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2009 saw the release of the first Dinosaur Jr. album in 4 years titled: Farm. Like most songs off Farm, “I Want You To Know” draws on the original Dinosaur Jr. sound – distorted vocals, melodic guitar solos, and heartfelt lyrics. It’s easy to see why in the 80′s Dinosaur Jr. was one of the bands that built the alt-rock stage, influencing alt-rock giants like Pearl Jam.
“I Want You To Know“ (play/download)
Buy D. Jr’s music at their very own online store.
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Sick Figures, who are signed to Stick Figure records, are recording songs that conceptually are leaps ahead of most bands. Sick Figures maintains their raucous, saloonish type of rock and roll, a sound that translates into a fun loving debauchery that is had buy all. Listen to their latest album, Two Ghost here.
“Graveyard Swagger“ (play/download mp3)
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Taking a page from Devo and a chapter from Alice In Wonderland, Berkeley’s Fashion Slaves let the styrofoam cat out of the styrofoam bag with their first mp3 release. It’s short and sweet and crispy and fun I can’t get that riff outta my styrofoam head. NY art rock, gone hella east bay. I love it.
The Fashion Slaves
Click to play, or right click “save as” to download:
The Fashion Slaves – “Styrofoam” (mp3)
(Fun Fun Fun Recordings)
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Some people feel the need to be too outspoken in their music when singing. ie, “Let me just scream into this mic so you don’t have to wonder what I’m saying.” Not here. This vocal is as powerful as ever. The questionable tone of whisper to start this off gets your ears well attuned to what REALLY is going on here. This extremely creative and powerful song builds itself as it goes.
“Crazy Claws” mp3 (play/download mp3)
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If you’re an Anglophile who likes cute go-go pop, you’ve just found your musical grail. Death By Chocolate is utterly novel pop music – It is quirky, infectious, and somehow quintessentially British.
“Ice Cold Lemonade“ (play/download mp3)
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When MP3 was still a new word, reviled by some and embraced by others, I surfed the Internets with fiendish glee to see what cool music I could find from artists who wanted to share their some of their work for free in this exciting new way. After wading through considerable muck, Love Is Laughter‘s “I’m A Bee” was one of the first keepers I found. Thousands of mp3s later, I still like it. It fooking rocks, is all. I love the raging vocal and seething Northwest guitars. Love As Laughter’s music is available from Sub Pop, Glacial Pace Recordings, and K Records. That is all.
Love As Laughter – “I’m A Bee“ (play/download)
BackUpUrMusic
When MP3 was still a new word, reviled by some and embraced by others, I surfed the Internets with fiendish glee to see what cool music I could find from artists who wanted to share their some of their work for free in this exciting new way. After wading through considerable muck, Love Is Laughter‘s “I’m A Bee” was one of the first keepers I found. Thousands of mp3s later, I still like it. It fooking rocks, is all. I love the raging vocal and seething Northwest guitars. Love As Laughter’s music is available from Sub Pop, Glacial Pace Recordings, and K Records. That is all.
Love As Laughter – “I’m A Bee“ (play/download)
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I first found this in 2003 when it came out. Just re-discovered it after a visit to the pet supply store for a fresh catnip toy, and it crossed my mind so I dug it up. The Weakerthans are Strongerthan, I can assure you! Splendid lyrics in a tastefully epic rock-scape. Approval.
The Weakerthans – “Plea From A Cat Named Virtue” mp3
From their Reconstruction Site CD.
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Neurosis – “Burn” (play/download)
Neurosis’ The Eye of Every Storm, showed a combination of folk, metal, ambience and naturalism in one vast experimental record. A band that came from a very American hardcore beginning, its astonishing what musical exploration Neurosis has achieved over the course of a few decades, all with some obscurity. Whether you’re a “heady” music listener or a knucklehead thrasher.
Visit Neurosis’ official website, and their label, Neurot Recordings.
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“STD” has made a lot of brilliant tracks as a solo artist since fleeing from band life in disgust. I first discovered him when a friend (also in a band, naturally) sent me a link to “Your Band” and commented that she had heard every line in the song uttered in earnest at some point, by band guys at the bar at Bottom Of The Hill (the SF club mentioned in the song, no less). Band shmoozing is a frightful business, and I guess it just ate away at our hero Schaffer until he plopped out this hilarious anti-shmooze screed. Not safe for work, this one. No. Not safe in general. But excellent. I added an “Other” category to my blog categories, just for the great otherness of this. Enjoy.
Buy @ CD Baby
