Park Jefferson – Weekdays (self released, 2011)

Being veterans of the often-misunderstood genre emo (member’s past bands include Midwest Pen Pals, My Head in Clouds, and Merchant Ships) gives Park Jefferson room to change things up a bit, which is exactly what happened on Weekdays. Clocking in at almost fourteen minutes, this EP, their fifth, is a departure from the twinkly, noodly sound that was prevalent in their earlier releases. This album, decidedly more mature in a scene dominated by superficiality (paraphrasing from a statement by the band), pulls from catalog of indie rock mainstays, including Brand New, whose influence is obvious.

Andrew Jackson Jihad – Knife Man (Asian Man Records, 2011)

Phoenix, Arizona seems like a fitting hometown for folk duo Andrew Jackson Jihad. The city is a sprawling metropolitan center isolated by miles of desert in any direction. That isolation gives the band (vocalist, guitarist, and professional cynic Sean Bonette and bassist and vocalist Ben Gallaty, along with a slew of guest musicians) a definite air of pessimism that has refused to waiver over the course of three studio albums and countless EP’s. As Knife Man, their fourth studio effort, reveals, nothing’s changed.