In 1994 1/4 Stick records put out Rodan‘s rusty album. Which you would think the singer is a dead ringer for Albini on vocals but in reality it was just the attitude for this musical indie prog nighmare. They’re proverbial jam band in comparison to the finely knit indie of today. This single record you could safely say set the bar for noise and the insult of melody. Beautiful dissonance at it’s best.
We love buying records and last summer when we stumbled on Black Gold Records and Antiques I felt like a found a little mecca. I was so excited I had them take off their first T-shirt of a mannequin so I could buy it. I think I bought that pink Battles record there and a few others things. Anyway, here’s a video put together by Brooklyn Independent TV. Oh and did I mention they also sell Coffee. Perfect place to stop off after dinner around that area.
If I Love You (New European Gold Standard Secret Babylonian Brotherhood Cinema Mix) MP3 by The Brian Jonestown Massacre from Bravery, Repetition And Noise Golden Blunders MP3 by The Posies from Dear 23 Gold Top MP3 by The Supersuckers from La Mano Carnuda The Golden Age MP3 by The Flaming Lips from Fight Test EP I want my records back MP3 by Pulaski from Why are you doing this to me?
Not sure I’d want to be Emily White from NPR’s All Songs Considered and I hope her friends are watching here carefully and she does get to keep her job. NPR’s blog has responded to David Lowery in her defense in the debate. Granted the RS blog is a music mp3 blog where we post submitted (mostly) music for you to download for free. We do always encourage you to purchase the full albums of bands we feature, see them live and discover things because we have awesome taste. I do like to make it known we frequent record stores(again) at least once or twice a month, have a Emusic account and even buy popular songs for the daughters on iTunes -yup we’ll probably be buying Bieves new one. Paying top dollar so they can enjoy on demand their favorite pop songs. Anyway, we hope some awareness comes out of this for artist trying to continue make living making music. It’s not easy we know even though there are many more ways than ever for independent artists to let their music be heard. So on that note. Here’s some random music submissions for you to judge, listen and check out for yourself. As always enjoy!
QUICK REVIEWS FOR SHORT ATTENTION SPANS:
First up is a track called Far in Between an MP3 by a band called EndAnd from their album Adventures of Fi in Space This trio is from epicenter known as Brooklyn. They are a anti-keyboard rock-band. Yes, this is what I’m talking about. Shoegazer distortion meets indie on this very first short ditty will beg you to listen to the rest. Good fucking loud shit like Blur meets Bluetip. Name your price on their bandcamp page and give them 5 bux.
Under The Skylight MP3 by Katrin The Thrill from Evil Eye Charm. This is a independent band. Katrin is from Athens, Greece. She writes global alternative music alla PJ Harvey meets Patti Smith.
Here’s a cool dub mixtape from RKTR from Chicago. If you like this kind of groove drug dance mixing. It’s pretty good so break-out your glow sticks and lava lamps. Depeche Mode meets the residents instrumentally. Download from their soundcloud page yourself.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/49996974″ iframe=”true” /]
Next up is swedish pop-tronica guitar band with nice hair cuts and youth on their side called The Royal Concept. The video is complete with pillow fights and cutish girls. “Who wants to have a pillow fight at band practice?” Said nobody ever! But we do like that you are able to make the booty shaker do it’s thing. If we/you mashed the Strokes with, oh I don’t know lets say Of Montreal this would be sound. Get the wave version yourself if quality is your thing. Otherwise I converted to mp3 for us low-lifes.
Last up is stoner rock band from Denver called In the Whale. We dig their brand of syncopated queens of the stoneage meets Booker T. Their EP called Cake fucking kills.
OK so this first song’s subjective matter is a little morbid but damn is it gleeful. You know like New Pornographers uplifting and aspirational we find ourselves humming to Toronto based Fast Romantics. This will make you want to throw a party at the next unplanned family get together or at least be dark and add to a playlist. All kidding aside if you like progressive alt country indie rock this single might fit in your wheelhouse. Good for driving as well.
You like the Liars? Here’s some new music via Mute Records. This here is what some will call a palindrome. A mystery for those that are handicapped by crossword puzzles. This is some mighty fine electronica music all the way through on their new album called WIXIW. Upside down its MIXIM. Spell it backwards it’s the same meaningless number you would not understand but this one song is very danceable. So when your trying to impress some chic or dude on the disco floor you can try this joke on them as your point of entry. Please let me know if it works so I can vicariously live through you.
Q: How many indie rockers does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: I dunno how many indie rockers does it take to screw in a light bulb?
Punchline: It’s a really obscure number you would not understand.
Ween Court Tavern, New Brunswick circa 1993 God Ween Satan Era
Ween is the kind of band that you either love or you hate. They originated from the 4-track cassette culture I grew up on so once you get over that hump you are half way there. They created this reality that was inhabited by the entity known as The Boognish. In this head space they played with tape speeds, drums machines and the occasional puff of pot and called each other dude and Jimmy Wilson a lot. I’m not sure they realized when they were in their teens and late 20’s that suddenly this whole hippie culture of college kids would cling on to them. You know burkenstock culture who also like the Grateful Dead, Phish and James Taylor but it happened and kept them alive and working band for over 25 years. Who knows Aaron Freeman (Gener) and Mickey Melchiondo (Deaner) may come to terms once the glory of Aaron’s solo career won’t be able to put asses in seats. We do hope Marvelous Clouds is successful but to not notice the giant conceptual similarities would be deaf, dumb and blind my dear kiddies.
MoistBoyz City Gardens 2nd show 1995 Photo by The Review Stalker
Mickey has had his solo projects and jam sessions with Chris Harford and the Band of Changes, The Jimmy Wilson Group, and recently local New Hope “old farts” Blueballs and of course the notorious Moistboyz. They even did a set with False Front doing Meddle by Pink Floyd end to end.(which was fucking awesome and I was there.) Anyway, the whole musical ‘click’ down in New Hope is fairly close but what’s really humble about Mickey is he runs a fishing charter service, plays in the local softball team and in general is a very un-rockstar in his off time. I guess the point is he found about his band how everybody else did saying “it was news to him” on their ween facebook page. Which is the sort of crap somebody has to deal with when there is substance abuse and recovery involved. He’s been there the whole time while creating moments of brilliance with his buddy and the occasional turd.
So we think this is a low in the bands history and time will tell what will end up happening. Their 30 year anniversary is just around the corner. All fans of the brown can only hope that slight reprieve will be a short blip for some more songs like Dr. Rock, Puerto Rican Power, Coke on my dick, Spirit of 76 and so on. Lets hope; as there is nothing like what they created but for now enjoy the set from their 1993 tour below. Which was ween at their fucking best. When they became a band it opened up things for them which we love just as much. Starting with Kramer (from The Pod) on bass, Claude Coleman Jr(Drums), Andrew Weiss(bass) and Dave Dreiwitz (bass), Glenn McClelland (keyboards) etc. Seeing these guys was like at one point like going to see Led Zeppelin or at least what we envisioned the long jams were like – truly epic. We also can’t forget their long standing sound guy Kirk Miller who always gave them awesome sound. He was the guy fucking with the delays for their in-between rants. Anyway for some other old photos check out ReviewStalker bookface space.
MUSIC REVIEW: Relations EP by the band known as Relations on 100M Records is synth-punk duo from New York City. The guitars on this are fiercely savage in the way Wire or Wedding Present drive you with subtle use of feedback. They got good tone. The bass peddles you around the bases of this EP with somewhat of Joy Division factory influence here which we think you should check out being there is a drum machine employed as part of the backing band. This EP is over before it begins and we’re already looking forward to more. Don’t know a lot other than to wonder why so much black and white art bands? Why??
We’re big Lightouts fans here on the RS music entertainment blog. We like bands who do good covers and here is yet another one by these guys on their latest called The Big Picture single. This is one of many collections they’ve put out in the past year. Consistent quality always catches our ears. They know 80’s and 90’s alternative rock without the hairspray or use of corny keyboards.
Sounds like this: The Baby Screams MP3 by The Cure from Head on the Door Swan Lake MP3 by Public Image Ltd Second Edition Totally Wired MP3 by The Fall from the Rough Trade Anthology
Who could guess that electricity could inspire sound. That’s what some engineers did many decades back and works with the simplest of contraptions to the most complicated machines to make some pretty epic music.
If you love the nostalgia of the Moog you should check out Synth Britannia Documentary from the BBC. Here it is in it’s entirety below. The first time punks and musicians really heard electronic music was via the soundtrack for the film Clockwork Orange where people were getting raped, tortured and beaten-up. Kraftwerk are the parents of electronic rock music which changed the soundscape forever and as the gear became more affordable punk groups started to adopt the instrumentation. This documentary goes into great detail on the evolution with Joy Division, OMD, Human League and many others making their own electronic music machines. Pretty great introduction to a very deep genre of music which takes you places by painting something almost plastic or lonely. Although considered cold this music paints you in there like you were part of a video game.
Most music chooses its own position in terms of your listening to it. Muzak wants to be back there. Punk wants to be up front. Classical wants to be another place. I wanted to make something you could slip in and out of. – Brian Eno
Download: Spectrum MP3 by Wreck & Reference from their new albumNo Youth. We welcome this second release with open arms as they have added another layer to the muck. This is some dark and dirgy music that incorporates snyths with progish drums and down-tuned distorted guitars like godflesh. It’s fucking out there like godspeed you black emperor. Picture guts of oil spilling out from the underside of a run-away freight train moving in slow motion. That’s their sound -errie as all get-out like pins and needles scraping the inside of your head. Get some >>
More music like that sound man: Atmosphere MP3 by Joy Division Hot on the Heels of Love MP3 by Throbbing Gristle Remember MP3 by Air from Moon Safari Just Can’t Get Enough (remastered version) MP3 by Depeche Mode Souvenir (Digital Remaster) MP3 by OMD from Architecture And Morality The Lebanon (12″ Extended version) MP3 by The Human League from Hysteria
SHOW PREVIEW: Beware this is celebratory and shameless plug for a bunch bands that used to play The Court Tavern in New Brunswick, New Jersey a whole fuckin’ bunch. Before the Gaslight Anthem & Screaming Females there were these bands who played this juke joint more times than these bands can collectively count. The Court Tavern was our local version of CBGB’s situated in downtown New Brunswick. Forever, this was the venue of choice to see a band live where chromosomes and some DNA floated around freely. Wasn’t too big or too small but basically it was cruel and fair. The sound system was amazing and if you played there often enough the bartenders always bought you a drink or two even when you weren’t playing. That was respect. Anyway, on Saturday May 19th a bunch of the old guard will be playing a show together at The Brook Arts Center in Bound Brooke NJ up against that forsaken Bamboozle fest. So come-out if you live nearby or want to get away from the Assbury crowds. This will be well worth the 10 spot to catch DJ Ed Wong & Lisa Uber spinning songs with some local Art along with music by Aviso’Hara , The Wooden Soldiers, P.E.D, The Blisters, The Stuntcocks and Jigs and The Pigs. Facebook invite is here for directions and details. The doors open at 7:30 and show starts promptly at 8pm sharp.
Here’s a couple by what we consider the band known as The Blisters. This is punk rock version that Nirvana once invited to open for them in Ohio. There’s a bunch of bands with the same name but these guys are the originals. Used to be bands could call each other out on having put out a release first to claim the name. I suppose we have alternate realities. If you dig the replacements and pop-punk then should be right in the neighborhood of your like meter. Most make-up wearing bands are not worth the recycled beer can their music is made of. This is pure New Jersey rock-n-roll. I’m gonna take b/w Leaving you MP3s by The Blisters
Next up is P.E.D (post ejaculation depression). Cute acronym right? This is a infamous New Brunswick band that was fronted by Samuel Shiffman from Complex Records who personally turned me onto the Chicago band The Poster Children. He’s also notorious and infamous for the running of the mouth or the lack there of living among us but not seen. He’s a lurker and somehow he’s coming out (not ghey) hole to make some noise with the rest of the rock geezer.
I can say with pure unadulterated glee what a motherfucking miserable sod I was for so long. I can’t say that I was really look back with anything but horror… actually I have to say that I really don’t look back at all…” – Sam 2010
Here’s a whole diatribe from Sam where the quote above was ripped from on Jim Testa’s Jersey Beat.com.
Johnny & J.J. Stuntcock Melody w/ Chris Pierce on Drums!
Also sharing the stage will be The Stuntcocks which have had as many rotating members as any of the above bands.
Johnny Stuntcock has been the steady anchor all this while. The Stuntcocks are New Brunswick institution all their own.
Punk Rock Guy MP3 by The Stuntcocks. This is a classic.
The first band and real reason to get there early is seeing Greg Di Gesu’s band The Wooden Soldiers. His music has gone by different names but has been the corner stone of roots rock meets Nick Lowe on the pot run you just made up from the Everglades. He’s street poet who stories weave in and out of the groovy grooves. Enjoy! Commercial Ave MP3 by The Wooden Soldiers from hippies, punks and rubber men (1987) A Thousand Miles Away MP3 from Lazy Man’s Load (1989)
Here’s a video by Jigs & The Pigs who are headlining the event. They were a real early band that played the Court. Sort The Who meets, New Wave meets Iggy Pop. You decide. It’s going to be an amazing night.
Some sounds like these sounds: Can’t Hardly Wait(live) MP3 by The Replacements from Shit, Shower & Shave It’s A Long Way Back To Germany B-side MP3 by The Ramones from Rocket To Russia Dynamite Chair MP3 by Poster Children from Tool Of The Man The Diamond Church Street Choir MP3 by The Gaslight Anthem from American Slang Embrace The Sound MP3 by Drag The River from Closed Birthday Boy (Ween cover) MP3 by Chris Harford from Band of Changes. This is one of my favorite songs in the world. The first time I heard this covered was at the court tavern around 1996 and it was a version like this by Chris. Cool eh?
Here’s a couple f songs that have crept into the inbox these past couple weeks reminding me why we keep this blog alive. There are a whole bunch more we just need to find the time to cobble a couple sentences.
The Good Life MP3 by Matthew de Zoete from Colour Film. If you are a fan of the pernice brothers and nada surf this tune will make you extremely happy. He lives on a farm in rural Ontario. While he was recording these songs with Less Cooper he was thinking of them in context of as a soundtrack for a short film. Fairly cinematic at that as they do tell nice pop stories. The full length just came out so we suggest you take a ride over to his site to check it out.
The Storm MP3 by Sonic Hearts Foundation. This one is space rock from Glasgow, Scotland. This is actually a debut non-radio edit of the song. Which we appreciate this and think if you love love dark pop like Joy Division suicidal moody parts then this will fit right in with a goth mix-tape. The B-side “Rolling Tide” is equally as good, a little more on Jesus and Mary Chain side. Friend them on their facebook and other dark stuff.
A few weeks ago we mentioned Black Manila. Here’s the video for the B-side for their tune “England”.
RIP (1964-2012): Tibeten Rapper, Father and Beastie Boys Adam MCA Yauch. Rest in peace son. Here’s more Beastie discography with lyric and discography references than you could possibly drink.
“I think every person has the ability to effect change…Every one of us affects constantly through our actions…through our every word, the way that we interact with other people we’re constantly affecting the world.”
Beastie Boys foolin on Japanese TV is not really suitable for work but this shit is funny as all get out.
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