Broski - Jortch

Out of Allentown, PA right near where I go to school, comes Broski, the sister of a blog reader named Emily. Broski is self described as "Music for driving away from your girlfriend's house" and it's pretty fitting. The four track EP is just a two-piece set of Mitch on guitar and Jordan on drums, but the simplicity isn't a bad thing. Mitch plays some choppy quick catchy rifts with a definite emo influence. They recently played with My Heart To Joy which is what I'm digging right now so that's a plus. I was going to try relate them to a Cap'n Jazz spin-off band, but they are like an upbeat version of all of them combined. My only critique which is kind of a major turn-off for me normally is the lack of vocals. I'm a big fan of music with something to say and a good voice to say it. Despite this, I enjoyed listening to Broski, and I look foward to seeing how they develop.

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/broskisounds
Download: http://www.mediafire.com/?nflhrmjd0kg

Broski - Jortch

Capricorns - Ruder Forms Survive & Capricorns EP

And now, back to the mainstreamish garbage I like to dish out. Capricorns are a sludge/doom outfit with a lot to offer. Ruder Forms Survive starts off with deep breaths, then engages the listener in a sharp, engaging torrent. It's polished, precise, and morose. A great addition to any Doom collection, or any other collection since everyone can use a little more doom in their lives.
The Capricorns EP (image shown above) was added to this post primarily because the opening track, "Comrades in Tears", was the first Capricorns song I ever heard and it's also one of their best.

Ruder Forms Survive
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?yeyi2zmvlbx

Capricorns EP
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?jmwkwdqz2zt

Capricorns - Ruder Forms Survive & Capricorns EP

Joint Cheifs of Math - You Are Here

Here's the second band I was asked to review, The Joint Chiefs of Math. The Joint Chiefs of Math are a duo consisting of two lads named Kevin and Marcus. Together, they have crafted a bizarre, messy, noisy, dissonant masterpiece. Marcus plays drums like a hyperactive seizure made coherent through conscious thought and Kevin covers all the strings in a wild blaze of sound, not as wild as a group like Lightning Bolt, but somewhat close. In fact, I'd venture to say that these guys are a coherent version of groups like Lightning Bolt, playing a safer, but very satisfying version of that intense sound (minus the screaming and the fact that Lightning Bolt uses only bass whilst these guys have a guitar). Check 'em out and you won't be disappointed.

http://www.myspace.com/thejointchiefsofmath
http://www.sendspace.com/file/oalxai

Joint Cheifs of Math - You Are Here

In Heaven and You - Vena Cava Parts I and II

So five folks decided to send emails to this here blog askin' for reviews of their music, so I thought, "Hey, I'm an asshole who thinks he knows something about music, I could spare a few words for these guys," and so I did.
The first of the three bands I was asked to review was a project known as In Heaven and You lead by Alex Vallejo. The description in the email that was forwarded to me said, "...dark folk...", but if anything, this is acoustic prog with a small latin vibe (or at least the three tracks I was sent were). There's a virtuoso feel with each track, but without the lack of substance that virtuoso songs tends to have (see. every generic prog-metal band in existence. Planet X comes to mind).
The songs were primarily acoustic guitar and vocals with one little goody here and there. There's some rough patches, but overall this dude has tremendous potential and amazing talent. The musicianship is phenomenal and the songs have a great vibe that's begging for larger arrangements. Vocals are very heart-worn-on-sleeve-ish and have a bitter sweet hint of emotion, but could benefit from some vocal training. If you're in the mood for something dark, but light on the ears, pick this shit up now.

myspace.com/inheavenandyou
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?z4tqzqngyte

In Heaven and You - Vena Cava Parts I and II

Album Review: Mesita - Cherry Blossoms

From the depths of Littleton, Colorado comes this one man band known as Mesita. Here at I found this song in the road, we have started to get artists requesting reviews and promotion, which is quite an honor is most cases. Mesita was put on the back burner for some time, and just recently was I assigned his album. My only regret about this album is that I didn't find it sooner. Every aspect of his music has its strong point which will cater to our blogs audience. The blend of guitars, harmonicas, accordions, mandolins, horns, and percussion is awaiting, and I am pleased to be serving it to you today.

http://www.mediafire.com/?jdmgetitmm0

Album Review: Mesita - Cherry Blossoms

Mono - Two Albums

Today, two albums by Mono: You Are There and Walking Cloud and Deep Red Sky, Flag Fluttered and The Sun Shined.
Mono is a heavy post-rock group from Japan, on par with other post-rock groups such as Mogwai and Godspeed You! Black Emperor and lighter doom groups such as Pelican - who, interestingly enough, performed alongside Mono on a split album in 2005 that's only available in extremely limited supply on vinyl.
Walking Cloud and Deep Red Sky, Flag Fluttered and The Sun Shined, in particular, is an extremely interesting album, if only for its name and packaging. Inside the CD case, there is a red square of paper and directions for constructing a paper crane which are fairly easy to follow (well, at least until step 6). This is a reference to the final track "a thousand paper cranes" which is based off of a story of a terminally ill girl who attempts to construct a thousand cranes in order to have a wish granted. The crane I ended up making resembled the work of an experienced origami master...that had just been trampled by an ox.

Your Are There
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=W7EE9EMR

Walking Cloud and Deep Red Sky, Flag Fluttered and The Sun Shined
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=HFQ8PVW7

Mono - Two Albums

Jawbreaker - Bivouac

Legendary punk/emo band from the late 80s/90s that was highly influential in the punk/emo/DIY scene. They are broken up, but they are in various other bands.

http://www.mediafire.com/?wo5lxwrt5ky

Jawbreaker - Bivouac

Hop Along, Queen Ansleis - Freshman Year

Frances makes silly folk songs that might make you smile or sigh. she has two brothers, and they are both drummers. One’s in a band called Hey Hey, and they are great. The other brother is great solo. Frances has a new album out, called “freshman year.” If you like stories and singing and yelling and bells and banjos and drums and some kazoo, you might like this. Hope to smile and sigh with you at the next show.

http://www.mediafire.com/?mnlzyw55ymn

Hop Along, Queen Ansleis - Freshman Year

The Mountain Goats & Kaki King - Black Pear Tree EP

This EP came about from a tour between The Mountain Goats and Kaki King, and can be difficult to come across. This, a cohesive collaboration between two artists, isn't an entirely serious affair, and you can tell the pair of them are enjoying working together, with playful titles such as 'Thank You Mario But Our Princess Is In Another Castle'. Kaki King's virtuosity lifts Darnielle's compositions to a newer, more interesting level, leaving behind the 3-chord folk that occasionally caused some of his work to become grating. A tight little release, with plenty to be enjoyed on it.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=C92J933G

The Mountain Goats & Kaki King - Black Pear Tree EP

Various Artists - Pete Seeger's 90th Birthday Madison Square Garden

Pete Seeger just turned 90 on May 3rd of this year and to celebrate there was a massive concert with various artists commemorating his many years of inspiration and honoring all his hard work. I regrettably missed it because I just found out about it. I'm really angry because I could afford it and live pretty close to Madison Square Garden where the concert was. Of the people preforming and speaking were Bruce Springsteen, Dave Mathews, John Mellencamp, Arlo Gutherie, Ben Harper, Billy Bragg, just to name a few. Pete Seeger was a true American Hero and this concert is a true salute to him. Happy birthday, Pete Seeger! On an unrelated note, does anybody have "If I Had A Hammer" by Pete Seeger the original recording? I've been looking for it everywhere.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=04NHXWMX

Various Artists - Pete Seeger's 90th Birthday Madison Square Garden

Lava Lava - Tour Demo

Edit: This is the best EP ever soley because they cover "Kiss Me" by Sixpence None The Richer on it. Oh wow do I love that song. Anyways, this is a follow-up to the last Lava Lava post.

http://www.mediafire.com/?y2qlithg22c

Lava Lava - Tour Demo

Pine Hill Haints - Trains Have No Names

This is a less popular Pine Hill Haints album that I uploaded accidentally but I think you'll like also. It's hard to find any other albums besides Ghost Dance so enjoy.

http://www.mediafire.com/?my2d0hmzqjn

Pine Hill Haints - Trains Have No Names

Lava Lava - Hey Fragile

This is for a last.fm groupie or whatever that likes Lava Lava but doesn't have any full albums. It was a duo featuring Spoonboy and Amina Althea that is twee and "cuddlecore".

http://www.mediafire.com/?e23thmakgbz

Lava Lava - Hey Fragile

Fanfare Ciocărlia - Iag Bari

This is a Balkan gypsy band from Romania. They started as a band for weddings and baptisms(like all good bands start as) and decided to start touring and take a 11 piece band on the road. They sound like Gogol Bordello without Eugene Hütz being in the band but definitely does not lack his energy and charisma, tending to be more instrumental than vocal.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=96NYK7J4
(bigger than 100mbs megaupload!)

Fanfare Ciocărlia - Iag Bari

Idiot Flesh - Fancy

I wanted to make my first contribution here a good one, so I searched the web for something interesting and came upon this little gem. You see, there's these two guys - Nils and Dan - who are in a band called Sleepytime Gorilla Museum. Before that, they were in Idiot Flesh. Sleepytime Gorilla Museum - according to an interview with Nils I found on youtube - was an attempt to combine classical music's focus on melody with industrial music's focus on noise and sound. Idiot Flesh's sound is a slightly more coherent/accessible version of this with an ounce of Mr. Bungle-esque humor mixed in. Fancy is dark, humorous, and absurd and promises to delight. If Lovage is music to make love to your old lady by, Idiot Flesh is music to make love to a deranged, drunk clown from your local circus by.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=31ZRSWCB

Idiot Flesh - Fancy

Angry Johnny and the Killbillies - What's So Funny

Angry Johnny and the Killbillies is a rockabilly band that is not meant to sound good, it's meant to sound fun. More dancing music for the folks and something to blast in your truck when speeding down the highway drunk with your friends. Not that I condone any of this, but I kind of want to because it sounds like fun when listening to this album. More alt-country because that's what I've been listening to a lot lately.

http://www.mediafire.com/?x4mnjdtwatj

Angry Johnny and the Killbillies - What's So Funny

Toby Foster & A Drum and an Open Window - Split

Toby Foster plays shows with his friends and sings songs about fun stuff and his friends. A Drum and An Open Window is "about staying young forever". Fun split between two neato acoustic acts.

http://www.mediafire.com/?oz45fyij4qo

Oh, and I found this album on a blog called "Soup Eerie Oar Taste" so check them out on our friends list!

Toby Foster & A Drum and an Open Window - Split

The Pine Hill Haints - Ghost Dance

The Pine Hill Haints is self-defined as "Alabama ghost country music" although they are more folky/old time/good time fun music to dance to kind of stuff. You know, the whole fiddle, washboard, banjo, guitar, saw, and single snare drum set-up. Starting a lot of their songs with "2-3 haints", they develope catchy alternative country music. I highly recomend this band, I've been meaning to post them for a while and have been listening to them non-stop lately. Fun fact: Rymodee of "This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb" used to be in this band.

http://www.mediafire.com/?qyimnjj2jxy

The Pine Hill Haints - Ghost Dance

Japandroids- Post-Nothing

Japandroids are a cool fuzzed out indie rock band. There's just two of them, and they still sound very full and very awesome. One of the better records I've heard this year, check it out.

http://www.mediafire.com/?1nn34ufyev4

Japandroids- Post-Nothing