Review / 200 Words Or Less
TV Crimes
Demo

Independent (2009) Michael

TV Crimes – Demo cover artwork
TV Crimes – Demo — Independent, 2009

I take pride in my local hardcore scene. I try to make it out to as many shows as I can, support friends in bands in any way possible, and occasionally book a show or two. So I'm continuing to do my part by telling you about TV Crimes, my favorite local band right now.

TV Crimes fuse together early hardcore punk with alternative rock, similar to SST Records era The Meat Puppets and Sonic Youth. The pacing of the songs varies from fast segments - see the opening of "Freedom from Religion" and the end of "What We Need" - to mid-tempo pacing. The guitars dominate the songs, ranging from chugging hardcore slabs to rock infused rhythms and are complimented by Joel Lefkowitz's inspired vocal delivery. "Stone Statues" has a definite Suicide File feel and the final track, "Regrets," opens with a Fugazi-inspired guitar melody.

With their demo TV Crimes demonstrate you can be a hardcore band and not be limited by the usual stereotypes of the genre. The songwriting hints at a great future for this young group. You can download the demo for free from their Myspace.

8.0 / 10Michael • December 10, 2009

TV Crimes – Demo cover artwork
TV Crimes – Demo — Independent, 2009

Recently-posted album reviews

Six Going on Seven

Human Tears
Spartan Records (2026)

Late 90s post hardcore and emo feels impossible to recreate now. That’s not because the sound itself is gone, but because the tension behind it was so specific to that era. Six Going on Seven’s Human Tears, their first full length in roughly twenty-four years, captures that feeling perfectly. Having a wonderful history by having done a split with Hot … Read more

The Bug Club

Every Single Muscle
Sub Pop (2026)

  I got kind of obsessed with reviewing this record after I heard the first single “Watching The Omnibus” which they released digitally earlier this year. I could probably just write a whole thing about how hard it was to get an advance download of it for review, but I try to keep my reviews positive so I will steer clear … Read more

The Cascadian Divide

To the Sky
Independent (2026)

The Cascadian Divide is a Washington state based melodic skate punk band that formed during the infamous COVID lockdown. Although it started as an experiment, it soon became a passion project for the band members. The band has seen its share of line up changes over the years, but the commitment to maintaining the sound and integrity of the band … Read more