Monday, April 27, 2009

Nagisa Ni Te - Dream Sounds (2005)

As requested this is additional music by the fantastic Japanese psych-folk duo. There are only four tacks on this album, but they're golden and damned long enough to make up for the small amount. The last track is 2 seconds shy of 21 minutes alone. Every time I read a review of this album the people compare it to a dozen American and British acts, but I really think that fails to bring up the whole fact that the Japanese lyrics are so amazingly beautiful and, at least to a non-speaker, surreal. Though definitely similar to their other albums, this has its own flavor. To get too deep into it would be fruitless I feel. Just download and enjoy.

To be had here:
Nagisa Ni Te - Dream Sounds [160 kbps]

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Blanche - If We Can't Trust The Doctors... (2003)

Blanche is an alt-country groups from Detroit. Unusually connected to the garage rock scene that thriving when this album was released Blanche is not likely their contemporaries in the city. Nevertheless, the connection is obvious, as Blanche's headman Dan Miller was formerly know as Goober, the name that he used when he lead his previous group Goober & the Peas. Before Jack White was famous, or even called Jack White for that matter, he played some with Goober & the Peas. Jack "Doc" Gillis as he was then known played not as a guitarist but rather on his original instrument, the drums. However, that isn't particularly important beyond the fact that Blanche and The White Stripes were tour mates, and as such the Stripes did their habitual trick of covering one of their tour mate's songs for a b-side, in this case "Who's to Say." The music of Blanche is certainly far much Americana soaked but far from upbeat, to the degree it is sometimes described as gothic. Brendan Benson (of solo and Raconteurs fame) and Warren Defever (headman of His Name Is Alive) lent their considerable talents to the album. If you're in the mood for something a bit different or quite beautiful sounding I suggest giving Blanche a whirl.

To be had here:
Blanche - If We Can't Trust The Doctors... [192 kbps]

Friday, April 24, 2009

Okay

Marty Anderson's project Okay is creepy, sad, happy, and amazing all at once. He formerly led the post-rock/math rock band Dilute. However, word is that Anderson is shacked up most of the time in his bedroom suffering from Crohn's Disease. As sad as that may be, he's certainly using the time wisely and has produced with the help of friends some premium albums in the last few years. In 2005 he release the twin albums, Low Road and High Road. Accordingly, the former is a bit more down while the latter is more upbeat, both lovely. Anderson sings in an almost childishly nasal voice, which personal I feel makes the surreal sound of his songs much more convincing and strange. These were followed up by the even more superior songs of Huggable Dust. It features what is likely by favorite track by Anderson, "Natural." This is unfortunately followed by his most terrible song, "Hot-Wired" which you should be prepared to skip if you ask me. The lyrics are simple, the music a bit less so yet no Architecture in Helsinki style 9 member melodic confusion. Trust me, you should just listen to Okay.

To be had here:



High Road (2005) [160 kbps]











Low Road (2005) [160 kbps]










Huggable Dust (2008) [192 VBR kbps]

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Will Oldham - Seafarers Music (2004)

One of the staggeringly many releases from Will Oldham, especially when considering all his various groups and his other perhaps more famed moniker Bonnie 'Prince' Billy. Seafarers Music was a short four song EP he put out a bit ago. It is simply splendid to listen to. Oldham plays the most dreamlike and soothingly sweet acoustic guitar, which really the only instrument to be found throughout if my memory does not fail me. Moreover, the tracks are long enough to forget what you're doing while hearing them, two stretching over eight minutes each. I do enjoy lengthy songs. Enjoy my friends, tell me what you think.

To be had here:
Will Oldham - Seafarers Music [160 kbps]

Friday, April 17, 2009

Maserati

I'm not gonna lie, I'm in a terrible mood. College is the lamest shit ever and on top of it I've spent a ridiculous amount of hours at a bus station today waiting for someone to arrive. I gave up and am, naturally, drinking off my rage. Today's offering of music is more post-rock. Maserati is even superior than the previous post of Lebanon, but that is personal opinion of course. They're one of the many many bands that are formed in the south's bastion of independent music, Athens, GA. For myself, this band made post-rock undeniable part of my life. Before them it was give or take with periods of infatuation punctuated by disdain. However with Maserati's extremely solid albums I can't ever truthfully say I'm not a real fan of the genre. Both albums are unbelievable, but lately it has been the more recent Inventions for a New Season that captures my attention. I sure hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

To be had here:




The Language of Cities (2001) [128 kbps]









Inventions for a New Season (2007) [192 kbps]

Monday, April 13, 2009

Lebanon

I am gonna keep this short, I really don't have time to post, but I'm doing it anyways. You see, I turn 22 years old today, and I am spending it gloriously eating potatoes and cramming for Japanese history class yet again. So what is dramatically different from a cool spring day in Detroit that might make me forget I'm trapped here? Lebanon, of course, and not just the images from the name, but the band itself. Being Israeli post-rock is in rather lonely company as far as I can tell, but that is exactly what makes it something to pay attention to. This is the more guitar-driven side of the post-rock spectrum, which I find considerably more enjoyable than the overdrawn sounds of the like of Sigur Rós. Two albums, both worthy listening to. Also, pilgrims, wish a happy birthday to Brosef Stalin/danger dog, for it is his birthday as well, and no we're not the same person, it is just a very strange happening.

To be had here:



Sunken City (2005) [192 kbps]









Planet Rubble (2007) [192 VBR kbps]

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Nagisa Ni Te - The Same As The Flower (2004)

A duo of Japanese lovers, Shinjii Shibayama and Masako Takeda, form Nagisa Ni Te which translates as "on the beach." I'll admit it, I'm a complete sucker for harmonies and Nagisa Ni Te excels at creating the most beautiful of these. Not unlike the Skygreen Leopards in the last post they make psychedelically tinged folk music almost to the the degree of dream pop, but very unlike them this stuff is fully sung in Japanese. As I frequently point out, the language barrier is nothing to fret over, the sounds of the Japanese language are dazzling elegant to the ear even if one can't understand the meaning of a blasted word. Being enrolled in a Japanese history course this semester as endeared me to the habit of listening to this band while reading the many histories and ethnographies required in the classwork. The Same As The Flower isn't their only release, but it is the one I'm obessing over as of late, but I can share the others I have if there's a call for them. In fact not too long ago I think those wizards over at Ill-formed posted their latest album... Someday I too will be a wizard...

To be had here:
Nagisa Ni Te - The Same As The Flower [192 kbps]

Saturday, April 11, 2009

The Skygreen Leopards

This groups makes some of my favorite folk music. Naturally they possess a wonderful psychedelic quality to their sounds that I can't help but be mesmerized by. They are a part of the epically huge and amazing Jewelled Antler collective, that encompasses in folk, drone, psych and the like. I'm sharing all the albums I could get my hands on, and I forget if any on missing on the list, but you can find out if you care that much. My personal favorite is 2006's Disciples Of California. It has this gospel quality while not being preachy in any fashion, something I find extremely desirable. Nonetheless, they've produced many a great album, and I highly recommend each of them.

To be had here:
She Rode on a Pink Gazelle & Other Dreams (2001) [192 kbps]

The Story of the Green Lamb & The Jerusalem Priestess of Leaves CDR (2002) [192 kbps]






One Thousand Bird Ceremony (2004) [192 kbps]









Life And Love In Sparrow's Meadow (2005) [160 VBR kbps]










Jehovah Surrender (2005) [192 VBR kbps]









Child God in the Garden of Idols (2005) [160 VBR kbps]










Disciples Of California (2006) [ 192 kbps]

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

The Gories

I was asked by someone, and I can't really tell you who for my memory sucks but I've got ideas... anyways they asked me to post these guys. The Gories, for those of you that are unfortunate enough to be unfamiliar with the Detroit music happenings over the years, is the premier garage rock band that fueled the city's obsession that led to such acts as The White Stripes and in my eyes cleared a path for rough sounds like found early Black Keys albums. Basically, I want to say that without the Gories none of that scene would have happened, but perhaps it is my pride in Detroit shining so obviously through. Naturally, the Gories pre-dated the White Stripes and their less widely known but just as good if not better local comrades. However, I got to listening to the Gories through a backdoor, as they had ceased making tunes before I was of age to consider what they were doing properly. That backdoor were the Dirtbombs, featuring the legendary Mick Collins as front man, who got his break in Detroit with none other than the Gories. He along with Dan Kroha, later of Demolition Doll Rods, and Peggy O'Neill produced the raw, simplistic music that would come to define over a decade of Detroit garage rock. Nothing too fancy about what they were doing really just loud, out of tune, lo-fi guitar, bass and pounding drums. This is what garage was meant to be, marvellously blending of blues and punk if you ask me. They produced three regular LPs in the studio, a live album at a houseparty (aptly named Houseparty), a sessions release was made (The Complete Bandin Sessions, my personal favorite recording of theirs and ever) and a number of 7 inches. I don't have the 7" at the moment to share, but the LPs you can get here, pilgrims.

To be had here:




Houserockin' (1988) [192 kbps]










I Know You Fine, But How You Doin'? (1990) [192 kbps]









Outta Here (1992) [192 kbps]










Houseparty (1987) [192 kbps]








Complete Bandin Sessions (1989) [128 kbps]

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Cara del Gato - Green Fingers (2007)

Man, I tired of reading about Asia, luckily this is the last semester of my undergraduate degree wherein I need to take a history course for my minor. Nevertheless I've found some time to think about sharing some music with you, and I'm very pleased at the speed by which I can upload albums when using the internet connection at my college.
The music I'm sharing with you today, friends, is from the CLLCT (who's site won't load at the moment for me, what's up with that?). Anyways, for those of you who haven't been there, it is basically a website where musicians can upload and share their music to be downloaded free of charge to all those interested. Not gonna make them money, but hopefully provides them with much needed exposure. Undeniably they've won my heart by not asking me to spend money on them before hearing them, plus they're the real indie, not even signed to a small label in many cases.
Anyhow, Cara del Gato is one of these artists providing his songs free to us, and I've taken the liberty to repackage it into a zip file for ease (this is my main issue with CLLCT that there aren't full ablum links last time I checked, save torrents). Green Fingers is a short album, just barely topping 15 minutes. The breif, quirky, lo-fi songs are remarkably charming. The lyrics are seemingly pure nonsense, but that is a large part of the appeal for me. Additionally, the simplistic instrumentation reflects that this fella likely recorded this stuff in his bedroom or basement. If CLLCT gets its ass going again he does have more albums shared and I recommend hunting them down there.

To be had here:
Green Fingers [128 kbps]