Friday, February 27, 2009

Portugal the Man



I can't say enough good things about this band. I'm going to keep this short but make sure you pick up their album Censored Colors along with all the rest of their albums because they're amazing. They have a new album coming out this spring that you should definitely check out.

Website
Genre: Experimental/ Indie
Similar Artists: Minus the Bear, Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground, The Dear Hunter

And I (Acoustic)- Portugal. the Man
Church Mouth (Acoustic)- Portugal. the Man
Colors (Acoustic)- Portugal. the Man
Created- Portugal. the Man

Andrew Jackson Jihad- Candy Cigarettes & Cap Guns



AJJ are one of my favorite folk-punk bands around today. Their songs are full of energy and emotion. The lyrics range from being dark and creepy to happy and goofy but they are always witty. Candy Cigarettes is the band's first album and it's definitely worth the listen. They balance darker and more personal subjects than on their later albums with upbeat songs that are there for comic relief.

Link
Myspace
Genre: Folk-Punk
Similar Artists: Ghost Mice, Captain Chaos, Paul Baribeau
Key Tracks: "Cigarettes", "Be Afraid of Jesus", "Scenesters", "Fly My Ass"
Track Listing:
1. Cigarettes
2. Be Afraid of Jesus
3. I Love You
4. Scenesters
5. Daddy Didn't Love Me
6. Fuck White People
7. God Made
8. Lady Killer
9. Fly My Ass
10. Most Aborted Father
11. You Don't Want to Fuck With Me

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Frank Turner- Rarities



Here are some Frank Turner rarities. This first download is a full band live version of a few songs from his album Love Ire & Song (they were performed on "Mike Davies Punk Show"). All of the songs are worth the download, Frank is amazing live.

Link
Myspace
Genre: Folk-Punk
Similar Artists: Fake Problems, Chuck Ragan, Tim Barry
Track Listing:
1. Reasons Not to Be An Idiot
2. Imperfect Tense
3. Long Live the Queen
4. Substitute

Next is a bunch of acoustic tracks recorded during the Bagel Radio Session. The way he executes all of his songs, even when he's limited to just his guitar, is nothing short of incredible. There's aggression and emotion in every track. extremely recommended.

Link
Track Listing:
1. I Knew Prufrock Before He Got Famous
2. This Town Ain't Big Enough For the One of Me
3. Nashville Tennessee
4. Sunshine State
5. Worse Things Happen At Sea
6. The Real Damage
7. Thatcher Fucked the Kids
8. Father's Day
9. I Really Don't Care What You Did On Your Gap Year
10. The Ballad of Me and My Friends

This is just a collection of some of the covers that Frank has done in his career. There are definitely more, I'll probably post them some other time.

Link
Track Listing:
1. Nervous Breakdown with Matt Caughtran (Black Flag)
2. The Desperation's Gone (NOFX)
3. Tesco At Christmas (Beans on Toast)
4. Thunder Road (Bruce Springsteen)
5. Dancing Queen with Rob Brydon (ABBA)

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Frank Turner Videos

So I was going to post some Frank Turner stuff today but I have a shitload of work to do. So this should hold you over.





Monday, February 16, 2009

Minus the Bear- Rarities

I have a few things here so bear with me. First up is a bootleg of a 2003 concert. The quality on it is excellent as well as the set list. The songs played from their Beer Commercials ep ("Hey Is that...", "Dog Park", "Fine + 2 Pts.") sound especially solid. The only downside to this recording is that one the end of some of the songs there are long spaces after a song finishes and the crowd is just talking. I did take out one track from the concert so that the folder wouldn't be too big, but it was the space between the set and the encore so it shouldn't be a big deal.

Link
Myspace
Genre: Math-Rock/ Experimental/ Indie
Similar Artists: Portugal. The Man, Juno, Sharks Keep Moving
Key Tracks: "Get Me Naked...", "Hey Is That...", "Women We Haven't Met Yet"
Track Listing:
1. Monkey!!! Knife!!! Fight!!!
2. Spritz!!! Spritz!!!
3. Get Me Naked 2: The Electric Boogaloo
4. Hey! Is That A Ninja Up There?
5. Thanks For The Killer Game of Crisco Twister
6. Let's Play Guitar In A Five Guitar Band
7. Dog Park
8. Women We Haven't Met Yet
9. (the one I didn't include)
10. Fine + 2 Pts.
11 Absinthe Party At The Fly Honey Warehouse

Next up are the Planet of Ice bonus tracks that came with the first issue of the cd. All four of the songs are pretty solid, especially "Electric Rainbow" and "Knights (P.O.S. Remix)". It's definitely worth the download but if you don't have POI already I'd go out and get that because it kicks major ass.

Link
Track Listing:
1. Electric Rainbow
2. Patiently Waiting
3. Knights (P.O.S. Remix)
4. Ice Monster (Demo)

This is the singer of MtB's old band Sharks Keep Moving. They are a lot more chill and jazzy than MtB but in a good way. It's also much more music driven like The Appleseed Cast, whenever Jake wants to throw some lyrics out there he does. This is a 3 song ep entitled Pause and Clause. I know that another one of their eps is up on iTunes but for their full length and this one I have know idea how to purchase them because I believe the record label shut down. I have the full length and if you want it just ask. I could also get the other ep if you want.

Link
No real myspace
Genre: Indie/ Experimental
Similar Artists: Minus the Bear, Maps & Atlases, Don Caballero
Track Listing:
1. Tied to The Tracks
2. Like A River
3. Pause and Clause

Bomb the Music Industry!- Scrambles

Bomb the Music Industry's fourth and a half album (To Leave Or Die In Long Island doesn't really count as a whole one) everything a BtMI fan, ska fan, or even a fan of great music could hope for just short of a Jawbreaker reunion (one can dream). The band stuck to the full band sound of Get Warmer though there is a little laptop drum machine in there for the old school fans ("25!"). There are still plenty of synths too but also the album has quite a bit of keyboard as well ("Fresh Attitude, Young Body", "25!"). This album is just really fun, from "It Shits!!!" to "(Shut) Up the Punx" to "Can I Pay My Rent In Fun?". I know that this is free on their website but I thought I'd give you my take on it and encourage you to buy it on vinyl (I'll let you know when it's available) or donate to the label.

Link
Myspace
Genre: Ska
Similar Artists: The Arrogant Sons of Bitches, Big D & the Kids Table, The Fad
Key Tracks: "It Shits!!!", "Fresh Attitude, Young Body", "25!", "(Shut) Up the Punx!!!"
Track Listing:
1. Cold Chillin' Cold Chillin'
2. Stuff That I Like
3. It Shits!!!
4. Fresh Attitude, Young Body
5. Wednesday Night Drinkball
6. 25!
7. $2,400,000
8. Gang of Four Meats The Stooges (But Boring)
9. 9/11 Forever!!!
10. (Shut) Up the Punx!!!
11. Can I Pay My Rent In Fun?
12. Saddr Weirdr
13. Sort Of Like Being Pumped

O Pioneers!!!- Neon Creeps

Neon Creeps is the sophomore effort from the Texas hardcore-punks and it's their best to date. With more anthemic themed songs, the addition of a bass player, and more energy than ever, Creeps is a definite step up from their debut Black Mambas. The album is incredibly upbeat, and for every time singer Eric Solomon puts himself down ("Chris Ryan Added Me On Facebook") there's a song to lift you back up ("My Life As A Morrissey Song").

Link
Myspace
Genre: Post-Hardcore
Similar Artists: Hot Water Music, Against Me!, Latterman
Key Tracks: "Saved By the Bell...", "Dead City Sound", "Stressing the Fuck Out", "Cool Kid City"
Track Listing:
1. Saved By The Bell Was A Super Cool Show
2. The Architect of Disney World
3. Dead City Sound
4. 9 A.M. Everyday
5. My Life As A Morrissey Song
6. Stressing the Fuck Out
7. I Have A Major Weightlifting Problem
8. Chris Ryan Added Me On Facebook
9. I So Told You So
10. Cool Kid City

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Jawbreaker- Bootleg 5/29/93

This is a bootleg of a Jawbreaker performance about six months before 24 Hour Revenge Therapy came out. The set is full of, then, mostly new material and Blake talks about the origins of some of the "new" songs ("The Boat Dreams From the Hill", "Jinx Removing", "Boxcar", "Kiss the Bottle"), which is great to get an explanation straight from the sorce. The performance itself is really solid, playing and almost singing every note perfectly but that's to be expected. There's also an incredible version of "Kiss the Bottle" (a b-side from 24 Hour) that really does the song a lot more justice than the version on the Etc. compilation.

Link
Myspace
Genre: Punk Rock
Similar Artists: Jets to Brazil, Lifetime, Crimpshrine
Key Tracks: "Do You Still Hate Me?", "Want", "Jinx Removing", "Kiss the Bottle"
Track Listing:
1. Do You Still Hate Me?
2. Donatello
3. Boxcar
4. Chesterfield King
5. The Boat Dreams From the Hill
6. West Bay Invitational
7. Want
8. Outpatient
9. Jinx Removing
10. Kiss the Bottle