Tenki

TENKI’s near six-year existence has been an interesting one. Full of member changes, tours taking them from the Smokey mountains through New England, 5-gigs-in-a-day marathons, late night blow-ups, and shows ranging from jam packed theatres to scantily populated road houses, the band has slowly but persistently logged enough experiences to make up a multi-volume rock and roll narrative. But more than the typical rock band fiasco, the really interesting part of TENKI’s history has been its ever-evolving sound. In 2000 TENKI released Red Glow - a 5-song "eclectic pop" EP with material inspired by a film experiment. They followed up in 2002 with a debut full-length Red Baby - a lyrical canvas of relationships and emotions filled with their signature guitar-driven washes, horns, and keyboards. 2003 saw the release of the bands second full length album, View of an Orbiting Man, that featured a band MORE poised AND pissed while taking a dramatic personal turn when looking back at life's more tumultuous occurrences: divorce, death and failed love experiments. At the end of this year, the band will embark on its latest musical offering, an album titled We’re Not Talking About the Universe Are We.

Tenki - Etaples
Tenki - Do You Think
Tenki - The Test
Tenki - Big Bang
Tenki @ MySpace


Bonus:
Jens Lekman - Oh, You're So Silent Jens !!!
Tarkio - I Guess I Was Hoping For Something More !!!
The Divine Comedy - Absent Friends !!!
The Magnetic Fields - The House Of Tomorrow [EP] !!!
Cat Power - You Are Free !!!
The Pastels - A Truckload Of Trouble: 1986 -1993 !!!
The Lucksmiths - Good Kind Of Nervous !!!
The Sea And Cake - Oui !!!
Stephin Merrit - Pieces Of April OST !!!
Aimee Mann - Bachelor No. 2 !!!
+ Starsailor, The Dandy Warholes, Belle & Sebastian, CYHSY, The Tears, The Cure,
The Avalanches, Travis, Pulp, The Smiths, Dave Gahan, The New Pornographers, 22-20s,
Violent Femmes, PJ Harvey, Recoil, Go-Betweens, Emilliana Torrini, Suede,
and much more ...
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/fhacu
VA - Buena Vista Social Club
VA - Buena Vists Social Club - When Life Begins
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/g66z6
Whatever... - Shallow + Lemmings
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/hgvso
Dj Muggs Vs GZA - Grandmasters
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/zo2rd

About

I always had a kind of sensibility for the bands coming from the central Europe. Usually I do classify them in 3 different categories. The first are those that make great music but sing in their native languages and therefore have a little chance to grow outside their country borders. The second are those that copy any sort of new wave that comes from the UK or the States and the third are completely unique and innovative and sound like nothing you've heard before or at least have that something that makes them sound different than the others. About is one of these. The man behind About is Rutger Hoedemaekers, a pop artist from Amsterdam, Netherlands. The About's music could be described as electropop but there is something more in it. The song patterns are untypical and catchy, well balanced and mixed with excellent vocals. It's clear that a lot of effort was involved in creation of every song. Be sure to check it out. About has just released his debut album, "Bongo", on Cock Rock Disco label. By the way, the Cock Rock Disco has made available a free-downloadable compilation of the songs from their artists that you can get here.

About - ThinkNileDrinks
About - Strike You As The Enemy
About - ThinkNileDrinks (video)
About @ MySpace

Bonus:
Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies !!!
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/guh8d
Morrissey - Ringleader Of The Tormentos (2006) !!!
Gomez - How We Operate (2006) !!!
The Jam - Snap! (Spec) (3CD)
Sufjan Stevens - Christmas Album
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/j4few
Morrissey - You Are The Quarry
Hair - OST
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/eg9b2
Green Day - Warning
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/g8l34
Albums: Adam Sandler, The Pharcyde, NERD, Avenged Sevenfold
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/fcf73
Albums
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/h4qw5
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/gn7hl

Sigur Rós Peel Sessions

Named in part after a sister of one of the bandmembers, Reykjavik, Iceland's Sigur Rós ("Victory Rose") was formed by guitarist and vocalist Jon Thor Birgisson, bassist Georg Holm, and drummer Agust. Formed while each of the members were teenagers in early 1994, the trio's first recorded song earned them a deal with Iceland's Bad Taste label. Their sprawling debut LP, Von (Hope), was released in 1997, followed the next year by a collection of remixes from that album, Recycle Bin. Kjartan Sveinsson joined the band on keyboards and the band recorded 1999's strings-heavy Ágætis Byrjun (Good Start), earning them numerous accolades in their homeland and achieving platinum status in sales. Agust then departed and was quickly replaced by Orri Pall Dyrason. "Svefn-G-Englar," their first release to be distributed outside of their native country, was hailed as NME's Single of the Week during September of 1999, launching a press hype steamroller in the U.K. and -- to a lesser extent -- in the U.S. The "Ný Battery" single was issued in early 2000, the band's breakout year. British independent Fat Cat began distributing the band, stretching their reach beyond Icelanders and rabid journalists. April dates in England with Godspeed You Black Emperor! were capped off by an appearance at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival, and they also opened several dates of Radiohead's European tour before year's end.

Sigur Rós spent the first three months of 2001 away from the road, setting up their own studio and making their third album. Meanwhile, Ágætis Byrjun found a label in the U.S. and worldwide press became increasingly positive and varied; both Entertainment Weekly and the Wire ran features on the band. The group began touring again in April, playing more shows in Europe, a handful in the States, and several more in Japan throughout the remainder of the year. By the end of the year, Ágætis Byrjun had won the Shortlist Prize for Artistic Achievement in Music; it was also declared Iceland's Best Album of the Century.

2002 saw the release of ( ), Sigur Rós's third 70-minute album. The majority of the material was honed on the road prior to being recorded at Alafoss, the group's studio located outside Reykjavik. The album featured a raw sound in comparison to its predecessors and scaled back the extreme highs and lows that were prominent on Ágætis Byrjun. Three years later, they released Takk..., featuring some tighter arrangements and brighter tones.

Sigur Rós - Peel Sessions

Bonus:
The Long Winters - Ultimatum EP !!!
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/s6uc8
Babyshambles - Fuck Forever (CDS)
Weezer - We Are All On Drugs (CDS)
Athlete - Tourist (CDS)
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Ain't No Easy Way (CDS)
The Magic Numbers - Love Me Like You (CDS)
+ CD-Singles from Gorillaz, Jamiroquai, British Whale, McFly, etc.
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/l9vsr
Blur - Parklife
The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses + Second Coming
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/lozab
Yellowcard - Lights And Sound
Guns'N'Roses - Lies
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/mko6c
Green Day - American Idiot
System Of A Down - System Of A Down + Hypnotize
Rammstein - Reise, Reise
Marylin Manson - Mechanical Animal
+ Lunatic, I Am, Eminem, Sean Paul
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/qrasp
Motorhead - Inferno + Ace Of Spades
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/qcoe8
Maroon 5 - Live Acoustic
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/okcm6

Sufjan Stevens Live

A singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Sufjan Stevens started his venture in the music world as a member of Marzuki, a folk-rock band based in Holland, MI. Following the release of two full-length albums with the group, Stevens decided to go solo in late 1999, investing fully in a career that was waiting to shine by itself. During subsequent months, Stevens moved to New York City, where he continued dedicating himself full-time to his solo recordings. Sun Came, his debut album, appeared in 2000, confirming his superior musical command, complex instrumentation, and sparkling melodies. The promotion of the disc included playing on the road with the Danielson Famile, with whom he began regularly working. Enjoy Your Rabbit, his second album, hit record stores in 2001, underlining once more his unusual instrumentation and excellent compositions. In addition to his solo work, Stevens also offered his contribution to the album 1942 for Soul-Junk, on which he participated amply as a multi-instrumental musician. While preparing a new collection of songs, Stevens appeared on several benefit compilation discs including Seen/Unseen, which featured Frank Black, Giant Sand, and 16 Horsepower. 2003 saw the release of Greetings From Michigan: The Great Lakes State, a fifteen-track conceptual piece, produced and performed by Stevens -- he played over twenty instruments -- that placed his home state under the writer's microscope. Despite the record's narrowed focus, it was among the best reviewed that year and made many critic's year-end lists. In 2004, Stevens released his follow-up, Seven Swans, which was produced by Danielson Famile mastermind Daniel Smith. He returned to his ambitious "states" project in 2005 with Illinois.

Sufjan Stevens - Live At Calvin College 9-12-05

Bonus:
I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness - All Harm Ends Here !!!
Mates Of State - Bring It Back !!!
The Crimea - Tragedy Rocks !!!
The Olivia Tremor Control - Dusk At Cubist Castle !!!
Pilotdrift - Water Sphere !!!
The Cinematic Underground - Annasthesia !!!
The Shortwave Set - Is It Any Wonder (CDS)
Early Day Miners - All Harm Ends Here
Sweek - The Shooting Star's Sigh
Projektor - Red Wolf Glass
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/o7p7l
Head Automatica - Decadence
Emery - The Question + The Weak's End
Fall Out Boy - From Under The Cork Tree
The Killers - Hot Fuss
Panic! At The Disco - A Fever You Can't Sweat Out
Hawthorne Heights - The Silence In Black And White
Chiodos - All's Well That Ends Well
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/ntc3h
Al Peco - Bled Hard Concept
8 Mile - OST
Lim - Enfant Du Ghetto
The Game - Who Got Game The Mixtape
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/nm2cp
Spin Doctors - Pocket Full Of Kryptonite
Queen - The Greatest Hits
The Meters - Rejuvenation
+ Betty Davis, Aerosmith, James Hollingworth, etc.
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/qakxs
The Adventures Of Bob And Doug MCKenzie: Strange Brew - OST
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/o7a65

Band Of Horses

Seattle, WA's Band of Horses plays dense, aching mid-tempo indie rock reminiscent of Neil Young & Crazy Horse. Formed in 2004 by multi-instrumentalists Ben Bridwell and Matt Brooke out of the ashes of former incarnation Carissa's Wierd, the group caught the attention of Sub Pop during a show with friends and future lablemates Iron & Wine. The label signed the newly minted outfit in 2005 and re-released their self-titled EP. Their full-length debut, Everything All the Time, arrived in March of 2006. Recommended for all fans of Arcade Fire, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, The Shins, etc.

Band Of Horses - Wicked Gil (demo)
Band Of Horses - I Lost My Dingle On The Red Line... (demo)
Band Of Horses - Funeral (demo)
Band Of Horses - Bass Song (demo)

Bonus:
Mates Of State - My Solo Project !!!
The Roots - Things Fall Apart
Ween - Chocolate And Cheese
+ Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Zero 7, The All-American Rejects, etc.
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/zj3ee
Albums: Rammstein, Metallica, Nirvana, Depeche Mode, Sepultura, etc.
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/jtsow
Wolf Parade - Apologies To The Queen Mary !!!
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/jmjy7
Dean Grey - American Edit
Ed Alleyne-Johnson - The Purple Electric Violin Concerto
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/kzou8
Copeland - In Motion
Damien Rice - O
Explosions In The Sky - Friday Night Lights
Head Automatica - Decadence
Mute Math - Mute Math
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/lxbbp

News

Keane have announced details of their second album. Under The Iron Sea will be released on June 12 with a North American release on June 20. The album is the follow-up to the trio's debut Hopes And Fears. Keane are due to perform at several European festivals this summer including the V Festival at Chelmsford on August 19 and Staffordshire on August 20 ...

Known for her raucous and theatrical live shows, the ever-elusive PJ Harvey will finally release her first-ever live DVD, PJ Harvey on Tour -- Please Leave Quietly, on May 2nd. The collection, directed by Harvey's longtime video director Maria Mochnacz, features footage from the notoriously guarded rocker's U.S. and European tours in support of 2004's Uh Huh Her. In addition, Please Leave Quietly offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the construction of the live shows -- from stage sets to sound checks -- as well as the previously unreleased tracks "Evol" and "Uh Huh Her" ...

Babyshambles frontman Pete Doherty pleaded guilty to seven drug charges -- including heroin, crack cocaine and marijuana -- Thursday in a London court before kicking a BBC Radio reporter in the arm as he exited. The troubled singer, already under a year-long community service order for previous drug charges, was more than an hour late for court, where the judge agreed to postpone his case until April 20th ...

A controversial anti-milk video with a soundtrack penned by proud vegan Nick Zinner, guitarist for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, is now online at peta2.com, the Web site for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' youth-oriented branch. The clip, "Milk Gone Wild" -- originally intended to run during the Super Bowl before it was pulled -- apes the popular soft-porn video series Girls Gone Wild, and features girls lifting their T shirts in a bar to reveal udders instead of human breasts. Other musicians that have teamed with peta2 in the past include Le Tigre, Morrissey, Neko Case and Cat Power ...

There's no firm release date (summer) or title yet for the next DJ Shadow album, but the reclusive artist has unveiled the first taste of new music in the form of "3 Freaks," which features underground rappers Keak Da Sneak and Turf Talk. A video for the track can be streamed from Shadow's official Web site ...

Riding high on the success of her debut album, "Eye to the Telescope," Scottish singer/songwriter K.T. Tunstall will release an acoustic set May 8 in the United Kingdom. "K.T. Tunstall's Acoustic Extravaganza" is a fan-oriented package featuring a CD and a DVD, to be available as a digital download and via her Web site, but not at traditional retail outlets. Tunstall recorded the new release between Christmas and New Year on the Scottish island of Skye. The 10-track CD includes acoustic versions of new material, a version of her first, limited-edition single "Throw Me a Rope" and a cover of Beck's "Golden Age." Also featured are unplugged renditions of "Miniature Disasters" and "Universe & U" from "Telescope" ...

Bonus:
Orson - Bright Idea
The Shins - Oh, Inverted World + Chutes Too Narrow
Paul Colman Trio - New Map Of The World
Dream Theatre - Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence (2CD)
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/fnd4d
Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand + You Could Have It ...
The Strokes - First Impressions Of The Earth
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds - B-Sides & Rarities (3CD)
Brain Failure - American Dreamer
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/jjyo5
The Shins - Oh, Inverted World
Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - 4 Albums
Stars - Set Yourself On Fire
Something Corporate - North
The Arcade Fire - EP
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/f55bx
Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism
Jack Johnson - In Between The Dreams
Tracy Chapman - Let It Rain
Mugison - 4 Albums !!!
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/enztg
Electrelane - Axes !!!
+ Patrice, High Tone, Boa, Ez3kiel, Jeff Beck, Youn Sun Nah 5, etc.
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/kxl5m
The Flaming Lips - At War With The Mystics
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/d7uqj
Beck - Ubiquitous (Unmastered Guero)
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/hosq5
Albums: Jose Gonzalez, M83, Portable, etc.
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/kdde8
Bright Eyes - A Christmas Album
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/jvqwo
The Dead 60s - The Dead 60s
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/axejj
Placebo - Meds + Acoustic
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/ha9bl
K'naan - Dusty Foot Philosopher
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/joh8w
Coldplay - X & Y
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/h2wkt
Kaiser Chiefs - Employment
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/gld6c
Albums
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/eaqku
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/zony2
VA - [NME022] C86 (Velocity Girl, Soup Dragons, The Pastels, etc.)
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/ghorg

Note: From now on I'll occasionally use "!!!" marking to point out the music of less known artists that I recommend for listening. I'll not indicate the music of well-established artists or those already quoted in previous posts. The more information on the artists and album reviews you may get via Amazon, Pitchfork, AllMusic and other similar sites (check the side bar for links) or just searching Google.

The Sky Drops

The Sky Drops are Rob Montejo (Smashing Orange) and Monica Bulette (Bulette). Based in Wilmington, Delaware, the band members each have their own fine pedigree and began The Sky Drops in the Autumn of 2005. Rob Montejo was the frontman of Smashing Orange, the band that attracted significant attention in the nineties with their mostly rock-oriented sound. In 2005 Smashing Orange released critically acclaimed "1991" album on Elephant Stone Records. Monika Bullette enjoyed recent success with the 2005 Internet release of her debut album "The Secrets" winning international fans and positive critical reviews.

The Sky Drops mix refined pop melodies of Smashing Orange with the emotional melancholy of Bulette delivering a beautiful pop sound that is in any respect a step forward in the work of both artist. The Sky Drops released the double A-side internet-only single from their forthcoming debut that you can download for free.

The Sky Drops - Now Would Be
The Sky Drops - Green To Red
The Sky Drops @ MySpace

Bonus:
Korn - See You On The Other Side
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/z67cp
Venetian Snares - Rossz Csillag Allat Szuletett
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/krpxs
Nu-NRG - Dreamland + Freefall
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/gl5bf

Preston School Of Industry

After the demise of slacker rock kings Pavement in late 2000, guitarist/songwriter Scott "Spiral Stairs" Kannberg immediately formed a new band, dubbed Preston School of Industry. Joining Kannberg are drummer Andrew Borger (Tom Waits, Moore Brothers) and bassist Jon Erickson (Moore Brothers). After Kannberg discovered a demo full of rejected and forgotten tunes he'd penned for Pavement's final recording, Terror Twilight, the newly formed trio set upon bringing the songs to life and recording a debut. Signed to his former band's label, Matador, Preston School of Industry released their inaugural album in August of 2001, titled All This Sounds Gas, following it up with a U.S. tour. In addition to his Preston School of Industry duties, Kannberg also runs his own independent label, Amazing Grease Records, putting out records by the likes of Oranger, Carlos, Sunless Day, Cole Marquis, Aaron Nudelman, and the Moore Brothers. In 2004 the band released their second LP Moonson.

Preston School Of Industry - Caught In The Rein (from Monsoon)
Preston School Of Industry - Get Your Crayons Out! (from Monsoon)
Preston School Of Industry - Whalebones (from All This Sounds Gas)
Preston School Of Industry - Falling Away (from All This Sounds Gas)

Bonus:
Broken Social Scene - You Forgot It In People
Calexico - Feast Of Wire
Lewis & Clark - Bare Bones And Branches
The Essex Green - Cannibal Sea
Voxtrot - Mothers Sisters Daughters & Wives + Raised By Volwes
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/o74t4
The Movies - American Oil
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/mtczj
The The - The Pornography Of Despair
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/l9gbb
Eskobar - Til We're Dead + A Thousand Chances + There's Only Now
Contramano - Contramano
MC Frontalot - Nerdcore Rising
Rasputina - 7 Albums (zipped)
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/p8q9w
Acceptance - Phantoms
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/qqsb9
Nickelback - All The Right Reasons
Anberlin - Never Take Friendship Personal
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/rny7a
Sobe - Love Pioneers
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/mrzcl
Streetlights Manifesto - Kaesbey Nights, Vol.2
Sugarhill Gang/Grandmaster Flash - Greatest Hits
Soul Coughing - Irresistible Bliss
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/qn6wd
Jakki The Motamouth - God Vs Satan
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/nk2tq

Johnny Superhero

Johnny Superhero is a 4-piece indie pop/rock outfit from Turku, Finland. The band started as a recording project between Antti (singer & guitar) and Matti (bass). Tuomas came to play the drums on a few songs they made. Eetu joined in later to play a second guitar. As their countrymen The Crash, Johnny Superhero sound melodic and fresh, but alike The Crash they are more melancholic, sad on the moments but in the same time exciting and catchy. They sing about the life and being lost, searching for the answers and a warm and safe place to settle down. Some of the influences are Nada Surf, Interpol, The Posies, Bob Hund, Pavement, The Pixies, Sonic Youth, Velvet Underground, The Mars Volta, Tool, Weezer, Radiohead, etc. In 2003 the band self-released their self-titled debut that's available for download. In 2006 the second album "Finally Nowhere" is released. The highlights from the debut are "Sunday Afternoon", "Hiway, Eyes Closed" and "Titor".

Johnny Superhero - Johnny Superhero (album)
Johnny Superhero - Lift-Offs In The End Of July (from Finally Nowhere)
Johnny Superhero - Settle Down (from Finally Nowhere)

Bonus:
Last Days Of April - Last Days Of April
Damien Rice - Delicate CDS + Triple J Like A Version [EP] + Unplayed Piano (w Lisa Hanningan)
Limbeck - Hey Everything'S Fine + Hi Everything's Great
The Premier - The Live Like You're Dying [EP]
The Working Title - Everyone Here Is Wrong [EP]
Journey - Generations
Circa Survive - Juturna
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/gvw8d
Spike Priggen - There's No Sound In Flutes
Robin Gibb - Sing Slowly Sisters
TV Neats - TV Neats
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/fl6us
Coldplay - A Rush Of Blood To The Head
James Blunt - Back To Bedlam
VA - Masters Of Hardcore 2CD
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/hdzmu
The Metaphysicians - 2 Albums
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/z2es6
James Blunt - Back To Bedlam
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/zvko7
Black Cat White Cat - OST
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/zhy9n

News

The Kaiser Chiefs have officially denied they'll record England's World Cup song. Recent reports claimed the Leeds band would perform the anthem, but Ricky and the boys are too busy working on new material. In a statment they said: "We're flattered about these rumours regarding the England football team's World Cup song, but there's no truth in them, they are just rumours. "The only writing we'll be doing in the next few months will be for our next album. "We have no plans to write the England football team's World Cup song. Sorry to dispel the myth." ...

Hard-Fi have confirmed they will play at this year's T In The Park. The band will play the main stage on the Sunday reports NME.com. The event takes place at Balado, near Kinross between July 8-9. Singer Richard Archer said: "Some of the best gigs we've ever played have been in Scotland. We've got some great memories from our first ever gig at King Tut's, December's sold out Barrowlands show and of course our Hogmanay show in Edinburgh. "So we're really looking forward to playing up there at T in the Park for the first time. The line up for the weekend looks great!" Also announced as an addition to the line-up are The Proclaimers, who will return to the event for the third time ...


Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo, currently completing his last undergraduate semester at Harvard, is engaged to Kyoko Ito, who he met after a 1997 performance at Cambridge, Massachusetts, venue the Middle East. The two plan to wed this summer after Cuomo receives his eleven-years-in-the-making Harvard degree ...





Supernova -- the new rock supergroup featuring Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee, former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted and former Guns N' Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke -- will select a lead singer through the second season of CBS' reality series, Rock Star, premiering this summer. Once a frontman is chosen, the band will head into the studio to record an album with producer Butch Walker (Avril Lavigne, Pink) slated for fall release. A Supernova world tour will follow in early 2007. Last season the show, hosted by guitarist Dave Navarro and actress Brooke Burns, crowned JD Fortune as the new frontman for INXS. The band has since recorded the album Switch and toured continually in support ...


A brand new Arctic Monkeys song has appeared online. The group are currently on a tour of North America in support of their debut album 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not'. During the show in San Francisco at the Great American Music Hall bassist Andy Nicholson's instrument failed, leaving singer Alex Turner to entertain the crowd. Playing alone, he premiered 'Despair In The Departure Lounge'. A video of the song has appeared on the unofficial band website www.mardy-bum.com. The group are planning to release an EP of brand new material in April ...

Bonus:
Jose Gonzalez - Veneer
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/af6yr
The Strokes - First Impressions Of The Earth
Tori Amos - Under The Pink
The Killers - Hot Fuss
Razorlight - Up All Night
Bonobo - Dial "M" For Monkey
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/sx2ga
Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
Kings Of Convenience - 3 Albums
Faith No More - We Care A Lot
Ayreon - Albums
Jeff Buckley - Live In Tokyo 1995
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/mfngc
Bloom - OSinner
Grand Buffet - Cigarette Beach + Pittsburgh Hearts
Grand Buffet - Sparkle Classic + Undercover Angels
Whole Wheat Bread - Minority Rules
Astronautilus - You And Yer Good Ideas
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/pzrzw
My Morning Jacket - It Still Moves
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/omlmv
Matisyahu - Youth
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/n2pfn
T.S.O.L. - Disappear
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/nvvbo
Hedwig And The Angry Inch - OST
London After Midnight - Selected Scenes ...
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/p9nm9
Tuxedo Killer - Spiral Haircase [EP]
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/q5tza
Sum 41 - Does This Look Infected?
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/phxdy
Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/okrhx

Live: Explosions In The Sky

Becoming known with an insane quickness due to their reputation for scathingly intense live performance and a quickly sold-out CD-R demo, Explosions in the Sky are becoming touted as the next phenomenon in moody and dynamic instrumental indie rock, à la Mogwai and Godspeed You Black Emperor! This quartet of Texas kids was signed for its first release on Temporary Residence Limited after half a listen to their demo, which was submitted by the American Analog Set with a brief note saying "This totally f****** destroys." From that, they released their first six-song album Those Who Tell the Truth in the latter half of 2001. In 2003 they released The Erath Is Not A Cold Dead Place followed by How Strange, Innocence in 2005.

Explosions In The Sky - Live In LA Troubador 12-17-05
Explosions In The Sky @ archive.org

Bonus:
Blackfield - Blackfield
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/gvmlu
Enya - A Day Without Rain + The Celts
The Rasmus - No Fear CDS
T.A.T.U. And Rammstein - Pruzinki
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/z9ewf
Kanye West - Late Registration
Black Eyed Peas - Monkey Business
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/kyqoh
Dj Danger Mouse + Jay-Z - The Grey Album
Smashing Pumpkins - 1979 (Remixes)
Dean Gray - American Edit (Green Day Remixes)
The Notorious Big - Notorious Big vs Frank Sinatra
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/g9qgl
White Stripes - Remixes
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/zvb4o
Rammstein - Rosenrot
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/ewy63
VA - Cry Of The Celts
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/gocv5
Anchorman - OST
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/hkzr6

Agent Sparks

Agent Sparks is a 4-member alternative/indie band from LA area playing music that could be described as a mixture of Veruca Salt and Pixies. The songs sound fresh and raw and are not unnecessarily smoothed like those from Zwan. The lead vocals fit well together and come from guitarist Ben Einziger (brother of Mike Einziger from Incubus) and Stephanie Eitel (ex Audiovent) who plays the keyborads as well. Paul Fried is playing bass and George Purviance is on drums. In September 2005 the band made a deal with Immortal Records and released 5-track debut EP - Not So Mery. The lyrical content on the EP tackles everything from the President's proposed draft and religious preachers to self inflicted insecurities and adolescent popularity as it relates to adult society and pop culture today. The EP was produced by Mike Einziger and engineered/mixed by Rick Will. Agent Sparks prepare a new release, their full-length debut called Red Rover. Currently Agent Sparks are on tour with Daphne Loves Derby, Waking Ashland and Quiet Drive. Check them out.

Agent Sparks - Mr. Insecurity
Agent Sparks - Pollyanne
Agent Sparks - Camouflage (Live)
Agent Sparks - It's Not My Time (Live)
Agent Sparks @ MySpace

Bonus:
Röyksopp - The Understanding Deluxe 2CD
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/jzbgo
Blackmail - Friend Or Foe
Fugazi - The Argument
Radiohead - Ok Computer
Björk - The Best Of
Faith No More - This Is It - The Best Of
Peter Gabriel - So
Deftones - Around The Fur
Albums: Pink Floyd, Metallica, Paul Simon, Madonna,
Blackmail, Seeed, Marillion, Filter
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/emsm2
The Beta Band - Heros To Zeros
High Fidelity - OST
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/bymda
Sufjan Stevens - Come On Feel The Illinoise
Marta Wainwright - Marta Wainwright
Symphonic Beatles
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/kt3r9

Live: Elliott Smith + Minuteman

Folk-punk singer/songwriter Elliott Smith rose from indie obscurity to mainstream success in 1997 on the strength of "Miss Misery," his Academy Award-nominated song from the film Good Will Hunting. A native of Portland, OR, Smith began writing and recording his first songs at age 14, later becoming a fixture of the city's thriving music scene; as a member of the band Heatmiser, he debuted in 1993 with the LP Dead Air, issuing his first solo effort Roman Candle on the tiny Cavity Search label a year later. For his 1995 self-titled album, Smith signed with the noted Kill Rock Stars label; Either/Or followed in 1997, around the same time that filmmaker and longtime fan Gus Van Sant requested permission to use the singer's music in his upcoming Good Will Hunting. Smith also composed a handful of new songs for the soundtrack, among them "Miss Misery," and when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its Oscar nominations the following February, the track was a surprise entry in the Best Original Song category. Although he did not win, Smith performed the song live at the televised Oscar broadcast, appearing on-stage alongside superstars Trisha Yearwood and eventual award-winner Celine Dion in one of the most notably surreal musical moments in recent memory. Smith's DreamWorks label debut, XO, followed later in 1998. Two years later he delivered Figure 8, which indulged in lush arrangements and orchestrations more so than any of his previous solo efforts. For the next two years, Smith labored over what was to be his next album, From a Basement on a Hill. He would not live to see its completion, however -- to the shock of friends and fans alike, Smith took his own life on October 21, 2003. The record was released two days shy of the first anniversary of his death.

Elliott Smith @ archive.org
Elliott Smith - B Sides & Other Songs
Elliott Smith - Tribute CD

More than any other hardcore band, the Minutemen epitomized the free-thinking independent ideals that formed the core of punk/alternative music. Wildy eclectic and politically revolutionary, the Minutemen never stayed in one place too long; they moved from punk to free jazz to funk to folk at a blinding speed. And they toured and recorded at blinding speed; during the early '80s, they were constantly on the road, turning out records whenever they had a chance. Like their peers Black Flag, Hüsker Dü, R.E.M., Sonic Youth, and the Meat Puppets, the Minutemen built a large, dedicated cult following throughout the United States through their relentless touring. Like their fellow American indie bands, the trio was poised to break into the world of major labels in 1986, and they would have if it wasn't for the tragic death of guitarist/vocalist D. Boon in December of 1985. Even though bassist Mike Watt and drummer George Hurley carried on with fIREHOSE in the late '80s, the legacy of the Minutemen overshadowed the new band in the late '80s and early '90s, as the San Pedro trio influenced several generations of musicians.

Minuteman - Acoustic & Live
Minuteman @ archive.org


Bonus:
Kid Casanova - Finished Album (2006)
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/jyvhk
The Mars Volta - Deloused In The Comatorium
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/g645p
30 Seconds To Mars - 30 Seconds To Mars
System Of A Down - Hypnotize
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/kkxzu
Agent Double O Zero - Best Way To Say I Love You
Agent Double O Zero - Gets Eliminated
The Taxicab Samurais - Five Miles To Newark
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/zd2cb

Indie Hip-Hop Live: Cold Duck Complex

Cold Duck Trio first formed in early 2000 with keyboardist Jesse Goldman strictly for a high school talent show. Their original musical tale of a funky monkey's struggle to explore the world under the gaze of his rigid protector, Curious George, won the contest, and the group agreed that they would continue on. Solidifying their current lineup and new name in early 2002, Cold Duck Complex has been continuously spreading their music around New England and New York over the 2 years of their existence--a good showing already for a band consisting of three 21 year olds and a 19 year old, all full-time students. Recent highlights include performing with Rahzel, Reel Big Fish, and 50 Cent at the Mullins Center in Amherst, MA and winning the Valley Advocate's Best Hip-Hop Award 2004. They have appeared on MTV University, have shared a bill with acts such as Wordsworth, RJD2, Soulive, 7L & Esoteric, The Slip, Insight, Crown City Rockers, MasPyke, The Headhunters, and Addison Groove Project, and have even been featured in a comic strip at the Massachusetts Daily Collegian. Following up on their self-released, untitled EP in 2002, the band self-released their first full-length album, "Figureheads" in December 2003; the album has reached as high as #11 on CMJ's North American hip-hop charts. Currently CDC are working on a new EP that will be called "Enough", contains 8 tracks and should be released in early May.

Cold Duck Complex - Live @ Campus Pond 10-03-2004

Bonus:
Spoon - Kill The Moonlight
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/n93mf
Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say ...
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/px8v8
Electric Eel Shock - 2 Albums
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/ld3zh
Pearl Jam - 13 Bootlegs
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/g3vca
System Of A Down - Hypnotize
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/htp5s
Disturbed - Believe
Stabbing Westward - 4 Albums
Mudvayne - 3 Albums
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/kzff4
Rock/Hard Albums
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/n8r95
Robert Miles - Organik
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/z9n2k
Firefly - OST
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/zb272

Blu Sanders

Blu Sanders started playing guitar in the 10th grade. He joined a garage band as a guitarist, and when the opportunity arose, he took the spot as lead singer. About 6 months after his first show, he was asked to record 2 tracks for a band called "Paisley Jane". After high school, he studied at business college in El Paso for about a year & half before relocating to Austin in January 1994 to pursue his career in music. There he started a band called "Jaguar Sun", and in 1995 "Sound Entertainment Management" signed the band, and cut they album "Jaguar Sun". Management and band clashes over songwriting credits pushed the guitarist to split. A short time later their bass player withdrew. Enter Brian Walsh (fresh out of Soulhat). After a few months of playing together, Brian joined The Billy White Trio, along with J.J Johnson, and that's how Blu was introduced to the real Austin music scene. He began his solo career midway through 1996, and in 1997 he released a self titled, 6 song demo. In 1998 release his "Tierra" album followed with the compilation "Unreleased 1999-2001". In 2002 Blu released "5 To Care About You" EP and in 2003 full-length "My Gemini Self". In 2005 "More Of Something Else" is released. Some new songs can be heared at Blu Sanders MySpace page.

Blu Sanders - Song Downloads
Blu Sanders @ MYSpace

Bonus:
Jesus And Mary Chain - Darklands + Psychocandy
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/rzrma
Emperor Penguin - Mysterious Pony
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/pa29q
Albums: Groove Armada, Tangerine Dream, La Bottine Souriante, etc.
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/ltx4z
Radiohead - Ok Computer
Portishead - Dummy
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/llndq
James Blunt - Back To Bedlam
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/9lwqf
Backstreet Boys - Never Gone
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/rlx4k
Depeche Mode - Remixed
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/s2jj4
Electronic Music
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/rhbpo

Duraluxe

Duraluxe was formed when former Hoi Polloi member Troy Daugherty joined forces in 1997 with Chris Colbert, a Los Angeles native who had experience working as an engineer and producer. The two men began co-writing with the aid of a digital recorder and a drum machine that was more than three decades old. Daugherty and Colbert soon put together a recording studio, Dolorosa, and they recorded several tapes by 1998. They added more songs to their initial sessions recorded in Nashville, and headed north to Chicago. There they worked with Keith Cleversley, who had worked on albums by Mercury Rev, the Flaming Lips, and Spiritualized. The result was the album Dolorosa, which was released by Meddle Records in 1999. In addition to leaving the Windy City with a new album, they also brought Mark Emge, a drummer, back to Nashville with them. The singles "Lowly Creatures" and "Queen of Centerville" performed well on college radio stations, and after their early success, they relocated to Georgia. Once they were settled in the city of Athens, bandmembers decided to expand Duraluxe with the addition of keyboard player and backup singer Megan Morrison. At Colbert's urging, the band relocated to California, where Duraluxe and the Lassie Foundation split a CD, I Deal Sioux and the Ale of Saturn. Grand Theft Autumn Records put out the 12-track, full-length release in 2001. The Lassie Foundation's Frank Lenz soon came aboard, and the band went on to work on The Suitcase that was released in 2002 for Hidden Agenda. At the moment Duraluxe are in the studio, they have a new bass player and are recording new songs. We look forward for whatever comes out.

Duraluxe - Hit So Hard
Duraluxe - The Ones You Trust
Duraluxe @ MySpace

Bonus:
Radiohead - No Surprises/Running From Demons [EP]
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/paqay
From Monument To Masses - The Impossible Leap In 100 Simple Steps
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/rwav4
Staind - Break The Cycle
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/pwmfa
Panic! At The Disco - A Fever You Can't Sweat Out
Motion City Soundtrack - Commit This To Memory
The Good Life - Album Of The Year
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/qe8tr
Coldplay - X & Y
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/dtr2k
Green Day - Dookie
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/n2xuh
Korn - Discography
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/lo8jw
M.I.A. - Arular
Solace - Shawaza
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/ryat5
Tilly And The Wall - Wild Like Children
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/pymdb
Electronic Albums: Coldcut, Xploding Plastix, Frost, Hybrid, etc.
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/qry5d
Touch And Go - I Find You Very Attractive
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/lvzao
Albums: Jazz, Funk, Soul, Hip Hop
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/ovyyf

The Picture

The Picture is a 5-members indie band from New York. The band formed in the spring of 2004 shortly after singer/writer Robert Abel met guitarist Chris Buckle from Liverpool, England. They were soon joined by drummer Jared Vergilis, bass player Jake Siegler and keyboard player Justin Repasky. The band has recorded with two-time Grammy nominated producer Carmen Rizzo (Grant Lee Phillips, Alanis Morissette, Paul Oakenfold, Billy Corgan, etc.) and top engineer Andrew Scheps (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jay-Z, Johnny Cash, Mars Volta, etc.). The band has released an excellent debut album "Connect", carrying beautiful pop-rock sound that I highly recommend.

The Picture - It's Alright
The Picture @ MySpace

Bonus:
The Knife - Silent Shout
Moldy Peaches - Moldy Peaches
The Dismemberment Plan - 5 Albums
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/f9cgs
Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit
Radiohead - Kid A
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/z8d63
Indie Albums: Cat Power, Mates Of State, Animal Collective, New Buffalo,
Sweek, Film School, The Locust, Explosions In The Sky, Black Sheep Boy,
Band Of Horses, Two Gallants, Monade, Marissa Nadler, Ryoji Ikeda,
John Zorn, Robert Pollard, Lilys, Albert Ayler, Lee Ranaldo, etc.
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/k7r4m
Albums: The Postal Service, Jimmy Eat World, Flogging Molly
Mogwai - Mr Beast
The String Quartet Tribute - Coldplay, The Killers
Vienna Teng - Waking Hour
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/zgrh2
Man Or Astroman - Destroy All Astromen!
Dread Zeppelin - 5,000,000
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/n7xf3
Rage - 4 Albums
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/q4lwt