tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71700866915446360982024-03-21T05:28:55.456-04:00Kissing Tigers Audio BlogWebmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207099513208295701noreply@blogger.comBlogger181125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170086691544636098.post-22630474085043037812012-06-11T21:28:00.000-04:002012-06-11T21:28:08.436-04:00Narrows - Painted (2012)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2a/Narrows_-_Painted_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2a/Narrows_-_Painted_cover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Formed in 2008 by ex-members of Botch, Bullet Union, Unbroken and These Arms Are Snakes, Narrows is (thankfully) one of those bands that doesn't try to skate by on street cred alone. 2012's <i>Painted</i> is a wonderful next step following 2009's <i>New Distances</i>. Dave Verellen provides the vocals that we Botch fans know and love over music that's reminiscent of what Norma Jean would've sounded like had Josh Scogin not left to form the chariot after the band released <i>Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child</i>*. Dissonance, horror chords and just the right amount of KICK YOUR TEETH IN, this record is not to be overlooked.<br />
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* Anyone who tells you that Norma Jean's first record wasn't their best record is LYING.<br />
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For fans of: Converge, Norma Jean, Botch, Heiress<br />
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<a href="http://www.filestube.com/c0NmB5P9Muj1mfhnbfb7cF/Narrows-Painted-WEB-2012-gF.html">Download</a>twc61fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17726308371840762578noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170086691544636098.post-77733138053605261412012-04-10T19:18:00.004-04:002012-04-10T19:38:05.966-04:00Mount Eerie - Wind's Poem (2009)<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a1/WindsPoem.jpg/220px-WindsPoem.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 176px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 166px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a1/WindsPoem.jpg/220px-WindsPoem.jpg" /></a>I'm going to start right off the bat by saying that this record is Phil Elverum's best work since 2001's <i>The Glow Pt. 2</i>. I know. Big words, right? This isn't a "Phil's getting back to his roots" sort of thing, the two records sound nothing alike. He just happened to make one of the best headphones records ever. Trust me on this one, if you play it through speakers, you'll miss little nuances and do a disservice to both yourself and the record. Back in 2009, Phil got REALLY into black metal and decided to make a black metal album of his very own. Don't worry, you're not going to get a Venom record here. It's got slow-moving, gradual synths and droned guitar tones while still retaining the vocals that long time listeners of The Microphones/Mount Eerie cherish so dearly.<br /><br /><br /><div>Music nerd trivia: "Between Two Mysteries" includes elements of "Twin Peaks Theme" by Angelo Badalementi.</div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div>Music nerd trivia (cont.): A section of lyrics from the track "Stone's Ode" were taken from the Burzum song, "Dunkelheit" (Varg Vikernes is still an asshole, though.)</div><br /><br /><div style="FONT-STYLE: normal"></div><br /><div style="FONT-STYLE: normal">For fans of: The Microphones, Thanksgiving, Xasthur<br /></div><br /><div style="FONT-STYLE: normal"><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?mdgknyzgmm2">Download</a></div>twc61fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17726308371840762578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170086691544636098.post-17340361937816362622012-04-02T03:10:00.003-04:002012-04-02T03:18:12.745-04:00Geotic - Bless the Self (2011)<a href="http://www.angelfire.com/indie/postfoetus/BlesstheSelf.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 216px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 203px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.angelfire.com/indie/postfoetus/BlesstheSelf.jpg" /></a>This one is a thing of quiet, simple beauty. While on tour, Will Wiesenfeld (<a href="http://www.facebook.com/bathsmusic">Baths</a>) made this most recent record under the Geotic moniker. Heard throughout this ethereal record are pieces of "Wind II," a field recording made at 2:00 AM of the Santa Ana winds outside his California home. This record doesn't ask anything of you, and it never will... But it's there for you. Lie down, get a pair of headphones and drift off into this one, friends.<br /><br />For fans of: Dntel, Baths, Chris Zabriskie<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?akzf1bvgt1i2q7v">Download<br /></a>twc61fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17726308371840762578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170086691544636098.post-89327634477206282002012-01-22T18:05:00.004-05:002012-01-24T17:39:54.385-05:00Alex Winston - Sister Wife EP (2011)<div><a href="http://www.israbox.com/uploads/posts/2011-10/thumbs/1318077772_alex-winston-sister-wife-ep-2011.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 224px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 205px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.israbox.com/uploads/posts/2011-10/thumbs/1318077772_alex-winston-sister-wife-ep-2011.jpg" /></a></div>Welcome back, friends. I know it's been awhile. Rather than make excuses, I'm going to jump right into the next post. After releasing an EP of covers in 2010 (that includes an almost ethereal cover of Mumford & Sons' "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g65tWJz4cfk">The Cave</a>"), American songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Alex Winston returned last year with <i>Sister Wife</i>, a collection of six pop songs that each stand on their own quite nicely. No two tracks sound the same, but they all contain her classically trained and delicately haunting voice that sounds as if it were birthed by Tracy Chapman and Meredith Godreau and is also by some weird coincidence, a distant (and much more pleasant to the ear) cousin of Joanna Newsom's. The song form which the record gets its name is pretty much a perfect pop song about <i>polygamy</i>. That's right, you heard me. Girl whose voice has an almost childlike timber to it sings indie pop track about polygamy... And it's good. Like, REALLY good, y'all.<br /><br /><div></div>P.S.: I've only just heard the album last night and I've had the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzObsfboaJ0&ob=av2e">title track</a> stuck in my head ever since. Enjoy!<br /><br /><div>For fans of: Gregory and the Hawk, Hepburn, Joanna Newsom, Meggan Carney</div><br /><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?82e82glwzgmgsc2">Download</a><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div>twc61fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17726308371840762578noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170086691544636098.post-14706871229576778542011-09-25T22:31:00.003-04:002011-09-25T22:45:05.052-04:00Wolves in the Throne Room - Celestial Lineage (2011)<a href="http://covers.mp3million.com/0562061/200/Wolves%20In%20The%20Throne%20Room%20-%20Celestial%20Lineage.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://covers.mp3million.com/0562061/200/Wolves%20In%20The%20Throne%20Room%20-%20Celestial%20Lineage.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>I'm so easily turned off by black metal, and it's been mostly because of the lyrics. Whether I agree or disagree with their subject matter is of no consequence, the lyrics themselves are so often on the 5th grade reading level, that I feel like I'm hacking and slashing at my I.Q. by listening. As for musicianship, I can get the same style and technique in countless other places, so I have no reason to listen to this particular genre. With the release of their fourth studio album, Olympia's Wolves in the Throne Room delivers something nobody saw coming: A <i>refreshing </i>black metal record. Two of <i>Celestial Lineage</i>'s seven tracks are instrumental, and the tracks with lyrics actually bring something different to the table. This record doesn't redeem the genre as a whole, but it finally gives the listener something worth listening to.<div><br /></div><div>For fans of: Asunder, Dystopia, Fauna</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?mdlr3vbdxrn1ydi">Download</a></div>twc61fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17726308371840762578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170086691544636098.post-17957761322561254742011-04-06T17:21:00.003-04:002011-04-06T17:23:17.080-04:00Teen Heat - Cursed And CuredBand broke up but wrote this last album and gave it away for free. It's rad, you can download it for free at <a href="http://teenheat.net">TeenHeat.net</a><br /><br />For fans of sad yet upbeat electronic music.Webmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207099513208295701noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170086691544636098.post-48280608262504967312011-03-19T20:05:00.004-04:002011-03-19T20:20:43.198-04:00Children of the Sixth Root Race - Songs from the Source (1973)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/515-rSRB9%2BL._SL500_AA240_.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/515-rSRB9%2BL._SL500_AA240_.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div>In the late 1960's, James Edward Baker, calling himself Father Yod/Ya Ho Wha, founded and led a commune of young people that came to be known as the Source Family. In addition to following an organic lifestyle and most of the things that go along with organizations of that nature (no pun intended), the members of the Source Family also made (and continue to make) a ton of music. Friends, this record here is a live recording of the group, here referring to themselves as the<i> </i>Children of the Sixth Root Race, rehearsing for an upcoming concert in 1973. Each track was recorded live, in <b>one take</b>, with <b>no overdubs</b>. Yeah... This one'll take you over the river and through the woods, but where it leaves you isn't anywhere remotely resembling your grandmother's house.</div><div><br /></div><div>For fans of: Yahowah 13, Deep Purple, Jimi Hendrix</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.megaupload.com/?d=V55F2A98">Download</a></div>twc61fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17726308371840762578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170086691544636098.post-87065076242706629112011-02-04T11:52:00.005-05:002011-02-07T04:18:23.056-05:00The Mountain Goats - Come, Come to the Sunset Tree (2005)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.artistdirect.com/Images/artd/amg/music/cover/3174743_mg_200.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://images.artistdirect.com/Images/artd/amg/music/cover/3174743_mg_200.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>In 2005, John Darnielle released a milestone of a record called The Sunset Tree. His most autobiographical release to date, it told stories of drug use ("Dinu Lipatti's Bones," "Dilaudid" and "Song for Dennis Brown"), stories of abuse suffered at the hands of his stepfather ("This Year," "Lion's Teeth," "Hast Thou Considered the Tetrapod" and "Pale Green Things"), as well as a bunch of just plain awesome tracks ("Love Love Love," "Magpie," "Dance Music," and "Up the Wolves"). With the first 1000 copies of the album on vinyl, listeners got a bonus record of demo tracks and B-sides from around the same time. Now, friends, you get the same treat. These songs are even more raw than the ones on The Sunset Tree, and here they are for your listening pleasure.<div><br /></div><div>P.S.: "High Doses #2" is a doozy. :)<div><div><br /><div>For fans of: John Vanderslice, The Extra Glenns/Lens, Marc with a C</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?3x41gntmdgm">Download</a></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>twc61fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17726308371840762578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170086691544636098.post-73597739825876047782010-11-29T10:29:00.002-05:002010-11-29T10:49:02.707-05:00Special Others - Quest (2008)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8aQTjjIue_KXok44Hb_ug8GprtjC9ob8LFKB30p-3RA4xHc77xpUbwkdApeSbE4zvvVEwKt3sM4vevkwTkA9b1kubkNiLRe7Ky5kumRYSv27gPZ1_YuxM85Bk_X_d6mMMEcShpglwURE/s320/images.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8aQTjjIue_KXok44Hb_ug8GprtjC9ob8LFKB30p-3RA4xHc77xpUbwkdApeSbE4zvvVEwKt3sM4vevkwTkA9b1kubkNiLRe7Ky5kumRYSv27gPZ1_YuxM85Bk_X_d6mMMEcShpglwURE/s320/images.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>The sixth release from jazzy Japanese rock quartet Special Others, <i>Quest</i> sounds like what you'd hear if the math rock mafia hijacked your local smooth jazz station. This record isn't abrasive, but it's far from timid. When it comes to length, only two of the ten songs fall under the six minute mark, but this album never drags its feet for a second. A mix of Japanese and English vocals compliment the songs, but make no effort to be the main vocal point of the music, instead providing a layer that fits in perfect harmony with the rest of the instruments. There are definitely points on here that give off a This Town Needs Guns vibe, most noticeably in the album's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V1sUTmQ-uo">title track</a>. Jazz is not the enemy, boys and girls, and don't worry, I'm not saying that you have to dive into the genre as a whole, nor am I implying that this record will make you yearn for afternoons filled with freeform jazz. What I <i>am</i> saying is that you are better off having lived a life that included listening to these ten songs.<br /><div><br /></div><div>For fans of: American Football, This Town Needs Guns, Your Song is Good</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?05qhv2yhjpr">Download</a></div>twc61fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17726308371840762578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170086691544636098.post-69146536576156011322010-11-19T20:12:00.004-05:002010-11-19T20:22:12.499-05:00El Ten Eleven - El Ten Eleven (2004)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1n-2xVGARaZjtvFUs5Ok9EmMSpKgIUTkcD1O8SkoEsZOFu_PdeWPEWzSMv1pbZh9o7rGXFtRzSbLeSh1J8vkZCJr26QQjY0khWD8yw6cN1U5qY92dHt_Sq6PpdB3YdmLXKRWlxI8-y32V/s320/elteneleven.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 196px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1n-2xVGARaZjtvFUs5Ok9EmMSpKgIUTkcD1O8SkoEsZOFu_PdeWPEWzSMv1pbZh9o7rGXFtRzSbLeSh1J8vkZCJr26QQjY0khWD8yw6cN1U5qY92dHt_Sq6PpdB3YdmLXKRWlxI8-y32V/s320/elteneleven.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>The eponymous debut of Los Angeles based post-rock duo El Ten Eleven, <i>El Ten Eleven</i> is nine tracks of instrumental wonder. I stumbled upon this band by accident when the third track, "Lorge," captured my attention when it came up on an internet radio station that I'd had set to play songs by and like <a href="http://kissingtigers.blogspot.com/2009/08/american-analog-set-know-by-heart-2001.html">The American Analog Set</a>. As soon as the synth loop started going, I was hooked and immediately sought out the album from whence it came. Now, my friends, I pass it on to you. Enjoy!<div><br /><div>For fans of: <a href="http://kissingtigers.blogspot.com/2009/12/american-dollar-american-dollar-2006.html">The American Dollar</a>, Unwed Sailor, The Six Parts Seven, Saxon Shore, Sigur Rós</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?yqytdbb31n9">Download</a></div></div>twc61fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17726308371840762578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170086691544636098.post-54051694597122481372010-11-19T19:57:00.004-05:002010-11-19T20:06:29.894-05:00Pop Unknown - If Arsenic Fails, Try Algebra (2000)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_bQfkL2dLcoiTOllEcaQCn7ySXCQVvXGWIeYuDRP2tbthrcwFyq3xp9Yk5sKx3bTK0DxN77VOGS0Mm-gHGrYMgB6ikr-MayV_HvT9omLTc83Ne9e2Lo6WoU_IWFDf917pX-F2USHz2A/s200/popu.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_bQfkL2dLcoiTOllEcaQCn7ySXCQVvXGWIeYuDRP2tbthrcwFyq3xp9Yk5sKx3bTK0DxN77VOGS0Mm-gHGrYMgB6ikr-MayV_HvT9omLTc83Ne9e2Lo6WoU_IWFDf917pX-F2USHz2A/s200/popu.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>While they might not have been the poster boys for the second wave emo movement or the Midwest sound it became synonymous with, Austin, TX's Pop Unknown put out a record on Deep Elm in 2000 that was a perfect representation of the genre. If you like your emo untainted by whining, this record is for you. If you look back on the time when burning CDs was cool and nobody had an iPod with a smile, then this record is definitely for you.<br /><div><br /></div><div>For fans of: Christie Front Drive, The Gloria Record, Sunny Day Real Estate, Boy's Life</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?d22xuy7thch">Download</a></div>twc61fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17726308371840762578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170086691544636098.post-37865997933024599712010-11-02T19:03:00.005-04:002010-11-02T19:26:01.349-04:00Savoir Adore - In the Wooded Forest (2009)<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cantorarecords.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/prod_300x300_fine/sites/default/files/savoircoverweb_1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 217px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 198px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://cantorarecords.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/prod_300x300_fine/sites/default/files/savoircoverweb_1.jpg" /></a>This album was, hands down, one of the best releases of 2009. The proper full-length debut of Brooklyn's Savoir Adore (following 2008's <a href="http://kissingtigers.blogspot.com/2009/09/savoir-adore-adventures-of-mr.html" style="font-style: italic; ">The Adventures of Mr. Pumpernickel and the Girl With Animals in Her Throat</a>), <i>In the Wooden Forest</i> is a gust of wind that gives the listener's ears a breath of fresh air (if ears had lungs, that is... You get the picture.). This studio release is full of little nuances and idiosyncrasies that keep it fresh with each listen. Songs like "We Talk Like Machines," "Transylvanian Candy Patrol," "MERP," and "Space Travel" sound new with each and every listen. This record has been given a lot of care and nurturing, and the end result is something much more cohesive than the band's previous release, while still containing all of the defining characteristics that made your humble narrator fall in love with them in the first place. Fans of their first release will recognize the track "The Wooded Forest," (formerly titled "In the Wooded Forest, A Girl") now in an extended and much more finished version (not to mention where this album gets its name). If lights had sounds, this record would be home to the entire visible spectrum of color.</div><div><br /><div><div>For fans of: The Submarines, Broken Social Scene, Mates of State, GIVERS, The Ethnographers</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.filestube.com/2414655cf72ae44703e9/go.html">Download</a></div></div></div>twc61fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17726308371840762578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170086691544636098.post-87073036857034130672010-10-26T13:02:00.002-04:002010-10-26T13:12:50.897-04:00Rites of Spring - End on End (1991)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e7/RitesOfSpring-EndOnEnd.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e7/RitesOfSpring-EndOnEnd.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Released in 1991, <span style="font-style: italic;">End on End</span> is a compilation album by pioneers of first-wave emo Rites of Spring. It contains all the songs from both releases, plus one for the road. This band contained both Guy Picciotto and Brendan Canty in their pre-Fugazi days, not to mention that it was produced by Fugazi frontman Ian MacKaye, (how's that for street cred?) and this band's career, like a good punk song, was short and sweet. This band, along with Minor Threat, paved the way for Fugazi, which in turn paved the way for the second-wave emo greats we all know and love (Braid, Mineral, The Promise Ring, Sunny Day Real Estate, etc.), so respect your elders and let them beat your skulls in for the next fifty minutes and thirty-nine seconds. They've damn well earned it.<br /><br />For fans of: Fugazi, Cap'n Jazz, Christie Front Drive<br /><br /><a href="www.mediafire.com/?tnzgyltmm2m">Download</a>twc61fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17726308371840762578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170086691544636098.post-43472069853101863562010-10-23T20:07:00.003-04:002010-10-23T20:23:48.182-04:00Maria Taylor with Andy LeMaster - Savannah Drive (2008)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxpLNEagyn38R5xpRFy4e3-76fSOE36MrEfDKZEWWYboDeab3ozZW-Lcep14TwL8qa8Dge_cziaQOPk9HTyM3k76x9pvdu4Wi711zZ8X2EMW3YAQT3v9HA6A2ZMP5piTxM9Recye_2W8/s1600/MariaTaylorAndyLeMasterSavannahDrive.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxpLNEagyn38R5xpRFy4e3-76fSOE36MrEfDKZEWWYboDeab3ozZW-Lcep14TwL8qa8Dge_cziaQOPk9HTyM3k76x9pvdu4Wi711zZ8X2EMW3YAQT3v9HA6A2ZMP5piTxM9Recye_2W8/s200/MariaTaylorAndyLeMasterSavannahDrive.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531398172837351314" /></a><div>This record is wonderful for a myriad of reasons. First, it's a collection of good songs, which is essential for any good record. Second, it's a sampler of sorts of Maria Taylor's solo catalog thus far. Six of these seven songs are acoustic renditions of songs selected from all three of her releases. Third, it includes Andy LeMaster of Now It's Overhead, and for those of you who have never heard a Now It's Overhead record, you're missing out. Fourth and certainly not last, despite the fact that it is made up of material previously found on other albums, it is something new entirely. The first, second and fifth tracks ("Song Beneath the Song", "Birmingham 1982" and "Leap Year," respectively) were taken from <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/11:11_(Maria_Taylor_album)">11:11</a></i>, Maria's first solo record. Track 4 ("A Good Start") was taken from her sophomore release, <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynn_Teeter_Flower">Lynn Teeter Flower</a></i>, and tracks 3 and 6 ("LadyLuck" and "Time Lapse Lifeline") were taken from my personal favorite album of hers, 2009's <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LadyLuck">LadyLuck</a></i>. The final track is brand spanking new, a lovely little number called "Tell Me." Enjoy, friends!</div><div><br /></div><div>For fans of: Azure Ray, Orenda Fink, Jenny Owen Youngs, Damon and Naomi</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?u2kdqmc1jwz">Download</a></div>twc61fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17726308371840762578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170086691544636098.post-1837864600314640372010-10-23T01:25:00.007-04:002010-10-24T21:40:33.661-04:00Discovery of a Lifelong Error - You Can Learn a Lot from a Pair of Black Lungs... (2007)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8hB1INBpOXaJwkBwdwK1pwN03GrNDrlGDbw36ofWSi58pOqBRo_aExUmge4lzhz9Ri1pR1cHMyv8dWiqjPgRkSlvTcYC-cIO5gKrmDY_RoPdEVJ-CpX6mHRfEWPnaliYPO0aS1Yp7SM/s1600/blacklungs.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8hB1INBpOXaJwkBwdwK1pwN03GrNDrlGDbw36ofWSi58pOqBRo_aExUmge4lzhz9Ri1pR1cHMyv8dWiqjPgRkSlvTcYC-cIO5gKrmDY_RoPdEVJ-CpX6mHRfEWPnaliYPO0aS1Yp7SM/s200/blacklungs.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531109179853276690" /></a><div>I went into this record with absolutely no expectations whatsoever, and that's exactly what I would recommend for all those who dare enter here to do. Listening to this record is like getting swept up into a tornado, and while you're up there, getting hit in the head with toasters and stop signs and cows and all sorts of other debris that the whirlwind managed to gather before getting dropped back down into completely unfamiliar territory. With screams that sound like a Frankenstein-esque monster made of parts of Dallas Taylor (while he was still in Underoath), Drew Speziale, Mike Hranica, and all the members of The Speed of Sound in Seawater and blood-curdling riffs all packed into short and sweet tracks (the longest track, "'Terra Firma' Might Be Inappropriate," clocks in at 3:18), you'd better kiss Auntie Em and the dog goodbye, because for the next 18 minutes and 54 seconds, you'll get blown right the fuck out of Kansas.</div><div><br /></div><div>For fans of: Daughters, The Speed of Sound in Seawater, Circle Takes the Square, 2 O'Clock Girlfriend</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://megaupload.com/?d=7W703GWL">Download</a></div>twc61fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17726308371840762578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170086691544636098.post-67018558741403085742010-08-29T15:08:00.003-04:002010-08-29T15:21:04.995-04:00The Age of Rockets - Hannah (2008)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://chrisridgeway.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/ageofrockets_w288.jpg?w=510"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 196px; height: 196px;" src="http://chrisridgeway.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/ageofrockets_w288.jpg?w=510" alt="" border="0" /></a>This album was atop my list of favorite albums of 2008. The sophomore release by NY's The Age of Rockets, <span style="font-style: italic;">Hannah</span> is the group's <span style="font-style: italic;">We, the Vehicles</span>. A wonderful palindrome of a record, it contains bits and nuances of melodies on opposite sides of its length. Their sound has been likened to "The Postal Service with a full orchestra behind it," and that's not an exaggeration. Songs like "Avada Kedavra" and "Elephant & Castle" are perfect blends of synth and programmed elements atop live instruments. Not too long ago, frontman and founder Andrew Futral posted the record on The Age of Rockets' website for the listening public to download for free, and personally, I can't thank him enough for the gift. Follow the link below and you'll see (well, hear) exactly what I'm talking about.<br /><br />*As an added bonus, you can also download their cover of Tegan and Sara's "Hell." Isn't that nice?<br /><br />For fans of: The Postal Service, Dntel, The Robot Explosion, The Depreciation Guild<br /><br /><a href="http://theageofrockets.bandcamp.com/album/hannah-2008-lp-free">Download and/or Stream</a>twc61fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17726308371840762578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170086691544636098.post-31014387212681174162010-08-26T22:52:00.004-04:002010-08-29T14:57:16.818-04:00The Depreciation Guild - Spirit Youth (2010)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://blog.limewire.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/The-Depreciation-Guild-%E2%80%93-Spirit-Youth.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 174px; cursor: pointer; height: 169px;" alt="" src="http://blog.limewire.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/The-Depreciation-Guild-%E2%80%93-Spirit-Youth.jpg" border="0" /></a>“You know how airplane cabins have a drone to them? Well, it’s like an A note, and I was singing melodies over it in the bathroom.” That quote, made by The Depreciation Guild's frontman Kurt Feldman last year was the jumping off point for <span style="font-style: italic;">Spirit Youth<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span></span>, the band's sophomore release. Let me just tell you friends, man... What a release it is. Fuzz, drone, pop, bleep, bloop and rock come together to form this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKIgtACGayM">Megazord</a> of a record. The album opens with "My Chariot," a song whose synth-y beginnings and matter-of-fact style of lyric delivery draw the listener in and keep them entranced for ten songs worth of wonder, including (but not limited to) the album's single, "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTqq4ypLxo8">Dream About Me.</a>"<br /><br /><br /><div>For fans of: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, MillionYoung, Letting Up Despite Great Faults, Cocteau Twins<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?duzznwjjhnz">Download</a> </div>twc61fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17726308371840762578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170086691544636098.post-75164888373793397502010-07-02T06:03:00.005-04:002010-07-02T06:26:22.310-04:00Damon Albarn and the UK Chinese Ensemble - Monkey: Journey to the West (2008)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b7/Monkeyalbum.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 174px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 170px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b7/Monkeyalbum.jpg" /></a>This is the eponymous soundtrack of the stage show that bills itself as a "circus opera," another project by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, the masterminds behind Gorillaz. The musical is an adaptation of <i>Journey to the West</i>, a 16th Century novel by Wu Cheng'en, but this is nothing like that cast recording of Les Misérables that you claim not to own, kids. If per chance you're feeling hesistant, check out this track, "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99iPGg6l3SY&feature=related">Monkey Bee</a>." It'll give you an inkling as to what you're in for. This record can be approached three ways, the first being fluent in Chinese. In the event you're not, it can be fun to go on Wikipedia and do some light reading so as to grasp the plot and know what's going on from track to track. The third (and easiest) way to approach it is simply clicking play and letting your mind go on the journey your ears present it with. Knowing the plot is fun, but it's not essential to enjoy this wonderful fifty-nine minutes and thirty-one seconds.<br /><div><br /></div><div>For fans of: Gorillaz, Damon Albarn, Demon Strings</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.mediafire.com/?ozj5zwmcrmg">Download</a></div>twc61fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17726308371840762578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170086691544636098.post-9809727874075807552010-06-19T00:19:00.003-04:002010-06-19T00:35:58.296-04:00Sibylle Baier - Colour Green (2006)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.onechord.net/Images/Kannet/sibylle.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.onechord.net/Images/Kannet/sibylle.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>This record is a perfect example of the fact that ninety-nine percent of the world's best music never makes it to the radio. Recorded by German actress and singer/songwriter Sibylle Baier at home on reel-to-reel between 1970 and 1973, <i>Colour Green</i> was almost never publicly released. It wasn't until around three decades later when her son compiled the songs on compact disc and distributed them to family members as well as J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr., who then showed the album to legendary indie label Orange Twin, who released it in 2006. Baier's whispering melodies carry deeply personal lyrics like, "I grew up in declivities, others grew up in cities where first love and soul take rise. There were times in my life when I felt mad and deprived, and only the slopes gave me hope," over fluttering finger-picked guitar. I can't believe this was kept away from the world for so long, but now that it's been released, I'm unceasingly grateful for its presence.<div><br /><div><div>For fans of: Nick Drake, Vashti Bunyan, Karen Dalton</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?eu5tt09myad">Download</a></div></div></div>twc61fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17726308371840762578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170086691544636098.post-35172750939473066552010-06-18T23:30:00.006-04:002010-10-26T13:15:27.973-04:00Jeff Mangum - Live at Jittery Joe's (2001)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f6/Live_At_Jittery_Joe%27s.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 196px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f6/Live_At_Jittery_Joe%27s.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Recorded in 1997 by documentary filmmaker Lance Bangs (known for the awesomely spastic video for Death Cab for Cutie's "Talking Like Turnstiles," among many, many others), but released in 2001 to combat the gargantuan prices that bootlegs were going for on eBay, <i>Live at Jittery Joe's</i> is a recording of a solo performance by Neutral Milk Hotel frontman Jeff Mangum at Jittery Joe's in Athens, GA. It's a wonderful and intimate performance, as there was no official setlist prepared, so Jeff accepted and honored requests from audience members. Being that's it's Jeff Mangum and it's not a studio release by Neutral Milk Hotel, it of course includes the track "Engine," as well as a cover of Phil Spector's "I Love How You Love Me." The rest of the setlist is a captivating mixture of songs from both of Neutral Milk Hotel's studio releases. Get comfortable, plug in your headphones and give this a listen. It's really something else, and has that prodigious quality that a choice few records possess, and that is that it never plays the same way twice. It's unpolished and unadulterated, but as most of us know, some of the world's most prolific beauty can be found in imperfections.<br /><div><br /><div>For fans of: Neutral Milk Hotel, The Mountain Goats, The Olivia Tremor Control</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?mbztvgjzwvy">Download</a></div></div>twc61fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17726308371840762578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170086691544636098.post-37787629556945173502010-06-18T21:58:00.004-04:002010-06-18T23:33:25.262-04:00The Anniversary - Designing a Nervous Breakdown (2000)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.aversion.com/bands/anniversary/images/rev165.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.aversion.com/bands/anniversary/images/rev165.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a>The first full-length release by legendary Lawrence, Kansas emo outfit The Anniversary, <i>Designing a Nervous Breakdown </i>houses a sound that bridges the gap between classic second-wave emo and what at the time paved the way for third-wave emo. Let's be clear, I'm not blaming them for third-wave emo, I'm just saying that this record was among the first of the emo albums of the new millennium and its catchy melodies and heartfelt lyrics still hold their own to this day. The band's sound had shifted by the release of their second (and final) full-length, <i>Your Majesty</i>, but this record, now being over 10 years old is a delightful pop classic that will be enjoyed for years to come.<div><br /></div><div>For fans of: The Get Up Kids, Hot Rod Circuit, Hey Mercedes</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?dmmzd2mjqih">Download</a></div>twc61fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17726308371840762578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170086691544636098.post-15710165084796905262010-05-28T03:29:00.005-04:002010-05-28T03:53:27.255-04:00Bambara - Dog Ear Days (2010)<div><a href="http://bandcamp.com/files/30/79/3079096791-1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 212px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 198px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://bandcamp.com/files/30/79/3079096791-1.jpg" /></a>I'm going to provide a list of adjectives that do their best describe this record: Gloomy, noisy, trippy, spooky, alarming, unexpected, unparalleled, dark, layered, enveloping, dirty, foreboding... Get the picture, yet? If you thought no, then good. That was the correct answer. You will not understand this record until you hear it for yourself. It never plays the same way twice, either. With each listen, one discovers something new. It's an acquired taste, as in, "You better acquire a taste for this, otherwise, you're missing the fuck out."<br /><br /><div></div></div><div>For fans of: Cocteau Twins, Sonic Youth, Maserati</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://bambara.bandcamp.com/">Stream and/or download</a></div>twc61fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17726308371840762578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170086691544636098.post-17810397579219926222010-05-24T17:10:00.008-04:002010-05-27T03:36:28.162-04:00GIVERS - GIVERS (2009)<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bandcamp.com/files/36/93/3693352950-1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 205px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 199px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://bandcamp.com/files/36/93/3693352950-1.jpg" /></a>Released in 2009 by Louisiana's GIVERS, this self titled EP is made up of five tracks that will have your brain dancing in whimsical confusion. The band itself is such an amalgamation of sounds and vibes that trying to accurately compare their sound to other artists is like trying to divide by zero. Suffice it to say though, that these five songs are some of the most fun your ears will ever have. Enjoy!<br /><br /><div>For fans of: The Flaming Lips, The Color Bars, a third band or artist I can't quite put my finger on</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?jknmax4yiyt">Download</a></div><div> </div><br /><div> </div></div>twc61fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17726308371840762578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170086691544636098.post-20648355893731596392010-05-22T21:27:00.012-04:002010-05-27T03:37:04.941-04:00Chris Zabriskie - O Great Queen Electric, What Do You Have Waiting for Me? (2008)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41L0t5jYQ7L._SL500_AA280_.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 176px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 170px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41L0t5jYQ7L._SL500_AA280_.jpg" /></a>Described by the man himself as "an album about failed love, lost religion and horror movies," <i>O Great Queen Electric, What Do You Have Waiting for Me?</i> is the sophomore solo release by composer and musician Chris Zabriskie. The record opens with "Time Life," a humorous recording of a voicemail (left by lo-fi legend Marc With a C) that brings the listener's guard down right before they get hit in the face with the awesomeness that is the second track, "I Can Be Your Love," a song filled with the fuzzy goodness that Neutral Milk Hotel and Sleep Station fans have come to love so much over space age synths that sound like they came straight out of the record store scene in <i>A Clockwork Orange</i>. The album is also home to a track called "I'm On a Talk Show" which sounds like it could've been taken from one of Ben Gibbard's solo tours. Intellectual listeners should be sure to check out the album's closer, "Joss Whedon." Long story short, this is nine tracks of sheer brilliance.<br /><br /><br />P.S.: All of Chris Zabriskie's records are available for free download on his website.<br /><br />For fans of: Now It's Overhead, Ben Gibbard, Sleep Station<br /><br /><a href="http://chriszabriskie.com/ogreatqueenelectric/">Stream and/or Download</a>twc61fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17726308371840762578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170086691544636098.post-54993586597247108762010-05-16T05:11:00.002-04:002010-05-16T05:28:02.679-04:00The Bad Plus - These Are the Vistas (2003)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/05/The_Bad_Plus_-_These_Are_the_Vistas.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 213px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/05/The_Bad_Plus_-_These_Are_the_Vistas.png" border="0" alt="" /></a>This album does to your record collection what sugar does to corn flake cereal. It instantly makes it better. The sophomore effort and major label debut of Minneapolis jazz trio The Bad Plus, <i>We Are the Vistas</i> is a zestful blend of ebullient... Oh, fuck it. It's jazzy. I know, I know. Sailing on the old Redundant Sea there, but it's true! Jazzy record is jazzy. Banter and memes aside though, it's really good. It mixes fresh original pieces with a handful of covers, including Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," (which Cobain always felt was a bit of a Pixies ripoff anyway) and Richard D. James' (better known to some as Aphex Twin) "Flim." This one is not to be overlooked, friends.<br /><div><br /></div><div>For fans of: Ornette Coleman, Avishai Cohen, Happy Apple</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?z0ylwxbzjds">Download</a></div>twc61fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17726308371840762578noreply@blogger.com0