Squarepusher - Solo Electric Bass 1

Are you ready for some Squarepusher? You are? Good. This right here is an awesome album of live recording from a show where Tom Jenkinson (a.k.a Squarepusher) played solely on his six-string bass. So apparently he is both bass virtuoso and genius d'n'b producer. I know he's always had a thing for jazz and musique concrete, but I'd never thought he'd do something like this. It is feats like this that makes you question whether the a person is even mortal (like with Richard D. James, a.k.a Aphex Twin). Nevertheless, this is an album filled with brilliant bass guitar jazz-wank and it's just incredible to listen to, regardless of if you're a jazz fan or not.

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TwinSisterMoon - The Hollow Mountain

Hello there. I've got a new album for you with some incredibly original (and awesome) music. I was originally planning on posting this ridiculously amazing screamo album today, but as I realized that it seems as if this blog is gradually becoming more and more emo/screamo oriented, I wanted to keep the variety with some different music. Now, I haven't listened to any of TwinSisterMoon's previous releases (I'm actually not sure if they've released anything before this either). But if this defines their overall sound, the band/artist has a promising future. Also, I don't even know if this is a band or just a single artist (there is basically infomation about TwinSisterMoon to be found, as I see it). But it is incredible. The album was released this year and is so far a strong contender for being one of my favorites this year. It's basically some sort of drony, psychedelic ambient-like french folk and it is just hauntingly beautiful. As I listened to it I was both frightened and amazed by the cover. For some reason it feels like a perfect visual representation of what the album sounds like. It's all very dreamy and the vocals are very vague. I kind drifted off in my own imagination while listening to it so much that I forgot to really listen to it and analyze the music like I usually do. But I'm pretty sure it some accordion in the background, giving it a very "french" sound, so to speak. So yeah, I really, really, really think you should listen to this album. It's very unique, beautiful and simply amazing.

YOU BETTER LISTEN TO THIS (DOWNLOAD).

On a different note, I think I might be posting the awesome screamo album I mentioned earlier on Tuesday. So check my blog in two days if you want some reeeeally awesome skramz.

Bare Arms - Bare Arms EP

Why hello everyone. Today I'll be posting this EP by a very obscure (hopefully this will change soon), yet very awesome band who just got back from playing with La Quiete (as well as La Dispute a while further back, two other great bands). They are a four-piece screamo outfit from Australia with quite a unique sound. The EP features that typical screamo sound; fast tempo-shifting, harmonized guitars, slow build-ups, etc. But at times you can hear what sounds like post-hardcore influences and the fact that their vocalist is female (which is pretty unusual) gives them a fresh sound. Something very notable however, is the production. Usually these underground emo/screamo bands releases are very lo-fi as most insist on recording them accordingly to the classic hardcore DIY-ethic, which for some reason seems to be equivalent to using low-grade recording gear. Bare Arms, however, had access to (according to one of the bandmates) to a recording room in a rehearsal studio along with a recording engineer (this I am not entirely sure of). So anyway, if you're a fan of emo, screamo or post-hardcore, I strongly recommend you check this out (personally I really like the fact that they have a female vocalist). Even if you haven't listened to this kind of stuff before, give it a listen. It's a really great release.

DOWNLOAD. NOW.

MYSPACE

Also, If you like it, I'm pretty sure there are some download links to a few live bootlegs on their MySpace-page.

Monsters Of Folk - Monsters Of Folk

Here's some more awesome music for you, by supergroup Monsters Of Folk. MONSTERS. The (super)group consists of Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis of Bright Eyes-fame, Jim James from My Morning Jacket and last but not least M. Ward. Strangely enough the first song on the album actually isn't a folk song, but more of a folky soul-song. In fact, just about the first half of the album isn't really pure folk at all, it's a lot more eclectic than that, shifting between what resembles folky 50's rock 'n' roll and straight up alt-country. Still, this is a great album especially the three last songs in my opinion. If you're a fan of either of these musicians, then check this out. After all, they are the MONSTERS of folk. Rawr.

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Black Moth Super Rainbow - Start A People

I'm back with another awesome (obviously) album for you. This one is called "Start A People" and it is in my opinion probably BMSR's best album. It's all very psychedelic and electronic mixed with some indie pop, plus subtle vocoder-vocals (you know those things that make sound like a robot?) in the background in just about every song. It sounds very experimental and it probably is; happy, trippy electronic pop with a chilled out hip-hop beat. I guess you could call it "psychedelic trip-hop"? Either way, this a great album filled with trippy awesomeness and you should probably (read: definitely) check this out.

DWONLAOD.

Astronautalis - Pomegranate

Hey, here's the Astronautalis album i mentioned in my last post. So, I saw this guy last night as he was opening for Tegan and Sara, and he was AMAZING. Alright? Just brilliant. This dude knows how to put on a show, to say the least. Now, he may not be as great in the studio as he is live, but this is still fucking awesome. If you're wondering what kind of music this fine gentleman makes, then I will quote Stewart Mason of Allmusic.com: "If Beck were a decade or so younger and had grown up more heavily immersed in hip-hop". Yes, he sounds like Beck + hip-hop. So basically it's hip-hop with indie rock/folk beats. And it's awesome. Oh, and he's actually both a great rapper and singer. So you should definetely download this, and if you like it, consider buying it like I did or going to one of his gigs (he'll be touring with Tegan and Sara for a while).
He's a cool dude and he makes great music, support the artists!
By the way, the cover art is my own photo, so the autograph isn't on the original cover art.

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Tegan and Sara - The Con

I saw Tegan and Sara live yesterday, so I really felt like posting one of their albums. Now, I don't which one of their albums I would call their best, but for me it stands between Sainthood and this one. The Con is an amazing album, it's a bit less poppy I guess, but it's still doesn't sound like their old stuff. Now, as I've said before: I love these girls and I adore everything they produce. So you may not like this as much as I do, but this is one awesome album. T&S are equally great live, if not better, but until you've bought tickets to one of their shows, listen to this album (and Sainthood and all their other stuff). Also, I should mention that I'm posting a second album by the guy who was T&S opening act, Astronautalis. Peace out!

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Brand New - The Holiday EP

Hey. I'm pretty tired today and I haven't really found anything "spectacular" to post so I'm just gonna post this awesome EP by Brand New (one of my favorite bands). If you haven't heard of them, they're a brilliant indie rock/post-emo band who used to play some variation indie rock/pop-punk, but they've matured now (the pop-punk was still the greatest pop-punk I've ever heard). There is in fact one demo of a pop-punk song from their first album on this EP, "Logan To Government Center". Now, in my opinion pop-punk is pretty much a horrible genre, but these guys just make it sound so good. I love that song (and the rest of the EP too). What's really cool with this EP is that the album versions of the songs are much worse than the ones on the EP (not that the album versions are bad). So, even if it might not sound very appealing, I think you should check it out anyway. Brand New seem to make anything you would normally regard as bad sound great and they are at the top of their league (I don't think they've ever produced any explicitly bad material, really).

DOWNLOAD (NO REALLY, DOWNLOAD.)

Johnny Hobo And The Freight Trains - Love Songs For The Apocalypse

What up? Y'all ready for some folk punk? You are? Good. Because this is one awesome album (no shit, right?). Also, sorry for the low resolution album cover (hope you don't mind), I'm guessing no higher resolution is available because they're hobo's. Anyway, Johnny Hobo And The Freight Trains are an awesome folk punk band, in case you don't know what that is, it's basically folk guitar played rapidly and sloppy with some guy shouting/singing about all kinds of retarded shit and often use of unconventional, "instruments". You know just like punk, DIY. So this is just, like, an awesome, great album of homeless, fast folk with lyrics about masturbating, drinking whisky and sleeping in ditches. So obviously you need to hear this shit.

DOWNLOAD? DOWNLOAD!

PJ Harvey - White Chalk

Oh yeah, here's a great album for ya, by Polly Jean Harvey. Not only is this gal incredibly attractive in a strange way, she also makes awesome music. White Chalk is the first time she plays the piano on an album (she normally plays the guitar), which perhaps the reason to why the piano arrangements are quite minimalistic (still incredibly beautiful though). The overall sound on the album is very similar to Regina Spektor's pre-Begin To Hope material, but sadder, darker and sort of depressing. PJ normally sings in a lower registry, but White Chalk seems to be a quite experimental album so she sings very high, even way above her normal registry at some times. But yeah, I don't wanna go into specific songs, so overall this is an incredibly beautiful (and awesome) album. Check it out if you're a fan of Regina Spektor, Tori Amos, Joanna Newsom or other stuff like that. Great stuff!

DOOOWNLOOOOAAAD

Shellac - 1000 Hurts

Yeah, so I'm gonna follow up the Big Black post with another awesome Steve MOTHERFUCKING Albini-album. I mean this man is a fucking legend in music production and recording engineering and that really shows in this album. Because the production is flawless. All instruments are crystal clear and perfectly placed within the mix. So, enough about the audio production, now onto the actual music. Shellac (which is his current band) is similar to Big Black, but in my opinion has a more refined sound, so to speak. It's sounds like your typical No Wave noise rock/post-punk, but at the same time it's very different with it's distinct sound. Atonal, choppy chords, non-technical but not too simple drums, minimalistic guitar arrangements, heavy, repetitive rhythms, strange time signatures and often quite prominent bass (think Sonic Youth meets Melvins). Steve does vocals and lyrics, and the lyrics has that wonderful sarcastic touch to them that Steve's lyrics always has. Ok, so this album may be hard to get into, but once you do, you'll love it. Trust me.

FUKKEN DOWNLOAD

Karen O And The Kids - Where The Wild Things Are

Yeah, I have another album for y'all. This time it's an awesome soundtrack by Karen O (and "The Kids", but it's still basically just Karen O), the vocalist from The Yeah Yeah Yeah's. The soundtrack is for the movie "Where The Wild Things Are", if you haven't figured that out already. I haven't seen it yet, but hopefully it'll be as great as the soundtrack. If you're feeling like some nice, twee indie pop than you should give this a listen, for sure. Karen O's vocal performance on the soundtrack is splendid (obviously) and this is just great stuff. If you don't believe me, then well I don't see why, because I'm not the only one going nuts for it right now. Use the power of the internet to see for yourselves! And to download this ablum right now.

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Mineral - EndSerenading

Hello. Here's an awesome album for ya by awesome emo/indie rock (I think that the correct term is "post-emo", though) Mineral. They sound pretty much like the other bands in their genre, like Sunny Day Real Estate and Cap'n Jazz. This album is pretty much your typical emotional, kind of twinkly, indie rocky post-emo with harmonized guitars, great stuff. Similar to the By Surprise/Hightide Hotel split i posted a while back, check that one out too. But really this is just some more fantastic stuff for you to listen to.

ATTN: The download link was pointing to the Karen O and the Kids album earlier, but I've fixed that now so you can download this awesome album.

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Big Black - Songs About Fucking

Besides having the most awesome album title ever, it also happens to sound awesome as fuck. Big Black is a legendary noise rock/post-hardcore band, fronted by Steve MOTHERFUCKING Albini and this is probably my favorite album of them. Imagine a mix between Sonic Youth, Black Flag and a little bit of Ministry, and you've pretty much got Big Black. This album is fucking badass and you should totally listen to it like right now. By the way, the second half of the album is way better than the first, but the first is still great.

DEWNLEWD, DEWD (DOWNLOAD)

iLiKETRAiNS - Elegies To Lessons Learnt

Hello. I am presuming your ears are still recovering from the injuries to your ears caused by the awesomeness of the albums I posted yesterday, but still, here's another one. With a name like 'iLiKETRAiNS' you make your band seem like they are the pioneers of a new genre called; oh I don't know...'Tardcore' perhaps? No, but seriously, this is a great band and this album is awesome (surprised? I didn't think so). It also happens to be something you don't see very often; vocal post-rock. Sure, Sigur Rós plays vocal post-rock, but the difference is between them and iLiKETRAiNS is that iLiKETRAiNS have far more 'epic' (so to speak) instrumentation, and of course they're not boring as shit either. The vocals really remind me of Death In June, but you know without all the scary nazi-references, masks, military obsession and creepy, apocalyptic folk-guitar. So basically I guess the album sounds like epic post-rock with Death In June-like vocals. Definitely check this out if you like post-rock. Great, great album.

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The Protomen - Act II - The Father Of Death

Fuck yeeeaaah! Back with the second rock-opera about Megaman by The Protomen. You know all those great things I said about the first album? Multiply those with 2 and you've got this album. It's that good. Probably album of the year in mine, and many others opinions. As with the first album, the vocals are the best part. They are fucking epic! Just incredible. Also, you can hear that they were more influenced by video game music in this one than the first one in the instrumentation, a lot of "8-bit"-like melodies in some parts of the album. Yeah, so this is one of the best albums I've posted so far, and you'd be really stupid to not check it out, even if you may not like rock-opera's (how, exactly, one does that is beyond me). One other thing I recently noticed is how unknown they actually are. I mean, when the album got released, there seemed to be a fucking riot all over various music forums, boards and blogs, but when I checked their last.fm page, they had very few listeners (around 9000). Hopefully soon they'll get the attention they deserve.

DOWNLOAD FOR FUCK'S SAKE

The Protomen - The Protomen

What up? Here's the first in a series of what is probably the most epic albums I have ever posted on the blog. It's an incredibly great and awesome rock-opera about - wait for iiiiiit...... - MEGAMAN! That's right, Megaman. You know the old video game? I know it sounds totally geeky (and it is too), but it's also fucking awesome. So this is the first part and it's just fantastic, I don't know how to describe it, but it uses plenty of keyboard and other "unusual" instrumentation besides, you know, guitar, bass and drums. Also the vocals and the lyrics are fucking epic (When I say 'epic' I mean 'epic' in it's true meaning, majestic and grand). You seriously need to check this hit out now! I'm posting the second album (which so happens to be even better) later. But seriously, just download it.

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Snowing - Fuck Your Emotional Bullshit

All righty, here's a new album for today. Snowing is an up-and-coming (and very awesome) emo/indie rock band (with hints of post-hardcore and math rock).They've recently released an EP for FREE! It's a great six song EP and it's just you know, awesome. Reminds me of bands like Mineral, Hightide Hotel (I posted a split of theirs earlier, here). I don't know what more to say than that it's an incredible release and you should definitely check it out. Now, I don't want to rant (again), but please don't confuse real emo (like this) with shitty "emo" shit like Death Cab For Cutie, Fall Out Boy or My Chemical Romance. So just check it out, if you're an indie rock/pop fan and have not listened to real emo like this before, you're probably going to love it.

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MYSPACE

And So I Watch You From Afar - And So I Watch You From Afar

This is a horrible cover. Just plain awful. But thankfully the actual album is the exact opposite. Yes, you guessed it; it's awesome. I mean this is like the epitome of awesome (ok, maybe not the epitome, but it's still totally awesome). The best way to describe this would be "post-rock with balls". Sort of like East Of The Wall's album 'The Farmer's Almanac', which I posted a while back. I mean, it's not your typical post-rock (read: Explosions In The Sky, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, etc.), it really is more "rock" than "post", if you know what I mean. They're pretty much not famous at all, but hopefully will gain the attention they deserve soon enough (I think this album is their first and it was released this year so maybe that's why they haven't gained much fame). So, you know just check it out instead of having me very poorly try to explain what they sound like and just see for yourself.

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BONUS DISC!

Ampere - All Our Tomorrows End Today

Oh hello there. Yeah, I know I haven't posted in several days but whatever, I've been busy and stuff. So yeah. But I've got some grrrrreat stuff for y'all. This right here is my favorite screamo release EVER, and probably objectively at least one of the greatest screamo releases of all time. It's everything that's awesome and amazing with screamo, and nothing of the bad. Except one thing. It's waaaaay too short, only 10 mins and 52 secs. But I guess that just means faster download and more replayability, right? Yeah. So fucking get this already. Oh, and if you still think that screamo is like "OH LOLOL GAY EMO I CUT MYSELF -.\\ xDxDxD" then please refer to this post. Enjoy!

MUTHAFUCKIN' DOWNLOAD 'N' SHIT