[2010] Dorian White - Holding a Ghost

static + synths = crack. nice vocals too. that's right. I still like vocals.
via musical coma, the blog I want to be. 


Dorian White - Holding A Ghost by Moodgadget

[2010] dné - Eating a Wrapper Instead of Candy

I seem to be in the mood for instrumental stuff lately. This has been sitting neglected on my drive for awhile. Either found this on folktronica or siren sound. Put on headphones. Always put on headphones.

[2010] Balmorhea - Candor/Clamor 7"

Sounds like the Balmorhea of their recent full length, "Constellations", but having some sort of proggy Jethro Tull hypnotic seizure.

[2010] Happenstance - Happenstance

Excellent little mostly instrumental EP. Just listen and see for yourself, words won't do it justice. Should not be hard to find; when I google for information about the artist, I get more download links than anything else. Release was apparently limited to 300 copies, good luck finding one.

Happenstance - Even My Goosebumps Shivered

MIX: Morr from '99 to '04

Bohm

For those five years Morr could do little wrong in my eyes (after, the story isn't so much the same, meh). For an IDM music label that's mostly known for instrumental stuff, this mix is heavy on vocals because -> it's heavy on the Blue Skied and Clear compilation which is -> heavy on vocals cuz it's mostly Slowdive covers.

1. Future 3 - Alison (3:11)
2. Solvent - Discontinued Parts (Instrumental Mix) (4:02)
3. Opiate - For Brian Alfred (4:16)
4. Lali Puna - Call 1-800-FEAR (3:24)
5. Populous - Ent-The Dexo (4:42)
6. The Notwist - Scoop (3:28)
7. Styrofoam - Altogether (3:57)
8. Ms. John Soda - By Twos (5:49)
9. Isan - Fullen Brimm (3:25)
10. Manual - It'll Be Fine (4:51)
11. Múm - Please Sing My Spring Reverb (5:20)
12. Kevin & Paul - Tonka Truck Rmx (5:12)
13. B. Fleischmann - Slope (4:26)
14. Ulrich Schnauss - Wherever You Are (6:38)
15. Phonem - War By Other Means (4:37)
16. Komëit - When The Sun Hits (3:04)
17. Herrmann & Kleine - Dagger (4:43)

http://www.mediafire.com/?2zn1o2wkenn41p6

The woman up top is Stefanie Bohm who is all over this mix, just so you know. Hope you like it.

Steven

[2010] Evenings - North Dorm EP

just check this shit out, you WON'T be sorry. if you got the instrumental mix, you've already heard "Favorite Maze" but go on and download the EP from the mediafire link provided by the artist on their bandcamp page, cos the rest of it is just as great.

[2010] Blank Dogs - Landed and Fixed

Re: Blank Dogs: Under and Under (2009) > Landed and Fixed (2010), but I still love it. It doesn't have the high points of Night Night, L Machine, or Around the Room comparatively, but it comes in a better length and is more listenable and consistent. Plus it has a really sweet synthy instrumental track. I wonder if there are any soundboard Blank Dogs live bootlegs? I should actually look instead of just posting out loud first.

Try Northern Lights (mp3) via P4K

[2010] Instrumental Mix

I don't make any grand, egotistical claims like this is the "best of" instrumental music in the past year. They aren't the best instrumental albums of the year, either. Many of the albums these tracks come from are not themselves entirely instrumental. It is, however, a damn nice mix of some of the best instrumental tracks I've heard this year, and I hope you end up getting into one of these artists because you like their track.

so, download the mix here and enjoy
fradleybox - 2010 Instrumental Mix (link updated with new itunes-friendly version)


Tracklist (artist-album-title):
01 - Boy Eats Drum Machine - 20 Beats - The Rabbit
02 - Fly*ng L*tus - P*ttern+Grid World - Kill Your Co-Workers
03 - T*bacco - Maniac Meat - Nuclear Waste Aerobics
04 - Autechre - M*ve of Ten - y7
05 - Waggers over the Station - Uphekka - Blankets of Oracle Bones
06 - Noveller - Desert Fires - Toothnest (For Chris Habib)
07 - Errors - Come Down with Me - The Erskine Bridge
08 - Balmorhea - Constellations - Bowsprit
09 - Black Prairie - Daytrotter Session - Ostinato Del Caminito
10 - Evenings - North Dorm - Favorite Maze
11 - Flotilla - flotilla - Cathedral
12 - Eluvium - Similies - In Culmination
13 - Mount Eerie - Song Islands Vol. 2 - (wind lyrics)
14 - Ólafur Arnalds - ...And They Have Escaped... - Loftið Verður Skyndilega Kalt

edit: the woman in the lower right hand corner of that image kinda looks like my mom

Beach Fossils - Face it / Distance 7"

SO tired of hearing people compare this to Cloud Nothing! don caee! [sic] s'great, listen:

Face It released by Captured Tracks

Distance released by Captured Tracks

edit: I will say that the guitar in these reminds me of early Piano Magic, which is basically like saying "Steven, why don't you listen to this over and over until you burn out forever on it?

[2010] Small Black - New Chain

Holy. Motherfucking. Shit. Yes.

Small Black - Goons

[2010] Sri Aurobindo - Cave Painting

I couldn't find out a whole lot about this band. Named for some famous spiritual dude. Genre label tells you all you need to know. Click below to listen to one of my favorite tracks, "Find The Door". Found this on (new to me) music blog weedtemple, which also has a link to download the album, though I recommend you listen to it for free on bandcamp and buy it if you decide you like it. That's what I would do if I had money! (I don't have any money. If you have any money, can I please have some? no? jackass.)

[2010] Waggers Over The Station - Upekkha first impression

Waggers... appears to be the work of one Casey Shew, an unsigned artist who mixes ambient soundscapes full of pops and crackles, thoughtful and engaging percussion, and ethereal acoustic guitar with vocal samples and mostly mumbling male vocals. Climaxes build out of howling wind, twinkling bells, nice thick synths, and escalating guitar, and you wonder if this is what Mount Eerie would have sounded like if it had been taken in a more instrumental direction. And that's just the first two tracks. Suddenly, traditional melody appears. Accordion, more croon to the vocals...is that a marimba? I'm thoroughly engaged - and just as quickly, the tone turns darkly vicious. The anguished shrieks are a bit too earnest and jarring, but on the whole, the transitions on this record are actually fairly smooth and feel quite natural. The pacing of this record will either really please you, or will have you hitting "delete" before the first song even really gets going. Only halfway through the album as I write this, I can tell it won't appeal to many, but this is the kind of self-indulgent turd-sculpting that I love most. I found it on Dying For Bad Music, my favorite blog that's also a label, and it says here that there's an overt Mount Eerie reference on the album, but I haven't noticed it. Maybe the tiles of the first & last track? Who care.

Since it's being distributed online for free, that means I can too. Click here to download Waggers Over The Station - Upekkha

Moon Duo - Live @ KEXP, 2010

Moon Duo live @ KEXP, a nice studio session. To all the REAL Moon Duo fans (you know who you are) this is old as the hills but still, watch and love Stumbling On 22nd St., with it's jaw-dropping guitar work (that is my jaw you hear dropping, actually):



You can also see Killing Time, Dead West, and Motorcycle, I Love You on the youtube. If you want to listen on a non-YouTube device of some sort, here's some mp3s!

Moon Duo - KEXP 2010 (mediafire)

Gary War, The New Lines, and Flight!

What do these three bands have in common? I've been listening to them non-stop for a few weeks now. Helplessly. Also they're kinda obscure-ish. But am I listening to them BECAUSE they're obscure? I don't know. I'm self-aware enough to know if I'm being a tool, I think (just take my word for it) so probably not. So because I'm listening to these three bands all the time that I love, but they're obscure, it leads me to the conclusion that the internet has magically found me (at least) three bands that appeal to me in a very niche way. Sort of like the G-spot is hard to find but if you get a thousand tries you eventually find it (wait, nobody else has that problem? I AM A TERRIBLE LOVER). Overexposure = good.

Gary War (cover(?) of upcoming EP Police Water above.) JUST LISTEN TO BORN OF LIGHT ALREADY. Very excited about November whenever/etc/whatever when it comes out via Sacred Bones. I really don't have anything to say about Gary War other than "psychedelic insane genius" and don't expect me to go into why I love this sound beyond reason. I know this is a "blog" for "writing" but really. Swirly synths, punchy tempo, hacked up vocals tearing through the songs like a chainsaw and it ALL WORKS. ah. Buy all of his albums and singles and stuff. The MP3 is from internet blog of note Gorilla vs. Bear (more Gary War posts, GVB). Also, watch this Viva Radio video of a song from his '09 Horribles Parade album:


Flight. They / him (whatever) is a loud crazy band from Mississippi that rocks my socks. Style over content wins the day here but hey, who cares? If you're going to rock, do it in STYLE or STYLE BEFORE COMFORT etc. You know what I'm getting at. Give Ghosts a try @ Weekly Tape Deck. If you buy the single, Crackerjack Woman is one of the best b-sides (ever).

The New Lines. Brooklyn band that writes great pop tunes, ah! I see them as an early Broadcast in technicals, Belle and Sebastian in feel, and with a sort of charmingly unguarded simplicity of sound that feels very unique to me. Other things that get me: lots of repeated phrases, interesting time signatures, and overlapping melodies mixed with vocals that hover above in their own world. It's interesting stuff. Admittedly, I've been limited to their myspace tracks and last.fm songs, but luckily they've come out with a Beko single (GOD I love Beko. even when it's bad it's good.) Love it. 'Kings Civil Calendar Control' & 'Windimir And The Gift Of Death' are two songs that encapsulate everything great about them (though they are more polished than the other stuff you find floating around). Download their Beko single here.

Anyway, enough about the stuff I love and can't get enough of. The earnestness of this blogpost is DISGUSTING.

[2010] Eluvium - Similes

Also, the Eluvium album. You probably already know it. I like it too.

[2010] Small Black - Small Black

I'm sorry. I love it. I just can't help myself. It's catchy, it's thoughtfully detailed, and it's unashamedly twee in some way that's difficult to describe. I've heard they suck live. They're getting plenty of buzz without my help. I don't care. Good music is good.

[2010] Wires, Bunnies, Horses, & a Panda

Bare Wires - Seeking Love LP (Castle Face, 2010) Oh here comes the glam fuckin rawk! So sweet, like mother's milk. Maybe not the top album of the year but the title and opening track amount to the best kicking off I've heard and the quality sticks for all 23 & change minutes. As much as I liked the White Fence album, I have to admit that Seeking Love is the kind of thing I was hoping from them after first hearing those first couple of preview tracks back when (unfair comparison, but I shared it with you because we're pals). Oh man, this one track “Family Heat” has a great guitar solo… *drifts off* … anyway. This album has immediate love on lockdown and while I'm hoping for staying power, I know that I like it a lot right now so... I'm happy. BUY or taste a couple of tracks over at the ever loveable Raven Sings the Blues and here's the Official Bare Wires video for I (heart) You Tonite:



VA - Welcome Home_ Diggin' The Universe (A Woodsist Compilation) (Woodsist, 2010) Y'know, after falling absolutely head over heels in love with Moon Duo because of Escape I would have expected a good friend to let me know about this Woodsist comp that kinda passed over (under?) my radar, but no, I had to find out about Moon Duo covering Errol Dunkley (reggae maker of note) all by myself. These imaginary friends must think I’m a jerk. P.S. this is my diplomatic way of saying that the Moon Duo track is the saving grace here despite my liking a bunch of the bands. *sadface* BUY IT HERE

Electric Bunnies – Pretty Joanna 7” (Sacred Bones, 2010) Pretty Joanna is a loud anthemic rock track that’ll play well while you’re cleaning a garage somewhere or training for a fight (trust me on this). The B-side is upbeat, tone-deaf and retro, somewhere between a mid 90s MTV sketch comedy show theme song and another more annoying thing. Buy it if you hate me and never want to listen to good music. JK!

Super Wild Horses – Fifteen LP (Hozac, 2010) I want to like Super Wild Horses, and part of me does, but the other part of me says they compare unfavorably to the fucking Dum Dum Girls ARGH, isn’t that just so cliché? Anyway, they do. Upbeat girl rock with a modicum of vocal fuzz (just enough to give ya a little “how do ya do!” and no more), it is. If you like the DDG’s and want more, but with a little bit of Go-Betweens jangle thrown in buy Fifteen (I do, or at least thought I did).

Panda Bear – Tomboy 7” (Paw Tracks, 2010) s’good. It’s going to be tough to impress people after Person Pitch, but I’m very digging the emphasis on pairing things down here to just rhythm, melody, and vocals, then layering a bit. I’m really looking forward to a whole album of this stuff.

Five is enough! Thanks to PartyBus @ the CBox for letting me listen to some of this.

[2010] Black Prairie - Feast of the Hunter's Moon

This is the first release by the indie-americana supergroup formed by Decemberists Chris Funk and Nate Query. Expect acoustic guitar, haunting fiddle, and the occasional soft vocal. There are more instrumental tracks than there are vocal tracks, and the balance between the two is quite nice. I've been listening to this a lot this year, and I hope I can be in Portland for their performance at this year's Pickathon. They did a set for Daytrotter back in April, which you can download here. I think I found this album on Music Is Amazing.

Red Rocking Chair - Daytrotter


In other news, you can now follow deadly boars on twitter at twitter.com/deadlyboars and if you have a question, an album submission, or wish to write for this blog, you can send an email to deadlyboars@yahoo.com.

[2010] Wavves - King of the Beach | 1st IMP!

FIRST IMPRESSION: I feel neither high nor lows when I listen to Wavves. Not unlike a blowjob when you really want anal sex, they deliver but with slightly less exhilarating results than you had anticipated. As I crack open my obviously low-bit rate zip-file containing King of the Beach, I expect to have my opinion changed (THE NEW WAVVES IS DIFFERENT says folks! and oh, oh it is) but instead, I'm as bemused as the other album only less so. Whereas before I got about half a dozen enjoyable staticky listens before moving on and then never even thinking of the album again (wait, I LIE), this time I'm halfway through the Wavves when I think "MEH, where's the heart?" Super Soaker is like self parody and I could barely control my rage during Convertable Balloon. But since this is a "first impression" (i.e. dumb) I'll hedge and say that Idiot at least is a good tune + I'd feel like a complete ass saying anything negative about Baseball Cards. Their early release track Post Acid falls somewhere between (more towards the UGH side, tho!) Overall, despite it not being as entertaining and dangerously stupid / weird as the last album, Wavvves, I can see it being loved by many (that means YOU! and maybe me, in the future when I get over myself already, right?) Enjoy!

DL Post Acid here from the Mountain Dew Website What Makes With The Indie Music Nows.

[2010] zxyzxy - C.A.B. | first impression

At first glance, you might think you're in for something generically overwrought and devoid of surprises. The first track begins with guitar-driven postrock-by-numbers (Mono, God is an Astronaut), and while it's done well, you've heard it before. But there's a lot of range on this release. The second track builds out of electronic whistles and howls, melodic piano, and glitchy beats with a touch of good static. The live drums and dense synths kicking in halfway through give the song serious teeth. The next two go a bit more ambient for long stretches. More piano, more good static. Since all but one track clock in at over fifteen minutes, they can be difficult to characterize individually. It's mostly relaxing stuff and it's better on headphones. I probably found this on Exhale The Sound, but there's also a zxyzxy megapost on The Siren Sound that has a ton of stuff. This is my first listen, and this record is apparently not zxyzxy's typical sort of output, so you can bet I'll be checking out the others in short order.

III

[2010] Junip - Rope and Summit | first impression

I don't know Jose Gonzalez's solo work or Junip's first ep, but this kicks a little bit of ass. It's densely layered and satisfyingly percussive. The vocals are soft and the repetitive lyrics manage not to get old. These songs get better as they go along. Pretty sure I found it on Bolachas.

Rope and Summit

First Aid Kit w/ Samantha Crain @ Mercury Lounge

First Aid kit played their last US tour date on wednesday, to a packed room. The performance was a bit more energetic than on album; the live drums certainly adding something. I could have done with less cutesy banter, but I suppose they have an image to uphold. Klara joined Samantha Crain for a song during the support set, which was on the whole competent, lively, and entertaining. Samantha later joined both girls for a song as well, and the sisters also did one of my favorite songs, Ghost Town, unplugged and without microphones (watch it below).

A question from the audience about their future plans was adorably misunderstood and not answered. Hopefully we'll see another album and tour sooner, rather than later. If you haven't yet picked up their first EP, Drunken Trees, I highly suggest that you do. If they're ever playing a show near you, go. It's money well spent.



[I didn't take this video but I did take the photo]

[2010] First Aid Kit - The Big Black and the Blue

I really like First Aid Kit's debut full-length, The Big Black and the Blue, and i'm seeing them tonight for the first time. It's jangly, with nice female vocal harmonies - though the girls get a bit shouty at times.

I don't think I want to get into the habit of posting links to album downloads. It's really easy to find things yourself. The title of this post is the artist & album. Highlight it with your mouse. Right-click and select 'search Google for'. Do a site-specific search by adding the keyword site:mediafire.com for a hosting site like mediafire or megaupload, or do a filetype:.zip search to find it. mazel tov. If you like it, buy it or go see them on tour.

Scan your files before you listen, kids. Don't get a virus.

This = Music Blog

a little about myself before i post stuff. i'm 29, i live in queens, NY, North Carolina, and i know everything about music. i'll bore you about music i've been listening to and review it a little. maybe an mp3 to check out (or entire discography of downloads that I will make you pay me for). reviews of shows i attend. that sort of thing. also SEX AND BOOBS.

want me to review your music, or want to write for this blog? ask someone else.

this is a music blog

a little about myself before i post stuff. i'm 29, i live in queens, NY, and i don't really know anything about music. i'll post about music i've been listening to and review it a little. maybe an mp3 to check out. reviews of shows i attend. that sort of thing.

want me to review your music, or want to write for this blog? ask.