RECOMMENDED
Even those with active new music intake can only hope to hear about five to ten records of this power and transcendence in one lifetime. So, I’m torn between two or twenty-eight different attitudes when faced with the task of actually reviewing something like this. One of them goes like this: “There might be art I will never be qualified to comment on. Yep, face it, Mr. Summer School AFTER 12th Grade In Order To Genuinely Graduate in….the…..hou…” And another goes like this: “Is this some sort of a joke or a ‘90’ reissue that is doing exactly what the reissue game is supposed to do (unearth brilliance that was overlooked the first time around)?” That I might be suspicious of something this consummately uplifting and powerful is 100% commentary on the sad state of affairs elsewhere on the tunes-ville landscape…or is it? The weird and terrifying degradation of underground rock – it is finally happening in an Illuminati sense despite the crying-wolf nature of saying so in public and despite the fact that no one will really believe me or you if this happens to be an adopted party-line in the near future – has not brainwashed me into some peanut-butter cognitive mush that hugs and embraces and spews superlative soup all over anything that simply DOESN’T SUCK. No, this album is one of the best ten long-players I’ve ever heard within the context of contemporary….aka “post-1985” underground rock/hardcore/punk/indie/noise-rock, etc. And that’s it. What awaits those lucky enough to get their hands on one of the remaining (??) 300 copies? Imagine if Cop Shoot Cop had GBV hooks along with the best moments of Scott Walker singing into the heavens. It’s a drummer (oh, what a drummer…), a vocalist/percussionist (playing what is probably a
stand-up kit rather than this being a double-drummer set-up) and a bassist playing the fucking instrument like Lou Barlow taught everyone who was listening and properly processing Dinosaur Jr’s You’re Living All Over Me (an album also in that aforementioned top ten). Get this. Hear this. This is the sound of hope and inspiration and it made me feel something I wasn’t ever planning to feel again. (http://www.northernlibertiesband.com)
(Andrew Earles)
Author: dana
Northern Liberties/Glowing Brain Garden (Live at the Difference, 2012)
Use this album as a manageable entry point into the world of the Duerr brothers and their longtime best friend Kevin Riley; who, together for over a decade, have been crafting what they call “ghost punk” – and I’m inclined to take their word for it. In the least because they have always created within the confines of vocals, percussion, and bass; bending to Occam’s Razor – the law of parsimony, which states that until a greater demonstration reveals itself as necessary, the most succinct one shall rule.
— “Best of 2012” from liveatthedifference.blogspot.com – (liveatthedifference.blogspot.com)
Collaborations 2007-2010 CD
Released: 2012
Title: Collaborations 2007-2010
Details: Limited to 200 CDs. First 23 with zine.
Packed in offset printed sleeves with cover art work by Justin.
Label: Self-released
Tracks:
1. Brian Nothing & Northern Liberties – Wolf in the Maternity Ward
2. Abby Miller & Northern Liberties – Luna Park
3. Joe Lotito & Paul Walker with Northern Liberties – Anthem for Self-Devouring
4. Ian Pitcher & Gregory Nangle w/ Northern Liberties – A Fish Story
5. Joe B. & Northern Liberties – 05 Making a Sacrifice for Art
6. TOWERS w/ Northern Liberties – Witchcraft Optimizer
7. Billy Brett/ Northern Liberties – Integrated Disintegration
8. Shawn & Kellzo of BUGS AND RATS w/ Northern Liberties – Born Defective
9. Enid Crow & Northern Liberties – Haunted Treehouse Society
10. Marybeth Chew & Northern Liberties – Only Math Exists
11. Mandy Katz & Northern Liberties – Pond Scum
12. Clark Roth & Northern Liberties – Soldier
13. Vosco Tom Adams w/ Northern Liberties – Live Again
14. David Aponte & Northern Liberties – Psychic Silhouette
Listen on the BC Page
Currently out of print
Easter Island 7″ (Misprint)
Released: 2012
Title: Easter Island
Details: Recorded Easter Sunday 2003
3 black test presses
500 copies on clear gold vinyl, but they came with the label reversed, So we had to send 50 copies back, We kept in the vault 450 copies. The pressing company replaced the entire order. 500 hand numbered copies on clear yellow released with cover, featuring Justin’s art and lyrics, printed in metallic silver ink on blue linen paper.
Label: Self-released
Tracks:
Side A
1. Easter Island
Side B
1. Chromosomatic
Listen on the BC Page
Available now at the merch store at https://northernliberties.bandcamp.com/merch
These records have the labels misplaced on the wrong side. They play just fine, just the labels are reversed. This version of this release has different covers. We ended up giving most of the misprints to distros…. But 205 are now available with the new/old cover. This cover is the first version Justin did for the 2003 release…. We used a different image then, but the original is back for this 2012 Misprint Release.
Beaumont Warehouse 6/15/12
Friday, June 15th, 2012
Collaborative album release party with Akkolyte and Rollin, Stones
Beaumont Warehouse, Philadelphia
Mojo 5/26/12
Saturday, May 26th, 2012
With Clobbersaurus, Keep For Yourself, and The Fakirs
Mojo, Newark, DE
PhilaMOCA 1/28/12
Saturday, January 28th, 2012
Mutations Zine Release
With Rasputins Secret Police, No One and the Somebodies, and S.T.A.R.W.O.O.D.
PhilaMOCA, Philadelphia
Motel Hell 11/19/11
Saturday, November 19th, 2011
With HIRS, Combine, and Estella
Motel Hell, Philadelphia
Northern Liberties ‘Disfigured’ and ‘The Night Crept In’ @ Beaumont
Northern Liberties @ their ‘Glowing Brain Garden’ record release. Wunderbar!
Beaumont Warehouse 7/16/11
Saturday, July 16th, 2011
Record release show with Kill Your Brain, Bugs and Rats, and Lasagna
Beaumont Warehouse, Philadelphia