Saturday, October 4, 2008

The Fiery Furnaces

My new favorite band. Well, not really, but I just recently got into them and think they're pretty ace. I know, I know, I'm late in the hipster-Pitchfork-bandwagon. I did definitely heard of them back then, I just didn't actually listen the first time. Should anyone care? No. On to the music!

As most people already know, The Fiery Furnaces are the oddball brother and sister duo of Matthew and Eleanor Friedberger, joined live by Jason Loewenstein (of Sebadoh fame), Bob D'Amico, and Michael Goodman. They're Brooklyn based but came from the suburbs of Chitown. They pump out weird indie music that's a feast to listen to. And I think I read somewhere that there's a rumor that Eleanor is going out with that Alex Kapranos dude of faggy Franz Ferdinand. Whatevs, it doesn't matter. Listen to their first album, Gallowsbird's Bark, and be caught on the Furnaces' awesome mishmash of lush goodness, original songwriting, dirty blues passages, and clever wordplay... back when they were yet to be affected by the buzz they got afterward.

Also I would like to add that Eleanor looks like a hot version of Feist. And our boy Matt has this strange John Mayer vibe going on. I fucking hate John Mayer.


The Fiery Furnaces - Gallowsbird's Bark















download here

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Giant Drag

Surprise motherfucker! That's mostly directed to Francis, the dude running Enjoy the Teeth (amongst other things). I'm officially fulfilling my job as a contributor to this site, because quite frankly, I have zilch to do and my friend who was suppose to be here right now drinking and watching Frisky Dingo with me stood me up yet again (way to not answer your phone PJ, you cunt).

Anyway, enough of my trite meanderings. On to the music...

Ah Annie, how we love thee. Since I've been snooping around the interwebs (with no such luck) for Giant Drag's acoustic session in GTFU Radio (an awesome internet radio program with Annie... listen to that here) I thought why not share their Hearts and Unicorns album to the uninitiated.

First off, Giant Drag is Annie Hardy. It used to be Annie Hardy and Micah Calabrese, but Micah just recently quit the band. So its just Annie now. Giant Drag plays awesome music period, and tagging it with a lame as shit genre like nu-grunge or some other NME-ism would be a great disservice, it would be better if you listen to it yourself, then call me later thanking me because you just found a band that saved your life. Un-mopey indie rock that's in your face and not singing about "the new year" or "NYC" or all those other indie fag fanfare. Take for example their song YFLMD (You Fuck Like My Dad -- probably the best song title ever): a repetitive, distorted guitar that pierces during the verse, paired with sudden bursts of noise, both from Annie's guitar and Micah's drums and synth combo (you should see him do it, its really fucking good), it can only be described as "dancey," that is if your idea of dancing is filled with heroine needles. Junkie indie rock it is!

She was just recently been dropped from Interscope's faux indie label Kickball Records, and she's a better person because of it. Goes to show how major labels would fuck you in the ass the first chance they would get (sidenote: yes that's WOULD, because I'm sure as hell that they'll get the chance as soon as you sign your soul on that dotted line). Although, knowing Annie's stance against "piracy," I know she won't like you, the listener, to be getting her music through the internet "illegally." But hey, since she won't get paid for Giant Drag's major label debut (and hopefully, reassuringly, last) she won't be pissed if you download this indie gem off from this site. That is if you buy stuff off her hands in Giant Drag's ebay store. Or if you have deep pockets, you could totally donate money to the Giant Drag Relief Fund so she could make another album (an EP is on the works with the help of gracious fans, friends, enablers, etc.) and you know, eat. So go do that homeboy, I would, but I have zero bucks right now. Although, in my defense, I'm sending her an email right after I finish this post asking if she'll be cool with pesos rather than dollars. Yes, I'm serious. I actually support and help out bands that deserve to be helped. You better do the same. Let's help save rock and roll and save Giant Drag, and in turn, save ourselves.

PS. The hyperliterate mothereffers in the My Bloody Valentine forums were trashing GD because some backwards publications were comparing them to their beloved band-crush. No.1 if you're too much of a dickbrain to listen to NME then I'm pretty sure you don't know jack shit about anything. And no.2, you deserve to be shot in the face. Multiple times.

PPS. There's a surprise once you finished dl-ing that shit, so get to it! Oh and remember to click on those links for GD's ebay store and relief fund and spend money when you do so. The download link isn't actually mine btw, so if ever the link dies, just leave a comment or something. I'll re-up it. I'm just too lazy to up it now myself.













download here

The Apples In Stereo

Ahhhh, today is a very special day. Someone has asked me to up this, and dear sir, your wish is my command. To our boy in Canada.




The Apples In Stereo

One of the most well-known (and still active) bands from our heroes at the Elephant 6 Collective have released another compilation of their b-sides and rarities comprised of non LP material since Fun Trick Noisemaker. It also includes Stephen Stephen, an ode to the man himself: Stephen Colbert. Download this now and listen to the songs and feel the embrace of the melodies. It also has the first Apples song I've ever heard, so this is a special release for me.


The Apples In Stereo - Electronic Projects For Musicians













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Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Screw Popstars! Mix #4: "Sunday Afternoon"

This time let's do something different. I'm posting an actual mix. Yes, one track, crossfades and all that jazz. And yes, it sounds better this way. You just can't listen to this out of the order I made it. There is some good stuff to listen to, but try and listen to this on a Sunday afternoon, and feel... god himself touching your cheeks. Yes I'm high.


Track List
1. Dead Meadow - Either Way
2. Elf Power - Spiral Stairs
3. Blitzen Trapper - Asleep For Days
4. The Vinyl Skyway - Hangin' On
5. Giant Drag - Slayer
6. CocoRosie - God Has A Voice
7. The Bye Bye Backbirds - In Every Season
8. East Village - Back Between Places
9. The Go - Smile
10. Tripping Daisy - Trip Along
11. The Green Fields - Let's Find Our Way
12. The La's - Timeless Melody
13. Pavement - Grave Architecture (Live)
14/ Sonic Youth - The Empty Page

download it here

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Greetings and Salutations

Enjoy the teeth. Enjoy the music. First post. Yes.


LOVE IN ATHENS

Love In Athens is one Francis Maria Regalado, vocalist for the filipino hardcore band Caitlyn Bailey. So far, he has two EPs under this moniker.

And I must say, I like this better than his previous solo project (Dead Chasing Daylight). He crafts catchy instrumental pop gems that work well even though they have no vocals. Bordering on post-rock, the songs have enough hooks behind the dreamy soundscapes to satisfy any lover of pop music. This is the kind of music you would want to listen to during a road trip, or a day at the park.

I will post one of the two EPs here, and yes, I have persmission from the man himself. You could also download it for free on his myspace. Listen to the music. Add him as a friend. I'm sure he'll appreciate it. Who knows, he might make a song about you.

Love In Athens - We're Always Just About To Leave EP












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The Birthday Party

Nick Cave is probably one of the best storytellers alive today. From his stuff with Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, to his solo-cum-Bad Seeds spin-off Grinderman, and to his screenplay for the amazing film "The Proposition". His stories about life, love, death, redemption. always hit a chord with listeners, readers, and viewers. This is the stuff he did before forming the Bad Seeds. Good stuff. The music, abrasive and dark, fits with Cave's songwriting. Definitely far from the Bad Seeds stuff, but the same vision and is just as good. This band is definitely one in a million. The best post-punk band ever, in my opinion. Cave, amazing guitarist Rowland S. Howard, multi-instrumentalist and Bad Seed Mick Harvey, the late Tracy Pew, and drummer Phil Calvert... the main men. Geniuses in their own right. We will never see another band like them ever again. So this is what having a mental breakdown sounds like.

The Birthday Party - Prayers On Fire














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watch The Birthday Party performing on Dutch TV