Toe - RGBDVD (2006)

This live performance by Toe makes my life complete. Since they only really play in Japan, this is the closest any of us over in the States will get to seeing them live for a while. I e-mailed the band a while back and one of the guitarists responded that they would love to tour over here but they had to find a record label first. SOMEONE SIGN THEM ALREADY. Godddddamnit, I want to see them more than any band. I don't even think it's possible to not enjoy their music so I don't see how they could ever have trouble getting signed over here. Oh well. I'll also use this post as an excuse to repost the link to the toe album I posted way back when I first started this whole thing.

The Book About My Idle Plot On A Vague Anxiety

Here are the 2 parts to this amazing DVD:

Part 1
Part 2

Mono - The Sky Remains The Same As Ever (DVD) (2008)

I realized that as long as I've had the Mono albums I posted below, I never truly appreciated them until I saw this DVD. It's more of a documentary with giant segments of songs mixed with sparse interludes of tour footage and interviews. The live footage is really where it grabs your attention though. The songs build up in such a visceral way because of the live atmosphere and you can tell how loud and heavy their music is supposed to be. The mood of the live performances is very intimate, despite the pretty immense crowd. This is because It was all filmed on stage by director/filmographer/editor Teppei Kishida. He essentially followed them around the world and walked around the stage during their performances to film them. This personal touch to the film makes it seem so much more intense as opposed to the usual camera angles you would see in live DVDs. I also believe that he is a big fan of the music and knows exactly when the surprisingly intense climaxes are and always pans to the audience to capture their reaction; usually one of incredible shock followed by elation. It's a beautiful thing. PLEASE check this out, especially if you weren't really digging those two albums below.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Mono Double Feature

WARNING: THIS MUSIC IS NOT FOR THE IMPATIENT
IF THAT DESCRIBES YOU, PLEASE GO HERE

At the moment, all I really feel like listening to is this band. Their insanely dense and vast song structures perfectly compliment the cold and blustery turn the weather has taken. Every sprawling song seems to tell a story in the fashion of some kind of wise elder. They start out very calming and barely grab your attention but once it gets to the real gist, you're sucked in and you feel compelled to find out what happens next. Then it hits you. Usually it's a blast of immense, eardrum shattering guitar squeals and cymbal crashes that signify the crescendo but its not always so obvious. Sometimes the buildup lasts most of the song, leaving you breathless and brain dead when the piece reaches the climax. I'm posting two albums, their earliest LP and their latest, because their style has grown and matured so much but still retained the enthusiasm and obscurity of their infancy. The first album is a lot heavier and dare I say, straightforward, while their latest effort is a more fantastical tale involving more intricate and elaborate orchestration (think Godspeed You! Black Emperoresque type stuff: strings, timpani, etc) that just makes it even more epic than before. I hope you will take the time to listen to these mountainous pieces of music and really immerse yourself in the experience.

Here's the song "The Kidnapper Bell" off their first album:

Under The Pipal Tree

1. "Karelia (Opus 2)" – 12:30
2. "The Kidnapper Bell" – 10:00
3. "Jackie Says" – 7:31
4. "Op Beach" – 5:48
5. "Holy" – 1:40
6. "Error #9" – 12:30
7. "L'America" – 4:37
8. "Human Highway" – 9:05

You Are There

1. "The Flames Beyond the Cold Mountain" – 13:29
2. "A Heart Has Asked for the Pleasure" – 3:43
3. "Yearning" – 15:38
4. "Are You There?" – 10:25
5. "The Remains of the Day" – 3:41
6. "Moonlight" – 13:04

This Town Needs Guns - Animals (2008)

Brace yourself for yet another post in my Autumn Come-Back Post-a-Thon. This time I'm going with the chilled out stylings of UK's very own, This Town Needs Guns. I just recently found them somewhere while looking for something else but it was a very 'happy accident', as the late Bob Ross would say. Anyway, I really enjoy their upbeat, staccatto and mathy take on Tim Kinsella's brand of guitar tapping emo. It's kind of a mash-up between Maps & Atlases and Algernon Cadwallader but with some very interesting vocals. This guys voice almost turned me off at first because...I don't know...it's just so pristine and untainted that it bothered me. I soon got over that ridiculous gripe and just listened to the beautiful melodies while driving through some delightful foliage-rich scenery somewhere. Enjoy.

1. "Chinchilla" – 4:19
2. "Baboon" – 3:24
3. "Lemur" – 3:07
4. "Badger" – 4:51
5. "Quetzal" – 0:33
6. "Panda" – 3:23
7. "Elk" – 3:44
8. "Pig" – 3:44
9. "Gibbon" – 4:25
10. "Dog" – 2:50
11. "Crocodile" – 2:29
12. "Rabbit" – 4:41
13. "Zebra" – 1:50

Animals

Devendra Banhart - Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon (2007)

Devendra Banhart might just be the most beautiful man in the world. He is also dating Natalie Portman or something...'nuff said. Besides that, he also makes some pretty damn groovy music with his aptly named band, Spiritual Bonerz. By the way, the 'z' is silent, just thought you should know. Anyway... This album spans many moods and genres from samba to, dare I say, Doo-Wop. There are constants though, such as latin and folk influences strewn about. Despite the many diverse song styles, Devenedra's distinct crooning style permeates through the album. His oceanic and sultry voice, whether it's singing in Spanish, English or Portuguese, will surely sooth and enchant you while holding your interest. Yet another exceptionally autumnal record for you all, I'm sure you've noticed the theme by now. Also, thanks Alexa for rekindling my interest in this album.

1. "Cristobal"- 4:30
2. "So Long Old Bean" - 2:56
3. "Samba Vexillographica"- 4:49
4. "Seahorse" - 8:04
5. "Bad Girl" - 4:48
6. "Seaside" - 4:36
7. "Shabop Shalom"- 4:38
8. "Tonada Yanomaminista" - 2:56
9. "Rosa"- 5:08
10. "Saved" - 5:33
11. "Lover" - 3:43
12. "Carmensita" - 4:49
13. "The Other Woman" - 3:49
14. "Freely" - 4:59
15. "I Remember" - 4:25
16. "My Dearest Friend" - 2:36

Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon

Bowerbirds - Hymns for a Dark Horse (2007)

Mmmm...Let me start off this post by expressing my amazement at the fact that my blog has been looked at over 20,000 times. That kinda makes me feel warm and gooey on the inside. Overall, I'm just glad enough people care enough to keep checking here over and over again for a new post which is why from now on, I vow to post a lot more for you dedicated few. Thank you so much. Now, on to business...
My personal folk music consultant, Elise, recently blessed me with the opportunity to listen to this beautiful group of musicians. Their simplistic yet rich approach to folk music is extremely visceral and earthy while being soothing and mellow at the same time. I've found it to be perfect autumn music, as it has nestled its way into the soundtrack to my life. The instrumental components consist mainly of acoustic guitar, accordion, occasional violin and I'm pretty sure the only percussion is a huge marching band bass drum used with maximum efficiency and effectiveness, being struck on every possible surface of it to create rhythm. Besides that, the vocal melodies and harmonies are delightfully beguiling as well as catchy. You WILL get these songs stuck in your head, indefinitely. So brew up some tea, sit in a rocking chair by the fire and other folksy stuff and prepare to fall in love.

Oh, and here's one of their amazing Take Away Shows of my favorite song on the album, Bur Oak:




01. Hooves 2:41
02. Olive hearts 5:27
03. In our talons 3:53
04. Human hands 3:20
05. Dark horse 4:34
06. Bur oak 5:01
07. My oldest memory 4:31
08. The marbled godwit 4:00
09. Slow down 3:54
10. The Ticonderoga 4:31

Hymns For a Dark Horse

Mouse on the Keys - Sezession (2007)

Very few bands I've heard recently have had such an immediate and pleasing effect quite like this one has. My good friend Josh sent me this music video of theirs earlier tonight and I was immediately hooked:




They provide a unique blend of jazz and upbeat funkiness with undertones of math rock that really shine through with the preposterously solid drumming. The dueling keyboards keep things frantic and exciting while there are also other instruments like a blazing saxophone on track 3. All in all, It's almost like a fusion between The Bad Plus and Toe. This band is so refreshingly good that even if you arent a fan of 'nu-jazz', this is definitely an EP worth checking out. Also, when I found out that they hail from japan, I chuckled to myself. I don't know what's in the water over there but they consistently pump out some of the greatest bands.
KEEP IT UP!


1. 最後の晩餐
2. toccatina
3. RaumKrankheit
4. a sad little town

Sezession

Thrice - Vheissu (2005)

Vheissu is where Thrice really broke out of their shell. I'll admit, I haven't given any of their albums previous to this a chance, but from what I've heard, It's all pretty sophomoric and shallow in terms of concept and content. With their brand new direction, some of the first things you notice are more complex song structures, more experimental songwriting and deeply insightful lyrics inspired mostly by Thomas Pynchon's book V.. One of the reasons this album stands out to me is how they implemented unorthodox methods in the songwriting process. Just listen to "The Earth Will Shake" and how the intro creates a feeling of desperation with a jangly guitar and a more lo-fi sound before bursting into the first verse. Later in the song, all of the music is cut out and there's what appears to be a whole chain gang chanting the chorus and stomping out the beat. It's all very epic and creates a very atmospheric and immersive listening experience. I highly recommend this album along with Thrice's newest project, The Alchemy Index which I posted earlier this year in four parts, Fire, Water, Air and Earth.

1. "Image of the Invisible" – 4:14
2. "Between the End and Where We Lie" – 3:56
3. "The Earth Will Shake" – 4:29
4. "Atlantic" – 4:02
5. "For Miles" – 4:27
6. "Hold Fast Hope" – 4:01
7. "Music Box" – 4:46
8. "Like Moths to Flame" – 4:26
9. "Of Dust and Nations" – 4:50
10. "Stand and Feel Your Worth" – 5:52
11. "Red Sky" – 4:17

Vheissu

Man Man Extravaganza Post

So, If you've glanced over to the right of the page where my last.fm widget things are, you might've noticed that I've been listening to the band Man Man a lot. They take vaudevillian, folksy European music to a whole new level. I constantly find myself bobbing my head to the beat or attempting to sing along with the rugged, manly choruses along with the high pitched and extremely goofy background vocals. Any way you look at it, this is fun music to listen to with other people or just rocking out alone. Seeing them live drastically changed my perspective as well. Before I saw their videos at La Blogotheque, I dismissed them as just some other goofy band trying to jump on the obscure folk bandwagon. I was so damn wrong. These guys love every second of what they're doing and do it with such gumption that its difficult not to really get into it. Just watch these awesome videos and check out the discography.

The Man In A Blue Turban With A Face
Six Demon Bag

Rabbit Habits

Medeski, Martin & Wood - Electric Tonic (recorded in 1998 released in 2002)

Another of my favorites from MMW. This album was recorded from a 100% improvised show at the now defunct NYC club, Tonic. Its a mixture of free jazz and the usual MMW brand of funky, experimental jamming. And please...don't run away just yet because you saw "free jazz". I know its one of the less accessible genres but this really takes it to the next level. I used the term because of this bands jazzy nature and the total improvisation that takes place. It's far from John Coltrane's Ascension or Ornette Coleman's greatest hits, but it still roots itself in that intensely jazzy plane. This album specifically reminds me of fall because of an amazing free jazz performance I saw up at Bennington College in VT and today was particularly cold so it brought back some memories. Definitely open your ears for this one.

Electric Tonic

Venetian Snares - Rossz csillag alatt született (2005)

As you should all know by now, Aaron Funk aka Venetian Snares, is a genius. In the last album I posted, Detrimentalist, there was a much more electronic and synthetic feel. In this album, many of the melodies are samples of classical music. This fusion of two totally different styles is beyond anything you'd ever imagine. The fact that the two are on total opposite sides of the musical spectrum only makes it more confusing as to how it could possibly meld so well and in such an intense manner. The songs are so melancholic and dark that they just don't let you go. My favorite track has to be Öngyilkos Vasárnap. It takes samples from Billie Holiday's cover of Szomorú Vasárnap, a song by Hungarian composer Rezső Seress, and alters them to the strange meter that Aaron made his version of the song in. It's so beautiful and sad at the same time, mixing violin melodies and synth bass lines over wild jungle beats. This album is truly something everyone should give a chance.

1		Sikertelenség (0:40)
2		Szerencsétlen (4:55)
3		Öngyilkos Vasárnap (3:26)
4		Felbomlasztott Mentökocsi (3:44)
5		Hajnal (7:46)
6		Galamb Egyedül (1:36)
7		Második Galamb (6:01)
8		Szamár Madár (5:49)
9		Hiszékeny (1:39)
10		Kétsarkú Mozgalom (8:50)
11		Senki Dala (2:16)

Rossz csillag alatt született

Kickball - ABCDEFGHIJKickball (2005)

Oh, Hi there. It's been a while. I've been pretty lazy but that's enough of that. I think I'm just gonna post a bunch of albums now to make up for my absence. Here is a perfect album for autumn. I've posted a Kickball album before, Huckleberry Eater, which I love even more since I posted it and feel like everyone who loved it and even people who never heard it, should check this album out. This is only two years after Huckleberry Eater came out but you can hear how much they've matured as a band. They still have the same style and the same feeling but they really grew into their sound and you can definitely hear that on this album. I really wish that they would make their way over to the east coast from Olympia, WA. Also, if anyone from there is reading this by any chance...tell them to get their asses over here.

ABCDEFGHIJKickball

The Fall of Troy - Ghostship EP (2004)

Ok, I can't say I'm the biggest fan of TFoT but this EP they recorded in between their self-titled debut and Doppelgänger and is probably some of their most compelling and cohesive release to date. They do quite a great job at taking a "hardcore" kind of aesthetic and combining it with a more progressive frame. Although Thomas Erak's voice may not be for everybody, (believe me, I'm far from praising his vocal skills myself) he puts forth a great effort and sounds as if hes pouring a lot of emotion into his vocals as well as the intense and erratic guitar riffs pile-driven into your skull without remorse. I've heard many a story about the rest of this story being finished in a re-recorded concept album. On the contrary, I've also heard that it's unlikely to happen, as well as several testimonials from people who went to TFoT shows chanting, "GHOSTSHIP!", only to be berated by Erak whining about how he wants to have fun and play what he wants because, really, who would want to make the fans happy? What a ludicrus idea. Annnnywayyy, It puzzles me why they decided they dont like this stuff anymore but what can we do? If you haven't heard this yet and you're a TFoT fan, shame on you. Get this right now. This is some epic music. (By the way, I don't believe there's any album art but if you have it, feel free to send it my way.)

1. "Ghostship I" – 6:53
2. "Ghostship IV" – 4:13
3. "Ghostship V" – 5:47
4. "Macaulay McCulkin" – 6:39

Ghostship EP

Wild Orchid Children - The Elephants (2007)

I know I haven't posted in a while but I guess I've been busy with school and stuff but if you didn't notice already, I tagged all of the artists so there's a convenient list somewhere on the right now. Anyway, back to business.
Wild Orchid Children is a very diverse group that borrow and blend many styles to create a very freakish and eclectic sound. Although they only have one release, they certainly made their versatility clear through these 4 songs. Overall, they have a very 'freak folk' style if I had to really generalize it. But if you think of mashing Native and Portugal. The Man together with a lot more organ action, you'd get something the lines of WOC. THANKS EMILY.

1. Where the Mexican Boys Go
2. Birth of a Cabin
3. Ahead of Us The Secret
4. Tree of Knowledge

The Elephants

Kayo Dot - Choirs of the Eye (2003)

When I heard that the guy who organized this band, Toby Driver, was formerly in a band where they used astral projection and lucid dreams to create there music, I can't say that i was anything less than ridiculously intrigued. In my opinion, that way of discovering music in other dimensions or whatever it was that they did, didn't work out too well in suiting my music taste but it did lead me to Kayo Dot. These beautiful compositions (created on the physical plane of existence this time) really open my mind. Beautiful lyrics that are very poem-like compliment the soothing violin and acoustic guitar driven parts and are beautifully and masterfully contrasted by several epic climaxes during each song which have a very metal and hard rock influenced sound. There is also a ton more instrumentation including trumpet, cello, clarinet and even a french horn somewhere, apparently. But whats really important is how amazingly dark and atmospheric this record is as a whole, with very special and memorable moments such as:
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYFAREEEERRRRRRRRRRRRR"dundundundunnn

Yeah, I know that seems absurd and nonsensical now but you'll know exactly what I mean soon enough.

1. "Marathon" – 10:14
2. "A Pitcher Of Summer" – 5:46
3. "The Manifold Curiosity" – 14:28
4. "Wayfarer" – 10:45
5. "The Antique" – 14:41

Choirs of the Eye

Band of Horses - Everything All the Time (2006)

I don't know exactly how to classify Band of Horses in even the simplest of terms so let's try to figure it out together. They have obvious rock influences but incorporate very subtle southern rock elements like lap guitar and certain vocal styles. But let's not get carried away before i clarify that I HATE a vast majority of southern rock and country music and this is none of those things, it just borrows little pieces from them. Now that that's out of the way, I'll mention how they bring a lot of folky feel to their playing and even a little bit of "indie" rock (what the hell does that even mean really?). Take all of what I just portrayed and drench it in reverb and you have Band of Horses. This was their first effort and really blows me away. The first song on the record, appropriately titled "The First Song", starts abruptly with crashes and loud, reverberous guitar strums in unison and floats off from there, creating a rich canvas for the rest of the song to progress on. Coincidentaly, when I first stumbled across this band was when they were opening for Modest Mouse in an outdoor venue in Look Park in Northampton, MA and they started with that song as i was walking down to the stage. It was such a beautiful chord that I immediately fell in love with the music and I hope you do too.

1. "The First Song" – 3:43
2. "Wicked Gil" – 2:57
3. "Our Swords" – 2:26
4. "The Funeral" – 5:22
5. "Part One" – 2:36
6. "The Great Salt Lake" – 4:45
7. "Weed Party" – 3:09
8. "I Go to the Barn Because I Like The" – 3:06
9. "Monsters" – 5:21
10. "St. Augustine" – 2:41

Everything All the Time

Ugly Casanova - Sharpen Your Teeth (2002)

I love Isaac Brock. Modest Mouse is one of my favorite bands ever but their last two albums have really shown a drastic shift in their style that ive learned to cherish so much over the years. After the almost psychedelic folk/indie rock hybrid that was The Moon and Antarctica, I thought they had finally found their calling. Sadly, I was wrong and then Good News For People Who Love Bad News came out. Don't get me wrong, I really like that album but it shifted their style to a more produced and cleaner almost "pop" sound which i can't say i'm the biggest fan of, to be honest. Then I felt violated as a hardcore fan when i heard their newest album which is full of lazy disco beat drumming and is so overproduced sounding it nearly brings me to tears to think that my favorite band is lost forever. Enough of my whining though. I still have faith because of certain things Isaac does to shine through all the nonsense. This album is a perfect example. It takes a lot of folk elements like the in song "Bukowski" and adds a twist to them along with guest vocalists and all the trippy fixings and effects and Brock's trademark depressing and thought provoking lyrics. Definitely worth checking out!

1. Barnacles
   
2. Spilled Milk Factory
   
3. Parasites
   
4. Hotcha girls
   
5. (no song)
   
6. Diamonds on the Face of Evil
   
7. Cat Faces
   
8. Ice on the Sheets
   
9. Beesting
   
10. Pacifico
    
11. Smoke Like Ribbons
    
12. Things I Don't Remember
    
13. So Long to the Holidays

Sharpen Your Teeth

Juicy Rumor

Hey,
i don't know how many of you enjoy/listen to the band ZOX but i found out that they broke up today. I was at the old Stop and Shop buying some Cinnamon Toast Crunch (yum) and as fate would have it, i was wearing my ZOX shirt and i hear this guy say, "dude, ZOX broke up." Now, i'm a fan of their first 2 albums but the third one was awful and i was in a bad mood today so i barely even look up and just say, "meh, their last album sucked anyway." Then i realised i wanted to know more. So i look up and introduce myself and we talk briefly and he tells me that the reason he knows this was because his bands drummer knows someone in the band or something. This is basically just heresay but the guy is the bassist in a legit band called Jacobi Wichita (check them out, they're sortof a local band) and he also has dope dreadlocks so he has my trust. My friend also said he could find no official news of this so i figured i'd be ahead of the curve and post this here and feel really special. Hopefully more juicy rumors in the future?
YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST.

10,000...wha?

Wow, that's some really intense stuff. Pretty much exactly 2 months has passed since my 5,000 views WOOOO post so that's telling me that more people are coming here. That is definitely deserving of another hearty WOOOOO and many thanks to all of you that come here to check out some amazing music. I will probably post more as the school year starts because I'll be sitting in the library, bored out of my mind on the never ending quest for more mind-blowing music. So all in all, I hope I can make it to 20,000 soon.
I also had the thought that any of you people could contact me with any music that you make and if I deem it worthy, I would definitely post it up here for some exposure, I guess.

Octopus Owl - Viva Mexico (2008)

This post is very special because it is the simultaneous world-wide release of Octopus Owl's debut album, Viva Mexico. The multi-instrumentalist, Lara, is a very good friend of mine and you can find her blog somewhere on the right where she also posts tons of good music. When she isn't doing that, she is recording these delightful songs. The microphone used for this record isn't top studio quality but the humming and buzzing of extraneous noise really adds a unique element of charm to the tunes. Full of self-harmonizing, cheerful acoustic progressions, spanish lyrics and even an occasional harmonica, this album is sure to please. Spread the word!

1. Bread and Butter
2. My Embroidered Pillow
3. Four Apples
4. John Kenyatta
5. Jesus Loves Me
6. Calabo' y Bambo'
7. Coffee Mugs

Viva Mexico

Naan - Dokusa (2007)

Naan is a very eclectic duo from Japan using mostly drums and guitar to create the landscapes of their songs but there is always something more whether it's something general like a backing bass line or something more exotic like some ethereal flute solos or blaring trumpet melodies. They do a great job of composing these songs and creating a very atmospheric blend of sounds. There are also the occasional falsetto vocals near the climax of the song but are used very sparingly and tastefully even though they remain a mostly instrumental band. I saw that the band frequently updates their blog with live show recordings and other stuff but it's in japanese. If you can read japanese or just want to click around until an awesome song starts playing then be my guest. Check this out.
oh.
The discovery credit for this band goes to my friend Ricky. You will be recieving your Invalid Litter Dept. Funbucks in the mail shortly.

1. プネウマの舞踏
2. 梟、夕闇とともに飛ぶ
3. アスクレピオスに雄鶏を
4. テレマカシ
5. 狂宴
6. Last Exit
7. はじまるまえ
8. ムウサ


Dokusa

Battles - EP C / B EP (2006

Battles is a very strange mathrock band that incorporates many unorthodox elements into their overall style in ways that will really capture your attention. One of these outlandish practices is the very unique guitar style of Ian Williams (formerly of Don Caballero) which involves looping guitar licks together and weaving them into an intense and mathy tapestry, often without you realizing how complex and layered it really is. This collection of 2 EPs is a great example of forward-thinking music and is a pleasure to listen to. While looking up the track listing, I realized that, for some reason, my version is switched and the C EP comes first. I'm sure you can all deal with it. Enjoy.

Disc one - B EP

1. "SZ2" - 9:19
2. "TRAS 3" - 1:11
3. "IPT 2" - 1:49
4. "BTTLS" - 12:27
5. "DANCE" - 4:43
6. "TRAS" - 3:38

Disc two - EP C

1. "B+T" - 6:09
2. "UW" - 3:01
3. "HI/LO" - 7:51
4. "IPT-2" - 1:34
5. "TRAS 2" - 5:50
6. "FANTASY" - 9:09

EP C / B EP

Venetian Snares - Detrimentalist (2008)

Glitchy, intense, mind-blowing. These are the 3 words my shattered brain can still think of after listening to this album. Maybe after I can think straight again I'll actually write more about this album. Probably not though. You should all just probably trust me on this one if you're into any kind of awesome electronica or intelligent dance music (IDM as they call it). Do it now before you start trying to convince yourself that you're sane.

1. "Gentleman" – 4:33
2. "Koonut-Kaliffee" – 4:55
3. "Sajtban" – 4:06
4. "Kyokushin" – 4:43
5. "Eurocore MVP" – 4:26
6. "Poo Yourself Jason" – 4:36
7. "Circle Pit" – 4:34
8. "Flashforward" – 6:29
9. "Bebikukorica Nigiri" – 3:37
10. "Miss Balaton" – 9:38

Detrimentalist

Omar Rodriguez Lopez - Omar Rodriguez (2005)

This album, besides being apparently quite elusive, is a great representation of creativity and freedom through music. The guitarist from The Mars Volta takes numerous influences into account while recording this album (his 2nd "solo") in Amsterdam. It takes a very free and loose approach at rock and jazz fusion with very lengthy improvisations and driving background beats and arrangements. This is a great album to just get lost in and really pick apart all the different instruments and hear how they all meld their styles together and lend their unique skills during any solos.

1. "Een ode aan Ed van Der Elsken" – 3:22
2. "Regenbogen stelen van prostituees" – 10:06
3. "Jacob Van Lennepkade" – 17:27
4. "Vondelpark bij nacht" – 7:11
5. "Spookrijden op het fietspad" – 5:03

Omar Rodriguez

The Mahavishnu Orchestra - The Inner Mounting Flame (1971)

John McLaughlin is truly one of the most talented and innovative musicians ever. In 1969 he recorded Bitches Brew with Miles Davis and then moved right into this project where he composed every song. Each song on this album has a different and special feel and they are all extremely enthralling pieces. He was a pioneer of progressive rock but with a massive jazz fusion influence and a very experimental approach to composition. The band also has an insane violinist who can mirror McLaughlins ridiculous riffs and really makes this band stand out (as if they didn't already). This CD is my personal favorite, as well as their first studio release, but I encourage all of you to definitely check out their 2nd album, Birds of Fire. After that release, the band was changed up for personal reasons and I never really got into their other albums. I know that a lot of people know of this band but I'm just making sure everyone has a chance to listen.
Happy 7/11!

1. "Meeting Of The Spirits" – 6:52
2. "Dawn" – 5:10
3. "Noonward Race" – 6:28
4. "A Lotus On Irish Streams" – 5:39
5. "Vital Transformation" – 6:16
6. "The Dance Of Maya" – 7:17
7. "You Know You Know" – 5:07
8. "Awakening" – 3:32

The Inner Mounting Flame

People of the Internet!

Hey, if there are any broken links for any albums and stuff you should comment on this post with the album title and I will do my best to replace anything. Although I love Mediafire, they can be really lame and delete things for no reason. If anyone knows how I could prevent this from being a nuisance in the future, please also let me know by commenting here. I'll try to get any broken ones up ASAP once the reports start coming in though because im far too lazy to scour all my posts. THANKS!
BTW FREE SLURPEES AT 7/11 TODAY!
i think you go in there and say HAPPY 7/11! and then you get a free small slurpee?
DO IT

Sharks Keep Moving

Hey, you are all in for a treat. I finally tracked down all of the EPs and the single LP by this awesome band. Its made up by some pretty elite people that went on to be in bands like Minus the Bear (I love them), Pretty Girls Make Graves (never given them a chance...should I?) and The Blood Brothers (ughh, if you like them, i pity you). The only thing I noticed upon first listen is that it features the singer of Minus the Bear before they really existed (I think) and his voice is as sultry and awesome as ever. The music is really atmospheric and many of them carry out into a long, relaxed kind of jam thing. There is always a lot of interesting stuff going on and is good music for just about any situation. I just got these tonight besides the EP, Desert Strings and Drifters, which I really love. I've given the others a once-through and decided they're awesome enough to all be in one post so i hope you enjoy.

Desert Strings and Drifters

Sharks Keep Moving


Pause and Clause

The Flaming Lips - Zaireeka (1997)

This post may require some explanation. This is an extremely experimental project by The Flaming Lips where they split the sounds of the album onto 4 separate CDs and the listener is supposed to listen to them each on 4 separate CD players. I've never thought of myself as the biggest Flaming Lips fan but when my friend and I took all 4 CDs of this album and played them in his living room it was a pretty mind blowing experience. I was elated when I found a version where all of the CDs are combined so one can listen to it without all of the synchronizing and equipment (although that's a really cool experience and if you end up enjoying this album, I'd reccommend getting the actual 4 CD set and trying it out). Anyway, check this one out for sure.

01.	Okay I'll Admit That I Really Don't Understand
02.	Riding To Work In The Year 2025 (Your...)
03.	Thirty-Five Thousand Feet Of Despair
04.	A Machine In India
05.	The Train Runs Over The Camel But Is Derailed...
06.	How Will We Know? (Futuristic Crashendos)
07.	March Of The Rotten Vegetables
08.	The Big Ol' Bug Is The New Baby Now

Zaireeka

Radiohead - Hail to the Thief (2003)

Yeah, we all know Radiohead...but this is just one of those posts where I'd personally like to emphasize how much I enjoy a pretty popular and well-known album. This is my favorite release by Radiohead and I feel that it's also their most solid album. It combines all of the elements that make them an immersive and interesting band without any fallouts. If you don't agree with me or have never given this album a real chance or never even gave Radiohead in general a chance then well...here's your chance. Besides this album, I would also like to stress the fact that their best song, hands down, is Talk Show Host which i guess I'll upload too because it's not on any LPs and i think it was a B-side but used in that Romeo and Juliet movie with Leo DiCaprio. Anyway, definitely get this essential album.

1. "2 + 2 = 5 (The Lukewarm.)" – 3:19
2. "Sit Down. Stand Up. (Snakes & Ladders.)" – 4:19
3. "Sail to the Moon. (Brush the Cobwebs out of the Sky.)" – 4:18
4. "Backdrifts. (Honeymoon Is Over.)" – 5:22
5. "Go to Sleep. (Little Man Being Erased.)" – 3:21
6. "Where I End and You Begin. (The Sky Is Falling In.)" – 4:29
7. "We Suck Young Blood. (Your Time Is Up.)" – 4:56
8. "The Gloaming. (Softly Open Our Mouths in the Cold.)" – 3:32
9. "There There. (The Boney King of Nowhere.)" – 5:23
10. "I Will. (No Man's Land.)" – 1:59
11. "A Punchup at a Wedding. (No No No No No No No No.)" – 4:57
12. "Myxomatosis. (Judge, Jury & Executioner.)" – 3:52
13. "Scatterbrain. (As Dead as Leaves.)" – 3:21
14. "A Wolf at the Door. (It Girl. Rag Doll.)" – 3:23

Hail to the Thief

Christian Scott - Rewind That (2006)

Alright, here is some jazzy stuff to change it up a little bit. This debut CD for the Christian Scott ensemble is full of amazing fusion and technical jazz. Not to mention Thomas Pridgen (now of The Mars Volta) on the drums, tearing it up. He really keeps this album together with his sparse, yet commanding, style and really shows how diverse and talented he is. The guitar also brings something new and interesting to the table and is very edgy compared to most jazz guitar you might hear. Not to downplay Scott's amazing dominance of the trumpet but I just felt that these other elements were what really stuck out to me and made me truly respect this album. Also, there is a pretty cool cover of Miles Davis' "So What" on here that everyone should at least give a listen to.

1. Rewind That
2. Say It
3. Like This
4. So What
5. Rejection
6. Lay in Vein
7. She
8. Suicide
9. Caught Up
10. Paradise Found
11. Kiel

Rewind That

Kickball - Huckleberry Eater (2003)

Kickball is a very laid-back and mellow sounding band with very catchy melodies that will get stuck in your head. The singers vocal style is unique in the sense that he phrases things almost awkwardly with his timid sounding voice. Nevertheless, he has some really great vocal chords and really makes the band what it is. The music itself is, like I said before, very mellow with a lot of acoustic guitar and the drummer uses brushes most of the time but it has a certain energy that you wouldn't expect so its a pleasant surprise when you really get into it. Another very good summer album. Happy 4th of July by the way. Get off the computer go eat obscene amounts of meat or something. I'd also like to give a shout-out of sorts to Emily for sending me this album woooooo.

1. opposite
2. sea
3. sauvie island
4. stop
5. bird
6. storm
7. fortune cookie
8. ladybug
9. arms & legs
10. salt
11. lightning
12. imaginary people
13. tides or swells

Huckleberry Eater

Maps and Atlases - You and Me and the Mountain (2008)

Apparently this recently leaked or something a couple of days ago and I was lucky enough to come across it. Anway, here we have yet another EP from the LPophobics, Maps and Atlases. This time around they sacrifice a little bit of mathiness (yeah, in my reality that is a word) for a ton of catchiness and more of a groovy, almost pop, feel. I still think I like their last release a substantial amount more but this one hasn't grown on me yet so who knows...I mean, Witch is probably the catchiest song thats not by animal collective that I've heard in a while.
SNAG IT!

1. Witch
2. Artichokes
3. You and Me and the Mountain
4. Daily News
5. Ted Zancha

You and Me and the Mountain

Pedro the Lion - It's Hard to Find a Friend (1998)

I'm exhausted from this heat so I'm in a pretty mellow mood. When i get home from working outside i just want to crash and listen to something that isn't abrasive or intense...or so I used to think. This stuff is actually quite a bit of both those things, just not through the instruments. The way the guy sings is very reflective and almost shy and its just great to listen to. It's 2 guys who play all the instruments so it shows through their somewhat minimalist structure and acoustic nature. Great night-time summer music.

1. "Of Up and Coming Monarchs" – 3:00
2. "The Longer I Lay Here" – 3:04
3. "Big Trucks" – 2:32
4. "Suspect Fled the Scene" – 3:56
5. "Bad Diary Days" – 4:01
6. "The Longest Winter" – 4:12
7. "When They Really Get to Know You They Will Run" – 2:34
8. "Of Minor Prophets and Their Prostitute Wives" – 2:48
9. "The Bells" – 4:09
10. "Secret of the Easy Yoke" – 6:41
11. "The Well" – 3:31
12. "Promise" – 2:19

It's Hard to Find a Friend

Rumah Sakit - Rumah Sakit (2000)

Rumah Sakit (Indonesian for "hospital") is a raw mathrock band out of San Fransisco. They have a very fast-paced and busy sound much like Piglet. This band also shares a bassist with Sleeping people and you can hear his style shine through with pulsing rhythms and he also does a great job keeping up with the drummer and anchoring the band. Anyway, this album is very intense and powerful and will definitely hit the spot if you're looking for that intense mathrock fix.

1. I Can't See When I Close My Eyes!
2. Scott & Jeremiah
3. Careful With That Fax Machine
4. Wind & Wing
5. Bring On The Cobras
6. Stomachache Due To The Sincere Belief That The Rest Of My Band Is Trying To Kill Me

Rumah Sakit

Make A Rising - Infinite Ellipse and Head with Open Fontanel (2008)

I know I haven't posted in a while but I am going to start to pick it up again and try to keep it going strong and not let summer laziness take over. Anyway, here is some really good stuff to start off this new chapter of my blog. This band is pretty avant-garde i guess but who the hell even knows what that means... they play a vast array of instruments such as saxophone, guitar, pianos and then less traditional things to make interesting noises. If i had to make a comparisson to any other artist out there, I'd say these guys are like Animal Collective but with a more orchestral approach and a lot less catchy. Nevertheless, these guys are really something else and I advise you to check this CD out.

1. Sneffels Yokul
2. All One or None
3. Peaceful Paths
4. Woodsong Part One
5. Bradford's Big Boatride [Beyond (The Dawn)]
6. Transmutation
   
7. Your Karmic Obstacle
8. Look, I'm Almost Dead
9. How's 'Bout a Love Supreme
10. Woodsong Part Two

Infinite Ellipse and Head with Open Fontanel

WOOOOO

This page just hit the big 5000
It's almost hard to believe that people have clicked on a link or typed in this site 5000 times (probably 1000 are mine anyway).
Compared to how many people there are going around the internet all day this really is quite insignificant but I like to pretend that its a lot. I'm only doing it to spread the love anyway. So tell all your friends and if you have Stumbleupon, thumbs UP or something i don't really care, I'm not getting money or anything, but that would be pretty cool.
Thanks for stopping by and here's to another 5000!

Medeski, Martin & Wood - End of the World Party (Just in Case) (2004)

Another preposterously dope album from MMW. This one is a lot more streamlined than the other album i posted, The Dropper, but still covers many styles of funky, psychedelic and avant-guard jazz tunes that will get stuck in your head. there are even appearances from jazz guitarist Marc Ribot on tracks 3, 5, 10 and 12. If you dont download this, you should be ashamed of yourself and if you already have it then give yourself a pat on the back.

1. "Anonymous Skulls" – 4:24
2. "End of the World Party" – 5:11
3. "Reflector" – 4:11
4. "Bloody Oil" – 4:42
5. "New Planet" – 4:07
6. "Mami Gato" – 4:10
7. "Shine It" – 4:59
8. "Curtis" – 4:38
9. "Ice" – 4:33
10. "Sasa" – 4:16
11. "Midnight Poppies/Crooked Birds" – 3:44
12. "Queen Bee" – 4:58

End of the World Party (Just in Case)

Xploding Plasticx - Amateur Girlfriends Go Proskirt Agents (2001)

Those Norwegians love their electronica-infused nu-jazz, don't they? Well, they do a damn good job. This duo takes a more straightforward jazz approach than their brothers-in-arms, Jaga Jazzist. They seamlessly fuse technology and old-time jazz feel into one beautiful fusion record. It also seems hip-hop inspired at times, using various samples, break beats and make it sound like youre spinning an old LP. Definitely worth a listen. Norway rules.

1. "Sports, Not Heavy Crime" - 5:07
2. "Funnybones & Lazylegs" - 4:48
3. "6 Hours Starlight" - 3:22
4. "Behind the Eightball" - 4:50
5. "Single Stroke Ruffs" - 2:28
6. "Treat Me Mean, I Need the Reputation" - 4:58
7. "Relieved Beyond Repair" - 1:45
8. "Tinntinnamputation" - 4:26
9. "More Power to Yah" - 5:27
10. "Having Smarter Babies" - 4:57
11. "Far-flung Tonic" - 4:52
12. "Happy Jizz Girls" - 2:54
13. "Doubletalk Gets Through to You" - 5:24
14. "Comatose Luck" - 3:39

Amateur Girlfriends Go Proskirt Agents

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland (1968)

I'm hoping everyone already has this album but I'm putting it up here just in case. This is definitely Jimi's greatest release and probably one of the best records of all time due to the vast difference of styles portrayed and the amount of skill each of the musicians posses. The only song I find sub-par is the track "Little Miss Strange" which features the bassist, Noel Redding, singing. Now, don't get me wrong, he's an awesome bassist but I think he should stick with it because this song sounds like the Beatles on ritalin featuring Jimi Hendrix. If you like this song then good for you but I always skip it. Anyyywayy, If you don't already have this, get it right now for the love of Jimi Hendrix.

1.	And the Gods Made Love
		2.	Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)
		3.	Crosstown Traffic
		4.	Voodoo Chile
		5.	Little Miss Strange
		6.	Long Hot Summer Night
		7.	Come on (Let the Good Times Roll)
		8.	Gypsy Eyes
		9.	Burning of the Midnight Lamp
		10.	Rainy Day, Dream Away
		11.	1983...(A Merman I Should Turn to Be)
		12.	Moon, Turn the Tides...Gently Gently Away
		13.	Still Raining, Still Dreaming
		14.	House Burning Down
		15.	All Along the Watchtower
		16.	Voodoo Child (Slight Return)

Electric Ladyland

The Locust - Safety Second, Body Last (2005)

This 10 minute EP is filled with all of the intensity you hear in The Locust's usual 30 second songs but has trippy ambient lulls in between each of the movements. There are only two tracks but there are 11 movements all together. This EP is great because it takes The Locust's intensity and absurd synth-laced tactics and puts a twist on progressive rock and gives birth to a very deranged piece of music. Enjoy...or dont.

1. Armless and Overactive
   "Who's Handling the Population Paste?"
   Invented Organs
   "New Tongue Sweepstakes"
   "Consenting Abscess (Part 1)"
2. "Consenting Abscess (Part 2)"
   One Decent Leg
   "Movement Across the Membrane"
   "Oscillating Eyes"
   Immune System Overtime
   "Hairy Mouth"

Safety Second, Body Last

Rx Bandits - The Resignation (2003)

The Rx Bandits are a very intriguing band. They can appeal to almost anyone with their usually poppy choruses and the beautiful vocals of Matt Embree. They also use a lot of reggae inspired riffs and even when they arent playing anything with that kind of sound you can still feel it in the background or maybe some trombone will come into the picture. They are also very technical and use a lot of tie signature changing in a bunch of songs but do it gracefully so it doesn't feel like mathrock but still ads an interesting touch. Not to mention the amazing drumming in every song that really keeps it going. This is somewhat popular stuff but if you havent heard it yet, definitely give it a chance.

1. "Sell You Beautiful" – 3:37
2. "Prophetic" – 4:54
3. "Newsstand Rock (Exposition)" – 2:52
4. "Overcome (The Recapitulation)" – 3:46
5. "Never Slept So Soundly" – 5:41
6. "Taking Chase As The Serpent Slithers" – 4:41
7. "Republic" – 4:17
8. "Mastering The List" – 7:23
9. "Falling Down The Mountain" – 5:30
10. "Dinna-Dawg (And The Inevitable Onset of Lunacy)" – 6:36
11. "Pal-Treaux" – 4:38
12. "Decresendo" – 5:47

The Resignation

Thrice - The Alchemy Index Vols. III & IV (2008)

The second half of The Alchemy Index was released about a month ago and is equally amazing as the first half. Unlike all the other elements, the Air volume doesn't "sound" as much as its element as the other volumes do but besides that its probably the most solid volume. Earth is all done with acoustic guitar and percussion instruments in a very folky way that has a really great feel. Definitely check out this second half.

Vol III: Air

1. "Broken Lungs" - 4:14
   
2. "The Sky Is Falling" - 4:21
   
3. "A Song for Milly Michaelson" - 5:07
   
4. "Daedalus" - 6:00
   
5. "As the Crow Flies" - 2:22
   
6. "Silver Wings" - 2:10
   

Vol IV: Earth

1. "Moving Mountains" - 2:55
   
2. "Digging My Own Grave" - 3:04
   
3. "The Earth Isn't Humming" - 4:58
   
4. "The Lion and the Wolf" - 2:42
   
5. "Come All You Weary" - 4:08
   
6. "Child of Dust" - 3:09

Air
Earth

Thrice - The Alchemy Index Vols. I & II (2007)

The first 2 volumes in Thrice's Alchemy Index project. Over the past 2 weeks these have become 2 of my favorite albums of all time. The sheer epic proportions plus the amazing concept make this a really intense listen. In these first 2 volumes, you can hear how they adapted their music to each element really well. The songs on Fire are all very intense and hectic while all of the songs on Water are very mellow and feature a lot of effects to make the sound dampened and almost like its being played under water at some points. It's simply genius and everyone should give it a listen. Throw any conceptions of Thrice's poppy/hardcore background out the window and snag this and the next 2 volumes which ill upload later.

Vol I: Fire

1. "Firebreather" - 4:24
2. "The Messenger" - 2:09
3. "Backdraft" - 4:08
4. "The Arsonist" - 4:13
5. "Burn the Fleet" - 3:46
6. "The Flame Deluge" - 3:27

Vol II: Water

1. "Digital Sea" - 3:44
2. "Open Water" - 3:46
3. "Lost Continent" - 4:30
4. "Night Diving" - 6:02
5. "The Whaler" - 4:09
6. "Kings Upon the Main" - 4:56

Fire
Water

Sorry, no music

I'm busy procrastinating and the like. Plus, I have finals this week. I'll have something good for when i post again. In the meantime...

The Psychic Paramount - Gamelan Into the Mink Supernatural (2005)

This amazing album was going to be Extreme Music Day Part Quatre but I listened to so Much Locust and Black Pus that my brain failed to function properly and I forgot. Anyway, this 3 piece from NYC does a great job at sonically raping your eardrums with crazy riffs and haphazard drumming. The bass really keeps this bands sound together and really drives the whole operation, allowing the other two to go off on wild tangents. If anything, you should check this out because the album title is so cool. Go check out some gamelan music on youtube, its baffling. Enjoy.

1. "Megatherion " - 2:46
2. "Para5 " - 7:20
3. "Echoh Air" - 6:03
4. "X Visitations" - 9:28
5. "Gamelan" - 10:06

Gamelan Into the Mink Supernatural

Bassnectar - Underground Communication (2007)

Bassnectar is the brainchild of Lorin Ashton. He is a wizard with electronics and collaborates with many artists to enhance the music. This is basically the most mind blowing and complex electronica ever and I can only imagine how insane a live show would be. Look at thiiiis.

1. Intro 0:44
2. Underground Communication 3:58
3. Bomb The Blocks 5:23
4. Amorphous Form 3:14
5. Ridiculous Wobble 4:43
6. Select Frequency 4:52
7. Kick It Complex 4:13
8. Verbing the Noun 5:34
9. Yo 3:40
10. Stomp 4:30
11. Kick It Complex Feat. Persia 4:47
12. Carried Away 3:44
13. Impossible and Overwhelming 5:26
14. Mr. Projectile 8:06
15. FSOSF 5:04
16. Cheb i Sabbah 5:53
17. Kyrian bee bok 5:30

Underground Communication

Black Pus - Back Pus II (2005)

Extreme Music Day Part Tres: Black Pus...pretty disgusting name for a solo project but what more can you expect from nearly deaf and nearly insane Brian Chipendale: drummer of Lightning Bolt. This is just him making all this noise. He uses a bunch of effects pedals for his voice drums and i believe he plays the saxophone as well. Despite all the ridiculous noise, i still find a lot of this pretty catchy. Definitely check it out. Can this day get any more extreme?

1.	Kick Out the Pus
2.	The Devilhellipers
3.	The Flying Gluton Brothers / Chirpathonic
4.	New Atlantis A
5.	New Atlantis B / Ultra-Fuss Fus
6.	Cut Off the Face Plant
7.	Magic Bullet(in)
8.	In the Garden of BrackishPus
9.	Humtronix

Black Pus II