amusement parks on fire - blackout

sorry about the lack of updates, i've been pretty out of it lately. here's a track from the upcoming amusement parks on fire album "out of the angeles" due out july 10th in the uk on v2 records. i haven't read anything about a release date here in the states so you might have to pay a little extra to get your hands on it. if you don't know, they play dreamy rock that's heavily influenced by swervedriver.

mp3 | amusement parks on fire - blackout

alcian blue - you just disappear

alican blue is a 4 piece shoegaze band from the washington dc area. on july 11th, elephant stone records will be releasing the band's new self titled album. however, if you order it directly from the label they'll go ahead and send it to you now. the band's sound falls somewhere between my bloody valentine and joy division. highly recommended.

mp3 | alcian blue - you just disappear

the replacements - i will dare

if you didn't already know, the replacements are one of my favorite bands ever. there's not really much i can say about them that hasn't already been said so i'm not going to try. on june 13th, rhino will be releasing a greatest hits collection entitled "don't you know who i think i was?". it contains tracks from all their releases along with 2 brand new songs that they recently got back together to record. here's one of my favorite songs by them from their album "let it be" (twin tone, 1984).

mp3 | the replacements - i will dare

nobody and mystic chords of memory - the seed

nobody and mystic chords of memory have teamed up to release one of the best collaborations i've heard in a good while. elvin estela (aka nobody) is a renown indie hip-hop producer. mystic chords of memory are made up of chris gunst (formerly of beachwood sparks) and jen cohen (of the aislers set). their album "tree colored see" was released on april 25th by mush records. psychedelic california pop songs fused with backdrops of electronic beats.

mp3 | nobody and mystic chords of memory - the seed
bonus:
mp3 | nobody and mystic chords of memory - broaden a new sound
mp3 | nobody and mystic chords of memory - coyote's song (when you hear it too)

the morning after girls - straight thru you

the morning after girls are australia's answer to black rebel motorcycle club. psychedelic guitars, nasally vocals, garage fuzz...you get the picture. the band recently signed a deal with rainbow quartz for distribution here in the states. for now, you can check out their best before records released "shadows evolve", which collects the band's first 2 ep's on the same disc. enjoy.

mp3 | the morning after girls - straight thru you
bonus:
mp3 | the morning after girls - run for our lives
mp3 | the morning after girls - hi skies

saviours - rise to pyramid form

i just realized i haven't posted anything heavy on this thing in a while so here's something to fix that. saviours is an oakland based thrashy stoner-metal band consisting of former members of yaphet kotto and drunk horse. on may 16th, level plane records released the band's debut full length "crucifire". fans of early man and high on fire should check these guys out.

mp3 | saviours - rise to pyramid form
bonus:
mp3 | saviours - holy slaughter

whiskey and co. - happy hour

about a month ago, florida's whiskey and co. released their second album "leaving the nightlife" on no idea records. they play punk influenced alt. country with female lead vocals that are reminiscent of natalie merchant and emmylou harris. perfect for hang out sessions on a porch.

mp3 | whiskey and co. - happy hour
bonus:
mp3 | whiskey and co. - nightlife

sufjan stevens - dear mr. supercomputer

here's a track from the upcoming sufjan stevens release entitled "the avalanche". it's due out july 25th via asthmatic kitty and like the cover says, it collects outtakes and extras from last year's phenomenal album "illinois". this should hold people over until he decides to tackle his next state. i'm hoping it's virginia.

mp3 | sufjan stevens - dear mr. supercomputer

hot water music - three summers strong

well it's official, hot water music has called it quits. they announced it a couple days ago on their myspace blog. the band had been on 'indefinite hiatus' for about a year now and 3 of the 4 members went on to start another band called the draft who plan on releasing a full length later this year on epitaph. look for an odds and ends comp from hot water music via no idea sometime this year as well. here's one of my favorite songs by them taken from "forever and counting" (doghouse, 1997). rest in peace.

mp3 | hot water music - three summers strong
bonus:
mp3 | hot water music - just don't say you lost it

growing - friendly confines

on april 11th, brooklyn based duo growing released their 4th album "color wheel" via troubleman unlimited's new off-shoot label megablade. do yourself a favor and go buy this album right now. seriously, it's so fucking good. epic instrumentals of ambient soundscapes combined with fuzzy drones. highly recommended and sure to find a spot in my year end top 5.

mp3 | growing - friendly confines
bonus:
mp3 | growing - green pasture

monster movie - the stars that surround you

monster movie is christian savill (ex-slowdive) and sean hewson. last month, graveface records released the band's third full length entitled "all lost". it's filled with elements of dreampop and shoegaze and features guest vocals from rachel staggs (of experimental aircraft and eau claire). have a listen for yourself.

mp3 | monster movie - the stars that surround you
bonus:
mp3 | monster movie - vanishing act

miles davis - freddie freeloader

everybody needs a decent starting point when exploring jazz music for the first time. like a lot of other people, my first taste was miles davis' "kind of blue" (columbia, 1959). the album is considered by many to be the definitive jazz record. here's my favorite track from it.

mp3 | miles davis - freddie freeloader

isan - look and yes

here's a track from the upcoming isan album entitled "plans drawn in pencil" due out june 27th via morr music. they make instrumental electro-pop similar to the likes of four tet and boards of canada.

mp3 | isan - look and yes

the stooges - down on the street

i like the stooges. i listen to them quite often and i think you should too. last year, rhino records released deluxe 2-disc versions of the band's 1969 self titled album and 1970's "fun house". both come with a ton of extras (demos, rarities, alternate mixes, etc.) and i suggest checking them out if you're a fan. here's my favorite track off of "fun house".

mp3 | the stooges - down on the street

new mexican disaster squad - wasting matches

on may 9th, jade tree records will be releasing new mexican disaster squad's third album "don't believe". this orlando based 4 piece play melodic hardcore that's strongly influenced by punk bands from the 80's. recommended if you like strike anywhere or kid dynamite.

mp3 | new mexican disaster squad - wasting matches
bonus:
mp3 | new mexican disaster squad - tightrope

sonic youth - reena

i don't think there is another band on the planet that consistently blows my mind like sonic youth does. on june 13th, geffen records will be releasing the band's 20th studio album "rather ripped". needless to say, they've done it again. check out kim's opening track.

mp3 | sonic youth - reena

camera obscura - tears for affairs

glasgow's camera obscura have a new album coming out on june 6th entitled "let's get out of this country" via merge records. next week they will be releasing their "lloyd, i'm ready to be heartbroken" single which features 2 exclusive b-sides not on the album. their 60's influenced indie-pop sound should appeal to fans of the concretes and acid house kings.

mp3 | camera obscura - tears for affairs
bonus:
mp3 | camera obscura - lloyd, i'm ready to be heartbroken
mp3 | camera obscura - if looks could kill

neil young - after the garden

next week, neil young returns with his new album "living with war" (reprise records). it's a protest album of sorts that serves as a big fat middle finger pointed directly at president bush. this is neil's first album post-aneurysm and it was recorded and mixed in a span of just 3 weeks. check out the album's opening track.

mp3 | neil young - after the garden