Friday, April 28, 2006

Boris Laborde

Boris Laborde is a composer and a music enthusiast from Paris, France. He recorded a number of demo songs that can be previewed via his homepage. All the instruments and vocals were played and recorded by Boris himself. Listening to some of the songs one can notice a great potential that lays behind this artist. Even though Boris experiments with the music and uses occasionally some untypical beats and samples in the songs, his own-defined style is recognizable and is present in each song. In the music of Boris Laborde one can hear the elements of the traditional british pop mixed with the modern indie pop sounds, but I recommend you to listen to it and judge yourself.

Boris Laborde - I Can See For Miles
Boris Laborde - I Will Say
Boris Laborde - She Cooks For Me


Bonus:
Dirty Pretty Things - Waterloo To Anywhere (2006) !!!
The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers (2006) !!!
Babyshambles - Down In Albion (2006) !!!
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Puppetmastaz - Creature Shock Radio
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/lc4hs
Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped (2006) !!!
Ratatat - Ratatat !!!
Placebo - Meds (2006)
The Beatles - Abbey Road + Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band + Magical Mystery Tour
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/qjujk

Graham Coxon - Happiness In Magazines !!!
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/m8adt
Swedish Forest - Beloved Melancholy [EP] !!!
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/pbegg
Institute - Distort Yourself (ex Helmet)
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/s7ud4
Taking Back Sunday - Louder Now (2006)
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/of8kf
The Bravery - The Bravery
The Killers - Hot Fuss
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/rww4j
Old Mil - Old Mil
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/p56yd

Thursday, April 27, 2006

Voicst

Taking their name from a South African slang word meaning manic energy, Voicst are a trio from Amsterdam that live up to the moniker.

Singer/guitarist Tjeerd is a moving target on stage, and combined with perpetually pogo-ing bass player Sven and hard-hitting drummer Joppe when you put these three together you get artistic friction with nuclear power. Music and vibe that as Joppe says, attempts to place them somewhere between Beyonce and The Melvins.

In 2003 the band released their first recording the six-song EP Eat The Evidence - to critical acclaim. While in New York in the summer of 2004 the band hooked up with producer and Girls Against Boys alumni, Eli Janney (The Rapture, Secret Machines) to record their first full-length album 11-11. The album was mixed by Victor Van Vugt (Athlete, PJ Harvey, Beth Orton, Nick Cave) and in true indie spirit released in Europe on the bands own label DuurtLang Records (A Dutch word which aptly translates to takes a long time) through a distribution deal with Play It Again Sam.

3Voor12, influential Dutch media outlet, recently named 11-11 Album of the Year, and Joppe was voted Drummer of the Year by his peers. To celebrate, in true Voicst fashion they have been out touring throughout Europe and North America, playing at festivals including Rock in Idro (Italy), Popkomm (Berlin), Benicassim (Spain), SXSW (Austin, TX) and also supporting bands like The Bravery, The Posies and Millionaire.

I really like Voicst. They sound much better live than on the record. I recommend you to watch their live acoustic performance from Amsterdam's metro. Watch it here. Excellent!

Voicst - Whatever You Want From Life
Voicst @ MySpace
Voicst @ PureVolume


Bonus:
The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers (2006) !!!
Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped (2006) !!!
Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings The Flood (2006) !!!
The Stills - Without Feathers (2006) !!!
Hot Chip - The Warning (2006) !!!
Imaad Wasif - Imaad Wasif (2006) !!!
Band Of Horses - Everything All The Time (2006) !!!
Lilys - Everything Wrong Is Imaginary (2006) !!!
Liars - Drums Not Dead (2006) !!!
Tapes'N'Tapes - The Loon !!!
+ Matt Nathanson, Built To Spill, KT Tunstall, Chris Whitley, Elvis Costello,
Josua Radin, Mat Kearney, Prince, Bjork, Pilate, Joseph Arthur, B&S, Calexico,
Apples In Stereo, Sean Hayes, Matt Nathanson, Spiritualized, Talk Talk, etc.
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/qqtej
The Bravery - The Bravery
Brand New - Deja Entendu + Your Favorite Weapon !!!
Panic! At The Disco - A Fever You Can't Sweat Out
Nine Inch Nails - With Teeth
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/s4lp4
Paul Anka - Rock Swings
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/n5hzj
City And Colour - Sometimes
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/pr26m
Radiohead - Ok Computer
Portishead - Portishead + Dummy
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/llndq
Old Mil - Old Mil
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/p56yd
VA - Visible School: 2000-2003 Sampler
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/otw7m

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

The Kooks

The Kooks are one of those bands that got in the very beginning an etiquette of the Strokes followers. According to NME, the Kooks are one of the best british live bands. They played together with the Thrills, the Dead 60s and are currently supporting Subways on their tour.

Brighton’s The Kooks are that rarest of pop entities: a scuzzy, fresh-faced group to fully restore your faith in the holy grail of English singer-songwriting stretching from Supergrass via (early) Blur to The Kinks and beyond. Their songs are crammed full of incidents on buses, bedroom mishaps -more of which laterand stinging teenage putdowns which will strike a chord with anyone who’s ever found themselves fumbling for clues on the sofa, but they’re also blessed with a cheerful irreverence most record companies would prefer was preserved in amber rather than rampaging across the nation’s venues. It doesn’t end there. Pin-sharp and scarily young (guitarist Hugh usurps Jared Followill as the youngest man in rock, having just turned seventeen), they also possess record collections which date back to the dawn of time.

In the course of an hour The Kooks (Luke: vocals,guitar; Hugh Harris; lead guitar, Max Rafferty; bass, Paul Garred; drums) will happily rave about everyone from The Police to The Everley Brothers to Funkadelic to the component parts of medieval folk. Probe further and it turns out the first song they played together was The Strokes’ ‘Reptilia’.

The Kooks have released their debut album "Inside In, Inside Out", that has already delivered a couple of singles, "Eddie's Gun", "Sofa Song", Naive Pt.1, Naive Pt.2 and "You Don't Love Me Pt.1".

The Kooks - Naive
The Kooks - Eddies Gun
The Kooks - Crazy (Gnarls Barkley cover)


Bonus:
Calexico - Garden Ruin (2006) !!!
Arab Strap - The Last Romance !!!
Beth Orton - Comfort Of Strangers !!!
Howe Gelb - Sno Angel Like You !!!
Lampshade - Let's Away
Jane Birkin - Fictions
Sophie Zelmani - 1995-2005: Decade Of Dreams
The Flaming Lips - At War With The Mystics
Jack Johnson - Sing-A-Longs & Lullabies
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/qc29y
Hot Hot Heat - Make Up The Breakdown !!!
Daphne Loves Derby - Unreleased Demos !!!
+ Jem, Beat Crusaders, Shakkalabbits, M-Flo
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/lrhhx
The Streets - The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living (2006) !!!
The Streets - A Grand Don't Come For Free
Andy C - Nightlife Vol. 3
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/p4vac
Aimee Mann - The Forgotten Arm !!!
L'Angelus - Ca C'est Bon
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/qy46d
Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism + You Can Play This Songs With Chords !!!
The Circle Jerks - Group Sex / Wild In The Streets
They Might Be Giants - Miscellaneous T
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/nr5wr
The Sea, Like Lead - EP
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/s82cw
Mykal - Just Me
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/qzetr
Alternative/Indie Albums (slow)
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/nfar7

Monday, April 24, 2006

News

Embrace have unveiled their official World Cup song. World at Your Feet, which is released on 5 June, received its first radio play on Radio 1. The song features the lyrics "there's no-one you can't beat" and "you know it's going to be our time". Even though the song does not contain the word "football" singer Danny McNamara said it does contain football references. According to BBC online he said: "There's 'You lift it up with one proud kiss', which is obviously about lifting the cup. Then there's 'You're the first in my life to think we might just go all the way'. "I wasn't born in 1966 but I think they have got every chance." McNamara said they would play it to the England players for the first time on Sunday. "They haven't heard it yet, but we are playing the PFA awards so we'll get a chance to play it to them then. We hope they like it. We did it wholeheartedly so we hope they like it." ...

Athlete have begun recording tracks for their third album. Speaking on the band's website, bass player Carey Willetts revealed things are going nicely. "It's been a good week all round," he said. "Joel, Tim and I got together to play each other our ideas and do a little recording. "We've booked into a rehearsal studio for two days next week so we can all start playing over ideas together." The as yet untitled LP will be the follow up to Athlete's No 1 album Tourist ...

The Magic Numbers are heading back to the studio to create the follow up to their Mercury-nominated debut album. The band will begin recording in May at the Allaire Studios in upstate New York, reports US music mag Billboard. The music will be produced by Richard Wilkinson who worked with the band on their self-titled debut ...



Maximo Park have been added to this year's line-up for T In The Park. The Geordie rockers will also be joined by The Cribs and Delays. T In The Park takes place in Balado, near Kinross, Scotland on July 8 and 9. This year's festival sees performances from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs, The Who, The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, Hard-Fi amongst others ...

The Raconteurs have been added to the bill for this year's Wireless Music Festival. They will play London Hyde Park on June 21. Other acts joining the bill that evening include Bob Mould and Guillemots. The festival takes during the last weekend in June in London and Leeds reports NME.com. The London leg, at Hyde Park, will feature James Blunt, KT Tunstall, Depeche Mode and Massive Attack, who will also play in Leeds. Super Furry Animals and The Flaming Lips will appear alongside The Who on 25 June in Leeds ...

The Scissor Sisters will headline at this year's Bestival. The New Yorkers will play on September 10. The annual Isle of Wight extravaganza will also play host to some of the hottest DJs around, including Annie Mac, Erol Alkan, DJ Yoda and Sonic Boom. Other live acts include Devendra Banhart, The Fall, Nathan Fake and Tunng. Bestival takes place on September 8 - 10 at Robin Hill Country Park, Isle of Wight. Tickets are on sale now from bestival.net ...


Bonus:
Yo La Tengo - Fakebook + Genius+Love !!!
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/mym7u
Indie Hip-Hop Albums: Aesop Rock, MF Doom, Jaylib, Madlib, Madvillain, etc.
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/qfzl2
Institute - Distort Yourself (ex Helmet)
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/s7ud4
Albums: The Ramones, Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/nxjcs
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dani California (single)
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/frw53

Friday, April 21, 2006

X-Wife

X-Wife is an indie electro-pop trio from Porto, Portugal.The band built themselves a great reputation with their first album “Feeding The Machine”. They played shows in New York, London, Madrid, Paris and supported LCD Soundsystem, Liars, Love is All, Soulwax and Pixies. “Side Effects” their second (out now!), is a really impressive album, and shows without any doubt the enormous talent of X-Wife.

Taking the New Wave legacy as their departing point, and the music of heroes like Suicide, Talking Heads, P.I.L., Lcd Soundsystem, The Cure or 70’s Disco Sound as their main source of inspiration, X-Wife celebrate here our Rock’n’Disco heritage in a more than updated version. Their sound is raw and acid and very distinctive, made of incredible bass lines, crunchy and distorted guitars, militant analog vintage synthesizers, dirty drums as we like, and bitter and screamed vocals, being already supported by reference radio stations like NYC’s WFMU and DJs like Ann Shenton (Add N to X) & Rory Phillips / Erol Alkan (Trash Club, London).

X-Wife - Ping Pong
X-Wife - When The Lights Turn Off
X-Wife - Ping Pong (video)
X-Wife @ MySpace


Bonus:
Tool - 10.000 Days !!!
The Flaming Lips - At War With Mystics !!!
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah !!!
Devendra Banhart - Cripple Crow !!!
Broken Social Scene - Broken Social Scene !!!
+ Jamiroquai, Vitalic, Sphongle, Junkie XL, etc.
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/ky8gl
The Strokes - First Impressions Of Earth
Kaiser Chiefs - Employment
Gwen Stefani - Love Angel Music Baby
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/kuecm
Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/zykxr
The Crystal Method - Community Service II
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/fd2co
System Of A Down - Mezmerize
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/h5e4q
The Smashing Pumpkins - Live In Frankfurt 9-21-2000
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/zg6fb
Albums
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/l4o3e

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Lisa Germano - Live & Rare

Lisa Germano is one of those artists who's never belonged to one core crowd. Doing the big rock thing wasn't important to her, although time spent playing with John Mellencamp in the late '80s and early '90s opened her eyes to the ever-changing ways of the music business. Germano worked her craft without becoming a conformist; music is her soul and writing is her fuel.

Born in Mishawaka, IN at the dawn of 1958, Germano was the middle of six kids. Her parents were teachers and musicians who encouraged their children to learn an instrument until they turned 18. At the age of seven, she wrote her first piece of music, a 15-minute opera on the piano and, in due time, Germano learned the violin, an instrument that would ultimately guide her to a professional career in music.

She made her debut as John Mellencamp's violinist and fiddle player on his 1987 hit album Lonesome Jubilee. Germano would spend the next seven years with Mellencamp, shaping a smooth, fearless playing style. Additional tours and recording sessions with Simple Minds and the Indigo Girls motivated Germano to do something on her own. She found her voice at the age of 30 and developed a quirky sound rooted in folk-rock and poetry. The lo-fi, shadowy On the Way Down From the Moon Palace was issued on her own Major Bill label in 1991, marking Germano's proper introduction as a solo artist.

Happiness was much more melancholy and acerbic when it appeared two years later on Capitol. Sales were fare, but Germano didn't care for the major-label buzz, so she signed with Ivo Watts-Russell's 4AD in 1994 and reissued a new version of the album. (4AD eventually included the fantastically dramatic Inconsiderate Bitch EP with its re-release in 1999). Geek the Girl, which also appeared before the year's end, captured Germano's secrets of a wavering self-concept and her disgust for social ignorance. This particular album of massy sexual conflicts earned Germano her biggest praise from the press to date. People started to connect with her and that's exactly what Germano wanted.

Excerpts From a Love Circus was gushing in adoration when it arrived in 1996, but critics didn't take to this glossy body of work. The emotional double-cross of Slide (1998) didn't do as well either, so Germano took some time off. Within months, Germano lost her deal with 4AD. She questioned her place in music and basically vowed to never make another record.

A move to Hollywood for a simple kind of life gave Germano a much needed break. She took a job as a clerk at Book Soup and enjoyed her anonymity. Songwriting remained an integral part of her life, but having it be a means to making a living wasn't a concern. Joining other artists such as David Bowie, Anna Waronker, and Neil Finn on their respective projects kept Germano connected. Luckily for fans, Germano inked a deal with the ARTISTdirect imprint, Ineffable, in 2002. Germano's classic, twisted sense of humor was at its finest on Lullaby for Liquid Pig, which was issued in April 2003.

Lisa Germano - Live & Rare


Bonus:
Centro-Matic - South San Gabriel + Redo The Stacks + Love You Just The Same !!!
The Postal Service - Give Up
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/lywnl
Sufjan Stevens - Christmas Album
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/g2sh3
Kent - Isola + Hagnesta Hill + Vapen & Ammunition !!!
Radiohead - Lost Treasures (2CD)
The Flaming Lips - At War With Mystics
My Morning Jacket - Z
Sufjan Stevens - Illinoise
Kathy Cashel - The Question Is Yes
Nephew - USADBS
Supertramp - Crisis? What Crisis?
The Rollingstones - Goats Head Soup
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/z9qnm

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

The Acorn

A very cool indie band from Ottawa, The Acorn, combines electro-acoustic melodies with computer-generated beats and samples, backed by the smooth bass lines. The music of the Acorn is dreamy and joyful, and the vocals are excellent.

The Acorn are Rolf, Jeff, Howie and Jeffrey. The band started in the Fall of 2004, when they began composing and arranging together. In July 2004, they released a sweet, instrumental tribute to the idyllic and vowel-heavy Outaouais region, called "The Pink Ghosts." They have since shared the stage with some of their favourite bands, such as The Wooden Stars, Snailhouse, Elliot Brood, Gentleman Reg, Julie Doiron, Jim Bryson, We're Marching On!, Ohbijou, Great Lake Swimmers, Detective Kalita, the robot ate me, and many more. Their new release is called "Blankets!" with an exclamation point to show how serious they are about thermal coverings, both literal and figurative. It's a four-song EP that highlights the strengths of a band that has gelled over a year of solid touring. Gone are the bucolic instrumentals and bedroom IDM, as the band has delved into more intricate acoustic arrangements and euphoric melodies, which have become the trademark of their energetic live show. The EP is released for the indie label Kelp Records.

The Acorn - Blankets
The Acorn - Plates & Saucers
The Acorn - Live In Royal Albert Hall
The Acorn @ MySpace


Bonus:
Rhesus - Sad Disco !!!
The Dead 60s - The Dead 60s
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/qfozf
Sigur Ros - Takk
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/a9ocn
Sigur Ros - ()
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/m4je7
Finch - Say Hello To Sunshine
Wax Poetic - Nublu Sessions
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/p7ngr
Vonray - Vonray
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/q3tcs
Scorpions - Albums
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/pxdq2

Saturday, April 15, 2006

Conner

In today's musical cookie cutter world, Conner somehow pull off a sound that feels both uniquely cutting edge and classically familiar. Their new album "Hello Graphic Missile" combines 70's funk bass lines, hard-hitting disco/dance drum riffs and complex rock guitar for a sound that hits the brain somewhere between off-kilter art and on-the-pulse pop. Listen to it once, and its catchy melodies and stick-in-your-head rhythms will suck you in. Listen to it again, and you'll fall for its intricately placed parts and provocative lyrics.

Formed around the core of longtime friends and band mates James Duft and Phil Bonahoom, Conner lost its original drummer to the Boston Conservatory of Music and began experimenting with a few other musicians who just didn't quite gel. Eventually, everything came together with the addition of Bryce Boley. Duft says the decision to include Boley was based almost entirely on personality and a similar music aesthetic, even before the drummer had demonstrated his metronome-perfect pace. The final piece of the puzzle was the fateful meeting with guitarist Tom Wagner. Wagner happened to run Underground Sounds Studio, where the band recorded its first demo and, consequently, every recording since. After spending so many hours knocking songs around in the studio together, Wagner was a natural fit when the band wanted to include another guitarist.

Since Conner solidified its lineup, the band has not looked back. Releasing two independent full-lengths CD's since 2003, playing live shows across the country and gaining radio, internet and media attention, Conner has rarely seen a dull moment. Neither have their fans. No matter how much you love Conner's newest record, "Hello Graphic Missile" (Sonic Boom Recordings), the real experience begins when you've seen the group's raucous, rambunctious and amazingly tight live show. Between Duft's engaging vocals, Boley's quick feet and Wagner and Bonahoom's absolutely explosive guitar and bass solos, fans will tell you that their shows often escalate to a sweaty, wailing, electric mass that throws you into Conner's tightly woven reality. But don't take their word for it; check out Conner when they come through your town and see for yourself.

Conner - Cold Feelings
Conner @ MySpace


Bonus:
Built To Spill - You In Reverse (2006) !!!
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/gb5fd
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/fewjc
Tool - Vicarious (new single, 2006) !!!
Fall Out Boy - From Under The Cork Tree
+ Horse The Band, Dissection, Chimaira
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/j3qgs
Jack Johnson - Lullabies (Curious George)
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/zwn3g
Electronic Albums
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/jy27v
Albums: Doves, Caesars, David Bowie, The Kinks, etc.
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/hujl5

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Television Personalities


Britain's Television Personalities enjoyed one of the new wave era's longest, most erratic, and most far-reaching careers. Over the course of a musical evolution that led them from wide-eyed shambling pop to the outer reaches of psychedelia and back, they directly influenced virtually every major pop uprising of the period, with artists as diverse as feedback virtuosos the Jesus and Mary Chain, twee pop titans the Pastels, and lo-fi kingpins Pavement readily acknowledging the Television Personalities' inspiration.

The Television Personalities were the brainchild of singer/songwriter Dan Treacy, who grew so inspired by the nascent punk movement that he recorded a 1977 single, "14th Floor," with his friends in the group O Level. The BBC's John Peel became a vocal supporter of the group, which was soon dubbed the Television Personalities. During eighties and nineties, the band released a number of albums becoming one of the figureheads of a London psychedelia revival. After releasing 1992 double-LP Closer to God, which failed to find it's audience despite the critical approval, Treacy fall in depression and drug problems. After several more years of occasional singles, they issued the harrowing I Was a Mod Before You Was a Mod, followed in 1996 by Top Gear.

By the time that Don't Cry Baby...It's Only a Movie was released in November of 1998, Treacy had gone missing. Rumors of mental illness, drug abuse, homelessness, and even death were tossed about until finally in 2004 Treacy wrote a letter to Iain Baker, an old friend and DJ at London's XFM. In it he disclosed that he was incarcerated on a prison boat in Dorset. Following his release in June of 2004, Treacy set about resurrecting the TVPs, playing some gigs and posting a hilarious web journal. Finally, in March of 2006 a new album, My Dark Places, was released on the influential Domino label.

Television Personalities are the cult British band. It's how the Babyshambles should sound like. Check them out.

Television Personalities - All The Young Children On Smack...
Television Personalities - She Can Stop Traffic
Television Personalities - Ex-Girlfriends Club
Television Personalities - I Hope You're Happy Now


Bonus:
Jack Johnson And Friends - Sing-A-Longs & Lullabies For The Film Curious George (2006)
P.O.D. - Testify (2006)
Yellowcard - Lights And SOunds (2006)
+ Thousand Foot Krutch, Hillsongs, dc Talk, John Mayer Trio
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/jkouv
Jack Johnson - In Between Dreams + On & On + Lullabies (Curious George)
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/ep939
Doves - Some Cities
Stereophonics- Language. Sex. Violence. Other?
Imogen Heap - Speak For Yourself
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/flewa
The Bloodhound Gang - Hefty Fine
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/kvh8g
Sonic Youth - Sonic Nurse
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/zvspm

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Iron & Wine - Live @ Amstel Festival

Iron and Wine is the stage name for one Samuel Beam, a Florida native that made his name by releasing lo-fi tapes in Miami. After catching the attention of Sub Pop honcho Jonathan Poneman, Iron and Wine was asked to send material to the label for submission. After a few months, two CDs arrived in the mail, both being full length albums. Poneman considered releasing them both, but instead slimmed it down to twelve songs and released it as The Creek Drank the Cradle. The tender-hearted EP The Sea & the Rhythm, which featured five tracks recorder during The Creek Drank the Cradle Sessions, appeared in fall 2003. Shortly thereafter, Beam headed into the studio for the very first time to make a record. The end result was the resolutely hi-fi record Our Endless Numbered Days. In the Reins followed in September 2005.

Iron & Wine - Live @ Amstel Festival 2003-06-28 (256 kbps)


Bonus:
The Soft Boys - Underwater Moonlight ...And How It Got There !!!
Martin Pursley - The Colors EP
The Starlight Mints - Drowaton + Dream That Stuff Was Made Of
Stratosphere Boogie: The Flaming Guitars Of Speedy West And Jimmy Bryant !!!
The Heroine Sheiks - Siamese Pipe
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/ngmkb
The The - Naked Self + Dis-Infected [EP] + The Singles !!!
Beck - Remix EP
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/q578e
Eels - Rotten World Blues [EP] !!!
Girl Talk - Unstoppable
Christine Fellows - Paper Anniversary
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/lhy4h
Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days + The Creek Drank The Cradle !!!
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/n9ctj
Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/qr3dn
Nada Surf - The Weight Is A Gift !!!
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/rn99o

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Joy Zipper

Joy Zipper is composed of songwriting and real-life partners Vinny Cafiso and Tabitha Tindale, for the duo originates from Long Island, NY, and both have been individually crafting their own musical takes since their early teens. Cafiso, who has been in various bands since age 12, met his future mate at a local band competition in which his band was participating. Shortly thereafter, Tindale stepped up to manage his My Bloody Valentine spoof group until their young love broke up the band. After scoring a deal with a U.K. label, Carfiso and Tindale were instantly tagged the new indie rock pair, similar to the likes of Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon. Centering themselves around the cool electronic crowd in London during the latter '90s, Joy Zipper began molding professional relationships with the likes of Andrew Weatherall, Skylab, Geneva, and Cornershop's Tjinder Singh. Their fresh sound was captured on their self-titled release, which was issued on Bar-None in fall 2000. Two years later, the band released the sophomore album Stereo And God, and a year after, critically acclaimed American Whip. The end of 2005 saw the release of The Heartlight Set.

Joy Zipper - Go Tell The World
Joy Zipper - 1
Joy Zipper - Thought's A Waste Of Time
Joy Zipper @ MySpace


Bonus:
At The Drive-In - This Station Is Non-Operational !!!
Built To Spill - You In Reverse (2006) !!!
Metric - Old World Underground, Where Are You Now !!!
Nada Surf - The Weight Is A Gift !!!
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Show Your Bones (2006) !!!
+ Panic! At The Disco, Modest Mouse, Broken Social Scene, The Veronicas, LCD Soundsystem,
Funeral For A Friend, Franz Ferdinand, Arcade Fire, The Dandy Warhols, Arctic Monkeys, etc.
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/q6pcn
Kaiser Chiefs - Employment
Volo - Bien Zarbos
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/rorex
Talib Kweli - Right About Now !!!
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/s6dsh
The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema !!!
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/nyr45
Jenny Lewis With The Watson Twins - Rabbit For Coat
Nine Inch Nails - With Teeth
The Decemberists - Picaresque !!!
The White Stripes - Elephant + Get Behind Me Satan
The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/rfnha

Monday, April 10, 2006

Jonny Lives!

Jonny Lives! is a four-piece indie rock outfit from New York, leaded by Jonny Dubowsky, the lead singer and the guitarist of the band. Hailing from the same scene that championed The Strokes, the Mooney Suzuki, Fountains of Wayne, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Jonny Lives! takes cues from the Brit-pop, rhythm ‘n blues, and LES punk scenes of the 60's and 70's and updates it with unbridled, anthemic rock. The band sounds really refreshing, one can feel the influence of The Who, The Kinks or Iggy Pop, the songs are catchy, the guitars rock, certainly worth trying. It would be interesting seeing this band alive. The actual single from their upcoming album is called "Get Steady", and you can preview it at Indie Surfer.

Jonny Lives! - Get Steady
Jonny Lives! - Get Steady (mov)
Jonny Lives! @ MySpace


Bonus:
The Spinanes - Arches And Aisles !!!
Ash - 1977 !!!
Badly Drawn Boy - The Hour Of Bewilderbeast !!!
They Might Be Giants - Flood !!!
+ The Strokes, The Streets, The Velvet Underground, Beck, Coldcut, PJ Harvey, The Future Sound Of London, Morrissey, Bad Religion, Beastie Boys, Ben Folds, Air, Blink 182, Bush, Cake, Chris Isaak, Pearl Jam, Pendulum, Pixies, Placebo, etc.
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/zdltb
The Appleseed Cast - Albums !!!
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/eanzr
Alice In Chains - MTV Unplugged
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/gw86u
Matisyahu - Youth (2006)
Slightly Stoopid - Everything You Need
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/gacyl
30 Seconds To Mars - 30 Seconds To Mars
System Of A Down - Hypnotize
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/jjspy

Friday, April 07, 2006

News

Canadian four-piece Hot Hot Heat are writing away, preparing to hit the studio May 1st to record the follow-up to their 2005 breakthrough, Elevator, for a September release. The new material, some thirteen tracks the band plans to co-produce, is the pop rockers' most collaborative yet -- thanks to the addition of guitarist Luke Paquin after founding axeman Dante DeCaro's departure during the making of Elevator ...

Velvet Revolver will collaborate with hip-hop producer Pharrell Williams for the follow-up to their 2004 debut, Contraband. The supergroup -- including frontman Scott Weiland and former Guns N' Roses members Slash and Duff McKagan -- has been in the studio since March. Meanwhile, Weiland is also teaming with Pharrell for a track called "Happy," set to appear on Weiland's next solo album ...

U.K. indie rockers the Futureheads' sophomore album, News and Tributes, will arrive in the U.S. on June 13th. In addition to twelve original tracks recorded over six weeks with producer Ben Hillier (Blur, Depeche Mode), the first run of the band's LP will also feature three previously released tracks, "Area," "Help Us Out" and "We Cannot Loose," from their Area EP. News and Tributes' first single will be "Skip to the End." Select U.S. performances are scheduled for summer, including a July 29th stop at Chicago's Pitchfork Music Festival ...

Sigur Rós are to re-release their 2005 single 'Hoppípolla' due to public demand. The track, which appears on the band's last album, 'Takk...', will come out again on May 1. 'Hoppípolla''s current high profile is due to it currently being used to trail the BBC's highly successful natural history series, Sir David Attenborough's 'Planet Earth'. The Icelandic band have just completed a UK tour, and will return to play summer festivals, including T In The Park and Oxygen over the weekend of July 8 and 9 ...

Sonic Youth principals Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon, plus their daughter Coco on shakers, will appear on the season finale of the WB drama "Gilmore Girls" to perform an acoustic version of the new song "What a Waste." The show, of which the Moore/Gordon family is a professed fan, will be taped tomorrow (April 7) in Los Angeles and will air May 9. "What a Waste" can be found on Sonic Youth's next album, "Rather Ripped," which will arrive June 13 via Geffen ...


Bonus:
Twilight Singers - Blackberry Belle !!!
Ugly Casanova - Sharpen Your Teeth !!!
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/fob9h
The Album Leaf - In A Safe Place !!!
Lemon Jelly - Lost Horizons
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/ehbv3
The Strokes - First Impressions Of Earth
Marcy Playground - Marcy Playground + Shapeshifter + MP3 !!!
Weezer - Make Believe
Nine Inch Nails - With Teeth
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/hrl47
Sarah McLachlan - Solace
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/jjwt9
Bear Vs Shark - Terrorhawk + Right Now You Are In The Best Hands !!!
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/kg5pa
Ghostface Killah - Fishscale
Cage - Favorite Bastard Babies (The Hell WInter Tour)
People Under The Stair - Stepfather
Matisyahu - Live At Stubbs
RJD2 - RJD2 Is God
The Herbaliser - Take London
+ Apathy, Prefuse 73, Nas, Morcheba, Vakill, Mad Skillz, etc.
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/ggsqm
We Will Build - Sampler
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/hdymn
Joy Division - Still + Substance + Unknown Pleasures
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/eh7as
The Shapeshifters - Was Here
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/g9j2u
Evil Nine - You Can Be Special Too
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/fdd6t
Albums: Nightwish, Gamma Ray, Mago De Oz
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/h5ovv
Philippe Rombi - 5x2
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/zgh9g

Thursday, April 06, 2006

Live: Belle & Sebastian

A band that takes its name from a French children's television series about a boy and his dog would almost have to be precious, and to be certain, Belle & Sebastian are precious. But precious can be a damning word, and Belle & Sebastian don't have the negative qualities that the word connotes -- they are private but not insular, pretty but not wimpy; they make gorgeous, delicate melodies sound full-bodied. Led by guitarist/vocalist Stuart Murdoch, the seven-piece band has an intimate, majestic sound that is equal parts folk-rock and '60s pop, but Murdoch's gift for not only whimsy and surrealism, but also for odd, unsettling lyrical detail keeps the songs grounded in a tangible reality.

Belle & Sebastian - NPR Live Concert Series 03-06-2006


Bonus:
Morrissey - Ringleader Of The Tormentors (2006) !!!
Pennywise - At The Key Club (Live) !!!
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/zrwzd
Nirvana - Best Of
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/lyuow
Ben Harper - Both Sides Of The Gun + Live From Mars
Phoenix - Alphabetical + United
Gorillaz - Gorillaz + Demon Days
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Greatest Hits + Live In Hyde Park
Daft Punk - Discovery
Telepopmusic - Genetic World
Ghinzu - Blow + Electronic Jacuzzi
Tryo - Grain De Sable
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/hs5ag
Ghostface Killah - Fishscale !!!
T.I. - King !!!
Wu-Tang Clan - Legend Of The Wu-Tang: Wu-Tang Clan's Greatest Hits
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony - E 1999 Eternal
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/f6kmd
Kanye West - Late Registration
Alicia Keys - MTV Unplugged
Sean Paul - The Trinity
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/epy7t
Nickel Creek, Cake, NOFX, Real Mackenzies, etc.
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/fl73u
Rammstein - Live Aus Berlin
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/kv9d3

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Cinemechanica

Cinemechanica are Mike, Joel, Andy and Bryant. It's a post-rock outfit delivering a raw energy revealed in sharp guitar riffs, raging vocals and incredible drums playing. The history of the band started when Bryant, Mike and Andy met at Wake Forest University in 1999 and decided to make an indie-rock band. They relecated the project to Athens, Georgia, where Joel, Mike’s childhood friend from back home, joined the band. In just two short years they have developed and refined their own recording studio, risen to the fore in a crowded and competitive live music scene, and have begun releasing records on their own label. After a couple of demos and a split record, the band released the full-length debut named The Martial Arts, on their upstarting label Hello Sir Records. Check it!

Cinemechanica - Brain Tarp
Cinemechanica - Bruckheimer
Cinemechanica - I'm Tired Of Paul McCartney (video)
Cinemechanica @ MySpace


Bonus:
Bright Eyes - Lifted Or The Story Is In The Soil ... !!!
Gomez - 7 Albums !!!
Beck - O Delay + Midnight Vultures
Jamie Cullum - Catching Tales
+ Raul Midon, Sting, Sarah Blasko, John Mayer Trio, etc.
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/g2dwd
Oasis - Discography
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/znvkg
The Barmitzvah Brothers - The Century Of Invention
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/bhtom
Bowery Electric - Lushlife
Ms. John Soda - No P. Or D.
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/j5z2x
The Album Leaf - In A Safe Place !!!
Lemon Jelly - Lost Horizons
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/ehbv3
Common - Be
Dj Jazzy Jeff - Hip Hop Forever II
Mos Def - The New Danger
Mr Lif - I Phantom
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/jre79
The Yardbirds - Birdland
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/k9xlq

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Islands

Islands are the former Unicorns members, Nicholas Thorburn (vocals) and Jamie Thompson (drums), with Patrice Agbokou on bass, and at least temporarily, Jim Guthrie on guitar. Islands is a band that is always in flux, with membership changing when appropriate. Most recently two string players, Alex Chow and Sebastian Chow, and a bass clarinetist, Patrick Gregoire, joined the band. Although the two founding members of Islands (Nick and Jamie) were members of The Unicorns, whose album Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone? made pitchforkmedia's top 50 albums of 2003 list, Islands is a completely new and independent project. This, in contrast to Th' Corn Gangg, which began as a direct off-shoot project of The Unicorns several months prior to their December 2004 break-up One of Islands' first live performances was opening for Beck at the 2005 Pop Montreal music festival. In late October of 2005 Islands went on a short tour with Beck on the west coast of the USA. In mid-2005 Islands recorded a debut album titled Return To The Sea, which will be released in April of 2006. The album was recorded in Montreal, Canada, at Breakglass Studio and in Jamie's bedroom, and was produced by audio engineer / record producer Mark Lawson. Return To The Sea was re-mastered in England for the European version of the album, and will be released there by Rough Trade Records on April 3. In North America, the album will be released on upstart label Equator Records) on April 4. The album features numerous guest appearances, including members of The Arcade Fire. Two songs, "Flesh" and "Abominable Snow", have been released to public, and were available at The Simple Mission in June of 2005, though neither will appear on the debut album. Note that "Abominable Snow", written by Nick Diamonds, is a remake, as it was originally played live by The Unicorns on numerous occasions, then called "Abominable Snowman".

Islands @ MySpace


Bonus:
Islands - Return To The Sea !!!
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/glloq
Old 97s - Drag It Up
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/hhrkr
Mylo - Destroy Rock And Roll
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/hspnf
Gentleman Reg - Darby And Joan
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/flrgt
Love Psychodelyco - The Greatest Hits
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/j6zyx

Monday, April 03, 2006

Live: Okkervil River

Combining folk-rock inspirations and alternative rock sways, Okkervil River creates a particular visionary sound, strongly founded on dark and profound lyrics and on chaotic visions of patterned sound compounds. Okkervil River is a mutual project of Will Robison Sheff (vocals, guitar), and Seth Warren (guitar), born when both were still in high school, in Meriden, NH. After several years and multiple life experiences, at the end of the '90s the duo eventually decided to re-assemble the band, by then with an extended lineup, after they both relocated to Austin, TX. Following the addition of Zachary Thomas (vocals, bass), Jonathan Meiburg (vocals, banjo), and drummer Mark Pedini, Okkervil River reappeared. In 1998, the group offered their first and self-released disc, the EP Bedroom, followed a year later by Stars Too Small to Use, the band's debut album. During the succeeding years, the band regularly played live on numerous occasions, including an appearance at the South by Southwest festival in 2000. Don't Fall in Love With Everyone You See, the group's second album, showed up in 2002, re-affirming the band's cult all over the Texas music scene. 2003 saw the release of their 3rd album Down The River Of Golden Dreams. In 2005, the band released Black Sheep Boy and it's addition Black Sheep Boy Appendix.

Okkervil River - Live At Shuba's 2005


Bonus:
The Magnetic Fields - i !!!
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/zhu6d
Stereolab - Fab Four Suture (2006)
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/hloac