes in at the right time to give you a break from clapping your hands to let you bob your head. Through Causers of This, Bundick lets you know that he is the product of the 80s and there is no shame because he’s preparing you for the summer of a lifetime.