kristin king - kaleidoscope hearts

a few months ago i posted about pretty vicious and mentioned that their frontwoman kristin king had released a solo ep entitled "white dove". the ep was released last july on so sweet records and is limited to 500 copies. the recording quality might be lo-fi but her songwriting is top notch. here's my favorite track from it.

mp3 | kristin king - kaleidoscope hearts

mclusky - that man will not hang (live)

i'm going to go ahead and suggest everyone spend the extra $2-3 and get the deluxe 3 disc version of the new mclusky retrospective "mcluskyism" (too pure) instead of the single disc version. the 2 extra discs compile b-sides, live tracks, and rarities along with the 'greatest hits' on the first disc. if you're unfamiliar with this band it's kind of difficult for me to describe them other than just 3 crazy dudes that played proto-punk. i guess that'll have to do.

mp3 | mclusky - that man will not hang (live)

big star - i'm in love with a girl

i heard this big star song on a heineken commercial last night so i figured i'd post it in case people went searching for it. it's off their album "radio city" which originally came out in 1973 but these days you can purchase it along with another album "#1 record" both on the same cd. if you don't know anything about big star then i'll just go ahead and let you know they have influenced the likes of ryan adams, paul westerberg and elliott smith.

mp3 | big star - i'm in love with a girl

deadstring brothers - moonlight only knows

deadstring brothers are a roots-rock/alt. country band based out of detroit. last month they released their sophomore album "starving winter report" via bloodshot records. if you dig the rolling stones or the jayhawks then you'll probably like these guys too.

mp3 | deadstring brothers - moonlight only knows
bonus:
mp3 | deadstring brothers - sacred heart
mp3 | deadstring brothers - lonely days

final - the light orchestra

final is the experimental outlet of justin broadrick (of jesu and godflesh). neurot recordings recently put out his double album entitled "3" and i suggest checking it out. dark, ambient soundscapes...kind of like an industrial brian eno.

mp3 | final - the light orchestra
bonus:
mp3 | final - sorry
mp3 | final - confusion

band of horses - (biding time is a) boat row (live)

yeah i know everyone is talking about band of horses and how fucking good their debut album "everything all the time" (sub pop) is. fortunately, i've got something special to offer by these guys. here's a live recording taken from their limited edition tour ep of a song that didn't make the album. enjoy.

mp3 | band of horses - (biding time is a) boat row (live)
bonus:
mp3 | band of horses - the funeral
mp3 | band of horses - wicked gil (demo)

the drips - broken

the drips are a no frills punk band from california that features matt caughthran (of the bronx and bullet treatment) and tony belivaqua (of the distillers). on april 10th wichita recordings will be releasing the band's first single "broken" and on april 24th their self titled full length. by the sound of these tracks, it's something to look forward to.

mp3 | the drips - broken
bonus:
mp3 | the drips - 16, 16, 6
mp3 | the drips - down brown

the seven mile journey - through the alter ego justifications

the seven mile journey play epic post-rock that follows the loud/soft/loud formula that many of their peers in the same genre tend to follow. that might seem boring after a while but i never really get tired of it. they recently released their 4 song debut "the journey studies" via vme. recommended for fans of explosions in the sky and sigur ros.

mp3 | the seven mile journey - through the alter ego justifications

the black crowes - the night they drove old dixie down (live)

tomorrow, the black crowes will be releasing their first ever live dvd, "freak n roll...into the fog". it was filmed during their reunion tour last august at the fillmore auditorium in san francisco. here they are closing the 2 hour long show with a cover of one of my favorite songs by the band.

mp3 | the black crowes - the night they drove old dixie down (live)

murs and 9th wonder - yesterday and today

murs (of living legends and felt) and 9th wonder (of little brother) are back with their second collaborative full length entitled "murray's revenge". the album comes out tuesday via record collection and i'm pretty sure it will not disappoint fans of their last effort. it's rare that i find a hip-hop album that i really enjoy but murs and 9th seem to never let me down.

mp3 | murs and 9th wonder - yesterday and today

disappearer - rust/dust

disappearer is an instrumental metal band comprised of former members of there were wires and current members of doomriders. on april 25th, trash art will be re-releasing the band's 24 minute long self titled demo along with a bonus track. highly recommended for fans of neurosis and pelican.

mp3 | disappearer - rust/dust

haram - sale

haram consists of former members of pg.99, majority rule, and city of caterpillar. with a list like that you'd expect a thrashy/screamo type sound from these guys but instead they play angular post-punk similar to the likes of drive like jehu or early sonic youth. their self titled debut was just released this week on lovitt records.

mp3 | haram - sale
bonus:
mp3 | haram - fade away

grails - dargai

grails is an instrumental post-rock band from oregon that is often to compared to godspeed you black emperor and dirty three. in 2004, they released their sophomore album "redlight" on neurot recordings. be on the look out for a new full length from them later this year.

mp3 | grails - dargai
bonus:
mp3 | grails - word made flesh

rocket from the crypt - savior faire

i've been listening to "group sounds" by rocket from the crypt all morning so i decided to post something about them. "group sounds" was released back in 2001 on vagrant records and shows the band going back to their earlier more raw sound. unfortunately this past halloween the band played their final show. rest in peace rftc.

mp3 | rocket from the crypt - savior faire
bonus:
mp3 | rocket from the crypt - out of control
mp3 | rocket from the crypt - heart of a rat

hank williams iii - things you do to me

booze, drugs and a strong distaste for popular country music...these are common themes found on hank williams iii's latest album "straight to hell". the album was released last month on curb records and also comes with a bonus disc that includes several covers and assorted sound clips (trains, horses, gun shots, etc.). this album proves that real country music is not dead, and if it is then hank iii must be a zombie.

mp3 | hank williams iii - things you do to me

torche - charge of the brown recluse

torche is the new band from former floor singer/songwriter steve brooks. last year robotic empire put out the band's self titled debut. they play catchy stoner-metal that should appeal to fans of queens of the stone age and black sabbath.

mp3 | torche - charge of the brown recluse
bonus:
mp3 | torche - mentor
mp3 | torche - vampyro

black rebel motorcycle club - wishing well

black rebel motorcycle club recently released a limited edition ep appropriately titled "howl sessions". the 6 songs on the ep were recorded at the same time as "howl" (rca) and will only be available directly from the band or with the purchase of "howl" at independent record stores here in the states. check out a track from it.

mp3 | black rebel motorcycle club - wishing well

i love you but i've chosen darkness - the ghost

i love you but i've chosen darkness released their debut full length "fear is on our side" yesterday via secretly canadian records. the austin based band plays haunting indie rock that reminds me of a darker version of spoon. have a listen for yourself.

mp3 | i love you but i've chosen darkness - the ghost
bonus:
mp3 | i love you but i've chosen darkness - according to plan

tv on the radio - wolf like me

here's a track from one of the most anticipated releases of the year, tv on the radio's tentatively titled sophomore effort "return to cookie mountain". the band recently signed with interscope and hope to release the album sometime this spring. brace yourself...it's good. really fucking good.

mp3 | tv on the radio - wolf like me
bonus:
mp3 | tv on the radio - dry drunk emperor (unreleased)

thisquietarmy - a hammer parade falls from the sky

thisquietarmy is the solo project of eric quach of destroyalldreamers. he uses guitar loops with effect pedals to create ambient soundscapes of instrumental post-rock. late last year he released his debut ep "wintersleeper" on his own label also titled thisquietarmy. it's limited to 200 copies so if you like what you hear then act fast and order one.

mp3 | thisquietarmy - a hammer parade falls from the sky
bonus:
mp3 | thisquietarmy - the panning ice age experiment

jenny lewis with the watson twins - paradise

yeah i know everyone and their mother has already posted about the debut from jenny lewis with the watson twins, "rabbit fur coat" (team love), but i've got something special to offer. here's a b-side from the "rise up with fists!!!" single. and apparently i need to go hang out in the dairy aisle of a grocery store.

mp3 | jenny lewis with the watson twins - paradise
bonus:
mp3 | jenny lewis with the watson twins - rise up with fists!!!
mp3 | jenny lewis with the watson twins - melt your heart

zombi - digitalis

here's a track from zombi's upcoming album "surface to air" due out in may via relapse records. the band also just released a limited edition tour ep entitled "digitalis" which features 2 tracks that won't be on the full length. be sure to pick that up if you see them out on tour with isis. their prog-synth-rock sound should appeal to fans of goblin and italian horror movie soundtracks.

mp3 | zombi - digitalis

willie nelson - you don't know me

on march 14th, willie nelson will be releasing a collection of his renditions of songs originally by cindy walker entitled "you don't know me: the songs of cindy walker" (lost highway). for the backing band on the album, willie got a talented group of nashville session players to help make the songs his own. if you don't know who cindy walker is, she's probably best known for the song i'm posting which was later made famous by the likes of ray charles and elvis presley. have a listen to willie's version.

mp3 | willie nelson - you don't know me

why? - dumb hummer

normally i'm not a fan of mixing hip-hop with another genre but last year's album by why?, "elephant eyelash" (anticon), manages to really blow me away. it's a hybrid of hip-hop and indie rock and probably one of the most original sounding albums i've ever heard. recently he released a companion ep "rubber traits" that features 3 tracks not found on the album. here's one of them.

mp3 | why? - dumb hummer
bonus:
mp3 | why? - rubber traits
mp3 | why? - sanddollars

dinosaur jr. - freak scene (live)

last week, dinosaur jr. released a japanese exclusive collection disc entitled "zombie worm" via imperial records. it's kind of a greatest hits of songs from their first three albums (the ones that merge reissued last year). if you're already a fan, this might not sound too interesting but if you're a collector then you'll want to know there's two bonus live tracks on the disc and i've decided to post one of them. also, did you hear the news about all the new reissues we can expect from the band this year? get stoked.

mp3 | dinosaur jr. - freak scene (live)