Jeromes Dream / July - Connective Tissue 1999

Jeromes Dream

(West Haven, CT)

Jeff Smith (Bass, Vocals)
Nick Antonopulous (Guitar)
Erik Ratensperger (Drums)

July

(Apex, NC)

Gabe Johnson
Herb Harris

Basic Info:

Release Date: 1999
Label: Witching Hour Records
Runtime: 10:13
-Jeromes Dream: 3:50
-July: 6:23
Tracks: 2
-Jeromes Dream: 1
-July: 1

At a Glance:

Emoviolence, Post-Rock, Midwest Emo, Slowcore, Atmospheric

Points on the Timeline:

Jeromes Dream had just released their first split with Amalgamation in December of 1998, so this was still one of the earliest tracks they ever released. They would stick around for a couple of years before disbanding in the early 00s, whereby they’d release their signature material. Meanwhile, July is a duo with this one song and possibly a demo somewhere in the wild. They’re quite obscure.

Shapes in the Sound:

Jeromes’ side opens with one of their typical ferocious Emoviolence intros with utter insanity on the guitar and drums. Jeff Smith’s signature destructive vocals complete the package, though there’s also a bit of a second half to this one; the back end of this track is mostly atmospheric noise with dynamic aggression. Meanwhile, July’s track is quiet, blessed with just a guitar, some keyboard and the human voice. These nearly six-and-a-half minutes of Post-Rock goodness with Emo-style vocals are beautiful, but contrast Jeromes’ side completely.

Threads in the Tapestry:

How this obscure band linked with Jeromes Dream with almost zero music to their credit and living 600 miles apart is truly a mystery, but the world of Emo should be thankful for this contribution. While obviously not Jeromes’ greatest or most memorable work, it does feature a repetitive chord progression that the end that would become a hallmark of their sound for years to come.