"mEMOries" Part 30 feat. Time Spent Driving

9 years ago, back on the old site, we did start a series called mEMOries. It was all about asking new Emo-bands or other scene affiliates about their all time favourite (Midwest-)Emo-record. It was about nostalgia. And it was about connecting the new with the old. I had big plans for this series, wanted to collect 20 parts and then release some sort of a sampler with an XL-booklet attached, that features all of the text pieces...

...after 7 parts the series was buried, when the end of borderline fuckup 1.0 was on the horizon. I'm still in love with the idea and tried my best to start a relaunch in 2021, but it mainly was a chore. However, I got back on track somehow, with a lot of support by some lovely people. Now, here's part 30 for your reading pleasure!

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// The band // Time Spent Driving

While not exactly a dinosaur of Midwest-Emo, TIME SPENT DRIVING cleary are a band from the old guard. Forming in 1999, their early releases -the "Walls"-EP and their first full length "Just enough bright" can be considered Midwest-Emo-highlights of 2000s. However, they disbanded in 2005 and reformed in 2012. In a rare case their current run lasts way longer then their original run. They slowed things down though, putting out an album in 2017 and the first half of their next album "Estrangers" in 2020. The second half should drop this year, completing the whole LP. Beforehand their guitarist/vocalist Jon took part in "mEMOries", writing about his special Emo-record.

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// The record // Chamberlain - Fate's got a Driver

Release: 1995/1996 // Label: Doghouse Records

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Jon on "Fate's got a Driver" by Chamberlain

When I hear “Midwest-Emo” my mind immediately leaps to Chamberlain, who were based out of Indiana. When I picked up a used copy of “Fate’s Got A Driver” used from a record store bin I don’t think I was expecting much, but at first listen I was sold and it was hugely influential to me in the direction I wanted to take music from that point on. Released in 1995 I think they were ahead of their time and the perfect bridge between punk/hardcore and indie/alternative. I heard influences that I loved from bands like Samiam and Lifetime, but with a sound that was evolving to what I would consider the best “era of emo” if you want to call it that.

It’s only 8 songs but there’s nothing missing. Their musicianship of each instrument, particularly for the time period, is top notch and has a great balance of restrain and complexity. Quiet, loud, driving, slow, heavy, mid-tempo - it has it all. But the big thing that sets this album apart from most of the others? The lyrics - they are poetic, emotional, cathartic, and phenomenal, top to bottom. Matched up with his powerful, heartfelt vocal delivery and catchy melodies you just can’t go wrong.

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"mEMOries" Part 1 feat. Mosey Jones
"mEMOries" Part 2 feat. Daniel Becker (Time as a Color Records, Amid the Old Wounds)
"mEMOries" Part 3 feat. Former States 
"mEMOries" Part 4 feat. Edie Quinn (Middle-Man Records, Coma Regalia)
"mEMOries" Part 5 feat. Human Hands 
"mEMOries" Part 6 feat. Alex Miles (Is this Thing on?)
"mEMOries" Part 7 feat. Boys' Club
"mEMOries" Part 8 feat. Keith Latinen (Mt. Oriander, Parting) 
"mEMOries" Part 9 feat. Villain of the War 
"mEMOries" Part 10 feat. John Szuch (Deep Elm Records)
"mEMOries" Part 11 feat. Flight Mode 
"mEMOries" Part 12 feat. Comic Sans
"mEMOries" Part 13 feat. Joe C (What Price Wonderland?, Plaids, Zochor)
"mEMOries" Part 14 feat. Mentah 
"mEMOries" Part 15 feat. Walking Race
"mEMOries" Part 16 feat. Against Realism
"mEMOries" Part 17 feat. Klaus Axmann (Goddamn Records) 
"mEMOries" Part 18 feat. Atlanta Arrival 
"mEMOries" Part 19 feat. Mary's Letter
"mEMOries" Part 20 feat. Sinking 
"mEMOries" Part 21 feat. Lakes
"mEMOries" Part 22 feat. Downhaul
"mEMOries" Part 23 feat. About Leaving
"mEMOries" Part 24 feat. The Arrival Note
"mEMOries" Part 25 feat. Letterpress 
"mEMOries" Part 26 feat. Mr. Princess
"mEMOries" Part 27 feat. Tragwag 
"mEMOries" Part 28 feat. soccer. 
"mEMOries" Part 29 feat. c.h.point (Summer 2000, Elder Jack)