NFT's Got You Covered 2018

2018 has been a rollercoaster if rollercoasters had more trials and tribulations than thrills and excitement. I had high hopes of bringing Nostalgia For Tomorrow circa 2010 back to reality, but again the rollercoaster of life had an open seat for me in the front row. Despite all that, I won't apologize. Instead, I'll write about some things that make me happy. So, here is a list of my favorite cover songs from the year 2018. For listening and enjoyment purposes only.

Always Crush Me - Wreck and Reference



Wreck and Reference take Guided By Voices' lo-fi recording and all its roughness, amplify it by 100, and project it into twisted industrial metal. The monotonous guitar strumming is traded in with synths and slacker vocals become panic-induced yelling. "Always Crush Me" is the perfect little cover for a perfect little song in Guided By Voices' giant-ass catalog.


Agony - Beach Fossils

Yung Lean's under the influence love song from last year gets an upbeat treatment thanks to New York rockers, Beach Fossils. "Agony" is an ice cold number about tripping balls that seems indulgent at first, but give it a few listens and you will discover a haunting song that boarders on claustrophobic. With Beach Fossils' addition of light guitar and a steady bass, the walls seem to move even closer in on you. BF's version might be a bit more upbeat than the original, but it's far from the most rock n' roll rendition of a Sadboy-type song; that award goes to a similarly named band, Beach Goons, who covered Spooky Black's "Without U" back in 2015.


I Started a Joke - Marissa Nadler



A number of songs from Marissa Nadler's second cover album could have been posted here. There's one of my favorite Leonard Cohen tracks ("Avalanche"), a heartbreaking Daniel Johnston track ("True Love Will Find You in the End"), and a somber Danzig deep-cut ("Blood and Tears"). I have to give the spotlight to Nadler's rendition of "I Started a Joke" by Bee Gees though, since the original turned 50 years old this year. Plus, it's really good.


Bark at the Moon - Integrity



Integrity haven't slowed down a bit since releasing their barn burner, Howling, For the Nightmare Shall Consume last year. This year, the metal/hardcore crossover vets released a split with American black metal outfit, Krieg, and for Halloween released a cover of an Ozzy Osbourne classic. Despite the essential choice, Integrity's deliver is anything but tongue-in-cheek. Yes, it's still clearly an Ozzy track, but Integrity's signature sound breaths new life into the old beast. Take a listen above and go off the rails of the crazy... err, bark at the moon.


The Book of Love - bedbug



A few years back, a work friend invited me to his wedding and mentioned that the wedding song would be "The Book of Love". He asked me if I had ever heard of the song in hopes that I would guess The Monotones' song by the same name. Instead, I did my best Magnetic Fields impression without drawing too much attention to myself. He was impressed but also a little confused. I never ended up attending the wedding, but I did learn that "The Book of Love" is a very popular wedding song. The twist, of course, is "The Book of Love" by The Magnetic Fields on the album, 69 Love Songs was later covered by the more-known-by-co-workers, Peter Gabriel. Flash forward to this past Halloween, I'm attending one of the 8 Halloween cover shows the Boston-area had to offer, and bedbug was performing as the Scrubs Soundtrack, a medley of songs from the hit show. One of the songs bedbug played happened to be "The Book of Love", which appears in the season 8 finale a la the Peter Gabriel version. I joked about whether bedbug covered The Magnetic Fields version or Peter Gabriel to myself. Flash forward to a few days ago, when a 69 Love Songs tribute album was released by Living Statue Records. There, waiting for me among the 69 songs, was bedbug's "The Book of Love". This recorded version might be missing the Scrubs samples that were weaved into the rest of bedbugs' Halloween set, but it's still really awesome to see my pointless anecdote about "The Book of Love" grow each year.


By My Side - Ben Walsh



Ben Walsh of Tigers Jaw's cover on Don't Stop Now II: A Collection of Covers is a perfect example of a gateway song to the original. Without clicking on Ben's cover, I would have never given much of a thought to the new Porches album. Now "By My Side" is among one of my favorite songs of 2018. As for the compilation itself, if you got the cash I highly recommend grabbing all 33 covers which benefits RAICES (Refugees and Immigrants Center for Education & Legal Services). RAICES seems like a great place to throw your money at; throw your money at anything and everything that is not a giant fear-mongering wall.


Havana - Superorganism

Superorganism's intoxicating rendition of "Havana" feels like it manifested via a long night of partying at a local karaoke bar. Something that could not have been duplicated at the karaoke bar, however, is their candy-coated production that has been ever-so-carefully melted into digital goodness for the ears. There might not be as much going on as there is in every other facet of Superorganism's recordings, performances, and wild Spotify music videos, there's still no mistaking the dedication to their commitment to ultra quirkiness.


I Wanna Be Adored - King Woman



A major appeal to the Stone Roses' hit number, "I Wanna Be Adored" is the misheard chorus which I always sing as "I Wanna Be A Door", while others mishear it as "I Wanna be a Dog" or, similarly, "I Wanna be Your Dog". King Woman's version adds a new layer to the already misunderstood lyrics by draping the song in doom-y drone atmosphere. "I Wanna Be Adored" seems unrecognizable at first, until Kristina Esfandiari AKA Miserable's wispy vocals come in. Eventually the song picks up and echoes the aforementioned line that sounds especially like "I Wanna Be A Door" until coming to an untimely end. It might not go down as smooth as the original, but give it a few listens and let it grow on you like a small rash or black mold.


Infinity Guitars - Sunflower Bean

What better way to celebrate a record label's 10 year anniversary than taking a swing at a song that is surprisingly almost 10 years old. Sunflower Bean manage to shed some of the over-amplified guitar work without losing any of the energy that rarely is heard from Sleigh Bells these days. The result almost sounds like "Pepper" by Butthole Surfers, but maybe that's just me wanting something to sound like "Pepper" by Butthole Surfers. Either way, I highly recommend playing this cover full-blast in a beat-up 90's Volvo just as the original was meant to be played.


Moon River - Frank Ocean

Despite being a day late, Frank Ocean's "Moon River" is this years' Valentine cover song. Channelling his inner Audrey Hepburn from Breakfast at Tiffanys, Ocean delivers a poignant rendition of a timeless classic only the way he could. "Moon River" is just a reminder how incredible Frank Ocean is even if this wasn't his best take.


People / Halfsleeper - CJ Boyds



CJ Boyds has been traveling all over the country for 10 years playing with all sorts of wonderful talent. Boyds' cover album in honor of 10 years on the road might not be the biggest, but it's definitely the most ambitious cover album on this list. Not only are Boyds' covers carefully picked to reflect the bands and musicians he has shared stages and spaces with, all the covers are by musicians he has played with covering all 50 states plus Washington, DC and an unknown bonus track for US territories. Along with that, Boyds recorded each song in the respected state as to which the song is associated with. Currently, only "People / Halfsleeper" is available for listening, but judging by this drone-y Dilute meets Chelsea Wolfe combo-cover recorded in California, Boyds ode to the US is going to be mighty impressive.


Pontiac 87 - Preoccupations



A few bands seem to loose some steam when they change their name. Preoccupations, formerly Viet Cong, however are keeping the hype train going. This year they released an album called New Material (Which might be there new name next year) and a split with top-tier post-punkers of the '10s, Protomartyr. Preoccupations prove they are here to stay with their spaced-out rendition of "Pontiac 87". The cover might not be the most challenging, especially since both bands are so similar, but maybe not appropriating someone else is a good thing for Preoccupations right now.


Same Drugs - Free Throw



With a band tackling Chance the Rapper's "Same Drugs", one might think that Free Throw are putting a special spin on a hometown favorite. However, Free Throw are not a Chicago emo band. Hell, they're not even an East Coast emo band. Free Throw from Nashville, Tennessee already take on the task of being a long shot, a surprisingly not "southern" emo band. Free Throw aren't defined by where they reside, but rather by how moving their music can be. It's a surprise to most, and a cover of Chance seems like the biggest surprise Free Throw could have come up with, yet here we are. "Same Drugs" comes as a surprise at the end of Missing Pieces, a small compilation of re-imagined songs from their 2017 album, Bear Your Mind.


Playlist w/bonus covers:

NFT's Got You Covered - Favorite Covers of 2015!

Back from hiatus because I love lists and I can't resist talking about my favorite things of the year. So, to get the boulder that is list season rolling, here are some of my favorite cover songs of 2015!

Hot Chip - Dancing in the Dark from Dancing in the Dark EP

If you are like me, then you probably only know Hot Chip from the wacky music video for their 2010 single, "I Feel Better". Well, now I also know that they also do a pretty nerdy synthed-up version of "Dancing in the Dark" by Bruce Springsteen. This cover of one of my favorite Boss jams includes an Everything is Terrible-esque music video and a sprinkling of LCD Soundsystem's "All My Friends" towards the end. A lot of this cover plus the music video seems overplayed at times but I still enjoy it for what it is; tacky.

Tigers Jaw - In Between Days/Kevin Devine - Lovesong from Devinyl Splits No. 3


Two sincere Cure covers.

Girlpool - Cut Your Bangs from Chinatown

This cover of Radiator Hospital's "Cut Your Bangs" from last year frequently came on while I rode to work on my new bike this summer. Every time I was completely floored by how genuine it was. I personally like both tracks equally but I can't help but think that this version here is a bit more accessible to folks who can't stomach Radiator Hospital's unique vocals. Hell, I'm already seeing videos of people covering this version titled "Me covering Girpool's cover of Radiator Hospital". 

Somebody Kill Me Please - LVL UP from Faux Real II



Faux Real is a compilation of cover songs curated by Father/Daughter Records. The covers are that of fictional bands and singers from TV/films such as The Rutles, Sadgasm from the Simpsons, and The Blowholes from The Adventures of Pete and Pete. My favorite one of the batch this year comes from LVL UP and their rendition of "Somebody Kill Me" via the Wedding Singer. The original sung by Adam Sandler's character had been listening to a lot of The Cure at the time.

Tiny Rick (Let Me Out) - Sorority Noise from Tiny Rick (Rick and Morty Cover)



Another cover from pop culture. Didn't listen to a lot of Sorority Noise this year and I wished I watched more Rick and Morty. Smash this link to listen to the original.

Thou - Even in His Youth from Whatever Nevermind



Another year, another Nirvana tribute album. Out of this year's covers of Nevermind curated by Robotic Empire, I had to narrow it down to the bonus tracks by Thou, especially "Even in His Youth", as my favorites of the pack.

Went with because even with Thou's own signature mutilation, there is still some poppiness that bleeds out from time to time. Well, maybe not "pop" per se, but it does have a little groove to it for a Thou track.

Spazzin' to the Oldies - A Tribute to Spazz 



Probably my favorite tribute album this year, Spazzin' to the Oldies is a 26 song nail gun full of grindcore nails to the face. This is a tribute album for the one and only Spazz. Spazzin' to the Oldies features some damn good grindcore/powerviolence/spastic metal acts from today such as Purge, Godhole, God's America, Brainshit, Chinsniffer and OSK (to name a few that I recognize). If I had to pick a favorite here, I would have to go with OSK's cover of "Spazz vs. Mother Nature" because it includes the banjo outre (no mouth harp, though, but I'll still give credit where it's due).

Old Witch - Gallows from Keeper Split



Old Witch's interpretation of CocoRosie's macabre tale, "Gallows" is definitely my favorite kind of cover song. While there were plenty of true-to-the-original covers I heard this year on and off the internet, I always love a good rework of a song from a different genre or a song given new life. Isn't the whole point of a cover putting your own spin on someone else's work? Isn't playing a song exactly the way it was intended Karaoke?

I'm starting to digress here for a sec but I honestly wish I could list Weekend Nacho's cover of "Tired of Sex" by Weezer. Yes, Weekend Nachos covered Weezer this year. No, it was not the most violent retelling of Pinkerton's #1 hit known to mankind. Instead it was strictly "Tired of Sex" performed as Weekend Nachos playing Weezer. Well hey, there's also "In the Garage", maybe they were just joking around and this is the Weekend Nachos cover I was expecting. Nope. Whistling and all, it's a great cover, but it's no Weekend Nachos cover. Then again, maybe my opinion will change once I get a grip. Maybe I'm just mad they didn't cover "El Scorcho".

Honorary Mentions:

Screaming Females covering T. Swift's "Shake it Off" for the AV Club
Ironlung with Wizard of Ozz covering B. Sabbath's "Electric Funeral"
Leftover Crack covering B. Raum's "Left Legs"
Corrective Measure covering A. Front's "Discriminate Me" (gotta rep Maine Hardcore)
Holy Filth covering M. Otorhead's "Iron Fist" (gotta rep Maine Metal)
And a thanks to any bands that I saw this year cover stuff... a heard a lot of it and it was pretty good most of the time.


Also, I'm sure I missed something very dope.

Leveret - Action At A Distance

Leveret - Action At A Distance (2015)

What once was a bedroom project for a young Mainer has once again evolved into something extraordinary. With the first official show down and Action At A Distance recordings finally at my ears I never thought I would be trading my Leveret dancing shoes in for Leveret neckbraces, but with the new jam-heavy initiative apparent on this new record, things are really starting to heat up!

Action At A Distance is a 10 track mix bag of electronic and sensual pop/rock party music. With the addition of Penn and Cormac on this release, experimentation is a bit more prominent than the last album, Infinity which was played out like Jesse Gertz's early works of a one-man electronic act's swan song. Now with the full-band in full-force, there are a lot more to be done and heard. The electronic and seductive feel is still there as always but there are a lot of new sounds that I have never heard from Leveret before thanks to four more hands holding more guitars and effects. There are also a lot more influences that shine through that previously could not be accomplished by Jesse alone.

With the addition of a full band listeners' are always bound to come across things they wish sounded a bit more stripped down or less polished. With Action At A Distance though, the use of rock and roll instrumentation as opposed to the keyboard and bass of the past makes these songs feel a lot fuller. A recommendation I always gave Leveret was to play louder! Now with the extensive use of electric guitar I think they have found just the right volume for their party-pleasing jams.

The album does a really good job of displaying the talents of all its musicians. With "Grandfathers Axe" we hear more of what Cormac can bring to the table (and pedal board) not just by his use of the guitar but also with his vocals - something previously never showcased before other than for backing vocals during live performances. Cormac can bust out some very sleek and seductive vocals that are perfect for the more intimate moments of the Leveret experience. At A Distance also does a great job of showcasing Jesse Gertz's vocals on "Oscillator" and and the electronic epic closer "Ghost". Jesse's vocals are clear yet laid-back, something I think Jesse has improved incredibly on and I think his vocal performances here are some of his best yet.

The only negative comment I have with At A Distance is also one of the best things about the album and that's that there is too much going on. During Leveret's record release show at the Space Gallery in Portland I was hearing a lot of comparisons being thrown around as to what the new album sounds like; I heard Party music, I heard electronic, I heard indie pop, I even heard Queens of the Stone Age-core. While there's nothing wrong with comparisons or sounding like all sorts of different things, I think that by delivering so many different sounds track after track, listeners are left really not knowing exactly what it is the band is going for.

Then again, all the sounds Leveret are delivering here on At A Distance are really well done and at least are not anything generic. It probably doesn't help matters much either now that there is also another band going by Leveret that play folk music from the UK... but this right here is the only Leveret worth figuring out!


Highlights: "Oscillator", "Unclothing", "Swallow", "Little Drum Song", and "Ghost"



Now check it out for yourself!

Official Site
Facebook
Bandcamp
Last.fm

Monday XCVII (NSFW)

To put some life back into this blog, I've decided to not only make this post this week, but one for every day this week. Godspeed.

Dungeon Kids - Jzanthypus and Friends (2014)

A little something-something from the indie pop dudes in the Baltimore area. This 3 song EP of sorts features two B-sides along with Dung Kid's single, "Grenville, Pt. 1" from their first release, Oh How it Hurts; a song that easily made my top 10 songs list last year.



Wet your whistle.

Last.fm

Big Ups - Wake Up (2011)

If you haven't already heard about these guys, you are hearing them right now. Literally, listen to these guys right now!

Big Ups from New York are blowing up with their new album, Eighteen Hours of Static and for good reason (listen). Before they were killing it with a Fugazi meets Melvins post punk sound, they were baby punk rockers in a big city. Some people might just wanna skip to their new stuff and call it good, but I like their old stuff, too. I don't know, maybe you'll like it as well.


SHUT YOUR MOUTH!

Bandcamp
Last.fm

Where's My Friends - Where's My Friends (2014)

Where's My Friends are a Portland, Maine brewed instrumental three piece featuring members of the late math rock band, The Waldos, and the always impressive, Butcher Boy. While Where's My Friends are not as heavy as The Waldos stuff (not that The Waldos were off the walls), it's still moving, a bit free flowing, but moving nevertheless.




Poland Street dreams.

Fackbook.com

Monday XCV

Learned how Roman Numerals work again. Personally, I prefer all the X's.

Delos / Yusuke - Split (2013)

This is a sweet screamo/hardcore/emo violence split I've been holding on to featuring Delos from Bremen, Germany and Yusuke from Illinois, Untied States. Very scream-y, very messy.

Yusuke's side:


Delos's side:

It appears that both bands are either really into Louise Cyphre (Yusuke) or used to be Louise Cyphre (Delos).

Last.fm (Yusuke)
Last.fm (Delos)

Princess Reason - Princess Reason (2013)

Princess Reason is a lo-fi indie pop group from Echo Park, California. They sound like stuff you should play on cassette while you are in your room alone and not acting tough listening to tough people music. It's a real treat really. Fans of Coma Cinema, Spook Houses, Julia Brown, Pill Friends, and quite lo-fi will definitely get a kick out of this stuff if they aren't already.


Last.fm

Soda Bomb - The Future is Gonna Suck (2013)

Before 2013 ended, all I knew about Soda Bomb was that they have a cover of the King of the Hill theme song. Now it's 2014 and I still don't know much about these guys other than I went the whole year without checking to see if they had released anything new.. and they did. Good thing Broken World Media let me know, seeing as they released these guys mid-2013 release, The Future is Gonna Suck last October.


Soda Bomb play fuzzy garage punk rock. Bring back the Attitude Era thumbs up if you agree.

Last.fm

Double Feature: Sun Club & Dungeon Kids

Two bands that totally know how to have a good time from Baltimore.

Sun Club - Beauty Meat/Language Juice 7" (2013)

Sun Club are a hell of a lot of a fun. They noodle, they groove, they make noise, they ooh and ahh and, most importantly, they have a damn good time doing it. I've seen these guys twice now (just in this year) and I have to say that Sun Club are easily becoming one of my favorite bands to see live and hang out with. I actually had a sweet little post written about just these guys that I wrote a few months back (when I say them play at a show with Chalk Talk this summer), but that post got deleted somehow and I never got to share it. I guess it's alrighy though since that post was about their self-title, which they have since taken down off their bandcamp. Anyways, here's some Sun Club:




This 2 song 7-incher is just a taste of what Sun Club are all about. To get the full Sun Club experience, you have got to see them play right in front of you. Their music will make your legs quiver and your pelvis move in certain ways that you never thought imaginable; only in the best ways, of course.

After being super impressed by Sun Club when I saw them for the first time this summer, which was my first show as well as first day back from being on a tugboat for 60 days, I definitely had to see them again. Luckily, I didn't have to wait very long as they made their way back up to my neck of the woods to play a show at the University of Maine last weekend.

Facebook
Last.fm

Dungeon Kids - Oh How it Hurts (2013)

When Sun Club returned to Maine last week, they didn't come alone. This time out, Sun Club brought with them their friends from Baltimore, collectively named, Dungeon Kids. While I hadn't heard anything from Dungeon Kids until I saw them play, I knew they were gonna be impressive. They're friends with Sun Club, how could they not? Well, lo and behold, Dungeon Kids took to the floor of my friend's dorm lounge and played a solid set of garage rock meets indie pop-y goodness.


Even with the fact that Dungeon Kids are a new band that really just started to play shows with the current lineup they have now, this is still some great material. I hope to hear more from these guys along with more good music from Sun Club in the future. Hopefully I'll be around to see them again this summer when both bands make their return to Maine as well!

Facebook
Last.fm

Monday LXXXV

Mondeep. 

Radiator Hospital - Something Wild (2013)

Radiator Hospital play quirky lo-fi indie pop for the young people... whether you're young or you're not. It's the kind of music that you listen to and remember that not everything needs to be taken seriously or make sense.

This is their summer release, Something Wild.



Last.fm

Soft Skills - A Future to Remember (2013)

Soft Skills (always thought they were called "Soft Skulls") are an emo/math rock band from Portland, Oregon.

Very reminiscent of early emo bands mixed with the driving instrumentation of another Portland band, Duck. Little Brother, Duck! But I guess that shouldn't be such a surprise considering Kyle and Phil from DLBD! are also keeping time in this band. So yeah, that's pretty sweet as well.



These guys should not be confused with the Indiana band of the same name.

Last.fm

So Stressed - Attracted To Open Mouths (2012)

Stomping noise rock one minute, emo punk the next. Sacramento's own, So Stressed and their indecisiveness for what kind of music to make might actually be their greatest strong point. Whatever they play next, it will probably be loud, noisy, and totally new.

Attracted To Open Mouth is one of the freshest and most interesting albums I've come across in some time. Every song takes you on its own little journey through unknown landscapes and bizarre realms without ever explaining itself or bringing you back to where you started; it's a wonderful mess.

The only problem is it leaves you wanting more...


Definitely check this out. Trust me.

Last.fm

Monday LXXXIV

Moondate.

Glocca Morra/Summer Vacation - Split 7" (2013)

Good stuff from both bands right here. If you don't know either of these guys yet please do yourself a favor and get acquainted. For your health!

Seriously..

Last.fm (Glocca Morra)

Last.fm (Summer Vacation)

Wood Burning Cat - Karate Trophies (2013)

Wood Burning Cat are a three-man power pop band. I guess that means they are Weezer, right?

Whatever it is, it's pretty fun and even includes some upbeat keyboard action. 

Karate Trophies was recorded via Mike Cunnane's Cut The Shit mobile recording studio. 

Last.fm

Milo - Milo Takes Baths (2012)

Milo AKA Rory Ferreria takes Baths AKA Will Wiesenfeld instrumentals and puts obscure references on top of them.

Hopefully if I talk about him enough I can get a Nostalgia For Tomorrow pop some day. 

Really digging the last track, "The Mumblings of Mr. Wav". I had never heard Baths "Seaside Town" before this and nearly jumped out of my seat when I first heard those Kiki's Delivery Service samples. I'm a real softy for Hayao Miyazaki flicks...

Last.fm 

Monday LXXXIII

Music or lose it.

Langosta - Super Nature EP (2013)

Langosta is a hell of a lot of fun math rock 'n' roll band from Connecticut. Super Nature is the name of this EP and also the name the band formerly called themselves. Super Nature is the name originally used by Salt-N-Pepa as well.


Last.fm

Fearless Leader - Half Dead EP (2013)

Fearless Leader is a Seattle based math rock meets post hardcore band that mixes twinkly technical-sounding instrumentation with intricate shouting/spoken word. The result is a mess.


A fearless mess.

Last.fm

The Sarcastic Dharma Society - Live At Laughing Horse (2013)

The Sarcastic Dharma Society AKA Mat Vuksinich is back with new music and he's not alone!

I'm really glad to see and hear that this band is back and wish them the very best of luck. Mat has a very interesting voice and it's really cool to hear what he can do with a band behind him. I'm not gonna gush but damn this is some of my favorite indie music.


You can also watch the video of Mat and his now four piece band play their five song set from the Laughing Horse in Portland, Oregon, here.

Last.fm

Monday LXXV

Still Monday somewhere...

Iron Chic - Spooky Action (2013)

Spooky Action is Iron Chic's (Long Island, NY pop punk) new 7incher for their European tour this year. It features three tracks including a Butthole Surfers cover that also contains a sample of "Suicide is Painless" - the theme to M.A.S.H.

The Butthole Surfers cover is "Goofy Concern".



Last.fm

Elvis Depressedly - Holo Pleasures (2013)

Fuzzy lo-fi from Matt Cothran (who is also Coma Cinema). This is his new album, Holo Pleasures under the  Elvis Depressedly name.



Fans of Coma Cinema, monotone singing, lo-fi recordings, short songs, Teen Suicide/Julia Brown, and cigars will most definitely hate Elvis Depressedly.

Also, be on the look out for Coma Cinema's new album rumored to be released in May.

Last.fm

Mark Daniels - Emotional Chi: A Tribute to Life Without Buildings (2011)

Emotional Chi is a remix album using only songs from Life Without Buildings' super underrated album, Any Other City (2001).

Mark Daniels puts a nice spin on the already catchy song styles of Sue Tompkins, a musician I happened to find at the height of my Scottish accent addiction a had a few years back. So catchy!




These remixes are sure to put at least a little pep in your step today.

Last.fm

Nutmeg State of Mind - In Honor of Newtown

Various Artists - Nutmeg State of Mind (2013)

Here's a nice little album with a big heart. It's a benefit/tribute/honor album dedicated to those who lost their lives in Newtown, CT during the Elementary School shooting last December. Along with giving you a taste for the variety in the Connecticut music scene, all proceeds to the purchase of Nutmeg State of Mind goes to the mental health care organization, Mental Health America. 

It's a shame to see another innocent and safe town in America have to add their name to a horrendous school shooting (or any type of incident like this) list, but it's really great to see people stepping up for their state and supporting those who lost their lives much too soon (and their families), as well as looking into mental health help for those who might be in need but can not afford it. Folks on the news and in the paper often want to get into the debate about gun restrictions, and maybe they should, but what really needs to be looked at, which isn't as easy to monitor, is the mental condition of someone who may want to harm others as a way of seeking attention. Usually in the cases of such terrible shootings like we unfortunately had to hear of again in America - they are cry for help. A cry for help that may have been too late.

Anyways, I really feel like this is an awesome way to give back to Newtown and supports an important cause even if you are not familiar with any of the music that is on this album. No, It's not much but it's something . 

Be sure to check out Nutmeg State of Mind and donate if you can:

This album features all sorts of different genres and styles from Connecticut-based musicians and bands like Electronic (Color Plus, Steeve), hip-hop (Acemo, Chef the Chef, Ghost Row), indie rock/pop (A Beacon School, Fins, The Guru, M.T. Bearington), acoustic (Sidewalk Dave, Jefferson Washington, Closely Watched Trains, DawnMother), and many more.

A special thanks has to go out to Terry Carr and Peter Kelly from theup-turn.com for putting this album together. 

Last.fm

Beast 0f 2012 part deux

Long overdue.

My apologies.

Chalk Talk - Bad Influence EP (2012)

Toast you brain 'cause toast tastes good.

Highlights: Every song except for the stupidly named intro. Thanks guys!



Sex Cave Records
Official page
Last.fm

Hop Along - Get Disowned (2012)

There are some parents whose children long for divorce.

Highlights: "Tibetan Pop Stars", Diamond Mine", "Laments", "Trouble Found Me", and "Young and Happy! "

So pretty much every song...



Official page
Last.fm

KYOTY - Undiscovered Country of Old Death and Strange Years in the Frightful Past (2012)

Highlights: "14", "08", "12", and "15"



Tokyo Jupiter Records
Official page
Last.fm

Wreck and Reference - No Youth (2012)

Highlights: "Spectrum", "Nausea", "Cannot", and "Winter"


Flenser Records
Bandcamp
Last.fm

8th Day of NFT Christmas

Day 8.

Music:

For the past 13 years, "Arbor Christmas" has been compiling a Christmas collection featuring the likes of By Surprise, It's a King Thing, The Fur Not Longs, Norick Eve, Ages, Young Statues, Aspiga and many more!

Arbor Christmas: Volume 13 (2012)

This 19 song compilation features un-stale holiday-themed jingles that are mostly original numbers. Plus they're by people and bands you don't hate yet! How can you go wrong?




Along with this collection, the people behind Arbor Christmas are putting on their 13th annual Christmas show in New Jersey where most of these acts are from and will be playing. It's a long standing tradition with a great story behind it as well!

All past years' compilations can still be found on Arbor Christmas's bandcamp - and all for free!

I'm also certain that Ages have created enough Christmas songs for these comps and on their own that they have compiled 'em all up and made a Christmas song anthology which is for free on their bandcamp!

Arbor Christmas (for more info on the show and stuff)

Monday XXXXXVIII

Despite lots of hip places/sites/magazines posting their best-of lists and stuff, I am waiting until after the holidays just as I did last year.

For those who can't wait though, here are some honorary mentions:

Adventures - Adventures 7" (2012)

Adventures is the name of the Reba Meyers-fronted Code Orange Kids side project. It's really good. Like really really good. 

"Like Seed" is currently my favorite track from this four track 7incher. 

Reba has an awesome singing voice that is both rough and smooth. I would have to say, out of the female fronted releases that came out this year i.e. Traveling, Slingshot Dakota, Lemuria, Cerce and Hop Along, Reba and Adventures takes the cake. That's definitely saying something.

Last.fm (scrobbles to "The" Adventues... watch out!)

The Devil and a Penny - C. (2012)

The Devil and a Penny were so impressive when I saw them last spring. So impressive that I can't get over how much different they sounded live than they do on their recordings. That energy and catchiness I heard live is not captured the same way here on 'C.'. It's a gift and a curse that I saw them I guess. None the less, I must give this album an honorary mention and a high recommendation. They deserve it!

Last.fm

The Guru - Go Easy (2012)

I feel bad that I haven't given The Guru's new release, 'Go Easy' a proper review of its own, (it was high up there on my agenda too) but with finals coming up and all that nonesense, I must place it here for now. 

The Guru had a tough task of following up with another album after releasing the super catchy and fun magic-carpet-ride-on-fire, 'Native Sun' just last year, but 'Go Easy' is still a stellar sophomore album. Is it as good as 'Native Sun'? Ehh maybe - maybe not - but that's not really what's important. What's important is that they still have that disco-rock-whatever sound that got me interested in their sound to began with and tried a little less to sound just like Modest Mouse. Don't get me wrong, I'm actually a fan of Modest Mouse... It's just, these guys aren't Modest Mouse... They're The Guru. And I believe this album really shows that they aren't just being a Modest Mouse-sounding band, they are a band making their own catchy music that is very much their own. 

...And fun!

I was also meaning to mention that these guys were giving both 'Native Sun' and 'Go Easy' away for free this weekend but by the time I found out, it was just too late. Sorry about that...

Last.fm (avaliable for scrobbling on Spotify under "Guru"...)


Stay tuned for more honorary mentions coming soon.

Car Seat Headrest - Twin Fantasy

Car Seat Headrest - Twin Fantasy (2011)

Car Seat Headrest is Will Toledo. He makes fuzzy lo-fi music of which most of the vocal recordings were done in his car... hence the name. This album entitled 'Twin Fantasy', has a very interested story behind it much like Jordaan Mason & The Horse Museum's 2009 release, 'Divorce Lawyers I Shaved My Head'. Unfortunately, like the Jordaan Mason album I've mentioned above, I can not remember the story or if it's true. If you like Jordaan Mason though, you may also like this guy.

Similar acts/sounds: Jordaan Mason & The Horse Museum, The Sarcastic Dharma Society, Foot Ox, Coma Cinema, Midnight Ghost, Alligator Indian, Long Walks On The Beach, Camp Island, The Whiting Brothers, and, and, and, and.


Keep smoking.

We love you.

Last.fm

Monday XXXXVIII

Oh yeah, for sure.

Dikembe - Broad Shoulders (2012)

New Dikembe is not to be eff'd with. Just really good and honest stuff!

Seriously, dude.

Bandcamp
Last.fm

LEANN GRIMES - I'm Not Too Skinny (2012)

LEANN GRIMES A.K.A. Shane Conerty is back with an all new stack of indie rock jams that have been chopped up and turned into something super catchy and actually fun to listen to again. And while I wasn't all that excited when I saw what was on the cutting room floor for original tracks, I was once again impressed by the way they have been re-arranged in bumpy, sample-happy GRIMES fashion! Notable acts like Beirut, Man Man, St. Vincent, and Destroyer all get the treatment along with many other bands I don't normally listen to or have heard of yet, which is really Conerty's whole point of this project; to get people interested in these bands and support them. I on the other hand, would rather just support him. Keep doing what you're doing, Shane Conerty!

Last.fm

Speedy Ortiz - Sports EP (2012)

Some more new(ish) stuff.

Sports!

Bandcamp
Last.fm

Why? - Sod in the Seeds EP (2012)

Oh, and speaking of new.... Yoni & the gang have a new EP out called, Sod in the Seeds. It's free here but probably only for a limited time so grab it while it's still there! If you like earlier Why? stuff and not so much the last record, Eskimo Snow, I really think you should check it out! Quick! GOOOOOOOO!

Last.fm