Gregor Samsa - 27:36 (V0)

For something so limited to be able to so powerfully transform a moment, for an arrangement of sounds to actually define an instant of space and time, a great deal of emotion and skill must be exerted. I urge you to download this, but wait until the appropriate time to listen to it. When you're alone in the dark, or looking at the sky at night, walking or driving through your town with someone else, staring at flickering lights in the distance, play 27:36, and let it change you.

Here.

Time of Orchids - Namesake Caution (V0)

Time of Orchids remind me a lot of Kayo Dot. They use many of the same timbres and angular melodies, and Time of Orchids use the same abrupt changes in rhythm. Lyrically, though, they differ in that Time of Orchids seem to prefer a more choral approach to their arrangements of vocals and lyrics. The interplay between the multiple vocalists often complements the usually spiraling guitar lines, accented by the drums and, occassionally, more eccentric instruments. Although their arrangements are very similar to progressive rock bands, they are definitely less dogmatic in their approach to songwriting. There's a lot to analyze here, but mostly Namesake Caution just sounds really, really good.

In time, your weapon grows for you.

Japandroids - Heavenward Grand Prix (320)

So having been contacted by two labels and asked to take down two different posts, I'm now back and starting to post again – and picking up where I left off: the Japandroids singles.

This last one here shows the best of the Japandroid single collection (hence why it was last) showing a huge change in songwriting compared to everything they did in Post-Nothing. On the B-side there is a cover of PJ Harvey's "Shame," and both sides are pretty damn spectacular.

Download here to tell money grubbing labels (although, not Japandroids label) to go fuck themselves, because hoping that people will buy your product while having no idea what's inside is how you have consumer base that hates you.

Modest Mouse - The Fruit That Ate Itself EP (FLAC)

No, we won't play Float On, so stop asking.

Favorite EP from a go-to band.

Thank me later.

Get it here and buy it here.

The Beta Band - The Three EPs (320)

For my first post, I thought I'd start with one of my favorite albums, The Beta Band's 1998 album The Three EPs. Compiled from the tracks, as implied by the album title, from the EPs Champion Versions, The Patty Patty Sound and Los Amigos del Beta Bandidos, The Three EPs is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated albums of the 90s.

Combining acoustic instrumentation, such as guitars, trumpets and percussion with looped electronic beats and garage-style electronic effects creates a style self-described as 'folktronica.' The Three EPs takes a lo-fi/jam/experimental/psychedelic approach while still retaining much of their pop sensibility, producing songs which could easily gain radio airtime if they weren't six or more minutes long. Minimalist instrumentation on some tracks often contrasts with the building 'collage of sound' on others; and the catchy, sing-along melodies of some tracks, such as that of Dry The Rain, with less accessible, but still equally as good tracks such as the sixteen-minute Monolith.

This shit gets in your head and doesn’t leave. Strongly recommended.

Favorite tracks: Dry The Rain, I Know, Dog’s Got A Bone, She’s The One, Needles In My Eyes, Monolith

My rating: 9.5/10
Download.

Electric Wizard - Black Masses (FLAC)

But may God shield and deliver me from the fangs of the Arch-Fiend! No sooner had the reverberation of my blows sunk into silence than I was answered by a voice from within the tomb! – by a cry, at first muffled and broken, like the sobbing of a child, and then quickly swelling into one long, loud, and continuous scream, utterly anomalous and inhuman – a howl – a wailing shriek, half of horror and half of triumph, such as might have arisen only out of hell, conjointly from the throats of the damned in their agony and of the demons that exult in the damnation. Of my own thoughts it is folly to speak. Swooning, I staggered to the opposite wall. For one instant the party upon the stairs remained motionless, through extremity of terror and of awe. In the next, a dozen stout arms were tolling at the wall. It fell bodily. The corpse, already greatly decayed and clotted with gore, stood erect before the eyes of the spectators. Upon its head, with red extended mouth and solitary eye of fire, sat the hideous beast whose craft had seduced me into murder, and whose informing voice had consigned me to the hangman. I had walled the monster up within the tomb!

...Boo.

Ellul - Ellul (FLAC)

I don't really know much about Ellul. I found this CD in the $1 bin at my local record store, and it's been one of the best investments I've made all year. It begins very quietly with a sort of end-times ballad titled Ballet Faces, and progresses, with expert songwriting and soulful vocals, all the way to an impressively emotional finish. The programmed drums complement the morose voices of Joel Brown and Joel St. Julien very well; if In Rainbows and Songs for a Blue Guitar made an album together, it would sound like Ellul.

Download.

Uffie - Sex Dreams and Denim Jeans (V0)

I am going to be perfectly honest with you. Going into this album, I expected to take off my headphones at the end completely disappointed and bitter, with knew assurance that pop was a lost genre. Frankly, Uffie being called the "original Ke$ha" didn't excite me in the least, and I pressed play with my cheek already propped up on my palm, bracing for cringe-worthy, vain lyrics, auto-tune (yawn) and the catchy beats that are typical of pop music. Bad stuff.

And what I got was cringe-worthy, vain lyrics, auto-tune, and catchy beats. On Sex Dreams and Denim Jeans, Uffie talks about her lack of motivation, talent and ability to care. She also mentions how it's all about her, how lucky she is to have made it in the music business because of how untalented she is, and her haters. I really would not like to get into how much I abhor when this is mentioned in music in any form, but let me tell you, it's a very large amount.

But, looking beyond my malice for modern pop and its repetitive nature, I came to enjoy this album. Not like a guilty-pleasure,-I'll-listen-to-it-if-it's-on-but-I-will-NOT-scrobble-this-in-case-my-indie-cred-takes-a-blow typed thing. No really. I really liked it. It's fun, it talks about love and loss and being a slut, cars and being cooler than thou, and there's even a little section about how good crackers are in Art of Uff. It's mindless, it's narcissistic, it's... well, it's pop. The beats are actually good, though. Catchy, but still obtaining an air of that professional touch.

This all being said, Ke$ha's got nothing on Uffie.

Favorite songs: Pop The Glock, Art of Uff, MCs Can Kiss, Difficult, Neuneu

My Rating: 8.4/10

Download.

Baths - Cerulean (V0)

Being a person who, in the last 6 months, has come to truly love and appreciate the artists on the record label anticon., I began having a real thirst for acquiring albums by the members of the indie-famous Collective. Even though my computer was not enabled to download, and my wallet was not enabled to buy, I really could not shake the feeling of wanting to hear more.

My quest began with the chill wave-y, acoustic/electronic sounds of Baths, but let me tell you: trying to appreciate an album while listening to it via YouTube is bad news bears. Even so, I still came to love Cerulean, in all of its organic flow and glory. If the word softness could be represented by a sound, this album would be the perfect choice. Cerulean is most definitely on my list for best of 2010, and Baths has earned a well-deserved spot on my radar.

Favorite songs: Lovely Bloodflow, Maximalist, Aminals, Hall, You're My Excuse to Travel

My Rating: 9.8/10

Get yourself some here.

Crippled Black Phoenix - I, Vigilante (V0)

I was actually shocked to hear that Crippled Black Phoenix was releasing a new album this year, in light of Mogwai's planned release for Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will and Electric Wizard's Black Masses, released appropriately the day after Halloween. Crippled Black Phoenix is a collaboration between the two bands, among others, and has put out some of the best and, unfortunately, least noticed music over the last five or so years, beginning with the astounding A Love of Shared Disasters.

I, Vigilante is an incredible album. Although it is only a short six tracks, less than an hour, it shines as an example of the ever-developing 60s-era psychedelic musicality that only musicians as skillful as Crippled Black Phoenix could replicate. Although their previous release, 200 Tons of Bad Luck, was almost strictly a tribute to Pink Floyd, their latest finds the UK supergroup using their unique skills and senses to create something entirely transcendent their influences, similar to Stardeath & White Dwarf's The Birth following their tour with The Flaming Lips.

Soaring, crushing and mesmerizing all at once, I, Vigilante is definitely one of the most unexpected and impressive releases this year.

Download here.

Wilco - Summerteeth (V0)

Although Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is one of the most critically acclaimed albums ever, it's a damn shame to see people ignoring the other music that Wilco has made over the past decade and a half. Their 1999 prequel to Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Summerteeth, is a very emotionally involving album that plays a chord on the heartstrings no less than YHF, but it is significantly less popular for some reason. One listen to "How To Fight Loneliness" and you will understand what I mean. The numb melodies under Tweedy's voice establish a pained exasperation on "She's A Jar," but the lyrics leave you guessing. It's probably better that way.

Don't let this one slip by if you haven't heard it yet.

Get it here and buy it here.

Salem - King Knight (V0)

Salem, April 4th 1692

Japandroids - Art Czars (320)

Part 2/3 of the singles is this one, Art Czars. Now, the A-side to this is great, but what is awesome is the B-side.

It's a cover of Big Blacks - Racer X, and it's fucking amazing.

HERE'S YOUR MONEY BACK
HERE'S YOUR PUNK ROCK BACK

Japandroids - Younger Us (320)

So you say you like Japandroids right?
You don't?
What the fuck?

Go like Japandroids.
Seriously.
Loud noisy garage rock, similar to that of Death From Above 1979; motivated by sexual drives and the need to cause a riot. The band contains nothing more than a loud over-driven guitar and one amazing drummer.
Now unfortunately, this isn't an album. This is one of three posts I'm about to make of the three singles that Japandroids released for their upcoming album. Each one contains a B-side cover.

This one contains a cover of X's "Sex and Dying In A High Society" as its B-side. So check it out (CHECK IT OUT).

Download here. BUY THEIR ALBUM WHEN IT COMES OUT.

764-Hero - Get Here And Stay (V0)

These guys are pretty great. They started up in the mid 90's with sound something like a mix of grunge and indie rock. They did a split with Modest Mouse in '98 that was phenomenal, but the rest of their music is equally impressive. The drummer did a thing with Elliot Smith, as well.

Great 90's independent rock. They were signed to sub-pop for a while, when they released their best album, Get Here and Stay.

Check 'em out.

Download here, buy it here.

Mini Mansions - Mini Mansions (FLAC)

Mini Mansions is one of those bands where you just really can't describe their sound without comparing them to other artists. Michael Shuman from Queens of the Stone Age founded the band, so there's the occasional instrumental similarity to them, but when I hear Mini Mansions, I mostly think of Elliott Smith, and I don't think I'm the only person who feels this way. On the other hand, some songs are almost Beatlesesque, and while I don't like the Beatles (I know, blasphemy), I can definitely dig this band. Songs like "Crime Of The Season" and "Majik Marker" are simply too awesome not to love. Just... just check them out. It will be worth it.

You're welcome.

The Bug - London Zoo (V0)

Remember when dubstep had recognizable influences?

Download.

Have A Nice Life - Time of Land EP

Just wanted to make sure you all got this amazing gem of an EP that was released by Dan earlier this year. It was released for free by enemieslist a while back, but it didn't really garner much attention. Go figure.

It's very much the HANL we've all come to know and love, but with a much more drone oriented sound on some tracks, especially Wizard of the Black Hundreds, the opener. Woe Unto Us is a splendid track that also reminds me that lo-fi and home recorded music is still legitimate, although taxed by the scores of bands purposely attempting to get that sound. Anyway, you should probably be getting this instead of reading my drivel. Why haven't you started the download?

Get this now.

RIGHT NOW DAMN IT!

Download.

The Octopus Project - Hexadecagon (V0)

Just in time for the end of 2010, The Octopus Project has released Hexadecagon, the follow-up to their 2007 breakout Hello, Avalanche. Their new rapport with the music industry has afforded them many luxuries, included dedicated producers and a wider range of instrumentation.

Although the album is mostly composed of instrumentals, it's so engaging and clever that the music speaks for itself. You won't find the drawn-out crescendos or abstruse tonal changes that have, for the last decade, dominated instrumental music. Hexadecagon is always motivated, and what keeps it interesting is the ways in which those motivations will often surprise you.

Download.

Sunny Day Real Estate - How It Feels To Be Something On (V0)

So you've heard Diary before and think that this will be something like it?

Well you're fucking wrong.

How It Feels To Be Something On quickly shows that the hopeful naive band that released Diary is dead and in their place comes a band that has put together a collage of alternative, pop, emotive hardcore, and world music (minorly) into one perfect emotive hardcore album.

Expect to find one perfect song when you click this.

Expect to find one perfect album when you click this.

This Heat - Deceit (V0)

I think the best things to come out of the 80's were all the experimental and weird artists.

People like This Heat, Daniel Johnston, MBV, so on and blah blah blah. Point being, 80's experimental is pretty damn amazing, and this album is of course part of the dynasty of important 80's albums. Don't be fooled by the post-punk tag, it barely fits the bill of anything more than experimental or outsider music, and you'll be surprised that something so a-melodic could leave you actually hauntingly stunned.

This Heat – A New Kind Of Water

We hold these truths to be self evident,
that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain rights.

The Angelic Process - Weighing Souls With Sand (V0)

Hell, it may be an essential album, but it is by no means not worthy of posting.

For fans of Have A Nice Life, Nadja, and anyone who enjoys shoegaze, drone, ambient or noise. It is very, very harsh at times. They were incredible, passionate, emotional, and everything more. Do your soul a favor, don't let this one have been in vain.

Download here, buy it here.

Doseone - Untitled (192)

I am still in complete and utter shock that I was lucky enough to come across this recording. I am a huge fan of most, if not all, of Adam's work; after listening to Untitled, there's no doubt in my mind that this is an essential piece of work that all of his fans need to have in their collection. Dose has come a long way since his Hemispheres days, incorporating more of an electronic sound into his albums, and while I still love all of that, this is the real deal: raw, simple beats and nasally voice spitting incredibly catchy, intelligent lyrics at the listener. This is what hip-hop is meant to be.

"And in this instance, I am the deadliest of carnivores.
Doseone,
the messiah of metaphor."

Anathallo - Floating World (V0)

Anathallo is a band who I easily could have seen in Chicago (they are based in the city for the most part) but due to my ignorance I chose to attend some other stupid event. I can't believe myself, they were playing with Why Intercept? at the time, another great Chicago act, but I think I went to a Valentine's day party or something.

Stupid me.

I missed out on a plethora of unique sounds, ranging from chains as percussion, brass sections, songs reminiscent of pop, post-rock and folk all blended together and even an autoharp.

Damn.

I also missed out on buying one of the best albums of 2006.

There's always next time, I guess. Oh wait, they're broken up.

Crap.

Download here, buy it here.

Women - Public Strain (V0)

Know what, I'm going to let the album speak for itself.

This is Eyesore, by Women, from Public Strain.

And this is the album itself.
2010 has been a good year.

The Microphones - It Was Hot, We Stayed in the Water (FLAC)

Into light our bodies glide,
There was water in my eyes,
We sank and we arrived,
And found ourselves inside the light,
The light,
With the glow...

On the cold dark ocean floor,
I felt warmth from behind a door,
I asked to come inside,
And the glow replied.

The Morning Benders - Big Echo (V0)

The Morning Benders are 100% me approved. I can't stop listening to this band, I've seen them live a couple times and they never fail to impress. They've been touring with Oberhofer and Twin Sister, which is why the last few posts I've made were of those bands. They are amazing musicians, and a real treat to talk to.

And Chris's voice is pure gold.

Shouting into a valley.
Big shout – big echo.
Small shout – small echo.

Buy it here.

Nick Drake - Pink Moon (V0)

We're in the middle of fall, and every year I find myself gravitating back to this album. This was the first album I ever gave to a girl, it comprised most of my listening throughout high school, and it has always comforted me when, like now, I find trees shedding their leaves and weather slowly growing colder. Nick Drake is proof that there is beauty in solitude; his songs are deeply personal, at times somber and austere, at others beautifully heart warming. Pink Moon is very short, at around thirty minutes, but each moment is so vivid and sincere that you'll want to go back to it over and over again.

Sailing downstairs to the northern line,
Watching the shine of the shoes,
And hearing the trials of the people there,
Who's to care if they lose?

Unrest - Imperial f.f.r.r. (V0)

For an early 90's indie pop album I expected a lot worse. Like, I expected to hear grunge production values and overused chorus pedals covered by melodies that included holding words for as long as the singer could before finally going to the next one.

Luckily, this was nothing like that and was actually a very surprising, easy to get into album.
Maybe you've heard of it before, I've never heard anything but praise for it; but even if you haven't it's a great, simple, relaxed album that just flows and sounds so natural that, maybe (just maybe), your parents could even get into it.
Not mine though, they listen to shit.

SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Download because my parent's taste in music sucks and yours doesn't.

Spiritualized - Laser Guided Melodies (FLAC)

Way back when I first started developing a real palette for music, Spiritualized was one of the first groups that I was genuinely interested in exploring. Jason Pierce's music is attention-grabbing when it needs to be and mind-numbing when it doesn't; it's one of the perfect albums to listen to for anyone just beginning to appreciate lesser known but still culturally celebrated music.

Laser Guided Melodies is Spiritualized's first release following the official breakup of Spacemen 3, and in it Pierce demonstrates once again the enormous talent that he brought to Spacemen 3 and the influence that he continues to exert on the psychedelic music scene. Each song is unique and unconventional in it's own way, and even though Laser Guided Melodies is perfectly entry-level, I still find myself going back to it not only to experience the nostalgia that I associate with it but to experience the new and vivid sensations that it brings with each listen.

A favorite song of mine is 200 Bars, mostly because of the mind-boggling that I went through the first time I listened to it. The way that each instrument layers itself over the others and is introduced seamlessly, in such an organized manner (maybe similar to Ravel's Boléro), is so impressive that I really had no other words to say than, "Oh my fucking God." This was before everything dropped out and Kate Radley's angelic voice plainly counted, "200," at which point I exclaimed, "Oh my FUCKING GOD!"

Shine a light on me.

Electric Wizard - Dopethrone (FLAC)

No doubt I now grew VERY pale; but I talked more fluently, and with a heightened voice. Yet the sound increased – and what could I do? It was A LOW, DULL, QUICK SOUND – MUCH SUCH A SOUND AS A WATCH MAKES WHEN ENVELOPED IN COTTON. I gasped for breath, and yet the officers heard it not. I talked more quickly, more vehemently but the noise steadily increased. I arose and argued about trifles, in a high key and with violent gesticulations; but the noise steadily increased. Why WOULD they not be gone? I paced the floor to and fro with heavy strides, as if excited to fury by the observations of the men, but the noise steadily increased.

O God! what COULD I do? I foamed – I raved – I swore! I swung the chair upon which I had been sitting, and grated it upon the boards, but the noise arose over all and continually increased. It grew louder – louder – louder! And still the men chatted pleasantly , and smiled. Was it possible they heard not? Almighty God! – no, no? They heard! – they suspected! – they KNEW! – they were making a mockery of my horror! – this I thought, and this I think. But anything was better than this agony! Anything was more tolerable than this derision! I could bear those hypocritical smiles no longer! I felt that I must scream or die! – and now – again – hark! louder! louder! louder! LOUDER! –

"Villains!" I shrieked, "dissemble no more! I admit the deed! – tear up the planks! – here, here! – it is the beating of his hideous heart!"

Bibio - The Apple and the Tooth (FLAC)

Seldom do I come across an album that invokes a mix of different emotions from within inside of me. While listening, I feel as if I'm in a parallel universe, where there are no worries, there is no pain, and the only feeling that is allowed is a constant state of relaxation. The individual songs off of this album bring back memories of falling in love, being as carefree as a child, hopefulness, and innate happiness, among others. While an astounding eight of the twelve tracks are remixes of songs featured on earlier releases, I consider them an essential part of my enjoyment of this amazing piece of work. As for the highlights, I'd recommend "Rotten Rudd," "Bones & Skulls," and "All The Flowers (Lone Remix)." I can't really pinpoint an exact genre that I'd classify this album under, so all I can ask is that you give it a shot, and realize that you appreciate it as much as I do.

Do yourself a favor and download this.

Twin Sister - Color Your Life (FLAC)

Even though I'm losing,
Doesn't make me a loser yet,
You still know me by name, Green,
I'll still be Lady Daydream.

Buy it here.

Oberhofer - o0Oo0Oo EP (V0)

You're pushing me away from you,
And there's nothing I can do,
And I can't fight all of your battles for you.

Buy it at a show. He gives it away for free.

This is the first of a three post series highlighting the bands Oberhofer, Twin Sister and The Morning Benders.

Expect more from these guys soon.

White Hinterland - Kairos (V0)

So you like mellow, relaxed pop-based music?
HELL YEAH YOU DO.

Do you like it when it has great vocal melodies provided by a very calm female vocalist?
HIGH FIVE IT BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU DO, G-SLICE!
Well rev up your lazy chair and get your bongs set to interstellar overdrive, because you're about to be taken into a very slow part of outer space.

You're about to be calmed the fuck down, bro.

Download it because you can not escape a black hole.