The Alternative Tone

Crywank - Memento Mori Self Released  Stream "Memento Mori"   by Kelly Doherty To go into a Crywank song without expecting earth shattering sadness, is a little bit naive. Two albums and a collection of demos in, it's clear that Crywank aka James Clayton, isn't going to turn into a posi-core project any time soon. Yet despite this, I hit the play button on Crywank's new song "Memento Mori" without so much as preparing a box of tissue or bracing myself. So, here's a warning, get ready to get sad.  From the opening lyric of " everyone I love is gonna die and I will die as well ", "Memento Mori" is a rawly emotional song from the point of view of the everyman. Quietly questioning coming to terms with mortality, Crywank manages to, yet again, capture the private late night thoughts of an insomniac and play them out on record. Whilst his introspection entirely lacks subtlety, its bluntness makes for a painfully easy to relate...

I recently spoke to James Clayton aka Crywank aka everyone's favourite acoustic folk punk emo troubadour about his the process behind Narcissist On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown, his internet presence and the future for Crywank. If you already haven't, head over to his  Bandcamp , and have a listen to some of his wonderful, instantly likable music. Just don't forget to come back.   Who is Crywank? And how did it come around?  When I was 19 I was really sad. I needed to vent somehow and I wanted to start writing songs. My friend taught me two chords (the same two chords which make up 'Welcome to Castle Irwell' and 'Thomas Saunders Gangchant') and I've been writing songs from that moment, not really allowing a lack of skill or ability to get in my way. It started out with me playing by myself, but I've recently been joined by my friend Dan on percussion. Crywank kind of just happened, I never really expected it to go on to having any sort...

Folk punk from England. Download Here RIYL: Ridiculously lo-fi emo kid playing folk. Highly Recommended

Here, Hear III EP by La Dispute (2009):  Spoken word from the post-hardcore experimenters.Yes, spoken word might seem a little dubious, however it does feature 'Nine', one of the best tracks of their career. Bandcamp James Is Going To Die Soon by Crywank (2010):  Ridiculously simple yet emotive folk-punk from London. Pretty close to perfect debut. Bandcamp  (free download) Accordion Peas by Neutral Milk Hotel (1998):   Live bootleg of a '98 NMH show featuring the amazing, and rare, Oh Sister.

15. No Reason Why by Gorilla Biscuits (1:55) from 1988's 'Gorilla Biscuits'. A hardcore clean living anthem of sorts from the scene legends. Combining catchy, sinalong lyrics with raspy vocals and probably the most prominent bass line in the hardcore scene, No Reason Why  is an essential for any punk fan. 14. One Life, One Chance by H2O   (1:55) from 1999's 'F.T.T.W'. Another hardcore anthem, filled with inspirational lyrics and a fist pump worthy melody, One Life, One Chance , is a track that exists solely to make everyone who listens to it feel that bit better. 13. Situation On Mars by Swing Kids (1:34)  from 1998's 'Discography'. Ridiculously heavy post-hardcore from the short lived, but none the less important Swing Kids. Swing Kids' brand of post-hardcore has almost become a template for hundreds of bands recently (The Wave bands etc.) and 'Situation On Mars' is one of their most brutal yet attractive songs. 12. Sho...

 Acoustic folk/punk from Manchester. http://crywank.bandcamp.com/album/james-is-going-to-die-soon RIYL: Bright Eyes, The Mountain Goats, Lo-fi emo boys crying into their guitars Highly recommended 

Acoustic folk-punk from Manchester. http://crywank.bandcamp.com/album/narcissist-on-the-verge-of-a-nervous-breakdown RIYL: Bright Eyes, The Mountain Ghosts, Emo boys crying into guitars