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[minus_the_david]

The Young Veins - Take a Vacation!



Not My Link, but it is Legit!

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http://www.mediafire.com/?gt2iwizzdge

After logging several years as members of Panic at the Disco, songwriters Ryan Ross and Jon Walker left the group in July 2009, citing creative differences and the desire to form their own band. The Young Veins took shape later that month, featuring a vintage pop/rock sound inspired by the Cookies, the Kinks, and the Cramps. Recording sessions for the band’s first album began that same summer, with Phantom Planet’s Alex Greenwald and Pretty.Odd. producer Rob Mathes lending their help. As the Young Veins continued working on the album, their lineup expanded with the addition of keyboardist Nick White, drummer Nick Murray, and bassist Andy Soukal, and the full lineup released Take a Vacation! in mid-2010.

Myspace http://www.myspace.com/theyoungveins

[ellis]

Haven't seen this up here yet, and I bought it today so...here is Blitzen Trapper's new one, Destroyer of the Void.  I like it, it continues Furr's style of more acoustic and less weird stuff going on (even less weird stuff than Furr), although there are some cool synths and proggy guitars sprinkled throughout.  But if the band is this good, and the songs are this well written (in my opinion), then they can get as accessible as they want (though I would enjoy it if their next album or EP was just out there insanity).  It's at 256kb and includes the iTunes bonus track.

Blitzen Trapper - Destroyer of the Void

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http://www.mediaf!re.com/?2jlhlzdeqyz

[trr005]

I'm sure most people have heard of the band Quasi, but I hadn't until Sasquatch! Festival this past week, and they freaking kicked it and so I bought their album "Field Studies".  I'm rather enjoying it and I hope you will too.  I believe the drummer is a former member of Sleater-Kinney as well.

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http://www.mediaf!re.com/?31imaqnzjiz

[KaosPilot]

Yeah, it's Janet Weiss and and her ex-husband Sam Coomes.

[scarred]

She also drums for the Jicks, who are Stephen Malkmus' Other Band.

[spoon_of_grimbo]

Here are the demos for the Descendents 1996 comeback album "Everything Sucks," played, rather curiously, by the band ALL (essentially the same members, but with a different singer, in this case Chad Price, rather than the Descendents frontman Milo Auckerman).  This features several of the songs that made it onto "Everything Sucks," some that appeared on the two albums ALL recorded a few years later, and a few that never resurfaced.

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http://www.mediaf!re.com/?1dkrgzm2zrm

[scarred]

Magic Man - Real Life Color (2010)



"Monster" at Youtube.
Download free at Bandcamp.

College duo, offering a fresh blend of lo-fi indie pop heavily infused with electronics. Possibly one of the most underappreciated albums this year. Highly, highly recommended.

[pat101]

Janelle Monáe - The ArchAndroid, Suites II and III (V2)

I was so prepared to hate it, now it's in contention for album of the year

[Hunter]

Moby- animal rights:

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http://www.mediaf!re.com/?yvon2zyyxyw
Elvis Costello and the Attractions-  Get happy!!:

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http://www.mediaf!re.com/?touhthddzjn
Patti Smith-Horses:

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http://www.mediaf!re.com/?wwtuwznmwyu
Weezer- Green Album

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http://www.mediaf!re.com/?m5mamjmyght

Neil Young And Crazy Horse-Zuma

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http://www.mediaf!re.com/?mjzzmno2zzh

[JD]

Gavin Castleton - Home

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http://www.mediafire.com/?3uujrznfeyeA love story about heartache. Also includes zombies.
you can listen and buy the album here

Delphic - Acolyte[2010]

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http://www.mediafire.com/?mznk2mmnogrSounds like: Chemical Brothers and Bloc Party had a baby.
Doubt


Also crossposting Nine from the hardcore thread

Lights Out

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http://www.mediafire.com/?mmmcywuz1yz
Killing Angels

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

[Patrick]

The Strange Boys -And Girls Club
(PIC-A-TURE)
More laid back but there's something about it that makes me listen over and over and over...from Dusted:
Strange Boys make garage rock stripped to knuckle bones and gristle, reaching back way past the Beatles to a Chess Records-ish mash of high slide guitar, second-hand shuffles, and woeful, wandering laments...The sound is raw and unfinished, the vocals wandering on and off key, the rhythms primitively simple, the recording low-grade and indistinct. This roughness may get in the way for the first listen or two, yet it’s part of the appeal for the long-term. Scratched up, indifferently tuned, coming in ghostly and pale like AM radio, Strange Boys’ first full-length has the banked fire of a slow burner. Put it on again and see.

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http://www.mediaf!re.com/?wjtgjm4zjyt

Oh my god, the first song is absolutely fantastic.

[pwhodges]

Ages ago I uploaded Wagner's Ring, in the recently released first-ever stereo recording conducted by Keilberth (no longer there to download).  Now I have uploaded the recording that Decca released instead, and which has sold so well that it has not been put on a budget label in fifty years.  One of the great recordings of all time (even if some people have reservations about the conducting), and regarded as the reference for all others, here for your pleasure is the Culshaw-Solti Ring:



Wagner - Das Rheingold

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http://www.mediafire.com/file/zwkntmqgn0o/Wagner - Das Rheingold.zip
Wagner - Die Walküre

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http://www.mediafire.com/file/tzmd1lzgkmj/Wagner - Die Walküre, Act 1.zip
http://www.mediafire.com/file/2tmnrhtdijy/Wagner - Die Walküre, Act 2.zip
http://www.mediafire.com/file/t5jzttj0q2z/Wagner - Die Walküre, Act 3.zip
Wagner - Siegfried

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http://www.mediafire.com/file/memydy2ykzg/Wagner - Siegfried, Act 1.zip
http://www.mediafire.com/file/gnnlvmn2gqy/Wagner - Siegfried, Act 2.zip
http://www.mediafire.com/file/wt5zdd5womr/Wagner - Siegfried, Act 3.zip
Wagner - Götterdämmerung

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http://www.mediafire.com/file/zndmmzdzjtd/Wagner - Götterdämmerung, Act 1.zip
http://www.mediafire.com/file/zkyktyzj2za/Wagner - Götterdämmerung, Act 2.zip
http://www.mediafire.com/file/nztmndnz2ht/Wagner - Götterdämmerung, Act 3.zip
This is the 1997 remastering, which first used Cedar to reduce the tape hiss.

Enjoy!

Solti and Culshaw during a recording session:

[amok]

Rules:

The first rule of mediaf!re thread is you do not talk about mediaf!re thread.

The second rule of mediaf!re thread is no smoking.

No hot-linking images or albums. You can re-host images at http://imageshack.us.

Ensure your tags are correct and that you have specified both Artist/Album in your post.

Upload your files in either a .zip or a .rar archive to mediaf!re.com, in multiple parts if the album is over 100mbs. The reason for this is that we know mediaf!re is safe and efficient and allows multiple downloads. The ads on other sites, such as Sendspace, are known to contain viruses on the page. Get yourself checked out.

Post your link using code tags. It's the # icon above the policeman emoticon. This prevents the links from being traced back to the forums, lowering the chance that the wrong people notice the thread, potentially threatening Jeph with legal action.

Also, please do NOT request albums. This includes requests for re-uploads; if you miss it, try looking for it somewhere else.

Repost the rules at the top of each new page.

16 Bit Lolitas - Murder Weapon (2008)

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http://www.mediaf!re.com/?dzyym044mnd


PROFF - Abandoned / Albina / Tell (2010)

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http://www.mediaf!re.com/?3dmmnz5032o
The picture of the CD art for the last one was acting strangely and kept flipping 90° when I uploaded it (what) so click on the title below if you really have to see it.

Ninja Tune Xen Cuts (2000; 3xCD)

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http://www.mediaf!re.com/?mtwymzdnjnm
http://www.mediaf!re.com/?i2nfjikxljd
http://www.mediaf!re.com/?gdzy4wmtzxm
http://www.mediaf!re.com/?ymaxybuhzly

Modesty, a lack of pomposity, humility. Skipping through a field of stiff upper lips with a twinkle in the eye, this is how the true Ninj likes to see him or herself. Ego squashed beneath rigor and correctitude. Masked, clothing fashionably but unobtrusively black. Understated.

Tenth anniversary? Pah, old hat, been done (to death) by everybody else already - eight hundred CDs belched from the depths of a marketing man's torrid night-time cum-hither fantasy. Now That's What I Call A Bunch Of Old Ravers/Jazzers/IndustryTarts Cashing In Number 4080…

But hey, we're due a new Ninja Cuts anyway. Why not tie it in a little? Come up with a high-concept title - XEN - in gold leaf lettering, just for a larf like? Why not? Keep it short, sweet and see what happens?

The grand old heads meet and agree the principle - ad hoc stylee. The new Ninja Cuts is born.

But baby Xen is not like other compilations. While the Ninja do their ninjy thing (y'know, with those little stars and all of that), baby Xen starts sucking stuff in, feeding, feeding, a black hole in the corner of the office, forever sucking. Insatiable.

It's just a single CD of new material.

Growing…

It's a double CD of new material and singles tracks.

More…

It's a double CD of new material and singles tracks plus a third CD of 'missed, skipped and flipped' something like that tunes.

And suddenly, the Ninja look up from their desks and in the corner of the room is Xen-Elvis in the Laos/Vegas phase, a huge, sparkling, bloated fucking monster of a compilation, surrounded by four hundred dancing girls (policitcally correct, o'course), four hundred dancing boys (anatomically
correct, o'course), pyrotechnics, a Noah's ark of performing animals, great skipfuls of fattening food and a pantheon of two-headed gods, all smiling beatifically and setting their bellies wiggling in time with a multiplicity of beats. All giving off this weird glow - buddhist technicolor.

And the buildings are trembling, cracks appearing in the walls, spangly stars flying out of every orifice of the screaming office Ninj, swirling up and round Xenelvis as he begins to puke out great swathes of music. Stylistically.

[JD]

Toundra - (II)[2010]

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http://www.mediafire.com/?iwhd53kloywTheirspace

[KvP]

Production Unit - Ghost Tracks

We'll start off this new period of activity with one of my "blind-fire purchases", an EP I picked up on the basis of a vague Boomkat description. It worked out pretty splendidly this time. Glasgow-based Dave Donnely has made a name for himself under the moniker Production Unit with his mixes for Numbers and releases for a number of imprints, as well as his continuing association with avant-electronic crate-digger The Village Orchestra (occasionally they perform together as Rose &  Sandy). He has been known to write for Clash on occasion.

His latest release is a 5-track EP for Highpoint Lowlife entitled Ghost Tracks and it has really been one of those pleasant surprises you run into on occasion. I was worried that the only thing I would enjoy coming out this week would be Ital Tek (which I will be getting to at some point later on). Nominally at least, Ghost Tracks is dubstep - the rhythms and the tempo certainly fit the profile - but I keep wanting to say this is IDM, even though I tend to hear IDM in just about everything I like without being able to articulate it. Perhaps I should just settle on the definition of IDM being "electronic music with a distinct melodic sensibility", as Production Unit seems to have that in spades.

Lead-off track "It's Personal" starts off like any other steppa, vaguely sounding like a Pinch tune before taking on a wonderful, Purple-y regimen of synth sounds. It sounds a bit like something Alexander Brandon would come up with 'round Deus Ex day had he an interest in dubstep and lacked his tendency to overcompress synth sounds. The synth line that anchors the song is overdramatic in the best way, and there's never a point at which you get the sense that maybe any one element of the song is being held off on for the sake of another.
Second track "Axel" builds on an Autechre-esque bell synth and a pulsing bassline. It's a very dark track, reminiscent of Anodyne minus the more hardcore dance elements. Again my mind wanders towards Alexander Brandon. The third track is entitled "The Limehouse Cut" and it quickly establishes itself as the standout. I'm a sucker for the sort of droning organ melodies laid out from the first seconds of the track, and only a few minutes in a highly processed "guitar chime" synth lays down a sweet little melody, reminiscent of some of Planet Mu's criminally overlooked early roster (Dykehouse specifically, but also Frost Jockey and Jega, not to mention the man himself, u-Ziq).

The high-water period continues with "With An X", again returning to the Incunabula well for a dark, grimy exercise in futurism. A degraded, dubby girl vox sample fills out the tone established by the air-siren synth stabs, which spawn a second melodic section before the ferocious rhythm section barrels in. Is there any song  burst-fire handclaps can't improve? If there is, I don't want to hear it.

"Grey" closes out the EP following two knockouts, slowing things down a bit with a skanking rhythm and classic canned synths - it closes on a quiet note, approaching the soundscape quality of "444" or "Windwind". It's not particularly thrilling, but that's only because it has the thankless task of cleaning up after two knockout tracks.

Unfortunately for my hard drive, this is one of those releases that spurs a frantic search for more of the same. A filler-free EP. Highly recommended.

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

[Mr. Tool]

If you enjoyed the Brasstronaut stuff I've posted in here before, I would definitely recommend checking this one out.

Dark Dark Dark - Bright Bright Bright EP

There is more than just clever wordplay involved in the title to Dark Dark Dark's new EP, Bright Bright Bright. It's a reflection of a more sanguine, auspicious direction for the band, with the group confidently expanding their sound and scope on these six new songs (as well as the group itself, who have now swelled to a sextet with the addition of two new members). But the dulcet vocals of Nona Marie Invie remain at the heart of these stirring songs, with her plaintive voice ringing true amid the rich, sonorous arrangements. The album was recorded at Sacred Heart Studios in Duluth, and the natural acoustics of the former church only serve to add to the warmth and intimacy of the songs. Minneapolis producer Tom Herbers was aiming to capture the live sound of Dark Dark Dark on the EP, and his all-analog recording process gives these songs an added vibrancy and clarity that truly allows the intricate orchestration to flourish. There are lush horns, strings, accordions, and the pleasing strains of a piano augmenting all of these intoxicating numbers, beginning with the hushed emotion of the title track, which blends the distinct talents of the band sublimely as the song grows in intensity but never loses its elegant composure. Both "The Hand" and "Make Time" have a jaunty exuberance that is reminiscent of the brass-infused cabaret sound of Beirut, and would clearly find fans in anyone who enjoys Zach Condon's work. But the song that simply floored me on Bright Bright Bright  is the gorgeous, piano-laden dirge "Something for Myself," which is utterly fraught with emotion and deep conviction, and is so beguiling that I completely missed my stop while listening to the album on the bus.

You can check out a live performance of my personal fave "The Hand" right here

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http://www.mediafire.com/?olgz1vmhatg

[pwhodges]

World Music.  No, not the pseudo-ethnic sub-pop stuff that you can get in the "World Music" sections of shops, but undiluted ethnic music.  Not so much survives now, so the recordings made of it during the last century have a permanent importance in reminding us of it. The Berlin Phonogramm-Archiv is listed by UNESCO as an archive of world-wide importance in Ethnomusicology.  A few years ago they issued a four-CD compilation of samples of their collection from 1900 to 2000 (the earliest recording is actually from 1897).  Here it is:



Music!  The Berlin Phonogramm-Archiv 1900-2000

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http://www.mediaf!re.com/file/vk4wtxjymmz/Wax Cylinder Recordings 1893-1954.zip
http://www.mediaf!re.com/file/0tyxrozonty/Mono Tape Recordings 1951-1974.zip
http://www.mediaf!re.com/file/g0yjzwimmoi/Stereo Field Recordings 1967-2000.zip
http://www.mediaf!re.com/file/yuqn4wlwtev/Stereo Concert Recordings 1973-2000.zip
Details of the tracks are here;  sadly it is not practical for me to copy the nearly 300 page booklet for you.

[JD]

Paul you are the best

[JD]

although you need to learn to tag things properly

[pwhodges]

Sorry - I don't use tags (they are crap for classical music), so I don't think of it.  If I rip directly using Plextools, that does the job anyway; but Plextools on my recently rebuilt machine has no link to Lame (I use ogg/vorbis myself), so I ripped to wav then generated the mp3s using LameDrop; no tags that way.  I think the file names are systematic enough that you could reasonably effectively use MP3Tag to tag using the file names.

I'll sort out PlexTools now so that it won't happen again!

[scarred]

recreationally i don't think i could listen to this often but as a study of music in history it is fascinating. thanks.

[KvP]

16 Bit Lolitas - Murder Weapon (2008)

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http://www.mediaf!re.com/?dzyym044mnd

Yo dogg track 2 be wiggin' out.

[amok]

try this

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http://www.mediafire.com/?ngvrm2wummw

[scarred]

blog dump

Stars - The Five Ghosts (2010)

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http://www.mediaf!re.com/?n0cwhfzzcmu"Fixed"

i've been a casual fan of montreal's stars since their breakout lp set yourself on fire, but i mean casual in every sense of the word. i'd typically enjoy only a couple songs off of each album, letting the rest kind of melt into the background. but their newly leaked fifth album, the five ghosts, has impressed me so far. maybe it's because it's more uniformly upbeat than past stars offerings. either way, it'll be interesting to see how well it holds up to repeated listens. first impression is of a solid indie rock affair, most reminiscent of metric's fantasies with a slight tinge of electronica. i must say, amy millan's voice is still one of the most seductive in the indie rock realm.

Memoryhouse - The Years EP (2010)

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http://www.mediaf!re.com/?yzijhjzwwn2"To the Lighthouse"

you may or may not be familiar with 2009's so-called 'chillwave' movement, led by such musical luminaries as washed out, memory tapes, and toro y moi, but there's really not much to know. it's a style that combines heavily effected processing of synthesizers, guitars, and vocals with simple melodies. the roots of chillwave lie mainly in 80s synthpop, shoegaze, and ambient. while the moniker itself is generally despised, the music itself is at times haunting, beautiful, and all-around emotionally affecting. many music scholars predicted a rapid demise for the genre, as it seemed to have run out of steam around winter '09. but as summer rolls around again, more and more chillwave-esque bands seem to be coming out of the woodwork.

memoryhouse is one of those bands, and among the best. their 4-song debut ep has all the potential of a masterpiece, from the jon brion-sampling "lately (deuxième)" to the quietly rollicking "to the lighthouse." the latter in particular is a song i can't help listening to over and over. it only makes sense that the duo of evan abeele and denise nouvion are from ontario - that's the only way something this wintry could manage to sound so optimistic. not to be missed.

Wild Nothing - Gemini (2010)

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http://www.mediaf!re.com/?jyytojx2qak"Summer Holiday"

The sun's out, the windows are open. Outside, kids shriek and play, dogs bark, and smoke wafts in from the grill. This is the world of Wild Nothing, real name Jack Tatum. Debut Gemini glistens with a sheen of nostalgic wonder, embracing reverb'd drums, echoed melodies, and airy vocals. It's both a testament and an epitaph to youth. Reminiscent of a lovechild between M83 and The Pains of Being Pure At Heart.

[JD]

Ten Volt Shock - 78 Hours[2010]

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http://www.mediafire.com/?mdjjf4jijzy

[trr005]

I'm loving that Wild Nothing's album.  Great summery tunes

[KurtMcAllister]

Devo - Something For Everybody

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http://www.mediaf!re.com/?1mj3z2oii1j

[trr005]

Here's a nice compilation of covers for a good cause...

   1. Beck – "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat" (Bob Dylan)
   2. The Kooks – "Victoria" (The Kinks)
   3. The Hold Steady – "Atlantic City" (Bruce Springsteen)
   4. Hot Chip – "Transmission" (Joy Division)
   5. Lily Allen and Mick Jones – "Straight to Hell" (The Clash)
   6. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" (The Ramones)
   7. Franz Ferdinand – "Call Me" (Live) (Blondie)
   8. Duffy – "Live and Let Die" (Sir Paul McCartney)
   9. Estelle – "Superstition" (Stevie Wonder)
  10. Rufus Wainwright – "Wonderful/Song For Children" (Brian Wilson)
  11. Scissor Sisters – "Do the Strand" (Roxy Music)
  12. Peaches – "Search and Destroy" (The Stooges)
  13. Adam Cohen – "Take This Waltz" (Leonard Cohen)
  14. Elbow – "Running to Stand Still" (U2)
  15. The Like – "You Belong to Me" (Elvis Costello)
  16. TV on the Radio – "Heroes" (David Bowie)

Seriously everyone should buy this album after a listen or two.



War Child Presents Heroes

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http://www.mediafire.com/?cfni2jgjiw4

[valley_parade]

"Shane, Boris has such a massive catalog, where do I start?"

The answer is no longer Heavy Rocks. It is this. Consider this a best of their rocking rockness, except they've enlisted Michio Kurihara to play a second/third guitar and re-recorded a lot of older stuff.

Boris - Variations

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http://www.mediafire.com/?nglnkh5gtmj

[SWOON! at My Gravitas]

Daaaaaang

The track selection and pacing of that thing is just great

[onewheelwizzard]

Whoa, that's exciting.  I'm definitely snagging that when I get to my home comp.

[amok]

Dinka - Hotel Summerville (2010; 320kbps)

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http://www.mediaf!re.com/?htyhnmjy31j
http://www.mediaf!re.com/?4zwyyyj2kku
http://www.mediaf!re.com/?zdquy3dymnz

DINKA is a swiss progressive house act. Stomping house grooves, combined with catchy melodies and spherical harmonies. That’s Dinka!

[chenghiz]

Hey I have that photo as desktop wallpaper

[De_El]

I was trying to figure out why the heck I knew about Wild Nothing and I realized it was because I'd seen a song of theirs on their label's myspace.  Captured Tracks caught my eye because Wild Nothing labelmates Cosmetics are really, really good.

[JD]

Autechre - Move Of Ten[2010](320kb/s)

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http://www.mediaf!re.com/?ndgiyyjjbkz

[scarred]

i already posted the chemical brothers album assbarf 

[JD]

hey whatever butthead

[scarred]

D: meany

jamie long - the never years ep (2009)

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http://www.mediaf!re.com/?nzeexejnt0k
"Pool House"

i've recently become enamored with the digital single label beko, an internet-based music label that's been issuing free singles every monday since late '09. beko specializes in everything truly alt, including avant-pop, chillwave/glo-fi, shoegaze/newgaze, psych-rock, fuzz pop, dream pop, no wave, and everything betwixt. they're basically the coolest thing since sliced bread, and i've been on a download binge since i found them yesterday.

one of my favorite beko discoveries is the lo-fi electropop stylings of jamie long. his 2009 ep the never years is a wonderfully earnest offering fraught with swirling synths and half-mumbled vocals. it's perfect, for sunlit strolls or laying in a patch of warmed grass, capturing the atmosphere of a leisurely summer afternoon as it wafts along with breezy weightlessness.

i know i've been kind of overdoing it with the "this sounds like summer!" stuff, but maybe it's the seasonal affective disorder finally taking flight. that, or the fact that seattle weather has finally gotten nice enough for me to roll up my jeans and take off my flannel. fuck yeah.

bad veins - s/t (2009)

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http://www.mediaf!re.com/?m4tmvgm2lyj
"Crosseyed"

i tend to loathe comparing up-and-coming bands to more popular ones, but not only is it far easier than, you know, conjuring up a coherent description, it's also the best way to quickly and effectively get people interested. sometimes, the comparisons are a bit of a stretch, while other times, they're pretty spot-on. so when i say that cincinnati-based bad veins sound like a fuckchild of the strokes, beirut, and arcade fire, i mean it in every sense of the phrase. when the vocals hit on "crosseyed" (easily the best track), you won't believe it's not julian casablancas. and halfway through, you won't care.

far from being a predictable emulation of a 90s rock band, bad veins also manages to throw some curveballs in there: where a guitar solo would be, instead there's a moogish synth riff that's equally facemelting. the orchestral strings that pop in every now then are an interesting flourish, although occasionally they're a little too melodramatic - album opener "found" is one of the weakest first tracks in recent memory. thankfully, the beirut-style brass section manages to make up for it.

bad veins is the perfect example of a band who does everything right. as vocalist benjamin davis croons "i would be lying if i said i'd never hated you," you can't help but yell along. it's a mystery as to why these guys aren't huge yet, as they've toured with we were promised jetpacks, silversun pickups, and the apples in stereo. but their debut full-length is a compelling argument that they won't stay unsung for long.

[ellis]

D: meany

jamie long - the never years ep (2009)

Code: [Select]

http://www.mediaf!re.com/?nzeexejnt0k
"Pool House"

i've recently become enamored with the digital single label beko, an internet-based music label that's been issuing free singles every monday since late '09. beko specializes in everything truly alt, including avant-pop, chillwave/glo-fi, shoegaze/newgaze, psych-rock, fuzz pop, dream pop, no wave, and everything betwixt. they're basically the coolest thing since sliced bread, and i've been on a download binge since i found them yesterday.

one of my favorite beko discoveries is the lo-fi electropop stylings of jamie long. his 2009 ep the never years is a wonderfully earnest offering fraught with swirling synths and half-mumbled vocals. it's perfect, for sunlit strolls or laying in a patch of warmed grass, capturing the atmosphere of a leisurely summer afternoon as it wafts along with breezy weightlessness.

i know i've been kind of overdoing it with the "this sounds like summer!" stuff, but maybe it's the seasonal affective disorder finally taking flight. that, or the fact that seattle weather has finally gotten nice enough for me to roll up my jeans and take off my flannel. fuck yeah.

bad veins - s/t (2009)

Code: [Select]

http://www.mediaf!re.com/?m4tmvgm2lyj
"Crosseyed"

i tend to loathe comparing up-and-coming bands to more popular ones, but not only is it far easier than, you know, conjuring up a coherent description, it's also the best way to quickly and effectively get people interested. sometimes, the comparisons are a bit of a stretch, while other times, they're pretty spot-on. so when i say that cincinnati-based bad veins sound like a fuckchild of the strokes, beirut, and arcade fire, i mean it in every sense of the phrase. when the vocals hit on "crosseyed" (easily the best track), you won't believe it's not julian casablancas. and halfway through, you won't care.

far from being a predictable emulation of a 90s rock band, bad veins also manages to throw some curveballs in there: where a guitar solo would be, instead there's a moogish synth riff that's equally facemelting. the orchestral strings that pop in every now then are an interesting flourish, although occasionally they're a little too melodramatic - album opener "found" is one of the weakest first tracks in recent memory. thankfully, the beirut-style brass section manages to make up for it.

bad veins is the perfect example of a band who does everything right. as vocalist benjamin davis croons "i would be lying if i said i'd never hated you," you can't help but yell along. it's a mystery as to why these guys aren't huge yet, as they've toured with we were promised jetpacks, silversun pickups, and the apples in stereo. but their debut full-length is a compelling argument that they won't stay unsung for long.

I have been steadily going through beko's singles series.  Thanks for the recommendation!  Its a cool thing to look forward to every monday.

[amok]

As a kind of 'thank you' to this thread for getting me into Ólafur Arnalds in the first place, here is his latest and a random other release that doesn't seem to be up in here.



...And They Have Escaped The Weight Of Darkness (2010; 320kbps)

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http://www.mediafire.com/?dlt0ymymjly


Dyad 1909 (2009; V0)

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

[JD]

The Like - Release Me[2010]

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http://www.mediafire.com/?zllzcbykjgtHe's Not A Boy

[Catacombs]

The above album is so good.  I don't know why I'm digging it so much, but I suggest everyone check it out.

[scarred]

wavves - king of the beach (2010)

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http://www.mediaf!re.com/?wmzneo01dgy
this is a really good noise pop/garage rock album

[valley_parade]

As a kind of 'thank you' to this thread for getting me into Ólafur Arnalds in the first place, here is his latest and a random other release that doesn't seem to be up in here.

Yessssssss. I've been looking forward to this album.

[amok]

It was well worth the wait.

These are also very cool;



Valgeir Sigurðsson - Ekvílibríum (2007)

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

Icelandic producer Valgeir Sigurðsson is best known for his work for other artists (Björk  and Bonnie "Prince" Billy, mostly), so it actually comes as no surprise that his solo debut...comes as a surprise. It is a "producer's record," in that Sigurðsson called in favors across the board (although, no, Björk  is not part of the adventure), lining up a revolving cast of musicians and three singers: Billy, Faun Fables' Dawn McCarthy, and Machine Translations' J. Walker. However, despite all the diversity among constituent parts, the whole remains surprisingly -- that word again -- consistent. In fact, listening to Ekvilibrium helps you pinpoint and sum up what Sigurðsson brings to other people's records. This debut features quiet electro-acoustic folk pieces made of delicate electronic textures, lushly scored acoustic instruments (lots of strings, subdued piano courtesy of Nico Muhly, occasional brass instruments), and a dreamy feel. In other words: simple compositions developing through complex arrangements. Ekvilibrium  contains ten tracks, including four songs and six instrumentals. The album begins with one of KTU's Samuli Kosminen's rough-edged beats ("A Symmetry"), followed by the first song, "Evolution of Waters," the first of two tracks penned by Sigurðsson and Will Oldham. The first half of the album follows a general curve toward the orchestral peak of "Winter Sleep," featuring a ten-piece ensemble and a gripping vocal delivery from Dawn McCarthy. After that, things boil down toward "Kin," Billy's second song. If the songs are more immediately grasped, the instrumentals also provide their fair share of highlights. Highly recommended to fans of post-rock and modern folk.

Valgeir Sigurðsson - Draumalandid (2010)

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http://www.mediafire.com/?yzzuemqw1nh

Northern European film soundtracks and dramatic scores don't get a lot of attention, but they could arguably be their own pop music subgenre at this point. From Jóhann Jóhannsson's Englabörn to Erik Enocksson's Man Tänker Sitt, they often contain similar ingredients-- gothic strings, terse pianos, haunting vocals, and a melancholy atmosphere. But due to the format and the potency of the style, you can actually get away with making some very slight music. At minimum, you have to write only one memorable, stirring theme. Record it in a string-led arrangement, and again in a piano-led one. Stash allusions to it in a bunch of filler drone you use to glue things together and, voila, you're done.

But on Draumalandid, a soundtrack for a new Icelandic environmental documentary, Valgeir Sigurðsson goes the extra mile to produce work that stands up against the best of its genre. He lays the requisite foundations in place, with a palette of classical instrumentation and severe electronics. The powerful title motif he concocts for strings on "Dreamland" is reprised on "Draumaland", now scored for mercurial pianos wrapped in wheezing pump organ. But Sigurðsson isn't content to let his themes just sit there; he works them through a variety of mutations, climaxes, false endings, and codas. A bevy of collaborators, culled from Sigurðsson's own Bedroom Community label, inject their personalities and prevent the album from being stylistically monolithic.

Sigurðsson has an illustrious career as a producer and engineer. He's worked with Björk on numerous albums, plus CocoRosie, Ben Frost, Sam Amidon, Will Oldham, and Nico Muhly. His first and only solo LP to date, 2007's Ekvílibríum, predicted the magisterial classical/electronic style he explores here. But as a producer first, he knows how to use his collaborators effectively. Amidon and Muhly appear on opener "Grylukvæði", the best and most distinct track here. Amidon has one of the most inviting voices around today, and his Icelandic folk song, flecked with banjo, sounds wonderful, glinting through a rich haze of strings and crackling with space-transmission interference. And Ben Frost threads subliminal disturbances through the Death Star strings of closer "Helter Smelter".

But most of the record's success stems from Sigurðsson's commitment to making the music a drama unto itself, not just a supplement for existing drama. In the final minute of "Dreamland", a simple 4/4 thwack appears, but it does wonders, turning the stately dirge into a desperate march. "Past Tundra" seems like it's going to be pleasant but nondescript, until the mighty bass chords kick in, the string section starts to cook, and the piece veers off on a warpath you'd have never predicted from its beginnings. There are other gradations of tone, some effective ("Beyond the Moss", where stripes of melody lick out of loose, jazzy clutter), some less so (a trio of brief, negligible interstitials in the middle of the album). But overall, Draumalandid is an excellent addition to my growing collection of music for movies and plays I'll probably never actually see.

[valley_parade]

Did I download this and buy the vinyl within three songs? Yeah. It's pretty good.

Joie De Vivre - The North End

RIYL: Christie Front Drive, Sunny Day Real Estate, Colossal

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http://www.mediaf!re.com/?otxyyneywwx

[pulpfiction21]

I would like to 2nd the above post. Been really enjoying this CD all week.

[JD]

The above album is so good.  I don't know why I'm digging it so much, but I suggest everyone check it out.

Fair Game is my favourite.

[gospel]

Laura Stevenson and the Cans - A Record

myspace

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http://www.mediafire.com/?jehhmwkztwy
The Road Goes Ever On - Small Summits

The Road Goes Ever On

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http://www.mediafire.com/?q1jnwcaoh3m

Tracklist:
01. Blackbird Blackbird ∆ Kings
02. Persona La Ave ∆ Beach 2 (Gobble Gobble’s R. Kelly Magic Carpet)
03. Jaded Hipster Choir ∆ Peach, Plum, Pear (Joanna Newsom cover)
04. Mickey Brown ∆ Hammered
05. Hooray! ∆ Slow Dancing
06. Mutual Benefit ∆ The Dream
07. Cosmic Sound ∆ Taste the Rain
08. Cold Weather, Cold Water ∆ Metal Alligators
09. Persona La Ave ∆ Dunes
10. Mickey Mickey Rourke ∆ The Love Song
11. Teen Daze ∆ Saviour

TONSTARTSSBANDHT - An When

last.fm | myspace

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

[JD]

The Fog And The Forest - Young Legs[2010](320kb/s)

http://younglegs.bandcamp.com/

A buddy of mine is giving out this EP for free. Enjoy it and spread it around!