Berkeley

Berkeley were a band from Donegal, Ireland,  active from 1999 until what appears to be 2008. The exact timeline is a mystery, especially their beginning. The band's own biography, preserved in archives of their website, says they were formed in 2001. But I have scans of the band's first release and it clearly says '2000' on the back cover, and the news posts on the website go back to 1999. It's possible the band was trying to downplay their early work by claiming a later formation date, since, as I'll discuss below, their first EP is not representative of what would become their sound. The website would remain up until 2011, but the last news post was made in November of 2007, so I'm betting they called it quits sometime in 2008. I can't be 100% sure of any of this, however, so don't take it as gospel.

The band's initial release, the ironically titled the best of, is a self-recorded EP that is basically a demo, showcasing a band just beginning to find their sound. It has little resemblance to the rest of their discography, being more alternative\indie rock than anything else, and is, frankly, not very good. But that's okay, because it was their first attempt and their next, 2002's New Star, is excellent, recorded in Chicago with Steve Albini. The band found their footing with a blend of post-hardcore and emo pop, and would carry that sound forward to their next releases. 

Their first full-length, also recorded under Albini's stewardship, was 2002's hopes, prayers and bubblegum. The next release was in 2003, a single called Follow Through, featuring the same recording of the title track as the album in slightly shortened form, as well as two additional unique tracks; I assume it was put out to promote the previous year's LP, and the new songs sound like they may have been extra tracks cut from hopes, prayers and bubblegum.

After that, there is long gap in their discography between 2003 and 2006. Based on info from the website, it seems like they had some earlier version of it that I currently haven't been able to find; it was relaunched in 2005, with news of the upcoming second LP. If they released anything during that time, I can't find evidence of it. The second album was intended to be released early in 2006 but was delayed for unspecified reasons. Instead, the band would contribute to a split single with Giveamanakick. When eventually released, the second LP, in moments, is largely consistent with their previous releases despite the time passed, and features slightly more influence from post-punk.

Portions of Berkeley's discography are made available courtesy of How Nothing Feels.

berkeley discography

Into Ashes

Into Ashes were a band from Tallahassee, active from 2001 to 2002 and probably a bit before that, as their website redesign in 2001 seems to hint at some other, unarchived version of it existing prior to that year. They released one EP on Copter Crash Records, a label which was no stranger to emo, hosting releases from The Goodboy Suit and The Saddest Landscape. While their only release came after the turn of the millennium, their sound is a very late-90s mix of midwest emo and emo pop, with the addition of some strong influences from post-hardcore. They remind me a lot of Camber, which is to say they were also great (in a secondary layer to that comparison, they toured with Brandston). I can't find any evidence they had another release besides the if you need a reason EP in 2001.

The fifth track is titled 'hum' on the back tray insert but called 'Balcony' in the liner notes. I believe the back insert is correct as the song is named 'hum' on their website.

if you need a reason