Bastard Noise/Endless Blockade - "The Red List" Split

I'm posting this super late when I should be asleep for work, so no big write up. Two amazing power violence inspired punk bands with highly technical and experimental overtones, this is a loud and surreal listen! Enjoy!

Bastard Noise

1. Fallen Species
2. Movement Two
3. USA Today
4. Mutant World Of Shame/Underworld
5. Manphibian

The Endless Blockade

6. Deuteronomy
7. Advanced Directive (Noah Crecshevsky Remix)
8. Model 49 Rebreather (The Rita Remix)

DL Link here!

Beastie Boys - "Some Old Bullshit"

It's always amazing to see how far a band has come, and changed as musicians! This compilation is a perfect example of that, showing a dramatic shift in styles that nonetheless influenced the band.
Beastie Boys have made so many waves as a frat party rap crew thats its easy to forget about the hardcore punk band they once were. No joke, Beastie Boys used to open for Bad Brains, Dead Kennedys, and Reagan Youth! Back before Adrock was added, Mike D did shouts and MCA did bass for this New York punk ensemble. They loved hardcore so much, they named there band "Beastie Boys" intentionally so that there abbreviation would match Bad Brains. Neat!
Here's the cool thing; they were actually a REALLY solid punk band! Mixing really catchy and FAST riffs with a nice lo fi recording style and a sing style that JUST about mimics the rap they would later pioneer, the Beastie Boys had chops and that musicians ear I so admire. The punk attitude of doing what they want and not giving a shit survived right into there rap careers, emphasized by the very decision they made to shift music styles! I love both Beastie Boys era's, but this is a really cool and nostalgic listen. It hearkens to mind Minor Threat and Bad Brains, both bands I love. It's music to pogo around to, so throw it on and thrash your room up a bit! Enjoy!
(PS, "Egg Raid On Mojo" is still played regularly live by the Beasties, along with a cover of the goddamn Circle Jerks. If you don't hear punks influence on rap and vice versa after listening to this, you must be dead!)

1. "Egg Raid On Mojo"
2. "Beastie Boys"
3. "Transit Cop"
4. "Jimi"
5. "Holy Snappers"
6. "Riot Fight"
7. "Ode To..."
8. "Michelle's Farm"
9. "Egg Raid On Mojo"
10. "Transit Cop"
11. "Cooky Puss"
12. "Bonus Batter"
13. "Beastie Revolution"
14. "Cooky Puss" (Censored Version)

DL Link here!

sorry folks! (ANOTHER upcoming show!)

Sorry post's have been few and far between lately! Life is catching up to me and I've been superbly busy with work and local shows. Keep checking back!
Speaking of shows, there's an all ages show this tuesday at Tubby Dog on 17th ave here in Calgary!

Autistic Youth, No Problem, The Throwaways and Spastic Panthers!

I've seen the Throwaways and the Panthers now and there both really amazing and energetic punk bands. I've never heard No Problem or Autistic Youth, but No Problem has members of the Wednesday Night Heroes and High Jinks! Autistic Youth sounds rad to, based on the myspace
Its gonna be a seriously fun time guys. Bring 8 bucks to support the touring bands, the money goes directly to the bands so my cheap ass feels at ease handing my hard earned cash over.

Hope to see ya'll there, stay free!

Free Show!

what could you like more then a free show?!
The Pine Tarts (really good 70's style psych/garage/punk) and some other good bands are playing Olympic Plaza on Saturday at 7! Its free, so get yer cheap ass down there!
Check em out here!

Hope to see ya'll there =]

Cursed - "I"

Its been awhile since I gave Cursed a spin! However, I was at a party tonight where there third album was thrown on the record player and I got inspired to post my favorite album by this amazing, intense band.
Featuring members of various Canadian DIY punk bands, Cursed played a really unique blend of abrasive hardcore punk with the addition of chord bends, metal riffing, and the ability to actually slow down the tempo of there songs. One thing I've always noticed as a musician is that the music I find to be heaviest and most memorable is neither completely fast nor droningly slow; it ably mixes the two, drawing out chord progressions and imbuing them with emotion before bashing you over the head with intense blasts of noise. Almost like a rollercoaster, taking you up and bringing you crashing down. The value of melody can never be forgotten either! Sure, a punk band can go ahead and hit me with a 30 second blast of aggression and noise... but if I can't hum along to it, hard as it may be, its not going to stick around in my head. What I love so much about Cursed is the fact that they value all these elements without compromising one bit of aggression or emotion in there music. Cursed is a weapon, attacking your ears and leaving no room for quarter, but its every bit as musically relevant as it is hard and fast. These guys are real musicians with an ear for the melody of there music, even when it seems like nothing more then a crunching wall of noise. Blending in almost metal-core style break downs, sound clips, ambient vibes, enough blast beats to shake a mountain, and INTENSELY personal lyrics...
Big word-y analysis aside, Cursed fucking RULES!
Aggresive, abrasive, emotional, varied, unique... what more could you want?! Put this on and thrash hard, my friends!

01. Polygraph
02. God And Country
03. Promised Land
04. Bloody Mary
05. How Great THings Happen When You Give
06. 1974
07. Negative Two Point Five
08. Guilt Parade
09. Another Day
10. Opposable Thumbs
11. Pariah

DL Link here!

Bomb The Music Industry! - "Scrambles"

DIY. Making your own chances. Building your own steps and relying no body and no institution to hold your hand, this is the lifestyle that appeals to me the most! Bomb The Music Industry is a perfect example of this, both in there ethics and there sound. Combining emotional and relevant lyrics (varying from rants about monetary systems to day to day problems and troubles) with fast paced ska punk riffs, synth breaks, gang shouts, piano melodies, and an unfailingly honest sound; these guys are true artists. Its a dazzlingly deep sound! The energy and carefree spirit of punk merges perfectly with the studio experimentation, all hinging on the whims of the song writers. Never before have I heard techniques such as backwards looping, lightning fast time signatures, and digital editing used to such an amazing extent. Think of any random instrument and I guerentee its been used by BTMI! at some point, from saxophone to theremin to tub drums.
Alot of thought goes into the song writing here, and the changes in emotion is represented in the crazy varied music. Ever have a burst of creativity where for a night or two you create dozens of works of art? Stories, drawings, music, etc? Imagine that concentrated into entire albums, and your getting close to just what exactly drives BTMI! These guys are unfailingly creative and diverse, mixing an unimaginable amount of influences with the natural creativity that spurns true artists. All of these different elements come togather perfectly and like Dr. Pepper in Froot Loops, it simply should not work; and yet, defiantly, it fucking does, amazingly!
Something deserves to be said of the bands DIY ethics as well, and how it merges with them musically. First of all, the band has no set line up; its self defined as a "music collective," featuring dozens of different song writers and musicians who come and go as they please. I fully believe this is why the sound of BTMI! is so varied, as hundreds of tastes and interests come and go. Its brilliant, truly! When performing live, they encourage fans who have learned the songs and brought instruments to join them onstage and this is often how new musicians and song writers are recruited to the collective. Lets see the Rolling Stones do that! This isn't even mentioning the fact that they refuse to play any gig that isn't all ages and below ten dollars. Just how much more honest can you get?
And then there's the way they live there lives and encourage the DIY ethic amongst the fans. Want a BTMI! shirt? Print a stencil off of there web site and follow the step by step instructions on making it yourself! Want a cd? Download it for free off of there website! These guys live on the road and live for there music. I know I've said alot but truly, these humble folks play the most amazing and real music out there. I hope you love it as much as I do!

1. Cold Chillin' Cold Chillin
2. Stuff That I Like
3. It Shits!!!
4. Fresh Attitude, Young Body
5. Wednesday Night Drinkball
6. 25!!!
7. $2,400,000
8. Gang of Four Meets the Stooges (but Boring)
9. 9/11 Fever!!!
10. (Shut) Up the Punx!!!
11. Can I Pay My Rent in Fun?
12. Saddr Weirdr
13. Sort of Like Being Pumped

BTMI! distributes its music through an amazing donation based distro, called Quote Unquote records. Go there and pay what you want for this CD and whatever other album you'd like, even if its nothing! Just remember; make your own chances, dont float life away!
Quote Unquote

Billie Holiday - "Storyville Cub"

Sometimes, it's really hard to believe that a soul like Billie Holiday left our midst so long ago. It was quite a few decades ago she died and yet to listen to this live record is to hear a voice so vibrant, so warm, so passionate. Outshining the mediocre recording quality is Billie's voice, an intrument all its own, giving it straight to you. Suddenly, heartbreak becomes comfort. Emotion is eroticized. Where else does one find a singer who is so willing to wear there heart on their sleeve? There was no sugar coating with Billie Holiday, though her wonderfully poetic words certainly helped.
Yes, there is some excellent jazz work in the backround, and yes, Billie's backing band deserves a ton of credit. But the fact is that you can't focus on anything but Holiday's voice. This world is lucky to have been graced by a singer with the raw emotion and honesty of Billie Holiday, for I know her music touched my soul. I hope it reach's yours as well!

1. Intro
2. I Cover The Waterfront
3. Too Marvelous For Words
4. I Love You, Porgy
5. Them There Eyes
6. Willow Weep For Me
7. Intro 2
8. I Only Have Eyes For You
9. You Go To My Head
10. He's Funny That Way
11. Billie's Blues
12. Miss Brown To You
13. Lover, Come Back To Me
14. Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do
15. You're Driving Me Crazy

DL Link Here!