Calvin, Don't Jump! - Crystal Clear Mississippi (2001) & A Way With Birds (2003)

I am taking off for a bachelor party up north here in Michigan for the weekend, so there'll be no posting from me until sometime next week. However, as I am making for the door I am might as well lay something down on you even if it is a obvious choice. I recently posted Great Lakes, which got me into the mood for listening to more Elephant 6 bands. Calvin, Don't Jump! was one of the many solo project spawned in the aftermath of Olivia Tremor Control, in this case by J. Kirk Pleasant. He put out two studio full-lengths (and a live album that I don't have) under this moniker and I find both of the charming and wonderful examples of the E6 psychedelic pop sound. Really is the bee's knees and if you're not a fan of all the older E6 rest assure I don't have an unlimited supply and I'm running low already. However, for now I am gonna have a good time drinking in the woods.

To be had here:




Crystal Clear Mississippi [192 bkps]












A Way With Birds [192 VBR kbps]

Light Leak - Thoughts Of Mirth (2010)

Had a surreal night yesterday, put me in the mood for some soothing electronic music. Light Leak is a glo-fo project I ran across on bandcamp a few weeks back, I do believe the same time I found Turning Torso. It's tagged with "Germany" so I am gonna assume that is where the artist hails from. It is laid-back as all get out, reminding me mildly of Ra Cailum. Thoughts Of Mirth has done wonders for decompressing my weirded-out mind today so I thought it is come due to share. Maybe my favorite part are the ethereal, echoing vocals contrasting with the eccentric beats in "The Morning Sun." Worth a whirl to hear it all though.

To be had here:
Light Leak - Thoughts Of Mirth

EP Grab Bag vol. 3

More EPs, all of these expect Bass Drum of Death were submitted to me. Sorry if you sent it in and it took some time to show up; I sorta let the smaller releases pile up so I can make an grab bag post. Also all are through bandcamp save the aforementioned EP.

To be had here:


LVL UP - Singles (2011)

The fellow that sent this in is also a member of Spook Houses, whose fantastic EP was posted up here a couple months back. This is a short and sweet selection of 3 tracks from an upcoming cassette. There's splendid blend of lo-fi and pop-like qualities in their rock.

Bears In America - Bear Tracks (2011)

I was sent this EP without any information regarding who this band is. Decided to give it a go anyway and it was a pleasant experience. Three songs of dreamy, looping, and wandering ambient folk experiments.

Bass Drum of Death - High School Roaches EP (2010) [192 kbps]

Decided to toss this up because I have really been digging their full-length. More I listen to them the more I think of the early White Stripes, before shit got all messed up and costumes seemed more important than rock and roll.

Eastern Phoebes - Gypsy Paw (2011)

This is a new EP from an Long Island duo released on February Records. It's some cheerful sounding, if not lyrically so, indie pop. Reminds me of Math and Physics Club, Pas/Cal and even early Beulah.

The Diggers - Words of Wisdom (2011)

Sat on this EP for a bit, sorry again. Don't let my delay hold you back from snatching this up though. This EP is different from the others, and much of what I've posted lately. It's a softly recorded acoustic album that he's got tagged as psychedelic blues. Quite soothing of a listen.

Cheap Time - Fantastic Explanations (and Similar Situations) (2010)

This city is a fucking shit stack, people, if you didn't know. My car has been stolen again and my hatred for Detroit is at sky high levels once again. Anyhow, I haven't posted in a few days as I've been driving around getting whatever work I could, so much for that shit. I did listen to this album a few times over in this week though. I'll admit that I do find Jeffrey Novak's voice strangely appealing and soothing. Plus I just don't have it in me to really write up shit in the state of mind, but I can be reasonably sure most fans of the lo-fi rock and roll will enjoy this. Make sure to to get Novak's solo stuff and the first Cheap Time album if you haven't gotten those yet.

To be had here:
Cheap Time - Fantastic Explanations (and Similar Situations) [320 kbps]

Kiran Leonard - The Big Fish (2011)

This submission is rather unique, as I don't think I've many teenagers, let alone a 15 year old send in an album before. However, I am not posting it per the novelty of the artist's age, but rather for the fact that it is an exceptionally wild and fantastic experimental/progressive rock album. By golly gumdrop, first track is a 26 and half minute long odyssey. There's no need to spoil the experience by describing what happens in the songs too much, but I will assure you it is pretty captivating if you're a fan of progressive or krautrock. It is out there yet doesn't get busy and without sampling and prerecorded beats. This kid has gotta either really like messing around with the guitar or he's got way too much time on his hands. Check it out and see what I'm on about.

To be had here:
Kiran Leonard - The Big Fish

Great Lakes

It has been a minute since I've posted on an Elephant 6 band. Firstly, Great Lakes counts among Elephant 6 collective in my opinion due a few factors: Robert Schneider mixed their debut, member James Higgins formerly played in Of Montreal, and that two albums were put out on the successor label, Orange Twin. Perhaps those are tangential affiliations, but the group has certainly established itself firmly with a decade of producing records. Not anywhere near as prolific as Of Montreal, instead Great Lakes seems to pace themselves and have consistently released quality albums. The band was started by Dan Donahue and Ben Crum, the latter of which still leads the band and serves as the main constant around which other membership rotates. Their self-titled debut remains one of my favorites and best composed of the psychedelic pop from the collective in that era. I don't want to get too long-winded here, so the earlier albums are the sort of thing that should be gotten by fans of other E6 groups like The Essex Green, The Gerbils or Apples in Stereo and other contemporaries like Princeton Reverbs Colonial and Shimmer Kids Underpop Association. The latest release, Ways of Escape, does try something different after four years without an LP. It features too many appearances by other indie rock musicians for me to list them here and has a more twangy sound that reminded me of alt country acts like Royal City. Excellent shift that makes me happy that Crum keeps on making music.

To be had here:





Great Lakes (2000) [192 kbps]











The Distance Between (2002) [192 kbps]










Diamond Times (2006) [224 kbps]












Ways of Escape (2010) [160 kbps]

Projeto Trator - A Bombástica Barafunda do Batizado (2007) & O Caldo Vai Azedar (2009)

Projeto Trator are a Brazilian stoner rock duo that sent me two of their EPs the other day. One of the perks of writing a music blog is that people will ignore what I usually post up and submit music that I'd otherwise be very unlikely to listen to. These songs by Projeto Trator are a fine example of the sort of stuff I would not go hunting for but now that it has been dropped on my digital doorstep I am pleasantly surprised. Perhaps it shouldn't shock me, as stoner rock/sludge does share key elements with what I do often seek out, lo-fidelity recording, loud guitar, and exciting percussion. However, I can't help but be reminded of my teenage years when I'd commonly find myself traveling around in my pal's shitty minivan with an over-sized sound system blasting some rather mediocre metal. This set of EPs straddles that gulf between my metalhead friend's taste and my bluesy, garage rock predilection in a way that is remarkably listenable. If only I could've gotten my hands of this for him to play in the death-wagon of an automobile at the time.

To be had here:




A Bombástica Barafunda do Batizado [256 kbps]












O Caldo Vai Azedar [320 kbps]

Ratas Del Vaticano - Tiempos De Austeridad (2010)

Ratas Del Vaticano are damned rough and incredibly lo-fi. From Monterrey, Mexico this band makes some garage punk that is more or less a mess of guitar, drums and shouted Spanish lyrics. This is to say, I am a fan. I will admit that they aren't better than the other garage rock acts have have been raving about like San Jaun's Dávila 666, Oakland's Shannon and the Clams, or Mississippi's Bass Drum of Death. However, I don't think they're aiming for the same effect as any of the bands. Seems more like a dirty sludge of rock and roll that is fully embracing the concept of lo-fidelity to the point that it might turn off people inclined toward more catchy garage music. Perhaps bands that made a name for themselves as gritty and loud such as The Spaceshits or The Dirtys are apt comparisons. Their allure is strong enough that I felt compelled to go buy some Cerveza Pacifico and imagine what it'd be like to get drunk with these fellas.

To be had here:
Ratas Del Vaticano - Tiempos De Austeridad [224 VBR kbps]

Destroy All Monsters - Bored (1999)

Destroy All Monsters is a band I should've had up here a long time ago. Many will be familiar with the band due to Thurston Moore issuing a large compilation of their songs in the 1994, and since there has been several more new live and studio albums released. What makes Destroy All Monsters a big deal is that it was a cutting edge sound when the band played shows in the mid-70s and how it was embraced by members of Southeast Michigan's rock and roll notables, such as members of MC5 and the Stooges joining their ranks. American post-punk of the late 70s and 80s has some considerable roots in acts like this, using unconventional insturmentation like vacuum cleaners and what have you along with the unrefined style of composition. While Bored isn't that wild if compared to other shit I've heard, the connection of Destroy All Monsters and Sonic Youth or fellow Ann Arbor band Half Japanese are undeniable. The singer, Niagara, and Jad Fair have an eerily similar cadence to their vocals. For a band that never released a proper album in their original stint nor got too much popularity outside of North American and Japanese experimental rock fans, it did have a disproportionate impact. Bored is a good starting off point as it is rather easily digestible and much stranger music of the band can be sought afterward.

To be had here:
Destroy All Monsters - Bored [192 kbps]

Songs The Cramps Taught Us Vol. 1


Songs The Cramps Taught Us Vol. 2