Streetlight Manifesto - "Everything Goes Numb"

As far as third wave ska goes, it doesnt get much better then Streetlight Manifesto.
Taking the manic energy of punk and putting an extremly talented brass line behind it while playing in what sounds like fast forward, its hard not to get up and start skanking whenever I hear these guys. I saw them live not to long ago and I dont think I'll ever forget it, the bearded sax player doing scissor kicks, the doc martin boots I kept getting to the face, the massive sing alongs. Formed from the remains of Catch 22 and in my opinion, far better.... Streetlight Manifesto isn't a band you should miss! Enjoy!

01- Everything Went Numb
02- That'll be the Day
03- Point/Counterpoint
04- If and When We Rise Again
05- A Better Place, A Better Time
06- We are The Few
07- Falling, Falling
08- Here's To Life
09- A Moment of Silence
10- A Moment of Violence
11- The Saddest Song
12- The Big Sleep

Download it Here!

Blackbird Raum - "Under the Starling Host"

Formed by a nucleus of anarchist squatters and hobo's, Blackbird Raum is what happens when a bunch of folks to poor to afford electricity want to play anarchist punk music. Utilizing bathtub basses, banjos, acoustic guitars and a whole lotta stank, this band somehow defies that label "folk punk" that I so nostalgically apply to many bands. Instead, they sit in a far darker place; refusing the old time memry's of there peers, they play entirely original tunes rather then Woody Guthrie covers. They jump from sea shanty like hyms to fast, gypsy like howling polkas. Witches, poison, malice and politics dominates there lyrical content.
Like the old gypsy lady winking at you from her porch, Blackbird Raum is entirely unsettling... and intriguing as fuck.

01 - Turning away
02 - Catherine's wheel
03 - Lucasville
04 - All turning backs in the meadow and wait while bones are thrown
05 - To the barricades!
06 - William
07 - The helm of ned kelly
08 - Crumbs
09 - Snare
10 - Ensemble suicide
11 - Old one eye
12 - Conquest of bread
13 - A rat in my dream
14 - Path of raven

DL Link here!

Tunng - "And Then We Saw The Land"

Dontcha love it when a band can simultainiously make you think, and put your mind at ease?
Paradoxical, I know. But so is combining electronica with folk, yet Tunng does just that. With style.
This charming blend of simple chords and wrap-around textures is exactly the kinda thing that goes down well with tea, or a bike ride. Anything that soothes the soul, because these guys do that in spades! I really hope you like it!

01. Hustle
02. It Breaks
03. Don't Look Down Or Back
04. The Roadside
05. October
06. Sashimi
07. With Whiskey
08. By Dusk They Were In The City
09. These Winds
10. Santiago
11. Weekend Away

DL Link here!

Movie Soundtrack - "Les Triplettes De Belleville"

This may seem like an odd listen.. and don't worry, because it totally is. In fact, this soundtrack to the french animation movie of the same name is such a surreal treat of an album that I guerentee it will get stuck in your head for days, its gypsy like rythms and smooth jazz work leaving a creepishly awesome mark in your brain.
I got my first taste of this album when I watched the animated movie in question for the first time. The movie relied so heavily on its music rather then dialogue that it was impossible not to get into it, and let me tell you, its pretty fucking rad. Smooth jazz, freaky folk, up tempo swing, gypsy madness, and an overall sour taste that is just to sweet to resist. I highly recomend giving the movie a try by the way. The fact that its in french makes no difference, due to its silent nature.
I was actually in a play recently that utilized quite a few tracks from this soundtrack. Its a bizarre and insanely catchy treat, download and feel a little wicked my friends!

1. Sous Le Pont (1:51)
2. Belleville Rendez-Vous (French version
3. Générique D'ouverture
4. Cabaret D'ouverture
5. Tour De France
6. Attila Marcel
7. Thème Bruno
8. Tout Doux Bruno
9. Belleville Rendez-Vous (Maquette)
10. Thème De La French Mafia
11. Bach A La Jazz
12. Cabaret Aspirateur
13. La Jungle De Belleville
14. Barbier " Cieco, Cieco"
15. Pa Pa Pa Palavas
16. Retour De La French Mafia
17. Filiature
18. Poursuite
19. Belleville Rendez-Vous (English version)

DL Link here!

Elliott Smith - "Either/Or"

Alot of people see Elliott Smith as another doe eyed folk artist, with his share of problems and basic knowledge of a fretboard. The fact that he killed himself just amplifies this. But I see Smith as far more then that. I see him as a man who could make no sense of his soul, a house of mirrors within his own head. Music was his way of testing the grounds and attempting to figure it all out. Nothing else made sense to him, so he just wrote was on his mind. I know I've been there, personally; you sit and suddenly your vision goes blurry, your heart ambushes you, and the only thing that can bring clarity is a heart baring hour or so with a musical instrument. I'm pretty sure everyone has been there! Ultimately, nothing could bring sense to the maze of Elliott Smith's soul and he stabbed himself. However, I like to imagine writing some of this music led him somewhere farther along his personal path. Elliott Smith may have been a lost soul, but I sincerely hope he occasionally found the right footsteps.
I could have picked any of his albums and comfortably posted it, but I chose "Either/Or" because of one song, "2:45 A.M."

1."Speed Trials"
2."Alameda"
3."Ballad of Big Nothing"
4."Between the Bars"
5."Pictures of Me"
6."No Name No. 5"
7."Rose Parade"
8."Punch and Judy"
9."Angeles"
10."Cupid's Trick"
11."2:45 AM"
12."Say Yes"

DL Link here!

Artist of the Month; Fornskog

DIY in the truest sense of the word, "Fornskog" is one of the solo projects run and operated by local musician (and good friend of mine) Phil Feiss. Self recorded, self produced, and self sufficient, Phil plays every instrument and screams every single howl of this amazing and atmospheric black metal project. Its clear even after one listen that this is powerful and driven music.
The music is like a glance into a soul, intricate and complicated with overpowering themes and beliefs. At times as calming as a walk through the woods and at other times as harsh as winter cold, Fornskog is music to immerse yourself in. To lose yourself to. Grinding hatred contrasts with soothing peace, walls of noise crash upon the framework of gentle guitar, and it all comes down too the haunting howls that Phil supplies on most songs. This is seriously incredible music. It's true, honest, and dark. I don't even want to compare it with other bands, so I will simply describe it as grinding black metal with folk and traces of ambience. But really, those are just labels; Listen for yourself to figure it out!
Phil's "fuck the industry" stance lends itself to the innate truth of his music, clear in the fact that he literally does everything himself from promotion to instrumentation. Hell, he even objects to the inevitable advertising that every band does in the comments section of a myspace page. I was even lucky enough to be supplied with the entire unreleased (and only recently mastered!) new Fornskog EP to share as a free download by Phil himself, further proving that the music of Fornskog is a statement of artistry rather then a tool of profit or gimmickry. Hopefully Phil takes it upon himself to assemble a live line-up but a part of me hopes it stays this personal! It's a refreshing blast of air to see such a real musician making his own impact, without a care for what others think.

Check out the Fornkog myspace here!


Fornskog - "Reflections of the Autumnal Wane" EP

1. "Wane of Sowilo"
2. "The Great Autumn"
3. "Voices of the Old Winds (Murmurs of Gnosis Lost)"
4. "Where Darkness is Lord and Death the Beginning (Inquisition Cover)"
5. "Outtro"

DL Link here!

Canada Day!

Happy Canada Day! I decided to upload a few of my favorite canadian records for today! Hope you dig em!

Chad Vangaalen - "Soft Airplane"




Chad makes the most thought provoking music. Based out of Calgary, he makes and distributes most of his art/music from home, and you can feel the heartfelt pressence on this CD! Spacy indie folk with the occasional synthesizer thrown in for good measure, this album is the kind of album you just wanna sit down and listen to; it works as backround music, but you'll wanna just soak in the music, close your eyes and be taken to another place.

DL Link!

Funeral Circle - "Sinister Sacrilege"



Funeral Circle destroys. Formed in Vancouver, they play a REALLY rad for of traditional heavy/doom metal, calling to mind Pentagram, The Sword and Black Sabbath. This album sounds straight outta the 80's! Heavy riffs, dissonant vocals, and an overall crushing feel. Keep it heavy!

DL Link!

Wednesday Night Heroes - "Superiority Complex"



I got no shame in calling myself a HUGE WNH fan! Having seen them three times and owning two of their cd's, I really love the street-punk-with-style music they play. Based outta Edmonton, these guys really kick ass and clearly love what they do. Listen and learn to love!

DL Link!


Stay free friends!