Honeyboy Edwards - Mississippi Delta Bluesman (1979)

Honeyboy Edwards died recently, and he was the last of the bluesmen to come up out of the Mississippi Delta spread their music throughout North America and beyond. Edwards played with the likes of Robert Johnson and Son House and stuck true to the slower, simple style of making blues. NPR had a good story aired about his wherein he offers his opinion on how the blues ought to be done. They'll do a better job getting anyone up to speed on the significance of Honeyboy Edwards than I would. What I can tell you is that I can find myself sitting in a dark room at midnight listening to Delta blues not having realized five hours passed and I drank all my beer. If everything was that naturally conducive to that behavior my liver would've given out already, but it is a fine experience every now and again.

To be had here:
Honeyboy Edwards - Mississippi Delta Bluesman [320 kbps]

EP Grab Bag vol. 5

Time to clean out even more submitted albums from my inbox. These are the EPs that I have gotten a chance to listen to this last week. All links are to bandcamp pages. Sorry for the delays and if I never emailed you back after you submitted these or other releases, I'm commuting too long and trying to find somewhere to live that'll end that bullshit.



Computer Perfection - The Merry Microbes EP (2011)

This is a new band from Detroit that has members of the previously posted on PAS/CAL. I still enjoy PAS/CAL's charming pop and I am pleased to see that much of that has bled over into this new project, albeit with more utilization of electronics. Adorable mildly experimental, electronic, indie pop.





Preludes - The Moth EP (2011)

This fellow has also been featured on the blog already, as half of Bears in America. This is a solo project he sent my way. It is low-key, dreamy pop music. Rather atmospheric yet short of ambient. Has some very hypnotic vocals prominently in tracks.






Bishop - La Era Del Gran Ordenador (2011)

An Argentine band that makes space rock. This seems to be a six song EP of which only half is streamable, but those I heard are pretty solid. I'd like to hear a full-length by these guys should one be in the works.






Treasure Hunt - Clutty Putty EP (2009)

This is a band from Dallas that makes some really absurd experimental noise pop. Includes many sounds that wouldn't seem musical at all on their own, but their strung together into a collage of confused noise that reaches a sweet degree of musicality. They've got a full-length out this year also on bandcamp that I've been meaning to get to posting but time hasn't permitted yet.




Dexter Gilmore - Sodden Sunburst (2011)

This fella also makes some really noisy music, but with amounts of shoegaze, progressive, and psychedelic rock influencing it. I haven't really heard much like this EP but I wouldn't have a problem hearing more. It is intense, lo-fi and board, this is to say pretty neat.

Jorge Ben - Jorge Ben (1969) & Força Bruta (1970)

Jorge Ben is the non-radical, or at last less politically so, musician that partook in the Tropicália movement in Brazil and helped usher in MPB (música popular brasileira). Maybe that makes his story a little less dramatic than his compatriots Caetano Veloso or Os Mutantes, but he was every inch as fine a musician. More or less, because of his music bear the same degree of politics in it as theirs he was able to preform and produce without the military government of the time interfering as much and was therefore capable of maintaining an overt presence in the country. However, all this has been made known to me only through reading, as I really don't have a clue as to what any of them are singing about most of the time. I do enjoy foreign lyrics when I'm reading, especially something as heavy as an 65 year old biography of Emperor Napoleon III of France. Anyhow, I felt I'd left out this stalwart of Brazilian music and here are two albums of his I really that are contemporary to the other Brazilian albums I've shared already.

To be had here:




Jorge Ben [192 kbps]











Força Bruta [192 kbps]

Maher Shalal Hash Baz - L'autre Cap (2007)

While this is hardly anything new or surprising, I do love Maher Shalal Hash Baz. Japanese musician who, if I remember correctly, isn't really trained and works with musicians largely of the same 'unprofessional' ilk. Nonetheless, it makes for some great lo-fi experimental pop music. L'autre Cap is really just my favorite of his albums at the moment, but that changes pretty regularly so all of them are recommended listening to be sure. It is long and has several versions of tracks, don't worry about it, just get some beer in you as I've done and let the absurdly beautiful sounds flow into your ears. Lots of starts and starts the seem out of place, changes of tempo or a lack of tempo altogether, less than harmonic singing, so on and so forth. Really the key to enjoying Maher Shalal Hash Baz is paying attention to the subtleties timing between chaotic and rhythmic sections.

To be had here:
Maher Shalal Hash Baz - L'autre Cap [192 VBR kbps]

Universal Studios Florida - Ocean Sunbirds (2009)

More than likely I am way behind on getting excited over this band, but I've never claimed to be timely. Universal Studios Florida made some exotic and breezy ambient electronic music for what I assume is their only full-length release, Ocean Sunbirds. It is a good remedy for the cloud-covered skies that have brought a certain degree of gloominess to my hometown as I take care of what I deem to be an excessive amount of Labrador Retrievers for my parents. In fact the more I listen the more the sun seems to be peaking out just like these songs have affected my mood for the better. Ocean Sunbirds could be the calmer, soothing cousin album of Pill Wonder's Jungle/Surf and Beat Connection's Surf Noir shares many qualities with it. Also, if you liked Monster Rally this should be right up your alley.

To be had here:
Universal Studios Florida - Ocean Sunbirds [320 kbps]

The Immortal Lee County Killers - Love Is a Charm of Powerful Trouble (2003)

I've been meaning to post up the Immortal Lee County Killers for a bit now. They're one of the bands I listened to back in high school along with the Soledad Brothers, Mr. David Viner and Entrance on hot spring afternoons before my folks got home and made me do chores. While all the mentioned acts are on the blues—punk spectrum, the Immortal Lee County Killers are perhaps the most heavily on the punk end. Formed in Alabama, they took the regions blues and merged it with minimalist garage punk to make a very loud and distorted mess of rock and roll. Too bad they got washed over in the garage rock craze of the early aughts and although they preceded the wave they quickly found themselves one of legion. This was their second album and arguably the best they produced. An unfortunately overlook group that should be heard by more garage punk fans.

To be had here:
The Immortal Lee County Killers - Love Is a Charm of Powerful Trouble [192 kbps]

Abschaum - Teenage Apocalypse (2011)

Teenage Apocalypse is a solo project of French musician going by Abschaum here, who is a member of the earlier posted noise/punk rock band Prypiat. This album is unlike Prypiat however, as it is thoroughly snyth-drenched electronic pop. Now, hopefully my manager won't read this, but when we work together that cat makes me listen to is Pandora. I loathe Pandora, as no algorithm can be allowed me please me, right? Anyhow, the speakers are at the cafe aren't angled for the employees to hear well, so it is like chilling in a bunker under Berlin that shares a thin wall with a dance club. While I imagine German clubs are superior to North American in most all respects (I've never been to one here, and once only in Dresden as far as Germany goes); I still can't see it being my bag. Nevertheless, this Frenchman does a wonderful job reminding me why dancable snyth-laden music should continue being made. Although not my sought after sound, done well it is pretty neat, and this shit is clean as fuck.

To be had here:
Abschaum - Teenage Apocalypse

EP Grab Bag vol. 4

Sorry about spotty posting. Several factors are conspiring against my blogging lately, such as getting a job, losing a stable housing situation and occasionally limited access to the internet. This is a mix of bands I've seen or that have been submitted in the last few weeks.



Pink Ligthning - First Rodeo (2011)

This is a Detroit band that I saw play at the Awesome Fest and was very happy to have seen preform. A full-length has yet to be released by Pink Lightning, yet there's an EP of their lo-fi rock is infused with some surf and soul. Live it reminded me of The Fever.







High In One Eye - Memory Hoarders (2011)

This a fuzzed out example of shoegze/math rock (post-mathrock as they tagged it?). It fluxes between dreamer bits of distorted rock and louder, more intense sections. Rather well put together and hopefully they keep it up.







Peoples Temple - Fuck Peoples Temple and the Degeneration of American Society and the Status Quo (2011)

This band is also called Dual Mausoleums, this is their older release I guess despite the chronology of its posting to bandcamp. It is some epic psychedelic noise experimentation along the lines of Raccoo-Oo-Oon, Wet Hair or Indian Jewelry. I'll likely get the newer album up soon enough.




Draconian Incubus - Undead (2011)

This submitted album falls pretty far outside of my usual fare. This band is from San José, Costa Rica but sound like a British goth rock group. This oddity alone provoked me to posting it, but really it is pretty good rock music if you're okay with atheistic preaching (I recognize the oxymoronic nature of that) and other gloomy themes.

Ty Segall - Live in Aisle 5 (2011) & Goodbye Bread (2011)

This is the only album that is appropriate to post now that my internet connection is finally giving me a window of functionality. I saw Ty Segall live here in Detroit last night as part of the most righteous Awesome Fest. They were to play on the third night, and after my second night I was roughed up my alcohol consumption and working my new nonsense job. Anyhow, who the fuck wanders in when I was just about to fall asleep from lack for customers than Ty Segall and his whole band in tow. Nearly fucking shit myself serving coffee to Mikal Cronin. Charles Moothart must be one of the friendliest guys I've met. I've been in a state of bliss since I saw them put on the best show I've seen in years. And the joy that replaced the guilt I felt when Mikal Cronin just shrugged at the idea of me illegally sharing his music and that he'd even read this blog before, tops. So here are the long over due for a posting 2011 releases from Ty Segall, Live in Aisle 5, and this summer's album, Goodbye Bread. They'll speak for themselves I am sure enough.

To be had here:




Live in Aisle 5 [256 VBR kbps]












Goodbye Bread [256 VBR kbps]

Carton Sonore - Petits Thèmes #3 (2011)

Petits Thèmes #3 nearly automatically summoned memories of the Music Tapes. France's Carton Sonore makes use of exotic instrumentation to create a strange yet infinitely charming set of short compositions. When I queried one of the musicians I was told there is charango, ukulele, xylophones, melodicas, saz, kalimba, digital horn and singing saw. That should give even Julian Koster a wet dream. Atypical for this blog, this isn't a free release. €3 is minimum price, but of course like most things on bandcamp it is freely streamable and thereafter you can decide as you like. If I wasn't literally out of money and currently drinking the only $3 I have to spend in the form of a beer, I'd get it. For basically, it sounds like what a country carnival would have for music in the delightful place on Earth.

To be had here:
Carton Sonore - Petits Thèmes #3

LoOmis - Vellocet (2011)

I believe this band is canvasing blogs rather heavily, but who's to harsh them if they're making something worth shilling about? I'll admit that I know diddling shit about LoOmis but what I read on last.fm of them being from New Orleans and some influences I can't quite make out in their sound. I did really like their album nonetheless. It is a mix of lo-fi electonic and dream pop, sorta halfway to chillwave but still maintaining dreamy vocals and guitar. A good listen for a lazy afternoon, of which I've grown exceptionally fond of since my car trouble have left me grounded often enough. Lastly, LoOmis does seem rather prolific and consistently delightful, including some nice remixes. So be sure to get the other releases available on bandcamp.

To be had here:
LoOmis - Vellocet

Thee Irma & Louise - White Hell (2010)

White Hell is an album by Swiss garage/psychedelic rockers Thee Irma & Louise. Sent in my a reader of this blog, it is a fine example of largely instrumental garage rock heavily influenced by surf and psychedelic themes. It can get somewhat loud and frantic, as it very well should, but also possesses a creepy, haunting tone to it makes it seem like the soundtrack to a raunchy, self-aware horror flick. The cinematic, or perhaps even video game-esque, is enhanced all the more my the skill employment of vaguely angular guitar and what I assume is an organ. I've already listened to it twice over while getting to the dramatic conclusion of an Orwell novel (I know that might not be fitting). Nevertheless, it is solid and thanks to Wo0osh for sending this album my way.

To be had here:
Thee Irma & Louise - White Hell [256 VBR kbps]

The Drunken Draculas - Start Sucking! (2011)

This is a submitted EP from San Diego band the Drunken Draculas. When I saw this show up in my inbox I thought that it'd be some really fast and raw rock and roll, which I do thoroughly delight in. However, it wasn't as fast but rather has a more subtle garage rock sound that reminds me of King Khan and BBQ Show where the fits of shouts are concentrated in the songs tastefully. Sweetly lo-fidelity and cutely funny lyrically I was happy to have received Start Sucking! The track "Apeman in the Big City" brought a smile to my face and if they're capable of producing more songs of that merit I'd be eager to hear any follow up releases these fellas make.

To be had here:
The Drunken Draculas - Start Sucking!

Liquid Skulls - In Lungs (2011)

Liquid Skulls has a new full-length release out. In Lungs follows their previously posted and personally heavily enjoyed EP, Dead In Yr Eyes. This album has the wondrous droning, eerie and psychedelic qualities that endeared me to their EP. Not gonna lie, I've been waking up rather hungover these last few days (getting tips in the jar lets me buy beer), and I've been listening to whatever I was recently sent. However, I keep coming back to listen to this release because it has a very settling effect on me. Soothing but otherworldly so as to be marvelously enticing. The lo-fi vocals buzzing over the hazy music is pure gold to my ears. I can say you're really missing out if you don't download this.

To be had here:
Liquid Skulls - In Lungs

Aetheric Mechanics

While I know the posts I've done on comic books haven't been overly popular, I am hoping to slide this one under the wire for today before I have my three day weekend during which I hope to get to submissions and dig up something interesting for everyone. Aetheric Mechanics is a graphic novella, fancy term for a double-sized one-shot if you wanna get down to it, written by Warren Ellis. You might recall that I posted Ellis's Ignition City miniseries a while back, thus my willingness to delve into reading this story. This tale is a quick read, I read after getting off work this week. I found it pleasing despite its brevity, almost in the way watching those old Twilight Zone episodes are enjoyable. It bears more similarity to a Twilight Zone than length though, it is an endeavor to blend steampunk and meta-fiction in a compact form that leaves the reader more or less surprised by the twist ending. I'll admit I didn't figure out how it'd before I got there. I don't wanna spoil the tale by offering up details on characters and plot, as those are intimate to meta-fiction by nature, but if you like Ellis's other work or would just a short but fine comic book to read I recommend Aetheric Mechanics.

To be had here:
Aetheric Mechanics

Nerve City - Nerve City: Recordings 2007-2008 LP (2010)

Nerve City isn't likely not any sorta of surprise to many readers of this blog, the Sleepwalker EP did appear on my "best of 2010" and several of the blogs I link to, but I really goddamn enjoyed this collection of early recordings from the group put out by Sweet Riot. So you'll have to indulge me before I get to the backed up flow of submitted records I've got in my inbox. I don't wanna drone on too long, largely because I am tired tonight, but also because the band's appeal is quickly summarized. Nerve City is masterful in how lo-fi techniques are applied to rock and roll without relying on speed, absurdity or novelty. It can be bluesy or nearly incomprehensible, but not once does my interest stray from the songs. In fact what it reminds of the most are lo-fi psychedelic bands from the 60s, like the Index, that just rolled with how they had no means to make a high fidelity record. And, I reckon, Nerve City hasn't any desire to do so.

To be had here:
Nerve City - Nerve City: Recordings 2007-2008 LP [224 VBR kbps]

The Fondas - Coming Now! (2003) & Runaway Bombshell (2006)

The Fondas are a good place to reorientate myself after battering my body on the water over the weekend and forget for a minute about my chronic car troubles. This band can be reduced to product of the intense attention that the Detroit garage rock scene received after the soaring popularity of the White Stripes and other Motor City acts, but that isn't hope I, nor hopefully you, should understand them. They are indeed an amalgam of artists that served in various other Detroit bands: Steve Shaw of the Detroit Cobras, Chip Sercombe of the Sillies, Mark Niemenski of the 80s band the Hysteric Narcotics, and singer Julie Benjamin of Slumber Party. The first album is a wee bit predictable, and not veyr glamorous reviews are floating around the internet, but I do like Benjamin's performance a good deal. The second release, Ranaway Bombshell, was largely written by Niemenski and showed a leap in the group's sophistication. The songs got more complex and less of a stream of undifferentiated guitar. Plus they kept at it after most of the labels and popular media moved away from Detroit, which redeems them for the idea that they formed to ride the wave. Overall, a solid example of Detroit garage rock from some really skill players.

To be had here:




Coming Now! [224 VBR kbps]











Runaway Bombshell [320 kbps]