$5.00
A: Crack Trap
B: Loaded Hearts
Comes with Download Code
http://www.myspace.com/sharpends
Fresh off their debut on Chicago's Hozac Records, Sharp Ends deliver their 2nd of three 7"s coming out in Fall 2009 (with each single decreasing in availability). For this single, Sharp Ends combine their post-punk/early Joy Division vibe with decidedly more of a pop sensibility, even displaying elements of power-pop on the b-side, Loaded Hearts. The killer here is the a-side Crack Trap, which has one of the catchiest guitar hooks we've heard in some time. Essential.
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With ethereal vocals warbling from a treble-y melody to a guttural and bass-y speak-sing hybrid, guitars reverbed to just this side of spooky, harmonics pinched until they're just about to feedback and a relentless rhythm section, "Crack Trap," the A-side of Calgary's Sharp Ends' new seven-inch, is the soundtrack to a night on amphetamines, the queasy and uneasy rollicking mimics the head and stomach's response, while the song's pace resembles your oppressive heartbeat. The B-side, a more straight-ahead punk number, doesn't fare as well—though it contains a pretty epic solo to close it out—and sometimes the hat tips to Joy Division come uncomfortably to the forefront, but fuck it: this band is awesome. 4/5 (Brian Birtles // Vue Weekly, October 29, 2009)
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Sharp Ends were the source of rampant rumours in our village square during 2009’s adjective-fest (read: Sled Island) and they’ve quickly become the talk of North America’s underground after a debut single on Chicago’s bozak-repellant HoZac Records. With a new single on Lethbridge’s beautifully curated Mammoth Cave Recordings, Sharp Ends briefly depart from the rolling bass, bludgeonly drums, and red-line vocals to surprise us with one of the best B-sides left of Winnipeg (I’ve always wanted to say that!). Loaded Hearts will rip you into Lego™-chunks of teenage angst within seconds of launching; it’s classic DIY jangle with way too much attitude tastefully balanced by top-notch laxidasical chanting and relentless guitar shreddery. This isn’t to say Crack Trap doesn’t also deliver, just in an entirely different way; Crack Trap tickles the inner post-punk / college-radio basement-nerd inside of every loser going Dutch and buying $100 7″s on the sly (myself (proudly) included). There are many treasures inside the Mammoth Cave. (Aaron Levin // Weird Canada, November 10, 2009)
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Smashing Transistor:
With a rumbling bassline and a choppy guitar side one from this Alberta band, "Crack Trap", resembles Joy Division who if they looked out their window didn't see the gray industrial decay that was their city but prairies, mountain and trees. Musical vistas that are more wide and rambling than fogged claustrophobia. It give the song a bit more of scruffy and well worn jean jacket comfortableness than a cumbersome stiff and bulky trench coat. Glacial but not foreboding.
"Loaded Hearts" is the flipside meaning more than just the song on the other side of the record. It leaps out through the speakers with slashy & searing guitar ala the first Generation X album while general feeling of the song is a lost teen angst 60's nugget blaster sharing it's bed with some late 70's DIY post-punker who think to much. The two battle for superiority but as long as it makes a noise like this it's all good from any angle it's listened to at.
http://www.myspace.com/sharpends