A spacious hole in the ground

New Blog

2008-02-12T08:36:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone...

First off I wanted to apologize to those of you out there who still see this old blog. I'd nearly forgotten about it in all the hustle and bustle of getting married and starting back to school a few years ago, but I figured I should post something today. I know the updates suddenly stopped, but I do have some good news now:

I've started up a new blog with 2 friends of mine. The reason I decided to stop "going it alone" was because I figured this would help me to not have the same result the second time around (the blog dying due to lack of updates). We're just getting started, the name of the blog is Sell the Lie. It's going to be quite similar to this one as far as the music that's posted but you should be seeing more frequent updates since there's now 3 authors now instead of one.

I'm quite excited for this new adventure and I'm hoping that those of you still out there will jump on over. Here's the site again:

http://sellthelie.blogspot.com

Thanks - hope to see you there!

Kraig

Winner and a small update

2006-10-25T01:48:00.000-06:00

Sorry everyone, I got my Tuesday's mixed up. I thought today was the day I was supposed to announce the winner, but I was informed otherwise earlier today...sorry for the lateness.

Anyways, the winner is....

Justin Whaley!

I've also tacked on another CD (Essential Miles Davis).

I have another contest coming at the end of the week with some kick-ass features from Saturna and The Cat Empire. Unfortunately, I haven't had time to do any write ups yet or upload/rip any songs...sorry folks. I'm 1 of 2 managers at work, and the other manager's wife just went into labor 10 weeks early, needless to say I'm covering every shift until she's out of the hospital (though all seems to be going well so far). It looks like I'll see some daylight outside of work on Saturday, but until then - farewell!

The dangers of studio time...

2006-10-16T14:23:00.000-06:00

Not much can get me more excited than new music from Ryan Adams. Yes, yes - he probably records and releases more than is good for him, but it still always gets me excited to know I'll get to hear some thing new.

Ryan posted 36 new "songs" on his website last week, which probably got me more excited than it should have. From my experience recording in a studio, I understand where these tracks came from. Sometimes you just get frustrated with the songs you're actually trying to record, and songs like these result.

The first 20 some odd songs are all old school, punk Ryan Adams (The Finger, anyone?). The last chunk seem to be just random country doodlings with rooster noises, claps and lyrics about drinking too much. All pretty silly, but hey - my band ended up recording an album about my roomate and his potential encounters with homosexual robots when recording once, so I can relate.

Here's a few tracks:

[mp3] Unicorns for Sale
[mp3] Lord, I Drink Too Much

You can download the whole package here (courtesy of some fine people over at RAO). It also includes the other songs that have streamed off his website (Dot com muthafucka), so enjoy and laugh. We'll all have some real Ryan Adams soon...

Visit Ryan's (kick ass) website here.

Now, for something highly recommended...

2006-10-05T11:20:00.000-06:00

You know when you find a new band that you simply want to scream about to anyone with ears???? Libbie fits that bill, take a listen.

First off, you should shake off any of the normal stereotypes that come to mind when seeing a picture of a girl with a guitar. This isn't Avril and this certainly isn't Michelle Branch. The person in the photo above is named Libbie Linton and quite simply put - she's amazing.

I've known Libbie for a few years now and I'm very excited for you all to hear her. She's been writing and playing songs for a while now, though until recently it was more or less just for herself. The tracks below are from Libbie's Shackleton EP, her debut effort. The songs have a distinct "indie-folk" feel, the comparisons that come to my mind would be The Decemberists or Iron & Wine.

I just recommend a listen for yourself. Trust me - you won't regret it.

[mp3] What's Left
[mp3] Shakleton, I'm Solid

Visit Libbie's official website.

Make sure you enter the CD Giveaway contest! Click here to enter.

Mega CD Giveaway!

2006-10-04T11:22:00.000-06:00

I've been delaying this for quite some time, but it's finally time...

I'm giving away a big assortment of CDs, all you need to do is fill out the form below. This will be up for the next 2 weeks, I'll announce a winner on Oct. 18th!

I don't have all the giveaway CDs with me right now, but off the top of my head I remember they include these:

Ziggy Marley: Love Is My Religion
JD & The Straight Shot: Nothing To Hide
Third Eye Blind: Greatest Hits
Supercreep
Tom Petty: Highway Companion

I believe that's all...anyways, just sign up on the form above (but don't sign up multiple times, I can tell if you do it 2x). Good luck!

Big Tuesday

2006-10-04T00:07:00.000-06:00

It was quite a fine Tuesday today for us music lovers.

Today saw the major label debut of The Decemberists for the indie-loving world and highly-anticipated sophomore outings from Jet and The Killers. Oh, and that Beck guy put out a new album too.

I've had the chance to sit down and listen to The Crane Wife (Decemberists) and Shine On (Jet) so far. I don't really have an interest in The Killer's new album...sorry kids, I just don't think their guarantees of it being the "greatest album ever" will meet my expectations, especially since I never got into them in the first place. I guess it's my inner "indie snob" coming through...

Beck is coming soon, I've heard good things but we'll have to wait until I digest the first two. Anyways, here's a few of my favorites from the previously mentioned albums:

Jet - Shine On

[mp3] Hey Kids
[mp3] Stand Up

The Decemberists - The Crane Wife

[mp3] The Crane Wife 3
[mp3] Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)

In case you haven't yet...

2006-09-24T01:16:00.000-06:00

Bryce commented on this a few days ago, but if you haven't checked out the comments, you probably missed it.

Anyways, Heather and Bryce ended up with all of the known B-Sides to Pete Yorn's latest album, Nightcrawler. I don't really want to re-upload the same songs, so just follow the links below for the downloads.

Post #1 - Heather from I am Fuel We are Friends
Post #2 - Bryce from Vedderfreak12

Visit Pete's Official website.
Buy Nightcrawler!

NEW Ryan Adams: Lovely and Blue

2006-09-24T00:54:00.000-06:00

Well, this isn't particularly new, but it's at least new enough for me to consider it new.

This one was streaming off of Ryan's new site about a month ago, but was taken down rather abruptly.

There seems to be a bit of debate about this track - some say it's a preview of the Rock 'n Roll Vol. 2 album Ryan has hinted at, others say it's just a joke, maybe not even Ryan. My opinion - it rocks. And it's definitely Ryan. Decide yourself.

[mp3] Ryan Adams: Lovely and Blue

Visit Ryan's official website.
Buy some Ryan Adams online.

and so, I return...

2006-09-15T12:13:00.000-06:00

Today, I decided it was finally time to get back into the game. Sorry for the time off - it's been busy. Since my last post I've (of course) gotten married, started back at school and remodeled our kitchen. Now, it's time for me to get caught back up and spread some love.

I've been way outside of the blogosphere for the past two months, so I'm sure I've missed a lot of new up-and-comers. If any of you have time, I'd appreciate it if you could post a comment or send an email if you can think of anything significant I may have missed!

Here's two songs that have me very excited, hope you enjoy them as much as me:

[mp3] Jet - Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

I've had an unhealthy obsession with Jet since Get Born came out a few years back. It's been a long wait, but it seems like it's worth it. You've probably heard this song in the background of that new Chocolate Mp3 phone from Verizon. New album is out Oct. 3rd.

Visit the official website.
Buy some Jet.

[mp3] Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) - Where Do The Children Play?

I recently went on a huge Cat Stevens kick, and as a result there was a lot of Cat Stevens played at my wedding reception...which only seemed to go over well by me. Needless to say, when I heard the news from IGIF that a new Cat Stevens album was comoing out (the first since before I was born!) I nearly wet myself. Wait, scratch the nearly. The new album is due out in November.

Visit his official website.
Buy some Cat Stevens.

Look for more updates on a regular basis...sorry again for the long wait! Spread the word!

Quick Note...

2006-07-28T12:53:00.000-06:00

I thought I'd post a quick note for all you loyal readers.

Sorry that it's been so long between updates, but you all may have to wait a bit longer.

I'm about 8 days away from getting married right now, so I've been a little busy with that (thus the lack of updates). I'll try to get an update in either today or tomorrow, but between this next update and August 11th, don't expect a whole lot. I'm looking at having a few friends handle the blog over the next few weeks, let me know if you're interested.

Again, sorry about the lack of updates - I'm just a bit busy with this marriage business ;).

-Kraig

Tom Petty - Highway Companion

2006-07-13T12:05:00.000-06:00

Tom Petty has a new solo CD out in about 2 weeks (July 25th), Highway Companion. Check out the streams below, sounds like good ol' classic Petty.

[audio stream] Big Weekend
[video stream] Saving Grace

Visit Tom Petty's website.
Pre-order the new album.

Band of Annuals

2006-07-12T00:57:00.000-06:00

I was going to post about this band right when I started but lizzy over at Come Pick Me Up beat me to the punch. I feel like they deserve some more hype, here's my take on them...

I first heard the Band of Annuals (then known simply as The Annuals) in the fall of '05. I met a friend at a Limbeck show in Salt Lake for old times sake and thankfully it turned out to be more than your average 10 dollar show. The first opener was bland enough that I've forgotten their name, some pop-punk trio, but I still remember seeing The Annuals start setting up - I knew from the moment I saw the lap steel guitar that this band was going to give me a warm and fuzzy feeling.

To make a long story short, the performance was amazing enough for me to warrant coming out of my wallflower shell and actually talk to the band members after the show. One thing led to another and eventually I talked them into playing a show with my band in Logan. Since the scene here in my hometown is pretty shitty (just your average hardcore and punk bands for the most part) the crowd didn't really take much away from a 5 piece alt-country act, but there were at least a few who really recognized the talent the was playing for them.

I'd like to share my favorite tracks from their 2005 debut, Repondez. It's the kind of alt-country that I'd assume Ryan Adams would be making every other year if he had a touch more self-control.

By the way, this band comes with my highest of recommendations - if you like anything resembling alt-country, you'll love them!!

[mp3] San Francisco Take Me Back
[mp3] A Brief Moment of Hapiness

Check them out on myspace for tour dates and purchase information.

In case you haven't checked it out yet, check out the new MP3 player on the sidebar! I'll try to keep this updated with the latest songs I post!

Halftime Awards

2006-07-07T10:51:00.000-06:00

We just passed the halfway point a week ago so I’ve
decided to put up my thoughts about the year so far. Who knows how much of this will survive until the end of the year, here goes!

m=download an mp3, w=visit the artist's website, b=buy their albums

Best New Band:

Wolfmother (m,w,b)

Rock is back. What else needs to be said?

Runners Up: Arizona (m,w), The Raconteurs (m,w,b), Band of Horses (m,w,b)

Best New Solo Artist:

Gran Bel Fisher (m,w,b)

It's always nice to hear a new voice that can mix up the old with the new. Fisher does an excellent job from start to finish on the forthcoming release...

Runner Up: Imaad Wasif (m,w,b)

Record of the Year (by a Solo Artist):

Donovan Frankenreiter: Move By Yourself (m,w,b)

I flip flopped a lot on this. The Believer was solid, but Donovan is just so funky on this release. Definetly a must have for the summer, with windows down.

Runners Up: Rhett Miller: The Believer (m,w,b), Mason Jennings: Bonecoulds (m,w,b)
Upcoming: Sufjan Stevens: The Avalanche (m,w,b), Pete Yorn: Nightcrawler (m,w,b), Ray Lamontagne: ‘Till The Sun Goes Black (m,w,b)

Record of the Year (by a Band):

Secret Machines: Ten Silver Drops (m,w,b)

Being a huge Pearl Jam fan, it was hard to admit this one. The Secret Machines got it done though, this album is a masterpiece.

Runners Up: Pearl Jam (self titled) (m,w,b), Wolfmother (self titled) (m,w,b)
Upcoming: The Damnwells: Air Stereo (m,w,b), Arizona: Welcome Back Dear Children (m,w)

I know that this list doesn’t have a lot of straight up indie acts (Sound Team, Danielson, Islands etc) but I just didn’t feel like much in the indie scene was worth putting on this list right now. We’ll see if my opinion changes by the end of the year...

Jets Overhead

2006-07-07T10:22:00.000-06:00

Here's the best kept secret from America Jr.

Jets Overhead released their first full-length LP, Bridges, last year and have been building a following up north. There hasn't been much about them on the blog scene and next to nothing in the US which is truly a shame. Bridges is an outstanding album from front to finish, oftentimes sounding like a more polished version of The Stills. A good blend of psychedelic-altpop is hard to find, but these guys pull it off very well.

This band is certainly worth a listen, I've been through the whole album over 20 times now.

[mp3] This Way
[mp3] Killing Time (highly recommended!)

Visit their website here.
Buy there album here.

Weekly 6 Pack

2006-07-06T11:38:00.000-06:00

Since I was late last week, here’s helping number 2 (and all new stuff this time!):

Gin Blossoms - Learning The Hard Way

It’s been a long time since we’ve heard anything new from the Gin Blossoms but this track makes it seem like it’s been worth the wait. I listened to Congratulations, I’m Sorry hundreds of times through my adolescent years and it’s good to hear something fresh - but still familiar. Major Lodge Victory, a full Gin Blossoms LP, is due out August 8th. It keeps shaping up to be a great month!

Visit their website.
Buy some Gin Blossoms.

Flickerstick - Clocks Run Backwards

I always take a lot of shit for saying that Flickerstick is one of my favorite bands and I don’t think this track will help me. Tarantula was everything the band was capable of, but now with Cory (lead guitar/keys) and Dominic (drums) out it seems like Flickerstick has taken a step backwards. I like parts of this song, and I know it’s a demo, but it doesn’t feel nearly as well-written as anything off of Tarantula. Still, it’s good to hear from the boys.

Visit their website.
Buy some Flickerstick.

Gran Bel Fisher - Crash and Burn

I recently got my hands on a pre-release of Fisher’s debut album Full Moon Cigarette and it has done nothing but impress. The album itself does something that most debuts just can’t do - it shows us the artists influences (in this case 70’s rock like The Doors, Zeppelin mixed with a bit o' jazz) while still making it sound new and fresh. Crash and Burn is the first single off the album and it’s starting to get some buzz. I’ll be doing my part to create more buzz (review and feature are both forthcoming) but do yourself a favor - get this track and tell a friend about it.

Visit his website.
Pre-order the album.

The Damnwells: Heartbreaklist

I’m making a promise now - this is the last Damnwells track I’ll post off of the new album. You’ll have to keep checking their myspace for more tracks. August 15th is the date for Air Stereo and I’m having trouble sleeping as is...

Visit their website.
Buy some Damnwells.

Augustana - Heart Shaped Gun

Stars and Boulevards was a fantastic debut album and Augustana seems set to follow if this track has anything in common with what else is coming. Sunday Best was always a favorite of mine off he last album, this one has the same alt-country feel, but kicks it up a notch towards the end.

Visit their website.
Buy some Augustana.

Ray Lamontagne - Can I Stay

Last but not least is Ray with yet another August release (29th). Till The Sun Turns Black is said to be different than his debut, Trouble. This track stays close to Ray’s previous release, but the strings give a more polished feel than the simple reliance on the single guitar found in most places on Trouble. I’m really diggin' this song right now, to me it looks like the chances of a sophomore slump are slim to none if the rest of the album follows suit.

Visit Ray's website.
Buy some Ray Lamontagne.

More Damnwells...

2006-07-04T00:59:00.000-06:00

Sorry if it seems like I'm just recycling the same bands I've been posting about - I'm just really excited about the new Damnwells and Pete Yorn LPs coming out!

The Damnwells posted some more tracks over at myspace. I've got them here for download, just promise you'll buy Air Stereo when it comes out.

[mp3] You Don't Have To Like Me To Love Me
[mp3] God Bless America

The first track really feels like good ol' Damnwells, just classic alt-country. The second is a good closer for the album - trippy in parts and well done. By the way, it's not your papa's God Bless America, this ain't no cover.

I also found this article about the new release, it contains the tracklisting that I've posted below:

"I've Got You"
"Accidental Man"
"You Don't Have to Like Me to Love Me"
"Golden Days"
"Louisville"
"Sell the Lie"
"Shiny Bruise"
"Heartbreaklist"
"Kung Fu Grip Kiss"
"I Am a Leaver"
"Graceless"
"Keep a Little Organ"
"God Bless America"

Visit their website.
Buy some Damnwells.

Let me know if these downloads are cutting off or if they just plain aren't working. I wanted to get these up before I sleep tonight and that means I didn't have time to make sure my ripping worked to perfection...if it doesn't work I'll repost tomorrow.

Weekly 6 Pack

2006-07-04T00:01:00.000-06:00

I know this one is a little late, but you'll probably get 2 this week because of it...

Mother Love Bone: Chloe Dancer/Crown Of Thorns

Lets start with a classic. I'm not sure if many of you know the history of this band, but if you don't you will now. Mother Love Bone was one of the huge "buzz bands" of Seattle in the late 80's/early 90's. They weren't quite grunge and they weren't quite hair metal, they blended a bit of each that ended up sounding a lot like Zepp. Unfortunately the lead singer (surprise!) ODed.

Luckily a few key members (Jeff Ament & Stone Gossard) decided to keep on truckin', eventually forming Pearl Jam. This song is still played by PJ at a few live shows, it really caught my attention on the (fantastic) Singles soundtrack.

Buy some Mother Love Bone.

The You: I'm Going To Kill Myself

I was sent this track the other day and I'm absolutely loving it. I plan on doing a bigger feature of these guys but this is all I have for now. Nothing too out of the ordinary, sounds a little like The Shins to me.

Visit their website.

The Mars Volta: Asilos Magdalena

Here's another new track, this one off the forthcoming album Amputechture by The Mars Volta. It comes out on my birthday - August 22nd - Hooray!

Visit their website.
Buy some Mars Volta.

Neil Young: After The Gold Rush

Neil's what started my songwriting engine back in my pre-teen years. I've always loved this song, it can really bring a tear to the eye.

Visit Neil's website.
Buy some Neil Young.

Semisonic: Secret Smile

Although everyone thinks of these guys as "that band who sings Closing Time" I always hoped that this song would eventually overtake it. It never did it really should have. Semisonic was always able to find that perfect blend of pop and 90's alt-rock, this one really is the pinnacle.

Buy some Semisonic.

Pete Yorn: Lions

I know that I blog a ridiculous amount about Pete Yorn but you all just get to deal with it. If I would have started this blog a few years ago I probably wouldn't blog so much about him. As they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder. This one is from his "released only at shows EP" Westerns. You can find the whole thing over at a fellow PJ lovin' blogger's site.

Visit Pete's website.
Buy some Pete Yorn.

Muse is streaming...

2006-06-28T14:27:00.000-06:00

Black Holes and Revelations is streaming over at myspace, check it out.

It doesn't sound like Supermassive Black Hole, I promise.

Donavon Frankenreiter: Move By Yourself

2006-06-28T14:18:00.000-06:00

I, like most people, made a huge mistake when Donavon Frankenreiter released his self-titled debut album in 2004. Luckily, I didn’t make the same mistake twice.

Donavon’s first CD was dismissed by most critics and ignored by the general public for obvious reasons - his main claims to fame were being a surfing buddy with Jack Johnson and having a song in a car commercial - not exactly the ways to gain critical acclaim. His second album, Move By Yourself, all but eliminates any comparison to Jack Johnson’s acoustic guitar focused work, instead delving into the world of 70’s funk.

The album opens up with the uber-funky title track, which is clearly one of the strongest tracks Donavon has recorded. Where his first album sounded like a solo effort, this song sets the tone that it’s not just about Donavon anymore - this is a band and these boys can play. The Way It Is follows next, a slowed down funk song more in the style of Marvin Gaye. If you’re expecting a slowed down acoustic song at this point in the album you’ll be sorely disappointed - Beautiful Day is the only track that lands in this genre, so you’ll need to wait for the closer.

The rest of the album basically follows the first two tracks - you’re either going to funk that will make you move or slowed down soul songs. There’s not really a song to skip on this album - the song writing is strong and each song flows into the next very well, especially with the last half of the album. Let It Go, All Around Us and Girl Like You are certainly the highlights outside of the first two tracks. The only song you may be checking your watch on is Fool, a sprawling 6 minute jam that brings Ray Charles to mind.

Move By Yourself is certainly a departure from Donavon’s first album. If you’re looking for more Jack Johnson infused acoustic surfer hymns than you best look to Dispatch - you won’t find it here. This album is all about the funk - very rare in this day and age - and I will say that this is the absolute must-have album of the summer. It’s that good.

Overall rating: 4/5

[mp3] Move By Yourself
[mp3] Let It Go

Visit Donavon's website.
Buy Move By Yourself (Amazon) (iTunes).

Yearning for more Yorn?

2006-06-26T23:43:00.000-06:00

God knows I am.

Thanks to Stu's tip I was able to get yet another song from the upcoming Pete Yorn release, Nightcrawler. It sounds like it's going to be a rockin' good time. This one reminds me of Undercover...

[mp3] Go With It

Visit Pete's website.
Buy some Pete Yorn.

Thanks to Stu for being such an avid myspace searcher!!

The June problem is fixed.

Weekly 6 Pack

2006-06-22T03:25:00.000-06:00

As promised, it's time for your weekly 6 pack.

[mp3] Wolfmother: White Unicorn

I'm not quite sure why I haven't posted anything about Wolfmother. Looking back, it's really a crime that I haven't yet. These guys just flat out rock - old school style. If you haven't heard them, now's your chance. Watch out for the huge-ass drum fill at 4:08, I usually rewind that 4 or so times before finishing the song...

Visit their website.
Buy some Wolfmother.

[mp3] Flickerstick: Blue

Although Flickerstick has only released 2 proper albums, they've probably had as much effect on me as any band. Their unique blend of pop hooks, psychadelic guitar licks and killer drumming opened my eyes to a world of new sonic possibilities. Looking back at their debut now seems a little weak but they've certainly shown themselves with Tarantula and To Madagascar and Back, the EP that this little ditty is featured on.

Visit their website.
Buy some Flickerstick.

[mp3] Paul McCartney: Monkberry Moon Delight

This has one of Paul's best screams ever recorded. Sure, "Maybe I'm Amazed" is great but I just love it when Paul goes crazy.

Visit Paul's website.
Buy his albums.

[mp3] Silvercrush: Frightened

I'm sure some of you will be turned off by the "I wish I was Eddie Vedder" vocals but these guys are hometown heroes of sorts. Silvercrush is one of only 2 bands from Utah that has signed with a major label. Though their rock 'n roll life was cut short, their debut album, Stand, is a great post-grunge album. If you're into 7 Mary 3, you'll love these guys.

Buy some Silvercrush.

[mp3] Toadies: Possum Kingdom

Another blast from the past. The Toadies were a little different from the rest of the post-grunge scene, Rubberneck is really worth a listen or a dust off if you've forgotten about it.

Buy some Toadies.

[mp3] Starsailor: Good Souls

All that talk of Starsailor earlier made take another listen to Love is Here. I know this was the single, and it's lame to like the single but hey - this song is just plain amazing.

Visit their website.
Buy some Starsailor.

The Damnwells: Air Stereo

2006-06-22T02:26:00.000-06:00

I almost missed out on this since I was away from he blogging world for a few days. It looks like The Damnwells are going to be releasing their latest album, Air Stereo on August 15th (looks like August is shaping up to be pretty sweet!). You all can thank Lizzy over at Come Pick Me Up for the good news. Check out her blog, it rocks.

They've posted a few tracks up on their myspace page. Streams bug me so I've got them in a friendlier format below.

[mp3] I've Got You
[mp3] Golden Days

Visit The Damnwells website.
Buy their albums.

Starsailor: On The Outside

2006-06-20T14:32:00.000-06:00

It looks like Starsailor is finally going to hit up the US with their latest album, On The Outside, in August. You can read a little more about here from Alternative Addiction. I'm not sure if it will live up to the hype - I've been a little disappointed since Love Is Here.

I've managed to snag a song from the import version, let me know what you think.

[mp3] This Time

EDITED 6/21/06: Sorry, I forgot this one was actually on Silence Is Easy, though this mix is a little different. Still, enjoy the Starsailor. Thanks for the catch Todd and Stu!

[mp3] Four or The Floor

Visit Starsailor's website.
Buy their albums.

iTunes Single of the Week: Landon Pigg

2006-06-20T14:23:00.000-06:00

It seems as if the iTunes Music Store decides to put up something acceptable every other week as their free single. This week it's Landon Pigg. It's certainly not earth-shattering, but it's worth the free download. It's a slower number, brings early Coldplay to mind.

[iTunes] Landon Pigg: Sailed On

Visit Landon's official website, pre-order the album there as well.

Mason Jennings: Boneclouds

2006-06-14T14:34:00.000-06:00

Over the past five years Mason Jennings has slowly built a large following due to his honest, down to earth lyrics and constant touring. His ability to mix politics, spirituality and earnest feeling while painting vivid imagery in the mind of the listener has proven that Mason is one of the strongest songwriters of the 21st century. Boneclouds marks Mason’s first release on a major label, Isaac Brock’s (Modest Mouse) Glacial Pace Records, a division of Sony’s Epic Records. While the record stays true to Mason’s roots through most of the journey, parts are certainly influenced by his newfound label - with mixed results.

The album opens up on a familiar note with “Be Here Now”, also the first single from the album. “Be Here Now” stays in the same vein as “Sorry Signs on Cash Machines” from 2002’s Century Spring, relying mainly on the piano and a catchy hook. The song is certainly more realized than those on previous releases, but this heavier production yields positive results. The second track, “Gentlest Hammer” follows a similar pattern, using laid back guitars and another strong hook to keep the album moving in a positive direction.

The next two tracks epitomize everything that Mason does so well. The third track, “If You Ain’t Got Love” is the first on the album that really utilizes Mason’s storytelling to his full potential. “...Love” features the strongest lyrical content off the album and is certainly one of the highlights of the album. “Some Say I’m Not” draws from Mason’s spiritual side, while also channeling Zeppelin to create the strongest track on the album - and one of his best to date.

After the first four tracks the album tends to drop off in to mediocrity. “Moon Sailing Over Water” is good, but forgettable. “If You Need a Reason” and “Which Way Your Heart Will Go” also feature good song-writing, but Mason is certainly capable of more. “Jackson Square” is the only real stand-out track off the last half of the album, combining vivid lyrics and a the catchy vocal lines we’ve come to expect.

The last two tracks are best described as mistakes. “Where The Sun Has Gone” is the worst song I’ve ever heard from Mason. With a few misses on past releases (Godless, Duluth), it’s not shocking to find one here - though I didn’t think I’d find one that would miss THIS much. The track feels like a throwaway from some Modest Mouse sessions, featuring no guitars, replaced instead by synths and delayed vocals. If you’re familiar with Mason, you know his vocals just aren’t suited for this genre. “Jesus, Are You Real?” wraps the album up in a rather anti-climactic way. Although the lyrical content is good, again mixing in spiritual elements, the recording does the song no justice.

Mason’s major label debut shows flashes of brilliance during the first four songs and solid song-writing right up until the end. If Boneclouds shows us anything, it shows that Isaac Brock shouldn’t be allowed in the studio with Mason - otherwise you get “Where The Sun Has Gone”.

Overall rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

[mp3] Some Say I'm Not
[mp3] Jackson Square

Visit Mason's website.
Buy some Mason Jennings.

Weekly 6 Pack

2006-06-13T16:25:00.000-06:00

Now that I've had some time to get my feet wet in the blogging world I think it's high time that I do this in a more organized fashion. I don't have the time to update this daily but I'll strive to post a number of different features each week. I'll try to get at least one album review up each week, a new/unsigned band feature and a 6 Pack of random songs that you should have. I'm sure I'll be able to manage more, but that's the minimum you should come to expect each week. Now, onto the first "6 Pack".

I'm posting my first "6 Pack" feature today. Each week I'll pick out 6 songs that I've been listening to a lot. There's not really a rhyme or reason to this, some will be new releases, some will be classic and others will just be from recent memory. If you haven't heard of the bands I'm posting and you generally like what I post, check 'em out!

[mp3] Soft - You Make Me Wanna Die

Soft has been hidden on my iPod for the past year and I've just recently rediscovered them. Don't be deceived by their name - they're anything but soft. The band provides a rich blend of heavy guitars, keyboards and psychedelic effects to please any lover of alternative rock from the past 15 years. I highly recommend these guys.

Visit their website (purchase their album there as well).

[mp3] Spoon - Paper Tiger

So, I uploaded this song yesterday, but I forgot to link it up. Thus, my six pack is completed now.

This one comes from Kill The Moonlight, an excellent CD to pick up if you haven't already. The song itself feels very different from the rest of the album - very trippy, excellent to listen to in headphones. It's one of those songs that you just sit in your car and finish listening to after you've already gotten to your destination - even if you're late.

Visit their website.
Buy some Spoon.

[mp3] Muse - Exo=Politics

Here's another track off the upcoming Muse album. This one has helped me regain my trust in the band. It feels like Muse again.

Sorry for the delay on this one my file server wouldn't let me upload for a few hours...

Visit their website.
Buy some Muse.

[mp3] Led Zeppelin - Misty Mountain Hop

If you don't have this song, you should. One of Zepp's finer moments off of one of their finer albums.

Buy some Zeppelin.

[mp3] Superdrag - Who Sucked Out The Feeling?

This is a rather obscure track from the 90's that I stumbled across in my local indie shop a few years back. Although Superdrag often was written off for just being another Nirvana rip off, they do it well enough to warrant a listen. If you're into The Vines, check these guys out.

Buy some Superdrag.

[mp3] BRMC - In Like The Rose

Although I prefer the more recent release, HOWL, their second album was still full of strong material. This song made me a believer in the band, definitely worth a listen if you listen to any indie rock whatsoever.

Visit their website.
Buy some BRMC.

Howie Day: Live and Solo

2006-06-13T03:16:00.000-06:00

If you would have asked me to name off my favorite bands 3 years ago, Howie would have been #2. With the release of his second album and the explosion of Collide he's managed to not only drop in the rankings, but he's also been nearly exterminated from my iPod as a result.

Since I've been doing some spring cleaning on my iPod (only 3MB available) I was about to delete these Howie live cuts, but thankfully I decided to listen to them first.

Let me preface this by saying yes, I know that Howie has all but sold out now. I know that Collide sucks, I know. Believe me - if anyone knows these things, I do. I was looking forward to seeing him play in SLC last year as if The Beatles were coming. After the show I wanted to burn the Howie Day shirt I had purchased - that's how much it killed me to see his transformation into the mainstream.

I just can't get past his former greatness. He was at his best when it was just him with his looping pedals. If you've only heard Collide, listen to these tracks. It should give you some respect for the man.

Howie Day, live in Boston, MA 4/28/2002

Disc 1
[mp3]Intro
[mp3]Sorry, So Sorry
[mp3]She Says>One
[mp3]Ghost>Beams of Light*
[mp3]Morning After
[mp3]After You*
[mp3]Buzzing>Africa>Buzzing*
[mp3]Disco
[mp3]The Drugs Don't Work

Disc 2
[mp3]Kristina
[mp3]Bunnies*
[mp3]Slow Down
[mp3]Impressions/Covers
[mp3]Secret
[mp3]More You Understand
[mp3]Madrigals*
[mp3]Encore Break
[mp3]Sweet*

See Howie's official website.
Buy some Howie Day.
If you want a lossless version of this show just check out the Live Music Archive.

*HIGHLY recommended.

New Muse

2006-06-10T19:20:00.000-06:00

Have you heard the new Muse yet?

I did. I didn't really like it either. I decided I'd leave it up to you. I've heard a few live cuts of other new tracks that I'll put up next week, hopefully the album sticks to THOSE guns.

[mp3] Supermassive Black Hole

Visit their official website.
Buy some Muse.

SLC Bands Part IV: Seve vs. Evan

2006-06-09T12:08:00.000-06:00

It's been quite awhile since I have posted in my SLC Bands feature. This time I bring you an eclectic band, Seve vs. Evan.

I first saw these guys open up for some other forgettable band in Salt Lake. I didn't quite know what to think - I was used to waiting 30 minutes between bands and they were set up within 10 minutes. Why so quick? Well, it's just 2 guys - a keyboardist/vocalist and a drummer.

They play what most have dubbed "Nintendo-rock". The MIDI sounds should be familiar to any child of the 80's or 90's, but everything comes together a little differently in a 2-man setting.

[mp3] Angry Unicorn Queen
[mp3] Mega Bomberman

Visit their Myspace here.

Here's my previous features in case you missed them:

SLC Bands Part I: Tolchock Trio
SLC Bands Part II: The Brobecks
SLC Bands Part III: Palomino

iTunes Single of the Week: Office

2006-06-08T09:32:00.000-06:00

Remember when I said that I'd keep you updated on good iTunes singles of the week? Well, there's finally a good one up.

This one is by a band called "Office". It's power-pop, so if you're into Matthew Sweet or Brendan Benson, this should be right up your alley.

[iTunes] Office - Wound Up

Buy their album here from iTunes.
Visit the official website here.

5 Picks

2006-06-08T08:26:00.000-06:00

Here's 5 songs that have been in my rotation pretty heavily over the past few days. Some are new, some aren't.

I never really liked The Beatles until I heard this song. This one's off The Anthologies so it's a bit rougher - still good.

[mp3] I've Got a Feeling (Beatles, Anthologies)

Buy some Beatles here.

I've been listening to this song quite a bit lately. I know, it's poppy but I like it. I haven't really gotten into his other stuff but this song is great.

[mp3] Nothing Left To Lose (Mat Kearney)

Buy some Mat Kearney here.

I'd never heard of Spirit until last spring. Since then I've started to really appreciate this forgotten band of the 70's. If you're into Zeppelin you'd like these guys.

[mp3] Apple Orchard (Spirit)

Buy some Spirit here.

It's hard for me to get into Gnarles Barkley since I'm so attuned to rock. Ray makes it easier on me.

[mp3] Crazy (Ray Lamontagne, Gnarles Barkley cover)

Buy some Ray Lamontagne here.

This one was one of my favorites back in the mid 90's when it came out. I still love it, I think the summertime always warms me up to this one.

[mp3] In The Meantime (Spacehog)

Buy some Spacehog here.

I've got a bunch of reviews written up for the albums I've purchased over the past few weeks, so watch for those the next few days.

#2?

2006-06-07T00:00:00.000-06:00

While roaming the "blog-scene" this past week I've come across 2 lists that have really pissed me off. The lists are below, the first of which is a list of the 100 greatest living songwriters. The list below it are the "10 Greatest Albums of All Time" according to some dumb Brits.

100 Greatest Living Songwriters (Paste Magazine):

100 T-Bone Burnett
99 Outkast
98 Jay Farrar
97 Josh Ritter
96 Jimmy Cliff
95 Patti Smith
94 Sam Phillips
93 Joseph Arthur
92 Alejandro Escovedo
91 Drive-By Truckers
90 Nick Cave
89 Victoria Williams
88 Parliament
87 Lyle Lovett
86 Sam Beam (Iron & Wine)
85 David Bazan (Pedro the Lion, Headphones)
84 They Might Be Giants
83 Fleetwood Mac (Buckingham, Nicks, McVie)
82 John Darnielle (The Mountain Goats)
81 The Flaming Lips
80 Pink Floyd
79 Stephen Malkmus (Pavement, Silver Jews)
78 Robert Pollard (Guided by Voices)
77 Bruce Cockburn
76 Will Oldham aka Bonnie "Prince" Billy
75 Ron Sexsmith
74 Over the Rhine
73 Julie Miller
72 Michael Jackson
71 Vic Chestnutt
70 Alex Chilton (Big Star, The Box Tops)
69 Merle Haggard
68 Allen Toussaint
67 Conor Oberst
66 Charles Thompson (aka Frank Black/Black Francis) (Pixies, The Catholics)
65 Bill Mallonee (Vigilantes of Love)
64 Andy Partridge (XTC)
63 Richard Thompson
62 Sting
61 John Hiatt
60 Jimmy Webb
59 Jack White
58 Sly Stone
57 Morrissey
56 James Brown
55 Dolly Parton
54 Aimee Mann
53 James Taylor
52 Paul Westerberg
51 Dan Penn & Spooner Oldham
50 Public Enemy
49 Cat Stevens
48 Gillian Welch / David Rawlings
47 Sufjan Stevens
46 David Byrne
45 Jackson Browne
44 Al Green
43 Ryan Adams
42 Loretta Lynn
41 Ray Davies
40 Burt Bacharach & Hal David
39 Led Zeppelin
38 Kris Kristofferson
37 Smokey Robinson
36 Beck
35 Steve Earle
34 John Fogerty
33 Pete Townshend
32 Leiber & Stoller
31 Carole King
30 John Prine
29 Tom Petty
28 Robbie Robertson
27 Radiohead
26 REM
25 Chuck Berry
24 Jeff Tweedy
23 Elton John / Bernie Taupin
22 Lucinda Williams
21 Lou Reed
20 Van Morrison
19 Patty Griffin
18 U2
17 Holland - Dozier- Holland
16 David Bowie
15 Willie Nelson
14 Stevie Wonder
13 Paul Simon
12 The Rolling Stones (Jagger/Richards)
11 Randy Newman
10 Prince
9 Joni Mitchell
8 Elvis Costello
7 Brian Wilson
6 Leonard Cohen
5 Paul McCartney
4 Tom Waits, Kathleen Brennan
3 Bruce Springsteen
2 Neil Young
1 Bob Dylan

This one pisses me off the most. Honestly, how can you put up a 100 greatest and leave off the best songwriters of Generation X (Pearl Jam). This is insane. No Billy Corgan/Smashing Pumpkins or Oasis. I guess the 90's never happened. The other omissions that have me steamed are Mason Jennings, Ben Harper and Pete Yorn. I feel these guys write stonger material than Outkast (99), at the very least...

Here's a few reasons I DO agree with the Neil at #2 selection:

[mp3] Cortez The Killer
[mp3] Long May You Run

I'd rather listen to Neil than Bob, but I know Bob deserves the #1 spot.

10 Greatest Albums of All Time (NME.com):

1. "Definitely Maybe," Oasis
2. "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," The Beatles
3. "Revolver," The Beatles
4. "OK Computer," Radiohead
5. "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?" Oasis
6. "Nevermind," Nirvana
7. "The Stone Roses," The Stone Roses
8. "Dark Side of the Moon," Pink Floyd
9. "The Queen Is Dead," The Smiths
10. "The Bends," Radiohead

Don't get me wrong - I love Oasis, but better than The Beatles? I don't think so.

Here's 2 convincing arguments for why The Beatles are better than Oasis:

[mp3] Taxman
[mp3] Getting Better

I feel that Revolver is the #1 album, but I KNOW it has to be The Beatles regardless of which one you pick.

Well, now you know my opinions, let's hear what you think.

The Eraser

2006-06-01T00:42:00.000-06:00

This is a first for me, and most likely a last. It's not really the blogger way to upload a whole album, but I'm really just another drop in the ocean at this point. I really think I'm the last living blogger to post this. It's pre-release, so just promise you'll buy it when it comes out.

Here it is, Thom Yorke's The Eraser in it's entirety. It sounds like Amnesiac to me, so if you're into that really weird Radiohead, you'll like this. Lots of blips and such.

[zip] The Eraser (Full Album)

LINK/FILE REMOVED

Order The Eraser here.
Visit the official website here.

Adam Elk: Labello

2006-05-30T10:21:00.000-06:00

Adam Elk's solo debut (Labello) in 1999 is an album that you should have, but probably don't. Adam spent most of the 1990's fronting The Mommyheads and playing a minor role in the 90's indie/alternative movement headed by the likes of Pavement. It seems that his solo album sank through the cracks, much as his work with The Mommyheads did.

Labello is a beautiful pop album. This isn't modern day pop - this is your grandad's pop. Well crafted hooks, excellent production and enough funk and soul to satisfy any child of the 70's. It's really too bad that this album didn't come out about 2 years later when Maroon 5 cashed in on the same formula.

Anyways, if you like 70's funk or if you like Maroon 5 but you're too cool to admit it, check out Adam Elk. Nobody knows him, so it's cool...

[mp3] Big Wheel
[mp3] Too Much of Nothing
[mp3] Feeding a Jealous Mind

Buy Labello here.
This is the only page I could find devoted to Adam Elk...
Go here for more information about The Mommyheads.

Now a request...

2006-05-24T10:56:00.000-06:00

I got an email inquiring about some new Keane songs, so I took some time out to track down some info.

While Keane isn't a favorite band of mine, they can hit the spot. I saw them in SLC, though I do have to say that Brendan Benson stole that show. We'll see who they are touring with this next time around...

New album out (Under The Iron Sea) on June 20th in the states, I've included a link for their new single below as well an unreleased track they put up on myspace. Believe it or not, that's not guitars in the intro...sounds like Zooropa.

[mp3] Is It Any Wonder?
[mp3] The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore

Buy some Keane here.
Visit Keane's official website here.

A cure for insomnia...

2006-05-23T23:16:00.000-06:00

It looks like life has once again gotten in they way of blogging. I'll try to be more consistent about these updates, it's just been crazy the last few weeks...and the playoffs haven't helped matters. But, onto the music.

Obviously, I like to listen to music. I've found that I sometimes need music to get me to sleep since I believe I have a mild case of insomnia. This little (well, not really little) track has been helping me sleep lately. It's called Cobra by My Morning Jacket.

If you haven't heard MMJ before than you're in for a treat. I've heard it described as "trippy alt-country" but that doesn't really do it justice. I don't really hear alt-country in these guys. They're just a jam band that loves reverb. Be forewarned - this download is 33MB, the song is some 25 minutes or so but it's all gold.

My normal file host won't let me upload this one because it's so friggin' huge, let me know if you have problems since it's on a different server...

[mp3] Cobra

Visit the MMJ official website here.
Buy some MMJ here.
You can also check them out on emusic!

Daddy's in the Doldrums, Baby's Got the Bends

2006-05-13T21:44:00.000-06:00

In case you haven't heard the news, Thom Yorke recorded a solo album under the name The Eraser. I guess it will be out soon, but I'm a little scared of it...sounds like lots of electro mumbo jumbo. In other Radiohead news, they're touring again...and they're playing some new songs that have been bootlegged. Check this link out for a download of a live & acoustic take of 3 new Radiohead songs. Much thanks to Heather at I am Fuel You are Friends!

But in the spirit of all things Radiohead, I decided to put up a few songs you may like from some bands that wish they were the great ones.

First is Endochine. This band caused a lot of stir in 2002 with their debut album, Day Two. It looks like they have vanished now, but this record is definitely worth a spin if you're into The Bends.

While The Secret Machines may not have a lot of resemblance to Radiohead on their first two albums, they're latest effort (Ten Silver Drops) is certainly in the same vein at some points. Daddy's In the Doldrums really gave me that "floaty' feeling that Radiohead is inspires when they are at their best.

Muse is certainly the king in the "Radiohead-esque" genre. Showbiz and Absolution are often given harsh reviews for just rehashing The Bends...but sometimes, that's really all I want (and Muse does a hell of a job with it).

Since I'm feeling generous today, I'll put up a few of my favorite tracks from my favorite Radiohead record (you guessed it) - The Bends.

Endochine
[mp3] Enough About You
[mp3] Stalker
Buy Day Two!

Secret Machines
[mp3] Daddy's In The Doldrums
Buy their albums here.

Muse
[mp3] The Small Print
[mp3] Muscle Museum
Buy their albums here.

Radiohead
[mp3] Planet Telex
[mp3] My Iron Lung
Buy their albums here.

Drive Away

2006-05-13T02:51:00.000-06:00

Sorry for the lack of updates lately, life's been keepin' me busy. I'll give you all a few updates over the weekend. Now, onto today's post:

God bless the internet super-highway and the information that flows from it...

A few weeks ago I posted every single unreleased Pete Yorn track I've been able to get ahold of. In combination with "I am Fuel, We are Friends" we gave you just about everything that's not on his 2 albums...all except one track.

Thanks to a loyal reader we can fix that now. Now, with no further ado I give you: Drive Away. It's a real rocker, so watch out.

This little track only made it onto the Japanese import of "Day I Forgot". It's a good one, so enjoy. Thanks danielle!!

[mp3] Drive Away

Visit Pete Yorn's official webpage here.
Buy some Pete Yorn here.

Cool For August: Grand World

2006-05-06T12:58:00.000-06:00

It's funny how you can find such excellent music in the bargain bin...all due to record labels making lousy decisions about which records to push and which to lay off. Here's a little info about the band:

Cool For August hit the scene in '97 with the release of their album "Grand World". It must have seemed like the beginning of a huge career for the guys - they had a hit single in "Trials" and were opening for Matchbox 20. Unfortunately, it didn't turn out quite as planned...

I've been trying to dig up information about these guys for ages, but I just haven't been able to find anything. All I know is that they just plain don't exist anymore...

I must have bought at least 10 copies of this album over the years - no joke. You can find it online for a penny at Amazon and I always check in the bargain bin, you can usually find it there for a few bucks. It's worth it's weight in gold, buy it if you find it!

[mp3] Trials
[mp3] Walk Away

Sorry - no official webpage. Here's a little about them at Wikipedia.
Buy Grand World here - it's listed for one penny!

The Damnwells

2006-05-05T14:28:00.000-06:00

I know that lizzy over at Come Pick Me Up has been buzzing about these guys for a while, but I figured I'd help reinforce the buzz...

I first heard of these guys in October of 2004 after an Old 97's concert in Salt Lake City. It was cold and rainy outside of the trashy exit of Brick's, but there were two very persistent people handing out CD singles regardless of the weather. I think I was about the only one who bit and took one, for this I am thankful.

On the ride home I listened to what I came to find out was a promo CD for The Damnwells that included Sleepsinging and Kiss Catastrophe from their recently released LP "Bastards of the Beat". I was so entranced with the CD that I didn't sleep after the 2 hour drive home, I instead looked up as much information as I could on The Damnwells. The next day I went out and bought "Bastards of the Beat".

If you haven't heard their LP, do yourself a favor and go buy it. It's a perfect mix of alt. country and power pop - think Tonic meets "Cold Roses" by Ryan Adams. I've used this CD many times as an introduction to alt country - it's probably the most accessible album the genre has.

I've included a few of my favorite tracks from "Bastards of the Beat" as well as some demos that they have posted on myspace over the past few months.

From "Bastards of the Beat":
[mp3] What You Get
[mp3] Kiss Catastrophe

Demos:
[mp3] Jesus Could Be Right
[mp3] Soundtrack
[mp3] She's the New York City Skyline

Visit their official webpage here.
Their myspace is here.
Buy The Bastards of the Beat!

iTunes Single of the Week

2006-05-03T14:03:00.000-06:00

Sorry for the downtime yesterday - I was busy with my new Pearl Jam CD. Quite good, go buy it. I'll probably throw a review up this weekend. I'm really diggin' Army Reserve. Anyways, onto today's post:

iTunes has a free single each week. The songs vary in genres and in quality. I decided today that I'll point you in the way of iTunes each week that I find something I like.

This week they posted an acoustic version of The Racontuer's "Steady As She Goes". It's slowed down, a little more groove to it. I highly recommend it. I've also included the song "The Bane Rendition", an instrumental number that landed on the B-side of the Steady As She Goes single.

[iTunes] Steady As She Goes (acoustic)
[mp3] The Bane Rendition

Check out their official website here (I highly recommend a visit).
Pre-order the album here.

One more day!!

2006-05-01T14:28:00.000-06:00

It's out tomorrow.

Here's the first single of the album, with the B-side "Unemployable".
I may not post tomorrow, but enjoy the new PJ.

[mp3] World Wide Suicide
[mp3] Unemployable

Buy some Pearl Jam here.
Visit the official website here.

Eddie Vedder: Covers

2006-04-30T21:15:00.000-06:00

During the last few years Eddie has gone out and recorded some covers with a few different bands. I've included the 3 that I've been able to find, all are pretty punk-rockish, but that's what you gotta expect from Eddie.

[mp3] Poor Girl (with The Supersuckers, X cover)
[mp3] Daytime Dilemma (with Zeke, Ramones cover)
[mp3] I Believe in Miracles (with Zeke, Ramones cover)

The above Ramones covers are from the tribute album "We're All a Happy Family".

Buy some Pearl Jam here.
Visit the official website here.

Pearl Jam: Unplugged

2006-04-29T21:23:00.000-06:00

It's going to be an all-out Pearl Jam fest until Tuesday.

Nirvana really stole the spotlight on MTVs Unplugged concert series in the early '90s, so much so that Pearl Jam's performance was nearly overlooked. The set is short, but agressive (as much as unplugged can be). This take on Black is my favorite of any of the boots I've heard, including the times I've seen them. Intense.

[mp3] (Intro)
[mp3] Oceans
[mp3] State of Love and Trust
[mp3] Alive
[mp3] Black
[mp3] Jeremy
[mp3] Porch
[mp3] Even Flow

Buy some Pearl Jam here.
Visit the official website here.

Pearl Jam: Stream the album

2006-04-29T14:17:00.000-06:00

I know I'm going to take some heat from this...but I don't care.

I love Pearl Jam and it doesn't really bug me that the indie world has decided that Pearl Jam isn't "cool", I'd rather listen to them then Tapes 'n Tapes any day. I guess I'll just wait until Pitchfork gives this a good review, then all the indie kids will "magically" think PJ is cool again, right?

While I decided I'm going to wait to pop in the self-titled album until Tuesday, you can choose otherwise. Stream the whole thing here.

I've heard the two songs they've released (World Wide Suicide and Unemployable) and it reminds me of the Vs. and Vitalogy days. I've uploaded a few tracks from that era that you may or may not have heard. Alone and Wash were re-recorded and put on the Lost Dogs Double CD but these are the original versions. Brother is worth a listen, even with the sub-par quality. Sonic Reducer and I've Got a Feeling are both covers.

[mp3] Alone
[mp3] Wash
[mp3] Brother
[mp3] Sonic Reducer (Dead Boys cover)
[mp3] I've Got a Feeling (Beatles cover)

Buy some Pearl Jam here.
Visit the official website here.

Ryan Adams: Jacksonville out-take

2006-04-28T13:43:00.000-06:00

Before I get into today's post I figured I should let all of you know that I officially switched over to a different file server. All of the previous posts have been edited so all of the links now work. If you have trouble downloading any files, please just let me know by commenting or emailing me. Now, onto today's' post:

Jacksonville City Nights was the second release from Ryan in 2005. After Cold Roses I was very excited for this release; sadly, it disappointed. The CD isn't weak, it just wasn't what I was expecting after Cold Roses. If you're looking for another rockin' double disc, you'll also be disappointed since Jacksonville is basically a 50's country album. But if you're into 50's country then you should buy 5 copies.

It's grown on me over time but I really wish this track would have been included. It's called "Tell Me What Sin Replaces Love?" and it was recorded in the Jacksonville sessions. It also made it onto the Japanese version. Damn, they love rock 'n roll over in Japan.

[mp3] What Sin Replaces Love?

Buy some Ryan Adams online here.
Visit Ryan's official website for more information about him.

One last time

2006-04-27T12:22:00.000-06:00

I know I've blogged about Pete Yorn a lot in this blogs short little life. Now I've got just one more post, because after this I'm out. I got nothin more Yorn related after this.

If you haven't already checked out Heather's mega-post over at I Am Fuel, You Are Friends, do it now. She posted 14 unreleased Pete Yorn tracks, including a few new ones I've never been able to find.

Since Heather was making a rather definitive list, I decided to put the other few tracks up that I had that weren't included. Mostly covers, download away. I promise I'll have a non-Pete Yorn post tomorrow (unless he releases some more new stuff of course).

[mp3] Panic (Smiths cover, MFTMA Bonus Disc)*
[mp3] Dancin' In the Dark (Springsteen cover, MFTMA Bonus Disc)
[mp3] Girl Like You (Bonus track from MFTMA)
[mp3] Do They Know It's Christmas? (Band Aid cover, The Year They Recalled Santa Claus)
[mp3] I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend (Ramones cover, We're a Happy Family - A Tribute to The Ramones)
[mp3] Strange Condition (Rock Version, MFTMA Bonus Disc)*

I think the only song I haven't been able to track down is "Drive Away". It's listed on the Japanese import of Day I Forgot...and I'm not willing to shell out 50 for one song, so if anyone has it, it would be greatly appreciated!

Buy some Pete Yorn here.
Visit his website here.

*Thanks for digging these out for me Stu!

Damn...I forgot until now how much that rock version of Strange Condition rocks. It really does rock, no foolin' around.

Now, due to popular demand...

2006-04-25T00:26:00.000-06:00

I give you 2 new tracks from the (hopefully) forthcoming Pete Yorn album. I've also included the cover "Splendid Isolation" that I bumped into a few weeks ago.

Pete has released 3 tracks from the new album onto myspace over the past few months (though they have now all been taken down), I've only been able to nab 2 of them so far. Here you go, you can thank yourselves for being so demanding.

[mp3] For Us
[mp3] Old Boy
[mp3] Splendid Isolation

Visit Pete's website for the latest news.
Buy some Pete Yorn here.

Again, I'm using a new filehost now so if you encounter any problems either email me or post a comment.

Big Paul Strange/Radiojones

2006-04-24T12:56:00.000-06:00

The old mp3.com of 1999 was such a great place for finding music. I still haven't found a place that was as easy to use or that is as loaded with great, free music as that site was. While I was browsing mp3.com in my middleschool years I happened to stumble across a few artists whom I still follow today. Big Paul Strange was the best of the crop, so I decided I'd share some of his music (and an update) with all of you.

Big Paul Strange (aka Paul Trudeau) was the only person I ever found on mp3.com that released a full album for free. It's hard to compare the album since it spans so many genres, but as a whole it feels like something The Wallflowers could put out. Paul also showed a knack for writing Beatles-esque songs - check out Mr. Peaceman, Safe Side and Don't Tell Sandy if you love anything post Rubber Soul or Oasis in general.

I wasn't able to find much information about Paul Trudeu until a few years ago, when he posted a few more songs onto Garageband.com. He was through using the BPS moniker, now just going as Paul Trudeau. The newer songs followed the same general route as the older material, hard to define but still very catchy.

This last weekend I found another update on Paul. He's now formed a new band (radiojones) that seems to have found some success. I've linked up to 3 songs that are available for download on the radiojones official website.

Big Paul Strange
[mp3] Fireball *
[mp3] Don't Tell Sandy *
[mp3] Walking To Eden
[mp3] Mr. Peaceman
[mp3] Safe Side

Paul Trudeau
[mp3] What's Your Name?
[mp3] Helpless

radiojones
[mp3] Fireball
[mp3] Desperately
[mp3] Forgotten

Visit radiojonesmusic.com for more information and to purchase the new album!

*original recordings from Big Paul Strange. These are NOT the same versions that appear on the radiojones CD.

PS: I'm trying a new file server, it seems to be working a lot better. If it has problems, let me know. I'm planning on re-uploading all the previous songs onto the new server.

Theme music for staring at walls...

2006-04-20T11:35:00.000-06:00

It's called "spacing out", man.

Here's some music that can make it happen:

Imaad Wasif: I recently fell in love with Imaad's album via An Aquarium Drunkard. Check his blog out, it's great. The whole album is stripped down, mainly just acoustic guitar with some background to it. It's really spooky, reminds me of what Joseph Arthur sounds like live. He's currently on tour as the opening act for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs AND he's also a member...

[mp3] Into the Static
[mp3] Fade in Me (recommended)

Buy some Imaad Wasif here.

The Secret Machines: It's been said before, but I'll say it again: If Pink Floyd was an indie band, this is what they'd sound like. The new one is outstanding (Alone, Jealous and Stoned). New album out this month (not sure on the US release).

[mp3] Alone, Jealous and Stoned
[mp3] Nowhere Again

Buy some Secret Machines here.

Joseph Arthur: The great one. Just a few from his last LP, Our Shadows Will Remain. More to come on Joseph Arthur soon.

[mp3] Even Tho
[mp3] Wasted

Buy some Joseph Arthur here.

Enjoy. Just don't be late for work.

PS: Zutons d/l should work. Let me know if you have any other downloading problems, just comment on it!

The Redwalls: Best new band of '05?

2006-04-18T13:33:00.000-06:00

Last summer I ran across The Redwalls in the most unlikely way. I was in Salt Lake with my fiance and her 8 year old brother and we decided to stop and look around at a record store. While there Austin (her brother) was running around and throwing on headphones, just listening to whatever was playing on them. After a few minutes he approached me, saying "You'll like this one, come listen!"

I was expecting some kind of disgusting dance/pop a la Britney Spears or other such trash, but instead I was treated with what sounded like a band straight out of the '60s that had somehow slipped under the radar. I found out the CD was De Nova by The Redwalls, but I didn't have any money to buy the CD right then.

A few weeks later while browsing an indie shop in town my friend came across the same CD, we picked it up along with the new Abandoned Pools. Now, 8 months later, the AP CD is in the trash and The Redwalls is in high rotation. I've included links to a few of my favorite tracks off of their latest release "De Nova", as well as a bonus track "Memories" only released in Japan.

PS: Post some comments already! Just click on the link that says how many comments there are...now anonymous users can post comments!

[mp3] Robinson Crusoe
[mp3] Front Page
**BONUS TRACK**
[mp3] Memories

Buy some Redwalls here.
http://www.theredwalls.com

Pete Yorn: New Album??

2006-04-16T02:09:00.000-06:00

Pete has been toying with all of us for the past year with hints of a new album. He's posted a few unreleased songs (who knows if they're going on the album though) on myspace over the past few months but those were taken down this last week. His website has yet to be updated and we still have no news about this supposed 20 track album.

Although things look a little bleak, I'll keep holding out. Here's a few older Pete tracks that didn't make it either of his albums. Seventeen was s bonus track from Day I Forgot. I'm honestly not sure where You Never Knew came from - I believe it was a demo from MFTMA.

[mp3] Seventeen
[mp3] You Never Knew

Buy some Pete Yorn here.
Pete's Myspace is here.
http://www.peteyorn.com

SLC Bands Part III: Palomino

2006-04-15T13:41:00.000-06:00

All that talk about Glen Phillips made me think of one of my favorite SLC bands, Palomino. When Glen came through town last April he put on a fantastic show, one of the most memorable for me last year. The Blue Merle opened up for him, along with the last second addition of Palomino.

I'm very thankful that Palomino played this show, otherwise I probably would have never heard of them. Their blend of pop, rock and country is very sweet to the ears. Download "Being Alone" below for a taste of their Alt-Country goodness.

[mp3] Being Alone

Palomino's website seems to be down right now, but their myspace is here.
Their official webiste is here (when it comes back up).

Glen Phillips: Demos

2006-04-15T02:57:00.000-06:00

Better known as the frontman for the early 90's sensation Toad the Wet Sprocket, Glen Phillips truly came into his own last year with the release of "Winter Pays For Summer". While it doesn't seem that his former label (Lost Highway) agrees with me on this, I put "Winter..." down in my top 10 albums released last year.

So, with the announcement of not just one, but two (2) new releases in the next month by Glen, I thought I'd post a few demos to get everyone in the mood. Check out the demo for "Easier", a song that ended up appearing on "Winter..." as well as a demo for Marigolds from the upcoming "Mr. Lemons". I've always preferred the demo of Easier compared to the version that appeared on the album - the version for d/l here is just a little darker, more rock.

[mp3] Easier (Demo)
[mp3] Marigolds (Demo)

Check out Glen's site for more info on his upcoming LP "Mr. Lemons" as well as the recently released EP "Unlucky 7" featuring out-takes from "Winter Pays For Summer".

Buys some Glen here.
http://www.glenphillips.com

PS: There's some streams from "Mr. Lemons" at Glen's Myspace.

The Zutons - Tired of Hangin' Around

2006-04-14T11:32:00.000-06:00

The Zutons have a new CD out next week. Unfortunately for us in the US, it's a UK only release for the time being, so I may have to pay an import price to get one to me.

I've managed to snag a few tracks from the upcoming album, it sounds just as rockin' as the last one, so get ready!

[mp3] Why Won't You Give Me Your Love?
[mp3] Hello Conscience

Pre-order the new album here.
http://www.thezutons.com

Flickerstick: Before BOTR

2006-04-13T01:26:00.000-06:00

Flickerstick easily qualifies as one of my favorite bands of all time - and just with 2 albums out. I (like most who found them) first saw them on VH1's Bands on the Run. I was hooked, and I will also proudly say it was the first and last reality show I've ever seen.

The thing that set Flickerstick apart from the other bands was their talent. They were all lazy bastards, they never took part in -any- competitions, and when they did they lost. Luckily for them (and me) VH1 had a battle of the bands before kicking any band off. Whomever won the battle couldn't be kicked off. Flickerstick won every single time. They can just flat out put on a show - none of the other bands had half of the live presence that Flickerstick does. Essentially, this is why VH1 canceled the series - Flickerstick broke the formula, so it wasn't worth trying again. Too bad.

I recently rediscovered some unreleased Flickerstick from their early days. The discography from this time is a little tough to come by, but from what I can decipher these seem to have been on the "Chloroform The One You Love" EP, out a few years before their first release on 226 records (Welcoming Home the Astronauts).

I know, the MP3s are encoded at a low bitrate, but it's as high as I could find them. Just remember - this is EARLY demos, not what they're doing right now. I'll be posting more Flickerstick sometime in the future, so take what you hear now and multiply it by about 1000, that's how much better they sound now.

[mp3] International
[mp3] Supersonic Dreamer

Buy some Flickerstick here.
http://www.flickerstick.com

The Raconteurs: White Stripes + Brendan Benson + REAL drummer = fantastic

2006-04-12T02:16:00.000-06:00

I promised the guys in my band I'd get this one up today. Sorry it's late, I guess today turned into yesterday since the promise was made Tuesday...

I've had a long and flirtatious love affair with The White Stripes. I first heard "Fell in Love With a Girl" when it came out back in the day and it made me believe that music videos may be viable...I don't think I've seen one since. But that one kicked ass. I loved Elephant, but I could never really bring myself to buy their latest album for one reason - I'm a better drummer than Meg White. The worst part is, I'm terrible, but I've even sat in for our drummer warming up for one show and played Seven Nation Army flawlessly.

My love affair for Brendan Benson is much more fleeting, it only started a year ago when I saw him open for Keane in Salt Lake. He rocked the house, much better than Keane could ever hope to be.

So what do these two gentleman have to do with one another? I'm sure most of the bloggers out there already know, but to those of you who don't, I let the cat out of the bag that it's already been kicked back into: Jack White and Brendan Benson have formed a super-group (the best since Zwan!) with a real drummer. My dream come true! Check out the downloads below to hear the new stuff (band name = The Raconteurs) and a few links to some of my favorite tunes from their previous efforts.

The Raconteurs

[mp3] Steady As She Goes
[mp3] Store Bought Bones

No CD yet - out in May. Website below:
http://www.theraconteurs.com

The White Stripes

[mp3] Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground
[mp3] I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself

Buy White Stripes CDs here.
http://www.whitestripes.com

Brendan Benson

[mp3] Alternative To Love
[mp3] Spit It Out

Buy Brendan Benson CDs here.
http://www.brendanbenson.com

Ryan Adams: Cowboy Technical Sessions

2006-04-12T01:25:00.000-06:00

In 2005 Ryan Adams re-established himself as the most prolific modern-day American songwriter by releasing 3(!) albums during the calendar year. Three albums in one year certainly seems outrageous in today's music scene, but if you look at Ryan's recording history then it becomes apparent that 2005 only comes out a bit higher than average. Fortunately for us, he was able to officially release nearly everything he recorded last year - this hasn't always been the case.

In total, Ryan has officially released 15 albums (with Whiskeytown, the Cardinals and as a solo artist). Even with all these official releases Ryan has managed to hit the studio approximately 15 more times during these years, with only about 12 tracks surfacing on official releases (i.e. Demolition). Today, I'll let you in on one of my favorites of these sexism's - The Cowboy Technical Sessions.

It's just 3 tracks, but they all hit home. Ghost is one of my favorite tunes, I never really understood why it never saw the light of day. My Love For You Is Real is just beautiful, no other way to describe it. Liar is the pure punch-in-the-gut rock that Ryan only gives out occasionally. This is a rough cut, it has since been re-recorded and released as a B-side. This version is much shorter, and much more aggressive.

For more info on Ryan's recordings, see here:

Answering Bell - Ryan Adams Discography

Downloads:

[mp3] Ghost
[mp3] My Love For You Is Real
[mp3] Liar

Buy some Ryan Adams here.
http://www.ryan-adams.com

SLC Bands Part II: The Brobecks

2006-04-11T01:59:00.000-06:00

Part II of the SLC feature:

Here's another band that you should -not- pass up. The infectious blend of piano rock with that good old fashion middle school pop-punk sensabillity a'la Green Day is just too much to resist. While I've somehow managed to blow every chance I've had to see these guys live, I reckon I'll see them soon - but their recordings say it all. I'd imagine that this is what Coldplay would sound like if they spent more time getting up in your grill rather than on self-contemplation. Sometimes you just have to rock the socks off. Check out the links below for a sampling of what this band can offer.

The Brobecks - Better Than Me
The Brobecks - Sleeping Pills

Buy Brobecks CDs from their website (below):
http://www.brobecks.com

Neve/Genius

2006-04-10T02:21:00.000-06:00

You may remember the band Neve from various soundtracks in the late '90s (The Faculty, Here on Earth) or you may not. If you ever heard anything from them, you may now be wondering (or at least I was) what happened to this band. Since one of this band's songs (3 years) was chosen for my senior prom, they have a special spot for me and I went about digging around the internet for some information of their whereabouts.

What I found was that the band has (more or less) renamed themselves as "Genius" and they're readying a new CD. I've included a download link for two of the new songs "Pretend" and "Afraid", both a bit more rockin' than the poppier songs Neve released, as well as a few unreleased gems from the Neve days. If you're interested in seeing more of this material, let me know and I'll throw some more up.

Genius:

Pretend
Afraid

Neve (Unreleased):

Orbit
Wake Up

Buy Neve CDs here.
http://www.geniusband.com

SLC Bands Part I: Tolchock Trio

2006-04-10T01:41:00.000-06:00

This is the first in a series I'll be doing this week spotlighting a few bands from my backyard. If you haven't heard of these bands, check 'em out now, if you've seen their names on flyers, now you have even more reason to see them.

If you don't know this band yet, you should. The Tolchock Trio hails from Salt Lake City, UT and after a succesful showing at SXSW last month things are looking bright. My band had the good fortune of playing with these guys a few months ago and I must say, they put on one of the better shows I've ever seen. Think Muse meets The Pixies. I've included a link below for a free download of their song, "Wolf Eyes". Yes, yes, I know there's four of them - but it used to be a trio...I'm assuming they just don't want to change their name now.

Download Wolf Eyes

Buy Tolchock Trio CDs from their website (below):
http://www.tolchocktrio.net

A spacious hole in the ground

New Blog

Winner and a small update

The dangers of studio time...

Now, for something *highly* recommended...

Mega CD Giveaway!

Big Tuesday

In case you haven't yet...

NEW Ryan Adams: Lovely and Blue

and so, I return...

Quick Note...

Tom Petty - Highway Companion

Band of Annuals

Halftime Awards

Jets Overhead

Weekly 6 Pack

More Damnwells...

Weekly 6 Pack

Muse is streaming...

Donavon Frankenreiter: Move By Yourself

Yearning for more Yorn?

Weekly 6 Pack

The Damnwells: Air Stereo

Starsailor: On The Outside

iTunes Single of the Week: Landon Pigg

Mason Jennings: Boneclouds

Weekly 6 Pack

Howie Day: Live and Solo

New Muse

SLC Bands Part IV: Seve vs. Evan

iTunes Single of the Week: Office

5 Picks

#2?

The Eraser

Adam Elk: Labello

Now a request...

A cure for insomnia...

Daddy's in the Doldrums, Baby's Got the Bends

Drive Away

Cool For August: Grand World

The Damnwells

iTunes Single of the Week

One more day!!

Eddie Vedder: Covers

Pearl Jam: Unplugged

Pearl Jam: Stream the album

Ryan Adams: Jacksonville out-take

One last time

Now, due to popular demand...

Big Paul Strange/Radiojones

Theme music for staring at walls...

The Redwalls: Best new band of '05?

Pete Yorn: New Album??

SLC Bands Part III: Palomino

Glen Phillips: Demos

The Zutons - Tired of Hangin' Around

Flickerstick: Before BOTR

The Raconteurs: White Stripes + Brendan Benson + REAL drummer = fantastic

Ryan Adams: Cowboy Technical Sessions

SLC Bands Part II: The Brobecks

Neve/Genius

SLC Bands Part I: Tolchock Trio

Now, for something highly recommended...