Jon Foreman - Fall & Winter EPs

Fall and Winter are the first two of four solo EP's released by Switchfoot frontman Jon Foreman. To be completely honest, I don't care much for Switchfoot. Not to say that I don't recognize their musical abilities or appreciate them for such, but I don't like them. Irrelevant? Not so much. All of that was to say that I am thoroughly impressed by the stripped down acoustic songs that Foreman has expertly crafted.

A big thank you to Devin for this one.

Fall:
1. The Cure For The Pain
2. Southbound Train
3. Lord, Save Me From Myself
4. Equally Skilled
5. The Moon Is A Magnet
6. My Love Goes Free



Winter:
1. Learning How To Die
2. Behind Your Eyes
3. Somebody's Baby
4. White As Snow
5. I Am Still Running
6. In Love

The Kinks - Lola Versus Powerman and the Money-Go-Round

I had heard of The Kinks, but had never taken the time to listen. Then, a few weeks back, my girlfriend and I [along with a few friends] were watching the Wes Anderson film, The Darjeeling Limited and I heard an incredible song. It was folky and had banjo and a great vintage sound. Little did I know that it was the song "This Time Tomorrow" by The Kinks. Immediately I began investigating and it wasn't long before I had the album in my possession.

Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround is a wonderfully written album, in the spirit of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, but with much more of a folk edge. Reminiscent of George Harrison's solo work, but catchier. Most certainly worth your time.

Tracklisting:
1. The Contenders
2. Strangers
3. Denmark Street
4. Get Back In Line
5. Lola
6. Top Of The Pops
7. The Moneygoround
8. This Time Tomorrow
9. A Long Way From Home
10. Rats
11. Apeman
12. Powerman
13. Got To Be Free
14. Lola [bonus][mono single version]
15. Apeman [demo]
16. Powerman [demo]

Highlight Tracks: "Strangers", "Denmark Street", "Lola", "This Time Tomorrow"

A. C. Newman - The Slow Wonder

The Slow Wonder is the debut solo album by A.C. Newman, of The New Pornographers and Zumpano fame, released in 2004 on Matador Records. If, by chance, you're expecting Newman's solo venture to be anything like The New Pornographers, then you may find yourself disappointed. You will not find Neko Case or Dan Bejar on this record, as it is founded more in straight-up rock and indie genres.

I couldn't tell you why, but for some reason, I decided recently to listen to this album, instead of the few that remained in my current roatation, and found that I had found a new favorite. The songs are catchy and fun, but well written and don't even come close to getting old. A great album. Take my word for it.

Tracklisting:
1. Miracle Drug
2. Drink To Me, Babe
3. On The Table
4. Most Of Us Prizefighters
5. The Battle For Straight Time
6. Secretarial
7. Come Crash
8. Better Than Most
9. The Cloud Prayer
10. The Town Halo
11. 35 In The Shade

Bright Eyes - A Christmas Album

[copied from Wikipedia]

A Christmas Album is an album by Bright Eyes released in 2002. The proceeds of the album go to the Nebraska AIDS Project. The album was arranged by Conor Oberst and Maria Taylor. The performers also include Jake Bellows, Gretta Cohn, Armand Costanzo, Denver Dalley, Stefanie Drootin, Orenda Fink, Neely Jenkins, Jiha Lee, Andy LeMaster, Mike Mogis, Matt Oberst, Stephen Pedersen, Blake Sennett, Macey Taylor, and Nick White.

Tracklisting:
1. Away In A Manger
2. Blue Christmas
3. Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem
4. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
5. The First Noel
6. Little Drummer Boy
7. White Christmas
8. Silent Night
9. Silver Bells
10. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
11. The Night Before Christmas

Sufjan Stevens - Songs For Christmas

Beginning in 2001, Mr. Stevens began recording both original and re-imagined Christmas songs, and releasing one EP per year for 5 years. In the spirit of the impending holidays, I present you with all five EP's.

Songs For Christmas, Vol. 1: Noel

1. Silent Night
2. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
3. We're Goin' To The Country!
4. Lo How A Rose E'er Blooming
5. It's Christmas! Let's Be Glad!
6. Holy, Holy, etc.
7. Amazing Grace



Songs For Christmas, Vol. 2: Hark!

1. Angels We Have Heard On High
2. Put The Lights On The Tree
3. Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing
4. I Saw Three Ships
5. Only At Christmas Time
6. Once In David's Royal City
7. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!
8. What Child Is This Anyway?
9. Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella



Songs For Christmas, Vol. 3: Ding! Dong!

1. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
2. Come On! Let's Boogey To The Elf Dance!
3. We Three Kings
4. O Holy Night
5. That Was The Worst Christmas Ever!
6. All The King's Horns
7. Ding! Dong!
8. The Friendly Beasts



Songs For Christmas, Vol. 4: Joy

1. The Little Drummer Boy
2. Away In A Manger
3. Hey Guys! It's Christmas Time!
4. The First Noel
5. Did I Make You Cry On Christmas Day? (Well, You Deserved It!)
6. The Incarnation
7. Joy To The World



Songs For Christmas, Vol. 5: Peace

1. Once In David's Royal City
2. Get Behind Me, Santa!
3. Jingle Bells
4. Christmas In July
5. Lo! How A Rose E'er Blooming
6. Jupiter Winter
7. Sister Winter
8. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
9. Star Of Wonder
10. Holy, Holy, Holy
11. The Winter Solstice

The Beatles - Love

[copied from Wikipedia]

Love is a Grammy Award-winning soundtrack compilation album of music recorded by The Beatles, released in November 2006. It features music compiled and remixed for the Cirque du Soleil show of the same name. The album was produced by George Martin and his son Giles Martin, who said, "What people will be hearing on the album is a new experience, a way of re-living the whole Beatles musical lifespan in a very condensed period."

To me personally, the re-imagination of these classic Beatles songs changes the tracks from what they originally were, into how people perceive[d] them. The album is much less straight forward than the original material and feels as though all of the songs contained within were writting during the Sgt. Pepper days.

I love it.

Tracklisting:
1. Because
2. Get Back
3. Glass Onion
4. Eleanor Rigby/Julia (Transition)
5. I Am The Walrus
6. I Want To Hold Your Hand
7. Drive My Car/The Word/What You're Doing
8. Gnik Nus
9. Something/Blue Jay Way (Transition)
10. Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite!/I Want You (She's So Heavy)/Helter Skelter
11. Help!
12. Blackbird/Yesterday
13. Strawberry Fields Forever
14. Within You Without You/Tomorrow Never Knows
15. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
16. Octopus' Garden
17. Lady Madonna
18. Here Comes The Sun/The Inner Light (Transition)
19. Come Together/Dear Prudence/Cry Baby Cry (Transition)
20. Revolution
21. Back In The U.S.S.R.
22. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
23. A Day In The Life
24. Hey Jude
25. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
26. All You Need Is Love

The Welcome Wagon - Welcome To The Welcome Wagon

[Copied from www.asthmatickitty.com]

The debut album by The Welcome Wagon unveils a ramshackle sing-a-long enterprise of a Presbyterian pastor (the Rev. Vito Aiuto) and his wife (Monique) wrestling out the influences of folk music, religion, popular culture, and church tradition in a collection of songs that is as soulful as it is good-humored. This gorgeous brew is reflected in the group’s repertoire, which unflinchingly consolidates a vast history of “sacred” song traditions: from Old Testament psalms, to Presbyterian Psalters of the 17th century, to iconoclastic pop innovators of the 1960s (The Velvet Underground), to charismatic Catholics of the 1970s (Lenny Smith), and into the melancholy lovelorn pop of the 1980s (The Smiths). There are even a few originals. Armed with a particleboard parlor guitar and a plastic glockenspiel, pastor and wife stumble their way through an arresting catalog of hymns—hallowed and unholy—with the simple desire to know their Maker—and to know each other—more intimately. The result—due, in part, to producer/arranger Sufjan Stevens—is an awe-inspiring collection of hymns, pop covers, and originals that render soulful stunts from quiet skirmishes of home recordings. Gathering together a camaraderie of musical helpers (among them members of Vito’s church: a gospel choir, lap steel guitar, upright bass, and a brass ensemble), Sufjan enlivens The Welcome Wagon’s quaint haberdashery of songs with epic flourishes, drawing out allusions to honky-tonk, Broadway theater, and funk with the curatorial eye of an over-excited musicologist. The final product results in a stunning cross section of rehearsals and home recordings serendipitously captured in living rooms, churches, and home studios across Brooklyn and Queens over the course of some eight-odd years.

This album is wonderful, due mostly to the amount of liberties that it sounds like Sufjan took in the production process. I imagine that this is one that Kathryn will squeal a little about, and it may garner an eye-roll from Devin.

Tracklisting:
1. Up On A Mountain
2. Sold! To The Rich Man
3. Unless The Lord The House Shall Build
4. He Never Said A Mumblin' Word
5. Hail To The Lord's Anointed
6. But For You Who Fear My Name
7. American Legion
8. You Made My Day
9. Half A Person
10. Jesus
11. I Am A Stranger
12. Deep Were His Wounds, And Red


Part 1
Part 2

To Hold All You Animals Over...

I can't honestly say that I will be able to update very much in the near future. The power cord to my computer has decided to go on strike and now I am left with a battery that drains like a sieve and a wallet that does the same. So, in the spirit of sharing [which is the purpose of this blog], I am going to share links for the albums that have been sitting in my Mediafire account, waiting to see the light of day. More than anything, I've been waiting until I was in the mood to listen to these albums, so that I could write a fresh and honest review, rather than relying on my memory [which isn't too good]. So here you are:

Akron/Family - Akron/Family [2005]
Genre: freak folk, lo-fi
For Fans Of: Devendra Banhart, Danielson Famile

Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare [2007]
Genre: indie, rock, brit-pop
For Fans Of: The Last Shadow Puppets, Modest Mouse, The Fratellis

Cold War Kids - Robbers & Cowards [2006]
Genre: indie, piano, lo-fi
For Fans Of: Modest Mouse, Spoon, Feist

Jaguar Love - Take Me To The Sea [2008]
Genre: post-hardcore, post-rock
For Fans Of: The Blood Brothers, Neon Blonde

Of Montreal - The Sunlandic Twins [2005]
Genre: indie, dance, pop
For Fans Of: Vampire Weekend, LCD Soundsystem, The Shins

Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot [2002]
Genre: indie, rock, country
For Fans Of: Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, anything else by Wilco

The Duchess and The Duke - She's The Duchess, He's The Duke

I happened upon The Duchess and The Duke a while ago, but it wasn't until today that I [finally] was able to get my hands on their record, She's The Duchess, He's The Duke. Hands down, this is a Devin Phelps album. Listening to it, I half expect to blink my eyes and suddenly be sitting on the big orange couch in his living room, listening to this "vintage" band, while he plays Grand Theft Auto: Vice City on his PC.

Devin, I hope you enjoy this one.

Tracklisting:
1. Reservoir Park
2. Out Of Time
3. Ship Made Of Stone
4. Strangers
5. The Prisoner
6. Back To Me
7. Mary
8. You Can Tell The Truth, Now
9. I Am Just A Ghost
10. Armageddon Song

The Flaming Lips - At War With The Mystics

Lately, I'm finding that I'm getting into The Flaming Lips more and more. They're as weird as you could possibly want it, but still manage to create some of the coolest and accessible songs that you could possibly want. I'm really digging this album. Plus, it's The Flaming Lips, c'mon. Download it if only to see what all the hype's about.

Tracklisting:
1. The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song
2. Free Radicals
3. The Sound Of Failure
4. My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion
5. Vein Of Stars
6. The Wizard Turns On...
7. It Overtakes Me
8. Mr. Ambulance Driver
9. Haven't Got A Clue
10. The W.A.N.D.
11. Pompeii Am Götterdämmerung
12. Goin' On

Peter & The Wolf - Mellow Owl

I know nothing about this band other than that they make pretty great music. Feeling adventurous? Download this album. It will never win any awards or much critical acclaim, but it's still good.

Tracklisting:
1. Supermellofied
2. Moondance of Nightowl
3. Ballad Of Redhook
4. Fireflies
5. Bottle Rockettes
6. Dime Novel Afterparty
7. Trainhopper
8. City Birds
9. Fiji Boy Part VII
10. The Owl Speaks
11. This Kid I Knew
12. The Bride of S. Travels

The Honour Recital - Make You Move

If you like Head Automatica, then welcome to your new favorite band. You're welcome. If you have no idea who Head Automatica is [or The Honour Recital] then please read on:

The Honour Recital is a now defunct rock and roll band from my surrogate hometown of South Bend, IN. They are a great group of guys who, for a few years, made some great music and put on some amazing shows. They commanded the stage in a way that no other bands in the area were capable of, and they had an air of professionalism that none could touch. Destined for greatness, the band ran into some unforseeable circumstances and had to call it quits. They did, however, manage to release Make You Move before the end. Make You Move is dancy and fun, but at the same time introspective and uplifting. These guys are my friends and I could not be more proud of the time and hard work they put into this album and the career they worked so hard toward.

Tracklisting:
1. Save A Dance
2. The Love Of Gold Fades With Sinking Ships
3. The Burning Period
4. She-Devil
5. Memento Mori

Myspace

La Dispute - Somewhere At The Bottom Of The River Between Vega And Altair

To say that La Dispute sounds like mewithoutYou would be an understatement. However, to say that they are a carbon copy would be not only untrue, but unfair. In the same way that mewithoutYou's sound is similar but not the same as Rage Against The Machine's, La Dispute's sound is like mewithoutYou's. Shouted and sometimes whispered vocals over progressive and hard-hitting music, La Dispute's music is reminiscent of A to B: Life but with much more of an edge. Somewhere At The Bottom Of The River Between Vega And Altair finds these Michigan natives blending progressive, hardcore, indie, slam poetry, and tough-guy hardcore gang vocals in a dizzying display of creativity and musicianship.

I have yet to find a track on the record that I don't like.

Tracklisting:
1. Such Small Hands
2. Said The King To The River
3. New Storms For Older Lovers
4. Damaged Goods
5. Fall Down, Never Get Back Up Again
6. Bury Your Flame
7. Last Blues For Bloody Knuckles
8. The Castle Builders
9. Andria
10. Then Again, Maybe You Were Right
11. Sad Prayers For Guilty Bodies
12. The Last Lost Continent
13. Nobody, Not Even The Rain

Myspace

Iron Sky

I just yesterday stumbled upon the trailer for the upcoming online release of Iron Sky. The tagline reads: "In 1945 the Nazis fled to the moon. In 2018 they are coming back." It is a scifi film that will be released sometime in the future [hopefully sooner than later] where the Nazis fled to the dark side of the moon, to lie and wait until the right time to launch a full scale invasion of Earth. I love it. Watch the trailer and tell me that regardless of the fact that it's about space Nazis, that it won't be the best movie ever.

I think it looks brilliant!

Slow Runner - Mermaids

The other day, I was sitting at work enjoying my lunch break when, from the speaker above me I heard a wonderful sound. I ran into the back room to see who it was before the track changed. I had heard of Slow Runner before, but had never listened to them and had certainly not expected to find anything as wonderful as "The Stakes Were Raised" which is now on regular rotation at Starbucks stores across the country. Suffice it to say, I had a task before me: step 1 - find Slow Runner music online [check], step 2 - download said music [check], step 3 - share said music with my adoring public [check].

I don't know much of their music, but the more I listen, the more I love it.

Tracklisting:
1. Mermaids
2. Horse Armor
3. The Stakes Were Raised
4. Trying To Put Your Heart Back Together
5. Love and Doubt
6. She Wants To Wrap Her Legs Around The World
7. Make You Love Me
8. I'm Gonna Hate You When You Go
9. Snow Tires

Now, Now Every Children - Cars

I am going to be up front with you; I know absolutely nothing about this band. I know they're from Minnesota and that they are carving out a nice little indie-pop niche for themselves, but I couldn't tell you anything about their history or their influences. Regardless of the semantics, Now, Now Every Children is proving to be a great band, fronted by guitarist/vocalist Cacie [last name?], falling somewhere between Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin and Tegan & Sara.

Tracklisting:
1. Not One, But Two
2. Everyone You Know
3. Have You Tried
4. Sleep Through Summer
5. Friends With My Sister
6. In My Chest
7. Headlights
8. In The City
9. We Know Martha Webber
10. Little Brother
11. Cars

Noah and The Whale - Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down

There is no other word that can accurately describe Noah and The Whale better than "cute". Surprisingly enough, however, Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down has a great deal of substance to it as well, in addition to being painfully creative. It may take a little to get into this album, but then again it may grab you from the first listen. Personally, I've had it for a couple of months and have tried to listen to it a couple of times, but it wasn't until today that it grabbed me just right. The songs are folky and catchy and fun. I can see this band going places very quickly.

Tracklisting:
1. 2 Atoms In A Molecule
2. Jocasta
3. Shape Of My Heart
4. Do What You Do
5. Give A Little Love
6. Second Lover
7. 5 Years Time
8. Rocks & Daggers
9. Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down
10. Mary
11. Hold My Hand As I'm Lowered

Denison Witmer - Carry The Weight

He's one of the nicest and most underrated musicians in the singer-songwriter scene today, working alongside the likes of [and close friends with] Rosie Thomas, Damien Jurado, and Sufjan Stevens. I've seen Mr. Witmer play live a couple of times and he never disappoints and while his music teeters more toward adult contemporary, his music still has some timeless quality and is, for lack of a better word, amazing. Here is his latest album which was released just about a week ago.

Tracklisting:
1. Beautiful Boys and Girls
2. Life Before Aesthetics
3. From Here On Out
4. Carry The Weight
5. Isn't It Poetry?
6. Catholic Girl
7. Song Of Songs
8. If You Are The Writer
9. One More Day
10. Chesapeake Watershed
11. Carry The Weight (Acoustic)

Mates Of State Discography

This past Saturday, I had the pleasure of seeing Mates Of State play in Lexington. It wasn't until the release of their newest, Re-Arrange Us, that I really started paying attention to Mates; I hadn't really cared for anything else that I had heard by them. However, [and that's a big however] the show sparked enough interest in me to go back through and find their old records as well. I was able to find links for all of them but the All Day EP; if I find one I'll post it later. Download these and then go see them play whenever they come nearby, you won't be disappointed.


Mates Of State - My Solo Project (2001)


Mates Of State - Our Constant Concern (2002)


Mates Of State - Team Boo (2003)


Mates Of State - Bring It Back (2006)


Mates Of State - Re-Arrange Us (2008)

Aqueduct - I Sold Gold & Or Give Me Death

My good friend Kathryn has been asking me for Aqueduct links for a little while now, and for some reason, I am just now getting around to it. Here you are Kath, I found these links online. Should they not work, let me know and I'll try to find some new ones tomorrow.


Aqueduct - I Sold Gold (2005)
[password: album-base.blogspot.com]


Aqueduct - Or Give Me Death (2007)
[password: album-base.blogspot.com]

Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer

I realize that in some circles, this statement would be considered blasphemy, but I am not too keen on Wolf Parade's debut album Apologies To The Queen Mary. That's not to say that I think it's bad, but I haven't had a chance to learn to appreciate it. That being said, I was slightly hesitant to give At Mount Zoomer a listen.

Thankfully, I was only hesitant and not resistant. Zoomer has turned out to be a wonderful indie rock album that is at the same time listenable, while still retaining the dark and complicated sound that the band has come to perfect.

Tracklisting:
1. Soldier's Grin
2. Call It A Ritual
3. Language City
4. Bang Your Drum
5. California Dreamer
6. The Grey Estates
7. Fine Young Cannibals
8. An Animal In Your Care
9. Kissing The Beehive

Matt Pryor - Confidence Man

I have always been a fan of Matt Pryor; specifically his days spent as frontman of The Get Up Kids. I couldn't tell you what it is, but there is something about his voice that I love. Albums like Something To Write Home About and On A Wire were staples in my cd collection during high school, so when I heard that Pryor was releasing a solo album, I felt I owed it to myself to check it out.

While I never really got into Pryor's side-project The New Amsterdams, Confidence Man is the realization of what they were trying to accomplish, leaning heavily on alt-country and folk, while still retaining a touch of the "emo" sound that The Get Up Kids helped pioneer.

Confidence Man is a charming album, nearly devoid of percussion, that relies singularly on Pryor's abilities on guitar, bass, mandolin, harmonica and banjo. The songs are short and catchy and well written, much like you would expect from the former Get Up Kid. If there's one complaint that I have about this album, though, it's that it is too short. 15 tracks seem like quite a bit, but when you reach the end of the album, you'll find yourself waiting for and wanting more. A great album by a very underrated musician.

Tracklisting:
1. A Totally New Year
2. Loralai
3. Still, There's A Light
4. Where The World Stops Turning
5. I'm Sorry Stephen
6. We'll Be Fine
7. Confidence Man
8. I Wouldn't Change A Thing
9. Only
10. Dear Lover
11. Lovers Who Have Lost Their Cause
12. Where Did I Go Wrong
13. On How Our Paths Differ
14. Who Do You Think You Are
15. It Ends Here

Highlight Tracks: "Loralai", "Still, There's A Light", "We'll Be Fine", "Confidence Man"

Sun Kil Moon - Ghosts Of The Great Highway

A few years ago, I was meandering around the Ashland Mall, perusing the shelves of cds when I happened upon Ghosts Of The Great Highway by Sun Kil Moon, a band that I had never heard of. After a quick trip to the listening station and a subsequent trip to the register, I headed to my car with my new found treasure. Since that day, Ghosts has been my default autumn album and continues to make its way back into my rotation, usually after I forget about it for a few months and then have the pleasure of rediscovering it. That's not to say, however, that it is in any way forgettable.

Sun Kil Moon is the brainchild of Mark Kozelek [former Red House Painter] and has the timeless quality of Paul Simon and John Lennon [though nowhere near the same amount of acclaim].

It is November and the leaves are changing; your breath is a cloud in the air. If you're looking for the perfect soundtrack for this time of year, look no further. It is a beautiful and incredible album.

Tracklisting:
1. Glenn Tipton
2. Carry Me Ohio
3. Salvador Sanchez
4. Last Tide
5. Floating
6. Gentle Moon
7. Lily and Parrots
8. Duk Koo Kim
9. Si, Paloma
10. Pancho Villa

Highlight Tracks: "Carry Me Ohio" [one of my all-time favorite songs]

Portugal. The Man - Censored Colors

I couldn't tell you much about this band other than that they got their start a few years ago playing watered-down prog-rock and (as a guess) not doing so well in record sales. But then, 2008 saw the release of their third album Censored Colors. The album, while retaining a good amount of their prog-rock roots, is based quite a bit in folk, like some progressive version of Fleet Foxes. Strange as it may sound, Censored Colors is not only the band's best effort, but an incredibly solid album.

Tracklisting:
1. Lay Me Back Down
2. Colors
3. And I
4. Salt
5. Created
6. Out and In and In and Out
7. Intermission
8. New Orleans
9. Never Pleased
10. Sit Back and Dream
11. Hard Times
12. Our Times
13. All Mine
14. 1989
15. Our Way

My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade

I realize that by posting this album, I may be stripping myself of at least a small amount of credibility, but, rest assured, this album is undeniably amazing.

In preparation for writing and recording this album, the band holed up in a "haunted" mansion and listened to nothing but The Wall by Pink Floyd, Siamese Dream by The Smashing Pumpkins, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club by The Beatles, and (I believe) A Night At The Opera by Queen. Obviously, you can expect the band to wear their influences on their sleeves with this album, as there were only 4 albums used to influence it. However, you can expect the same "emo" [I hate that word] quality from previous efforts mixed in as well. This is a very solid release. It's clever and well worth all of the hard work that was put into it.

It's not very often that you'll see me post albums by bands like My Chemical Romance, if that says anything about how highly I regard this album.

Tracklisting:
1. The End
2. Dead!
3. This Is How I Disappear
4. The Sharpest Lives
5. Welcome To The Black Parade
6. I Don't Love You
7. House Of Wolves
8. Cancer
9. Mama
10. Sleep
11. Teenagers
12. Disenchanted
13. Famous Last Words
14. Hidden Track

Highlight Tracks: "Dead!", "The Sharpest Lives", "Disenchanted", "Famous Last Words"

Wax Fang - La La Land

Yet another Louisville export, Wax Fang is in good company, occasionally sharing the stage with fellow Louisville-ians My Morning Jacket and steadily making their way into the hearts of indie kids everywhere. My friend Devin (dp) and I listened to this album while chopping fire wood last week, and I have to say that the more I hear of it, the more I love it. To say that these guys sound like Pink Floyd, though, would be a vast understatement. Devin actually likened them to Pink Floyd and David Bowie. Regardless of whom they sound like, what they sound like is big and fun and catchy as all-get-out. Great great great album.

Tracklisting:
1. Majestic
2. World War II (Pt. 2)
3. At Sea
4. Cannibal Summer
5. The Doctor Will See You Now
6. Can You See The Light
7. Avant Guardian Angel Dust
8. Woh, Recklessness
9. Black & Endless Night Revisited
10. Wake Up, Sleepyhead!

Sea Wolf - Leaves In The River

Over the last week or so, Leaves In The River by Sea Wolf has rarely left my speakers. A very cohesive album, Leaves In The River gets better and better with each listen.

As far as Sea Wolf's sound, it reminds me very much of my friend Nathan Edwin, but with a full band sound. The songs are made up mostly of simple parts that are layered on top of each other. The approach is interesting and makes for 9 wonderful tracks. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Tracklisting:
1. Leaves In The River
2. You're A Wolf
3. Don't You Love Me Anymore
4. Middle Distance Runner
5. The Garden You Planted
6. Black Dirt
7. The Cold, The Dark, and The Silence
8. Black Leaf Falls
9. Neutral Ground

Queen - Greatest Hits

I don't care what anyone says, Queen is without a doubt one of the most creative and simply amazing bands to exist in the last century. If I were to use but one word to describe Queen it would be: epic. I'm sure that a review isn't needed; it's Queen. Just download it, already.

Tracklisting:
1. Bohemian Rhapsody
2. Another One Bites The Dust
3. Killer Queen
4. Fat Bottomed Girls
5. Bicycle Race
6. You're My Best Friend
7. Don't Stop Me Now (!!!!!)
8. Save Me
9. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
10. Somebody To Love
11. Now I'm Here
12. Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy
13. Play The Game
14. Flash
15. Seven Seas Of Rhye
16. We Will Rock You
17. We Are The Champions
18. I'm In Love With My Car
19. Under Pressure (Live)
20. Tie Your Mother Down (Live)

Technical Difficulties

For some reason, my charger decided that it didn't want to work anymore. Being that I can't charge the battery on my computer, posts are going to be few and far between for a while. Trust me, I hate it just as much, if not more than you do.

I love how you spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars on something and you can't even expect it to work for much more than a year.
Oh well, I don't suppose that complaining will get me anywhere. All it's doing is draining my battery.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Coldplay - Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends

I'm almost positive that not everyone has this album and am equally positive that you all should. This is a great album, start to finish. Coldplay is a band that never disappoints and, are one of the few bands that I can honestly say I feel they deserve every bit of fame they garner. Great album.

[Includes a few acoustic versions and bonus tracks]

Tracklisting:
1. Life In Technicolor
2. Cemeteries Of London
3. Lost!
4. 42
5. Lovers In Japan/Reign Of Love
6. Yes
7. Viva La Vida
8. Violet Hill
9. Strawberry Swing
10. Death and All His Friends
11. Lost? (Acoustic)
12. Lovers In Japan (Acoustic)
13. The Escapist
14. Chinese Sleep Chant

The Killers - Sam's Town

Couldn't find a mediafire file and didn't feel like downloading it to just zip it back up and upload it to my mediafire account.

Tracklisting:
1. Sam's Town
2. Enterlude
3. When You Were Young
4. Bling (Confessions Of A King)
5. For Reasons Unknown
6. Read My Mind
7. Uncle Jonny
8. Bones
9. My List
10. This River Is Wild
11. Why Do I Keep Counting
12. Exitlude



The Killers also have a new album dropping on November 25th entitled Day & Age. The first single is called "Human" and I have that right here for you. It's pretty good.

Tracklisting:
1. Human



[I kind of hate the artwork for both of these albums - the girl on the Sam's Town cover looks suspiciously like a man and the band's guitarist who is portrayed on the "Human" Single artwork is one of the creepiest looking guys I've ever seen.]

A Skylit Drive - Wires...And The Concept Of Breathing

This makes my 7th post today, if that tells you anything about how bored I am.

I'm sure you wouldn't know it by checking my previous posts, but I still love "scene" bands, at least a little. There are certain albums that I will refuse to post, for no other reason than that I am friends with the bands, but I would be happy to post reviews for a couple of the albums. A Skylit Drive is not one of those bands. They are, however, in-friggin-credible. Blending Coheed-esque vocals with brutal metalcore and at times dance grooves, Wires...And The Concept Of Breathing is an album that I can't get enough of. For some reason, I can listen to this album on repeat [and when I travelled for work, I would do just that]. If you like The Devil Wears Prada, Coheed & Cambria, or any other GOOD "scene" bands then check these guys out.

Tracklisting:
1. In The Beginning There Was Void
2. Knights Of The Round
3. Wires And The Concept Of Breathing
4. City On The Edge Of Forever
5. Eris and Dysnomia
6. I'm Not A Thief, I'm A Treasure Hunter
7. My Disease
8. This Isn't The End
9. Sleepwalker
10. Pursuit Lets Wisdom Ride The Wind
11. Ex Machina
12. Balance
13. All It Takes For Your Dreams To Come True



[terrible artwork]

Longwave - Secrets Are Sinister

This is indie rock at its finest, incorporating the timeless quality of U2 with the edge of bands like Moving Units and Arctic Monkeys. They have an older quality as well, though; similar in some respects to bands of the early to mid 90's, like Sunny Day Real Estate and Our Lady Peace. This is a long-awaited release and, as it turns out, was very much worth the wait. I'll post their previous album There's A Fire soon, to be used as a frame of reference. Enjoy this great album a little less than a month early.

Tracklisting:
1. Sirens In The Deep Sea
2. No Direction
3. Satellites
4. The Devil And The Lair
5. Life Is Wrong
6. Eyes Like Headlights
7. I Don't Care
8. It's True
9. Shining Hours
10. Secrets Are Sinister

October Indie Mixtape

This is a mix that I made for my friend and boss Tiffany. I always keep all of the mixes that I make, at least for a little while, and this one is quickly becoming one of my favorites. I hope you like it as well.

Tracklisting:
1. Glue Girls - Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin [from the album "Pershing"]
2. Cath... - Death Cab For Cutie [from the album "Narrow Stairs"]
3. The Underdog - Spoon [from the album "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga"]
4. American Names - Sebastien Grainger [from the album "American Names EP"]
5. Sunday - Bloc Party [from the album "A Weekend In The City"]
6. Inní Mér Syngur Vitleysingur - Sigur Rós [from the album "Með Suð Í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust"]
7. Get Better - Mates Of State [from the album Re-Arrange Us]
8. Is There A Ghost - Band Of Horses [from the album "Cease To Begin"]
9. Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) - The Arcade Fire [from the album "Funeral"]
10. Dress Me Like A Clown - Margot & The Nuclear So and So's [from the album "The Dust Of Retreat"]
11. The Rabbit, The Bat, and The Reindeer - Dr. Dog [from the album "Fate"]
12. Pagan Angel and a Borrowed Car - Iron & Wine [from the album "The Shepherd's Dog"]
13. Hospital Bed - Cold War Kids [from the album "Robbers & Cowards"]
14. Through The Nights These Days - Jason Collett [from the album "Here's To Being Here"]

October Indie Mixtape


[nothing says October like a nice, warm campfire]

13ghosts - The Strangest Colored Lights

I love when I stumble upon a band that I have never heard of, and they absolutely blow me away. 13ghosts is one such band, making use of the same type sound as Dr. Dog, but going in a more subdued direction. Almost as if Dr. Dog were singing funeral hymns and requiems. It's absolutely beautiful and I'm in awe of it. I had no intention of posting any more full albums today, but I couldn't help myself once I heard this album. Please, don't let the band name or anything else deter you from giving this album a chance. You may find yourself surprised and pleased, as did I.

Tracklisting:
1. The Lonely Death of Space Avenger
2. Soft Houses
3. Beyond The Door
4. Riverside
5. Bury Me
6. Faint Goat
7. King Of The Thieves
8. Go To Sleep
9. Soon When I'm Gone
10. Underground
11. Whip Poor Will
12. Photographs
13. Transmissions

Highlight Tracks: "Soft Houses", "Riverside", "Photographs"


The file had to be broken into two parts:
Part 1
Part 2

Eisley - Combinations

I first heard of Eisley probably 5 years ago when they were releasing their first EPs. Immediately I was impressed, but at the same time disappointed because I felt like the band had so much potential that wasn't being realized because they were too busy writing poppy songs about unicorns and such. I felt like the songs were good, but at the same time not real. They were in no way personal, which sometimes works, but more often than not, it doesn't. Even their full length was a disappointment to me, because it was still in that same vein. It was, for lack of a better word, cute. It was whipped cream. No substance.

Then, 2007 saw the release of Combinations, Eisley's second attempt at a full length, and the realization of their potential. It's possible that it was from spending so much time touring with Brand New [who finally hit their stride with The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me] or maybe it was a series of events that changed the outlook of Eisley's members. Whatever the cause, the outcome is a wonderful and mature record. Combinations is exactly what it needed to be and is very much worth your time.

Tracklisting:
1. Many Funerals
2. Invasion
3. Taking Control
4. Go Away
5. If I Could Be There For You
6. Come Clean
7. Ten Cent Blues
8. A Sight To Behold
9. Combinations
10. If You're Wondering

Shiny Toy Guns - Season Of Poison

Before I get into my review, I want to offer a disclaimer that this is a partial review. I haven't yet listened to the entire record: this is a review based on my initial reactions.

Shiny Toy Guns is a band that my friend Calvin told me about a couple of years back. Initially, I wasn't impressed, but they they grew to be one of my favorite bands for a while. Then they kind of fell off of the radar, and unless you caught their occasional bulletin on myspace, little was being said about the band until about 3 months ago when they announced the forthcoming release of Season Of Poison. Initially, I like what I hear. To say that this band has grown up [possibly due in part to the departure and replacement of Carah Faye] is a vast understatement. Where the band's first album was based in dance and rock, Season Of Poison at times sounds heavily influenced by U2, and then at other times has a harder edge than was ever seen in their previous material. I like what I hear, but I'm interested to see how people receive this album.

Tracklisting:
1. When Did This Storm Begin (Feat. Binary Finary)
2. Money For That
3. I Owe You A Love Song5. It Became A Lie On You
6. Ricochet!
7. Season Of Love
8. Poison
9. Blown Away
10. Turned To Real Life
11. Frozen Oceans

Nik Freitas - Sun Down

This is a record that I'm very excited about. Imagine if Fionn Regan wrote more cohesive songs that were recorded and produced by The Flaming Lips [without taking too many liberties], with Paul McCartney sitting in the corner and giving bits of advice from time to time. It's interesting and wonderful. And, bear in mind that I am saying this having never heard Mr. Freitas before. I can already tell that Sun Down is going to be one of my favorite albums of 2008. So good.

Tracklisting:
1. Sun Down
2. Oh My God
3. All The Way Down
4. What You Become
5. Sophie
6. Love Around
7. It Ain't Like That
8. See Me There
9. Comes To Me
10. Shhh

Tiger Lou - A Partial Print

I know next to nothing about Tiger Lou [or TGR LOU] but I do know that they have quite a unique sound, found somewhere between Hail To The Thief era Radiohead and the dark quality found on the majority of Thrice's Vheissu. I just happened upon these guys today and I have to say that my initial reaction is that of surprise. Not to mention that I'm thoroughly impressed. Very good.

Tracklisting:
1. The More You Give
2. The Less You Have To Carry
3. So Demure
4. Trust Falls
5. An Atlas Of Those Our Own
6. Odessa
7. Trails of Spit
8. Coalitions
9. Crushed By A Crowd
10. A Partial Print

The Cure - 4:13 Dream

All I can say is that it's about time that The Cure released a new album. And it's a good one. Real good. Imagine classic Cure but with an updated approach to songwriting.

In all fairness, though, it's The Cure. I shouldn't have to try and convince you to download this album.

Tracklisting:
1. Underneath The Stars
2. Only One
3. Reasons Why
4. Freakshow
5. Sirensong
6. Real Snow White
7. Hungry Ghost
8. Switch
9. Perfect Boy
10. This. Here and Now. With You
11. Sleep When I'm Dead
12. Scream
13. It's Over