mp3: Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band -- "Leaving Trails" & more

mp3: Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band -- "Leaving Trails"

Seems deeper, maybe more fuzzed, maybe less playful than the previous release, though no big changes. Still a good song. Their s/t was one of my faves in 2009, this time around I hope they get the recognition they deserve. Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band's new album, Where The Messengers Meet, is out in August.

mp3: Sunglasses -- "Whiplash"
Really like this band from GA. Get another mp3 "Stand Fast" here.

mp3: Woodsman -- "When The Morning Comes"

mp3: The New Loud -- "Wrapped in Plastic"
mp3: CAW! CAW! -- “Sons of Sons of Saviors”
mp3: Banquets -- "Eleanor, I Need A Garden!"
mp3: Bellflur -- "Insect Politics"







More after the jump...

mp3: Caddywhompus - "Let The Water Hit The Floor"

mp3: Caddywhompus - "Let The Water Hit the Floor"

New Orleans' Caddywhompus. Crazy name, amazing results.

New album Remainder from Community Records hits May 11.

More to come after I fully digest this goodness.


More after the jump...

mp3s: Discover America, Fol Chen, The Antlers, The Shondes & more

mp3: Discover America - "Force of Proper Wind"

Discover America's new album Future Paths hit yesterday.

Chris Staples of Discover America = former Twothirtyeight.

Think David Bazan, John Ralston, Damian Jurado.

Discover America = Lujo Records.

Other most excellent mp3s:



mp3: Fol Chen "In Ruins"

mp3: The Antlers - "Two (Buffetlibre remix)"

mp3: Jesus Makes The Shotgun Sound - "Do Not The Clothes Make The Man"

mp3: Windsor for Derby - "Queen of the Sun"

mp3: Cartridge - "Black Roads"

mp3: The Shondes - "Nothing Glows"

mp3: Goonies Never Say Die - "Paul"

mp3: Spirituals - "Wanderings"

More after the jump...

mp3s: Free Electric State, Ducktails, Ash Reiter, Beach Fossils & more

mp3: Free Electric State "Darkest Hour"

Noisy shoe gaze & slow dazed grunge is what Free Electric State is.

This is true: they're from Durham, they're on Churchkey Records (home of HNMTF!) and their new album Caress was released April 20. Find it, buy it.


Other mp3s:

mp3: Brad Senne "Golden"
mp3: Ducktails "Mirror Image"
mp3: Ash Reiter "Paper Diamonds"
mp3: Gareth Dickson "Noon"
mp3: Indian Jewelry "Oceans"
mp3: Beach Fossils "Youth"

More after the jump...

New Dosh mp3s, tour dates and album details

mp3: Dosh "Yer Face"
mp3: Dosh (with Andrew Bird) "Number 41"
mp3: Dosh "Subtractions"

Fuzzy funk with a country-twang? Sounds ridiculous until you find out the man behind these songs is Martin Dosh. Usually I like my stuff more rock and roll than this, but I'm getting more into this audiophile experimentation stuff.

Known for impeccable arrangements along with his collaborations & touring with Andrew Bird, looks like Dosh is working up something nice for the April 13 release of Tommy.

Track listing and tour dates after the jump...



Dosh
Tommy
(Anticon)
Street Date: April 13, 2010

1. Subtractions
2. Yer Face
3. Number 41
4. Town Mouse
5. Loud
6. Airlift
7. Country Road X
8. Call The Kettle
9. Nevermet
10. Gare de Lyon

Tour dates (southeast dates in bold)

Fri 04/09/10 Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry
Sat 04/10/10 Minneapolis, MN - Macphail Center For Music
Sun 04/11/10 Minneapolis, MN - Bedlam Theatre
Wed 04/14/10 Milwaukee, WI - Cactus Club
Thu 04/15/10 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
Fri 04/16/10 Pontiac, MI - Pike Room
Sat 04/17/10 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Tavern
Sun 04/18/10 Toronto, ON - Drake Hotel
Tue 04/20/10 Montreal, QC - Casa Del Popolo
Wed 04/21/10 Allston, MA - Great Scott
Thu 04/22/10 Brooklyn, NY - Union Hall
Fri 04/23/10 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
Sat 04/24/10 Philadelphia, PA - Kungfu Necktie
Sun 04/25/10 Washington, DC - DC9
Tue 04/27/10 Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle
Wed 04/28/10 Atlanta, GA - 529
Thu 04/29/10 New Orleans, LA - Circle Bar
Fri 04/30/10 Austin, TX - Emo's
Sat 05/01/10 Denton, TX - Hailey's
Mon 05/03/10 Tucson, AZ - Solar Culture
Tue 05/04/10 Tempe, AZ - Sail Inn
Wed 05/05/10 Los Angeles, CA - Echo
Thu 05/06/10 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill
Sat 05/08/10 Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios
Sun 05/09/10 Seattle, WA - High Dive
Tue 05/11/10 Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge
Wed 05/12/10 Denver, CO - Hi-Dive
Thu 05/13/10 Omaha, NB - Waiting Room





More after the jump...

review: Communipaw - Communipaw

Communipaw
S/T
Self-released, 2010
Review by Josh Rank

Communipaw: "Take Over"
Communipaw: "2:23"
Download the album free here...

As soon as the album started, I breathed a sigh of relief. It’s much easier, and more enjoyable, to review an album that doesn’t suck. Countless listens and paying close attention can get pretty annoying when you don’t like what you’re hearing. Luckily, Communipaw’s self-titled release is one such case that makes the process enjoyable.

“The Morning Hours,” the album’s opening track introduces us to the melancholy mood that permeates throughout the album. The guitar lines, rhythm section, and vocals, are all presented in a laid back manner that eventually crescendos towards the end which leads into the upbeat second track, “Take Over.”

The album flows like this all the way until the end. Each track compliments the next which makes it feel like a full album as opposed to a collection of songs. Many spices color the songs and fill them out beyond a simple guitar, bass, drums, and vocals set-up. Various effect-laden guitars pop in and out in songs like “I Admit” to add an atmospheric element to it that makes it feel thicker. Turn it up loud and it feels like the song is hugging you.

The songs range from the heavily-acoustic “I Don’t Want To Die,” which has a bit of a Radiohead-vibe to it, to the danceable “Black Tambourine,” which seems to draw an influence from surf-rock. It’s this variety in tempo and beat that make the album easy to listen to in one sitting. The melancholy mood pervades throughout, but the presentation changes enough to keep your interest fresh.

Although the songs are well-written and enjoyable to listen to, they aren’t the most original. This is the only gripe I have with the album. There’s nothing ground-breaking or brand new here. However, this doesn’t really matter. The songs are written and performed well enough that it’s easy to look past this one flaw.

I feel like this album would be great to listen to on a sunny, summer day with the windows rolled down and your arm hanging in the wind. Overall, I’d put this album in the “Get it with the extra money from your tax return,” category. It’s not essential enough to buy right away and be late for paying the electric bill, but it is an album that would be nice to have around.

More after the jump...

Swing South: Dear Landlord / Off With Their Heads

Dear Landlord: "I Live In Hell"
Dear Landlord: "Heartbroken Handshakes"

Need to order this album, because according to respected sources, it is the greatest since sliced bread. Late 90s punk reinvented and reinvigorated. Dear Landlord is from Illinois but on Gainesville's No Idea Records. They end their trip at the Harvest of Hope Fest in St. Augustine, FL which I need to do a bigger write-up on.

Also on the tour is Off With Their Heads from Minnesota. Deeper and darker.

Off With Their Heads - "Keep Falling Down" from Mario Framingheddu on Vimeo.

Both bands hit Atlanta tomorrow. The rest of the southern tour dates are listed below...


Mar 3 2010
8:00P
The Drunken Unicorn w/Off With Their Heads Atlanta, Georgia

Mar 4 2010
8:00P
Transistions Art Gallery w/ Off With Their Heads Tampa, Florida

Mar 5 2010
8:00P
The Atlantic w/ Off With Their Heads Gainesville, Florida

Mar 6 2010
8:00P
Churchills w/ off with their heads Miami, Florida

Mar 7 2010
4:30P
Backbooth w/ Off With Their Heads (early show) Orlando, Florida

Mar 8 2010
8:00P
Filthy McNasty’s w/ off with their heads vero beach, Florida

Mar 12 2010
8:00P
Harvest of Hope Fest St. Augustine, Florida

Mar 13 2010
8:00P
Harvest of Hope Fest St. Augustine, Florida

Mar 14 2010
8:00P
Harvest of Hope Fest St. Augustine, Florida
More after the jump...

Friday Five: 5 Favorite Florida Bands

Did this once before with North Carolina bands, but Florida is deep and wide. So all of the bands have the qualifier of "right now." There is no blood from surfers, no people that I'm against! and all of this is subject to change if Further Seems Forever gets back together in the next 24 hours...

5) Have Gun Will Travel





Part St. Pete bar band, part Americana innovators, Have Gun Will Travel's Postcards From A Friendly City was recently adopted by Suburban Home Records. No excuse not to find these guys.

4) Only Thieves





Greetings From Levy Park, the Only Thieves rocking debut is so good, but I originally thought they were from Jersey. Guess it was the album title. Have no fear, they rock it right in Tallahassee, snap!

3) Mouse Fire



Mouse Fire: "This Is How I throw My Slider"

I got Wooden Teeth when someone accidentally gave it to me. I soon realized how much Lujo Records and I see eye to eye. Word is, new album from Lakeland's Mouse Fire in May.

2) Look Mexico




Look Mexico: "You're Not Afraid of The Dark Are You?"

This kind of messes up my list, because according to this article most of the band is moving to Texas next week. Surprisingly, their old stuff is lighter and more mature than their new stuff, which is more straight ahead punkish-rock. Soon, indie rock kids at Florida State will say..."Look Mexico was so chill. We used to hang out with them all the time before they were on the radio..." Their new album comes out in March. See their tour dates here.

1) John Ralston



John Ralston: "Fragile"

I just discovered John Ralston in the last few months, but I knew John Ralston. A Legends of Rodeo song popped up on iTunes and I was like, "dang they are so legendary...what happened to them? To where have they RECESSed?"

Soon, I found the John Ralston MySpace page and hooked myself up with the album Sorry Vampire. It came out a few years ago, and he's had an EP since then...but expect more becaue my THEORY is that he's heating up again.

Honorable Mention: Holiday Shores, Greenland is Melting
More after the jump...

review: Worker Bee Tangler

Worker Bee
Tangler
Side With Us Records, 2009

Worker Bee: "Nesting"
Worker Bee: "No Dreams"

Review by Andrew Jones

I must admit that I wasn't crazy about Tangler at first, but the chorus of the first song, "Come Back," got stuck in my head after a few listens. Seriously, it got really stuck in there, to the point where I just had to listen to the song again. About the second or third re-listen through, I realized that I liked "Come Back" so much because its chorus reminded me of the one in another song called "Come Back," this one by the Misfits. Yeah, kinda weird.

Aside from the fact that the phrase, "come back" is held out during the choruses in both songs, the two tunes have no relation. Also, Worker Bee and the Misfits--in so many ways--have nothing in common. Nevertheless, that chorus pulled me in, got me to listen to Tangler again, and I liked what I heard.

I guess it'd be most accurate to call what Worker Bee is doing post-rock, but they're definitely forging their own way. When I finished listening to the album a few times, I kept thinking about Slint and the Walkmen. So for those keeping score at home, in structure and terms of sonic range, I think these might be fair comparisons.

Returning to the opener of Tangler, "Come Back" struts along on a nice back beat and super catchy guitar riff that is partly pleasant but also a little haunting--suited to the longing in the lyrics. The moody atmosphere of this track sets the stage for the rest of the album, which stays sort of murky and soft at the edges throughout.

One of the stand out tracks on the record, "Nesting," chugs along on a clock tick beat and sinister bass line that sneak along before coming to satisfying crashes over echoing guitar lines. The players create a nice sense of anticipation towards the end of the song as they slow things down, trading measures back and forth between drums and guitars. They even toss in some bells towards the track's close, creating a nice texture, before slamming the music to a halt.

"Lip Service" and "No Dreams" both ride along on dreamy, almost math-y guitar riffs that shine over staccato drum beats. Both of these tracks remind me a bit of Radiohead. The guitars on "No Dreams" are particularly beautiful, but the band interrupts these lilting lines with hard edged sonic smashes before settling into a soothing riff that carries the song to its close.

The vocals on the album are interesting. Singer Evan Jewett has a distinctive and deep voice that is certainly unique, though not particularly versatile. However, the songs are suited sonically and in mood with his vocals. Moreover, throughout the album, he succeeds in making up for this lack of range with how emotive he manages to be (listen: "Cold Rats").

Throughout the album there are hints of great promise and a lot of originality from this San Jose quartet. Worker Bee has really put together a solid and intriguing effort.

More after the jump...

Music Blog-o-cide of 2k10

Been on Twitter all day about the great "Music Blog-o-cide of 2k10."

Big music review/ mp3 site Pop Tarts Suck Toasted was unceremoniously ousted off Blogger yesterday for reasons not completely clear yet but is now back up and running.

I Rock Cleveland posted on a Blogger forum that all of their music was licensed.

I was thinking of doing an MP3 post today, Blogger be damned! (Okay, I already downloaded an XML backup file....)



Small Black: "Despicable Dogs" (good song)

Glimr: "Sunburned at Midnight"

Blue Brain: "Ten by Ten"

Linfinity: "MSG"

Southerly: "Trials"

A Weather: "Giant Stairs"

Borrowed Eyes: "Slaves"

Cuckoo Chaos: "Slowly Counting Down to Nothing"

Gobotron: "Never Turn Around"



More after the jump...

review: Los Campesinos! Romance is Boring

(Ed. note: Give a hearty handclap of intro to Quentin Kenny. Hopefully he'll appear around here more often than not. Follow him on Twitter here. Also, remember that time Los Campesinos! called us out on Twitter???)



Los Campesinos!
Romance is Boring
Arts & Crafts, 2010
Review by Quentin Kenny

Los Campesinos!: "There Are Listed Buildings"
Los Campesinos!: "The Sea Is A Good Place To Think of The Future"

This one is simple really: if you liked Los Campesinos! before, then you’ll like their newest, Romance is Boring. Probably a lot. Probably more with each listen. And if you didn’t like them before, this record isn’t going to change your mind. Yeah, that’s a mindless way to start a review (hey, it’s my first day here!) but the sentiment behind it feels oddly foreign in a scene where young artists reach levels of popularity incongruous with their level of experience or talent.

Undoubtedly, there’s growth and maturity and an expansion of sound on Romance is Boring, but those things that define why you feel the way you do about the family Campesinos are still present as well and once again those are the things that stand out. There's the overblown relationship drama, which lends itself to visions of kids using his own lyrics for the sort of bathroom scribblings Gareth himself decries on "We've Got Your Back." There are the accompanying explosions of sound that play like freak-outs, often before leading into massive multi-voiced harmonies.

Underneath it all still bubbles that domineering sense of emotion, ready to detonate at any time. And it's those moments that keep alive the band-despised notion that their music is "twee." (ed: see Twitter intro reference). The label no longer truly fits, but that doesn't make it any easier to ignore.

Amidst all that which reads and can sound like frivolity though, it’s tough to shake the impression that these guys know precisely what they’re doing. Or that what might come across as cacophony is instead quite calculated and reveals only and exactly what the band desires.

Halfway through the great opener, “In Media Res”, there’s a breakdown that does nothing if not reinforce the fact that these kids know more about their influences than I’ll ever begin to comprehend about those same bands. And there’s a subtlety of experience, manifest in how Gareth switches up the cadence in using “inevitably” during the choruses to the immediate favorite “Straight in at 101.”

Unsurprisingly, near every song has at least one of those trademark moments that cause goosebumps. It might come immediately after or during one of those eruptions, but it always demands to be replayed, sung along with at max volume, lingering hours after the stereo has been turned off as you realize you're still humming it. Moments such as the aforementioned breakdown in the opener, the opening plea of “Straight in at 101”, the gang vocals that close the record, or essentially any time a female voice emerges.

Those moments are everywhere and they raise up songs that heretofore felt throwaway. They are the comedown after the blast, but in that composure lies the true vitality of the song. So maybe it isn't necessary that Los Campesinos! always have a method behind their supposed madness, they certainly know how to throw 30 seconds together to make the question inconsequential.

Much has been made, and justifiably so, about Romance is Boring being the third album in 18 months for the band. The more important idea therein may be the rarity of any band making music this fun, this good, and this uncompromisingly emotional so consistently.

Hyperbole and affability aside, Los Campesinos! and their sound continue to grow. And by now, you’re either with them or you’re missing out.
More after the jump...

mp3s: Dirty Little Heaters, Pianos Become The Teeth, We Are Wolves & more

Dirty Little Heaters: "City Square"

Durham, NC's Dirty Little Heaters is punk rock to the max. Their new album Champions of Imperfection will come out via Churchkey Records (home to Hammer No More The Fingers) on February 22nd.

Their new track is called "City Square." Rock it and their cd release party is Feb. 20th with Red Collar, Pink Flag, and Magician Michael Casey at Local 506 in Chapel Hill.

Pianos Become The Teeth: "Filial"
(review of this coming soon, for sure! good post-hardcore stuff...)

Princeton: "Shout it Out (Fol Chen Remix)"

Black Tambourine: "For Ex-Lovers Only"

We Are Wolves: "Blue"

Mighty Tiger: "33 1/3"

Rykarda Parasol: "A Drinking Song"

The Tallest Man on Earth: "King of Spain"



More after the jump...

mp3s: Fang Island, LANTERNS, Hooray For Earth & more

Fang Island: "Daisy"
Fang Island: "Life Coach"

Fang Island--like an echo chamber in a high-tech tinfoil cage. Their EP "Daisy" is out. It includes some Yeasayer mess too.

The Beets: "What Did I Do?"

Hooray For Earth: "Surrounded By Your Friends"

Brother Gruesome "Naked Girls"
(This is not metal sounding like the name indicates)

A Classic Education: "What My Life Could Have Been"

Summer Dregs: "A"

LANTERNS.: "Midnight Psalms (Alright!)


More after the jump...

mp3s: Worker Bee, Extra Life, Empire! Empire!, White Hinterland

Worker Bee "No Dreams"

Maybe Sonic Youth, maybe Death Cab. Think I might pick up their new album, Tangler. You can do the same at Bandcamp.

Extra Life: "Pay Up The Ladder"
Growsound: "Wet Highway"
White Hinterland "Icarus"
The Besnard Lakes "Albatross"
Empire! Empire! "What Safe Means" More after the jump...

mp3s: The Octagon, Adam Green, Dragon Turtle, We Are Wolves, Barzin, Why Write?

The Octagon: "Suicide Kings"

Read Zach Mexico's book earlier this year, now here comes a release from his band, The Octagon. Their new single is "Suicide Kings" and will be on their January release, Warm Love and Cool Dreams Forever from Serious Business Records.

The Octagon is embarking on an early year tour with dates on their MySpace page.



Adam Green: ""What Makes Him Act So Bad"

Dragon Turtle: "Island of Broken Glass"

We Are Wolves: "Holding Hands"

Barzin: "Look What Love Has Turned Us Into"

Why Write?: "Burning Holes"

More after the jump...

mp3s: Capgun Coup, The Bravery, PJ Bond, Tim Williams, Motherhips & more

Capgun Coup: "Sitting on the Sidewalk"

Enjoying the few songs I've heard from Capgun Coup's new album, Maudlin. Released last week from Team Love, the Omaha group spent some time in the famed Hotel Frank making some nice lo-fi, complemented with some cool 60s surf vibes. I thought of Birds of Avalon, Be Your Own Pet, The Vivian Girls and Times New Viking (gotta stop posting about them). Maybe they're all similar in style rather than substance.

Check Capgun Coup here at Team Love and on MySpace. Also on tour this fall with Cursive.

The Bravery: "Spectator"

PJ Bond: "You, Too"

Best Coast: "When I'm With You"



Hurricane Bells: "This Year"

Motherhips: "White Falcon Fuzz"

Midnight Masses: "Walk on Water"

Will Stratton: "Your California Sky"

Golden Shoulders "Mountain"

Tim Williams "Murderous Air"

More after the jump...

Swing South: Times New Viking

Times New Viking: "Move To California"

Love the amped-up lo-fi. Love Times New Viking. From their MySpace "Sounds Like" section:

Breath in: snuff a line speed, a half hour jump on your cheap amplifiers, salad yet once a half hour with you yet cheaper guitar against the wall. Write eleven popliedjes, lay the emphasis on cryptic and forget everything your song teacher you ever learned has. Seek your neighbor girl on and tell her that your musics will make...

Seriously, what else can I say?
Hitting up a slew of southern dates...more after the jump.



Nov. 10 Black Owl Trading Company Florence, AL
Nov. 11 Bottletree Birmingham, AL
Nov. 12 Star Bar Atlanta
Nov. 13 Local 506 Chapel Hill
Nov. 14 Sonar Baltimore


More after the jump...

Sleep Bellum Sono reminds me of something nutty, like The Paper Chase or a stripped down Mars Volta. New album, Judge Us By How We Lived Our Lives, Not By How We Made A Living popping soon.

Sleep Bellum Sono: "A House Of Spades Stands No Chance Against The Wind (Gambler)"


Bellflur: “Grey Sparkle Finnish Pig”

Tim Williams: "Murderous Air"

Little Girls:"Growing"

Lissie: "Little Lovin'"

Field Music: "Measure"

Real Estate: "Beach Comber"
More after the jump...