If you’ve visited our website today, you may have noticed that something is different. I spent all night sprucing it up. The point overall was simplification. You’ll find that the main page here is a lot less cluttered, and only displays news items on the left that have been given the magic category “Main”.

For those of you who still wish to be inundated with our views on politics and Internet Memes, do not fear, you can click the link for “Blog” up there on the right and all of our blogsome goodness will come pouring hither. Those of you following us via RSS should see no difference, except perhaps a short blip in your RSS client because of something I had to do on the back end to get RSS to cooperate again.

If you find anything wrong, any blips, please let us know at band@themeltdowns.com and we’ll get to it.

STICKERS!

This review by Jim Testa in Jersey Beat could make me cry.  I was a huge Dismemberment Plan fan.

Yes, it’s an anagram, almost worse than a pun, and all too typical of this band’s self-deprecating sense of humor. But don’t believe the title of this 4-song EP for a second. Far from a letdown, these tunes actually mark the first time that the Meltdowns have managed to capture all the manic live energy of their stage show on disc. More than that, these four tunes showcase the range of talent that this young Brooklyn quartet musters – a freaky, frenetic funk workout, a post-psychedelic wah-wah fest with guitar and bass solos that absolutely shred, and to top it all off, a bouncy pop tune with a strutting temp and tongue-in-cheek lyrics. The humor, the funk, and the musicianship can’t help but bring to mind the Dismemberment Plan, another band that existed outside of any scene other than its own eclectic awesomeness. Bands today don’t show off and they don’t get down often enough; the Meltdowns do. And I haven’t even mentioned the choreography yet. You’re going to have to wait for the live show for that; in the meantime, download this now and have yourself a party.

You can download the whole EP for free over here.

We just found out about this mostly-positive review of our first EP, No Authority, Direction, or Control, over at AbsolutePunk.net:

The Meltdowns will be someone to look out for in the future. With a bit more organization in some songs, and more honing of some of their instrumental crafts that shine on “Club Sedition” and “For Tomorrow,” No Authority, Direction, or Control is the club you’ve been hearing about, and should check out if you have the time.

At SouthPaw, on the 31st, with the new EP.  Lots and lots of stickers so you can annoy your neighbors.

We’ve set a date!  Our new EP Them Letdowns will be released on Thursday, July 31st to coincide with our show at South Paw.  It’s four songs, it will be available here for free, and you’ll be able to get CD-R copies at the show.  The show is a big one for us, too, as we’re playing with Pale Nimbus and Werewolves, two really bitchin bands from Brooklyn with a great following each.  In addition, this is actually an 18+ show, which some of you are always asking about (understandably!)

So that’s Win.  Also, there will be a sweet after party hosted by Pale Nimbus, which I hope you’ll attend with us.

South Paw is in the beautiful Park Slope nabe of Brooklyn and it is fairly easy to get to, as it is surrounded by numerous stops on the NYC Subway.  Map.

This is, I think, one of those LVL UP shows for us, so we’re rehearsing quite a bit for it, and it’d mean the world to us if you could make it. (We’re on at 8:30! Early!)

[ any press / blog folks out there who want the EP now for review purposes, hit me up: billy at tankcrash dot com ]

Comrades, we go forward into the night with hearts full of music!  This week we will finish bringing the Good News to New Jersey.  In two weeks time: Brooklyn.

Our second EP for 2008, Them Letdowns, will be available very soon.  Keep your eyes on our website.

Friday July 11th, 10pm - Clash Bar, Clifton, NJ (w/ Frozen Gentlemen and the McMickle Bros!)

Saturday July 12th, 9pm - Chubby’s, Red Bank, NJ (w/ Sex Zombies and the Vanities!)

Thursday July 31st, 8:30pm - South Paw, Brooklyn, NY (w/ Pale Nimbus!)
(we need you to come to this one, like woah)

If the Frozen Gentlemen are in your town, be sure to check them out. They knocked my socks off tonight.

Adam is currently mixing our next EP.  Looks like we’re on schedule!

I have one of these:

I finally got it repaired.  I’m going to go pick it up now.

Things are going to get a little nuts.  I’m just warnin’ ya.