October Monthly Mix...

First and foremost, hope everyone is or will be having a good Halloween. I was thinking about putting together some sort of Halloween themed post/mix, but I figure there will probably be plenty of those around the blogging community. So instead of delaying the monthly mix any further in favor of that, I figure it's best posting it today...before the month ends. Anyway, here it is. Remember, if you like any particular song, please go out and support the artist by purchasing albums and such. You can do that by clicking on the artists name in the post where applicable. Thanks!

01 - Final - We Glowed
02 - Poem Rocket - Milky White Entropy
03 - That Dog - To Keep Me
04 - MoHa! - a4
05 - Cheer-Accident - Go Gone Green
06 - Cop Shoot Cop - Cause and Effect
07 - Sparklehorse - Gold Day
08 - Slug - Rubberape
09 - Spotlight Kid - Can't Let Go (This Feeling)
10 - Shiner - Sailor's Fate
11 - The Daysleepers - Mesmerize
12 - Cloudland Canyon - Holy Canyon (Vanquish)
13 - Pinebender - Well-Calibrated Moral Compasses
14 - Glazed Baby - Face First Floor Waxer
15 - Gas - Untitled 1
16 - Bear Claw - Jigsaw
17 - Magnetic Fields - I Don't Want to Get Over You
18 - Engine Kid - Expressionists
19 - Six Horse - But the Lights Are On

Download (.zip file)

Stompbox - Stress...

My original intent was to just put the song “No Woods” by Stompbox on this months mix, but after listening to that song for the first time in at least a year I felt their album Stress deserved bit more than just a selection on some mix. I remember rocking this album quite a bit back in the day after it was recommended to me since I listened to Helmet so freaking much at the time. It’s no secret however, that Stress shares a lot of similarities to Helmet and many of its other post-hardcore contemporaries at that time that all found a bit more success. Unfortunately this album was their only full-length as the band pretty much vanished shortly after the album was released. Members would later appear in a few different bands, most notably Milligram and Placer. For those that enjoy anything in the same area as Helmet, Prong, Quicksand, etc. then I can’t imagine not owning this album. Even though it’s relegated to cut out bins and rarely talked about, this album was definitely one that could hold its own against any of the aforementioned bands best material. It’s a full offering of chunky guitars that hit like a fucking 18 wheeler and some great melodies mixed in as well.

Stompbox – No Woods [MP3]
Stompbox – Now, What It’s Worth [MP3]
Stompbox – Esoteric Song [MP3]

As you can probably imagine, this being the only release and it being a major label cast off, it can be found for pretty much nothing around the net (Amazon). I would suggest shelling out the one or two dollars for this disc.

Tomorrow is Halloween and I will probably be throwing up the monthly mix for October up on here sometime during the day, so be sure to check back for that. Enjoy!

A Bitter World Series Rant and the Lovely Sounds of Vaz...

So, how unremarkable was that World Series? Regardless of who won, it was kind of painful at times to watch. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I guess I wasn’t looking for a slew of throwing errors and Chris Duncan’s very own blooper reel in right field. It was just a sloppy series from both teams. Really, when it comes down to it the team that played the least half-assed came out on top. I did notice that Eckstein won the series MVP award, which in turn sports writers are falling over themselves to write their very own article about him. He has grit, shows hustle, and by god if he isn’t pesky. Did you people know that? I mean I sure didn’t after a years worth of baseball. It may sound like I dislike the guy, when really I don’t. He has gotten all he can get out his limited ability, which deserves some credit. However all the press and hearing analysts basically jerk off over him on air just gets old. I would have rather seen someone like Molina get the MVP since he basically came out of offensive hibernation to hit like a damn madman. Not only that, but he probably had a hand in helping Jeff Weaver look like a fucking stud in the postseason. But no, Eckstein who was a prime beneficiary of some poor play on the defensive side of the Tigers got the MVP…because he is 5’7 and sprints down the line when he walks. Man, I sound bitter…

Anyway, I did a poor job updating last week so that’s the reason I am making a rare appearance here on a Saturday, that and I wanted to write about how shitty the World Series was. I still don’t have much for today however, but I figure it’s better than nothing right? I have been trying to think of something to post for Vaz, who are up there on my list of favorite bands. I like all three of their albums almost equally, which makes it hard for me to decide on what to choose. So, I’ve decided to post their first single on Reptilian Records from 1998. Both songs are entirely bad ass if you ask me, which makes it well worth throwing up. If you're not familiar with Vaz, the band is made up of Paul Erickson and Jeff Mooridian who both used to play in Hammerhead together. Originally only a duo, they've recently welcomed a second guitarist to the fold. Vaz is every bit as noisy as the members previous outfit, however it has a bit darker vibe cast over it. Although I love Hammerhead, I am probably an even bigger fan of Vaz. Anyway, here is their 7" on Reptilian...

Vaz - Hey One Cell [MP3]
Vaz - No Leaf Clover [MP3]

This is still available from Reptilian Records and as always it's recommended to get the real deal. So yeah, there you go. Enjoy!

Pinebender and my Feelings for Cardinals...

Bummer that game 4 of the World Series got rained out last night. I had planned on that entertaining me for the majority of the night. I find myself rooting for Detroit even though I know I should be rooting for St. Louis since I live in Missouri, despite the I-70 rivalry and whatnot. I don’t even think that’s a big deal anymore since the Royals are pretty much worthless for the time being. I can’t really figure out why I dislike this Cardinals team so much. In the past I’ve usually always liked the makeup of their teams, but not this one. I like Jim Edmonds and Albert Pujols; however the rest of the team just leaves me with a bad taste. That, and I get sick of hearing about how David Eckstein is somehow underrated when he has been a two time all-star and probably is brought up a million times in every telecast. I don’t think that’s underrated. He’s pesky, we get it, and I’ve heard his story enough to be able to recite it probably. I also don’t think it helps that they basically skidded their way into the playoffs with that horrific stretch that had near the end of the season. I guess in the end I hope the Tigers win. I honestly hope Kenny Rogers gets another start because that will be an absolute circus if that happens, which will be great television.

Yeah, there was no update yesterday. I got sidetracked when my grandparents dropped off some old camcorder footage they shot of me, my brother, and my cousins throughout the years. I spent a good couple hours just watching that. Weird that I don’t remember a lot of it and I absolutely hate the way I was when I was around 7 years old after watching it. Anyway, that’s what happened.


I did manage to spend quite a bit of time yesterday listening to the new record Working 9 to Wolf from Chicago’s Pinebender. I thought it was supposed to come out in November but apparently it’s already available on the Lovitt website and through Itunes. If you’re not familiar with Pinebender, you’re probably missing out. Their last record The High Price of Living Too Long With a Single Dream made me a fan for life and their newest is only doing more to solidify that. Pinebender plays music at a slower tempo that is fueled by a baritone guitar, another guitar, and thundering drums. Oh, and it’s played exceptionally loud on top of being incredibly dense and thick sounding. The best part is that they create some amazing crawling melodies that will hook someone in the best possible way. Its pretty music that just happens to be really fucking loud, which for me is almost the perfect combination.

Pinebender – Polly Gray [MP3]
Pinebender – Get. Grasp. Have. [MP3]

I do highly recommend this for anyone that is a fan of the whole Midwestern rock sound. If you like what you hear you can pick up the real deal from Lovitt right now. I also suggest picking up their second album as well, as it’s just as equally high on large guitars. That’s all, enjoy!

Stnnng - Fake Fake...

If there is one thing in music that I want to hear, it’s energy. I want to hear something that basically exudes energy from right out of my floor speakers and fills every inch of this tiny crappy room. That is something that I can almost instantly appreciate when I hear a band for the first time. No matter what type of music it may be if it’s loud, distorted, and jagged sounding then it probably has a good chance of hooking me. Oh, and it has to be good too.

The second album from Stnnng (pronounced Stunning) titled Fake Fake does every bit of the aforementioned. All I can picture is a bar with people flailing their bodies every which way with beer bottles flying through the air crashing into peoples heads. In actuality though, the music brings to mind some of the best of the Touch and Go roster like The Jesus Lizard, Big Black, and Scratch Acid to name a few. The narrative vocals provided by Chris Beringer are a major highlight, being barked out at times practically in the style of a drill instructor. It’s only fitting for music that is played with as much force and grit as this.

Stnnng – Dubbed Warehousing [MP3]
Stnnng – Hybrid Animal [MP3]

If you’re looking for something that basically serves as a soundtrack for a good time, and quite possibly an illegal one, then definitely pick up Fake Fake. You can do so over at Modern Radio.

Paw - Dragline...

Due to the big grunge explosion in the mid nineties, Paw got snatched up by A&M records in hopes to make a few bucks off of the success of the genre at the time. Unfortunately for Paw, that never really happened as the group from Lawrence, KS only had a few minor hits. Practically all of those came from their excellent debut album Dragline, which still stands for me to be one of the most overlooked gems from that era. It’s such a solid album. Although labeled “grunge”, Paw were quite a bit more melodic and just overall more pleasing to the ears than a lot of the related bands that were around at the time. The group released another album called Death to Traitors before eventually being dropped by A&M. They regrouped in 2000 with a couple new members to record a third album called Home is a Strange Place that was released on Koch.

Paw – Gasoline [MP3]
Paw – Sleeping Bag [MP3]
Paw – Couldn’t Know [MP3]

Although Dragline is long out of print, you can still find many available used copies on Amazon for fairly cheap. I highly recommend dropping two or three dollars to get this.

A Quickie...

I apologize for the quick update today; I got a few things going on that I need to take care of. However it’s just for today and possibly tomorrow. Just hold tight and things will return to normal shortly.

I imagine that a lot of people my age or even a bit older probably got wrapped up with How It Feels to be Something On when it came out in 1998. It’s often considered THE Sunny Day Real Estate album, although I think Diary has its legion of backers too and rightfully so. However, it’s getting colder and beginning to actually feel like fall, which means I start listening to what I consider to be “fall albums”. I always hate saying that because it just sounds pretty lame, but it is what it is and How It Feels to be Something On just happens to be one of those albums that seemingly get more spins because of the season.

Sunny Day Real Estate – Guitar and Video Games [MP3]
Sunny Day Real Estate – Days Were Golden [MP3]

I imagine no matter how old I get or the level of insanity of the music I listen to reaches I will probably always listen to this record. Regardless, for whoever likes this and doesn’t own it, which by this point would be pretty surprising, probably needs to do so. So head on over to Insound and pick up a copy.

Lullabye Arkestra - Ampgrave...

It honestly wouldn’t surprise me to see this end up on quite a few year end lists. For those that haven’t heard Lullabye Arkestra’s album Ampgrave, you might want to do so. I’ve seen this album consistently described as some sort of soul/R&B punk extravaganza, which after listening to it more than a handful of times now, it’s probably the most accurate way to even try and describe it. At the core Lullabye Arkestra is the duo of Justin Small (drums/vocals) and Katie Taylor (bass/vocals). However, for Ampgrave they enlist a whole army to help create this clusterfuck of sound. Among those being the whole horn section from post-rockers Do Make Say Think, an organ player, violinist, and probably even a few other things. Don’t forget that this is all alongside a fuzz laden bass and the screams and yelps of both male and female vocals. That being said, I think it’s pretty safe to say that Lullabye Arkestra has carved themselves their own little place in rock n’ roll.

Lullabye Arkestra – Unite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [MP3]
Lullabye Arkestra – Bulldozer of Love [MP3]

To pick up Ampgrave, just head on over to Constellation Records. It’s definitely worth it if you want to do nothing but have a genuinely good time and completely rock. Enjoy!

Relay - Still Point of Turning...

I heard Still Point of Turning last night by Relay and it got me thinking that I should probably say a few words about it on here. Relay is the project of studio engineer/musician Jeff Zeigler who has done work with the Swirlies in the past. By stepping out and doing his own thing, Zeigler and his band Relay have created a pretty strong debut full-length that will undoubtedly please listeners of the dreamy shoegaze crowd.

On Still Point of Turning the group doesn’t necessarily rely on droning guitar fuzz for drastically long periods time, rather they focus more so on melodies, driving guitar rhythms, and a high level of synth to move their songs along. The synthesizer in particular caught my attention as it’s more of a driving force on the album than one would probably expect. It also contains a bit of a distinct sound to it that manages to help set the album apart from anything else I’ve heard this year. Although I do wish some songs were a bit longer, in retrospect it’s probably better that everything is kept within a fairly tight timeframe. It does everything one could hope for in less than forty minutes and will not run the risk of losing anyone’s attention thanks in part to some terrific pop songwriting and undeniably catchy melodies.

Relay – New Domestic Landscape [MP3]
Relay – Context [MP3]

For those that like what they hear, you can head on over to the bands MySpace to purchase Still Point of Turning.

Should...

I probably made a mistake in not including the often overlooked Should in the shoegaze compilation that I put together last month. It happens though, that and I only have so much room to work with. Regardless, I think I’ll make up for it today.

Should originally were called shiFt when they first formed in 1995. They later had to change it due to their being another band that was already established under that name. Oddly enough, I’ve posted about that band on this blog as well (see other Shift). Regardless, for those that may have missed out on this wonderful band, they managed to release a beautifully written EP and a full-length. Their EP A Folding Sieve is a major standout to me. Originally it was only seven tracks; however it was re-released in 2002 with seven more tracks that included the Own Two Feet 7 inch and a few unreleased tracks from the same time as the EP. The collection contains some pretty remarkable material that perfectly blends the ethereal qualities of dream-pop and the wall of noise like distortion of shoegaze.

Their full-length Feed Like Fishes, which was put out in 1998, isn’t terribly different however contained a bit more of a slowcore influence to it, sounding at times like Galaxie 500. Regardless, everything the band has put out to date is completely worth owning.

A Folding Sieve:
Should – Breathe Salt [MP3]
Should – Feels Like Morning [MP3]
Should – Merger (18th Dye cover) [MP3]

Feed Like Fishes:
Should – Sarah Missing [MP3]
Should – In Nine [MP3]

According to their labels website and their MySpace, the band is currently working on an album that is tentatively scheduled for some time in early 2007. So keep your eyes out for that one. In the meantime, you can pick up both of their main releases at Words on Music. I strongly recommend it.

Del Rey - A Pyramid for the Living

I didn’t purposely go out and find another band that is from Chicago; it just happened that today I was listening to latest album from Del Rey, whom just happens to be based out of the city. Either it was an odd coincidence or just every band is from Chicago. I would assume it’s the first. Anyway, I just wanted to make it clear that I am indeed not obsessed with any one city.

Back to Del Rey though, they just released a new record through My Pal God Records just this past September titled A Pyramid for the Living. It’s their third album since forming back in 1997. The album possesses an almost otherworldly vibe to it, laying itself out as if it could be the soundtrack to some ultimately doomed but heroic mission. Quite intense sounding at times, which I am sure is partly due to the bands twin drumming set up they have going. Del Rey relies on these sorts of intricacies to make A Pyramid for the Living come to life in a whole other way for the listener and to set themselves apart from the rest of the field. The production is pretty amazing as well, which I imagine is needed when you have two drummers.

Del Rey – Stemrick [MP3]

This is a very nice effort from the Chicago quartet. If you like what you hear, you can pick it up over at My Pal God. Also, check out their MySpace for some other song samples.

Snailboy/Shorty...

I might as well post about another noise rock band from Chicago while it’s still sitting fresh in my mind. The band Snailboy came together in 1990 and recorded two singles before changing their name to Shorty in 1991, as if that name was any better. However, as Shorty they released three more singles, a full-length, and an EP before calling it quits.

Their full-length Thumb Days was recorded by Steve Albini and released in 1993 on Gasoline Boost Records. If there is one thing this band should be remembered for, it’s Al Johnson’s vocals. Although not for everyone, to me they fit the music perfectly at times sounding like an animal dying or a squealing pig. Yeah, probably not a ringing endorsement for most, but for those that enjoy this type of music it’s almost perfect. Throw it in with music that is heavy on the distortion and a bass that hits like a hammer and you have Shorty.

Thumb Days:
Shorty – Mitzy Lodge [MP3]
Shorty – Dynamite Lover [MP3]

Spoo Heaven 7’’:
Snailboy – Kept Turd [MP3]
Snailboy – Pewie [MP3]

Al Johnson and Mark Shippy went on to be in US Maple. You can find cheap used copies of Thumb Days on Amazon. And by cheap, I mean for like fewer than 2 bucks. Also, their excellent EP Fresh Breath is still available through Skin Graft. So, if you like what you hear…be sure and pick both of those up.

Mama Tick - Horsedoctor...

Mama Tick was another group of noise makers from Chicago in the early to mid nineties that released a few singles and self released a full length. Sometime after that they called it quits. Their sound oddly combined noise rock with some slap bass work which in turn gave it, dare I say, a sort of funk vibe? Regardless, it wasn’t overly prominent in their music, but it was there nonetheless. The Horsedoctor 7 inch they released on Skin Graft in 1993 is a standout. I am pretty sure you can still pick it up from the label if you want the real deal. Enjoy!

Mama Tick – Horsedoctor [MP3]
Mama Tick – I’m Okay with Me [MP3]

Smart Went Crazy...

Hope everyone had a nice weekend. Also, to those that play fantasy football, I hope your team did a bit better than mine. The “Jons Jiants”, as I’ve so cleverly named them, have suffered from the absence of Shaun Alexander. Regardless, if my team doesn’t end up in the cellar, then I’ll consider it a good year. I just don’t think Kevin Jones is going to fill the role of Alexander for a good portion of the season. Anyway, back to the music…

I’ve been listening to Con Art by Smart Went Crazy a lot the past week. The more I listen to it I begin to wonder why they weren’t absolutely embraced by critics. Maybe they were and I never noticed or whatever, but I’ve never seen it. It’s confusing to me because of the obvious connections between bands like Jawbox and Shudder to Think (same label, same style, etc.) who both got plenty of praise and still do. Nothing wrong with that though, being two of my favorite bands.

Regardless, they were an amazingly good band that, whether it’s a good or bad way to look at it, kind of bridged the sound of both the aforementioned DC bands. With the inclusion of a cello player (Hilary Soldati) and the incredibly sharp dark humored lyrics of Chad Clark, it was surely enough to set themselves apart from their label mates. However, their brand of eccentric post-punk was maybe not enough to get them out from under their shadow. Despite that, for those that do listen you’ll find a slightly hidden gem in Con Art, which was their second album right before they split after a tour in 1998.

Smart Went Crazy – A Brief Conversation Ending in Divorce [MP3]
Smart Went Crazy – Con Art [MP3]
Smart Went Crazy – Tight Frame Loose Frame [MP3]

After the split, members went on to form the bands Faraquet and The Beauty Pill. Thankfully you can still purchase both of Smart Went Crazy’s albums over at Insound. Definitely pick up Con Art if anything.

Monthly Mix Time...

I was going to save this for Friday, but I said to hell with it since it's already finished anyway. So here it is, the monthly mix for September...albeit a bit later than usual. Artist links lead to where to purchase albums where possible. Enjoy!

01 - Skullflower - Void of Roses
02 - Vaz - No Woman/No Cry
03 - Self - So Low
04 - Polaris - Kissing
05 - Brume Retina - Huis Clos
06 - Tim Hecker - Spring Heeled Jack Flies Tonight
07 - The Brother Kite - I'm Not the Only One
08 - Coughs - Fright Makes Right
09 - Parts & Labor - Stay Afraid
10 - Voices and Organs - Nestlings
11 - Cows - Sieve
12 - USAISAMONSTER - Okeepa Ceremony
13 - Goldfrapp - Fly Me Away
14 - Failure - Petting the Carpet
15 - OvO - Mammut
16 - The Dead Science - Hiroshima Love Song
17 - Made out of Babies - Silverback
18 - The Life and Times - Hush
19 - Collapsar - Pray to Thor
20 - Royksopp - Remind Me

Download (.zip file)

Mixtapes and Cellmates...

After seeing that Bedroom Records had shut down a few months ago, I was really surprised to see a new EP just recently from one of the best bands that were housed under the label, Mixtapes and Cellmates. The Swedish group has returned in fine form with their new release If There is Silence, Fill it With Longing. Along with being a bit surprised, I was also extremely glad to see something new from the group, as I was a fan of their EP Juno that they released in ’05 through Bedroom.

The band plays a brand of electronic indie pop/shoegaze sort of similar to Radio Dept, however just a tad bit noisier. The vocals also carry a slight Ian Curtis type sound to them, more so during some of the songs peak/louder moments. A pretty nice release that I am sure most will enjoy if you like your shoegaze more electronically driven. Overall, I’m just glad to see that they are still at work.

Mixtapes and Cellmates – Distance, Blinding Lights [MP3]

The group also released a free EP that includes three remixed songs, a Belle and Sebastian cover, and an unreleased song. The Belle and Sebastian track is actually pretty neat sounding. Give it a listen.

Mixtapes and Cellmates – Photo Jenny [MP3]

You can pick up If There is Silence, Fill it With Longing over at No Method. There is also a link in their web shop to where you can also purchase it digitally. Enjoy!

Our First Taste of Escape...

I think I am going to do away with the playlist feature for awhile. With mixes and everything being posted a lot as it is, I don’t think it’s necessary every week. I imagine it will make an appearance from time to time whenever I get a good idea for one or feel like putting one together. So yeah, that’s the deal from now on with that.

Today I am going back in time again, however not to terribly far, and posting about the extremely overlooked and under appreciated Penfold. I know I mention a lot how certain bands go under appreciated, but it’s ridiculous how unnoticed this band went. Penfold was originally formed in 1997 in New Jersey and in between then and 2003 they released an EP, album, 7 inch, and many songs on various compilations. They played what most would consider to be emo, however they played it in one of the truer senses that you will come by. Despite being a bit late to the game when it came down to the whole emo-core deal of the mid nineties, they managed to crank out music that would have easily eclipsed the quality of many other bands output during that time. That right there could very well be why they never got the amount of attention that they rightfully deserved. However, for those of us that did manage to find Penfold during their time together, we were reminded of what this type of music can and should sound like. Their music contains a certain sort of honesty that just isn’t found a lot anymore. Penfold were a band that set out to make music for the sole purpose of making music and something entirely cathartic at the same time. There isn’t much to say about the overall sound of it. If you were a fan of the mid nineties emo push then you probably know what to expect from this. Any of their material is so amazingly well done that I don’t see how anyone couldn’t enjoy it.

Amateurs and Professionals (EP):
Penfold – M [MP3]
Penfold – Breathing Lessons [MP3]

Our First Taste of Escape:
Penfold – The Opportune Moment, Fate, Confidence and an Encounter [MP3]
Penfold – Kissing the Nightmare [MP3]

VA – Emo Diaries Vol. 3:
Penfold – Microchip [MP3]

After Penfold broke up three fourths of the members recollected in a band called The Moirai, however after releasing just one EP titled Bury Yourself they also split up. Since then Penfold has reunited once for a one off show they did in February of ’06.

Unfortunately both Amateurs and Professionals and Our First Taste of Escape are sort of hard to come by. I guess that comes with the territory when bands like this break up. However, scour your local record shops or search around online. You might be able to turn up something and if you do, by all means buy anything you find by this great band.

EDIT: Thanks to a reader, it was pointed out in the comments that you can buy music by Penfold on Itunes. So that's pretty cool. However, for those looking for the real deal...then your search continues.

Souvenir's Young America...

Well, September is gone. As I mentioned in the previous post, this year is just speeding on past me. Shit, we’re already 3 months out from Christmas. Anyway, enough about that as I am sure there are those that are reading this that are feeling the complete opposite

The monthly mix for September is coming, as in its not being posted today but sometime later this week hopefully. Yeah, I know…it’s a bit later than I usually like to put them up here but I kind of slacked on it sometime mid month and have been trying to put it together for the past week or so.

Anyway, opening this month is a pretty solid album from Souvenir’s Young America. Oddly enough this is the second release from a metallic post-rock outfit that I’ve found myself enjoying within the past couple weeks. Crazy, I know. Anyway, this instrumental trio based out of Richmond, VA does well here on their self-titled debut. It’s not exactly the typical formulaic material that you generally hear in that it’s not crushingly heavy or “brutal”. Instead there is a larger emphasis on melody that is brought together by an array of different instruments including a keyboard, slide guitar, banjo, and a piano. There is definitely a much more serene beauty to this album that you won’t find in many other releases that commonly fall under the same category. They don’t try and stomp you into the ground with devastatingly heavy guitar work, instead the band does something that is much more difficult and lets the intense emotional qualities of the album do all the work. This is a lot more focused and accomplished than you’d come to find or expect from most debuts. In the end, Souvenir’s Young America shows a lot of talent to move forward with on future releases, which I will be highly anticipating.

Souvenir’s Young America – Letters from the Earth [MP3]

Their debut is currently out now and can be purchased over at Aquarius Records. Also, check out their MySpace for a sampling of more songs.