They were right. 2012 is the year of the apocalypse.The geek apocalypse. Yes. It started with The Big Bang Theory reruns. Then there was the arrival of the 50p Spiderman money box. Now it's chiptune. This time next year I'll have an Atari computer and a not-too-shabby collection of comic books.
This is fantastic. Really awesome. I'm not usually a big fan of electronica, but hell, this rocks. The J Arthur Keenes Band, The Bus That Couldn't Slow Down
This is adorable. I didn't ever think one could describe what is essentially a collection of bleeps and whooshes as "adorable", but there you are. Nullsleep, Her Lazer Light Eyes
And, you know what's more awesome? It's FREE! Well, most of their discography anyway. See?
Well hello! Nice of you to join me for another Label Day, which today is apparently the first ever donation based record label.
I love this, unsurprisingly. (Less Than Jake - ska) + The Mountain Goats = The Taxpayers, The Windows Break
Picture this. You're in a car, probably a red or blue truck, driving down Route 66; the sun is shining and the wind is blowing your hair into your mouth as your brother plays guitar on the back seat. Heavenly, in other words. The Wild, Set Ourselves Free
This reminds of something. I can't place it though, so you'll have to listen to it and make up your own mind. Shinobu, Antarctic Stare
Usually, if I'm not impressed by a label's website, I just won't bother with it (oh come on. I can't be doing with hard to navigate websites at quarter to eleven! ) but today I'm making an exception.
Larkin Grimm. Brilliant name, isn't it? Her music's good too. Here's Ride That Cyclone. (free download!!!)
Whoa. I mean, whoa. There's a little Nick Cave in there, a little blues, a little rock, and a helluva lotta awesome. Wooden Wand, Ms Mowse
Unless you've been under a rock for the past...what, two, three years is it now? Jeez...you'll have heard of Marcus Mumford and his Sons (who aren't actually his sons, but that's another matter). If that slightly commercial folkpop leaves a bitter taste in your mouth, give this a go instead. Fire On Fire, Hartford Blues (free download again!!!)
The tagline on my blog says "There's good music everywhere, if you know where to look". To be honest, I find it somewhat pretentious, so I'll probably take it down. But the idea behind this post is really to share with you where I find stuff. (by the way, it'd be awesome if you could leave me comments saying where you find yours!)
So, 1a) the radio. Yes, the radio. Before switching to BBC Radio 6, I listened to Radio 2, which wasn't great for finding new music or anything particularly alternative (at least, during the daytime shows), but sometimes they'll throw in a wildcard. I found the evening shows had a bit more variety, and it's by listening to them that I first heard No Name #4and Bloodbuzz Ohio by Elliott Smith and The National respectively, to name just two.
1b) Internet radio. I remember quite vividly hearing This Year by The Mountain Goats for the first time, after putting Elliott Smith into the Jango internet radio generator. After becoming more aware of these things, I found Last FM was better, but Jango, as far as I remember, doesn't play ads between songs.
2) Youtube. Yeah, unsurprising I know, but you really can find some great songs just from going from video to video (also, fantastic for when you're bored and still want to feel like you're actually doing something). I've found so many people like this I can't even begin to name them.
3) Looking for free (or at least cut price) stuff! Amazon and iTunes do free songs and reduced-price promotions, though the problem with those is it's usually just mainstream things, although iTunes did once offer Georgia by Yuck, so just have a look 'coz you never know. Record label websites quite often have free songs available too, like Team Love, Sub Pop, Joyful Noise etc. (There's a very extensive list of labels on Wikipedia I usually use for Label Day). Record shops themselves also sometimes have albums stupidly cheap, and I've occasionally found albums in charity shops for 50p-£2 (and some places will cut the price down for you if you get loads, or if it's a bit damaged).
There must be something in the August air that makes people unable to do anything but lie in deckchairs and eat ice-cream. Karen's a slow candyfloss whisp of a track, a song built on soft guitars, floating drums, lazy brass and sweet harmonies. It sounds frail, barely more substantial than the head of a dandelion, and yet it sticks in your mind - not catchy, as such, but just so pretty and fragile that it takes over your life for three minutes and twenty-six seconds. It's sweet but slightly heartbreaking, like coming to the end of your last bottle of lemonade.
8.5/10
Mollx
(The link I've given is also a free download link from Burnt Toast Vinyl, have a look around their site because they've got tons of downloads)
"Rock'n'roll stomp" is a phrase journalists often use when the only thing to recommend a song is a certain T-Rex influence. And yes, See My Evil does have a rock'n'roll stomp. It also has slightly awkward narrative lyrics, a driving beat, feedback drenched guitars, and a singer on the edge of a breakdown howling about lies, psychiatrists, and MPs. It's awesome, scary, and painful. But in a really, really good way.
8/10
A five track EP is also now available (containing See My Evil) for free from the Team Love Library, and the song on its own is also free from the band's website.
And this band describes themselves as "The best American band pretending to be a British band influenced by American music since Guided By Voices". Vulture Whale, Thought Eyes
Feedback, undernourished keyboards, a singer that sounds like the guy from Pavement, and that whole loud/quiet Pixies thing. 13ghosts, Just Got Dead
They're better than their terrible band name makes them sound, don't you worry. His voice also gets less annoying as it goes on. Taylor And The Puffs, Summer's Comin'
There are free songs also scattered around the Skybucket Band's pages. (See 'em? There, underneath the "Other Bands" box).
Greetings from the opposite end of the Interwebs! Sorry for my absence of late - curse busyness! Anyway, I'm back in time for Label Day, with some very fine tracks from the free-download vaults of Jagjaguwar!
Featured on Radcliffe and Maconie way back when, they've been on the "Yeah, I've Heard Of Them. So?" list ever since. I've now promoted them to the "Stuff To Think About Buying" list (which is so prestigious it has its own YouTube playlist! Cue gasps). The Besnard Lakes, Albatross
This song is beautiful. Really gorgeous. Peter Wolf Crier, Hard As Nails
Less ethereal than the previous two, but just as lovely. Julie Doiron, Consolation Prize
I like a good label aesthetic. This label seems to have a great one."Ugly Nephew Records is an independent record label based in both London and New York. It is intended to play host to a small community of artists in order to facilitate their promotion and releases." Thanks, Wikipedia!
1) The name of this label is Team Love.
2) Based in NYC; founded seven years ago.
3) Co-founded by this guy.
4) Has a helluva lotta free stuff.
I like this band muchly. It just so happens that you can currently get the whole Brought To You By Nebraskafish album for free from the TL Library. Capgun Coup (what a name!), When I'm Gone
I think (I may possibly be wrong) that this is sung by some kind of elfin creature. Joker's Daughter, Worm's Head
Wow. WHY HAVE I NOT HEARD THIS BEFORE? WHYYYYY? Popup, Love Triangle
I'm not ashamed to say I love free stuff. I think most of us do! There are a lot of places you can get free MP3s (and LimeWire, I ain't lookin' at you). No, all this is totally legal! And totally free!
Gold For Bread by Blitzen Trapper. Fast paced and quirky, I love it. Free from here Greetings in Braille by The Elected. Like Elliott Smith with synths. Free from here Australia by The Shins. My Mum loves this song, which is recommendation enough as far as I'm concerned. Free from here Seven by Sunny Day Real Estate. Emo before My Chemical Romance hijacked it, featuring Nate Mendel before he joined Foo Fighters. Free from here City of Electric Light by Chad VanGaalen. I love this song. Free from here Parachute* by Simon Joyner. One of the mainstays of the Omaha scene, and 'the hipster's Dylan**' Free from here (You have to register with the Team Love site, but that's free too.) Twilight by Ellliott Smith. First time I heard this it made me cry. Free from here
For all of them, right click, save link as, save (on Windows, anyway).
Molxx
*I've sent you to 'One for the Catholic Girls' which is at least as good, because I can't find Parachute on YT
**That's what I call him, anyway.
