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