ZEITGEBER

Wow. This is exactly how I feel

2010-11-21T07:46:00.003-05:00

Check out this great article about year end lists and sharing music in general.

http://pitchfork.com/features/resonant-frequency/7902-resonant-frequency-75/

Besty Coasty - Crazy For You

2010-08-06T04:34:00.003-04:00

Yeah, that's their blogspot name, bestycoasty.blogspot.com. It's also a clever way for me to disguise the post. Seeing as how I posted a few of the 7" a while back, I figured I might as well finish it off and post their first full length. There are a lot of mixed feelings floating around out there for this album. Sure, you could accuse Bethany of writing unsophisticated hackneyed lyrics... and you'd probably have a good point. OR you could also say that Best Coast are writing some of the most HONEST music around. And that's what I get out of this record. Crazy For You does a good job of brightening up your day while raining on your parade. It's kind of a sad love song record (in a way that you never get the person you want), only it's set to music that you would throw on while your playing Ultimate Frisbee (or whatever people do) on the beach. There is a fine line there that most artists couldn't tightrope their way across, but Best Coast handle the dueling dichotomy beautifully. All the lyrics snobs need to get off their high horses and come down to play in the sand with the rest of us. I can't think of any more beach metaphors so that means this post is over. Chiggity check it.

Crazy For You

P.S.
Best. Cover. Ever.

This time on "Take a Leak"

2010-07-26T16:46:00.008-04:00

Here we have Les Savy Fav and their new album Root For Ruin. First thing's first. I wanna talk for a second about my miscalculation the other day. Okay... so after a few more listens the new Arcade Fire is starting to grow on me quite a bit. It gave me a similar feeling that their first album did, only for completely different reasons. Funeral was challenging to listen to and kind of off putting at first, but after repeated listens you found yourself more and more engrossed in the sound. The Suburbs was TOO easy to listen to and made you feel like it was too straight forward for a band that took many risks in the past. Once again, with repeated listens, I'm finding more and more to be impressed by than just the production and song structure. So... it just goes to show you that you should give music a fair chance before writing it off because you might actually be missing out. Annnnnnyway. With this leak, Les Savy Fav's, Root For Ruin, I had no such problem. This was immediately appealing, and I'm actually fairly happy about that. RFR reminds me of how they sound live which is a very good thing. I mean... they needed an album to just kind of kick your ass in the face (it's possible), and this is it. So yeah... I've been talking for far too long. It's awesome. Download and get your assface kicked. The end.

P.S. There is no album artwork yet. So ...uh... deal with this instead.

Root For Ruin

Take a Leak!

2010-07-26T16:26:00.007-04:00

On this edition of "take a leak (with me)", we have possibly the most anticipated album of 2010: Arcade Fire's, The Suburbs. I'm sure this won't last long, so get it while it's hot. I have only listened to it a few times, but I have to say that I'm a little bit disappointed. It almost sounds too clean for arcade fire. The drums are boring and so is the production. They don't seem to be pushing their creative limits, more so they are just writing standard pop songs. It's also a bit LONG of an album for them. They could have easily trimmed the fat a little bit and cut out some of the lesser songs, especially towards the 2nd half which is where I think the album starts to falter. You get the feeling there is an amazing album in here somewhere. But like I said, I've only listened to it a few times, and who knows how much it could grow on me. Also, a mediocre Arcade Fire album will still probably end up as one of the best albums of the year. Maybe I just had the bar set too high. Either way... I was super excited to get this shit as early as I did... so don't let me ruin the excitement for you. You could very well love it. So check it quickly before the post gets pulled.

Plus... check out the 8 different covers of the album. Think they were making a statement about the general similarities of the omnipresent suburbs? Naw.

The Suburbs

Broken Social Scene - Meet Me in the Basement (video)

2010-07-18T02:30:00.003-04:00

Check out this pretty cool fan made video for Meet Me in the Basement. Kevin Drew told pitchfork that he thought the world was doomed and that we are constantly trying to distract ourselves from our own self destruction... which is essentially what this video tries to convey. Good job, buddy... whoever you are.

Dimlite - Prismic Tops EP

2010-07-15T03:28:00.006-04:00

Dimlite is the SHIT. Don't believe me? Watch this.

Apparently some interviewer asked him how he made a certain beat and what sample he used (which he finds out is a big no-no). So sighed heavily, got up, showed him how it was done, then kicked him out. Aweseome. I can't wait until this dude drops his much anticipated new LP. He keeps on pushing it back. At least this time he released something to hold us fans over. I'll take it! Also...hurry up and get on that shit. I want MOARRRRRR!

Prismic Tops

Tobacco - Maniac Meat

2010-07-15T03:12:00.003-04:00

Man. I think this one is a little underrated. Sure, it's not the most genius record ever, but god damn, is it so much fun. I think this has got to be one of the best records to play very fucking loudly in your car. Bump this shit like crazy. I really dig the Beck tracks, just because it reminds me of old school Beck (I miss that guy). It's abrasive, loud, and crunchy but it has this amazingly playful quality to it. You get the feeling Tobacco is just trying to make music that HE thinks is good. It's music for musicians and production junkies. Trust me when I say, that attribute is defintely felt... loud and clear.

Maniac Meat

Caddywhompus - Remainder

2010-05-20T14:42:00.004-04:00

For some odd reason, lately I've been getting a ton of bands requesting to post their music on my blog. The problem is that virtually all of them range from horribly awful to obliviously derivative. It's gotten so bad that I've started opening every email thinking, "Oh god, not another one". Most of the bands only want me to link a single or whatever, but that's not going to happen. I'm not an MP3 blog. But a few have asked me to post their albums, which was way cooler of them... but even then most were just not very good.

The latest email was from these guys ----> Caddywhompus. I read the name, heard the idea (experimental noise pop duo) and said to myself, "This can't be good". I cynically put on their album and prepared myself for disappointment. Instead, I was surprized by how tight the sound was. It took me a little while to get out of my funk. I started at... "hmmmm, not bad" and ended up somewhere around "hmmmm... pretty damn good!". There are elements of Battles and Animal Collective in here, but they never seem to imitate, just to emulate. It's smart, catchy, mathy and occasionally rocks the fuck out... LOUDLY. I couldn't expect much more out of a duo, let alone a full fledged band. If I were in a noise duo, I would hope to sound as tight as these two. I mean, as far as noise duos go, these guys are one of the best groups I've heard in a while. I really like saying "noise duo". NOISE DUO!!! As far as people who submit music for review on my blog go, these guys, along with the superbly good The Sleeping Sea, are the only ones to stand out from the crowd.

If you think your band has what it takes, or if you are willing to give out your album for free preview (which will put you ahead of the pack) then give me a at pfunnk14@gmail.com and I promise I will check it out. If it's any good, I'll post it! It would be even cooler if you also wanted to do a follow-up interview *hint hint*. Honestly... I would prefer it if my blog ran this way. I'm sick of getting flagged for posting mainstream albums, so the further I can get away from that culture, the better. Either way, check these guys out and let me know what you think.

Watch their Youtube music video for their song GUILT.

Interested? Then go download their album below. It's good. I promise.

Caddywhompus - Remainder

Now....get supportive of good indie music and go BUY their album HERE.
Also... go check out their other songs (which are also really great) on their myspace page.
These guys seem like they would kill it live, so go check them out when they come to a city near you. Tour dates are below.

May 20 Thousand Palms, CA The Oasis Bar
May 22 Santa Barbara, CA Biko Co-Op Garage Performance Space
May 27 Corvallis, OR Cloud 9
May 28 Portland, OR In Other Words (early show)
June 2 Boulder, CO Astroland
June 4 Austin, TX Mohawk
June 5 Houston, TX Free Press Summer Fest

And the confirmed shows in the East (more to come):
June 19 Lafayette, LA Artmosphere
June 23 Birmingham, AL Magic City Wholesale
June 24 Nashville, TN Little Hamilton
June 25 Carbondale, IL The Swamp
June 30 Madison, WI Project Lodge
July 1 Chicago, IL Ronny's
July 11 New York, NY Piano's
July 12 New York, NY Bruar Falls
July 19 DC Girl Cave
July 23 Atlanta, GA Wonder Root

The National - Terrible Love (live in some castle)

2010-05-03T02:42:00.002-04:00

This song is killer live. I recomend checking out the Jimmy Fallon version too cause it's amazing as well, but this one takes place in a castle... which automatically makes everything better.

Sleigh Bells - Tell 'Em

2010-05-01T15:31:00.004-04:00

Pretty cool new tune from upcoming Sleigh Bells album out on may 11. Think it's gonna be a pretty damn decent album based on what I've heard so far. Check it

oOoOO - No Summr4U

2010-04-20T15:27:00.002-04:00

I've been holding onto this one for awhile. These guys share a similar penchant for mystery as their darker counterparts, Salem. I have no clue if these two bands are friends with each other... but they should be. If Salem is the dark, haunting, gothic side of the moon, then oOoOO are the light side... bombarded with glitter, sheen and little bit of crack. Another band that doesn't tell people who they are, print enough albums or play enough shows. *Sigh* I wonder if these guys will ever release a full length? Probably not.

No Summr4U

Take a Leak!

2010-04-20T13:07:00.003-04:00

Awwww snap... when will the leaks end? NEVER! Speaking of... how good is LCD's new jam? SO, SO GOOD. Here is probably my most anticipated album of 2010, The National's "High Violet". I think I just peed a little. Let's hope it lives up to my secretions. Gross. Check it.

The National - High Violet *EDIT* LINK REMOVED AT REQUEST OF "WEB SHERIFF"

Take a Leak (with me)!

2010-04-14T06:55:00.005-04:00

HOLY SHIT... This time on "Taking a Leak" I've got 2, count em, 2 fucking amazing leaks. First one is Broken Social Scene's new album, "Forgiveness Rock Record". Yikes... been waiting for this one for YEARS. Super psyched!!! (Can you tell?) And the other leak is LCD Soundsystem's new LP "This is Happening". OOOO EMMM GEE. I think I just had an indiegasm. I also think I just coined the term "indiegasm". I haven't listened to either yet, but I have high expectations for both. Like with all leaks, I wanna get it out there as soon as possible. Buy both when they come out though, cause I love both these bands.

P.S. Indiegasm™

This is Happening

Forgiveness Rock Record

Japanther x 2 (old and new)

2010-03-12T15:28:00.008-05:00

Wazza in the hizzie? Japanther, your favorite skuzz/noise pop punk band, are BACK! I thought it would be weird and wild to see how older Japanther would compare with newer Japanther. One of my favorite older records (okay so not OLDER, but 5 years old) is Master of Pigeons. It's interesting to see how all over the place the production and songwriting is on their earlier releases compared to their more composed and focused newer releases. Arguably what makes them charming is their "who gives a shit" attitude which is most pronounced on their earlier releases. However, in their new releases, we at least see them trying to give a little cohesion to their album's sound. Their new album, Rock 'n Roll Ice Cream, is much better than most of the stuff they've done in the past 3-4 years. But honestly, every Japanther album has it's ups and downs. But that's their charm for me. If they made an album that "blew me away" they wouldn't be Japanther. Take a look at the company they keep.... fellow Brooklyn indie rappers Ninjasonik. They have this self referential, just fucking around quality to their sound as well... it wouldn't work otherwise. They aren't trying to be Jay-z and Japanther aren't trying to be Radiohead. They are just having fun, writing catchy fast paced songs with quirky/silly lyrics. Sometimes, you need to take a break from heady arty indie rock and Japanther are a nice escape. Check em both out, because... well ... both are good, stupid.

Master Of Pigeons

Rock 'N' Roll Ice Cream

R.I.P. Mark Linkous aka Sparklehorse

2010-03-08T00:00:00.003-05:00

Sad day, man... one of my favorite artists of all time took his own life. Look on this blog here for his full catalogue of LPs. Also here is a link for his collab with Fennesz here. Sadly the last thing he will probably release isn't of his own work but another collab with Dangermouse called Dark Night of the Soul here (I also wrote about it here but the link is broken). Who knows though, he was supposedly working on a new album, so maybe we'll eventually hear a posthumous album just like we got with Elliot Smith. Either way, I hope his family and friends are doing well and that they know his genius will be greatly missed. His music changed my life, that is for sure.

Take a Leak! (with me)

2010-03-01T02:37:00.007-05:00

I'm gonna start this new thang on here that's gonna be called "Take a Leak". Every once in a while when an album leaks and I'm interested in it enough... I'll post it! Also, it's a double entendre... like I'm taking a piss, but really I'm talking about music. Why can't I write for magazines again? Anyhow... This time, on "Take a Leak", we have Frightened Rabbit, with their new LP The Winter of Mixed Drinks. I discovered Frightened Rabbit's last album, Midnight Organ Flight, very close to the end of 08. What I didn't know was that it was actually one of my favorites of 08 even though it only made it into the "honorable mention" section. Just goes to show what a little time and a couple more listens can do to an album. Still the album suffered from a few insincere moments and corn ball lyrics. But unfortunately, the best parts of the last album take a back seat and the worst parts are more prominent on this release. Maybe it's because the singer is "happy" with his life (what a dick) and now he can't write his sardonic, rip the heart out of my chest, fuck the world lyrics that made his last release so much fun. That's not to say that the lyrics here are "happy", in fact quite the opposite. However, they DO feel more contrived this time around. All of that I could've lived with, but there is a lack of drive with the music. Sure it's not BAD, but it's a bit of a disappointment and a unfortunate departure from their last great effort. I guess we can only hope the singer gets his heart broken or has someone die that he really cares about or something. It's for the sake of your art, brah. (KIDDING). Who knows though... this is so new it could end up having the same effect on me as the last album. Check back with me in a month or two... I could be eating my words.

The Winter of Mixed Drinks

Just in case you don't have it yet

2010-03-01T02:07:00.005-05:00

I was gonna post this like two weeks ago... but I was too busy listening to it. NON STOP. UNTIL RIGHT NOW. That's how long this thing is. Also, hyperbole is THE GREATEST THING IN THE WORLD. But yeah mang, this is GOOD. I mean, if you are into the idea of an epic of lyrical grandeur, this shit is right up your alley. Sometimes I feel like Newsom just uses music as a pedistal for her poetry. That's not saying that her music takes a backseat, like some spoken word jazz or something. But it's more about the build, the emotions that she transferes to the words to inflate their meaning to a greater realm. So, sit down. Grab the lyrics online. Put on some headphones. Clear out the rest of your day (seriously), and get ready to have your world rocked.

Have One on Me

HOLY YESSSSS!!!

2010-02-16T01:15:00.007-05:00

I'm freaking excited! Can you tell? Let's get this out of the way. I am talking about Lali Puna, and their new album Our Inventions. If I mention this in the title, it would most surely be caught within an hour and deleted. Thankfully I'm more cunning than that... I think. I've been anticipating this album for awhile. Anything with a member of Notwist in it has my interest at the very least. But this is quite possible my favorite incarnation of Notwist members contributing with other people. *Go check out the rest of their catalogue on this blog if you haven't already, it's stupendous and in really high quality because I own all the CDs* I haven't really listened to this yet, besides a few tracks (I'm playing it right now). I wanted to get it out as soon as possible. So here you go, make up your own minds... but seriously, I can't help but love everything I hear so far. Maybe I'm blinded by the faith that they were gonna release another consistently good record again. There are some bands that I will always buy their album no matter what, because I trust in their talent. These guys are one of them... I just couldn't help myself with this though... I needed to hear it as soon as possible. It feels so good. Now if only LCD Soundsystem and Arcade Fire would leak... that would be TIIIIGHT.

Lali Puna - Our Inventions

Uh oh.

2010-02-12T00:37:00.003-05:00

Blogger crackin down again

It's pretty silly because blogger will delete any blog with multiple complaints regardless if they are legitimate. For instance, with my Los Campesinos! post, they notified me once, I removed all the links and put (just a review) in the title. Then they notified me not once, but TWICE more, about the same post, even though there was nothing but a review posted. Make sense? Not to me. But now I fear my blog being deleted like crazy. Mostly because if my site gets deleted it's 2 years of writing down the shitter. Not to mention I can't tell people where to go to see more of me and my musical ramblings. End of blog, end of story. Well FUCK THAT. So just as a precautionary measure I registered iamzeitgeber.wordpress.com. So if this site dies a horrible death, go there and I will continue my debauchery over there. Once again, it's
iamzeitgeber.wordpress.com. Same name as here just on wordpress. Sweet.

Four Tet - There Is Love in You

2010-02-02T10:52:00.002-05:00

Now, to say that I've been dying for a new LP from Kieran Hebden would be an understatement. After what was literally one of my favorite electronic albums of all time (Rounds...it's here on this blog by the way, go search for it... you won't be sorry), I couldn't wait to see what else this dude had in store. Well... he had a half-decent LP (Everything Ecstatic), an album Remixes and a decently satisfying EP. But after all that fluff...let's just say that he did not disappoint. There is something about Hebden's style that is untouchable. Atmosphere and tone take such a front seat to poppiness and immediate appeal. While this can be damaging to some albums, it actually works in his favor here. Instead of each track standing on it's own, the album because this mass of sonic intricacy, dependent on each song for a deeper understanding. Don't get me wrong... there is enough going on here to bring the tunes from background music to heady, thought provoking, cerebral mind fucks. Sure, it won't appeal to everyone... but for someone who has the patience to sit down and REALLY listen, there are virtually no equals to Hebden.

There Is Love in You

Final Fantasy guys' new album

2010-01-27T07:22:00.004-05:00

I'm of course talking about Owen Pallett's new album, Heartland. I've never really been a huge Final Fantasy fan. Now that doesn't mean I'm not an Owen Pallett fan. He's done such great compositions for bands like Arcade Fire, Fucked Up, Grizzly Bear, The Mountain Goats, Beirut, and so on and so forth. I'm REALLY excited to see his work on the new Arcade Fire album... but until then my unquenchable music lust for Owen Pallett's contributing compositional work will have to be filled by Owen Pallets lesser heard (and for me, liked) solo work. Now for some reason (maybe it's the name change) I actually kind of dig his new stuff. Say what you want about Pallett, he knows how to arrange a song. My only complaint is that the album really doesn't fair as well in the first half as it does in the second half. The album ranges from moments that are challenging, monotonous and slow, to moments that are upbeat, poppy and intricate. Gee, I wonder which ones I prefer? While the tame sections aren't bad by any means, they certainly get bogged down when compared to the brighter moments on the record (like the amazing, catchy and incredibly intricate song structure of "Tryst With Mephistopheles"). Maybe if the album mixed up the songs a little more so that a more upbeat track separated two stripped down, tame tracks.. then I wouldn't find as much fault. But like most good (not great) albums, if you can weed your way through the few uninteresting tracks there is a lot to be loved here.

Heartland

Surfer Blood - Astro Coast

2010-01-27T07:00:00.003-05:00

I'm getting a LITTLE tired of all this beach friendly music coming out lately. I mean... i dig it and all. It's just kind of over saturating the market at the moment. It seems like everyone and their brother wants to be in a beach summer pop band. Even though Surfer Blood definitely fall into this category (I mean c'mon... their name is SURFER BLOOD), they definitely do it a little differently than the rest. They remind me of a modern take on a pixies post punk sound mixed with an oi punk mentality...with more focus on being catchy rather than being witty. It's definitely a "guitar" album... and that's where it succeeds the most in my opinion. My favorite aspect of their music has to be the transformation that each song seems to take. Instead of a favoring a verse/chorus/verse style of writing, they focus on transforming the track so that by the time you reach the end it sounds like a different song than what you started with. A lot of bands try this and fail miserably, but these guys make these transitions seamless and natural. With all the mellow music coming out lately, it's nice to be able to this on (track 2 "Swim" is a catchy favorite) and do some fist pumping for a change. And not the Jersey Shore, "Guido" fist pumping.

Astro Coast

Best of 09!!!

2010-01-02T13:20:00.013-05:00

Holy shit. I've been dreading this day for a while. This is like the finals of blogging. A lot of writing, a lot of thinking, and a shit load of work....but after you finish you feel relieved and, if you do well, proud of pulling it off. But like I did with real finals, I crammed, overslept, showed up late, and rushed through the whole thing in my PJs. Unlike real finals though I didn't have to perform sexual favors for good grades. Ahem...I didn't have to, but I will. Who wants to give me an A? No one? I do this shit for free you know. *sigh* Okay... It's ridiculous how much good music there was this year. Like 10 times what was good last year. But have no fear because I am here to sort it (mostly) out for you. For me 09 was a year dominated by pop music. Some soft, some loud. Some with guitars and fuzz. Some with synths and drum machines. Because a LOT of what I thought was "the best" this year already ended up in my past blog posts (Bibio, Washed Out, The Pains, etc.) I'm going to expand my list to pretty much everything and anything that I thought was good or interesting. For the sake of continuity and keeping with the system I had last year, I'm going to give the list a best of "order"... and I'm going to keep it to the top 15 so as not to convolute the list... but honestly everything on this list I think has faults and is equally genius in some way. Alright now for a little disclaimer about this list: Let's get one thing straight, Animal Collective released what most people think is a great album. Everyone has it who wants it, it's still up here on my blog if you want it... but I'm not posting it on this list because it would just be entirely pointless. They are probably the one band right now that does NOT need the attention. Capiche? Also, I did want to include some artists like Grizzly Bear and Bill Callahan, but I was afraid because I know blogs that went down because they posted their material. So I want to be safe. Alright... BUMMM BA DA BUM BUM BUMMMM BAAAAAAAAAA! Too man bums? Never! (I'm funny) Best of zero niner below. I'll try to keep descriptions brief. ENJOY BITCHES!

15. Real Estate - Real Estate

I was a fan of Ducktails, but honestly Real Estate is such a step in a better direction for Matthew Mondanile. He is an insanely good guitarist. Maybe I'm not on the drone train anymore, who knows... but either way this album is such a chill out record. The first song is definitely worth the download alone, but the more I listen to this, the more I like it.

14. Bear In Heaven - Beast Rest Forth Mouth

So apparently these guys were on the "New Moon" soundtrack? Uhhhhh.. okay. Why these good artists strangely decided to sell their music to that shit-show of a movie is beyond me. All I know is I really don't want Twi-hards liking the same music as me. That minor complaint aside the music is quite good. Like I said in the beginning paragraph, this year was the year (at least for me) of good pop music, and this is no exception. Most of the songs are mid-tempo but honestly they somehow end up pulling of this unique sound while still being incredibly appealing. Check it!

13. The Big Pink - A Brief History of Love

I really wanted to hate these guys at first. I just thought, "Wow, a bunch of guys who want to be MGMT". What I failed to realized is that these guys succeed at their sound more that MGMT do at theirs. Sure, there are a few sing along singles in the mix and there are a few tracks with some absurdly lame lyrics... but honestly, try not to enjoy "Dominos". It's this year's "Time to Pretend". lol. If you get past those few songs (trust me there are only like 3 songs on here I don't like) the rest of album is amazingly good. They also rarely stick to one style so if you don't like one song, wait a few minutes and you might like the next! I think someone described it as all of the best bits of 90's indie rock rolled into one album. Good description... and definitely one of my favs this year.

12. The Flaming Lips - Embryonic

Wow.... I MIIIIIIGHT get in the shit for this one...after all that posturing about being safe. *sigh*. It's okay. This is already done and gone, so maybe they won't care anymore (although I can't promise the link will stay up long). This album COMPLETELY took me by surprise. When I first heard the leak, I thought I got the wrong download. It took me a while to get used to the idea that The Flaming Lips left my favorite sound (via Soft Bulletin/Yoshimi) behind and reinvented themselves as a pych rock jam band. But once you realize that's what they have done with almost every (good) record recently, it makes the shock that much less and the awe that much greater. If only every band would experiment like these guys do. They took a huge risk with this album. You don't see that very often, especially these days. The fact that it's also really freakin good doesn't hurt either.

11. Cold Cave - Love Comes Close

Defintely one the best break out acts of the year. The best songs on this are the most accessible, but honestly the whole thing is good if you dig his singing style, which obviously I do. All I can say is, I'm totally excited for their next LP... mostly because I have a feeling it will take the best parts of this album and multiply it. Hurry the fuck up, guys!

10. Memory Tapes - Seek Magic

This guy continues to make music that I can't help but love. Everything he releases has this, "I just got an idea and went with it... really far with it" mentality. It gives the album kind of an inconsistent feel, but that's also it's charm. Each song's off the cuff nature brings out something great about each idea that makes it to tape. Like a lot of my favorite stuff this year, there are some "instrumentals" and some pop-ish songs with singing. For just some guy humble guy sitting in his apartment making music he finds interesting, this sure is good.

9. The Antlers - Hospice

This album actually holds a special place in my heart. While it may not be my "favorite" or the "best" album of the year, it's the one that affected me the most, that's for sure. While my grandmother was sick in the hospital after he second stroke, I spent most of my time sitting by her side. This album had just came out and I was coincidentally listening to at the same time. Good idea or bad idea? I don't know, but it sure hit close to home. Definitely a few tears welled up while I was sitting by her bedside, listening to this on my Ipod. She passed away shortly after that and that incident will forever be tied to this music for me. If you've ever had to deal with sickness or know someone who does, or if you have suffered the loss of a loved one, or if you are just in a situation where you are contemplating your own/someone else's mortality... (that should be pretty much everyone)... this is the album for you.

8. Washed Out - High Times

I get really sick of all the new glo-fi, blog-core stuff coming out lately. I found myself like there wasn't ever going to be something of REAL value in all of it. Just when I was telling myself to give up on the whole genre, Washed Out comes along and completely reinstills my faith. If I were trying to be cooler than my actual taste in music, this might have made #1 just to impress the blogosphere. Unfortunately I actually listen to stuff other people know too. I'm not that cool I guess. SHIT. Sorry guys.

7. The Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca

I'm gonna say something that's going to blow your feckin MIND. This is the first album I've heard from Dirty Projectors. Sey WHAAAAAA!? That's right. I am officially lame. I'm kind of glad this was my first DP experience (hehe...DP) because this one was just crazy enough, but also just melodic and appealing enough for me to get into with out being scared away. Honestly though, these guys take all sorts of odd genre's, like R & B, and turn them on their head. Just when you think the music is too jarring, in comes a gorgeous melody or hook... and then just when you are getting tired of the pop sounding nature of the music, in comes a crazy ass time signature with a cut and chop drum beat or an interesting production quality or some crazy off kilter singing. It balances the line between radio friendly and completely obscure better than anything I've ever heard before. It's that good.

6. Girls - Girls

Sometimes you hear a story about a band and then you can't separate the music from the people. That's pretty much what happened to me with this album. But even if you know nothing about these guys their music stands on it's own. This album contains some of my favorite songs of the year. It has it's low points here and there. Like with Big Pink they sometimes get a little cheesy on the lyrical front. But even those few songs work in their own right because they come across more as genre pieces then just missteps. It's sad, it's beautiful, it's fun and lighthearted and equally deep and heavy handed. If there ever was a perfect fuzzed out beachy pop record, this is it.

5. The XX - XX

The XX aren't doing anything insanely out of the ordinary. They are making simple minimal pop music. But they do it with such style and creativity that you can't help but love them. Sure most of their songs are about, well, doing it. But that's also why they work so well. It's so sparse and soft, yet warm and intimate, like a lover singing sweet nothings into your ear while in bed late at night. I relate these guys to Spoon whenever people complain that they are boring or too tame. Spoon have mastered the art of the minimal rock song. These guys have mastered the art of the minimal pop song. Every drum click, hum, bass drone, whisper and harmony is meticulously put in place not because they want it to be there, but because it HAS to be there. Trust me when I say it's much harder to leave things out and make a good song than it is to cover the song up with a string section, 5 guitars, a horn section and overdubs galore. In an age where everyone is layering the SHIT out of their music, these guys give a refresing look at what you can do if you focus on the essentials.

4. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

I told you these guys would end up on the "best of" list. I said it before and I'll say it again: It was the year of good pop music. While there are weak moments on this album, the strong ones are so great that they completely blow away any faults I have with this album. Like The Strokes, these guys conjure images of great bands past, but just like The Strokes, they end up taking those influences and expand them to their own sound and end up making some timeless, ridiculously poppy, inventive indie rock. This is the album I put on when I want a brilliant mixture of twangy sparkling Jesus and Mary Chain-esque pop, with energy and spirit of an 80's punk rock band. How can you not like that?

3. Why? Eskimo Snow

Okay.... I know some people don't like this album as much as Why?'s other albums, but for me, this was exactly what I wanted out of Why? since their creation. Sure it's not nearly as wacky and zany or creatively out of bounds as their other releases, but I don't see that as a fault here. While this is a "tame" album for them, it also ends up being one of the most sincere in terms of it's delivery. Do I like their other albums? Sure! I definitely think their other albums have better songs, but they also lack a cohesive quality that this album possesses. The more serious lyrics mixed with the jazzy organic sound of this record just struck a chord with me more than anything else they've done. Say what you want, but this WHOLE (that is, virtually every single track) record was on repeat more than any other record for me this year. So suck it.

2. Bibio - Ambivalence Avenue

While I might have caught flack for my last choice, I know most people will agree with me on this one. This one completely came out of left field for me. I didn't ever imagine an album of music that ranges from Flying Lotus style electronic hip hop to fuzzed out acoustic folk music and everywhere in between. And the craziest part is, IT WORKS! It flows together perfectly and each track stands out on it's own. Creatively, probably my favorite work of the year. When I would put this away for a little while in order to listen to other new stuff coming out, I always ended up longing for just one more listen. I came back to this album more than any other this year. And each time I put it on I discovered something new I liked about it. It's both immediately appealing and grows in quality with each listen. Not an easy feat.

1. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Okay... I know... I know... I'm supposed to be a cutting edge blog filled with music nobody knows about. Well guess what, I'm partially to well known bands too. Even bands with music in car commercials. That's right. Should I say it one more time? It was the year of good pop music. On first listen I just thought... wow... pretty cool, insanely catchy pop music. But then I REALLY listened. I read the lyrics (which I don't do very often)...listened a few more times... and that's when things really changed for me. These guys are writing pop music but with sweepingly huge and terribly sad themes. While they are hitting your ears with sonically pleasing aesthetics, they are depressing the shit out of you with their words and messages. There is so much more working here than meets the eye. This album transformed so much from the first time I heard it until now (like 100 listens later). What started off as something upbeat and catchy, turned into something powerful and with so much depth. Every once in a while you run into an album with a little magic in it and you can't explain why you like it so much. You just feel it. This is one of those records. I didn't really want to include this on here because they are a big band... but IT'S MY #1 RECORD. So I had to. I've listened to this constantly since it came out. When I run out of stuff to listen to, this one always goes back in the player. That's the reason why this is first. I can't stop listening to this album. Just when I think I'm done with it, I put it back on and it reminds me just how good it is all over again. This one is in 320 kbps too, so get it while it's hot!

Ahhhhh... thus ends another best of list! I know it's a little late. I've had this saved as a draft for like three weeks. It takes so much work to do one of these megaposts... I put it off like crazy. I hope everyone enjoys it. This year I really went with my heart on this list. I could have put up a bunch of albums that are "acceptably" cool that I liked. But for me I just picked what I couldn't put down. Even if it was pop music. Now that this daunting as fuck task is outta the way I can get back to doing more regular postings. Here's to hoping I can make it another year! Cheers and happy music poaching, you waskally wabbits.

best of 09 coming soon

2009-12-27T11:58:00.002-05:00

Now that xmas is over and santa gave me a coal enema once again, it's time for another best of the year list! Wooohooooo! Look for it in the next couple of days. PEACE!

Animal Collective- FBK EP

2009-12-03T15:34:00.003-05:00

When a normal band releases an EP, it usually has a few songs, one of them okay and the rest throwaway B sides. In other words, the EP is an afterthought, something a band uses to generate hype and give fans fodder in between LPs. When AC release an EP it usually reinvents their sound (yet again) and gives you at least a few songs that are as good as (or better than) any LP they've released. The first two tracks are so good, you just might skip the rest though.

Fall Be Kind

Life is a Beach... House (teen dream leak)

2009-12-03T14:25:00.010-05:00

Hey all. It's your favorite band, Beach House. Wait... it's NOT your favorite band? Well then you SUCK. Okay, you don't suck... but maybe you haven't heard the word yet. These guys are the SHIT. I really liked their last efforts but honestly I felt like they needed a little extra umph. Well, this is it man. One of the first leaks of 2010 and dear god (and black jesus)... it just might end up being the best. It's definitely Beach House's best effort to date and if this is the quality of album we get to see in 10, well, BRING IT ON (you couldn't see, but I just snapped my fingers and bobbed my head back and forth). The bar has been set. Other music... your move!

Teen Dream MP4 High Quality Version (Version I have. Sounds amazingly good)

Teen Dream MP3 Version (I know some people only like MP3s)

Sup people

2009-11-23T12:51:00.002-05:00

Hey errrrrrbody. My grandmother was really sick a few weeks ago and ended up dying, and after that I ended up getting the flu (swine flu maybe?) so I haven't been posting lately. ugh. But now that I'm free from the hell that was this past month, I will be on here more often. Just a little update for any of my several hundred (million?) followers. Peace!

Best Coast

2009-11-08T05:57:00.002-05:00

Okay.. so I listen to Pocahaunted a decent amount last year. After releasing something almost every month without fail, I thought that they just all-of-a sudden...disappeared. Apparently what happened to them was the singer, Bethany, formed Best Coast... I totally missed that. Not only that, but she started making 60's beachy pop music with the same lo-fi hiss sound that made Pocahaunted such a .. well.. haunting band. I actually like this stuff a lot better in the sense that it's immediately appealing. As she said on her myspace, "I hope everyone likes it and can make out to it on a beach blanket this summer." Well... I totally missed that too... but I can make out to it on my couch huddled under a blanket for warmth (won't happen). If you're familiar with other music blogs you probably think I'm poaching from, say, Stratosphering. You're right. But I didn't know this stuff existed until now because she only released 7" vinyls and I've never seen a MP3 version until now. So I'm unoriginal.. whatevs. Also they have like 8 people writing for them. It's just little ol me over here. So there.

Art Fag 7"

Make You Mine 7"

Sleigh Bells Demo Disc

2009-11-08T05:22:00.003-05:00

I want you to listen to this band. Bad. So bad I'm just gonna say a lot of fucking naughty words to get you to pay attention. COCK MILKING ASS DOMINATING CUMSWAPING FUCKITY FUCK FUCKER POON TOON TOWN BONER BENDING ASAIN SHIT BATH... PENIS! ...I've lost my train of thought. The point is... this is cool, pay attention. That is all.

Sleigh Bells Demo

Salem: Water EP

2009-11-05T05:41:00.002-05:00

Just in case anyone missed the extra link in the comments section of the last Salem post... here it is again! I've been listening to the track "Skullcrush" quite a bit lately. I wish Salem would just put out an LP already. These EPs are decent and all... but it just doesn't hold up to multiple listens. Instead, you end up doing what I do... listen to one or two tracks and move on to other music. I could bitch and moan about all these half-assed albums and EPs, with their limit edition vinyl or cassette only releases, but I won't (much). Now it's one thing if an ESTABLISHED band wants to do an exclusive 200 copies only 7" or something... but when these nobody bands come out of nowhere and only press 200 copies of their album... only to get it downloaded off the internet like 30,000 times... it really makes no sense to me. (Seriously... the last Salem post was downloaded over 2500 times. More than almost anything else I've posted... and I'm not the only one who has it on their blog either). Okay... I'm working on a "Pitchfork Best New Music" MEGAPOST... but I'm too lazy to put all that work in, so instead I'm getting all this other shiz outta the way first. Expect it soon though. PEACE!

Water EP

Sleigh Bells: Crown on the Ground

2009-11-03T05:00:00.003-05:00

WOW... I was browsing the interwebs and I stumbled upon this crazy song. It's like someone took a poppy dance worthy track and blew it up with a fuckin A-BOMB! (Or is it Fuckin-A bomb?) Pretty cool.

Hermit Thrushes: Slight Fountain

2009-11-03T04:03:00.002-05:00

Okay... I decided to do one more post tonight to make up for my recent inactivity. If you missed my post on Hermit Thrushes last album go back and check it out... it's definitely worth it. Go ahead... I'll wait.... Okay? Ready? If I were in a traditional band (guitars and drums and all that) I would want to be making music like these guys do. They gracefully drift between this purposeful dischord and pop melody style of songwriting that makes what they do so interesting. Every track, no matter how weird or composed sounding, never takes the easy way out. You think you know the rhythm or the melody and then they smash you in face with a crazy or unexpected change of direction. It's disorienting... sometimes to it's detriment... but they manage to cut out of the track just before it gets too old (most of the tracks average around 2 minutes). And that really says something about the bands commitment to their sound. They REALLY aren't self indulgent at all. They know when to call it quits. They write music complex music with the mentality of DIY punks... it makes what they do really and truly unique....which, in this day in age, is almost impossible.

Slight Fountain

Washed Out: High Times

2009-11-03T03:43:00.002-05:00

I wrote a big rant about all this "blog-friendly" music hitting the scene, and how most of it is forgettable or relatively mundane... and that we will all barely remember it in about a year. But then Blogger decided to crash in the middle of it and it deleted the whole post. So then I had no motivation to rewrite anything. Also the devastating loss of my precious complaining (which was really long and whiny) made me not want to write for a while.... but I have SO much music... I need to share it even if I don't say anything of value. Anyway.... I said something like "Washed Out was actually a nice little surprise in the midst of all these mediocre acts floating around these days." Blah blah blah. It sounds like jazzy dreamy grooves put through filters played on an old record player at the beach. Oh and he actually sings a little bit, unlike most of these artists. Reminds me a little bit of Bibio only way more lo-fi. And now that I'm jobless once again, expect that I will be posting on more of a weekly/daily basis from now on...at least I hope.

High Times

Cold Cave: Love Comes Close (Video)

2009-10-27T01:21:00.000-04:00

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart x 2

2009-10-22T17:37:00.002-04:00

Yeah yeah... I know everyone already has this. I've been sitting on this download for months. Think of this as cleaning out my mediafire closet. Well good news is that if you don't have this, then you've been missing out. Despite the fairly ridiculous name there are definitely some great tunes to be had here. Amazingly catchy pop tunes with some amazingly interesting production. Think Jesus and Mary Chain meets Belle and Sebastian... only these guys rarely go below mid tempo. Their self titled debut will go down as one of the best of the year for sure, and the EP is pretty decent too.... as far as EPs go.

ST

Higher Than The Stars EP

Um, WHY? do ESKIMOs have so many words for SNOW

2009-10-21T03:20:00.008-04:00

I make myself lol sometimes. Holy shit, by the way... does Yoni Wolf read my blog? Or does he just read my mind? Back when their last album came out, I was complaining how I wish they would just make an album sans the rapping for once... and lo and behold we have Eskimo Snow. Way to do exactly what I want. For my next wish, can Pavement and The Pixies both reunite and make new albums, then tour together near where I live? MAKE IT HAPPEN, MUSIC GODS! Anyway... I was thoroughly pissed when I read the review for this album from Pitchfork. For me... this is the album I've been waiting for from these guys. Sure it's more tame and less challenging than previous efforts... but it feels the most SINCERE or all their efforts, even when Yoni's tongue is buried deep in his cheek. It's more focused as a whole to me. Yeah, I have most of my favorite songs on other albums... but those albums I have to skip at least half of in order to get to the worthwhile songs. Minus "On Rose Walk, Insomniac", I can listen to the whole album on repeat for hours. His lyrics are so freaking genius to me. They are equal parts heartbreaking and silly, sometimes all in the same sentence. Like on "Even the Good Wood Gone" where Yoni imagines himself as a Pharaoh buried in some ritualistic fashion, only to wake up alone, realizing his death is just as sad as the everyday man's death. And then he switches to poking fun at his own meaningless eventual death by bemoaning, "When I'm REALLY buried, I'll be buried in Cleveland". In the sense that there is "no flash photography" allowed at his grave in the museum, there is no flash photography at his real grave because really no one cares enough to want to take a picture. Either way both rituals are kind of a joke to him. The absurdity of death is prevalent throughout the album (like most WHY? albums), but it never gets too heavy because there is always a sly lyrical or sex joke to make you giggle. The jokes are so sublte though... and they themselves are sort of sad in a way.... or in some instances...weird. At one point he talks about wearing his ex-girlfriend's dead ex-boyfriend's boxers. The play on words is funny, but the idea is kind of disturbing. Thankfully there aren't many more instances like this.... haha. But if you like Why?... then I'm sure you're used to it by now. The music is more orchestral than previous efforts. Alopecia eluded to this new style shift... but this album is so much more jazzy and fluid. It's probably the most traditional sounding album they have to date. But in this case "traditional" actually works in this bands favor. According to Pitchfork this is the opposite of how they feel. To them this was their "safe" record. But to me "safe" translates to relatable or universal. Is that enough air quotes for you? Yeah, me too. The album ends on probably one of my favorite lyrical notes with "Eskimo Snow", where Yoni tells us, "I hum these prayers in secret/and sung them through speakers in rooms for people to hear it". This loaded lyric represents what it is to be a songwriter. You write these insanely personal things all alone... these little prayers or confessions, then you go out and release them to the world hoping that someone will hear it and get what you were trying to say. It seems like a brutal process... and in this case, it certainly wasn't in vain.

Eskimo Snow

Dimlite x 3

2009-10-15T16:59:00.005-04:00

I know... it's been a LONG time. Well first my grandmother had a stroke (again) and I was busy with that... then all these blogs that I really love and follow started getting taken down... which had me worried, so I laid real low for a while. But there is so much good music out there, I couldn't hold it in anymore. I'm excited! Are you!? I AM!!! Okay. Dimitri Grimm aka Dimlite has been making some of the TIGHTEST beats in recent years. He somehow slipped under my radar but that's okay because I get to catch up all at once... and now you do too! These are his major releases, i.e. his first EP and his two following LPs. There are other singles and 7"s out there but I just wanted to focus on his best material. My favorite is probably his most recent LP "This is Embracing" from 2006. He has been promising a new LP for a few years but has yet to deliver. As far as I know he's planning on releasing a new EP instead. Can't wait! If you've never heard any of his music before, think instrumental hip-hop with a penchant for not sticking to one genre. Unlike fellow beat makers, Dimitri is focused on the song as a whole, not just the groove. Sure... this genre has got like 500 people all trying to be Flying Lotus or J Dilla... and falling severely short. So in order to do something noticeable, you have to be a face exploding genius and do something to make yourself stand out. Well, wear a damn mask, cause face explosions can get messy. Enjoy.

ADD

Runbox Weathers

This is Embracing

OH SHIIIIIIII

2009-09-18T04:44:00.003-04:00

My computer (aka my girlfriend's computer... lol) IS FIXED! FINALLY. So yeah... I recomend not using geek squad, as they are probably the most freakin disorganized bunch of social cast-outs I have had the pleasure of dealing with. At least they don't falsely advertise themselves... they are, in fact, a squad of geeks. Good news: I have a TON of stuff I want to share and a decent amount of time to post it. Bad news: I have yet to upload it all to mediafire. Give me a day... check back and I should have at least a few things posted. Ahhhh... good to be back... tomorrow... good to be back tomorrow. PAYCE!

Singin' in Japanese

2009-07-27T17:03:00.004-04:00

Here ya go Kim. This album, minus the first track, is all sung in japanese... and the thing about this, that is different than most other japanese music, is that THIS IS ACTUALLY GOOD. I did a big post of Deerhoof awhile back. So if you like it, go backwards and download more. Sweet.

Deerhoof-Greem Cosmos EP

Cold Cave x 2

2009-07-23T04:58:00.007-04:00

Electro noise? Dark wave? Noise pop? Electro punk noise pop? Experimental synth pop? I don't really know what to call it... besides FREAKIN AWESOME. Baaazzziiiiinnng! (I can't believe people read this shit.) Hyperbole and stupidity aside, this is some pretty interesting stuff . Cremations is a collection of rarities, demos and live tracks that explores the more abrasive fuzzy, hissing, distorted side of Cold Cave. Their new debut LP, Love Comes Close, is quite different, in the sense that it explores the lighter, pop side of their sound more than their previous efforts. On a weird side note, I have heard that Fall Out Boy plagarized some lyrics from a previous Wesley Eisold (Cold Cave frontman) hardcore punk project. He won an out of court settlement and is now listed in the liner notes of two of their albums. How hilarious is that? Almost as funny as Fall Out Boy is bad. Also, one of the members of Cold Cave, Caralee McElroy, is part of the indie group Xiu Xiu. Now you know some stuff about the band... don't you feel cooler? Wait til you hear the music... it makes you like +10 cool.

Cremations

Love Comes Close

Jay Dizzle fo shizzle x 2

2009-07-19T05:38:00.004-04:00

I recently got a request for some J Dilla from blogger bud, Shaun (see my blogroll for his blog "A Blog Ain't Too Much To Love")... I didn't know if wanted to do a post or not because his stuff notoriously gets pulled down fairly fast 1. Because his record label cares A LOT and 2. because his hardcore fans know that his mother (Ma Dukes) can barely pay her bills and she gets (a small amout of) money from every album sold, thus the fans report the posts to blogger.com or to the file sharing network out of respect to the memory of Dilla and his mother. I TOTALLY understand this sentiment, trust me... but hear me out. If people out there who don't know about Jay Dee come to listen to his stuff by downloading it for free... they will NO DOUBT be hooked and want to buy MORE J Dilla merchandise. It's happened with me hundreds of times. This is how it usually goes: I don't know who an artist is... I go download a few things... If I like it I go out and buy ALL of that artist's albums or my favorite albums in their catalogue. Now... the artist would have NEVER had my money if I hadn't sampled it for free at first, because I will not buy an album without knowing that I already am going to like it (unless I REALLY know the artist well). That's how most people work on these music blogs. Sure, some people are going to just download it and not pay for anything and that's that. But those people are in the minority in my experience, plus they would not have paid for it regardless of whether or not they can find it for free. Okay, end rant.

Shaun asked for his best stuff, but honestly his best depends on what you like most about specific albums. I'm not a huge fan of hip-hop so I don't like his albums where there is a lot of rapping. I appreciate Dilla more as a producer and beat maker/DJ.... so my favorite albums are of his stuff with the LEAST amount of rapping over it. I mean, Donuts is such a good record in general, I think all fans of his work will recognize it as the most cohesive and focused product he ever released... even if you are a fan of his rapping. This is probably the most essential album in any Dilla collection (and the last album he release himself before his death) with all others being preferences of what style of J Dilla you like most. Also, if you watch adult swim every night like I do, you will also hear like 5 of his songs off of Donuts on their "bumps" in between shows. It's kind of annoying because I now associate a lot of his best stuff with strange transitions from shows to commercials. Damn them and their good musical taste! I also included the new Jay Stay Paid with this post because I was happily surprised by the amount of really amazing material in this disc. Yeah, there is rapping on it. Most of it is totally chill... so I was okay with it... but where the album truly shines (as usual) is with the instrumental tracks. So start with these two and see where this takes you... and especially with Dilla... if you like it, PLEASE PLEASE go buy it and support his mother, whom he wrote Donuts for on his deathbed (literally) so that she wouldn't be stranded financially after he was gone. God damn. This post is way too serious... haha

Donuts

Jay Stay Paid

Modest Mouse: No One's First and You're Next

2009-07-17T02:11:00.005-04:00

Sup brohammers? It's been a while since my last post, partially because I have been busy with work and partially because I am insanely lazy. But I recently came across some new leaks that I've been really anticipating and I wanted to share my joygasm with the rest of you. This little ditty is Modest Mouse's new EP that has B-sides from their last two albums. If you still like Modest Mouse (I've gone through some fallout with this band after their Good News album)... then this is definitely worth a listen. There are some really amazing gems on here. "King Rat" is such a fucking awesome song... I am incredibly surprised that it didn't find it's way onto any album. Like previous B-side efforts like Building Something Out of Nothing, this ends up being just as good or in some cases better than their LPs. Sure, it's not perfect... but for the most part an incredibly successful tease to grease up my desire for another LP, which, I'm sure, is exactly what they were aiming for.

P.S. The file doesn't have artist name or album title, so you will have to add them yourself after you download.

No One's First and You're Next

Swans: Love of Life

2009-06-30T15:28:00.003-04:00

Since the last Swans album did so well, I figured I would put up another one of my favorites. I think this one has actually surpassed WLFTMOI as my new favorite Swans album. So if you liked the other one, please pretty please try this one. It's in the same vien as the other really... it's all "hey we used to be super metal but now we are all organic folkish other-worldy new wave rock pop... but don't worry we kept the dark lyrics" and whatnot. Like the last album, this one is also out of print. So, feel no guilt... download and check out another brilliant gem.

Love of Life

Bibio - Ambivalence Avenue

2009-06-28T05:04:00.003-04:00

HEEEEYYYYY... I can't sleep so here is one more for tonight. I randomly heard this when it leaked a little while ago. Kind of put it off and then my friend reminded me about it (he was gushing about how good it was) so I came back and ACTUALLY listened to it, and gee gosh golly I am glad I did. Like the title, the music for the album is also ambivalent in the sense that it is content where ever it ends up. Some songs are folkish, some songs are totally glitched out electro, some sound like they could be pulled off a madlib/j-dilla album. It's totally all over the place, yet for some reason it all fits together so wonderfully. This one is definitely a grower... it's getting better and better the more I listen to it. I've never heard an album that's so indecisive with it's direction but holds together as whole more than this one. This album is like a family, with the tracks as the relatives... some are your crazy as hell uncle, some are your loving mother, some are your edgy cousins... but for some reason they all share a common bond and generally belong together (provided you weren't molested by one... and even if you were, don't worry because music can't rape you...yet. Well maybe financially and emotionally. Unless your music of choice is Michael Jackson, then it can do all of the above... RIP by the way) Wheeeew... I've never thrown that many non-sequitur jokes in to one parentheses before. I need a nap.

Ambivalence Avenue

Lightning Bolt: Wonderful Rainbow

2009-06-28T03:41:00.003-04:00

I figured it was time for some melt your face, brain hemorrhaging, ear drum exploding "music". Lightning Bolt... hmmmm... I don't know exactly what to say because there is SO much to say. Well first they are a duo... one dude plays crazy as fuck drums and occasionally screams into a self constructed megaphone face mask (so his crazy as fuck drums are unhindered, like they would be with an actual microphone in the way, I imagine... and it sounds cooler too) and the other dude plays distorted insanely loud bass guitar (you would never guess just by hearing it). What makes these guys so great is while they are making crazy, fast, loud, distorted music... they are doing it in such an artful and jazz oriented way that it's almost like structured chaos. It's like these guys sat down and said, "how can we write jazz/classical music in the most abrasive hardcore way possible with only two instruments?". Don't get discouraged if it sounds too intense (even though it is)... there are moments of beauty and actual melody more often than not (skip to the second track if you don't believe me). These two are literally virtuoso musicians.. and that's what makes it so interesting... because you know they could make any music they wanted, but they chose to do something in your face and compelling. This is by far their most accessible album... and trust me... it's a good thing. I've heard that they will play a show anywhere if you call them and promise them 200 bucks... they play basements, garages, lawns... pretty much anywhere. The only price you pay (minus the 200 bucks) is losing your hearing, pissing off your neighbors or shaking your mom's china off the shelf. Seriously... they are that loud. Look up any youtube video of them live and the people next to the front are all rocking out... with their fingers in their ears. Check it and DIIIIIIIEEEEE!!!!

Wonderful Rainbow

HOLY SHIT

2009-06-05T21:57:00.004-04:00

Fucking Amazing. I might just buy an Xbox for this.

Swans: White Light From the Mouth of Infinity

2009-05-28T00:39:00.004-04:00

If you know anything about Swans, you know how crazy their career has been. They started as this slowed down hardcore metal band with brutally violent lyrics that inspired none other than the likes of Kurt Cobain (see his journal of 50 favorite albums and you'll find "Young God" at #50...On a side note, I think he got the idea for "Rape Me" from that album).... But more than that... they have changed more as a band over the course of their career than almost any band I've ever heard. This album is a great example. They ditched the deep growling chanting, screaming, and heavy metal for acoustic guitars, melody, world music elements and ACTUAL SINGING. It's almost an entirely different band... but still really really great. This is probably the album that best blends both worlds of their style. Heavy handed lyrics, guitar noise, pop, folk, and acoustic elements mix together better than I could have ever imagined. It's always fun to see what a band does when they get bored with their style and HAVE THE BALLS to actually change it to what they want. It makes you wonder what some other bands would sound like if they weren't so afraid of losing all their fans. This is a personal favorite of mine although most of their discography is incredible. This album is actually out of print... so don't feel bad about downloading, because it's the only way you can have it! Check it.

White Light From the Mouth of Infinity

The Sleeping Sea - Sun Drips EP

2009-05-27T23:59:00.007-04:00

I don't get a lot of requests for uploading unsigned bands stuff, but I will gladly do so if someone wants me to. It's not guaranteed that I will enjoy it or say glowing things about it... but it will at least get out there. This has the happy coincidence of actually being pretty damn good. It kind of sounds like Vampire Weekend and Islands meets Panda Bear. Think tropical with a bit of indie folk. I wish I had bands like this playing around here. If you are in Cincinnati you should at the very least purchase this at one of their shows. Or if you own a venue, you should let these guys play. But for now... be the cool kid who knows about a good band that no one else really knows about. Download this sucka. Oh...and drop by their myspace and say hi HERE.

The Sun Drips EP

OMG YES! NICE MUSCLE!

2009-05-26T01:42:00.001-04:00

I want them to release this in the U.S. SOOOOOOOOO bad. What the hell is this game!!!!????

Sin Fang Bous: Clangour

2009-05-19T04:52:00.004-04:00

Here is one that totally slipped under my radar a few months ago. But wow... I'm glad I found it. This may be my newest favorite album. ( I know I have a lot of those) SOOOOOO tight though. The dude is from Iceland (why do they get all the good eclectic musicians?) and is a part of another band called Seabear. Some tracks are so crazy... glitched out 8 bit sounds, galloping drum machine parts and melodic vocals... kind of reminds me a bit of Apostle of Hustle, or Andrew Bird with a little bit more flair for blissed out production. It feels a bit repetitive on first listen... but I thought the same thing about a lot of my favorite albums before they became my favorite albums. It's hard NOT to like it though... try it. Try not to like it. You will fail.

Clangour

Cymbals Eat Guitars: Why There Are Mountains

2009-05-19T03:38:00.003-04:00

Here is another great new band making a splash lately. I was kind of angry that these kids are younger than me yet are making such cool music. WTF man. I mean... they aren't breaking any new ground creatively. They are just writing really great songs. Think Black Mountain jams (only interesting) mixed with a bit of Pavement shenanigans and a touch of Built to Spill enthusiasm. It's pretty great, especially coming from a band so young and new. Now if only I could keep my jealousy from hating them so much. Grrrrrrr no no no.. it's okay. I enjoy my life as a waiter. THANKS COLLEGE. *sigh* I should have kept rocking.

Why There Are Mountains

Shhhhh... don't tell anyone.

2009-05-16T03:03:00.004-04:00

Hey... it's Wilco's new album, "Wilco" (genius!). These guys are MAJOR major label so I didn't want to draw too much attention to this post. All I have to say about this one is... THANK GOD they didn't make another "Sky Blue Sky" because I almost swore them off as shit after that "dad rock" album. So Wilco will never make another "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" ... I've come to terms with that. I am fairly sure, even though he is probably a dick, Jay Bennett was the driving creative force in Wilco when that album was made. And now that he is gone they won't be able to make anything like that album ever again. Honestly I'm just glad that this album definitely takes a step in the right direction. They dropped the pretentous "we're not pretentious, so we are gonna make uncomplicated straightforward soul folk rock songs" attitude and actually TRIED to make a layered, complex album. The result: IT WORKS!

Wilco

Ducktails- ST

2009-05-16T02:52:00.006-04:00

Ducktails 2009 selt titled. Psyched out surf drone rock. DUCKTAILS, WOO-OOO! (remember that show?) I don't really get why they only sing on one song... because it kind of detracts from the feel of the album. These guys are the new cool style of music to like along with Wavves and other drone fuzz bands... not exactly my thing, but interesting enough. Good music to chill to.

Ducktails

EDIT***
This version is the Vinyl version of the release. The CD version has an extra track. I can't seem to find the CD version floating around so if someone has it let me know where it's at... otherwise I think this is a complete album as they intended it to be heard.

Woods x 2

2009-05-16T02:18:00.003-04:00

If you can describe something as "freak folk"... it's almost a guarantee I will like it. Woods most recent album is garnering attention from critics.. because well... it's freakin great. These guys share a label with Wavves, Crystal Stilts and Vivian Girls... and those are some tough acts to stand up to. But they do more than that.. they stand apart.. because instead of drowning in fuzzed out distortion you can clearly hear every little sincere moan, twinged guitar chord and haunting melody. It's the music I would want to make if was in a folk band. I wanted to include their last album in this post too because it's near impossible to find (at least not in MP3 format). For that album they became a trio and called themselves "Woods Family Creeps". Apparently they change their name a lot with some variation of "Woods" in the title. It IS folk in a way... but it's folk with a drop of haunting, droning, crooning, clackity clanging amazing-ness. Great lyrics too. It's beautiful. I think I'm in love.

Woods Family Creeps

Songs of Shame

Starts with DEER ends with HOOF x 4

2009-05-13T04:25:00.009-04:00

I've been in a pissy mood over getting a few of my posts pulled. Record companies are bitches sometimes... if someone actually requested removal of an album I would gladly oblige... but no, it's automatic deletion for me apparently. So now that I've figured out how to avoid most detection (by disguising the title, so no general search turns up my blog) I'm going to post some stuff I was fairly sure I would never post. Once when "Offend Maggie" came out someone asked for more Deerhoof... and I said no because I was sure it would be taken down within minutes of me posting. Well dude... if you're still there then it's your lucky day.. cause here is a bunch of shit. My personal favorite is "Friend Opportunity" followed by "Milk Man" .. but honestly every album has some amazingly good songs. Unfortunately all of em are in 128kbps... that's all I have. If someone has better quality let me know... I think they still sound pretty good. Besides... they are free samples really. If you like any particular one a lot... go buy it. Unless you want to join me in saying bollocks to the MAN! (I know you do).... Take THIS status quo!

Apple O'

Milk Man

Runners Four

Friend Opportunity

Prefuse 73- Everything She Touched Turned Ampexian

2009-05-13T04:00:00.003-04:00

Here is the new Prefuse album. It's an interesting trip to say the least. If you know his earlier stuff you realize that his style for glitch-like hip hop beats is minimal on his latest releases. Now his focus is more on composition and harmony. This album in particular strings together tracks that rarely break the 2 minute mark in a fashion that requires the listener to not skip around at all. The point is to experience the album as a whole. The end of one track bleeds into the beginning of the next track and so on (in this case sometimes ad nauseum). I personally prefer when he was jazzing it up with static vinyl beats... but at the very least I commend him for trying to make a concept album where it's virtually impossible to like just one track... it's either all or nothing for this one. That being said... I feel like you can accomplish that in a different fashion. Look at the new Fields album... he does the same thing but has tracks that break the 8 minute mark and longer. Instead of throwing a bunch of mediocre tracks together in an inconsistent vision in order to further the concept of the album, he opted for a very few tracks that were complex and expansive yet when strung together make one clear vision. The journey is clearly more enjoyable and less scattered than on ESTTA while at the same time the album retains the same ideology... I dunno. To each his own. I still enjoy this... just not nearly as much. Cheers.

Everything She Touched Turned Ampexian

DNOTS

2009-05-08T04:42:00.007-04:00

DNOTS stands for Dark Night of the Soul... which as far as I knew was a famous treatise written by a Spanish poet now used as a metaphor to describe the phase of person's spiritual life that is filled with desolation and loneliness (okay so maybe I didn't really know all that).... But more recently it has been used to describe this crazy unknown side project of really great artists. It also sounds a lot like Dark Was the Night, and it actually IS a lot like that in sense it's a compilation of kick ass artists (plus the artwork is done by the uncanny David Lynch... how cool is that shit?). It's production was shrouded in mystery... all people knew about this thing was that it was some weird side project between Dangermouse and Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse. Some of the artists on board are: Flaming Lips, Black Francis (The Pixies), Jason Lyte (former singer of Grandaddy), Iggy Pop, Gruff Rhys from Super Furry Animals, and Julian Casablancas from The Strokes.... just to name a few. Okay okay okay.. get ready.... THIS IS FREAKIN AMAZING... this shit seriously blew my mind... it's so damn good. Jason Lyte totally redeems himself of his mediocre solo album with his songs on this. I mean, you can only expect so much from compilation albums as far as consistency and innovation, but this is seriously the BEST compilation of artists I've ever heard. I can't even talk about it anymore because I'm just gonna keep on repeating how good it is. Just download it and listen already. What are you waiting for? DO IT NOW!

Dark Night of the Soul

Deerhunter: Rainwater Cassette Exhange EP

2009-05-08T04:35:00.002-04:00

HEYYYY.. look at what leaked! And man it's pretty damn delicious to my ear organs. I have only listened to it once through so I can't really give a review or anything... but as far as EPs go, I dig it big time.

Rainwater Cassette Exchange EP

The National: So Far Around the Bend (Live)

2009-05-08T03:25:00.001-04:00

Dutch Rudder

2009-05-07T03:52:00.000-04:00

Bands that start with Japan

2009-05-07T02:25:00.009-04:00

This post is for Japandroids and Japanther... both cunningly creative names... if you're ten. The real reason I lumped these two together is I wanted to disguise this post a little because both bands probably don't want their stuff posted... but neener neener bitches I'm doing it anyway, STEALTH style. It's kind of funny these bands have such similar names because they have the same kind of mentality to their music. They are both a little punk/post pop-punk. Japanther are a little more of a whatever/fun loving kind of band... whereas Japandroids have more moments of sincerity and complexity to their music and lyrics.

Japanther's new album is the kind of music you want to put on when you don't have to focus... background music for a party or while you are chilling with some friends.. or while you are playing some games or something.. i dunno. They share the same attitude as their partners in crime Ninjasonik.. and if you know how crazy they are.. you can figure out why these guys would be friends with and make music with them. The music is like some new age electropunk with quirky lyrics and fuzzed out vocals. It's fun that's for sure.

Japandroid's new album "Post-Nothing" has been garnering a lot buzz from reviewers like pitchfork... and rightfully so. At first glance I thought these guys were just some plain old pop punk / alternative band. The opener sounds almost like a golden b-side from one of the old Dropkick Mrphey's records. It was kind of jarring in a oi oi punk rock sort of way... I just wasn't expecting it... but when I really listened to the rest of the record I kind of got what they were doing. It's sooooo catchy man... I can't even describe it. I would have overlooked it at first glance... but give it a few spins because now I can't stop playing this thing. By far the best lyric on the whole cd is on the second song "Young Hearts Spark Fire" .. it goes, "Oh we used to dream, but now we only worry about dying!" It signifies perfectly the departure from the innocence of adolescense and the arrival at the cold hard reality of adult life. It's a line I can very much relate to as of late. "Heart Sweats" is probably my favorite track though... I just like the progression and the beat. SOOOO freakin catchy. Damn. Oh and both of these bands could make the dynamic duo's list for sure. Check em.

Japanther- Tut Tut Now Shake Ya Butt

Japandroids- Post-Nothing

P.S. I just realized this was my 100th post. Oh snap... happy birthday to me.

Clues- ST

2009-05-03T04:20:00.002-04:00

I kind of happened upon this band by accident...and boy am I glad I did. This band was formed by the OTHER front man behind The Unicorns and a former drummer for Arcade Fire. Sound like it's going to be good? It is! Interesting kooky lyrics, melodic progressions... crescendos and falls... soft whispers and glowing explosions...fuzzed out production... sincere clean sounding vocals... it all ends up being pretty impressive, especially on headphones. The best part is... it's not even OUT yet... so get it while it's hot motha effas! Real release date for this self titled album is may 19th I think. Let me know what you guys think of this one. I'm curious to see how this gets reviewed.

Clues- Clues

Rap Chop

2009-05-01T01:38:00.001-04:00

Ohhhh snap. This shit is genius. hahaha.

The Magnetic Fields: Get Lost

2009-04-27T04:00:00.003-04:00

I was having this conversation a while ago with my friend about how Stephen Merritt could be the best songwriter of our generation. He has an ability to take some of the most insanely smart and character driven lyrics that border on the absurdly poetic and drape it in some of the most catchy, melodic and interesting musical arrangements... yet for some reason, he seems to sabotage his albums more than any artist out there. He is just SOOOOO inconsistent in his ability... which I really don't get because it's almost as if he does it on purpose. If you could take all of his brilliant songs over the course of his career and put them on one CD it would probably be the best album of the last 20 years... but his actual albums lack that coherence. Sometimes I feel like he is a little bit to clever for his own good. (Or maybe I'm just not clever enough to get it). I gotta say although I'm a fan of 69 love songs (and the genius concept behind it)... I just can't get into it as a whole as much as this album. He has so many great songs... and not so many great albums... but if you ask me, THIS is definitely one (if not the best) of them.

Get Lost

Okay... alright... I'm back I think.

2009-04-27T03:28:00.003-04:00

Alright alright... it's freakin been forever. I KNOW. I was getting sick of posting and getting like 5 downloads. I don't get paid for this shit. In fact 99% of the people who come here don't give a flying rats ass what I have to say. It's a weird thing this blogging shit. It's a totally selfless act really.. yet it's totally self centered. It's been odd for the past couple months. A lot of my favorite blogs are dead now... or have been taken down. I was trying to lay low for a while... but a few weeks turned into a few months... and here we are. I realized that I needed to either kill this thing or actually start posting again. The good news is that I have a huge amount of stuff to post... the bad news is I have to upload it to mediafire which takes forever. So give me a few days and I should start mass posting a bunch of music I have been sitting on. Good to be back... Do you still love me?

Tim and Eric: The Universe Explained with Flashlights

2009-03-30T03:29:00.001-04:00

schmAbe Vigoda: Skeleton.,. in my closet

2009-02-22T02:11:00.002-05:00

If you aren't retarded... you can tell that this is really Abe Vigoda - Skeleton. I'm just being sneaky because Abe kills links FAST. I think that they (record company) don't get to links as easily if you don't have a "TITLE" with the actual name (like my Animal Collective post, which is still up actually... because I spelled it wrong) Hence this mildly stupid title. I somehow got away with sending this link to my other blogger buddy... and magically it's still up so I figured why not share the wealth while the getting is good. And believe me... it's good. Abe Vigoda are one of those bands that release things in very limited numbers, and kill links to their downloads... even though that's about the only way to find these guys. Make sense? Not to me really. If the thrill of the chase isn't enough for you alone... the sound is just as satisfying. Imagine if the best parts of Vampire Weekend and Animal Collective had a punk rock baby that had a brief fling with a little bit of Jesus and Mary Chain production. You would have an amazing band called schmAbe Vigoda... i mean... Abe Vigoda.

Skeleton

Hermit Thrushes: Benaki

2009-02-22T02:01:00.003-05:00

Poppy with experimental cacophonous undertones... just how I like my indie rock. The quality is only 128kbps... but still sounds surprisingly good. These guys are totally right up my alley, and really if you like the album... please go to their Myspace and buy it because it's only like 5 or 6 bucks... real cheap... plus they probably need it more than most bands. Or if the stimulus package benefits haven't hit you yet (yeah, me neither) just download it for now.

Benaki

Apse: Eras

2009-02-21T20:16:00.002-05:00

Here is a cool band I recently discovered. It's ambient experimental rock music with sporadic vocals. At first I thought this was some post rock band and almost overlooked it... but if you listen to the whole things all the way through you can see that this band uses all sorts of styles and genres to their benefit. While that may be construed as a lack of focus for most bands, these fellas use it as a strength.

Eras

Fever Ray

2009-02-21T19:56:00.004-05:00

Sup homies? Alright... I've been sitting on some stuff for a while and I really wanna get it out there before I cease to be relevant anymore. This one is from girl who is 1/2 of The Knife. And like The Knife it's fairly chilling and disorienting. However, it has an endearing quality that grows with repeat listens, like most good music. The beats are a little less dark than on Silent Shout... but really, if you like the Knife you will most likely enjoy Fever Ray. Plus who knows when The Knife will come back from hiatus, so enjoy this for now. Oh and this one is in TWO MOTHA EFFIN PARTS people... I don't get why people don't understand that if you don't download both parts, you don't get the whole album.

Fever Ray - Part 1 Part 2

It has been a while hasn't it?

2009-02-12T19:32:00.002-05:00

My Grandmother is in the hospital again, so I've been spending most of my time there lately. On the plus side it has given me a ton of time to listen to music. I have a BUNCH of stuff to post... I've just gotta upload it.... sooo... forgive me followers of blog. I'll be back with you shortly, with a ton of good stuff hopefully. Take care people.

Salem - Yes I Smoke Crack EP

2009-01-23T17:08:00.002-05:00

This one is for tricky Nick Dixon (if you don't already have it). For some reason we are usually listening to the same music at the same time. This EP was only pressed for 500 copies and is extremely hard to find... unless of course you have a computer. Take THAT exclusivity! It sounds like if My Bloody Valentine, Cocteau Twins and The Knife, all had a three way and the end result was a Goth, crack addicted baby. I know "haunting" is an overused term to describe music.. but I feel justified using it here... trust me. Even more haunting are Salem's mysterious beginnings, with two separate myspaces, three different places of origin, and apparently no bio or record label. Who the hell knows what this band is up to? (Probably trying to build intrigue as to attract attention to themselves in some J.J. Abrams style marketing ploy). Well... it's working Salem... it's working.

Yes I Smoke Crack EP

Dynamic Duos

2009-01-22T14:41:00.005-05:00

I feel bad about not posting a lot lately, so I decided to do a bigger one today. These are some of my recent favorites bands to melt my face with just 2 members. It wasn't too long ago that I though how impossible it was to make good, full sounding, creative music with any less than 3 members. Like sex.. I thought more was better... but really sometimes a little one on one can be just as kinky and freaky as long as you use your imagination. The proof is in the pudding, as they say... and this is some delicious pudding. I'm now talking about music by the way. Check em.

The Dodos- Visiter

Yes, that album title is spelled wrong... you are not hallucinating... although you might want to consider it when listening to this album. (Don't do drugs M'kay?) I listened to this about 5 times through before I even found out it was just a drum/guitar duo. THAT'S how good this is. It kind of sounds like a more melodic and tame Animal Collective (courtesy of the drummers African style). This album just proves the point that sometimes less is more. Now if only they would make more of less. Does that make sense? They should make more albums... that's what I'm getting at. *sigh*

Matt and Kim - Grand

Hurray, a leak! I know I'm usually not on top of most album leaks (mostly because I don't have enough time to judge weather they are good enough to post, or because they are usually just plain bad) but this one caught my attention immediately. WOW, is it good. Think electronic synth pop with punk elements. I thought that this deserved a higher rating than Pitchfork gave it, but then again I'm not quite as pretentious. (Why won't you answer any of my job applications!?)

No Age - Nouns

Alright... this one took some time, but it definitely grew on me. It is surprisingly simply yet it sounds so big. I gotta give props to anyone who can play drums and sing at the same time, because as a drummer I can testify as to how incredibly hard that is. This album definitely satisfies my edgy noise punk side. That's the side of me I don't shower and cover with DIY stickers.

Madvillain - Madvillainy

Okay... so every hip hop album usually consists of two people (producer and MC)... but really this one blows most of those douches outta the water. Madvillain is Madlib and MF Doom. Such a tight record man. So jazzy and laid back. This shit flows so well... probably one of my favorite hip hop albums. Madlib is a such a sick producer... but he doesn't always collaborate well. For some reason it just clicked perfectly here. If you don't own this one, get off your ass and download now.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thus ends my post of some of my favorite dynamic duos of recent past. These records are just proof that being a duo doesn't have to be a gimmick (I'm talking to you White Stripes) and having endless amounts of members isn't a neccesity (I'm talking to you Broken Social Scene). Plus band practice must be so much easier to schedule. Oh and drummers get half the profits....saaaweet. Peace.

Electrobanit

2009-01-18T07:42:00.002-05:00

Here is a little clip of Johnny K and Bakez live as "Electrobandit" at the Copperworks.

G Bakez: The Bakery Volume 1

2009-01-18T06:49:00.010-05:00

This post is a special one. My buddy Garrit Baker, (aka Bakez, G Bakez, G Money or just plain G) just finished this little jam the other day.. and now I'm giving you an exclusive peek into these hot joints right here. This is his first solo venture into electronic music (with the help of producer and other half of Electrobandit, Johnny K) and I gotta say it is quite the ride... 10 short little tracks that combine to create a cohesive, fun, smart, intricate puzzle. The tracks can exist on their own and sound great as their own pieces... but The Bakery is most effective as a whole (and it is definitely short enough to listen to as a whole). It's a concept album not in the sense that there is an underlying theme, but rather an underlying sonic link between every track that begs the listener to sit through the entire album. It's called The Bakery because this shit is hot and fresh... right out of the oven, bitches. Oh and his last name is Baker... guess that makes sense. CHIGGITY CHECK IT!

The Bakery Voume 1

If you want a little sample before you download or to keep up with more jams from G, check out his myspace. Johnny K (the producer) myspace. OR you can check out their dual project called "Electrobandit" at this myspace. ORRRRRRR you can check out "My Friends and I..." which was myself, G, Johnny and our friend Dave playing grunge/punk/rock at this myspace

Crystal Stilts

2009-01-15T06:35:00.003-05:00

These guys make some pretty damn cool music. It's highly derivative of Joy Division and The Jesus and Mary Chain... but hey, if you are going to derive your sound from anyone you could definitely pick worse bands. I guess a good description would be minimalist garage drone punk... but I could be wrong. Another fun one from 08 that I kind of overlooked a bit at first. I do that a lot.... what can I say? I got moves to make, chocolate to eat... I can't be bothered by music ALL the time.

Crytal Stilts

Subtle x 2

2009-01-15T06:17:00.003-05:00

One time I did a subtle post for their new album, then someone asked me to post more Subtle and I totally zoned that out. That was like 6 months ago I think. Well buddy, if you are still reading and haven't ACTUALLY died from anticipation, this one is for you! Lol... that's how I roll... late and great. These two ditties were recorded in succession. For Hero: For Fool is the full length album and Yell & Ice is the companion EP full of remixes and some new material. Doseone is probably the dopest rapper out there man. It doesn't get better than his flow... it can be fast, slow, melodic or cacophonous... but either way Subtle kills it. More rappers need to take notice...THIS is how you break new ground in hip hop.

For Hero For Fool

Yell & Ice

A.C. Newman: Get Guilty

2009-01-15T06:08:00.003-05:00

Ahhhh I know I'm really late on this one, but I uploaded a while ago and I don't want it to go to waste. This is A.C. Newman from The New Pornographers. He also records solo records... which are pretty good. Get Guilty is definitely better than the last NP album, but I don't think it's as good as his first solo record. Regardless, if you haven't heard it yet (which I know most of you have), it's definitely worth a listen.

Get Guilty

The 2008 Darwin Awards

2009-01-11T22:01:00.002-05:00

This is a non-music related post... just because I thought that this was hilarious. These are all true storys, and man are the funny.

Here is the glorious winner:
1. When his 38-caliber revolver failed to fire at his intended victim during a hold-up in Long Beach , California , would-be robber James Elliot did something that can only inspire wonder. He peered down the barrel and tried the trigger again. This time it worked.

And now, the honorable mentions:
2. The chef at a hotel in Switzerland lost a finger in a meat-cutting machine and, after a little shopping around, submitted a claim to his insurance company. The company expecting negligence sent out one of its men to have a look for himself. He tried the machine and he also lost a finger. The chef's claim was approved.

3. A man who shoveled snow for an hour to clear a space for his car during a blizzard in Chicago returned with his vehicle to find a woman had taken the space. Understandably, he shot her.

4. After stopping for drinks at an illegal bar, a Zimbabwean bus driver found that the 20 mental patients he was supposed to be transporting from Harare to Bulawayo had escaped. Not wanting to admit his incompetence, the driver went to a nearby bus stop and offered everyone waiting there a free ride. He then delivered the passengers to the mental hospital, telling the staff that the patients were very excitable and prone to bizarre fantasies. The deception wasn't discovered for 3 days.

5. An American teenager was in the hospital recovering from serious head wounds received from an oncoming train.When asked how he received the injuries, the lad told police that he was simply trying to see how close he could get his head to a moving train before he was hit.

6. A man walke d into a Louisiana Circle-K, put a $20 bill on the counter, and asked for change. When the clerk opened the cash drawer, the man pulled a gun and asked for all the cash in the register, which the clerk promptly provided. The man took the cash from the clerk and fled, leaving the $20 bill on the counter. The total amount of cash he got from the drawer... $15.[If someone points a gun at you and gives you money, is a crime committed?]

7. Seems an Arkansas guy wanted some beer pretty badly. He decided that he'd just throw a cinder block through a liquor store window, grab some booze, and run. So he lifted the cinder block and heaved it over his head at the window. The cinder block bounced back and hit the would-be thief on the head, knocking him unconscious. The liquor store window was made of Plexiglas. The whole event was caught on videotape.

8. As a female shopper exited a New York convenience store, a man grabbed her purse and ran. The clerk called 911 immediately, and the woman was able to give them a detailed description of the snatcher. Within minutes, the police apprehended the snatcher. They put him in the car and drove back to the store. The thief was then taken out of the car and told to stand there for a positive ID. To which he replied, "Yes, officer, that's her. That's the lady I stole the purse from."

9. The Ann Arbor News crime column reported that a man walked into a Burger King in Ypsilanti , Michigan , at 5 A.M., flashed a gun, and demanded cash. The clerk turned him down because he said he couldn't open the cash register without a food order. When the man ordered onion rings, the clerk said they weren't available for breakfast. The man, frustrated, walked away.[*A 5-STAR STUPIDITY AWARD WINNER]

10. When a man attempted to siphon gasoline from a motor home parked on a Seattle street, he got much more than he bargained for. Police arrived at the scene to find a very sick man curled up next to a motor home near spilled sewage. A police spokesman said that the man admitted to trying to steal gasoline and plugged his siphon hose into the motor home's sewage tank by mistake. The owner of the vehicle declined to press charges saying that it was the best laugh he'd ever had.

Holy shit. There are people like this out there.

Wire: Pink Flag

2009-01-08T04:53:00.003-05:00

Heyyyyyy... look at what I found burried in my car. Probably one of the coolest debut albums for a band... ever.. maybe. This album has been called a punk rock suite, which I think is a pretty good description. All I know is this is exactly what I want punk rock to sound like... little creative brief explosions of power punk goodness. Mmmmmmm... I really don't know what else to say mostly cause my stomach feels like shit right now... and I can't sleep. ROCK ON!

Pink Flag

Animal Collective: Vinyl Rip of Merriweather Post Pavillion

2008-12-27T06:56:00.004-05:00

Ohhhhhhhhh snap! Here it is... the new Animal Collective Album. I've only listened to it about once all the way through, but I gotta say this is probably the most accessible and toned down I've seen Animal Collective in a while. Stand out track is definitely "Brothersport"... very addicting. Anyway... get this shit before it's gone... cause it will probably be gone quick.

Merriweather Post Pavillion

2008 Top 10 Albums!

2008-12-22T08:40:00.021-05:00

I guess it's that time of year. Time for whiskey and thoughts of suicide, sprinkled with random sex with strangers, crying and being cold... Oh yeah and then there's this years top ten albums! This year was a strange year for music. There were a lot of GOOD albums from some of my favorite bands.. and some pretty good newcomers... but really nothing AMAZING. I looked at the Pitchfork top 50 for inspiration and really... the top ten are good, and I agree with most of it... but honestly this years top ten wouldn't have even made last years top 25. I mean last year Radiohead, The National, Animal Collective, Panda Bear, LCD Soundsystem all gave me albums that I listened to like 500 times on repeat and will probably hold as some of the best albums in the new millennium... and unfortunately there weren't any groundbreaking albums like that this year. That being said... I had a lot of trouble coming up with the top ten. While there weren't any amazing albums... there were a TON of good albums.. and it was hard to decide who deserved a top spot. So I derived a system based on 2 qualities: 1. Artistic merit (meaning how I viewed the album as a whole, and it's level of artistic complexity) and 2. Replay value (meaning how much I actually listened to the album). I did this because while some albums I found highly artistic and challenging to listen to... I rarely replay the album even to this day. Whereas some albums that I actually thought were very catchy and had immediate appeal... but not very much artistic value. So I had to find a happy medium between the two, with albums that I both listened to a lot, and also appreciated for their artistic content. Okay?! okay.... now on to the list!

1. Okay - Huggable Dust

It seems fitting that at the top of my list is my very first blog post. I struggled more with the top 5 of my list than anything else. I didn't know who deserved 1st really... and while this album has it's flaws, I keep coming back to it. Its genius is in its simplicity. It's an album of love songs... period. But it really brings you through the whole process of emotions that go along with love. It's as heartwarming and catchy as it is heartbreaking and distant. If listening to these tracks doesn't make you feel sorrow for your loves you've lost or feel grateful for the love you have, then you need to check your pulse... cause you're probably ugly... or a totally unlovable bitch. There I said it.

2. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago

Technically this shouldn't be here because this album was released late last year. But it had it's major release this year and no one knew this guy until 08 anyway so who freakin cares really. So here's another album of love songs... I know. But the proof is in Justin Vernon's voice. Like with Okay, he has this endearing quality to his voice that really makes you feel everything he sings. The atmosphere on this record is second to none... it has a cold and openness to it that is utilized perfectly with the crooning of Vernon's vocals. It's too bad this didn't get a proper release because this would've been on the top of either this year or last years lists... but instead he missed out on both of them. Don't worry though....we don't pay attention to "rules" on teh intarwebs.

3. Dosh - Wolves and Wishes

This, along with Okay, is one that I feel a TON of people overlooked. This is probably the freshest sounding electronic music being made today, courtesy of Andrew Birds drummer. I mean this guy kills on the drums, which are all live on his albums. No samples here bitch. Oh and if you listen to this and then listen to Andrew Birds new album, you will notice that Bird totally swiped a bunch of beats off of this CD... WTF man. I mean, I'm sure he had Dosh's approval, but seriously, it kind of devalues and taints the amazing quality of the original when you use it in other peoples songs. It would be like 50 cent taking DJ Shadow's first album and rapping over the beats.... well maybe not that bad.. but you get the point... either way. For me this album instrumental masterpiece... catchy, appealing, great production, full of depth and of course... some freakin tight ass beats.

4. Los Campesinos - Hold On Now Youngster and We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed

So, this is probably cheating to use two albums as one post... but a lot of people did that with Deerhunter's Microcastle/Wierd Era Cont. and Fleet Foxes EP and follow up album... so I win this argument! Take that blogosphere! If I were to pick album(s) of the year based solely on how much I listened to an album, these guys would've been #1 hands down. While Los Campesinos are the quintessential indie band... they are ahead of the game in one gigantic aspect. They know EXACTLY what they are... and aren't trying to be anything else. So while most bands that use this formula end up sounding whinny, cheesy, predictable and just plain lame... these guys end up sounding catchy, fun, witty and exciting. Los Campesinos are definitely the break out new band of the year... and with two albums in one year (both of them good) I'm excited for the future.

5. Portishead - Third

When I first heard Portishead was going to resurface, I was questioning how in the hell their old formula for success was going to translate in a modern sound scape. I guess they asked themselves that question too, because they essentially came back as an entirely new band. This album evokes the exact opposite type of feeling I get from Los Campesinos. If I were to pick an album based solely on artistic merit, these guys would've been #1. The only problem I had with this album is that it is insanely dark and thus immediately disorienting. It takes a while to get past it, but when you do, you realize what an amazing achievement it actually is. How do you destroy your beloved indie image, only to come back as a darker, more haunting band with an entirely different set of structures and make one of the years best albums? Yeah.... THIS.

6. M83 - Saturdays = Youth

M83 = Blissed out synth pop... I think. I dunno. I always feel very 80's-ish whenever I put M83 on. While this album doesn't really break any new ground for the band, it definitely contains some of the years best songs. It took a while but this one definitely grew on me.

7. TV on the Radio - Dear Science

TVOTR have hit a nice stride here. First "Return From Cookie Mountain" now... this! Although out of the two I think I prefer the former... but this one is no step in the wrong direction. These guys do production better than any band out there today. Even when they are tame they manage to keep everything so refreshing that it's still exciting. I do feel like this album could have benefited from a couple more focused songs. 10 songs isn't much and when a few are easily ignored then it kinda kills the feel... while a 12-14 track album can have a few throw away tracks and still be brilliant. Ah.. but what the hell do I know... either way these guys continue to impress.

8. Why? - Alopecia

Ugh... WHY? WHY!!!??? Why doesn't Yoni stop rapping and ruining half of his records!? Maybe I'm alone in this feeling. The rest of the songs are great though. This is another band with the potential to make a mindfuck of a record. Elephant Eyelash was close, this was a little less close... but it is definitely still good enough to make it to # 8 in the top ten.

9. Beach House - Devotion

If 'life is a beach and then you die' (like I read on some dudes coffee cup)... then a Beach House must be where all the shit happens when you're alive... and then I guess you die. It's so simple! The only reason this album wasn't at the top of my list is because I felt this album didn't really progress the band any further than their self titled did. That and you really have to be in the right mood to listen to this music. But when the mood is right, nothing hits you quite like Beach House.

10. The Notwist - The Devil, You and Me

There were a lot of bands that I thought deserved the top ten really... but I just had to get Notwist in here somewhere. While I can't say that this is the best album ever... I did listen to it a ton... and there are like at least 4 of my favorite songs of the year on this album. This one really made this list cause of the sheer excitement it gave me to listen to it for the first 5 times through. There was no album this year that I was anticipating more than this one... and while it didn't blow my mind... it definitely satisfied my hunger for one of my favorite bands.

Alright I couldn't help myself. Here are a few more albums that are definitely worthy of checking out even though they didn't make the top ten. The "honorable mentions".

Bonnie Prince Billy - Lie Down In the Light

Probably his best release in recent years

Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Flight

I just recently found out about these guys... great album. If I had discovered this sooner it might have made the top ten, but I don't think I can get past some of the cheesy lyrics. But when it's good... it's really good.

Grouper - Dragging a Dead Dear Up a Hill

Like Beach House, you really have to be in the right state of mind to listen to this. I really wanted this to make the top ten but it is such a mood music record that I felt like others deserved it more.

Subtle - Exiting Arm

I really love subtle, but for some reason I just didn't listen to this as much as everything else on the list, so I couldn't find it in my heart to give them a spot... still a great album though.

Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

Okay, so I know it's cool to hate on these guys but they actually deserve most of the praise they are getting. A lot of bands nowadays are trying to mold themselves after Paul Simon's Graceland... even The Islands tried this a few years ago... these guys definitely did a better job... but honestly, I can't see them progressing with this sound any more than this record. Hopefully they decide to reinvent themselves.

David Byrne and Brian Eno - Everything That Happens Will Happen Today

Wow... two of my most favorite artists put their brains together and make an album... how can it not be good? Answer: it CAN'T.

Phew! That was a bitch to do. I hope to never do a post like that again... well.. until next year i guess. Sweet. I hope everyone enjoys my picks for 08 and has a lovely depression free holiday season. Alright, I gotta go catch santa and fuck his shit up. That bitch has yet to give me a Wii.. wtf santa.

Blonde Redhead: MOCDL

2008-12-18T06:29:00.006-05:00

In case you didn't notice, I'm trying to disguise the title here because I know Blonde Redhead's record label trys to kill links. Tricky huh? Here is a favorite from my teenage years. This one defintely had a huge influence on my progression in musical taste. I was getting into this stuff when I first discovered Sonic Youth... and while I think these guys sound very simliar to Sonic Youth, for some reason I was always prefered these guys. There was something immediately appealing and likeable about Blonde Redhead, whereas Sonic Youth took a lot of time and repeat listens to really enjoy. Unfortunately, like Sonic Youth, these guys make a lot of plain and boring records nowadays. Apparently almost being killed by a horse then taking four years off will do that to some people. (Although I think Mark Linkous would've enjoyed the ironic imagry) Either way..this one is from their prime...pre-horse trampling and subsequent down time... possibly their last good album.

Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons

INSANE

2008-12-17T05:55:00.002-05:00

This shit blew my freakin mind. Make sure you watch it all the way through. This is either the workings of a genius or a guy with way too much time on his hands.

Dosh x 2

2008-12-17T05:05:00.004-05:00

Since my Andrew Bird post got pulled I figured I would post some more stuff by his drummer, Dosh. If you don't know who this guy is or haven't heard his music, you need to check this shit out now. This guys is probably my favorite electronic musician in recent years... plus no one will care if I post his music. These are the two albums before his most recent effort Wolves and Wishes. I can't rep this guy enough ... anyone who is into electonic music would best be served by checking this out. I am a drummer and I am a sucker for music with tasteful and creative drums... and it really doesn't much get better than this.

Pure Trash

The Lost Take

Bon Iver: Blood Bank EP

2008-12-14T12:14:00.004-05:00

In keeping with the new music trend... here we have a new EP from the guys who brought you arguably one of the years best with For Emma, Forever ago. (Speaking of... I will probably be putting together a best of 08 list relatively soon) To be honest, I was afraid that Bon Iver wouldn't be able to recreate the same magic that helped so much with For Emma... but I am happily proven wrong here. It's hard to tell if a band will advance in a good direction just from an EP... but at the very least this little ditty gives me hope that this band is definitely on the right track.

Blood Bank EP

Pit Er Pat: High Time

2008-12-14T11:40:00.005-05:00

Holy shit... guess what? I've actually got some new music! Remember these guys from a while ago with their impressive album Pyramids? No? Then you need to go download it from this blog... then download this one. While I've only listen to this one through a few times... I find almost half the album skippable. So in order to enjoy High Time, you actually have to be high... because a lot of it is just ambient noise rock... not a whole lotta structure. And while that works really well for maybe a few in between tracks... when 4 outta the 8 songs are like this then I feel like you wasted a lot of space on just plain mediocre music. Really though, I bet if you were high you might actually like listening to this whole thing front to back... seriously! But I personally don't really enjoy listening to some sub par instrumental tracks when there are so many bands out there that do it better. However, don't be discouraged because those other four tracks are the shit... and even better... THEY ARE NEW. And that's apparently all that matters.

High Time

Ninjasonik: Tight Pants EP

2008-12-14T11:28:00.004-05:00

For anyone who enjoyed laughing at the insanity that is Ninjasonik in the video I posted a week ago, here is something to take home with you. Sure this isn't the best music out there.. but it's rap music that doesn't take itself too seriously...in fact, it pretty much makes fun of itself... which is almost impossible to find nowadays. Put some freshy fresh beats over that shit and you're golden. I can't wait for their full album release... you know it's gonna be 10x ridiculous.

Tight Pants EP

Brainiac x 2

2008-12-09T05:16:00.003-05:00

Alrighty. Because It's morning time and I'm ridiculously tired... also I'm kind of hallucinating... I figured HEY, why not some Brainiac!? It seems to fit well with my delirious state right now. Internationale is the single when they were first signed to Touch and Go records. It's produced by Kim Deal of The Pixies ...and although it's short in length it makes up for it with a few pretty sweet songs.. most of which are a little more reminiscant of their earlier post punk days. Then we have the Electro-Shock for President EP, which ended up being the last release from Brainiac before Tim Taylor died tragically in an auto accident. Aside from being one of the main influences of Trent Reznor (you can seriously hear the similarities) Electro-Shock is one trippy as fuck ride through what one could call more of an experiment with electronic noise than a musical record. The songs don't necessarily have the attributes that a lot of traditional songs have... but it's an EP with a purpose. What that purpose is, I don't really know. Probably to really fuck up your equilibrium and make you question what you consider electronic music to be. Like their previous work.. it's difficult to place in a genre... I guess you could call it industrial electronic noise rock, with tiny bits of punk sprinkled in. When I listen to.. it takes me through a range of emotions... none of them good, but all of them powerful. And right now... would probably give me visions of unicorns murdering rainbows and the resulting blood-letting dripping on to a stereo, causing crackling bits of perverse beauty to weep from the speakers.... Yeah.. it's time to go to bed.

Internationale

Electro-Shock For President

Creed: Derrrrr-de-derrrrrrrr!

2008-12-04T02:42:00.016-05:00

Is it just me... or did Creed get better?

Ninjasonik

2008-12-03T04:27:00.010-05:00

I normally don't do posts that don't include albums... but man.. you gotta check these guys out. They are the future of hip-hop... or at least I hope they are. They are as smart and witty as they are crude and ridiculous. And DAAAMMMMN! THOSE BEATS ARE FREEEEESSSH! I've almost gotten in trouble a few times cause I'm singing this jam in public without even thinking about it... and it's not that acceptable to hear a white kid singing that he is a tight pants wearin ass nigga. Damn you Ninjasonik for being so freakin catchy... you're gonna get a honky killed. Check it. Ay-ay.

Arcade Fire: Neon Bible

2008-12-03T03:29:00.003-05:00

I was reluctant to put this one up because I thought that everyone would already have it. Then I checked the numbers for Neutral Milk Hotel (which I also thought everyone had)... and that is the highest ranking download on this whole site. So... it goes to show what I know. It's kind of funny how these music blogs work. Sometimes I will praise an album to high heaven... calling it a must have... best album in the genre... and 10 people will download it. Then I will post something saying "here ya go!" and it will get 200 downloads. It seems that people just look for what they want and ignore everything else. Which is totally not what I think these blogs are for... I try to keep things varied.. but I try to post things that I think like minded people will enjoy. That's why I don't like blogs that just post the downloads. I try to give a breif description so people will know if they might like it. I don't know how many times I've been on a blog, downloaded like 20 albums, then deleted 19 of them cause they sucked. Sometimes it makes me not want to write anything and go... blah here is the album. But then I think even if only one person reads this shit and ends up downloading something and loving it... then it was worth the time and effort. I really don't mean to sound like some bleeding heart blogger or something... and I don't know why I wrote this ridiculously long tangent. But yeah... Arcade Fire... here ya go!

Neon Bible

Happy Turkey Day

2008-11-27T05:03:00.005-05:00

May you all get fat, argue with you family and choke on leftovers. Amen.

Don't be fooled... tan lines have salmonella. Bake in the nude.

Be safe homies and happy thanksgiving.

Wire x 2

2008-11-27T04:27:00.005-05:00

Wire are one of those bands where (in the begining or their career) everything they touched turned to gold. Their first three LPs might very well be the best sequential trio of albums released in history. I personally love Pink Flag, but I'm having trouble finding it (I'm sure it's burried in my car somewhere... man, I have to clean that thing) so here is one of the other three. I also thought it would be interesting to show how much they've changed by posting their newest album as well. These albums are 30 freakin years apart. Yikes... these guys are still rocking out at my parents age. Yeah and you can also thank Wire for the now stupidly trendy idea of naming albums after numbers of particular things in said bands repitoire. 154 was the number of concerts they played. Object 47 is the 47th item in their discography. It was cool when they did it. Now it's almost as cool as naming a song "untitled".

Chairs Missing

Object 47

Brainiac: Bonsai Superstar

2008-11-27T03:38:00.004-05:00

Sup brohammers. I'm back (kinda) and I have some music for you. It's nothing new or anything but it's stuff that I've been meaning to put up for a month so I figured I would finally get this shit out there. I'm actually REALLY pissed that my link for the other Brainiac album got killed. Sometimes I can understand how an artist or record company doesn't want their albums shared (like when an album just comes out or the CDs are still selling really well). But when it is NEAR IMPOSSIBLE to find an album by Brainiac nowadays and 90 percent of their albums are OUT OF PRINT, it makes me laugh that they are preventing people from enjoying their music. I mean honestly, what do you have to gain from ripping down links to a band whose lead singer is dead... the band makes no new music... and almost all of the albums are out of print and you won't make more. I don't get it. Okay... end rant. The good news is that this album (unlike the last one) is really really hard to find... I had to pay a decent amount of money to get it... so for anyone who likes these guys it's a great find especially because it's considered one of their best albums. You wanna know what's funny? Remember when everyone was scrambling to get the new Death Cab for Cutie album? The band said in some interviews that they were really influenced by Brainiac for thier sound on the new album.. yadda yadda. Then their album came out and I was like "what Brainiac album where these guys listening to?". It just goes to show good musical influence doesn't make for good musical creation. Let that be a lesson to you lame hipster bands.

Bonsai Superstar

hey ya'll

2008-11-21T19:44:00.002-05:00

What's good in the hood? My grandmother has been in the hospital for a while now, and it's draining the life out of me.. so I haven't posted much in the last few weeks. I promise I'll get back to it soon. I just haven't had it in me to upload anything or download anything or whatever. Anywho, music to come I promise.

Lali Puna x 3

2008-11-12T17:13:00.003-05:00

I know I already posted Faking the Books a while ago, but because I downloaded each song seperately, the bitrate was different for each track... which totally Fs up the sound quality making one song quieter or louder or more distorted than the next. So I wanted to post that again with the other two LPs in consistent high quality 320kbps mp3 format... YIPPPIEEE! This band really gets my juices flowing. Each album has it's own great qualities, which makes it hard for me to pick a favorite. For those more focused on the electronic side of their music, then their first LP Tridecoder will probably be more for you. For those of you who want more intricate songs with verses and choruses, dynamic highs and lows, then their later albums will suit you. If you haven't heard this band yet, you are really missing out... it really has something for everyone. It's poppy enough for a casual listener, experimental enough for the edgy people, lyrically inciteful for poetic individuals... oh and did i mention that the singer Valerie sings like a beautiful call girl ear raping you through the phone? That one's for us guys. I also heard that now that The Notwist are done with their new album Markus will be working with Lali Puna again to make a new album. Freakin aweomse. Can't wait.

Tridecoder

Scary World Theory

Faking the Books

Nada Surf: Let Go

2008-11-12T16:27:00.003-05:00

When this album came out, all I knew about Nada Surf was that song "Popular" with that funny music video that was always on MTV (back when MTV had music... remember that?) To be honest... it was a funny jab at the misguided teenage importance of being popular, but not much more than that. So when i heard this album for the first time.... I was really blown away by it's depth and maturity. I don't know what happened on this album, but for them they really hit a stride here that completely changed their career. It's unfortunate that they were unable to replicate this albums consistent greatness on any of their following releases. Lucky, their new album, comes the closest I think... but it still does not even touch Let Go. I think this is because when a band tries to reinvent their sound like they did on Let Go, they are forced to experiment with styles and sounds... and sometimes, like this case, you come up with this accidental genius that comes along with a band fondleing in the dark trying to find a new and different sound. It's kind of like when on OK Computer, Radiohead reinvented their sound with experimentation, and the end result was this sort of accidental genius. Now if they kept that same style for Kid A, it wouldn't have been as break-through exciting and refreshing anymore. Well that's how I see this album... it's their OK Computer. Now they just need to take another chance and finally make a Kid A. Either way... it's a great listen.

Let Go

Wolf Parade: Apologies to Queen Mary

2008-11-08T13:37:00.005-05:00

What the hey! Since we were talking about them already, I figured why not post a band that got me turned on to Sunset Rubdown in the first place. This is their first LP, produced by Modest Mouse guy Isaac Brock. I got their newest album... and it's good... it just doesn't have the pop that this album does. It seems like they tamed it down a little, which for them... they need something cathcy... hooky... or wierd to grab your attention. I came back to this album recently and was surprized by how much I overlooked this one when it first came out. Now I listen to it more in one month than in the whole first year it came out. Go figure.

Apologies to Queen Mary

Sunset Rubdown x 2

2008-11-08T12:48:00.003-05:00

For those of you locked in a closet, Spencer Krug, the frontman of Sunset Rubdown, is also one of the singers for Wolf Parade. Personally, I like Wolf Parade better when Krug is singing. I guess that's why I like this band so much.... it's all Krug ALL the time. Now there is some debate over which of Sunset Rubdowns albums is the best. Some like only one, others favor one over the other... I like them both so whatever to you. Krug is definitely bringing back the case for music as an album. (which is usually how I listen to music, unless I'm putting together sad playlists *emo tear*) With Sunset Rubdown you really don't get the full effect of the music if you skip around. Each song bleeds into the next and is sonically and conceptually important to the song before it and after it. In an age where the album is becoming obsolete... being replaced by single song Itunes downloads, sound bytes from soundtracks of tv dramas and playlists of only our favorite tracks... it is reassuring to see someone interesting in the puzzle as a whole instead of just a piece.

Shut Up I Am Dreaming

Random Spirit Lover