We Don't Need No Bodies, We're Here For The Souls!

The Mae Shi play... um. Indie-pop. But... it's kind of angry. And kind of has a lot of weird sounds. Like beeps and bloops. I guess I'll let this video speak for itself. If you like this cover of a Miley Cyrus song, chances are you'll like the album.





Onto the real review!

The Mae Shi - HLLLYH (2008)

When I first heard about The Mae Shi, they were associated with John Zorn (grindcore/jazz saxophonist, psychopath); they worked with him at his ridiculous "music improvisation games," which means that they can pretty much play ridiculously awful music that is supposed to be excellent because it's so complex and mind-bending that it's therefore good.

However, they play a sort of indie pop punk that is at times serious, but is mostly just playful. With songtitles like "Pwnd" and "7xx7," this album about the apocalyptic sort of takes on a more cheerful tone about the wrath of god. Overall, it's just fun to listen to: they have chops to spare, but they choose to hold themselves back just to keep the music enjoyable. You can tell they're powerful just by how intricately woven every song is, despite being quite simple, pop-wise. Between the vocal arrangements that sound like a full chorus (despite being sung by what must be a single dude), the synthesizers that were picked up out of the 80s, and that amazing guitar tone that sounds like it was formulated in a garage, The Mae Shi are one of the most fun bands I've ever listened to and deserve to be in your collection if you like having fun or listening to fun music.

Genres: Indie, Punk, Pop, Post-Punk
Recommended Tracks: Lamb And The Lion, Pwnd, Boys In The Attic, Run To Your Grave,
Link: http://www.mediafire.com(SLASH)?ymmhtzfugmi

No, Seriously.

I am having a ceremony tomorrow for how awesome I am. So I'm too busy to write a review, so here's a quick little something for you.

The Clash - London Calling (1980)

Fuck you, if you don't have this album already, then fucking GET IT. Like, NOW. I don't care what kind of music you listen to, whether or not you've written off this band, or any of that stuff. You NEED this album in your collection because all of your favorite modern bands exist solely because of this album.

Honestly, it's probably one of the best cds ever made and don't be embarrassed if you don't already own every collector's edition of it or whatever, but definitely check it out because it's seriously seriously great even by today's standards.

Recommended tracks: Rudie Can't Fail, Spanish Bombs, Wrong 'Em Boyo
Genres: Rock, Punk, Ska, Reggae, Folk, Indie, Awesomeawesome
Link: http://www.mediafire.com(SLASH)?zmwxyzkzga2

Final Thursday EPs (For Now)

Okay, I don't have nearly enough good EPs to keep this up, so they'll just be sprinkled intermittently whenever I can't think of what to put up. Awesome! Let's finish off that Mountain Goats kick and I'll round it out with ex-folk-punk band Rosa! Acoustic EP Day!! Woo!

The Mountain Goats and John Vanderslice - Moon Colony Bloodbath (2009)

The humorous title of this most recent Mountain Goats release hints at murder and space travel, but hardly delivers on either. Instead, you get a story that builds over the course of the album. John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats and Vanderslice trade vocal duties and create a very cohesive, warm, yet dark album. The music is almost entirely just acoustic guitars and voices, with each frontman performing a half of the album. The final song, when the bloodbath on the moon happens is the absolutely fantastic. The build up to it is stunning. Definitely a must-hear for anyone interested in either band.

Genres: Folk, Indie
Link: http://www.mediafire.com(SLASH)?m1jy2zidqmz


Rosa - I Mississippi You (2005)

This one isn't an EP, but it's only about 26 MB, despite having 12 songs, so it's tiny, but it's so very, very good. Not very many people have heard of Rosa, and the ones that have either listen to them all the time or are searching for them on the internet to this day. They sound like four kids who are just writing songs about whatever they care about. Passionate, playful, and rocking, these lo-fi, acoustic songs sound like they were recorded in a garage that, while being planted down in Tennessee, it dreams about houses in California. Listening to Rosa makes me feel like running away from home, hopping on a train to anywhere, and never looking back. The music sounds like if a couple punks decided they wanted to play folk-country, and that is so awesome with me.

Genres: Folk, Punk, Country
Link: http://www.mediafire.com(SLASH)?dkmzyzicnkz

Most Of The Killers Never Get Famous, Then It's Hard On Everyone

After graduating from NYU with a degree in English Lit and Creative Writing, Blake Schwarzenbach played with a seminal punk/emo band called Jawbreaker before ending the whole thing to start an indie/emo band called Jets To Brazil. Their first album is one of my favorites evereverever and I'm so excited to have it up here!


Jets To Brazil - Orange Rhyming Dictionary (1998)

Orange Rhyming Dictionary is so much more than a collection of songs, especially for a first album from a new band. Every song seems to be directly tied to the next one, despite having no actual cohesive reasons to feel that way. Each one seems to outline a lonely life in California, starting with an exhilarating drive down Pasadena in 1968 and ending with an introspective train ride away from a girlfriend or wife.

I could literally write for hours about this band and this cd, but I'll let the music speak for itself. Schwarzenbach's voice and songwriting feel just so perfect -- like he had all of these ideas and just let them come out exactly as he had them in his head. The music comes out as some kind of mixture between the poppy punk of his old band, Jawbreaker, and the exciting and intricate music and rhythms of the up and coming indie rock scene. Absolutely stunning.

Recommended Tracks: Crown Of The Valley, Starry Configurations, Chinatown, Sweet Avenue
Genres: Indie, Punk, Emo
Link: http://www.mediafire.com(SLASH)?z5jjyjztjmy
Recommended if you liked: The Weakerthans, Cursive, Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros

Guest Post: Amanda fucking Palmer - Who Killed Amanda Palmer?

Thanks for this awesome review of a seriously fantastic album, Dia! You guys should DEFINITELY get this if you liked Nick Cave, Tom Waits, or music in general; this piano virtuoso and extraordinary vocalist, Amanda Palmer is exactly what they would be like if they were female and slightly less ridiculous in some ways while being even more ridiculous in plenty others. Ampersand, the third track on this cd is probably one of the best songs I've ever heard in my life.

Amanda Palmer - Who Killed Amanda Palmer? (2008)

The Dresden Dolls may have split up, but Amanda Palmer’s ingenious creativity is still ever-present in her first solo album. Desperate for a new beginning, Palmer and co-producer Ben Folds put their musical mindsand their gifted piano skills to good use. The result – a powerful demonstration of music and composition at its finest. No two tracks sound alike, and yet Palmer's stories and her magnificently eerie voice bring the album together with astonishing perfection.

The album opens with the powerful chords of ‘Astronaut’, a catchy and yet stimulating song that immediately grabs your attention at full force. Throughout the album, the tracks continue to alternate between intense and heartfelt, tied together by Palmer's storytelling and piano virtuosity. Songs cover an unorthodox range of topics, such as mental instability and abortion. ‘Guitar Hero’, my favorite on the entire album, is about soldiers at war playing video games when not on the battlefield.

I wouldn't change anything about this album -- If you have yet to experience the sheer power and compassion that this woman brings into music, a single listen to this album is all you need for that genuine Amanda ‘Fucking’ Palmer experience.

For deeper insight into this album, I recommend watching the music videos she made for each song on the album, each one is artistic and captivating in their own way, and each one carries the words of the song even further.

Recommended tracks: Astronaut, Runs In The Family, Had to Drive, Guitar Hero, The Point of it All
Genres: Rock, Indie, Experimental, Pop
Link: http://www.mediafire.com(SLASH)?fy2mzw5g4m2

Bust A Nut Inside Your Eye To Show You Where I Come From

I've been following the download rates on the albums I've uploaded and noted that a huge amount of people got Nas' Illmatic (huge meaning it's the 4th most downloaded album on Hallelujah), so this one is for you guys:


A Tribe Called Quest - The Low-End Theory (1991)

The Tribe are pioneers of the jazz-rap that groups like The Roots are currently edging forth. The album starts off with a kickin' upright bass line, letting you know that you're about to hear the jazziest hip hop to come out of the early 90s this side of De La Soul. The album features upright bassist, Ron Carter, and he is absolutely incredible. His basslines fit the songs perfectly and are so understated that they're nearly lost. Lead MC Q-Tip's vocals are smooth, they glide over the words as effortlessly as you'd expect with such slick beats.

Speaking of the beats, this album takes samples from the ultimate masters. Listening closely, you'll hear bits of Art Blakey, Jimi Hendrix, Weather Report, James Brown, Grant Green (as posted below!), Cannonball Adderley, Steve Miller Band, Funkadelic, and plenty of others. The other MC, Phife Dawg appears almost as often as Q-Tip, but it's when they rap together that is the most powerful. His voice is less smooth, but just as powerful and exciting. Together, they're unstoppable.

Overall, this album is just incredible. Listening to it transports you back to the 90's in a good way. Right before music was polluted for the rest of the decade, this is what was popping up. The Tribe feels just as powerful today, with their political and social lyrics that outline an environment we still combat today.

Recommended tracks: Excursions, Check The Rhime, Scenario (is holy shit one of the best best best songs ever written)
Genres: Rap, Hip Hop, Jazz
Link: http://www.mediafire.com(SLASH)?z0onezloudr

Thursday EPs: The Mountain Goats!

The Mountain Goats are fantastically prolific; ever since taking on the moniker in 1991, John Darnielle has recorded and released well over 500 songs. It's difficult to know where to start with a back-catalog of that size. So, instead of posting his full LPs (there'll be a time for that), here are a few EPs from 2008. Next week, I'll do a few other Mountain Goats EPs (believe me, I have plenty).


The Mountain Goats - Satanic Messiah EP (2008)

This cd, despite having an evil looking cover, contains no electric guitars at all. Instead, it's almost entirely piano; an instrument that rarely takes center-stage in Mountain Goats songs. Its music is smooth and calm; two songs are about death metal bands, one is about a religious revolution, and the final song is about an Ethiopian riot over high taxes. This cd is probably the most tender of all of the Mountain Goat releases and it certainly has some of the best songwriting I've ever heard.

Recommended Track: Gojam Province 1968
Link: http://www.mediafire.com(SLASH)?dtmgllmgejm




The Mountain Goats & Kaki King - Black Pear Tree EP (2008)


I saw this combo together on the The Last Best Night Of Your Life Tour in November and it was simply stunning. Kaki King is a very talented guitarist and a great singer, and when she works with the songwriting genius of John Darnielle, you get King's complex style with Darnielle's complex literature in one place. Between half-serious songs like the title track (Blossoms black and sweet as Texas crude) and serious ones like Bring Our Curses Home, you get the full spectrum of what The Mountain Goats are capable of.

Recommended Track: Thank You, Mario, But Our Princess Is In Another Castle
Link: http://www.mediafire.com(SLASH)?jqy2xmwdmmi

Genres for both: Indie, Folk

There you have it! Two Mountain Goats EPs for Thursday, two more for next Thursday! See you tomorrow, dudes.

I Always Dreamed Of Classic Cars And Movie Screens

The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound (2008)

I'll start this one off by apologizing to my friend Brooks, who probably wanted to review this album.

The Gaslight Anthem are a couple of punk kids from New Jersey who grew up on Bruce Springsteen and all those classic rock acts. Their sound is as if Social Distortion, Jawbreaker, and Bruce Springsteen were somehow completely mixed into one sound. They have the intensity and speed of a punk band and the midwestern charm of a rockabilly group, all while still maintaining the clarity and epic power that come with some of the rock and roll kings from the 70s and 80s.

This cd is defined by the imagery; the lyrics and music work together to describe a lost time in history (even the album cover looks like an old LP). Songs reference Springsteen, Petty, Dylan, Seger and nearly everyone else from the 70s and 80s. They depict taillights, old ferris wheels, high top sneakers, and sailor tattoos, completing the 50's imagery. You can practically taste the old days through the words. Brian Fallon's voice suits this absolutely perfectly and the rest of the band is spot on. They are the ultimate driving band and I expect you'll be seeing a lot of them in the future.

Recommended Tracks: The '59 Sound, High Lonesome, The Patient Ferris Wheel
Genres: Punk, Rock
Link: http://www.mediafire.com(SLASH)?czmyyy3zmjy

Guest Post: Grant Green & Bobby Hutcherson - Idle Moments

Grant Green & Bobby Hutcherson - Idle Moments (1963)

This review is courtesy of Jamie, a man who I honestly believe is a musical genius; a rap, funk, and jazz connoisseur. This cd is easily one of my favorites, and when Jamie asked me if he could review it, I was ecstatic. Grant Green is my absolute favorite jazz guitarist, so I definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to hear one of the best. Here's the review:

Featuring-
Grant Green-Guitar
Joe Henderson-Tenor Saxophone
Bobby Hutcherson-Vibes
Duke Pearson-Piano
Bob Cranshaw-Bass
Al Harewood-Drums

Grant Green's "Idle Moments" is, in my humble opinion, is one of the greatest jazz albums to come out of The Cool era. The album manages to cover the entire emotional spectrum, from the discontented stillness of "Idle Moments" to the upbeat nature of "Nomad". Contained in each of the four tracks is some of the most original and amazing writing that I have ever heard and, while the musicians have chops to spare, they do not feel the incessant urge to show off and pound the listener with flurries of notes. This is not your can of bebop, so beware ye Charlie Parker fans: you will be in store for something completely different. "Idle Moments" is both incredibly simple while at the same time equally as complex. It is elegant and sophisticated and one of the coolest albums to ever be released.


Thanks, Jamie! Oh, and to anyone who downloaded the first link of this before I posted it (there were three downloads, you cheating hackz0rz), this version has the missing track.

Recommended Tracks: There are only four, so I would say all of them, but the title track, Idle Moments, is probably my favorite.
Genres: Jazz
Link: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?nmzxmcdmgyt

It's Good To Be Home From Time To Time

Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. - Chronicles Of A Bohemian Teenager (2006)

When I first heard Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly's music, I was walking alone at 1 AM, not sure where I was going. I decided to play it on my iPod out of desperation for any kind of music on my walk to anywhere. The album feels like a soundtrack to your night; the guitars are fingerpicked, mostly, Sam Duckworth's voice is higher-pitched but not obnoxiously so; he's a beautiful alto-tenor that sounds like he maybe used to be a punk singer, but ended up doing acoustic indie folk music instead. He's pretty much the only member in this cd; he plays guitar, trumpet, keyboards, programs the drums, and sings. The whole album sounds like what you want someone to tell you when you're in a bad mood; the lyrics tell you that everything will be okay and that it'll all work out and you can't help but agree.

The best part of the album, I would say, is the way it varies so little, while changing so much. The songs all have the same instruments on it; acoustic guitars, drum machines, keyboards, vocals, some have a little trumpet, whatever. Nothing jumps out as being out of place; each one, you might say, is a chronicle. Each song another chapter, therefore saying so much without trying to outshine any others. It's generally a great, great cd and the way that each song seems compounded by the next one is just fantastic. I recommend it to anyone looking for some kind of mixture between acoustic indie pop and punk rock; what you end up with is just beautiful.

Recommended songs: Chronicles Of A Bohemian Teenager (Part Two), I-Spy, Lighthouse Keeper
Genre: Indie, Folk, Punk
Link: http://www.mediafire.com(SLASH)?y0tdz2idlm2