Apologetic Thursday: Joshua Radin, The Gaslight Anthem and Alexz Johnson

I should be working on French right now, but I feel as though you are all much more important than that, so I've got a couple things to say. To anybody who was looking forward to a post yesterday, I am so sorry. I meant to post something because MrFlawedLogic was unable to with his internet connection, but I just go too busy with all of the other things in my life. I am also apologetic because I have not had any time to find the downloads for these songs. If you want them, and don't want to work super hard, just use ListenToYouTube.

Our first artist today is Joshua Radin. I honestly know very little about him as I just discovered him on my friend's wall on Facebook earlier this week. I listened to some of his stuff, and I don't love everything. What do I love, however, is this song. Take a listen and decide for yourself what you think.

This next song is by The Gaslight Anthem. This song was suggested to me sometime this winter while I was in the middle of being stressed with summative assignments and studying for exams. I really quite enjoy it, and forgot all about it until recently when I was looking at my recommendations on YouTube. Again, I have very little information on this artist or the song, so I'll leave you to your own devices.

Last but not least, we have Alexz Johnson. Some of you may know her from Instant Star (that's where I first saw/heard her), and while I'm not a huge fan of the show (which has been discontinued), I really quite like some of the music there. This song is the acoustic version of the original, Darkness Round The Sun. I really like the lyrics and the melancholy feel to the song. For a little bit of background (surprise! I have some this time), at this point in the show, a young woman has just died, and Alexz (Jude) has gotten some of the people that knew her together on the beach away from the corporate music scene's service for her just to mourn her death in a more fitting manner. Alexz plays this song as a tribute to the woman who has passed away. I saw the episode, and it was actually quite a moving scene, considering the rest of the series. Anyways, I think I've rambled on long enough, so listen to it, love it and get it.

That's all I've got for you today folks, but I'd like to say sorry yet again for not being more organized. Thanks to everyone who checks in here frequently and even those who are first time viewers. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't be doing this, so I hope you like it!

Peace out,

K.

Toxic Tuesday 9 : Catch up day

     So you may think today is Tuesday, its actually Monday, I'm writing this early so I don't continue to miss days. I fear I'm losing you guys out there, our second month anniversary is tomorrow (... fourteenth right?) I'm horrible with dates. But the point of all this tired rambling is a quite serious realization that many of the blogs I follow, are shutting down, people don't have time to blog or read blogs for that matter. Its becoming less personal and more of a rush to appease the almighty viewers, hit them with so much music they forget everything they know. Well today I've decided to not give you any new artists, to not expand your musical views any further than I have already, today is the day to focus on new material from artists you should already know.

     A big number one really, our first Metalstep Monday was a smash hit registering number two on the total pageviews chart as of today. But did anyone actually follow the links, like the facebook pages? If you had you would know that Stephen Walking dropped a new EP called Zombie Union this past saturday.

Stephen Walking - Zombie Union EP (Album)

(Click to download)

     That link will take all of you that are as cheap or broke as I am to a free mediafire download of the EP. For those of you with pride and money, it costs two dollars on his bandcamp. I suggest you redeem me and buy it there, cause really... two bucks... 

     Our second recap here is of Drivepilot, hopefully you remember this amazing Canadian producer from a not so distant Suggestion Saturday and a bonus song a week or two ago. This is dubstep at its purest and as always I'm excited to find even one track for free.

Drivepilot - Ruthless (Song)

(Right click, save as to download)

     His new EP, aptly named Ruthless is available for five dollars here, and the whole thing can be previewed for free here. I'm a fan of the direction he is taking at least with Ruthless, it seems to be drifting more towards metal with the classic strings I can't get enough of. If I hadn't wasted my money I would be right over onto his website grabbing everything I could.

     For those of you who have been hiding under the proverbial rock, Skrillex dropped his new EP, More Monsters and Sprites. This one is a big one, containing his new songs Ruffneck, and First of the Year, as well as more remixes of his songs than you could possibly listen to in one sitting. Buy it here on Beatport for $17.43.

Skrillex - Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites (Kaskade Remix)

Skrillex - Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites (The Juggernaut Remix)

(Right click, save as to download)

     Personally I don't think anyone can even come close to the majesty of the original, but the list of those willing to try keeps adding up, and those two seem to be the best. Surf around you may be able to find the original mixes from the EP on a few blogs, given time I could find the links from where I got them. But that would take all the fun out of it. 

     

Mellow Monday : Chiddy Bang and Chris Webby

     I know, I know, I missed last Humpday, but excuses although lame, are mostly... I didn't have power... at all.  So you will have to forgive me and just take this Monday post as an apology. I've been looking back, at the posts over the last month or two, and let me say... we haven't had enough hip hop. So here to change that are two amazing artists.

      After chasing my whisky down with Red Bull, I decided to pull an ace from my sleeve. I've been sitting on this album for a couple weeks now, not because its mediocre, far from it, just because I had no idea where to slot it in. Chiddy Bang, a name you had better have heard of, or by george you need some lessons. Chidera "Chiddy" Anamege and Noah "Xaphoon Jones" Beresin, the best duo since The Lone Ranger and Tonto. As with alot of people my first Chiddy experience was "The Opposite of Adults"  a stellar song, using samples of Kids by MGMT, truly an amazing remix, even without the vocals, but the icing on the less than fictional cake, is Chiddy himself. His witty vocals may be what drew me into hip hop way back when, and now I have nothing but praise for the man. Anyone who can balance university and a blooming career in hip hop, has my respect.

Chiddy Bang - Peanut Butter and Swelly (album)

(Click to download)

     First off if you have allergies, you should've left a paragraph or so, and I can't be held responsible hives or musical tumors. With the disclaimer done, hit the play button and grab yourself a drink, cause I'm about to hit you with some knowledge. Back on April 28 Chiddy broke the Guiness world record for longest freestlye rap, the record was nine hours fifteen minutes and fifteen seconds... yeah, let that sink in. Over nine hours of un-rehearsed rhyming. He busted that record wide open, by five minutes and seven seconds. It takes a second to comprehend just how damn long that is, and after that was taped live at MTV, he dropped a single from his new album, way to let them get some rest eh? Anyway, the album above was released a month or so ago, and features artists such as The Knocks, Mac Miller, and many more. So kick back and relax, this is the Guiness Flow.

     Our second artist today is from the suburbs of Norwalk, Connecticut, Chris Webby. We talked earlier about how hip hop needing more than a sick beat. The lyrics have to be something special to make it to my itunes, after all I pull in so much music its tough to want to hear it all. This guy though... in his own words, eats rappers for breakfast, and damn that sounds tasty. I'm a giant fan of what he did with DJ Ill Will and DJ Rockstar. Webby's Lab is by far the most fun I've had listening to an album. Although the subject matter doesn't really stray far from girls, sex, and drugs, etc, it really doesn't matter.  Its tough not to laugh, the samples and beats are so retro it amuses me, hearing sound effects from Scooby Doo and other cartoons from my youth in a rap song. Its an experience. Add on the fact every mixtape he's dropped is available for free download on his website, all except the one below, which I recommend downloading first, just for a taste of the manic lyricism and A.D.D infused sampling, get it and love it. 

Chris Webby - Webby's Lab (Album)

(Click to download)

     Again sorry for the missed days, this week might be even worse as I will be away from home for a while, but I'm working on drum and bass, and alternative rock  mixes, they will be uploaded sometime in the near future if anyone is interested. Also congrats to our 2000th viewer... who was either me or a viewer from Atlanta, Georgia, either way congrats. Keep posted folks, we have much more coming your way.

Let it Rain: Kaiser Chiefs

Alright, so MrFlawedLogic and I have been experiencing some ridiculously insane storms for our area over the last couple of days and it's looking like it might start raining again soon. Hooray for rain.

So the band today is a little more upbeat than I was planning on using because I JUST got informed that my friend from the States is coming up to visit in July and I am more than just a little bit happy.

The Kaiser Chiefs are a band that I've had my ear tuned to for a year or so, but have never really listened to much of. However, I recently heard them on the radio station I was listening to while driving to work with my friend, and I decided that I should probably put some more dedication into listening to them. I don't have much info (or any...) to tell you all about them, but I do enjoy their music, so I suggest you download it.

For downloads of a lot of their albums, I'm going to refer you to a post on another blog. Pop To Core has got so much music available, it is quite amazing. Feel free to browse around for some of the other stuff there. It's immense. 

Check back in a week for some more music from my music library. 

Love always,

K.

Toxic Tuesday 8 : Datahowler and Hudson Mohawke

     Today for me has been one of the few days I have had off to relax, its finally starting to feel like summer. I spent the morning and afternoon catching up on some reading and some games I haven't had the time to play, namely Bulletstorm and Brink. So to go with the offbeat kind of day I'm having and the fact that posting is falling way behind, I've pulled together two amazing artists for the newest installment of Toxic Tuesday.

     Our first artist today is the incredibly talented Ross Edman, or Datahowler. Hailing from Dallas, Texas, with a history so long you'll have to take my word and head on over to his facebook page to read. Quick rundown though, starting from an early age Ross has learned all there is about instrumentation and music, playing in hardcore bands, designing cover art, and having his own music recognized internationally under many names. That kind of fame deserves more air time, but the blogs are eating his stuff up, and who really listens to the radio on anything other than the internet anyway?

Datahowler - Passengers As Eggs (Album)

(Click to download)

     This album is one of the many I picked up at my friends house on the weekend, I am eternally grateful for having a friend with a godly internet connection, and all the amazing stuff we won't go into here. This isn't our usual Toxic Tuesday material, with bass drops that liquefy brains and pop ear drums, this is the concentrated experimental side of electronic music. Full to the brim with as many sounds as you could think of, this is the Dr. Pepper of electronic music, and as always it only sounds like itself.

     Hudson Mohawke, a confusingly spectacular name, if I do say so myself. Paul Birchard, is an electronic producer from Glasgow, Scotland. Continuing the feel of todays post, HudMo produces experimental electronic music of the highest degree.

Hudson Mohawke - Butter (Album)

(Click to download)

     I remember the day last summer when a friend of mine advised me my life wasn't worth living unless I looked up Hudson Mohawke, he sent me a song off of the above album, and even then with my musical talents and tastes no where near as refined, I knew it was something special. With lilting synths and choppy vocals flitting over a tune so complex it may take you many listens to understand the beauty of what you are hearing. But beauty it is. There is just a feel to this music, the boundary pushing, put a smile on your face beat that just makes you want to go somewhere, do something. It is musical encouragement, and I'm sure we all need it.

     As a little update, I've been extroadinarily busy over the last few days with work and volunteering, not to mention I had my first day or two off with old friends in many months. Its good to take sometime and put everything back into perspective, for me that involved drinks and pistol ranges, minecraft and cold pizza, and I loved every second of it, but even then all of it would be nothing without music. 

     I did some work in the store my mom manages yesterday, while I was there I took a little trip and went to the mall, spent way more money than I had. Its amusing really I came for The Battle For Los Angeles by Rage Against The Machine, and walked out of the mall with what I came for, and cd's by Hey Rosetta!, Deadmau5, and the Beatles, as well as three books, the newest edition of PlayStation Magazine and Bulletstorm. In my defense its a bad idea to leave me and money alone in a place with stuff that I want. 

     For those of you that actually bothered either coming to the bottom of the page or enjoy reading my ramblings, heres a mix by SKisM, Never Say Die Vol. 7. Its two minutes shy of an hour, and again if you have the time, well worth it. The tracklist can be found here as it can be confusing trying to distinguish tracks after they've run continuously for an hour or so. Hope you enjoy.

K's Rainy Day Tunes: Austra

Contrary to what my title says, it is not raining in my small town today. In fact, it is quite sunny, if a little on the chilly side. However, in my head there's always some form of struggle, and with that comes music which suits the mood, and it's often the stuff that I imagine would be great on a rainy day.

I came home this evening from a very busy week, and immediately started looking for some music worthy of being posted here. There are now a lot of things that I don't have done, but I feel like this is worth it for all of the fans out there. I am quite pleased with what I found, and impressed with where I found it.

Today's artist is featured this week on iTunes (at least for Canada). Austra is a Canadian band consisting of three members. This electro-pop band has been added to the "dark music" or "goth" classification. Katie Stelmanis was an opera student, and her voice is "powerful, bruised and otherworldly, it haunts these tracks, holding back in the shadows until it's time to provide its shock impact..." As such, it adds something to this music which sets it apart from other bands. Austra's songs have a rich and interesting sound which can take you away on a magical journey through the musicality and lyrics of the songs.

If you are interested in today's band, please head on over to Austra's website. There you will find a free download as well as links to Twitter, Myspace and even Tumblr. 

I hope you enjoyed the post, and I would like to thank you for your continued support.

Ciao,

K.

Hardcore Humpday 5 : Asking Alexandria, Baptized in Blood and Farewell To Freeway

     Tuesdays and Wednesdays always seem to be the easiest to write for, mostly because I always have more than enough dubstep kicking around, and a couple of friends of mine love sending me metal and hardcore. Today is no exception, we have two bands recommended by my old friend Ian, and a personal favorite. So strap on the neck brace and get ready to throw down.

     The first band today is a five piece hardcore band from good ol' blighty, Asking Alexandria. I've known about this band for some time now, and just recently taken the time to download their newest album.

Asking Alexandria - Reckless and Relentless (Album)

(Click to download)

     Metal can get old pretty quickly if you have any sort of musical taste, thats why Asking Alexandria is such an amazing mix of sounds and genres. You won't get very far into the album before you've heard, soft strings and pleasant electro, mixed with the screaming vocals so ingrained in hardcore music. Not much later you're serenaded with soft back up vocals and meaningful lyrics, driven forth by marching quality beats and neck ruining riffs. If you can't get enough, then hit this link for all their albums, absolutely free. As with the above link the password for the .rar files is, pop-to-core.blogspot.com, spelled exactly like that. 

     Theres really nothing like that patriotic feeling you get when you realize the band you're listening to is not only from the same country as you but the same province. Such is the feeling I get when listening to Baptized in Blood (shown on the right with the worlds largest dump truck). 

Baptized In Blood - Baptized In Blood (Album)

(Click to download)

     Baptized in Blood are, in their own words, bringing dirty back, and somehow I think that might be a good idea. The vocals here go from screamo to a more gravely growling, more reminiscent of the heavier metal bands that we've had kicking around here on the Beat's. The entire album has that uplifting feel that only metal can convey, urging you to take everything faster and angrier. Definitely drop this into the downloads folder if you need help through the day.

     Our last group today is, Farewell To Freeway, again local talent. Hailing from Guelph, Ontario, Canada, Farewell to Freeway is another healthy break from traditional metal. 

 Farewell To Freeway - Filthy Habits (Album)

(Click to download)

     Its amazing how much powerful music is hiding just down the highway, makes me wish I had some time to hit all the shows I'v been hearing about. Farewell To Freeway has a nice level to their music, balance almost, the low vocals and percussion are offset with higher guitar riffs and occasional keyboard work, its an awesome package, pick it up and run.

     Again muchos thanks to Ian for the bands, sorry I only used two and a giant thanks to all the people that have followed us thus far, keep it up. for any of you interested Ian's band will be playing in July with a band you may remember from a couple weeks back, All's Quiet. Prestigious indeed. Check out the Facebook event here for all the details and see you there.