Today just happens to be a record breaking day, most pageviews in a day and most posts in a day, tomorrow is our one year and I'm hoping for 14, 000 views by then, which shouldn't be a problem, you'll understand when you hear this next album.
Kraddy, bass music pioneer, has been spinning since the Glitch Mob was just an idea and my ears had never bled from dubstep, that's a long time ago. So to celebrate this legend lets show you his free album Anthems of the Hero. AOTH is a rock influenced electronic masterpiece, really, most metal doesn't come close to being this metal, and at eleven songs in length, each one pushing five minutes, this will keep you on your toes and running fast for a serious long time. As you know our generation really hates having to spend money on something we can pirate, and any established producer that has the heart to offer tracks like these for free is alright in my books. So seriously take a peek then download this beast, and tell your friends, spread it like the plague.
Alright let me set the scene for you, last week a buddy of mine went to a show here in St. Catharines, and proceeded to get so drunk he forgot to pick up an album for me, the album was by local legends, Lambs Become Lions. I had heard of them maybe two days before, I was drawn in by their song Lake Ontario a ballad of love found and lost on the shores of our inland sea. It clicked, I could swear that it was written for me, for the nights spent watching love set against the beach, and wondering what it was that I did right, and wrong. Emotion aside, said song is on their Cicada EP which is not available for download as of yet but that and their song Small Town Dreams are available on their Facebook page for the great price of free, just a little incentive to do some digging. But if you have a craving for post rock with a hint of electronic then we have something you might enjoy, Ghosts of A Fallen Soldier, their (I believe) first studio album. Although sadly lacking the folky vocals of their newer tunes it still gets its point across in droning guitars and progressive drums patterns, and is a must download for anyone who fancies themselves a connoisseur of fine music. For a small city band you can't get better.
Mustard Pimp, in my eyes an electronic duo not to be fucked with, only downfall they wrote a song for Jersey Shore. I know, I know its never good to start things off with a negative comment but seriously that's the only bad thing I can think of, and really bias sells. That being said I have a shit tonne of respect for The Baron and eKa, every track they make sounds different, has new influences and really even the one I complained about is amazing. Coming from french techno/house and metal backgrounds respectively this unlikely duo have released over 30 mixtapes in two years and have accumulated over 500, 000 downloads in such a small amount of time (my facts are most assuredly outdated, don't blame me). But we're not here for their mixtapes, we're here about No Title Or Purpose their latest free album thirteen full length bass pumping, jaw dropping, house shaking hits, for free. So get it.
I'm not entirely sure where the week went, something about blondes and beaches, so please accept my apology I'm going to sit through this class and write up about six posts just for you. This is mostly because my recently added playlist is absolutely swelling with free music, believe me, it would take you over a day straight to listen to what I downloaded this week. That being said nothing really connects with me today like Denison Witmer. A very good friend of mine introduced me to Noisetrade, a music sharing website over flowing with indie rock and folk music which is where I first heard of his album Are You A Dreamer? Anywho I'm willingly on the mailing list and I received an email that intrigued me, new music from Denison Witmer featuring Sufjan Stevens, that right there, just the mention of Sufjan and I'm there. Aside from the curb appeal, this release has more heart than everything you'll hear this week, hell maybe this month and really if you can sign Mr. Stevens to your cause then you have to have some kind of amazing talent. Don't let me prattle on though, just take it as a five star rating and download it here. One thing about Noisetrade, you'll be signed up for the email list, which is useful, and you'll be prompted to donate for the music, which I strongly suggest, if you don't then spam your Facebook friends, and your twitter followers and tell them I sent you.
Yet another extremely talented young artist, Smoothiesforme, heard around the world from Edinburgh Scotland. Holly, if I may, is one of those artists that grow on you every time you hear her music, and I cannot imagine a world where she doesn't have a hidden cult following, especially after winning numerous awards before 17 years of age. Her newest album New Beginnings is six tracks of musical bliss, although it is obviously from a female point of view, it isn't hard to relate to and each song has a new influence, almost a flair, from a different genre. Some songs pull more from folk or rock while some have an ambient almost electronic feel. Excluding the remix cause that would be too easy, each track is a new chapter in the novel that is the album and by Thor is it a page turner. So please grab it up, and consider actually putting a number higher than zero in that name your price box, take it from me, its worth money, and helping a young artist find her feet on the world stage is mutually beneficial, as long as she keeps pouring her heart and soul into that guitar.
Have you seen my ghost? Its really a good question, I think the tea is the only thing keeping me on this earth today, I have five hours of class starting at noon and I got maybe four hours of sleep last night, so please follow me down the narrow tunnel of sleep vision to today's post.
Halifax, Nova Scotia, is apparently a breeding ground for indie/folk groups, don't ask me who else started there but I'm sure someone did. Anyway a week or so ago I was bored enough to watch Flashpoint, which was a good idea because both times I've seen that show the outro song is amazing, this time it happened to be Search Party By Wintersleep of the 2007 album Welcome to the Night Sky. This album tore me up...
I used to dream about saving the world
Now i just dream about the holidays
I used to write so many songs for my girl
Now i just dream about floating away
You can't get any more soulful without a permit. Very powerful stuff but its not only the lyrics and the eastern Canadian accent that make this album amazing, the guitars and drums are grade A indie rock, bordering on post rock which adds a whole new element to the songs. I don't have anything bad to say about Wintersleep, I'm glad to be Canadian and good sirs, your music has the power to touch hearts of stone, keep it up.
Also please check out their website for bonus tracks from WTTNS and the headline track from their new album, and if you have a minute head on over to our Facebook page and give it a like, much obliged.
Alright, if you don't remember Friday posts are about what I deem to be essential music from my library, short reviews, maybe a story and definitely a download. So lets get cracking.
I was asked a couple weeks ago in my history of rock and roll class what my "guilty pleasure" music was, after a bit of deliberation I realized that it has always been Jhameel. Ever since TheBurningEar posted a link to his second album The Human Condition, I've been a noticeably better person. From the first track this album is absolutely full of inspirational strings and his voice, oh his voice... just take a second to look at that picture, then listen to that album, you'll understand. Since then Jhameel released a five track EP entitled Dance, and I swear he brought disco back. So far in 2012 Jhameel has released a further five tracks available for download for the Waves album, all absolute masterpieces, I mean can you imagine the internet says he used to be a marine? With a voice like that? He should have been singing from day one so I could fanatical about more of his music.
There are a few things that make me glad I'm British, Kasabian being one. If you have been hiding under a rock Kasabian is a four piece rock/electronica band from Leicestershire UK, formed in 1997. Their songs have been featured in many more video games than I would want to list and TV shows since Alias. I remember the first time I tried to find one of their albums at the local Sunrise, I purchased their first album, Kasabian, and ordered in the second, Empire, when Empire arrived I hurried to take it out of the case and snap, it broke, I don't remember being so depressed about an album... ever. But I got another copy for free and was rocking for quite some time, I must say though if you get the chance find their newest two albums, but only after hearing the first two, its interesting to hear the progression between albums. Do enjoy.
The Local Natives, formerly known as Cavil At Rest, they produced one of the few songs that moved me enough that I learned how to play it on bass, and by god is it fun. I did a little research and apparently their amazing blend of surf rock, tribal drums, and sing along lyrics could also be called Loft Rock, look it up. That being said their album Gorilla Manor is a soundscape of indie style riffs just simple enough to let even the least classically trained musician follow along, if there is a single song on this album you can't sing or play along to let me know I'll promptly show you up.
Well that's it for today's post, I kept my promise of a post every day this week, so please head on over to our Facebook page and wish me a happy birthday. I'll see you again on Monday.
First off apologies for this being my first post this week, I've been conned into working eleven hour days damn near all week. That being said if anyone feels like buying me a car then I would be able to post on time...
You all know about Death Cab For Cutie, the smash hit four piece alt rock band from Seattle, rocking Atlantic Records and having just released their eighth album not too long ago. Truthfully Codes and Keys didn't really live up to my expectations, I really don't think they can ever improve on Narrow Stairs, I really don't.
Narrow Stairs was released in 2008 and like many other albums, was introduced to me by my best friend who happened to be living with me at the time. I must admit like a lot of his music I was skeptical at first, it would be another year or so before I was kicked off my heavy metal high horse and brought down to earth enough to appreciate the subtle poetry that makes up this entire album. Most every song can be interpreted as sad on this album, and with that melancholy piano in the background I have a hard time not feeling every expressed emotion that passes through my stereo, so take a chance on one of my all time favourite albums, I suggest "I Will Posses Your Heart".
EDM is an electric collaberation between Jesse Hughes and Queens Of The Stone Age's frontman Josh Homme. I remember hearing "Wannabe In L.A." one day on the radio, and from there on it seemed as though my lifes mission was to hunt down and purchase all three of their albums. With each purchase I become more and more of a fan and it seemed as though every song became more hilarious as I progressed through the albums in a reverse chronological order. "Whorehoppin (Shit, Goddamn)" will always be one of the funniest songs to sing with your parents. To start you on your way you should hit their album Death By Sexy, then if you are a kindred spirit track the other two down and love life.
If you've ever been lucky enough to have been on the recieving end of one of my famous music chats you'll know about Freelance Whales. Freelance Whales are a five piece indie rock band from Queens, New York. I'm not entirely sure how it was I ended up on their website one day but I distinctly remember finding their album Weathervanes and being very sad it wasn't available at my local record store. Long story short I ordered it in and fell in love.
Weathervanes is a thirteen track masterpiece of modern music that never grows old. From track one you'll have a hard time counting all of the different instruments that flit across the tracks, and I would suggest you don't even try. Every song on this album is designed to put a smile on your face and if they don't then we seriously need to talk more.
Well I hope you enjoyed reading this post as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you didn't find the album download links then you should leave a comment here or on our Facebook, and again apologies for the lack of posts this week, hopefully the following few days will be better, but stick around and find out either way.
I've been hearing some complaints lately, many echoed by myself, I put the word "Daily" in the title back when I had the time to post daily, and for not keeping my promise I apologize. As my apology I present to you oh mighty viewer an idea I may or may not have stolen from one of my fellow publishers, every Friday (time permitting) we'll go through my itunes Library alphabetically and pick an artist that has yet to be featured here as well as recapping the ones that have been. Hold me to it audience, three artists every Friday starting now.
Now lets introduce my pick for our premier A-Z series, The Arkells. Hailing from Hamilton, Ontario, The Arkells are quite possibly the best example of Canadian talent, their debut album Jackson Square is one of my all time favorite rock albums and the CD has barely survived all the times its been tracked around the country with me.
Unless you've been hiding under the proverbial rock then you've heard of BT, a widely known Grammy nominated electronic producer and composer. I first took notice after hearing a remix of his song Forget Me, then I took a trip over to itunes and purchased his album These Hopeful Machines. BT redefines electronic music, mixing in rock and orchestral themes, and I was hooked at first listen.
I think we're definately getting into my top 5 favorite artists. Cage The Elephant, there is not a day that could not be improved by their amazing sound or lifted by the shear amount of feeling put into their songs. I was first drawn to them after hearing their song Ain't No Rest For The Wicked on the radio one day, then further when it appeared as the opening track in the game Borderland. Their Self Titled debut album Cage The Elephant is a masterpiece of alternative rock and a battlefield of poetic liscence. This is a must buy, I command it!
After all those links I'm not sure the hour I spent was worth it, but if you liked todays post give me some feedback on our Facebook page, and please support the artists.
Welcome to our second official Hipster Humpday. You're here because you feel that todays music just doesn't quite live up to your standards, and thats good cause it shouldn't. Gone are all the great names from yesteryear and they took the talent with them, or so we thought. Here to instill a new found purpos in your ipod, is BadBadNotGood, a three piece jazz band from Toronto. Also known as the "Odd Trio" these guys met at Humber College and bonded over some very soulful music, jamming all improv like to many a hip hop song. Wait hip hop? Yup their first album you'll be surprised to hear is a mixtape of hip hop put to jazz. Their new album BBNG is available at their bandcamp for the great price of free and is chock full of top notch jazz with the heart of hip hop. I myself rarely listen to jazz but BBNG had me driftin off all day and I can't say I didn't want to go.
I figured I should make some of the Wednesday articles the same format as Tuesday, so stick around for three amazing tracks that have been floating me this week. Miami Horror, Reptar and Handsome Furs.
Thanks again for stopping in, hopefully I've shown you some of the amazing talent that's hiding just around the corner these days. If you like it or not, head on over to our Facbook page to stay updated about this and our other blog and to just be a better person. Also big ups to Gabe for letting me know about BBNG and a huge thanks to the publishers of the Burning Ear for not having me killed for stealing so much music.
