Pushin’ It 2 The Limit, “self-titled” cassette

pi2tl header
When I reviewed Ex Friends’ Rules For Making Up Words last year, I mentioned that I really liked Audrey Crash‘s vocals, but was “kind of turned off by Joel Tannenbaum‘s delivery>’ Well, here’s the perfect solution: Crash is fronting a band called Pushin’ It 2 The Limit. Their new, self-titled cassette is pretty boss.

Short, punchy tunes that rush along, kind of like a punker Lemuria. The songs have pop hooks and catchy lyrics — “Breaking through Everything with Your Facehammer” is an excellent example of how PI2TL works: lyrics about pushing through, being creatively fulfilled, sang with wobbly harmonies by Crash and guitarist Leta Gray.
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Ex Friends, “Rules For Making Up Words” LP

cover - ex friends rulesWe’ve talked about asthetics I’m not down with before — the whole Hot Water Music thing being beyond my comprehension, for example — and I’m trying to figure out what it is about Ex Friends‘ full-length, Rules For Making Up Words, that turns me off.

Just a few months back, I was excited beyond all belief regarding their Twisted Around 7-inch. Now, listening to this record that they’ve released on Paper + Plastick, I’m just kind of watching it tick by in iTunes, waiting for the damned thing to be over.

For lack of a better thing, I think it’s kind of like my Dillinger Four preferences. I love D4 songs with Paddy on vocals, and get kind of ambivalent toward Erik songs, but I’m pretty all right with songs where they both sing. Same thing goes for Ex Friends — I love Audrey Crash‘s vocals, but am kind of turned off by Joel Tannenbaum‘s delivery.
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