Chores, Comfy, Bad Bloom & Big Nobody – Spit Takes and Split Tapes, Vol. II
Back in 2024, Rochester-based label Raincoated Records, renowned for releasing some of the best music to come out of the area in both the recent and not-so-recent past, released spit takes and split tapes, an eight-song compilation from four great Rochester bands, all recorded on a four-track cassette tape over the course of one year. The reception was hugely positive, lending credence to just how much musical talent is scattered across the city. Today, we’re excited to feature a second installment of the same ilk: Spit Takes and Split Tapes, Vol. II, an epic, guitar-shredded foray into the worlds of local (and buffaBLOG) mainstays Chores, Comfy, Bad Bloom, and Big Nobody. All tracks were recorded, mixed, and mastered by Jake Annal and Nate Bellavia at the Lilypad Underground.
At the risk of stating the obvious, these songs are best listened to at high volume. They rip, as the kids say, and deserve a listening environment that creates ample sonic space for each release’s unique qualities to shine through. On Chores’ standout “Milo”, we’re met with a cacophony of sounds: a driving bass, warmly distorted guitar, and a lead vocal that carries a level of assuredness that’s hard to ignore. Bad Bloom’s “She,” too, pulls from all walks of post-punk life and produces a wonderful amalgamation entirely unique to themselves. Big Nobody’s “Franklin Big Mouth” perhaps best embodies the raw energy felt across the project – loose and loud drums, glaringly confident guitar solos, and a chorus so sticky in its casual sublimity. Lest we forget Comfy, whose gripping “Wasn’t The Same” continues to bounce into our rotation on a regular basis, due largely in part to the narrative pull of its construction.
Raincoated continues to lay the foundation for what makes the Rochester scene so special – both in its orientation toward community and the consistently great music it produces. We’re already looking forward to vol. iii, but will probably have to buy some new speakers for that one seeing as we’ve blown them out listening to vol. ii.
You can listen to the full compilation here, and can keep up with Comfy, Chores, Bad Bloom, and Big Nobody wherever you like to internet, including via the ever-reliable Raincoated.
Categorised in: Album of the Week, Rochester
This post was written by Ben Frigeri