Wire - "Pink Flag"

In an era of hackneyed Chuck Berry riffs, ill informed "political" lyrics, and intense amounts of self destruction, "Pink Flag" emerged as a wake up call. It was a post 70's album before the 70's even ended, a classy and loud, pissed off snarl. It packed surreal (yet oddly intelligent lyrics) with a perfectly balanced sense of production of pace. It was slow where it needed to be, fast where it needed to be, sad and happy only when necessary; it was (and still is) one of the most revolutionary albums ever made. And no-one even noticed when it was first released.
I find it really crazy that an album like this came out of the U.K right around the same time as The Clash, the Buzzcocks, The Damned, and even that dreaded bunch of posers The Sex Pistols. It makes me wonder, why didn't anyone pay attention? Why is Wire scarcely (if ever) mentioned in those retrospective music lists made by Rolling Stone or NME.com? My theory is that it was to ahead of its time. I think, in alot of ways, it still IS ahead of our time. I listen to it and parts of it make zero sense to me; and I love it for that very reason. It packs the speed and intensity that would one day become 80's hardcore with the delicacy and honesty that would manifest into "emo" music later down the line. The distortion is so crunchy and perfect sounding and then it switches to a barebones, raw, clean sound that makes you sit down and listen. It rocks, it rolls, and it speaks. It is such an important album in musical history, and it is really close to my heart. Rites of Spring, Fugazi, Minor Threat, and pretty much every local band in Calgary would not exist were it not for this band and this album. I could really rant on and on about this album but you should just check it out yourself to see what I mean. Enjoy!

1. Reuters
2. Field Day for the Sundays
3. Three Girl Rhumba
4. Ex Lion Tamer
5. Lowdown
6. Start to Move
7. Brazil
8. It's So Obvious
9. Surgeon's Girl
10. Pink Flag
11. The Commercial
12. Straight Line
13. 106 Beats That
14. Mr. Suit
15. Strange
16. Fragile
17. Mannequin
18. Different to Me
19. Champs
20. Feeling Called Love
21. 12XU

DL link here!

Wavves - "King of the Beach"

Seeing as how I just got home from a King of the Beach themed party last night, it only feels right to post this rad little gem of an album.

I typically don't trust Rolling Stone to give me good music or accurate reviews, but when they mentioned a band with a guy named Nathan singing accompanied by some long haired looking surfer dude in a Misfits shirt singing and playing a jazzmaster, I had to check them out. I wasn't dissapointed.
Wavves is the brainchild of Nathan Williams. Though it started with solo recordings from a bedroom, this was the first album he recorded with a full backing band (Jay Reatard's backing band, actually) in a full on studio, and its right about when Wavves stopped being an interesting little noise experiment and became a fun, unique band. Alot of people like to hate on Wavves (or so I have heard,) saying they are boring and un original. I say nay, you haters. Wavves rules!
It's beach ready fuzz pop, with a dash of punk thrown here and there. There's a ton of Beach Boys-style "oooohs" and Ramones buzzsaw riffs, with even a hint of 90's alternative here and there. Think Nirvana, if Kurt Cobain surfed and smoked weed instead of shot heroin. Whats real interesting, however, is the occasional exploration into noise rock and shoegaze they make, sandwiching optimistic sounding pop punk riffs with really surreal effects and lyrics. The production strikes just the right balance of slick sheen and lo fi noise, making for an organic -yet raw- sound. Its funny because I tend to prefer a bands lo-fi origins compared to its production heavy evolution, but I think Wavves went from a middle of the road noise project to a legitiment musical force with better sound quality and a full band. Just dont expect any deeper lyrics then mediations on girls, having fun, smoking up, and (you guessed it) the beach.
Overall, the album is brilliant in a really bratty, fun way. It juxtaposes all that sunny American good time surfer soul shit with tight, mean sounding riffs and apathetic values that cuts open the throat lets all the sunshine out. 60's slackers had surfing and lazing, modern day slackers have... Wavves. Or whatever. Its a really good record, so enjoy!

1. King Of The Beach
2. Super Soaker
3. Idiot
4. When Will You Come
5. Post Acid
6. Take On The World
7. Baseball Cards
8. Convertible Balloon
9. Green Eyes
10. Mickey Mouse
11. Linus Spacehead
12. Baby Say Goodbye


DL link here!



PS, here's me being a King of the Beach.

Braids - "Native Speaker"

I do yoga to Braids. I know thats a weird statement to start with, but it should give an idea of just how calming and amazing this band is.

Braids is an indie pop/art rock band from Calgary that lost a high school battle of the bands to a Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute band. I saw them open for Deerhunter at Sled Island, and it was pretty mind expanding. They layer spacious, warmly melodic sounds and dynamic vocals with a perfect flow. If this all sounds a bit heavy handed to you, dont worry - they sound really playful and optimistic, but not overly so! Each song on this debut CD averages about 6 to 8 minutes long, but it never feels that long. They dont drag, and it constantly compels.
Its pretty amazing how they manage to both create such layers and walls of music while wrapping it around tight, catchy tunes. They transcend age and genres. There music just makes sense, in a really undescribable way. They speak to you, and listen to you.
They just really rule is what I'm trying to say, and I hope you dig them!

1. Lemonade
2. Plath Heart
3. Glass Deers
4. Native Speaker
5. Lammicken
6. Same Mum
7. Little Hand

DL here!

Titus Andronicus - "The Monitor"

I'll leave all the grand statements and rants I have about this band out for now, as I already (slightly) covered it when I previously posted them. Long story short, Titus Andronicus is the only band today that matters, and this second and most recent album of there's is no less breathtaking then the first.
This album see's the band expanding on the deeply personal lyrics of there debut and infusing it with an overall story; a rock opera, maybe, but only in the same context of Husker Du's incredible "Zen Arcade" in that, its a sloppy, hard to follow, beautiful mess. Its contradictory, bipolar, schizophrenic, freaked out and lonely music... one of the most humane albums ever written.
There's civil war themes; the album title takes its name from a battleship of the era. Sound clips of Lincoln speeches are used. "I am now the most miserable man living," easily mistaken for an over dramatic lyric, is in fact a proclamation from the president. And don't mistake this for a cliche'd politcal statement. Feelings of alienation and strife, all common throughout this period of history, serve to illustrate the lyrics and yet its not at all set during the civil war; in fact, as far as I can tell, its about an emotionally fucked up kid running away from New Jersey. Its ridiculous, a major stretch in terms of lyrical content but its all delivered with such emotional honesty and rabble rousing energy that you don't care how much sense it makes; you feel what it invokes in you and ultimately, that is the point of the album. This band is deeply thoughtful, a major rarity in punk music, and the civil war themes just further prove that.
As far as the music goes, Titus Andronicus expands on there previous work in various subtle ways. Tattered, drink-everything-but-the-carpet bar tunes that surge forward like a damn train wreck is the name of the game here. Sounding like they're just holding it together yet doing it so amazingly, Titus Andronicus plays indie music as if its an axe and punk music as if its a comforting pillow. Its flailing and jagged, buzz sawed to perfection with Springsteen inspired riffing and shoe gazing being thrown in your face. Whats interesting is the thicker sound they lay on at times, especially in the opening track; the distorted yet uplifting manner brings to mind, of all things, Dinosaur Jr... or "Pinkerton" era Weezer.
I think I've written enough. I love this band! I truly do! And I hope you do to.
Stay Free!

01 - A More Perfect Union
02 - Titus Andronicus Forever!
03 - No Future Part Three; Escape From No Future
04 - Richard II
05 - A Pot In Which To Piss
06 - Four Score And Seven
07 - Theme From Cheers
08 - To Old Friends And New
09 - ...And Ever
10 - The Battle Of Hampton Roads

DL Link here!

The Jesus and Mary Chain - "Psychocandy"

Its hard to describe this album without falling to ridiculous hyper-bole, but I will try.
Few people have ever been able to tap the conscience of man like this band. Without trying to hard or to little, this album was -and still is- incredible, blunt, raw, and yet still earnestly refined. The lyrics continue to intigue me; its the kind of stuff I could comfortably read as written poetry as well as lyrics. "Too many things move fast, I can;t quite get a grip at last" they sing on my favorite track, "Taste the Floor." And it honestly leaves me speechless, how they are able to say so much while still saying so little. Soundwise, this album is a slightly surreal blend of alt and post punk, playing a fuzzed out wall of noise that is controlled by ingenious melodies well hidden underneath all the chaos. This is an amazing album, I hope you love it.

1."Just Like Honey"
2."The Living End"
3."Taste the Floor"
4."The Hardest Walk"
5."Cut Dead"
6."In a Hole"
7."Taste of Cindy"
8."Never Understand"
9."Inside Me"
10."Sowing Seeds"
11."My Little Underground"
12."You Trip Me Up"
13."Something's Wrong"
14."It's So Hard"

DL Link here!

Cymbals Eat Guitars - "Why There Are Mountains"

This little gem of lo-fi, shogaze, and indie is a treasure to behold. I learned of CEG through an interview with the lead singer of Titus Andronicus and the melodically driven wall of noise that they play has had me hooked since the moment I first heard it. At time's delirously happy and at others just plain weird, "Why There Are Mountains" is an album perfect for contemplation... or a good walk. It can be backround music, or it can be truly dissected and appreciated. The lyrics are gloriously trippy, the textures are softened yet hard, and the sound bounces happily between walls of noise and rushes of melody. This is such a cool album, and I hope you like it.

1. "And The Hazy Sea"
2. "Some Tree's"
3. "Indianna"
4. "Cold Spring"
5. "Share"
6. "What Dogs See"
7. "Wind Phoenix"
8. "The Living North"
9. "Like Blood Does"

DL Link here!

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!

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!

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