Riz, Dem Southernfolkz, and Wordsmith - Promo Tracks

Here are some hip-hop artists that I'm promoting that I think you guys will like. I don't promote anything that I don't think will actually take off, I have some serious hopes about these guys.

Riz is definitely like Akon or something or a mix between that and Flo Rida. He's got some really radio-ready tunes that are set to be the next party songs of 2010. Them Southerfolkz are kind of smoother and more hip-hop than rap and really surprised me. Wordsmith has some great beats and has a strong rap flow that is impressive, I really like Wordsmith.

Check out this package of promo tracks:
http://www.mediafire.com/?mi2o3mwnid5

Check out Wordsmith's mixtape too!
http://www.coast2coastmixtapes.com/mixtapes/mixtapedetail.aspx/wordsmith-the-vintage-vault-mixtape-mixed-by-dj-ykcor-dj-nominal-dj-ames

Riz, Dem Southernfolkz, and Wordsmith - Promo Tracks

Hard Girls - Hello

More Quote Unquote awesomeness. Seriously. Just some awesome indie rock with a definite punk influence, oh and some of these guys just happen to play in a band with a little known guy named... Jesse Michaels. Nothing else needs to be said.

Link from Quote Unquote

Hard Girls - Hello

Japandroids

In preparation for seeing them tonight, and as I'm meant to be doing an essay, I figured some love for Japandroids was due. Although their debut full length, Post-Nothing, was thrown up on this very blog not so long back, this upload compiles all their fuzzed-up and blissed-out exploits to date. Balls to psychology and hipsters, let's frenchkiss some French girls.

http://www.zshare.net/download/729622661feb2be1/

Japandroids

The You Know Whos - Concert Review

Normally I don't do concert reviews, but recently I went to Harrisburg to see my roommate and his band play which I haven't done in a while. Let me tell you, despite the bias, they blew my mind. I had seen them before and of course heard plenty of solo stuff, but I really was impressed. Also, I promised Moe that I'd give a shout-out to him eventually, and they really do deserve it.

The venue was the Lower Paxton Youth Center which always has a mix of people there. The other artists were hardcore and metal and then one defiance, ohio wannabee band that is not quite worth mentioning or looking up their actual name. Surrounded by 15 year olds and punk rock high schoolers that tried to act tough, I snuck in and skipped the 3 dollar cover charge by saying "I have no money on me, I'm poor". One look at my beard and they were like "... Just go". Otherwise, LPYC is a good venue and usually has a lot of interesting bands and good people.

The band consisting of Moe Weimer(My roommate), Chris Bemis, Josh Digrugilliers, Spencer Schutte have really tightened up and have taken more rock n' roll influences especially from The Rolling Stones and a little bit from rockabilly and blues. They also have that kind of head bopping thing going that The Beatles have.

I am always impressed by the band's skills whether it's Chris's flawless guitar solos, or Spencer's character showing in his enthusiastic drumming and taking off his shirt, or Josh pulling some great bass riffs in which really tie the sound together, or Moe rocking out and dancing getting the crowd pumped. The band really does have a lot of talent and potential, even if you don't like the music you can tell that they know what they are doing.

At the moment, they don't have any merch or CDs for sale, but they have some tour dates up. I'll let you know when their CD is released and stuff. I'm also gonna have more friend bands that I for some reason never put up that I think you should check out from the Beard Party Collective.

Adding, you should really see them live because they will make you smile and dance and are really nice people. Their recordings are mediocre in comparison.

www.theyouknowwhos.com

The You Know Whos - Concert Review

My Heart To Joy - Spring Shows and EP Announced

Bored this weekend or any time this spring? So go to a My Heart To Joy show and get stoked for their upcoming EP Release. I'm actually really jealous of anybody that goes to the shows on the 20th and 21st with Snowing and Slingshot Dakota. That show's gonna be absurdly good. I'm sick and can't make them and if not I already promised my roommate I'd go to Harrisburg with him to see him play... Oh well, read up!

This week, My Heart to joy will be begin recording a follow up EP to their recent full length, Seasons In Verse, with Ryan Stack at Andrews Lane Recording. The EP will be released later this year and the band

also has announced several shows over the next few months with Snowing, Make do And Mend, Balance and Composure, Transit, 1994! and Grown Ups.

My Heart to Joy upcoming shows

Feb 19th @ The Barn W/ Snowing, Balance and Composure & Transit -Bear DE

Feb 20th @ Bushwick Music Studios W/ Snowing & Jettison - Brooklyn, New York

Feb 21st @ The Meatlocker W/ Snowing & Slingshot Dakota - Montclair NJ

March 19th @ Scriba VFW W/ Make do and Mend - Scribia NY

March 20th @ Hurley's Nightclub @ SUNY Potsdam W/ Make do and Mend - Potsdam, NY

March 21st - THE CLASSROOM W/ Make do and Mend, Measured in Gray - Middletown, NY

April 11th - MATNEE @ URI Coffee House W/ Grown Ups & 1994! - Providence RI

My Heart To Joy - Spring Shows and EP Announced

Charles Crossingham - Talkers Talk

These tracks by Charles Crossingham kick ass. They start off with the bouncy and upbeat 'That Time in My Life'. This song has unique instrumentals and is just happy, happy, and happy. At times the lyrics get semi-serious but still maintain the overall happy air of the song. 'That Time in My Life' is the kinda song that you want to listen to with friends and dance to.

After 'That Time in My Life' we delve into 'California Tendencies' which sounds somewhat like modern country music but has more of a rock air to it. Its extremely rhythmic, and you'll find yourself involuntarily bobbing your head to it. I really want to get in a car and drive towards the future with this song playing. 'California Tendencies' makes you think about the future and what it holds.

'Choir on Fire' is a bit different from the previous two tracks. It starts out with just a piano playing with very emotional lyrics. Then the other instruments join in and we have a us a hell of a song. 'Choir on Fire' is way more relaxing than 'California Tendencies 'which really didn't seem possible. 'Choir on Fire' uses awesome lyrics coupled with beautiful instrumentals to create astounding visuals to set a very beautiful scene. Just wow. This is easily my favorite song from Charles Crossingham.

In 'Go On Your Way' we jump back to the happy and upbeat stuff that started us off. This song uses guitar to express ideas much like 'Choir on Fire' did with piano. Imagine driving along a coastal highway at twilight and you'll have an idea of the feeling this song gives. I love the guitar use in this song too. As the lyrics start to become more descriptive its hard not too envision everything that's being described.

You owe it to yourself to give theses promotional tracks a listen and then buy the album.

Grab the two promos here.

Buy the album here.

Charles Crossingham - Talkers Talk

Exit Stencil Records - Free Febuary Downloads

Keep forgetting to post this, but Exit Stencil Records is offering almost all of their albums for free for the entire month of Febuary. There's some really good music and well priced stuff for sale also. This should save you some money on Valentine's Day.

http://www.exitstencil.org/freedownload.php

Exit Stencil Records - Free Febuary Downloads

Kudrow - Lando

Quote Unquote supergroup Kudrow takes Bomb The Music Industry's Jeff Rosenstock, Mike Campbell bassist of Latterman and Laura Stevenson and The Cans, and Dave Garwacke of Halo Fauna and Thousandaires. This ultimate trio is free off Quote Unquote Records so check it out. It's like BTMI, but less ska and more real instruments. This should hold you off until tomorrow when I expect to have more stuff up.

Download free
Buy From Earnest Jenning!

Kudrow - Lando

The Hotrats - Turn Ons

Imagine fusing the raw electric guitar sound of The White Stripe’s “Icky Thump” and the charisma and vocals of The Arctic Monkeys into a cover band making Britpop reinventions of songs from an eclectic genre list. Finally, have Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich have his way with it. That’s just what England’s The Hotrats have done in their debut album “Turn Ons,” adapting classics made by artists such as The Kinks, The Sex Pistols and The Beastie Boys.

The Hotrats (an homage to Frank Zappa’s album of the same name) is the side project of brothers Gaz Coombes and Danny Goffey (both of whom are members of the rock band Supergrass). With the single “Drive My Car” by The Beatles among their cover songs, The Hotrat’s career has expanded. Over and over this album proves itself as much more than just a cover project.

“Turn Ons” truly withholds the integrity of the originals and brings an unexpected quality that you wouldn’t normally expect a cover band to produce. For example, Pink Floyd’s “Bike” is turned from a psychedelic time-honored track into a clever upbeat alteration, maintaining the mindbending noisy outro of the original. In “Crystal Ship” by The Doors, everything is spot on from vocals that sound hauntingly like Jim Morrison to the accented keyboards.

The album has all the wonder of finding a new favorite artist with the expectations of familiar songs. This most recent project of The Hotrats has given light to the dark musical genre of “cover band.”

http://www.keystoneonline.com/2010/02/05/hotrats/

The Hotrats - Turn Ons

Velocity Girl - Copacetic

This album wants to be your friend. The dual female/male harmonics cozy up to your ears and the shoegaze-y early-90s indie pop-rock whispers your name, soothes your soul, and offers just the right amount of attitude to keep you interested. When it came out the critics called it "bubblegrunge", which, not gonna lie, gives me a raging boner.

This came out on Sub Pop is '93, and I guess releasing an album in the shadow of the flannel rock scene, at least one like this, was poor strategy. But it WAS excellent form and superb execution. I suggest the download link for temporary listening pleasure, and the Amazon link if you can afford $1.48 for a used copy (or the .99 per song mp3 dealio, but physical copies of old albums is the way to go imo).

Enjoy!

DAOLNWOD

BITE THE BULLET

Velocity Girl - Copacetic

UkeBox - The Price of Gas

UkeBox is Justin Bender. He plays a ukulele. His band plays punk rock. Justin is a cool guy. He lives in Philadelphia. You should really download this EP. You won't regret it. It's what all the cool kids are doing. You want to be a cool kid, don't you?

By clicking this link, you are giving into peer pressure. Good for you!

UkeBox - The Price of Gas

Platform 1 - Campus Music Invasion Compilation

So I work for Platform 1 Entertainment as a campus rep and they are asking me to distribute this as much as possible and get some serious feedback. There are artists of all different genres inside. I'd really appreciate it if you took the survey, but if not just enjoy the tracks. Spread the word and I'll love you forever. The campus rep name is Jesse Warner. Oh, and I don't think I get any more credit if you give them all 5's so be honest and leave some comments if you don't like it. Thanks again and I'll get some more posts up soon.

http://www.platform-1.com/listeningparty/

Followup: If you like Civil Twilight, check out this EXCLUSIVE TRACK that is going to only be up for a week.

Platform 1 - Campus Music Invasion Compilation