015: I am terrible at updating

I suck at updating but am going to be back in the habit since school is now out for the summer. Thanks. Here is one album that has been on constant rotation.

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ARCHERS OF LOAF - ICKY METTLE - Alias Records. 1993


I have to admit I was late to learn of Archers Of Loaf but ever since hearing "Icky Mettle" my mind has been pretty much blown. I can't even find the proper words to describe how intense this album. Maybe the fact that it just sounds so raw and passionate. I've read a lot of reviews saying how this is definitely one of the ESSENTIAL indie rock records of the 90's and I couldn't agree more. Just download this and blow your mind at the incredible songwriting. My personal favorite tracks are of course "You And Me", along with "Might", "Wrong", Web In Front", "Backwash" and "Slow Worm". But honestly, there is not one bad track on this album. Great straight through beginning to end.

Tracklist:
01. Web In Front
02. Last Word
03. Wrong
04. You And Me
05. Might
06. Hate Paste
07. Fat
08. Plumb Line
09. Learo, You're A Hole.
10. Sickfile
11. Toast
12. Backwash
13. Slow Worm

014: Some different things

I still have yet to get around to getting my artwork up but in time. Here are some albums that are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT that i have been jamming lately. Enjoy!

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WE ARE THE UNION - WHO WE ARE - 2007


Let me first start off by saying that I don't really listen to Ska. But I do love Less Than Jake. With that said, this band gives me faith that I can like ska music. The next Less Than Jake? ( Losing Streak / Hello Rockview era of course). Either way this band rules. Their songs are more just straight up CATCHY pop-punk songs with horns, and a little heavieness at times for good measure. If you are/were into LTJ, or current pop-punk bands like NFG and Fireworks, you will sure to love this. Awesome record. And don't worry, they have their album up for download on purevolume for free anyway! so get it here! Stand out tracks: "MTV Is Over If You Want It", "I Am Like John Cusack..." and "You Can Have This Microphone When You Pry It From My Cold, Dead Fingers".

Tracklist:
01. MTV Is Over, If You Want It
02. This Is My Life (And It's Ending One Minute At A Time)
03. "Your Allowance Exceeds My Rent"
04. I Am Like John Cusack...
05. You Can Have This Microphone When You Pry It From My Cold, Dead Fingers
06. War On Everything
07. We're Gonna Need A Bigger Boat
08. Occupational Hazard
09. Do Not Attempt To Adjust Your TV Set
10. These Colors Flee The Scene
11. Ourcore


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NEPTUNE - GONG LAKE - Table Of The Elements. 2008


I just recently found out about this band, but they have been around for quite a while. Also turns out they are from Jamaica Plain, real close by. I don't even know how to describe their sound. Noise metallic ambient droning post-rock sludge. Or something like that. All the instruments sans the drum kit seem to be made from random pieces of scrap metal and wire among other things. Just take a listen for yourself, this is their newest album, 2008's Gong Lake.

Tracklist:
01. Silver Pool
02. Grey Shallows
03. Paris Green
04. Purple Sleep
05. Yellow River
06. Copper Green
07. Blue Grass
08. Black Tide
09. Red Sea
10. Ebbing

013: Limbeck And Atlas Sound

Just a quick update on my day off. Here are some completely different albums that I have been jamming back to back lately. Check out both if you haven't, they are both great listens! I am going too make an Art update soon which I have yet to do with some recent books I have made. They are pretty interesting and I hope people like them. For now: tunes.

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LIMBECK - HI, EVERYTHING'S GREAT - Doghouse. 2003


Popish Alt-Country/Folk, for lack of a better term. Either way this is a great record. It's awesome to just sit and chill to while drinkin' some brews with some friends on a nice day. Very fun record, and one of my favorites. Favorite songs have to be "Honk + Wave", "Julia" and "Brand New Orange". Lot's of twang going on on this record, and the singers voice is entrancing. Enjoy!

Tracklist:
01. Honk + Wave
02. Silver Things
03. Julia
04. This Place Is Deserted
05. I Wrote This Down
06. The Sunk Woke The Whole State
07. Tan + Blue
08. Gamblin' Man
09. In Ohio On Some Steps
10. Brand New Orange
11. Albatross + Ivy
12. Comin' From Tuscon


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ATLAS SOUND - LET THE BLIND LEAD THOSE WHO CAN SEE BUT CANNOT FEEL - Kranky. 2008


Atlas Sound is the solo effort of Bradford James Cox, the lead singer of Deerhunter. It's hard to describe this record in words. Its like a sonic daze that entrances your mind. The repetitive nature of a lot of the tracks providing haunting loops stuck in your head, in a good way of course. If you like Deerhunter you should love this ambient noise experimental electronic soundscape of an album. The opening track starts off with a young boy reading a story, that is very inspiring and haunting in nature as previously mentioned. Definitely a great listen all the way through.

Tracklist:
01. A Ghost Story
02. Recent Bedroom
03. River Card
04. Quarantined
05. On Guard
06. Winter Vacation
07. Cold As Ice
08. Scraping Past
09. Small Horror
10. Ready Set Glow
11. Bite Marks
12. After Class
13. Ativan
13. Let The Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel

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Bye for now.

012: NFG B-Sides

A quick update today. I've been meaning to make a more extensive one but haven't had the time. Either way here is a link to a zip full of a BUNCH of New Found Glory B-sides and other versions. Again this isn't an actual album so there isn't any artwork. This shit rules though, and contains some of their best songs.

A NEW FOUND GLORY - COMPILATION TRACKS AND B-SIDES


Tracks:
01. All Downhill From Here (Acoustic)
02. Certain
03. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
04. Come Back Bon Jovi
05. Cry Me A River (Justin Timberlake Cover)
06. Ending In Tragedy (Acoustic)
07. Ex-Miss
08. Eyesore (Acoustic)
09. Eyesore (Demo)
10. Head On Collision (Acoustic)
11. Hit Or Miss (Acoustic)
12. I Don't Wanna Know (Acoustic)
13. The Minute I Met You
14. My Friends Over You (Live, Piano Version)
15. Nacho Abalafa (Original version of "Tell-Tale Heart")
16. Situations
17. Truth Of My Youth (Acoustic)

Also here is another little upload here of the 2 most recently released "Coming Home" B-sides called "Making Plans" and "Over Me".

Enjoy!

011: Stay Tuned

It's been a bit since an update. I've been meaning to take some images of some book's I've recently made but I have yet to get to it. For now here are some awesome albums by a variety of different bands. Enjoy!

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FIREWORKS / SAVE YOUR BREATH - SPLIT - Zone 6 Records. 2008


I checked out this split UK-only-release for one reason, and one reason alone. A new Fireworks track, which indeed, turns out to be the best track on the split, "Closet Weather". Fireworks also throw on a few more pop punk gems on here from the "We Are Everywhere" EP to round out their side of the split. I had never heard UK pop punk band Save Your Breath before, but after this I can dig it. The Fireworks songs outshine the SYB ones, but whos to say they aren't good in their own right and still worthy of a few spins.

Track list:
01. Save Your Breath - Intro
02. Save Your Breath - Your Oven's On Fire
03. Save Your Breath - Bin Laden Saw Your Slogan Shirt And Now He's Got A Rap Career
04. Fireworks - From Mountain Movers To Lazy Losers
05. Fireworks - Michigan Boys Need To Get A Clue
06. Fireworks - Closet Weather

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HOUR OF THE WOLF - POWER OF THE WOLF - Limekiln Records. 2006


This is the debut EP from Arizona's (yeah, hardcore in Arizona) Hour Of The Wolf, and an awesome one at that. HOTW combines a lot of old school Black Flag esque hardcore, with what seems like just a huge rock and roll influence. Definitely a hardcore band with a lot of outside influences leaking in."Eat You Alive" is a killer opening track, and the rest of the EP just ravages you through. If you like this check out their newer EP, "Waste Makes Waste" and their upcoming Split with Lewd Acts.

Track list:
01. Eat You Alive
02. Spit It Right Back
03. Black Blood Transfusion
04. Death's Coming
05. Turn On You
06. Wild Man
07. You're Through
08. Burn It

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ZANN - THREE YEARS IN THE DESERT - Vendetta. 2006


I just recently heard German HC band Zann for the first time and it was like a sonic blast to my eardrums. This band has to be one of the just streaight up most heavy, crushing bands out today. If you like bands like Integrity, Cursed, and Rise And Fall or bands like Neil Perry and Union Of Uranus you will be sure to dig this album. There's no other way to put it besides, DEVESTATING. The recording quality could be a little better but it kinda adds to the overall aesthetic of the album. This band isn't too big in the US, so don't sleep.

Track List:
01. Früher War Alles Besser
02. Egotrip.Com
03. Bis Aufs Messer
04. Conversation
05. Schöne Neue Jugend
06. I.P. Pavlova

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LEMURIA - THE FIRST COLLECTION - Yo Yo Records. 2007


Lemuria is a great female fronted pop-punk band from Buffalo, NY. I first got into them when I heard they acclaimed debut LP "Get Better", but this record also holds some of their best material. The First Collection is like what it says. Older songs from EP's, Splits, etc. If you like this you will love their new record. Standout track on this is "In A World Of Ghosts..." Check it.

Track list:
01. Hours
02. Lick Your Lips
03. Bugbear
04. Rough Draft
05. Keep Quiet
06. Bristles And Whiskers
07. Sophmore
08. In A World Of Ghosts...
09. Who Would Understand A Turtle
10. Bee Spit
11. The Origamists Too
12. It's Not A Lie, It's A Secret
13. Bookworm
14. The Origamists
15. Home For THe Holidays
16. Piranha
17. Trivial Greek Mythology
18. The Origamists II

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Thanks.