Monday 104

Back to school math edition.

 Unicorn Harvest - Alan's Tutorials (2013)

Some math math from New York, New York. Check out there music video for "Alex & Tiffany" featuring the illustrious Sin Cara mask:

...and the rest of Alan's Tutorials:



Facebook
Last.fm

Nnamdi Ogbonnaya - Despondent (2013)

Some solid solo math stuff from Nnamdi Ogbonnaya of Illinois. When Ogbonnaya is not doing solo stuff or swag/meme-rapping he has been known to drum, do vocals or even play bass for The Para-Medics, Water Houses, Pisces at The Animal Fair, Nervous Passenger. He's even been in My Dads, Itto, and was the mastermind behind Richard Def & the Mos Pryors.

This dude's everywhere.



Facebook
Last.fm

Lucas Brode - prixvyou (2014)

Lucas Brode is a guitarist/composer from New York who has also played bass and many other instruments for cool New York bands such as Jerkagram and Hannibal Montana. Brode's completely solo release, prixvyou is filled with amazing guitar work ranging from math rock to jazz and worldly music. Very minimal but still quite interesting to listen to not only as a student of music.


Lucas Brode also makes meditation music which can be found on his bandcamp as well as prixvyou above.

Official site

Facebook
Last.fm

Trace Mountains - Buttery Sprouts

Trace Mountains - Buttery Sprouts (2014)

Trace Mountains is one of a few side projects going from the folks in Spook Houses. Buttery Sprouts is a mix of previously unheard songs and three that I have previously talked about on here; "Salty/Sweet", "Everything Around Me", and Bey's "Halo". Bey as in Beyonce, of course.

Riddled with the monotone sadness that one may come to except from a Spook Houses project, Trace Mountains is an exploration of simple, yet melancholy, bedroom music. Buttery Sprouts features drum machines, singing saw, songs about Silver Jews, mix-masterer Mike Ditrio, and Elaiza Santos of Crying.

Check it out:



Double Double Whammy
Last.fm

xScourx

Scour - Scour (2012)

Scour is the solo project of multi-instrumentalist, Felix Skinner. Skinner also plays in the synth doom/black noise California outfit, Wreck and Reference - which can be heard very clearly through his music as Scour if you are familiar with W&R's stuff.

This self-titled album features 26 songs that start with the letter x. I haven't done much research on the matter, but I'm certain that Scour has more songs starting with the letter x than any other musician/band out there today.


Last.fm (Wreck and Reference)
Last.fm (Scour)

Monday 69

Hah.

RAGANA - All's Lost (2012)

This is Olympia, Washington RAGANA's first release, entitled, All's Lost. It features the same intense witchy black metal that their new album, Unbecoming has. Personally though, I just listen to both albums, starting with this one, back to back. Nonstop. Every night.



Last.fm

Billy Carr - Family Planning? (2013)

No album artwork yet!

Billy Carr is the solo project of William B. Carr formerly of The Waldos.

Billy sings and plays guitar in a very different way; a different but cool and refreshingly new way. I recently saw Billy play some of these songs at The Butcher Boy/Speaker for the Dead show at Mayo Street Arts in Portland with Peter McLaughlin accompanying him on drums, and while it seemed a bit overwhelming in the electric setting they were performing at, I really do enjoy these songs the way they are recorded here just with acoustic guitar and vocals. No offence to Peter (who also provides phenomenal percussion on Lady Lamb The Beekeeper's new album, Ripley Pine) what so ever, I just think that these songs make sense acoustically. At least for the time being...



I do wish there was some artwork, though.

Ooh, and I almost forgot: Billy Carr also has a doubling session with Matt Houston (formerly of Red Medicine) which is available both for streaming and downloading. It also comes with artwork! Check it out!

Last.fm

Host - There's nothing up there but heavy clouds (2012)

I'm pretty pumped to announce that Host, the dark and dreary hardcore outfit from New Hampshire who, I might add, released a very fine split with KYOTY last year will be playing in Portland this coming Sunday - which I can go to since it will kick off my spring break.

The show is being put on by the hard-working folks of Dirigimus Cooperative, which means that this show is probably in a semi-secret location somewhere or behind the train tracks somewhere. It's also being put on around 3 o'clock in the afternoon so you will still have time to make it to church!



Because fuck the police.

Last.fm

Monday XXXXXXIV

All this talk of MLK is making me thirsty...

SRVVLST - I Would But I'm Baroque (2012)

SRVVLST (yes, as in 'Survivalist') is a post-whatever - or as Last.fm puts it - a post-everything four piece from Ohio. 

They twinkle, they noodle, they shout, they get intimate, and they survive. 

In my book, that's about all a band needs to do to count as post-everything anyways. 

Last.fm

Sinforiano Diaz - The Moosup Seassions (2012)

Sinforiano Diaz is the solo moniker of This World is a Beautiful Place & I am No Longer Afraid to Die's Tom Diaz. It also features Axel Diaz on guitar and John Bowles guitaring and singing some back up vox. 

Tom Diaz replaces the electric twinkly feels with acoustic, sometimes uke-driven, but still twinkly feels here on this little four song release entitled, 'The Mossup Sessions' after the session of which he recorded this, in Mossup, Connecticut. 

Fans of Crywank, Waxahatchee, Warren Franklin, John Galm, and other solo acoustic singer-songwriter acts will most likely dig this gravely.

PS: It has just come to my attention that Tom Diaz may not be playing in TWIABP anymore... which is lame. 

Last.fm

Iron Sword - Demo (2012)

Iron Sword is a super intense and sloppy stoner metal band from Burlington. 

They're going to be playing a neck-breakingly good show (from the looks of it) with hometown sweeties, WARANIMAL (if you live in Maine and like metal and haven't seen WARANIMAL play, I feel bad for you son!) along with The Proselyte (MA), Eastern Spell (ME), and Lunglust (MA) on the 25th!

I don't know if I'll be able to swing down to see this mega stacked line-up in Portland on Friday (that's when it's happening of course. Put it on your shredule if you haven't already), but Iron Sword is also playing a show the next night (Saturday) at Orono which looks to be a real rager as well and is much closer to my current location. ;)

Hell, maybe I'll just go to both!

Hopefully dese boys bring there samples with them from this demo - including the Dazed and Confused Matthew Mcconaughey sample at the beginning of "Stairway to Hell"! Check it out:

Here's the poster for the show Friday night for your viewing Lord of the Rings pleasure as well:

Last.fm

RVIVR's Erica Freas' New Solo Album, Belly

While I wait patiently for the new RVIVR album, which was originally going to be released last fall but then their shit got stolen and all that, there is still always Erica Freas's new solo release to be listened to:

Erica Freas - Belly (2012)

This snazzy  new solo effort by Erica is filled with material from all over. While most of the tracks are original pieces, some songs like "Gamma" (an adaption of RVIVR's "Grandma") or "Spider Song" (an acoustic version of a song off the new RVIVR album) come from other places. The song "Belly" is also played on Erica's first solo one-take session, 'Help is in the Hair' from 2007 as well.



It's possible there are also some reused tracks from another band that Erica is in called Lightnin' Round. I've only ever heard their 2010 material so I'm pretty much in the dark about which song(s) come from that project.

Bonus:

RVIVR as a whole also have a very interesting music video for the more electrified "Spider Song" which is taken from the puppet-induced green screen short film, Bye Bye Burdy 2... the sequel to the first Bye Bye Burdy, of course...

I don't want to give anything away, but Erica plays the really cool Frost Queen who restores The Joester to his normal size with the help of the Old Spider Woman.

Oops, I gave it away.

Rumbletowne Records
RVIVR's Blog
Bandcamp
Last.fm

Monday XXXXXXII - Interesting Albums of 2012

Here are some sweet/interesting/underrated releases of 2012:

Wife - Stoic EP (2012)

The thing that makes this seemingly dragcore/snoozetronic (words I made up of course) release by some band called WIFE actually really awesome is that this is a side project by James Kelly of Altar of Plagues - one of those atmospheric black metal bands that normal people can get into. What makes that better than if Kelly was some bump of the street who was mistakenly picked up as a rising indie rock star that both Pitchfork and MTV adore? Maybe the fact that Kelly genuinely has an interest in electronic music. I'm not just saying that because that's what his Last.fm says either; I can hear it in Wife and his debut EP, 'Stoic'. I can tell that this young musician is experimenting with electronic music the way people have been for a few years now - with dark bass and slow but lingering beeps and blips - the thing that Kelly is doing differently however, is simple really; He's doing it right.

Highlights: all of it; it's only five songs. "Bodies" is my current favorite though:

Last.fm

Sneeze - I'm Going To Kill Myself (2012)

Really the only reason I've been holding on to this release until now is the title. Maybe it's a reference to The Royal Tenenbaums or some sort of dark joke, but I'm not too into it. What's inside, 'I'm Going To Kill Myself' however is a different story. It's filled with some pretty interesting grunge-y type punk rock stuff that was hiding from the 90's and just now ready for proper listening. 

I'm not going to say they sound like Nirvana even though I wrote they were "grunge-y" because there really isn't such a thing in this day and age. I will say this though, if Kurt Cobain was still alive this would probably make his AOTY list. 

It's definitely an album I had to come back to a lot this year. It's a mega grower.

Highlights: "Canker", "Park Her Road", and "Red Bullgirls"

Sneeze are from Allston. Mass.

Last.fm

Old Gray - Everything I Let Go & The Things I Refuse To (2012)

There's not too much I have to say about Old Gray's new release, 'Everything I Let Go & The Things I Refuse To' other than the fact that if it was released earlier in the year I would have been all over it.

Old Gray say they have moved past their old sound of midwest emo as well as past problems, past memories, and from past regrets. For better or for worse, this is their new sound.

The highlight of this album definitely has to be the last track, entitled "Six Years". It features a sample from the pilot episode of one an all time favorite show of mine, Freaks and Geeks. It's also really really sad. Yes really two really's.



Last.fm

Diamond Rugs - Diamond Rugs (2012)

Initially hearing that Dead Confederate's Hardy Morris was going to team up with John McCauley of Deer Tick, I was pretty much all ears. I had no idea that along with members of Black Lip, Los Lobos, and Six Finger Satellite, Diamond Rugs was actually going to be one of the silliest indie rock supergroups ever conceived. Don't let that word "silly" confuse you though, this is still a pretty awesome listen once you get past the fact that these seemingly serious bands like Dead Confederate and Deer Tick are now playing songs about boobs and beer.

I'm not complaining.

The origin of Diamond Rugs was a way for John McCauley to play with one of his favorite bands, Los Lobos. After gathering up all sorts of musicians along the way, Diamond Rugs actually started to look not too shabby and with every member contributing their own songs and ideas - it really isn't too shabby.

All in all, you can tell these musicians came together and just had some fun. It's a nice treat to hear all sorts of different sounds coming together and with the same goal in mind. That goal being boobs and beer of course.

Highlights: "Gimme a Beer", "Country Mile", "Blue Mountains", and "Christmas in a Chinese Restaurant"

NSFW "Blue Mountains" music video:

Soundcloud stream:



Last.fm

NFT's Got You Covered with Nick Stutsman

Nick Stutsman - Covers (2011)

Here are some sappy covers of other people's stuff by Nick Stutsman of Merchant Ships/Midwest Pen Pals/Park Jefferson fame.

The songs he covers include:

"Eskimo Snow" - Why?

"As Tall As Cliffs" -Margot and the Nuclear So & So's

"Maps" - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

"(My) Backward Walk" - Frightened Rabbit

"You're the shit and I'm knee deep in it."

Enjoy.

Last.fm

Post Rock Zelda

The Legend of Zelda in post rock form. Nuff said.

Cory Johnson - The Legend of Zelda (2012)

Related article: Screamo Zelda.

Demos
Last.fm

Monday XXXXIX

Gettin' there.

Tiger Voltage - Mobius' Strip of Gum (2012)

Tiger Voltage is an experimental act from Bangor, Maine. From the little research I have done around them, it seems this may be a solo effort by local musician, Nick Huskins. The music on 'Mobius' Strip of Gum' is mostly guitar driven and built up by using rhythmic repetition and eventually drums that come in around the 3rd or 4th track. Things soon start to pick up by the 7th track, entitled "DeltizNum" and ends with an improvised jam featuring an electric keyboard/synth type noise maker just because. All the tracks and 'jams' are instrumental and under 3 minutes with the exception of the last song, "Jamz with  XEXEXEE" which is the just under 6 minute messing around closer.

I'm actually going to be living near Bangor for a bit soon and while I won't be around the artsy music scene I am around now, I still hope to be introduced to and find some sweet local acts during my time away from home.

Facebook

Mouse On The Keys - Machinic Phylum (2012)

Speaking of messing around music-wise, experimental post-jazz-rock outfit, Mouse On The Keys of Tokyo, Japan released a new EP this summer called, 'Machinic Phylum'. As an already big listener of this band, I've been trying not to forget it came out while also waiting patiently for it to make its way onto Spotify - were I finally found it today and previewed it before perusing a DL for it. I also found out today that this EP actually has four tracks on it but sites like Spotify and other streaming devices (or iTunes which I do not wish to advertise), only have the first three tracks with the fourth track, "Memory", no where to be found. I'm not sure if the link above has the fourth track as I haven't DL'd it yet and the link is not mine. If it's not there though, it is on Youtube...

Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention that this totally kills! The third track, "Clinamen" is probably the best song MOTK have released so far! If you are a fan of jazz, post rock, math rock, technical music, or music theory at all; you will surely enjoy this EP and Mouse On The Keys!

 Last.fm

David Liebe Hart Band - Violitionist Session (2012)

In other news, David Liebe Hart of Tim & Eric fame is semi on tour with his (punk rock) band that got started through the help of his fans via his Kickstarter! This is a live set from a Denton, Texas music session called, Violitionist Session where they ask the visiting band or act three questions and play three songs. This is also the first recorded material that I know of by the band and is very well suited with an extended explanation of each song beforehand by David Liebe Hart himself. Grab up all three of the tracks for free on Violitionist Session and be sure to check out other bands' sessions from this site as well as this new punk band that may be storming their way through a town near you!

More by David Liebe Hart and more
David Liebe Hart's official tour "blog"
Last.fm (David Liebe Hart)

On a sadder note though, this may be the last Monday post for a while as I have to go on a short hiatus due to school and dumb stuff like that. But hey, That's life.

Monday XXXXVII

It's a Christmas miracle!


Adult Braces - Demo (2012)

Adult Braces is Pat Graham from the Blink 182 for white people pop punk outfit, Spraynard. Adult Braces is also essentially Spray (that's short for Spraynard) all stripped down and personal-like, which is super cool as I've become quite a fan of Graham's band lately and hearing this 'acoustic spin on things' is really nice. There's also a shout out to The Adventures of Pete & Pete in the second track, "Younger Games" which is really really nice (out of context, of course - listen and you'll know what I mean).

Last.fm

innards/two knights - Split (2011)

Usually I like to save any good splits I find, which is not often enough these days, and place them in a big split post were they can sit next to a bunch of other splits and look pretty. Well, to be honest, I have this terrible feeling that I'm going to leave this one out. So I've decided to put it here instead as it is on my mind and won't go unnoticed.

These two bands, despite sharing the same record, are quite different I might add. While innards take on  the screamo and noise sound of things, Two Knights tackle the twinkly, obscure vocals side, and damn do they do a good job of it. Two Knights are just one of those bands that make sounding absolutely annoying and inaudible, well... super audible and catchy as shit. A very nice example of a two different tastes yet totally works kind of split we have right here.

It looks like this split might also be called, 'No Scum Allowed' from what I make out on the album art right there, but I'm not sure. Just thought I'd point that out... Not to insult your intelligence or eyesight or anything.

Last.fm (innards)
Last.fm (Two Knights)

And So I Watch You From Afar - Gangs (2011)

I can't remember if I just put this album off by the Irish experimental post rock/math rockers, And So I Watch You From Afar last year or slept on it, and yes, I literally mean I slept through it. Not because it is boring or anything, it is far from it, it is just that most post rock albums I put on, I put on right as I'm going to bed. If I had slept through the album rather than listening to it a year later, I pretty much screwed myself over. The Irish know how to make some pretty interesting and technical instrumental music (e.g. Enemies, Adebisi Shank, Wiltz) and native's ASIWYFA gave it their all last year to prove they are one of the top players. The results came in and they ended up  creating a very exciting, original sounding record that is much more math rock than it is sleeper post rock. So yeah, don't sleep on this album.

Bandcamp
Last.fm

Mogli - I Miss You

Mogli (David) is a singer/songer from Halifax who makes some very interesting folk music in a punk ethic/DIY sense that is drenched in accordion and acoustic guitar. I listened to Mogli, yes, kind of like the Jungle Book character but without the 'w', a lot when my friend, Martin died last December and it definitely holds a very emotional value to me. I wanted to show him this or ask him if he's ever heard of them but I never got the chance. This is now however, my chance to tell someone else.

Mogli - I Miss You EP (2009)

My favorite track from her 2009 release, 'I Miss You' is, "Back To You" hands down. Track 5, "Snowstorm" is also a Wintersleep cover. And along with the really anti-twee sounding vocals, I really like all that accordion. It's so good.

Love me some singing saw as well.

Mogli is also apart of the Nova Scotian bands, Ants & Anchors, Snail Party and Jackfish. Or at least friends with them.

Similar acts/sounds: fairy boy, Snail Party, Squinch Owl, byron., Mistake Makers, Jellybean!, Jackfish, Rosa, Foot Ox and more or less bands I could name that either have a female singer, an accordion, or are DIY folk, but not Mogli. Only Mogli is Mogli.

Last.fm

Monday XXIX

April Fools.

Terraformer - Terraformer EP (2010)

Terraformer are a tip tap toeing through the tulips progressive/math/instrumental guitar rock three piece from Belgium. Certain members of the band were in the Belgium screamo band, Isaïah.

They also get a bit heavy at times which is a nice touch.

Lots o' cheesin'.

Lots o' steezin'.

Last.fm

John Galm - 11/22

(not the artwork)

John Galm is the lead singer of emo band, Snowing. He was also once the singer of Audio Recording Club and Street Smart Cyclist. Though I have respect for Snowing, I've never really been able to get into them or their sound. John Galm alone however, is something I can really get in to.

John Galm's solo acoustic release, 11/22 is just that; solo acoustic John Galm. It's just John and a guitar and simplistic lyrics that make sense. It's a little scratchy on the ends production-wise but that really isn't anything I would judge down about. It's the sincerity that I look for and John Galm has it on this one for sure. I just wish that his other stuff came more naturally to me then 11/22 did.

It might help his case that 11/22 features a cover of "Be My Baby" by The Ronettes. That's not even my favorite part of 11/22 though. The definitive stand-out track has to be the closing track "Buffalo", a track that begs the question, "who will make me tea when you are gone?". I could not help but think about Jordaan Mason's track "race-horse: get married!" the first time I heard it and I don't even really know why...

If you like Crywank, Toby Foster, Toy Boats, Jordaan Mason, Street Smart Cyclist's acoustic EP, have heard of any of those people or like anything by John Galm, I think you'll enjoy John Galm's 11/22.

Last.fm

Confidon - Four Song(s) EP (2010)

I'm not sure if I'm totally digging everything these guys have put out so far but I am quite impressed with this four song EP. Maybe it's just because I really like the first song, "Omnia Vanitas", a song I think I'd even like it if it didn't have Jim from The Office sampled in the beginning to explain how they came up with the name 'Confidon'. Maybe not. I don't know, I just like it.

Confidon are another three piece from New Hampshire, a place where they live and play 90's emo and twinkly music in the 2010's.

Bandcamp
Last.fm

Fort Lean - Fort Lean EP (2011)

"Fort Lean is about getting too drunk at you own picnic. Fort Lean is about leaving the city. Fort Lean is a place where you can still see the skyline but you can't hear any cars and you can put all your stolen wine in the stream to keep it cool and when the fire dies out you can see some stars and not too many airplanes." - Last.fm

If all goes well, I'll probably end up going to see these gentlemen on the 25th with We Were Promised Jetpacks, just over the bridge. From what I've heard from the four tracks on this EP and a couple more on their single, they sound pretty legitimate to me. They remind me of the first time I heard Modest Mouse (again, I'm not sure if that means anything), but yeah, some catchy rock 'n' roll right here, no doubt.

It's pretty cool that their s/t EP is free on Bandcamp as well. For now.

Check out "Beach Holiday" down below:

Last.fm

And I guess that's it.

NFT's Got You Covered! Philip Glass with an accordion

Happy Pi Day!

what capitalism was - plays philip glass on accordion (2009)

This here is a very interesting cover album of the one and only Philip Glass, the master of all things classical, minimal and composing. That being said, Glass and his music is not the easiest task to handle. Not every band can cover a musician like Glass as if his work can easily be re-rubbed countlessly like Daniel Johnston or The Beatles; it's a very different style, a style that if redone is usually called a tribute or just performing (and usually requires a symphony or orchestra). what capitalism was is not every band (or even a big band for that matter), yet takes the challenge into his own hands, and in those hands he bares a very interesting looking foldy piano thingy.

what capitalism was AKA John Catfish also of indie folk band, Super Daughter brews up 9 accordion driven covers in homage of Glass from his extensive catalog. A feet that blows me away and, even though the songs are not absolutely perfect, you try listening to Cloudscape and then go and play it on an accordion. Do you even know anyone who owns an accordion? Come on. John also even throughs on his own spoken word sampling that is featured in Glass's Einstein On The Beach doozy, "Knee 1".

Other Philip Glass accordion renditions include "Jacura River" from Aguas de Amazonia (performed by Uakti from 12 pieces of ballet (1993/1999)), "Facade" from Glassworks (1982), "Aria from Act III of Satyagraha" from Circles, "Floe" (*example below*) from Glassworks, "Etoile Polaire" originally on Night Star (1977), "Subterraneans" from Symphony No. 1, "Low" (based on David Bowie's Low (1992)), and "Resource" from  Koyaanisqatsi (score (1982)).

All in all, this is a mighty fine attempt. Definitely for anyone who likes Philip Glass or accordion or both.  It could also be a good way of introducing you to Glass's music in an even more minimal way. Oh yeah, and it could be a good way of introducing you to what capitalism was. Not so much what "capitalism" was but what John Catfish's solo project is all about. John Catfish may play guitar and banjo must of the time but the accordion fun doesn't stop with Philip Glass, no, John also has an album dedicated to the Italian journalist and short storier, Italo Calvino (Plays Italo Calvino on Accordion), which in itself features covers of music by Nico Muhly, Johann Johannsson and Michael Nyman, and another album entitled songs for east german accordion.

Last.fm (all tracks free)
Philip Glass

Friday Streaming + more!

Sorry for my laziness this week but I was pretty lazy and did not want to be not lazy. I must also apologize for the absence of NFT's Got You Covered this week and hope to have one hot and ready for all y'all next week. If all goes well, that is.

A lot of my laziness came about due to the sweet day off from a snow day! And while I was all set to surprise you all with a link to one of the greatest Nickelodeon movies of all time (Drum roll, please), Snow Day (2000)! A perfect movie to watch on such an accession that this year in Maine where I reside, seemed like was never going to happen (Believe it or not). I remembered that for one, YOUTUBE does not like seeing copyrighted material on their site with such unprecedented awesomeness as Snow Day and Megavideo, well, is associated with SOPA's bitch, Megaupload. I'm not really a big fan of torrenting movies either and would rather complain about how much the MAN is bringing us down and keeping us from doing things we are going to do even though they do not want us doing them. Why? Because they are corrupt and we are broke ass individuals who, even if we had the money, definitely would not be giving it to them. So, that's why I didn't post a Snow Day post... Something no one was even looking forward to anyways because I did not even advertise it but rather hinted at an upcoming surprise on the first snow day of this winter season for my school district here in Southern Maine in a post way back when.

I still feel all bad inside of my tummy for lack of postage this week, maybe it is just that odd looking quesadilla I had for lunch today (was it full of chicken? Or was that steak?), but I'd like to believe it is guilt I'm feeling and to make up for all this and what have you, I present: Friday Streaming...

Every week I look for some of the best stuff that I can find for the Monday post (stuff I've already found usually gets its own post or is an exception/showcase or don't have to much to say about it). Usually at the end of the week, say friday, all I have left from or for the Monday post(s) are either things to be posted on Monday, things that are too much like other stuff already posted that week, or cool gems that I do not have DL links to and don't necessarily even want to find possession of... I just like listening to them and then put 'em away ("streaming" is what they call it in the blog business). All of which is what I've got for you today.

Check 'em out:

Grass is Green - Ronson (2012)

Nitty gritty post punker noise makers from Mass, Grass is Green just released a new one for us the other day, yesterday actually! (Woah, NFT's on top of things for once... almost!) It's got all that splintering guitar work that we've heard from these guys from Yeddo and Chibimoon but this one seems to also have a bit of a more listener friendly sound that goes along with it as well. I don't mind it though and even if it lacks the angular down play of Chibimoon and the stoner math rock approach of Yeddo, Ronson still carries its weight and features a lot of variety. Variety examples would be the noisy Pavement jams like "Life of Mike", classic GiG loud basement tracks like "Three Little Chickens"and "Riff Sibling", super melodic tracks with baritone guitar like "Ruffleball", funky mclusky sounding stuff like "Jesse's Fashion Show" and "Downward Bound" and even some dance punk revival with the track name like "Dance Punk Revival School For Kids". This release could easily become by favorite of theres...

Only time will tell.

Soundcloud ("Riff Sibling" is currently free)
Last.fm

Our Daily Fix - elephant. (2012)

This is a little something something I stumbled across after seeing that Cattle Drums had posted it on their Facebook. Cattle Drums being one of those bands I found out after the fact that had come to Portland and could have possible had seen them (something that happens a bit too much in my life), I figured I check these guys out even if Cattle Drums are just shamelessly promoting their friends or something. I don't see anything wrong with that.

Our Daily Fix can be described as math rock with a saxophone. Now when I heard the word saxophone I thought of two things, 1. They sound like that band A Troop of Echoes who always advertise themselves on other math rock bands' Last.fm accounts with the question, what would (name of math rock band of your choosing here) sound like with a saxophone? it might sound like this: http://atroopofechoes.bandcamp.com/ or 2. a math rock band that used to play ska but now play math rock but kept their saxophone player.

The combination was a little something like A Troop of Echoes who I just advertised despite making fun of them for shameless advertisement (dammit!) and a band that may have also been a ska band at one time... but I think these guys are really in it for the math rock. While the beginning of the first track suggests that they might blare there horns and start skanking all over the place, that does not happen. What actually happens is the music stays very unpredictable, never breaking out into a ugly off-beat frenzy and instead takes a turn for a fusion sound almost. Eventually vox are introduced and we even get to hear the sax playing in unison with the guitars. It all sounds good to me.

Last.fm

Julie Christmas - The Bad Wife (2010)

Julie Christmas is that emotional sounding lady in those songs by Made Out Of Babies, Battle of Mice, and Spylacopa. And I love it. This is Christmas's first debut album, The Bad Wife, and just as the artwork displays, this release is a delectable treat. As a buddy of mine once said when this first came out, "it's like Made Out Of babies except not as technical... but come on, it's Julie Christmas!" I'm not sure if Christmas is your thing but if you don't know, check her out! Oh yeah, check her out...

I always forget about her solo release and I just recently revisited it from beginning to end this week. I really don't want to forget it again next Christmas, so I'll just post it know. Here it is.

People other than Julie Christmas in this solo release include production by Andrew Scheinder (who's worked with Cave In, Unsane and The Blue Men Group if you can believe that), music written by fellow band mates from MOOB and Spylacopa, Mel Lederman of Victory at Sea and helping hands from Joe Tomino of Dub Trio, Oddity and Tony Maimone (who has also helped Pere Ubu and Tom Waits).

Last.fm

Have a nice weekend.

NFT's Got You Covered! With Captain Chaos

This weeks cover album of the week comes from Captain Chaos (AKA Chris Clavin born Christopher Johnston but his name wasn't punk enough AKA that guy who's not as squirrelly as Spoonboy and not as cute as Matty Pop Charts AKA that guy with the devilock from Ghost Mice). In 2006, Chris released a CD-R limited to 51 copies called Your Bright Eyes Are Gonna Kill Me For Sure. And while it is an album full of covers of Bright Eyes, The Mountain Goats and originals, it's mostly about how much Chris loves Bright Eyes. I'm not sure if I even like the album to be honest as I've got that syndrome that probably a lot of young men have where I just want to put my fist through a wall anytime I hear Bright Eyes song... not because I've hear every song by Conor on Pandora, he stole his sound from Dave Dondero or a kid who looked and sounded just like him stole my lunch, not just my lunch money, but my whole lunch back in the fifth grade. No! Because of girls man. Girls will break your heart, take your stuff and go out with your best friends all while listening to Bright Eyes, that guy you showed them to impress them with your extensive knowledge of things that girls will like instantly. But I digress and realize that not everything is about me...

Just kidding that never happened to me...

Captain Chaos - Your Bright Eyes Are Gonna Kill Me For Sure (2006)

The covers from the folk punk DIY acoustic musician (sometimes with friends) includes 9 Bright Eyes jams, two versions of The Mountain Goats' "Flight 717 To Denmark" (which features the lyrics "your bright eyes render all discussion" and "your bright eyes are gonna kill me for sure" (the origin to the title)) and The Extra Glenns (Nothing Painted Blue + The Mountain Goats) song "Going to Marrakesh. The track listing version that is on Bandcamp (different than the one I have had on my iTunes) breaks the album down like this: The Mountain Goats cover first version, track 2 "I Sing For You" explaining Chris's love for Bright Eyes and basically the reasons he would want to cover such an artist, track 3-11 various Bright Eyes covers from Fevers and Mirrors ("A Scale, A Mirror...", "Something Vague", "A Song to Pass the Time" and "An Attempt to Tip the Scales" without that awkward radio interview drenched in satire at the end), Lifted or... ("You will. You Will?"), I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning ("Landlocked Blues") the EP Every Day and every Night ("A Perfect Sonnet"), Don't Be Frightened of Turning the Page EP ("Oh, You Are the roots...") and Drunk Kid Catholic single ("I've Been Eating for You" listed as "Basket Ball"). Track 12 is a song about moving to Florida, "Sunset State" and the opening mentions that the covers are over and all he has for now. Track 13 is the Extra Glenns cover and 14-17 is more originals. The album then ends with the Alt. Version of "Flight 717 To Denmark".

All the covers are done in perfect Captain Chaos fashion; acoustic guitar, constant strumming and DIY recording. My favorites have to be "Landlocked Blues", "A Perfect Sonnet" which was probably one of my favorite Bright Eyes songs at one point, "An Attempt to Tip the Scales", both the Mountain Goats covers and The Extra Glenns cover. Most of the covers are actually pretty good and I knew they would as Chris usually does a fine job putting classics in the acoustic punk chokehold (check out "The Fool". It includes Leonard Cohen's "Chelsea Hotel" and Stephin Merritt's "The Book of Love". The Fool also has a song about how Batman sucks and my favorite CC track "The Simpsons", but that stuff is for a different post some day and not for this little side track bubble).

The track "I Sing For You" reminds a lot like "The Mount Eerie Show" by A Drum and an Open Window. Not just that they both detail a time when they say their favorite band play live but that I had a chance to see Bright Eyes and Mount Eerie once in my life (not at the same show) but didn't get to. I wasn't too bummed I missed the Bright Eyes show... I missed it to see Dan Deacon!

Even if you don't like Bright Eyes, I think you should still check out this Captain Chaos drop. It's free...

Bandcamp
Plan-it-x (I know I know)
last.fm

Pat "the Bunny" - Die the nightmare

Die the nightmare is the acoustic version of Live the dream by Ramshackle Glory. It is all done by Pat "the bunny" Schneeweis and was released as a fundraiser to help buy the band a tour van.

Pat "the bunny" Schneeweis - Die the nightmare (2011)

Classic DIY acoustic Pat "the bunny" - nothing more, nothing less. 

Along with his current projects with Ramshackle Glory, Pat the bunny is also in a couple of rap collectives like Playtime Posse as well as helping out his friends musically in the Savage Wasteland Collective.

Also, Die the nightmare of Bandcamp currently has 420 likes on Facebook. That's punk. 

The only thing is I can't like it now...

Last.fm (Ramshackle Glory)

Last.fm (Pat the Bunny)

Official site

Monday 10X

Monday Monday Monday Monday Monday Monday Monday Monday Monday Monday.

shoe - Orphans EP (2009)

Shoe is Sean Gibat. He's from Morgantown, West Virginia. He plays laid back musix. This is his short little EP, Orphans.

The way he sings reminds me a lot of Microphones/Mount Eerie with a more pop/electronic influence.  I'd check out the track "The Clock" for a good example of this. It doesn't necessarily sound like Phil though.

Last.fm

Kim Janssen - The Truth is, I am Always Responsible (2009)

I dare you to listen to this album and not be even a little sad. Do it. You won't.

Kim Janssen comes to us from indie band, The Black Atlantic, hailing from The Netherlands. His soft Dutch voice is very light and wispy yet it still has the ability to catch your attention (something not all singer-songwriters can do these days... at least for me). You may disagree.

This guy sure knows how to put a damper on things.

Last.fm

The World is a Beautiful Place & I am No Longer Afraid to Die - Formlessness (2010)

Don't let the name fool ya, this is legit shit.

Emotional indie rock with little bits of happiness here and there.

They are from Connecticut. This is their first EP.

Let's travel up the the floorboards.

Let's sing to the curtains.

 Last.fm

Lizards Have Personalities - In All Honesty (2010)

It took me awhile to give these guys a proper listen.

Intense angsty skramz for the little punk in you. Stick it to the man, man!

Last.fm

Henry Jamison - Telos EP

Henry Jamison - Telos EP (2011)

The bandcamp may say by The Milkman's Union and though Jamison does do vocals for TMU and it was engineered and mixed by the drummer, Peter, this is all Henry Jamison. 

It's cozy, raw, and very much an easy listen. And it's also free (this is, if you put the 0 in the Buy Now window. )

I have yet to see Henry Jamison or The Milkman's Union but they are definitely on my bands to see list (I actually have one of those here because I'm such a music nerd). I'm certainly hoping to see these guys soon enough if they keep doing what they're doing and not split or move away. 

In regards to this release in particular, Sailor Boy has to be my favorite track. It sounds just like a rejected anthem from the original Wicker Man film (Not to say it could not fit in the Nic Cage version). The way he sings and strums just has that spring time/may day induction tone like Appendix Out (Alasdair Roberts) if I had to compare. Good stuff right here.

More similar acts/sounds: Aleric Nez, Good Kids Sprouting Horns, Mango Floss,  Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, Jacob Augustine, Jeff Beam and overs.

Henry Jamison may only be a year or so in to the Portland Music scene since moving up here from Vermont but I conceder him and the rest of The Union very much a staple of the current music talent here in Portland and all over Maine.