Invalid Litter Dept.

welp, so long, blogspot

2011-01-05T02:25:00.000-05:00

Don't fret.
I just got tired of this format and figured I would try out Tumblr because its trendy and makes me feel better about myself.
It's practically the same URL so if you're really too lazy to follow me over there than thats just sad and you don't deserve my bounty of musical recommendations plus the new additions of videos/pictures and other things, I suppose.

of course, everything will be archived here so dont hesitate to dig through here every once in a while in case you missed something.

THE FUTURE

instanthumanjustaddcoffee.tumblr.com

Best of 2010: Top 3 LPs

2010-12-29T18:14:00.001-05:00

Well, there are only so many days left before the new year so let's get this over with. Here it is, the moment all 4 of you have been waiting for, the prestigious top 3:

Deathspell Omega - Paracletus

Among very little else in common, the 3 albums I decided were my favorites out of this year are all albums that take the genre (or lack thereof) that they are associated with and seriously raise the bar or just destroy it all together. Deathspell Omega have been brooding and growling for over a decade and have been consistently breaking ground in the black metal world. Their latest effort (the last in a trilogy) is as trve and kvlt as it gets while really expanding and experimenting with mind-blowing instrumentation. All the blast beats and tremolo picking you would expect are present but there is so much more here: haunting guitar breaks, time signature experimentation, mesmerizing progressions and dense atmosphere make this album stand out, not only from other black metal albums I've ever listened to but also most music in general. The drumming in particular is insanely impressive and its not just the speed of his blast beats or the amount of rack toms this guy must have. The variation and tasteful nature of his style lends itself remarkably to the harsh brand of music. Now, I'm aware that black metal-ish music isn't for everyone...but if there's ever a reason to give it a chance, here you have it. I would find it difficult to believe that one could come away from listening to this album without a newfound respect for the genre or at least, a reason to not hate the french so much.

Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma

Who knew hip-hop and harps went so well together? Flylo has done it again! As I might've referred to Teebs as a 'sonic architect' of sorts, I think a title that awesome should probably be reserved for Flying Lotus. He pieces together a plethora of new, intriguing and beautiful sounds most producers might overlook or reject. The tasteful nature of his constructions never cease to amaze me, especially the way they all flow together so seamlessly. This LP utilizes a lot more live instrumentation than his previous efforts and it really shines in this context. My favorite addition is all the live bass work by Thundercat. He pretty much tears everything apart and adds soul that any bass synth wishes it could emulate. Throughout the album, soundscapes will creep up on you, beats will drop on you like a ton of bricks and even the sampled sound of a pingpong match makes an appearance, strangely and wonderfully complimenting the angelic vocals of Laura Darlington. I don't even really know what I'm doing trying to explain all of this because it's quite simple; if you haven't heard this yet, you're not doing yourself a favor by going another minute without it.

Kayo Dot - Coyote

It's hard to put this album into words...I saw them play it live in it's entirety before I ever heard the album and I was completely dumbfounded. The composition was so tight, dissonant, dark and intense. The lack of guitar work confused me at first but Toby Driver's bass application was unique as it was interesting. He took a chorus/delay laden bass and turned it into a new way of looking at a lead instrument. The violin really stands out as well but mostly compliments the dissonantly harmonizing drones of the trumpets and saxophones. Add onto that some complex, jazzy drumming and haunting, glitchy synths and that's the best I can do to explain how this record sounds. It's a melancholic journey based on the last part of someone's life and accomplishes every mood and emotion it sets out to convey, especially the minuscule glimpses of beauty found at the very end of life. This album is nothing short of a masterpiece and is a complete success in every way possible.

Buy the vinyl, its spectacular.

SO, there you have it. I hope anyone bored enough to read all of this took something away with them. We can only hope that next year will be so amazing (in terms of music of course).

cheers.

Best of 2010: Top 20 LPs (4-10)

2010-12-21T08:29:00.002-05:00

I'm too tired to do all 10 so I'll leave some extra suspense and leave my top 3 for whenever I wake up. I'll also remember to do them in reverse order so you have to scroll halfway down the page to find out what I ranked highest for no other reason than the fact that on the way down, you might have more of a chance to be dissatisfied with my list or, if you're lucky, find something you really dig.

Enough self-deprecation, onto the list. It's been a long night and I feel as if I do my best writing when I'm sleep deprived. Less inhibition and whatnot, you get the idea:

#10

Celeste - Morte(s) Nee(s)

Take 1 part black metal, 1 part screamo and a handful of relentless brutality and you have...a stupid metaphor that barely begins to describe how astounding this band is. This album has no 'Intro' ambient track or any eerie samples or field recordings of rustling leaves. Celeste comes out swinging immediately, cracking you in the face before you have a chance to even guess what to expect. The traditional black metal tremolo picking and chord structures paired with the vocals more associated with screamo or post-hardcore make for a hard-hitting and visceral experience. These Frenchmen rarely give you a chance to take a breath but when they do, it's brooding, dissonant and haunting. Morte(s) Nee(s) is a powerhouse of an album and will have your head banging to the down-tuned chugs in no time.

The Black Keys - Brothers

Would it be bombastic or ostentatious to call this album a modern soul classic? Probably, but this is my piece of internet and I can pretty much say whatever I want and you might've ended up here because you actually find yourself agreeing with me some of the time so it doesn't really matter does it? Anyway, this, out of most of the albums on my list, has definitely received a majority of any kind of 'mainstream' press. The soulful, heartbroken, meaningful lyrics can make anyone's heart ache. Just look at the song titles and you'll get the picture. Not to say it doesn't have its share of the up-beat, riff-heavy garage rock we've all come to expect from the Akron duo. Their last album, Attack and Release, really had me worried and was a huge letdown. With more instrumentation than the previous album, these guys sounded like they lost the energy and soul they radiated as a simple guitar + drums formula for years. This album restored my faith in their ability to create and excel. Nostalgic poetry, rockin' solos, rugged vocals and soul you thought died with detroit (more on that later); this album has it all and is solid all the way through.

The Chariot - Long Live

I find it impossible to ignore this band's absurdity. Their musicianship is almost overshadowed by their ludicrous stage presence and general approach to what some might call 'songwriting' but I don't think they'd have it any other way. I've enjoyed this band for quite some time but after recently seeing them live, I can't help but be impacted by such a passionate and honest performance. This album was meant to embody their live show and pack as much life as you can into a reproduction of something as intimate as their music. Yeah, I just described The Chariot as intimate...not the first adjective one might think of but I think it's an interesting way of perceiving their music and helps to get to the core of what's being conveyed here. The first song is comprised entirely of one chord + insane amounts of feedback. Over and over again. How could a band make a song so 'simple' yet so inspiringly intense and energetic? It barely even makes sense and that is the beauty of this album. Pure expression.

Black Milk - Album of the Year

This album barely made it onto my radar in time but I can barely express how glad I am that I found this. The title of this album could, understandably, be off-putting to some. I know what you may be thinking, "Yeah Matt, just what we need, another pompous rapper who thinks hes the best thing since Uncrustables".

But all you need to do to realize this is different is listen to the first 20 seconds. This album is a reflection, a recounting of this man's life and what happened during it in the past year. Don't get me wrong, the album has plenty of classic hip-hop pomp with all the trimmings but it's much less contrived than other albums you might have heard of on several other 'best of' lists this year...Let me just set something straight: Kanye West compared to Black Milk (in terms of everything from production to lyrical content and general persona) is the equivalent of the gross, store-brand knock-off cereal sold in bags sitting on the bottom shelves of the cereal isle. In other words, a cheap, blatant imitation.

Snag this album and "Dark Twisted Fantasy" practically deletes itself off your ipod.

Teebs - Ardour

After his EP collab with Jackhigh, Teebs finally went ahead and released his debut LP, Ardour. The soundscapes created on this record are so vibrant and lush, you can't help but get lost in the ebb and flow. Each new addition to the ocean of sound creates a brand new texture and carries on the previous idea while evolving it and constantly shifting directions. The whole album feels like a series of little auditory adventures, each one unique but also thematically relevant to one another. Teebs' use of certain sounds is carving out a signature sound niche that many would never dream of pulling off. The bell and chime tones accompanied by junky sounding snaps and clicks reverberate throughout the album and form countless dreamy atmospheres to get lost in. The Flying Lotus influence is undeniable as Teebs appears to be the grasshopper to sensei Flylo.

We Were Skeletons - We Were Skeletons

The album artwork is by Toby Driver, need I say more? Really though, this LP is a great step forward for underground music. It's really stepping up the production value, lyrical content and musical aptitude lost on many bands trying to be the next Cap'n Jazz. When you hear this record, many familiarities in the music might arise but as much as you try, it becomes very difficult to pinpoint what you think you might be hearing. Their style is unique and powerful for a 3 piece band. Both the guitarist and bassist scream so the call/response mechanic is utilized often and with great success. The rigid bass lines hold it down while the guitar is non-stop, all over the fretboard and the whirling dervish drum style only amplifies the intensity. Buy this album, it's beautiful on vinyl and the band deserves it. They're also amazing live.

Loma Prieta - LIFE/LESS

Yeah, I did just post this not too long ago...Regardless, it's simply an amazing album and just never gets old. Check out my review by clicking above.

Alright, time to go die in bed. If I wake up, maybe I'll finish my top 3 with some really well-written commentary.

Best of 2010: Top 20 LPs (11-20)

2010-12-21T02:16:00.001-05:00

Alright, well, it took me a while to muster up the courage for this but here we go. It's been a great year so instead of whittling it down to just 10 and choosing between way too many albums to list as 'honorable mentions', I'll just man up and make a big list for the albums I know deserve to be heard. Alright. Deep breath. Here we go.

#11

Tera Melos - Patagonian Rats

Another Sargent House curveball, Tera Melos is known for their spastic, super-human brand of mathrock. This album shows that they can do more than just change time signatures on a dime. I'll admit, it was a bit of a grower, but once I latched on, it really sunk in. The first noticeable difference is the prominence of vocals. Yep, they aren't instrumental anymore. This could've probably been discerned by the vague presence of vocals on their last EP but I definitely didn't expect them to be in the foreground like this. Another huge change is the new drummer. Few (if any) could live up to Vince's jazzy, unhinged style but this new guy does his best to fill in those enormous shoes. The drumming is much more conventional than past releases but this also lends itself more to the music now that vocals are more involved. Also, the song 'Aped' is about a pet chimp some crazy woman in CT had that mauled her friend, nearly killing her, so that's pretty damn cool.

#12

Midi & the Modern Dance - Make it Easy on Yourself

I absolutely adore these guys. I just hung out with some of them tonight and they are truly some of the greatest dudes I'll know in life. Good thing they make amazing music and I don't just have to pretend to love it. Like I said in my Suns review, these guys share band members, allowing for bountiful chemistry and an emotional bond that few bands, or even groups of friends in general, ever hope to achieve. A concept-album or sorts, Make it Easy on Yourself is an emotional journey and offers all the highs and lows you could ever hope for. I implore you to check this out and if you like it, definitely order the vinyl. The packaging is sick (because I helped put some of it together, of course) and the music on the wax is even sicker.

#13

Mount Eerie - Song Islands Vol. 2

This is on the list because I'm a sucker for anything Phil Elverum related and this is just a giant cluster of unreleased songs, different versions of songs I already love and what seems like random (glorious) crap he decided to record when he had nothing better to do. Sifting through it and finding stand-out tracks made it all the more rewarding. If you dont love Microphones/Mount Eerie related things, this probably isn't for you but it's great anyway and definitely deserves its spot on here.

#14

Duck. Little Brother, Duck! - Survival is Not a Workout

This virtually unknown group of gentlemen from the northwest corner have, in my eyes, accomplished something truly glorious. Self-releasing a debut LP of this magnitude is so impressive to me, I can't go without appreciating them and the hard work they've done. The production is stellar and the songs can go from sounding like Don Caballero one second to sounding like American Football and everything in between. If they don't blow up soon, I'll all but lose hope in underground music and blogging. LISTEN TO IT, PLEASE!

#15

Bongripper - Satan Worshipping Doom

Ok...I know what you're thinking. Between the album art, outrageous, high school-sounding band name and edgy album title, I could understand some kind of preconceived notions regarding this album. I don't really care. If you do what I almost did and judged the band before listening to this sonic endurance test, then you are truly an idiot. Despite the silly band name, these guys definitely have some serious work ethic. 4 body-withering tracks all clocking in at over 11 minutes each is truly a feat considering the instrumental aspect and contextually complex song structure. You read right, no death growls here, not a single word is uttered, nor are any words necessary. This behemoth of an album lets the music speak for itself and it's calling you out on your bullshit so you should probably listen.

#16

Dark Dark Dark - Wild Go

Dark Dark Dark seems to be on a great path. These rompers hailing from Louisiana have taken a big step from their previous album, The Snow Magic (posted on this very blog a while ago). The musical direction retains their folksy, jangle-y sound and the male/female vocal partnership while branching off and really creating a sound of their own. Lots more piano and involved drums keep the pulse while tons of other instrumentation fills in the mix. This is, overall, a darker (no pun, shut up), more reflective sounding record. The melancholic vibe never gets old and really draws the listener in with it's atmospheric and emotional qualities. Perfect for the coming winter.

#17

The Body - All the Waters of the Earth Shall Turn to Blood

Ok, shit's about to get weird. This two-piece JUGGERNAUT of a band from RI is out of control. The otherworldly chanting, outrageously loud guitar and insanely strained and tormented vocals are enough to make most people plug their ears and run from the room begging for mercy. If you listen a bit closer, the swelling sea of distortion creates such a dense, sludgy atmosphere that is truly unique and its all carried along by the pounding drums. The shrieks emanating from the guitarist's mouth sound as if he has fallen into a hole somewhere far in the background and is being consumed by massive, flesh-eating worms of some kind. This is apparently to simulate the effect of their live show. Apparently at their shows, he foregoes the silly luxury of microphones and instead, shreds his vocal chords to roar over the already ridiculously loud wall of sound created by the two of them. This album blends so many different genres together in such odd ways, it's almost futile to try and describe it. Sludgy, doom-laden, blackened , depressive, thrashy, gargantuan and brutal are some words that come to mind. Sound good?

#18

Snowing - I Could do Whatever I Wanted if I Wanted

Snowing was a band that I personally thought got way too much hype for what they were. Street Smart Cyclist was pretty good (all 7 songs they ever did or whatever) but all this hubbub and the guy can barely sing in the right key and let's be honest, this twinkly shit is getting out of hand. This album is definitely beginning to change my opinion on the matter, at least with this band. The production is worlds better than their debut EP. It's raw but everything stands out how it should. The lyrics are really intense and are quite humorous at times, the dueling guitars are always exciting and the band as a whole really changes up what this new wave, twinkly, so-bad-it's-good emo trend has become. If they keep this up, maybe it won't become so stagnant.

#19

Perch Patchwork - Maps and Atlases

If you've been into Maps since the beginning of their strange career, you might've been in the same mindset as me when listening to this album for the first time. They released 2 EPs over 5 years before finally releasing this debut LP and the result couldn't have been more shocking and initially disappointing. Dumbstruck by the lack of frantic tapping and screeching vocals, I was naïve to dismiss it so soon. After cooling off, I quickly realized that Dave Davison (if that's not his name, don't judge me, I'm too lazy to look it up even though it would take less time than writing this) had really matured as a songwriter and the band was his vessel to create what is essentially an amazing amalgamation of complex, intelligent rock and pop music. A real grower if you've been a fan since they're debut and an extremely appealing, perfectly flowing album for any first-time listener.

#20

Local Natives - Gorilla Manor

So, I posted a pretty great review of this already so it's there in the link if you want to know more. I'm trying to save time here so I can get outside and welcome the winter with some lunar eclipse action.

Cool. 10 more to go!
I know you're thrilled...

Best of 2010: Top 10 EPs

2010-12-15T22:00:00.000-05:00

I've been scoping all of the usual 'Top Whatever of 2010' lists all over the internet and have been extremely disappointed by just about all of them. I don't quite know why I expect to be satisfied by Spin Magazine's top 50 albums or any other publication of the sort but I do know that some part of me hopes, every year, to see something truly surprising creeping it's way out of 'obscurity'. The following lists over the next couple of days are my way of expressing my disdain for much of the music hoarding all of the hype throughout this glorious year. Due to the volume of great material, I even decided to split it up into different categories...oye

Top 10 EPs. Here we go:

#10

Dirty Projectors + Björk - Mount Wittenberg Orca

As far as eccentric, unconventional vocalists go, I'm quite sure this EP has got it covered. Mainly utilizing the vocal chords of David Longstreth, Björk and the backup singers of Dirty Projectors, the feel of this EP is extremely sparse. There aren't many instruments used and it seems as if an upright bass is the most prominent aside from rare acoustic guitar and some clapping/percussion. Unique in it's execution, it deserves to be listened to.

Have a Nice Life - Time of Land

Brooding, melancholic and desolate...would you expect anything less from Connecticut's finest ambassadors of sadness? The whole EP is frighteningly dense in texture and features 2 entirely instrumental songs. Ambience and drones play a huge role and everything just seems beautiful and tragic at the same time. Perfect winter listening.

The Tallest Man on Earth - Sometimes the Blues is Just a Passing Bird

Some may call him the 'Swedish Bob Dylan' which seems fitting but it's a silly pigeonhole to doom something this beautiful to. Through his splendidly fingerpicked guitar-work and unique singing voice, Kristian Matsson evokes a plethora of emotions and is appropriate for almost any mood you may be in. Electric guitar even makes an appearance on this EP and even though im not the biggest fan of how it goes with the rest of his style, I can appreciate the attempt to branch out stylistically.

Vaccine - Human Hatred

Clocking in at a whopping 4 minutes and 10 seconds, this 7" somehow manages to be brimming with intense hatred enough for hours at least. With the longest track being 36 seconds, you can expect to be riddled with hatred in short bursts of blastbeats and surgically precise stops that will send you flying forward. Mosh.

Suns - Three Songs

Showing some CT love, this EP hits really close to home for me. My buddies recorded this about 30 minutes from where I live and they've been with me on my musical journey from the beginning. All of the members of Suns recently joined other CT favorites, Midi and the Modern Dance. During their giant summer tour, Suns took a back seat but quickly picked up and just released this EP. It's got the rough feeling of demos and is just a precursor to their upcoming album but damn, is it great. The raw quality only lends itself more to the aesthetic of the music and lyrics. They may fool you with their catchy rhythms and a pop/rock coating but dig a little deeper and the dissonance and angst underneath will grab you and not let go.

Flying Lotus - Pattern + Grid World

Dr. Albert Hofmann ingested an NES cartridge and when he vomited, this came out. Flylo's quick update after his other 2010 release, Cosmogramma, is a truly strange and eclectic collage of sound. It utilizes 8-bit blips and synth sounds straight out of your favorite childhood video game. This EP is a real trip.

Kayo Dot - Stained Glass

Toby Driver never ceases to please me with his beautifully crafted pieces and this one is no exception. Stained Glass is actually one 20 minute, vibraphone-centric track. It's hauntingly composed and filled with various percussion, saxophone, violin, fuzz bass and eerie, saw-tooth synths. It starts out soothing with the sultry vocals of Driver and soon degrades into bone-chilling, synth-y chaos. Eventually it smooths out again and delivers with beautiful melodies and chimes carrying you to its peaceful end. Truly a classic piece.

Formlessness - The World is a Beautiful Place and I am No Longer Afraid to Die

Yeah, long band name, I'm aware. Really though, I dig it and if you know what's good for you, so will you. Maybe it's the CT pride or the fact that the music really strikes a chord with me (if you don't like puns, you can leave) but these guys are definitely on to something real. It's kind of like if in 1998, Modest Mouse decided to become a post-rock band and listened to more Kinsella-related projects. If you've ever been to New England, you will quickly understand why this is great stuff.

Teebs and Jackhigh - The Tropics EP

Smooth and glitched-out, another splendid collaboration made it's way onto this prestigious list. Producer/visual artist/sound architect, Teebs, had a great year. This came out earlier in the year only to be followed by his first full-length album, Ardour, but more on that later...For now, let's focus on the lush, sonic buffet we have laid out before us. I will admit that I know little to nothing about Jackhigh. I think hes a producer from the UK or something, I should really check out his material if it's anything like this. Anyway, the soundscapes and flows created on this EP are so dense and interesting, you can't really go wrong. Each song melts into the next and I feel that it's universally pleasing so definitely check it out no matter what you're into.

Logs - Hogz

It may seem silly that my #1 EP of the year hasn't even officially come out yet but it's too great to ignore or leave until next year. The band Logs is the side project of the vocalist/guitarist of Kidcrash. With Kidcrash being one of my favorite bands, I knew I would adore this project before I ever even heard it. Unlike in Kidcrash, Alex is playing bass and doing a damn fine job. His tone is dirty as hell and his style translates well to bass, creating angular and unique rhythms. Everything else is well done and I cant wait for a real album cover and actual song titles. If you check out nothing else from this list, GET THIS and give them all of your money when it's released soon.

Well that was intense...If you read all of this, that's quite impressive. I don't expect many to do so but feel free to share some of your favorites because I would hate to miss anything. Top LPs up next.

Loma Prieta - LIFE/LESS (2010)

2010-11-15T02:53:00.000-05:00

3 great dudes from CA making passionate, badass punk rock. Not much more to say here because I've already summed this album up as best I could using words. Through the many incarnations of this band, they've released a handful of albums and they have all been unique. This one tends to lean more towards 'hardcore punk' if you will. This record's sound really lends itself to the group now being a 3-piece. Figured I'd post this because I am fortunate enough to be seeing these guys tomorrow along with Punch and Vaccine...I'm not sure if I'm ready for how amazing it will be.
Mosh.

LIFE/LESS

Heaven in Her Arms

2010-11-15T02:35:00.001-05:00

As if anyone needed more proof that the Japanese music scene can take ideas rooted in western music and expand on them to the point of almost being unrecognizable while still retaining what made it fantastic to begin with. Named after a Converge song, these gentlemen don't deliver quite what you would expect but I would say that what they bring to the table is infinitely more amazing than some Japanese version of Converge. The elements of sheer brutality, low-tuned guitars and throat-rupturing screams are all there but also so much more. This groups sense of dynamic and contrast is much of what makes listening to them such an active and enjoyable experience. It can go from beautifully serene spoken-word movements featuring sublimely harmonized guitars to movements of utterly relentless howling over gut-wrenching guitar chugging laden with feedback. I am in the process of delving into their older works but here are their two most recent efforts. They are definitely in the same vein and have many of the same ideas going on yet show a lot of growth between the EP and the full-length.
Perfect music for the onset of winter.

Paraselene

Duplex-Coated Obstruction

(thanks, lies)

Me and Him Call it Us - Loss (2006)

2010-10-19T02:39:00.000-04:00

This band does not care what you think. They do what they want, when they want. They take the notion of 'song structure' and piss on it. Bands with such little regard for what makes music 'music' usually teeter on a narrow, steep plateau between the valley of glorious triumph and the pit of utter failure. Me and Him Call it Us dive off of this plateau head-first into the former. Screeching, roaring and growling nearly unintelligible lyrics amidst flurries of furious shredding punctuated by shamelessly brutal breakdowns, this band unabashedly carves out their own niche among what some might call genres of 'screamo' or 'grindcore' while subscribing to neither. Another aspect that adds a unique quality to this album is the atmospheric and noisy ambient interludes found scattered throughout. These really break up the ruthlessness and give you a chance to catch your breath before shoving your head straight back into the toilet.

Loss

Mare - Mare (2004)

2010-10-18T17:56:00.000-04:00

"total destroy of my mind, awesome stuff"

~some last.fm user

I couldn't have said it any better myself but I'll try to elaborate for your sake.

If you find yourself listening to Kayo Dot's first record, Choirs of the Eye, and wishing there were anything else in that vein of avant-garde brutality, then this is something you need to investigate. These Toronto natives have a sludge-tinged chamber music combination reminiscent of Kayo Dot's but the execution is much more raw and minimal. Don't get me wrong though, the immense, relentless power of Tyler Semrick-Palmateer's vocals really set this band apart. His growls and haunting shrieks are that of the darkest nightmares while his soothing croon is almost angelic. These polarities alone exemplify the band's sound and the instruments follow suit, ranging from crushingly distorted guitar to melancholic french horn. This demo turned EP really spans the entire spectrum and is a truly exciting musical journey I'd highly recommend.

(thanks, lies)

Mare

Satine - Satine EP (2008)

2010-08-20T18:13:00.004-04:00

My fellow bandmate, Annis, showed me this band a long time ago. I've held off from posting this for a while because the quality isn't all that good but let's get real and get our noses out of the air for a second and use our ears instead. This little french ensemble collages the glitchy spasms of Radiohead with powerful vocals, quite reminiscent of Björk. Between post-rock-esque explosions and fuzzy glitch arrangements, the textures are always intriguing and each song climaxes in a very moving way. Even with all their experimental electronic use, they still know whats up and kill it on acoustic instruments, check out the album closer acoustic-style:

Satine Messsnow Concert à Emporter

Satine EP

Kidcrash - New Ruins (2004)

2010-08-20T14:12:00.005-04:00

If I could even bring myself to call this a pop-punk record, it would easily be the best one ever. With all of the catchy hooks and vocal harmonies of 'pop punk', the stunning musicianship of post-hardcore and thoughtful lyrics, this album stands out, especially against the rest of the Kidcrash catalog. Get on it.

New Ruins

Bright Eyes - Letting Off the Happiness (1998)

2010-08-20T10:25:00.003-04:00

It might be a bit early to be celebrating that autumnal/winter-y vibe already but I'm too excited to ignore it. This album encompasses every emotion one could feel on a crisp fall day. There are small moments of comfort but it's mostly vast expanses of bleak, raw sadness which, let's be honest, should be expected from Conor Oberst. The textures throughout this album are ever-changing and diverse enough to carry the singular theme of seasonal depression without becoming stale or monotonous. Throughout the time signature experimentation, genre re-definitions (I'm pretty sure he helped invent 'folk punk' with the track "The City Has Sex") and Conor's shaky ramblings, Letting Off the Happiness is easily one of his most solid albums and one of my favorites of the season.

Letting Off the Happiness

Fugue - Siblings (2010)

2010-08-15T18:08:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone. I know a lot of you appreciate what I do, despite me slacking quite a lot. I can now assure you that it was all for a good reason. My band, Fugue, has been working super hard on this release for a little over a year now and finally got all our CDs in and are waiting on the 7" vinyl to be pressed. It's certainly not much of a departure from our last EP, Ancient Glass, but it's more of a growth into doing what we really set out to achieve in the first place. Anyway, I would really appreciate it if you guys all checked it out! It's up on bandcamp for high-quality download with a name-your-own-price kind of deal, so feel free to give us what you think it's worth or if you're poor like me just snag it and tell all your friends. I'm fortunate to have a platform such as this and my gratitude for what small 'following' I have is enormous. Ok, I'm done with the shameless self promotion, time to post some music that isn't mine.

Siblings

Dark Dark Dark - The Snow Magic (2008)

2010-08-04T01:42:00.003-04:00

Hello everyone who still is crazy enough to check this page out, I'm back. For now. I've been busy finishing things up with my band's new EP but that's not what this post is about. This post is about my recent obsession with the imminent approach of autumn, my most favorite season. This album is one of a few that encapsulates everything I was feeling and in some ways, everything I've ever felt on those blustery, grey, autumn days. This album is the soundtrack to a life filled with corduroy jackets, cigarettes and loneliness. Its haunting, yet sweet melodies are punctuated by plucking, tinny banjo riffs and rich drawls of an accordion played by a woman half the weight of the instrument itself. It is a bit difficult to describe the precise style of music because it's so strange and draws from so many influences but it mostly trudges through gloomy folk song structures featuring soulful, somber creole/cajun instrumentation. Doesn't sound like it makes a lot of sense, does it? Your best bet is to wait for a colder evening, dig out your fall coat and let this music take over.

The Snow Magic

Local Natives - Gorilla Manor (2010)

2010-04-21T00:54:00.003-04:00

If Fleet Foxes weren't boring and Vampire Weekend had musical talent and they formed a rockin' supergroup, they would be Local Natives. This debut album has all the catchy, hopped up rhythms but without all the fluff and the vocal harmonies really bring everything together. Most of the arrangements on the album just really seem to show some extreme effort. The only issue is, the first half of the album really seems to gel and all of the songs are fantastic but once you get to that half-way point, things start getting a little monotonous. Maybe it just hasn't grown on me or the first bunch of songs are sooooo good that the others pale in comparison, I have no idea, just welcome in the warmth of summer with this album and thank me later.

http://www.mediafire.com/?gommzjmwwgi

Mono - One Step More and You Die (2003)

2010-04-18T02:38:00.003-04:00

In spirit of record store day, I bought Mono's album I posted on here a long time ago, You Are There. Then I was listening to their other records and realized it's been a while since I posted some Mono and also realized somewhat recently how much i love this album. The flow is perfect and just about everything about it is beautiful. It's quite the sonic journey.

http://www.mediafire.com/?ju1vldnijbv

Kickball - S/T (2002)

2010-04-18T01:36:00.005-04:00

I know I havent posted in too long...don't be upset! I have a slew of amazing albums for you all to check out and I figure I'll start off with something familiar for anyone who digs all the stuff I post. I've posted just about every other kickball album on here, I think, so here's their first, self-titled release from way back. I couldn't even find a good sized picture of the album art but here's a picture of them rocking out for good measure. this album is extremely sparse but still has all the wonky, twangy guitar and eccentric drumming you love about huckleberry eater but more of a happy vibe, perfect for the weather. Get on it.

http://www.mediafire.com/?wvxaveymotm

Nivathe - Enveloped In A Diseased Abyss (2009)

2010-01-24T01:13:00.004-05:00

Ok. To spare yourselves the time of reading an entire little review, just do yourselves a favor and glance at the cover art and the name of the album for a quick second. If you haven't come to the conclusion that this is some heavy, depressive black metal already then you should probably just ignore this post. This album is not for the faint of heart or people with no patience. It's very atmospheric and droney between the disgustingly intense surges of hatred and self-loathing. The whole thing is an abomination in the best way possible. It's all one guy from texas (I believe he goes by 'Plague') who hates pretty much everything and makes it VERY clear. Check this out if you hate yourself.

1. Writhing, Collapsed Flesh
2. Veins Of Death And Hunger
3. Decay
4. Enveloped In A Diseased Abyss

Enveloped In A Diseased Abyss
apparently, the first track was corrupt so here's a link for that.
Writhing, Collapsed Flesh

2009: A Reflection

2009-12-22T20:46:00.005-05:00

So many great albums came out this year but its so hard to decide what the 'best' ones were. I'm a freak about making lists and I tried to make a poll but it annoyed me. Below is a list of what I suppose is my 'Top 30' (this number is completely arbitrary, it's just nice that when I was done, it was an even number so i got excited.) favorite albums from this year and I'd like to see what everyone has to say about the albums I've listed or nominate other albums if your favorites aren't on my list (leave stuff in the comments por favor). Maybe I missed something or maybe you just have bad taste...I don't know...but I'm still curious.

Now in quite a particular order:

Mount Eerie - Wind's Poem
Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
Kidcrash - Snacks
Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
Bowerbirds - Upper Air
Kaospilot - Shadows
Portugal. The Man - The Satanic Satanist/The Majestic Majesty
Thrice - Beggars
Toe - For Long Tomorrow
Loma Prieta - Dark Mountain
Phantogram - Phantogram EP
Rx Bandits - Mandala
Native - Wrestling Moves
Lightning Bolt - Earthly Delights
Sea Wolf - White Water, White Bloom
Daïtro - Y
Mono - Hymn to the Immortal Wind
Portraits of Past - Cypress Dust Witch EP
John Frusciante - The Empyrean
Bygones - By~
Daniel Striped Tiger - Certain Stuff
The Dodos - Time to Die
Russian Circles - Geneva
Bon Iver - Blood Bank EP
Castavet - Summer Fences
maudlin of the Well - Part the Second
Mouse on the Keys - An Anxious Object
Nadja - Under the Jaguar Sun
Fall of Efrafa - Inlé
St. Vincent - Actor

Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009)

2009-12-16T23:51:00.003-05:00

Ok...honestly, if you don't know about Animal Collective by now, then I don't even know where to begin. Ridiculously catchy yet super weird in outer space, these guys do what they want, how they want it...and it's fantastic. This is definitely their "poppiest" and most "accessible" album yet but it's still got all the quirky things that make AC so great, as well as new-found pop sensibilities that made Pitchfork soil itself and now every hipster worth his salt loves AC. I'm sure almost everyone who comes here has, at least, heard of this but it certainly was one of the very best albums of the year even though it came out right at the beginning of it. If you somehow haven't heard this yet, give it a listen for sure.

01. In The Flowers
02. My Girls
03. Also Frightened
04. Summertime Clothes
05. Daily Routine
06. Bluish
07. Guy's Eyes
08. Taste
09. Lion In A Coma
10. No More Runnin'
11. Brother Sport

Merriweather Post Pavilion

Toe - For Long Tomorrow (2009)

2009-12-15T03:13:00.002-05:00

Japan's finest have done it again. I don't think I can stress enough how amazing Toe is but you really have to listen for yourself. This is their first full-length album in about 4 years and it's well worth the wait. What makes this album so great is that it is such a natural progression. There is a lot more instrumentation involving everything from synths to glockenspiels and the like. There are also a lot more vocals. Sometimes they really add to the song like the female vocal samples in 'After Image' and the female vocals in 'Goodbye' but they are also most prominent in the album's weakest track 'Say It Ain't So'. The vocals and over-simplified instrumentation make for a somewhat catchy, happy sounding japanese pop song but I don't see how that fits on this masterpiece of an album. Last but certainly not least, the drumming is just as spectacular as ever and it never ceases to amaze me no matter how many times I listen.

01.koko ni wa nani mo kamo ga aru shi, nani mo kamo ga nai
02.shoushitsu tenyo fue
03.after image
04.esoteric
05.say it ain’t so
06.two moons
07.mosikiiton wa mou kikoenai #1
08.mosikiiton wa mou kikoenai #2
09.last night (Album Version)
10.goodbye (Album Version)
11.you go
12.our next movement
13.long tomorrow

For Long Tomorrow

Bowerbirds - Upper Air (2009)

2009-12-14T01:38:00.002-05:00

For me, Bowerbirds was one of those bands that just clicked and I was immediately hooked as soon as I heard their debut album, Hymns For a Dark Horse, which I posted a while ago. This album is much more of a 'summer' album, in my opinion, but that might have to do with the fact that it came out in july... Anyway, it just has a much more upbeat vibe whereas Hymns is more somber and autumnal sounding. The addition of a bassist and a lot more drumming really made for a drastic change in dynamic while retaining their folky integrity. Everything sounds full and the arrangements are just as beautiful as ever. Even though it's getting pretty bleak outside (for me, anyway) this album will keep you in high spirits and is completely worth the 2 minutes it'll take to check it out.

01. House Of Diamonds 2:58
02. Teeth 4:10
03. Silver Clouds 4:30
04. Beneath Your Tree 3:40
05. Ghost Life 5:24
06. Northern Lights 2:54
07. Chimes 4:18
08. Bright Future 4:01
09. Crooked Lust 4:04
10. This Day 3:08

Upper Air

oh wait...
I posted the first album but long after that, I found the bonus tracks which are nothing short of spectacular. They are even better than some of the songs that actually made it on the album and one of them, La Denigracion, has become one of my favorite songs by them in general.

Hymns For a Dark Horse Bonus Tracks

Best of 2009

2009-12-12T02:02:00.004-05:00

I just realized that the last two albums I posted are some of my favorites from this past year. I'm terrible at making lists because I can never decide but I'm going to post my own little top 10 from 2009 for the next 8 posts I suppose. I may do more than 10 if I'm too indecisive (count on that) and I may rank them eventually but who knows... I MAKE THE RULES.

Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca (2009)

2009-12-12T01:34:00.004-05:00

This album took over my life when it came out at the beginning of this past summer. If you've heard the album's first single "Stillness is the Move" and didn't like it...that's ok. The rest of the album is notthhhiiiinnngggg like that song. Don't get me wrong, I adore that song in the context of the album but I feel like it turned a lot of people off. Anyway, if you haven't checked out this album yet for some absurd reason, here's your chance. The ridiculously creative compositions and beautiful vocal harmonies make this album a fascinating and fulfilling listening experience.

"Cannibal Resource" - 3:55
"Temecula Sunrise" - 5:05
"The Bride" - 2:49
"Stillness Is the Move" - 5:14
"Two Doves" - 3:42
"Useful Chamber" - 6:28
"No Intention" - 4:17
"Remade Horizon" - 3:55
"Fluorescent Half Dome" - 5:45

Bitte Orca

Mount Eerie - Wind's Poem (2009)

2009-12-12T01:11:00.007-05:00

Phil Elvrum's latest, Wind's Poem, brings together so many different worlds of music to make one of the most original and cohesive albums to come out in quite some time. Drawing an intriguing amount of influence from depressive black metal artists like Xasthur (check out 'A Gate Through Bloodstained Mirrors' and you'll see exactly what's going on) as well as keeping up his signature lo-fi, fuzz-folk vibe and soothing voice, Phil creates something truly special. There is also a healthy dose of drone-influenced soundscapes, filled with richly harmonized organs and distorted guitars as well as plenty of gongs. Do yourself a favor and delve into this masterpiece.

"Wind's Dark Poem" – 4:12
"Through the Trees" – 11:33
"My Heart Is Not at Peace" – 3:17
"The Hidden Stone" – 3:46
"Wind Speaks" – 3:46
"Summons" – 2:51
"The Mouth of Sky" – 4:46
"Between Two Mysteries" – 4:18
"Ancient Questions" – 3:24
"(something)" – 2:22
"Lost Wisdom Pt. 2" – 5:04
"Stone's Ode" - 5:26

Wind's Poem

Le pré où je suis mort - Le pré où je suis mort (2007)

2009-12-09T12:07:00.003-05:00

Get ready, I'm about to snob up this blog with some French screamo. Yes, you heard me correctly. These guys take a different path than their countrymen and go for a more dynamic and drawn-out approach to the screamo genre. With sprawling, almost cinematic, songs, they really capture a lot of emotion and intensity. Even though I have absolutely NO idea what these guys are talking about, I can almost appreciate the vocal inflection more, almost as its own instrument. These epic journeys through music are definitely not to be missed. Also, prepare yourself for some more European screamo kinda stuff in the near future, I'm in love with it.

1 Vision - 6:22
2 Une fois de plus - 6:45
3 Terre promise - 6:52
4 Silence - 13:54

Le pré où je suis mort

Phantogram - Eyelid Movies (2009)

2009-12-09T11:30:00.003-05:00

My band was put on a bill with these guys (well, guy and girl) at a local venue and it couldn't have been a more pleasant surprise. This dynamic duo combines hip-hop inspired beats, dank synths and catchy, inspired guitar melodies underneath beautiful vocals. There are also lots of effects going on (Im pretty sure i saw 2 KAOSS pads being used while they were playing...2!) but they only add to the atmosphere and create intriguing, dynamic textures. On top of being densely textured and interesting to listen to, it's also extremely dance-y and infectious. Highly recommended for blasting in cars.

1. mouthful of diamonds
2. when i'm small
3. turn it off
4. running from the cops
5. all dried up
6. as far as i can see
7. you are the ocean
8. bloody palms
9. futuristic casket
10. let me go
11. 10,000 claps

Eyelid Movies

The Microphones - The Glow Pt. 2 (2001)

2009-12-09T11:17:00.002-05:00

This project had eluded me until about a month or so ago. I really wish it hadn't. This is some of the most raw and genuine music I've ever heard and this album has quickly soared to the top of my list of albums that I will love forever. If you are capable of relating to human emotion and you can appreciate one guy recording just about every aspect of this record alone, then I strongly urge you to check this album out. Just do ittttt.

"I Want Wind to Blow" – 5:32
"The Glow Pt. 2" – 4:58
"The Moon" – 5:17
"Headless Horseman" – 3:10
"My Roots Are Strong and Deep" – 1:53
"Instrumental" – 1:38
"The Mansion" – 3:34
"(Something)" – 1:46
"(Something) (continued)" – 2:53
"I'll Not Contain You" – 2:50
"The Gleam Pt. 2" – 1:58
"Map" – 5:01
"You'll Be in the Air" – 2:41
"I Want to Be Cold" – 1:42
"I Am Bored" – 1:36
"I Felt My Size" – 2:19
"Instrumental (2)" – 1:56
"I Felt Your Shape" – 1:55
"Samurai Sword" – 4:07
"My Warm Blood" – 9:27

The Glow Pt. 2

Sun Kil Moon - Tiny Cities (2005)

2009-12-09T11:07:00.002-05:00

I had never listened to this artist up until a few weeks ago when I found out that there was an entire acoustic cover album of Modest Mouse songs. I still have yet to even listen to some original material but who really cares? This album has some great/unexpected song choices (Four Fingered Fisherman!) and the interpretations of the songs are beautifully done and orchestrated mostly on acoustic guitar with lots of finger-picking riffage. Great for any hardcore MM fan.

"Exit Does Not Exist" – 1:24
"Tiny Cities Made of Ashes" – 3:13
"Neverending Math Equation" – 2:53
"Space Travel Is Boring" – 3:42
"Dramamine" – 2:44
"Jesus Christ Was an Only Child" – 1:59
"Four Fingered Fisherman" – 2:41
"Grey Ice Water" – 2:32
"Convenient Parking" – 1:56
"Trucker's Atlas" – 2:49
"Ocean Breathes Salty – 4:36

Tiny Cities

Wow...It's been a while...

2009-12-09T11:04:00.003-05:00

You people amaze me. I'm happy to see that people still come here even though I'm a cretin undeserving of your support. It happens to be snowing today and I'm sitting here drinking coffee and the wireless internet is flowing like wine and it made me want to post some albums for all of you saints out there that still click on this site from time to time. Sit tight for a bunch of new posts. I assure you, your patience will be rewarded.

Fugue - Ancient Glass EP (2009)

2009-06-27T01:56:00.003-04:00

So, some of you may have wondered why i havent been posting at all this month...Welllll, its because I was a little busy creating this EP with my band, Fugue. I've done my best to not use this blog as a promotional platform but I can't pass up this opportunity to get my music out there, you dig?
I really hope you all will do me this favor and trust my musical tastes enough to know that I wouldn't set out to make garbage music myself. I don't know how to explain it but its instrumental and has a lot of elements of post-rock, math rock, jazz, dub and a bunch of other stuff we decide we want to do. If you follow this blog, you'll definitely hear a few influences from albums I've posted, considering those are my favorite albums ever. Please give it a listen and if you like it, feel free to comment or go to our myspace and be our friends! (Fugue Myspace). Also, if you dont like it...I don't really care, but feel free to let me know, regardless.
Thanks a lot, people!

1. How the Grass and Trees Became Enlightened
2. The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters
3. Telemachus
4. What the Tortoise Said to Achilles

Ancient Glass EP

Foals - Antidotes (2008)

2009-05-28T01:36:00.003-04:00

For some ridiculous reason, I neglected to check out this band for a very long time. I had the album sitting in my Itunes for over a year now and I just recently gave it a thorough listening-through. Its deceptively simple and dancey rhythms really mask the amount of complexity going on underneath, around and on top of them. Polyrhythms galore, the guitar stylings are remeniscient of Ian Williams and do a good job of melding the techniques he uses in both Don Caballero and Battles. It's easy to tell that some of these guys came from math rock bands. Yannis Philippakis' vocals are also pretty great most of the time but at times I find them a bit repettitive. All in all, Foals is kind of like a sonic chimera made up of Battles, Bloc Party and Don Cab. Fall in love with Foals.

1. The French Open
2. Cassius
3. Red Socks Pugie
4. Olympic Airways
5. Electric Bloom
6. Balloons
7. Heavy Water
8. Two Steps, Twice
9. Big Big Love (Fig.2)
10. Like Swimming
11. Tron

Antidotes

Kaospilot - Shadows (2009)

2009-05-22T03:52:00.004-04:00

Norwegian screamo at its finest...whatever that means. These guys are doing it right and even if you don't consider yourself the biggest screamo fan, definitely consider giving this a shot. And if you consider yourself some kind of screamo veteran then you'll probably realize that essentially, this album is nothing new, its just a spectacular melding of all things that make the genre great. The vocals are splendid and not neeeearly as abrasive as anything you might automatically think of when you think of screamo like Jeromes Dream or Orchid or something. The production of this album is solid as well as the songwriting and instrumentation. There are a lot of post-hardcore elements but they're still condensed within shorter songs (apart from the droney and awesome 'Ad Infinitum'). Feeling agressive or just want to rage out with some headphones on? Check these norwegians out.

1. Lunar
2. When The Wind Turns Her Hand
3. Shadows
4. The Indian Became A Thunderbird
5. Ad Infinitum
6. Colossus
7. The Death Knell
8. The Symphony Plays With Nature
9. Weak Hands May Equal Firm Valor
10. Petroglyphs
11. Foruten Tid
12. Vivre Sa Vie

Shadows

The Mars Volta - Tremulant EP +++

2009-05-22T03:02:00.004-04:00

I've abstained from posting any real Mars Volta-related material for the entire duration of this blogs life but the time has come. I've just been in a huge TMV mood recently, I guess. They are my favorite band of all time but they seem well known enough and for a while, I'm pretty sure that the only people really coming here were from a TMV message board, so what would be the point of posting any of it here??? Anyway, for those of you unfortunate enough to not have heard their first effort, Tremulant EP, here it is! Along with some ridiculously good B-sides and whatnot that surfaced on the unofficial "A Missing Chromosome" compilation and some demos done before their first album, Deloused in the Comatorium. This stuff is a lot rawer than the TMV you might be used to if you're just a casual fan or have heard a couple of songs. This EP is the aggressive transitional material from just after the At the Drive-In days. The "...and more" file has a bunch of random stuff like the title track of of Frances the Mute that they inconveniently had to leave off the album. There is also the spoken word track The Bible and the Brethalyzer which is just weird but I figured it would be of interest anyway. If you really love me, you'll listen to all of these and if you don't like The Mars Volta...then I don't even know what to say.
I know this is kind of a mystery meat post but bear with me.

Tremulant EP

...and more

Cheval de Frise

2009-05-20T09:38:00.007-04:00

Trying to describe this French duo as 'math rock' would almost detract from how completely unique they are. They dance the fine line between what sounds like free improvisation and meticulously crafted structure. It's amazing how at one moment you'll be listening to something as if they're just going berserk on their respective instruments only to realize that they're suddenly stopping and starting on time with each other in a precise manner. With all of the blistering fretwork and free jazz drum stylings on these records, you can't really go wrong. Well, besides the fact that the only version of the second album I could find has some sound quality issues but other than that, it's truly magnificent.

Cheval de Frise

Fresques Sur Les Parois Secretes Du Crane

la lame du Mat

Brightblack Morning Light - Brightblack Morning Light (2006)

2009-05-13T02:09:00.004-04:00

If I told you this album sounded like New Mexico, would that intrigue you? Somehow they managed to capture the very essence of the state, in all its deserted, barren and beautiful glory. They also managed to incorporate a fair bit of psychedelia in the mix but that certainly helps it along. Every sluggish song is full of catchy riffs, trippy sounds and spectacular guy/gal harmonies. A great album to bring in the summer and maybe take a nap to.

"Everybody Daylight" – 6:01
"Friend Of Time" – 6:30
"Fry Bread" – 1:46
"Star Blanket River Child" – 10:29
"All We Have Broken Shines" – 5:06
"A River Could Be Loved" – 4:03
"Amber Canyon Magik" – 4:54
"Black Feather Wishes Rise" 5:05
"Come Another Rain Down" – 3:16
"We Share Our Blanket With The Owl" – 5:39

Brightblack Morning Light

Bohren and der Club of Gore - Black Earth (2002)

2009-05-13T01:54:00.003-04:00

Ok, I know what you're thinking. If I just saw this on a blog, I probably wouldnt snatch it up but seriously...disregard the skulls and creepy german band name and get this album. My buddy Annis told me of them and had me hooked at the use of the term 'Doom Jazz', which is exactly what this is. Droning, haunting and mesmerizing are the best words to describe this music and all the while there are chilling Rhodes and saxophone solos, like culling songs. In all its morbidity and darkness, there is an element of beauty that I'm hopeful you will all appreciate. Definitely get this if you're looking for something new or if you're just plain dreary.

1. Midnight Black Earth
2. Crimson Ways
3. Maximum Black
4. Vigilante Crusade
5. Destroying Angels
6. Grave Wisdom
7. Constant Fear
8. Skeletal Remains
9. The Art Of Coffins

Black Earth

Piglet - Lava Land EP...and More!

2009-05-13T01:45:00.004-04:00

On more than one occasion, people have said that the original link was down so here it is but with an added bonus...One compilation track they released that I feel most people haven't heard and 2 live recordings of songs that were never released. This stuff is gold and I appreciate Piglet now more than ever so what better time to repost this? Refer to the old post to get an idea of what they sound like if you're silly enough to not have checked out this amazing band already.

Lava Land EP +++

Welcome back, asshole...

2009-05-13T01:37:00.002-04:00

Well, some of you may be wondering where the hell I've been for more than a month and some of you may not but...to tell the truth, I've been right here. I could say I've been too busy being in 2 bands and school and whatnot but you people deserve the truth, I'm just too lazy. It also doesn't help that my internet provider has been screwed up and I've had to steal my neighbors wireless (shhh don't tell them). Anyway, to reward you all for your patience, I am going to unleash a slew of new albums you're going to want to hear. And hopefully by sometime next month you can all listen to my bands' EP thing we're recording. Aren't you excited? Get your downloading fingers ready... I mean...uhh...read the disclaimer thing at the bottom.

Jimmy Smith - Root Down Live! (1972)

2009-03-21T15:49:00.002-04:00

Way back when I started playing bass, this record was my first foray into the world of funky jazz music. If you are a fan of the Medeski, Martin and Wood brand of jazz, you'll probably really dig this album. You can almost hear how each member of that group was influenced by all of the members of Jimmy's band. His miraculous organ mastery stands out particularly in this live album with blazing, influential solos all over the place. When one man's uniqueness inspires an entire sub-genre, you know it's serious buisiness. The title track is, by far, my favorite but every other song deserves a chance. Get it...

"Sagg Shootin' His Arrow" — 11:45
"For Everyone Under the Sun" — 5:55
"After Hours" — 7:51
"Root Down (And Get It)" — 12:39
"Let's Stay Together" (Al Green) — 6:627
"Slow Down Sagg" — 10:22
"Root Down (And Get It) (alternative version)" - 12:13

Root Down Live!

Irepress - Samus Octology (2007)

2009-03-21T04:08:00.004-04:00

This one goes out to Kenny, wherever he may be. For those of you who aren't too sure who Kenny is, check out the shoutbox thing. He suggested this band to me a while ago and I couldn't be more pleased. This band incorporates so many elements so well and with such consistency. They have the chuggy, badass breakdowns you would expect from a 'post-metal' kind of outfit but they always offset that feeling with some kind of higher pitched 'post-rock' guitar frenzy, making it feel floatier and more ethereal. For me, as a bassist, the relationship between the bassist and the drummer in these songs is probably my favorite aspect. You can really feel them connecting amidst the murky, perplexing time signature breakdowns with every bass drum hit. Their chemistry is baffling and really keeps me in the music. Everything else is almost equally exquisite and between all of the post rock and metal flavors with an added hint of prog, it's definitely a genre-bender worth checking out ASAP.

1. Pah No
2. Samus
3. Pistole
4. Snayk's Tale
5. June Ipper
6. Fiddler, Yee Riding
7. A Frid Ohm/B. Martin Eeek
8. Nonografistole Addendum (Trampled To Death By Love)

Samus Octology

Kidcrash - Jokes (2007)

2009-03-15T19:11:00.003-04:00

Of all the post-hardcore/emo/whatever the hell you want to call it that I listen to, this band has to be my favorite. This album perfectly demonstrates everything that is amazing about their genre and seems to be the culmination of everything they've been trying to do since they began their musical journey. Jokes is, essentially, a perfect album in my eyes. The only problem I can even find with it is the production quality which, if you knew their story, would make sense. They got shafted after they recorded their first album with their own money. After this happened they took matters into their own hands and put up all their albums for free online and urged fans not to buy the first record, New Ruins. If you like this album, please check out the rest of their EPs and splits here and buy them or donate or something. I would also highly recommend the I HAVEN'T HAD A DATE IN 4 YEARS GOLDIE HAWN GOLDIE HAWN GOLDIE HAWN EP. It's really quite amazing how good it all is.

1. Turtlelephant
2. The Ground Eats You
3. Life Was Real, Vital, Urgent, Important
4. Hypothetical Basking Shark
5. Kiss from a Roach on the Grave
6. Parrot's Just Don't Understand
7. Ron Ghousley's Fucked Up Dream
8. A Conduit Rather Than a Vault
9. Swingsets and Frozen Grapes

Jokes

Noyes - Noyes (2003)

2009-02-24T23:53:00.002-05:00

While I'm in my current obsessive phase, I've been listening to an obscene amount of Victor Villareal related material. Now its time to bestow upon all of you some of his rarer stuff. Noyes (I have no idea how that's supposed to be pronounced) is his jazzier, mellower, mostly instrumental project with just him and a drummer. The mathy melodies he weaves in this are some of his finest and most creative and definitely should not be missed just because of how rare it is. At least I feel like its kinda rare...maybe I'm just trying to make myself feel special because it's my birthday.
Happy birthday to me!
Enjoy.

Puppet of Masters
News Scatters
This is the Bad 1
So Long, Long Song Titles

Noyes

Pygmy Lush - Mount Hope (2008)

2009-02-24T02:25:00.003-05:00

Sometimes when you take two nearly opposite things and put them together, you get some pretty staggering results. This is the second album from the recovering remnants of the influential hardcore band pg.99. Yes, that's right...ex-members of a hardcore band making folk records. The first Pygmy Lush album had a bit of dissociative identity disorder, switching back and forth between dense, post-hardcore songs and sparse, chilling folk songs. The shocking dichotomy made for a great album but I quite like the solid, more stable folk record that is Mount Hope. The songs are a lot brighter and folky sounding which is apparent in the first song, Asphalt (my favorite) and even a few rockabilly-esque sounds are mixed in to some songs. There are still the more melancholic and droney feelings scattered about the album which give it a unique atmosphere. I feel like that feeling is so prominent because of their musical background and what makes it so wonderful is how it shines through in a completely natural way. Folk-core just might be my new favorite genre.

1. Asphalt
2. No Feeling
3. Dead Don't Pass
4. God Condition
5. Red Room Blues
6. Mount Hope
7. Frozen Man
8. Hard To Swallow
9. Concrete Mountain
10. Butch's Dream
11. Dreams Are Class
12. Tumor

Mount Hope

Ghosts and Vodka - Addicts and Drunks (2003)

2009-02-22T01:13:00.004-05:00

I've been listening to sooooo much Owls lately and I've only gotten more and more obsessed with the display of guitar mastery by my hero, Victor Villareal. Ghosts and Vodka is post Cap'n Jazz but pre-Owls so his style seems like its still evolving but shows so much promise and if you listen closely you can hear it swelling in awesomeness towards the perfection displayed on the Owls record. This is an anthology of the two albums G&V put out during their short lifespan and is more than worthy of finding its way into your ears.

01 Andrea Loves Horses
02 It's All About Right Then
03 Good Luck With Your Multiple Personalities
04 Laser Guided by God
05 Futuristic Genitalia
06 Sex is Popular
07 Hot Dot Above, Tan Man Below
08 Is That a Person?
09 Four Red Brains
10 Conversational All-Stars
11 Mechanical Bull Rider
12 Nicholas Prefers Dinosaurs
13 Cowboys and Sailors
14 Doo Dee Doo Dee Do
15 Stoli on the Rocks
16 Bizarre Funeral

Addicts and Drunks

Caspian - You Are the Conductor (2005)

2009-02-21T18:28:00.004-05:00

If you like post rock but feel like Explosions in the Sky is watered-down or 'boring', then Caspian is the band for you! Taking all the epic and subtle qualities of bands like Mono and condensing them into extremely intense doses of post-rock goodness, blaring segues and 32nd notes aplenty. Every song beautifully and gracefully flows into the next with dark ambiance and exquisite textures making this EP quite an enjoyable and concise listen.

1. Quovis
2. Further Up
3. Further In
4. Loft
5. For Protection
6. Last Rites

You Are the Conductor

Tower of Power - East Bay Grease (1970)

2009-02-21T02:59:00.003-05:00

This may very well be the first legit funk album posted on this blog. I don't believe there's any other album worthy of such a title. This huge, horn-based band out of Oakland really brought soul into my life. These dense, saturated songs are, in my opinion, the epitome of funky soul music. It's too bad they had to slowly turn into a disco band but no worries, this is from when the band was still pure and untainted by the nonsense that was the 70's. The last song is pretty lame but who cares, just listen to the first 5 over and over again and I promise you won't be disappointed. Just try not to get the first song stuck in your head or hum the horn parts in the shower, I dare you.

"Knock Yourself Out" - 7:08
"Social Lubrication" - 7:28
"The Price" - 6:09
"Back On The Streets Again" - 5:50
"The Skunk, The Goose, And The Fly" - 5:55
"Sparkling In The Sand" - 9:06

East Bay Grease

Q and Not U - Tag-Team Double Post!

2009-02-21T02:38:00.004-05:00

How rude! Oh well, I wouldn't care if he spit on me because I would be all sweaty from dancing my ass off...assuming they were still around. What a shame. Regardless, this band is so upbeat and catchy with fast-paced dancy rhythms, sure to make you excited to be alive. While maintaining this odd 'dance-punk' exterior, they still managed to channel some kind of hardcore D.C. attitude which may be explained by Ian MacKaye's production of their albums. Get off your ass and rock out to these exquisite albums.

No Kill No Beep Beep (2000)

Different Damage (2002)

God damnit...I missed my own blog's birthday...

2009-02-21T02:31:00.003-05:00

I would do that...
Anyway...
Thanks to everyone who's been keeping up with me, despite my erratic posting and sometimes questionable music taste.
Nearly 26,000 views and a year later, I couldn't be happier with how this is going.
Here's to many more years of blogging and amazing music discovery.
Wooooooo

Death Cab For Cutie - Live Room 071198 (1998)

2009-02-21T02:16:00.003-05:00

Although Death Cab isn't a band I really listen to at all...this live album really captured my heart way before I had ever heard of them from TV or magazines and whatnot. My friend gave it to me a long while ago and I've never heard album versions of any of these songs but I don't really care because this is such a great show. There are some interviews in between a few songs and I've never paid much attention to them but I left them in there for good measure. Even if you're reading this thinking, "ehhhh...Death Cab is lame.", definitely give this album a go.

01. your bruise
02. interviewstuff
03. fake frowns
04. champagne from a paper cup
05. amputations
06. sleep spent
07. interviewstuff
08. president of what?
09. state st. residential
10. song for kelly huckaby
11. bent to squares
12. 405
13. pictures in an exhibition

Live Room 071198

Bonobo - Days To Come (2006)

2009-01-19T17:42:00.004-05:00

Simon Green, AKA Bonobo, is some heady downtempo/trip hop with very complex rhythms and exquisite sampling. This was recommended to me by the famous Drunken Jewett, funnily enough, because I was insulting Lil' Wayne. There was a misunderstanding when I compared Weezy to a bonobo and Drunk was only trying to make sure that I wasnt insulting Simon Green. In the process, he sent me this album and In love. Because of the vocal stylings and the various, culturally rich samples, I get a really classy, urban vibe from this record. It makes me want to stroll around a city and observe people...I don't know. Anyway, definitely check this out, if not only to hear the track entitled 'Ketto'. It's pure bliss.

"Intro"
"Days To Come" (Instrumental)
"Between The Lines" (Instrumental)
"The Fever"
"Ketto"
"Nightlite" (feat. Bajka)
"Transmission 94 (parts 1 & 2)"
"On Your Marks"
"If You Stayed Over" (feat. Fink)
"If You Stayed Over (Reprise)"
"Recurring"
"Walk In The Sky" (Instrumental)
"Hatoa"

Days To Come

Rosetta - The Galilean Satellites (2005)

2009-01-19T13:10:00.004-05:00

I don't think I've posted two albums by the same band in such rapid succession before but there's a first time for everything, I suppose. Philly's very own Rosetta produces some of the most spaced-out, sludgy and brutal metal I've ever heard. To be fair, I don't listen to too much metal at all. This is because I never hear much metal and think to myself, "This is refreshing and new sounding!" This is not the case with Rosetta. I just recently got their first full-length, perhaps one of the most ambitious debut releases I know of. Each CD is just about an hour long and the first one is more of their space/sludge/post metal style while the second one is more dark ambient stuff. I was initially intrigued by the concept because apparently, they are supposed to be listened to simultaneously. I have for you all a version where they are already combined and then the 2 CDs separately. When they are combined it is the musical equivalent of the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers Megazord and will blow you away. The first CD on its own is great too and I suppose the more ambient CD is good for what it is but thats not really my thing. I hope you can all muster the patience required to listen to all of this, I assure you, it is well worth the 3 hours.

Disc 1

Departe
Europa
Absent
Itinerant
Au Pays Natal

Disc 2
Deneb
Capella
Beta Aquilae
Ross 128
Sol

The Galilean Satellites (Combined)

The Galilean Satellites (Disk 1)
The Galilean Satellites (Disk 2)

Owls - Owls (2001)

2009-01-16T00:47:00.003-05:00

Yet another Kinsella project. This one is probably my favorite post Cap'n Jazz incarnation with spectacular tappy guitar and some of the happiest, bounciest drums around. Unfortunately this band really didn't last long. They went on one tour and broke up shortly after (or during, I don't remember) back in 02. They all had other stuff going on like Owen and Ghosts and Vodka. Even though this is the only thing they really got around to releasing, I think its great and I can really get lost in the hypnotic guitar stylings of Victor Villareal. Tim's vocals can get grating after a while for some but I usually enjoy it. Just go for it.

1. What Whorse You Wrote Id On
2. Anyone Can Have A Good Time
3. I Want the Quiet Moments of a Party Girl
4. Everyone Is My Friend
5. I Want the Blindingly Cute to Confide In Me
6. For Nate's Brother Whose Name I Never Knew or Can't Remember
7. Life In the Hair Salon-Themed Bar on the Island
8. Holy Fucking Ghost

Owls

Rosetta - Wake/Lift (2007)

2009-01-15T14:30:00.002-05:00

This is some really heavy stuff. I mean like neutron star matter heavy. The thickness of the atmosphere in this music is so eerie and breathtaking that I don't know if I'm floating in Neptune or walking through a foggy abandoned lumber mill in the dead of winter. If you don't like long, atmospheric songs or vocalists that sound like bears, this is not the band for you. They add so many elements together like post-metal, sludge metal, spacey psychedelic rock and technical, almost math rock-like elements every now and again that the sound is always evolving within the songs and makes it a very enjoyable thing to immerse yourself in. Definitely check it out if it's cold where you live.

"Red in Tooth and Claw" – 12:15
"Lift (part 1)" – 5:06
"Lift (part 2)" – 3:19
"Lift (part 3)" – 6:08
"Wake" – 9:27
"(Temet Nosce)" – 14:56
"Monument" – 13:30

Wake/Lift

Black Flag - Damaged (1981)/Dirty Projectors - Rise Above (2007) Double Post

2009-01-15T14:00:00.006-05:00

When the genius (just look at that scarf) frontman of Dirty Projectors, Dave Longstreth, decided to write his own version of Black Flag's hardcore punk classic, Damaged, It was probably the best idea of his life. He rewrote most of the songs from that album by memory but also in his own vision. These sprawling versions of the quick bursts of energy that were the origional songs are truly works of art. Although he left out some songs (I guses he forgot?), I can't say I'll miss T.V. Party at all. Anyway, I made a playlist where it alternates between the Black Flag original and the Dirty Projectors cover. I strongly urge everyone to to that at some point because the comparison is so absurdly fantastic that I couldnt even stop listening to do my homework last night. Maybe you don't like Black Flag because you have something against Henry Rollins or hardcore punk in general. Fine by me but you're really missing out if you dont at least have an idea of how the originals went. The Dirty Projectors album is great on its own but the contrast is what really made it stand out to me
Here we go...

Rise Above
Damaged

The Black Keys - Rubber Factory (2004)

2009-01-15T13:37:00.007-05:00

Annino, this one's for you. Believe it or not I've been busy lately so I've been unable to update this as much as I've wanted to. Enough of that, though. This album is something I bought on a whim back in '04 when it came out. I heard the song "10 am automatic" on MTV2 at 4 am on one of their underground music shows and decided that the raw energy, badass fuzz guitar riffage and Dan's amazing voice were more than enough reasons to check them out. I'm sure glad I did. I posted Thickfreakness on here before and it seems a little lesser known but I've decided that even though this is the album that kind of thrusted them out in the open, it is far superior and warrants a listen from anyone who likes gritty, intense, heartfelt garage/blues rock.

"When the Lights Go Out" — 3:23
"10 A.M. Automatic" — 2:59
"Just Couldn't Tie Me Down" — 2:57
"All Hands Against His Own" — 3:16
"The Desperate Man" — 3:54
"Girl Is On My Mind" — 3:28
"The Lengths" — 4:54
"Grown So Ugly" — 2:27
"Stack Shot Billy" — 3:21
"Act Nice and Gentle" — 2:41
"Aeroplane Blues" — 2:50
"Keep Me" — 2:52
"Till I Get My Way" — 2:31

Rubber Factory

Panda Steps In Chocolate - Paper EP (2008)

2009-01-01T12:04:00.005-05:00

My latest Last.fm buddy, Christian Filardo of AZ is Panda Steps in Chocolate. As a bonafide one- man-band of the 21st century, Christian composes and programs all the infectious, synthy goodness and hearty drum beats as well as the catchy vocal melodies which he then sings the harmony parts over. His lyrics range from being sincerely poetic to some very tongue-in-cheek humor and really brings all the elements of each song together depending on the feeling of the particular track. I'm not even sure what other music I listen to could be compared to this in any way. The happy-go-lucky overall vibe of this album paired with the memorable melodies and blazing beats will certainly warrant multiple listens and you will most likely catch yourself humming "Sign Language" or "Porcupine" on the bus. I'm also well aware of how many hyphenated phrases im using in this post and I don't care. I mean, just listening to this album makes me hyphen-happy and how could that be a bad thing? Snag this EP and start using more hyphens. Also, stop by his myspace or last.fm and say hello if you like what you hear:
www.myspace.com/pandastepsinchocolate
http://www.last.fm/user/CFilardo

Paper EP

Toe - RGBDVD (2006)

2008-11-26T12:01:00.003-05:00

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)

2008-11-26T11:13:00.006-05:00

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

2008-11-23T15:00:00.006-05:00

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

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

You Are There

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

This Town Needs Guns - Animals (2008)

2008-11-20T23:42:00.002-05:00

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)

2008-11-20T18:04:00.004-05:00

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.

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

Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon

Bowerbirds - Hymns for a Dark Horse (2007)

2008-11-20T17:33:00.008-05:00

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)

2008-10-28T02:22:00.007-04:00

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)

2008-10-22T16:01:00.006-04:00

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.

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

Vheissu

Man Man Extravaganza Post

2008-10-19T21:02:00.003-04:00

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)

2008-10-19T20:27:00.002-04:00

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)

2008-10-15T11:31:00.002-04:00

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)

2008-10-15T10:45:00.005-04:00

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)

2008-09-16T19:52:00.003-04:00

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.)

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

Ghostship EP

Wild Orchid Children - The Elephants (2007)

2008-09-15T19:38:00.003-04:00

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)

2008-08-27T18:24:00.003-04:00

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.

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

Choirs of the Eye

Band of Horses - Everything All the Time (2006)

2008-08-25T18:33:00.003-04:00

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.

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

Everything All the Time

Ugly Casanova - Sharpen Your Teeth (2002)

2008-08-24T03:36:00.003-04:00

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!

Barnacles
Spilled Milk Factory
Parasites
Hotcha girls
(no song)
Diamonds on the Face of Evil
Cat Faces
Ice on the Sheets
Beesting
Pacifico
Smoke Like Ribbons
Things I Don't Remember
So Long to the Holidays

Sharpen Your Teeth

Juicy Rumor

2008-08-24T03:11:00.002-04:00

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?

2008-08-17T05:57:00.003-04:00

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)

2008-08-13T03:06:00.003-04:00

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)

2008-08-06T15:02:00.005-04:00

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

2008-07-23T18:50:00.003-04:00

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

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

Disc two - EP C

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

EP C / B EP

Venetian Snares - Detrimentalist (2008)

2008-07-21T02:02:00.003-04:00

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.

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

Detrimentalist

Omar Rodriguez Lopez - Omar Rodriguez (2005)

2008-07-14T01:06:00.003-04:00

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.

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

Omar Rodriguez

The Mahavishnu Orchestra - The Inner Mounting Flame (1971)

2008-07-11T11:24:00.004-04:00

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!

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

The Inner Mounting Flame

People of the Internet!

2008-07-11T00:27:00.003-04:00

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

2008-07-09T23:33:00.003-04:00

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)

2008-07-08T04:16:00.003-04:00

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)

2008-07-06T23:11:00.003-04:00

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.

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

Hail to the Thief

Christian Scott - Rewind That (2006)

2008-07-05T16:50:00.003-04:00

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)

2008-07-04T13:56:00.003-04:00

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)

2008-07-04T00:50:00.004-04:00

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)

2008-07-01T17:31:00.003-04:00

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.

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

It's Hard to Find a Friend

Rumah Sakit - Rumah Sakit (2000)

2008-07-01T02:29:00.004-04:00

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)

2008-06-30T14:22:00.003-04:00

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.

Sneffels Yokul
All One or None
Peaceful Paths
Woodsong Part One
Bradford's Big Boatride [Beyond (The Dawn)]
Transmutation
Your Karmic Obstacle
Look, I'm Almost Dead
How's 'Bout a Love Supreme
Woodsong Part Two

Infinite Ellipse and Head with Open Fontanel

WOOOOO

2008-06-15T13:39:00.004-04:00

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)

2008-06-12T15:49:00.004-04:00

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.

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

End of the World Party (Just in Case)

Xploding Plasticx - Amateur Girlfriends Go Proskirt Agents (2001)

2008-06-07T04:44:00.003-04:00

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.

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

Amateur Girlfriends Go Proskirt Agents

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland (1968)

2008-06-02T16:28:00.003-04:00

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)

2008-05-28T15:23:00.003-04:00

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.

Armless and Overactive
"Who's Handling the Population Paste?"
Invented Organs
"New Tongue Sweepstakes"
"Consenting Abscess (Part 1)"
"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)

2008-05-26T16:14:00.003-04:00

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.

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

The Resignation

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

2008-05-15T03:29:00.003-04:00

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

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

Vol IV: Earth

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

Air
Earth

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

2008-05-14T18:21:00.003-04:00

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

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

Vol II: Water

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

Fire
Water