NFT's Favorite Songs of 2020!

Every year I write some loose metaphor referring to the year being some kind of rollercoaster. Rollercoasters have their ups and downs, yes, and it's a hell of a ride. 2020 wasn't a rollercoaster. 2020 was that god awful ride that sticks you to the walls; the one that's inclosed and the lights just stopped working. Floating in air and g-forces crushing your insides... at least you can jump out of a rollercoaster. 

101. Better Off Alone - Purity Ring (Alice Deejay cover) (indie pop/dance)

100. Sad React - Emperor X (indie pop)

99. black metal longsleeve - Fantasy Camp, Field Medic (folk trap)

98. Absurdity - Trace Mountains (indie rock/folk)

97. Point the Finger - Body Count, Riley Gale (hardcore rap/metal)

96. Realm of Silence - Bleeding Out (death metal/grind)

95. Went to LA - Frances Quinlan (indie folk)

94. Sword - Ian Sweet (indie pop)

93. Night Tryst - Narrow Head (grunge/shoegazish)

92. Gold - Luke Titus (hip-hop/math pop)

91. Variations on a Cave - Former Worlds (doom/post metal)

90. Life on the Bottom - Model Prisoner (bonus: L.O.T.B. REMIX with dj MUVE) (metalcore)

89. Ghost Highway - Mantar (Mazzy Star cover) (doom/sludge metal)

88. Reminders - Touche Amore (post hardcore)

87. ...And To Those I Love, Thanks For Sticking Around - $uicideBoy$ (sad trap)

86. Illusion of Choice - Pummel (hardcore)

85. Bike Song - fanclubwallet (lo-fi/indie pop)

84. RASCAL - RMR (country trap)

83. Punishment Park - Big Cheese (UK hardcore)

82. The Mirror - Hey Colossus, Mark Lanegan (noise rock/spoken word)

81. Linda Claire - Fleshwater (deftonescore)

80. Water's Edge - An Autumn for Crippled Children (post black metal)

79. Wasted Air - Circus Trees (indie rock/grunge)

78. Texture Pact - [ELIZA], Fantasy Camp (noise trap)

77. Singing - Sun June (indie folk)

76. Shades Erased - Yashira, Dylan Walker (post metal)

75. Funus - MSW (black metal/post rock)

74. High off Gun Powder - Gag (hardcore/punk)

73. Disciple of Deceit - Terminal Nation (metallic hardcore)

72. Slant - Sprain (post hardcore/slowcore)

71. Hope Dies in the City - Mindforce (NYC hardcore)

70. The Amorphic Burden - errant (post black metal)

69. Bernie Sanders - Nothing (grungegaze)

68. Catcall - Cadaverette (post doom metal)

67. Party - Planet 1999 (PC Music/eurodance)

66. Couldn't Relate - Tired of Everything (hardcore/punk)

65. Are You Even Real? - James Blake (soul trap)

64. Weather Beaten  - Heads. (post punk/noise rock)

63. Pine Trees - Faucet (post dream pop)

62. Bollywood Apologetics - Black Wing (dark chillwave)

61. Loner - Dehd (indie pop/rock)

60. Rage - NNAMDÏ (math punk)

59. Front Lines - Conway the Machine (rap/hip-hop)

58. Sterilized - Peace Test (hardcore)

57. Enlacing - clipping. (horror rap/hip-hop)

56. Anything - Adrianne Lenker (indie folk/acoustic)

55. CKS - KRUELTY (death metal/hardcore)

54. Lead to Gray - One Step Closer (melodic hardcore)

53. Master of Extremity - Fuming Mouth (death metal)

52. Ajai - Serengeti, Kenny Segal (rap/hip hop)

51. The End of Man Will Bring Peace to This Earth - Portrayal of Guilt (screamo/black metal)

50. Heat Wave - Gulfer (math pop)

49. Service Weapon - SPY (hardcore/punk)

48. Phantom Vibration - Landowner (post punk)

47. A New Low for Progressive Society - Militarie Gun (post hardcore)

46. Jesus of Nazareth - Self Defense Family (post jam band)

45. Dissolve and Release - Wake (black metal)

44. Do U Wanna - Porches (indie pop)

43. Waste Not - Bad History Month (indie rock)

42. BASTARD LAND - SCALP (hardcore/grind)

41. Pig Feet (feat. Kamasi Washington, G Perico & Daylyt) - Terrance Martin, Denzel Curry (jazz rap)

40. Boy - Rotting Out (hardcore)

39. Secular Trust - Self Defense Family (post hardcore/spoken word)

38. Sick Statistic - Year of the Knife (metallic hardcore)

37. I Don't Wanna Be Me - Glorious (Type O Negative cover) (UK hardcore)

36. Gatekeeper - Pay for Pain (lo-fi/indie rock)

35. The World - Knot (twinkly indie rock)

34. Good Night - Westside Gunn, Slick Rick (rap/hip-hop)

33. Sub Yellow - Slow Mass (post indie rock)

32. TR+ - Vein (metalcore)

31. All Roses Bloom - Baical (post goth rock)

30. Volcanic Brain - Fragment of Joy (screamo/post hardcore)

29. I'm on Probation - Soul Glo (hardcore)

28. Y.A.B. - SUNAMI (ignorant hardcore)

27. Bagette - Velvet Negroni (soul trap/hip-hop)

26. The Fool - Bib (hardcore/punk)

25. Sacred Safe - Quelle Chris, Chris Kelly, Merrill Garbus, Cavalier, Homeboy Sandman (rap/hip-hop)

24. Eating Unblessed Meat - Mamaleek (experimental metal)

23. Where You're From is There Death? - Truth Cult (punk rock)

22. Expired - Sen Morimoto Remix - MIRRROR (hip-hop/pop)

21. Obsessed - Wicca Phase Springs Eternal (emotional rock)

20. American Brain Worms - Hand Model (electronic noise/spoken word)

19. Cya - Crisman (math pop)

18. Care - Alexander (lo-fi/indie rock)

17. A Pace Far Different - Gladie (indie pop)

16. Just a Matter of Grin - S.AL (art rap/hip-hop)

15. Mouth Breather - ACxDC (grindcore)

14. Folding - Hum (sludgegaze)

13. Awakening - Uniform (noise metal)

12. Violet Dreams - NOVA ONE (indie pop)

11. 327 - Westside Gunn, Joey Bada$$, Tyler, The Creator, Billie Essco (rap/hip-hop)

10. Sin in My Heart - Gulch (hardcore)

9. 26 DOGS - SPICE (indie rock)

8. Wasted - NNAMDÏ (hip-hop/pop)

7. KKK Tattoo - Regional Justice Center (hardcore/powerviolence)

6. Dead Cars - Armand Hammer, R.A.P. Ferreira (rap/hip-hop)

5. Tastes Like it Smells ft. Lala Lala, Kara Jackson, Qari - Sen Morimoto (hip-hop/pop)

4. FULL OF HEALTH - HEALTH, Full of Hell (electronic noise/metal)

3. LEAVING HELL - R.A.P. Ferreira (rap/hip-hop)

2. Delco - Uniform (nosie metal)

1. Car - It Looks Sad. (emo/indie rock)

NFT's Favorite Songs of 2019!

 RIP 2019.

101. Radiation Facial (feat. Dylan Walker) - PETBRICK (electronic/metal)
100. Caged - Brother (hardcore/power violence)
99. Abyssal Plain - Pelican (post metal)
98. Love Enough - Hairspray Queen (hardcore/noise)
97. VIRGINITY - Liturgy (black metal)
96. Corridors of Cain - Mourned (death metal)
95. Red Dust - Billy Woods, Kenny Segal (rap/hip-hop)
94. Toxic Swell - Vaulted (crossover thrash)
93. Matriphagy - Venom Prison (death metal)
92. Numb Coast - DiCaprio (post punk)
91. Armed With Their Teeth - SeeYouSpaceCowboy (metalcore)
90. Kids - Pup (pop punk)
89. Fantasy - Queensway (metalcore)
88. Roses - Mortality Rate (metallic hardcore)
87. Shoulderblades - Girl Band (noise/art rock)
86. Fruit - The Berries (rock/Americana)
85. Stop/Start - Gait (post punk)
84. Hate Me - Ellie Goulding, Juice WRLD (hip-hop/pop)
83. Living Free - Strange Ranger (indie rock)
82. We Must Bleed - Mammoth Grinder (Germs cover) (death metal)
81. Certain Death - Dead Heat (hardcore/crossover)
80. Cathedral - Hovvdy (indie rock/lo-fi)
79. HIGHEST IN THE ROOM - Travis Scott (trap/hip-hop)
78. Lost Inside the Night - Misery Club (r&b/emo rap)
77. World of You - Method of Doubt (hardcore adjacent)
76. Dead of Night - Orville Peck (davidlynchcore)
75. Big Black Heart - Better Oblivion Community Center (indie rock/pop)
74. Smores - Your Old Droog, Lil Ugly Mane, Wiki (rap/hip-hop)
73. 31 - Soul Glo (hardcore/noise-rap)
72. Ease Me - Oathbreaker (black metal/electronic)
71. Heads Been Ringing - Kal Marks (noise rock)
70. New Skin - Colonial Wounds (hardcore/metal/noise rock)
69. Continuum - Loma Prieta (screamo/post hardcore)
68. Off Script (Remixed by Moor Mother) - The Body (noise rap)
67. Reaper - Rotting Out (hardcore punk)
66. Bruxist Grin - Pile (indie rock)
65. He Dead - clipping. (noise-rap/hip-hop)
64. Fan of You - Nudie Mag (weezercore)
63. Sturdy Dawn - Wreck and Reference (electronic/noise)
62. Mood Ring Baby - Field Medic (indie folk)
61. Part 2 - Wildflower (neilyoungcore)
60. Get Lost - Queen of Jeans (indie rock)
59. Theatre of Work - Bad Breeding (art punk)
58. It Only Gets Worse - Regional Justice Center (hardcore/power violence)
57. Down - Hemlock Ernst, Kenny Segal  (rap/hip-hop)
56. Face the Fire - Boy Harsher (coldwave/electronic)
55. Get My Mind Right - Fiddlehead (post hardcore)
54. My Body in Bloom - Boundaries (metalcore)
53. Pacify My Heart - SASAMI (indie rock/drone)
52. Chaos Never Dies - Seed of Pain (metallic hardcore)
51. Plant Sugar - Turnover (jangle emo)
50. Rank and File - Mini Dresses (indie rock/pop)
49. Green Leaves of Late July - Wolf Whistle (hardcore/noise rock)
48. Defy - Magnitude (sxe hardcore)
47. Don’t - Peaer (twinkly indie rock)
46. Breathless - Brutality Will Prevail (post-metal/hardcore)
45. DEATH SENTENCE - Hate Force (beatdown death metal)
44. Respectdue - R.A.P. Ferreira (rap/hip-hop)
43. RICKY - Denzel Curry (rap/hip-hop)
42. Pound for Pound - Wound Man (power violence)
41. Kennedy - Shin Guard (emo violence)
40. No Word For Wack - Ruby Yacht (art rap/hip-hop)
39. Aspirations - Regional Justice Center (hardcore/power violence)
38. Wax On (feat. Freddie Gibbs) - Injury Reserve (rap/hip-hop)
37. Blue Lies - Year of the Knife (sxe metallic hardcore)
36. Muted Shifting of Space - BIG | BRAVE (post-metal/drone)
35. The Reach - One Step Closer (melodic hardcore)
34. Pink Palm - Elizabeth Colour Wheel (doomgaze)
33. Old Days - Jack M. Senff (acoustic emo)
32. Puppet - Never Ending Game (getinthepithardcore)
31. Nightmare - Buried Dreams (watchyourbackhardcore)
30. Grim (feat. Lil Ugly Mane & Denzel Curry) - Wiki (rap/hip-hop)
29. The Race - Glitterer (synth pop/indie rock)
28. Could Be a Curse - KAINA ft. Sen Morimoto (r&b/soul/pop)
27. Sea of Worry - Have a Nice Life (surfgaze)
26. Tethering - Truth Club (twinkly indie rock)
25. Smile! Aren’t You Happy? - Absence of Mine (grunge/hardcore)
24. Not - Big Thief (indie rock)
23. Seeds - Anxious (post hardcore)
22. What on Earth Can We Do - Abuse of Power (thrashy hardcore)
21. FAITHFUL SERVANT FRIEND OF CHRIST - Lingua Ignota (devotional doom folk)
20. Want it All - Angel Du$t (tompettycore)
19. All Bark, No Bite - Wild Side (hardcore)
18. Boiled Over - Gatecreeper (death metal)
17. Sacrificial Rite - Portrayal of Guilt (screamo/black metal)
16. 18 Wheeler (feat. Pusha T) - Benny the Butcher (rap/hip-hop)
15. Don’t Really Think - Restraining Order (hardcore punk)
14. Burning Hand - Fuming Mouth (death metal/hardcore)
13. Out, Brief Candle - Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean (doom metal)
12. Giannis (feat. Anderson .Paak) - Freddie Gibbs, Madlib (rap/hip-hop)
11. Karma’s Knife - Judiciary (beatdown hardcore)
10. Martyr - Community College (indie rock/lo-fi)
9. Armory of Obsidian Glass - Full of Hell (doom/sludge/death)
8. Vacation - Fury (hardcore adjacent)
7. Ur Real Life - Horse Jumper of Love (indie rock/slowcore)
6. Contact - Wicca Phase Springs Eternal (emotional trap)
5. Penance - Uniform, The Body (industrial/electronic)
4. Madonna Rocket - Show Me The Body (hardcore punk)
3. Siren 042 - Lala Lala, Why? (indie pop)
2. In the Spirit World Now - Ceremony (new wave)
1. All My Happiness is Gone - Purple Mountains (indie rock)

Bushido Dragons

Bushido Dragons - Bushido Dragons (1999)

Before Paul Baribeau was touring the underground punk rock scene with his simple yet additive acoustic music, the Grand Ledge, Michigan native played in a little band called Bushido Dragons. Bushido Dragons played a popular type of music for the locals at Grand Ledge High at the time... that type of music being surf rock.

The Bushido Dragons may have grown tired of playing surf rock, but the outcome of high schoolers recording their own DIY surf music turned into a super cool lo-fi sound that could have easily caught on today in this "everything is a throwback" society. Bushido Dragons' first self-titled record was by far the best example of this lo-fi surf rock style, while their follow-up release, Grand Haven, is much more of full-band version of Paul Baribeau's solo career. Grand Haven is no doubt a prequel to Baribeau's Grand Ledge released in '07. Hell, Grand Haven even includes the original version of "Blue Eyes" later on Baribeau's first self-titled release.

Check out all of the music Bushido Dragons ever recorded including their surf opera self-title at CometKaze.com. If you are a Paul Baribeau fan or just wanna hear some rare lo-fi music, you can dig deeper down into the Baribeau rabbit-hole with his even earlier band, Birthday Cakes also available on the site. If that's too rough for you, the recordings I mean, maybe stick with the live recordings of Bushido Dragons which include very early versions of Paul Baribeau singing Bruce Springsteen tracks.

Paul Baribeau's tumblr
CometKaze.com
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AWAAS - It's Great Dying.

Awaas - It's Great Dying. (2014)

From the ashes of local legends, Conifer and Ocean came a new experiment to enter the dark dimensions of the musical subconscious. The year was 2011, and new bands from Maine were popping up left and right, including aformentioned louder-than-hell brigade, Awaas. Now it's 2014, and Awaas, like any cool local band should, are calling it quits.

Almost two Sundays ago, Awaas took there music, set it on fire, and rode off into the sunset, (almost) literally. Awaas's final performance was a viking funeral through Casco Bay. While there may or may not have actually been fire aboard the Casablanca booze cruise, from the sound of things it was quite the burial at sea. As a fan of both music and boating, that is probably the most badass way to go out.

Along with the Casablanca Cruise being the final show for Awaas in Portland, it was also the birth of their cleverly titled new album, It's Great Dying. Whether or not the 'waas team knew they would be releasing the damn thing on their death bed, It's Great Dying is certainly their swan song.

Riddled with the instrument of choice circa 1983, the synthesizer, Awaas goes completely in direction not yet heard on It's Great Dying. It seems a bit risky at first, mixing their minimal approach heard on the 2011 self-titled EP with a much more prominent gothic to industrial pop feel. Still, even with the fond interest in the synth, Awaas retained that heaviness that I remember quite well last time I saw them (opening for Thee Silver Mt. Zion in Portland).

It's Great Dying is not like a lot of music being released these days. Coming from Awaas, this is no surprise to me. Awaas is not music you can easily define other than throwing out a few meaningless phrases like krautrock, electro, industrial, or drone with names like Swans, Lungfish, Bauhaus, and The Birthday Party. At the end of the day, Awaas is just Awaas - as cheesy as that may sound - you can't put a finger on something that doesn't have any guidelines or rules other being completely DIY and has the need for really loud synth.

Highlights: "A Simple Horror",  "Big Fun", "Tiny Monsters", "Magnetic P.I.", "Cauterize", and the rest of the album.


Also, feel free to read more about Awaas and their final show via Post Mortem, here.

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Dakota/Dakota

Dakota/Dakota - Shoot In The Dark + (2010)

Believe it or not before there was Russian Circles, there was this band. At first listen one would think these guys would be a Don Caballero project, especially from looking at the obscure song titles, but as it turns out this was the math rock band that Mike Sullivan and Colin DeKuiper of RC were in before taking on a somewhat different and much more metal whack at instrumental music. This is Dakota/Dakota.

Before disbanding in 2004, Dakota/Dakota had released their debut album, Shoot In The Dark out into the underground music world. The album is very reminiscent of Caballero, Piglet, Cinemechanica, and Volta Do Mar music of the early 00's, but without ever sounding too much like a clone of any of those bands in particular. From what it seems, Dakota/Dakota were just playing around with instruments and making them do some pretty off-tempo and cool sounding nonsense and eventually one day someone said, "the hell with this, let's stop fucking with the melody". Thus, Russian Circles was born. I can't say I blame them if any bit of this is true or if I'm completely off, but these folks from Chicago (not Dakota) could produce quite a melody before turning the corner and going off in the opposite direction again.

Along with Shoot In The Dark, Dakota/Dakota released a 7" of the first song on SITD with two b-sides, some loose tracks from a Redline Distribution Sampler in '04, and a split with Riddle in Steel (which was the band Dave Turncrantz drummed for before Russina Circles). All of the material that Dakota/Dakota have since been put on this album, Shoot In The Dark + and even includes a never before released D/D track.


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NFT's March Mix

Never thought I would ever make a mix with Cee-Lo Green in it, yet here we are in 2014 with a Nostalgia For Tomorrow mix about Cee-Lo Green.

Shaq's in there, too.

Enjoy!

K.C. Milian

K.C. Milian - Discography (2012)

In honor of the first day of spring, albeit rainy spring, I present to you a band that will be sure to keep you going through these rainy day before the real sunshine takes over and we have summer for a month.

This is, or was, K.C. Milian, a short-lived Italian screamo/post rock that mostly falls under the instrumental side of things, although there are a couple songs in their catalog that include vocals, but are really only used to complement the music. Speaking of their catalog, this is all of it; this album features everything, I'm pretty sure, that K.C. Milian ever released.


This band reminds me so much of the bands that I first got into when I started to read blogs and listen to music online. I think that even if you aren't a fan of screamo/emo but are a fan of things like American Football, twinkly stuff, and early math rock noodling, one can easily find comfort in K.C. Milian's material. Maybe K.C. Milian will even get someone to seek out other "screamo" bands in the same vein as this. Maybe not and that's fine; just as long as this stuff is getting listens, I'm happy.

The album includes music from their Season // Repeat EP, their self-titled EP, "A Cusak movie" from their split with another Italian band, La Quiete, and three previously unreleased numbers.

Similar acts/sounds: La Quiete, The Khayembii Communique, American Football, Ghosts and Vodka, I Would Set Myself on Fire For You, Saeita, Rumah Sakit, Men As Trees, and just K.C. Milian.

Last.fm

Host - Death Will Claim These Tired Bones

Host - Death will claim these tired bones (2014)

Here's something pretty unexpected: It's the late New Hampshire hardcore band, Host's last album which almost never saw the light of day. Death will claim these tired bones was recorded just before the band announced they were ceased to exist. Thankfully, the album was not lost forever, and is out now on the internet for everyone to hear!

Normally I wouldn't bug anyone to buy music that I'm plugging, but I really ask that if you enjoy this kind of stuff to buy this album. Not only do they deserve it because they were a band in a hard working genre, but the money also goes to a cause that is close to them. All proceeds from this release go to the band's friend/the vocalist Matt's Fiance, Ana's medical costs of her pancreatic liver failure treatment.

I know I will be putting some money towards this album when I get my tax refund money soon. 

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NFT's December Mix

Lost some creative juices this past week and still haven't finished my part 2 best of whatever list. I have however been making lots of mixes lately. here's one right now:

Enjoy!

PS: There's no Christmas music. 

Monday LXXXVI

Damnyo.

La Casa Fantom - Feed My Silence (2012)

Doomy noisecore from "the forest of Norway". Been rip-roaring since 2000.



Last.fm

Crywank - Tour Demos (2013)

At the beginning of the year, James "Crywank" Clayton released these demos for his January tour. The tour may be over but the demos are still really nice, including some solid rerecordings, and all the cash brought in from the demo goes to more touring and more music recording. Also, this demo features the new member providing percussion to the Crywank sound, Dan "The Snail" Watson.

If anything, you should at least listen to this.



Last.fm

Wiltz - Sea Dog (2013)

Irish instrumental math rock outfit, Wiltz have recently decided to call it quits. It's always a shame to check up on a band you haven't heard in a while and discover they are done making music together.

At least they left us with good music.


You can pick up Wiltz's last album, entitled, Sea Dog over on their bandcamp or from Little League Records - who have been releasing all sorts of unique music from bands left and right as of late.

Last.fm

NFT Summer Sounds '13 mix

It's been a while since I posted one of these things.

Since I was gone for two months recently with very little resources for finding music, I don't really have any mixes made up for June or July - however, each year I make a little mix of tracks I liked to listen to for that particular summer. So, that's what this is. It covers all the goodies I jammed out to from later May until right up until this last weekend. There's a lot of tracks missing, of course, because Spotify (wine, wine), but it's the easiest way to stream music these days. Check it out:

RIP summer 2013. 

NFT Classic: A Tribute to Tigers

By the End of Tonight - A Tribute to Tigers (2005)

By the End of Tonight were a somewhat short lived math rock/post rock/instrumental band from Texas. BTEOT were also one of the first "Math Rock" bands I discovered after finding Zach Hill's first solo-album, Astrological Straits in a skateboarding magazine almost five years ago and had to find more music like it and fast. That being said, I always felt that these guys had a closer resemblance to the untouchable instrumental music of Hella than most other math rock-like bands I would eventually discover for the next few years. Maybe it's the metal influence or maybe it has to do with the furious approach, but either way, this is probably the only band that has ever come close to capturing the sound-plus-energy that I first heard from Zach Hill/Hella. But the best part is: By The End of Tonight still had their own unique and original sound. They were just what I was craving for.

A Tribute to Tigers is BTEOT's second release after their initiation debut full-length, ...In a Letter to the Sandbox. Both were recorded live and are almost completely instrumental except for some random yelling and a few written lyrics in "Stop, Drop, and Roll Does Not Work...". A Tribute to Tigers also features by favorite BTEOT track, "Setting Sail in April". Check it out:

Similar acts/sounds: Hella, Tera Melos, Piglet, Volta Do Mar, Sleeping People, Dysrhythmia, Pneu, Lightning Bolt, etc...

Bandcamp
Last.fm

Silver Jews - American Water

Silver Jews - American Water (1998)

Silver Jews were an explorational early 90s to late 2000s indie rock group that thrived mostly on the creative songwriting juices of David Berman. The original line-up of Silver Jews consisted of Berman and Pavement's Stephen Malkmus and Bob Nastanovich - who left after their debut full-length, Starlite Walker but returned for their 2005 album, Tanglewood Numbers.

To many, American Water is the essential Silver Jews album. It encompasses the perfect amount of somber Berman singing with the right amount of story-telling and the right amount of Stephen Malkmus.

Highlights: "Random Rules", "People", "Honky If Your Lonely", "Blue Arrangement", "Smith & Jones Forever"

While this album will never be the Silver Jews album that got me into Berman's stuff, that would be their last album from 2008, Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea, it does feature my favorite Silver Jews song: "Smith & Jones Forever". "Smith & Jones Forever" was the last song that the Silver Jews ever played live - a fact I hope never changes if they ever decide to go on a reunion tour and play something else:

Similar acts/sounds: Pavement, Smog, Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Rites of Spring, Bonny "Prince" Billy, Songs: Ohia, Miighty Flashlight, The Modern Lovers, Calvin Johnson, Guided By Voices, and other 90's indie rock music.

David Berman's Blog
Drag City
Last.fm

Monday XXXXXXXIII

RIP Margie

Gimme Goldar - Dizzep (2013)

Had me at Goldar.

Some noisy music spasms by Portland folk. Recorded on location at 131 Washington Ave.

Spoiler alert: they don't sound like Goldar...



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Safe - Safe EP (2010)

Safe is Chris "CF" Edley. Edley plays very elegant lo-fi-ish pop music recorded in secret basements for secret basements.



Safe will be playing with groovestep Portland acts, Glass Fingers, Altered Gee, and Conjjjecture at the Darkmouth Castle on the 19th (house on Dartmouth Street in Portland. Just follow the noise).

Rumor has it that this will be Glass Fingers' last performance as Glass Fingers. I don't know what this means but most likely will lead to more surprises ahead.

Last.fm


Moon Bandits - Action Changes Thinking (2013)

Moon Bandits are another, but less aggressive sounding, anarcho-punk outfit with acoustic instruments hailing from the west coast. If you enjoy or attended the Blackbird Raum (the anarcho-punk band I introduced last week) show last Friday night at The Oak + The Ax and had yourself a real doozy of a time, I highly recommend giving Moon Bandits a listen.

Or, if you are in town Wednesday night, you can just go check them out at Dobra Tea (that tea place above Bullmoose/Video Port on Middle Street) for yourself!



Last.fm

Monday XXXXXXXI

RIP Jason Molina

Black Mask. - Black Mask. (2012)

Finger licking good hardcore that falls right off the bones! From Pennsylvania.

At first I though this was another Black "something" band but then I saw the period.



Get mad.

Bandcamp
Last.fm

Scavenger - Cynical (2013)

Scavenger are a hardcore troupe from northern Maine that are quite reminiscent of early hardcore punk that requires a cassette player and big giant 80's speakers. Not bad, not bad.



Last.fm (#7)

Songs: Ohia - The Lioness (2000)

While clearly not as recognized as Magnolia Electric Co. or as truthfully and down right sad as Axxess & Ace (one of my favorite albums to play when I'm sad), The Lioness definitely has its moments of both sadness and glory that makes it stand out in my top three Jason Molina albums list.

Highlights include: "Lioness", "Being in Love", "Coxcomb Red", and "Nervous Bride"

Bonus:

Joe Beats's remix of "Coxcomb Red":

Last.fm

Monday XXXXXXX

Happy 311 day.

Here's some stuff that might sound like 311 if they were sped up/slowed down/mixed using an iPhone/had different members/weren't into colors/streaked more/were more distorted/were more like Weezer or Cap'n Jazz or Captain Beefheart or early Metallica/didn't twinkle as hard/weren't from Nebraska/had an album coming out this year/weren't on your mom's iPod/etc.

Michael Jordan Touchdown Pass - New Songs Summer 2012 (2012)

Clearly I'm behind on my Michael Jordan Touchdown Pass listening as I just got word that they have had new songs out on their Bandcamp since last summer. Regardless of all that though, there's no better time like the present to listen to some guilt-free music like Michael Jordan Touchdown Pass.



Did I mention that most of the money you give towards Michael Jordan Touchdown Pass's music goes to his friend in Cambodia's small school he started to help educate and nourish children in the village with art and science? Of course I didn't; I was saving the best news for last!

For real though, check it out!

Last.fm

We Scare Coyotes - PF Flyers DEMO (Live Recording) (2013)

I found out about these guys after checking out the predominately math rock blog, Plenty of Swords. I was initially turned on to this band in particular due to the description of them being a math rock band with strings (I'm guessing a violin). And even though I would say that We Scare Coyotes are bit more post rock than the average math rock outfit these days, they definitely incorporate the violin very nicely into their instrumental music on this live demo titled after those shoes the kids were wearing in The Sandlot.



This release is still much more post rock-y than their 2012 live demo, Wild Dreams which does not feature any strings if my ears serve me correctly. Still a decent listen for any instrumental/post rock/whatever fan out there, however.

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Jakob Battick & Friends - Last Songs (2013)

Jakob Battick & Friends may have called it quits in 2011, but it was definitely not the last time we would hear from the likes of either Jakob Battick or his "Friends" - including Jared Fairfield who seems to be appearing just as much on here as Jakob Battick lately. Not to mention that these last four songs by JB & Friends were originally set to be on a split with Jared Fairfield that never happened.

It almost seems like a crime that Jakob Battick and his friends put out such a phenomenal post-humorous release like this on top of all the other stuff Jakob Battick is up to currently (Captain Hollow, new Afraid stuff, etc.) as well as Jared Fairfield (who recently made this). Stop teasing us like you guys should be together still and have so much creativity, okay?

Rumor also has it that Jakob Battick's new project as Afraid will feature Jarboe. That's right, The Living Jarboe from Swans. This is just a rumor as of now, but just crazy enough to be true! When and if it ever happens you can be sure to see here, no doubt.

As for the music itself, these last four songs of Jakob Battick & Friends legacy are probably their best. They know it, too. And while I always enjoyed their other work, this is really some pretty nifty stuff that I can put on constant rotation.

So find yourself a big dark room to sit in and listen to these last four hunting post folk medleys until your bones can no longer take it anymore and you must draw the curtains back and let life return to your body. Except you don't, and your body just stays in equilibrium until your new life begins before your very own eyes.

Or listen to it like a normal person would. I don't care.



Other Friends from JB & F's past: Mark Dennis, Ryan Higgins, Marisha Drown, Nate Pronovost, Milo Moyer-Battick, Dan Littlefield, Johnathan Downs, and more!

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RIP Andy Griffith

RIP

Wolfgasm

Wolfgasm - Wolfgasm (2012)

While I never gave too much thought about anything by the short-lived Wolfgasm project of mid-late 2010 ever seeing the light of day, I had always hoped to at least post something about them since it was made of some of my closest friends and comrades. I guess I should have known better though, since this band was lead by local legend and runner of his own music archive, meaning he has probably kept every song he has ever recorded with every band he has ever been in, Jesse Gertz (known 'round these parts of town as the Total Babe of Babies, Glass Fingers). And while some members of this now super defunct indie rock slam jam are either MIA, not with us anymore, (the late Martin Smith, whose music has also been archived and saved by Gertz and released posthumously after his death with little extra goodies and what-have-you) or mad... There is still the song that featured them all, and that would be the first and only completely 'Wolfgasmic' song, "Courting". It's not for nothing that this one song exists it's just that sometimes somethings just don't work out quite like the way you want it to. For the rest of this four song teaser, it is mostly just the Jesse Gertz indie rock show, not that there is anything wrong with that, it's just not the full band of goof balls and degenerates that sported the good name of Wolfgasm.

Fun fact: I stepped in to the studio (Gertz's basement) and sat done behind the kit for one of the last (to my understanding) Wolfgasm practices. Ever.

The artwork by the way is by the world famous artist, Sean Terrence Best. Check him out and like him on the facebooks!

Similar acts/sounds: Glass Fingers, Jesse Gertz, Martin Smith, Twisted Truth, Saint Monday, Airplane Robert, Pecan Sandies, The Modest Proposal, The Fuse, Airway Robbery, Eyes Like Fire, Wulfgasm, Sugar Ray, Grunt, Captain Hollow, Tony Smokes and the Ladykillers, Sawtopsy, If and It, Dead Man's Clothes, Unexpected92, CJ the Kid, The Hot Dogs, Metal Feathers, Chingy, Sisqo, ODB, and none of the above.

PS: Borelli is mad.

Myspace

R.I.P. Martin Smith

Earlier this week I learned that the world was missing a really great character. Martin Smith was not just a close friend but also a major influence in my life. His ability and goal to be completely different than everybody else will always stick in my mind as one of the greatest features he (and anyone) could ever have. There will never be another guy like Martin and it is a shame everyone did not know him. He was something of mythes.

In honor of my lost friend, I would like to post some music that he either showed me, liked, or that we both had in common. I'll also post some extra stuffz and some stuff that reminds me of Martin as time goes by. 

Ratatat - 9 Beats

I remember one summer riding around with Martin in his beat up silver Volvo be got from is grandmother. He was one of my first friends I ever knew who could drive and that alone blew me away. At this point he loved to drive around to Ratatat's 9 beats; an unofficial release that included 9 instrumental tracks that were used on their remix albums of famous hip hop and rap stars' songs. The tracks are really bumping and totally get you going! Martin's Volvo's speakers never really worked so for a little bit he would use a dinky portable speaker to project his favorite beats. But none of that bothered me. 

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 Pogo - Wonderland (2007)

It made sense that Martin got me in to tons of fun electronic, dancey and beaty music. Martin loved to dance (not like dance but like dance dance) and have a good time with his friends. My friends and I sometimes throw flash "dance parties"in each other's dirty little basements. It's just what we do. A lot of these dance parties have either been put on or featured a whole lotta really cool tracks found by Martin Smith himself. Martin introduced me to many electronic type bands back in the day, like Ratatat, Kraftwerk, Justice, Caribou, and even Pogo. 

Pogo is pretty famous for his special crafting of "Alice" a song using only chords, sound effects and vocal samples from the cartoon version of Alice in Wonderland. Pogo has also played around with more Alice in Wonderland in Wonderland, Disney's Up, Dexter, Harry Potter and many other films and bits of pop culture. Under all the glitch and bloops & woops, it actually sounds really chill and almost trip-hop like. I still remember the first time martin played this to me... Afterwards, I think I may have listened to it a hundred times that week.

Last.fm

Jamie T - Kings & Queens (2009)

Martin ripped this album for me a little after its release and I really enjoyed it.  I drifted away from this album and Jamie T for a bit but came back to listening to him after hearing his first album, Panic Prevention again. Jamie T definitely appeals to many people and could absolutely have a larger success here in the states some day. Nowadays I just like listening to the sadder songs on this one. 

Martin was always a giving person. Cliché, I know but he was! He would gave me a lot of weird things sometimes from a container of teeth to a little pink Jesus ring to a bunch of condoms after pretending to be a college and winning a big box of 500 prophylactics. But most of all, he would try to give himself to everyone of his friends including me! He would always try to entertain me every time we were together. Even when I was having a wonderful time just hanging around in his company, he still felt I was not having enough fun and would try his hardest to change that and thus, make my day. 

Last.fm

Titus Andronicus - The Monitor (2010)

One of Martin's favorites.

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Pussy - Sings the Hits (2011)

Matin and Friends (Dx2, Will Horseman and Thee Jesse Gertz) singing the hits with meows. It's music for the kitties in all of us. The hits include: Ring of Meow, Pokemeow Theme, Pur the Magic Dragon, Just a Feline and The National Anthem among many others!

Martin will always be remembered for his cat art, pink CATS hat and all the other cat type creations and placements.

Some of Martin's finest works:

Empty Suit by Martin Smith

Martin Smith's House of Spaghetti House

RIP