Cloud Nothings - Cloud Nothings (2011)

Here's the full-length album by Cloud Nothings, which is a follow-up a few EPs. Cloud Nothings is the brainchild of Cleveland's Dylan Baldi as I think I mentioned in the post for the Leave You Forever EP. I am not sure if this album will over take that EP and the prior Turning On for my fondness, but it is a rather valiant release. Quite a good balance of lo-fi psych-garage and power pop that makes for a fuzzy, upbeat bunch of melodies. Baldi's coarse vocals are especially good in contrast to the cheerful mood of the music. While it isn't enthralling me wholly, it is a solid album and it very well could grow on me over time. See what you think for yourself.

To be had here:
Cloud Nothings - Cloud Nothings [256 kbps]

The Shaggs - Philosophy of the World (1969)

It is getting late but I wanted to get something up for today. The best thing I could summon is a band I fond re-listen to every several weeks and love to show to friends if I can get them in a situation where they are forced to hear me ramble about music near my computer (my pal Bebop had to suffer the treatment this week). The Shaggs were a real outsider band at one point, though as time has passed they're far less obscure among music nerds and indie kids. Composed of three sister, eventually four, of the Wiggins family from New Hampshire shepherded into music by their father, the Shaggs created some real weird shit. Before they days of the punk ethos of DYI, the girls' dad "encouraged" them to make band and then record an album called Philosophy of the World without any knowledge of songwriting. This album had only an 100 copies ever come to light, though supposedly a thousand were pressed. Now, this music wasn't just misunderstood. For the time it was genuinely ridiculous in the most sincere sense of the word. These girls didn't know how to play their instruments let alone have the wherewithal for rhythm or structure. They don't even sing in harmony well. But this is the appeal of the Shaggs. They're not something that would have happened normally, and it has really made some folks scratch at their heads over the years. How did these sisters forced to make music by a strange father make something so innately enjoyable? The curious and anomalous nature of the sound this untrained group worth hearing for yourself as it as inspired many avant-garde, eccentric and experimental musicians.

To be had here:
The Shaggs - Philosophy of the World [192 kbps]

The Dead People - Withdrawel Shirt (2010)

I haven't been on the ball about album submissions lately. However, it is hard to get into the mindset to enjoy an album just because a nice musician or label operator decided to share it with me. Luckily for The Dead People, that mood has stuck me before I forgot they asked me to write about them. I use "they" liberally as this transcript of the e-mail will explain: "me and this gypsy i know made this record a little while ago. the gypsy thinks it's tripe, but i think it's ok. noisy, stupid, pop. i like your posts, and think you might like this." Not sure at all what he meant by gypsy, but he was correct that I'd like it. In fact, he does a better job at describing it than I would've. It is weird punk/noise rock, it doesn't maintain anything throughout as far as beat and mood. Jumps about like a spider seeking prey. Even has some wonderful moaning in place of singing at points. Try as I might, a good word for it is cute. A good thing for all of you is that you can listen and judge for yourselves upon visiting the bandcamp page and download it for free should you fancy.

To be had here:
The Dead People - Withdrawel Shirt

Soledad Brothers

I went up to visit my folks recently. They are still where I grew up at, in a town that's name isn't even worth mentioning. However, every time I go there I think of driving through the town in the dead of winter to get to the main county library in the next city over. Now, I've mentioned this in the blog many times, but it was my more formative time in musical understanding when hunting through those hundreds of albums. The Soledad Brothers was one of the bands that I began to listen to and then sought out at the library for every new release. The group began as Ben Swank and Johnny Walker, who's name is really the name of a previous band and Walker is the last time of a friend of his. While the band originated in Maumee, Ohio, a suburb of Toledo, they relocated to Detroit and were roommates with Jack White before the White Stripes hit it huge. White even engineered the first self-titled album. Afterward they were joined by Oliver Henry, formerly of the Greenhornes, and went on to make three more full-lengths. Beyond their sentimental connection to my adolescence and their story of actually moving to Detroit to do something, I still think they were a great band and totally worthy of being heard by fans of garage rock and blues punk. Soledad Brothers and Steal Your Soul and Dare Your Spirit to Move are more gospel influenced, with Walker pontificating about cars, expressways and the Cass Corridor as well as more traditional fare. Also I have a live album from 2000 entitled simply enough, Live, which features some tracks of the first release. Voice Of Treason and The Hardest Walk are unmistakably the same band yet they were put out on bigger labels and were considerably less messy and gospel-filled. I loved the messiness though, so this was a mixed bag for me, but they're very solid albums that show off the band's talents true enough. Anyhow, the more I write the more little facts and memories about them pop up so I best just cut it off, if you want more stylistic notes or true album reviews they're out there. The band has since broke-up, but Johnny Walker has a new group that I am betting I'll post soon.

To be had here:




Soledad Brothers (2000) [192 kbps]












Steal Your Soul and Dare Your Spirit to Move (2002) [160 kbps]













Live (2003) [160 kbps]

Voice of Treason (2003) [160 kbps]












The Hardest Walk (2006) [160 VBR kbps]

The Ding-Dongs - The Ding-Dongs (2010)

I am almost embarrassed that I just found out about this band several days ago. The Ding-Dongs, besides sharing a name with the track I enjoyed from Thee Knights of Trashe by the Milkshakes, is a collaborative effort of Montreal's Bloodshot Bill and Mark Sultan. Perhaps this is sounding familiar to regular readers, as Bloodshot Bill paired with Sultan's most frequent bandmate, King Khan, to make Tandoori Knights. It's like they're pairing off in a round robin fashion for our pleasure. The Ding-Dongs are exactly what you'd imagine coming from a project with a garage rock wizard and a rockabilly genie, very soulful and exciting music with boisterous singing about any manner of thing like female police officers and jiggling the handle in the washroom. I'm a fan for sure, and hope you're because their are other albums and collaborations from these Montreal musicians I'm hankering to share.

To be had here:
The Ding-Dongs - The Ding-Dongs [320 kbps]

Horrid Red - Empty Lungs (2010)

Horrid Red is something else. Pretty sure I saw them on a blog somewhere or another, but I just got to listening to them over the last week. Like the band that it sprouted from, Teenage Panzerkorps, Horrid Red makes dark, eerie post-punk with singing comprised of rather haunting German. While Teenage Panzerkorps is intense, big and loud this is a more subtle and focused version. Brooding and echoic the music makes the German seem otherworldly, but there is more to Empty Lungs than the spookiness and foreignness. It is a remarkably well blended new wave and kaurtrock elements that makes for a real nostalgic feel to the album. I am unsure what would motivate one to make such sounds as these, but I am sure glad someone did. Finally, it is worth noting that both Horrid Red and Teenage Panzerkorps releases are available on bandcamp for the damned fine price of five dollars, even for full-length releases.

To be had here:
Horrid Red - Empty Lungs [256 VBR kbps]

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - Horse Power EP (2010)

Detroit has some real class acts coming out it these days, many in the garage rock realm such as the amazing Tyvek. However, Detroit has a rich and varied musical composition and one of the bands that I am most excited about is Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. These two young fellas, Joshua Epstein and Daniel Zott, who are making lovely electronic pop music that my words will not to any amount of justice to. Everyone, save one cantankerous Brit, has immediately expressed approval of this group when I have them take a listen. That's pretty rare with my esoteric tastes. Even my usual indifference toward lyrical content is challenged by this guys, as I really love the lines: "In a dream that I had, I was cool, I was truly bad. I woke up filled with fear. It went away because you were near." That is some smooth ass shit. They also did something I'd normally be tepid to endorse, a cover of the Beach Boys' "God Only Knows" as I feel it is hard to do anything with such a fantastical made song. Nonetheless, while nothing will ever outdo Wilson's original, this is an admirable cover. Last note, this EP isn't exactly free to download like most of the stuff I post is, legality be damned. However, it is cheap and is fully streamable off bandcamp, which even works on my phone's browser, so it is like being free even if you don't want to pay the $3.95 for the digital copy.

To be had here:
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - Horse Power EP

The Milkshakes - Thee Kinghts of Trashe (1984)

The Milkshakes, alternatively called Thee Milkshakes, were a garage rock band from England. The band was formed in 1977 with Mickey Hampshire and Banana Bertie when Billy Childish's previous band called The Pop Rivets disbanded. The group played some real righteous garage rock that was simple, catchy and well-structured. They even infuse surf rock into some of their playing as evidenced in the track called "The Ding-Dongs" along with their instrumental numbers. It is interesting to compare the British version of garage from the 80s to the American scene, like Detroit's Gories. The Gories were loud, abrasive and spontaneous but the Milkshakes seem more polished and practiced. Nonetheless they sound good as all fuck. Thee Knights of Trashe is the last album the band produced as afterward they broke out when Mickey left the band. Thereafter Childish went on to be in many influential and awesome garage bands like Thee Mighty Caesars and Thee Heatcoatees. I've listened to Childish's various bands on and off over the years, but I have always really enjoyed this album.

To be had here:
Thee Milkshakes - Thee Kinghts of Trashe [192 kbps]

Flaviola e o Bando do Sol - Flaviola e o Bando do Sol (1974)

Hope you liked that last two day's posts, because this is yet another Tropicália album. This is a release that is often cited as a Brazilian gem that is too often overlooked. Flaviola e o Bando do Sol are a few years later than the previous albums posted here, but it is absolutely in the same vein. However it does have a considerably different mood, at least as far as can be figured without knowing the lyrics. It isn't exactly the full sounding Tropicália that Caetano Veloso was attempting to make, it is far more dreamlike and psychedelic, or psicodelia in Portuguese. Less instrumentation perhaps but stranger, with one review I read stating it includes "cellophane crinkled into the microphone as percussion." The wandering guitar playing reminds me much of Bröselmaschine, a German kraut-folk outfit that I posted months ago. The latter part of Flaviola e o Bando do Sol does pick up in pace and is a bit more like Veleso and the others I've posted. The most fundamental thing it instills in me is a calm happiness, and that is always something to be sought after.

To be had here:
Flaviola e o Bando do Sol - Flaviola e o Bando do Sol [256 kbps]

Caetano Veloso - Caetano Veloso (Tropicália) (1968)

Caetano Veloso was mentioned in yesterday's post on the Os Brazoes as a founder of the Tropicália movement. Indeed he was, and remains, one of the most famous and influential of Tropicália musicians. A contemporary of Os Mutantes and Gliberto Gil along with the brother of Brazilian singer Maria Bethânia he was poised well to make a venture into a solo musical career. He aimed high, wanting to even out do the Beatles in some regards from what I've read, and it resonated with the country of Brazil, which was experiencing a period of military dictatorship. With his songs he wished to help bring Brazil into a more international and modern musical culture, so like the other pioneers of Tropicália he infused Brazilian elements into the psychedelic rock that was popular in North American and Western Europe. The idea was to be board and flexible, able to integrate many influences into the sound. A tough job for anyone, but the brilliant Veloso pulled off a remarkable album with some of the most exciting singing and music I've ever heard, regardless of the fact that I don't even understand the lyrics. What I do know is that he work was politically charged and that got him, along with Gil, into trouble with the military government and even forced him to take a temporary exile. However, today he is still held in regard in and beyond Brazil and still is touring and making albums.

To be had here:
Caetano Veloso - Caetano Veloso (Tropicália) [192 kbps]

Os Brazoes - Os Brazoes (1968)

Tropicália is a genre that has been begging me to explore it further for years. For whatever reason I've mostly stuck to the amazing Os Mutantes and Caetano Veloso, but there is of course much more to be had. Os Brazoes is one of the rank of tropicália bands that emerged in the late 60s in Brazil, which in a simplistic sense is a mixture of North American psychedelic rock with native Brazilian styles. Their career would have been notable if only has the popular Brazilian singer Gal Costa's backing band, but they also produced this self-titled album. Os Brazoes do sound like Os Munantes, especially their early albums, but don't seem as eccentric and sensational, more smooth for the most part. In addition, it is worth noting that there are covers of each Gilberto Gil and Jorge Ben to be found on this album. Hope you like this one because it has inspired me to listen to more artists in the genre from that era and some will more than likely end up on here as well.

Also, in a happy coincidence Edo over at Know Your Conjurer posted Gal Costa's 1969 album Gal today, so you can her the woman that gave Os Brazoes work as her backing group.

To be had here:
Os Brazoes - Os Brazoes [192 VBR kbps]

The Babies - The Babies (2011)

Those Vivian Girls are rather prolific musicians. Not only has Frankie Rose gone off and done her thing but her bandmate Cassie Ramone decided to team up with Kevin Morby from Woods. The group also features Nathanael Stark of Bent Outta Shape and Justin Sullivan of Ringers and Bossy. As might be easily assumed the Babies have a lo-fi garage quality, but they also quite poppy and sunny to the point of seeming like surf pop at times. On last.fm some individuals have tagged "beachgaze," which is simply adorable. That aside, the band is without a doubt extremely catchy I've already listened to this several times over. Don't think this is supposed to be out into Feburary, but Spacerockmountain standard time is in the future and past all at once.

Note: Sorry about my messing up the original .zip file. It did not include the fourth track of the album, but all the new uploads that I post here indeed contain it. Sorry if that is annoying, but it is a leak so shit happens. I put it on several sites so it might be up longer, as mediafire fancies taking it down nearly as quickly as I can put it up.

To be had here:
The Babies - The Babies [320 kbps]

Chico Magnetic Band - Chicao Magnetic Band (1971)

This is a real oddity that I stumbled on the other day. Chico Magnetic Band was a psychedelic rock band that incorporated considerable elements to the hard rock of their era. They're real hard to pigeonhole though as they get rather far out. Formed in 1969 in France being called Chico & the Slow Death originally. In 1971 they released their only LP, which was limited to France alone from what I gather. Of course, with the passage of time people recognize brilliance and that is a good a word as any to describe the loud and impressive sounds of this band. The range encompassed by the song without changing the mood is great, with heavy rock freak-outs and spacey meanderings and dreamy guitar picking often all mixed up on the same track. Now normally I don't include pictures beyond the album art, but when I downloaded it had with it some righteous shots of the band that I feel compelled to post here as well.

To be had here:
Chico Magnetic Band - Chicao Magnetic Band [320 kbps]

Las Robertas - Cry Out Loud (2010)

Las Robertas are a group from San José, Costa Rica that makes some nifty noise pop/garage rock. I found out about them from a real snazzy looking blog focusing Latin American music called Club Fonograma. They put together a real swell best of 2010 list that includes María y José. Along the lines of Vivian Girls, Dum Dum Girls, and Eternal Summers, it is fuzzy rock with prominent female vocals. Like their contemporaries they're influenced by shoegaze legends like My Bloody Valentine but also informed by more quirky and lighthearted sound of bands like Beat Happening and the Vaselines. I'm really digging this mixture of garage, wall of sound and C86 that is yielding groups like Las Robertas and yesterday's post, Girls of the Gravitron. To be wholly honest though, the only thing is that if you're looking for something new here it does it have much to offer, Las Robertas are remarkably similar to the other acts I've mentioned. That, however, is not good nor bad, just a matter of fact. They've found a comfortable position on my iPhone for the time being.

To be had here:
Las Robertas - Cry Out Loud [320 kbps]

Girls of the Gravitron - Magnetic Mountain (2010)

Magnetic Mountain is a good name for an album, but as the poster on Spacerockmountain I might be biased. Girls of the Gravitron are a Memphis, Tennessee band that has featured musicians from various other former and current bands from the city such as the Barbaras, Magic Kids, Kazalok, and Boston Chinks. Unfortunately, other than the Barbaras I haven't heard any of those bands, although I have been meaning to check out the Magic Kids, the pitchfork darlings that they are. While this could certainly be called garage rock, it is far less guitar driven and wild than most. It is like would could be a charming indie pop or rock group decided purposefully to turn the quality of recording down and build their sound to take advantage that. Highly functional for pleasurable listening.

To be had here:
Girls of the Gravitron - Magnetic Mountain [256 VBR kbps]

The Barbaras - Summertime Road 7" (2008)

This is more a mini-post as I didn't feel I could talk about today's main post, Girls of the Gravitron, without sharing the 7" of one of their preceding groups, the Barbaras. Just a short three track release, Summertime Road held some real promise for the band to be a real awesome lo-fi rock group. However, for reasons I haven't been privy to the band decided to splitter and reform into various bands. This left the Barbaras as glimmering tassel flying behind the Memphian musicians further endeavors like Magic Kids, Girls of the Gravitron, and one member is playing with Wavves, from what I've read at least. And if that didn't sell you on this single, bear in mind incomprehensible lo-fi falsetto is pretty fucking amazing. Need to listen to understand that I suppose. My apologies to whatever blog I originally picked this up from that I forget and therefore can't give credit to.

To be had here:
The Barbaras - Summertime Road 7" [128 kbps]

María y José - Espíritu Invisible (2010) & Kibosé EP (2010)

I am pretty sure these were on Somatose at one point or another, and if I'm mistaken then I'm just thinking it jives with their style. Anyway, as long as I was posting yesterday's "glo-fi" of Lay Bac that I might was well just share both the full-length and the EP by María y José, the project of musician Antonio Jimenz. The tone of these releases are somewhat different, with the Kibosé EP being more synthpop-esque and dancey whereas Espíritu Invisible feels more psychedelic and sample heavy. Espíritu Invisible shares many of the nostalgic themes that Lay Bac, Monster Rally, and Beat Connection incorporation into their songs, but the most notable difference is the punchy tropicália-like beats. Both releases are rather brilliant in part because of this difference, which keeps each a bit more unique when compared. María y José utilizes samples done in Spanish, which isn't wildly unusual as he is from Mexico. However, I find these are particularly enjoyable despite the fact that I haven't clue what they mean, and they're not structured like lyrics anyhow. These songs have been played many times over in the last several days through my headphones, perhaps you might enjoy doing likewise.

To be had here:





Espíritu Invisible [320 kbps]











Kibosé EP [320 kbps]

Lay Bac - ooo kokomo (2010)

This artist popped up among my recommended ones from last.fm because I'd been circling around it with other artists I been enjoying and posted on here such as Ra Calium and Wrestling Club. This album is some dreamy electronic music like Ra Calium, but has this warm mood like a tropical breeze that leads me to compare it to Monster Rally. Pleasant is probably the best word to use to describe it, though I bet this is another case where those strange new genre names like chillwave and glo-fi could be applied. What I like about it is how the music seems to be fade in and out at times and drop into prolonged hazy ambiances. Wish I knew more about the artist, but I am throwing this up now while I'm eager so all I know is they're on the very neat Trembleface/Sanddagger label and from Austin, Texas. Lastly, the album is free via bandcamp like the most of the others mentioned today.

To be had here:
Lay Bac - ooo kokomo

Bloodshot Bill - Trash Addict (2003) & Rockabilly Trash (2004)

Bloodshot Bill is a Canadian musician that specializes in greasy and gritty rockabilly. As mentioned in an earlier post, he is half of the new group Tandoori Knights with King Khan. Additionally, he was on the Our Boy Roy tribute compilation. Therefore, I'm likely overdue in sharing something from his main body of work. Trash Addict and Rockabilly Trash are two of his full-lengths but not the only ones, just what I've got on hand for the time being. As you might have pieced together from the titles of the albums, trashiness is integral to his interpretation of rockabilly music very much like Jon Spencer with his band Heavy Trash. This sleazy yet sleek style is expressed in both the wildly sung lyrics and prominent guitar work. Almost makes you want to put some DW-40 in your hair and roll some cigarettes up in your sleeve. Bloodshot Bill is certainly considerably more pure to the rockabilly sound that the garage rock I've posted before, again another similarity to Heavy Trash. Quite worthwhile if you're a fan of lo-fi rock and roll in most any form.

To be had here:




Trash Addict [192 kbps]










Rockabilly Trash [320 kbps]

Lil Greenwood - Walking & Singing the Blues (circa 1953 [2002])

Those of you that regularly read my hastily written reviews and recommendations may recall that when raving about the Oxford American 12th Annual Southern Music Issue I cited Lil Greenwood as an artist that particularly impressed me. Accordingly, I've seen to it to follow up on looking into her career and I found the 2002 compilation of her songs from which the track "I'm Crying" was pulled from by the magazine. Walking & Singing the Blues is the fruit of various recordings under the Modern label in the early 1950s when she was working as a singer in California after moving out of her native Alabama. The reviews that I read indicated that the reason why she didn't take off is because of the conventional nature of much of the composition of the numbers, but what made me have a double take was her stunning vocals. She sure knows how to make it happen. Moreover, I'll dispute the reviews I read and say some of the songs had some genuine pep that surprises me that they weren't more popular, though they certainly had a good audience, such as "Grandpa Can Boogie Too" and "Come Back Baby." If you liked the magazine's compilation or if you're a fan of blues standards then you shouldn't hesitate to listen to Greenwood.

To be had here:
Lil Greenwood - Walking & Singing the Blues [256 kbps]

Delorean - Subiza (2010) & Ayrton Senna EP (2009)

Not much dancey electronic music makes its way into Spacerockmountain. Normally that sort of thing isn't my jam. Yet from time to time I do find something that defies my predilections. I forget where I originally heard about Delorean but when I saw it popping up around the internet and it was being recommended to me by a Dutchman with an ear for electronic music I decided to quit resting on my haunches and give them a chance. Obviously these Spaniards succeeded in impressing me with their catchy, highly poppy electronic numbers. The band has been around for several years and what I am sharing here are just their most recent full length along with the preceding EP. For those interested this is the version of the EP with the bonus tracks. The two releases are rather close in the mood and style so it only makes sense to listen to them both if you find yourself liking either.

Not to be had here as these were continually taken down:




Ayrton Senna EP [256 VBR kbps]













Subiza [2010]

Tandoori Knights - Curry Up It's the Tandoori Knights (2010)

It took me a minute to track this album down but luckily Teenage Lobotomy had it up on their best of 2010. Tandoori Knights is the latest of King Khan's musical venture, this time teaming up with another Canadian rockabilly musician, Bloodshot Bill. Working together each of them maintain their stripped down sound and theatrical style. Notably more absurd than The King Khan and BBQ Show or Bloodshot's solo work, but a pretty unique idea. For those unfamiliar with King Khan's biography, he is a Canadian of South Asian descent and has spent a good deal of time in Germany. The cultural crossing might have encouraged him in conceiving an Indian themed garage rock/rockabilly band. The played up accent that is employed at times jives remarkably well with the rockabilly delivery. Highly pleasurable if not taken seriously, but what is for reals is how well these guys know how to compose simple garage rock tunes. In the absence of a new King Khan and BBQ Show album, this is pretty fine.

To be had here:
Tandoori Knights - Curry Up It's the Tandoori Knights [224 VBR kbps]

Miles Kurosky - The Desert of Shallow Effects (2010)

Over the holidays I visited my small hometown and whenever I do this I find myself re-listening to music that I enjoy in high school. A whole bunch of it isn't anything I am into these days, but Beulah remains one of my fondest bands. Imagine my joy upon seeing that the lead singer and main songwriter of Beulah, Miles Kurosky, has reemerged in the music industry with a solo album. While Beulah called it quits back in 2003 in the midst of considerable strife for the band members, and I recall rumors that Kurosky might have a new project in mind. Yet after seven years I had forgot and all but given up on the idea of hearing more from this songwriter that I was so keen on in my adolescence. The Desert of Shallow Effects has the automatic similarities to Beulah because of Kurosky singing his witty lyrics that often warp romantic cliches. While I'm comparing this album to Beulah I want to specify that it sounds more like earlier albums by the band, When Your Heartstrings Break mostly. What is different is a more complex instrumentation at points, and I know that is hard to believe as Beulah was a six-piece group but he pulled it off. As well, singing in harmony is to be found all over the place. I am really glad to see that this album is finally out and I am really enjoying it even if it isn't the best songwriting that Kurosky has ever done.

To be had here:
Miles Kurosky - The Desert of Shallow Effects [256 VBR kbps]

Archie Bronson Outfit

More than likely this band would have been posted on the blog earlier if it wasn't for the fact their last album was two years old when I began the blog I was out of the habit of listening to it. However, as they've got a new album out, Coconut, I have a renewed interest in the Archie Bronson Outfit. If memories serves this band wasn't very underground for long, getting notable press in the United States for a British garage punk band. Perhaps it was on the coattails of that weird spike of interest that popular culture had with garage rock bands like the White Stripes and the Hives. Notwithstanding such an introduction, I still think the Archie Bronson Outfit was a pretty good band that made some admirable garage music without the flashy guitar riffs and costumes of their contemporaries. Therefore, I've decided to share all three of their albums, but I was provoked mostly by Coconut. On this latest release after four years without a LP they band seems to be trying out all sorts of new things. It is almost an exploration of what genres can be blended with garage rock and result in something enjoyable. Dabbling in psychedelic, noise and 80s new wave aspects it is varied and rather unique.

To be had here:




Fur (2004) [192 VBR kbps]












Derdang Derdang (2006) [224 VBR kbps]













Coconut (2010) [256 VBR kbps]

R. Crumb's Heroes of Blues, Jazz & Country

My brother also got R. Crumb's Heroes of Blues, Jazz & Country for Christmas. It is an amazing book of illustrations done by the famous comic artist R. Crumb of the old time musicians that he is fanatical for. It came out a few years ago, so I bet there a good share of you that are aware of the book already, but I really just wanted to share the compilation that come included with it. All the artists featured on the compilation can be found in the book and were picked by R. Crumb as examples the sounds he is celebrating. It is broken into the three genres mentioned into the titled, with a third of it being for each blues, country and jazz. All are equally pleasurable to the ear, and I was only somewhat familiar with some of the blues musicians. The jazz and country tracks are unlike almost anything I'd ever heard outside perhaps an inadequate facsimile in films. While you'll have to buy the book to enjoy the wonderful art of the unique R. Crumb, at least you'll get a taste of why he is so excited about these musicians if you hear this compilation.

To be had here:
R. Crumb's Heroes of Blues, Jazz & Country

The Electric Nature - Space Face (2011)

This here is another excellent submission by a reader, or purported reader as I'm not running any checks for the validity of that claim. I know I've been somewhat lackadaisical about posted submitted albums, but I am working on it in my sluggish manner. You can always re-email me and pester me more if you think I have overlooked you. To the album at hand however. Space Face seems more of an EP to be technical, but nonetheless a rather solid release. As the name of the EP and the artist might suggest, it is pretty psychedelic and spacey. In fact one might say that is all it is and all it need be. Mellow droning of electronics and guitar to launch the mind into a fanciful escape world. Nothing too complex either not that this is a good or bad this necessarily. Just give it a whirl.

To be had here:
The Electric Nature - Space Face

Best of 2010

I know I am late, but I really could not get a damn chance to post this sooner. To save time I stole the idea of slapping up the album art and making a list from my pals over at Somatose. I highly recommend check out there favorites of the year too, a few overlaps with mine but all gold. These are in no order and all have been posted previously on the blog save the final two, which were all over the damn blogosphere but I enjoy incredibly much.


Pill Wonder - Jungle/Surf
Coolrunnings - Babes Forever EP
Ty Segall - Melted
Not Squares - Yeah OK
Ghost Animal - Summertime in Heaven
Foxes in Fiction - Swung from the Branches

Moonhearts - Moonhearts
Mark Sultan - $
Dum Dum Girls - I Will Be
Nerve City - Sleepwalker EP