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)