Ghost Mice - "Europe"

A really good friend of mine lamented to me that he couldn't find any Ghost Mice online! I was delighted to revisit one of my favorite bands ever.
Ghost Mice is... gah. So wonderful, amazing, simple, meaningful, witty, catchy, poetic, blunt, I gotta stop... far to many adjectives. Its a boy and a girl, a guitar and a violin, two voices neither perfect nor produced and an independant view on life. Folk punk, some may call it, but its so special that I don't like labelling it. I love Ghost Mice with all my soul.
This is a concept album with an amazing story behind it. Jumping a plane to Europe, Chris and Hannah of Ghost Mice made no plans whatsoever. No reservations, no tourist crap. They thought, "lets survive on the kindess of strangers and the beats of our hearts" Survive they did, and they wrote a song for every city, country, and spot they visited. At times filled with joy and at others utterly heartbreaking, this is a raw and emotionally powered album. This is two real souls sharing very real experiances, from wandering France broke to crashing in the house of a fan they sent CD's to. The music may seem a bit simplistic, but I don't care. Its amazing, and a true joy to hear.

01. England
02. English Channel
03. Belgium
04. Holland
05. Germany
06. Switzerland
07. Italy
08. Spain
09. France
10. Celtic Sea
11. Ireland

DL Link!

just some poetry! hope you like!

I found myself at a bus stop the other day and I was lucky enough to bear witness to this gorgeous sunset, juxtaposed against a random structure. I thought it was pretty neat and (somewhat!) caught the moment on my phone. It made me think of some lyrics/poetry, nothing to fancy, but I hope you like them!

Sometimes I have to, sometimes I don't
Sometimes the feeling is oddly remote
the sunset is passing, a forgotten pace
and yet I am wandering, wandering, wandering, wandering...

keep it honest!

To me, a musician is someone who speaks from the heart. Someone you can connect to. This doesn't necesitate guitar heroics or hidden meaning beyond comprehension or perfection of a certain style; all I look for in music is honesty. Someone who's voice can ring in my head, a band that can make a room full of previously segregated and clique'd kids lose all barriers and for the half hour set, be best friends. A band that makes you wanna move. A sound that makes you wanna think. Contemplate. Thought or action provoking, it doesn't fucking matter; as long the musician is speaking or playing or breathing straight from the heart and I believe it, I am convinced. I love it. A howling voice can be the most beautiful thing in the world, if you know without a doubt that the howling is coming from a place that exists. Bare your soul on a six string, tap away your heart on the black keys, throw your agression and frustration in my face with a wall of distortion. Tell me why I should be a vegan in a thirty second blast of noise. Tell me why your parents suck. Say nothing. Trip me out with 7 minutes of sound, texture, soul. Anything. Inspire, and you have made music.

Sonic Youth - "Dirty"

One of my favorites by this great, great band. This album combines melody and dissonance, noice and music. Its the first thing I ever heard of Sonic Youth, its what got me into them, and its my favorite to this day. Sonic Youth's ability to create such a gigantic and textured wall of fuzz and noise and beauty is unmatched, and the guitar work will truly open your mind. Its definatly an album you oughta check out! "Sugar Kane" remains one of my all time favorite songs.

1. 100%
2. Swimsuit Issue
3. Theresa's Sound World
4. Drunken Butterfly
5. Shoot
6. Wish Fulfillment
7. Sugar Kane
8. Orange Rolls, Angel's Spit
9. Youth Against Fascism
10. Nic Fit
11. On the Strip
12. Chapel Hill
13. JC
14. Purr
15. Créme Brûlèe

DL Link!

edit; This download recquires a password! I'm working on it but for now, don't click the link!

Various - "Remix After All"

This is a really neat project. An unofficial remixed version of Daft Punk's "Human After All" commisioned by various blogs and DJ's, this whole album takes some extremely memorable electronica tracks and makes them new again, infusing them with everything from electro to dub step. Its a really sick album and it was released online for free download! Enjoy!

01 Human After All (chosen by Disco Demons)
02 The Prime Time Of Your Life (chosen by Data Sapiens)
03 Robot Rock (chosen by The Cold Cut)
04 Steam Machine (chosen by Cream Team)
05 Make Love (chosen by Sheena Beaston)
06 The Brainwasher (chosen by Danger! Danger!)
07 On/Off (chosen by The Lemur Blog)
08 Television Rules The Nation (chosen by Noise Porn)
09 Technologic (chosen by Pretty Much Amazing)
10 Emotion (chosen by Binary)

DL Link!

Leper - "End Progress"

Leper is one of the most unique bands I've heard. Made up of several ex members of Iskra, this band is massively anarchist, which translates to really bad ass lyrics. However, cool as that is, thats not what attracts me to them.
Its the blackened crust mixed with ska punk beats that attracts me. SO SICK. Its like Choking Victim had kids with Iskra, cheating with Darkthrone in the process.
This album is the most "together" one they have made, in my opinion. I heard about Leper through a split they did with Eleutheros which I picked up from a local distro, but I wasn't a huge fan of the work Leper did on it. Most of the songs were under 2 minutes if I remember correctly, and it kinda bored me. This album, however, is insane. The riffs are huge and HARD, and the ska strumming lends itself perfectly to the music. Put this on, and rememember that even in 2010, WE ALREADY LIVE IN RUINS.

Personal favorite track; "De-Civilize"

1. War Of 2010
2. Wild And Free
3. Sedition Not Sedation
4. Destroy What Destroys You
5. End Progress
6. De-Civilize
7. Face Yourself
8. Resist The SPP
9. Inspire//Change
10. We Already Live In Ruins

Leper is another one of those cool bands that posts there album's for either free download, or pay what you want. Be a cheap bastard if you want, but I highly recomend dropping a few pennies for this one!

Link here!

Pauline Paris - Le Grande Jeu

This is pure class. Like being caught at a poetry slam in a french coffee house, this album is at times surprising (all the lyrics are in french!) and at other times just what you might have needed or expected. Its smooth, elegant jazz with that slight weirdness to it that seems to be a recquirement for any music coming out of France. Ever since I saw "the Triplets of Belleville," I've been getting into this french jazz blues stuff so much, and I hope you do to! It's really neat and different, I highly recomend it.

01. Me Prends Pas L'chou Jack
02. Corrida
03. Amor, à Mort!
04. Aux Armes Paname
05. When Love Comes Around
06. X
07. Qu'est-Ce T'as Contre Ma France
08. Un Pour Deux
09. Mam'zelle De Machin Chouette
10. Suzie D.
11. L'hymne à La Belote
12. Bonnie
13. Buvons à La Victoire, Mon Serguei!
14. Joli Philippe

DL Link!

Hellhammer - "Death Fiend" demo

Hopefully Hellhammer needs no introduction; They're the band that pre-dated Celtic Frost. Period. And this one is a bloody mess of a recording, recorded but unreleased in the early 80's, and one of my favorites. Raw, heavy, brutal as hell black/heavy metal with obscene lyrics, Death Fiend is undescribable. "Angel Of Destruction" would have to me my personal fave track. Why not give it a listen!

1. Maniac
2. Angel Of Destruction
3. Hammerhead
4. Bloody Pussies
5. Death Fiend
6. Dark Warriors
7. Chainsaw
8. Ready For Slaughter
9. Sweet Torment

DL Link!

Against Me! - "Toms First Demo"

I'm a huge fan of everything Against Me has done, both old and new. I've seen them twice now, and had the pleasure of meeting Tom Gabel about 2 years ago now. And I stumbled across this early gem of theres just a few months ago, so here we are!
Recorded by just a 17 year old Tom with a guitar and lots on his mind, this demo is rough, scratchy, self released, and decidedly different from the diverse alternative band Against Me has become. Its really great, trust me. Loads of disgust and rage taken out on a few open chords with a screaming voice to over score it, give this a listen to see how far Against Me has come as a band!

1. The Price of Freedom
2. Does It Make A Difference?
3. Same Old Song
4. In The Name Of What?
5. Disgust
6. 24 Hours A Day

DL Link!

Liars - "Sisterworld"

Damn, this one took awhile to track down. Worth it though.
I caught wind of these guys when my friend Gabi posted a video of theres on her facebook. The track was called "Scarecrows On A Killer Slant" and I knew just from the song title I was going to LOVE it.
These guys are dark. Creepy. And I mean that in the best possible way. The focus here seems to be on texture, rhythmic beats, and chord structures designed to haunt your bones. Angular riffs, atmospheric recording, grinding noise, and music that is at times wince worthy and at others dance worthy, before lilting to a hauntingly beautiful melody; this is how one defines Liars. Like Jesus and the Mary Chain before them, Liars etches out a noisey post rock sound that brings clarity to chaos, shivers to the spine, and darkness everywhere it goes. Plus, words can't prepare you for the brick wall of a riff that slams you in the aforementioned "Scarecrows On A Killer Slant" track. It's a damn good listen, and perfect for scaring the kids.

1. Scissor
2. No Barrier Fun
3. Here Comes All The People
4. Drip
5. Scarecrows On A Killer Slant
6. I Still Can See An Outside World
7. Proud Evolution
8. Drop Dead
9. The Overachievers
10. Goodnight Everything
11. Too Much, Too Much

DL Link!

Sled Island bands to check out!

(June 30th - July 3rd)

So the Sled Island music festival here in Calgary starts in two days and I honestly couldn't be more stoked. I mean, when else are you gonna get to see this much variety in music over the course of four entire days? The only other local festival that gets me this amped is Folkfest, but not even it compares. Granted, this is my first year going so I don't exactly have much experiance to draw on but having read over the band list, I am actually STOKED. If your in or near Alberta the next few days, I highly recomend coming down at least one day.

There are far to many bands to list every single one of them here, and I'm sure I'm gonna get exposed to at least a few things I haven't heard before. However, here's a list of a few of the band's I've seen and/or heard before. These are the guys I KNOW will be putting on a sick show;

Lets Dance - http://www.myspace.com/letsdance780

Catchy yet agressive, Lets Dance earns there name with an utterly unique sound that (guerenteed!) will have you dancing in some form, be it slam or otherwise! I saw them awhile back at Tubby Dog, incredibly energetic and fun!

Spastic Panthers - http://www.myspace.com/thespasticpanthers

These guys are gonna wreck shit. Seriously. Playing an intense and driving style of punk straight from the streets, Spastic Panthers put on a GOOD show. There frontman is also ceritifably insane.

Rum Runner - http://www.myspace.com/rumrunner

Ah, good ole' Rum Runner. These guys are just rad, playing straight up roots rock with a punk snarl. Like a country fried Pogues, and in no way is that a bad thing!

In Vacuo - http://www.myspace.com/invacuoband

Oh man. Shit got real when I saw these guys on the bill. They play an insane 80's hardcore blitzkrieg of noise with breakneck tempo changes and seriously smart lyrics. Plus, Sonki is a hell of a front man.

Hamas - http://www.myspace.com/hamasband

More hardcore insanity for your buck. This band will leave your ears ringing and your limbs sore, trust me.

Signals - http://www.myspace.com/signalsla

Signals are really cool. They actually really surprised me last time I saw them. They play super catchy electro-pop, bound to elicit some hip shaking in yea.

City of Fiction - http://www.myspace.com/city_of_fiction

Really good band made up of some friends of mine, and hopefully to be featured on this blog soon! Catchy indie riffs pit against howling, angry vocals and synth, these guys are utterly unique and rad.

Fucked Up - http://www.myspace.com/epicsinminutes

I freaked out when I saw these guys on the list. AMAZING hardcore punk, with iconic lyrics and buckets of aggression, these guys sound like they would have been supporting the Circle Jerks back in the day.

The Thermals - http://www.myspace.com/thethermals

I posted this band earlier, check it out! Really meaningful and smart music. I can't describe how stoked I am to see them playing with Fucked Up at Olympic Plaza, on the 2nd!

Dinosaur Jr. - http://www.myspace.com/dinosaurjr

If you haven't heard Dinasaur Jr. before, I forgive you for now. Go check them out. Right now. Fuzzed out 90's alt band, with sweet melodies and a stone wall of distortion? Fuck Nirvana, these guys were and still are far better. DO NOT MISS.

Hot Water Music - http://www.myspace.com/hotwatermusic

Old school punk rock! These guys are no bullshit. And the drummer is also in Against Me! STOKED.

The Bronx - http://www.myspace.com/thebronx
The Bronx were the kinda band I had low expectations for prior to listening. Yea, they're all over Warped Tour. But I'll be damned if this isn't some straight up hardcore punk, and good stuff to boot. Plus, on there off time, they rock out as "Mariachi El Bronx." Yea, a mexican mariachi band. LEGIT.

The Melvins - http://www.myspace.com/themelvins

Are you kidding me?! The alternative masterpiece of Dinosaur Jr. and the scary heavy sonic weirdness of The Melvins... on the same night?! I could die and go to heaven after July 3rd.

The Jolts - http://www.myspace.com/thejolts

This band is a bucketload of fun to see live. I saw them rock out at tubby dog awhile back, and I won't soon be forgetting the riff heavy, straight-from-the-garage tunes they play. Oddly enough, they will be playing at tubby dog again, on the 2nd!

This isn't even a fraction of the bands playing. Seriously, this is gonna kick ass. Check out the site here for a scheduale, pricing, and more details then I could ever care to give!

See ya'll there!

http://blog.sledisland.com/

Titus Andronicus - "The Airing Of Grievances"

I talk alot about these guys in my day to day life, but I just can't help it. Every now and again you here an album or a band that just grabs you by the collar and wrings your neck, leaving you breathless and stunned. An album so instantly relevant, it hurts. For me, "The Airing Of Grievances" is an album like that.
Combining Punk rage and self loathing with Indie sensibilities and an odd E Street style rhythm section, Titus Andronicus sounds like the Arcade Fire being attacked by Stiff Little Fingers and My Bloody Valentine while Bruce Springsteen plays in the backround, underscoring the chaos. Its the weirdest, most fucked up combination of shoegaze haze and punk clarity. In other words, its brilliant. No other band in recent memory is able to delve into a 7 minute jam sesh mid song and not be boring as hell, and yet Titus Andronicus does just that. Every solo, a spit in your face. And trust me, you will NOT stop listening.
Not only that, Titus Andronicus really knows there stuff. Referencing everyone from Albert Camus to Seinfeld to the very Shakespearean play they are named for in the lyrics, these are the most smart words of self hatred I've ever heard. And yet, not once do I feel sorry for these guys and thats the key. They dont play up the depressing nature of there lyrics so much as throw it in your face, sneering "No one cares what I have to say anymore" like a declaration of defiance more then anything.
I can't overstate how awesome this album is. It will be ringing in your ears for days regardless of wether you like it or note. It's just that unique, and iconic.
C-C-Check it out!

1. Fear and Loathing in Mahwah, NJ
2. My Time Outside The Womb
3. Joset Of Nazareth's Blues
4. Arms Against Atrophy
5. Upon Viewing Brueghels "Landscape With The Fall Of Icarus"
6. Titus Andronicus
7. No Future
8. No Future Part 2: The Day After No Future
9. Albert Camus

DL Link
http://www.mediafire.com/?zj3ammjluoy

Prairie City Noise!

Hopefully gonna be doing a showcase of a local Calgary/Alberta band every month! Check back in a week or so!

In any case, Sled Island is soon, and for four days in Calgary (June 30 - July 3) there is gonna be KILLER music! While theres gigs pretty much every day you oughta check out (most of them focused at Cantos or Olympic Plaza,) heres one you should DEFINATLY check out due to its super price!

5 bucks gets you 6 great bands including the folk punk joy of Ghost Factory and the hardcore insanity of In Vacuo! Its all ages, plus, you get in for free at ANOTHER GIG later that night if you go to this one!

How could you say no?

Doom - "Police Bastard"

This should be recquired listening in schools, my friends!
"Police Bastard" is a classic. Grinding tempos, a raw as fuck recording quality, and killer riffs driven by some of the most pissed off sounding vocals ever. Warning; may inspire the need to BREAK SHIT.
A great crust/grind punk album from the late 80's. Check it out!

1. Relief Part II
2. Police Bastard
3. Diseased
4. Circles
5. A Means To An End

DL Link
http://www.4shared.com/file/32275628/b8bc8f94/Doom_-_PB_-_Ep.html

Ava Luna - "Services" EP

Its really hard to describe Ava Luna's sound, but I will try.

Picture a gospel group, backed by the synth player from Suicide and the entire vocal section of the Glee Club from that TV show. Throw in a soulful lead singer and a jazzy drummer, and your getting close.

In short, Ava Luna is one of the most original and hard to forget bands I've heard recently. They combine doo-wop, synth punk, soul, jazz, indie, and gospel into a mesmerizing and fucking REFRESHING sound. I love it so so much, in case you couldn't tell. Best of all, they're self produced and recorded! These guys truly Do It Themselves.

Artful hand claps, DIY grit, melodic keyboard work, and harmonies galore... this little EP is definatly something you want in your library!

1. Clips

2. Cement Lunch

3. Past The Barbary

4. Eight Nine (Won't You Be Mine?)

Rather then post a link to a free download, I'm going to direct you to the pay-by-donation link for this ep. In the vain of Radiohead, Ava Luna posted the entire ep on environmentalaesthetics.com as a pay what you want kind of deal. Its a minimum 50 cents per track due to the exchange rate, but come on - if you cant part with two bucks for this ep, your even cheaper then I am. Its worth it, it profits the band alone, and alot of self motivated work was put into this release; Much as I hate paying, they deserve 2 bucks of your time, trust me!

http://the.shop.environmentalaesthetics.com/album/ea007-ava-luna-services-ep

The Thermals - "The Body, The Blood, The Machine"

Since Sled Island is coming up here in Calgary, I thought I'd highlight one of the many bands I am stoked to see!

The Thermals are great. Mixing indie chord structures, punk aggression, and smart lyrics, there one of those rare bands who do exactly what they want to do as artists. They are politically informed, angry as hell, and not about to take shit from anyone. And "The Body, The Blood, The Machine" is my favorite album by them!

You can hear passion in every track of this album, from the organ of the opener track ("Here's Your Future," my personal favorite track) to the fuzzed out feedback of the closing track. Curiously unique is the fact that for the most part, The Thermals maintain a nice balance of instruments, not letting a single element or distorted guitar overpower one another. To often you'll hear a punk release where all you can hear is the guitar, but not so here. Every ounce of there energy as musicians shines through!
The lyrics deserve special mention, conjuring up an imaginative (but not entirely unlikely) world under the rule of some Christian super power, some fascist regime. But the single reason I like this album so much is what it inspires in me. As the singer snarls "I might need you to kill," I feel a stirring in my chest. It makes me, personally, wanna get up off the floor and write notes to politicians, scrawl on signs, ask questions... that kind of stuff. I hope it means as much to you as it means to me.

The Thermals will be playing Sled Island here in Calgary, playing the Distillery on the first, Olympic Plaza on the second, and the Republik on the third of July. Olympic Plaza is an all ages gig, so don't miss out on these guys!

1. Here's Your Future

2. I Might Need You To Kill

3. An Ear For Baby

4. A Pillar Of Salt

5. Returning To The Fold

6. Test Pattern

7. Saint Rosa and the Swallows

8. Back To The Sea

9. Power Doesn't Run On Nothing

10. I Hold the Sound

DL Link

http://www.mediafire.com/?mljt0nomgiz

The Kooks - "Inside In/Inside Out"

Music for the summer!

My girlfriend showed me these guys when we first met. Great band, really upbeat feel and sublimely catchy choruses. I'd go ahead and call this "indie," but theres even a slight brit pop influence here. Anyways, its really suited for the summer. Super fun, uptempo music thats good to skate or longboard to! "Eddies Gun" has gotta be my favorite track.

1. Seaside

2. See The World

3. Sofa King

4. Eddie's Gun

5. Ooh La La

6. You Don't Love Me

7. She Moves In Her Own Way

8. Matchbox

9. Naive

10. I Want You

11. If Only

12. Jackie Big Tits

13. Time Awaits

14. Got No Love

15. Do You Love Me Still?

DL Link
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=XQQ3RMWJ

Dystopia/Skaven Split

Right then, lets start on a good note.

This is a fucking killer split! Released in 1995 (I believe, dont quote me on that!) this is a really good place to start if you've never really listened to crust punk before. Its crunching, heavy, even slow at times... yet, its got that angular edge that defines crust punk on a whole. Not to mention, look at that freakin' album art!

Dystopia is iconic. Really smart lyrics, angry as fuck vocals, really heavy production. This is what your gonna listen to if you wanna go postal on cops. If you haven't heard them before, you got some learning to do. Listen in awe.

Skaven, who I hadn't heard of prior to listening to this, is actually really fucking sick. Lots of slowed down tempos, an evil vibe, and a vocalist who has an almost black metal like way of singing. Its throaty, coarse, and raw as fuck. Hugely influenced by Amebix, methinks. Dig it!

DYSTOPIA
1. Instrumental
2. Taste Your Own Medicine
3. Jarhead Fertilizer
4. Anger Brought On By Disease

SKAVEN
1. Like The Worms That Crawl The Earth
2. Fleshy Curse
3. Abcess
4. Plague Wind
5. Reflective Skin


DL link
http://www.mediafire.com/?9kkysyxlzyn

Intro!

So I'll keep this short!

I like music. Who doesn't!
However, I hate paying money for music unless it directly provides profit for a band that really needs it. So, this is a blog for music sharing!

Got a request? Send it to me!
Wanna join and contribute music as well? Hit me up!
Got a demo you want uploaded? Send me that shit!

My goal is to promote new music that people really oughta hear while at the same time showcasing older music that people really oughta listen to.

Like punk, crust, hardcore, shoegaze, indie, pop, celtic, folk, psychobilly, gypsy, thrashing, metal, ska, stoner, sludge, blackened, jazzy, electro, rapping, death, angry, loud, and fast noise? Got a hate on for scenes, prejudice, and narrow music tastes?
This is the blog for you.

- N