Sonata Arctica - Unia

Sonata Arctica is a Finnish power metal band. This album is most notable for some of their progressive influences taking place.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=BJWJ4H7L

TV On The Radio - Young Liars EP

My favorite experimental indie-rock outfit from Brooklyn. TV On The radio really bypasses genre stereotypes and makes simply amazing music. "Young Liars" combines ambient electronica with a powerful soul to create perfection.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=VXDB89WL

My Bloody Valentine - Loveless

My Bloody Valentine was a shoegazer band from the UK, best known for perfecting the "shoegazer" sound within their music and through their critically acclaimed album "Loveless". MBV has long been one of my favorites, enlighten yourself and enjoy.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=Y8WPY4YG

Japanther - Master Of Pigeons

Japanther is a punk band from New York City by 2 students from Pratt. Well, they aren't your average punk band when you add the noise rock aspect of their classification. They kind of remind me of Arab on Radar and have a pretty equal setup to Lightning Bolt, but otherwise they are incomparable. If you are into the whole noise rock scene like I am, you'll definitely want to check this album out.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=e0f4ugya

Boduf Songs - Lion Devours the Sun

Boduf Songs is the name taken by Mat Sweet, who lives in Southampton, England. The album was recorded with an acoustic guitar, some cymbals, violin bow, toy piano, manipulated field recordings and a computer. The music has a sense of dark beauty to it; the melodies are simple yet emotional, and his voice is incredibly introverted. Listen and be moved.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=LLH9VZCF

Secret Chiefs 3 - Xaphan

Secret Chiefs 3 is an avant-garde group that over the last decade has embodied quite a wide range of musical styles. The group often sounds Middle Eastern with surf rock and metal tendencies. SC3's latest album, Xaphan, takes on the compositions of John Zorn's second Masada book. Composer and multi-musician Trey Spruance arranges each track so brilliantly, you simply cannot pass this one up.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=Y1OIUETS

Drapht - Brothers Grimm

I'm probably going to get some raised eyebrows for uploading this. Truth be told, I enjoy a lot of Australian hip-hop, but most of the good stuff isn't easy to find in record stores, though I suppose that would go without saying for most good artists these days. This is the latest album from Perth MC Drapht, Brothers Grimm, a smooth flowing rap piece that provides a mixture of funny songs through his parodies of more well known rappers and his disturbing alcohol addiction, to personal reflections of his past. Although Jimmy Recard is the popular song at the moment, Boom Boom Boom is my favorite song on the record. I don't know if it will appeal to everyone, but download it and give it a listen.

http://sharebee.com/8402cd3c

Squirrel Nut Zuppers - Perennial Favorites

Squirrel Nut Zippers is a swing revival band that mixes gypsy jazz and delta blues into their style. I came across them because of their odd name, and stuck around because I had a lot of fun listening to them. They range in style, but swing is overal the main theme of this band.

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

213 - The Hard Way

213 is a group consisting of Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, and Warren G named after the Long Beach, California area code of the time. This is a great album for the summer to kick back to and relax on the beach with. The chill beats and soothing sounds of Nate Dogg's signature vocals are complimented perfectly with summer lyrics. "So Fly" is my favorite track but "Groupie Luv" was also a single so check that out also. Listen to the album straight through, though. I know it's kind of mainstream, but I love it too much to pass up.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=zlx2qwyz

Commander Venus - The Uneventful Vacation

This is Commander Venus's second album posted on the blog and second/last album released. It has a much higher popularity amongst Conor Oberst fans who want something more than Bright Eyes. Enjoy.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=u9fm9yvj

Celesty - Mortal Mind Creation

I stumbled upon this album a few days ago. I wasn't expecting much, a lot of Power Metal sounds the same to me. But this album stands out amongst the others. It has a few really good fast paced songs, and it sounds pretty epic.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=BVNLM5EJ

Islands - Return To The Sea

In light of seeing Islands this Saturday at the Siren Music Festival, I am upping this album. Islands is a reformation of Nicholas Thorburn's band The Unicorns. Leaving right where he left off, he carries the same sound, energy, and charisma that you have seen in the past.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=6luq3mu3

Praxis - Sacrifist

Sacrifist is quite an album, but it most certainly isn't for everyone. This CD I borrowed from my father, and I must say it is equal parts bizarre and extreme. To start, Praxis has a lot of people coming in to help with this album. John Zorn, Blind Idiot God, Buckethead, Bootsy Collins and Bernie Warrell from P-Funkers, Mick Harris from Napalm Death, and Yamatsuka Eye from The Boredoms. With that said, the actual music on this album is not exactly what one might expect. Sure, on the surface, it's a thrashy speedy type of metal. But sounds of breaking glass, ambient electronics, and other strange noises come in to make it a very, well, noisy and aggressive album. The vocals are simply screams and growls. No actual words are formed, just shrieking and screaming. All in all, this is an album for those looking for something different, but not for those who are weak of heart.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=0U6T15N9 Posted by isyf at 3:14 PM 0 comments

Ra Ra Riot - Ra Ra Riot EP

Ra Ra Riot is a Syracuse based indie rock band. This is the band's first EP and only release up to date, but I can tell you it's something to look for more of. They are coming out with an LP on August 19th titled The Rhumb Line so be sure to get that as well.

http://rapidshare.com/files/35302042/Ra_Ra_Riot.rar

Sorry for rapidshare, I rushed this album out because it has been on my to-do list for months now.

Detektivbyrån - E18 Album

Detektivbyran is  definitely one of those bands you wouldn't openly show your friends. Listeners be aware, the accordion is the platform instrument in this band, but don't worry, these aren't your average street performers. This instrumental Swedish band reminds me much of a fantasy toy shop and brings the playfulness along with it. This is the bands first album release and will be releasing its second later on this year. 

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

X-Ray Spex - Germ Free Adolescents

X-Ray Spex is a London punk band formed in the late 70s. They are mostly notable for their female singer Poly Styrene and the addition of the saxophone into their punk sound. Both of these ideas were new to the punk scene and made this band a great success. Poly Styrene seemed bring a lot of attention especially in the song "Oh Bondage, Up Yours!" which was made to seem like a femenist revolt but was really an anti-consummerist song. Despite all this, the entire album has a great sound and fun brass addition.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=jwxsfw5n

Hatecraft - Lost Consolation

Hatecraft are a Melodic Death Metal from Russia. They're fairly unknown, but they're really good. They've only realeased the one album so far, and it's pretty agressive sounding.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=N265VE12

VNV Nation - Judgement

VNV Nation is a trance group from London and although they have been around since 1995, I only heard about them after hearing the song Testament on the local radio station Groove 101.7. Enjoying the song, I made the decision to check their myspace and see what else they've made. I liked what I heard, so I obtained this, their most recent album. The album is quite a soft piece, but it has powerful lyrics, dealing mainly with the problems of ignorance in today's society. Over 50 minutes of awesome is on this album.

http://rapidshare.com/files/112708783/VNV_Nation_Judgement.rar

Tom Waits - Rain Dogs

Even if you don't think you have, you'll have heard/seen Tom Waits in some way, shape or form. He is the embodiment of a prolific artist, pursuing virtually every art form. This output comes in the form of a dirty, dirty blues record. Creeping, rhythmic marimbas help tunes like Clap Hands shuffle along with stuttering, accented stabs of guitar from Mark Ribot. Keith Richards is even on one of the tracks. (Yes, that Keith Richards). This is a big album with plenty to get into, mostly thanks to its organic style of recording which, during the 80s, was pretty uncommon. Grab a copy and listen:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=A18RA1VU

Portishead - Dummy

apologies for the brief description but to be frank, this record doesn't need any more positive crit from anyone, let alone me. Download it, love it then get their new Record (Third). Portishead are, in my humble opinion, one of Britains finest exports... don't sleep.

http://www.filestube.com/ee334d243501a13703ea/go.html

Symphony X - The Divine Wings of Tragedy

Symphony X are a Progressive/Power Metal band. They're really well known, and all for good reason.

The Divine Wings of Tragedy was the first Symphony X album I listened to, and was one of the first albums I ever liked. It has a good mix of songs, with a epic 20 minute song near the end of the album.

The Divine Wings of Tragedy:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=7J4CT3R8

Sam Sparro - Sam Sparro

Sam Sparro caught my attention the other day listening to Australian radio station Triple J. Born in Sydney, Australia before moving to LA at the age of 10, his vocal work is the result of gospel influences from his childhood. This is his debut album, a mix of electro pop with an 80's influence. Both the vocal work and the lyrics shine on this album, a plus for those techno fans who get tired of hearing the same words over and over in every song. It's a refreshing change for me, not being a fan of any kind of pop music at the best of times, so it's worth checking out to appreciate the diversity of techno these days.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=M1CCKMT6