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Future of the Left - Stand By Your Manatee

If you don’t listen to Future of the Left yet, you’re really screwing yourself over. This cut off 2009’s excellent Travels With Myself And Another exemplifies why FotL rules the hardest. The music is so loud and grimey and visceral and the lyrics are so explosive. Nothing in this world could take her common shame away / because emma’s mom and dad use plastic forks screams front man Andy Falkous over the writhing motion of the instruments. This band makes me so giddy. They released another solid record this year and I highly recommend checking this band out if you like loud music.

SINGLE MOTHERS - Hell (Is My Backup Plan)

Ever since finding out about Single Mothers over spring break I find myself unable to stop listening to them. My love for the Hold Steady should be well known at this point; Single Mothers is essentially an hardcore version of The Hold Steady sent from an alternate universe where the consequence of not rocking is death. Make sense? It probably doesn’t until you listen to it. Which you totally should.