Pelican - Australasia (2003)

Pelican's first full-length, Australasia is a must have for anyone into post (whatever) or just really killer heavy shredding adjective stuff. Every song sends you on an out-of-control-riff-raff adventure. It's sludgy, and it's not super polished, and did I mention it's straight from the gut heavy post metal. It also includes singing saw on the more laid back Untitled track!

Pelican - Australasia (2003)

Drought has got to be one of the most un-Godly riff heavy songs I know (and I mean that in the best terms!) It's also the most standable song featuring splash cymbals. If you got yourself a big game/race/exam coming up or a really lame office meeting, inject this into your bloodstream put this on and let it PUMP YOU UP!

Similar acts/sounds: Tusk, Russian Circles, Rosetta, Isis, Year Of No Light, Neurosis, Omega Massif etc...

Last.fm
Hydra Head Records

Hop Along, Queen Ansleis - Freshman Year

Hop Along, Queen Ansleis - Freshman Year (2006)

Really simple and catchy stuff right here. The approach that Frances Quinlan brings to Hop Along, Queen Ansleis (now, just Hop Along and includes members of a band called Dragonzord, Netherfriends, and even Eric Slick of Dr. Dog and Jackie Sullivan of Little Lungs while touring sometimes) can be easily compared to other female vocalist acts with that similar cute girl sound, but I like to think that Frances handles her vocals in a much different and refreshing way. It's Passionate to a point where I just wanna go into my stereo and give her a big hug. I don't think my girlfriend would approve of that, though. Take a listen to here for yourself what I mean.

The song "Bruno is Orange" hits so hard.

Did you hear about that mother?
Broke her daughter's legs in two
And said, "it's too dangerous out there to walk, so I had to save you."
Last.fm
Myspace

The Waldos

Maine may seem too dull and cold for great talent. Sure, makes sense... unless you've lived in Maine your whole life and have had any interest in music whatsoever. I'm that kind of unfortunate soul and I am also one that has learned that with any state - any country for that matter, there are people listening to music and being influenced heavily on that sound (especially with all this help from the interwebbing software you are currently fondling with). That's why it comes to no surprise to me when I see that Maine is capable of having just as many types of music than any other place (just not as many at times). From rap to country, electronic to noise, punk to folk punk, metal to ska, jazz to hardcore. You name it, we might have it. If not... someone'll come around and do it here and realize they are in the wrong Portland and leave.

The Waldos are Maine's tempo changing on a dime - guitars bursting into flames from too much awesome - drumming that makes you wish you never attended all those years of lessons (with that really hairy fat guy in his stinky basement) and just do what you wanted type of band.

The Waldos - Sludged Out Fish Logic (2011)

Seeing these guys play is always an experience, especially this fresh in their careers. These guys, to me, seem like a very self destructive band that I recommend anyone with a taste for math-like progressive and experimental music go see because I honest don't know how long we've got until they become a long lost legend. Soon everyone will be saying, "where's The Waldos?" (that was bad. I apologize).

Rough Draft Records
Facebook
Youtube
untitled (demos)

Listener

Listener is a spoken word type monster of a project by Dan Smith and Chris Nelson. They call it "talk music" and I call it  beautifully emotional and powerful music that will rip your heart out just see if it still beats like it did when you were a small child and actually cared about things with all your might. Dan Smith (not to be confused with Dance Myth of Red Medicine) isn't out to poetically impress you with his hip mustache but convence you to just listen to the stories and imagery that he is capable of spitting out. The way the lines are delivered is like getting punched my words... or a thesaurus (take your pick).

Listener - Wooden Heart (2010)

Along with Dan's mad spoken word chops there is also the mostly overlooked work of Chris Nelson, who puts all the music together that accompanies but not necessarily backs up the spastically moving talker. The music behind Dan is just as conveying and moving as the lyrics, while not stealing the show or overloading the picture that is being thrown up on the already dirty canvases of our minds.

Dan Smith has also cut his teeth with the hip hop collective of Deepspace 5 as well as one half of the hip hop duo known as Labklik according to wikipedia.

Every line he speaks is for you the listener. So shut up and listen.

My good friend, Pat once read Seatbelt Hands at a little poem reading session and boy, did it gave me goosebumps...

I read Avril's mall punk classic, Sk8er Boi.

Last.fm
Official site
You've got beat blood in your mouth and lies in your artichoked heart

Nuito - Unutella (2008)

Nuito are Japan's Tera Melos before they went with lyrics and singing rather than just laying it out and playing guilt free math rock. There's something about Japanese bands that I'll say time and time again: they take a genre that America does pretty well with and class the hell out of it. Not to mention, push the bar of talent through the glass ceiling for music's sake. Nutio also gives you mad hip points if you go to a math show and mention them before Tera Melos or whoever's at the top of the math game these days.

Nuito - Unutella (2008)

Last.fm

Official site

Monday II

It's Monday again. Great. Here's music.

Time Columns - Sunsetinthesea (2009)

Chill Instrumental rock from Baltimore. Math rock, "hook-heavy", and loop-y. The song Summer has this really catchy looped out part towards the end that reminds me a lot of Irepress for some reason! Sweet EP that's worth a listen for sure.

Last.fm

Behzad Mehrnoosh - Vildmarken (2011)

Swedish post rock from Sweden. Haven't listened to a lot of these guys yet but most of it sounds good to me so far. There's some singing now and then as well as some ambiance. It's definitely not your average straight forward round and pound post rock album or band (more of a one man side project I believe).

Last.fm
Bandcamp

Clever Advisor - Simple Songs for Youthful Dreaming (2011)

Little electronic ditties. A side project of Byé Lai Mar I believe. Kind of cute.

Last.fm (really no info or help)

Guidelines - Rules of the Sife (2010)

Skramz from Jersey. Short and sweet. Last song, Taken Hand, has a small sample about children's values. I'm a sucker for samples or spoken word especially about children's values. Just kidding... Maybe.

Last.fm

Andrew Jackson Jihad - Knife Man (2011)

New Andrew Jackson Jihad. The song Zombie By The Cranberries By The Andrew Jackson Jihad is not a cover of The Cranberries' song Zombie. Unfortunately, I know. There's also a new "People" entitled People II 2: still Peoplin'.  Back Pack is probably my current favorite of this new release. Check it out or buy it...

Last.fm
Official site

Wugazi - 13 Chambers

At first I was like that is pretty sick I guess. Fugazi + Wu-Tang. Two bands I never thought would be mashed up. Cool cool. But then as I opened the folder and sent the first MP3 to my iTunes, I heard that beautiful and quite familiar piano work under Raekwon's tight rhymes from C.R.E.A.M. and boy did it kick my ass. Maybe it's because "I'm So Tired" is my favorite Fugazi song or maybe it's just the well done engineering, but either way it was an awesome surprise. The rest of the album is just as promising! 

Wugazi - 13 Chambers (2011)

I was a little hesitant at first because I also thought the Wu-Tang Vs. The Beatles mash up was a genius idea. Every time I listen to Enter the Magic Mystery Chambers though, I get a little bored and antsy in anticipation for things to stick together and fit but it doesn't really work itself out. Maybe it's the fact that I'm not too into the The Beatles tracks that the creator, Tom Caruana used or the fact that the beats aren't really very interesting and kind of slow (not that that technic can't always work). Most of the time I just end up wanted to listen to the originals. Which is fair. 

But hey! look on the bright side: someday there could even be a Beatles + Fugazi combo (looking right now to see if there is...). 

Unlike Enter the Magic Mystery Chambers, I think 13 Chambers is really well put together and actually has some choice Fugazi tracks. Along with the first track I'm So Tired, there's Suggestion, Waiting Room,  Forensic Scene, and I bunch more that I don't wanna give away (a.k.a. I'm lazy). 

Fugazi + Wu-Tang! The combination made my eyes bleed!

Found out about this album from someone on Facebook then re-found it on the much hipper and experienced blog than my own: Lyrics Will Not Reach the Audience

CHALK TALK

These bros are something else. They are super serious and chant (dual vox action) about everyday things like pissing in the bath, the ageless question of peanut butter or Nutella, how their sister is dry as wood(?), the great struggle of being horny and much much more. It's like a bro'd out Cap'n Jazz meets The Beach Boys or something that has to be described I guess. There's really not a lot of bands that sound like Chalk Talk and must of the bands they are compared with sound like other bands, so yeah. They have found a nice bro punkx69 (I like to call it) sound. It's mega rad and every line is begging to be shouted out the window of your lame-ass honda car of choice after a long day at the office. Had a rough day at school or got dumped? that sucks. Chalk Talk could surely get you through the weekend though. There music will pat you on the back then push you over just to see you cry.

Chalk Talk - Killing Spree (2009)

This is their first Demo, Killing Spree. A very interesting listen. There's smashing, there's crashing, there's chanting, there's angst, there's confusion, there's ooh's and aaah's, and there's you and your amused ears. 

Here's an example. For your health.

Similar acts/sounds: Algernon Cadwallader, Sirs, Pachangacha, Black Churches, Kickball, Hot Mess and a few others.

I'm wearing the same clothes as yesterday... and the day before!

Last.fm

Myspace

Official site

penny on heads

Computer at Sea

Computer at Sea is Galen Richmond from the piney state of Maine. He bends circuits, plays bloops and bleeps on video game consols and beats up on old electrical instruments in an attempt to give his audience a nice homebrood example of electronic pop music. It's a perfect soundtrack for both robots and humans alike.

Computer at Sea - Palace of the Lightbulbs (2011)

The whole thing reminds me of robots dancing around in a sludgy pool of computer acid, slightly miss programed and slowly short circuiting. Richmond truly has a knack for this electronic stuff and it shows.

I've had the great fortune of seeing this gentlemen play a few times. One time at a robot dance party(!) and another with Dan Deacon (an electronic geek in his own right). Every time I see him with his table flooded with gadgets, gadgets of which I have never seen before and certainly don't have any idea how they work or what sound they make, I feel like I am eight years old again... Back when I used to take little nic-nacs from around the house to create a little sculpture that didn't do anything or have any purpose (kind of like this analogy). It was fun and sounded good to me. Just like Computer at Sea.

Computer at Sea also plays a sweet cover of "Be True To Your School" by the Beach Boys which is sweet!

Last.fm
Myspace
Be True To Your School

Good Luck

Ginger, Matt, & Mike of popped out punk rock band, Good Luck sound like they just wanna jam with their friends and have a good time while telling you an important (at least to them) or heartbreaking story. Just another one of those Plan-It-X bands that you wish you were close with. They're fun and the combo of Ginger's cute charm and Matt of Matty Pop Chart's... hmmmm well, also cute charm is absolute pure enjoyment.

I might have said they were cute but this is still pop punk... not twee pop... or folk punk for that matter...

Good Luck - Into Lake Griffy (2008)

I certain friend of mine who I may have mentioned in past posts is always asking who these guys are whenever I play them in my car. I tell him, 'good luck finding that out, buddy!' Just kidding. I just made that up.

Similar acts/sounds: Nana Grizol, One Reason, Matty Pop Chart, Paul Baribeau, RVIVR, Hop Along, Pirouette, & many more!

I don't know how we got here, but somehow we learned how to live here.
Last.fm
Plan-It-X

Good Luck also came out with a nice little Demo tape last year (2010) which features a much better than the original cover of "When You Were Mine" by the (In my opinion) super overrated Prince. The other tracks are fun too of course. Check 'em out!

P.S. There's nothing wrong with twee pop or folk punk, but Good Luck is neither.

Russian Circles - Station (2008)

Russian Circles has got to be one of my favorite post rock bands with a bit of that old post metal ruckus. They play the simple yet complex up and down emotions of instrumental rock roller coasters while keeping it nice and original like a rhythmic tilt-a-whirl. The band spits out much darker colors and shapes than say, Mono or Caspian, but never cruise too far into a sludge patch such as Pelican or Rosetta. Brian Cook of Botch/These Arms Are Snakes fame is also in this band which is cool if you're into name dropping...

Russian Circles - Station (2008)

Station is Russian Circles' second full-lengther and was actually Cook's first act with the band as the new bass guitar player. I honestly think that Enter, Russian Circles' debut, is just as splendid as Station. I just like the album artwork of this one better than their first. 

This is another one of those perfect albums for driving alone at night through a dark neighborhood or countryside. Away from the city. Away from society. Away from your problems...

Just drive your car into the woods, park it under a giant skeleton of an oak tree, clear your head and that gusher-like brain of yours and listen to the music. 

Last.fm
Official site
Suicide Squeeze 

Be sure to check out their new album, Empros coming right around the corner or October 25th!

NFT Presents: Monday

It's Monday. Here's some music to get you through the week that I've been listening to. Nothing much to say... just music!

Sirs - Vas Deferens (2010)

Pretty chill twinkly emo in a similar fashion as Cap'n jazz.

Last.fm 

CityCop. - The Hope In Forgiving & Giving Up Hope (2011)

Emo with acoustic guitars but not really acoustic. Kind of like Street Smart Cyclist's Lint Traps tour EP but screamo rather than 'twinkle daddie'. Not bad. Free Bird Part II is my favorite from these rising punks.

Last.fm

Brain Fever - Brain Fever (2011)

Noisy post hardcore w/ female vox from Calgary. The songs are short and well... rough.

But so is life... so there.

Last.fm

Jerkagram - We've Only Come to Leave (2011)

Two man psych/jazzish/freeform/minimal/post-rock gang from Connecticut.  (Not sure how long the album will be free on Bandcamp so grab it while it's still fresh)

FACESPACE

And that's about it for today. Lots of Bandcamp streamable stuff but that won't always be the case.

REVUAK

HUAK is a Maine based noisy post-punk group that has been giving Portland kids bloody ears for years. When I say they are noisy I mean they are LOUD and noisy! I have seen these gentlemen perform a few times and every time they play, they make it very clear that they are here to play and not just fiddle with their instruments until you are put in a state of slumber. No. These folks will stump a mud hole in you and roll you into your grave. (Maybe not that aggressive but definitely a site to see, especially Jake the guitar and vox who is as tall as a tree and can barely stand up in your basement).

HUAK also has a new album. Did you know that? I Did.

Huak - Yorba Linda (2011)

The album kicks off where they left off with Sleep Debt. But once you get into it, you may soon realize that Huak has surely sharpened up their sound/skills from their previous efforts. The unpredictable instrumentals accompanied by the unpredictable vocals (and lyrics) become much more effective and refined. And maybe that's just because the recording is polished or time was taken. Maybe it's all the cool new FX they put in the album that you can hear right out of the gate. I think it's the overall direction and how easily you could listen to every song one after another without feeling full or lost.

Or... maybe it's just because the album artwork by Kris Johnsen (owner of Pinecone and Chickadee and the chill guy who sometimes works front door at the Space Gallery) is super good as well as mind-fuckingly pretty epic. Is that a mountain of hair?

All in all I'm just glad that Huak are still playing and are gracing us with new shit!  They didn't lose any creativity or funk... hell, they gained some! It's clear, it's noisy, and it's new!

A nice marketing tool (more advertising tool really) these guys came up with to promote their single "Ex Ghost", was having a butt ton of local acts remix the hell out of the thing. This Ex Ghost Overload Maxi-Single for Your Smoothest Enjoyment Times includes re-mixtures by the likes of Glass Fingers, Of The Trees, Foam Castles, Computer at Sea, Matt Houston of Pamola/Red Medicine, and a mysterious Tree Fingers (who should collaborate with Glass Fingers and Of The Trees to form Of The Glass Tree Fingers). It's a sweet listen and racks up about 14 remixes (one that's even a rework of the Tree Fingers remix by J Flash) that are begging to but on your car mixtapes.  It also includes the single version of Ex Ghost along with pt. 2 and a couple of songs that didn't make it on Yorba Linda. One of those songs is Sleep Debt pt. 2 which I was really excited about because Sleep Debt is my favorite Huak song. It's mostly just an improve song and nothing more though. Oh well. Maybe some day they will make a Sleep Debt pt. 3 that will fill my hopes back up!

For the remixes, the best one for me has to be the Of The Trees mix then the Glass Fingers mix in second place.

Huak - Ex Ghost Overload Maxi-Single for Your Your Smoothest Enjoyment Times (2011)

This one's artwork was created by Milo Moyer-Battick (cousin of super hip cat on the street, Jakob Battick).

Check these albums out! And while your are at it... Check these loud mother-effers out! They know how to have a good time in Maine.

Last.fm
FBOOK

Piglet

Great math rock. No singing, no wining, no chicks. Just three dudes making fantastically groovy math rock that is technical and fun. 

Piglet - Lava Land (2005)

Similar sounds/acts: Giraffes? Giraffes!, Tera Melos (before the vox), By the End of Tonight, Planets, Time Columns, Enemies etc. etc. etc.

These guys also remind me a lot of a band I saw a couple months back called Good Citizens. They have yet to put out any official release but I'll definitely be posting them when they do! 

Just look at that chilled out drummer who's playing with a cigarette is his mouth the whole time. (Which just disappears).

That's why I love this sport.

Last.fm 

iLiKETRAiNS

iLiKETRAiNS is a pretty silly name for a way too serious band. They rock on the post spectrum with a nice 6/8 feel (at least on Progress Reform). There is also singing. And what they sing about is usually history! That's right! A historic post rock band from Leeds, England that features prominent melancholy vocals and black ties. The whole thing may seem a little goofy but it's actually quite epic and moving.

iLiKETRiANS - Progress Reform (2006)

The only things that I would have to say that are negative towards this album, is the fact that every song kind of sounds the same (which can also be a good thing). It may also become a little cheesy after a good few listens. But other than that, Progress Reform is absolutely worth your time.

Some of the history that I'm aware of in this particular album includes a song for Bobby Fischer and the unfortunate Terra Nova expedition - which is actually a pretty wild story if you have ever heard about Robert Falcon Scott and how he led what he thought was the first expedition to the South Pole only to find out that he had been beaten out by a Norwegian expedition. Then, on the way back, everyone died. 

At least that's how I interpret the story as... 

One last thing. If you are totally not buying into the singing, I suggest you check out their purely instrumental post-rock album, The Christmas Tree Ship. 

How could I have led these men to their demise....

Last.fm

Official site

Here, Hear: La Dispute

La Dispute is a very passionate and attention seeking band. They play a post-hardcore and emotional choice of music with a unique way of belting out their lyrics that they are trying to sell you. And boy am I sold. This though, this is La Dispute's Ep series Here, Hear (all recorded by the drummer, Braid). It's much more of a look at their influences on mythological stories and literature. The first Here, Hear is mostly all spoken word and kicks off with an exert from Tim Robbin's Still Life With Woodpecker and moves on to other stories that I'm not too familiar with. The second installment is a lot like the first; continuing with the spoken word but adds a little more instrumentation. The third Here, Here is my favorite and is even a little bluesy. All four tracks on Here, Hear III are styled a bit differently. It still incorporates the spoken word aspect that runs through the whole series while introduces a much fuller and atmosphere bed room or DIY recording sound that I really enjoy. I could talk more about the La Dispute sound and Jordan's intoxicating vocal delivery but Here, Hear is different. And it's right here, here:


Here, Hear. (2008)

Here, Hear. II (2008)

Here, Hear. III (2009)

Guess I still don't see the difference between real purpose and that urgent adolescents 
Last.fm
Bandcamp
No Sleep Records
Also be on the look out for their new album out October 4th, 2011.

Quest's Timescape!

The Sky Above And Earth Below aren't your average screamo band. If you gave these guys a listen without reading any description or profile, then you probably wouldn't even notice. But if you could hear what these guys were saying, you would soon realize these guys were screaming their guts about ZELDA! That's right, The Legend of Zelda. And that's pretty bad ass! (Even for someone who was more of a Super Mario Bros fan growing up.)

The Sky Above And Earth Below - Quest's Timescape (2010)

It's almost like if Horse the Band stopped trying to sound like the video games they were making noise about and just went with a legitimate screamo sound. In other words, it's what you get when you take an idea like a video game and add it to your music while still sounding respectable and listenable. (Whether you think this type of genre is respectable or listenable is your own opinion.)

If you like a little more Zelda in your music than just references, there's always Team Teamwork's The Orcarina of Rhyme which features some choice rap/hip-hop mixed with the music of Orcarina of Time. 

Last.fm

Found it on this really hip blog called Get Off The Coast

Victor! Fix the Sun

Victor! Fix the Sun is or should I say were a totally tubular post hardcore band from Michigan. I don't know exactly when they broke up but it was not to recent because last time I checked out their Last.fm page there were no RIP sad faces. Last time I checked there was only the constant comparisons to fellow michigan post hardcore bands like La Dispute and Bear Vs. Shark. Now, I'm not saying that they don't sound like those cats but they definitely brought something else to the playing field. They are a little funkier than La Dispute but less alive. There's my comparison.

Victor! Fix the Sun played some rad post hardcore mixed with a little post punk and a lot of emotion.

Victor! Fix the Sun - Retractable Claws (2007)

Favorite track: Karma Suits Ya

last.fm

Watch out for the eyes! They're coming for you!

Be sure to also check they're new bands: Jowls and Blank States. I know I will. Eventually...

City of Caterpillar

City of Caterpillar was super influential in the crap I listen to today. They racked up some pretty sweet spiraling post-rock and then kicked your face in with either heavy post-hardcore shouting or emo violence almost screamo screaming (guess you could just consider it emotional hardcore). They were not too frantic to a point where all direction was lost as well, which is probably the reason I could easily get into these guys with no other experience in this kind of post-rock/screamo hybrid. A nice little build up into an assault of loud ass yelling has always been my favorite kind of approach in the screamo business. It's like this, would you rather have your beloved home instantly in a blaze of fire or would you want to watch it start out from a little carpet fire? I don't know. Sometimes I don't have time to wait eiher.

City of Caterpillar will rob you of your childhood sing-a-longs and replace them with heavy fucking music if you're not careful.

City of Caterpillar - City of Caterpillar (2002)

You made me a fucking hero!

Similar acts/sounds: pg.99, Potraits of Past, Malady, Ghastly City Sleep, Orchid, etc.

ANGEL OF DEATH

No, not Slayer... Thin Lizzy! Classic hard rock! Angel of Death! Nostradamus! Sweet bass! Other awesome stuff!

Thin Lizzy - Renegade (1981)

In the Sixteenth century there was a French Philosopher by the name of Nostradamus who prophesied that in the late twentieth century an angel of death shall waste this land.  A holocaust the likes of which this planet had never seen. Now, I ask you...

Do you believe this to be true?

Awesome Website

Everyone should checkout this awesome website.

It's called www.nfl.com.

Just check it out!

Duck, Little Brother, Duck!

Duck, Little Bother, Duck! aren't fucking around. Or are they? 

These guys play a mix of aggressive math rock with a dash of emo and sprinkle of screamo. Throw in an arsenal of dual vocal attacks and almost uncontrolled chaos and you got yourself a party. 

When I saw these rad bros this summer, I didn't really know what to expect and I still don't. They killed their set and grooved on its ashes.  There was a moment where they laid out a huge unexpected break down that sent everyone off the walls. I unfortunately didn't make it all the way to the wall for a small lady was in the way and I may have spilt some of her PBR. I apologized, don't worry. The most interesting feature the band brought to the trick table, was the bass guitar. Now, I don't know if the bass is usually as prominent as it was that night (it doesn't sound like it on the recordings) or if it was just a uneven sound issue but my god was it bassy as all hell. This band is definitely a live act kind of band. There was grooving, there was shredding, there was screaming, there was even an inaudible Jimmy Eat World cover that sounded more like dropping your Jimmy Eat World CD while driving on the highway and getting hit by a mac truck. 

The only thing that bummed me that night wasn't the show but the fact that it was really dark at the tiny merch table and I couldn't tell which CD was the tour demo (which features the Jimmy Eat World cover). Oh well, I still have a physical copy of Survival Is Not A Workout and that's good enough for me. 

Duck, Little Brother, Duck! - Survival Is Not A Workout (2010)

Fun fact: the track Tony West! is in homage of their friend and photographer, Tony West who is also friends with mat from The Sarcastic Dharma Society. He made the album artwork for Other People's Songs (Volume One).

Last.fm

Life is like Jenga 

The Sarcastic Dharma Society

The Sarcastic Dharma Society is usually one guy but sometimes his friends play with him; that kind of situation. His name is Mat Vuksinich and he produces a pretty snazzy home recording type DIY singer-songwriter sound. He has an amazing cover album called Other People's Songs (Volume One). Most of the songs, with the exception of "Don't Let Me Down" by the Beatles, were made in 9 days (one song everyday for 9 days). The covers he picked are superb for the short time he had to work on them as well as on their own by their respected musicians. Smash hits by Andrew Jackson Jihad, Mount Eerie, Clem Snide, Why?, Bright Eyes and even Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young to name a few (that's pretty much it) are nicely represented with a marvelous chord organ. The stand out track for me has to be "Shit On My Heart"by Meyercord. I don't really know much about Meyercord other than his first name is Ben and probably has a beard. But I do know that Shit On My Heart is an amazing song!

My overall favorite has got to be the bedroom recording style that goes into making this album. I really enjoy that kind of sound. It reminds me a lot of La Dispute's Hear, Here EP series for some reason.

The Sarcastic Dharma Society - Other People's Songs (Volume One)

This guy is in a little DIY collective appropriately called CLLCT. There's a lot of small acts that post their work (for free of course) such as Tinyfolk, Garden on a Trampoline, Madeline Ava, Wisdom Tooth, Akryllic Love, Foot Ox, Jordaan Mason, and a whole batch of other folks that should totally be checked out for the hell of it. There's also other interesting cover albums on the site as well.

Similar acts/sounds: Tinyfolk, Toby Foster, Meyercord, Foot Ox, Manipulator Alligator, and more.

Last.fm
CLLCT
You can also grab his music at Less Than Three Records dot com. 

Joanna Newsom (& Movies I Guess)

Movies are a great way to get your name out in the music industry. I mean, look at all those bands that jumped on the Twilight bandwagon and are now on all your sisters iPods and you're like: "Ah man, my sister likes the same bands as me now... thanks a lot Stephanie Meyer." No? That didn't happen to you? Yeah... me either. Anyways, sometimes movies just hide little gems of bands without you even knowing that they're there! Take the movie, The Strangers (2008), your average Imma spook up on ya horror flick, for instance. If you've ever seen it you might remember that scene where that actually kind of sketchy song that came on the record player during the kind of actually spooky part (if I remember correctly). That's actually Joanna Newsom's "Sprout and the Bean" from her 2004 release, The Milk-Eyed Mender. I literally rewinded the movie and Shazam'd the scene that featured the song to find that out, instantly falling for her like a child.  Newsom is a folk singer-songwriter who is also a quite skillful harp player. She's got a big heart and very obscure voice which makes for a rather interesting listening experience. So yeah, her childlike voice is actually pretty frightening when you put it in a horror movie.

She's the best part of the movie other the fact that Glenn Howerton (Dennis) of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is in it for about a minute before getting himself slashed.


Joanna Newsom - The Milk-Eyed Mender (2004)

(Just look at that album artwork! it's the opposite of a scary movie!)
Last.fm
Should we go outside?

Paul Baribeau part 1

Paul Baribeau is a very honest man. He doesn't really play the guitar or sing to fill the room with beautiful texture and melody, he does it because he needs to tell you something. Something very important. He sings as if he is begging to be heard. He just needs to get a few things off his chest. The lyrics are usually about past experiences, past lovers, or just people in his life past or present. Whether he can sing or play the guitar is not the point. It almost goes along with the message he brings to his work. His music and playing is a mess because he's a mess. Paul Baribeau had to have been the best find for me in 2010.  If you haven't heard of this fella, here you go. Fun(ish) fact: Paul Baribeau gets a shot out and sings one line in the song "Tire Swing" by Kimya Dawson.

Paul Baribeau - Paul Baribeau

Similar acts/sounds: Matty Pop Chart, Ghost Mice, Spoonboy, Toby Foster, Kimya Dawson,  etc. etc. etc.

More from this guy to come fur shore.
Last.fm
Plan-it-x records

KYOTY - Nine

KYOTY is an abbreviation of Keep Your Opinions To Yourself (about how bad their name actually is). I like to pronounce this band's name as "coyote" but I've heard it pronounced differently, oh well. I got a chance to see this band play at a pretty sweet show with Rosetta and "Maine's first metal band" WarAnimal on or around my birthday last year. I was real impressed with their set even when I thought they were a math rock band since I say they played with Giraffes? Giraffes! at UNH (which I would have loved to see). But as they began tearing through their performance, I quickly realized they were much more of an atmospherical post-metal or post-rock act like the headliners, Rosetta. I picked up this one track EP from the band after they played and they were pretty nice and friendly gentlemen from New Hampshire. I don't know if you've noticed but I like bands that are friendly. Especially at the merch table. They came back for a another show with WarAnimal and Rosetta but it was a 21+ show so I could not bare witness to these New Hampshirian 'up and comers' once more. Shame.

This one track is called "Nine" and It's super sick for driving around at night in a dark countryside somewhere and your driving really fast. Maybe even too fast. The physical copy is nice because it just loops its self back around almost after it has finished. If your not paying attention, the song could seem endless!

KYOTY - Nine 

(Not the real artwork)

Similar acts/sound: Russian Circles, Pelican, Rosetta (minus vox), And So I Watch You From Afar, etc.

Ofishshell page
Last.fm

Butcher Boy

I remember what seems like years ago, going up to Farmington to see Pamola and fill in drum for Grunt (which didn't work out and now can never call myself the other drummer for the greatest south p-town heavy band) in a little ol' punk show. The punk show that night was filled to the brim with local legends and acts including Jakob Battick & Friends, Eyes Like Fire (don't even get me started), and Pamola. There was also a little folk punk band that hadn't even really thought of a name before playing this show so they went with "Skinny Pete" after the lead singer who also played and currently in Pamola, Pete. The whole performance took me by surprise. Pete, along with emotionally and folkishly screeching his lyrics, strummed his banjo like there was no place to go and a fire had to be started before dawn or no one in the room would survive past the night. He sang a song about only sleeping to die which hunted me for weeks after. I thought that I would never be able to get my big ears on that song ever again until one day, I some how ran across Butcher Boy's facebook page to find that Copy Of A Copy Of A Person was the long lost Skinny Pete song I had heard that cold November night up in farm-town, Maine. Sooner or later it was put on bandcamp and I quickly ate that shit up. According to the bandcamp page for Turn The Devil Away, Butcher Boy has now evolved their sound and mood but still just want to have a good time. Unfortunately for me though, I don't think they play Copy Of A Copy Of A Person anymore. Either way, folks and punks should most definitely check out this frantic folk outfit if you are in the area and have nothing better to do (what could you be doing that's better, come on, don't kid yourself). I know I will be checking these lads out again real soon just to see how much they've matured as a whole since seeing Skinny Pete some time ago.

Turn The Devil Away (officially released 2011)

Get Butchered (2011) (live performance at The Oak and The Ax in Biddeford)

Rough Draft Records
F-book page

They are aware there is Glasgow band my the name of Butcher Boy and they don't care. So there is that.

Faust IV

Krautrock, kids. Straight up experimental and explorimental. If this album was a substance, I would tell you to abuse it. The psychedelic track, "Jennifer" has got to be one of my favorite songs of the 70's. It's probably the last think I bought from a big label like Virgin in a few years as well.

Faust - IV (1974)

Last.fm
Jennifer, your red hair is burning

II - Present Day

Well, I've (just barely but definitely) starched the surface of bands and albums that have influenced my taste. I will now begin to post more current listens. There will still be tons of music that got me into... hmmm... music, but I probably won't write as much about them as my first posts. kthanx

Botch (1993 -2002)

Botch.

The first and only mathcore you really need.

This album was the first thing I ever "downloaded" off the internet (either that or Transatlanticism. Ouch.)

Botch - We Are the Romans (1999)

Members went on to take part in: These Arms Are Snakes, Russian Circles, Narrows, and dare I say it... Minus the Bear.

Last.fm
Hydra Head Records
It's your fault, fucking up the kids

Daïtro

France is pissed. I dunno why. But I now that Daitro kicks major, well, derrière.  Daitro is also the reason I got into screamo. Real screamo. Watch your mouth. All in all, this band shows how brutal yet beautiful french screamo really is. The combination of  post rock is much like the late City of Caterpillar which was actually probably the first screamo band I had ever listened to and didn't even know it. Daitro builds up a wonderfully intricate wall of sound and then smashes it all down with choatic and emotional hoot and hollering. Everything this genre is while still being their own band. What makes these french folks so mad? I dunno but I do know that the french love themselves a good riot now and then. Especially when it's about the retirement age being moved up a year.

Daïtro - Laissez Vivre les Squelettes (2006)

Favorite song: Trois murs pour la salle de torture

Daîtro - Y (2009)

Favorite song: Part IV

Last.fm
Official page

Thee Jesse Gertz

Jesse Gertz. What you've never heard of him. That's weird. Well, let's just say he's a legend among men. Born and raised in a world where computers made music out of people. He was soon casted out and sent to a small town in Maine for terms unknown. Now in his 19 years of human age he has made a lot of music! Currently, Gertz is performing under the name Glass Fingers. The name change is proof that this young gentleman is always moving ahead and little by little changing things up and sharping his talent. Gertz is a pretty good friend of mine (I dunno if he'd say the same for me but hey, worth the try) and I have listened to his music grow for the past 4ish years. He has a way with electronic music and electronic music has a way with him. His style is comparable to that of another local act known as Computer at Sea (which will be posted sooner or late along with dozens of sweet local acts which will definitely become a big part of this blog), where electronic gadgets are the motors of their musical operation. Jesse Gertz also incorporates some sweet bass and killer keyboard to the mix. Once in a while he will sing and if you ever get a chance to see him live, he has often spooked audiences by his emotionally aggressive delivery of shouting his lyrics, so much so that he begins to shake uncontrollably. Jesse Gertz is most definitely making the music of the future and boy is it always a joyous experience to hear what he'll come up with next. Here are some of his more recent works:

Jesse Gertz AKA Glass Fingers - Album (2010)

Features a spot on cover of Ra Ra Riot's "Can You Tell?" as well as his own take on Computer at Sea's "Sullen Lamp lighters". There is also a really top notch Remix of King Charles's "Love Lust" and a few tracks that were originally planned to be in a EP/short film full of 8bit tracks called Trashbaugh (which was supposed to have me play the bad guy.)

My favorite track has to be Paper Boat (mega fun to hear live)

Glass Fingers - Stranger Ep (2011)

This is a nice little EP that features two remixes of local bands, Huak and The Milkman's Union. It also has a pretty trippy rerub of The Microphones' "Where Lies My Tarp?", Stranger, which he's been playing in his live sets and a never before heard song called "Lose Your Mind" plus its demo.

Last.fm

official Page

Stay tuned for more Glass Fingers and more local acts from the pine tree state known as Maine.

Dead ConfedeRATe

Dead Confederate is a psychedelic southern infused rock band hailing from Athens, Georgia. Not only does the south give them a nice grungy type feel to their work, it also has given them wonderful personalities. I've met this band two separate times in Boston and every time they blew me away with a fantastic performance and many a few kind conversations. About what I have now forgotten (unfortunately). They play a sometimes dark and melancholy blanket of sound or loud and pounding form of art that is full of organ, slide guitar and almost Cobainesque vocals (and I mean that in the most motivating and positive way possible). These guys are criminally underrated. That's coming from someone who finds that saying a band is underrated is super overrated! But it's true. Give these gents a listen. Their sound is full and begging to be listened to!~

Just recently the band said farewell to their drummer, Jason Scarboro. His contribution to this band is phenomenal.

Dead Confederate - Wrecking Ball (2008)

I can still remember hearing this album for the first time after my good friend Higbooooooooooooone told me all about this gem. It was right around the time my grandmother passed away and I just found myself getting lost in this album. It oozes psychedelic greatness and bangs out some noisy rock n roll. Some songs just blast right out in your face. Some take their time and creep up on you. Some build into a mess of angst and dirty glory. If you're not sure about them, please check out The Rat!

Their newer album Sugar is a little more produced than any of their previous works (EP, Wrecking Ball, Dirty Ammo live EP). It features J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr./Deep Wound) in the radio friendly song "Give it All Away" on guitar. Still a solid album regardless of how much they had to comeback with after the beautifully will done Wrecking Ball. Before they were Dead Confederate they were The Redbelly Band (may up in the future).

Last.fm
Official Page

Similar acts/sounds: Darker My Love, The Redbelly Band, Alberta Cross, The Whigs