Archives: July 2018
Ogikubo Station – We Can Pretend Like
Asian Man Records – Release Date: 8/24/18
Next month, Ogikubo Station will release their debut full-length, called We Can Pretend Like. The band features Maura Weaver, (Mixtapes) and Mike Park, (Skankin’ Pickle, The Chinkees). While not sounding particularly similar to the aforementioned groups, this project is likely to be eagerly received by fans of heartfelt, melodic indie rock. The album begins with “I’ve Been Thinking of St. Louis,” a track that does an excellent job of setting the tone for what’s to follow. Its sparse arrangement allows for Weaver’s exceptional vocal performance to really shine through and highlight the lyrics, which alternate between a sense of reflection and an eye on the future, (a theme found throughout the record). The next song, “Take a Piece of All That’s Good,” is more of a full band effort and decidedly catchy without overtly trying to be. It includes a driving rhythm and dual vocals, and recalls a past relationship in hopes of making sense of what dissolved. “Drowning at the Watering Hole” is infectiously poppy, packed with ‘80s keyboards and sounds like a mix of The Cars and The Get Up Kids. It talks of missing an old friend when in unfamiliar surroundings and a desire to let that person know you still care.
The title track takes a softer and more acoustic-based turn, with vulnerable vocals that reflect the sensitive nature of the lyrics. Weaver sings, “If you stand still, nothing will change / When you can’t let go, it’ll eat you whole,” and with these words she seemingly captures what’s at the heart of this record. On “Strong as You,” Park assumes lead vocals and delivers a very personal and somber account of his father’s battle with cancer. It seamlessly transitions into “Weak Souls Walk Around Here,” a rock-tinged entry that contains some of Park’s strongest vocals and arguably the album’s most memorable chorus. The record appropriately wraps up with “Let the World Know,” a song that turns its gaze outward, examining the current landscape and calling for change. In times such as these, a desire for positivity, compassion and a better existence is something that likely resonates with nearly everyone.
With We Can Pretend Like, Ogikubo Station has produced a collection of songs that vary in style, yet also maintain a sense of cohesion. On the surface, the songwriting is rather straightforward and unforced, but multiple listens reveal layers of detail and intricacies. There’s an emphasis on unique vocal arrangements and earnest lyrics, which help to form the foundation of what is a very promising and complete album. For those wanting to get in on the ground floor, you can preorder the record here.
Apocalypse Hoboken – “Excel”
Following three successful shows at Chop Shop earlier this month, Apocalypse Hoboken is set to release a collections LP on Underground Communiqué Records, titled Everybody’s Been Burned. Spanning 17 tracks in total, many of these songs initially appeared on compilations, but were never previously released on vinyl. According to label owner Justin Schwier, the idea for this record came about roughly six months ago during a conversation with drummer Andy Peterson. “Andy and I were at a birthday party and he brought the idea up. He told me they were planning this weekend of shows and asked about whether or not I was interested in doing something for the band, which I of course was,” he said. “Working with Apocalypse Hoboken was never something I ever thought would happen and I’m truly honored to get something back in print for them.”
A limited edition of 100 LPs on smoky clear vinyl were made available at the recent shows, but quickly sold out. Once the covers are ready, there will be 200 copies available on transparent orange vinyl and 100 copies on clear vinyl with blue coloring at the center. Additionally, there will be 100 copies of purple vinyl sold exclusively at Reckless Records. All songs were remastered by Bill Henderson at Azimuth Mastering, which according to Schwier wasn’t the easiest of undertakings. “First and foremost, he did an amazing job and truly transformed these songs in a way that is staggering compared to the state of some of the tracks the band handed over initially,” he said. “Compilations like this are difficult to master because almost every track is from a different recording session, so he had to uniformly equalize the sound and then go and fix a bunch of technical audio problems. A couple songs were really challenging to fix, but he worked his magic.”
When reflecting on the weekend of shows and the opportunity to work with the band, Schwier said “Honestly it wasn’t until Friday night when they started playing that the magnitude of doing an Apocalypse Hoboken record actually hit me. I got a little emotional seeing them live again. That Friday night show was bonkers from the first note. I was immediately brought back to being a teenager and seeing them play all the time. The power of that band live cannot be explained, nor underestimated. They reconjured that alluring darkness and chaotic atmosphere out of nowhere again, like I knew they would.” Preorder the LP here and take a listen to one of the songs below, “Excel.”
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