by admin | Apr 8, 2014 | Album Review, Alternative Rock
Parade On – Out 4/8 on Nine Mile Records
ALBUM REVIEW: Some of you know who Mr. Doug Gillard is even without actually having his phone number in your contacts or perhaps you got his digits from his previous release Call from Restricted. If we lead you to any record this year please let it be his latest and greatest Parade On as it’s guitardedly good.
We mean this with all affection and not a single bit of sarcasm; this is a bus you must get on. Doug’s passion for manipulating a 6 or 12 string guitar is on the same level as Johnny fucking Marr; strum for strum and we never met that Brit. He’s a band leader who will lead you down a path with several possible outcomes. One, inspire you to make your next record greater than good and NOT just ok, but great. Two, in the process make you pay attention to the details, or you will do us a favor and quit playing music so the good stuff can bubble-up. Three – you’ll take a deep dive into the depths on a download binge 30,000 feet of stacked records. Four, sell some off your guitars (Maybe you’ll donate one to a charity like The Project Matters @TPMNJ) while you mull over the second option. Actually you might NOT have to do any of this because this one stands all on it’s own. However, if some of you actually happen to step foot into a record store (even if just on record store day next week) and look up the likes of Nick Lowe, XTC, or Death of Samantha. Some of you may consider seeing him play with his band or taking the leads in Nada Surf. The two shows he’s playing with GBV are sold out so your out of luck there.
The pointed point is this is his third solo full-length coming out on Nine Mile Records strewn out over a few years of being a professional musician. I can’t even count all his other releases he’s played for you but it does not matter that is what wiki is fucking for. If I were record clerk (I vowed never to do so this) — this is the album I would literally point you towards besides the song “I AM a Tree” he recorded once with Guided By Voices. There I said it and it only. Took me two, three whole paragraphs. After that you are on your own.
We interviewed Doug Gillard last year, even played a show with him at the Asbury Lanes and enjoyed him nerding out talking about his guitar set-up. There is enough exploratory timeless guitaring on this album set forth as a reminder the guitar neck is an expansive and mysterious place. Dudes can play guitar and makes all the tones sound effortless while allowing you to hum along with vocal melodies. Our faves on this album are all of them. “Your Eyes” is the most Smiths like one, the opener is another classic similar to XTA or Nick Lowe with something off of Labour of Lust (1979) but don’t let us bore you with our shallow knowledge record store clerkdome. This one is going directly to our top 10 of 2014.
RELATED:
MP3s: New Guided By Voices 7″ on Fire Records
For nerds: Doug Gillard’s Guitar set-up
Donate a Guitar to The Project Matters to help teens stay out of trouble and learn a trade. Like professional rock musician. Contact TPMNJ on facebook to learn more.
by admin | Apr 3, 2014 | Singles
SINGLES/ BANDS TO WATCH: We’re going to try and keep this weekly post going. Give us a chance to say our peace about the latest singles that have been slamming our inbox without going on too deep. An extension of one of our awesome tweets if you will.
The Great American Novel – We don’t know why “bushwick nights” didn’t make their previous record either because this has some elements of The Who we dig on the track. In a way we’re glad this is a single so we can enjoy it all on it’s own. “Anthem for Beer Cans” was also apparently cut because it had 1 too many choruses but equally as good as they thought it sound similar to Bulldog Skin. Maybe the whoo who part and pete townesend parts. Seriously dudes, what good rock does not sound like a Guided by Voices or The Who when you put it into perspective. Name your price on their site.
RELATED: Yes sad face is the name of this album
The Afghan Whigs – “The Lottery” from their coming album ‘Do to the Beast‘. Greg Dulli is sounding like one too many cigarettes on this first cut released by Sub Pop. We do like the bands sound as it fits nicely between Gentlemen era guitar thronging and 1965. Which for us is their super sweet-spot.
wyd:syd – “Yesterlove” – pronounced as “wide side. This music is made by 5 guys from Singapore playing light shoe-gaze pop and recommended if you like guitar delays and spacey rock music you shall enjoy this. Very Brooklyn sounding. So we guess there are hipsters everywhere.
Otherkin – “SLN” – Good bass playing on this track from this Dublin based band. We really dig it because they remind us of music like Interpol meets The Dismemberment Plan. Very alternatively affirmative in the right places. Oh and by the way SLN is not an abreviation for “Special Local Needs” at least until the band gets out of their keeping a secret mode. Good song either way. Check out their video below.
RELATED ARTICLES:
SINGLES: Here’s some swirly guitars: Champ vs Lazyeyes
Single of the Day: “Bird” by Tim Foljahn
SINGLE REVIEWS – Esom vs New Manic Spree
by David | Apr 2, 2014 | Free Mp3s
Dear Punks,
We know that many of you debate things like this topic all the time and ask yourself who is your favorite schtick band? Does it have midgets playing kiss covers? “If not then I’m not interested.” But then you promptly go back and listen to bands like these and it’s easy to see the appeal. In our high-court; the debate was settled in a pretty swift duel with our facehookers. Everybody voted democratically to the side of the one that sounded most like AC/DC. Was 4/1. We were also trying to figure where have all the good schtick bands gone? RIP to Oderus Orungus who fronted the #1 band in the solar system in this genre but who else is out there? Besides like mock metal bands like The Darkness. We did find The Weirdest Band Blog to bring us up to speed on some. Which will have to take a dumpster dive and see if any of these other “weird” bands can rock as hard and be as witty as The Upper Crust because you are the audience and we are the entertainment. You deserve to be snobbishly entertained by the best our high-society has to offer. What was fun about seeing is that they made it all about the audience and if you could keep from spitting out your beer betwixt songs you were doing well.
According to one of our in-house rock historians Ray Kubian (Drummer Dean Ween Group, True Love, etc). “The Crust were best as a 5 piece with Lord Rockingham(Ted Widmer), whom also sang lead on some songs and happened to be one of Bill Clinton’s speech writers. When they became a foursome ‘roque’ band Nat Freedberg (Aka Lord Bendover) continued in true aristocratic fashion with other the fops. Nat previously had The Satanics and a band called The Titanics. Both equally awesome bands. Chris Harford does a song called “Broken Man” on his Time Warp Deck album which was penned by Freedberg.” It is rumoured they still continue to play since they began in 1995.
Now on the other side of the make-up for us; seeing a schtick band perform live is the main thing. Clowns for Progress played through solid state amps or at least it sounded like they did versus all of the vintage gear(of course) thee Upper Crust used. All guitards would be drooling by the candle warmth of their sound – the clowns sounded like every other band on epitaph or look-out. We remember the Clowns being kinda brown and pompous dicks at times being NYC darlings of “pop punk”. We didn’t understand and saw them a few times and had a good time either way. Anyway, we digress. Their songs were good on paper but personality wise we just enjoyed poofs more. Let us know what you think. We want to know. We like the Clown’s taste of covers so we will generously give them that.
DOWNLOADS:
Clowns for Progress
Hurt Me Baby MP3
Martian MP3
Kids are alright (The Who Cover) MP3
VS.
Upper Crust
Rock ‘n’ Roll Butler MP3
Let Them Eat Rock MP3
We’re Finished With Finishing School
by David | Apr 1, 2014 | editorial
Situation wanted: 4th member for heavy metal tribute band (NJ/NY)
Indie Rock die-hards Eastern Anchors change their thing to make money. This story is actually believable. You must have guitar chops and willing to travel on the weekends. Former straight edge musicians ok but no vegans. No time wasters need apply CraigsList Post | Band Announcement
STEREOGUM: Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy Camp Goes Grunge
Rock ’N’ Roll Fantasy Camp, the Vegas-based institution where you can get instruction from aging butt-rock stars, has long been one of your best bets if you really want to spend some quality non-sex-tape time with Tommy Lee or Bret Michaels. But the Fantasy Camp is evolving, and now it’s come to encompass another generation’s version of classic rock: Read On >>
PUNK NEWS: Nirvana to Reunite with Courtney Love as Singer
Probably one of the more tasteless but funny ones is from Punk news. The story goes on to say: Although Courtney Love has been embroiled in constant legal disputes with Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic over the use of the Nirvana catalog since 2001, the three appear to have put their differences aside to play together under the name Nirvana. Read On >>
Guitar Bar Introduces Air Guitar Lessons!
The Guitar Bar in Hoboken NJ will be carrying the full line of Luft air guitars at both of their shops! Here’s a video showing some of the amazing things you can do on one. Featuring their wonderful air guitar instructor Ty, and Sam from the uptown shop!
Flamming Lips companion album for Dark Side of the moon
Honestly, this is an amazing piece of music and they mainly fucked with the press like any respectable and credible band should. This is an amazing space jam which will remind you that you once really liked drugs. You really do believe in aliens and that life is good. Stream this while you work and write your co-workers dumb emails about nothing important at all.
Have any funny April Fools joke’s today you want to share? Please add them to the comments or email them to reviewstalker at gmail.com
by David | Mar 31, 2014 | Album Review, Cassettes, Free Mp3s
This object will be encased in a silver and nickel box crafted by British-Moroccan artist Yahya
SIGN WITH BEYONCE’S BLOOD HERE __________________________:
Technically speaking WU-TANG CLAN’s Once Upon A Time In Shaolin is not an Album. This is 100% a transparent marketing stunt they are claiming will be art with a ridiculous million dollar price tag on “it” that nobody has even heard yet. Sure music, which is written and recorded, is a form of Art but this might as well be a hologram at this point. No fucking argument, but is something this exclusive need to be treated like Noah’s Ark? Shouldn’t music be intended for the masses to make it accepted? We’re clapping with one hand at the extremeness but it does distort the concept of making affordable art in the adopted album formats. In particular music like Hip-Hop was created for the voice of the people in streets. These folks actually might want to hear these hardcore rappers do their 90′s thing again. I know I do. Music is best when it’s a communal experience where everybody can take part. Makes it functional. This stunt is what is for sale. Maybe the music was blessed by Chinese monks and recorded in a high-priest monastery in order to keep a lid on its existence. Even if these collected pieces of recorded music travels around the world will it not be a silent auction? People will be padded down and checked for recording devices before they can swap on some swank headphones for an exclusive listen. We can’t even tell you any thing about what the recording sounds like or if it has any value as a collection of songs but allegedly it’s supposed to revert to their original beats. People will hopefully be able to take their picture with said shiny object and then swarm the Internet with more hype. We’ll make a prediction that this recording will eventually be leaked, as its existence is no longer a “secret”. A real stunt would be cementing a Boombox in Times Square playing the double album or in a loop under the Brooklyn Bridge as an installment for the people.
BEST OF WU-TANG CLAN by DJKLIN
One of the reasons vinyl is making a comeback for a growing chunk of music fans is they want something tangible and exclusively theirs. Something they can hold, cherish and listen to with their friends. Even cassettes are making a comeback and those things sounded awful. Even if music these days is so devalued according to their leader RZA. The reality is most Millennials have never walked into a record store; so how do they even know what an album is? So we ask you can Once Upon a Time in Shoalin even claim itself to be an “album”? Lets also keep in mind RZA’s net worth is reportedly over $18 Million and we’re sure this ploy will add-up with ticket and merchandise sales for the group. That is where the cash money really is. Additional “sales” or streams are just a fraction of the culture they are selling back. It’s not really about the music anymore for groups that are as successful as WU-TANG. Sure enough this is just another karate chop right to the wallets of music fans.
DOWNLOAD:
Wu-Tang Clan –side b MP3 Original Freestyle Tape
Wu-Tang Clan –Mystagogue Vol. II MP3 (prod. by RZA) (1996)
Wu-Tang Clan –Deadly Darts MP3 Artist: Ghostface Killah feat. Streetlife & Method Man Album: Deadly Darts/Sunshower (Vinyl 12″ single)
Produced by: RZA Year: 1996/1997 – This last track is the original version off the song “Box In Hand” from Ghostface Killah’s debut album Ironman.
RELATED:
Eclectic Method brings you – A Brief History of Sampling
MORE DOWNLOADS: Your Techo Funk Soul Playlist Revisited
Goodbye Kiss.FM –DJ Red Alert Goes Bazerk
Gil Scott-Heron televised the revolution
by Jackie | Mar 28, 2014 | Album Review, reissue
ALBUM REVIEW: Back in the days before iPods roamed the Earth, American Football released their self-titled album in 1999. Now, 15 years after its original release, the album will be reissued on May 20th, 2014. The new, deluxe edition will feature 10 unreleased tracks of demos and live recordings. You can stream one of the unreleased tracks below:
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/140557459″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
This track in particular is instrumental, though most of the tracks on the album do contain vocals. It is a track filled with quiet beauty, much like the rest of the album. The guitar melodies ebb and flow like tranquil ocean waves, inviting you to get lost in your own thoughts. This is the sort of album to put on when you’re feeling introspective, or when you just want to slow down and relax for a while. The songs have a calming effect, mixed with a bit of melancholiness. It’s an album that evokes feelings of reflection and nostalgia. These songs could be the soundtrack from a rainy summer day of the past, back when the days seemed longer and life seemed less complicated.
The reissue will be available through Polyvinyl, in various formats on May 20th, 2014. You can also pre-order at the link below:
https://www.polyvinylrecords.com/#product/american_football_deluxe
RIYL: Karate, Cap’n Jazz , Jade Tree Bands
DOWNLOADS:
Karate – Bodies
Cap’n Jazz – Yes, I am talking to you
by David | Mar 26, 2014 | Covers, Podcast
Here’s a few videos of one our favorite Don Giovanni Records bands playing live called Black Wine at a Sound Station presents show. They are just as much retro SST-punk and forward unpunk as it gets. Also on the bill that night was our house band Eastern Anchors, Tri-State, Dollar Store Riot and a bunch of other local locals. BW have a new record called Yell Boss and it’s coming out in early June on the New Brunswick label Don Giovanni Records. You heard it here first folks. They recorded their new album at Volume IV in New Brunswick with Brian from Risk Relay and we can’t wait to check it out. Miranda the drummer/singer for the band also recently started a talky podcast called Totally Bitchin that she does with Jamie from a new band called Small talk. They have about 10 episodes already and worth a listen if you are jonesying for yet another decent podcast. Their most recent show is a interview with Miranda’s hub Jeff who used to play with The Ergs! They are mainly focusing on the local NJ music scene which we think is great. Subscribe iTunes | Tumblr | Libsyn.
KOMRADES
NO REASON
MAGNET TIME
FREEDOM OF CHOICE (DEVO COVER)
DOWNLOAD THE MP3:
Black Wine – Freedom of Choice (Devo Cover) LIVE!
Recommended Podcasts:
Live from the Barages – Recorded live every Friday night from a garage that is bar in Queens, NY. They add “s” to everything and are a bunch of cassette listening chooches. Interviews with dudes who fuck dolphins, Krokus tapes, people who go to mars and lots of band talk – plus a few music breaks inbetween.
Sound Opinions – Based out of Chicago. Pretty main stream indie. they cover the basics SXSW and other popular genres.
Low Times – Short interviews for short attention spans.
You Can’t Stop the Signal – Fast talking, over talking music indie based podcast by Conan and his bandmates. They land good guests.
by David | Mar 24, 2014 | Heavy Metal, RIP
RIP Dave Brockie 1963-2014
RIP: Super sad fucking news today – Singer, Artist, and friend of Aliens Dave Brockie has left this chaotic earth for us humans to deal with without him. His roommate found him dead Sunday in his room. Details are not yet known on immediate cause of death as reported elsewhere but I’m sure we’ll know more as the week unfolds. His twitter personality the Real Oderus made that place not as boring as it could be at times. He was the lead “throat-thing” of the most dangerous band on the planet and spawned GWAR from his own alien space semen in Antartica. Even though Mr. Brockie was originaly from Ottawa, Canada he created a live experience not replicated ever before. If getting covered in space gue seems like a good time. He was also very keen to exploit human sense of moronic comedy and appeared on FOX News and other talks shows promoting his band with a dedication and “Undying” need to be the ultimate lord and master of Earth. He was much respected around the globe too metal and punks bands to mention. Municipal Waste drummer and Richmond Virginia resident Dave Witte had this to say on his facebook page this morning “I can’t believe it, I’m shocked. Dave Brockie was like a Superhero in my eyes. An icon of the arts. Creative, passionate, dedicated…one of the coolest and hardest working people I’ve ever met. I learned quite a bit from him and he was always really nice. I don’t know what else to say, what a shame. RIP Dave Brockie.” We could not agree more.
GWAR AND MUNICIPAL WASTE
Ever the political activists and not shy to stick-it to some of greats. You can find recent evidence in one of last tweet threads from yesterday.
The idea of Slayer protesting Westboro church dudes funeral makes about as much sense as the opposite. Hate begets hate, morons. #publicity
If you want to leave your thoughts and Brockie memories in the comments please do.
NOISE BY GWAR
GWAR –Hail, Genocide MP3 LIVE ON FALLON (2011)
GWAR – How to Avoid Zombie Attacks by Gwar MP3
Oderus Orungus –Oderus Orungus reads Goodnight Moon’ [Uncensored] MP3
GWAR –The Salaminizer from Scum dogs of the universe MP3 from Scum dogs of the universe
GWAR –The Road Behind MP3
LYRICS TO THE ROAD BEHIND BY GWAR
Well I’m traveling down the road
And I’m carrying that heavy load I walk around in a stupor Sleazy,
I cant do the show
Hanging out backstage
I’m in a homocidal rage I signed a million dollar contract
I puked on every page
Slaughtered half the crew
Caused they ate the deli-tray
Oh Baby hey
Said I’d do the show but I Canceled anyway
[Chorus:]
You were road kill baby Till I scraped you in my arms
Just another wattle flapping
On the old turkey farm
So baby….
[Second Chorus by Beefcake]
[2nd Chorus:]
And while the wheels keep rolling
And another milepost gone
All along the road behind
Oh can’t you hear me calling
Just like the sad whale song I’m on the road behind
Well there you have it baby I’m just a sensitive guy
Y’know I snuffed a million planets
But I still find time to cry
Because there’s more to life
Then making other people die
Like a little bloody tear baby
Running out my dirty little eye
And some things baby
They don’t make no sense
Does it really matter if it bugs
Your parents?
[Chorus]
Now baby quit yer crying
Put those clown britches on
[2nd Chorus:]
Well the wheels keep rolling
And another signpost gone
Baby can’t you hear me calling
Like a sad whale song [X2]
Sad whale baby
by admin | Mar 20, 2014 | Free Mp3s, Maxwells, RIP
Photo by Steve Fallon
Well it’s official; Maxwells as we all knew it is being ripped apart from the inside out. Today on the facebook Maxwells group Steve Fallon one of the former owner posted the “execution” photo of his and our beloved music club. Time to cry a little. There are too many bands to list that played there over the past three and 1/2 decades! To try this task would be completely feutal. Anywhose, there is some action at the White Eagle building in Jersey City which is supposed to be the new location where the owners are going to open up shop one day. Which can not come soon enough! Leave a comment about your favorite experience at Maxwells if you want.
White Eagle? Photo by Mike Sylvia from Killing Horse Records
In the clubs honor we found a bunch of videos on the youtubes and converted some of the “best” sounding tracks and made this quick playlist for you. Thanks youtubers!
Live at Maxwell’s:
…And You Will know us by the trail of dead –And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead MP3 (2012)
Black Lips –Raw Meat MP3 (2010)
Crooked Fingers –Disappear MP3 (2003)
Dahlia Seed –Punch and Get Out MP3 (1996)
Liz Phair –Help Me, Mary MP3 (2010)
The Muffs –A Little Luxury MP3 (2013)
The Replacements –Can’t Hardly Wait (1988)
Freedy Johnston –This Perfect World MP3 (2010)
The Raveonettes –Hallucinations MP3 (2008)
Screaming Females –adult army MP3 (2011)
Shades Apart –Tainted Love (Soft Cell Cover) MP3 (2012)
Unrest –So Sick b/w Suki MP3 (2010 Teen-Beat Records Anniversary
Tom Tom Club –Time to Bounce MP3
Thurston Moore –Pretty Bad
Yo La Tengo –Pretty in Pink (Psychedelic Furs Cover) MP3 (2010)
Zeke –Holly 750 MP3 NJ (7/21/12)
GOVERNMENT ISSUE (1988)
NIRVANA (1989)
PUSSY GALORE
RELATED:
Final Moments at Maxwel by DJ Antone That Summer Concert Feeling
by David | Mar 17, 2014 | Playlists
Here’s a bunch of classic irish drinking songs that you should be able to sing along with when you are getting drunk. Plus some fantastic match-ups with The Pogues one of the worlds most famous Irish bands next to U2 and The Frames. Seriously who the hell thinks of adding horns to traditinal string music? Anyway, there is a video below of Joe Strummer talking about how the accordian player rocks. Happy St. Patty’s Day!
IRISH MUSIC PLAYLIST:
01. The Pogues With The Dubliners –RIP RONNIE DREW MP3 (LIVE TV)
02. The Rattlin Bog –RULA BULA MP3
03. The Wolfe Tones – The Boys of the Old Brigade MP3
04. U2 –Van Diemen’s Land MP3 (LIVE)
05. Shane MacGowan and The Popes –The Donegal Express MP3 (LIVE)
06. The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem –Wild Colonial Boy MP3 (LIVE TV)
07. The Pogues and Joe Strummer –Long Calling MP3 (LIVE 1988)
08. The Pogues and Joe Strummer –I Fought The Law. (LIVE w/ Shane MacGowan 1987)
09. Sinead O’Connor & Shane MacGowan –Haunted MP3
10. The Pogues –Rainy Night In Soho MP3 Live At The Town And Country Club London
11. The Pogues –Dirty Old Town MP3 Live at the Town & Country. Guests: Joe Strummer doing intro for TV, Kirsty McColl, David Byrne and others friends.
RELATED:
MORE DOWNLOADS: Irish Music of The Pogues & The Frames
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