This Can't Exist is a

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one Performing arts#Performers, performer or by several performers. If the recordings are from ...

by American

post-hardcore Post-hardcore is a punk rock music genre that maintains the aggression and intensity of hardcore punk but emphasizes a greater degree of creative expression. Like the term " post-punk", the term "post-hardcore" has been applied to a broad conste ...

band

Native Nod Native Nod was an American post-hardcore band formed in 1990 and based in the New Jersey/New York metropolitan area. During their short stint as a group, they released a handful of songs, spread across a demo, three EPs, and appearances on compi ...

, released by

The Numero Group The Numero Group is an archival record label that creates compilations of previously released music, reissues original albums, and creates album reconstructions from a variety of musical genres. The label, known as Numero, was founded in 2003 ...

in 2023. The album contains every released recording by Native Nod, except the track "Mr. President" from the ''Fear of Smell'' compilation and their demo tape.

Background

Native Nod was formed in 1990 when Chris and Danny Leo met Justin Simon at a skatepark in Bloomfield. They became friends through their shared appreciation of music. Through Simon, they met Dave Lerner. Native Nod played many of their early shows at

ABC No Rio ABC No Rio is a collectively-run nonprofit arts organization on New York City's Lower East Side. Founded in 1980 in a squat at 156 Rivington Street, following the eviction of the 1979–80 Real Estate Show, the center featured an art gallery s ...

, where they helped grow a scene that detested the often violent hardcore attitudes of CBGBs. The band gained popularity from

house concert A house concert or home concert is a musical concert or performance art that is presented in someone's home or apartment, or a nearby small private space such as a barn, apartment rec room, lawn, or backyard."VIDEO: House concert in Royal Oak," ...

s around

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

and

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

, despite not having released any music at the time. Throughout their period together, the band prided themselves on being different from the

hardcore punk Hardcore punk (commonly abbreviated to hardcore or hXc) is a punk rock music genre#subtypes, subgenre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots ...

scene. They used the term

emo Emo () is a genre of rock music characterized by emotional, often confessional lyrics. It emerged as a style of hardcore punk and from the Washington, D.C., hardcore scene, where it was known as emotional hardcore or emocore. The bands ...

as a distinction from those ideas. Through this, the band would embrace humor into their music. The band would attempt to embark on a tour with the band Iconoclast, which would see the band travel to

San Diego San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...

. However, the band had disagreements on whether to play a specific show, which led to the band pulling from the tour and disbanding. The band played a formal last show at the Center Unitarian Church in Paramus with Current, Angel Hair, and The Yah Mos. In 2022, Numero Group announced that they would be reissuing the band's discography. They released ''This Can't Exist'' on September 1, 2023 on streaming services and on vinyl.

Reception

''This Can't Exist'' generally received positive reviews from critics. Music magazine Under The Radar called the music unique with how their music was "one part

Soulside Soulside, also spelled Soul Side, is an American post-hardcore band from the greater Washington, D.C. area. History The original name of the band was Lunchmeat which was formed by high school students Bobby Sullivan, Chris Thomson, Scott M ...

and one part

Slint Slint was an American Rock music, rock band from Louisville, Kentucky, Louisville, Kentucky, formed in 1986 after the dissolution of two local bands, Squirrel Bait and Maurice. It initially consisted of guitarist-vocalist Brian McMahan, guitaris ...

, but really like neither and their own thing completely." Raygun Busch of the band Chat Pile called it one of their favorite albums of 2023. Andrew Sacher of

BrooklynVegan ''BrooklynVegan'' is an American online music magazine founded in 2004 by David Levine. The company is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, and originally focused on vegan food and the music community in and around New York City, before broadeni ...

called it one of the twenty-one albums that defined the 1990s New York post-hardcore scene.

Track listing

All music by Native Nod. * Tracks 1-3 originally appeared on ''Bread'' (1993,

Gern Blandsten Gern Blandsten Records is an independent record label based in Paramus, New Jersey. The label's acts have included The World/Inferno Friendship Society, Canyon, Chisel, the Van Pelt, Radio 4, The Flesh, Weston, Native Nod and Rye Coalition. Ger ...

) * Tracks 4-6 originally appeared on ''Native Nod'' (1992, Gern Blandsten) * Tracks 7 & 8 originally appeared on ''New Compositions and Arrangements for the Zither'' (1995, Gern Blandsten)

Personnel

Personnel per liner notes. Native Nod * Chris Leovocals * Danny Leodrums * Dave Lernerbass * Justin Simonguitar Production *

Steve Evetts Steve Evetts is an American record producer who has produced music for Alesana, Poison the Well, A Static Lullaby, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Sepultura, Symphony X, Saves the Day, Lifetime, Kid Dynamite, Hightower, Story of the Year, E ...

recording (tracks 1 to 6), mixing (tracks 3 to 6) *

Alap Momin Alap Aman Momin (born 25 June 1974), professionally known as Alap Momin and Oktopus is an American musician, composer and producer. He is a former member of Dälek and MRC Riddims. Career Alap Aman Momin was born to Indian parents and grew up in ...

recording (tracks 7 to 8) * Darryl Norsendesign * Justine DeMetrickphotography * Harold Simonphotography * Native Nodsongwriting * Ken Shipley & Rob Sevierreissue production * Adam Luksetichproject management

References

{{reflist 2023 compilation albums The Numero Group compilation albums